A Moth To The Flame

While they’re walking out the building, she sees he’s paying attention to everything about her, and likewise, so is she. He puts on a navy-blue baseball cap that matches his navy-blue jogging suit. As they exit the door he puts on a pair of name brand sunglasses.

Tippa had this strange thought pop in her head, ‘is he going incognito?’ No, he probably gets lot of attention because he certainly had her undivided attention as she gazes at how tall and attractive this guy was, and she could tell the feelings were mutual. Ross thought she was a pretty girl, and her smile was like bright sunshine.

Her uncle and cousin had already come earlier to deliver her furniture and boxes. 

“Oh wow! How sweet! My uncle and cousin moved all my stuff into my place already. I’m sorry for having you come all this way but all my things are moved in.” She says, with a sweet smile filled with innocence as she turns around to face him.

“It's okay…”

Tippa feels this burning spread through her body, filling her up. Save by the ringing of her cell phone, she quickly answers it. It is her cousin, who was supposed to help her unpack. “Julia! Where are you?”

“I'm so sorry, but I can't make it. They called me to work and I needed the money.”

“Oh, okay, I guess.” Tippa glances up at Ross, who is standing there staring at her with a mesmerized look on his face. 

She glances away giving her attention back to her cousin on the phone.

“Julia, let me call you back later.” 

Tippa ended the call without further explanation, and then turned her attention back to her new neighbor.” Casting him a curious look.

“I'm quite sure you heard my conversation?”

Ross pins her with his gaze, his eyes snapping fire, chuckling. “I wasn't trying to listen, but if you want my services they are still available.”

He could see Tippa was considering dismissing him.

“It'll go faster with some help.” Ross chimed in on her thoughts. She was willing to do almost anything to spend some more time in her company.

Tippa could barely look at him at this moment. He's hands down the sexiest and definitely the most charismatic man she's ever seen, sending her pulse into overdrive. But she had to agree with him, so she accepted.

“Okay, I'll accept your help. I'm so sorry about this.”

“I'm good. I didn't have much on my agenda other than classes this morning.”

Ross followed the young lady into the kitchen. They walk in silence across the living room over to the kitchen. When they proceeded through the divided opening of the living room and dining room combo kitchen. 

 "ladies first." He says as he puts a hand on the small of her back.

It electrifies her, sharpening her senses and zapping all Tippa's nerve endings to life. She mutters to herself, 'Tippa, get a grip.'

She keeps her eyes firmly on the ground. His masculine scent is so intoxicating. She felt captivated by his smell, which was pulling her in like a magnet.

Ross didn't want to keep staring, but he had to see if her body was the same as his fantasy girl's. He glanced at her figure while her head was down. Her jeans hugged a tiny waistline, and a softly rounded tush pressed against the wall of the kitchen. Even without her being all polished up with make-up, she was naturally beautiful.

After going through 6 plus boxes, she finally said. “All of these are for the kitchen.  

He stood there leaning against the wall, smiling at her, and made it impossible for Tippa to gather her faculties. In these blissful seconds, all she was able to do was soak in his exuding sexiness, power, masculinity, and something else she couldn't pinpoint.

Maybe it's his commanding presence, but strangely she felt safe around him in that short period of time.

'What is this?' She muttered in her mind. 

Tippa questioned herself. At how potent this attraction was for this stranger. 

“Uhm, you can put all the pots and pans in the lower cabinets and I’ll put the dishes in the upper cabinets.” 

“Sounds good.”

They worked quietly for a while.

“Can you help me, where do you want these bowls?”

Tippa takes them out of his hands. “Oh, they can go right here in this cabinet.”

But before she could move out of his way, he was reaching from behind her, leaning his frame against hers, opening the cabinet, and placing the bowls on the shelf. Tippa felt.........she felt..........like she wanted to turn around and say take me! 

Tippa smiled as she lifted her eyes to his eyes. Slightly flirting, she said softly. “Thank you.”

Ross replied. “You're more than welcome.” He smiled shyly as she flirted with him.

They continue to unpack the boxes. Within a few hours, they were cracking jokes like old friends, making each other laugh. 

“You must be hungry by now.” 

“Yes, what about you?” 

“Starving! I’ll order the best pizza in town. You haven’t had good pizza until you’ve had New York pizza!” 

“Okay, pizza it is.” Tippa smiled and responded. While he stood in her apartment, he fit there; he belonged there. Tippa couldn’t understand why Ms. Lauren referred to him as bad news. They had so much in common. They connected in every sense. They had many of the same interests. They liked the same music and loved dance, art, books, and old movies.

Ross even told her stories of growing up an only child. His father was often away on trips, and his mother always seemed bitter and sad. When his father was home, Ross expressed that he felt like he was never understood.

That was the one thing that was different. Tippa grew up in a very loving home with two parents who loved her and each other. They sat there on the floor of her dimly lit, half-empty apartment, staring into one another's eyes. Tippa could feel that’s what he desired and wanted, and so did she. They held the same yearnings close to their hearts that illuminated through them. Those desires were who they were and what they really wanted to be. 

“When can I see you again?” 

“Uhm, I don’t know, when do you want to see me again?” 

“As soon as possible.” 

Tippa smiled, “That soon.”

“Okay, tomorrow night.” 

“Technically it is tomorrow.” 

“True, maybe I shouldn’t leave at all.” 

“Alright, tomorrow night.” Tippa quickly agreed when she looked into his face, tempted to tell him to stay.

When Tippa walks him to the door, it’s midnight. Unexpectedly, he takes her in his arms. Tippa curls up in his comfy embrace, and he lightly lifts her chin and tenderly kisses her on the lips. 

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight Ross.” She whispered as her heart stirred and head swooned with only thoughts of his return.