Previously…

Locking eyes, breaking the warm silence, I asked,   “Let me stay?”

It was obvious she wasn’t expecting my query.  Her body straightened from the door and unconsciously leaned towards me.  Then she asked slowly, “Are you sure?  You’ve been through so much lately.  I don’t want us to rush this.” 

The surprise in her look had disappeared supplanted by sincerity in her gaze. “Let’s take our time.”  Affirming that we were in no way superficial, provisional or contingent on immediacy of intimacy she continued softly,  “I’m not going anywhere.”

The passion for me witnessed just earlier coupled with loving consideration.  It was right then I fell for her completely.  Wordlessly, I extended my arm palm upwards, urging her to come to me and complete the perfect evening. 

No longer a question, rather to be interpreted a declaration, I repeated,  “Let me stay.”

Then I waited for her answer.

—

The wait wasn’t long. 

Quietly, resolutely Bette came to me.  Stopping half a step beyond my outstretched arm she bent down and pressed a kiss into my open hand.  Trailing upward, she peppered soft kisses up my arm licking my neck guiding her lips to my mouth then kissing me in earnest.  Her hands, fingers splayed, rested on the bed one along each side.

My hands reached to disengage the buttons of her blouse but they proved to be exasperatingly stubborn.  Leaving that task, I moved to undo the fastening that held her slacks in place.

I couldn’t wait to see her. 

She let me relieve her of the pants, stepping out of them all the while not breaking our intensely searing kiss.  I returned to her blouse and my struggle with the offending article forced me to release her mouth to view what I was doing – assisting my failing hands and fingers. 

With the unwanted break, I stuttered an incoherent mumbling given the difficulty completing the inane task.  The seconds that would have been reserved for intimate contact maddeningly wasted as they ticked away.  Freeing the last button, I pushed it off her shoulders vigorously.  Undergarments soon followed absent any challenge.

Finally…finally she was free of any covering and I slowly took her astounding bareness in.