Everybody Loves A Parade - Part 4

I went snorfelling and found this!

Da bulge......

I would kill to have this man be looking at me......

James and his spirit animal??

Rockies Christmas - Day 5

Warnings:  Shameless product placement plugs, NSFW, Sex, high speed driving.

I slide off James’ chest to my back.  Our legs are a tangle in the sheets.  He grunts and rolls toward me, his arm flopping over my ribs.  “Morning” he whispers.

“Morning.”

His lips pucker and his head rolls into mine pressing his puckered lips to my temple.  I rub his head, scrubbing his silver locks and scalp.  His puckered lips plant a million tiny little fish kisses to my temple.  I chuckle softly.

James suddenly sits up, “Let’s go shopping.”  He looks at me.  I nod.  “In Denver.”

I cock a look at him, “Denver?”

“Sure.  You haven’t been there yet.  And I still need to find something for Castor.”

I grin up at him, “What’s the weather today?”

“Cloudy, windy and cold.”  He looks at me, “Why?”

I scrunch my fingers on his chest, “Would you like .. to drive …. the Shelby?” I purr slowly.

Flipping the covers off us, he scoops me up – I start laughing - and carries me into the bathroom, “Yes please!” 

Within the hour, we are showered, dressed and have one duffle packed to spend the night in Denver. James had sent a text to the band's travel guru to book us a hotel room. About three minutes later, James' phone buzzes with the confirmation.  I head into the kitchen toward the coffee maker, but James grabs me and pulls me to the garage.  “We’ll get coffee on the way!”  He’s almost giddy.

I had bought the Shelby shortly after moving in with him over the summer.  We teased each other about our vehicles.  I couldn’t drive his truck, and he couldn’t drive my Shelby.  I teased him that he’d end up sitting in the back seat so that his long legs would fit in the Shelby’s driver’s side.  He teased me that I’d never be able to see over the hood in his truck.  I knew that he really wanted to drive my little sports car.  With the huge engine under the hood.  Even though I am a big city girl, I do like a powerful car.

James grabs my key fob, the duffle and is shooing me towards the garage door.  I am barely able to grab my purse and phone.  He opens the garage door.  Wearing his big Cheshire cat grin, he did open the car door for me and helps me step over the long poles he’d made to bring the tree down the hill to the house.  He plops the duffle behind my seat and is quickly in the driver's seat.  Then he looks at me with a pleading look.  “Go ahead” I say pulling out the hat I’d managed to snag from the garage shelf in passing.  He hits the button.  I did buy the convertible after all.  He’s almost bouncing with joy.  He backs the speedster out, hits the button on the remote and watches the overhead door close.  He’s grinning like a psycho at me.  On the city streets getting to the freeway, he kinda obeys the laws of the road.  There’s a quick stop at his favorite coffee hut.  Once we got up on the freeway however, he gives me a psycho grin and punches the gas.  I don’t dare look at the speedometer.  I have to admit, it is a smooth ride.  I am completely comfortable with his driving.  As we round a bend in the freeway, we fly past a Highway Patrol officer whose got his speed gun out.  The Trooper flashes his lights at us as he pulls out on the pavement – well behind us.  James looks at me, still grinning like a maniac, as he pulls the car to the side of the road.  The trooper pulls up behind us with the lights flashing.  I just give James a look as the officer approaches the Shelby.

“Registration and … James?  Did you trade in the truck?” the officer really looks at my car.

“Hey Chuck!  No, this is Kira’s car.”  He nods towards me.

The officer tips his hat at me, “Ma’am.”  He looks back to James, “A warning this time.  But pull it back to below 100 please James?”

“I’ll see what I can do Chuck.”

“Hey, I know this is a great speed car, but c’mon James.”  Chuck grins.

Extending his hand, “Just for you Chuck.”  They shake hands, “Merry Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas to you both!”  Chuck turns to get into his vehicle.

James checks the traffic - then looks at me.  “You pay the tickets” I give James a look, shrugging.  Another psycho grin and he punches the gas.  Chuck flashes his lights twice at James.  Holding up his hand, James waves.

What should have taken us more than two hours, James does in ninety minutes.  He did pull the speed way down as the traffic got thicker closer to the big city.  Pulling up to the hotel valet, James guns the engine a little giving me a look as the roar of the engine echoes off the buildings before turning it off.  Handing the key fob to the Valet, “Be careful with her baby” he nods at me.  “Oh yeah, I know the mileage” he grins.  The valet just nods laughing.  “One more thing, we’ll be right back down so don’t put it away just yet.  Thanks!”  We check in and go up to the room.  James dumps the duffle on the bed as I head into the bathroom.  Not only do I have to pee, I’m a little wet.  Should have used a tampon.  James follows me on the toilet.  I go to the duffle bag and find my brush.  I’m working on my hair when James comes out of the bathroom.  “Ready?” his eyes glinting.  As I nod, he grabs my hand, and we head back to the valet stand.  James holds the door for me, then he is quickly back in the driver’s seat.  I smile at him as he obeys the laws on the city streets but needlessly revving the engine.  I just laugh at him.

He finds a garage that has valet parking, again telling them to take care of the car and that he knows the mileage.  As we walk away, he tucks my hand into his elbow.  When I know that we’re out of earshot, “Do you really know the mileage?”

He smiles, “Nope.  But they don’t know that!”  He kisses my temple.

James drove us to the 16th Street Mall.  It’s just over a mile of stores, restaurants and – because of the holidays – carolers.  We spend several hours just wandering around the shops.  James finds a cool travel backpack for Castor.  He helps me find bracelets for his girls and a necklace for Castor.  Since his kids are bringing their significant others, we decide that Denver sweatshirts would work for them.  I manage to purchase a silver chain mail looking necklace for James while he is looking at the sweatshirts.  I think he picked up something for me while I was looking at some cute purses.  In the middle of the shopping, we stop for lunch.  Leaving the restaurant, we stop and listen to a group of carolers dressed in old fashioned clothes.  I could tell that one of them recognized James, who just smiled at the woman pulling me a little closer to him.  In a store with tons of Christmas decorations, I purchase a set of cookie cutters and a stocking.  We work our way back to the parking garage.  They had parked my Shelby close to the stand saying that they wanted to keep an eye on it.  James tips them well.  Putting our purchases into the trunk, James drives us to a steakhouse for dinner.  It was good, but his grilling is better.  I slip off one boot and play footsie with his calves during dinner.  He grins wickedly at me.

It's dark as we leave the restaurant.  James drives me through a couple of neighborhoods that decorate for the holiday.  Some of the houses are extreme.  “I wouldn’t want their electric bill” James laughs towards me.  I nod in agreement.

Returning to our hotel, James hands the key to the valet and gives me a hand out of the car.  Collecting our purchases from the trunk, we make it up to our room.  The shopping bags get left on the desk by the TV.  James gently pulls my jacket off, with the rest of my clothes quickly following.  I rotate in his arms and add his clothes to the pile on the floor.  Our lips gently work on each other.  He finds that special spot on my neck making my knees buckle and drawing a moan from me.  He lifts me and kneeling on the bed, lays me out under him.  His lips roam my neck, face, shoulders, chest.  My hands run over his head, neck, shoulders, arms.  Shifting my legs, I wrap them around his waist, rocking my hips up into his.  He groans into my neck.  Reaching between our bodies, I guide his dripping erection to my sopping wet entrance making him groan even louder.  His blue eyes sparkle as he almost painfully slowly pushes into me.  My body arches up into his. “gawdsss you ..are … so thiiiick” I whimper out. 

His lips tenderly kiss my ear “You are so wet … and tight” he growls.  He nibbles my ear and neck.  I whine, digging my heels into his butt trying to urge him deeper.  He resists, snickering into my ear, “Not yet my tiny little treasure.”  He slowly withdraws watching me writhe.  Again, he slides into me bit by bit making me groan and tighten my legs around his waist.  My fingers dig into his arms pulling hard.  In a swift motion, he collects both my wrists into one of his large hands and pins them to the bed above my head.  I whine and squirm more under him as I grin at him.  He snickers at me and kisses me deeply as he slowly plows into me again.  My hips buck up begging for more of him.  I get a Cheshire grin in response.  “Not yet” his lips find that spot on my neck again, “not yet.”  His teeth nibble my collarbone.  I gasp at the attention.  His knees knock up against my ass.  Using one hand he flops both my legs over his shoulders basically folding me in half with my hands still pinned over my head.  I gasp as he thumps into me hard once.  I desperately try to reach his neck with my lips, but he’s just out of reach making me whimper and writhe.  His grin gets bigger.  His eyes drink in my predicament happily.  I am totally at his mercy and enjoying every second.  His slow workings in and out of me are slowly driving me mad.  I jerk and tug my arms.  James grins and easily separates my hands – one into each of his hands and pins them wide.  Smiling at him I tug more.  His lips find my nipple, “I can make these uncomfortable again” as his grin becomes totally devilish.  I can only pant up at him smiling like a fool.  “There’s my treasure!” he thrusts into me.  I arch and moan.  He withdraws watching me squirming.  He kisses me.  His hips crash into mine.  I cry out in pure pleasure my eyes lock with his.  I lose track of how many times he repeats this process of slowly withdrawing, a pause – some longer than others - then slamming into me.  I can feel him struggle to keep his wicked pace. 

The tension inside me builds.  Hard.  So close.  But so far.  “Jaaammes … pah .. pahleze.”

His lips nibble my neck, “I love to hear you beg.” 

Whimpering I manage “Jahaames … pahleze … gawds … pahleze … make me cum.”  I pant a few breathes while he withdraws slowly again, “Jahammes … make me yours.”  That is his undoing.  He pounds harshly into me with a furious pace.  His teeth sink into my shoulder as he unloads deep in me tossing me over the crest of my own orgasm.  I clench my teeth not wanting to scream not knowing if the adjacent room is occupied.  My legs drop from his shoulders as he collapses on my still jerking body.  His hands gently release my wrists.  I can’t move them.  I can’t move anything.  He wraps an arm around my head, his fingers gently play with my hair, his lips gently caressing my cheek.  I can only whimper and grin.  He leans up on his elbow, gently fingering my shoulder where his teeth left their mark.  “oops” he grins.

My arms finally respond – sort of – allowing me to grab his upper arms, “Thank you.”

“For what?” his eyes still sparkling.

I sigh out a smile, “Everything.”  My fingers gently caress his cheek.  His neck.  The tattoos there.

His lips find mine.  Deeply.  Tenderly.  Lovingly.  Finally parting with a million little tiny kisses, he looks deeply into my eyes.  He shifts his legs, putting one between mine.  He looks down at the bed under his knee.  Then at me.

“Wet spot?” I barely squeak out, trying to keep the laughter back.

“Pond.”

I laugh, “Remember half that is you!”

He helps me sit up laughing softly, “Well, maybe a little more than half tonight” his fingers lift my chin his lips pecking mine. 

“I will agree with that!”

He tugs me from the bed, “Let’s clean up.”  He looks at the bed, “Might need a second blanket from housekeeping.”

I snort a laugh, “Ya think?”

Making it into the bathroom, James helps me get into the shower.  We take just quick body washes.  James is very tender in washing between my legs.  A whimper still escapes my lips as I lean into his body.  He just chuckles at me.  After cleaning up and wrapping up in the hotel provided robes, James leads me out of the bathroom.  We look at the bed.  I check the dresser, “Ta da!” as I pull out the spare blanket.

“That will work” James kisses my hair.

Pulling the messy blanket off, we spread the clean one out.  James sits on the bed, “I could do with a snack.”

“I’m peckish too.”

James locates the room service menu by the TV.  He orders a burger.  I order the loaded baked potato.  Since the room is booked under James’ name and not his tour pseudonym, he is ‘indisposed’ in the bathroom when the knock comes on the door.  I sign for the service and thank the bellhop.  Making sure that the door is deadbolted, I stick my head in the bathroom.  James is perched on the counter with the water running in the sink.  “Foods here!”  He turns off the water and joins me on the bed.  Turning on the TV, he starts a movie.  When done with our ‘snack’, James puts the tray in the hallway, again making sure that the deadbolt is in place.  Tossing the robe in the general direction of the bathroom, he streaks to the bed tackling me.  We are both giggling as he tugs the robe off me.  Maneuvering a bit, we manage to get under the covers.  “Uhmmm, James?”

“mmhummm?” comes from the back of my neck.

“The lights?”

“Fuk”

“I’ll get them.”  I wiggle in his arms.  “If you’ll let me up.”

“Let’s just sleep with them on.”

“Ok.”  I grab his arm and wrap myself around it.

Ten minutes later, “Yeah.  Not gonna work.”  James unsnarls me from his arm, gets up and turns off the lights.  I feel the bed shake as he finds it in the dark with his knee and a choked “fuk” from him.  Crawling across the bed and me, he re-inserts himself into bed, tugging me into his body.

I reach down to his legs – only getting to his hip, “You ok?”

“Yeah.”  He shifts some.  “Just remind me next time to turn off the lights sooner.”

Re-curling myself around his arm, “mmmk”

His fingers gently caress my ribs before they still in slumber.  I am not far behind him.

Snow Way to Escape

I originally posted this a while ago, but I think I screwed it up. So, here's a re-write that has become the prologue to several other fics that are in the wings. I hope you enjoy it!!

Warnings:  Angst, Sex Suggested

Why did I ever fall for this man?!  Is he talented?  Yes.  Is he good looking?  Damn yes.  Is he great in bed?  Fuck yes.  Is he being a dick?  All holy hells yes.  Has been since he got home from the road.  Am I regretting moving to his place in Colorado?  Right now.  Yes.  His last dig at me has me packing my carry on and putting my computer into my backpack while wiping away the tears I swore I wouldn’t shed.  I can walk away from everything I can’t fit into these two bags.  I looked over at the smart home device for the time.  It’s 3pm.  The notification bar was flashing yellow.  “Computer, what’s the notification?”  The robotic voice responds, “For the Vail Colorado area, the National Weather Service has issued the following weather warning.  A severe winter storm is forecast to begin snowing heavily at 2pm local time with heavy snow levels accumulating to 3 to 4 feet, drifting 6 to 8 feet.”  The rest of the warning went unheard as I grabbed my two bags, the note I’d written, and ran to the front door.  I dropped the bags on the floor, still clutching the note, as I saw my plans end.  Opening the front door I slowly walk outside into the dark, the snow had already been falling.  Big fat fluffy flakes so thick I could barely see the light at the end of the driveway.  Looking over to the garage door, “No, no no no, no!”  The drift was already a good 2 feet tall.  For a split second I thought about taking his damned truck.  It would easily clear that drift.

“What the hell are you doing?” James yelled from the open front door, looking between me and the bags on the floor.

Taking one last glance at the pile of snow blocking the garage door, I turn back to the house, “Well, I was going to leave you.”  I slapped my note into his chest.  Pushing past him, I collected my bags and slowly made my way back to the room that I had claimed as my own a week before.

“What the fuck!?” James yelled just before slamming the front door closed.

I kept walking dejectedly.  Making it back to the room, I tossed the backpack onto the bed and just stood there clutching the carry on.  I could hear James come storming down the stairs.  “What the fuck?  You are leaving me?”  I turned.  His usually glacier blue eyes now a threatening dark blue filled with rage.

“Well, mother nature said no” as I motioned to the now very dark window.  “Not tonight anyway.”

I heard the paper flutter to the floor.  “Why?”  The pain in his voice was natural, not forced.  It pinched my heart.

I turned to him but couldn’t look him in the eye.  “What was the one thing I asked of you when we started dating?”  He just stood there.  Then I did look at his face.  He was obviously thinking.  “I asked you to not compare me to the exes.”  He nodded slowly.  “I am not them and the exes are not me” I raged at him.  The rage fading from his eyes.  “But ever since you got home from the tour, you have been … well …”

“A dick” he finished my sentence.

“Yes” I snapped.  I put the carryon I was still holding on the bed.  “You have done nothing but compare me to them for months.”  I turned back to him, “The final straw was when you started counting your cash.”  His eyebrows knitted together.  “Every night before you go to bed, you count the cash in your pocket, put it in your wallet which you put on your nightstand.  Then in the morning after you shower and get dressed, you count it again.”  His fingers twitched as he processed what I said.  “I don’t need your money.”  He just looked at me.  “I have my own career and my own bank account.”  He continued to stare at me.  “I could have taken your damned $90 thousand dollar truck and left you the Shelby that I paid $125 thousand for.”  He cocked his head but didn’t ask.  I answered anyway.  “Taking your truck I would have gotten pulled over by your state trooper friends in a heartbeat.  That would be a felony.  And you would have no say if I got arrested or not.”  I turned away from him shaking slightly.  “Right now, you are not worth a felony on my record.”  I moved to the desk and sank into the chair.

He looked around the room.  The realization hit him, “When did your stuff get down here?”

I huffed a smile, “James, I moved down here a week ago.”  He looked at me.  “You didn’t notice that I wasn’t sleeping in your bed?”

His hands kinda flapped uselessly, “I thought you were coming to bed after me and getting up before…”

“Thanks for noticing” I said sorta like Eeyore.

His eyebrows knitted together again, “But the sheets got changed.”

“Yes they did” I just looked up at him.

“And the kitchen … the dishes … the laundry …”

“The grocery shopping, collecting the mail, dusting” I looked down at my hands. 

“Why?”

“Who else was gonna do it?” I dug back at him.  “It’s not like you’d do any of those things.”  He huffed a moment but didn’t say anything.  “I wanted to hire a cleaning team, but you went almost mental on me about that.”

“I don’t want someone just rummaging through my shit” he flared.

“I understand that” I tried to stay calm.  “But there are teams that specialize in people of your status.  Plus” I pointed to the monitors on the desk, “I have a job!  One that I enjoy!” my temper trying to flare.  I leaned my elbows on the desk rubbing my eyes. 

He was quiet for a minute.  “Look, this storm is going to blow for a couple of days” he said trying to stay calm.  “Let’s get some sleep.”  I just nodded.  He stepped backwards out of the room collecting the note from the floor, “We can talk in the morning.”  He softly closed the door.

I looked at the closed door.  His cologne lingered.  More than just his cologne.  Him.  The tears started to fall.  I let them.  Sniffling, I decided to take a soak in the tub.  Starting the water, I dumped in some salts from the cupboard, then sank into the hot water.  I mulled over the past 8 months.  The good, the bad.  More tears.  When the water turned cool, I got out, drained the tub and climbed into the bed.  The heat from the soak worked a charm and I was asleep in minutes.

I woke up still wrapped in the towel from the tub soak.  I slipped out of the bed, pulling on jammies and a robe.  I opened the bedroom door.  I could hear that James was in his studio.  It was a super crunchy riff floating through the house.  Smiling to myself, I went into the kitchen.  Pulling out what I needed to make a breakfast sandwich, I looked at the items on the counter.  It’s just as easy to make three as just one.  I left two on a plate in the fridge covered with a paper towel, with “Zap for 30 seconds” written on it.  I left another note on the counter, “Breakfast in fridge.”  Collecting my sandwich, a granola bar and a couple cans of Severed Lime from the fridge, I returned to my room.  Pulling my computer out of my backpack, I logged into work.

My chat window opened:

Boss:  You make the flight?

Me: No.  Got snowed in.

Boss:  You ok?

Me:  Meh

Boss:  Wanna talk?

Me:  Not right now.

Me:  I’m going Marinas Trench.  I need to get the last three chapters done.  They’re late.

Boss:  Understood.  Don’t worry about being late.  I’ll put in a good word for ya!

Me:  Thanks.

I clicked on the Out of Office option.  Then opened the files I needed from the New York servers and ate my sandwich waiting for the computers to synch.  Once done, I launched into where I’d left off.

I had no idea how long I’d been working until there was a soft knock on the door.  “Hey?” came James’ voice.

I turned to the door, “Yeah?”

“May I come in?”

Stretching, “Yeah.”

James came in and leaned against the wall.  “You sleep ok?”

Uncurling my legs from the chair, “Yes, thank you.”  Looking over at him.  “You?”

“Yeah, ok” he said.  He looked like shit.

I cocked a smile at him, “Liar.”

He huffed a laugh, “I don’t think I slept at all.”  He scrubbed his fingers through his silvered hair.  “Thanks for the breakfast sandwiches.”

I nodded, “You’re welcome.”  He kept trying to look at my computer monitors.  “What are you doing?”

“I guess I don’t know exactly what your job is.”

Patting the end of the bed, “Sit” I said.  He sat and leaned forward.  “I’m an editor.”  I rotated back to face the monitors.  “This screen is the book I’m working on” pointing to the monitor on the right.  “This screen” motioning to the one on my left, “are my notes.  The laptop in the middle just keeps me awake.”  I paused the cheesy disaster movie.

“Why the notes?” his curiosity was genuine.

“Well .. here” I pointed to a block of text highlighted on the right screen.  “The author has brought in a new character that has no backstory.  If this character was just in this paragraph it wouldn’t matter, but it shows up several more times.”  Pointing to the text on the left monitor with matching highlighting, “These are my notes back to the author asking about a backstory for this character.” 

James shifted to my left so see the screen.  “And how many notes does this author have from you?”

“On this book” I looked to the page count in the lower left corner of the window, “92.”

“Really?” he seemed shocked.

Stretching out my back, “Yeah, this guy tends to get lost in his own words.  So, I have to try to get him back out of the woods.”  I turned back towards James.  “You have never asked about my job before.  Why now?”

He sat back and looked at me.  “Because your note is correct.”  He rubbed his hands nervously on his thighs, “I haven’t taken any interest in you … outside of the bedroom.”

I heaved a sigh, “I probably should have edited my own writing.”

“No” his eyes popped up to my face.  “No.  You were right.  You were probably pissed as hell when you wrote that note.”  He ran his hands through his hair – which he did when he was nervous.  “But every word was true.  I have treated you like a whore.  I have compared you to the exes.  I have not discovered you … about you.”  His shoulders slumped some.  “I am sorry.”

That hit my heart.  Hard.  I rested my fingers on his knees.  “James.  I can accept your apology.”  His glacier blue eyes found mine.  “I can see that you mean it.”  Those gloriously blue pools now filled with doubt.  “But you will have to work on the forgiveness.”  I withdrew my fingers from his knees slowly.

Nodding, “I completely understand.”  His smile slightly lopsided.  “Will you please give me the chance to earn that forgiveness?”

I watched him a moment.  Then, smiling back at him, “Yes” I said softly.  His eyes brightened along with his smile as he stood.  “By the way” I looked up at him – damn but he’s tall.  “I really liked that crunch you had going this morning.  It sounded amazing!”

Incredibly, his eyes lit up even more, “You really liked that?”

“Yes” I smiled up at him.

“Thanks.”  He fidgeted.  “Uhmm, what would you like for dinner?”

“What time is it?” I asked looking at my computer screen.

“It’s like 3pm.  But since you made breakfast, I thought I’d make dinner.”

Nodding at him, “I will leave that to the chef.”

Nodding as he moved towards the door, “You like your steak …?”

Smiling at him, “Medium Rare.”  He closed the door with a grin.  My head was laughing Of course it would be steak!  My laptop pinged.

Boss:  Surface to Marianas Trench…. (I love my boss!)

Me:  evening.

Boss:  How’s it going?

Me:  Half way through last chapter.

Boss:  And the other thing…..?

Me:  Perhaps there is a chance here.

Boss:  ????

Me:  He just invited me to dinner.

Boss:  I thought it was snowing there still.

I took a picture out the window of the thickly falling snow and attached it to the chat.

Boss:  So?

Me:  He’s making me a steak.

Boss:  Ahh.  Well, then you need to go get ready!

Me:  Right after I finish this chapter.  Then I’m all caught up on this book.

Boss:  Fine. 

Boss:  Hope it goes well!

Me:  Thanks!

I finished the last chapter fairly quickly since it was not a complete chapter.  Saving both files to the servers and sending the links to the author – with the boss cc’d on that email – I closed down my computer.  Standing up and stretching, I moved to the bathroom.  I decided to take a shower and wash my hair.  If James was going to put in the effort to change, so could I.  No more being a slob.  I sat on the bed drying my hair when there was a tap on the door.  I popped up and grabbed the robe.  “Yes?”  No answer.  I opened the door.  There hanging on the light fixture in the hallway was a garment bag.  A postit note stuck to it.  Dinner at 6pm.   Smiling, I collected the bag and closed the door.  Laying the bag on the bed I opened it.  I only got about 6 inches open when I gasped.  Inside was a dark green velvet gown with beaded trim around the scoop neckline.  It was the dress I’d told him about.  I’d even made him watch the movie.  James had had it made.  He’d threatened to have it made for me to wear to the next awards show.  But I never thought he’d do it.  That was just a month or so after we’d started dating.  I looked at the clock.  5pm.  I had time.  I went back into the bathroom and did some tidying up.  Did my makeup and pinned up the hair.  I knew that he loved my long hair, but this gown … the hair had to be up.  Going back to the bed, I pulled the gown from the bag.  I slipped into it.  With the plunging back to just above my ass, I was completely commando beneath it.  I went to move the garment bag and it felt heavy.  Patting it down, I discovered a pair of heels.  They glittered with the same rhinestones as the trim.  Just as I slipped them on, there was a single tap at the door.  I opened the door.  The hallway was empty.  But there was a pink post it note on the floor.  Squatting down – if I’d bent over the gown would have slipped off me – I picked it up.  There was a doodle on it.  I couldn’t figure it out.  But looking up the hallway was another post it.  Another doodle.  As I walked to the stairs, there were more postit notes.  Each with a doodle.  I climbed the stairs and turned into the living room.  There stood James.  In his Brioni tux.  The sight took my breath.  Damn!  He looked good!  And he was holding another postit note, a crooked smile on his face.  He held it out to me.  The doodle on this one was a rose.

“Oh!”  I held out the ones I’d collected, “These are rose petals!”

Blushing, “Yeah, I couldn’t go get a real rose, so I improvised.”

I gently collected the one he held, “It’s lovely.”  I looked up into his eyes, “Thank you.”

James held out his hand to me – which I took – and he slowly spun me.  “I should have given this to you ages ago.”  He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it.  “You look stunning.”  I just blushed.  James tucked my hand into his elbow and gently led me down the hallway away from the kitchen and into the formal dining room.  He’d set the table.  There were candles on it and two place settings.  He pulled out the chair for me and scooched it in when I sat.  “The staff seems to have not reported to work this evening, so I will have to substitute” he said in a really bad French accent.  I giggled.  His eyes lit up.  “I shall return madam.”  I giggled even more.  James disappeared into the kitchen.  I put the pile of post it note petals on the table.  He returned with two plates.  Each bore a steak, a pile of green beans and a large slice of bread smothered in butter.  I smiled.  He was trying.  I cut into the steak and took a bite.

“How is it?” James asked.

Swallowing, “Perfection” I said.  He dug into his own.  I took a bite of the green beans.  A couple were still pretty frosty.  I didn’t say a word, but just smiled.  The bread was a garlic sourdough that I loved.  The butter was a bit much, but again, I wasn’t going to complain.  James had obviously put some thought into making dinner and I wasn’t going to ruin it.  I’d had worse meals. 

“The weather is forecasting that this snow will last another 48 hours or so” James said.

The weather.  A safe place to start.  “I haven’t listened to the weather or news today.”

“Did you get your book done?” James leaned towards me.

“I did.”

“How many do you edit?” his blue eyes clear and piercing.

“Uhm.  I have about 20 items in the wings to work on.”  I took a sip of the Squeezed to Death Orange in my glass.  He’d used champagne flutes for the sparkling water.

“Why so many?” James looked at me with raised eyebrows.

“Some are just articles.”  I put my fork down, “It all depends on release dates.  The one I worked on today is supposed to release after the New Year.  The others have release dates after that one.”

“It has nothing to do with whom the author is?”

Pushing my plate away and leaning on the table, “Sometimes.  All depends on the author and release dates.”  I looked at him.  He was genuinely interested.  “If it’s big wig author and the release date is close, then that file gets bumped to the top of the pile.”

“Who is the biggest author you have edited?”  His smile was slightly crooked.

“I don’t get the Mitchell’s or the King’s”  I grinned.

“Why not?”

“My boss says that I’m too brutal with my notes” I slow blinked him.

James sat up.  “Yeah, you can be.”  He used his napkin on his lips.  “But perhaps they need those brutal notes.”  He smiled at me.  “As a recipient, I can attest that it kicked my ass into changing how I think.”  He held out a hand to me.  I laid my fingers into it.  “And I thank you.”  I didn’t know what to say.  He simply laid his other hand over my fingers and smiled at me.  Then he popped up, “Dessert” he said collecting our plates.  I squirmed in my seat.  My thoughts ranging all over the place.  He had totally messed me up.  Again.  Just like he had when we’d met.  He returned with two small plates.  Piled creatively on each were four sandwich cookies held in place with cake frosting and topped with whipped cream.  He set them down with great flourish, “Tah dah!”

Trying my best to not snort out a laugh, “I’m sure that the patisserie chef labored all day to create these delicacies.”  James did snort out a laugh.  Which made me burst out in laughter.  I picked up one of the cookies and happily munched it.  James retook his seat and tucked into his plate.  “Seriously, these turned out pretty good” I said licking whipped cream from my fingers.

“The frosting isn’t too much?” James asked seriously.

“No.  It’s just the right amount” I said scooping the last bit up on my finger.

James grabbed my hand and gently sucked the frosting from my finger.  I didn’t retract my hand but did go a little stiff.  He kissed the back of my hand before pushing it back tenderly towards my body, smiling at me.  “I’m sorry” he said kindly.  “Just a little too soon.”

Looking down at my now empty dessert plate, “Maybe not” I said softly.  I knew he couldn’t see it, but my thighs squeezed together tightly.

“Perhaps I should escort the lady back to her room” he said looking down at his plate, “before I make a compete fool of myself.  Again.”  He smiled at me as he stood, offering me his hand.

I took his offered hand, collected the postit notes and stood.  He tenderly tucked my hand into his elbow and walked me back to the room I’d claimed as mine.  I turned at the door, “That was lovely James.”  I again slow blinked him, “Thank you.”  I wiggled his bow tie, then let my hand rest on his chest, “You look very handsome in this suit.”

He gently cupped my face and kissed my forehead.  “Thank you” he said softly.  His hands gently ran down my shoulders then arms to my hands, “I can’t wait to see you in this gown again.”  He lifted both my hands to his lips and kissed them.  “Good night.”  He took several steps backwards before turning.  I turned and opened the bedroom door.  I put the post it rose petals on the desk.  I kicked off the heels and then shrugged and let the gown slip off.  I stood there naked.  My desires wanted to race up to his room and let him have his way with me.  My integrity said no.  My curiosity wanted to know what James would do next.  Hanging the gown up, I decided another soak was in order.  I unpacked my waterproof vibrator on the way into the bathroom.

I was sound asleep.  I felt his hand on my shoulder, “Kira” he said softly.  He shook me slightly, “Kira, wake up.”  I opened my eyes to find James standing by the bed holding my robe.  “There’s something I want to show you.”  I fumbled out of the bed.  James helped me into the robe and then tucked me into his side, his left arm draping from my right shoulder down to my waist on the left side.  Wearing a huge coat and scarf, he guided me to the big sliding doors to the upper patio.  “Here, put these on.”  He guided my feet into a pair of fuzzy boots, then put on his own mukluks.  He opened the door and led me outside.  It was bitterly cold, trying to suck the air from my lungs.  James lifted the collar of the robe to cover my mouth, “Here this will help.”  It did make breathing easier.  I looked up and he had the scarf wrapped around his own mouth.  He opened his coat and his arms gently held my back close to his chest.  Then he pointed.  I followed his finger.

The clouds had parted and the sky was filled with stars.  The landscape was a blanket of white snow as far as I could see. The bitterly cold temperatures had crystalized the top of the snow.  The moon was rising.  It was reflecting on the frozen crystals making them glitter.  It looked like diamonds had been scattered over the ground.  “Here it comes!” he whispered excitedly into my ear, his breath warming my ear and neck.  I shivered.  My nipples hardened painfully.  Then the Aurora flared into life.  An undulating ribbon of greens, blues and purples danced into the sky.  I gasped.  The frozen snow below reflected the colors of the Aurora.  James wrapped his arms around me, one around my shoulders the other around my waist.  I leaned back into his warmth watching the magic of nature unfold in front of me.  I have no idea how long we stood there speechless at the beauty.  As quickly as it started, it ended.  “Wow” was all James said.

I leaned back into him, looking up at his chin, “Thank you for waking me.”  He hugged me tighter.  “That was stunning.”

His hands patted my body, “I am glad I shared it with you.”  He nodded towards the distant pass “And here comes the next round of snow.”  The clouds looked black and nasty in the now darkened sky since the Aurora had faded.

James kissed the top of my head.  “Now, you are shivering.  Let’s get back inside.”  He rotated us, his arms still wrapped around me.  We walked – a little awkwardly – back into the house, closing the big glass door behind him.  We both kicked off our boots.  He backed us into the sofa, pulling me down into his lap.  He reached over and pulled up a blanket.  He wrapped it around us.  I curled up into his arms shivering, my head resting on his chest.  His fingers gently stroked my hair.  Sleep reached up and grabbed me.

I woke up on the sofa with the blankets tucked in around me still wrapped up in my robe.  I could hear James in the kitchen.  I sat up.  “Morning sleepy head!” he chimed cheerily.  “Coffee?”  All I could do was nod.  He brought over my favorite mug filled with coffee.  I took a sip.  It was super sweet.  “Too much sugar?”  I nodded.  He went to pull the mug from my hands but I wouldn’t let it go. 

Instead I took a couple of huge slugs from it, “Now, just put more coffee into it and it will be fine.”  James went to the kitchen and grabbed the coffee pot bringing it back to me.  He filled my mug.  I swirled the mug and took a drink.  Smiling, “Yum” I beamed.  I looked out the window.  More snow had fallen over night.  The sky was still filled with grey snow clouds, but not snowing.  At the moment.

James collected his mug and sank into the sofa with me.  He flipped on the TV and tuned in the local news.  There were the stories about roofs collapsing under the weight of the snow, power lines down, cars sliding off the roads – one accident ending in a death.  “I’m glad you were smart enough to not drive that night” James whispered to me.

“Me too.”

I looked into his eyes.  The passion I saw there made my knees weak.  I reached up and wrapped my fingers around his head, pulling him to me.  I kissed him gently.  His eyes widened.  He cupped my head and kissed me back just as tenderly.  “So how are we going to spend the next day or so?” I asked teasingly.

James tightened his arm around my waist pinning me to his body, “I can think of a way” he rubbed his hands on my hips, “or two.”  He gently pushed me back, “Only if you want to.” 

I could tell that although his voice was joking, his eyes said that he’d changed.  I was no longer just a fuck buddy.  I was a woman that he wanted to spend time with.  In more ways than one.

“I’d like that” I purred.  “Just remember, you are still working on my forgiveness.”

He showered kisses all over my face, slowly pulling me towards his bedroom, “I know a way to start working on that” he growls softly at me. 

I just smiled and willingly let him lead me.

Reflections

Finally fulfilling a request for a backstory. I hope this answers some questions from the "Snow Way to Escape" start...

Warnings: The ending NSFW, p in v sex, Anxiety mentioned.

Reflections

Here I lie.  In a bed in a private overwater hut in the tropical heat of the Maldives.  Naked.  He’s lying on my body, also naked.  His head between my breasts, the silvered hairs on his head tickling my chin.  One tattooed arm looped under my right arm.  The other draped over my side, that tattooed hand resting on my left bicep.  His stomach pressing into my groin.  Our legs a tangled puzzle.  The air filled with the scent of tropical flowers, salt from the sea, and the aftermath of our last round of lovemaking.  Sex.  Fucking. Probably round number six for the day.  He’s sound asleep.  I kiss the top of his head, with memories of how I got pinned here under this megarocksuperstargod flooding my brain.

Derek, a former co-worker, had wanted me to go to a charity car show event.  Derek was taking his girl Sasha.  I needed a date, soooo, he called in a favor.  Long story short, James ended up being my plus one.  Or I was his plus one?  We never did get that sorted.  He was reserved when we first met.  Not sure if I was fan or not.  But that changed when I about dove under the hood of the 1953 Buick Skylark that was on display at the car show.  I love a well put together automobile.  That the car is painted purple helped!

“You like it?” James asked me, with a grin growing on his mug.

“It’s beautifully done!” I smiled as I tried again to get closer to it, but respecting the rope line.

“You want a closer look?” James grinned as he easily stepped over the rope line.  I guess I had a dumbfounded look on my face.  “It’s ok.”  His grin going what I came to know as his psycho grin.  “It’s my car” as he held out his hand to me.  Derek nudged my shoulder.  I stepped over the rope line and James pointed out all the modifications that he actually did himself.  Opening the driver’s door “Have a seat” he smiled at me.  “Would you like to fire it up?”

“Sure!  But I can’t reach the pedals” I giggled, wiggling my feet a good foot from the pedals.

“Skooch over then.”  I slid over to the passenger side as James stepped into the car.  The car rumbled to life.  James told me more about the car as he revved the engine.  He finally turned the engine off.  “What do you think?”

I gave him a sidelong glance, “Meh.”  Then bust out laughing at the look on his face.  “It’s gorgeous!” I grinned broadly at him, my eyes flaring wide at him.

“I’ll have to show you my other cars!” he grinned from ear to ear.

The rest of that day, James and I wandered the car show checking out the other vehicles on display.  He admitted that he’s not done any cars in recent years and his welding is now used making tables for charity auctions, or repairing the heavy equipment he uses at both his Colorado and California homes. 

I don’t know when or where Derek and Sasha left us during the show.  I took some ribbing from him the next work day.  James took me out to dinner that night.  We had sushi.

Over the next two weeks, James would call or text me inviting me out to dinner about every other day.  There was something beneath the rockstargod mask that he wore in public that pulled me in.  He made me laugh.  Granted, most of the time it was his kooky really bad dad jokes.  There was an innocence in him.  It’s still there.  It’s hidden unless he’s alone with someone that he’s super comfortable with.

The band headed out for the European leg of the tour.  James would call or text me everyday.  When they returned to the states from Europe, James asked me to join him on the road.  I had some PTO accrued, so I took it.  Being on a tour is mind boggling.  The sheer number of people in the stadium stands every show night.  The sheer number of people that keep the production running.  The fact that there’s a routine that sets up is a help.  But it’s still mind dumbing.

As summer began to fade, James begin asking me about the possibility of staying with him when he returned to Colorado.  Hindsight being 20/20, I now know that he was terrified of having all that time off.  Alone.  His divorce long since finaled.  The recent girlfriend being shifted out of his life.  His kids having their own lives.  The other band members having family commitments that he didn’t want to intrude on.  I remember there was something in his eyes when he asked me.  The vulnerability peeped through.  I said yes.

That’s when the comparisons started.  “Well, the wife would fold the sheets this way.”  “The ex would keep the ketchup in the cupboard, not the fridge.”  My constant come back:  “They aren’t me and I’m not them.”  Those comparisons would pop up randomly.

But my moving into his Colorado house was almost our undoing.  It started out great.  We’d go on hikes.  He’d take me to the best steak houses for dinner.  Almost like he was showing me off.  I went with him when he took his big ass truck in to the dealership for some warranty work.  He was talking with the service dept guy and I was left in the show room.  That was a mistake!  That’s when I bought my Shelby.  Since I basically paid cash for the car, I was the one who drove us home that day. The truck had to stay for some parts to arrive.

“You gonna let me drive this?” James asked on that drive home.

“You gonna let me drive your big ass truck?” I gently snarked back.

“I don’t even let Lars drive my truck!” he laughed.

“Well, like me, Lars wouldn’t be able to reach the peddles!”  We both laughed.  I finally let him drive the Shelby at Christmas.

He’d get snappy when I had to spend hours doing my job.  The comparisons to the ex’s soon became a daily thing.  About everything.  The laundry.  The dishes. How I cooked.  The cleaning.  When the mail got pulled from the mailbox.  It was like he was angry that I wasn’t treating him as a megasuperstarrockgod like the way he’d been treated on tour by everyone.  Only Lars, James’ tech and security guy would knock him back down to reality. And they weren’t there.  I was.

The almost final straw happened when we had gone grocery shopping.  I had picked up something that he snorted at.  So, I put it on the belt and paid for it myself after he’d paid for the other items.  I used cash.  Don’t know why, but I did.  That night before going to bed was the first time that he counted his cash before going to bed.  That had hurt.  It was also the first time I ever played like I was asleep when his hands started groping my body.  The bigger dig was his re-counting his cash in the morning. I moved my stuff out of his bedroom into a spare bedroom in the basement about a week later.  He didn’t seem to notice.

A week after that is when a freak September snow storm had foiled my plans to leave.  It was like the universe said “No.”  I had walked out the front door of his house to see that a two foot drift of snow had accumulated in front of the garage door.  It was snowing so hard that I couldn’t see the end of the driveway.  My little Shelby wouldn’t have made it very far in that snowfall.  For a second I had considered taking his big ass truck.  He could have slammed the front door shut leaving me outside instead of standing there yelling at me.  As I had passed him on my way back into his house, I had slapped my goodbye note into his chest.  The next afternoon, we started repairing our relationship.  We were honest with each other.  With ourselves.  Some discussions ended in tears.  Some with laughter.  He won a few.  I had changed his mind on a few.  There are still topics that we have agreed to disagree on and just won’t bring up.

The longest conversation was about anxiety.  We both suffer from it.  His a little more broad than mine.  That discussion was actually very calm.  Neither of us raising our voices.  Both of us shedding tears at some point.  We stayed up all night talking.  Him relating times on the road where he’d been almost paralyzed with fear that he wasn’t good enough.  How the other three had basically pulled him cringing onstage.  The times he’d cried himself to sleep after shows wondering if he could carry on.  The temptations of the road hard to ignore.  And at times, largely given in to.  He did tell me that he is grateful that I feel no need to keep alcohol around.  I assured him that I’m not missing out on anything by not keeping liquor around.  His other road addictions – gambling, strip clubs, food – I have promised him I will help with those.  He whole heartedly and gratefully agreed.

And now.  Here I am.  Pinned in a bed on a tropical island by James’ body.  He snores softly into my boob.  I caress his silvered locks.  The sun makes my diamond encrusted eternity band glitter.  His promise ring to me.  That he’ll work to earn my forgiveness every day.

I have already forgiven him.  I forgave him completely months ago.  But, he doesn’t want to hear it.  So, I will keep it to myself.  I whisper into his hair “You’re doing great James” kissing the top of his head.

I feel his lips curve into a smile against my breast.  His head rocks back and those glorious blue eyes open “Thank you.”  He kisses me.  Then his big blue eyes look deeply into mine.  “What are you thinking?”

“How I got here” I murmur softly, smiling at him, my fingers gently playing with his hair.

He slowly slides to my right giving me a wonky grin, “Well, first it was the truck to the airport, then a great big plane, to a smaller plane…”

Laughing loudly, I gently smack his bicep.  He kisses me again, his eyes twinkling, chuckling softly.  This bad-dad-joke telling dork of a supermegarockstargod holding me.

I caress his cheeks, pulling his face to mine, kissing him.  He eagerly kisses me back.  His hands gently squeezing me.  His lips find my neck.  Nibbling, licking, sucking, leaving little love marks all over my skin.  I moan in his hold.  My fingers gently digging into his shoulders as my body arches against his.  My fingers find his silvered locks, snarling into them.  Holding his head to my neck.  He shifts his body back between my legs.  His teeth gently nibble the magic spot.  I groan loudly as my body sags in his hold.  His big hands gently find my breasts.  Then his tattooed fingers gently start working my nipples.  Squeezing.  Rolling.  Tugging.  Each action pulling another groan from my mouth.  Each action pulling my hips up into his body.  His lips loudly start working towards my nipples.  He moves from one nipple to other, leaving little licks and nibbles between my breasts.  I place a million little kisses to his hair on the top of his head.  My lips tasting like the salt in his locks.  From sweat after fucking.  Our swim in the ocean.  James slowly lifts his body to his knees, holding his weight on his elbows, his lips still working on my flesh.  I suck in a sharp breath as his teeth nibble my right nipple, my body squirming in his hold.  His tongue gently flicking my nipple trapped in his teeth pulling a loud moan from my lips.  Pulling up, he lets my nipple literally pop from his lips.  Then his lips are kissing mine as his knees budge up against my legs, spreading them, his hands pressing down on my hips keeping them pinned to the bed.  Almost painfully slowly, James works his way down my body leaving nibble marks all over my flesh.  His hands hold my legs open.  He actually slows as he approaches the juncture between my legs.  I whimper as I struggle happily in his hold.  Then gasp loudly as the pointy tip of his tongue dips into the top of my cleft.  His groan reverberates through my body as his mouth locks on to my pussy.  Another gasp is pulled from my throat that becomes a moan as my body arches up from the bed.  His hands hold my hips down as his tongue works its magic on me.  Slowly.  It’s too much and not enough at the same time.  My sight blurs and my mind stops actively functioning.  It only concentrates on what his tongue is doing to my sex flesh.  My fingers tangle into his hair, pulling.  I feel his chuckle just before I explode into his mouth.  I feel his suction on my pussy increase as I flood his face.  The pressure on my cunt continues as he overstimulates me.  I scream as another climax slams into me.  He slowly eases me down from that high.  Then chuckling softly wipes his mustache on my inner thigh making me giggle and squirm.  He licks away the mess.  He lifts his head looking up my body.  Those stunning blue eyes locking with mine as he starts to grin madly at me.  Rising fully to his knees, his eyes not leaving mine as he grabs my legs.  Then flips me over.  I squeak.  He quickly pulls me up his thighs, guiding his cock into me, pushing his rigid dick all the way into me.  Deep into me.  Stretching me.  My breaths come out in hitched gasps.  I feel his heavy balls gently swinging between my thighs.  I push my body back against his with my arms, my fingers clutching the sheets, my teeth finding the pillow as I whine loudly.  His fingers wrap around my hips digging in deeply holding my hips close to his pelvis.  I struggle in his hold.  “Tell me” he growls softly at me.  I whine.  His large hand smacks my ass hard.  “Tell me” the growl becomes lower.

“Faahck me James!  Fuck me hard!” I almost scream.

“Happily” he grunts as he starts rutting into me.  Hard.  Fast.  Deep.  I can only whine in his hold.  Happily whine.  His rhythm steadily harsh.  I struggle some in his grasp.  I wrap my feet around his legs and pull.  “ahhh.  Gonna be that way are you?”  I nod vigorously, knowing he can’t see the grin on my own face.  He keeps thrusting harshly into my cunt.  His big hand finds my butt again.  I bark in shock at the pain flaring in my ass cheek, my back arching deeply.  “Liked that did you?” he growls at me.  I again nod vigorously, panting hard.  He smacks my other cheek.  Another sharp bark is pulled from me.  He ruts harder into me, his hands digging deep into my hips pulling another loud gasp from me.  His grunts get more feral.  He hoists my hips up his thighs as I am sliding down his sweaty skin.  My own body coated in a sheen of sweat.  I reach back and paw at his knees, my fingers not finding purchase on his slick skin.  His fingers find my clit as I feel his cock thicken inside me.  Stretching me more.  Twitching deep inside me.  His strokes get sloppy.  His fingers on one hip tighten.  His other fingers find my clit.  We both slam over into orgasm together.  He roars.  I scream.  Loudly.  He thrusts a couple more times into me.  Deep.  Then he lets me slide down his thighs slowly to the bed.  His cock sliding out of me.  His body lowers over mine.  His breath hot on my back, cooling the sweat.  His fingers gently tangle into my hair, pushing it up over the pillow.  His head comes down on my left shoulder.  I look over my left shoulder into his blue eyes.  “hi” he mumbles.

“hey” I groan sleepily.  My arms and legs feeling like they are filled with lead.

His fingers gently making lazy circles on my back make me shiver and giggle.  His lips gently kiss my shoulder.  My neck.  He rolls me over.  His large hand palms up my body from my hip over my stomach stopping momentarily to squeeze my boob before gently wrapping around my neck, sliding around to the back of my head.  His lips find mine.  Gently.  Tenderly.  Sucking on my lower lip softly.  My body arches under his hand which he flares open wide into my sternum pressing down gently on me.  I whimper and gently kiss his lips, my hands wrapping around his head.  His hands wrap around my back as he keeps kissing me.  I feel his hips slide from the bad.  He pulls me with him.  I wrap my legs around his waist.  I’m still kissing him as James carries me out of our private overwater hut.  Into the Arabian Sea.

I swim to the surface, sputtering out water.  “Ya could warn a girl!” I laugh.

James is also laughing, “I’m taking you for a swim!”

Oh honey!! Let me help you with that zipper!!!

Tricks or Sweets

I am having so much fun writing these!  Here is the October offering.

The one for November is in the wings!

Link to the September post:

Warnings: The end is NSFW. Strip Joints mentioned.

Damn this man can be frustrating.  I suppose any man can be frustrating.  I’ve had relationships before.  But none of them worked out.  The last serious one that I’d had ended a couple of years ago and it broke my heart.  Ok.  Shredded it.  This one came damned close to doing it again.  Although the last month, we have both been working on it.  Together.  We’ve had some heated discussions.  No yelling.  Some discussions have ended with the agreement to disagree.  Some he’s changed my mind.  Some I’ve changed his.  But here it is, close to Halloween and I’m sick.  I have kept him at a distance because I don’t want him getting sick.  Hell, Lars would skin me alive if I get the mighty James Hetfield sick when they are working on new songs.  James and I had closed up his Colorado house to stay in his NorCal place so he could go into HQ with the rest of the band.

James is a little hurt that I’m pushing him away.  Even after explaining to him that I don’t want him to get sick.  He still curls up with me in bed.  He’s been keeping his kisses to any part of my body except my mouth.  I’m not going to complain.  He’s excellent at kissing body parts.  I also think he’s hoping that I’ll get better in time to go to Kirk’s big shindig on Halloween.

“James, I really don’t like to be scared.” I mumble, then cough.  It feels like I’m hacking up a lung. 

Patting my back, “But Kirk’s parties are really good.”  He’s almost whining.  “Will you at least consider going?”

I know that this party is a big deal, “I will consider.”  More coughing, “If I get over this.”  I blow my nose, which is sore and red.  I untwist the Hawaiian print dress I’m wearing.

He pulls me into his side, cupping my head, “I’m sorry you don’ feel good.”  His fingers feel cool on my forehead.  He grabs the digital thermometer and presses it to my forehead.  It double beeps.  “100.2.  Do you want more tea?”

I can only nod as I cough some more.  I watch from the sofa as he sets the kettle to boil.  I had moved to the living room sofa – for a change of scenery from our bedroom.  I slowly sink back into the sofa.  My eyes flutter open as I feel his fingers on my forehead.  My mug is sitting on the table.  I sit up and he hands it to me.  It’s the perfect temperature, which means that I’ve been asleep.  I chug most of it.  It feels good on my throat.  It hits my stomach like a ton of bricks.  It’s the only thing I have consumed all day.  I curl into a ball against him as he takes my mug.  He gently urges my head into his lap, tucking the blanket in around me.  I close my eyes as he plays with my hair. 

It's dark when I wake up.  Still on the sofa.  I cough hard.  Grabbing some tissues I spit out what I’ve hacked up.  At least it’s beginning to break up.  I hope.  I sit up slowly.  I can hear James in his studio.  He’s putting lyrics to a new tune.  I just sit and listen.  Damn!  It’s going to be a hit!  Standing up slowly, I make it to the bathroom.  Washing up after, I splash some water on my face.  It feels so good that I lean on the counter.  I feel his hand on my lower back.  “You good?”

“Yeah.”  I slowly stand up and lean into him.  “Just had to pee.” 

He presses his hand to my forehead.  Before I can protest, he’s scooped me up and carries me back to our bedroom.  Grabbing the thermometer, he presses it to my forehead.  “101.3.  If this gets any higher, I’m taking you in.”

I can’t argue.  I sink back into the pillows.  I feel him get off the bed.  My eyes close.  Then I feel the mattress sink as he sits on it.  A cool cloth is pressed to my forehead.  Another he presses to the back of my neck.  I whimper softly.  “Shhh.  Just sleep.”  I drift away again.

I hear voices.  Speaking softly.  I feel James’ hand cupping my head. 

“Doc, she’s been down for at least a whole day.”

“Temp?”

“101 to 102 consistently.”  I can hear the concern in his voice.

“Is she drinking or eating anything?”

“It’s been awhile.  I got some tea in her yesterday afternoon.”

I hear a deep sigh.  “She needs some electrolytes.  Let me set up an IV for her.”

I try to squirm.  “Shhh.”  His fingers cup my face.  “I got you.”  I manage to pull his fingers to my neck, leaning into the coolness.  The bed sinks on my left side.  I wince as the band is tightened around my arm.  “Hang on Kira.  It’s only for a moment.”  Then there’s a stinging in my left arm.  I manage to kick out with a leg.  “Almost done.”  His lips press cooly to my forehead, his fingers play with my hair.  The sting eases and there’s a cool sensation running up my arm.  The band is removed.

“Ok.  I have this one wide open.  Keep an eye on this arm.  It’ll need to stay pretty straight for this bag to get in her.”

“Got it, Doc.”

“I’ll leave a couple of bags in your fridge.  Pull the next bag back to about half.”

“Doc, thanks a million.”  The bed shakes gently.  I can only guess that they are shaking hands.  I whimper and try to curl around him.  “Shhh.  You’ll feel better soon.”  His hand caresses my hair.

“Call me if anything looks wonky.  I’m only doing this cause I know you can handle the IV port.  You’ve had enough in your life.”

“Thanks again.”

“I’ll see myself out, James.”  I hear footsteps.  “I’ll check in with you later.”

“Thanks.”  James rolls me to his side, draping my left arm over his chest.  His fingers make gentle lazy patterns on my arm and shoulder.  The darkness reaches up and pulls me under.

It’s pitch black outside when I float awake.  I’m flat on my back.  James is on my right side, his arm and leg keeping me pinned.  I struggle a little to move.  “Hey.  What’s wrong?”

“Gotta pee” I cough out.

I have never seen him move this fast, he’s standing on my side of the bed, one hand holding my left hand, the other under my right arm pulling me gently to my feet.  “Hang on a sec.”  He reaches behind me.  The IV bag hits my back.

“That’s cold” I flinch slightly.

“Sorry.  It’s still attached to you” he gives me a small smile. 

I wobble to the bathroom.  He stands holding the IV bag while I use the toilet.  He did have to help me stand after I cleaned up.  He squirts some hand sanitizer on my right hand and works it in.  “Faster than washing just the one hand.”  I snorfel a smile.  He almost carries me back to bed.  Tucking me back into the sheets, he rehangs the IV bag.  I look up.  He’s jerry rigged a mic stand to hold the bag.  I laugh softly.  “What?”

Pointing with my right hand, “Very creative.”

“I didn’t want to put a hole in the wall” he smiles at me.  I wiggle to get comfy.  He checks the bag.  “I’ll be right back” he kisses my forehead.  “Don’t go anywhere.”  He pats my stomach as he leaves.  I blink and he’s back, a new IV bag in his hands.  “Let’s go ahead and change this one out.”  Like a trained nurse, he quickly gets the bags changed.  He adjusts the flow on the line.  I just look at him.  “You don’t want to know how many IV ports I’ve yanked out of my own arms.”  My fingers gently rub his arm as he sits.  “A night nurse in Montreal took pity on me and showed me what to do.”

“That had to be horrid.” 

“Honestly, I was terrified.”  He gently stretches out next to me.  “I still double check the setlist and where I am on stage.”  I can see the memories in his eyes.

“You were very lucky that those flames didn’t sear your lungs.”

Nodding, “That would have ended me.”  I gently caress his cheek.  “The year it took to be able to pick up a guitar again was torture.”

“I’m sure it was.”  My fingers linger on his face, “I heard what you were creating earlier.  It sounds great!”

He smiles at me, “That was two days ago.  But thanks!”  He kisses my forehead.

“Two days?”

“Yeah, you’ve been a little out of it” his fingers caress my face.  He grabs the digital thermometer.  “Look at that!  99.8!”

I smile softly.  “I do feel better.”  A coughing fit hits me.  He just rubs my back. 

“Actually, you did cough in your sleep.”  He brushes stray hairs from my forehead.

“Have you slept at all?”

“Some.  But I’m good.  Let’s get you out of the weeds first.”  He pulls me to him, making sure that the IV tube isn’t being crushed, and curls an arm around my head.  “I’m not going anywhere.  Sleep.”  I wrap my right arm around his and let sleep pull me back under.

My eyes squint open to a room filled with bright sunlight.  The IV port is still in my arm, but the tubing has been removed.  I sit up and cough hard.  I hear the toilet flush, then water in the bathroom.

“It lives!” James smiles at me.  He’s wearing just a pair of boxers.  And damn he looks good.  Another coughing fit hits me.  James slides onto the bed, patting my back.  “Doc stopped by this morning.  He gave you a shot of B12.  That should give you the boost you need to get over the cough.”

“That explains why my ass hurts.”

Nodding, “Yeah, that’s one of those shots that can’t go thru an IV.”  He kisses my shoulder, “I want to leave the port in for a bit.  I can take them out, but can’t put them in.”

“I understand that.”  I squirm to the side of the bed, “I gotta pee again.”

He helps me from the bed to the toilet and then the sink.  “Let’s shift you to the family room.”  He snakes an arm around me, “Change of scenery.”

“A change of sheets please?”

He snickers a laugh, “You read my mind.”  He helps me sit back into the sofa in the family room and covers me with a big fuzzy blanket.  “Need anything?” as he hands me the TV remote.

“A Severed Lime please?”

He kisses my forehead.  “Be right back.”

I power up the TV and start looking through the guide.  His hand comes over my shoulder, “Here.  Careful it’s open.”  His voice soft.

“Thank you.”  I look into his blue eyes, “For taking care of me.”  Another coughing fit.  This one hurts my chest.  His hands gently hold my shoulders and rub my back.  I pull his hand from my shoulder to my chest, “It hurts here.”  He rubs my chest gently.  His hand warm on my skin.  And deeper.  I cough again.  James uses the heel of his other hand to pound on my back.  I grab some tissues and spit out the phlegm.  It’s green.

“That’s not good.”

“Better out than in” I manage, spitting out more.

“I’ll call Doc again.  Get his opinion.”  He kisses my hair, “In the mean time, I’ll go change the sheets.”

“Please spray the pillows and mattress with Lysol.”

He kisses my hair again, “Good idea.”  He takes my left hand, “I think we’re done with this.”  He deftly pulls out the IV port from my arm.  Then he holds the spot for a minute waiting for my blood to congeal.  “There.  All better.”  I cough hard.  “Well, getting there” he chuffs at me. 

I find a movie and start it as another fit hits me.  More phlegm comes up.  I drop the messy tissues to the floor with the other ones.  I curl into the corner of the sofa, tugging the blanket tighter.  I blink awake as the movie is ending.  Music floats from James’ studio.  I cough again, bringing up more phlegm.  I chug some of the Severed Lime.  The bubbles actually feel good on my sore throat.  I start another movie and I recurl into the blanket.  It’s dark when I sit up, coughing again.

“Hey,” his hands on my shoulders again.  He reaches out and grabs the Severed Lime can, “Here, sip.”  I take a couple of sips.  “Doc stopped by while you were sleeping.  He looked at what you’ve coughed up.  He didn’t want to give you an antibiotic shot without knowing if you have any medical allergies.”

Shaking my head, “None that I know of.”  I cough again.  I take another drink.

“He left the shot, if you’ll let me.”  I look into his big blue eyes.  He’s concerned.  Very concerned.  And torn.  Being brought up Christian Scientist, medicines were frowned on.  But modern medicine saved him when he was so badly burned.  I nod at him, holding tissues to my mouth as another cough hits me.  Once he knows I’m ok, he goes to the fridge and pulls out the syringe.  He picks up the alcohol wipe packet from the counter as he returns.  “Doc said the best place for me to jab you is in the ass.”  He sits on the sofa.  I slowly roll to him, draping myself over his lap.  “If you felt better, this would be interesting!”  He opens the wipe packet, pulls up the Hawaiian dress I’m wearing and rubs my ass with the wipe, then his fingers grab that cheek and the other stabs.  I wince.  He pulls the dress back down and rubs the spot, “All done.”  I just hang there.  “You better shift off my lap, or I might just let my evil thoughts take over” he growls gently into my ear. 

“Maybe later” I grin up at him as I push myself back into the corner, another cough hits me.

“My poor little Kira.”  He tucks me in, kissing my forehead.  He goes into the kitchen.  I hear him puttering around in it.  I’m still a little too far gone to pay attention.  He comes back carrying a bowl, “Here, sip this.”  It’s miso.

“That tastes so good.”  I drink more.  “Thank you.”

He returns to the kitchen and comes back with his own bowl.  A much bigger bowl.  He puts my feet into his lap and I start another movie.

I don’t remember falling asleep.  My feet are still in his lap.  Our soup bowls on the coffee table.  He’s curled up on his side, several pillows under his head.  I gently extract my feet.  “You ok?”

“I gotta pee.”

He stands up and helps me stand, “Well you do have about three IV bags of fluids in you.”

As we move toward the bathroom, “I do feel better.”  I cough again.

“Yeah.  Uh huh.”  He gives me a look.

“I do” I protest while using the toilet.  He stands behind me while I wash up.  I take a good look at my reflection.  I grimace.

"What?"

“I need a shower.”

“Not at 2am.  C'mon.  Back to the sofa with you.”

He sinks into the sofa with me.  “You go to bed.”  I cough again.  “I’ll be fine.”

Pulling my feet back into his lap, “Yes, you will be fine.”  He reaches up and tucks the blanket back around me.  He takes the remote and starts another movie.  He gently rubs my ankles and calves.  I slide back into sleep.

The morning sun shines in on my face.  I struggle to shift.  My feet are still trapped in James’ lap and hands.  His warmth feels good on my feet.  I watch him sleep.  His eyelashes curl against his cheeks hiding his bluer than blue eyes.  His lips slightly open under his graying mustache.  Oh, the joys that mouth has given me.  His fingers curled around my ankles that make such magic on his guitar.  The magic they work on me.  Inside me.  I whimper slightly.  And cough.  Hard.  His hands tighten around my ankles.  “I’m ok.”  I drop the tissue.  “Not as green.”

His eyebrows rise, “That’s good.”  I cough again.  “Better out than in.”  He grins at me, shifting my feet out of his lap.  “How about some breakfast?”

“Yes, please.”  I look up into his eyes as he stands.  “I’m sorry I’ve been such a pain.”

“I’m glad I was able to take care of you.”  He kisses the top of my head.  “Then maybe a shower.”

“That bad?”

“I have smelled better after a show.”

“Yikes.”  I kick out of the blanket.  I change the channel to local news.  The weather is on.  Nothing new.  Clouds, fog, spotty rain.

“Ahh.  San Fran in late fall” James sighs as he hands me a plate.  He sinks into the sofa next to me.

His scrambled eggs are smothered in cheese.  There’s sliced tomato and avocado on my plate.  “mmmm.”

“Good?”

“Yeth” I say around a mouthful.

He takes the remote and finds the NFL Network.  We finish eating while getting the latest updates on the teams.  Well, he finishes our breakfast.  I could only eat about half of what he’d put on my plate.  Once the updates are done, James collects the plates and dumps them in the sink.  He comes back, turns off the tv, pulls me to my feet, pulls the blanket off the sofa and unloads about half a can of Lysol where I’ve been sleeping.  Then he leads me to our bathroom.  Pulling off my dress and dropping his boxers, he pulls me into the shower.  I lean against the back wall as he washes my hair, my back, my body - being very tender between my legs.  I know he’s horny as hell, but I’m so not horny.  It pinches my heart that I can’t be sexy for him right now.  The steam from the hot water puts me into a serious coughing fit.  James wraps an arm around my waist and holds my head with his other hand.  I hack out the biggest chunk of phlegm ever.  It’s yellow, green and brown all at once.  Using a spray wand, James washes it down the drain.  I slowly stand up.  “Well, there’s that” I whisper.

“Maybe that’s the core and you’ll get better now” James cups my head and pulls me into his body.  He releases me gently, rinses us both off and after turning off the water, wraps me up in a towel.  I waddle to the bed and sit.  That last hack hurt.  James sits behind me and using a towel, dries my hair.  I almost fall asleep sitting there.  He tugs the clean sheets and blankets down, “In you go.”  He pulls the towel from my body and tucks me into bed.  I’m asleep before the covers are tucked around me.

The next couple of days, I slowly recover.  Still hacking a cough, but not as bad.  I start putzing around the house taking care of little things.  I still crash out almost every time I sit down.

Knowing that I’m out of the weeds – as he put it - he’s been working a lot lately at HQ.  He didn’t get home until about 11pm a few days ago.  It’s 10:12pm.  I cough again.  I had tried his phone but it went directly to voice mail.  I figure that he’s doing vocal work.  I decided to call the HQ main line.  I almost hung up. 

“Hello.”

“Hi, this is Kira.”

“Hey!  It’s Avi.  How you feeling?  James told us that you were super sick.”

My eyebrows are in my hairline, “I’m doing ok, thanks for asking.  Uhmmm, this is kinda embarrassing, but would you please give James a note to pick up some cough drops?”

“Uhm, sure.  But he and Jacob left for the club.  I probably won’t see him before you do.”

The club?  THE club.  “Oh.  Ok.  Thanks.”

“Do you want me to run some up to you?”

“That’s very kind Avi, but I think I have enough to get through tonight.”

“Well, feel better!”

“Thanks!”  I end the call. 

Curling up tighter in bed as I cough, a million thoughts are going through my head.  There’s only one place that men refer to as The Club.  He went to a strip joint.  I’m surprisingly not mad at him that he went to a club.  I’m more upset that he didn’t let me know.  My eyes close.

His warm body is spooned up behind me.  My clock shows 3am.  Just that he’s back safely is all I care about.  I press up against his warmth and drift back to sleep.

“Hey sleepy head.”  His voice rumbles in my ear.  His big warm hand is slowly rubbing between my shoulder blades.

“That feels really good” I murmur into the pillow.

His lips press against the back of my neck.  “You feeling any better?”

“Let me wake up first, then I’ll let you know” I smirk at him.  I turn my head looking up at him, “How was the club?”  All the color drains from his face.  His hands freeze on my body.  I pull myself up and sit cross legged in bed.  “James, why wouldn’t you tell me?”  I’m not shouting.  I’m not accusing.  It’s more statement than question.

He rolls to his back, his left arm rests on his forehead, his right hand resting against my calf.  “I thought you’d get mad.”

I cock a smile at him, “Let me surprise you.”  He looks at me.  “I really don’t care if you go to strip clubs.”  He blinks.  “I really don’t.  Some of those women are gorgeous.”  He blinks again.  “Hell, I’d fuk some of those women.”  That got his attention.  “All I ask is that you let me know.  And bring this” I run my hand over his boxers where his erection is growing, “home to me.  I’ll be more than happy to take care of it.  I just want to know when to expect you home.”  I can tell he’s gobsmacked.  “What?” I smile at him.  “Have I rendered the great wordsmith silent?”

“Kinda.”  He sits up, holding my hand with his on his crotch.  “You’re serious.”

“Very.”  I feel him get harder.  “James, there’s nothing wrong with watching them dance.  For some, that’s how they are putting themselves through school.  Or taking care of sick kids or parents.  But this” I gently squeeze him, “comes home to me.”  He bowls into me laying me out flat on the bed, his lips kissing my face and neck.  I try to push him back, “If I get you sick, Lars is going to kill me!”

With both hands planted on either side of me, he rises up, “Lars is sick.  Probably got it when he went to Jessica’s shoot on the beach last week.”  He almost drops on to me, planting a toe curling kiss on me.  I wrap my arms around his neck.  Parting the kiss, “I’ve missed this.”  His blue eyes sparkling at me.  “I am sorry that I didn’t tell you.  It won’t happen again.”

“What won’t happen again?” I ask cheekily.

“I will tell you from now on where I’m going.  You’re right.  You should know when to expect me home.”

I caress his head from forehead to the nape of his neck, “Thank you.”  I twist my head into the nearest pillow and cough.

“Well, that is sounding better.”  He grabs the thermometer and presses it to my forehead.  It beeps.  “Hey look at that!  Normal.”

“yay!”  I play with his hair, “I could really use a shower.”  I sniff his chest, “So could you.”

“What?”

“You smell like cigarettes.”  We both sit up, “I don’t mind your cigars, but cigarettes just stink.”

“Noted.  I will shower after coming home.”

I grab his boxers, “Maybe I can help you” as I slid off the bed pulling him with me.

I was still a little anxious over the next couple of days about going to Kirk’s Halloween party.  I really do hate spooky stuff.  Spiders top of the list.  Halloween and being scared next.  I’m standing in the kitchen unloading the dishwasher when my phone rings.  By the ring tone, it’s James.  “Hi!”

“Hey.  I’ll be home a little early tonight.”

“What’s going on?”

I can hear him snicker, “Kirk is sick.”

“Well damn.”

“Yeah, he’s bummed that he’s gotta cancel the party.  Sooo, I’ll be home early tonight.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

I hear him chuckle as he ends the call.  Well, this is a curve ball.  A wicked idea comes to me.  I set up the stereo and put the remote on the landing.  I dash upstairs and dig through my things in the closet.  There.  The little plaid skirt.  Don’t know why I’ve kept it.  Don’t know why I packed it, but here it is.  I find a pair of scissors and cut about 6 inches off the hem.  It now barely hides my pussy and my ass cheeks peek out beneath it.  I almost run into the bathroom.  Fifteen minutes later, I’m hairless.  And wet.  I pull on a pair of black knee high socks.  My clunky white sneakers will have to do.  Then the skirt.  My heavy duty pushup bra is next.  My tits are almost hitting my chin.  I take a white t-shirt of his and sacrifice it.  I cut the neckline super low.  Then I twist the hem up and knot it right below my bra showing off my stomach.  Running back into the bathroom, I pull my hair up into a super messy bun.  I’m putting on bright red lipgloss when I hear the garage door open.  My heart is pounding and I’m a sopping wet mess between my legs.  I grab a towel and give a wipe as I hear him come in the house.

“I’m home.”

“Hi!  Sit on the sofa.  I’ll be down in a moment.”  I watch him from behind a corner.  I grin happily as he sits in the middle of the sofa.  I get to the landing and hit play on the stereo remote.  His own song – Devil’s Dance - blares to life.  He spins and sees me.  I chew on my lower lip as I try to move down the stairs in a sultry manner.  Hard to do in bulky sneakers.  But the look on his face is worth it.  He’s almost drooling at the sight of me.  When his song gets to the line “I’ve got what you need,” I squat, and quickly spread my knees flashing him with my cleaned and sopping wet core, then snap my knees together.  He actually grunts.  I slink around the living room trying to dance like a stripper – which I’ve never done before in my life.  I finally crawl across the wooden coffee table.  I can feel the strip of fabric I called a skirt slide up my rump – which I wiggle slowly as I crawl.  Putting my hands on his thighs – which are shaking – I get a couple of inches from his face and in the dirtiest voice I could, sing his own words to him, “Let’s dance.”

He doesn’t just grab me.  He tackles me.  His mouth crashing into mine.  His arms wrap around me as we crash to the floor between the sofa and the coffee table.  He shoves the table aside.  He’s grabbing at the shirt I’ve tied up and my bra.  I’m undoing and tugging off his belt.  His hands grab his jeans and about pops off the metal buttons on his 501’s.  I help him yank down both his jeans and boxers.  He grabs my hips and lifts while I point his dripping cock at my sopping cunt.  With one thrust he roars into me balls deep.  I cry out.  Not in pain.  I was so wet the Titanic could have slid into me.  The pleasure of his girth filling me made me cry out.  He grabs my left wrist and pins it to the ground by my shoulder as he starts thrusting.  Hard.  The look in his eyes, on his face.  Hunger.  Wild.  Feral.  I moan loudly.  My legs wrap around his waist, the heels of my sneakers dig into his hips forcing him deeper still into me.  Again, my voice cries out in sheer pleasure.  He lets go of my wrist to grab my hip again.  He’s slamming into me.  My hands grabbing his arms pulling him closer to me.  His balls slapping my taint.  His fingers dig deep into my hips keeping me from moving away.  We are both reduced to primal grunts and growls.  I feel his strokes getting sloppy.  His thumb finds my clit.  We both scream in release.  Not your normal orgasm vocalization.   It was an If the neighbors were any closer, the cops would have been called scream.  We are both panting, he slowly lowers his weight onto my body, his hands cupping my head.  I kiss his arms, neck, chin, chest. 

Then I cough.  Hard.  We both start laughing.  He gently withdraws from me.  I reach around to find the ruined t-shirt and shove it between my legs, which makes him give me a look.  “I’m leaking on the carpet!” I manage to squeak out.  Still laughing, he tucks the fabric under me.  He rests his head between my well lifted boobs as he never did get the bra off.

“I’ll never be able to play that song live again!” he pants out.  My laughter just redoubles.  “I’ll never be able to explain to Lars why not!” he laughs into my chest.  My fingers just play in his hair.

We lay there a tangle of arms, legs and clothes for a bit recovering.  I push the hair from his sweat covered brow, “Now tell me, wasn’t this better than a spooky Halloween party?”

His face still buried in my boobs, “It’s pretty close!”

Did he REALLY take his cigar for a swim??!!??