Kids and Dogs

When Jennifer finally pulled into the garage, she was so tense she could cry. Her shoulders were killing her, and she hadn’t stopped gripping the tattoo on the back of her neck for the last two hours. About an hour before the close of trading, the system went down. Jennifer had received a frantic page, and took off for the trading floor. She rallied the troops, and got the issue sorted out, but not before close of business, so there were going to be issues tomorrow. Fantastic. “Fuck it,” she said out loud. “I have tomorrow off and I’m taking it off.” She needed to take Richie to the airport in the morning, and in the afternoon, she was picking up Stephanie, a friend from the board, who was spending the Fourth with her.

Jennifer got out of the car and she slumped up the hallway to the house, dumping her stuff just inside the kitchen door. Unwinding her hair, knowing Richie liked it when she wore it down, she kicked the door closed behind her and looked around. No Richie. On the counter was a half pitcher of frozen margaritas and a glass. In front of the glass was a note that said “DRINK ME”. She smiled and picked up the frosty glass. Taking a slow sip, she sighed. The cool drink felt heavenly going down her throat.

Jennifer passed into the dining room, and saw there was a box of chocolates from the local shop on the table. She saw another little hand-written card. “EAT ME” it said. She selected a milk chocolate caramel and bit into it, moaning with pleasure at the creamy smooth texture and the wonderful flavor. She picked up the box and went looking for the next little surprise.

Wandering into the great room, she saw her very favorite silk robe draped across the back of one of the high-backed chairs in front of the fireplace. A big sign propped up against the chair legs said “STRIP AND WEAR ME”. Jennifer’s pulse kicked up a notch. What was he playing at? She shrugged and stripped off her clothes, knotting the robe around her waist. As was her habit, she put her hands in the pockets for a moment, and was surprised to find another note. “Come upstairs,” it said.

Smiling in earnest now, she picked up her drink and the candy, and climbed the staircase. At the top of the stairs was a sample of CDs from her collection: all mellow, soothing music. Some jazz, some blues, a little soft rock. There was another note. “PICK ONE”. She did, and started for her bedroom. The stereo in her room had a “PLAY IT NOW” sign on it, and she inserted the CD, and a soft saxophone started to play. She heard water splash in the bathroom, and saw the door was open a crack.

She hip-checked the door, setting it swinging open silently on its hinges, and her breath caught in her throat. Richie had drawn a bath in the deep claw-foot tub, and she could smell her favorite bath salts on the air. There was a frothy foam in the tub surrounding the most gorgeous thing she’d seen all day. Richie was sitting waist-high in the bubbles, with a smile on his face. He had a sign around his neck on a string that said “HUG ME”.

Tears sprang to Jennifer’s eyes, and she put her drink and chocolates down on the counter. She unknotted the robe, and dropped it to the floor. Slowly, she padded across the bathroom floor, until she came to the side of the tub. Silently, Richie stood, and Jennifer got into the tub, and hugged him tight. His arms came around her waist, holding her close, and he kissed the top of her head. After a few moments, he turned her, so her back was to his front, and urged her to sit. He sat behind her, his legs coming around either side of her.

Richie put his hands on Jennifer’s shoulders and winced. “You are so tense, sweetheart,” he said.

“Day sucked,” Jennifer answered, then turned her head to kiss his cheek. “But the evening is definitely looking up. Thank you.”

“Wanna talk about it?” Richie asked as he started to squeeze at the knots in her shoulders.

“You sure you want to hear about it?”

Richie pushed her hair aside and kissed the ‘N’ on back of her neck. “Absolutely.”

So, Jennifer told him about the endless meetings, the business people who change their minds every other day about what they want, then the coup de grace: someone used a system password the wrong way and invalidated it, making the trading system stop working. They got it working again, but people weren’t happy. “I am so glad I have tomorrow off,” she said, “but sad you have to go.”

“I’m not exactly thrilled either,” he said, “though since I get to see my daughter, I can’t really be sad.”

“What’s she like?” Jennifer asked, and Richie smiled. He loved talking about his little girl. He told her stories about her as a baby, and some of the things she liked to do and how much of a smart ass she was, like her father, but in all other respects she was like her mother. Jennifer was quiet for a minute. “How is she coping with her mother’s problems?”

“As well as any little girl could,” he answered. “She’s got quite an extended network of family, though, and she’s doing okay. I think you’d like her.”

“Of course I would,” Jennifer answered. “I love kids. Kids and dogs. Sometimes not in that order.”

Richie laughed. “I think she’d like you too.”

“Probably,” Jennifer said, practically, “but I don’t think that’s a really good idea right now, do you?”

Richie chuckled. “No, probably not. But at some point, you’ll need to meet.”

“Yep, you’re right, but it’s too soon. She’s got enough to worry about without worrying about someone else taking your time away from her.” Jennifer took a deep breath.

“What?” Richie said, knowing there was more she wanted to say.

“Nothing,” Jennifer answered. “I was just going to say that there’s plenty of time for a meet. We have all summer to set that up, right?” She held her breath, waiting for the answer.

“Absolutely,” Richie said right away.

Richie kneaded on the knots in her shoulders and neck until he felt her relax, then he pulled her up against his chest and leaned back against the side of the tub. Jennifer’s head fell back against his shoulder, and Richie couldn’t help but kiss her neck. She sighed and relaxed more in his embrace, and rested her hands on the sides of the tub. Richie smiled and scooped up two handfuls of bubbles and dropped them on her breasts, making her laugh.

Richie chuckled too, and started rubbing away the bubbles with a gentle fingertip, each stroke tickling and tantalizing Jennifer more than the last. By the time he removed the last of the foam, Jennifer was tense again, but for a different reason. She could feel too, that Richie was just as turned on as she was. She smiled. “Well hello there,” she said, scooting her ass forward so she could slip a hand behind her back. “I’m happy to see you, too.”

“Ohhh,” Richie said, as her hand closed around him. “Jen, you don’t have to – I mean this isn’t what I was planning…”

“I know,” Jennifer answered. “Doesn’t mean I don’t want it.” They stood together, pulling thick towels from the rack on the wall. After wiping the bubbles from their skin, Jennifer took Richie’s hand and led him to the bedroom. She urged him down on to the bed, and took a condom from the bedside drawer. She opened it quickly, and rolled it on slowly, then climbed on top of him and sunk onto his cock. She threaded her fingers with his, and pushed his hands down next to his head. She rode him unhurriedly, sipping from his mouth gently, like she had all the time in the world. As far as she was concerned, she did. They did. His thoughtfulness over the days she’d been with him, both here and in England, the tenderness and caring he’s shown; the laughter they’ve shared and the sense of home she felt when she was with him; it all just embedded him in her heart.

As they crested together, calling each others’ names, she squinched her eyes shut so Richie wouldn’t see the moisture in them.

She was falling in love with him.

And she was petrified it was much too soon.