They drove over to the real estate office to make an offer on the house. By the next week it was theirs. They moved in right away so they could work on it when they got home from work. Austin set up his office with his computer equipment so he could work at home too. Already the brilliant young man was in charge of most of the computer network at the advertising agency.
Kari loved her new editing position. She and Rory had become quite good friends, so work was never boring. She couldn't wait to get home every night so she could work on the house. It was coming along nicely. The excited young lovers put a king size bed in right away. Austin made love to her every night, frequently more than once. He never seemed to get enough of her, or she of him. The Jacuzzi was put to good use quite often.
They'd lived there a month when Kari got a call from Jack. He and Wanda were coming down that next month to look at condos near her. Kari was so excited. She really missed her dad. She didn't make a real big deal about it because she knew Austin was feeling badly about his own parents. Their second wedding date was only a few weeks off. Kari sensed her husband wanted them to be at that most happy of occasions.
Austin’s wife decided to do something about it. At work the next day, she accessed the company's internet computer files, locating the DuQuaine home address and telephone number. Taking a deep breath, she dialed the number. A woman answered the phone.
"DuQuaine residence."
"Is Mr. or Mrs. DuQuaine there?"
"Whom may I say is calling?"
"This is Mrs.-ah, Miss McKinnon. Kari McKinnon. A...a friend of Austin's."
"Just a moment please." Kari's heart was thudding against her chest as she waited. She wasn't even sure what she was going to say.
"Hello. This is Mrs. DuQuaine." A sweet voice answered. Austin had been right about his mother. Kari could tell right away.
"Mrs. DuQuaine. This is Kari McKinnon. I'm Austin's fiancée. I thought you might like to know that we are planning to be married in Hawaii in a few weeks and I know he would like you to be there." There was a pause for a moment. Kari held her breath.
"Well, Miss McKinnon. I certainly have waited a long time to hear from either one of you. Austin's father has had..." there was a pause, "...a change of heart. In fact we've just returned from two weeks in Jamaica. Do you think both of you could come and see us for a weekend? I can have his father call him tonight."
Kari couldn't believe her good fortune.
"I'm sure he would be thrilled. It would probably be best if you didn't mention that I called."
"I understand, dear. Leave your number and Mitchell will call Austin tonight to make the arrangements." Kari gave her their number at home.
"This is so wonderful, Mrs. DuQuaine. Austin will be so happy."
"I-We hope so. We certainly miss him." The voice at the other end paused. "You're not from around here are you, dear."
"No. No I'm not, Mrs. DuQuaine. I was born and raised in Minnesota."
"Oh. Well that's nice, dear. Mr. DuQuaine and I are certainly looking forward to meeting you."
"Thank you, Mrs. DuQuaine. I feel the same way. I've got to hang up now. I hope that I'll be seeing you soon."
"I'm sure you will, dear. Good-bye."
"Bye."
Kari hung up the phone, breathing a sigh of relief. Things were going much better than she'd planned.
The hours seemed to drag on forever that day. Austin had called to say hello. Kari hoped her voice hadn't made him suspicious. She wasn't very good at keeping secrets, especially from Austin. If he suspected anything was going on, he wasn't saying so.
Every time the phone rang that evening Kari would jump. She was glad Austin was busy with his computers. She was just finishing some painting in the kitchen when the phone rang again.
"Will you get that Kari, darlin'."
"I can't Austin, I'm full of paint."
She heard him get up grumbling to himself. He had been pretty busy at work and was irritable lately. Kari had been no picnic to be around the last few days either. She'd been feeling rather ill every day around lunch. In fact, The smell of food had been rather nauseating lately. She heard him answer the phone.
"Hello." There was a silence that was deafening. Kari strained to hear what would come next. Austin wasn't saying anything. Suddenly her stomach lurched. What if she'd made a mistake. Quietly, she inched closer to where he was standing.
"All right, dad. I think we could make it next weekend." There was another pause. "Hello, Mother. You sound great too. Yes, I think we can come. Kari? She can't wait to meet you too. Okay. I'll talk to you next week. Good-bye, Mother."
Kari heard the phone click. The floor creaked and Austin came in her direction. Hastily, she spun around, dashing back to the counter, furiously beginning to paint again. Austin came in and leaned against the door, his arms folded across his chest, his legs crossed at his ankles, regarding his wife curiously. She didn't turn around.
"Who was that on the phone, Austin? Was it business?" Kari kept painting at a fast pace.
"It was my father calling. Seems he's had a change of heart about our...my parents have asked us to come and visit them for a weekend."
"Oh? That's wonderful Austin! I know how much you have wanted to see them again." Austin continued to lean there with his arms folded across his chest, regarding her seriously.
"You've painted that same spot at least four times since I've been standing here. Is there something that you would like to tell me, Kari?"
"I don't know what you mean, Austin." She stopped painting but refused to turn around.
"I think you do," he said quietly.
He unfolded his arms, stepped over to where she knelt, and lifted her up. He turned her around to face him. She couldn't look him in the eye. He tilted her face towards his.
"Yes, I think you do. I love you so much, Kari." He bent his head down and brushed his lips against hers.
"Oh Austin. You don't know how much it means to me when you say those words to me!" She gazed lovingly into his intense, dark shining eyes.
He backed her against the counter, placing his hands on the cabinets above her head. Bending his head, his lips sought hers, like leather stroking silk, with a kiss that deepened, becoming intensely passionate. Kari wrapped her arms around his waist, clinging to him as his tongue slipped between her succulent lips and began searching the far recesses of her mouth.
Kari's ruggedly handsome husband continued to kiss her tenderly as his hands tugged her paint spattered shirt out of her baggy jeans. He lifted his lips from hers long enough to nibble her ear lobe, whispering sweet words at the same time.
"I need you Kari. I want you now. Say you want me too, baby." She murmured perceptively as Austin's hands found their way under her shirt. He continued to whisper softly in her ear. Kari's heart was beating so loudly, she was sure the neighbors could hear it's hot rhythm. She lowered her arms and began to unbutton his jeans. His lower body was already straining against the denim fabric. Her hands shook as she fumbled with the buttons.
Slowly they slid to the floor, undressing the other, finding pure delight in fondling one another. Austin pulled her on top of him.
"Aren't we forgetting something, southern boy." Kari drawled in her best southern belle voice.
"Damn, Kari. You make me crazy." His hands were shaking as he reached in his jeans pocket. "You put it on, darlin'."
Slowly, deliberately, Kari slipped it over his erection, enticing him, rubbing him. Taking his wet, hard, penis in her mouth, she began to stroke him with her lips and teeth. Austin swore softly, gripping her arms.
"You're a swamp witch sent to entrap my soul. Weave your magic, Yankee girl. I'm trapped, forever."
She lowered herself on him, placing his hands over his head. Moving up and down in rhythm to his pulsing manhood. One hand held his hands together as the other caressed his nipples. Soft silky hair sweeping over his chest caused the captive man to cry out her name repeatedly.
Grabbing her by the
shoulders, her willing hostage lifted himself to her, sliding into her relentlessly, shaking in ecstasy. He fell back on the floor pulling her to his chest. The two of them lay there on the kitchen floor in the middle of all the paint and brushes. Austin caressed her back, fingering her long soft curls as they lay joined together.
"You are my greatest pleasure, Kari." He whispered in her ear, his lips pressed against wisps of her golden carmine hair.
The sudden jingling of the telephone brought them out of their reverie. Kari got up hurriedly. Grabbing Austin's shirt, she ran to the phone, tripping over the cord as she grabbed it. Damn that hurt!
"Hello."
"Hello yourself. Did I interrupt anything? I hope so."
"Jordan, you always know when to call don't you? Of course you should know, you've had enough experience."
"Touché'. I had that one coming. Anyway, anything interesting going on that I should know about?"
Kari hadn't been able to stand it after she'd called Austin's mother. She'd spilled everything to Jordan before she left work.
"Yeah. Uh, I'll talk you tomorrow, okay? Bye."
Kari put the phone back in the receiver and stood there a minute. Then she walked back into the kitchen. Austin was just pulling up his jeans. God, he looked good with his hair all messed up and no shirt on. She wanted him again.
"Austin."
He looked up as she opened up his shirt and let it fall to the ground. He stared at her a moment.
"Yankee witch. Enchantress." He stepped over to her in two strides, picked her up and carried her through the double doors to their bedroom.
Much later Austin rolled up on his elbow and stared at her intently. His spellbinding gaze held hers. It was something she was powerless to resist or break.
"You called my mother didn't you, Kari?"
"I...I couldn't stand to see you miserable because you weren't speaking to your dad."
Austin continued to hold her captive with his gaze.
"I...I...I hoped you wouldn't be angry because I interfered."
"I wasn't sure how I felt when I hung up. But to hear my father actually ask to see me, and to hear my ma...mother's voice again felt so good. Then when I saw you, trying to look so innocent, all of the doubt and anger drained out of me. I realize I haven't exactly been a joy to be with this last week. You are what I've needed all along, honey."
He leaned over and kissed her warmly. "Let's get some sleep. We can talk about it tomorrow. Then you can call Jordan back and tell her everything. That was her on the phone before."
Kari hit him over the head with a pillow. "I can't fool you at all, can I Austin. Am I really that transparent?"
"Yes darlin'. Delightfully translucent. Now, let's get some sleep." She eased herself into his arms feeling very secure in her life.
****
Jordan came by the next day with Jimmy in tow. The two of them had been seeing each other regularly. Kari and Austin had gone out with them a few times. He was good company and he was good for Jordan. She needed someone in her life.
"Hi guys. We thought you could use a hand with a few things around here, so here we are."
Kari and Austin were lounging on the front verandah, coffee mugs in hand. Kari motioned them to come up. She got up.
"Coffee, you two?"
"Sounds good to me." Jimmy steered Jordan up the steps.
"I'll help you." Jordan followed Kari into the kitchen. "Well, out with it. Did he call? Was Austin mad? Tell me everything and don't leave a single detail out."
"His father called. He talked to his mother. We're invited to Houston next weekend. He's going to talk to his dad this next week to get the details down."
Kari suddenly felt dizzy. She grabbed the counter top.
"Are you okay, Kiki? You've looked awfully pale lately." Jordan helped her over to a chair. Kari looked as white as a sheet and felt worse. It felt good to sit down.
"I think I'm just tired between work and this house. Too much excitement I guess. And then this thing with his parents. I'm a little nervous, Jordan. Will they compare me to Lisa? After all, she is in her early twenties. I'm older than she is, don't forget. And, don't forget, I'm a Yankee."
"Don't worry so much, Kari. You look thirty at the most, well not at this moment, but normally you do. You do act like such an old lady sometimes, though. And Lisa's in the past. One look at Austin should tell you that."
"What do you mean?" Kari seemed puzzled.
"Land sakes, woman. He is gaga whenever he's around you. Don't tell me you haven't noticed. This Lisa doesn't stand a chance."
Kari sighed. "I guess you're right. I feel better now. We'd better get back out with coffee or Jimmy might have withdrawal without his caffeine."
"You are right about that. And what's all this talk about being a Yankee?" Kari explained as the two best friends strolled back out to the verandah with the coffee.
Jimmy looked up as the two of them came into view, zeroing in on Kari.
"Austin was just telling me that you're planning on getting a couple of horses once you really get settled in."
"We-we've discussed it. I don't have furniture in three of the rooms yet. Horses come last."
Austin gave her that look. "What Kari is trying to say, is she's afraid she'll fall off the horse."
She glared at him, not bothering to deny it. "We will get horses, eventually."
Changing the subject abruptly, Kari turned to her favorite topic, her house. There was a some work to be done yet, and they were always glad for the help. After coffee, Kari and Jordan finished patching up a part of the great room wall and began the already tedious job of painting.
Austin had taken Jimmy to the stables to help him fix one of the four stalls. When they'd finished to Austin's satisfaction, the two men returned to the house to work on the roof of the enclosed screen porch attached to the back of the house.
The four of them worked diligently until around 1:00. p.m. Kari served lunch on the side porch away from the hot sun. The weather had been hot and sticky lately. The humidity had been almost unbearable the last few days. They'd spent a lot of time working indoors lately, thankful for the central air that Austin had installed before they'd moved in.
Kari couldn't imagine how the former residents had stood the heat and humidity with only ceiling fans to relieve them. She didn't feel much like eating again, either. She had that weird, sickly feeling in her stomach once more.
After a rather leisurely lunch, of which Kari ate little of, the four of them returned to work. The men worked outside finishing the roof while the two women worked inside. Kari got all the info on Jordan's relationship with Jimmy.
According to Jordan he was a real gentleman. He hadn't even made a pass at her. Oh, he'd kissed her a few times, but that was it. Jordan figured it was their age difference that had kept him at bay. She thought it was kind of nice though, not having to worry about sex. She felt respected and that felt good. Kari nodded in agreement, not really in talkative mood. She didn't have to worry. Jordan talked enough for both of them.
Kari glanced up in time to see Austin going to check the mailbox. He seemed to be waiting for something these last few days. Removing the mail, her husband scrutinized it. She watched as he took a letter and shoved it in his back pocket. Kari wondered what it was. He never kept anything from her any more, at least nothing that she knew of.
Watching him disappear around the corner of the house, Kari sighed and returned to her painting. For some reason, the fumes from the paint that normally didn't bother her, were not smelling all that good.
Suddenly, her stomach lurched, making her drop her paintbrush. Kari got up and ran to the bathroom, just in time. Jordan came in just as she was getting up, shaking with cold sweat pouring down her face and chest. Her face was whiter than chalk.
"Kari, you need to see a doctor. This is more than just overwork. I go to a really nice old guy. I'll make an appointment for you on Monday. I'm really worried about you." Jordan wrapped her arm
s around her best friend.
"Jordan, I don't need a doctor to tell me what's wrong. I already know."
It instantly dawned on Jordan. "You're pregnant! That's it, isn't it!"
"I wasn't sure until this week. I did one of those home pregnancy tests and it came up positive."
"Does Austin know?"
"I'm going to wait until we get back from seeing his parents. After all, they don't think we're married. How do I really know if we are, Jordan? I have nothing but Austin's word and a dry, withered Hawaiian lei. I want to start out on the right foot with them, and I know Austin would want to tell them."
"All right, Kari, but you still need to see the doctor. I'll take you myself during work. Austin need never know. I'm so happy for you. Not the sick part, the good part, you know, the baby. I remember when I started getting sick and....oh, never mind." Jordan had a faraway look in her eyes. She helped Kari out of the bathroom.
"Kari, you shouldn't be painting if you're pregnant. There is only a small section left. You lay down on the sofa while I finish. You look really tired. Take a nap if you like."
"Thanks, Jordan. I think I'll do that."
Kari laid down while Jordan went to work vigorously on the wall that was left. Kari wondered about the letter Austin had put in his pocket. She started imagining all sorts of things. Abruptly, Kari put all those negative thoughts away. God! She'd heard how pregnant women sometimes go off the deep end with their imagination, especially when they weren't feeling especially attractive. Closing her eyes, a tired and pregnant young lady drifted off into a deep sleep.
****
Jordan was saying something to Kari when she realized there was no answer in return. Getting up, she went over to where Kari was sleeping soundly on the sofa. Jordan smiled, tenderly pushing back a strand of her hair that had fallen across her face. Her friend looked so tired and worn out.
Austin's Pleasure Page 13
