Jerrold

by Katie Dowe

  Noelle took her time answering. “Like a soulmate?”

  “Like a soulmate.”

  She frowned a little bit. “I don’t know if I can logically believe that there is just one person, but then again I have seen my parents together and even though my mom has been dead for a number of years, my dad keeps hanging on to her memories, making it hard for him to truly be with anyone else.”

  “My parents have been married for thirty years,.” Jerrold told her. “I have heard them in their bedroom arguing when they think I have gone to bed, but the next morning it is like they never were and I often wondered about that. I remember asking my dad about that one time and he told me that the trick is to not go to bed angry, it was not worth it. So yes, I believe in the all-consuming love that blocks everything out.”

  She shifted a little in her seat, his eyes holding hers. “And when one of you dies, there is a difficulty in moving on. Maybe it is not a good thing after all.”

  He leaned forward. “You don’t believe that. I have seen members of the club I belong to, men who had several meaningless relationships and had their lives turned around by one woman who mattered. I have seen the way they look at those women and know for a fact that something like that exists and that is what I want.” He almost blurted out that he wanted it with her but managed to stop himself.

  Noelle’s fingers trembled a little bit as she put her glass down. “I hope you find it,” she said huskily.

  “I am on my way to doing exactly that.” This time, the meaning was clear and Noelle felt her heart quicken. Her fingers clenched on the white tablecloth as he got to his feet slowly.

  “I am not finished,” her voice sounded scratchy and her entire body was trembling.

  “I think you are.” He held out a hand to her and for a wild minute she thought about not taking it! He waited for her to do so and when she did he closed his hand around hers and pulled her to her feet. He did not let go of her hand and stood there looking down at her, feeling the tremors in her fingers. His free hand lifted and he brushed back the hair from her face tenderly, his eyes wandering over her beautiful features. “I want you,” he whispered.

  “I told you that I am not interested in a relationship.” She was trying desperately not to give in to her treacherous body!

  “Is that true?” He tilted her chin up, his eyes on her parted lips.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “So tell me to stop,” he told her softly.

  “I cannot.” The words appeared to be torn from her lips.

  “Neither can I.” His lips descended and her eyes closed in anticipation of what she had experienced when he had kissed her two days ago in her apartment. His lips brushed against hers lightly, his breath stirring against her skin, causing the tremors to increase. He released her hand and used both of his to cup her cheeks, holding her in place as he ran his tongue lightly over her lips. The desire was churning inside him, increasing the pressure in his body, but he was determined to take his time. He lifted his head and stared down at her, taking in the shallow pants coming from her mouth before he bent his head again, this time his tongue darting inside her mouth and touching hers. Noelle moaned, her body inexorably drawing closer to his as she sought the warmth that was already invading hers! It felt right and wonderful and unlike anything she had ever felt before and she did not want him to stop!

  Chapter 7

  He lifted his head from hers and stared down into her deep dark brown eyes, a question in his. He was raging with the rampant desire, but he was determined to pace it to match hers, to give her the chance to back away and tell him that she was not ready, but fervently hoping that she was because he could not turn back, not now. “Noelle?” His voice was a husky whisper as he stared at her. “Would you like to come into my bedroom with me?”

  Her hands were clenched into fists on his chest as she stared up at him, her body trembling. “I don’t know,” she whispered back. She had not wanted him to stop, but now that he had, she was not sure if she wanted him to continue.

  “Do you need a moment?” he teased her shakily.

  She shook her head.

  He started to move away and she held him, grasping his sweater to hold him in place. “Tell me what you want, darling.”

  “Don’t!”

  “Don’t what?”

  “You are confusing me.”

  “That’s the last thing I want to do,” he told her gently. He took her fists in his and brought them to his lips. “What do you want me to do, darling?”

  “I want you too,” she whispered.

  His heart thudded inside his chest. “You want me to make love to you?”

  She nodded, the words evading her.

  He stepped back and took one of her hands to lead her away. They walked through the passageway where Noelle saw paintings on the wall and then she was focused on the double doors just in front of them. He stopped there and looked down at her as if expecting her to change her mind before he flung the doors open that led them into the breathtaking wide open area of a bedroom wallpapered in cream and blue. It was mostly scanty except for the huge bed that she was careful not to look at and the armoire in one corner as well as a rich brown sofa across from the bed. The transparent ceiling to floor glass afforded a spectacular view of the city lights and an even more beautiful view of the dark blue sky with the thousands of stars. She jerked to attention when he came alongside her. “There is a balcony where I sit when the weather is right,” he murmured as he looked outside. He turned her to face him, his hands running up and down her arms. “You are afraid.”

  “No.” She took a deep breath and told him. “I have never-“

  He frowned and waited for to continue. “I have never done this before,” she admitted on a rush.

  Somehow, he kept the shock from off his face as he stared down at her. “Never?” he asked her gently.

  She shook her head. “If that’s a problem-“

  “Why would that be a problem?”

  “Men like you want to be with experienced women.”

  “You don’t know me well enough to know that, but I intend to change that.”

  A sigh shuddered through her and she nodded. “Are you going to ask me why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why I am still-” She shook her head. “Still inexperienced.”

  “Only if you want to tell me, darling,” he told her gently.

  “Do you mind if we sit?”

  “Not at all.” He took her hand and guided her to the sofa, keeping her hand in his when they sat down.

  “I had it pretty rough in high school.” She stared down at the strong tanned hand holding hers and felt the warmth of his touch. “I had a severe case of acne and I wore braces as well. I never developed curves until I left high school and the kids there were unmerciful.” Her hand tightened in his and he squeezed her hand gently. “I had a stupid crush on the most handsome guy in the school, the captain of the football team of all people.” She laughed hollowly and shook her head. “I was not smart enough to go for one of the nerds in the science club, but I had to reach for Toby whose girlfriend was the head of the cheerleading squad. He set me up by being kind to me and I blurted out how I felt never knowing that he was going to use it against me.” She gasped as his hand tightened on hers.

  “Sorry,” he muttered, masking his rage.

  She smiled at him as she realized that he was feeling anger for her and it warmed her. “They humiliated me in front of the entire school and made me into a laughing stock.” She broke off and stared down at the rich blue carpet pensively. “I never got over it and it ended up ruining my chances of having a relationship.”

  “Want me to go and beat up the jerk?” He tried to tease her, but it did not quite come out that way.

  “He is a mediocre dentist who has been divorced twice so I think he has been sufficiently punished.”

  “What about the cheerleader? I could probably get her fired from whatever position she works
at.”

  Noelle laughed at that. “She works at a fast food restaurant.”

  “So that takes care of that.” His eyes searched her face. “He was a jerk and people like that never end up too well. I am going to challenge you to do something.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Get on with your life and not let them have any more power over you. The first thing you are going to do is get into a relationship with me. We could spread it all over social media so that they can see it. We could also take out ads in all the papers so that there is no chance of them missing it.” His eyes twinkled with laughter and Noelle felt herself relaxing and letting go of the past as she looked at him.

  “Baby steps,” she said with a smile. “And I am not ready for a relationship yet.”

  “But there is hope?”

  “Definitely. You had me when you offered to go and beat him up for me.”

  “If I had known that would do the trick I would have offered before.” He used his free hand to tilt her chin up. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded. “Thank you.”

  “There is a way you can show your gratitude,” he told her lightly.

  “What is that?”

  “Show favoritism to me when you are at the team HQ and make the other players aware that I am your favorite.”

  “I thought I was already doing that?” she teased him.

  “Not enough.” A smile tilted his lips as he stared at her. He became sober as he used his thumb to smooth her cheek. “I want to be the one to change things for you, to hold you when things look uncertain, and to make you forget that creep and those small-minded people in high school who caused you one minute of pain.”

  She trembled as she stared at him. “You think you can manage to do all that?”

  “I am certainly going to try,” he told her soberly. “Starting now.” He bent his head to hers and she opened her mouth in anticipation of the kiss. His mouth touched hers lightly, the caress subtle and provocative, sending shivers up and down her spine. Noelle dragged her hand away from his and used them to slide up his chest and around his shoulders, feeling the bunched up muscles there. His hands fisted into her hair at the back of her head as he held her while he explored the sweet crevice of her mouth. His tongue plunged and then retreated, feeling the tremors of her body against his. He soothed her with his touch and sent the fire racing through her body as he deepened the kiss, his fingers massaging the back of her head, sliding slowly downwards to the back of her neck, caressing the skin there as he devoured her mouth! Noelle dug her fingers into his shoulders as her body arched in response to his. He dragged his mouth from hers, trying to control his breathing as he put his head on her forehead, his body trembling! He got to his feet and reached for her hand to pull her up, taking the steps towards the bed. He turned her around to face him. “I want to see you,” he whispered. “All of you.”

  She nodded. “May I?” He touched her sweater and she told him yes.

  He lifted it up and over her head, breathing in deep as he saw the scrap of lace covering her small breasts. He put the sweater onto a table and ran his hands over her arms before reaching for the front clasp of her bra and unhooking it. He saw the change in her breathing and stopped for a moment to look at her. “I won’t hurt you.”

  “I know.”

  He continued to unhook the bra and removed it slowly, his eyes darkening as he stared at the puckered nipples. He cupped her breasts in his palms as if he was weighing them, causing the tremors inside her body. “You are so beautiful,” he said huskily. His thumbs went to work caressing the already tight buds and she moaned, her body arching towards him. “So beautiful,” he repeated. He pulled her closer to him, wrapping his hands around her waist, his fingers drifting down her bare back and making her skin tingle. He kissed her lightly on the lips and she wrapped her hands around his neck, her fingers drifting into the short hairs at his nape. His hands drifted into the waistband of her skirt and underwear, pulling them down as his tongue tangled with hers. He wanted her first experience to be epic and one that she would never forget, but the way his skin was burning up and the desire hammering inside him, he was not certain he would be able to take the time to do that!

  With a half laugh and a half groan, he pulled away from her, his eyes burning as he looked at her. “I am about to make a fool of myself,” he told her thickly. He took her hand and helped her onto the bed before quickly taking off his clothes and joining her there. He turned sideways to look at her as she shimmied out of her skirt and underwear. His hands wandered down her flat stomach and marveled at the quiver of her flesh. He was highly aroused, but he was not going to rush into the act. It had to be special for both of them. He bent his head and caught a nipple inside his mouth, his tongue swirling around the tight bud, feeling her body arching towards his in response to the touch. He pulled the bud deeper inside his mouth, taking pleasure into giving her the utmost pleasure, his body reacting to her responses to him. His fingers wandered over her skin, going further down, parting her legs so that he could reach between them for the warmth of her sex. She moved restlessly, her body quivering when he used his fingers to glide over the mound of her protruding flesh. He dipped a finger inside her, feeling the tightness and the resistance there as she lurched against him. He lifted his head and looked down at her. “It’s okay,” he whispered thickly, his finger drifting in further as he thrust into her gently trying to get her used to what was coming very soon.

  “Jerrold,” she breathed as she grasped his thick muscled arms. The sound of his name on her lips drove him to distraction and he felt the blood thundering through his already engorged penis!

  “Soon, darling,” he whispered. He inserted another finger inside her and watched her face as she opened her legs wider for him. He eased his fingers out and used them to spread the moisture on the tip of him before climbing over her. He pressed his open palms on either side of her head as he stayed there suspended over her for a little bit before he guided his penis inside her slowly, taking his time as he waited for her to adjust to his thickness. “I am going to have to hurt you a little bit.” His voice was harsh with regret as he went in further. Noelle braced for the pain and when it came she stiffened for a moment, digging her fingers into the hardness of his muscled shoulders, a cry escaping her lips! But the pain disappeared and was replaced by the excruciating pleasure as he drove deep inside her, his hips joining hers before retreating and then plunging into her again.

  Jerrold gritted his teeth as he felt the agonizing passion invading his body! He fisted his fingers in her hair and held her steady as he thrust into her, his body tightening and he realized that he did not have long to last. His head descended as he captured her lips, his mouth ravishing hers. Noelle felt the pressure curling into the pit of her stomach as the cloying heat traveled throughout her entire body and begged for release! The sensations hit her with an intensity that had her body arching towards his, her heart skidding inside her chest at a very alarming rate! He captured the moan inside his mouth and by tacit agreement he eased out of her for a moment and then plunged into her over and over again! He tore his mouth from hers, his breathing ragged. “Let go, darling,” he whispered thickly. “Just let go.”

  She arched her body and did just that, her fingers sinking into his shoulders as the orgasm crashed through her, spiraling and sending heat slashing across her skin. He came soon after her, a groan escaping his mouth as he made the final plunge inside her, his hands tight on her skin, his body shuddering against hers!

  Noelle buried her face in his chest, hardly feeling the springy dusting of dark brown hairs on his muscled chest. He shifted sideways, taking her with him and still intimately joined to her, his hands soothing her back. He waited for his heart rate to even out and the shuddering to get under control, a dazed look on his handsome face.

  He felt when she lifted her head and he looked at her. “Hey.”

  “Hey,” She had a small dazed smile on her lips as she spread
her fingers over his chest. “I never expected it to be so-” She stopped not sure what to say.

  “Amazing? Mind blowing? Wonderful?”

  “All that,” she admitted with a smile.

  “I kind of expected something close to that, but it certainly took me by surprise,” he said huskily. “You do realize that there is no turning back for us now, right?” he whispered, his fingers trailing down her back. “No more pretending that you do not notice when I come into the room while you are treating the others. No more telling me that you do not want a relationship.” He tilted her chin up. “We are in one, Noelle.”

  “The sex is amazing and I am happy we did it, but I am not ready-”

  He cut off the rest of the sentence as he took her lips with his. Noelle wrapped her hands around his neck and returned the kiss with an ardor that fired his blood and had him moving inside her. With a tortured groan, he shifted, coming over her as he started all over again, his body driving into hers with a force that had her clinging to him!

  *****

  “Stay,” he murmured as she got ready to move away from him. They had fallen asleep after the third time and he was concerned that she would be sore. He had fallen asleep with his arms around her. Now he felt as she started to move away and kept his hold on her body.

  “I can’t.” She pushed against him, but he would not budge. Her body felt wonderfully sated and pleasantly exhausted. A glance at the bedside clock showed that it was almost two AM!

  He pulled her beneath him and trapped her body with his. “Why not?”

  “I have work in several hours and you have practice.”

  “Not until in the afternoon.” His mouth teased hers and she felt the current running through her body again. “Stay,” he begged. “Spend the night with me and leave in the morning. Please.”

  “Jerrold,” se moaned and knew she was weakening.

  He felt it too and bending his head, he captured her lips in a stunningly sweet kiss that had her giving in!