Weird Observation

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.

I will happily take whatever this man offers......

Life gets in the way ...

..... Of having fun.

I am going to have to step away from the writing for a bit. Life has thrown some massive curve balls at me and nailed me. I am ok. But I am finding it hard to concentrate on the writings. They have been fun and I hope y'all liked them! I will post photos from time to time.

Until the potholes in my life's road get filled, I wish all of you nothing but good!

~H4H

Everybody Loves a Parade - Part 4

Warnings: Mostly Fluff.

Thursday

Reaching to his side of the bed, it’s empty.  I blink awake.  It’s barely sunrise.  I can smell onions cooking.  Kicking my way out of the covers, I pull on my robe.  Our clothes from the Gala are draped over the chair in my room.  Padding out to the kitchen, there stands James.  He’s engrossed watching the onions brown in the pan.  I lean on the counter and watch him.  Those tattoo laced hands that had me screaming in pleasure last night, that make amazing music, are now expertly chopping up celery.  He scoops the celery into the pan.  “I didn’t wake you, did I?”

“The smell woke me.”

“Sorry.”

“I love the smell of onions being browned.  That’s a comfort smell for me.”

Stirring the pan, “Me too” he grins.  He moves the pan off the heat, “Do you have spices?”  Pointing to a drawer, “Ah.”  His eyes light up.  Kid in the candy store.  “I figured that I could get the bird in the oven before we leave on a slightly lower temp and it should be ok until we get back.”

“Anything I can do to help?”

He smiles at me, “Coffee?”

Moving into the kitchen, I set about making a pot.  I end up shoving the stuffing into the bird since I have the smaller hands.  Being small does pay off every now and again.  Putting the bird into the oven, we clean up the kitchen.  Fixing our coffee mugs we move to the sofa.  I power up the TV.  All the local channels are showing the parade prep.  The weather forecast is snow flurries and light winds.  I curl up into his side.  James wraps an arm around my shoulders and gently strokes my hair.  When the news cycle repeats, I turn off the TV.  Stretching some, “We should get ready.”

Standing up, he pulls me to my feet, “I want to check on dinner.”  He takes our coffee cups to the sink.  I go to the front door.  There’s a stack of papers there.  I pick them up and close the door.

Dropping the stack on the dining table, I open the top one to page six.  There in glorious color photos is a full spread of the Gala last night.  Of us.  James wraps his arms around me from behind.  He points to one of the photos of me, “Nice ass.” 

I laugh and spin in his arms grabbing his ass, “Yours is pretty good too!”  He snorts a laugh.

“We need to get ready” he says holding me tight.  I hug him back.  He walks me backward into the bedroom as I giggle in his arms.  When we get to the bed, we tumble into it as his misguessed the distance.  We both laugh loudly.

Sitting up, I look at his reclining form.  “What?”

“You amaze me” I almost whisper.

Rising up on his elbows, “How.”

“Watching you this morning.  Your hands.  The tattoos.  Your music.  Cooking.”  I bit my lower lip, “What they do to me.”

He smiled at me.  “I love watching you.  I love watching you while I make love to you.”  He pulled me closer.  “I am so glad that we are sharing this weekend.”  He kisses me deeply.  “Together.”  His blue eyes filled with compassion.  And something more.  I wasn’t sure what I saw there.  He pats my hip, “We need to get dressed.”  He gets up off the bed and pulls me with him. 

I pull out a pair of wool pants, a tank top, a silk liner shirt, a sweater, scarf, gloves and a hat.  Finding a thong, I start getting dressed.  James pulls on a pair of heavy jeans, a tank top, a thin hunting shirt liner, a sweater, scarf, gloves and hat.  We both pull on our fur lined boots.  Grabbing the extra warm things, we make our way to the dining room table.  “Oh wait!” James says.  He goes back into the bedroom and quickly returns, “Here.”  He hands me a couple of hand warmers.  “Hope they are still good.  They were buried in the bottom of the hunting backpack.” 

Smiling, I tuck mine into my pocket.  “Thank you.”

James texts Rudy, and then checks on the turkey in the oven again.  “You sure you’re comfortable leaving your oven – your gas oven - on while we’re gone?”

“Very.”  Taking the newspaper stack to my office, I collect my phone and tuck it into my coat pocket.  “I did it last year.  And the year before that, and the year before that.”  Collecting my scarf, “Besides, too late now.”

“ok.”  He smiles at me.  His phone buzzes.  “That’s us.”  He pats his pockets.  “Let’s go!”  He holds out his hand to me and we walk out into the hallway.  James locks the front door.  A quick elevator ride and we are in the lobby.

“Happy Thanksgiving Carl!”

“And to you two!” Carl says happily as he opens the front door.

We climb into Rudy’s taxi.  “Where to?” he grins.

“As close to Hearld Square as possible, please” I ask.

Putting the car in drive, “It’s early, but I can probably only get four blocks away.”

“That’s fine” James says.

“How was the Gala last night?”

James smiles.  “It was wonderful” I say.  “They always put on a glorious show.”

“It is pretty spectacular!”  Rudy chuckles at his own pun.

James joins in the chuckle, “Good one!”

I kiss his cheek, “My king of dad jokes” I giggle.  James pulls me in closer a huge cheesy grin plastered on his face.

Pulling over, “This is as close as I can get you to the Square today.”  There are roadblocks on almost every street.

“No worries.  Thanks!” James says happily.

Leaning over the back of his seat, “Give me a call when you’re ready to head back.  I’ll collect you at this corner.”  James pays the fare, then climbs out.

“Thank you, Rudy.  And Happy Thanksgiving!”  I say as I climb out after James.

“Enjoy the parade!” Rudy says.  He waits a moment as someone is ready to jump in almost before I’m completely out of the car.

“That happen often?” James gives the other rider a dirty look.

“Almost every time.”  I do up my coat and tug on my cap.  James follows suit and we head toward the Square. 

There’s a check in point for Grandmother’s seats.  A young assistant looks up from her tablet and looks at me.  She looks at James.  Her complexion fades a little.  “I hate to ask, but I am supposed to check IDs.”

“Of course.”  I turn to James.  He looks at me.  “Mine is in your wallet.”

“Oh yeah.”  He pulls it out, shows the young woman my ID then slips it back into his wallet then back into his pocket.  He pulls his coat down over his pockets.

“Thank you.”  She picks up a walk-talkie.  “Someone will be here shortly to show you to your seats.”  She fidgets with her gloves.

“Thank you, and Happy Thanksgiving” I say.

She blushes, “And to you too!” 

Hands grab my shoulders, “There you are!”

Turning, “Mrs. Corbett!  Happy Thanksgiving!”

“Thank you!  And to you!”  She pulls me from the check in point.  I grab James’ hand.  “This way!”

She leads us past all the TV cameras and across the street to the stands setup in front of the stores’ grand entrance.  We weren’t quite as far to the end of the bench as I would have liked, but, we weren’t front and center either. 

“So, what did you think of the show last night?” Mrs. Corbett asks James.

“I can see why it’s called Spectacular!” he smiles broadly.  I stifle a snort.  “I really enjoyed it!”

“I am so glad!”  Her radio buzzes.  “I must away!  I will come collect you after to visit the Big Guy.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Corbett!”

“Again, with the Big Guy.”  James cocks his eyes at me.  I just grin at him.

The bench begins to fill up.  As families arrive on our bench, I shift us to our left to allow them to sit in the middle.  James looks at me, questions in his eyes.  I point to all the cameras across the street.  “Technically, this is the worst seat in the house as all the performances will be staged to face the cameras.”  James nods.  “Moving us to the side means minimal camera time for us.”  I reach up and tug his stocking cap down a little more on his head.  He slouches a little giving me a side long glance with a gleam in his eyes.  I snorfel a giggle. 

He snakes an arm around my waist and lifts my chin with his other hand and kisses me.  “Hey you.”

“Hey you.”

“Happy Thanksgiving.”

I reach up and tenderly kiss him.  “Happy Thanksgiving.”

He just holds me close to him, tucking my head under his chin.

The Broadway theatre presentations start.  I lean into him, “Here we go!”

He’s trying to watch everything at once, “This is kinda exciting!”  After the first performance, James pulls out his phone and discreetly snaps a selfie of us.  After some texting, he pockets his phone.  I look at him.  “The kids.”  I smile and nod.  “And Lars.”  I start giggling.  “Rob.  Kirk.”

“What?  Not your manager?”

His eyes light up, “Oh yeah!”  He pulls his phone out again and another text is sent.  He shows me the response from Kirk.  A middle finger.  “Oops.  He’s in Hawaii.”  I grimace.  He checks once more.  His kids each sent him selfies back.  I watch him as he reads their messages.  He tucks his phone into his inside jacket pocket and takes my hand.

I squeeze it.  “I made a promise to you.”  He kisses the back of my gloved hand.  I lean into his ear, “I will never get between you and your kids.”  His eyes glow as he kisses my hand again.

The sirens of the NYC motorcycle cops echo in the concrete canyon.  “This is the start!”  I spend the next few hours watching him watch the parade.  He tries to watch everything at the same time.  Somewhere in the middle I open the hand warmers slipping one into each glove.  The flurries start just as the end approaches, I get a little excited.  My favorite float.  Santa.  I get giggly and little teary eyed. 

James pulled me into a full on hug.  “You ok?”

Wiping away the tears, “This was our favorite.”

“You and your Grandmother?”  I could only nod.  He just holds me.

As the people began to leave the stands, I tug James hand to keep our seats.  A short time later, Mrs. Corbett shows up.  “Well?  What did you think?” she asked James.

“Wow.”  His face full of joy, “This is an experience.  I am so glad that we came.”  His arm still around my waist.

“Well, someone is waiting to meet you two!”  She smiles at me conspiratorially.  “Let’s go!”  She leads us from the stands to a side door, down a hallway and into what looks like a conference room.  “Wait here just a moment.”  She leaves us there. 

I sit on the table and pull off my cap and gloves tucking them into my coat pockets.  “Did you really enjoy it?”

He grabs my face, “Yes!”  He kisses me.

“I’m glad.”

James pulls off his gloves and loosens his coat and scarf.  Standing between my knees, he pulls me into his chest.  I wrap my arms around him.  No words are needed.  Just being together is enough.

I hear the door open and there’s a soft tap.  James turns and Mrs. Corbett is standing there.  “Are you ready?”

“Yes” I respond sliding off the table and taking James’ hand.  We leave the conference room and are led into a winter wonderland.  There are Christmas trees everywhere covered in all kinds of ornaments – each with a price tag.  We walk slowly through them, me leading James.  His blue eyes seem to sparkle with wonder.  There is no one else in the space.  We move past the last trees and there, on a huge chair that’s almost throne like, sits Santa. 

I keep walking forward.  James looks at me, “The Big Guy, huh?”

“uh huh!” I almost skip the last bit.

“There you are!  I haven’t seen you in a very long time Kira!”

“Hi Santa!”

“And you must be James.”

Almost blushing, James nods.  He gives me a look.  I crinkle my nose at him.

“I understand that this is your first time seeing the Parade in person, James.  Tell me.  What did you think?”  Santa leans forward, hands on his knees.

“Honestly, it was amazing.”  James grins.  “The balloons don’t look that big on the TV.”

“Yes, they would look smaller on TV” Santa chuckles.  “Even on a big screen” he chuckles again.  “I know what this one wants for Christmas” Santa nods towards me, “But what would you like?”

James cocks a look at me, “What do you want?”

I raise my eyebrows at Santa.  “It’s the same request every year.  Snow.  From about 9pm Christmas Eve to about 10am on Christmas Day” Santa chuckles out.  Looking at me, “You know that all I can do is forward your request on to Mother Nature.”

“I do Santa.  And I appreciate that.”

Giving a big belly laugh, “Well, you are a very good girl!”

James kisses my temple, “Yes she is.”

“So, what can I bring you, James.”

He thinks a moment nodding.  “Happiness.  For my kids.”

“I will see what I can do for your three children.” 

I watch as James’ eyebrows almost meet his hairline.  Santa just belly laughs. 

“Thank you, Santa.”

“You are most welcome Kira” Santa says happily.

I look up at James, “You want a photo with the Big Guy?”

James laughs, “Sure!”

Santa laughs again.  Mrs. Corbett appears and takes our phones.  James sits beside Santa and I perch on their knees.  Several snaps are taken on each phone.  I almost trip getting up, but James grabs me.

“Good catch there James!” Santa laughs softly.

“Yes, she is.”  James smiles broadly at Santa.  “Merry Christmas, Big Guy.”

Santa lets out a deep genuine belly laugh, “Ho ho ho!  Big Guy!  Ho ho ho!!!”

Heading back into the trees, I stop to look at the ornaments.  A crystal snowflake catches my eye.  I feel James take my left hand into his.  I collect the ornament.  He kisses my hand.  I look at him.  Then my hand.  There on my ring finger is an eternity band with the sparkliest diamonds I have ever seen.  James slips his hand around my neck and kisses me deeply.  I am in total shock.

“This is not an engagement ring.”  James’ eyes are serious.  “I told you that I’d never marry again.  But,” he looks at my hand, “this is a promise ring.”  I’m confused.  “A promise that I will spend every day earning your forgiveness.”  He kisses me again.  My heart soaring higher.  My insides fluttering hard.  My brain saying ‘Ok, we good’.  He rests his forehead on mine, “Don’t say it.  I can see it in your eyes.  Let me have this.” 

“Ok” squeaks out of me.  “This is just a start then….” 

Smiling, “That’s what I want to hear,” and he kisses me again.  Deeply.  Someone clears their throat.  We both snicker.  Pulling me into his side, we find our way out of the trees.  He pays for my snowflake.  It gets wrapped up and we head to the exit.  The flurries have become an outright snow fall.  He texts Rudy as we make our way to the pick-up corner, both of us pulling on our gloves and doing up our coats.  We did have to stand a few minutes waiting for Rudy.  He was most apologetic.  We assure him that as long as he was safe, that was all that mattered.  Getting to the building, James pays Rudy and probably tips him well.  Morty opens the door for us and we quickly escape the wind and cold.  Getting to the apartment front door, James opens it and we get hit with the smell of roasting turkey.

“Oh man!  That smells wonderful!”  I groan.

James dumps his outer layers on the table and checks the oven.  He uses the meat thermometer.  He smiles broadly.  “Almost done!”

I pull off my outer layers and set about making the rest of dinner.  The yams get popped into the microwave.  The rolls get set in front of the oven vent.  The green beans are set on the stove.  I pull out the pie and set it on the counter.

We both clear off the dining room table of our outer layers.  I show James the rack for drying gloves and scarves in the hallway.  The coats get hung in the hall closet, I make sure that the heater vent is wide open before closing the door.  We set the table together.  My new ring still catches me off guard. 

James checks the bird again, “It’s done!”  He sets it on the butcher block.

“How long does it need to rest?”

“About 20 minutes.”

“Perfect!”  I pull the yams from the microwave and shift them to the oven.  Reaching into the cabinet, I pull out the mini-marshmallows.  James opens the bag and grabs some.  He tosses a couple at me, but I miss catching both.  So he pops several directly into my mouth.

I had to dig for Grandmother’s carving set.  “I haven’t used it in years.”

James takes it, “Wow.  This is an excellent set.”  He sits down with it and sharpens the blade with the whetstone in the box.  I watch him.  He was very intent on making sure that it was done correctly.  I pull out a platter and he sets about carving up the turkey.  I put the marshmallows on the yams.  I put the rest of dinner on the table, the yams last.  James sets the main course in the middle.  I turned the oven off and put the pie in to warm with the door open.  I finally sit down at the table.

He turns to me, holding his hands out to me.  I put my hands in his.  He wraps his fingers around my hands, his right fingers toying with the ring on my left hand.  “It’s tradition to say what you are thankful for before digging in.”  I just nod.  “I am thankful that you wrote that note and that it snowed that night.”  He kisses both my hands.

“I am thankful that you didn’t just slam the door on me.  That you are truly trying to earn my forgiveness.”  I kiss his hands.  Then I wipe away the tear that falls from his eye.

He leans into me and kisses me.  My stomach rumbles.  I snort into our kiss.  He just out right laughs.  “Light or dark?” he asks merrily.

“Both.”

It wasn’t a huge bird, but it wasn’t tiny either.  We managed to do it justice.  Along with the other dishes on the table.  There are leftovers that still got put away.  The dishwasher gets loaded.  We plop onto the sofa.

“Pie?”

James belches, “Not yet.”

I turn on the TV.  We settle on watching the classic black and white Miracle movie.  We both chuckle at the old balloons after seeing the new ones earlier in the day.  Once it was over, James stands and goes into the kitchen, “Pie?”

“Yes please.”

He brings back two plates with pie slices on them totally covered in whipped cream.

“Did the patisserie chef have the night off?”  I deadpan and blink quickly at him.

James actually snorts.  Hard.  I take the plates from him – setting them on the coffee table - as he was laughing so hard.  When he calms, “I knew I wanted a dessert that night, and that’s all I had!”

“It was perfect under the circumstances!”

He bowls into me laying me out flat on the sofa.  His eyes shining.  “This has been the best Thanksgiving I have ever had.”  Our lips meet.  “Ever.”

My hands caress his face, “Me too.”

He grabs my left hand and kisses both my ring and my finger.  Then my mouth.  He shifts his leg over me and I push back.  “What?”

“I gotta pee!”

We detangle ourselves and I run to the closest bathroom.  After washing up, I return to the sofa.  It’s empty.  The flush of another toilet tells me where he is.  I collect a plate from the coffee table and dig into it as James returns to the sofa.  “It’s nice to have several bathrooms so close together” he says, picking up his plate and joining me on the sofa.  I change the channel to the local news.  The parade – was of course – the lead story.  The follow up:  US at the Gala and parade.  We just look at each other.  It wasn’t a long blip, but enough to totally unnerve me.  I was the unknown woman at his side.  He kinda giggles. 

“What?” I squeak.

“I wonder what they would think if they knew that everything was under your name!”

I had to giggle too.

The news carries on into the weather.  Full on snow fall overnight with clearing late Saturday afternoon for the balance of the week.  We both look out the front windows.  It is snowing pretty good.  But small little flakes.  James leans into my ear, “Looks like you got your wish.”

I turn my head to him, “It’s not Christmas Eve.”

I turn off the TV.  We eat our pie watching the snow fall.  I put our plates on the coffeetable.  James stretches out and puts his head in my lap.  I play with his silvered locks.  I look down as he snores softly.  I drag a blanket over his damned long legs and watch the snow.  The day replays for me.  His cooking in the morning.  His hands.  The parade.  Santa.  Dinner.  My ring.  I take the time to really look at it.  The diamonds are set in the middle of a wide silver band.  Between every pair of diamonds is a gold cross or x.  I tug it off.  Inscribed on the inside of the band: Tiffany’s.  I almost drop it on his face.  Slipping it back on my finger, I look at him.  He’d not begged off dinner to come home to me.  He’d begged off dinner to go shopping.  At Tiffany’s.  For me.  I was in shock.  The private flight from Denver.  Dinner from the Tavern.  A ring from Tiffany’s.  He’s spent a fortune on me.  James grunts some and shifts in his sleep, his face turning into my stomach.  I tenderly caress his cheek.  It’s a little scruffy as he didn’t shave this morning.  I smooth his eyebrows.  He sighs in his sleep, his body relaxing a little more.  I sit there in my tiny NY apartment with the megarocksuperstargod snoring in my lap.  My upper arms still bearing the bruises from our escapades yesterday morning.  The ring from Tiffany’s wrapped around my finger.  The memories of Colorado.  The laughter that has built up after.  “Yes, James” I whisper.  “You are doing a great job working on my forgiveness.”  Again, I smooth his eyebrows with my fingertips.  “And I will continue to work on not taking you for granted.”  I don’t remember my eyes closing.

“Hey sleepy head, c’mon.”  James’s voice a sweet rumble in my ear.  I sniff awake.  It’s late.  It’s still snowing.  James is standing in front of me.  “C’mon, lets get comfy in bed.”

I make it off the sofa.  James’ arm guides me to the bedroom.  I tug off my shirt just inside the door.  James pulls his off.  I sit on the bed and pull off my pants.  James is stretching right in front of me.  I undo his pants and they fall off his hips.  James reaches behind me to flip the covers down, “In we go.”  He guides me back into his body.  I tuck my feet under the covers.  He pulls the covers up over us.  I curl up around his arm which doubles as my pillow.  He wraps his other arm around my ribs.  His nose buries into the back of my neck. 

Moments later, we are both snoring softly.

if only those shorts were ... well ... shorter........

That tongue.......

Reflections

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

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

Reflections

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good gawd James! Let go already!!

OR let me help you.....

Everybody Loves a Parade - Part 7

Sunday – Part 7

Sorry it's late posting. It is Gameday!!

Warnings: Ending NSFW , Shameless Product Placement, Football!

I roll to my back.  Everything aches.  I groan a little.  His hand gently lands on my stomach.  “hey beautiful.”

“uunngh”

“Yeah, you overdid.”  He rolls to his side, his fingers gently smooth my hair out of my face, cupping the side of my head.  He kisses my forehead.  Grabbing my left hip he forces me to my stomach.  He kneels up over my thighs and basically palms my back with his big hands, his thumbs digging into my lower back.  “Damn your tense.

“Ow” whimpers out.

His hands work out the knots in my lower back.  Then they work their way up my back.  He shifts up my body and ends up sitting on my butt.  The pressure of his hands on my upper back and his weight on my butt stretching out my spine feels so good.  He pulls his hands down my back.

“Do that again, please” I ask quietly.

His hands flutter over my hips, “Do what?”

“Push on my upper back again.”

“Ahh.  Like this?”  His hands again push on my shoulders and he pushes down on my hips with his body.

“yeah” I sigh out.

He gently eases up, “Better?”

“yes.”

His hands warm my sides as he leans up me.  He plants his left hand up over my shoulder.  His right-hand cups over the top of my head, his fingers gently playing with my hair.  His lips gently kiss the back of my neck.  “Morning.”

A smile lifts the corners of my lips, “Morning.”

“It’s game day!”  He lifts his weight off me and stretches out beside me.

“oh yeah!” I breath out.  “What time is it?”

“It’s 7am.”  He kisses the small of my back, “I need to get the ribs going.”

I reach for his hand, “Can I have the oven for about 20 minutes first?”

“Sure,” he again kisses my lower back, “But you’ll have to get your ass out of bed – like right now.”

I can feel him smile against my back, “Ok.”  I swim my way to the edge of the bed.  James climbs out and helps me stand.  “You good?”

Facing him, I put his hands on my hips, “Hold please.”  And I arch back, my head almost touching the bed.  My back crackles back into place.  His hands slide up my back, slowly pulling me upright.  I look into his eyes.  “All better!” I grin.  James grabs my robe and slides it up my arms.  I kiss his chest.  “Kitchen is that way,” I point out the door.

“Yes.  Yes it is,” he chuckles and gently gives me a push.

Getting into the kitchen, I open the fridge and pull out the two types of rolls – cinnamon and orange.  Double checking the temps, I start the oven.  Tenderly bending over, I pull out a cookie sheet from below the oven.  Popping open both canisters, I take one orange and one cinnamon roll, unwinding each, then lining them up and rewinding the pair together.  I do this for all the rolls.  Then slide the tray into the oven and set the timer.  Taking both of the included little icing cups, I dump them into a bowl and add some cream cheese to it and blend til smooth.  Setting that aside, I start making coffee.

James comes up behind me, resting his hands on my waist, “What are you concocting?”

“Yumminess” I lean back into him.  

His thumbs dig into my lower back again.  My knees almost buckle.  His hands grab me.  He kisses my hair and pats my ass, “Go sit.”  He turns my shoulders and points me toward the sofa.  “I got it from here.”  There’s only concern in his voice.

I can’t argue with him.  My back is trying to tighten up again.  I sink into the sofa, grab a blanket and the remote.  Turning on the TV, I find the right channel and try to get comfy.  I watch him in the kitchen.  Eyes glowing, big cheesy grin plastered on his face.  The sun shining in the window, I close my eyes.

“Here’s your coffee and two ibuprofen” his voice a gentle rumble.  The concern in his eyes pinches my heart.

“Thank you” as I take the pills and a slug of coffee.  “It feels good to have that room cleaned out for you.”

His face lights up, “I still can’t believe you did that for me.”  Putting his hands on the back of the sofa on either side of me he leans over and kisses my forehead – his lips lingering there.  My hand gently strokes his arm, the other holding my coffee mug.  The timer dings.  I can feel his smile on my forehead.  Shifting, he rests his forehead on mine, his blue eyes finding mine.  “How do you want your eggs?”

“Scrambled, please.” 

He kisses my nose and stands, “Cheesy eggs?”

“mmmm, yes please!”

His fingers gently caress my chin, “Be right back.”

“Mmm k.”  Gawd, I really overdid it yesterday.  The pre-game chatter on the TV is a distraction. 

And so is watching him.  He pulls out the rolls and checks the temp on the oven, then in go the ribs.  In short order, he’s got our breakfast ready.  Bringing over two plates each with a combo roll smothered in frosting and a pile of cheesy scrambled eggs.  He sets them on the table and returns to the kitchen.  Grabbing his coffee mug - and the pot - along with forks, he returns to the living room.  Handing me my plate and a fork, he grabs his.  I dig into the eggs.  He takes a bite of the combo roll.  I watch his eyes widen.

“Dis is rweary gud.”

“Thanks” I look at the huge roll on my plate.  “Grandmother showed me.”

He strokes my hair, “I wish I could have met her.”

Looking at him, “I think she would have liked you.”  He leans over and kisses my temple.

We finish breakfast and he gathers up the plates and forks.  When he comes back from the kitchen, he sits next to me, urging me to lean up against him, making sure that the blanket is tucked in around me.  And my game starts.  The Seahawks against the Jets.  We spend the next three hours cheering the good plays, heckling the refs on the bad calls and smooching during the commercial breaks.  Halftime, I make a bathroom run as James checks on the ribs.  He is actually humming while cooking.  He’s wearing a big cheesy grin as third quarter started.  “What?” his eyes sparkling.

“Cheshire cat” I snicker.

“The ribs are going to be really good!” his grin widens as he tucks the blanket back around us.

I sniff loudly, “They smell really good!!!”  His arms wrap around me.

The second half of this game is close, but the Hawks pull off the win.  I am very happy.

James again checks on the ribs.  I stand and stretch.  James returns with two cans of Severed Lime and two rolls and two more Ibuprofen for me.  I give him a smile, take the pills and give him a kiss as he sits back down, tucking me back up against him again.  His game starts.  The Raiders vs Steelers.  At halftime, the score is tied.  Again, he checks the ribs.  I make a bathroom trip, and so does he.  We both converge back on the sofa just as third quarter starts.  It’s a well fought game.  It goes into overtime.  We’re both sitting on the edge of the sofa.  With seconds left on the clock, the Raiders make a hail Mary pass into the end zone for the TD.  James literally jumps off the sofa yelling in joy that just makes me laugh.  His face is lit up in joy.  He spins and plants a toe curling kiss on me.

“Ready for some ribs?!”

“Yes!”

“Where’s the cornbread mix?  That won’t take long.”

“I’m feeling better, I can get it.”

Placing his hands on my shoulders, he pushes me flat on the sofa, “Nope.  Not gonna risk you” he grins.  “I got this.”

I tell him where the mix and the pan are.  He almost skips into the kitchen.  I watch as he sets about finishing the ribs and the rest of dinner.

“Hey, there are some green beans left from Thursday.  We can have those too.”

Nodding, “I suppose an actual vegetable would be a good idea” he smiles at me.

I stand and stretch, my back finally beginning to stop complaining.

“You ok?” he couldn’t hide the concern in his voice.

“mmmhmmm.  I didn’t think I did that much yesterday.”

“Let’s see.  You pulled out about ten bags of donations.  Three of just garbage.  You vacuumed out all those drawers.  Trevor said that you helped shift about as many boxes as he and Gary did in the other bedroom.  Hmmm” he’s smiling dorkily at me, “There’s no reason why your back will be hurting.”  He pulls the cornbread out of the oven, “Oh yeah, you did two or three loads of laundry too.”

“Forgot about the laundry” I mumble as I sink back into the sofa.

“uh huh!”  He pulls the green beans from the microwave.  “Do you want to come make your own plate?”

Standing back up, “Sure.  Otherwise I might forget how to walk.”

He pulls me into a kiss as I walk into the kitchen, his fingers gently caressing my cheeks, his blue eyes shining.

“What?” I smile up at him.

“Trevor sent me a text this morning.  His sister was super happy with the donations.”

“I’m glad they went to a good place.”

He kisses my hair, “Dinner’s ready” he purrs.

Looking at the spread he’s put together, “This all looks really good!” 

He almost slaps a plate into my chest, “Dig in!” as he piles ribs on his plate.

I reach into a drawer and pull out a couple of kitchen towels, slinging one over his shoulder.  “Napkins aren’t big enough for ribs.”

Again, he kisses my hair, “No!  They aren’t!”

Putting some ribs, green beans, cornbread and BBQ beans on my plate, I head back into the living room.  James has already changed the channel for the Sunday night game.  Bears vs Colts.  At half time we work together to clean up the kitchen.  The game is well fought.  Da Bears win by two. 

“Pie?” James asks me.

“Sure.  Although I feel like all I have done today is stuff my face.”

He pats his stomach, “Me too.”  Standing, “But I can think of a way to burn those calories!”

Raising my eyebrows, “Just one?”

He grabs the remote and turns off the TV.  “Pie later” he sneers at me.

“Ok” as I let him pull me off the sofa.

His fingers gently hold my hands, pulling me toward the bedroom.  As I get to the end of the bed, he slowly spins me tenderly and he encourages me to sit on the bed, he kneels over my lap, wrapping his arms around me under my arms, he lifts me into the middle of the bed.  “Don’t throw your back out!”

As he lays me down, “I won’t.”  His eyes sparkling blue.

Kneeling over me, he slowly unties my robe.  I rest my hands on his thighs.  I can feel them flex slightly as he shifts his weight.  Slowly, almost reverently, he opens my robe exposing my naked body.  He hisses in a sharp breath.  “I forgot you’ve been starkers all day.”  Putting a hand on the bed beside each of my shoulders, he starts kissing me.  My face.  My neck.  My collarbones and shoulders.  He sits up tenderly shifting my arms off his legs and places my hands on his shoulders, a wicked glint in his eyes.  “Gawd, you are so beautiful” as he gently runs his hands over my breasts, stomach and lower belly.  I groan in answer.  Again, his lips are on mine.  One hand by my head.  The other still groping my body.  My hands run over his shoulders, my nails dragging gently down his biceps, ghosting fingers down his forearms.  He gives me a wicked smile and gently grasps both my wrists.  Bringing them together, he easily wraps one of his hands around both of my wrists and slowly pushes them to the bed above my head.  His eyes search mine, looking for any discomfort.  I can only moan and writhe under him.  Grinning, he starts kissing my neck again.  Laying his body down on me, his height making it easy for him to keep my arms pinned, his lips work down to my neck to my breasts.  His other hand cups, squeezes, palms and teases one nipple while his lips, tongue and mouth work the other.  My groans urge him on.  Tugging my wrists makes him suck harder.  I gasp but keep pulling.  My hips try lift up into him.  “uh huh” he says around a mouthful of my boob.  He pulls off my nipple with a pop, “Not yet!” his eyes smiling as broadly as his lips.  Sticking his tongue out, he licks the nipple he’d been working.  Keeping my hands pinned, he shifts his head to my other breast.  This leaves the one wet.  And getting cold.  And harder.  I squirm more.  His suction increases.  I gasp loudly.  He slowly pulls off my other nipple with a pop.  His eyes gleaming, “Shhh” he coos at me.  “The more you struggle, the longer I am going to take” he breathes wickedly at me.  Keeping my eyes locked to his, he lowers his mouth to my ribs.  I can’t help it.  I squirm and moan.  He just chuckles into my ribs, his mustache tickling some.  I snort a giggle and struggle some more.  Grinning up at me, “Ok, that doesn’t count.”  I buck my hips up into his stomach grinning at him.  “That does” he whispers and returns to working my nipples, switching between them.  I whimper, still trying to tug my wrists free.  The sensations he’s putting through me are mind blowing.  They are slow.  Deliberate.  Exceedingly sensual.  I can barely move under his weight pinning my hips to the bed.  His arm holding my wrists is just out of the reach of my mouth.  His mouth shifts from breast to breast, his eyes gleaming up at me.  I whimper at the sight.  Leaving my breasts, he rises slightly, “Damn.  I can smell you.”  I can only nod.  “Puddle?”

I laugh gently, “Lake.”

Those damned blue eyes sparkle brighter, “Good.”  Those lips reattach to a nipple and I arch up whining.  He puts a finger on my lips and literally pops off my nipple again.  “Shh.”  He looks a the wall.  “Neighbors.”  I can only giggle until his mouth reattaches to my other nipple making me gasp again.  He reaches up with his other hand to caress up my arm.  He puts one of my wrists in each of his hands and eases them down to my sides.  This action has put most of his weight against my hips and I moan loudly.  “You doing good?”  I can only nod.  “Good” he smiles.  He gently pins my arms with his forearms which lets him use both hands on my breasts.  He tenderly squeezes, tweaks, palms, kisses, cups and sucks them.  I can only groan under his attention.  He pinches one nipple and I wince a little.  “Getting tender are they?” he grins wickedly.  I nod.  “Good.”  He sucks each one.  Hard.  I whimper and whine.  I manage to get one hand free and pull his head closer to my chest.  He gently nibbles but I refuse to let his head go.  I pull his head even closer to my body.  He forces his head up.  “Let me breath woman!” he chuckles.  I breathe heavily into a grin.  Watching me, he teases both nipples.  I writhe under him.  He lets go, smiling.  Firmly placing his hands on my sides, he lowers his mouth to my ribs, sides, belly.  He shifts his body lower on mine.  My hips being freed from his weight wiggle in anticipation.  His kisses move over my pubic bone.  His elbows urge my legs apart.  His eyes take in my sopping wet cunt.  “Forget lake.”  His eyes catch mine.  “Ocean!”  Placing a hand behind each knee, he pushes my legs farther apart.  I pant some.  Smiling at me, I watch as he purses his lips and blows on my wetness.  I gasp loudly at the sensation, my hips bucking up.  He chuckles still keeping our eyes locked on each other.  Without warning, he dives into my folds, his arms snake under my thighs, his hands reach up, grab my hips, his tongue laps up what I have already excreted.  “Damn you taste good!”  He dives right back into me.  My fingers curl into his silvered locks.  He groans into my pussy.  His tongue explores my folds, caresses my clit, dips into my entrance, laps up my wetness.  I can only use his silver locks to pull him closer.  He grabs both my wrists again pulling them close to my thighs.  I start panting.  Hard.  The knot in my belly is tight.  Very tight.  “don stawhp … gawds don stawhp … right … there!”  He concentrates on that one spot, eagerly lapping me.  I start to fall over into my orgasm, I yank one hand free, grab a pillow just in time to cover the scream exiting my mouth.  My body bucks, writhes and squirms as he continues working me.  I can only scream.  He slows down painfully slowly to a stop.  He presses a kiss to my over sensitized bud.  My body jerks.  I hear him chuckle softly.  Then his hand is tenderly pulling the pillow from my face.  I am still breathing heavily and unable to move.  My arms and legs feel like lead.  His lips press against mine.  I can smell me in his mustache.  “you back yet?” he huffs gently at me.

“uhn huh”

“Take your time.” I huff out a soft giggle.  His hands caress my hair, my cheeks, my eyebrows – which waggle slowly.  My eyes slowly open and I’m looking directly into those gorgeous blue pools.  “Hi.”

“Hi” I whisper.

“Weclome back.”  He shifts my bangs out of my eyes.  I just smile.  He kisses me.  I try to grab him.  “Nope” he takes my hand and kisses it.  My eyebrows knit together.  “Not tonight.”  My eyebrows remain knitted.  “You gave me something amazing yesterday.”  He gently pats my pubic bone, the very tips of his fingers touching my clit making me draw in a sharp breath.  “I wanted to give you something amazing.”

I manage to get my left hand up to caress his head, “Ya did good.”

James kisses me deeply, “So did you.”  He takes my left hand and kisses my finger around my ring.  I smile at him.  My eyelids drift down.  His fingers gently urge them to close.  “Shhh.  Sleep.”  I feel him pull the side of the blanket up over me.  I roll into him.  I feel his hand gently stroking my hair. 

I don’t feel myself slip into sleep.

I am reduced to a sticky mess.....

Happy 1995🍻🍻