by Anthology
Anthony’s gaze shifted. He had startled her and hadn’t meant to.
He rubbed a nervous hand across the back of his neck, just brushing the edge of his thick chestnut hairline. “I finished some work last night on the Morris case. I wanted to make sure it was here in case Brad asked you for it. I was going to email you, but there’s no need now.”
Sage took her seat at her desk and set her coffee cup in its usual place, as far away from her keyboard as possible. She had learned during her first week on the job that placing her beverages anywhere else made her boss extremely jittery. Even so, he watched the cup with great consideration when Sage removed her hand.
“The file is on your desk?” she asked the question, even though she already knew the answer. Her aim was to distract Anthony’s attention from her latte.
He nodded, briefly making direct eye contact with his assistant. “Can I ask you for a favor?”
“Sure.” Anticipating a request to relocate her drink, she reached for the cup.
“If Brad stops by and wants to talk to me about anything, can you be my heavy?”
She grinned as she pulled her hand back. “You’re out of town and can’t be reached. Correct?”
Anthony nodded again and smiled. “I really appreciate it.”
“Where are you taking Jessica?” Sage prodded with care.
“It’s a surprise,” he volunteered freely. “I’m taking her to Timberline Lodge.” He was more relaxed around Sage than anyone else at the office.
“Up to Mt. Hood? I bet it’s beautiful up there with all the new snow.”
“Not as beautiful as she’s going to be.” Anthony’s voice was thick with emotion and Sage was surprised by her boss for a second time that morning.
“Are you two going to hit the slopes?”
Anthony averted his eyes as a distinctive blush colored his handsome face. The trip to the mountain was his two year anniversary gift to Jessica. He had never been skiing and Anthony didn’t expect to learn anytime soon. They were going to occupy themselves with other activities. He was also going to ask Jessica to marry him.
Anthony tried to dodge his assistant’s question with a warm albeit nervous smile. To his relief, Sage let him off the hook. “Have a fun weekend, Mr. Randall.”
“You as well,” he said just before nodding briskly and turning on his heel.
“Say hello to Jessica for me.”
“I will.”
******
Jessica Spencer was three years younger than Anthony. She was still attending college at Portland State University and living on campus in a small apartment building called the Maryann. She was working on her Master’s degree in Special Education with an emphasis on Speech Therapy.
Her friends all had crushes on her beautiful but bashful boyfriend. Anytime they were face to face with him, they either stared at his long, elegant fingers or stuck their boobs out.
Or both.
Anthony and Jessica met on the PSU campus just before a winter break. Back then, Anthony was a law school student and spending most of his time at nearby Lewis and Clark College. One day, he made a special trip to the upper Park Blocks to sample a chicken teriyaki rice dish that could only be purchased from a popular food cart located outside Smith Center. Jessica was hooked on the three-pound burritos that came from the same place and the two of them ended up in line together.
They fell in love that very afternoon and, three-pound burrito jokes aside, were fierce lovers by Christmas.
Anthony parked his car near Jessica’s pale building as the snowflakes started to morph from tiny ribbons to weighty wedges. Jessica wasn’t expecting him but encouraged his visits whenever he was downtown.
She heard the distinctive sound of his car door and met him on the stoop with an enthusiastic kiss. “What a nice surprise,” she smiled. Anthony laughed as he caressed Jessica’s rosy cheek. Her shoulder length strawberry blond hair fluttered in the chilly breeze, drawing Anthony’s attention. He wondered why she hadn’t taken the time to put on a cap but miraculously refrained from asking her the question outright.
“How was your final Final?” Anthony was a sucker for wordplay.
“Good,” she chimed. “I’m so relieved now that the term is over.”
“That’s actually why I came to see you,” Anthony said. “We have lots to celebrate. Would you be available to go away with me this weekend?”
“What?” The excitement in Jessica’s blue eyes was adorable. “To where?”
“Timberline.”
“Mt. Hood? But it’s snowing,” Jessica keenly observed.
“Exactly.” His grin unearthed one of his shallow dimples. “It will be beautiful.”
She looked at him suspiciously. “You don’t have any other surprises up your sleeve do you?”
“Nope.” Anthony answered with a smile. Just because he was shy didn’t mean he couldn’t lie.
“Give me ten minutes,” Jessica replied as she turned and pulled Anthony inside the building. She dashed around her small, creaky one bedroom apartment while he sat on her futon and watched her television as KGW News-Channel 8 reported the first real dusting of the year as though it were the storm of the century.
Soon, Jessica appeared in the bedroom doorway carrying one medium sized bag and wearing a large, puffy royal blue jacket. Anthony attempted to suppress his laughter while glancing back at the news, but Jessica knew him all too well.
“What?” she asked, placing her free hand on her narrow waistline. She pretended to huff at Anthony, but in truth she triumphed in drawing out his playful side.
“You remind me of someone,” he answered.
“Who?”
“Violet Beauregard. Right after she chewed Willie Wonka’s experimental gum.”
Jessica glanced down at her winter coat before arching a flirtatious brow. “Be careful with the fashion critique or you may not win the Golden Ticket this weekend.”
Because they had such varying tastes in music they traded songs on the way up Highway 26. Anthony put in something by Esperanza Spaulding, which was eventually countered by Jessica putting in something by Macklemore. It went like this for half the trip before Anthony suggested that they listen to the radio.
Jessica laughed heartily at his less than subtle suggestion. “Okay, I just don’t want you to get sleepy, that’s all.”
“Impossible,” he replied with a low, anxious chuckle. There had been butterflies in his stomach when he arrived at Jessica’s apartment. Now, as the road started to rise and the temperature started to drop, the butterflies became buffaloes.
Unaware of her boyfriend’s current mood, Jessica focused her attention on finding a radio station with a holiday selection. Christmas music soon filled the car as sunset approached. With the snowflakes rushing at the windshield and the triumphant sounding songs at hand, Anthony began to feel like he was streaking towards a great adventure.
Timberline Lodge was rugged and beautiful from the outside but, once entered, it took on a softer, more regal quality. Jessica thought it looked like part log cabin and part castle. Anthony noted with a smile that it smelled like pine trees and marshmallows.
They were met by a loping but well behaved St. Bernard. He was a five-month-old puppy that instantly captured Jessica’s full attention while Anthony made his way to the guest registration desk.
“Look at the size of your feet!” Jessica giggled. “You could run with the Clydesdales.”
The pretty brunette girl at the front desk glanced over the counter. “I see you’ve met Bruno.”
The couple was given an old fashioned key to a room on the third floor. It was luxurious but rustic, not unlike a museum exhibit. With the exception of the flat screen television and the iPod dock, everything in the suite reminded Anthony of his grandfather’s house. The king size bed was a glorious affair with a huge rounded headboard and a footboard sturdy enough to dive off of.
Jessica ventured in to the bathroom and Anthony heard her opening drawers and t
esting the complementary hair dryer. “There’s a Jacuzzi tub in here!” she squealed a few seconds later.
Anthony placed their luggage on the sofa, which was situated next to a lovely wooden desk in the sitting area. He opened his suitcase and inventoried its contents. He had packed four days of clothes, even though he needed only two. He also packed his own towels and a bag of toiletries that contained enough gadgets to make James Bond jealous.
Left alone in the room, he began to reconsider his ‘other’ idea. He didn’t think he could go through with what was surely the craziest urge he’d ever had. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to follow through on his intentions. The problem was he just didn’t know how to get started. He had worked out everything else, but this was such an unfamiliar transition to make.
And besides, Anthony thought, it’s a silly notion anyway ...
“Wanna take a bath?” Jessica suggested from the doorway of the bathroom, immediately drawing Anthony’s attention away from his thoughts. She was already naked. Her legs were coyly fused together but the tuft of ginger curls peeking out between them was lit intermittently as she rocked back and forth on her heels. Her nipples were hard despite the fact that the gas fireplace was already pushing delicious heat into the room.
Anthony couldn’t believe his luck. She had just given him the perfect lead in. He was never going to be handed a better opportunity. At least now he would get the whole thing over with so he could relax for the rest of their weekend.
“Sit on the bed while I get undressed.” he instructed in a thick voice.
Jessica obeyed, intrigued as she watched Anthony reach into his suit jacket and pull out his iPhone. He brought his own music dock of course, but the one in the suite had a compatible jack and bigger speakers so Anthony walked over and silently scrolled through his songs.
Jessica scooted back on the bed and reclined on her elbows while Anthony returned to his suitcase and actually put on more clothes, all of which would have served him better in the chilly car. Slowly he turned to her, donned in an overcoat, a red silk scarf and, of all things, a fedora.
Jessica thought he looked kind of like a gangster. She liked it, even if she was confused.
He went back over to his phone, took a deep breath, and slid a finger over his touch screen. Music began to play, an acoustic guitar and drums filling the room in a sensual outburst.
The tune was chosen as much for its name as its sultry tone and urgent beat. It was appropriately called “Shy,” and Anthony began to move to it like he was anything but. The rhythm was strange, the lyrics were steamy, and Jessica watched with mounting desire as the prim man she was so in love with began to strip away his inhibitions, along with everything else.
Anthony whipped the scarf off, maintaining strict eye contact with the delicacy on the bed. He discarded the material after it made an envious brief trip past his rear end. Anthony whirled around with surprising grace several times before his coat was thrown off next. He peeled it with ease from his shoulders and flung it over the back of the sofa.
Jessica lay on the bed, dumbfounded yet pleased. Anthony was a slinking cat, moving to the heavy beat. He snatched his suit jacket off and tossed it towards Jessica, careful not to actually let it land on her. He was thoroughly enjoying the view of the breathless prize gaping up at him.
Once he was down to his neatly tucked black dress shirt, Jessica could better observe his waist and his chest. She enjoyed the way the fabric stretched around his biceps as he slowly loosened his red and silver striped necktie and pulled it over his head. It reminded Jessica of a candy cane.
She began to feel velvet warmth spread through her. She shifted her position on the bed, giving Anthony the barest glimpse of her soft pink flesh as he started to unbuckle his belt. Jessica was more than a bit curious as to what underwear Anthony chose for this striptease. She allowed herself to imagine him in everything from leopard print bikini briefs to leather ball-huggers while he slowly removed his belt from his trouser loops.
Anthony grabbed his pants and in one quick move he shoved them down. He surprised Jessica with his choice of under garment.
He had none.
His shoes were kicked off with practiced ability and his already swelling gratitude for her was playing hide and seek from behind his shirttails.
Dancing before her in over the calf socks and a shirt that he was unbuttoning from the bottom up, Anthony was beginning to enjoy himself. He had almost done it, and he could see that Jessica was shocked by his uncharacteristic behavior.
His shirt fell open exposing his smooth muscular chest and the trail of fuzz on his belly that led to thicker hair. He threw the shirt aside and then grabbed his hat like Michael Jackson did in “Smooth Criminal”. He did not, however, grab his genitals like Michael Jackson did. He let only the warm air touch that part of him for the time being.
The song reached a frenzied pitch and Anthony elegantly gyrated and wiggled for his giggling girl. Avoiding tacky moves, he allowed the music to control his body and invited Jessica’s eyes to absorb every inch of him.
When the song slowed, so did Anthony. He ended the routine by retrieving the overcoat from the back of the sofa, putting it on, and with a flourish, walking out into the hall with the door closing behind him just as the song’s last note faded away.
A few seconds later, there was a small knock.
“Who is it?” Jessica called from her place in the center of the mattress.
“Um. I wasn’t intending to close the door all the way but my hands are sweaty,” came her lover’s muffled reply.
“You mean you don’t have your key?” she asked playfully.
“No?” came his boyish reply.
The door was opened wide and his naked angel stood before him with her hand out.
“Jessica!” Anthony began, shocked at her lack of modesty.
“Jacket please,” Jessica requested and repositioned her hand closer to him.
Anthony looked down at his open jacket (and his instantly dwindled arousal), and determined that the fastest way out of the quagmire was to pay the toll. He turned to allow Jessica to help him out of his overcoat, which she did efficiently. Then he heard the door slam closed behind him.
Anthony’s eyes became planets of surprise.
Noooooooo!
His mind was wrapped around the word.
He spun fast enough to feel something slap against his thigh, but the door was opened again before it could settle back into position.
“Kidding!” Jessica chirped as she grabbed him by the hand and pulled him back inside.
She walked him to the bathroom and he flexed in the mirror while she ran hot water in the tub.
“I knew something was up when we were driving here,” Jessica revealed, her voice echoing as she bent over the wide basin. “You were quiet. More quiet than usual.”
“I almost didn’t go through with it,” he admitted. “I was losing my nerve, but you had perfect timing. I figured it was a sign.”
“Well, it was really …” Jessica searched for the right word. Anthony had done a brave thing and showed her more trust than she could have ever dreamed of. Plus he had some great moves to go with his handsome body. She grinned and finished lamely, “… awesome.”
“Awesome.” Anthony spoke the word as though he tasted it. “That’s better than rad, right?”
“Totally!” Jessica was up for a game of Naked ’80s. “Totally tubular even!” She turned around and sat on the porcelain. It was cold on her naked flesh and she hooted a cute protest.
“Well you looked bitchin’ on that bed.” Anthony told her, offering a thumbs-up.
Jessica eyed him for a moment. “Seriously, Anthony.” She took a deep breath. She was happy enough to cry, but that would not do in this moment. “Thank you. It was very … very hot. I can’t believe you did that for me.”
“Me neither,” Anthony muttered.
“You don’t have any other surprises up your sleeve do you?” she asked.
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Anthony held his bare arms out. “Nope.”
Jessica eyed him again but he held under her scrutiny. All he had to worry about was keeping the ring box hidden, and it was already so buried in his suitcase that even the likes of Howard Carter wouldn’t find it. She brushed her feathery hair from her teardrop breasts and beckoned for Anthony to approach.
He obeyed and she began petting his length. His response was immediate. Anthony watched her admire him, first with her hands and then with her mouth. She looked up at him while she worked and he ran his hand gently through her hair. Then she looked back at the slick skin in front of her. Jessica liked to swirl her tongue around and lick him from base to tip.
Anthony shivered.
Jessica was concentrating. The act always required both mental and physical focus, and she was distracted by the sight of his taut butt in the mirror behind him. She was slowly losing her view to the steam that was rising from the rapidly filling tub, so she doubled her efforts and made him gasp a few times before coming up for air herself.
She turned the faucet off and slipped into the tub like a secret. “Hit the light, Anthony. I want to show you something.”
He dimmed the lights and watched as a square of white moonlight slowly swam into view. Most of it fell into the tub, which sat beneath an old fashioned window. Jessica bobbed there like an apple and he desperately wanted to take a bite.
Anthony stepped into the spacious tub and knelt between her legs. She pushed herself forward to meet him, allowing her hair to dip into the warm bath. Anthony placed both hands under the water and on her round rump, pulling her hips up even as he plunged his face into the matted nest of manicured hair in front of him. He poked his tongue out just far enough to brush the shiny pink canvas below.
Jessica was up to her neck in hot liquid as Anthony grew more adventurous with his mouth and more aggressive with his needing (and kneading) hands. She shuddered as he suckled her most sensitive area, a tiny berry that hid like a shy pearl, and she moaned when he thrust his hot tongue deep inside her.
She sank her hands into his thick hair and moved his head up and down to her liking. Anthony allowed himself to be led but when she threw her hands above her head he was free to explore new avenues of pleasure for her. His mouth danced over her flesh and when he moved up so he could taste each morsel that sat atop her breasts, she wrapped her arms around his head.
