Family Bonds

Chapter 6, Episode 3

He walked her into the sparsely furnished living room and hit the CD player propped on a bricks-and-board table. When the music started playing, he took her in his arms, and they danced. Her head rested on his chest, the perfect spot to feel and hear the thumping of his heart against her cheek. Before the song was over, both his arms were around her and they swayed together, stopping only when the music ceased. He lowered his head toward hers and she looked up. When they kissed, the warmth she had felt throughout the dance became a fire that consumed her. She would surely melt if he didn't stop. Just about the time she couldn't imagine her heart beating any faster, he murmured, "I want some of that dessert you brought."

"Okay." She wondered if her legs were too wobbly for her to walk without stumbling. "I'll get it." While she prepared the plates, he cleared the table of the rest of the dinner and moved the flowers to one side. She placed the cake in the center of the table and asked him to cut the first piece. "There's a surprise in the center. Why I had to keep it in the refrigerator."

As he cut through the dark chocolate icing, a white cake was revealed, the interior of which appeared to be ice cream with flecks of cherries scattered throughout.

"Remember when we had ice cream at the Bean Blossom? You said you liked the cherry flavor best, so that's what I used."

"Why the chocolate icing? To fool me into thinking it was all chocolate?"

"No," she smiled. "Your eyes remind me of chocolate fudge. I picked the chocolate because of that."

"You are sweet." He cut her a piece and they enjoyed the ice cream-filled cake.

When dinner was over and she had placed the cake in the freezer, Chet led her toward the wide door he'd opened fully. "Come see my view. Now that it's dark, you can see the lights of Seattle way off in the distance, not just the old warehouse buildings down the block."

They sat together on the little wicker couch and enjoyed the view of the city lights in the distance. They took turns spotting the planes that flew toward or away from the international airport, trying to guess the cities from which they had come or were going. Before long, his fingers slid up her neck and into her hair. Soon, it cascaded down past her shoulders as, one by one, Chet pulled out the pins she had used.

"I've wanted to run my fingers through your hair for the longest time," he said, his voice a delicious rumble that sent shivers through her. "Reminds me of a waterfall."

"Can I do the same?" she replied, surprised at her boldness. "Your hair begs to be touched." Her fingers skated through his thick, black waves. Before long, her hands explored his back and his chest as he held her close. He left touches of fire on her face, her lips, her neck, her arms. He kissed her again, with greater urgency when a hand glided across her breasts.

She felt her nipples pressing against her bra, asking for more attention. She'd always wondered what she would do if a man she liked touched her there. What she felt next took her breath away. Her body arched on its own in response as she felt his thumb rub across her nipple. She sighed into his arms, wanting to climb inside his skin, to feel the heat of him even as he felt hers. Was this how it felt to be loved? Her brain had stopped working. All she knew was that she wanted him and she hoped he wanted her.

"Jane?" Chet's voice sounded like his eyes looked, half awake, and yet fully aware of how she was responding. Every place their bodies touched he felt strong and hard.

"Hmm?" She slipped a hand inside his shirt, the better to stroke his skin. His muscles jumped whenever she moved her fingers.

"You better stop that. You're driving me crazy."