Lulu's Loves (14 page)

I woke around four and couldn’t go back to sleep. At five, I slipped from his arms and went to the window to look out. The moon shining on Matanzas Bay was full, like my heart. I stood there for a while and prayed. Finally, I felt Thom behind me.

“Everything all right?”

“Never better,” I turned to face him and he held me close. “Make love with me, Thom.”

I led him to the bed. He felt me and smiled. I was longing for him. I touched him and he sucked his breath in. It wouldn’t take long. I positioned myself on top of him. I knew what he liked. I eased my body back and forth gently until his fingers dug into my hips, letting me know he was ready. He whispered my name, and I lowered myself onto him, slowly taking all of him inside me. I tightened my muscles and felt him throbbing with want inside my body. Rising up, I began the ride that I knew he was waiting for. Slow at first and then frantic with need, I gave Thom Miller everything I had. As we fell back, exhausted, I gave him my whole heart.

“I love you,” he said.

We saw each other every other weekend. In November, I was going to Kiawah for Thanksgiving. This would be another new experience, not a weekend but a week. I felt bad leaving my dad alone, but he told me he was going to Welkie’s for the day.

I left on Friday after work. I stopped at the grocery store on my way. I wasn’t going to the pub. I was going to Thom’s place to have dinner ready when he came in. He arrived at seven.

“What smells so good?”

“Ravioli!”

“You made ravioli?” he asked, turning me from the stove into his arms.

“Define ‘made,’” I snickered. “I cut the bag open and boiled those little suckers, doctored up a jar of sauce and threw together what you smell in the oven.”

“It smells good! I’m hungry.”

I dished up dinner while Thom went to wash up. When he returned, we sat down to eat and talked about the week ahead.

“Early Thursday morning we run the Turkey Trot. Have you been training?”

“I will leave you in a cloud of dust!” I laughed.

“I’ll be chasing the fine fanny in front of me,” he replied, waggling his eyebrows. “After the run, we’re sand sculpting. Have you got any ideas? I want to win this contest!” he announced. “Danno will join us.”

“I have a picture.” After I finished eating, I grabbed my purse. “It’s a rough sketch, but I think you’ll get the idea.”

He unfolded the paper and slammed his hand on the table with laughter. It was a penis.

“It’s all I could think about,” I told him.

“Definitely not mine,” he roared. “We’re eating Thanksgiving dinner at the resort because we’re not cooking. I want to enjoy this time. I want to enjoy you.”

We were relaxing on the sofa in the living room watching television. I was snuggled in his arm.

“Are you ready to go to bed?” he asked, later.

I scooted closer. “What have you got in mind?”

“You. I’ve thought of nothing else for days,” he said with a smile. He rose and took my hand.

Once we were in the bed, he moved close to me. Kissing me, his hands began the exploration, the touches and pleasure that was our foreplay. I squirmed, arching my body to let him know I was ready.

“Not yet,” he said, kissing my neck.

His hands, his fingers, his kisses, were driving me mad.

“Now,” I begged, digging my fingers into his hips, pulling him closer.

“What are you thinking, Lulu?” he whispered in my ear.

“I want to please you…”

“You have,” he said, pulling me closer. “More than that, you excite me in every way. I want to feel you, Lulu. Not
that
way,” he said, when I giggled.

“I meant this way.” He took my hand and placed it over his heart. “I want to show you I love you, not just say the words.”

I decided to do the same. I guided him to a sitting position and straddled him, so that I was sitting on his lap facing him. I put my hand on his chest. He put his over mine. I felt the love he wanted me to feel.

“Lulu,” he said, breathlessly.

“Slow, Thom. We’re going to show each other what we feel.” I put my arms around his neck and leaned closer to kiss him.

“I don’t know how slow I can go…”

I began to rock. His hands slowly explored my body. It started to feel as though we had to hurry. This was the most intimate thing I’d ever experienced. Thom was enjoying it, but he was ready; he was so ready for me. I was anxious for the lovemaking that I knew we’d share after this experience.

“I can’t wait any longer, Lulu.” He flipped me on my back, kissing me passionately. He whispered my name as he slowly entered my body. I surrendered my inhibitions, and my heart, holding nothing back. It was sensual lovemaking. Nothing like we’d shared before.

“That was amazing, Lulu.” He dragged his hands through his hair, and rolled to his side, pulling me on top of him. “I love your heart.”

The next morning he woke me early. “Come on, I’d like to show you some of Kiawah’s treasures today.”

“I’m all yours.”

“Don’t. I keep thinking about last night. When I do, it makes me want you. We have to get out of this house,” he said, with a grin. “One of my favorite places here are the marshes. I only have a single kayak. We’re going to rent a tandem, so I can show you.”

Once we were on the water, Thom led us toward the grassy marshes. I loved the song of the paddles sweeping the water and the ripple of the vessel as we paddled into a beautiful, peaceful sunrise.

“This is my favorite time to be on the water,” he told me, as we made our way through the swamp grass.

“I can see why. I’ve seen herons, pelicans, and egrets, and a turtle or two. It’s amazing; I’ve never done anything like this before. It’s a new experience.”

“I think we’ve shared a few of those.”

I looked over my shoulder to see him. His smile was a bright as the sun that had just peeked above the horizon.

He stopped paddling and pointed. “Shhh.”

I turned to see deer along the bank.

“So peaceful, like they don’t even know we exist,” I whispered.

We returned the kayak and headed back to Thom’s. As he drove, he seemed reflective. I wanted to ask, but it felt like I’d be intruding if I spoke, so I waited.

Finally, he turned to me. “I was trying to put the right words together to say what I mean.”

“Speak from your heart, I usually find that best,” I smiled. “That’s what you once told me.”

“I was thinking about the experiences we’ve shared.”

I waited for more.

“How could I have possibly prepared myself for you? You are unexpected, yet it’s as though you’re my destiny, like it’s always been you, Lulu. I love every experience we share.”

I looked up.

“Not just the lovemaking, although you’ve taken me places I never dreamed of. I enjoyed your pleasure and wonder as we paddled through the marsh. I told you that it’s one of my favorite things, that time of day in that place is sanctuary to me. I want you to share something with me, something that brings you peace and reverie. Where is that place for you?”

“I’m not sure I can explain it. I’ll try,” I added when he looked up. “It’s books. Books take me places I couldn’t dream without the words of the writer, like the marshes. I’ve never been anywhere like them to paddle on the water, but I’ve read of them through the works of authors like Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. Her stories took me to life in old Florida. I’ve been places I could never go in real life, but the words…Oh, Thom, the words take me places you’d never imagine.”

Thanksgiving morning, he rustled me awake. “Come on, we’ve got a trot to do, and then art in sand!”

I was crowded in front of him as we waited. “You better run fast, beautiful!” he told me when we heard the boom letting us know the race began.

“As long as you’re behind me, I’m the winner,” I laughed. He swatted my behind as the pace picked up.

Thom stayed behind me the entire run, to observe, if I suspect correctly. Our sand sculpture was a lobster, but I think that Danno and Thom took the idea of the penis and enhanced it. There were castles, turtles, sharks, and fish, but the sculptures of people and cartoon characters were amazing. We didn’t win, but it was a blast watching it all.

I loved every moment of the week we spent together and heading home on Sunday was harder than I could ever have prepared for.

“We have a visit in two weeks, and then Christmas,” he said. “I’ll come to you for part of it and you can come here for part, sound like a plan?”

“It does. The two weeks between our visits seem to get longer and longer.”

“But our time together is always great.” His smile dazzled.

Our time together
was
always great, and I knew it wasn’t just about sex. I felt his heart.

2001

Thom was everything I’d dreamt of in a man and more. We burned up the roads between Kiawah and Jacksonville. With each visit, I fell more in love with him. There was no question in my heart that he shared the same feelings.

We’d been a couple for almost two years. Thom told me he’d made plans for a getaway for spring break. I was delighted. I couldn’t wait to know where he was taking me. He’d only tell me that it would be amazing, I needed a passport, and to pack beach attire.

On Friday, March 15
th
, we boarded a plane and headed for somewhere “warm and romantic.” I didn’t care. I was with this incredible man. I looked forward to every moment.

We landed at St. John’s, Antigua, where a shuttle took us to The Resort at Nonsuch Bay on the eastern side of the island. It seemed the Island was ablaze when we arrived. Everywhere I turned, I was greeted by the brilliant red, pink, and fuchsia bougainvillea. Palm trees swayed in the breeze that welcomed us. I was in awe when we arrived. Everything was tropical, white, bright, and beautiful.

Thom checked in and a young man named Anwar introduced himself, proud of his position as our personal concierge. He pulled up in a golf cart to show us around the resort and take us to our villa. When we entered, we found a sitting area and a small kitchen. I noticed that it appeared to be stocked. Anwar opened the refrigerator affirming my thoughts. Thom smiled with that ‘chk’ sound that I’d come to love, followed by a wink.