Chapter 6
Formerly 25
Dutch Gets Engaged
Later that same evening Dutch managed to get Rosa alone. Kathy had been pestering him to let her sit on his lap while perusing the computer and as much as he loved the idea of her ripe body astride his lap and his erection, he had more important business to conduct. And so at the risk of hurting her feelings, he ordered Kathy out of the "office" and after she had slouched on out, mouthing silent protests, he and Rosa were alone at last.
"Didn't want her rubbing herself all over you did you?" She said, shocking him with her words.
"What?"
"I can see where this is going, may I remind you she's just turned eighteen."
"Hey," he said somewhat testily, I was only trying to . . ."
"Get in her pants?"
"Come on Rosa, I didn't mean anything of the kind. I'm trying hard to bring a father image to our relationship. She's . . ."
"A horny teenager?"
"Well, yeah, she is that, but she's also at an age where she has to, or feels she has to test her femininity with a male. I happened to be handy."
Rosa laughed in his face.
He could tell she was worked up about something but not what. Women, he thought, if she knew what he was about to do....
"Dutch?"
"Mmmm?"
"You look like you're a million miles away. We're having a serious conversation, come on back."
"I'm sorry, truly I am."
Without thinking, he reached out and pulled her against him, kissing her mouth passionately. His hands slid down her back, and he could feel her trembling as they kissed; felt the passion building. She leaned harder against him, and he fell gently against the wall. With one arm tight around her waist, he slowly moved his other hand up her side, under her arm. She moaned and pushed forward as his thumb touched her nipple, circling it gently, causing it to grow hard. She moaned against his mouth, pressing one leg between him and lightly grinding against him. There was no way in the world that she wouldn't be able to tell how turned on he was at that exact moment. His finger and thumb met --- the tip of her nipple between them.
He broke off the kiss and immediately began to stammer. "I . . . I . . . been leery of relationships, um, I mean, prolonged relationships, ever since, um, Marilyn and I split up. I don't need the pain or the heartache that goes with the dissolution of a relationship, you know?"
"Whatever are you . . .?"
He squeezed her nipple a little harder, and she brought her thigh up, rubbing it hard against his crotch. Her fingers clawed at the back of his head, and they renewed the kiss, their tongues reaching, stroking, as they sought more from each other. He wanted to taste her, feel her nipple in his mouth. Pulling away from her lips, he started kissing down her neck, lazily running his tongue against her sweet skin. Her hands pushed the top of his head down, coaxing him, guiding him to where she wanted his mouth. He could smell her skin and her excitement, adding to his own.
He lifted her chin with his finger, looking into her watery eyes and tried reading her thoughts. It didn't work. He went on instinct.
"God, I want you more than I've ever wanted anything in my whole life, Rosa. I want to hold you until the end of time. I want to make you happy, share your victories and your disappointments. I wish I could express to you exactly what I feel for you, but I can't seem to find the words."
"You're doing pretty good so far," she whispered. A single tear rolled down her cheek.
"I love you." The words fell from his lips easily, and cupping her face in his hands, he leaned down and kissed her softly and then pulled back, brushing the tears back from her cheeks.
"Will you marry me?"
Rosa blinked back more tears, unable to think or talk.
She had a million things to say, or thought she did, but after a pause decided on a simple, "Thank you for asking. I accept, yes, I will marry you."
Only no words came out.
"Rosa, I said, will you marry me?"
"Marry you?" She croaked and cursed herself for her own ineptitude.
"Yes."
"Me?"
"Yes."
She struggled to say something, anything that wasn't inane and blurted, "I always wanted my guy to kneel down. You know, I mean a proposal has a kind of ritualistic bearing to it, right?"
"I guess . . ."
"So?"
He knelt down on one knee and looked up at her. "Rosa, will . . . will you do me the honor of accepting this proposal of marriage?"
"There's no ring," she said calmly, although her heart was racing faster than it ever had before.
"Pardon?"
"A ring . . . haven't you thought this out?" And she was immediately chagrined at her lack of decency. The poor guy was asking her to marry him and she had been hoping for weeks that he would. Why in God's name was she tormenting him now?"
"Oh shit . . . I forgot!" he said, reaching into his pocket.
In the next room, Kathy, eavesdropping as usual, lost her balance and fell on her ass, but neither Rosa nor Dutch heard a sound. Both were staring at the ring encased in the jeweler's box after he had pried it open.
"My God!" was the extent of Rosa's audible commentary, what she was actually thinking was indescribable.
"I know, I know, it's not the biggest ring in the world . . ."
She found her voice at last. "It isn't?" Her eyes were popping out of her head. Rosa had never seen anything close to this size diamond, nor had she ever heard of a stone this large other than the famous "Hope" Diamond and of course the rock Liz got from her Marc Anthony, better known as Richard Burton.
"Do you like it?"
"Like . . . it?" I absolutely adore it!" Kathy! Kathy come here, NOW!"
The door swung open and the young teen rushed in. "What? What? What?"
"Look, Look, Look!" she blurted, brandishing the ring for Kathy to see.
"Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Mama, you're engaged!"
"Yes! Yes!"
"How wonderful!"