“Like my legs?”
“Yes, and those white wispy panties you’ve got on. I never thought white was particularly sexy until now.”
A shiver passed through her. “Does this mean you concede the game?”
He shook his head. “Never.”
“Good, because I’m looking forward to watching you take your pants off next.”
“Ah, a woman who loves a challenge. That’s sexy too.”
It took two more tie games before she made it impossible for him to block her moves. He removed his pants quickly and she took her time looking at him, which made his excitement evident.
“Winner take all?” he asked. “One last game for all the clothes of the loser?”
“Deal,” she said.
After five more ties, he pushed the game aside, letting the pieces scatter across the room. “Fuck it, I can’t wait any longer. I want you, Lena, and I want you now.”
His words were as exciting as his actions as he reached across and pulled her to him. She landed in his lap with a laugh and his mouth came down in a bruising kiss, sending her heart racing and a rush of wetness between her legs. His hands went immediately behind her back and unhooked the bra. As it fell off, he moved down to her panties and skimmed a finger under the edge, teasing her before he slipped it under the fabric and into her.
“Oh God, yes,” she moaned at the sudden and intense invasion and as she arched against him, he slid a second finger inside her. Her excitement bathed his fingers.
She broke their kiss to move her mouth lower, first to his jaw, then his neck and chest, letting her tongue circle his nipples as she gently sucked each one in turn. Her hands drifted to his erection, and she followed his lead by finding the opening of his boxer shorts and wrapping her hand around his cock. It was his turn to moan. She loved the sound. He rolled her over and she gasped at the cold floor against her back.
“This floor is not very accommodating to knees and hip bones,” she said.
“Sofa.”
They dove to the plush couch, although Daniel stopped to double back for his wallet. He fished out a condom and placed it on the floor next to where she waited.
“Always good to be prepared,” she said.
“I’m starting to see the logic of it,” he answered and lowered his lips for another passionate kiss.
“I love the way you kiss,” she said when they broke apart for air.
“The way I kiss what?” She gave him a quizzical look. “Your lips?” His mouth claimed hers again.
“Your neck?” he asked as he swept her hair back and found the sensitive places behind her ear and the side of her throat.
“Your breasts?” He licked one nipple to a peak then sucked it hard, creating a sensation of pleasure and pain causing her to lift her chest, offering him more. The other breast received the same treatment before he ran his tongue gently between and under her breasts. She shivered as the moisture on her skin sent a cool ripple through her.
He slowly kissed his way to her belly, driving her crazy with need. His weight shifted as his hands moved under her ass. He lifted one of her legs and rested it on the back of the couch, leaving her open and ready for him. It made her feel both vulnerable and sexy.
“Perhaps,” he said, his breath flowing across her skin, “you like it best when I kiss your pussy.” Without waiting for any answer, he covered her with his mouth and the flat of his tongue stroked her from top to bottom and reversed direction. The contact was exquisite and she practically levitated as her body responded with a rush of wetness. “Yes, you like that a lot.”
“Like is not exactly the word I’d use,” she managed, surprised to get a coherent sentence out.
His short laugh created shivery vibrations, but he said nothing more as his tongue swept lightly down the outside of her lips, switching sides. She never knew how sensitive parts of her were before Daniel. The men she’d been with usually focused on one spot until she came. With Daniel she was discovering an abundance of responsive places which, when touched, rushed fire through her.
She was caught in the sensations of his tongue. When he inserted a finger into her, her back bowed.
“That’s it, beautiful. Give yourself to me and all I want to do for you.”
“God, Daniel, yes.”
He continued to stroke and lick her, bringing her close to peak, but not over. It was frustrating. And wonderful. When she thought he was finally going to let her come, he changed his position slightly and his finger caressed then slid into her ass. She tried to grip something, but found only the back of the couch.
“You like that, don’t you?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“I’m going to have you there. Soon. I’m going to tease you, then lubricate you. Finally, I’ll stretch you with my fingers before I enter you with my cock.”
Lena could feel the intent behind his words as he stroked her with the finger inside her. When he finished talking he focused his mouth on her clit. The images he created followed by the intense reactions sent her over the edge.
“I’m coming, Daniel,” was all she managed before wave after wave of pleasure coursed and crashed through her. She involuntarily lifted her hips and his mouth connected more completely with her pussy. Instead of experiencing her usual ebbing, he bought her to new heights and she screamed as the passion overwhelmed her.
Her ears were ringing when he slowed the strokes of his tongue. She could sense he was moving, but didn’t know what he was doing until he kissed his way up her body and whispered in her ear, “I want you on top of me.”
He moved off her, took her hand in his and pulled her forward into another kiss. Skillfully—and carefully—he turned their bodies until when he lay back, she was above. Typically she was on the bottom with her partners, but today she felt daring and sexy. She found the condom, put it over his erection, then, straddling him, guided him into her, sheathing him completely.
Instinctively he raised his hips to meet hers, taking her more deeply.
Damn, she looked beautiful above him. Like a goddess of sex and beauty. “Oh yes, Daniel,” she said, arching her back, forcing her breasts out. He pinched her nipples lightly as she gasped.
She rode his cock slowly and he met her every thrust, increasing both of their pleasure. She raked her hands down his chest then grabbed his hips to give herself better balance as she made circles with her pelvis. He felt every inch of her pussy gripping him. It drove him crazy.
In this position, it was difficult for him to tease her clit so to increase her pleasure he found a pillow, put it behind his back and leaned forward slightly which allowed him to grab her ass. As they became accustomed to this position, he moved to her cleft and teased the opening of her anus. When she rose off his cock, he wet his finger with her juices then let it slip gently inside her.
She gave a sound that was a mix of a groan and a squeak and Daniel knew he’d found a way to pleasure her as much as she pleasured him. The knowledge made his cock swell inside her, and he pushed, allowing her to feel his excitement. Her response was a rush of wetness which bathed his shaft and made it easier for him to move with her.
“Daniel, I’m so close,” she said.
“Then come for me. Let me see your passion.” He followed her rhythm as he continued to tease her ass. As her orgasm approached, her pussy tightened around him and he watched her climax explode through her body.
His hips kept pace with her need as she gripped him and called out his name in her release. It was the most exquisite thing he’d ever seen and it sent his own body over the edge. He thrust hard and let himself come deeply inside her.
He was still caught in the shivery aftershocks of his orgasm when she fell against him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
“So that’s why some women like being on top,” she said, her breath warm on his chest.
He turned his head to look at her. “You’ve never enjoyed sex in that position?”
“Not in ye
ars,” she admitted. “But I hope you don’t mind if we use it on occasion.”
“Any occasion you want, my sweet. You looked so fucking sexy riding me.”
“Now that’s the way to spend a rainy afternoon.”
“From here on,” he said as she curled against him, “I’m going to think of that game as Connect Foreplay.”
Chapter Nine
Unfortunately, their game turned into the highlight of the day. The rest of the hours were filled with frustrations and false starts.
“Let’s try something different this morning,” Lena said the next day.
“Because what we’ve been doing hasn’t worked at all?” He was annoyed and short-tempered. His run hadn’t calmed him. All he could think about was how out of his depth he was beginning to feel. He hated doubting himself, but he was concerned his desire to get close to Lena could cost her this account if they didn’t come up with something soon. “Sorry, that was nasty. I just never knew how challenging this work could be. I’ve had deadlines, but nothing like this.”
“I understand. It takes some getting used to and you’ve been doing really well, especially given the fact this is your first attempt at a more commercial use of art. Truthfully, I think we’re closer than we know. I’m starting to get that feeling. The one that means a breakthrough is coming.”
He needed her to be right. “I hope so. What’s your idea for today?”
“We’ll grab two of my cameras and black-and-white film, walk around the camp and see what we discover.”
“A back-to-nature campaign?” he asked.
“Women do want to look both natural and devastatingly beautiful. We’ll take a roll or two then this afternoon we’ll develop them in the art cabin’s dark room.”
“Just like old times.” Although it wasn’t anything like old times. Now he wasn’t just interested in her. He was falling in love with her. Meanwhile, her company and career rested on their ability to come up with something brilliant. He’d never put this kind of pressure on his work before. As he felt himself tensing again, he took a deep breath. Maybe getting out and taking pictures was a good idea after all.
“Do you ever use a digital camera?” he asked as they were loading the 35mm cameras.
“Sometimes, especially when I’m photographing people. I like being able to take shot after shot and see immediately if I got what I was going for. It’s good at the fairs when my mom is telling stories and posing with tiny fans. She’s posted my work on her website.”
“The immediate gratification is nice.”
“And I enjoy being able to manipulate the images on a screen afterward. I’ve created great publicity material for Mom and my brothers, but I always find myself going back to film and the hands-on experience of developing the pictures myself.” Maybe she shouldn’t have used the expression “hands-on” because as soon as she said it, all she could think of was the ways his hands made her feel, and how wonderful he felt underneath hers. “You used a lot of digital photos for your exhibit, right?”
“I did, especially when I needed to enlarge the picture. Sometimes I actually put the photo on the canvas and then altered it, but I’ll tell you something no one else knows—your early influence is still there.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, almost all the images in the show have a black-and-white photo counterpart. I couldn’t break the habit of using it. Alice wants me to do something with them but I take those for me. They aren’t for public viewing.” She smiled at him and he shrugged. “I do so much digital work, I can’t resist the occasions to hear the click of a film camera.”
“I know what you mean. Being able to feel the shutter open and close, the film advance, not knowing if you got exactly what you wanted but being hopeful anyway,” she said. Her heartbeat was a touch faster. It felt good to share this with someone who understood, not someone who pretended to know what she meant.
“The anticipation of sending it off to be developed—or developing it yourself,” he continued, “and waiting to see if you captured that perfect split second of time.”
“And the elation when you do,” she finished. She stared into his eyes, knowing the shimmer in them probably matched her own. It was easy to talk to him, share this with him. It was an experience she hadn’t enjoyed in a long time, too long a time.
They roamed the camp, taking pictures of nature and occasionally each other. A few hours later they wolfed down their lunch in their hurry to get to the dark room. “Are you ready?” he asked.
“Someone’s anxious.”
“I am. The camp looks different from the focused perspective of the viewfinder and a distance of more than ten years. Not only am I taller, but I’m more patient and observant. And it’s great that I just snapped these photos and we get to see them today, at least on the negatives.”
“Patience is clearly not one of your better developed qualities.”
“It’s better than one-hour photo.”
“I agree,” she said. “I wish I had dark room access in the city.”
“That’s something we’re going to have to change when we get back. I don’t think I have space in my apartment, but maybe we could see about finding a place we could buy and convert. Maybe make it a place with membership for others to use. We can’t be the only ones in Boston who want to develop their own film.”
She looked at him, but said nothing. This was the first time one of them mentioned what might happen when they returned. Although the thought thrilled her, it also made her a little nervous. Nervous enough she decided to change the subject rather than respond directly. “I’ve got what I need. Ready?”
“Absolutely,” he said.
The dark room was smaller than he remembered and the close proximity was more distracting than when he was younger. Fortunately this time he knew how the woman with him felt about him.
He quickly remembered the steps from canister to developed negative and it wasn’t long before strips of film where handing from the clothesline.
“We’ve got at least two hours before the negatives are dry. If there’s nothing specific you were thinking of doing there’s something I’d like to show you. Would you want to see my studio?”
“Is that where you disappear to when you’re working?”
“Yes,” she said.
“I’d love to. I’d be honored,” he said and meant it. He took her hand, and wasn’t surprised to find it cool to the touch. He knew it could have been all the hand-washing they did after using the chemicals, but he sensed it was nerves. He knew how special it was, for her to offer this to him.
As they walked slowly back to the house, she leaned against him, but didn’t say anything. Her invitation was enough and he knew to let her set the tone and pace of everything that happened next. Her trust was something special and it was not easily given.
Not knowing where her studio was, he was surprised to walk upstairs and into her bedroom. When she looked at him for reassurance he kissed her and she walked over to a door he thought led to a closet. There was so much light flooding into the space from the windows and two skylights, his first thought was they were standing outside.
“This room must take the rest of the floor,” he said, unable to keep the admiration out of his voice. “It’s huge, especially compared with your bedroom.”
“All I need to do in there is sleep,” she said quietly.
He understood completely. “This is amazing and beautiful. Can I walk around or do you want to give me a tour?”
She didn’t answer immediately, and he was willing to be patient. “Feel free to walk. If you want, I’ll answer any questions I can or tell you what you’re looking at.”
“Sounds great,” he said, but he heard something in her voice and he turned from what lay before him to the woman who stood beside him. He caressed her cheek and waited for her eyes to meet his. “Are you sure?”
She nodded.
“I want to hear you say it before I take one step in.”
“I
’m sure. I want to show this to you, share it with you.”
Such beautiful words. He kissed her softly. “Thank you.” He let go of her hand and walked into the room first, going to the pictures resting on side-by-side easels.
They were watercolors in which the images of urban and pastoral life were mixed. In one it looked as though her apartment in the city was lifted and planted where one of the camper bunks should sit. “Does this have a title yet?”
“Yes, ‘Where do I belong II’”, she said. “The first in the series is on the other easel. I’ve been working back and forth on the two pieces, depending on my mood.”
He looked at the second easel and saw her office at Crane and Fulton juxtaposed with the rooms in the Great House and, he recognized, this studio. It was clear she was either trying to make the two worlds fit together or make a decision between them. It was something he understood, the marriage between the creative and the practical. He knew how fortunate he was to have built a career on both. “I like these. You’ve put a lot of story into them,” he said.
“They’re both unfinished. I’ve never worked on related pieces simultaneously, but these three needed it.”
“Three?”
“Yes,” she said quietly. She pointed. “The third is on that easel, facing the wall.”
He saw it off to his right. “Can I look?”
She nodded. He waited. “Yes,” she said.
He turned it around gently and nearly gasped. It was not only exquisite, but the truth of emotion portrayed was extraordinary. He recognized Lena as the focus of the picture, looking small and bewildered among colorful and looming giants. While it was clear the creatures didn’t mean her harm and wanted her to join in their fun, the young woman wasn’t certain. She looked at them with a combination of longing and worry Daniel recognized.
Before he could stop himself he asked, “What is it you fear?”
“Fear?”
“From what I see, the woman in the picture wants to race and run and dance with the same abandon as the giants around her, but there is also concern in her expression. I saw the same expression in your eyes at the Wagner Gallery on the night we met.”
PeakExperience Page 11
