by C. J. Corbin
“I’m ready for you.” I said trying for a sultry voice. Yes, I was ready for him. I wanted to jump into his arms when he walked into the room.
“Oh, wow,” he said as he walked into the room.
I stood up from the bed. We just looked at each for a few moments.
“The bath is all ready for us.”
Michael smiled and he put the wine glasses and wine on the dresser opposite the door. He walked slowly toward me and the anticipation of feeling his arms around me was slowly driving me mad. Finally, he wound his arms around my shoulders and pulled me close. I sighed as I felt his hands moving down my body coming to rest on my bottom. His lips found mine and his kiss answered any of my worries or insecurities.
I brought my arms up around his neck as my hands stroked his hair and the side of his face. Michael’s hands cupped my bottom and pulled me up tight against him. I could feel his hard length pressing against me. The intense feeling my lower body was producing made slow moans escape from my throat. My hips moved against the soft material of his jeans and I wanted to be closer to him, but tonight I was not rushing anything.
He continued to knead my butt with his hands in a circular motion, which more than provoked a response from me. His lips traveled down my chin to my neck. His head lowered to my breasts and he slowly took a nipple into his mouth through the sheer fabric of my nightgown. His teeth grazed it and it sent shivers through me. A moan escaped from his lips. His beard brushed against my skin and it felt rough and soft at the same time.
“Do you want me to shave babe?” He whispered as he paid the same attention to my other nipple.
I only shook my head and arched my back to bring his mouth closer. “Oh, Michael. That feels so good.”
He chuckled deeply, “I can’t believe what I get to come home to. You are amazing.”
He stepped back from me while I pulled the straps on my nightgown down over my shoulders. The gown slipped to the floor in one fluid movement and I stood naked in front of him.
Michael breathed in sharply. “I cannot get used to seeing you. You are so beautiful.”
I took his hand, “Come with me. Your bath is all ready for you.”
I led him into the bathroom. He had a wonderful grin on his face and he was waiting for my lead, which is exactly what I wanted from him. I pulled his sweater over his head and dropped it on the floor. My hands splayed over his chest feeling the rippling of his muscles. Michael’s nipples reacted as mine had when I laid kisses on them. The stiff peaks were the clue that he enjoyed the attention he was receiving from me, that and the groans from deep in his chest.
Kneeling in front of him, I unbuckled his belt and unbuttoned the top button on his jeans. He stood very quietly watching my every move. I grinned up at him, as it was evident his erection was straining against his pants. I laid kisses below his belly button and ran my tongue to where the zipper on his jeans began.
Michael rocked back on heels and hissed through his teeth, “My little hellcat, you’re going to drive me wild tonight aren’t you?”
I looked up at him almost shyly, “Payback.”
I slowly pulled his zipper down and I could tell by the way he steeled his body he was fighting not to crush my head against him. To give him a taste of what the evening had in store for him I did press my lips against him through the material of his briefs.
Michael threw his head back and steadied himself by placing his hands on my shoulder, “Oh god Elizabeth.” He groaned in a whisper.
Slowly pulling his jeans down over his hips so that he could step out of them, he stood in front of me only in his briefs. I had to get him naked and immediately. Sliding his briefs down, there he was front and center. Grinning and taking him in my hands, I opened my mouth to him tasting him. By his murmurs and sighs, I knew the action hit the mark.
Michael reached down, pulled me up, and his eyelids almost closed. “Bath time,” he barely breathed the words.
“You get in, and I’m going to bathe you.” I whispered.
He got into the water and I kneeled down on the tub steps. He watched my every move as he settled into the water. I soaped up a washcloth and ran it over his chest and shoulders. Michael closed his eyes while I leaned over and kissed his face softly. The washcloth floated away as I ran my hand down his chest to his belly, and then moved lower. He leaned back in the tub and my hand went to his thighs. I swirled the water around lightly touching his taut skin. His erection pressed up against his abdomen and I ran my hand up its full length feeling its thickness and weight.
Michael watched my face closely. I was in awe of this man. It was still difficult for me to believe that he was here for me.
“Come here baby.” He whispered as he pulled me into the water.
He sat up, pulled me into his lap, and I wrapped my legs around him. His mouth once again surrounded my nipples and the feeling of his tongue against them shot straight down to the area between my legs. My lower body rocked against him trying to get closer somehow. I could feel him in between my legs and with each rocking motion, the feelings intensified.
“Oh baby,” I whispered. “I want you so bad.”
My voice seemed to wake him. He stood and gently pulled me up. His kisses rained down on my face finally kissing me deeply as he held me against him. Our breathing was heavy and labored. He gently toweled me dry. The glint in his eyes told me bath time was finished. Michael stepped out of the tub and picked me up in his arms. His strength surprised me. He walked to the bed and laid me down gently.
His kisses started at the top of my head and trailed down across my eyes, to my mouth where he lingered again kissing me deeply. His hands caressing my breasts and then slowly starting to trail down my belly. I parted my legs for him hoping that his hand would continue its journey downward. I lifted my hips as soon as he touched the heat between my legs. I moaned into his mouth and the thrusts of his tongue matched those of his fingers. It didn’t take my body long to shudder against his fingers as my release came hard.
“Oh god, Michael.” I cried into his ear. “Oh my god!”
His fingers didn’t leave me but continued to caress me softly as my hips moved to their rhythm.
“You let me know when you’re ready.” Michael whispered to me.
I smiled at him as I pushed him over on his back. I straddled him and rubbed against him.
“I’m ready. Give it to me.” I said in a deep purring voice.
He slid inside of me slowly and I gasped at the intense feeling the motion created. As our bodies intimately connected, we moved together in a shared tempo. The wonderful friction built up an intense desire of need between us. Again, that movement brought me to a crescendo exploding into a cascade of stars around me.
All I heard was Michael’s voice urging me on “Come for me Babe, come for me.”
He sat up and wrapped my legs around him, kissing me deeply. As my breathing slowed, he moved me on my back and caressed me again with his kisses. He entered me, and again I could feel his need. My movements urged him on and the rise and fall of his body against mine were ecstasy.
I whispered, “Baby, don’t hold back, I want all of you.”
He smiled and kissed me. His movements varied and the sensations were filling me again. As he increased his speed, I felt the ascending need in me. In the blink of an eye, he was pushing me over the edge for a third time. As I fell into that endless world of pure sensation and as my body trembled against his, his release came. His body quaked and then he fell against me, holding me to him tightly, his body quivering. We lay together for a long time trying to control our breathing, not speaking, softly touching each other in wonderment.
Michael chuckled deeply, “We didn’t have any wine.”
I giggled, “I don’t think my legs can move enough to get up. Besides, I definitely don‘t need any now.” I stretched out fully against him and sighed.
“What did you think of the picture I left for you?” He asked.
“I love it.” I
smiled touching his chest softly. “You know what I’d like?” I looked up at him.
Michael shifted as he stroked my shoulders, “What would you like?”
“Okay,” I giggled. “I want you to frame the picture and put it up in here.”
“You do?”
“Yes,” I nodded, “and, I want you to take down Margaret’s picture.”
Michael laughed, “If you’re going to be a photographer, you’re going to have to notice when things change. It’s been gone. I took it down weeks ago.”
I whipped around and looked at the wall. Michael had taken it down and replaced it with a different baby picture of the girls. My heart felt like it was going to burst with happiness, and I covered his face with kisses. “I love you.” I whispered.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Our days fell into a wonderful pattern. We enjoyed the week with Katy and Paul. The days were still warm enough to take the boat out on the lake. Paul and Michael took turns driving the boat and while I watched them, it had occurred to me that Katy had found someone much like her father. I wondered if we women had a tendency to do that or just the opposite, choosing men who were nothing like our fathers.
We said goodbye to Katy and Paul at the end of the week. They promised to come out during Christmas for the holidays. Michael appeared to be satisfied with Paul. Although I was sure, a father is never completely happy with the man his daughter chooses.
The leaves were changing and falling on the ground quickly. Halloween time was rapidly approaching and I looked forward to decorating the house for the autumn. I was down to the last few chapters and I needed to be alone when I wrote the climax of the book. Michael was too distracting. If he worked in his office, one of us would be checking on the other, nibbling on each other, kissing, and dragging the other off to bed, and I was the offender more often than not. Therefore, I exiled myself to my cabin.
About a week before Halloween, Debi was due to drop by in the afternoon. We planned a trip to the local nursery for pumpkins. As I waited for her to arrive, I worked at my desk. I had the stereo blaring loudly with operatic music because when I wrote drama I found opera best fit the bill. The music reminded me of my mother too and lately I had been missing her. She had introduced me to opera music when I was young and I would never forget our first trip to the Los Angeles Opera when I was sixteen.
I often wondered what she would have thought about Michael. I laughed at myself, and I knew she would have loved him. What was there not to love?
A knock on the front door jolted me out of my daydreams. I looked out the window and waved to Michael. He was always cautious about surprising me, especially in my cabin. I opened the door.
“Is it loud enough in here?” He shouted coming into the room.
“Sorry. You know me, I get carried away.” I turned the music down.
“Isn’t that Turandot?” He commented.
I looked at him with surprise. “You know opera too?” I said.
“I come from a German and Greek family, what do you think? Lunch is ready next door if you’re interested.”
“Oh,” I covered my mouth with my hand, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I’m going with Debi this afternoon to the nursery and we were going to get some lunch on the way. Can it keep?”
Michael nodded, “No worries Babe. You and Tammy can have it for dinner tonight?”
“Where will you be?” I asked.
“Frank said they found a disturbance again up near the eagles nest and I’m going to go by and check on it.”
I nodded. “Please be careful. It doesn’t sound like tourists anymore.”
“I know Babe,” he nodded in agreement. He wrapped his arms around me, “I’ll probably be late because I’m meeting with the park rangers too.”
I laughed, “Oh so it’s going to be a gab fest too.”
Michael kissed me, “You know us guys, and once we start we can’t stop.”
I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him back, “Oh don’t I know it!”
Debi walked into the cabin while Michael and I embraced. “Well, well, well, I see you two are at it again. Don’t you guys ever come up for air?”
I broke our kiss to look at Debi over Michael’s shoulder. “Would you?”
Debi laughed, “Never!” She hugged Michael, “Okay I want the same sugar.” She said still joking.
Michael bent her over on her back, planted a big wet kiss on her lips, and then brought her upright again.
“Oh baby, I like it!” She laughed again swatting at Michael’s chest. “You know, all I get are promises from him.”
“You know, I always say promises are better than denials.” I laughed.
“You got that right. So, I’m starved are you ready to go?”
I nodded, “Let me turn off my computer.”
The three of us walked out to the back. Michael waved goodbye and blew kisses at both of us.
“Oh momma,” Debi exclaimed, “He is one fine specimen of a man. How do you not attack him every minute of the day?”
“I had to banish myself to my cabin to write, because I kept jumping his bones.” I giggled.
“So are you living with him now?” Debi asked as she started up the truck and pulled out to the main highway to town.
“If you call sleeping with him every night, then yeah I guess I’m living with him. He made it easy, especially with me living next door.”
“It’s moving fast.” She looked over at me with concern on her face.
“I don’t know Debi,” I shook my head and then paused a moment, “it doesn’t feel fast to me. It feels like it is supposed to.” I paused again and sighed, “It feels right. When I’m with Michael everything seems complete. I don’t know how to explain it. It was very different with Kevin.”
Debi frowned, “I know that’s what is worrying me. It went very fast with Kevin, first you met him at your job, then you were dating, and then it seemed like you were married with no thinking time in between.”
I nodded in agreement, “Yeah that was a whirlwind. Kevin didn’t give me time to think, with him it was either say yes now or I’m leaving your life. Michael isn’t like that. His style is more relaxed and easy. Except for his work, he is intense about his work. He doesn’t do anything halfway, he refuses to cut any corners, and it’s amazing to watch him work. Michael is not lazy and does not shrug work off on someone else. I love working with him too, he’s so generous.”
Debi laughed, “Wow girlfriend, take a breath. I get it, he’s Mr. Wonderful.”
I puckered my brow with concern, “I thought you liked Michael?”
“I love Michael,” she said, “as a neighbor and a friend, but now he is treading in very dangerous best friend territory. I want to make sure…” Debi trailed off not finishing her sentence.
“What?” I demanded. “That I’m not making a stupid mistake again?” I bristled. Okay, Debi was right, I did make a terrible mistake with Kevin, but now all of a sudden everyone was concerned about Michael? It sounded like a conversation I had with Lisa earlier in the day. I sighed inwardly and wondered if Michael was getting the same questions from his family too.
“Now stop it Elizabeth, you know that I’m only concerned because I love you. Yes, Michael is wonderful, but every man has his faults. Have you talked to him about New Orleans and the information that he neglected to tell you? What about that?” Debi touched my arm. “Darling, I’m just worried about you.”
No, Michael and I hadn’t talked about that yet. But, I didn’t want to admit it to Debi. I think she was itching for an “I told you so” moment. It had been bothering me and I felt like a coward for not bringing it up to Michael. After the scene we had with Margaret, I wanted everything to settle down first. I wished people would stop watching out for my own good and let me run willy-nilly, because it felt better. While I was at it, why didn’t I start to think about his cousin Nicki and the mystery of their breakup?
I glowered at Debi. She looked back at me with
surprise. “Hey, what did I do?”
“Nothing.” I scrunched down low in my seat. “Aren’t we stopping for lunch? I’m hungry.”
Debi chuckled and looked at me sideways, “I guess you are. Okay my friend. No more about Michael. At least not until after you’ve eaten.”
“No more about Michael today, okay?”
“It’s a deal.”
We stopped at the café before heading over to the nursery. My mood brightened as we lingered over lunch. Debi did not mention my relationship with Michael again, but he did come up in the conversation, plenty. It was late afternoon by the time we arrived at the nursery.
Joe saw me first getting out of the truck. “Elizabeth, my little one!” He called to me as he came out of his office at the side of the main building. “This is a surprise! You’re early. Halloween isn’t for another week.”
I ran over to greet him, throwing my arms around his neck, “Uncle Joe!”
He hugged me and almost swept me off the ground, which would have been a feat for any man, even Joe who was the same height as me. Joe was not really my uncle, but I regarded him as such. He and my Aunt Ruth were together for years. He suffered along right next to her when she went through her cancer treatments, and although they never walked down the aisle, the family, both his and mine had always considered them married.
Aunt Ruth never had children and met Joe shortly after she had moved to Mintock. He had recently divorced when they met and it was literally love at first sight. She wrote her books from her little cabin and he tended his nursery, building it into the largest in the area. It was a classic love affair and one that all the people of the town knew about. The only argument I had ever heard them have was when she was sick. They had been discussing her will and she wanted to leave her cabin to him. Uncle Joe insisted that she leave the cabin to me because it wouldn’t be the same for him without her there. And, so she had, which is how I inherited the cabin.
Joe was the classically handsome Hispanic man, tall, proud, and hardworking. Still with a full head of black hair, although recently I noticed that his hair finally started to turn grey around his temples. I always kidded him that he went to the beauty salon to have it touched up, which I knew wasn’t true, but we both enjoyed the teasing.