“Just a moment,” Eric replied and trailed off back into the suite. Several minutes later, he re-appeared on the balcony holding a bottle of 2004 Dom Perignon and two crystal flutes. He presented Sara with a small box wrapped in olive-colored wrapping paper and topped with a white fabric bow, “For you, my love.”
Sara’s eyes lit up, “A gift? What are we celebrating?”
“You,” he stated.
“Me?” she wondered.
“Well, us, I suppose.”
“Oh. Umm…I didn’t realize… Now I feel bad that I didn’t get you anything.”
Eric shook his head, “I have everything I want. And if you accept this gift from me, it will be as much of a gift to me as it is to you.”
Her eyebrows furrowed and she shot him a quizzical look, “What have you got up your sleeve, Mr. Preen?”
“Just open it! The suspense is killing me!” he blurted.
“Okay, Okay,” Sara chuckled as she tugged on the ribbon allowing it to fall into her lap. She pulled the top off the box, which revealed a smaller, black velvet jewelry box. Inside, a shimmering, one-carat princess-cut diamond ring nested alongside an infinity twist micropave diamond wedding band. Sara was stunned, “Eric, they’re beautiful!”
“The diamond is twice what you’ve already got,” Eric stated proudly.
“I love it, but… why would you…”
“Because, I thought it was time for an upgrade,” he interrupted, “and because… I’d like to renew our vows. That is, if you would accept them, and allow me the privilege of being your husband?”
“Eric, you are my husband!”
“Yes, but I mean, I’d like to be a better husband. I’ve missed out on a lot these last few years and I’ve taken you for granted. I don’t ever want to be that husband again. So, what do ya say?”
Sara smiled, “How could I possibly say ‘no’?” she agreed, but the truth was that she wasn’t entirely committed to the idea. How could she be committed, when she knew in her heart that she still loved Jude? Eric was trying so hard to re-establish a connection with Sara. Thinking of all that he’d done for her, and the transformation he’d made in the last several weeks made her feel an enormous amount of guilt about her infidelity.
“Good,” Eric kissed her gently on the lips and then uncorked the bottle, pouring generous helpings of bubbly champagne into the two flutes and handed one to Sara. “My heart is, and always will be yours. To us!” he proclaimed. The depth of devotion in his eyes was undeniable.
They clinked their glasses and sipped the crisp, cucumbery champagne, which tingled in their mouths. Sara was reminded of the only other time she’d had this particular champagne; on the night of their engagement. It was a warm summer evening, and they’d just finished celebrating Eric’s new job with a deliciously elaborate, five-course dinner at one of their favorite restaurants, Table Six. The cool bubbles of champagne danced in Sara’s mouth while Eric knelt on one knee and declared his unending love for her, asking her to be his wife. She was so excited when she realized what was happening that she nearly spit the liquid gold champagne into his face, but ungracefully swallowed in one gulp instead. Sara remembered how complete she felt in the moments that followed her acceptance of his proposal, and the intense fullness of Eric’s love for her. She could see that same passion in him now.
Maybe it was the champagne, or the romantic setting that Eric devised, but his intensity was contagious, and for the next several hours, Sara did not think about Jude at all.
They sat for a while on the balcony, appreciating every sip as they finished their glasses of champagne. Sara gazed across the calm water at the mountain peaks in the distance. The warmth of the sunny spring afternoon was soothing. “This is so relaxing,” Sara finally said, “I can’t remember the last time we went away without the kids.”
“It’s been too long,” Eric agreed. He watched as Sara closed her eyes and swallowed the last drops of champagne from her glass. “More?” he offered.
“Please.”
Eric poured a generous serving into Sara’s glass and emptied the rest of the bottle into his.
“Thank you,” Sara said while she toyed with the black jewelry box admiring the rings.
“May I?” Eric suggested, pointing at the box. Sara nodded. He pulled her left hand across the table, inching her engagement ring off her finger. Eric tenderly kissed the ring and placed it on the table beside the box. He pulled her hand toward his face, and she became aroused as his mouth encased her ring finger. His cool tongue pressed against the tip of it while he sucked gently.
Eric took the large, diamond ring out of the box and slid it onto Sara’s finger. “I love you,” he stated and leaned toward her.
Sara met him in the middle of the short space between them and they kissed. The attention Eric devoted to Sara was refreshing. She was filled with a sense of hope and genuine love as their lips became more intertwined with each passing moment.
Beneath the table, Eric playfully nudged his leg forward, sliding it between her legs so that her thighs surrounded his. They kissed for another minute until Eric slowly withdrew while he rose from his chair and pulled Sara with him. “Come inside with me,” he suggested.
Eric led Sara into the suite toward the king-sized bed. “I know it’s been a while,” he paused to carefully consider his words, “and I’ve been trying very hard to give you every bit of space you’ve needed to heal.”
“Eric, I know,” Sara reassured him. “Thank you.”
“I’m not looking for ‘thanks’. It’s just that, well, you can’t possibly know how badly I’ve wanted to be with you… intimately, I mean. And you’ve been focused on healing. I understand that. So I haven’t asked if you were ready… for me, I mean.”
Sara wasn’t sure how to respond. She knew that there was a reason she’d not been so receptive to his newfound devotion to her. Since her accident, her heart swayed between her two loves and as she considered her future with Eric, Sara wondered if she would be able to move on from her affair with Jude, and keep it a secret from Eric forever. Still, she wanted to let Eric know that she was falling in love with him again and she was beginning to see him in a new light. “You’re right. I’ve been pre-occupied. But… I think I’m ready now.”
Eric’s eyes lit with excitement. He kissed her with an eager sort of intensity and then stepped back for a minute to calm his desire. He wanted everything about the romantic getaway to be perfect for Sara, right down to the details of love-making. He promised himself that every moment would be reserved for her enjoyment. “We’ll go slow,” he assured her.
Sara felt surprisingly nervous. It had been months since they’d had sex, and she hoped for Eric’s sake that it would live up to whatever expectations Eric had for them. The warmth of Eric’s soft lips eased her nerves a bit as he planted tender kisses along her neck, and wrapped his arms around her waist. Sara became more relaxed with each gentle touch of his hands, and every passionate kiss.
Eric was an absolute gentleman. He took his time making love with Sara, as if entering into the intimate and ethereal world of intercourse with a virgin. He established such a comfortable and trusting rapport with her that it was easy for Sara to surrender herself wholly to his love. And, really, it was the first time ever that she’d experienced making love with Eric in such an intimate and transcendental manner.
Eric’s hands moved delicately over Sara’s body and skin as he slowly undressed her and guided her onto the plush bed. Sara watched as Eric pulled his shirt over his head, revealing his trim and muscular torso. My God! He’s hot! Sara thought. In fact, he was in the best shape of his life, which was likely due to all of the time he’d been spending in their home fitness room after he took leave from his job. Clearly, she had not been paying enough attention to him! Sara relished the changes of his new physique and encouraged him to continue. She pulled him on top of her. The pressure of his thigh against her groin was delicious and made her clit swell. Eric was supremely aroused
as well. This was evident in the erection Sara felt while sliding her hand along the inseam of his pants and upward toward his navel. She loosened his pants and Eric lifted his body away from hers for only a moment; just long enough to completely remove them, before falling back into the glorious mess of their intertwined bodies.
“More?” Eric flirted with Sara, smiling devilishly at her in a way she’d not seen before, and she liked it.
“Yes,” she breathed heavily in agreement.
Eric wanted to pleasure Sara in the best way that he knew how. He’d come to realize that the joy he received in pleasuring her was even more satisfying to him than any personal physical pleasure he could ever experience himself.
He took a sip of champagne and started to kiss and gently suck her soft skin from inner thigh toward the apex of her legs. Once again, the coolness of his tongue served to further arouse Sara and she became eager for him to reach his destination. When he reached her clit, he used his tongue to toy with it in a rhythmic series of encircling motions followed by several gentle flicks and then lightly sucking. He drew back and took another quick sip of champagne before repeating the whole delicious process. Sara’s heartbeat quickened. She was completely captivated by every minute movement of his tongue. Her insides yearned to be filled and, as if following her body’s cues like the ocean’s undertow that naturally pulls as each wave crashes, Eric slid the index and middle fingers of his free hand into her, massaging the inner walls in a regular, come-hither motion. Sara moaned with pleasure, inviting Eric to continue on his quest. He answered her every request on a rollercoaster of peaks and valleys until she climaxed, hard. Still tingling from her orgasm, Sara felt a twitching from within as Eric penetrated her. He filled her completely, much more so than his two fingers had, which aroused her once again. Eric reached deep into her, angling his hips and applying pressure to her G-spot. He glided in and out with a procession of countless firm thrusts that massaged and satisfied them both until Sara climaxed again and Eric quickly followed, and then collapsed beside her on the bed. Nearly out of breath, Sara curled herself onto Eric’s side and draped her arm across his chest. They stared into each other’s eyes for a long moment, in awe of the power of what they’d felt, until Sara finally broke their silence by kissing his lips. “Mmm… That was incredible. Thank you,” she said before they both settled and then fell fast asleep.
The waterlogged rumble of a motorboat on the placid lake outside awoke Eric from a sound sleep. He rolled over and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was 3:49 pm. Shit!
He turned to kiss Sara’s cheek and whispered, “Sara, wake up.”
“What time is it?” she wondered as she struggled to wake herself.
“It’s almost four. You’re going to be late.”
“Late? For what?”
“Your massage.”
“My … massage?”
“I’ll explain in a minute. Just get up and freshened a bit. I have something to give you before you go.”
“Umm, okay,” Sara rolled out of bed, dragging along the floor the bed sheet that was loosely coiled around her body. She picked up her underwear and bra, which were strewn about, walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
Meanwhile, Eric pulled a white zippered garment bag from the closet and hung it over the top of the closet door so that it was promptly displayed where Sara would easily notice it.
Sara washed her face and freshened her body with a spritz of complimentary cherry blossom scented body spray that was left by resort staff. The door creaked as she opened it and walked back into the main living area wearing a white plush, terry robe. Eric stood beside the closet door, grinning from ear to ear.
“What’s that?” Sara asked pointing at the bag, which she didn’t recognize as part of their luggage.
“You’ll just have to come over here and see!” he flirted. Sara strolled toward him, tentatively eyeing the garment bag. “I scheduled a massage for you for four o’clock and then an appointment in the salon to have your hair done.” Eric removed the garment bag from the closet door and placed it in Sara’s arms, “Take this with you. It’s for you to wear tonight when all that’s done.”
Sara beamed. She was speechless. Never before in their eight years of marriage had Eric been so attentive, or romantic, “Eric, this is … ”
“You can thank me later,” he joked, “but for now, you need to get going. Oh and, there’s a note in that pocket. It explains everything you need to know. Read it after you’ve had your massage.”
“Wait… what?” Sara said, but before she could question Eric further, there was a firm knock on the door.
Eric opened the door and greeted a young woman dressed in a hotel uniform, “So nice to finally meet you in person.”
“The feeling is mutual, Mr. Preen,” she commented and then looked past Eric into the suite and summoned, “Mrs. Preen?”
“Yes?”
“Hi. My name’s Callie. I’ll be your personal assistant for the evening.”
“My personal…?”
“Here, let me take that for you,” Callie interrupted and motioned toward the garment bag.
“Oh, sure. Thank you,” Sara said as Callie lifted the garment bag from her arms.
Callie smiled, “No problem. Follow me and I’ll show you how to get to the wellness spa.”
“Umm. Okay,” Sara replied, and as she began to follow, she felt Eric’s hand tug on hers. He pulled Sara into him and kissed her lips ravenously.
“I love you. Have fun and I’ll see you in a few hours.”
23. A New Beginning and a Dream
A tall, forty-something woman with a thick Swedish accent and long blonde hair coiled tightly into a bun kneaded and massaged the muscles of Sara’s back and shoulders. The room was filled with the scent of rosemary and mint massage oil, which was used to ply her skin. Under different circumstances, Sara would have no difficulty drifting into extreme relaxation while she lay on the warm, downy massage table. But she was just itching to know what Eric had written in the note he’d left for her in the garment bag. And during the walk over to the spa, Callie made several comments about how Eric had been planning this getaway for weeks, and that he wanted everything to be perfect for tonight.
By now, Sara understood that Eric’s expectations for the weekend were set pretty high. Still, she wondered what his surprise was. She assumed it was nothing more than a romantic dinner by the lake but she braced herself for the “anything is possible” scenario.
Sara lay on the table, engrossed in thoughts of the intimacy she and Eric experienced just a couple of short hours earlier. Her skin craved the warmth of his body against hers. Making love with Eric had suddenly become magnetic, which made her wonder whether it was possible to have more than one soul mate in life.
Time seemed to go by rather quickly during Sara’s hour-long massage. And when it was done, Sara eagerly hopped off the table and scurried to the closet in the room where the garment bag was hung. She unzipped the bag, which revealed a long, sleeveless gown made of ivory lace, with an empire waist and scalloped neckline. It was stunning. An ivory colored organza sack was tied to the hanger. From the sack, Sara pulled a pair of pearl drop earrings and matching necklace. Once again, she was astonished by Eric’s thoughtfulness.
Sara gathered the envelope that Eric left for her from the pocket of the garment bag and promptly tore it open to read the note card.
My Beautiful Sara,
“Every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own: in pain and sickness it would still be dear.” ~ Charlotte Bronte
More than 8 years ago, we pledged our love to each other. We’ve had our ups and downs, and we’ve gotten older and used to one another. Perhaps we’ve even taken each other for granted from time to time. But I wouldn’t change a single day of our history together because it has led me to this moment in which I have come realize how truly lucky I am to share my life with you. There aren’t enough words to describe what you mean to me.
So I hope that I may show you my love, respect and affection in the days and years to come.
Meet me at the altar in the garden at 6 o’clock. Bring the rings I gave you earlier. And, I hope you are pleased with the dress!
Your Devoted Husband,
E -
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A quartet of strings ceremoniously strummed Pachabel’s Canon in D. Eric gazed across the garden where Sara processed toward him into the setting sunlight along a short aisle made of flagstone and bluegrass. She was stunning; more beautiful in his eyes than on the day they married.
A small group of guests were seated in a row of painted white chiavari chairs at the end of the aisle, in front of a makeshift altar, where Eric stood. Beside him was the officiant, a short, middle-aged man who wore a dark gray suit and sported a receding hairline. The quartet was barely more than one third of the way through the song when Sara reached the altar. Callie gave the musicians a cue signaling the end of their playing at an appropriate break in the arrangement. Sara beamed and whispered to Eric, “I can’t believe you did all this.”
“Too much?” Eric worried.
Sara shook her head and assured him, “Just right.” She glanced over her shoulder to see that the small group of cheerful guests included Grace, who sat beside Lexi while bouncing Jake on her knee, Sara’s parents and sister, Eric’s father and his best friend, Dylan.
The officiant cleared his throat and began to read aloud from a black binder he held open in one hand, “Welcome everyone! We are gathered here this evening to witness and celebrate the continued commitment, and the renewal of vows of Sara and Eric Preen. Sara and Eric, when you first joined hands and hearts in marriage, you did not know where life would take you. You promised to love, honor and cherish one another through all things. Life has surely brought you both wonderful blessings and difficult challenges over the years…”
What Sara Said Page 15