Way Off Plan (Firsts and Forever 1)

“Holy Fuck,” I muttered, walking slowly around the Maserati. It was without a doubt the most beautiful car I’d ever seen. And actually, it suited Dmitri to a T – it was him in sports car form. I unlocked it and slid behind the wheel, and it took me a minute to determine where the key went. When I finally figured it out and the engine roared to life I giggled like a little kid, and cautiously put it in gear.

It was actually a bit challenging to get out of the tight parking lot, because every time I even grazed the gas pedal, the car wanted to launch itself like a rocket. And once I got it onto the street, it was all I could do to hold it – and myself – back.

So, ok I had to take the long way. But just by a few extra blocks. What I really wanted to do was take the car out to Highway One and open her up, but I didn’t.

Just a couple minutes after I should have arrived, I was pulling into the open garage of Dmitri’s palatial house, beside a big Land Rover. The pea green shit machine was parked in the driveway behind the Land Rover, and looked incredibly out of place. I got out of the Maserati and lightly ran a hand over the curve of the roof, then turned to Dmitri with a huge smile.

He’d stepped into the garage, grinning happily, and hit a button on the wall. The garage door slid shut behind me as I came up to him and kissed him. “Thank you,” I said sincerely. “That was epic.”

I held his keys out to him, and he tilted his head and said with a smile, “Keep it. You’ve gotten more enjoyment out of that car in the past fifteen minutes than I have in the past six months. You should have it.”

“Don’t tease me like that.” I continued to hold out the keys.

“I’m not teasing. It’s yours.”

I stared at him in disbelief, then scooped his hand up and deposited the keys in his palm. “If I thought for a moment you were serious, I’d be concerned for your mental health.”

He turned and led me into an enormous kitchen, my hand in his, as he said, “I’m perfectly serious, Jamie. Keep it. I like how happy it makes you.”

I stared at him as I said, “That’s very sweet, Dmitri. But I can’t possibly accept it.”

“Why not?”

“Why not? Because it’s too much. Way, way too much. Like totally over the top way, way too much. Thank you, though.”

He sighed and set the keys on the granite counter, obviously disappointed. “Ok, fine. Let me know if you change your mind.”

“Ok.” I smiled at him and pulled him to me, then kissed him before changing the subject. “So now that you have me here, what do you intend to do with me?” That was a question that really should have concerned me – I was now alone with a suspected criminal. But I just couldn’t see this man as a threat. There was no way.

“Well, first I intend to get you out of those tight jeans.” He grinned as he added, “They’ve got to be uncomfortable as hell, so I’ll lend you some sweats. Then I was thinking we’d have something to eat and maybe watch a movie. And don’t worry, I’m not going to throw myself at you, no matter how much I want to.”

“Yeah, a gorgeous guy throwing himself at me. That would be a worry,” I joked.

“You know what I mean. This isn’t all part of some grand scheme to take your virginity.”

“I’m only a ‘technical virgin.’ As you probably noticed, given tonight’s activities.” I felt incredibly naïve, and could only imagine how I must seem to this man. He had guys falling all over themselves for him, literally standing in line for a shot at being with him. It really made me wonder what the hell he was doing with me, frankly.

“It’s not a bad thing,” he said gently. “I actually think it’s kind of terrific. And I also think whoever you end up with for your first time is the luckiest son of a bitch on this planet.” He turned from me then and tugged my hand. “Now come on. Let’s get you changed before you pass out from lack of blood flow to your lower extremities.”

“I want you to know I never dress this way,” I told him as he led me up a back staircase. “This outfit was my friend Jess’s idea. She’s been trying to shove me head-first out into the dating world, and apparently she thought I’d have better luck if I dressed like a slut.”

“Remind me to thank your friend Jess, because you actually look amazing in that outfit,” Dmitri said, glancing at me with a little sparkle in his eye. “Maybe I should send her a Maserati as a way of thanking her for making you buy those clothes.”