Good Gawd James! Let Go Already!!

That tongue.......

Everybody Loves a Parade - Part 6

Saturday – Part 6

Warnings: Pancakes, Fluff, shameless product placement

Again, his side of the bed is empty when I wake with music coming from the living room.  I wonder what it will take to make one of the other two bedrooms a music room for him.  I peek out the drapes.  It’s finally stopped snowing.  Whatever James is working on is going to be amazing.  I can hear him humming as he figures out where the words are going to fill in.  Maybe.  He did help write two amazing instrumentals.  His bandmates do call him the Riff Master.  I stretch out in the bed.  These sheets really do need to get changed.  I climb out of bed and tug the dirties off.  It took a moment because I was stumbling over the pile of dirty sheets, but I got the sheets changed.  I was piling them up in front of the bathroom when I see James standing there.

“I didn’t interrupt you, did I?” my voice a little high.

“No.  No.  I hit a wall.”  He scrubs his eyes, “That’s when I put it aside.  Why didn’t you wait?  I would have helped.”  Concern spreads across his face.

“You were a little busy and I wasn’t going to potentially ruin a gold record.”  I wrap my arms around his waist. 

The concern seeps from his face making his eyes brighten, “You really liked it?”

“Yes I did” I squeeze his waist looking up into his face.

He cups my face and kisses me.  “Well, I can at least take these to the washer.”

I give his waist another squeeze, “Thank you.”  I help him by collecting all the pillowcases and follow him out of the bedroom.  I grab the towels from the dryer and take them to the bedroom.  I can fold those later.  I hear James start the washer.

Returning into the kitchen, “What do you want for breakfast?”

James turns to me, “I kinda wanna go out.  Is there a place close by?

“Yeah.  It’s a real small place.  It’s about a 5 minute walk.”  I pull him into me, “They have pancakes….”

Pulling me into a kiss, “Let’s go!” he laughs.

Ten minutes later, we’re dressed.  As I head out the door, I grab the hot plate and towels for Fannie and leave it with Carl.  I call Fannie to tell her, but I know that Carl will just carry it over to her.  Fifteen minutes later we are seated in a booth at the diner, pancakes ordered.  James rests his hand over mine, “What’s on your mind.”

“What would you think if I give that second bedroom to make it into a music room for you.”  I look him in the face.

His eyes open wide, “You’d do that?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Why not.  I don’t use that second bedroom.”  I think a moment.  “Ever.”  I play with his fingers, “What would it take?”

Using his other hand, he rubs at the scruff on his face, “It wouldn’t have be a full blown studio.”  He looks at me again, “Seriously.  You’d do that for me.”

I smile at him, “Yes, James.  I will do that for you.”  I sigh deeply, “Besides, it’s time I clear out both those rooms.”  I look back at him, “You get to pick the room.”

He pulls me around the bench of our corner booth to his side and plants a deep kiss on me.  I wrap my hands around his head.  Our waitress clears her throat.  Still clinging to the other, we look at her.

“Pancakes go?” she says holding our meal grinning.

James loses it, laughing into my shoulder.  I just shake my head, “Thank you.”  She sets our plates down as James slowly pulls himself together.  “Are you ok?”

“It just caught me off guard.  I’m fine!” James laughs.

We tuck into our meals.  “That was an excellent idea” I look at James as I push my empty plate away.

Nodding, “Thanks.”

The waitress brings our bill.  She’s obviously a fan.  I just nod at her.  “Can I ask you for your autograph, please?” her voice shaking slightly.

Smiling broadly, James signs the order slip and thanks her for being a fan.  I go to the register and pay our bill.  I make sure to add a good-sized tip and we walk with arms around each other back to the apartment.

Once inside, James looks at me, I nod, then he goes and looks at the spare bedroom.  He opens the room that had been Grandmothers room.  He comes back to me, “What’s over these two rooms?”

“There’s a mechanical crawl space between this floor and the one above and below.  It’s the side walls that have neighbors.”

He rests his hands on my shoulders, “Is that why you scream into the mattress?” his eyes gleaming.

“uh huh.”  I bite my lower lip.

He plants a kiss on me.  “You are amazing.”  I just smile up at him.  He looks into both rooms again.  He returns to me.  “You’re sure.”

Nodding, “Positive.”

He claps his hands, “Ok.”  Pulling me to him, “Do you want to go gear shopping with me?”

“How about you go gear shopping and I clear out the room you want.”

He plants another toe-curling kiss on me, “Ok.”  He looks back to both rooms again.  “That one.”  He points to the spare room.  “No neighbors on those walls, right?”  I nod.  “That one.”  He pulls out his phone.  “Don’t you even think of moving that bed.  I got a guy” he points a finger at me.  “Hey Pete!  Need a favor.”  James wanders into what will become his music room.

I remember that I’d done a floor plan, well, of the whole apartment.  I needed one for the kitchen remodel and just kinda did all the rooms.  Going into my office, turning on my computer, I pull up the diagram and hit print.  Pulling the paper from the printer, I return to the kitchen to grab a glass of water.  I can still hear James talking in the other room.  His studio, I remind myself.  He comes out with the biggest cheesiest grin on his face.  “What?”

He wraps me into a hug, “One of our engineers is going to pick me up and take me to the warehouse to get gear.”  He looks at me, “What?”

“You look like the kid that was just handed the key to the toy shop.”

Cupping my head, he kisses me deeply, “I was!”  He kisses me again.  His pocket buzzes right beside my crotch.

“Uuh!” my eyes cross.

“Sorry!” 

I kinda grind into him, “Don’t be!”  My voice a little higher than normal.

He pulls out his phone, “Yeah.”  He eases his hold me, making sure that I’m stable on my feet.  Sitting down at the dining table, he starts talking numbers.  I’m sure it’s equipment, but I have no clue.  Going into Grandmother’s room, I pull up the shades.  I start shifting things.  Most of what’s in this room is holiday decorations.  So, I start shifting all those boxes together by the closet.  Against the wall is what I’m looking for.  Empty boxes.  Grabbing a couple, I take them into James’ room and set them down.  Going into the office, I pull out the packing tape.  Going back to the room, I put together one box and start plowing through the built in drawers.  After realizing that most of what’s in them can donate, I go grab a couple of large trash bags from the kitchen.  These I fill with the donations and drop them in the living room.  James grabs me after I drop another bag.  “Damn you can be fast!”

“I have been accused of being a bit of a pit bull when I get an idea.”

“I can see that” he smiles.

“You are grinning like the Cheshire cat.  What’s up?”

“Ahh.  Big Mick happens to be in town and he’s gonna come over and look the room over and then we’ll go gear shopping."  He kisses me.  “Might be able to just pull a bunch of stuff from storage rather than having to buy anything."

"That’s cool!”  I lean into him.  “Oh!”  I pull away, “You might find this helpful.”  I give him the room diagram.

He scans it, “Damn!”  He looks around and I give him a pencil.  He kisses me.  He starts noodling on the sheet.  His eyes pop up to mine, “I can write this, right?”

I just smile at him, “yes.”  I go back into the room to continue cleaning out my shit.  Twenty minutes later the doorbell rings.  I hear James answer it.  I’m elbow deep into a box from the closet, ass to the door, when James walks in and smacks my butt. Hard.

I pop up, “OW!”

“Well, don’t leave him a target.”  The man speaking with a heavy English accent is a rock and roll version of Santa.  Long white hair and beard with blue eyes as piercing as James’.  All his clothes black.

“Kira, this is Mick” James says.  He has me tucked into his side, gently rubbing my tender ass.

I shake his hand, “Nice to meet you.”

Mick scans the room.  “Not bad for a New York apartment.”  He starts looking around for power plugs.

“Oh!  Hang on!”  James lets go of me and quickly returns with the room diagram.

Mick takes a look at it.  “Who did this?”

“I did.”

He’s nodding, “This is very good.”  He points to something on the diagram, and finds it in the room, nodding.  “Do you have your own circuit box?”

“Yeah, it’s in here.”  I led him into the office.  Tucked into a small closet is the circuit box.

“This has been upgraded” he says in approval.

“I redid the kitchen a few years ago.”

“Upping the circuit box was a good idea.”

“Thanks.”

Mick takes a snap of the circuit box with its meticulous labeling.  Then he and James sit down at the dining table and start going over what is needed and where it should go.

I go back into the room and pull out several more bags of donation stuff.  I move a couple boxes into Grandmother’s room.  As I come out of that room, James snags me in a hug, “We’re going to the warehouse.  Shouldn’t be too long.”  He kisses me.

“You might think about putting down a rug in that room” I suggest.

“Excellent idea!  I think there are a couple in the warehouse” Mick chimes in.

James runs his hands over my head smoothing my hair, “You going to be ok?”

I look up into those fucking gorgeous eyes, “Yes.”

He leans his forehead against mine, “No bed moving.”

I look at him, “No bed moving.”

“Ok.”  He kisses me, “We’ll be back.”

“See you soon!”  I kinda follow them to the front hallway.  I listen as the front door clicks closed.  Knowing that’s secure, I return to the task at hand.  Clearing out his music room.  Stripping that bed, I forward my bed sheets and start the others.  Most of what was in the built-in drawers in that room I decide is donatable.  There are a few things that I add to my closet.  A few things that I just shudder at and throw out.  I check under that bed.  A few dust bunnies.  I pull out the vacuum and am working on the built in drawers in the closet when I hear, “Honey!  I’m Home!”  I turn off the vacuum and stretch my back.  James comes up behind me wrapping his arms around me, “Damn!  You can be tenacious!”

I lean back into him, “mmmhmmm.”

He kisses my neck, “We brought back lunch.”

The smell of burgers wafts in the room at that moment and my stomach rumbles.  “It has been a while since breakfast."

"It has!"  He takes my hand and pulls me from his music room.

There are about 12 people in my apartment.  Most sitting on the floor eating burgers.  I give James a look. 

“They are going to help shift the furniture.”  He whispers into my ear, “They are all our roadies.  I trust them.”

I nod ok.  James parks me at the table and hands me a burger.  There is a communal pile of fries in the middle.  James hands me a Severed Lime, puts his on the table and sits next to me.  Mick is on the other side of the table.  Someone asks where the trash is and James directs him to the can under the kitchen sink.  About twenty minutes later, the bed is shifted into Grandmother’s room, as are the nightstands.  A couple of the guys help me re-org that room so that I could get into the holiday boxes easily and they are neatly stacked by holiday.

I go to take a look in James’ music room.  There’s a huge paisley carpet on the floor.  A desk has been setup so that it looks out that window – tho it doesn’t really have a view.  A big tempered glass mat covers the carpet and a rolly desk chair sits on that mat.  There are a couple of guys behind the desk, at least one under it with both Mick and James sitting on the front side of the desk working on a piece of gear and cables are sliding all over the place.  There’s a standing mic stand.  There’s one clamped to the desk.  There’s all kinds of music boards sitting on the top of the desk that cables are being plugged in to.  A rolling road case filled with guitars now sits in the closet.  But it’s at a wonky angle because of the doors.

“James?”

“Yeah?” he turns, his eyes bright.

“Just have them take the closet doors off.  They can store them in Grandmother’s room against the wall.”

“What about the building super?” one guy asks.

“I’m the super.  I own this apartment.”

Nodding approval, “Page six and an apartment owner.  James, you dog!” Mick grins.

I just blush, spin and leave the room laughing softly.  Checking on the laundry, I fold the one set of sheets and forward the other.  Taking the clean sheets to my closet, I put them away.  Then fold and put away the towels I’d dumped on my bed earlier.  Crossing back into the living room, I realize that all the trash from lunch has been neatly put into a garbage bag left by the end of the kitchen counter.  There’s nothing left on the floor in my living room except the donation bags.  I sit on the sofa, a little bit in shock.  A couple of guys come in the front door carrying foam that they have obviously custom cut.  I follow them.  They neatly tuck the foam into one of the built in drawers and close it.  They measure the next one down and leave.  The first drawer is reopened, and another guy starts setting microphones into the foam.  James sees me watching and he pulls me onto his thigh.

“You look a little shell shocked” his lips right by my ear.

“They are so neat and tidy!”

“They better be for what they get paid” Mick says.  “I don’t pay them to be slobs.”

“I’m impressed.”  I see a couple of them smile. 

“We’re almost done” James leans into my ear kissing it.

“James, unless you can play with Kira on your knees, I’m sorry love, but you’ll need to move so I can test the setup.”

“Of course” I stand and move back.  One of the guys taps my shoulder.  He indicates a shorter road case.  I raise my eyebrows and he just nods.  I perch on the case.  James puts on a set of headphones and starts playing.  I can only hear the strings twanging.  The same guy plugs in another set of headsets and hands them to me.  I put them on.  I smile.  That screaming guitar riff that James plays so well sounds in my ears. 

James turns to me.   “What should I play?”  My eyes fly open wide. I can hear him.  “Mics in the headsets” he smiles and points at the headsets covering his ears.

“Roam” I ask.

He smiles and he starts the song.  I can hear the tweakings that Mick is making on the sound board.  James is getting into the rhythm.  I can tell that he wants to sing but is holding back.

“James, run the bridge again” Mick asks.

Effortlessly, James replays the bridge.

Four of the roadies come in the room.  They are carrying some kind of drapery concoction.  They hang a 1x2 along the top of the walls and make a large x on the ceiling.  They staple gun the top of the fabric to the 1x2.  As it unfolds, it’s been covered in the foam waffle sound proofing squares.  They repeat this for all four walls and the ceiling.  The one over the closet space has plastic tubing in the fabric to make an opening to get into the closet.  They’ve done the same idea with the window.  Once those are hung, James lets go with the vocals.  I just smile.

“That’s got it James.  You’re good.”  Mick stands and stretches his back. 

I take the headsets off and set them on the road case.  Another one of the guys taps my shoulder.  “Yes?”

“I probably should have asked, but I tapped into the light switch line.  That way James doesn’t have to turn each piece on or off individually.  It’s kinda like a master switch now.”

“That’s fine.”  I smile at James. “And actually a really great idea.”

“You think so?” my downpicking barbarian god grins.

“Yes, that way when we go back to Colorado, we know that this room is powered down.”

“Excellent job Trevor” James says.

Trevor’s shoulders square up a touch, “Thanks!”

“You guys get everything done?” Mick asks the room.

They all answer in the affirmative. 

I quickly leave and move into the living room.  Trevor approaches me, “Are these trash?” as he points at the donations bags.

“No.  Those are to donate.”

“Ah.”

“Do you know someone that could use some women’s clothing?”

“My sister works with a shelter…”

“Take them” I cut Trevor off.  “Please.”

“Thank you.”  Trevor and a couple of others remove all the donations bags.  Sinking into the sofa, I hear them chatting as they leave the apartment, “Damn!  James scored a winner this time!”

I smile like a Cheshire cat. 

Mick and James come out of the studio.  James makes a point to stop and flick the switch off grinning.  “Mick, thanks for giving up your Saturday.”

“Just remember this at the next acceptance speech!”  Mick squeezes James’ shoulder.  The Brit looks to me, “Nice to meet you Kira.”

“Nice to meet you too!”

James walks him to the front door.  It clicks closed.  I suddenly realize that it’s quiet in my apartment.  James comes to me, leans on the back of the sofa over me and kisses me.  “Thank you.”

I cup his face, “You’re welcome.”

His eyes pop open, “Ribs.”  He stands and quickly goes into the kitchen.  “Need to get these babies marinating!”

“Anything I can do to help?”  I ask from the sofa.

“Nope.”  He’s pulling spices from the drawer.  “Maybe order a pizza?”

“That I can do.”  I retrieve my phone from its charging stand in the office.  Calling my favorite pizza place, I order two for delivery.  With a salad.  Then I let Monty know.

“It is nice having a doorman” James smiles at me.

“Yeah it is.”

Twenty minutes later the door bell rings.  I go collect the pizzas and James tucks the ribs back into the fridge.  He grabs a couple of plates and forks.  “What do you want to drink?” as he pulls open the fridge.

“Grave Fruit please.”  I sort the pies and pull out the salad, giving that container a good shake.

He grabs a Severed Lime for himself and brings my tallboy along with the plates and forks.  We plate up and go sink into the sofa.  I turn on the TV just as the National News ends.  We watch the local news until the weather.  Skies are supposed to clear overnight, which will drop temperatures as the clouds move north.  Again, we watch Jeopardy.  James collects another slice of his meaty pizza.  I set my plate down, leaning back into the sofa, patting a full tummy.  “Gawd, you and Kirk with pineapple on the pizza” he laughs.  I just look up at him.  “What?”

“I love to see you happy.”

He swallows his bite, “You make me happy.”  He kisses me, “Today makes me very happy.”

“That makes me happy.”  Holding up a finger, “Although, I would keep the singing to between 8 and 5.  Don’t want Mrs. Friedman and Floofy making a house call.”

James snorts in laughter.  “No!  We don’t want that!”  I kickstart my eyelids.  He gently pulls me down to lie on the sofa, my head in his lap.  I wrap an arm over his knees stretching my legs out on the sofa.  He starts to gently play with my hair with his right hand, his left gently rubbing my back.  My eyes start to close.  I squirm a little to get comfy.  “Shhh.  You’ve done a lot today.”  Both his hands work my shoulders.  I groan lightly.  “That’s my girl.   Shhh.”  Both his hands run down my back to my hips.  He works his thumbs into my lower back gently.  I sigh as his hands work my back softly.  I feel his lips kiss between my shoulder blades.  The next thing I know he’s tucking my naked body into bed, pulling my back into his chest, wrapping his arm around my ribs.  His other arm is my pillow and I curl up around it.  His nose buries into my hair and the back of my neck, “Sleep.  Shh” he coos at me. 

And I’m out.

Rockies Christmas - Day 6

Warnings:  Shameless product placement plugs, NSFW, Sex

James is shaking me awake.  “C’mon.  I hate to wake you, but it’s snowing hard.  We gotta go.”

I sit up in bed.  James has opened the drapes.  It’s very dark.  And it’s snowing.  Hard.  Tossing the blanket aside, I grab some clothes and get dressed on the toilet.  James stops and looks at me.  “You said hurry and I have to go.”

Nodding at me, “While that is killing two birds with one stone.”

Within a few minutes, we’re dressed, packed, shopping bags in hand and headed down to the lobby.  James checks us out while I go get the Shelby from the valet.  The valet parks it close to the door under the portico.  James gets the soft top up while I put everything into the trunk.  I get into the passenger seat, James climbs into the driver’s seat and heads towards the freeway.  At a stoplight, there’s a McDonald’s on the other side of the intersection.  He looks at me.  “We can eat at home” I say gently.

As the light changes, James looks ahead but runs his right hand up my thigh to my crotch, “Deal.”  I squeeze my thighs around his hand for a moment, then release it so he can drive as the roads are sloppy.

There are pockets of clear weather on the drive back.  James keeps to the posted speed limit under the messy conditions.  Even in the worst parts of low visibility, I am not nervous with his driving.  I’d been more nervous on the back of the ATV.  But then I’d never been on one before.  The weather clears more as we approach Vail.  I can sense James relaxing some.  But he still keeps to the posted speed limits.  Once we get onto our road, he sighs.  I just rest my hand on his bicep.  Pulling into the garage, James turns off the engine and hands me the keys.  “Thank you.”

Smiling at him, “Did you have fun?”

Leaning over the gearshift, he kisses me.  “Yes!”

“I’m glad.” 

He pats my thigh.  “You said we’d eat at home.”  He gives me a look.  “We’re home.”  His hand travels up my leg.

I shove it between my legs, “ok.”

Like civilized adults, we get out of the car, collect the items from the trunk, James closes the garage door.  Once inside, dumping all the bags just inside the door, we are like a pair of teenagers running into our bedroom.  Clothes flying in every direction.  Arms snaking around each other.  Lips kissing whatever they connect with.  Ending up on the bed – almost – he’s pushing my legs apart to get at my cunt.  His tongue works its devilish magic on me.  Before I can completely recover, he’s flipping me over and pulling my hips up his thighs.  He’s not rough, but not exactly tender either, in seeking his release.  We collapse into a heap just as the sunrise peeps into the windows.  The clouds quickly cover it up.  Sleep quickly covers us both.

I stretch in his arms.  It’s 10 am.  Wrapping my arms around his head – which is buried between my tits – I kiss his forehead.  He stretches, squeezing me in the process.  “Morning.”  I kiss his hair.

Stretching again, “Mawhrning” he mumbles into my boobs.

Kissing his hair again, “What do you want for breakfast?”  He humps his hips into my leg.  I just giggle.  His stomach rumbles.  “I heard that.”  I can feel him smile into my breasts.  He looks up from my chest giving me his big blue puppy eyes.  “Breakfast sandwich.”  His eyes get sad, and I can feel his lips pout.  “Burritos?”  His eyes brighten and he wiggles his butt.  I laugh as he kisses my tits.  “Well, if you want burritos, I need to get out of bed.”

“Fawine” he mumbles from my boobs.  Then his lips are covering mine with tender kisses.

Climbing out of the very messy bed, I collect the clothes on my side.  He actually tidies up the covers.  Gathering the rest of the clothes tossed all over our room, I dump them into the dirties hamper.  Pulling out a pair of jeans and a sweater, I head into the bathroom.  Again, I get dressed sitting on the toilet.

“How did I not know you do that?”

“Do what?” I ask while wiping.

“Get dressed on the toilet.

“Saves time.  I realized in college that I could sleep in another five minutes by getting dressed on the toilet.”  I wash my hands.

His face scrunches up a minute.  “Ok.”  Then he looks at me, “As long as you clean up after.”

“Always.”  I kiss his chin.

Making my way into the kitchen, James follows me.  He turns on the tree lights and opens all the drapes.  Then he turns on the Christmas music.  As I’m scrambling the eggs, he checks the water in the tree.  What happens next is like a ballet in the kitchen.  I hand him the syrup as he puts the tree pitcher in the sink.  I pull out the shredded cheese as he grabs a towel.  I reach for the saltshaker, and he smacks my ass before grabbing the pitcher and heading to the tree.  He turns on the fireplace after watering the tree.  I finish the burritos as he’s putting the pitcher away.  Handing him his plate, he grabs my neck and plants a kiss on me.  I follow him with my plate into the living room.  It’s snowing lightly out the windows.

“I hope this holds off until the kids get here tomorrow” James says quietly looking out at the snow lightly falling.

“Which airport are they coming into?”

“Eagle county.”

“At least that’s a shorter drive.”

“Yeah.  I rented them a van.”

“You’re worried.”

He looks at me with a soft smile.  “I trust them.”  He looks out the window, “I don’t trust the world with them.”  I lean over and kiss his cheek.  Collecting his plate, I take them to the kitchen.  It takes a little bit to unload the dishwasher and reload it.  In returning to the living room, James is working on the outside light strings.  Between the two of us, we get them out the patio door and hung on the balcony railing.  After brushing off the snow coming in the patio door, I take more of the empty bins back to the storage area.  I had to start stacking some that probably came in from the garage.  Pulling from another bin, I find a wreath.  James finds the door hanger and puts it up on the front door.  I find some holiday soap dispensers.  Filling them from the bottle under the kitchen sink, I distribute them to the bathrooms around the house.  James is standing in the middle of the living room staring at the fireplace.

“You ok?”

“Yeah.  I just can’t remember where the wreath is that hangs there” he points to the chimney. 

I pause a moment.  “There’s a large flat red bin over your workbench.”

He spins to me, “That’s it!”  He plants a kiss on me and almost skips to the door.

Digging through the last few bins, I find some candle holders.  There’s actually quite a few.  I put a pair on the kitchen table.  I’m holding the others when James returns with a huge wreath made of poinsettias that look real.  “Will you please help with this?”

“Sure.”  I set the candle holders on the table.  “What do you need?”

“Will you please move the step ladder in front of the fireplace?”

As I position the ladder, “Should I turn it off?”

Shaking his head, “I won’t be up here that long.”  He reaches up and finds the hanger in the stone.  The wreath is gorgeous.  Climbing back down, he folds up the step ladder, he puts it by the door leading to the storage room.  His eyebrows knit together again, “Tree skirt and stockings.”

Shifting the bins left in the living room, “Some of these haven’t been opened yet.”

We both dive in.  I find the stocking holders.  James finds the tree skirt and stockings.  He’s looking a little concerned.

“What’s wrong?”

“You don’t have one” as he fondles the stockings in his hands.

“Hang on a sec.”  I go to the shopping bags left by the garage door.  I find the one I want and return to the living room, “Here.”  I hand him a stocking.  It’s covered in books, pens, pine boughs, and gold stars.

His eyes soften, “That’s perfect for you!”  He puts the hangers on the mantle and hangs the stockings.  “There.”  Turning, he collects the candle holders, “These go here.”  Following him to the dining table, he spreads them around the table.  “There.”  He wraps an arm around my shoulders, “What’s next?”

“Need to get the last of the bins downstairs and wrap up what we bought yesterday.”

“I’ll get the bins if you’ll wrap.”  He looks at me, “Please.”

I squeeze him, “Of course.”

I go to the shopping bags.  James’ hand pops around me, “I’ll do this one” he kisses my shoulder grinning.  I pat his ass as he leaves.  Taking all the shopping bags to the room that I’d made into my office, I set them on the floor.  Returning to the storage room, I dig out the long bin that holds the wrapping paper.  I also manhandle the smaller bin filled with bows at the same time.  It takes me a couple of hours to get things wrapped up.  I put tags on my gifts.  On the bottom of the gifts from James, I stick post its of its contents along with a gift tag.  It takes me a couple of trips between my office and the tree to get everything under the tree.  I set James’ gifts on the table.  The bins have all been removed from the living room, but James is nowhere to be seen.  His guitar comes screaming from his studio.  I just smile and head into the kitchen.  I spend the next couple of hours baking up some of my favorite sugar cookies.  Digging into the pantry I find storage tubs for what I’ve made.  I also dig out some serving platters, give them a wash and set them on the dining room table.  Grabbing my phone from my purse, I look up a frosting recipe.  The only thing I need is food coloring.  Pulling out the step stool from the pantry, I start digging through all the kitchen cabinets and shelves in the pantry.

“What are you doing?”  I jump slightly.  He puts his hands on my hips as I climb down the step stool, “Sorry.”

“I was looking for food coloring.”

“If there’s any here, it’s going to be really old.”  He folds up the stool and leans it up against shelves in the pantry.  “What do you want it for?”

“Decorating those” I point to all the sugar cookies sitting on the kitchen table.

“My little steam engine!  You have been busy!”

“It’s fun!”

“But I don’t have cookie cutters.”

“I bought some yesterday.  Nothing fancy.”

He wraps me into his arms, kissing me.  “My talented little steam engine!”  Another deep kiss.  “We still have to pick up the roast tomorrow.  We can grab food coloring then.”

I squeeze him, “That will work.”

“What do you want for luner?”

My eyebrows meet my hairline, “What?”

“Lunch.  Dinner.  Luner.”  A smile replaces the question, “What do you want?”

His hands rest on my hips, “Well, I’m thinking about doing pulled pork for tomorrow.  There’s the roast on Christmas.  How about brats?”

“Only if you grill onions with them.”

“That’s a federal offense to NOT grill onions with brats” he deadpans.  Then a huge smile spreads across his face.

“Is there anything I can do to help with luner?”

Easing his grip on me, “Don’t think so.”

“Then I’ll get the last of the bins downstairs.”

He pulls me back, kissing me.  “Thank you.”

I caress his cheek, “You’re welcome.”  He again releases his hold on my hips.  As I pass the table, “Oh.  These are your gifts to the kids.  There’s name tags on them and post its on the bottom of each with the contents.”

“Perfect.  I’ll finish those up.”  He pulls out a couple of onions and starts slicing.

There were only a couple of bins left that I shift to the big storage room.  By the time I get back to the kitchen, James has the brats going in a cast iron skillet.  I stand and watch him.  His eyes bright as he’s cooking.  He looks at me smiling, his eyes deepen in color.  In a short time, he’s got our luner plated and handing me one.  The cheddar brats are smothered in grilled onions and kidney beans on the side.  Again, we sat in the living room to eat.  I couldn’t finish and set my plate on the coffee table.  I lean into his shoulder.

“Hey.  C’mon sleepy head” he’s laughing gently at me.

“I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“Well, it’s been a long day.  We did leave Denver at 5:30 this morning.”

Yawning, “Wah timawh is it now?”

“Bedtime.”  He pulls me off the sofa then collects his plate.  I gather up mine.  James closes all the drapes while I finish loading the dishwasher.  He sets his on the counter before turning off the Christmas tree lights.  I put his dishes into the dishwasher, toss in the soap pod and start it.  Holding out a hand to me, James gently guides me to our bedroom.

The covers are barely draped over both of us before we are asleep.

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.

Everybody loves a parade - Monday

I came up with this idea a while ago. I hope y'all enjoy it! There will be a post everyday this week - as the story continues!! Again, I left the name of the main character in the story. I find it difficult to write without it. Sorry!

Link to the beginning:

Today's post: Fluff, Shameless Product Placement (IYKYK)

Monday

I was so thrilled to be back in my city.  The Concrete Jungle.  The City that Never Sleeps.  The Big Apple.  NYC. 

The brisk fall air slaps my cheeks as I step out of the taxi in front of my building.  Turning back, I help collect the luggage from the cab trunk: Two suitcases, a pair of backpacks, one large garment bag and a guitar case.  My boyfriend pays the driver.

“Welcome back Miss Mooreland!”  Carl, the doorman, is quick to help with the luggage onto a cart.  “And your guest is?”

Smiling, “Carl, this is James.”

“A pleasure to meet you.  Here, let me get that for you.”  Carl reaches for the guitar case.

James quickly picks up the case.  “I can get that, thank you.”  He smiles at the doorman, “But would appreciate your help with the rest tho.”

“Of course!” Carl smiles back as he holds the door open for both of us.  “It’ll be up in a minute for you Miss Mooreland.”  Seeing another resident, “Mrs. Friedman, you and Floofy had a good walk I hope.”

The elderly woman scoops up the little lap yap yorkie, “We did Carl, thank you.”  Seeing me, “And you are back from your adventures?”

“Yes, Mrs. Friedman.”  Taking James elbow, “May I introduce you to James Hetfield?”  James offers his hand.

Shaking just his fingers, “Are your people from Wisconsin?”  Mrs. Friedman squints up at James’ face as she is shorter than me.

Blushing slightly, “I honestly do not know” James admits.

Letting go of his fingers, “Well, you have their height.”  Setting the little yorkie down, “Come along Floofy.  We need to visit Mr. Jefferies” as she pushes the call button for the elevator.  When it arrives, “Shall we share this one?” she asks.

“Thank you, Mrs. Friedman.”  I grab James’ hand, and we get into the small car.  Mrs. Friedman pushes the buttons for the 9th and 12th floors.  I smile kindly at the elderly woman.

“Will you be in town for the Holidays?” Mrs Friedman asks.

Nodding, “At least for the Parade.  James has not experienced it live.”

“Ah.  That will be fun.”  The elevator stops on floor 9.  “Here we go Floofy.”

“Have a good afternoon” I say to the old woman.  When the doors are closed, leaning back into James, “Booty call.”  James snorts a laugh as the doors open on the 12th floor.  “This way” I lead James down the hallway.  Opening the door, “Ahh!  Home.”

“Woah.”

My apartment is done all in white with tile flooring.  The furniture in tan is understated but comfy.  Dropping my backpack on a chair at the dining table, shedding my heavy jacket as well, I take James into the living room.  The large windows look out over Central Park.  The foliage in the park is a glorious mix of golds and reds with a smattering of evergreens.  The doorbell rings.  I leave James staring out the window.

“Thank you, Carl.”  I take the luggage from the doorman.

“Glad that you are back safely, Miss Mooreland.”

Laughing, “Carl, when are you going to call me Kira?”

Leaning into me, “When the old biddies are all gone!” Carl chuckles as he closes the front door.

James wraps his arms around my waist.  “This is a cool place!”  His coat now is on the chair with mine.

“It’s small, but home.”  Pointing to a room right by the front door, “My office.”  Taking his hand, “Kitchen.  You’ve seen the living room.  Guest bedroom, my bedroom and” opening the last closed door, “storage or Grandmother’s room.”  It’s taken all of about 20 steps for him.  50 for me.

“You weren’t kidding about it being small” James says as he investigates my bedroom.  The king bed almost fills the entire room.

Smiling awkwardly, “I like a big bed.”  Pointing to a darkened doorway, “Bathroom.”  Wandering back to the living room, “There are two more bathrooms as well.”  Collecting my backpack, I go into my office.  Flipping on the light, I wince a little.  The desk is covered in piles of folders, magazines, newspapers and books.

“Why would put your office in the smallest room?” James asks, “Why not clear out the other bedroom overlooking the park?”

Smiling up at him and wrapping my arms around him, “I’d never get any work done with that view.”

Frowning slightly, “Huh.”  James cups my head and plants a kiss on my lips.

Detangling myself from his body, I set my phone on the charging stand.  James pats his pockets and pulls out his phone checking its charge.  “Uhm, do you have a place I can plug in?” 

Digging into a desk drawer, I find a cord and plug one end into a hub.  Holding the other end to him, “A little Apple juice?” I smirk.

“That’s funny!” he chuckles as he takes the cord and plugs it into his phone. 

Kissing his bicep and I retrace my steps into the kitchen.  Checking the fridge, “Yikes.”

“What?”

I let the fridge door swing all the way open.  There’s a mustard bottle, ketchup, soy sauce, butter, and a few cans of Severed Lime.  The rest of the shelves were empty.  “I think we need to hit up the store.”

“uhm, I’d say so” James huffs a laugh. 

Quickly collecting my wallet, shrugging back into our big coats, I lock the door after stepping into the hallway.  James rests his hand in the small of my back inside the elevator.  Carl holds the door for us as we walk out onto the sidewalk.

James asks, “Cab?”

“On the way back.  It’s just a short walk there.”  Buttoning up my jacket, “But carrying the full grocery bags back can be a pain.”  Slipping my hand into his elbow, “This way” I smile up at him.  Although the parade is just a couple days away, the streets are only slightly crowded at the moment.  James is getting a little tense.  At the stoplight, I look up at him, “You ok?”

“Yeah,” he smiles down at me, “Just not used to so many people.”

Nodding, “Colorado is a lot less populated.”  Tugging him with me when the light changes we cross the street.

Entering the store, I grab a shopping cart.  Pulling out of the main traffic flow, “James, are we doing turkey dinner in or out?”

James steps in front of the cart, leaning his tattooed hands on it.  “I don’t know” he says honestly.

Smiling gently at him, “If you do the bird, I can do the rest.”

His face lights up, “Deal!”

Unbuttoning my coat, “Right then.  Meat department first.”

An hour of shopping and cab ride later – his height made hailing one super easy - we step from the taxi back at the building.  Carl is there immediately with the cart.  As I pay the driver, Carl and James load the groceries onto the cart.  The three of us and the cart take the elevator to the 12th floor.  At my front door, “Oh.  Carl, we have a turkey being delivered on Wednesday from the store.”  I hold the door for Carl to pull the cart inside my apartment.

“Thank you, Miss Mooreland.  I will add you to the list.”  Carl helps put the sacks on the counter.  As he pulls the cart back into the hallway, “Should I put it in your fridge if you are not available for the delivery?”

“Yes, please Carl.  I don’t know our plans just yet.”

Nodding, “I will see it’s taken care of.  Have a good evening!”  Carl makes certain that the front door clicks shut.

After putting all the groceries away, I set about making dinner.  James seems to be fascinated by the view out the living room window.  The sun is setting and dancing off the windows in the high rises.  The leaves in the park are dancing in the winds as they pick up.  After making sure that our dinner is simmering just right, setting a timer, I join him, slipping an arm around his waist.

He drapes his arm around my shoulders.  “I get it now.”

“Get what?”

“Why your office is in the back room.”

We stand there for a time just watching.  The trees.  The setting sun.  I point out a skein of geese flying over the Park.  Shifting me to stand in front of him, he wraps both arms around me.  I lean back into his chest.  A siren screams down the street.  I heave a sigh.

“Life in the big city, huh?”

“yeah” I sigh out.

The timer dings.

“That smells good.”  But his arms still remain wrapped around me.

I squeeze his arms, “It’s going to burn if I don’t take it out of the oven.”

Kissing my shoulder, “Don’t want that!” he rumbles into my ear.  Easing his hold on me, I move back into the kitchen.  He follows me.  “Is there something I can do to help?”

Opening a cabinet, “Yes, please.  Can you grab two of those big white bowls?”

“What?” he grins.  “You can’t reach those?”  He easily lifts the bowls down.  He holds them tightly as I try to collect them.

“Thank you” I purr at him.  He lifts my chin and tenderly kisses me.  I breathe deeply.  His cologne, the faint cigar smoke, him, fills my nose.  “Dinner is going to burn” I purr.  He huffs a laugh gently, letting go of the bowls.

I check on the rice and open the oven door.  The steam from the paella wafts out.  Pulling the dish out, I set it on the stove to cool.

“Where will I find silverware?” James asks sincerely.

“Oh.  Thanks!  That drawer.  And there are glasses in that cabinet.”  Tasting the paella, I add just a couple grinds of pepper.  “Napkins are in that drawer.”

I watch him go about setting the table.  This, the megarocksuperstargod that I about dumped three months ago, doing a mundane task.  A freak September snowstorm gave us a second chance.  He has been working on changing.  So have I.  It’s not been an easy road.  We have had some heated discussions.  We have had some intensely deep discussions.  But - so far - we have agreed that this is the best relationship either of us have had and it’s worth the effort to make it work.  His offering to set the table is just one more step in the right direction for us.  It was his idea for us to spend Thanksgiving in NY.  That he’d be willing to give up the sanctity of his Colorado home for the big city during one if its biggest events spoke volumes to me. 

As I dish out the rice and paella into the bowls, James collects drinks for both of us from the fridge.  “Squashed or Severed?” he asked.

“Either will work with the paella.”

Smiling at me, “Blended it will be!”  Filling two large glasses with ice, he pours half of one can into each glass, adding half of the second can to each.  Taking a spoon from the drawer, he gives them a gentle stir.  He carries them to the table, me following with the bowls.

Taking a bite of the paella, “This is so good!” James smiles at me.

“Thanks.”  I smile gently.

“What’s that look for?” his concern genuine.

“My Grandmother taught me to make it.”

Taking another big bite, “She taught you well” James smiles at me.  “Tell me about her.”

Sighing, “She raised me from the time I was three.”  James looks at me and puts his spoon down.  “My parents died” I shrugged off the memories.  Looking around the apartment, “She bought this apartment when it was new before I was born.”  Taking a sip of the concoction James had made, “That’s good!” I smile at him.  Hie eyes light up.  “When I was 23, she added me to the paperwork.”  Smiling awkwardly at him, “When she died, it reverted to me.”  I set the glass down.  “I didn’t mean to be a Debbie downer.”

James rests his hand on mine, “I’m sorry about your parents.  But it seems that you have a lot of happy memories here with your Grandmother.”

“I do.”  I took another sip.  “I am grateful for everything she gave me.  This apartment.  My love for reading that got me my job.”  I smile at James.  “Her cookbook!” I giggle.

Picking his spoon back up, “Me too!” he chuckles at me.

We finish dinner talking about my childhood memories in this apartment.  Going to the Parade.  The Rockettes.  The windows.  The baking.  Summers playing in the park.  The fall trips to Vermont to go leaf peeping.

As we clean up, James really looks around.  “This kitchen is newer.”

Nodding, “I upgraded about six years ago.”  Shuddering, “It needed it.”

“That bad?”

Patting his chest as I leave the kitchen, “Think avocado green and shag carpet.”

James shudders.  “Shag carpet?”

“Yup.  The whole place.”

“Blech!”  He sinks into the sofa, pulling me with him.  “It looks good now.”

“Thanks.”

He presses a kiss to my neck.  Leaning back, “So what’s the schedule tomorrow?”

Twisting slightly and leaning into his chest, “I have three articles that need to get finished.  Two won’t take long.  But the third one, she gets technical and I have a lot to look up.”

“You have to look up?”

“Yeah.  I made the mistake once to not double check and there was holy hell to pay.  Not making that mistake again."

James wraps a hand around my head and kisses my hair.  “While you are working, then I want to get to the management company office.  They will probably insist on taking me out to lunch.”  He looks at my face, “That ok with you?”

Again, my heart is warmed that he’s really trying.  A few months ago, he would have just taken off and not said a damn word to me.  “Yes.”  I kiss his chin, “Just bring me the leftovers, please.  I will probably forget to eat lunch.”

Patting my stomach, “You got it!” his eyes sparkle as he grins.  Looking out the window, “Dang, it gets dark here early.”

“Yeah.  And sadly, we don’t get the stars.”

“Too many lights.”

“Yup.”  Leaning forward I grab the TV remote and power up the system.  We watch a little bit of the local news.  After the weather report – potential snow flurries for the Parade – I change the channel to a nature show.  I can feel him looking at me.  “The rest of the news will be shootings, stabbings, holdups.”  Looking up at him, “Sunday will be game day.”  His eyes light up.  “Yes, I get all the games.  I have the morning game, you have the afternoon game.”  He looks like a kid that just got handed the keys to the candy store.

“I’ll stop on the way back tomorrow and get some ribs from that store.”

“I’ll text you the address” I smile up at him.  “And my address so you have it.”

Gently kissing me, “And text me anything else you want to go with the ribs.” 

He wraps his fingers around the back of my neck and messages it.  “mmmm.  That feels good” I murmur.

Leaning into my ear, “It’s been a long day.  Let’s get a shower” his voice a velvet rumble.

I stand, power off the TV and take his hand, pulling him from the sofa leading the way to my bathroom.  It is a bit smaller than his in Colorado.  But the white marble and glass stall fit us both comfortably.  We take turns washing each other’s hair and scrubbing each other’s backs.  I wrap my hair up in a second towel, using a bath sheet around my body.  James, wraps in a towel, goes to his luggage and pulls out his toiletries bag.  I am brushing my teeth when he comes back, claiming the second sink and starts brushing his teeth.  Finishing drying my hair, I hang up both my towels and pad naked to my bed.

Flipping off the bathroom light, a very naked James joins me between the sheets.  He wraps me in his arms, pulling me to his chest.  Kissing my forehead, “I can’t believe I almost let this slip between my fingers.”

I snuggled in closer, “Well, you got lucky” I purr.

Kissing me tenderly, “Yes.”  Another kiss.  “I got very lucky.”  He tucks my head under his chin, his left hand playing with my hair.  His right hand holding me securely to his chest.

I fall asleep listening to his heartbeat.

Getting Business Done

On man!  I can see how this can become addictive!!!    I hope y’all like this one!!!

Warnings: Smut, Unprotected sex, slight degrading and confrontation, NSFW

You are very happy in your job.  You’d been there for several years.  Your boss, James, is a good looking – hell – handsome man.  Standing 6’1” with silvered short cut hair, horseshoe mustache, heavily tattooed, he could be an imposing figure.  Until he smiled.  It was always bright and his bluer than blue eyes would sparkle.  Both of you had been through some tough times.  His divorce.  Your long term relationship ending.  Having to move the company office due to water damage.

Then came the contract that on the surface looked to be a dream deal.  You, James and his business partner Chad, have spent numerous late nights in the conference room going over every word in the contract.  Finally, the day the customer was to come into the office to sign the deal arrived.  James had promised everyone that should this deal get signed, he was taking everyone out to dinner.  Studying your closet, you select the lacey purple dress.  Since it was July, the short skirt would be acceptable.  Somewhere in the back of your mind, you hope that James likes it too.  Quickly collecting your work things you hurry to get to the office.  You end up parking your car next to the huge black tuck that belongs to James.  You collect your things, get out of the car, lock it and get to your desk just inside the front door.  Your computer is just finishing powering up when you hear James walk up behind you.

“Hey, do you think this paragraph is really correct?” he sets down the stack of papers on your desk, pointing to the words in question, his other large hand resting gently between your exposed shoulder blades.  You really have to concentrate on the words and not the feeling of his hand on your back.  Pulling up the document on your computer you get to the paragraph in question.  You do a quick read through and make some edits.

“Does this work better?”

James flips the papers over grabs a pen and scribbles some changes.  You quickly make them.  He leans over you again to read the paragraph.  His cologne is just enough to be alluring. Looking sideways at him, his lips curl up into a radiant smile.

“That’s it!”

Hitting the print icon, “It’s on the printer!” 

He pats your back and leaves your desk area “I’ll go get it!”

You watch James go down the hallway.  You can’t help yourself.  He’s wearing the black jeans that just fit his ass perfectly.  The cowboy boots are perfect.  A white button down shirt with the rolled up sleeves exposing his tattooed forearms.  Your heart flutters.

The front door flies open and in walks the customer.

“Mr. Mancini, welcome to ….”

Mr Mancini almost throws his phone at you.  “You need to fix my travel!”  You take a step back as his face is filled with rage.  “I hate that airline!  And where is my coffee!  I told you to have my coffee waiting!”

You start out calmly, “Mr Mancini, I didn’t do your travel, but I will see what I can do …”

“You will fix it!  And get my coffee now!”  He’s yelling at you full volume.  In all your years of working, no one has yelled in a rage at you.  “I said now!”  Mr Mancini manages to land a backhanded swipe across your left check. 

It sends you stumbling into the short file cabinet behind your desk where you collapse to the ground.  Your head reeling.  From down the hallway you hear Chad yelling and a roar that can only come from James.  Chad is pushing the customer back.  James leaps the countertop of your desk to plant one foot on either side of you, hugging you with his lower legs.

“Chad if you want this contract, it’s yours.  But I want nothing to do with that man.”  The tone in James’ voice is one you’ve never heard him use before.  Low.  Growl.  Dangerous.  Leaning down, James tenderly puts his hands on your shoulders making you jump slightly.  “Hey”  His voice now a gentle rumble next to your ear.  “Can you stand up for me?”  You are shaking to your core and can’t move.  Gently lifting you, James collects you into his arms and bulldozes his way out the front door, leaving the shouting voices behind.

Taking you to his truck, he balances you on his knee while he opens the passenger door.  He hoists you into the passenger seat and secures the seatbelt.  Making sure that you are completely inside, he closes your door.  Moments later he’s in the driver’s seat and the truck roars to life. 

You are totally numb.  He tenderly grasps your left wrist, “Hey” his voice a gentle rumble, “stay with me.”

Your eyes lock onto his tattooed hand.  The warmth of his fingers are slowly warming your cold arm.  “What did I do wrong?” comes out in a squeak.

His fingers gently squeeze, “Nothing.  You did absolutely nothing wrong.”

The tears start to fall.  You can’t stop them.  You’re afraid to move.  Moving would let the dam break.

His voice a comfort, “I’m taking you to my place.  You don’t need to be alone right now.”  The truck makes a right turn, “Don’t worry.  I got you.”  It seems like moments later the truck pulls into his driveway.  He jumps out and pops open your door.  Undoing your seat belt, James scoops you out of the big vehicle, kicks that door closed and carries you inside.  He kicks off his boots just inside the garage door.

You barely notice where you are.  You are only acutely aware of being in James’ arms.  The warmth he radiates.  The rumble of his voice.  The hints of clean cotton shirt, his cologne and cigar from his neck as you rest your head on his shoulder. 

He sinks into the sofa, which puts you squarely in his lap.  He gingerly brushes a stray bit of hair from your face.  “You are safe now.”  That simple declaration opens the flood gates.  Your sobs are uncontrollable.  James just wraps you up in his arms securely.  “Let it out.”  He tenderly tucks you closer to him, “It’s ok” he coos into your hair.  He gently strokes your hair.  Your sobs slowly ease to hiccupping, then to sniffles.  The shoulder of his shirt now soaking wet.

James, holding you even tighter to his chest, leans over to the sofa table, collects the tissue box, sits back and hands you several.  Turning your head away, you blow your nose.  He gently wipes away the tear streaks down your cheeks with his thumbs.  His fingers gently lift your chin, “Let me see.”  His blue eyes filled with concern.  You let him turn your head.  His fingers gently touch your cheek.  Your face still being tender from being slapped, you flinch slightly.  He cups your head in both his hands and pulls you closer, “No bruise.”  His lips press tenderly to your forehead.

You pull back, blinking slowly, looking into his big blue eyes seeing the concern shift to – well – something more.  The denied tension inside you bubbles up flushing all other feelings away.  You take a shuddering shallow breath as he leans in closer, his eyes locked on yours.  You meet his lips.

A silent explosion happens between the two of you.  You both feed from the other.  His hand cups your head and his other arm wraps around you holding you close to his chest.  Your arms wrap around his shoulders and neck.  You are both panting when the kiss slowly breaks.

Almost in a whisper, “HR isn’t going to like this.”

A smirk spreads across his face, “I can fix that.”  He kisses you again, “You’re fired.”  A longer kiss.

“Ok.”  You relax into his arms.

He shifts you off his lap forcing your legs to pop up.  “Where are my shoes?”

His eyebrows scrunch up, “Maybe in the truck.”  He gently shifts your legs so he can stand.  Holding out his hands to you, you stand.  James gently pulls you toward him.  His fingers softly caress your arms, up over your shoulders, down your back – slowly unzipping your dress at the same time.  A shiver runs through your body.  You rest your hands on his waist.  At the end of the zipper, James fingers start working up your back, slowly pulling your dress open.  He pauses for just a moment when he expertly unhooks your bra.  His fingers pull both clothing articles off your shoulders.  They puddle around your bare feet.  Leaving you standing in front of this imposing man naked – save for the lacey purple thong.  Locking your eyes to his, you hook your thumbs into the waistband.

James’ hands quickly covers your, “I’ll get to that” his lips silence yours “In a moment.”

Your hands ghost up James arms.  His large hands rest on your naked waist.  Your fingers trace their way to the buttons on James’ shirt.  You undo the top button.  James’ fingers are making lazy circles on your hips.  The second button is undone.  You pull the fabric open and kiss the bit of his chest newly exposed.  He inhales sharply.  Another button undone.  Another kiss to his chest.  Another hitched breath.  Reaching behind him, you untuck his shirt from his jeans.  James grabs his shirt and yanks it open, the remaining buttons pop off in all directions.  You run your hands up his body to his shoulders pushing the ruined fabric from his body where it joins your dress on the ground.

You take a half step back, but James’ arms pull you back into his body.  His lips crash into yours.  Your arms wrap around his now bare back.  Your palms plant on his skin pulling him closer to you.  You can feel his erection pressing against his jeans.  His chest hairs gently rub against your very erect nipples.  Your loins flutter in response as a whimper escapes you.

Not breaking the kiss, James lifts you and carries you from the living room to his bedroom.  Kneeling up onto the bed, he lays you out under him.  His lips not breaking from yours.

Finally pulling away from your mouth, James kneels up.  His eyes drinking in your body.  His hands exploring your curves.  “You are beautiful” he breathes.

Reaching up, you undo his belt buckle and pull the leather from his pants and toss it aside.  The belt buckle clatters on the tile flooring.  James reaches to undo his jeans, but you gently push his hands away.  Smiling down at you, James lets you have your way.

Running your hands down his hips to his thighs, you feel his body respond to your hands.  James sighs deeply. Slowly your hands move to the front of James’ thighs just above his knees and slowly up.  Your fingers find his erection held in check by the fabric of his jeans.  Firm.  Strong. Throbbing.  You palm slowly up his cock.  James sucks in a sharp breath.

Pushing your arms to the side, he leans over you.  Planting his hands on either side of your body, kissing you.  He slowly lowers his body over yours.  You whimper.  “Just wait” he smiles at you.  “You can have that soon enough.”  His kisses slowly move down your neck to your chest.  “You first” he whispers into your ear.  You whimper as your pinned hips try to buck up into his.  He moves slowly down your body.  Kissing.  Nibbling.  Sucking.  Licking.  Making you moan and whimper as he leaves his love marks on your flesh.

He positions himself on his stomach between your legs.  His eyes lock on yours, his grin deliciously evil.  You wiggle your hips silently begging.  Resting on his elbows, his hands cup your butt and lift your hips to his mouth.  His gaze shifts from your eyes to look hungarily at your sopping wet thong.  He inhales deeply about half an inch from you making you whimper in anticipation. 

Flipping your legs over his shoulders frees his hands.  He pulls his knife from his back pocket.  Your eyes open wider at the blade when he snaps it open.

“I have wondered if the carpet matches the drapes” he chuckles.  The sharp blade slices the waistband easily of your thong.  James closes the blade and tosses the blade in the general direction his belt went.  Your hands fly to cover your crotch as James literally sucks the fabric from your body.  He groans in ectasy as he savors your essence from the fabric.  He spits the destroyed garment to the side.  Opening his eyes, he sees your hands covering your privates.  He looks curiously up at you.  Seeing the twinkle in your eyes, he smiles and kisses your knuckles, “Please?"”

Grinning and wiggling a little, “What do you think?” biting your lower lip at him.

Gently licking your knuckles, “They match” he chuckles.

Smiling, you move your hands, “Ta dah!”

His eyes open wide, “Ahhh!  Bare floors!”  Kissing your pubic bone, “Why?”  His fingers squeeze your ass cheeks.

Letting your fingers caress his face, “Personal preference.  I just don’t like hair … there.”

James sends his tongue in a long slow lick from your taint to your clit making your hips thrust up into his face, pulling a long groan from you.  Licking his lips, his blues eyes catch yours, “Yeah.  Hair would just get in the way.”  He lowers his mouth back down and his tongue starts exploring your sex.  His licks, swirls, suckings and tender nibbles render you unable to form a coherent word.

As the tension in you builds, he lowers your hips to the bed, wrapping his arms under your legs up over your thighs so that his hands grasp your hips, locking you in place.  The sudden inability to move intensifies the sensations that James is doing to your nether regions.  A few expert licks from James’ tongue sends you over the edge.  Your body tries to buck against the restraint James’ hands have your body. Your vision blurs and the moan becomes a scream of release.  His tongue keeps working your clit, overstimulating you to the point where you can longer move.  Panting.  Barely able to move.  Vision blurred.  You are only aware of his mouth on your cunt.

James slowly pulls away from your overstimulated clit.  He presses feather soft kisses on your inner thighs.  Slowly he releases his hold on your hips.  You are weak from release.  James slowly works his way up your body leaving a blazing trail of kisses, licks, nibbles and hickies on your flesh.  It feels like he is reviving your body with the intensity of his lips.

Your eyes flutter open to find his bright blue eyes directly in front of you.  Your arms don’t want to respond, so you crunch up and lock your lips to his.  James kisses you back with a passion that reaches deep into you – to your very soul.  His eyes fill with everything his kiss gives to you.  Passion.  Desire.  Wants.  Needs.  Lust.  You two feed off that kiss.

Recovering, you realize that he has shed his jeans.  His naked body is pressed against yours.  His erection is twitching at your dripping opening.  Your fingers find his face, tracing his eyebrows, down his nose, his mustache.  His lips kiss your fingertips, gently sucking on the pads of your fingers.  Reaching between your bodies he teases your clit with dripping end of his cock leaving you moaning and wiggling under his torturous teasings.  The only words you can barely utter “James, please.”

James grins at you and slowly pushes the head into your soaked pussy.  The size slowly filling you makes you suck in a deep breath, your eyes flaring wide.

“Shh, shh” James coos at you as he pauses.  “Breath” he whispers.

It takes you a few moments to adjust to the feeling of him stretching deep inside you.  Once the discomfort dissipates, you rock your hips up and hook a leg around his waist, your heel digging into his ass forcing him still deeper into you.  This action makes you both inhale deeply. 

James plants both his hands above your shoulders.  His knees nudge up tight against your hips, forcing him still deeper into you.  He lowers his face down to the crook of your neck, his panting breath warm on your flesh.  You can tell he’s holding back.  Waiting on you.  Wrapping your arms around him, you turn your face to his ear right by your lips.  Kissing his ear, you whisper, “yes.”

James’ groan reverberates through your body as he slowly starts moving his hips.  His shaft gets impossibly thicker, stretching and filling you as never before.  At first, James’ movements are slow.  You can feel every vein in his cock, the shape of the head as he slowly moves in and out of your tight hole.  His voice growls in your ear “You are so tight.”  He grunts as his cock drives slowly into you “So wet.”

Your fingers dig into his back, clutching his neck.  You tighten your leg around his waist “All for you” as he dives deeper.  He growls louder and sinks his teeth into your shoulder.

Arching your back, you cry out in both ectasy and pain.  You use all your strength to hold his head close to your neck.  Jame’s teeth tighten on your shoulder.  He keeps a steady rhythm pounding his hips against yours.  The pressure building in you.  The room is filled with the sounds of wet flesh slapping wet flesh as he pounds away in you.  The obscene sound of his cock sliding in and out of your pussy.  Both of you are reduced to primal grunts and groans.  You rake your nails down his back.  Letting go of your shoulder, he lifts his head roaring, his hips slamming even harder into you.  You reach down and claw his ass.  He cries out again.  His thrusts slamming you into his arms above your shoulders, holding you for his pounding pleasure.

The orgasms crash into you both at the same time.  The gummy walls of your cunt squeeze his cock intensely as his cum fills you.  James manages a few jagged thrusts before calming and slowly lowering his weight on to your body.  His softening cock slides from within you.  You can feel the warm mix of your climaxes seeping out.

His hands caress you.  Starting with your hair.  Slowly touching your face.  His fingers gently closing your eyelids.  “Just feel” he whispers into your ear.  His fingers glide gently over your neck, over your shoulder.  As they move over your bicep, sleep grabs hold and pulls you under.

A gentle rumble in your ribs pulls you back to wakefulness.  Your left arm is over your head, your right hand is draped over James left arm – which is wrapped around your ribs.  He is sound asleep, his face burrowed into your left side.  The top of his head pressed into your armpit – keeping you from lowering that arm.  His left leg is up over your hips.  Your legs dangle over his right thigh.

You have not felt this way – safe – in ages.  You softly trace the intricate tattoos on James’ left forearm.  He snorfels into your ribs which tickles and makes you giggle.  He tightens his hold on your ribs and blows mouth farts on your side.  You squeal in laughter.  He blows another.  “Stop!  I gotta pee!” you cry out in laughter.

Rising up on his elbow, a smile spreads across his face to his eyes.  James leans over you planting a kiss on you.  He releases his hold on you, “Bathroom is that way” he points.

Slipping off the bed you make your way to the door indicated.  Finding the toilet in it’s own little room, you sigh in relief.  Washing your hands after, you quickly return to the bedroom. 

James passes you “My turn” landing a backhand smack to your bare ass.

You stretch out on the bed.  James returns and spoons up behind you, pulling you into his body.  Kissing your neck, “Oh shit.  I bruised you.”  You can feel his fingers tracing out the spot on your neck.

“That will cover up ok.”  You roll to your back within his arms.  “At least you didn’t draw blood.”

Shaking his head, “Not my thing.”

Smiling, you pull his face closer and kiss him.

“Shouldn’t you be at work?” James grins at you.

Doing an exaggerated pout, “I got fired.”

James, trying to be serious, “I know a guy.  I could put in a good word for you.”

A wicked smile grows on your face.  “That’s sweet.  But …”  Leading with your hips, you manage to roll him to his back letting the momentum carry you up on top of him.  “There’s a new position I thought I’d try for.”  You grind your dampening crotch into his quickly growing erection.

“Oh!  That’s interesting.”

Reaching between your bodies, you place his cockhead at your entrance, “I hear the interview is very penetrating” as you slowly sink down his length, stretching your depths.

James groans and pulls down on your hips, driving deeper into you.  “Well, that’s a great opening” he manages.  Using your Kegels, you grip his cock, squeezing and releasing.  He groans again.

James thrusts his hips up, overbalancing you.  Catching yourself on his shoulders – your left hand sliding off and landing by his neck.  James cups the back of your head and kisses you as you keep your actions working his cock.  Breaking the kiss, “That’s great multi-tasking abilities” he hisses.

Planting both your hands on his chest, you sit back up driving him deeper into your wetness.

Feeling his response, you speed up the rhythm.  His eyes roll back as you can feel his cock twitch inside you.  James reaches for your clit, but you grab his hands, “uh huh.  This is all for you.”  A few more strategic grinds and Kegels and he is undone.  With grunts and groans he fills your insides, your gummy walls milking every drop out of him.

James’ hands caress up your sides gently urging you down to his side.  He kisses your forehead, “You’re hired” he smirks.  You kiss his face and neck.  He lazily wraps his arms around you and heaves a sigh.  There you two linger. 

Then with a speed and agility you didn’t know he had, you are caught off guard as you find yourself on your stomach, he is behind you, his knees have knocked yours wide and you are impaled by his cock slamming back into your still dripping cunt.  His large hands pulling you tight against his body.

You can feel his chest hairs grazing your back as he leans over you, “Now.”  He slams into you again, “Let’s talk benefits.”

Only one word barely escapes your lips “ok!”

Hey Santa! I've been a very good girl! Please see above for my wish list!!

Faithfully

Warnings: Tissues might be needed. I needed a reason to have a good cry. Also discovered it's hard to type when you can't see the keyboard.....

I remember the first time I saw her.  Well, I heard her first.  Me and Lars had gone out to dinner.  As we walked back to our cars, we passed a small dive bar.  The voice that came floating out the door intoxicated me.  I stopped dead in my tracks.  Lars, still yabbering away, plowed into me.  Almost in a trance, I walked into the bar.  She was standing on the small basement stage with four other musicians.  I found a table in the back and sat, barely aware that Lars had followed me.  No one noticed we’d entered the place.  She finished singing Dreams by Fleetwood Mac.  The crowd applauded.

“Y’all liked that one?” she giggled.  The crowd yelled their appreciation.  “What do you want to hear next?”

“The Boxer!”   “Nothing Else!”  “Sound of Silence!”  “Faithfully!”

“Hey! Hey! Hey!  You know I don’t do Metallica!” she laughed, pointing to the guy who’d called out my own song, before turning to get a drink “Well, not in San Fran anyway!"  There was laughter in the crowd.  “Let’s end the night on a high note” she laughed with the band.  They launched into Faithfully by Journey.  Again, I was entranced.  That last note I thought she’d never let it end.  It floated in the air effortlessly.  The crowd happily cheered them.  Her.  I turned to Lars “Damn!  She’s good!”

“Are you thinking with your head or your brains?” the little Dane snarked with a laugh at me.

Laughing slightly, “Probably both!”

Me and Lars left the place as the house lights came on.  Over the next couple of weeks, I saw her perform as many times as I could.  I would always sneak in after they had started performing.  Not once was I recognized.  Well, the barkeep recognized me, but kept his mouth shut and even helped get me in and out without too much hoopla.  A couple of times, I sat on the backbar to watch.  Her.  The barkeep was the one who told me that she was single.  And her name.  Y/N.  That name struck a chord in my heart.  Y/N was a natural on the stage.  Every night, she would turn down the request to sing any Metallica song. 

One night as I tried to sneak out the back, I plowed into Y/N.  Literally.  I parked her on her ass.

“oohff” escaped her as she landed on the floor.

“Oh man!  I’m super sorry!”  I pulled her to her feet “You ok?”

Rubbing her butt, “Yeah.”  Then she grinned “It’s all good.  You ok?  I kinda mowed into you a little hard there.”

“Yeah, I’m good.”  I could see that she was blushing.  I think I was too.  “You sounded good tonight.”

Y/N looked down at her hands for a second, then back up at me “Just tonight?” she said softly.

“You noticed?”

A huge smirk plastered on her face “You are kinda recognizable.”  She crinkled her nose a little “And kinda tall.”

“Yeah, that has been a problem over the years.”  She giggled.  “Can I take you out to dinner?” I asked feeling like a teenager.

Shrugging her shoulders slightly, “Sure.  Not sure what’s open at 2am, but sure!”

We ended up at a Taco Bell.

The first time I kissed Y/N it was like we were both zapped by static electricity.  What was supposed to be just a kiss quickly became something much more.  Ok.  We ended up in bed.

We started dating.  Seriously dating.  I had her at my side as much as possible.  The age difference – she’s 8 years younger than me – doesn’t bother me.  Y/N claims that it doesn’t bother her either.  The height difference – I’m 6 foot 1, she’s 5 foot 2 – quickly became a constant joke between us.  Well, everyone.  She’s even shorter than Lars!

A month later, I asked Y/N to move in with me.  “You know what’s going to be said about that, don’t you?” she grimaced slightly.

“What?” as I wrapped my arms around her.

“That I’m mooching off you” she put her hands on my chest.

“You’re a better singer than I am” I caressed her hair.

“That’s debatable” she sighed out.

Turns out, we both suffer from serious performance anxiety.  We both manage to cover it up pretty good once we get on stage.  Getting us there can be another story.

One night, while cuddling in bed – after we’d fucked each other silly – I finally asked, “Why won’t you sing Metallica songs?”

“I don’t have the voice for it” Y/N stated simply.  “I don’t have the power.  I’d love to be able to sing the heavy songs, but my voice just lacks … something.”

“I think you’d do a great version of Nothing” I smiled at her.

“Maybe” she grinned.

I took her camping that weekend.  We ended up spending most of the weekend in the tent as it poured down rain.  If memory serves me right, neither of us could walk straight as we packed up the truck, giggling the whole time.

Y/N walked slowly out of the bathroom one morning about two months after the hiking trip.  Her face pale.  Her hands shaking.  The pregnancy test stick wobbling in her hands.  “James” her voice shook.  I just pulled her into my lap.  “We were so careful” she whispered.

Seeing the pink plus sign on the tester, “I know” I kissed her forehead.  “One must have broken.”  I rocked Y/N in my arms a moment.

“James?”

“Yeah?”

“Stop rocking me.”

“What?”

“I’m nauseous enough.  Please stop rocking me.”

“Oh god” I stopped rocking.  But snugged her tighter to me “Sorry.”

“I’m so old” she whimpered.

I kissed her forehead.  “I know this won’t be easy.”  I kissed her forehead again.  “We need to get you the best baby doctor.”

Wrapping her arms around my neck, “They are called OBGYN.”

I held her tighter, “I got you.”

Within days, I’d found her the best one in the city.  Ok.  Avi found the OBGYN.  The doctor called it a Late In Life pregnancy.  And it would not be easy.  And that we should consider all the options.  ALL the options.  Y/N quickly batted down the hardest idea immediately.  “No.  If we aren’t supposed to become parents, then the Fates would not have let this happen.  I’m not going to throw it away.”

“Ok.  I got you.”

“I know that you already have kids.”  The worry plain on Y/N’s face.

“I do.  But, I’m willing to move forward with this.”  I put my hand on her belly, “If you are.”  Y/N just nodded and snuggled up closer to me.  I held her tightly.

During one of the baby doctor visits, a sonogram was performed.  We were both excited to see our baby.  Then Y/N’s face paled “Doc?”

“Yes Y/N?” she smiled.

“What’s that?” Y/N pointed to a small bulge on the side of the image.

Moving the wand, “Well look at that!” the doctor smiled.  “Twins!”

I just looked at Y/N.  With a look of total panic etched on her face “Twins?” she whispered.

“We’ll manage” I whispered into her hair.

She nuzzled into my neck “mmk.”  Then sighing “I will need to stop performing.”

I looked into her eyes “Why?”

Smiling “That’s one less stress in my life.”

I huffed out a laugh “That’s true!”

Then we heard the heart beats.  Two little washing machines swishing away.  The doctor gave us prints of the sonogram.  I stuck one on my mic stand in my vocal booth at HQ.  Y/N put one on the fridge at home.

The following weekend, Y/N put on her final performance.  Rubbing her growing belly the whole time!  Me, Lars, Kirk and Rob showed up.  Y/N even pointed us out.  When she announced that this would be her last performance, the crowd was shocked into silence.  Until she announced why.  The applause grew in the crowd.

“Ok.  So.  What should be my last song for y’all?” she smiled at the crowd, hand on her belly.

I had already schemed with the other three.  We yelled out “Nothing Else Matters!” louder than everybody else.

Y/N, leaning on the mic stand and holding her belly, laughed loudly.  “Well, only if you four dorks” pointing at us “get up here and join these four jerks!” she hiked her thumb over her shoulder at her bandmates.  Her band was behind her almost begging us to take the stage.  As we walked to the tiny little stage, the audience went nuts.  As part of my scheming, Avi had made certain that me, Kirk and Rob had guitars at the bar.  Lars was stuck with the drum set already there.  I stood behind Y/N as she sang my song.  Perfectly.  When done, Y/N took her bow.  We encouraged the crowd to keep applauding her.  Turning around, she saw what that eight of us behind her were doing and she smacked my bicep.  Hard.  But laughing.  Flipping my guitar to my back, I grabbed Y/N and planted a deep kiss on her.  Right there.  On that tiny little basement stage.  I heard the crowd go quiet.  Then they burst out cheering.  From behind the drumset, Lars yelled “Get a room!”

Kirk chimed in “They already did!”

The place busts out in laughter.  I eased us out of the kiss, smiling at her.  She wrinkled her nose at me, then rested her head on my chest. 

The four of us pushed Y/N and her band to front of the stage to take their well deserved bows.  When the house lights came on, I handed off my guitar to Chad and took Y/N’s hand leading her off the stage.  I again kissed her, my hand resting on her belly.  Her hand covered mine as her other arm wrapped around my waist.  I almost carried her out to my truck.

Y/N made me call my grown kids to tell them the news.  “They don’t need to find out from the gossip rags.”

Over the following months, Y/N began having some serious medical issues.  The doctor put her in the hospital.  With two months to go.  It almost drove her nuts with the restrictions they had on her.  They actually counted the number of steps she could take in 24 hours.  I stayed with her, trying to keep her spirits up.  I’d sit in her room and play guitar.  I wrote several songs there.

As baby delivery time got closer, Y/N was – at times – exceedingly uncomfortable.  I would sit on her bed rubbing her belly.  Or her back.  Or her cramping feet.

One night Y/N woke me up, smacking me hard.  “James!”  I bolted upright.  “James!” she was panting hard.  The stupid call button had fallen off the bed.  I hit the button as I held Y/N.  She clutched my wrist, eyes wide in both pain and fear.  “It’s too soon” she almost begged me.

The door crashed open with all the night nurses entering the room.  Within minutes, Y/N was being pushed to delivery with me running behind the bed.  I held her hand as the contractions quickly became strong.  The doctor was soon there too.  Concerned over all three heartbeats, natural delivery quickly became a Cesarean.  A barrier was lifted over Y/N’s midsection.  The nurses let me get up by Y/N’s head.  I wrapped my hands around her head and the back of her neck, my lips right beside her ear.  She rested her forehead on my cheek.  Her fingers clutched at my wrists.

Our first child – a son – was laid on her chest.  Screaming.  Y/N started giggling hard “He’s a Hetfield!”  Our second child – a daughter – was also laid on Y/N’s chest.  We both rested our hands on the naked little beings.  Our kids.  Y/N started crying softly.  I joined her, kissing her temple.  Once the stitches on Y/N’s belly had been done, the doctor checked out the kids.  Both were a little underweight, but acceptable for twins.  Then we are told that our son was born on the 6th.  Our daughter on the 7th.  Even though they were born only 4 minutes apart.  Y/N giggled softly leaning her head into my arm, “At least they get their own birthdays!”  I joined in the giggling.

The kids were taken to the nursery for a full check out as they wheeled Y/N back to her room.  The lead night nurse leaves a couple of clipboards on the bedtable, “You’ll need to get these filled out soon.  Please.”

“Can those wait till morning?  Y/N really needs some sleep” as I watch Y/N fight to keep her eyes open.

“Sure” the nurse smiled before leaving the room.

I stretch out on my side next to Y/N.  She leans into me.  I gently rub her eyebrows “Sleep.”  I feel her body sag into sleep a few moments later.  I lay there gently rubbing her eyebrows, letting my fingers glide over her forehead, down her cheeks, over her lips softly.  She snorfels softly in her sleep, nuzzling deeper into my chest.  My hand naturally went to rest on her belly.  I almost smacked her as the large baby bump was gone.  I leaned my head on hers.

The blinding sun shining in the window woke me.  I stretch slightly as I am still cradling Y/N.  The mother of my twins.  Heaving a sigh, I kiss her forehead.  I detangle myself to go use the bathroom.  When I exit, I pick up the clipboards.  One for our son.  One for our daughter.  Their names blank.  Our names had been printed out as the parents.  I look at the woman sleeping in the hospital bed in front of me.  My heart is not sure if it wants to break or is so full it’s breaking.  I have three grown kids.  It hits me that I am going to be in my early 80’s when these two graduate high school.  Heaving a sigh, I reclaim my spot next to Y/N.  She snorfels awake.

“hey” she whispers.

“Hey” I kiss her forehead “Mom.”

She starts to snicker, then reaches for her stomach.  “Stitches.”  Looking up at me, she kisses my chin “Morning Dad.”  She snickers again, “But then you are used to being called that.”

I nod, “I am.  But it’s always special to hear it.”

There’s a soft knock on the room door.  “Come” I call out.

It takes two nurses to wheel in the basinets with our kids.  They are being a little fussy.  I push the button to raise the head of Y/N’s bed.  One of the nurses hands Y/N our son.  “They might be a little hungry.”

Y/N blushes some “I think the diner is open” as she looks at the wet spots forming on the front of her hospital gown. 

Smiling “Can I show you?” I ask her.  Y/N gently smiles at me blushing even more.  I gently pull open the front of the hospital gown.  Cupping our sons’ head, I guide his little mouth to her wet nipple.  He latches on almost immediately.  I take Y/N’s hand and guide it to the back of our son’s head, holding it so he can happily feed.

“You’ve had kids?” the first nurse looks at me.

“Three” I smile back at her.

“Then, I will leave you to it” the first nurse grins as the two leave the room. 

I collect our fussing daughter and pace with her until our son is done.  “Here” I smile as we trade kids.  I pace the room more, gently patting our son on the back.  The small bundle lets out a massive belch.

“Like father like son!” Y/N snarks softly at me.  I chuckle softly.

Again, we trade off kids.  I pace the room burping our daughter.  She lets out a smaller belch.  We both snicker.  I put our daughter into the bassinette.  As I go to lay our son into the other, they start fussing again.  I look at Y/N and she just nods smiling.  Shifting our daughter a little, I put our son down next to his sister.  It seems that both kids sigh before drifting off to sleep.  I push the empty bassinette into a corner of the room and push the loaded one close to the bed.  I collect the clipboards and retake my spot next to Y/N.

“So.  What are we going to name our kids?”

Heaving a sigh “I was thinking ….” her voice trails off.

“Yes?” I kiss her forehead.

“For our son, Forest.  For our daughter Ivy.”

Nodding, “I like those.”  I kiss her forehead again.  “How about middle names?”

“I don’t know.”  She looks at me “Tents?”  We both bust out laughing as Y/N holds her stitches.

Our son is named Forest Cliffton.  His middle name a combination of Y/N’s dad’s name – Milton.  And Cliff.

Our daughter is named Ivy Elizabeth.

Y/N and the kids have to spend at least a week in the hospital.  But the whole crew – including wives, girlfriends and partners – from HQ drop by to meet the newest editions to the immediate family.  Both Lars and Kirk show up to help shift Y/N and the kids home.  Rob, Chloe and Jess have evidently already been to the house as it’s been cleaned up.  Groceries are in the fridge.  Sheets have been changed.  Garbage taken out.  There are several premade dishes in the fridge for us. 

Just getting Y/N into the house and tucked into the sofa has exhausted her.  The kids are happily asleep in their car seats.  I let them sleep there.  We all sit around the living room talking about our kids.  Kirk’s youngest is just a couple of years old.  All four of us have kids in their teens or older.  I get calls from my older kids wanting to know how their younger siblings are.  I send them photos of Forest and Ivy in their car seats.

It seems like it’s just been days since the twins came home.  But they are beginning to teeth.  I hear Y/N whimper and watch her wince while feeding Forest.

“Stop biting Mama, you little milk vampire!” she chuckles gently at our son.

“That bad?” I grin at her as I hand off Ivy and collect Forest.

“You have been gentler to my boobs than your son!” she grins as she positions Ivy.  “Ouch!”  Y/N shifts Ivy a little “A second little milk vampire!”  I reach down, wipe off Y/N’s other boob and lick off the seepage from my hand.  “Cleaning up after your son, hmm?” she snarks softly at me.  I just nod at her smiling face just before she winces again.  “That’s it.  You two are getting weaned!”  Wiggling my eyebrows at her, I chuckle.  “And if you use what I’ve pumped in the fridge for your coffee again, you’re going to be in trouble!” 

I just chuckle as I walk with Forest into the living room, burping him.  He finally rips a loud one.  Into my ear.  “Yeah, I probably deserved that one!”  Hoisting my son a little higher in my arms, I set about making my coffee.  As I open the fridge, I consider the small bottles on the second shelf. 

“Don’t you dare!” Y/N snarks behind me.  “Literally taking the food from your children for your coffee!”  She’s carrying Ivy and adjusting her bra.  Ivy coos at her mother.  “I know you prefer it warm directly from the tap.  But you are cut off.”  She nuzzles the small face.  I grab them and smooch them both, making them both giggle along with Forest. 

“Well, if they are cut off ….” I reach for one of the small bottles.

Y/N smacks my hand “They are cut off from the tap.  Not the milk!” she laughs.

Several months later, we have returned to the studio.  It’s time to consider the AWMH Concert again.  I pull Y/N into my arms “C’mere.”  We snuggle for a minute.  “I had a thought on the way home.”

She strokes my hair “And what thought is that?” she smiles serenely at me.

“Would you consider singing a couple of songs at the AWHM show?”

She leans into my chest “Let me think on that.”

Three months later, Y/N and I finish the AWMH Concert with Nothing.  She did an amazing job.

Seven years later….

I’m in the studio with the others.  We are putting the final touches on a song for the new release.  Y/N had taken the kids shoe shopping.  It’s been an off day for me.  I can’t seem to get anything right.  I’m frustrated.  Even Lars is seeing that I’m having a hard time and leaves me alone. 

Avi walks into the studio, his face pale.  There’s a CHiP officer walking behind him.  “Avi?” my voice shakes.

“James.  There’s” he gulps, “been … an accident…”

“Where is Y/N and the twins?” I almost bark at him.  I’m barely aware that Chad is there pulling my guitar and in-ear monitors off me.  “Where?”

“Your children are bumped and bruised.  They are in San Fran General” the officer speaks up, taking a couple of steps closer to me.

“Y/N?”

The officer’s eyes are kind.  “She didn’t … make it.” 

I’m aware that there’s someone screaming as I sink to my knees.  Lars has almost knocked over his whole drum kit to get to me. That someone screaming is me.  Kirk and Rob are pulling me to my feet.  Lars slides me into the back seat of the officer’s car and sits next to me.  The officer takes us with lights flashing to the hospital.  Lars leads me through the hallways to a room.  The twins are there, sitting on the bed side-by-side.  When they see me, they collide with me.  I pull them in, squeezing them to me.  We sit there sobbing.

It takes me some time to calm.  The twins have cried themselves to sleep.  The officer has hung around.  “Please tell me what happened” I plead.

“It was a wrong way entry to the freeway in a stolen delivery van.  That van hit a sedan and both vehicles hit your truck head on.”  He’s wringing his hands.  “She didn’t suffer” he almost whispers.

I again break down sobbing.

Lars and Jess help me to plan Y/N’s funeral.  Ok.  Lars and Jess planned it.  I couldn’t.  The twins clung to me over those days.  I let them.

Over the next decade, the twins and I managed to muddle through.  We talk about Y/N all the time.  Her massive silver tabby cat – Mithril - would occasionally sit at the top of the stairs, staring at the ledge in the bend of the stairs.  There’s nothing there.  Y/N had always wanted to put a fake plant there.  But we never got one picked out.  I shiver every time I see her cat staring at the empty shelf.

“Ok you two!  School bus is leaving!” I yell up the stairs to the twins.

“Coming!”   “On it Dad!”

They come storming down the stairs, tugging on jackets, carrying backpacks, dodging the cat.

Seeing my backpack on the table, “Where are you going, Dad?” Ivy asks, her fingers grazing the straps of the pack.

“I thought I’d go glassing for bucks up on the ridge after dropping you two off” I grin at my youngest child.

Ivy’s dark eyes – her mother’s eyes – look at me “Please take your avalanche beacon” she whispers.

I frown slightly at my youngest daughter “Ok.  I’ll take it.”

She kisses my chin, “Thanks Dad.”

“Hey Dad, I’m going with Rudy after school to shoot some hoops.  Is that ok?”

“Sure Forest.  What time do you think you’ll be home?”

“Probably 4:30 or 5.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“I’m supposed to go help Stacy with her English paper after school” Ivy speaks up.

“mmk.  Same question, Ivy.”

“4:30 or 5ish.”

“Deal.  Let’s roll out kiddos!” as I grab my wallet, backpack, phone and key fob.  As we walk through the garage, I grab my avalanche beacon and attach it to my backpack.  Ivy smiles at me.

After dropping them off, I head up into the hills to a trailhead that I’ve heard has been busy with elk this year.  I wander through the wilderness, spotting several big bucks.  I note where they are roaming.  Checking the time, I turn and start my way back.  As I’m navigating a trail by a ravine, I trip……

I snorfel awake.  Y/N is laying in the bed next to me, smiling gently at me.

“There they are!  Those stunning blue eyes” she purrs at me.

“Y/N?  How are you here with me?”  I rub my forehead, the remnant of a headache fading.

Her fingers are gently playing with my hair “James.  I am not … there ..with you.”  She heaves a sigh.  “You are ….here ..with me.”  I look into her eyes completely confused.  “What’s the last thing you remember?” she smiles softly at me, her hand planted on my chest.

“I’d been out on the ridge glassing…” the images dancing in my head.  “I was walking …. back to the truck.  I tripped….”  She just nods gently with a wonky smile.  “I’m …?”

She nods.  “You didn’t trip.  The lip of the ravine collapsed.  Your head hit a boulder about 15 feet down.”

“That explains the headache” I snark.

“It was instant and I’m glad for that” she winces some.

“Tell me please” I ask her softly.

“When your body hit the bottom of the ravine, the impact snapped your neck and broke your spine in three places.”  She caresses my hair “If you had survived the fall … James, you would never have walked again.  Nor been able to play guitar again.”  She sighed heavily “Ever.” Her fingers gently caress my mustache. "Without the avalanche beacon, they would never have found your body."

It hits me what she’s just said.  “You were there.”

Nodding, “James, I haven’t left your side since you collected the twins after I died” she looks down for a second, then back to my eyes.  “I was lying next to you every time you cried yourself to sleep.  I would sing to you every night.  I was there in front of you begging you to put the beer or vodka back on the shelf at the store.”

The tears are streaming down my cheeks.  My fingers cup her head.  “There were times when I could have sworn you there.  Holding me.”  Smiling, she kisses the corner of my mouth.  “Because you were…”  She just nods slowly.  I pull her into me, hugging her tightly, kissing the top of her head.  Finally easing my hold on her, “Did it … hurt?”

“For a moment” she whispers

“You knew.”

Nodding into my chest, “I did.  There was a concrete wall to my right and three lanes of freeway traffic to my left.  Trying to turn the truck, we would have been broadsided by cars on both sides.  And all three of us would have died.”  She’s wrapped her arms around me.

“So you sacrificed yourself …”

“To save our children.  Yes.”

I again pull her tight to me.  “How are the twins now?”

Putting a hand in the middle of my chest, Y/N pushes up, kissing me, then smiling, “Come with me.”  She holds out her hand.  Looking at me, Y/N crinkles her nose some “This might make you dizzy.”

Pulling me from the bed we’ve been lying in, the moment my feet hit the floor, the room blurs-spins-shakes before coming back into focus.  We are sitting on the stairway ledge.  Mithril is sitting at the top of the stairs.  Staring.  “Hi Mithril” Y/N greets the massive cat.  It meows back at her. 

“He can see you?”  Y/N just nods.  The cat meows again softly.  Taking in the view, the twins are sitting at the dining room table doing homework.  Y/N’s other large cat - Caladan - is sitting in Ivy’s lap.  Staring at us.

Just then, Castor comes almost running to the stairs “Mom!” he steps over Mithril.

“What Castor?” Fran’s voice floats from the kitchen.

“First, the cat is staring again.  Second, have you seen my sweatshirt?”

“Leave the poor cat alone and your sweatshirt is on the back of a chair in here” Fran walks out into the dining room carrying a couple of mugs.  “Here you two go” setting the mugs down in front of the twins.

Forest takes his and sips some, whipped cream sticking to his upper lip.

Ivy’s fingers wrap around her mug.  “Fran?”

“Yes, Ivy?”

“Why are you staying with us?  Onkel Lars is our godfather” Ivy’s voice soft, verging on tears.

Fran sits at the table, “Yes, Lars is your godfather.  But he doesn’t want to live in Colorado.  You two have made it clear that you don’t want to live in Denmark.”  Castor sits at the table.  “You are James’ children.  I know how he’d want you two to be raised.”  She shrugs some.  “I wasn’t going to let just anyone raise you two.”

“You still love Dad” Ivy looks at my ex-wife.  Fran just nods slowly.

“But why are the others here too?” Forest asks bluntly.

Smiling at him, “Your older siblings want to be part of your lives too” as Marcella and Cali join the table with their own mugs.  Fran smiles at the two young women.

Marcella leans on the table, “Tell us about your Mom.”

I pull Y/N into my lap on the ledge as the six people gathered around the table start talking.  Telling stories.  About Y/N.  About me. 

As the day fades, I see silver beams glowing out the window running across the landscape.  Y/N sees my confusion.  “Those are lifelines.  They will all live long lives.”

“But whose that short one that fades?”

“Mithril’s or Caladan's. Not sure.” Y/N smiles at me.  “The kids all have long lines.  Even Fran’s is a long one” Y/N snuggles up close to me.

The people that have had to become family finally turn in for the night.  Y/N helps me navigate off the ledge.  Hand in hand, we check in on our twins.  In our daughter’s room, Y/N gently brushes a stray hair from Ivy’s forehead.  She sighs and snuggles into her pillow.  In Forest’s room, Y/N tugs the blanket a little closer to his chin.  He snorfels in his sleep.  In my older children’s rooms, I check on them.  As we walk down the hallway, I stop in what had been my bedroom.  Fran is again sleeping in my bed.  With both cats.  “Thank you Fran” I whisper.  Fran sighs and rolls to my side of the bed grabbing my pillow.  Y/N and I walk into the hallway.  Turning to Y/N, I hold out my hand to her.

Smiling gently at me, “Are you ready?” she whispers.

Nodding, I pull her to me.  Kissing her.  Her arms wrap around me.  Leaning my forehead against hers, “Yes.”

She pulls my head to her, kissing me.

“I love you James” she whispers to me.

“I love you Y/N” I whisper back as we kiss again.

The hallway fades away.  Our feet leave solid surface.  Stars begin to fill in around us.  Our arms wrap tighter around each other.  I look into her eyes seeing the stars reflected there.  Her smile glorious.  It starts with a rumble.  One that I recognize.  Grass slowly fills in below our feet.  A stadium materializes.  Candlestick Park.  A song echoes in my ears.  From behind me I hear him …

“James!  About time!”  Cliff is running towards me.  Red hair flying, his bass slung over his shoulder.  “C’mon!  I have some new riffs to show you!”

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