by J G Jerome
She opens her clutch to show me a deep cavity inside with her gun and knife both held handle up. I lift my eyebrows. “Wow. How does that work?”
“Brownie magic,” she says. “I can clip yours here if you like; so, you don’t have to carry it. I don’t think we will have any trouble tonight.”
“Cool. If I bark ‘now’ at you, give it to me, Okay?” She looks at me and nods seriously.
I grab her motorcycle jacket and hold it for her. She gives me a quizzical look for a moment, and then puts her right and then left arms into the sleeves. I wrap the lapels around her and give her a kiss on the cheek. I pull on my car coat and open the door for her.
“Here’s what I’m thinking. Drinks and appetizers at 3 Kings Kasbar, dinner at Nics, and then music and drinks at Kactus Kate’s.”
“Might there be dancing with that music?”
“I think it depends on the band. I like ‘em. They’re called the Desert Hot Tub Club. I have heard them play a variety of different music, so we will see what they play. I’m sure there is something we can dance to.”
She grins at me. “Sounds like a great plan, Captain. Full speed ahead, aye.” She grabs my left arm.
I respond, “Full speed ahead, aye.” Then we look at each other and cut loose an “Aargh” in unison as we head laughing down the stairs and walk to Pima street towards 3 Kings.
As we wait to cross, Trina links her arm through my left. I create a loop for her to hold and give her a smile. We walk leisurely the three blocks and opt for a patio seat under a heater. The server comes over with menus. We review the options and then order stuffed avocado and African Lamb bruschetta with a bottle of Matua and two of the largest glasses of water they could find.
We talk about a variety of things. She shares what it was like training with Tr’neil and all the drama associated with arranging his escape. I talk about how I came to be in band by hearing the Fender Rhodes piano during Jazz Band rehearsal and then sneaking in to play it. They didn’t have a dedicated player, and the band teacher played it instead of conducting. He had me in the band playing hand percussion in the marching and concert bands, so I could qualify for jazz ensemble. Trina about falls out of her chair when I describe how I would join the marching band in my burgundy and gold football uniform at halftime, carrying a triangle. I also tell her how the hot senior that played clarinet in concert band and keyboard bass in jazz band became my first lover. Trina has to hear all of the explicit details of my fumbling first attempts at sex, sex on a band bus, etcetera.
She shares how she loved going to school with humans. How in high school she fell in love with science. How she and Myra went to all the high school dances with the same gay couple as their ‘boyfriends’ until the boys came out in the middle of their Senior Prom. She talks about how she went to college to study chemistry, how she loved all the sciences, computers, and how she discovered a love of playing piano to balance all of the mental work associated with her studies. She shared how she and Myra lived as a loving couple for the six years they were in college and revelled in their ability to live and love without fear from the court. She is very proud of her masters degree in biochemistry and the fact that major pharma companies and research firms actively recruited her before she disappeared back to the Winter Court. She tells me that every year she gets to work in a research facility owned by the court for two weeks of vacation, and how she loves every minute despite doing only the very basic work in the lab.
When we finish the tapas and wine, we pay and head back to Main Street and down the ½-block to Nic’s. Jenny at the hostess station recognizes me and greets me by name, “Hello Jack! Who is this lovely vision holding on to your arm, you lucky man?” I introduce Trina, and then Jenny takes us to a booth towards the front of the house. After discussing the menu, Trina orders the 6 oz filet with the crabby mac-‘n-cheese, while I have the steak kabobs with spaghetti marinara, and we had an additional side of sautéed veggies to split. We also decide to buck tradition and stick with Sauvignon Blanc and a liter of sparkling water.
The conversation rolls easily while the drinks and food arrive, through dinner, and as we leisurely finish the bottle about 9:30. She asks me about how I met my fiancé; so I explain how I had worked with Elaine on an anti-terrorist unit operation. We got along well, but we were all business. I ran into her again about a year after I started my company when I was in Virginia. We went out to dinner, struck up a friendship, fell into bed, and she moved to Phoenix to move in with me, and we started planning marriage. Trina already knows how that ended. I ask if she had ever taken an extended vacation anywhere and am shocked to find out that she had not other than going to college in Kearney, Nebraska. We laugh at how she spent six years in the cultural center of the Midwest whereas I went to college at Manhattan...er...Kansas.
As I wave for the check, I asked her “Would you go on a trip with me? I would love to take you somewhere for fun.”
She looks at me with tears in her eyes, “Yes, Jack. I would love to. I sincerely doubt I’ll ever be able to break free to do it, but yes, Jack. Definitely.”
I pay the bill and help her into her coat. She stands looking into the middle distance while I pull mine on. I grab her hand, and we walk to the door. Jenny lets us out and we start towards Kate’s further down Main Street. I stop after a few steps and pull her to me wrapping the hand holding hers to the small of her back, while capturing her face in the palm of my other hand. “Dearest Trina, the last thing I ever want to do is hurt you. I mean it. If you want to go, I will find a way to take you.”
She looks up at me, and tenderly kisses my lips. “Jack, I’m not hurt. I do have tears in my eyes, and you did put them there. Your offer gives me great joy. I am sad that I don’t think the odds of me escaping for a vacation are high, but you are making me very happy.” She kisses me again and releases my hand to slide her right arm around my waist. “Shall we go to the Hot Tub Club?” waving her right arm down the street towards Kate‘s.
“Full speed ahead,” I say.
“Full speed ahead aye, Captain,” she responds with a twinkle in her eye. She cocks an eyebrow, and then we - yeah, we’re not predictable at all - sound off together with “Aargh!” We proceed laughing down the street.
We march into Kate’s in good humor to hear the band. The Desert Hot Tub Club is kind of a retro old-time string band setup playing swing tunes from across the generations and a variety of other music mixed in. They put on a great show and much of it is very danceable.
We find a small table deep into the back corner next to the shuffleboard table. They are playing a jump swing number. We look at each other, drop our coats on chairs, and head to the dance floor. Trina pulls a strap out of her bag and connects it to her purse. She loops it over her head as we head to the dance floor. No one is dancing; so, we storm the floor and make it our bitch. I learned different forms of dancing over the years, but swing has been one of my favorites from the beginning. Doesn’t matter if it’s ‘western,’ Lindy Hop, or a mix of them with some jitterbug thrown in.
I spin Trina out on the floor, and we fly. We finish that song, and the band jumps into another swing tune immediately. We dance that song and stay on the floor to finish the set three songs later. Trina glows with joy and flows with grace. It didn’t matter what steps or variations I lead her through, she stays with me making it look like she knows where I am going before I do.
She sits at the table as I go to the bar for four club sodas and carry them back to our table. The sharks are already circling Trina before I get back, but she ignores them. One of them sits down in my chair. I am close enough to see her put a finger on his lips and tell him, “If you are not behind the billiards table before my man returns, I will personally rip your head off and shit down your throat.” Her eyes glow just enough to make him believe she’ll do it. “He’s right behind you.”
The asshat launches out of the chair and runs back, actually jumping over the pool table and messing up the player’s shot in the process. I set
the drinks on the table, right my chair, and settle my coat back on it. Trina sits with her chin on her palm looking angelic as I chuckle at her performance. “The eyes were a nice touch,” I say as I take a seat. We each grab a glass, and I offer “Prosit.” You would think it impossible to slam club soda but we each managed it - twice.
Trina burps and then giggles. “Jack, may I ask a favor?”
“Of course, Trina.”
“Take me home, Darling Jack.”
“As you wish.”
With a stern look she says, “Now Jack, you know you’re only supposed to say that to a Princess!”
Then we both crack up with laughter. “Let’s go, Trina Darling.”
I help her into her coat, grab mine, and we head to the door. I swing by the stage to drop a twenty in the tip jar, and we wave to the band as we leave. I pull my coat on as we pass out the door. Trina grabs my arm as we walk cross the street and walk up the street. We get back to the hotel and up to our room.
I hang the coats, and Trina wraps me in full body press. “I had a wonderful evening, Jack!” She presses a lingering kiss to my cheek.
“Me too, Love.”
“Jack Darling, I could really get used to hearing you using those terms of endearment,” she says with a flirtatious smile.
“Back at you, Trina Darling. And I must say I’m really enjoying the full-body-press hugs, too.”
She nestles her head into my neck and mutters, “Perv.”
“Whose perv, Trina?” I feel her lips curl against my neck.
“Mine!” After a moment she adds with a pout, “I suppose Myra’s, too.”
I shake my head gently, “Nope. Myra doesn’t view me as a pervert; so, all my perviness belongs to you.” That triggers a squeeze that may actually cause her nipples to pierce my chest. ‘What a way to go!’
She smiles up into my eyes, “Jack, I still don’t know what I’m going to do with all that perviness, but I value that it’s all mine.”
“Noted, Trina.” I brush her lips with a kiss and pat her finest asset. “I think I should hop in the shower. We only have one bed, and I suspect you don’t want to lie next to a smelly man all night.”
She shrugs, but the smile never wavers. “I like your smell, but it may get a little ripe before morning. I don’t know you well enough to know. You sweat a lot on the dance floor.”
“Yeah, guilty,” I chuckle. “I tend to get a little lost on the dance floor. I should probably be more aware of keeping the moisture to a level that a lady might be willing to touch.”
“You don’t notice me hesitating to hold you?” I shake my head with a big grin on my face.
She continues, “I still haven’t contacted Myra. This late in the evening, she is either being abused by one of her suitors, or will want to talk face-to-face.” She points a finger up at my face, “Don’t ask. If it becomes necessary you’ll see what is involved, but it’s one of the many things we’re not supposed to show outsiders. Go take your shower, dear man.” She pats my ass, then goes to sit on the chaise with her phone.
I strip off, hanging the jeans to dry. They are the only ones left as the others are a mess after the fighting earlier. I have my one shirt, and enough socks and underwear to carry me through - I always bring a spare set and spare jeans. Unfortunately, the jeans were already called into action. I fortunately wore a t-shirt tonight under the flannel, so I should be able to recycle it after hanging overnight.
I turn on the water and go back to grab my body wash out of my kit, in case I deplete the provided set before I’m done. I check the temp and walk in. The hot water feels great! I wet my head and turn to let it cascade on my neck and back.
A slight noise causes me to open my eyes to see Trina barefoot, leaning against the doorframe in that smashing red dress. Her hair is loose and draped across both shoulders to hang over her breasts. She just watches me enjoying the light massage from the shower - like she’s doing a survey of my face and body. In all honesty, she does seem to spend the majority on my face. I rub a small amount of shampoo into my scalp and lean back to rinse it out.
Trina hasn’t moved while my eyes were closed, but as I wipe the water from my face she stands and reaches slowly for the tie of her dress. I almost think she’s doing a tease, but her face is tranquil, serious, not a hint of teasing in her expression. This is important to her. ‘Pay attention, Home Team!’
I watch her slowly draw the tie until it’s loose. She then reaches for the lapels of her dress and draws them slowly back and down to reveal the beauty of her form - eventually dropping the dress to let it pool around her bare feet. She brushes her hair back with both hands, and then with a tilt of her head to the right captures it all into a loose tail hanging over her right shoulder hiding one perfect breast.
Trina walks toward me timidly, kind of like a newborn calf or a young kitten. She rounds the shower entrance and comes to stand before me. Her eyes are locked on mine as she raises her hands to clasp my neck and tenderly kiss me.
“Jack, it’s not going to happen tonight. It may not happen tomorrow night. I am certain that before I leave you in your apartment, I want you to make love to me and make you mine. I’m scared by the whole ‘loving a man’ thing, but I will not leave without belonging to you. I am yours here,” as she points to her heart and then replaces her hand around my neck, “but I couldn’t bear to separate from you without knowing you passionately, intimately. Is that okay?”
I’ve been nodding since she said she’s scared. I cup her face in my hands. “Trina Love, you are precious to me. If it never happens, you will still be precious to me. I will love you regardless. Forever. You are mine in all ways that matter.” She starts to speak, but I put my thumb over her lips. “If you are ready, or when you are ready, I will be there for you and make it the most amazing experience I am capable of. Whether it’s tomorrow, Monday, next weekend, or whenever. You have my pledge - my commitment. I will not break it.” Her face glows, not with magic or whatever the Sidhe do, but with pure unadulterated joy.
“Thank you, Jack.” We share a kiss, starting warm and heating up as my eyes droop, and I fall into her lips. I feel Little Jack making his presence known, reaching out to say ‘hi’ to Trina. When we come up for air, she looks down to smile at him.
“Trina, say hello to Little Jack. Little Jack, this is Trina. You damned well better treat her right when the blood leaves my brain.”
Trina laughs gently. She looks up at me, “Little Jack is bigger than I thought from seeing him hanging loose. Didn’t you say ‘like a penis only smaller?’ You may have done our little friend a bit of a disservice, Jack.”
I shrug, “As long as you are happy, I’m happy.”
Grabbing my body wash, Trina soaps me up and uses the washcloth to give me a quick scrub. Then she uses her hands to rinse me off. Then we switch places. I notice she’s trying to keep her hair out of the spray, but I confirm with a quick “Hair?” She shakes her head. I hold up both the hotel and my body wash, and she chooses mine. “You want to smell like me?” She nods with big eyes.
I employ the same washing technique as she did, being circumspect around her outer labia and anus. After we finish the rinse, I wrap her in my left arm to pull her out of the spray and turn off the water. I reach outside the shower for her towel and gently rub her dry from neck to ankles before having her step on the bath mat to finish her feet. I hand her the towel, and she beckons me out onto the mat to dry me off. I grab my towel and give my hair a vigorous rub.
We walk to the bedroom leaving the towels on the sink for the moment. We both police up our dirty clothes, checking pockets, and putting them away. Trina goes to retrieve her dress, while I put my dirties into a plastic bag. I set them aside and pull on a pair of boxers and a t-shirt. I remember Trina’s bread and pull it out, setting it on the foot of the bed. I pull my iPad out of the gear bag and sit on the chaise to check my email.
I have a mail from Laura saying she has something else for me to look at. She wants t
o discuss it before sending it over, so she can explain what she’s thinking. I respond to her that I can call mid-morning tomorrow, but I have commitments for the afternoon. If it looks promising, I can swing by on my way home Sunday around noon.
I have an email from someone named Supreet Mishra from Hartford Comprehensive Insurance, aka ‘HCI.’ She is the admin assistant for Reddy Shrivkumar, the director of Application Development and Support at HCI. Despite being an IT guy myself, I prefer to deal with the actual business users. IT folks generally think they can filter the conversation between contractors and their business customers. Unfortunately, they tend to shorthand details they shouldn’t and mis-translate ‘business speak’ into ‘IT speak.’ I’ve found my chances of delighting the IT customer are proportional to my direct contact with the business customer. Go figure. Anyway - Supreet has answers for the technology questions, but there are no updates on the business rules questions. I’ll call Monday morning to see if can arrange a meeting with the two primary business stakeholders towards the end of the week or early next week. If I can get through my business questions, then I’ll be good to go once the lawyers stop fucking with me. I mark it for follow-up, but don’t respond as Supreet didn’t ask any questions.
There is a proforma email from Marlene telling me how much needs to meet face-to-face. I get one of these every 2-4 weeks, and I’ve learned they mean her husband is out of town, and she wants me to come fuck her in her marriage bed. I can’t ignore them because, well - HR shit. As soon as I ignore her, she really will need to talk. I fire off a quick response telling her that I can’t do an in-person meeting, but I can do a Skype meeting Monday or Tuesday, otherwise I’ll catch up in her weekly 1:1 on Friday.
Finally, I find an email from L’liana. She includes snail mail address and phone number for L’ric’s house, mobile numbers and emails for herself, L’ric, O’ren, and Tr’niel - the last with a request to pass them to Trina. She mentions how much she enjoyed meeting Trina and myself and hopes that we can soon all spend some ‘quality time’ together, including plenty of details about what she would like to do. I respond saying that I enjoyed meeting her too, and that I would call over the next week to arrange a visit for a couple of days in Cherry. I edit out a lot of her detailed desires and copy L’ric; although, I suspect he has L’liana print his emails out to read. I call out, “Hey Trina! What is your email? I have something from L’liana to forward to you, Love.”
