Authors: Rachel Kenley
“I understand,” Lena said, meaning it. She considered the last
few days with Daniel, and the ones preceding them. She shared her art, her work
and herself with him in a way she never did before. With him she knew she was
safe and accepted, flaws, fears and all.
“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?”
“Of course.”
“And is what I said matching what you’re feeling for him?”
Lena didn’t respond out loud but she knew the answer. She
was pretty certain Mrs. Pierce did too.
“Are you baking things from scratch in there? You’ve got
hungry men waiting on you,” a voice bellowed from the dining room.
“That’s our cue,” Mrs. Pierce said. “Grab the plates and pie
and I’ll bring the coffee. Let’s go join our men.”
* * * * *
Their trek back to the Grand House was slower than the walk
over since their arms were overflowing with containers of leftovers. “We could
stay for a week and have enough food,” Lena said.
“Especially since I can’t imagine wanting to eat for a few
days,” Daniel said. “I’m so full I’m amazed I can breathe without unbuttoning
my pants.”
“And I know I must be pretty full if your comment doesn’t
make me want to respond with something raunchy about unbuttoned pants.”
He chuckled and then groaned. “Wow, it really does hurt when
I laugh.”
Fortunately, there was plenty of room in the refrigerator
for everything Mrs. Pierce sent home with them. “From the looks of it, we could
be snowed in for a week and manage to survive fine, food-wise,” Lena said.
Daniel nuzzled her neck. “There’s something rather appealing
in that idea.”
“Yes, there is,” she said, and turned to kiss him. Mrs.
Pierce was right. Fighting her feelings was about fear of opening her heart and
being vulnerable to another person. But if she didn’t find a way to do it,
she’d miss out on something special.
“Part of me wants to carry you upstairs and make love with
you,” he said, kissing her jaw followed by the sensitive skin behind her ear.
“And part of you wants to collapse on the couch and watch a
movie,” she said.
“How did you know?”
“I’ve got the same parts.”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “You got some fun different parts
too.”
“Let’s save that for when we can move without groaning.”
“Good idea. What do you have for DVDs?”
“I have no idea, hopefully something good. I know there are
some classics.”
“I can get into a good black-and-white movie.”
“Then let’s go check out the cabinet.”
They chose
Some Like It Hot
, and she snuggled against
him as they watched, even though she agreed it was painful at first to laugh.
By the time Marilyn Monroe was trying to get Tony Curtis to respond to her
kisses, Lena was thinking of doing the same thing to Daniel.
With his arm draped around her, her head on his chest, she
tried to remember the last time she relaxed with a man she was in a
relationship with. As she thought about it, a scary truth hit her. Since her
marriage she’d dated men, but never really had a relationship. They’d go out or
meet friends. There was almost always an activity, never simply being together.
Thinking about sitting quietly with a few of her exes brought an uncomfortable
sensation. It wasn’t something she wanted to do with them, and she probably
wouldn’t have enjoyed it if she did.
All the more reason to notice the truths in her relationship
with Daniel. Mrs. Pierce was right. Because Lena entered into things with
Daniel assuming there was no possibility for a future, she didn’t hold back,
didn’t censor herself and in the process she discovered two important things.
First, how amazing and empowering it was to be herself
without worrying what the other person might think.
And second, how truly wonderful a man Daniel was. He was
caring, intelligent, funny and unbelievably passionate in bed. Her first lover
who wanted to give as much as receive, and because of this, she wanted to give
more. The way he accepted her, connected with her, she never felt so special
and cherished.
By the time Osgood uttered his famous, “Well, nobody’s
perfect” at the end of the movie, Lena was exhausted from the night and the
weight of her thoughts.
Daniel kissed her forehead gently. “Ready for bed?”
“Very,” she said and couldn’t contain the yawn.
“Oh, don’t get me started yawning or I may not be able to
carry you to bed.”
“That sounds lovely. Sometimes being little has its
advantages.”
“I’m glad you think so,” he said, getting off the couch then
scooping her into his arms. “My room or yours?”
“Yours, it’s closer.”
“Very considerate of you.”
“Too tired to go any farther than that.”
“Agreed,” he said and strode up the stairs. Moments later
they stripped to their underwear and wrapped in each other, fell asleep.
Chapter Ten
Lena opened her eyes slowly, stretched and brushed against
Daniel’s body. Waking next to him was a wonderful experience. Usually he was
awake before her and taking a run, showering or having breakfast. She liked him
being there, naked and close.
She rolled over and kissed his chest. He pulled her to him
and she kissed him awake.
“Wow,” he said. “There is something better than coffee in
the morning.”
“Who knew? You slept in.”
“I guess I did.” He stroked down her back to her ass. “Or
yesterday wore me out.”
“Complaining?”
“Not even a little.”
“Didn’t think so,” she said, curling closer to him, enjoying
him against her whole body. He did so much for her, to her. In a surge of
bravery she said, “No one, no lover, no boyfriend has ever made me feel the way
you do.”
He stared at her, not blinking. “You mean that.”
“Completely. You make me feel beautiful and sexy. When I
look into your eyes and see the desire there, it steals my breath away.”
“Then I guess that’s another way we’re a good match, because
the fact that you don’t know how desirable you are, how naturally sexy you are,
leaves me speechless. It boggles my mind no man ever saw in you all I do.”
And to think she almost didn’t give them a chance. “You
didn’t have any reservations about us, did you?”
“I knew what I wanted, but I also knew things changed in the
ten years since we saw each other. The reality of what we wanted and needed
from a relationship could be different. I didn’t like the possibility, but I
knew it existed.”
“And here I thought you were optimistic all the time.”
He smiled and shrugged. “Realistic is smarter.”
“I’m glad you took the risk and glad you didn’t give up when
I disappeared after our first night.” Without warning he kissed her deeply,
pulling her to him, filling her senses with passion. She never wanted to be
without those kisses. When he broke the embrace she said, “I’m not complaining,
but what was that for?”
“I have wanted to hear you say that.”
“Now you know.”
“Now I know. There’s something you should know.”
“Yes?”
“I love you, Lena.”
Her heart stilled then swelled. There was no other way to
describe the expanding feeling inside her. It didn’t come as a complete
surprise, but hearing it was thrilling. She reached out and touched his cheek.
“Daniel, I love you too. I don’t know when, and I’m only beginning to
understand why, but I know it’s true.”
As he kissed her again, she allowed her feelings to course
through her. Not the sexual desire, although that was there too, but the love
she wanted to give him, show him. She was still scared but ready for the risks
loving and being loved entailed.
It was a long time since she’d opened herself creatively and
emotionally. With Daniel she was able to do both and it amazed her. Energized
her. Being in bed with him was as thrilling as being in her studio. Well, almost,
she admitted. She was alive and free in a way she hadn’t been since her teen
years when she started turning her back on her true self. Never again would she
live a closed and blocked-off life without passion.
And if things went as she hoped, she wouldn’t live without
Daniel either. She loved being with him, loved the way he saw her and she
wanted to have that always.
“That’s it!” she said, leaping up from the bed.
“What’s it?”
“The campaign. I know what we have to do.”
He was so thrilled to hear her say she loved him he couldn’t
make sense of what she was suddenly trying to tell him. “Slow down,” he said as
she began spilling her ideas.
She took a deep breath. “Every woman wants to be looked at
with love, passion and acceptance. The way you look at me—although not at the
moment because you’re staring at me like I’m crazy.”
“True, but keep going.”
“All the current cosmetics campaigns show the woman wearing
makeup, usually some celebrity who even though we all know she’s been
airbrushed like crazy, we aspire to look like. Well, what if we don’t show the
woman. What if we show the man?”
“We don’t show the product? That’s risky.”
“We do, we’ll show a woman, but only a little. Either in
profile, or reflected in a mirror, but what we really see is the man looking at
this woman as though she is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. She is
his fantasy come true.”
“A man who can’t take his eyes off her,” he said.
“Now you’re getting it.”
“So, a tag line like, ‘Let him see the best in you’.”
“Yes,” she said. “Come on.”
He followed her down the stairs and into the living room
where they spread everything out again. “How about the phrase ‘Show him your
beauty’ or ‘Show him your passion’,” she said.
“Or ‘let him see the fantasy in you’?”
“I love that—then we can roll your more fantastical images
in. Almost as though they are a frame around her. For him she’s fantasy and
reality all rolled into one.”
He was sketching madly while she made notes, suggested
phrases, and rewrote copy. This time as the ideas flew there was no laughing or
grimacing. Everything was gold.
“There’s nothing like this out there,” he said.
“Not in the least. Women are going to look at these ads and
want to be the woman he’s looking at. This is going to blow them away.”
Her joy lit up her face and Daniel was having trouble
focusing on what he was supposed to be doing. He was thrilled they’d finally
found their winning combination, but even more thrilled to know she loved him.
He was smiling like a fool, hearing her voice in his head repeating the words.
As he worked he tried to put those thoughts into the expression on the face of
the man in the ad.
“We’re going to get this account,” she said.
“I think you’re right.”
They ate leftovers and worked until they couldn’t see
straight, finally stumbling into bed after midnight.
* * * * *
Waves of pleasure started softly across her skin, waking her
gently. She reached toward the awareness, wanting more, needing more and as she
did she woke to discover she was lying on her back with Daniel’s hand gently fondling
her breasts under the t-shirt she fell asleep in. She wondered if she could
still be dreaming, but she was too aware of his touch and her reaction. As her
nipples hardened she considered opening her eyes, but decided instead to let
the sensations caress her. Not knowing what he would do next added to the
pleasure, and she let herself surrender to his arousing attention.
There was something magical about being desired to the point
Daniel was willing to wake her. Knowing he couldn’t and wouldn’t wait for
morning had heat pooling between her thighs.
His touch was a balm after days filled with uncertainty and
fear. There was no one like him and she was both excited and grateful. She
wasn’t alone anymore. Someone was with her. Someone was here for her.
“Daniel.” His name came out on a whisper.
“Yes, my sweet Lena?”
“I need you close.”
“I am close,” he said.
“Closer.”
He kissed her and said, “With pleasure.” His hand slipped
into her underwear and directly to her pussy. The contact and knowing what was
to come sent a shiver through her. “You’re close too. I think I’ll make you
closer.”
As he teased her clit with his fingers, she lifted her hips
to give him more contact, and they both used a hand to remove her panties.
“A touch and a kiss and my body is ready for you,” she said.
He placed her hand on his boxers and she gripped his
erection. “Then we are, once again, well matched.”
He continued circling her sensitive bud, but as his fingers
worked in and out of her, it wasn’t enough. “Please, Daniel, be inside of me.”
“Don’t you want—”
“You,” she interrupted. “I want you.”
He kissed her deeply and she knew he understood. As he
rolled over to get a condom from his nightstand, she pulled off her t-shirt.
When he returned to her they were both naked. She pulled him on top and spread
her legs. Grabbing his long, thick cock she guided him into her.
“God yes,” she whispered.
“We’re perfect together,” he said and kissed her gently.
Their mouths tasted and tongues explored each other in slow movements, mirrored
by their bodies. They didn’t rush. There was no need. She caressed his back,
marveling in his muscles moving under her hands. She noticed the feel of his
legs between hers, the tingle of his chest hair on her breasts. Everywhere was
feeling. Everywhere was love.
When his climax was close he arched away to stroke her clit
and bring her to orgasm with him. As they shattered in each others’ arms, Lena
knew she was more connected to her own heart and to someone else’s than ever
before.
The last thing she remembered before falling back to sleep
was saying, “I love you” in unison with the man who showed her the path back to
her soul.