Posted by hummingbird on 2/25/2014, 7:44 am VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
So put your arms around me now Hold me tight, show me how No one has ever loved me more I've waited for so long...
Maybe It's Love by Trisha Yearwood
Chapter Seventeen
Upon returning to the cottage, Nora thanked Clara and they said their goodnights. Bo played the gentleman and walked her through the dark to her car.
When he returned, he found Nora in the kitchen struggling with the corkscrew to open the wine.
“Here...let me do that. You get the glasses,” he said.
Nora set out two fluted glasses then turned and leaned against the countertop. “I’m sure you charmed Clara...walking her to her car,” she said smiling.
“Just being a gentleman...besides, I want her to like me, you know.”
She watched him as he opened the wine. She was used to seeing him in suits, but he looked just as gorgeous in casual clothes...a colorful short-sleeved plaid shirt over a blue t-shirt with jeans.
“I like you,” she said.
“Well, that’s good to hear because…” he glanced over at her, “I like you too.” They both smiled as their eyes met.
“I’m just saying...you’re easy to like, Bo Buchanan...she won’t have a problem liking you. Better not charm her too much or I’ll have competition,” she said with wide eyes.
He poured the wine. “You think I won’t be able to resist her charms?” he asked grinning at her. They both chuckled at the thought of Bo with the dimpled, matronly woman. He stepped in front of her and handed her a glass. He brushed back a stray tendril of her hair as he looked into her eyes. “You have no competition,” he said shaking his head softly. He lifted her chin with his finger to kiss her; then, “a toast,” he said raising his glass, “to...beginning again?”
“To beginning again,” she repeated tapping his glass. They shared a sip of the wine and another kiss before he took her hand and pulled her toward the living room.
“Here, take my glass. I’ll be right back. I want to check on Matthew.”
When she returned, she found Bo seated on the couch. He had dimmed the lights by turning the lamp down low and draping his shirt over it.
Nora laughed. “What’s this, Buchanan?” she asked seating herself close beside him and curling her feet up comfortably beneath her.
“It’s makeshift ambience,” he said stretching an arm across the back of the couch behind her shoulders. “Do you realize you have no candles in this place?”
“I haven’t needed any,” she quipped.
“Well, you need to get some...and some music. Do you have any good music?”
She sipped her wine before turning to him. “Just close your eyes and you’ll hear the music...” she said in a sultry voice.
He shook his head and sighed. “You’re making fun of me,” he said propping his sock feet on the coffee table and grinning at her.
She giggled. “Never...I love your romantic soul,” she said leaning her head against his shoulder to kiss him. They shared some more kisses before...
“Music?” he asked again.
“Oh! Yes! Music! Over here.” She jumped off the couch and went to the bookshelves. He followed. My collection is small. My ex-husband took most of the music when we parted ways…” she teased.
“That blasted cur,” Bo said looking at her miniscule collection. “He should be put to a slow death.”
Nora threw back her head and laughed. It was the first time she had ever laughed over their situation.
“Yes...how about death by dancing?” she said with big eyes.
“That sounds like a perfect punishment,” Bo agreed preoccupied by looking at the music. He pulled one off the shelf called Fabulous Hits of the Past. It was still wrapped in cellophane. This one looks great. Why haven’t you opened it?”
She sobered. “Oh...that was an impulse buy. I just...never could bring myself to listen to it after I bought it.”
He looked at her. “Well, how about tonight? We’ll listen to it together.” He raised his eyebrows as he questioned, “May I open it?”
“Sure.”
While Bo started the music, Nora returned to her wine. She was taking a sip when she heard the beginning of one of her favorites. She closed her eyes and smiled.
Just one look and I fell so h-a-r-d in love...with you-u oh-h, oh-ohh...
She looked at Bo as he turned around from the stereo. He held out a hand to her. She set down her glass and went into his arms. They started out with some fast dancing, but by the end they were just holding onto each other and swaying to the music. They danced to several more numbers by The Ronettes, The Temptations, The Crystals, The Shirelles...they twirled in and out of each other’s arms just like old times, laughing, singing along, talking, sometimes breathless.
When they heard the beginning of You Send Me, Bo pulled Nora close.
As they swayed to the music, Nora confessed, “I sing this to Matthew sometimes when I put him to bed."
Bo smiled at the thought. “He likes the oldies, does he?”
“Yes, he does, and so did Rachel. My favorite for her was Goodnight Sweetheart.”
“I see. Lucky babies to have a Mommy that introduced them to good music.”
“Ha. You might not say that if you heard me sing.”
“I’ve heard you sing...it’s just been awhile. Maybe I’ll eavesdrop sometime when you’re tucking Matthew in.” He pulled her closer. “Oh, Red. I haven’t danced in the longest time,” he said twirling her the other direction. “It’s been great.”
He was holding her so close that she was conscious of every part of his body. His proximity and the smell of his cologne were more intoxicating than the wine she had been sipping. He nuzzled her hair loving it’s familiar fragrance.
Toward the end of the song, Bo spoke quietly, “Well...I suppose I should be going soon...your baby will be getting you up early...”
She said nothing, but leaned her forehead against his and wrapped her arms more tightly about his neck as they swayed to the music. She didn’t want him to leave.
When the song ended, he reluctantly loosened his hold on her. He leaned back and asked, “May I peek at Matthew? We kind of bonded today. I want to see him before I go.”
“Sure.” He released her and made his way quietly to the nursery. She followed and watched from the doorway as he said goodnight to the sleeping baby. He adjusted Matthew’s blankets and ran his hand softly over his hair. When he turned around to leave the room, he found Nora leaning against the doorframe.
“I covered his feet,” he whispered. “He had kicked his blankets off. His feet are so tiny...I thought they would get cold.”
“That was very sweet of you,” she whispered back..
He leaned an arm above her on the doorframe. “Well, what can I say? I’m just...a sweet guy…” He fingered her necklace with his other hand. “Except for that thing about stealing all of your good music.” He looked into her eyes. “Forgive me for that?” He was inches from her lips.
“Forgiven,” she whispered.
The hand that had been playing with her necklace made it’s way to her waist drawing her close. His mouth found hers again kissing her...gently at first, then with fevered urgency. She responded with an urgency of her own running her hands up his chest...around his neck...through his hair. Their breathing was growing heavier. Bo drew away for a moment to lead her out of Matthew’s doorway and into the hall. He shut Matthew’s door quietly and pulled her back into his arms. Her mind was swirling with mixed emotions as he kissed her lips and then down her neck.
“Bo,” she murmured breathlessly.
He pulled back for a moment and looked into her eyes. They were full of emotion. He leaned his forehead against hers and kissed her softly. She ran her hands up his back and over his shoulders caressing him.
“This has been quite a night, hasn’t it?” he asked quietly, playing with her hair. “I hate to see it end.”
She ran a finger down his jawline. “Who says it has to end?” she asked softly. “You could ...keep me company tonight…” She peered up at him with questioning eyes.
He cupped her face in his hands. “I’d love to keep you company,” he said huskily, “if you’re sure…”
She smiled at him in the darkness. Then, taking him by the hand, she led him to her room. Bo closed her bedroom door behind them.
Moonlight stretched it’s shimmering light across the floor and bed almost as if it was being ushered in by the sea breeze that rustled the curtains at her windows...almost as if it were welcoming them.
Bo approached Nora softly from behind and wrapped his strong arms around her waist breathing in the scent of her as he began kissing her neck. She held the arms that were around her waist and inclined her neck to receive his kisses. This is a dream, she thought, it must be a dream...but she sighed aloud.
Bo heard her sigh and lifted his head to question her, “You okay?”
“Yes,” she whispered…”It’s just...been so long…”
“Too long,” he whispered back. “I’ve missed you, Red.”
She lifted her arm to run a hand down his cheek, “I’ve missed you too...so much.”
He nuzzled her neck and kissed her again. “May I?” he asked referring to her zipper.
She nodded her head briefly. His adept fingers slid the zipper of her dress down slowly revealing her back and waist. He slid his arms around her again, this time beneath the dress. He planted moist kisses on her neck again, around to where her necklace fastened, then along her spine between her shoulder blades. Her uncertainty vanished at his touch.
“Red,” he whispered.
Finally, she turned around to face him. He let her dress slip to the floor. Her lips found his and melted beneath them. She ran her hands under his shirt and began helping him with his belt. When they finished undressing each other, they backed slowly to the bed. As he lay her beneath him, all of her timidity was gone. They were in familiar territory again. All of their years of love-making had taught them exactly what pleased the other. They pleasured each other with their hands, their mouths, their hearts until both reached the summits they were seeking. After they reached their crescendos, they curled up in each others arms. All they could hear were the sounds of the surf and of their own breathing as their racing hearts returned to normal. Bo pulled Nora closer and caressed her back and shoulders.
After a few moments he spoke, “I love the sound of the surf,” he said quietly. “You’re lucky to get lulled to sleep by it every night.”
“It is nice,” she murmured running her fingers across his strong chest.
He wrapped his arms around her waist locking his fingers and pulling her into a firm embrace.
“Tonight was perfect, Red...this whole day was perfect,” he said softly.
She snuggled deeper into his arms enjoying the scent of him and the feel of his skin next to her own. She could tell he was getting sleepy, but before he drifted into a blissful slumber as he always did not long after their lovemaking, she heard an almost imperceptible whisper…
“I love you, Red."
Re: FF-Begin Again-Chapter 17
Posted by Mary Ann on 2/25/2014, 10:21 am, in reply to "FF-Begin Again-Chapter 17" VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Posted by rosie on 2/25/2014, 10:34 am, in reply to "FF-Begin Again-Chapter 17" VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
I love the way you write. So descriptive....I can visualize it all. Thanks for this wonderful story....now to find out Matthew is Bo's! I don't want it to end!