Truth or Dare

Instinctively she knows where he is. Walking outside in the warm air she sees him a few feet away with his hands against the wall. Cautiously she gets closer.

“If I failed your test, I am sorry. You must know, I have tried but you are not here anymore. You left me out here in the cold.” His voice sounds hollow in the damp streets.

“It’s not your fault, I know. But I am still here and I have to go on. I need her, I can’t do it without her.” Fran watches him snapping his head back in desperation, pulling at his hair with his hands now. She knows he is talking to Sara. Telling his diseased wife about her.

“I don’t want to need anyone, I don’t want the pain anymore but it’s too late. She’s here now.” He pounds a fist on the left side of his chest. “And she will not get out.” With that he turns around and they stand eye to eye.

They remain motionless for at least a minute. No one speaks.

“Miss Fine” Maxwell starts, pronouncing her name softly.

Fran walks up to him and puts her arms around him, letting his head rest on his shoulders. “Shhhhh, you don’t need to say anything. I understand”. She gently rubs his back. Maxwell is shaking.

“I’ll get a taxi”. With that she leaves him alone for half a minute. Maxwell follows her with his eyes as she walks up to a gorilla and asks him something. The gorilla nods and Fran walks back. She puts her hand to his cheek. “There will be a taxi soon and we’ll get back to he hotel. I think a good night’s sleep will do us some good. It’s been a hectic day”. Maxwell can only nod.

The ride back to the hotel is short and silent. When they get out of the taxi Fran takes Maxwell’s hand and leads him inside. He sits down on the bed throwing his head in his hands. “I am so sorry Miss Fine, I shouldn’t have left you there” he mutters. Still facing the floor.

Fran sits down next to him. Putting one hand on his knee. “I told you already, I understand. I am a big girl. I can handle myself”.

Maxwell lifts his head and looks at her. “I left you totally alone in a country from which you don’t speak the language. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Just like you shouldn’t have gone out on the streets of this dangerous city all by yourself. But nothing happened to either of us so let’s forget it. We had a wonderful day, you found the star for your show and tomorrow there’s another wonderful day here.” Fran gets up and walks towards the bathroom.

“I just get ready for the night now. Because I want to keep my eyes open tomorrow. Alex has promised to show us around the city.” With that Fran disappears into the bathroom.

She takes of her make-up and get in her negligee with matching robe. She had bought this outfit hoping to get her boss in the mood but for tonight it’s not the intention anymore. After the emotional roller coaster ride he had been on, he was way to vulnerable now. Anything he’d do now, he would certainly regret tomorrow.

Fran smiles confident at the mirror. She knows for sure now that he loves her. After what he yelled to the sky she was sure of it. He just needed to get past the pain, past the guilt and past the fear. She is confident he will get there some day but just how long will it take?

She sighes as she turns away from the mirror. Tomorrow will be a pleasant day. No rush, no hurry just a nice day for the two of them.

Maxwell drinks a big gulp of water from the mini bar. He is pacing through the room, trying to remember what he has yelled out there in the streets and how much Miss Fine could have heard. How much does she know now? She has been so sweet for him this night and he wants nothing more than to hold her close. But he knows he cannot draw a line and she can’t either. Just holding each other seems out of the question but it is all he needs.

His mouth falls open as he watches Fran coming from the bathroom. In her violet silky night gown it seems like she has stepped out of a fairy tale. She is completely natural now, without make up and it’s absolutely lovely.

She smiles at him. “Bathroom is free. Goodnight! Alex will pick us up at 9. a.m. tomorrow so let’s get a good night’s sleep.”

Is she planning to end the night just like this? Maxwell thinks to himself. After this day he couldn’t.

He walks towards her. Not saying anything.

As he stands right before her he takes both her hands in his own. “Thank you for the lovely day Miss Fine”.

She smiles nervously. “Thank you too Mr. Sheffield. I will never forget this trip.”

He reaches out with his hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “Goodnight” he whispers as he bends over towards her to give her a soft kiss on her lips. He backs away just slightly as if he’s thinking what step to take next.

Fran knows she should handle him with care tonight and not take advantage of his current vulnerable state but how could she resist his lips. She can’t.

She takes his head in both her hands and opens her lips slightly, before she even reaches his mouth, her tongue slips through her teeth. With the tip she touches his lips first, before pressing her own on them.

She parts his mouth gently with her tongue and lets it explore his warm insides. It doesn’t take long for her to find his tongue and she gently caresses it. It’s the softest kiss they ever shared. Slowly Fran pulls her head back, letting their mouths lose contact.

“Good night Mr. Sheffield” she whispers. With that she strokes his cheek one more time and enters her own bedroom. Closing the door.

Maxwell remains standing motionless for a while. That kiss. There was no raw lust or passion in it. No hunger or want, just love. And that was all he needed right now.