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Jennifer woke up reluctantly. She was having the most wonderful dream about Rich. It was so vivid that she actually felt a bit sore and would swear she could still smell him. Smiling, she rolled over to turn off the alarm before it would sound, but couldn’t find her alarm clock. She opened her eyes, and saw the burned-down ends of several candles.
She whispered “Thank God,” and rolled over to find Richie looking at her.
“Mornin, darlin’,” he said, his voice all rumbly and low.
“Mornin’, yourself,” she replied, reaching out to stroke his stubble-roughened cheek. “It’s way too early for you. Go back to sleep. I’m gonna go jump in the shower.”
Richie pulled her in for a kiss that melted something in her brain. Why was she getting out of bed again? His hands roamed lower, and he very gently stroked at her clit. When Jennifer broke the kiss on a groan, Richie smiled.
“What’s the matter, baby?”
“Nothing”, she answered, smiling as he continued his light, teasing stroking.
“Tell me,” he said, looking at her face. She looked so content and so turned on; Richie felt himself starting to stir, and he should be dead after last night.
Jennifer shook her head. “Nope, nothing to tell.” She smiled a sly smile, and shifted her hips just a little to get him to stroke her just there.
“Tell me or I’ll take your advice and go back to sleep.” He leaned down to take a nipple into his mouth and swirled his tongue around its stiffened peak.
“Nothing at all in the world is wrong,” Jennifer said, “except that I have to go to work.” She turned to Richie, taking him in hand. “I’d much rather spend the day in bed with you.” She stroked him firmly, enjoying the silky feel of him in her hand.
Richie groaned and shut his eyes. “Are you sure you can’t play hooky today?”
Jennifer chuckled. “Baby, I’m sure. Besides, the day’ll give you time to rest up. Me too,” she added, when he cracked open an eye at her to give her a look.
“And just why do I have to rest up?”
Jennifer shrugged and dropped her hand. “No reason, just thought you’d be a little, um, drained after last night.”
Richie groaned and flipped the pillow out from under his head to smack her with it. “That was terrible!” he complained.
“Oh, c’mon,” Jennifer answered, laughing. “For 6:30 in the morning I think that’s pretty damned good.”
Richie rolled Jennifer on top of him, and she reached around his side to feel under the mattress. “What’re you doing?” he asked, a mischievous smile on his face.
Jennifer grinned back. “What? You don’t think I’m letting this hard-on go to waste, do you? Do I look stupid to you?” Richie laughed loudly at her, and gave her a smacking kiss. “What was that for?” she asked.
“You,” Richie said. “You are just too much.” He shifted a little so she could reach under the mattress, and she triumphantly came back with a little foil packet. She looked at it, then turned to look at his dick, standing fully at attention now. “What?” Richie asked. Surely she wasn’t going to change her mind now.
She grinned and scooted back so she was straddling his legs. She leaned down and took the tip of him into her mouth, and wrapped her hand around his base. They moved in tandem, making Richie groan appreciatively. He reached for her but she gently batted his hands away. Releasing him for a moment, she looked at him. “I want to taste you,” she said, licking her lips for emphasis. “Please.”
“How can I deny you that?” Richie said smirking, and dropped his hands, thanking every god he could think of for the strange set of circumstances that brought her into his life. She dropped her mouth onto him again, and with lip-covered teeth, clamped down on him, and moved her head up and down. Richie groaned, and his head lolled to one side. Jennifer smiled and increased the suction and the pressure of her hand. With her free hand, she cupped his balls, rolling them lightly. She felt his legs start to stiffen, and she increased the pace of her mouth. Richie’s breathing became shallow, and she could feel his balls tighten, and she smiled. With a last groan, he exploded in her mouth. Jennifer sucked greedily, moaning in appreciation of his flavor. The vibrations from her moan made Richie arch on the bed with a “Damn baby” before collapsing. Jennifer drew back, giving him a final squeeze for good measure, and waited until he was looking at her before running a finger across her lips and into her mouth.
“Mmmm,” she said. “Dessert for breakfast. I like it.”
Richie chuckled and dumped her off his lap, rolling her to her side. He slid his hand down her belly and into her folds, finding her wet and wanting. He tugged gently on the ring before skimming her flesh with a light touch. He was barely touching her, yet igniting her senses. Her hips raised, begging him silently to dip deeper into her.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
Jennifer grabbed Richie’s wrist, and stilled his hand. She positioned him where she wanted him, and pushed his first two fingers into her slowly. Richie watched her face, caught somewhere between embarrassment and arousal. She knew what she wanted, and that was extremely sexy. The fact that she was a little shy about showing him was endearing and refreshing. He was going to tease her about it, but decided against it. He didn’t want her to feel like she couldn’t tell him, or show him, what she wanted. He slowly drew his hand back and forth, watching her chin hitch and listening to her gasp.
Richie leaned down to flick his tongue lightly over her breast, circling but not quite touching her nipple. Jennifer gasped, and slowly crept a hand down between her legs. Richie watched as she pressed the little gold ball into her clit and held it there while he pumped her slowly. “More,” she whispered softly, and Richie slid a third finger into her. He pushed hard, twisting his hand a little, and Jennifer bowed up from the mattress, his name on her lips on a long, drawn out moan. She shuddered and pulsed around his hand, and when she settled, he withdrew from her slowly, and waited for her to look at him before raising his hand to his lips and licking his fingers.
“Sweet,” he said, as he closed his eyes in pleasure at her taste.
Jennifer curled into his embrace, and pulled herself toward him so her body was touching him from chest to toes. Richie stroked her back for a few minutes, and felt her relax. He wanted nothing more than to lay in bed with her for the rest of the day, but knew she took her responsibilities seriously, so gently shook her. “Jennifer, sweetheart, don’t go to sleep. You said you need to get up.”
Jennifer groaned sleepily. “But damn, baby, you’re just so warm and comfortable, and your arms around me make me want to never leave.” She cuddled closer to him, and Richie had to swallow against a lump in his throat.
“You feel good in my arms, Jennifer. I don’t want you to leave either,” he said, and for a moment, almost said, “ever” but didn’t. He was shocked that the word was going to roll right off his tongue, and even more surprised that he thought he meant it.
Jennifer sighed. “Alright, I’ll get up, but you have to promise we’ll go to bed early tonight.”
Richie laughed. “That, my dear, would in no way be a hardship.” He kissed the top of her head and reluctantly let her go. “Need any help in the shower?”
Jennifer laughed. “’Need’ is a strong word. ‘Want’ is more like it.” She blushed. “But you should get some more sleep.”
She rolled off her side of the bed and stood, pressing her hands to the small of her back and stretching.
Richie got out of bed and followed Jennifer to the bathroom. They shared a shower, washing each other’s hair and bodies, and kissing tenderly. When they were done and dried, Jennifer went into the other room to get dressed. She still couldn’t believe he had bought her clothes so she could stay with him last night. She pulled on her lingerie, smiling because he got the sizes perfectly correct, and sat to pull on her hose. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. She looked more relaxed this morning than she had in a good long while. She wondered if people would notice.
The dress fit like a dream, and in deference to Richie’s request, let her hair flow loose around her. She could always wind it up if it got in the way at work. She came into the living area in time to see Richie bringing his bags from the other room. He stopped what he was doing when she walked in. “Damn, I have good taste in women’s clothes,” he said. “Spin for me.”
Jennifer giggled and spun around, so he could see the whole effect. “It is beautiful. Thank you, but you know you didn’t have to do that.”
Richie crossed to her and kissed her. “I know, but I didn’t want you to have to leave last night.” He handed her a small tote. “The stuff from the bathroom,” he said. “Did I forget anything?”
Jennifer went back into the bedroom and looked around. All their stuff appeared to be gathered up. “Nope, we’re all set.”
They went down to the car, and the driver put their gear in the trunk. Jennifer was scribbling something in her folio and checking her blackberry for most of the ride. Richie just smile and let her be. When they pulled to a stop outside Jennifer’s building, she gave the driver her address, and he dialed it into the GPS. She gave Richie a key ring, and a slip of paper. “That’s the gate code and the alarm code. You’ve got about 30 seconds once you open the door to punch in the code. Make yourself at home in my home, and if you can’t find something, give me a call.” She kissed him sweetly. “In case I forgot to tell you, I had a wonderful day yesterday, and I’m so glad you came to visit me.”
“I’m glad, too,” Richie said, kissing her again before letting her out of the car. “What time will you be home?”
“If I get out of her on time, around six. I’ll call you when I get back to my car.”
“OK. Have a good day at work, dear,” he said in a teasing tone.
“Thank you sweetheart,” she said, rolling her eyes. They shared a smile and another kiss, and Jennifer trotted up the steps to her building. She waved once and ducked inside.
Her Dessert
Jennifer moved her hair back to the other side, letting it fall on Richie’s chest again, and pushed his thighs apart. She crawled over his leg to settle in between them, taking his dick between her breasts, and sliding up and down on him. The rough hair of his legs scraped her over-sensitized nipples, and she could feel another orgasm starting to build. When Richie’s breathing became extremely labored, she leaned down to kiss the drops of moisture away from his cockhead, which was turning purple. “Now, baby, stay still,” she said. She took the tip of him into her mouth and he groaned. She inched down over him, and it was all he could do not to thrust into her when he felt himself touching the back of her throat. Jennifer took a deep breath levered up on her knees to stretch her throat, and swallowed slowly, taking him deeper still.
“Oh sweet fuck,” Richie breathed, trembling from the exertion of not moving.
“Mmmmmm,” Jennifer murmured in agreement and the vibrations of her voice and tonsils along his steel shaft was almost too much, but he didn’t want to let go until he was fully seated in her. She inched forward more still, slowly swallowing his length until her nose hit hair. Richie held his breath, waiting to see what she was going to do. She sucked hard and swallowed, quickly over and over, and the ripples of motion were his undoing.
“Jennifer, darlin’......oh fuck......baby......Jesus....OH!” he yelled as he exploded deep in her throat. Jennifer made a happy little purring noise and held fast to his ass when he would have bucked her off of him with his jerks and twitches. She kept at it until he settled, then let him slip out with an extra-hard suck for good measure.
“Oh hell,” she said, pouting. “I hardly got to taste any of it.” She sighed. “Guess we’ll have to do that again.” Richie didn’t have the energy to chuckle. He just pulled her to him, draped her hair over him again, and held tight. A few minutes later, Richie felt Jennifer grow heavy in his arms, and found his voice.
“Baby, you still in there?” he asked her.
“Mmm-hmm” she murmured sleepily. “Sorry, you’re just so comfortable and I feel so happy and safe right now…. guess I started to drift off there for a moment.”
Richie started tracing light circles on Jennifer’s shoulder, smiling at the way her words touched him. The gentle caress had her squirming and shuddering. Though she tried to hide it, Richie felt every tremor. He shifted them so they were lying facing each other, and drew up each of Jennifer’s legs to take the shoes off her. He knelt up and unclipped the stockings from her belt and rolled them off. He finally unhooked the belt itself and dropped it over the side of the bed.
While Richie was finishing undressing her, Jennifer was lightly scratching her fingers up and down Richie’s thighs, reveling in the sound they made against his skin. She watched, fascinated, as he grew harder and bigger. She reached out to touch him again, and Richie stopped her.
“Darlin’, I need to feel you around me, to bury myself in you,” he said. “In here,” he clarified, sliding two fingers into her and pumping her slowly.
Jennifer’s eyes closed briefly as sensation flooded her body. “I don’t know,” she said, trying to put doubt in her voice, but failing miserably. “I don’t think you’re gonna fit all of this,” she gripped him for emphasis, “in there.”
“We’ll see,” Richie said, sliding a third finger inside her, making her groan appreciatively. “I think it’ll be okay.” He picked up the pace a little, and Jennifer was starting to breathe heavily. Richie reached under the mattress for a condom and Jennifer took it from him. She tore open the little packet and rolled the sheath on him slowly, torturing him like he was her.
She pulled him toward her, and Richie removed his fingers from her body. He poised the bulbous tip of his erection against her opening, and pushed gently. Jennifer groaned as the unyielding hardness pressed into her. She shifted her hips, and he slid a little more easily, but met resistance from her muscles before he was all he way inside her. Jennifer jerked her hips up, taking him all the way in, and she gasped. She had never felt this full before, and she had a drawer full of toys she would never use again. Not after this. They paled in comparison.
“Oh damn, Rich, you feel so goooood,” Jennifer moaned, and started clenching at him with her inner walls. Richie braced his hands on either side of her head and started a slow roll of his hips that had Jennifer spasming in minutes, crying his name. Richie flipped them so she was astride him, and let her rest for a minute on his chest before urging her up to ride him. She obliged, undulating on him like the sensuous creature she was. Her head tipped back, and the edges of her hair grazed his balls.
“Oh sweet hell, Jennifer,” he gritted out. “Your hair is killing me.”
She smiled and brought it forward so it was over her shoulder and pooled on his chest. She kept up her ride until she felt another orgasm fast approaching. Richie could feel it too, she slickened with moisture, and he moved easily in her now. He flipped them again, and put her ankles up on his shoulders. Grabbing her hands, he quickened his motions, pumping her faster. Her cries of please grew more fervent, but softer. She was going. He felt her clench him tightly, nearly expelling him, but he pushed past her and that was it. She shattered into a trillion little pieces, and flew across the room. Just when she thought she’d have to beg him to stop, his release came, and with it, a long, low grunt that she would hear in her dreams long after he tired of her.
He withdrew from her carefully, and took care of the condom before pulling her to him and wrapping her in his arms. “Wow,” he said, kissing her passionately.
“I think that’s my line,” Jennifer answered, laughing. The two held onto each other and started to drift off to sleep. The last thing Richie remembered doing was hitching the covers up around them, and smiling as he floated into the abyss.
“Rich,” Jennifer said some time later, her voice thick with sleep. “Wake up, I’ve gotta go home.”
“No,” Richie said, pulling her closer to him and throwing a leg over her hip for good measure.
Jennifer chuckled. “I have to go to work tomorrow – ugh today – and I am NOT wearing the same suit back to work.”
“Don’t have to,” Richie replied, tracing Jennifer’s ear with his tongue. “Went shopping today.”
“What?” Jennifer tried to sit up, but Richie wouldn’t let her.
“Shhhh,” he said then sighed. “I bought you a very tasteful dress to wear to work tomorrow. It’s in the closet in the other room, along with under-things, and the saleswoman said it would match your shoes. Makeup and shower shit are in the bathroom.” He chuckled and nuzzled her neck again. “I needed something to do; I was bored.”
Jennifer was touched, and tears sprang to her eyes. “How did you know what to get? Size-wise I mean?”
“I took care of you for two days. Think that didn’t include picking up after you?” He smiled. “Go check it out. If you don’t like it, I’ll take you home, and we can sleep there.”
Jennifer got out of bed and padded through the living area to the other bedroom. She opened the closet and gasped. A silk sundress, rose-colored with gray flowers, hung there. The skirt was full and would hang to her ankles, and the bodice dipped low enough to be inappropriate if there wasn’t a strip of lace across the cleavage. There was a matching sweater hanging next to the dress. She looked in the bathroom and found her brand of hair and body products, makeup, brushes…she started to cry in earnest. Nobody had ever been this thoughtful – not even her ex-husband. Sniffling, she made her way back to their room and slid into bed.
“Everything okay out there, darlin’?” Richie asked.
Jennifer didn’t trust her voice, so she just wrapped herself in him and nodded against his chest.
“Good,” he said, and rolled toward her. He had sheathed himself while she was gone, and he slowly pushed into her, feeling her muscles reluctantly take his length. “Is that hurting you?”
“No,” Jennifer whispered, and wrapped her legs around his waist.
Riche stroked slowly and gently in and out of her, making her writhe. “Faster,” she begged. Richie obliged. He stroked faster, but with no more force. Frustrated, Jennifer raised her hips to meet his thrusts. “Harder,” she pleaded. Richie waited a few moments more, to make sure she was relaxed enough that he wouldn’t hurt her, and pulled out until he was almost free of her body, then slammed home, making Jennifer scream.
“Shit, did that hurt?”
“No you ass,” Jennifer answered. “Do it again.”
Richie obliged. Again and again, he pounded into her; as her screams got louder and more desperate. Finally, Richie captured her mouth and swallowed her screams, and when she went over the edge, the rippling of her orgasm took him with her, and he pulsed with release. He stayed seated within her until they both relaxed somewhat, but it was still difficult to disengage, as Jennifer had clamped down on him. Richie laughed.
“You’ve gotta relax, darlin’,” he said, “unless you want to sleep like this.”
Jennifer took a deep breath. “I’m trying,” she said laughing when her “attempt” squeezed him more, making his eyes roll back.
“Don’t laugh,” he hissed. “It just squeezes more.”
“Well,” Jennifer said, trying to stay calm, “you’re starting to slip, and it tickles, and AH!” she laughed and squirmed as Richie slipped free of her body. He quickly took care of the condom and turned back to Jennifer. He smiled and grazed a finger across her hip bone. Jennifer smacked at his hand. “Cut it out!” she said. He smiled and did it again, and again she smacked him again. “NO!” she laughed, trying to keep up with his hand as it moved to touch her anywhere her protesting hands weren’t.
After a few more minutes of teasing, Richie kissed Jennifer briefly on the lips, and gathered her in close. “Good night, sweetheart,” he said to her.
“Good night, honey,” she answered, kissing his chest and smiling. “You sure do know how to celebrate.”
“Oh sweet fuck,” Richie breathed, trembling from the exertion of not moving.
“Mmmmmm,” Jennifer murmured in agreement and the vibrations of her voice and tonsils along his steel shaft was almost too much, but he didn’t want to let go until he was fully seated in her. She inched forward more still, slowly swallowing his length until her nose hit hair. Richie held his breath, waiting to see what she was going to do. She sucked hard and swallowed, quickly over and over, and the ripples of motion were his undoing.
“Jennifer, darlin’......oh fuck......baby......Jesus....OH!” he yelled as he exploded deep in her throat. Jennifer made a happy little purring noise and held fast to his ass when he would have bucked her off of him with his jerks and twitches. She kept at it until he settled, then let him slip out with an extra-hard suck for good measure.
“Oh hell,” she said, pouting. “I hardly got to taste any of it.” She sighed. “Guess we’ll have to do that again.” Richie didn’t have the energy to chuckle. He just pulled her to him, draped her hair over him again, and held tight. A few minutes later, Richie felt Jennifer grow heavy in his arms, and found his voice.
“Baby, you still in there?” he asked her.
“Mmm-hmm” she murmured sleepily. “Sorry, you’re just so comfortable and I feel so happy and safe right now…. guess I started to drift off there for a moment.”
Richie started tracing light circles on Jennifer’s shoulder, smiling at the way her words touched him. The gentle caress had her squirming and shuddering. Though she tried to hide it, Richie felt every tremor. He shifted them so they were lying facing each other, and drew up each of Jennifer’s legs to take the shoes off her. He knelt up and unclipped the stockings from her belt and rolled them off. He finally unhooked the belt itself and dropped it over the side of the bed.
While Richie was finishing undressing her, Jennifer was lightly scratching her fingers up and down Richie’s thighs, reveling in the sound they made against his skin. She watched, fascinated, as he grew harder and bigger. She reached out to touch him again, and Richie stopped her.
“Darlin’, I need to feel you around me, to bury myself in you,” he said. “In here,” he clarified, sliding two fingers into her and pumping her slowly.
Jennifer’s eyes closed briefly as sensation flooded her body. “I don’t know,” she said, trying to put doubt in her voice, but failing miserably. “I don’t think you’re gonna fit all of this,” she gripped him for emphasis, “in there.”
“We’ll see,” Richie said, sliding a third finger inside her, making her groan appreciatively. “I think it’ll be okay.” He picked up the pace a little, and Jennifer was starting to breathe heavily. Richie reached under the mattress for a condom and Jennifer took it from him. She tore open the little packet and rolled the sheath on him slowly, torturing him like he was her.
She pulled him toward her, and Richie removed his fingers from her body. He poised the bulbous tip of his erection against her opening, and pushed gently. Jennifer groaned as the unyielding hardness pressed into her. She shifted her hips, and he slid a little more easily, but met resistance from her muscles before he was all he way inside her. Jennifer jerked her hips up, taking him all the way in, and she gasped. She had never felt this full before, and she had a drawer full of toys she would never use again. Not after this. They paled in comparison.
“Oh damn, Rich, you feel so goooood,” Jennifer moaned, and started clenching at him with her inner walls. Richie braced his hands on either side of her head and started a slow roll of his hips that had Jennifer spasming in minutes, crying his name. Richie flipped them so she was astride him, and let her rest for a minute on his chest before urging her up to ride him. She obliged, undulating on him like the sensuous creature she was. Her head tipped back, and the edges of her hair grazed his balls.
“Oh sweet hell, Jennifer,” he gritted out. “Your hair is killing me.”
She smiled and brought it forward so it was over her shoulder and pooled on his chest. She kept up her ride until she felt another orgasm fast approaching. Richie could feel it too, she slickened with moisture, and he moved easily in her now. He flipped them again, and put her ankles up on his shoulders. Grabbing her hands, he quickened his motions, pumping her faster. Her cries of please grew more fervent, but softer. She was going. He felt her clench him tightly, nearly expelling him, but he pushed past her and that was it. She shattered into a trillion little pieces, and flew across the room. Just when she thought she’d have to beg him to stop, his release came, and with it, a long, low grunt that she would hear in her dreams long after he tired of her.
He withdrew from her carefully, and took care of the condom before pulling her to him and wrapping her in his arms. “Wow,” he said, kissing her passionately.
“I think that’s my line,” Jennifer answered, laughing. The two held onto each other and started to drift off to sleep. The last thing Richie remembered doing was hitching the covers up around them, and smiling as he floated into the abyss.
“Rich,” Jennifer said some time later, her voice thick with sleep. “Wake up, I’ve gotta go home.”
“No,” Richie said, pulling her closer to him and throwing a leg over her hip for good measure.
Jennifer chuckled. “I have to go to work tomorrow – ugh today – and I am NOT wearing the same suit back to work.”
“Don’t have to,” Richie replied, tracing Jennifer’s ear with his tongue. “Went shopping today.”
“What?” Jennifer tried to sit up, but Richie wouldn’t let her.
“Shhhh,” he said then sighed. “I bought you a very tasteful dress to wear to work tomorrow. It’s in the closet in the other room, along with under-things, and the saleswoman said it would match your shoes. Makeup and shower shit are in the bathroom.” He chuckled and nuzzled her neck again. “I needed something to do; I was bored.”
Jennifer was touched, and tears sprang to her eyes. “How did you know what to get? Size-wise I mean?”
“I took care of you for two days. Think that didn’t include picking up after you?” He smiled. “Go check it out. If you don’t like it, I’ll take you home, and we can sleep there.”
Jennifer got out of bed and padded through the living area to the other bedroom. She opened the closet and gasped. A silk sundress, rose-colored with gray flowers, hung there. The skirt was full and would hang to her ankles, and the bodice dipped low enough to be inappropriate if there wasn’t a strip of lace across the cleavage. There was a matching sweater hanging next to the dress. She looked in the bathroom and found her brand of hair and body products, makeup, brushes…she started to cry in earnest. Nobody had ever been this thoughtful – not even her ex-husband. Sniffling, she made her way back to their room and slid into bed.
“Everything okay out there, darlin’?” Richie asked.
Jennifer didn’t trust her voice, so she just wrapped herself in him and nodded against his chest.
“Good,” he said, and rolled toward her. He had sheathed himself while she was gone, and he slowly pushed into her, feeling her muscles reluctantly take his length. “Is that hurting you?”
“No,” Jennifer whispered, and wrapped her legs around his waist.
Riche stroked slowly and gently in and out of her, making her writhe. “Faster,” she begged. Richie obliged. He stroked faster, but with no more force. Frustrated, Jennifer raised her hips to meet his thrusts. “Harder,” she pleaded. Richie waited a few moments more, to make sure she was relaxed enough that he wouldn’t hurt her, and pulled out until he was almost free of her body, then slammed home, making Jennifer scream.
“Shit, did that hurt?”
“No you ass,” Jennifer answered. “Do it again.”
Richie obliged. Again and again, he pounded into her; as her screams got louder and more desperate. Finally, Richie captured her mouth and swallowed her screams, and when she went over the edge, the rippling of her orgasm took him with her, and he pulsed with release. He stayed seated within her until they both relaxed somewhat, but it was still difficult to disengage, as Jennifer had clamped down on him. Richie laughed.
“You’ve gotta relax, darlin’,” he said, “unless you want to sleep like this.”
Jennifer took a deep breath. “I’m trying,” she said laughing when her “attempt” squeezed him more, making his eyes roll back.
“Don’t laugh,” he hissed. “It just squeezes more.”
“Well,” Jennifer said, trying to stay calm, “you’re starting to slip, and it tickles, and AH!” she laughed and squirmed as Richie slipped free of her body. He quickly took care of the condom and turned back to Jennifer. He smiled and grazed a finger across her hip bone. Jennifer smacked at his hand. “Cut it out!” she said. He smiled and did it again, and again she smacked him again. “NO!” she laughed, trying to keep up with his hand as it moved to touch her anywhere her protesting hands weren’t.
After a few more minutes of teasing, Richie kissed Jennifer briefly on the lips, and gathered her in close. “Good night, sweetheart,” he said to her.
“Good night, honey,” she answered, kissing his chest and smiling. “You sure do know how to celebrate.”
His Dessert
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Richie pressed Jennifer against the back wall of the elevator, bracing his elbows on either side of her head, and mashed his mouth to hers. She parted her lips immediately to accept his tongue, and he could taste the remnants of the shrimp on her; it was delicious. Jennifer wrapped her arms around Richie’s back and pulled him closer, whimpering when he ground his erection into her.
Richie chuckled, breaking their kiss. “Jennifer, you’re gonna be doing a whole lot more than whimpering before I’m done with you,” he said softly, and kissed her again.
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open to reveal a startled older couple. Richie tore his mouth away from Jennifer’s, and turned his head to look out the doors. “Sorry,” Richie said, quickly pressing the button to make the doors close. “Elevator’s full.” He had his mouth back on Jennifer even as the couple sputtered and muttered about inconsiderate kids. He pulled her hair free from its confines again. “Please, leave it down for me,” he said gently. “Always wear it down for me.”
“Only if you kiss me again,” Jennifer rasped.
Richie happily obliged. This time, when the elevator dinged, it was on his floor. He pulled Jennifer along in his wake, their long legs evenly matched. They made it up the hallway in fewer than a dozen steps, and he fumbled in his pockets looking for the key. Jennifer, trying to be helpful, pressed against Richie’s back and thrust her hands into his pants pockets. Richie hissed and swore between clenched teeth. “Jesus, Jen, don’t do that. You’re likely to make me go off right here.”
“That’s only fair,” she said, moving her hand until she found his hard length. She squeezed him gently. “Considering I’m so wet already…” She smiled at his quick intake of breath and withdrew her hands.
Richie found the keycard in his shirt pocket, and got the door open. Jennifer all but pushed Richie through it, and slammed it shut behind her. She looked at him with a positively possessive stare, and stalked toward him, unbuttoning her jacket. He backed away playfully, smiling like a fool. He crooked a finger, and she followed, kicking off her shoes as she went. As they passed the dining table, Jennifer slipped her jacket off and draped it across the back of one of the chairs. Richie slid his jacket off and tossed it, landing it on the couch in a heap.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, baby, how careless,” Jennifer said, crossing to the couch. She bent over at the waist to pick it up, bending far more than what was necessary, and looked back over her shoulder at him and winked. Richie growled and crossed the room.
“Leave the damned thing,” he said roughly, pulling her upright and into his arms.
Jennifer let out a startled “Oh!” as she was pulled into a strong, solid embrace. She grinned as he kissed her again, and she pushed back so her fingers could travel to the knot at his neck. “I can’t believe you wore this,” she said, loosening the knot, and sliding the tail out. She slid the tie through the collar, and looped it around her own neck.
“I love it,” Richie said, fingering the silk. His fingers traveled down the length of the tie, scraping over her nipples, and she braced herself on his forearms. He pulled the pink silk shell from the waistband of Jennifer’s skirt and raised it up and over her head. The tie stayed behind, dark against the pale, almost translucent pink of her bra. Richie compared the design on the tie to its twin on her abdomen and smiled. “Perfect match,” he said, stroking her skin.
Jennifer shivered and started unbuttoning Richie’s shirt. “As much as I love you dressed up,” she said, “I much prefer to see your chest.” She spread the plackets of his shirt wide, and ran her hands from his neck to his shoulders, and down over his taut pecs. She scratched her nails lightly down his ribs, and smiled when he flinched. She circled his navel and pushed her fingers up his abs and back up his pecs to link them behind his neck. She licked at his Adam’s apple and pressed kisses along his jaw until she came to his mouth.
Richie trembled at her exploration, her fingers leaving trails of fire in their wake. When she started kissing his jaw, he grabbed her head and repositioned it so he could plunder her mouth with his tongue. He unhooked her bra and peeled the straps down and off her arms without breaking their kiss. Chest to chest, they stumbled and circled around the suite until they crashed into one of the bedroom doors. Chucking, they both fumbled for the knob and turned it together, spilling into the room.
Jennifer gasped. White candles flickered on every flat surface; from the bedside tables to the dressers to the deep window sills. Tall bouquets of long-stemmed white roses flanked either side of the marble fireplace. “Oh, Rich, it’s gorgeous,” she said, forgetting she was half-naked and walking around the perimeter of the room. She stopped by the bed, which was turned down invitingly and looked at him.
“I wanted everything to be perfect,” he said, flipping on the radio. Soft jazz wafted through the hidden speakers, the saxophone jacking the sexual tension three notches higher than it already was. Richie held his arms open, and Jennifer flew to him, letting him wrap her up in his embrace. They danced and kissed and touched and were panting by the middle of the second song. Richie finally reached for the zipper on the back of her skirt. He slowly lowered the tab, and let it drop to the floor. He gasped when he saw her lingerie. Her panties, if they could be called that, matched the scrap of lace that now lay on the floor in the living area. They were worn over a pink garter belt with black clips. “Oh my God, Jennifer,” he said as he took in the sight before him. “Where are your shoes?” he asked.
Blushing, Jennifer answered, “By the door.”
Without another word, Richie bolted from the room, and Jennifer sat on the edge of the bed. He was back before she could bring her arms up to cover her breasts. He knelt at her feet slipped first one than the other high-heeled shoe on her feet. He pressed kisses to her silk-covered thigh, and looked up into her face. He hooked his index fingers into the elastic on either side of her hips, and Jennifer raised them so he could pull the scrap of lace down, following its progress with his eyes. He tossed them behind him and trailed his fingertips up her inner thighs.
Jennifer’s breath hitched in her throat. He was barely touching her and she was ready to cum.
Richie’s gaze traveled back up the length of her legs and he gasped when he saw a glint of gold in between. “Is that?” he started to ask; touching the ring gently with a fingertip. The ring was thin with a small ball-bearing sized gold ball on it that would rest against her clit and press into her when she wore panties.
Jennifer nodded. “Yep,” she said softly. “It is.”
“Did it hurt?” he asked, flicking the ring up and down, and making Jennifer squirm.
“No more than the upper ear piercing did,” she said, her breath coming in pants now. “Though I am far more sensitive now….ahhhh,” she finished; so close to release, she could almost taste it.
Richie smiled. “Are you now,” he said, and leaned in to touch the very tip of his tongue to her clit. A high, keening moan escaped Jennifer’s lips, and she grabbed Richie’s hair, intending to pull him away. He gently removed her hands, and nudged her thighs further apart.
“Rich,” she sighed, as he spread her and licked at her core, tasting her juices. He groaned at her sweetness. Richie worried the gold ring with his tongue, alternating between pressing it into her and flipping it up so he could suck on her clit. He eased a finger into her, and she screamed, exploding and pulsing around him. “God, Ri-i-i-i-ich…..” she growled low in her throat, falling back on the bed. He smiled and slid a second finger into her, pumping her gently, and easing her up and over another peak. He watched her head thrashing back and forth, and wanted to be the flush crawling up over her body.
Richie waited until the spasms subsided, then stood and picked Jennifer up, bringing her around the side of the bed and laying her gently down on the pillows. Through a haze of passion, she watched as he unfastened his pants and let them drop to the floor. Jennifer gasped at the sight of him, and purred at the thought of him filling and stretching her. “You are beautiful,” she said, reaching for him. “Absolutely, beautiful.” Richie slid into bed alongside Jennifer, propping his head up on his hand.
She played her fingers over the contours of his body. Skimming his erection lightly, she smiled. He was so big; standing out proudly from a thatch of hair dark as midnight. She encircled him with her hand and only because of her acrylics was she able to touch fingertips around him. She stroked him gently from tip to base and back again, and Richie slumped against the pillows, and closed his eyes. Jennifer smiled and pushed at his shoulder gently, getting him to lie on his back. She kissed his lips and started a slow trail of kisses down his neck and chest, stopping along the way to gently bite and pull at his nipples. She continued kissing down his stomach, nibbling on the ridges of muscle, and finding out Richie was ticklish.
Richie pushed his hand under Jennifer’s hair, and lifted it so it would cascade across his chest as she made love to him with her mouth. He groaned at the combination of the feel of her hair on his skin, and the feel of her mouth on his engorged cock. Jennifer was licking him from base to tip, sucking just the head into her hot mouth, and swirling her tongue around his slit. “Jennifer, darlin’,” he rasped, “you keep that up and I’m not going to be able to control myself.”
Jennifer let him fall from her mouth, and flipped her hair back behind her, so it trailed across his thighs. His cock jumped as some of it landed there, too. “Rich, you got to have your dessert,” she said evilly. “I want mine, too.”
Richie chuckled, breaking their kiss. “Jennifer, you’re gonna be doing a whole lot more than whimpering before I’m done with you,” he said softly, and kissed her again.
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open to reveal a startled older couple. Richie tore his mouth away from Jennifer’s, and turned his head to look out the doors. “Sorry,” Richie said, quickly pressing the button to make the doors close. “Elevator’s full.” He had his mouth back on Jennifer even as the couple sputtered and muttered about inconsiderate kids. He pulled her hair free from its confines again. “Please, leave it down for me,” he said gently. “Always wear it down for me.”
“Only if you kiss me again,” Jennifer rasped.
Richie happily obliged. This time, when the elevator dinged, it was on his floor. He pulled Jennifer along in his wake, their long legs evenly matched. They made it up the hallway in fewer than a dozen steps, and he fumbled in his pockets looking for the key. Jennifer, trying to be helpful, pressed against Richie’s back and thrust her hands into his pants pockets. Richie hissed and swore between clenched teeth. “Jesus, Jen, don’t do that. You’re likely to make me go off right here.”
“That’s only fair,” she said, moving her hand until she found his hard length. She squeezed him gently. “Considering I’m so wet already…” She smiled at his quick intake of breath and withdrew her hands.
Richie found the keycard in his shirt pocket, and got the door open. Jennifer all but pushed Richie through it, and slammed it shut behind her. She looked at him with a positively possessive stare, and stalked toward him, unbuttoning her jacket. He backed away playfully, smiling like a fool. He crooked a finger, and she followed, kicking off her shoes as she went. As they passed the dining table, Jennifer slipped her jacket off and draped it across the back of one of the chairs. Richie slid his jacket off and tossed it, landing it on the couch in a heap.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, baby, how careless,” Jennifer said, crossing to the couch. She bent over at the waist to pick it up, bending far more than what was necessary, and looked back over her shoulder at him and winked. Richie growled and crossed the room.
“Leave the damned thing,” he said roughly, pulling her upright and into his arms.
Jennifer let out a startled “Oh!” as she was pulled into a strong, solid embrace. She grinned as he kissed her again, and she pushed back so her fingers could travel to the knot at his neck. “I can’t believe you wore this,” she said, loosening the knot, and sliding the tail out. She slid the tie through the collar, and looped it around her own neck.
“I love it,” Richie said, fingering the silk. His fingers traveled down the length of the tie, scraping over her nipples, and she braced herself on his forearms. He pulled the pink silk shell from the waistband of Jennifer’s skirt and raised it up and over her head. The tie stayed behind, dark against the pale, almost translucent pink of her bra. Richie compared the design on the tie to its twin on her abdomen and smiled. “Perfect match,” he said, stroking her skin.
Jennifer shivered and started unbuttoning Richie’s shirt. “As much as I love you dressed up,” she said, “I much prefer to see your chest.” She spread the plackets of his shirt wide, and ran her hands from his neck to his shoulders, and down over his taut pecs. She scratched her nails lightly down his ribs, and smiled when he flinched. She circled his navel and pushed her fingers up his abs and back up his pecs to link them behind his neck. She licked at his Adam’s apple and pressed kisses along his jaw until she came to his mouth.
Richie trembled at her exploration, her fingers leaving trails of fire in their wake. When she started kissing his jaw, he grabbed her head and repositioned it so he could plunder her mouth with his tongue. He unhooked her bra and peeled the straps down and off her arms without breaking their kiss. Chest to chest, they stumbled and circled around the suite until they crashed into one of the bedroom doors. Chucking, they both fumbled for the knob and turned it together, spilling into the room.
Jennifer gasped. White candles flickered on every flat surface; from the bedside tables to the dressers to the deep window sills. Tall bouquets of long-stemmed white roses flanked either side of the marble fireplace. “Oh, Rich, it’s gorgeous,” she said, forgetting she was half-naked and walking around the perimeter of the room. She stopped by the bed, which was turned down invitingly and looked at him.
“I wanted everything to be perfect,” he said, flipping on the radio. Soft jazz wafted through the hidden speakers, the saxophone jacking the sexual tension three notches higher than it already was. Richie held his arms open, and Jennifer flew to him, letting him wrap her up in his embrace. They danced and kissed and touched and were panting by the middle of the second song. Richie finally reached for the zipper on the back of her skirt. He slowly lowered the tab, and let it drop to the floor. He gasped when he saw her lingerie. Her panties, if they could be called that, matched the scrap of lace that now lay on the floor in the living area. They were worn over a pink garter belt with black clips. “Oh my God, Jennifer,” he said as he took in the sight before him. “Where are your shoes?” he asked.
Blushing, Jennifer answered, “By the door.”
Without another word, Richie bolted from the room, and Jennifer sat on the edge of the bed. He was back before she could bring her arms up to cover her breasts. He knelt at her feet slipped first one than the other high-heeled shoe on her feet. He pressed kisses to her silk-covered thigh, and looked up into her face. He hooked his index fingers into the elastic on either side of her hips, and Jennifer raised them so he could pull the scrap of lace down, following its progress with his eyes. He tossed them behind him and trailed his fingertips up her inner thighs.
Jennifer’s breath hitched in her throat. He was barely touching her and she was ready to cum.
Richie’s gaze traveled back up the length of her legs and he gasped when he saw a glint of gold in between. “Is that?” he started to ask; touching the ring gently with a fingertip. The ring was thin with a small ball-bearing sized gold ball on it that would rest against her clit and press into her when she wore panties.
Jennifer nodded. “Yep,” she said softly. “It is.”
“Did it hurt?” he asked, flicking the ring up and down, and making Jennifer squirm.
“No more than the upper ear piercing did,” she said, her breath coming in pants now. “Though I am far more sensitive now….ahhhh,” she finished; so close to release, she could almost taste it.
Richie smiled. “Are you now,” he said, and leaned in to touch the very tip of his tongue to her clit. A high, keening moan escaped Jennifer’s lips, and she grabbed Richie’s hair, intending to pull him away. He gently removed her hands, and nudged her thighs further apart.
“Rich,” she sighed, as he spread her and licked at her core, tasting her juices. He groaned at her sweetness. Richie worried the gold ring with his tongue, alternating between pressing it into her and flipping it up so he could suck on her clit. He eased a finger into her, and she screamed, exploding and pulsing around him. “God, Ri-i-i-i-ich…..” she growled low in her throat, falling back on the bed. He smiled and slid a second finger into her, pumping her gently, and easing her up and over another peak. He watched her head thrashing back and forth, and wanted to be the flush crawling up over her body.
Richie waited until the spasms subsided, then stood and picked Jennifer up, bringing her around the side of the bed and laying her gently down on the pillows. Through a haze of passion, she watched as he unfastened his pants and let them drop to the floor. Jennifer gasped at the sight of him, and purred at the thought of him filling and stretching her. “You are beautiful,” she said, reaching for him. “Absolutely, beautiful.” Richie slid into bed alongside Jennifer, propping his head up on his hand.
She played her fingers over the contours of his body. Skimming his erection lightly, she smiled. He was so big; standing out proudly from a thatch of hair dark as midnight. She encircled him with her hand and only because of her acrylics was she able to touch fingertips around him. She stroked him gently from tip to base and back again, and Richie slumped against the pillows, and closed his eyes. Jennifer smiled and pushed at his shoulder gently, getting him to lie on his back. She kissed his lips and started a slow trail of kisses down his neck and chest, stopping along the way to gently bite and pull at his nipples. She continued kissing down his stomach, nibbling on the ridges of muscle, and finding out Richie was ticklish.
Richie pushed his hand under Jennifer’s hair, and lifted it so it would cascade across his chest as she made love to him with her mouth. He groaned at the combination of the feel of her hair on his skin, and the feel of her mouth on his engorged cock. Jennifer was licking him from base to tip, sucking just the head into her hot mouth, and swirling her tongue around his slit. “Jennifer, darlin’,” he rasped, “you keep that up and I’m not going to be able to control myself.”
Jennifer let him fall from her mouth, and flipped her hair back behind her, so it trailed across his thighs. His cock jumped as some of it landed there, too. “Rich, you got to have your dessert,” she said evilly. “I want mine, too.”
Dinner
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Seven o’clock took forever to arrive. Jennifer had to make up the hours she had missed because there was simply too much to catch up on from her last vacation, and she had more days off planned between this week and next. She had called Richie earlier to let him know she would be later than she thought, and he chuckled. “No problem, darlin’, he had said. “Just let me know when you’ll be ready, and I will come get you, and we can celebrate.”
“I can just take a cab to the hotel,” Jennifer insisted, her mind whirring at the possibilities for the celebration. She had decided to quash any nervousness she had been feeling, and just go with the flow, so to speak. She knew where they had been headed in England, and it wasn’t a stretch of the imagination to believe that they would be intimate. Jennifer was nervous at first, especially since she hadn’t been with anyone in that way since her divorce. Coupling that with the thought of actually making love with this particular man had her fidgeting all day, and not all of it from sexual tension. She thought she’d the extra few minutes to talk herself down from the ledge of insanity.
“Nonsense,” Richie said. “I want to spend as much time with you as possible. That means picking you up from work.” Jennifer could practically hear his smile through the phone.
Jennifer took a deep breath before answering, smiling herself. “I’ll be in the lobby then, at seven, sharp.”
“I’ll be waiting for you,” Richie purred into the phone. “Don’t keep me waiting too long.”
So, at ten to seven, Jennifer was waiting in the lobby, and smiled when the sedan cruised to the curb. She left the building, and watched as Richie got out of the car and smiled. “How was your day, dear?” he called as Jennifer descended the steps of her building.
“Just fine, thanks,” she answered laughing, and crossed the sidewalk to the car.
“Have you been waiting long? Traffic is a bitch around here,” Richie complained.
Jennifer laughed. With the seemingly endless Big Dig project, traffic patterns were constantly changing as old roads closed and new ones opened up. Even the most seasoned drivers sometimes had trouble navigating the streetscape. “No, not more than a few seconds.” She shrugged. “And the traffic? Well, welcome to Boston,” she said, kissing his cheek.
Richie chuckled. “Aw, hell that’s a wimpy welcome,” he said, and swept her into his arms and kissed her long and thoroughly. His tongue gently stroked hers, and his hands held her fast to him; one at her nape, one at her waist. Jennifer wound her arms around his neck and just held on. Her knees weakened, and her heart pounded, and she could feel Richie smiling against her mouth. He eased back from the kiss and smiled fully at her, dimples and all. Jennifer fell a little bit in love with him in that moment. “That’s better,” he said, smacking his lips and releasing her. “I missed the way you taste.”
Jennifer blushed and brushed her lips against his. “I missed you too,” she said. “So, what are the plans for tonight?”
Richie kissed Jennifer’s neck and handed her down into the car. “Dinner and dessert,” he said, wagging his eyebrows. He settled in next to her, and draped an arm across her shoulders.
“Am I to be blindfolded again?” Jennifer asked saucily.
Richie laughed softly. “Only if you want to be,” he said.
“Hmmm,” Jennifer said cryptically, and looked out the window.
“Um, listen, about tonight,” Richie said. Jennifer looked at him quizzically. “I know you probably have some idea about what my sex life has been the last couple of years.”
Jennifer blushed. “Most of it.” She knew where this was going, and was frankly relieved he brought up the subject first. “Look, Rich, were you careful?”
Richie nodded. “I can honestly say yeah, I’ve been careful.”
“Then that’s all I really need – or want – to know.” She looked down at her hands. “I haven’t been with anyone since before I left my ex-ass, but given his extra-curricular activities, well, let’s just say I made sure I have a clean bill of health.”
“As did I,” Richie answered, smiling at her nickname for the ex.
“Then as long as we’re careful, things’ll be fine.” She kissed his cheek.
“Darlin’,” Richie rasped, “I plan on things being a whole lot better than ‘fine’.”
They arrived at the hotel a short time later. The spacious lobby was adorned with hand-carved wood, Italian marble, and framed historical maps of Boston. Elaborate floral arrangements gave off splashes of color and delicately scented the air. At the back of the lobby, huge bay windows looked out onto a lively yacht marina and a gold-domed pavilion, which was glowing softly in the rays of the setting sun.
“I missed out on this view the first time around today,” Jennifer said, crossing to the windows and looking out over the private marina. “This is one of my very favorite hotels in the world.” She turned to smile at Richie. “Though I suppose after all this time, hotels all seem the same to you.”
“They pretty much do,” Richie answered, leaning in to nuzzle her collarbone, “although I’m starting to really enjoy this one. C’mon,” he said. “Our dinner reservations are for seven-twenty.”
They went out to the waterfront terrace, where a jazz quartet was playing. A smile crept over Jennifer’s face, as she watched several couples dance around the floor. Richie didn’t miss her smile, or the way her toes were tapping to the music once they sat down. They perused their menus, and Jennifer settled on a pasta primavera with shrimp, while Richie opted for the filet mignon. The sommelier offered a bottle of a fine Chablis, but Jennifer demurred. “No thank you,” she said, and ordered a club soda with lime.
“You don’t have to not have wine on my account,” Richie said, taking her hand across the small table.
“I want to be fully clear tonight,” she said, squeezing his fingers. “I missed too much of our first days together because of jet lag, I’ll be damned if I let wine make me miss a moment of tonight. I also don’t want you to think that anything that happens tonight is because of the grape. It’s all me, baby.”
Richie raised Jennifer’s knuckles to his lips, and the whisper soft brush of his kiss on her skin had her tingling. When he slid his tongue between two of her fingers to lick their junction, she dampened, and her eyes darkened. Richie smiled. He was enjoying the hell out of seducing her. “Would you like to dance?” he asked her.
Jennifer smiled and nodded. “I would absolutely love to.”
Richie came around to pull her chair out, and tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow before leading her to the dance floor. He spun her dramatically before pulling her in close to sway to the familiar strains of an old Gershwin classic. Richie smiled and dipped Jennifer deeply before bringing her back up and singing in her ear.
Dozens of girls would storm up, I had to lock my door
Somehow I couldn't warm up to one before
What was it that controlled me?
What kept my love life lean?
My intuition told me you'd come on the scene
Lady listen to the rhythm of my heartbeat
And you'll get just what I mean
Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you
Embrace me, you irreplaceable you
Just one look at you my heart grew tipsy in me
You and you alone bring out the gypsy in me
I love all the many charms about you
Above all I want my arms about you
Don't be a naughty baby...
Come to papa, come to papa do…
My sweet embraceable you...
When the band finished, they announced they were taking a break, and Jennifer was a little glad. She was overwhelmed. Opening up like that to him, then dancing with him: feeling his arms around her, moving with him, hearing his voice in her ear, telling her to come to Papa, well, hell, she was ready to forego dinner and do just that.
Richie led them back to their table, his hand at the small of her back, and held her chair for her while she sat. Wait staff brought their dinners, and they ate slowly, talking and sharing bits of each others’ main courses. They shared looks and laughs and touched hands often during the meal, and by the time Jennifer excused herself to duck into the ladies’ room, she was wound tight. She checked her teeth for stray bits of dinner, wet her fingers and pushed some of the stray hairs back into place, and went back to Richie.
The air changed the moment she was back in the room, and he turned instinctively to watch her approach their table. He ended the call he was on and turned off his cell. There would be no interruptions tonight. He saw her smile as he tracked her progress.
“You know,” Jennifer said when she reached the table, “you keep looking at me like you want to eat me alive, and this suit is gonna start to feel mighty uncomfortable.” She winked as she tossed his words from earlier back at him, and he laughed at her.
“Well then, Jennifer, perhaps we should get you out of that suit, darlin’,” Richie said with a leer. “Because damn, I sure as shit want to eat you alive.” Jennifer felt warmth spread through her body, and couldn’t tear her eyes away from his gaze.
When the pastry chef approached to offer them dessert, Richie answered for them both in the negative. “We’ll have something in our room,” Richie told him.
Richie stood, his eyes never leaving Jennifer’s, and held out his hand to her. The unspoken question behind the gesture wasn’t lost on her. With a steady hand and without hesitation, she gripped his hand and let herself be pulled to her feet. Richie grinned at her and pulled her in close to his side. “Ready to go?” he asked her as they strolled through the patio.
Jennifer wrapped an arm around his waist. “More than ready,” she said huskily, then laughed and blushed. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to sound too eager there, but hell, Rich, walk faster.”
Cuddled together, they made their way back into the hotel and to the elevator. The doors swished open, and they stepped inside. When the doors swished closed, Richie pounced.
“I can just take a cab to the hotel,” Jennifer insisted, her mind whirring at the possibilities for the celebration. She had decided to quash any nervousness she had been feeling, and just go with the flow, so to speak. She knew where they had been headed in England, and it wasn’t a stretch of the imagination to believe that they would be intimate. Jennifer was nervous at first, especially since she hadn’t been with anyone in that way since her divorce. Coupling that with the thought of actually making love with this particular man had her fidgeting all day, and not all of it from sexual tension. She thought she’d the extra few minutes to talk herself down from the ledge of insanity.
“Nonsense,” Richie said. “I want to spend as much time with you as possible. That means picking you up from work.” Jennifer could practically hear his smile through the phone.
Jennifer took a deep breath before answering, smiling herself. “I’ll be in the lobby then, at seven, sharp.”
“I’ll be waiting for you,” Richie purred into the phone. “Don’t keep me waiting too long.”
So, at ten to seven, Jennifer was waiting in the lobby, and smiled when the sedan cruised to the curb. She left the building, and watched as Richie got out of the car and smiled. “How was your day, dear?” he called as Jennifer descended the steps of her building.
“Just fine, thanks,” she answered laughing, and crossed the sidewalk to the car.
“Have you been waiting long? Traffic is a bitch around here,” Richie complained.
Jennifer laughed. With the seemingly endless Big Dig project, traffic patterns were constantly changing as old roads closed and new ones opened up. Even the most seasoned drivers sometimes had trouble navigating the streetscape. “No, not more than a few seconds.” She shrugged. “And the traffic? Well, welcome to Boston,” she said, kissing his cheek.
Richie chuckled. “Aw, hell that’s a wimpy welcome,” he said, and swept her into his arms and kissed her long and thoroughly. His tongue gently stroked hers, and his hands held her fast to him; one at her nape, one at her waist. Jennifer wound her arms around his neck and just held on. Her knees weakened, and her heart pounded, and she could feel Richie smiling against her mouth. He eased back from the kiss and smiled fully at her, dimples and all. Jennifer fell a little bit in love with him in that moment. “That’s better,” he said, smacking his lips and releasing her. “I missed the way you taste.”
Jennifer blushed and brushed her lips against his. “I missed you too,” she said. “So, what are the plans for tonight?”
Richie kissed Jennifer’s neck and handed her down into the car. “Dinner and dessert,” he said, wagging his eyebrows. He settled in next to her, and draped an arm across her shoulders.
“Am I to be blindfolded again?” Jennifer asked saucily.
Richie laughed softly. “Only if you want to be,” he said.
“Hmmm,” Jennifer said cryptically, and looked out the window.
“Um, listen, about tonight,” Richie said. Jennifer looked at him quizzically. “I know you probably have some idea about what my sex life has been the last couple of years.”
Jennifer blushed. “Most of it.” She knew where this was going, and was frankly relieved he brought up the subject first. “Look, Rich, were you careful?”
Richie nodded. “I can honestly say yeah, I’ve been careful.”
“Then that’s all I really need – or want – to know.” She looked down at her hands. “I haven’t been with anyone since before I left my ex-ass, but given his extra-curricular activities, well, let’s just say I made sure I have a clean bill of health.”
“As did I,” Richie answered, smiling at her nickname for the ex.
“Then as long as we’re careful, things’ll be fine.” She kissed his cheek.
“Darlin’,” Richie rasped, “I plan on things being a whole lot better than ‘fine’.”
They arrived at the hotel a short time later. The spacious lobby was adorned with hand-carved wood, Italian marble, and framed historical maps of Boston. Elaborate floral arrangements gave off splashes of color and delicately scented the air. At the back of the lobby, huge bay windows looked out onto a lively yacht marina and a gold-domed pavilion, which was glowing softly in the rays of the setting sun.
“I missed out on this view the first time around today,” Jennifer said, crossing to the windows and looking out over the private marina. “This is one of my very favorite hotels in the world.” She turned to smile at Richie. “Though I suppose after all this time, hotels all seem the same to you.”
“They pretty much do,” Richie answered, leaning in to nuzzle her collarbone, “although I’m starting to really enjoy this one. C’mon,” he said. “Our dinner reservations are for seven-twenty.”
They went out to the waterfront terrace, where a jazz quartet was playing. A smile crept over Jennifer’s face, as she watched several couples dance around the floor. Richie didn’t miss her smile, or the way her toes were tapping to the music once they sat down. They perused their menus, and Jennifer settled on a pasta primavera with shrimp, while Richie opted for the filet mignon. The sommelier offered a bottle of a fine Chablis, but Jennifer demurred. “No thank you,” she said, and ordered a club soda with lime.
“You don’t have to not have wine on my account,” Richie said, taking her hand across the small table.
“I want to be fully clear tonight,” she said, squeezing his fingers. “I missed too much of our first days together because of jet lag, I’ll be damned if I let wine make me miss a moment of tonight. I also don’t want you to think that anything that happens tonight is because of the grape. It’s all me, baby.”
Richie raised Jennifer’s knuckles to his lips, and the whisper soft brush of his kiss on her skin had her tingling. When he slid his tongue between two of her fingers to lick their junction, she dampened, and her eyes darkened. Richie smiled. He was enjoying the hell out of seducing her. “Would you like to dance?” he asked her.
Jennifer smiled and nodded. “I would absolutely love to.”
Richie came around to pull her chair out, and tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow before leading her to the dance floor. He spun her dramatically before pulling her in close to sway to the familiar strains of an old Gershwin classic. Richie smiled and dipped Jennifer deeply before bringing her back up and singing in her ear.
Dozens of girls would storm up, I had to lock my door
Somehow I couldn't warm up to one before
What was it that controlled me?
What kept my love life lean?
My intuition told me you'd come on the scene
Lady listen to the rhythm of my heartbeat
And you'll get just what I mean
Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you
Embrace me, you irreplaceable you
Just one look at you my heart grew tipsy in me
You and you alone bring out the gypsy in me
I love all the many charms about you
Above all I want my arms about you
Don't be a naughty baby...
Come to papa, come to papa do…
My sweet embraceable you...
When the band finished, they announced they were taking a break, and Jennifer was a little glad. She was overwhelmed. Opening up like that to him, then dancing with him: feeling his arms around her, moving with him, hearing his voice in her ear, telling her to come to Papa, well, hell, she was ready to forego dinner and do just that.
Richie led them back to their table, his hand at the small of her back, and held her chair for her while she sat. Wait staff brought their dinners, and they ate slowly, talking and sharing bits of each others’ main courses. They shared looks and laughs and touched hands often during the meal, and by the time Jennifer excused herself to duck into the ladies’ room, she was wound tight. She checked her teeth for stray bits of dinner, wet her fingers and pushed some of the stray hairs back into place, and went back to Richie.
The air changed the moment she was back in the room, and he turned instinctively to watch her approach their table. He ended the call he was on and turned off his cell. There would be no interruptions tonight. He saw her smile as he tracked her progress.
“You know,” Jennifer said when she reached the table, “you keep looking at me like you want to eat me alive, and this suit is gonna start to feel mighty uncomfortable.” She winked as she tossed his words from earlier back at him, and he laughed at her.
“Well then, Jennifer, perhaps we should get you out of that suit, darlin’,” Richie said with a leer. “Because damn, I sure as shit want to eat you alive.” Jennifer felt warmth spread through her body, and couldn’t tear her eyes away from his gaze.
When the pastry chef approached to offer them dessert, Richie answered for them both in the negative. “We’ll have something in our room,” Richie told him.
Richie stood, his eyes never leaving Jennifer’s, and held out his hand to her. The unspoken question behind the gesture wasn’t lost on her. With a steady hand and without hesitation, she gripped his hand and let herself be pulled to her feet. Richie grinned at her and pulled her in close to his side. “Ready to go?” he asked her as they strolled through the patio.
Jennifer wrapped an arm around his waist. “More than ready,” she said huskily, then laughed and blushed. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to sound too eager there, but hell, Rich, walk faster.”
Cuddled together, they made their way back into the hotel and to the elevator. The doors swished open, and they stepped inside. When the doors swished closed, Richie pounced.
Surprise!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Jennifer was not having a good Monday. It was if the cosmos knew she had a relaxing and exciting week and a half coming up, and wanted to screw with her until then. Richie was due in soon, their month-long separation almost over. She smiled at the prospect. She couldn’t wait to see him again. But first, she had to survive the day.
On the way to the train station, she got behind every person in three towns who thought it would be a good idea to let everyone in creation out of the side streets in front of them. She made it to the train with two minutes to spare. She shouldn’t have worried; the train was late, exceedingly late, and she didn’t get to the office until close to 10, putting her two hours behind and her day hadn’t even started yet.
To top everything off, as she gathered her things on the train once arriving at South Station, the man sitting next to her spilled his coffee; all over her Reeboks. Grumbling a ‘no problem’ at the man’s half-hearted apology, she turned up the iPod and made her way off the train. Thankfully, the walk from the station to her building was about 100 yards. Any more than that, and she would have had to kill someone. As it was, she was behind someone who thought she could read the paper and walk at the same time. The woman could, as long as she wove all over the place and didn’t let anyone get past her. She took a deep breath, and let Richie’s voice, singing “If God Was a Woman”, relax her.
Stalking into the lobby of her building, she failed to notice the tall man sitting alone at one of the tables, nursing his second coffee of the day, and watching her.
Richie had watched her approach through the glass doors of her building, his smile growing with each step closer that she took. She was a vision in grey today; a color he knew would make her eyes look as stormy as the scowl on her face – if her eyes went au natural under those sunglasses today. Her pleated skirt skimmed the top of her knees, her stockings were a shade darker than the skirt, and the double-button jacket of her suit fit her like a glove. A pink kerchief peeked out from her breast pocket, and perfectly matched the shell underneath. When she came through the revolving door into her building, he saw she had a beautiful matched pearl double-strand necklace and matching earrings. She hadn’t yet taken her sunglasses off.
A discreet white wire snaked from her ear to disappear into her jacket. She must have her iPod in an inner pocket, he thought. He wondered what she was listening to. As she passed, he stood and tossed his empty cup into the trash, and angled across the lobby toward her. He watched as someone greeted her, and her scowl disappeared, replaced with a wide, welcoming smile. She pulled the buds from her ears and let them dangle into her cleavage, and pushed her sunglasses into the knot of hair on the top of her head.
The man she was talking with was tall, very tall, with dark olive skin and dark hair silvering at the temples. Jennifer gave the man twin pecks on the cheeks and started talking to him in rapid Spanish while he held her in a loose embrace. Richie had heard enough Spanish in his life to catch the gist of their conversation -- she was congratulating him on the birth of his seventh son. He smiled ruefully at the stab of jealousy he felt at seeing her, albeit briefly and platonically, in another man’s arms.
“Excuse me,” he said softly after the other man had left.
“Yes,” Jennifer said, turning. “Can I help – Rich!” She stood agape. He was gorgeous and Oh Good Lord! standing right there in front of her! She had to reach out and touch his hand to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. He was wearing a black suit, cut perfectly for his broad form, with a narrow gray pin stripe. His shirt was a rich burgundy, and the black tie knotted at his throat had a discreet R at the knot, and Jennifer’s heart squeezed. He was wearing the gift she had given him for Father’s Day. She had sent him a silk tie embossed with a replica of the tattoo on her abdomen. She didn’t know what else to get him that was personal but not too much so, and a tie seemed like the perfect Father’s Day gift.
Richie chuckled at her reaction, and snapped his fingers in front of her face. “Earth to Jennifer,” he said. “You alright, darlin’?” He watched as her eyes changed from a stormy gray to almost lavender, picking up the hues of her shirt as they softened at him.
“When did you…what are you doing here? Why didn’t you say something last night when you called?” She gave herself a mental shake. Easy girl, she told herself. She braced her hands on his shoulders and leaned in for a chaste kiss. She was so NOT making out with this man in the lobby of her building, no matter how much she wanted to. “This is a wonderful surprise. I am so glad to see you!”
“I wanted to see you,” Richie said simply. “Jon had been going on and on about flying out to Houston to see T, and I was just sitting at home last night, wishing like hell I had come here yesterday instead.” He colored slightly at that admission. “And damned if I could find any reason not to fly out today – though I’ll admit I didn’t think about it more than half a heartbeat. I didn’t tell you because I wanted to surprise you. You did say you like surprises, right?” He chuckled at her eager nod and said, “I can stay through Wednesday if you’ll have me; I promised Ava I’d spend the Fourth with her, so I need to fly home Thursday.”
Jennifer still couldn’t tear her eyes away from Richie. His hair was the only thing that was mussed, and it made him look achingly sexy. The little laugh lines at the corners of his eyes deepened as he watched her perusal of him. “Darlin’, you’re gonna make my pants mighty uncomfortable if you don’t quit looking at me like you want to eat me alive.”
“Oh!” Jennifer’s hands flew to her mouth to capture the nervous giggle that was going to burst out. “Sorry, it’s just…I wasn’t expecting…” she blew out a breath. “Sorry. Damn you clean up good,” she said on a breathy laugh. “And of course I’ll have you.” She blushed at her words and their double meaning. Oh Lord, she thought to herself.
Richie just laughed. “I’ll hold you to that, Jennifer,” he said in a low voice, its timbre resonating low in her abdomen. “So, I know you have to work, I’ll just bum around town until – um, do you have lunch plans?”
“Nothing I can’t break,” she answered.
“Excellent,” Richie said. “I’ll see you around noon then?” He kissed her a bit more lingeringly on the lips, making her sigh.
Jennifer just nodded, and watched as he strolled from the lobby. He turned back at the doors to wave to her, and she waved back, smiling like a fool. She went up the elevator to her floor, and for the first time was not fiercely gripping the handrail. She was beside herself. She couldn’t believe he had surprised her like that. She sat hard in her chair and clicked on the Internet Explorer icon, intending to get on the board and send a quick message to the girls about Richie’s surprise visit.
Then she sat back.
She wanted to keep this to herself a little while longer. Smiling, she grabbed her folio and her Blackberry, and headed off to grab a Diet Coke before going to her first meeting of the day. It was with her boss. Two weeks ago, she applied for a different position within her division: a position with far less stress, and more importantly, the shedding of the minions. Jennifer would find out today if she got the job she had applied for. Straightening from the beverage fridge in the break room, she squared her shoulders and strode down the hall.
Lunchtime couldn’t come quickly enough for Jennifer. A few minutes before noon, she headed down to the lobby. She had her faculties about her now, and was hyper-aware of her trip in the elevator. As she crowded out between the security gates, her eyes scanned back and forth and lit on each of the faces waiting in the lobby.
When they landed on his face, she let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She thought she may have been dreaming the whole morning’s encounter. But no, there he was grinning widely at her, and getting curious looks from the people streaming around him. Her step quickened as she approached him, and she leaned in for a kiss. In her heels, she was just as tall as he was.
“Hi,” she said breathlessly.
“Hi yourself,” Richie answered, taking her hand. “Well?”
She smiled widely. “I got the job,” she said, excitement barely contained,
Richie swooped her up in a big hug and spun her around. “Congratulations, honey,” he said, kissing her soundly. “That’s just great. We’ll have to celebrate tonight.” His voice was full of promise and heat, and Jennifer’s heart rate kicked up a notch.
“That’d be wonderful,” she said, meaning every word. “So, where’d you like to go for lunch?”
“How long ‘til you have to be back?” Jennifer thought his eyes darkened slightly with that question, but shook her head ruefully, knowing there wasn’t enough time to properly celebrate.
Considering she had been so late that morning, she really should be taking lunch at her desk, but... “I don’t have to be back until two,” she said. “Why? Where are we going?” Her eyes narrowed at him.
“Do you trust me?” he asked her, looking into dove-gray eyes that softened at his question.
“Of course,” she said, squeezing his hand gently.
He led her outside and to a black sedan. He opened the back door and handed her in. He followed and settled beside her. He took a black scarf from his pocket and held it up. “You’re sure?”
Pulse racing, Jennifer simply turned her back to Richie so he could fasten the blindfold around her head. Jennifer sat back against the seat, and felt Richie take her hand. He spoke softly to her, making small talk about the last few tour dates, and what the guys were up to during this small break. Jennifer felt the car make several turns, and lost track of where they were. When the car slowed, she reached for the knot at the back of her head.
“Uh-uh, Jennifer darlin’,” Richie said. “Leave it on.”
“But won’t people wonder what the hell is going on?”
“You said you trusted me right?” Jennifer nodded. “Okay,” Richie said. “Let’s go. I’ll help you.”
He got out of the car and took Jennifer’s hand to guide her out of the car. Her heart was pounding. She wasn’t scared, but the anticipation was killing her. She took a deep breath and could smell the harbor. They were somewhere near the waterfront. She felt a breeze as a door opened and a burst of air-conditioned air flowed over her. The smells and sounds of a busy kitchen made her smile.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“Patience, my dear,” Richie answered, and kissed her briefly on the lips. He led her through a warren of hallways and stopped abruptly. She heard the unmistakable slide of elevator doors, and her grip on Richie’s hand tightened. “Are you alright?” he asked her.
“Don’t like elevators,” Jennifer said in a small voice. Richie quickly untied the blindfold and pulled her into his arms.
“Sorry,” he said, kissing her temple. “I forgot. Just keep your eyes closed, okay?”
Jennifer chuckled. “I usually do. I just like having the option of looking if I want to.”
The doors slid open and Richie put his arm around Jennifer’s waist and guided her down a hallway. He stopped outside a door and pulled a keycard from his pocket. Opening the door, he ushered her inside with a gentle hand at the small of her back.
“Open your eyes,” he said after closing the door behind them.
Jennifer did and gasped. “Oh, this is gorgeous!” She looked around in amazement, and knew exactly where she was. This could only be the Presidential Suite at the Boston Harbor hotel. No other room would have the views this did, or the opulent elegance.
The Presidential Suite was the most luxurious accommodation in the city. It had two Harbor view bedrooms each having a king size bed, desk, comfortable easy chair and private bathroom. The oversize master bathroom had a Jacuzzi tub and a walk-in shower definitely more than big enough for two. The parlor had a huge living area – it had to be over 900 square feet. Three sofas flanked an oversized coffee table, and a large plasma screen television dominated one wall. The gleaming mahogany dining room table could easily accommodate 10 people.
The dining room table was set with two place settings, situated so the diners could look out the window at the gorgeous views of the Harbor. The crystal was Waterford, the china Delft, and the flatware heavy silver. A pair of large candelabra were lit and glowed softly in the middle of the table.
Jennifer wandered around the rooms while Richie stood watching her, an amused expression on his face. There were freshly cut flowers in vases throughout the rooms, and the artwork on the walls would make any collector jealous. Returning to the living space, she noticed for the first time the tuxedoed butler standing by the sideboard. “Hello,” she said to him.
He made a half bow. “Good afternoon, Miss. May I get you something to drink?”
Jennifer smiled. “I would love a Diet Coke with lemon, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all, Miss,” he answered, and opened the sideboard to reveal a hidden refrigerator from which he pulled her soda and a fresh lemon.
“Rich, this is just amazing,” Jennifer said. “But you know, you could have stayed with me.” She blushed. Oh crap, she thought. What if he didn’t want to? “If you wanted to,” she added lamely.
“Darlin’, I would love to stay with you, and maybe tomorrow,” he said. “But today, I wanted to be able to have a private place that was close to where you work, so we could have an intimate lunch.” He crossed the room and took Jennifer into his arms. “And maybe dinner and dessert as well.” His voice lowered as he framed her face with his hands and nibbled delicately on her lips. The butler smiled and turned discreetly away. “But for now,” Richie said, trailing his hands down her neck to her shoulders, “it’s just lunch.” He smiled at her lust-filled expression and led her to the table.
The butler pulled out her chair and pushed it in for her as she sat. He flamboyantly unfolded a heavy linen napkin and draped it gently across her lap. He went to the phone and pressed a button, and in less than a minute, there was a soft knock on the door. Jennifer smiled and giggled when she caught Richie watching her watch the butler. The butler had opened the suite’s door to take a large rolling cart from room service. He brought the cart to the table, and placed covered plates in front of each of them. With a flourish, he removed the lids, and Jennifer burst out laughing.
In a little casserole dish was a perfect portion of macaroni and cheese. She inhaled the aroma deeply. It looked and smelled just like her mother’s, right down to the crumbled corn flakes on top. “Rich! I can’t believe you had them make mac and cheese. Here! In the most luxurious hotel in the city!” She was a little embarrassed, but more touched than anything. When he had asked about her favorite comfort foods way back when, she told him how her mother’s cheese sauce was unparalleled, and they compared notes on their mothers’ recipes.
“Darlin’, I couldn’t do it for you in England, but I could here. Besides,” he said, scooping a succulent portion on to his fork. “The chef here knows me and owes me a favor.”
Jennifer shook her head and took a small bite, her eyes closing in pleasure. “It’s delicious,” she said then turned to the butler. “My compliments to the chef,” she said with a giggle.
The butler smiled wryly at her. “I’m sure he’ll be thrilled that you’re enjoying your lunch. If there’s nothing else, I will leave you now. Ring when you would like the remnants cleared away.” Richie and Jennifer couldn’t think of anything else they needed, so the butler made another little half bow, and left the suite.
The two of them ate leisurely and companionably, happy to gaze out the windows or at each other. When their plates were clean, Richie stood and held out his hand. Jennifer took it, and he led her to one of the couches. He slipped his suit jacket off and draped it on one end of the couch, and sat on the other. He pulled her down across his lap, and kissed her silly.
“Are you sure you have to go back to work?” Richie’s eyes had darkened to nearly black, and Jennifer could feel the reason for his question firming under her.
Jennifer shuddered, then her shoulders slumped. “Yeah, I do,” she said, playing with the knot and collar at his neck. “I’m still catching up from my trip to England, and I have meetings with various business partners this afternoon…” She got distracted by Richie’s fingers diving into the knot of hair on her head. She felt him removing the pins that held it, and before she could protest, her hair cascaded down around them.
“That’s better,” Richie said, pulling handfuls of it to his face to inhale its aroma. “Your hair is still damp, and smells heavenly,” he said. “And it’s so soft….” He wasn’t really talking to her anymore, more to himself. He was thinking about what that hair would feel like draped across his chest. Or his thighs. He groaned and shifted a little, trying to get more comfortable.
“It’s thick, so if I wrap it up, it doesn’t dry all the way.” Her voice was thick, and she wished to hell she didn’t have to get back to work. She threaded her fingers into Richie’s hair, sighing at the feel of it. “Damn,” she whispered under her breath. The locks sifted through her fingers like silk, and she had the urge to tug on it, but refrained. She brought her mouth down to his and they locked together in another passionate kiss. Richie opened her jacket and palmed a breast through the think silk of her shell. He felt her nipple pebble against his palm, and he rolled it between his fingers, making her moan and squirm. After several minutes, Jennifer broke the kiss and stood on shaky legs.
“Rich,” she said shakily, “if we don’t stop now, I’m not going to be able to go back to work and as much as I don’t want to, I have responsibilities I can’t ignore.”
“I know,” he said, “but you can’t fault a guy for trying.” His grin was infectious, and Jennifer’s answering smile lit something in his heart. “Give me a minute to, um, get myself under control here, and I’ll take you back to work.” Jennifer blushed and excused herself to duck into one of the bathrooms and fix her hair and makeup. She wound the thick tresses back up on the top of her head and secured them, and reapplied her lipstick. Her lips were still swollen from Richie’s kisses, and she smirked at her reflection, noting she was going to have to keep her jacket buttoned, at least for the next little while.
She met up with Richie back in the living room and took his jacket from the sofa. She held it so he could slip his arms into it, and Jennifer smoothed it over his shoulders, her touch lingering. “I guess we’re ready to go then,” she said.
“Guess so,” Richie said, turning to look at her. “What time do you get out of work for the night?”
“Since I was late probably not until close to seven.”
“Okay,” he said, as they made their way down the elevator and through the lobby. He had a tight grip on her hand the whole time, and only let her go to get her into the car. Once he was seated next to her, he took up her hand again. They were quiet on the ride back to her office on Summer Street, and when they arrived, Richie got out and helped her from the car. He placed a gentle kiss on her lips, so as not to smudge her lipstick. “Until later then,” he said, and ran a finger across her cheekbone.
“Until later,” Jennifer echoed. With a final quick peck, she turned and climbed the stairs to her building. She turned back to wave, then disappeared inside.
On the way to the train station, she got behind every person in three towns who thought it would be a good idea to let everyone in creation out of the side streets in front of them. She made it to the train with two minutes to spare. She shouldn’t have worried; the train was late, exceedingly late, and she didn’t get to the office until close to 10, putting her two hours behind and her day hadn’t even started yet.
To top everything off, as she gathered her things on the train once arriving at South Station, the man sitting next to her spilled his coffee; all over her Reeboks. Grumbling a ‘no problem’ at the man’s half-hearted apology, she turned up the iPod and made her way off the train. Thankfully, the walk from the station to her building was about 100 yards. Any more than that, and she would have had to kill someone. As it was, she was behind someone who thought she could read the paper and walk at the same time. The woman could, as long as she wove all over the place and didn’t let anyone get past her. She took a deep breath, and let Richie’s voice, singing “If God Was a Woman”, relax her.
Stalking into the lobby of her building, she failed to notice the tall man sitting alone at one of the tables, nursing his second coffee of the day, and watching her.
Richie had watched her approach through the glass doors of her building, his smile growing with each step closer that she took. She was a vision in grey today; a color he knew would make her eyes look as stormy as the scowl on her face – if her eyes went au natural under those sunglasses today. Her pleated skirt skimmed the top of her knees, her stockings were a shade darker than the skirt, and the double-button jacket of her suit fit her like a glove. A pink kerchief peeked out from her breast pocket, and perfectly matched the shell underneath. When she came through the revolving door into her building, he saw she had a beautiful matched pearl double-strand necklace and matching earrings. She hadn’t yet taken her sunglasses off.
A discreet white wire snaked from her ear to disappear into her jacket. She must have her iPod in an inner pocket, he thought. He wondered what she was listening to. As she passed, he stood and tossed his empty cup into the trash, and angled across the lobby toward her. He watched as someone greeted her, and her scowl disappeared, replaced with a wide, welcoming smile. She pulled the buds from her ears and let them dangle into her cleavage, and pushed her sunglasses into the knot of hair on the top of her head.
The man she was talking with was tall, very tall, with dark olive skin and dark hair silvering at the temples. Jennifer gave the man twin pecks on the cheeks and started talking to him in rapid Spanish while he held her in a loose embrace. Richie had heard enough Spanish in his life to catch the gist of their conversation -- she was congratulating him on the birth of his seventh son. He smiled ruefully at the stab of jealousy he felt at seeing her, albeit briefly and platonically, in another man’s arms.
“Excuse me,” he said softly after the other man had left.
“Yes,” Jennifer said, turning. “Can I help – Rich!” She stood agape. He was gorgeous and Oh Good Lord! standing right there in front of her! She had to reach out and touch his hand to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. He was wearing a black suit, cut perfectly for his broad form, with a narrow gray pin stripe. His shirt was a rich burgundy, and the black tie knotted at his throat had a discreet R at the knot, and Jennifer’s heart squeezed. He was wearing the gift she had given him for Father’s Day. She had sent him a silk tie embossed with a replica of the tattoo on her abdomen. She didn’t know what else to get him that was personal but not too much so, and a tie seemed like the perfect Father’s Day gift.
Richie chuckled at her reaction, and snapped his fingers in front of her face. “Earth to Jennifer,” he said. “You alright, darlin’?” He watched as her eyes changed from a stormy gray to almost lavender, picking up the hues of her shirt as they softened at him.
“When did you…what are you doing here? Why didn’t you say something last night when you called?” She gave herself a mental shake. Easy girl, she told herself. She braced her hands on his shoulders and leaned in for a chaste kiss. She was so NOT making out with this man in the lobby of her building, no matter how much she wanted to. “This is a wonderful surprise. I am so glad to see you!”
“I wanted to see you,” Richie said simply. “Jon had been going on and on about flying out to Houston to see T, and I was just sitting at home last night, wishing like hell I had come here yesterday instead.” He colored slightly at that admission. “And damned if I could find any reason not to fly out today – though I’ll admit I didn’t think about it more than half a heartbeat. I didn’t tell you because I wanted to surprise you. You did say you like surprises, right?” He chuckled at her eager nod and said, “I can stay through Wednesday if you’ll have me; I promised Ava I’d spend the Fourth with her, so I need to fly home Thursday.”
Jennifer still couldn’t tear her eyes away from Richie. His hair was the only thing that was mussed, and it made him look achingly sexy. The little laugh lines at the corners of his eyes deepened as he watched her perusal of him. “Darlin’, you’re gonna make my pants mighty uncomfortable if you don’t quit looking at me like you want to eat me alive.”
“Oh!” Jennifer’s hands flew to her mouth to capture the nervous giggle that was going to burst out. “Sorry, it’s just…I wasn’t expecting…” she blew out a breath. “Sorry. Damn you clean up good,” she said on a breathy laugh. “And of course I’ll have you.” She blushed at her words and their double meaning. Oh Lord, she thought to herself.
Richie just laughed. “I’ll hold you to that, Jennifer,” he said in a low voice, its timbre resonating low in her abdomen. “So, I know you have to work, I’ll just bum around town until – um, do you have lunch plans?”
“Nothing I can’t break,” she answered.
“Excellent,” Richie said. “I’ll see you around noon then?” He kissed her a bit more lingeringly on the lips, making her sigh.
Jennifer just nodded, and watched as he strolled from the lobby. He turned back at the doors to wave to her, and she waved back, smiling like a fool. She went up the elevator to her floor, and for the first time was not fiercely gripping the handrail. She was beside herself. She couldn’t believe he had surprised her like that. She sat hard in her chair and clicked on the Internet Explorer icon, intending to get on the board and send a quick message to the girls about Richie’s surprise visit.
Then she sat back.
She wanted to keep this to herself a little while longer. Smiling, she grabbed her folio and her Blackberry, and headed off to grab a Diet Coke before going to her first meeting of the day. It was with her boss. Two weeks ago, she applied for a different position within her division: a position with far less stress, and more importantly, the shedding of the minions. Jennifer would find out today if she got the job she had applied for. Straightening from the beverage fridge in the break room, she squared her shoulders and strode down the hall.
Lunchtime couldn’t come quickly enough for Jennifer. A few minutes before noon, she headed down to the lobby. She had her faculties about her now, and was hyper-aware of her trip in the elevator. As she crowded out between the security gates, her eyes scanned back and forth and lit on each of the faces waiting in the lobby.
When they landed on his face, she let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She thought she may have been dreaming the whole morning’s encounter. But no, there he was grinning widely at her, and getting curious looks from the people streaming around him. Her step quickened as she approached him, and she leaned in for a kiss. In her heels, she was just as tall as he was.
“Hi,” she said breathlessly.
“Hi yourself,” Richie answered, taking her hand. “Well?”
She smiled widely. “I got the job,” she said, excitement barely contained,
Richie swooped her up in a big hug and spun her around. “Congratulations, honey,” he said, kissing her soundly. “That’s just great. We’ll have to celebrate tonight.” His voice was full of promise and heat, and Jennifer’s heart rate kicked up a notch.
“That’d be wonderful,” she said, meaning every word. “So, where’d you like to go for lunch?”
“How long ‘til you have to be back?” Jennifer thought his eyes darkened slightly with that question, but shook her head ruefully, knowing there wasn’t enough time to properly celebrate.
Considering she had been so late that morning, she really should be taking lunch at her desk, but... “I don’t have to be back until two,” she said. “Why? Where are we going?” Her eyes narrowed at him.
“Do you trust me?” he asked her, looking into dove-gray eyes that softened at his question.
“Of course,” she said, squeezing his hand gently.
He led her outside and to a black sedan. He opened the back door and handed her in. He followed and settled beside her. He took a black scarf from his pocket and held it up. “You’re sure?”
Pulse racing, Jennifer simply turned her back to Richie so he could fasten the blindfold around her head. Jennifer sat back against the seat, and felt Richie take her hand. He spoke softly to her, making small talk about the last few tour dates, and what the guys were up to during this small break. Jennifer felt the car make several turns, and lost track of where they were. When the car slowed, she reached for the knot at the back of her head.
“Uh-uh, Jennifer darlin’,” Richie said. “Leave it on.”
“But won’t people wonder what the hell is going on?”
“You said you trusted me right?” Jennifer nodded. “Okay,” Richie said. “Let’s go. I’ll help you.”
He got out of the car and took Jennifer’s hand to guide her out of the car. Her heart was pounding. She wasn’t scared, but the anticipation was killing her. She took a deep breath and could smell the harbor. They were somewhere near the waterfront. She felt a breeze as a door opened and a burst of air-conditioned air flowed over her. The smells and sounds of a busy kitchen made her smile.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“Patience, my dear,” Richie answered, and kissed her briefly on the lips. He led her through a warren of hallways and stopped abruptly. She heard the unmistakable slide of elevator doors, and her grip on Richie’s hand tightened. “Are you alright?” he asked her.
“Don’t like elevators,” Jennifer said in a small voice. Richie quickly untied the blindfold and pulled her into his arms.
“Sorry,” he said, kissing her temple. “I forgot. Just keep your eyes closed, okay?”
Jennifer chuckled. “I usually do. I just like having the option of looking if I want to.”
The doors slid open and Richie put his arm around Jennifer’s waist and guided her down a hallway. He stopped outside a door and pulled a keycard from his pocket. Opening the door, he ushered her inside with a gentle hand at the small of her back.
“Open your eyes,” he said after closing the door behind them.
Jennifer did and gasped. “Oh, this is gorgeous!” She looked around in amazement, and knew exactly where she was. This could only be the Presidential Suite at the Boston Harbor hotel. No other room would have the views this did, or the opulent elegance.
The Presidential Suite was the most luxurious accommodation in the city. It had two Harbor view bedrooms each having a king size bed, desk, comfortable easy chair and private bathroom. The oversize master bathroom had a Jacuzzi tub and a walk-in shower definitely more than big enough for two. The parlor had a huge living area – it had to be over 900 square feet. Three sofas flanked an oversized coffee table, and a large plasma screen television dominated one wall. The gleaming mahogany dining room table could easily accommodate 10 people.
The dining room table was set with two place settings, situated so the diners could look out the window at the gorgeous views of the Harbor. The crystal was Waterford, the china Delft, and the flatware heavy silver. A pair of large candelabra were lit and glowed softly in the middle of the table.
Jennifer wandered around the rooms while Richie stood watching her, an amused expression on his face. There were freshly cut flowers in vases throughout the rooms, and the artwork on the walls would make any collector jealous. Returning to the living space, she noticed for the first time the tuxedoed butler standing by the sideboard. “Hello,” she said to him.
He made a half bow. “Good afternoon, Miss. May I get you something to drink?”
Jennifer smiled. “I would love a Diet Coke with lemon, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all, Miss,” he answered, and opened the sideboard to reveal a hidden refrigerator from which he pulled her soda and a fresh lemon.
“Rich, this is just amazing,” Jennifer said. “But you know, you could have stayed with me.” She blushed. Oh crap, she thought. What if he didn’t want to? “If you wanted to,” she added lamely.
“Darlin’, I would love to stay with you, and maybe tomorrow,” he said. “But today, I wanted to be able to have a private place that was close to where you work, so we could have an intimate lunch.” He crossed the room and took Jennifer into his arms. “And maybe dinner and dessert as well.” His voice lowered as he framed her face with his hands and nibbled delicately on her lips. The butler smiled and turned discreetly away. “But for now,” Richie said, trailing his hands down her neck to her shoulders, “it’s just lunch.” He smiled at her lust-filled expression and led her to the table.
The butler pulled out her chair and pushed it in for her as she sat. He flamboyantly unfolded a heavy linen napkin and draped it gently across her lap. He went to the phone and pressed a button, and in less than a minute, there was a soft knock on the door. Jennifer smiled and giggled when she caught Richie watching her watch the butler. The butler had opened the suite’s door to take a large rolling cart from room service. He brought the cart to the table, and placed covered plates in front of each of them. With a flourish, he removed the lids, and Jennifer burst out laughing.
In a little casserole dish was a perfect portion of macaroni and cheese. She inhaled the aroma deeply. It looked and smelled just like her mother’s, right down to the crumbled corn flakes on top. “Rich! I can’t believe you had them make mac and cheese. Here! In the most luxurious hotel in the city!” She was a little embarrassed, but more touched than anything. When he had asked about her favorite comfort foods way back when, she told him how her mother’s cheese sauce was unparalleled, and they compared notes on their mothers’ recipes.
“Darlin’, I couldn’t do it for you in England, but I could here. Besides,” he said, scooping a succulent portion on to his fork. “The chef here knows me and owes me a favor.”
Jennifer shook her head and took a small bite, her eyes closing in pleasure. “It’s delicious,” she said then turned to the butler. “My compliments to the chef,” she said with a giggle.
The butler smiled wryly at her. “I’m sure he’ll be thrilled that you’re enjoying your lunch. If there’s nothing else, I will leave you now. Ring when you would like the remnants cleared away.” Richie and Jennifer couldn’t think of anything else they needed, so the butler made another little half bow, and left the suite.
The two of them ate leisurely and companionably, happy to gaze out the windows or at each other. When their plates were clean, Richie stood and held out his hand. Jennifer took it, and he led her to one of the couches. He slipped his suit jacket off and draped it on one end of the couch, and sat on the other. He pulled her down across his lap, and kissed her silly.
“Are you sure you have to go back to work?” Richie’s eyes had darkened to nearly black, and Jennifer could feel the reason for his question firming under her.
Jennifer shuddered, then her shoulders slumped. “Yeah, I do,” she said, playing with the knot and collar at his neck. “I’m still catching up from my trip to England, and I have meetings with various business partners this afternoon…” She got distracted by Richie’s fingers diving into the knot of hair on her head. She felt him removing the pins that held it, and before she could protest, her hair cascaded down around them.
“That’s better,” Richie said, pulling handfuls of it to his face to inhale its aroma. “Your hair is still damp, and smells heavenly,” he said. “And it’s so soft….” He wasn’t really talking to her anymore, more to himself. He was thinking about what that hair would feel like draped across his chest. Or his thighs. He groaned and shifted a little, trying to get more comfortable.
“It’s thick, so if I wrap it up, it doesn’t dry all the way.” Her voice was thick, and she wished to hell she didn’t have to get back to work. She threaded her fingers into Richie’s hair, sighing at the feel of it. “Damn,” she whispered under her breath. The locks sifted through her fingers like silk, and she had the urge to tug on it, but refrained. She brought her mouth down to his and they locked together in another passionate kiss. Richie opened her jacket and palmed a breast through the think silk of her shell. He felt her nipple pebble against his palm, and he rolled it between his fingers, making her moan and squirm. After several minutes, Jennifer broke the kiss and stood on shaky legs.
“Rich,” she said shakily, “if we don’t stop now, I’m not going to be able to go back to work and as much as I don’t want to, I have responsibilities I can’t ignore.”
“I know,” he said, “but you can’t fault a guy for trying.” His grin was infectious, and Jennifer’s answering smile lit something in his heart. “Give me a minute to, um, get myself under control here, and I’ll take you back to work.” Jennifer blushed and excused herself to duck into one of the bathrooms and fix her hair and makeup. She wound the thick tresses back up on the top of her head and secured them, and reapplied her lipstick. Her lips were still swollen from Richie’s kisses, and she smirked at her reflection, noting she was going to have to keep her jacket buttoned, at least for the next little while.
She met up with Richie back in the living room and took his jacket from the sofa. She held it so he could slip his arms into it, and Jennifer smoothed it over his shoulders, her touch lingering. “I guess we’re ready to go then,” she said.
“Guess so,” Richie said, turning to look at her. “What time do you get out of work for the night?”
“Since I was late probably not until close to seven.”
“Okay,” he said, as they made their way down the elevator and through the lobby. He had a tight grip on her hand the whole time, and only let her go to get her into the car. Once he was seated next to her, he took up her hand again. They were quiet on the ride back to her office on Summer Street, and when they arrived, Richie got out and helped her from the car. He placed a gentle kiss on her lips, so as not to smudge her lipstick. “Until later then,” he said, and ran a finger across her cheekbone.
“Until later,” Jennifer echoed. With a final quick peck, she turned and climbed the stairs to her building. She turned back to wave, then disappeared inside.
Saying Goodbye
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Gail gently shook Jennifer awake. “Hath,” she said. “Wake up.”
Jennifer groaned and rolled over. “Don’t wanna,” she said. She was having a dream about Richie, and it was just getting good.
Gail chuckled. “Wake the fuck up now,” she said, “or I’m gonna smother you.”
Jen rolled back over and cracked open an eye. Gail was already dressed and drinking coffee. “What time is it?”
“A little after ten,” she said. “You have to get going soon.”
“Yeah, I know.” Jennifer got up and stretched. She went to take a quick shower, and threw on jeans and a t-shirt. She and Gail worked in silence, packing up their gear.
“About last night…” Gail started, but Jennifer put up a finger.
“Sweetie, it’s fine. I promise.” The two women embraced.
“Love ya, Hath.”
“Love ya back,” Jennifer said. “Oh, by the way, what did you tell David about why you call me ‘Hath’?”
Gail laughed. “I told him your middle name was ‘Hathaway’ which is a proper English name, and that I preferred it to your given name.” She shrugged. “I don’t think he believes me, though.”
They took their bags, and went down to the lobby. They went to check out and settle up, and Jennifer was annoyed to find that Jon had taken care of their room tabs. “That bastard,” Jennifer said.
“Oh yeah, he sucks,” Gail answered, rolling her eyes at Jennifer. “Get over it.”
Jennifer walked Gail out to her bike, and after the saddle bags were secured the two women shared an embrace. “I’m gonna miss you, sister,” she said.
“Me too,” Gail said. “You call me when you get home,” she said, “and you’d BETTER tell me what happens in Boston when you see Richie again.”
Jennifer laughed. “You’ll hear the screams of pleasure from where you are,” she said, winking.
The two laughed, and Gail climbed onto her bike and with a roar of the engine, she was gone. Jennifer went back into the lobby and called Richie.
“Hey, darlin’,” Richie said.
“Hey, yourself. I’m downstairs, ready whenever you are.” She didn’t have to wait long before he was wrapping her in a big hug.
“Morning,” he said, smiling.
“Morning,” Jennifer replied, and tipped her head back for a kiss. “Sorry about last night,” she said.
“Don’t even worry about it,” Richie said, winking. “But you’d better not have any friends in distress next time I see you,” he joked. “I will not be as forgiving.”
Jennifer’s eyes narrowed. “Oooh, would you have to punish me?” she said softly in his ear.
Richie chuckled. “Maybe,” he said, and kissed her again.
“Jesus, you two, you have a room,” Jon said quietly as he passed them.
Jennifer reached out and snagged his arm. “You paid for my room,” she accused. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know,” Jon said smiling. “I wanted to. When’s your flight?”
“Ugh, about an hour and a half; we’ve got to be going. It was nice meeting you,” she said.
Jon pulled her in to brush his lips against her cheek. “Likewise,” he said. “Have a good flight.”
“I’ll be doped up; it’ll be great,” she said, laughing. “See you next month,” she winked.
They settled into the back of the car, and made the ride to the airport. Richie waited while Jennifer got checked in, and walked with her to security. The line was pretty long, so she knew she was going to have to go wait pretty soon. Richie pulled her off to the side and hugged her close. “It was really nice meeting you in person, Jennifer,” he said. “I can’t believe it’s only been a couple of days. Why does it feel like I’ve known you forever?”
Jennifer laughed. “Because I’m The One,” she said jokingly. “Capital-T, capital-O.” She saw the shocked look on his face. “Oh relax, I’m just kidding,” she said. “I feel like I’ve known you forever too, but really, it’s because I have. Twenty five years, anyway,” she said, then sighed. “I already can’t wait to see you again,” she said. “Boston can’t come soon enough.”
“I think we’re getting in on the 8th, or at least I can, if you want.”
“Hell yeah, I want,” Jennifer said, then blushed. “Sorry, a little too eager there, huh?”
“Nah, it was fine. I want, too. So…” Richie hated goodbyes. “So, I guess I’ll see you soon but not soon enough.” He pulled Jennifer in for a real kiss. When they broke, Jennifer saw that the line had gone down, and she had about 45 minutes until her flight left.
“I guess I should get in line,” she said sadly.
“Yeah, I guess so,” Richie blew out a breath. “I’ll wait with you.” He stood with her in line, holding her hand until it was time to pass through the gate. He kissed her hard. “Travel safe, darlin’,” he said, “and call me when you land. Or sooner if you need to.”
“Alright, Rich.” She had to dash tears away from her eyes. “God, I miss you already,” she said, kissing him quickly, then she turned from him, thrust her passport and ticket at the guard, and stepped through the gate. She rescued her purse on the other side, looked back at him once to blow him a kiss, and walked away.
As he watched her go, Richie thought about the joke she made about her being The One. He knew that it was way too soon to even be thinking like that, but hell, it made him think. He couldn’t remember the last time he had such a good time with someone, a woman, without having slept with her. He enjoyed the hell out of taking care of her, and talking with her, even sitting and watching crappy cable television with her. He sighed, and left the airport, anxious to see her again.
26 days.
But who’s counting?
Jennifer groaned and rolled over. “Don’t wanna,” she said. She was having a dream about Richie, and it was just getting good.
Gail chuckled. “Wake the fuck up now,” she said, “or I’m gonna smother you.”
Jen rolled back over and cracked open an eye. Gail was already dressed and drinking coffee. “What time is it?”
“A little after ten,” she said. “You have to get going soon.”
“Yeah, I know.” Jennifer got up and stretched. She went to take a quick shower, and threw on jeans and a t-shirt. She and Gail worked in silence, packing up their gear.
“About last night…” Gail started, but Jennifer put up a finger.
“Sweetie, it’s fine. I promise.” The two women embraced.
“Love ya, Hath.”
“Love ya back,” Jennifer said. “Oh, by the way, what did you tell David about why you call me ‘Hath’?”
Gail laughed. “I told him your middle name was ‘Hathaway’ which is a proper English name, and that I preferred it to your given name.” She shrugged. “I don’t think he believes me, though.”
They took their bags, and went down to the lobby. They went to check out and settle up, and Jennifer was annoyed to find that Jon had taken care of their room tabs. “That bastard,” Jennifer said.
“Oh yeah, he sucks,” Gail answered, rolling her eyes at Jennifer. “Get over it.”
Jennifer walked Gail out to her bike, and after the saddle bags were secured the two women shared an embrace. “I’m gonna miss you, sister,” she said.
“Me too,” Gail said. “You call me when you get home,” she said, “and you’d BETTER tell me what happens in Boston when you see Richie again.”
Jennifer laughed. “You’ll hear the screams of pleasure from where you are,” she said, winking.
The two laughed, and Gail climbed onto her bike and with a roar of the engine, she was gone. Jennifer went back into the lobby and called Richie.
“Hey, darlin’,” Richie said.
“Hey, yourself. I’m downstairs, ready whenever you are.” She didn’t have to wait long before he was wrapping her in a big hug.
“Morning,” he said, smiling.
“Morning,” Jennifer replied, and tipped her head back for a kiss. “Sorry about last night,” she said.
“Don’t even worry about it,” Richie said, winking. “But you’d better not have any friends in distress next time I see you,” he joked. “I will not be as forgiving.”
Jennifer’s eyes narrowed. “Oooh, would you have to punish me?” she said softly in his ear.
Richie chuckled. “Maybe,” he said, and kissed her again.
“Jesus, you two, you have a room,” Jon said quietly as he passed them.
Jennifer reached out and snagged his arm. “You paid for my room,” she accused. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know,” Jon said smiling. “I wanted to. When’s your flight?”
“Ugh, about an hour and a half; we’ve got to be going. It was nice meeting you,” she said.
Jon pulled her in to brush his lips against her cheek. “Likewise,” he said. “Have a good flight.”
“I’ll be doped up; it’ll be great,” she said, laughing. “See you next month,” she winked.
They settled into the back of the car, and made the ride to the airport. Richie waited while Jennifer got checked in, and walked with her to security. The line was pretty long, so she knew she was going to have to go wait pretty soon. Richie pulled her off to the side and hugged her close. “It was really nice meeting you in person, Jennifer,” he said. “I can’t believe it’s only been a couple of days. Why does it feel like I’ve known you forever?”
Jennifer laughed. “Because I’m The One,” she said jokingly. “Capital-T, capital-O.” She saw the shocked look on his face. “Oh relax, I’m just kidding,” she said. “I feel like I’ve known you forever too, but really, it’s because I have. Twenty five years, anyway,” she said, then sighed. “I already can’t wait to see you again,” she said. “Boston can’t come soon enough.”
“I think we’re getting in on the 8th, or at least I can, if you want.”
“Hell yeah, I want,” Jennifer said, then blushed. “Sorry, a little too eager there, huh?”
“Nah, it was fine. I want, too. So…” Richie hated goodbyes. “So, I guess I’ll see you soon but not soon enough.” He pulled Jennifer in for a real kiss. When they broke, Jennifer saw that the line had gone down, and she had about 45 minutes until her flight left.
“I guess I should get in line,” she said sadly.
“Yeah, I guess so,” Richie blew out a breath. “I’ll wait with you.” He stood with her in line, holding her hand until it was time to pass through the gate. He kissed her hard. “Travel safe, darlin’,” he said, “and call me when you land. Or sooner if you need to.”
“Alright, Rich.” She had to dash tears away from her eyes. “God, I miss you already,” she said, kissing him quickly, then she turned from him, thrust her passport and ticket at the guard, and stepped through the gate. She rescued her purse on the other side, looked back at him once to blow him a kiss, and walked away.
As he watched her go, Richie thought about the joke she made about her being The One. He knew that it was way too soon to even be thinking like that, but hell, it made him think. He couldn’t remember the last time he had such a good time with someone, a woman, without having slept with her. He enjoyed the hell out of taking care of her, and talking with her, even sitting and watching crappy cable television with her. He sighed, and left the airport, anxious to see her again.
26 days.
But who’s counting?
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