Invitation to Love (20 page)

“I
have a more restful day planned for us tomorrow. But, we’re still going to need
a good night’s sleep,” he mentioned as they rode the elevator back down to the
lobby.

Once
they arrived home, she waited at the bottom of the stairs while he locked the
front door and switched off the living room lights. As they mounted the stairs
in silence, she hid her disappointment at having to end the night alone, when
she’d rather spend it in his arms. They strolled slowly along the hallway, as
if stretching time before they would have to part.

They
came to her bedroom door. It took every bit of strength she had to finally look
at him and say, “Thanks for a wonderful evening, Michael.” His eyes traced
along her face so intimately that she could barely look back. “Well—good-night.”

“Would
it be okay if we ended our date with a kiss?” he asked before she could turn
away.

She
at once nodded like a timid school girl on her first date. He leaned forward
and pressed his lips to hers. When they parted slightly in response, he took
advantage of her invitation and deepened it. All of her fears that led up to
this moment fled the instant he touched her. She eagerly slid her arms around
his neck and held him. When they finally separated, his eyes were thoroughly
drunk with passion; Fear and exhilaration whirled through her like a dizzying
tempest.

“In
my room tonight, Taryn?” his voice, so brazen with desire, pleaded.

“Yes,”
she whispered without hesitation.

He
seemed stunned at first, as if he’d expected her to turn him down. When the
look in her eyes assured him that he’d heard right, he swept her up in his arms
and carried her away.

Once
inside his room, he sat her down in the middle of the floor. Her nerves
threatened to burst as he studied her with shameless want. She wished the faint
light of the bedside lamp was off, then maybe she could control her trembling.
She watched as he removed his jacket and tie and dropped them to the floor. He
then pulled his shirt from his trousers and began unbuttoning it. As he pulled
his undershirt over his head, her eyes glided along those strong abs, his
smooth chest and solid shoulders, continuing up until they fixed on his
alluring mouth. Her heart pounded rapidly, and she wondered if he could hear it
in the stark quiet of the room.

“Taryn,”
he called softly. “Do you need help?”

At
once she knew what he meant. She couldn’t breathe, or express one syllable, so
she just nodded. He stepped behind her. She felt the tug of her zipper and
heard it peel down her dress which fell to a heap around her ankles. His arms
wrapped around her from behind and held every inch of her tight. He groaned and
buried his lips in her neck. When he moved against her, her heart almost
exploded. He turned her around and examined the lace camisole top stretching
across her breasts, before gathering it into folds and lifting it over her
head. She shivered as he stood soaking in her nakedness.

She
wanted to shield herself, but was instantly warmed by the encircling of his
arms around her. He kissed her voraciously as he lifted her once more. After
placing her on the bed, he reached over and turned off the lamp. The mattress
moved as he sat on the side of it and removed the last confines of his clothes;
she did the same. He lowered himself beside her. At once, feelings of
inadequacy raced through her. It’s been so long; And, she’s never felt like
this before.

“Taryn,”
he touched his forehead to hers. “Try and relax. We’ll take it slow, o.k.?”

All
she could do was move her head in agreement. His tongue made a passionate
exploration from her lips, down her neck, and to her hardened nipples where he
teased each one unmercifully. She gasped and arched her body to his. Her hands
cupped his face and drew him back to kiss her hard again. His hand caressed and
raised her to dizzying heights; She responded with her own touches. He gently
placed himself between her legs. A dam of ardent fury burst when their bodies
united and began a slow rhythm until ecstasy soared and quickened their urgent
need. The ardent call of his name was the catalyst which drove him into a wild
frenzy that surged them upwards, then soared them back. For the first time in
her life, Taryn discovered the true meaning of sensation and fulfillment. They
lied in one another’s arms—complete and exhausted.

Michael
brushed her cheek with his mouth and nestled her close. “Thank you,” he
whispered.

Their
serene sleep lasted well into the night until she stirred in his arms, waking
him. His hand smoothed over the soft curves next to him, the urge to make love
to her strengthened by the second. He kissed her awake, arousing the desire he
knew dwelled within.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Daylight
gradually brightened the bedroom, filtering into Taryn’s peaceful sleep,
pulling her awake. Her eyes fluttered open to her husband’s.

“Good-morning,”
he smiled.

“Good-morning,”
was her demure response.

He
chuckled softly at the way her hands were gripping the sheets up to her chin.
“After what you and I have just been through, you’re not trying to be modest
with me, are you?”  He tugged at the cotton material. “You’d better let go, or
I’ll never get the wrinkles out.”

She
tried to calm herself, but it didn’t help when he slipped the sheet all the way
from her, exposing her bareness.

“You
have such a wonderful body,” he inspected the length of her. “And, you feel
like perfection. Guess what I have planned for us today.”

“I
don’t know. A day at the beach? A picnic at the park, maybe?”

His
finger trailed a path from her thigh, over her stomach, and up to rest on a
taut nipple, causing her body to grow moist. Then a sensuous smile appeared.
“Guess,” he whispered before his kisses began.

It
was well into the afternoon when Taryn was practically skipping down the stair
in joyful strides, leaving Michael to finish showering alone.  The need to
satisfy themselves with food finally won the battle. The excitement of being
with him, and how making love to him is an experience even her fantasies
couldn’t match, had her humming as she prepared their sandwiches. Her light of
hope is now a blazing beam, chasing her shadowy fears away. She’s no longer
troubled about anyone or anything. She and Michael are man and wife in the
complete sense of the word.

And, they’ll still be that
years from now when they’re hunched over, sitting side by side in their
wheelchairs watching the sun set.

She
looked up from slicing one of the sandwiches to see him strolling in. Their
eyes embraced, and then he was holding her from behind. It was that way between
them the entire day: Knowing smiles, a soft touch that led to moments of sheer
pleasure. After a phone call to Remi and Rachel, they cooled themselves in the
swimming pool then relaxed on the patio. Although his hands were tied, he
assured her he will be coming home from work much earlier from now on. And,
when the girls start school, he’ll take some time off so they can spend that
part of the day alone. He prepared a hearty dinner that evening, jesting that
they needed the energy for later.

Taryn
woke to an empty bed the next morning. Her spirits plummeted when she looked to
his side, and only the imprint of his head was on the pillow. She spotted a
card on her bedside table.

Darling,
miss you already. Do you miss me? Until tonight, my love.

P.S.
The last 24 hours was more that I could ever have dreamed of.

She
held the card to her to savor those beautiful words. (He said, my love) She
covered her face and blushed, then jumped out of bed to begin her day. The
doorbell rang when she reached the bottom step.

“Flowers,
ma’am,” the delivery man handed her a long, white box.

She
tore through the green wrapping paper where twelve long stemmed, red roses
greeted her from within. The card read:
To the most beautiful girl in the
world—My wife, Taryn.
She hugged the box to her all the way into the kitchen.
After lunch, another delivery came. This time, a box of pink carnations
surrounded by a boutonniere of baby’s breaths. The card said:
Just four more
hours until I see you, my darling. Can’t wait—Michael.
A tear rolled down
her cheek as she stood clutching the box to her.

It
was after five-thirty, and she had just slipped dinner into the oven. He’ll be
home soon, and she was eager to get upstairs and change into something nice.
The doorbell chimed again just as her hands grabbed the banister to go up.

“Michael,”
she shook her head as she hurried to the door. “I’m going to have to open my
own flower shop before long.”

But,
it wasn’t a delivery man with fresh flowers that stood on the other side this
time. The life drained from her face; The happiness that had her floating the
entire day, fled when she instantly recognized the woman with the dark hair and
eyes. Oh, there were a few changes over the years, but there was no mistaking
the person standing there: Karen.

“Taryn,”
Raven stepped from behind Karen.

Taryn’s
eyes tore away from the probing, dark eyes to the vindictive, gray ones.
“Raven,” was her dull reply.

“Bet,
you can’t guess who this is,” her laughter began the slow unravel of Taryn’s
sanity.

“I
don’t have to guess,” she met those eyes again. “I know.”

“It’s
nice to meet you, Taryn,” Karen held her hand out.

Raven
rolled her eyes when Taryn shook it. “Anyway, is Michael home, yet?”

The
two women studied one another intensely as Taryn answered her.

“No.
He’s on his way.”

“Good,
then you won’t mind if we wait for him, would you?”

Taryn
widened the door for them to enter, then directed them into the living room.
She took a cautious seat beside Karen on the sofa, while Raven seated herself
in the chair across from them, all the while her eyes kept darting from one to
the other as if waiting for the big show-down to happen. Taryn dismissed her
pathetic sense of joy.

“Well,”
Raven held one hand out toward her friend. “Karen just got off the plane from
New York. I couldn’t believe it when she called me two days ago and told me she
was coming.”

Karen
shot her a puzzled look. “Why were you sur…”

“Anyway,
I’m so happy she’s here.”

While
Raven fussed with her jet-black hair-do, and talked non-stop of the joy of
seeing her friend, Taryn wondered what her “good friend” would think if she
found out about her shameless plots to get next to Michael. When the
conversation switched to Karen’s new layered haircut, Taryn subtly glanced over
the perfect tone of her light skin, and the way her eyes squinted attractively
when she smiled at Raven’s ongoing praise of her. (She’s prettier in person)
Those cherry-red stilettos and that tight, black dress not only scream success,
but also her intentions for coming here. Her eyes fell to her leisure pants and
top, and she wished she could disappear right then and there.

“Won’t
Michael be surprised to see you?” Raven’s words stabbed into Taryn’s ears.

“Would
either of you care for a drink?” she asked, suddenly needing an excuse for an
abrupt get away.

“I would
love a drink of water,” Raven fanned her face dramatically. “It’s a hot day.”

“If
it’s not too much trouble,” Karen was more polite.

Taryn
stood and murmured and “excuse me”, then headed for the kitchen. The blatant
mockery of Raven’s laughter behind her chilled her to a full stop in the
hallway. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before continuing on. She
could barely go through the task of taking the glasses from the cabinet. All
she could think about was how her paradise has come to an abrupt end. If she
had the energy to laugh she would, but her body’s aching from head to toe; Even
her heart hurt to beat.

She
went over to the refrigerator and filled each glass with ice and water. She’d
always imagined this moment: Karen comes back; she stands aside graciously and
wishes her and Michael a blessed life; Thank him for all he’s done for her and
the girls, and skips off to a new life back in Nashville. But, that was before
love got in the way—before last night. She just can’t walk away as if he means
nothing to her, now.

She blinked
the bitter tears back and slammed a glass down on the tray, causing a trickle
of water to plop over the rim. It’ll do no good to cry now. Now’s the time to
be strong and deal with this in the best way possible. (And how is that?) She
never expected the woman to come back so soon; Or that her feelings for Michael
would complicate things when she did. Just the mere thought of leaving him is
draining the life from her. She pushed away from the counter and folded her
arms tightly to her chest. There’s no doubt in her mind Raven’s the reason
Karen’s here. No way was she going to let the news of his marriage to another
woman go without whispering some sort of poison in her ear. She inhaled again
to ease any hints of anger or hurt from her face, then picked up the tray and
headed for the living room. She sat it on the table before them, feeling
Karen’s eyes on her as she handed out the glasses.