Posted by hummingbird on 5/21/2014, 8:09 am VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Chapter Twelve
The sun was high in the sky when Nora opened her eyes on the new day. She snuggled close to Bo who was still sleeping soundly. She lay her head on his shoulder and watched the steady rise and fall of his chest as he slept peacefully beside her.
So handsome, she thought, and so sweet. He had been a gentle lover; so her first experience, while not perfect, left her looking forward to the next time they would make love. Afterwards, he had held her in his arms and they talked half the night away...about their wedding, their future together, their dreams. Finally, they had drifted off to sleep wrapped in each other’s arms. She wondered how many more nights they would have like this before they took him away from her…
She was scared.
Daddy and Mama listened to the radio every evening for news of the war, and she listened with them when she wasn’t working. But the war just seemed like something happening far away, affecting other lives but not touching her own, until she heard the news of James Casey...and now here was Bo...her own sweet husband of just one day...how would this war affect their lives?
Bo stirred. He rubbed his face and opened his eyes.
“Hey, sleepyhead...it’s about time you woke up,” Nora said quietly.
He glanced her way and smiled. “Mornin’ Red.”
She kissed his neck. “Morning? It’s nearly noon! Did I marry a lazy man?” she teased.
“Hey...you kept me up half the night,” he responded pulling her close.
She giggled. “I kept you up? Hmmm...was that the way it was, Buchanan?”
“Well...maybe it went both ways,” he admitted. “So, how long have you been awake?”
“Oh...I don’t know...maybe twenty minutes or so,” she replied.
“Well, why didn’t you wake me?” he asked.
She rested her chin on his chest and answered, “Because I enjoyed watching you sleep. You looked so peaceful.”
“Not drooling or snoring or anything…?”
“No,” she laughed, “just sleeping. You look adorable, by the way.”
“Oh?” he said raising his brows.
“Yes,” she whispered. “I love your tousled look...the messy hair…it’s very sexy…”
“And what do you know about sexy?” he questioned.
“Well, not a lot,” she answered, “but more than I knew a day ago anyway…” she answered smiling up at him.
He laughed at his new bride and rolled her beneath him. “Well, remember what I said...experience brings improvement, so…” he whispered between kisses, “we’ll just keep honing our skills...and...getting lots of experience…”
She interrupted his kisses. “Wait a minute… 'honing our skills'?...that doesn’t sound very romantic,” she said wrinkling up her nose.
He laughed again. “Okay...uhm...let’s see...how about…..” Bo cleared his voice and began in a rich, french accent, “Come with me, my Sweetest Bride, Mon Amour, and let me show you the ways of love, the art of passion, the…”
“No,” she said wrinkling her nose again.
“No?” Bo questioned in French.
“No. I just want my Bo,” she said softly tracing his jawline with her finger.
“Good, Your Bo just wants you too...no more talking...just kiss me…”
She complied without another word…
* * * * * * *
They lay tangled in the sheets just holding each other, completely content when Bo suddenly asked “What was that?”
Nora giggled. “It was my stomach. I’m starving!”
“You know, I’m hungry too. Time for some breakfast.”
Bo reached for the bedside phone to call room service.
“You think we can actually get breakfast at 12:45?” asked Nora.
“We’re in the honeymoon suite...they’ll understand,” Bo replied before he said, “Hello...is this room service? Yes, we would like the French toast breakfast delivered to Suite 5A please. Yes...I realize it’s nearly 1:00. We had a late night…”
“Bo!”
He grinned at her outburst. “Yes, the french toast, lots of bacon, juice...pastries? Sure, why not. We’re starved...really worked up an appetite…”
“BO!”
Bo continued with an ornery smile, “Yes...thank you very much. Oh and...if we don’t answer...just leave the tray by the door. Thank you.”
Nora’s mouth dropped open. “Bo Buchanan! What must those people think?! I’ll be embarrassed to even walk through the lobby now...everyone will be looking at us!”
Bo laughed out loud and pulled her close again nuzzling her neck. “Oh, don’t worry so much. Who cares what they think? We don’t know these people...we’ll never see them again…”
“Still…” she started. But he cut her off with another kiss.
“At least they’ll know we enjoyed the accommodations, right?”
She shook her head smiling in spite of herself. “What have I gotten myself into marrying you?”
“Well...look at the bright side...you’ll never get bored,” he grinned.
* * * * * * *
After breakfast was delivered...and devoured...Nora pinned up her red locks and sank once again into a hot, bubbly tub.
“Bo,” Nora shouted from the bathroom, “I thought you were going to join me.”
A few minutes later, Bo entered the room. “Just making our reservations for tonight,” he said.
“Tonight? What are we doing tonight, Mr. Buchanan?”
“The Waterloo Inn has a ballroom for dining and dancing by reservation only. I thought we’d make it a special evening…” He stopped as he took in the sight of Nora, hair pinned up haphazardly, neck deep in frothy bubbles.
“What?” she asked when he just stood looking at her.
“You...you’re just so beautiful.”
She motioned toward her face, “Like this? Uh huh. You’re just too sweet. Are you coming in here or not?” she asked trying to reach the belt of his robe.
“Oh...I’m coming in there,” he assured her. “You better believe I’m coming in there.”
She laughed as he flung his robe aside and joined her in the tub causing some of the warm, bubbly water to slosh over the sides. His hands found her under the water and he sank into it’s depths pulling her close, exploring her, kissing her.
Finally she interrupted him, “Let’s make a deal...whoever can find the sponge gets their back washed first.”
In seconds, Bo held the sponge over his head. “Looks like I’m first,” he said turning around with his back toward her.
“You’re so competitive,” she murmured.
“Hey...I didn’t issue the challenge…”
She soaped the sponge and worked it across his back and shoulders. After rinsing him, she pulled him back between her legs and ran the sponge across his chest and stomach. She could feel his muscles tighten in response. She kissed his neck and then his mouth as he turned his face toward her. Holding the sponge in front of him and lifting her eyes playfully, she said, “My turn,” and traded places with him. Bo worked a lather into the sponge and gave her the same special treatment washing her back, shoulders, chest. Finally, he laid up the sponge, rinsed her and pulled her to rest against him. Her head rested in the crook of his neck. He raised his hand up out of the water and she entwined her fingers with his. He wrapped his other arm around her waist beneath the water.
They were silent for awhile until Nora said, “I wish we could hideaway here forever.”
Bo rubbed his chin in her hair. “I don’t know, honey. When they found us years from now, they wouldn’t know if we were wrinkled from age or from soaking too long.”
Nora laughed and raised a foot out of the water. “I guess you’re right. I’m already getting a little prune-y.”
“Prune-y?” He grinned and shook his head. “Well... maybe we shouldn’t soak too long then. I was thinking we should go shopping today. I want to buy my bride a new dress.”
“And why would you want to do that?” she asked, playing with his hand.
“For fun...and because tonight is special. Want to?”
She looked at him, “Sure. I’ve never turned down a new dress before.” She turned and sat straddling him under the foamy water. They shared more sweet kisses while the bathwater got progressively colder.
Nora chilled. “Brrr…”, she said snuggling closer, “not only am I prune-y, but I’m freezing!”
Bo glanced at the clock. “Well...we need to get going anyway. Our reservations are for 8:30, and we have lots of shopping to do. He stepped out of the tub and held open a fluffy towel for her. “Come along, Mrs. Buchanan,” he said, “times a-wasting.”
