By Kimbo
(Rated PG-13 for adult themes)
Joe set down his guitar case, trying to ignore the young
woman talking to Tom and Brad across the room. Although she had been hanging out
for a few days already, today was considered her first real work day. Hired by
Steven, she was a creative engineer for the band...an organizational muse. Joe
rolled his eyes at the thought. How could someone who was only twenty-eight
years old with no business or music experience offer a band like Aerosmith
anything of real value? Well, he
certainly didn’t need her around and hoped she’d stay out of his way. Ever
since he had first laid eyes on her, he had felt strangely ill at ease with
himself. Distracted and more edgy than usual, he could barely concentrate
whenever she was in the room. If it wasn’t for the fact that he had been
outvoted by the group, she wouldn’t even be there.
As he set up to play, Joe’s mind wandered back four weeks
ago to the night she had crossed his path. It had been a great show; the crowd
was wild and the place as usual was sold out. Everything had gone off without a
hitch until after the show when a small group of fans had shown up backstage.
Apparently, the local radio station had given them backstage passes. Steven had
gone into full rock star mode, entertaining them while the other guys showered
and changed clothes. There was a party afterwards at the nearby Hilton and
although he wasn’t in the mood, they had insisted that he go. As if that
weren’t enough, Steven had invited the five females that were in the backstage
group. If only he had known then just how much trouble that would prove to
be!
Breaking Joe’s reverie, Steven walked into the room with
a huge grin on his face. He was dressed in his usual king of the gypsies attire
even for rehearsal. The sheer watercolor floral shirt and purple velvet pants
could only be worn by a guy with balls of solid rock! Topped off by a wide
brimmed purple velvet hat and his usual rattling silver jewelry, Steven looked
like a prince that had been transported in via time machine. Joe shook his
head, glancing down at his own faded jeans and black t-shirt. Steven always
dressed the part of the rock star.
“Hey guys! I see we’re all here...except Joey. Is he
comin’ or what?” Steven asked with mock belligerence.
“Fuck you, Steven!” Joey purposely bumped into him as he
sauntered in with drumsticks in hand. “I was here before any of you losers and
I even made coffee!”
“Yeah, Steven, its the pot of hot mud back there!” Tom
snickered, ignoring Joey’s sideways glance. Brad nodded in agreement. But
Steven was onto other things before Joey could defend himself.
“Hey, I see you did come back! I was hoping we hadn’t
scared you off yet.” he said as he noticed the girl in the back of the room. He
walked over and hugged her warmly. Joe couldn’t hear anymore of what he was
saying. Glancing up as he unrolled monster cable, he paid attention to how she
smiled and talked easily among them all. Biting his lip in frustration, he
shook it off and tried to refocus on his work.
She was the trouble that had followed him home, so to
speak. It had started at the party weeks earlier. She had been among the women
that Steven had invited along. But unlike her friends, this girl wasn’t
throwing herself at Steven. She was rather quiet though she smiled a lot. She
seemed much more reserved than the others. In the limo ride to the party, Joe
had tried to blend into the dark leather seats. He had barely glanced at or
spoken to any of the women, avoiding conversation by closing his eyes. The one
time he did open them, he couldn’t help but notice the beautiful girl sitting
across from him. She was staring at him, then dropped her eyes into her lap.
Joe closed his eyes again, trying to swallow his sudden curiosity.
Involuntarily, he looked again and she was staring out the window. Suddenly her
eyes turned toward him and locked into his. He felt as if he had been thrown
out into the middle of traffic.
Her hair was a cascade of auburn curls that fell to her
shoulders, framing a startlingly beautiful face. The eyes looked back at him
were like jade. Her clothes were simple, black sweater and jeans but she looked
elegant nonetheless. He found himself unable to stop staring at her, his
thoughts reeling wildly with the shock of what was happening inside of him. For
the first time in almost a year, he found himself drawn to a woman that wasn’t
his wife. Though the divorce had been final for some time, he had been unable to
move on. He had tried everything he knew to hold onto his wife. But she had
made it quite clear that it was over. So much for the idea of happily ever
after! Now she was involved with another man. But for Joe the very thought of
romance, much less casual sex, had been the farthest thing from his mind until
that moment. Staring into those jewel eyes, he felt like a man waking from a
deep sleep. But it was not a feeling that he welcomed with ease.
Apparently, during the course of the evening, Steven had taken
an interest in her during a conversation. Her name was
Lily. A computer
programmer by profession, she was also a free-
lance writer. Her whole demeanor was alluring;
soft-spoken, friendly and incredibly beautiful. To top it off, she was totally
absorbed in their music. Immediately, she hit it off with the entire group.
Well, almost the entire group. Joe found it easier to quench his stirring
desires with an attitude of hostility. It made no sense, really. He had only
met her and yet it seemed that every time they made eye contact, his knees
turned to jelly. It was as if she had bewitched him. He was drawn to her in the
way that frightened him the most. While his four band mates had sat around
talking to her even after the party had wound down, he sat sullen and unwilling
to participate. The next day, they all accused him of being rude. “Openly
hostile”, were Tom’s exact words. That pissed him off even more. Now just a few
weeks later, there she was, making him fumble clumsily with his equipment.
“Joe...is there anything I can get for you?”
Her voice startled him back to the present and he nearly
dropped his guitar as he spun around. There she was, standing right in front of
him. Her hair was pulled back from her face today in a loose braid. He tried
not to look any further, but could not help but notice how her body curved in
all the right places. Even her loose fitting white shirt and jeans made his
imagination run wild...
“What do you mean?” his voice sounded strained and weak and
he felt a little light headed. What the fuck is wrong with me, he thought to
himself. Then Lily gave him a dazzling smile that literally took his breath.
“Well, Brad won’t drink Joey’s coffee, so I’m going out
for the good stuff! You have a request?” she asked.
“No.” he answered her flatly, turning away and finding
something in his guitar case to busy himself with. She stood a moment before
she started away. Impulsively, he turned back and heard himself speaking to
her. “ Yeah, okay...a cappuccino, I guess.”
He winced at the sound of his voice as it nearly cracked.
She didn’t seem to notice and nodded, holding his stare with her voodoo eyes
before she looked away. Steven appeared and handed her a list along with some
cash and directions to the closest Starbucks which was about ten miles down the
highway in the small town of Cohasset.
“Okay, here is the list of coffee requests...ignore
Joey’s because I’m making him drink that sludge HE made. Also can you make a
run into the music shop across the street and pick up some string for Tom? He
always breaks in the middle of rehearsal.” Steven had his arm around her
shoulders in the same friendly way he had with all women. He was clearly fond
of her, but Joe knew that it was not romantic. Steven was happily married; it
was just that he had a natural rapport with women. Still, Joe found himself
feeling a twinge of jealousy.
“Hey will ya pick up some for me too?” Joe heard himself
break in, flushing a little as Steven looked over at him. “Some string...I just
want to be prepared.” God, how stupid did that sound, he thought, mortified.
Steven nodded and grabbed a pen. He paused in thought before adding the
scribble to the paper. Then, Joe watched her leave, trying to ignore the sly
grin on Steven’s face.
“Somebody’s got a crush.” Steven taunted, smiling
wickedly.
Joe gave him a withering
scowl that stopped him cold. “Hey Joe, what’s up with you anyway?”
“Meaning?” Joe walked over to the small kitchenette in
the back of the room and started hunting for food. This particular studio was
an out of the way place for them where they would go early into a project to
work on tracks. It was located out in the middle of nowhere and they always
forgot to bring food.
“Meaning you, with the greater-than-normal
melodrama!" Steven shot back playfully. “It’s like you have one big
eyebrow!”
“Don’t we have something to eat here?” Joe was rummaging
through the cabinets like a madman. All he could find were tea bags and
saltines.
“..you don’t talk much...”
“Do I usually?” Joe had discovered leftover pizza in the
refrigerator from the day before and had tossed it into the microwave. He
watched the timer, praying that his friend would let the matter drop. But
Steven never relented that easily.
“..I mean, way less than normal! We’ve all noticed it,
you can’t deny it.” Steven paused as the timer sounded. Did he dare to go
further? It was obvious to everyone that Joe had it bad for Lily. Everyone but
Joe, that is. “You never speak to her, Joe.”
“Who?” Joe asked, carefully keeping his eyes hidden.
“You know who I’m talking about. You could at least be
nice, ya know? She doesn’t bite.” Steven spoke quietly now, aware that he was
in sensitive ground. He had known Joe Perry for the better part of his life.
Ever since his divorce, Joe had been more withdrawn and sullen than usual. It
had been a shock when his wife announced that she was leaving him. He had gone
through all the emotions of grieving as his friends looked on guardedly. They
had all rallied together to support Joe and get him through what were the worst
months of his life. He had come over them, but they left a deep sadness his
eyes. It was a look that Steven had grown accustomed to until the night he
caught him staring at Lily for the first time. Even though he appeared not to
see as he kept gabbing to the others in the limo, Steven recognized the look on
his face that night. Joe Perry was falling in love.
“Leave it alone, Steven!” Joe’s tone carried a warning in
it. Steven shrugged, offering nothing else.
When Lily returned, she carried a basket of steaming
coffees and a bag of pastry. Tom was more than a little excited about the jelly
donuts that she remembered to pick up. They all got down to rehearsal and the
next few hours passed without much incident. It was in the middle of working
out a bridge to a crucial song, that Joe broke his first string.
“Fuck..” he muttered, rummaging around in his guitar case
for extra string. “I should have brought another guitar!”
“I’m surprised ya didn’t. You usually bring four at
least.” Brad smiled, joking around with him. He too, was aware of the tension
that had been brewing within Joe lately. Not only was he irritable but his
sound had actually been a little...off.
Seizing the opportunity for a break, Steven and Tom
fought for turns at the bathroom while Joey and Brad started debating football
stats. Joe turned the case upside down but found nothing and he could feel a
dark frustration beginning to boil over. He had fucked the song up anyway. The
intro sucked and the solo was a half hearted piece of crap. The guitar was
being merciful by ending the thing where it did. He couldn’t help but think
that maybe he was losing his touch. It was at this precise moment that Lily
appeared beside him with a pack of string.
“I got some for you, remember?” she spoke quietly, aware
that he seemed quite volatile. Handing him the bag, she looked at him and felt
her knees quiver. All of her life, she had idolized him and by some wild twist
of fate, here she stood; close enough to catch the faint scent of leather that
always seemed to be with him. But she sensed that he didn’t like her much and
she didn’t understand why.
Upon first meeting him, she had been swept away by those
dark, intense eyes. They seemed to stare deep into her soul and made her
feel naked in his presence. But just as
the other band members had been warm and friendly, Joe had been silent,
avoiding her until she was certain that it wasn’t her imagination. She longed
to bridge the gap between them but was more than a little intimidated. He took
the package of string from her, his fingers brushing against hers. There was a
jolt of electricity that seemed to rush through both of them causing her hand
to tremble, a fact that he did not miss. Again, for an instant, there seemed to
be something in his eyes that was warm and inviting. So intense was this moment
between them, that Steven stopped dead in his tracks upon coming back into the
room. Even Brad and Joey had stopped talking and were looking on in captivated
silence. Like a trapped animal, Joe felt himself on the edge of falling deep
into those cat-like eyes. Then a quick flash of the pain and the emptiness that
had tormented him over the past year came back to stab him sharply in the gut.
The thought of risking it all again slammed him back to cold reality. This is
exactly the kind of crap that ended in trouble last time, he thought.
“THIS ISN’T THE RIGHT FUCKING KIND!” he heard himself
shouting. His words were angry snarls and he saw Lily visibly wince under them.
“IF YOU’RE GONNA WORK WITH US, YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO AT LEAST GET THE SIMPLE
SHIT RIGHT!” He tossed the package aside and backed away from her. Though he
felt everyone staring at him it was Steven who dared to challenge him.
“Joe, I think you’re way out of line! This is the exact
brand you always use! I wrote it down myself!” Steven had picked the package up
off the floor and was holding it up for everyone to see. “Why the fuck are ya
being such a bastard?”
For a long moment, no else said a word. Finally, Joe
grabbed the package of string from him and angrily stormed into the control
room. Brad started to say something but Tom shot him a warning look. This
wasn’t the time to berate Joe; obviously, something was terribly wrong. Even
worse, Lily was genuinely hurt and embarrassed by the whole incident. Hiding
her face, she walked back to the kitchenette and busied herself tidying up.
Steven quickly followed her. “Hey, are ya okay?” he
asked.
He could tell that she
was trying not to cry.
“I’m fine, really.” She lied badly. “Its no big deal.”
“Yeah it is, Lily. Taking verbal abuse is not part of
your job description! Besides, if it really didn’t bother you, then why are you
crying?” Though she kept her eyes averted, he could still see the tears in
them.
“Everybody knows he’s moody..” she half smiled, trying to
make a joke. The truth was, it hurt like hell. Complicating the soup even
further was something else she had not even dared to say aloud to anyone, even
herself. From the first moment she had locked eyes with Joe, the attraction had
been undeniable. She thought she had seen it in his eyes also; a sort of
shocked realization. Then it was gone, replaced with a hostility that was hard
enough to accept without his yelling at her too.
“Joe’s goin’ through some stuff right now. But I’m gonna
have a talk with him. This won’t happen again!” But Lily shook her head.
“It’s not necessary, Steven. I know about...well, I heard
about his divorce last year. I’m sure he’s still adjusting.” she said, sounding
as if she were convincing herself. Steven shook his head, marveling at her good
natured innocence.
“Yeah, we’ve all cut him a lot of slack because of that.
But I’m startin' to think we haven’t done him any real favors by doin' that.”
Steven said thoughtfully. “You know, he’s dragging two divorces behind him like
they’re both his fault. I think the last one was the worst. Big shock for all
of us, really.”
“It’s gonna work out, Steven.” Lily spoke reassuringly.
The tears had faded from her eyes and she was smiling.
“Hey I thought I was supposed to be makin’ you feel
better, not the other way around!” Steven said.
“You already did..” she kissed him lightly on the cheek.
The rest of rehearsal was rather subdued. Joe didn’t say
much to anyone. When it was over, he was the first one out the door and onto
the highway. Jamming on the gas pedal, he floored the big, black suburban.
Years ago, he would have preferred the Porsche on a day like today. Now he
thought that the deep solid roar of the truck echoed his rage a bit better. He
felt as if a monster was trapped within his body, using him like a puppet. He
couldn’t place his anger on any one thing or any one person but he knew that he
was on a collision course with trouble. The rest of the night, he spent with
his guitar. Lying awake in bed, he tossed and turned until he finally got up
and grabbed the old acoustic from where it had been flung a few days earlier; a
silent victim of another attack of rage. A few bars came to him slowly and soon
he was working it into something. When he was done, he got up and flipped on a
tape recorder, putting the whole thing down on tape. That’ll blow them away
tomorrow....
******
The next day dawned cloudy and bleak. It was early
October and already the weather was turning fast. Storm clouds loomed over the
horizon ominously. The weather channel reported that a fast moving cold front
was barreling toward the area, pushing the remnants of Indian summer into
distant memory. The cold air mass slamming into the warm one would bring the
possibility of severe thunderstorms. It was a day that would prove to be much
like Joe’s mood.
When he showed up at the studio, the guys were already there.
The room went quiet for a moment when he entered. That almost immediately
annoyed him. He looked first at Steven, then in turn to Tom, Brad and finally
Joey. They all looked as if they were waiting for him to say something.
Suddenly he realized that he didn’t see Lily anywhere.
“I guess I scared her away and now you’re all pissed at
me, right?” he growled, trying to hide that his eyes were searching the corners of the room for her. It was
slowly beginning to dawn on him that
they had probably all seen through his attempts to cover up his interest in
her.
“She’s coming in late.” said Steven. “By the way, Joe,
nobody’s pissed at you. We’re all family here! Today’s another day, right?” he clapped
Joe on the back warmly. Joe managed a half hearted smile. It made him feel even
worse when Steven refused to get angry with him.
“So are we gonna play or are we just gonna break down and hug each other?” Brad mused. Scowling, Joe started setting up his amps. The cassette tape in his jacket pocket rattled and he took it out, laying it down on one of the Marshalls. He would wait awhile before playing it; build up some really strong live riffs and then amaze them all with what he had written last night. He knew his playing had sucked lately but he was determined to put all that in the past.
No sooner had those thoughts settled, the door opened and
there she was. Her hair was loose today, the curls framing her lovely face and
then swirling down around her shoulders. Suddenly it was as if all the oxygen
had been sucked out of the room. He locked into those vivid green eyes and
found himself powerless to break free. In fact, he was so enthralled that he
accidentally backed up into one of the marshals, upsetting a stack of monster
cable without seeming to notice. He also neglected to hear the cassette tape
falling into the shadows between the amp and the wall.
She was carrying an assortment of bags that they all
rushed to intercept from her. Everyone except Joe. He just stood there unable
to make his feet move in her direction. The last time I felt this stupid was in
high school....he thought, noticing quite enviously how she smiled and joked
around easily with them. He wanted to just feel normal around her, but it was
impossible. He knew that every time he looked in those eyes, he was falling in
love, exactly where he did not want to be. Being in love meant risking
emotional vulnerability all over again. Being in love had nearly ruined his
life twice already. Besides, what would a young woman like herself want with
him anyways? He was forty-two years old, over twelve years her senior. There
had been a time when he would have guffawed at that thought. Funny how
heartache could break a man in half. He let the moment subside, trying not to
notice the dewy softness of her skin revealed by the open buttons of the faded
denim shirt she wore. Peeking from beneath it, he could see a tight lace
midriff top that stopped just two inches shy of the waistband of well worn
jeans. In the past, he had suspected strongly that she had a beautiful body.
Now he knew without a doubt.
Forcing himself back to reality, he gave her a slight
nod. It was the only greeting he could muster. She acknowledged him with a
smile, but her eyes said so much more. He could imagine himself going over to
her and taking her in his arms, kissing those lips until they burned with
desire for him. Feeling his face flush hotly, he turned to finish his work. She
had brought them not only breakfast, but some food for the kitchenette as well.
Tom took the bags with breakfast and began searching for his favorite pastry.
Joey and Steven were putting away the rest of the groceries, arguing heatedly
about the rhythm of a certain song. Brad tried hopelessly to referee but Steven
usually had the last word anyway. With everyone’s attention focused elsewhere,
Joe discreetly glanced around. Lily was back in the control room. He could see
her through the glass searching for something. As if possessed, his body moved
toward the room. He could almost hear his insides screaming but was unable to
stop.
“Whatcha need?” he forced his voice deeper in an attempt
to steady it. She jumped lightly at the sound of his voice.
“Uh...a, um tape recorder...”she stumbled, aware that he
stood blocking the exit door. Her eyes swept over his body before coming back
to meet his piercing gaze. Joe Perry was a man whose physical presence alone
could take your breath away.
“In there.” He pointed to a file cabinet behind her. “Top
drawer.” He knew he should walk away but something held him in place. She tried
to open the drawer but it was stuck tightly. Joe looked on for a moment more
before he walked over to help.
Lily felt a prickly sensation on the back of her neck,
sensing that Joe was directly behind her. With one strong arm, he reached over
her, yanking the drawer open. Because she was still holding onto it, the sudden
force knocked her backwards into his rock hard body. In one awkward movement,
she panicked and tried to move away, but the file drawer stuck out and left her
little room to maneuver. They now stood face to face, only inches apart. He
looked almost physically jarred, frozen in place. His eyes mirrored a strange
fear. Suddenly, she realized that underneath that fear was a man burning with a
fire that begged to be freed. That cool exterior was the tough skin that
protected his true vulnerability. She saw the look and she could feel the heat
that radiated between them. Impulsively, she reached up and touched his finely
chiseled face, tracing her fingers softly down his cheek while her eyes
consumed his.
Joe literally shook beneath her soft touch. A sensation
he had not felt in a very long time ran down his spine and began to stir in his
groin. Those eyes were drawing him in, sending him spiraling downward into
their vortex. He not only desired her physically; he wanted to possess her
completely, heart and soul. Without thinking, he moved closer, drawing his lips
down toward hers when suddenly he stopped and pushed away like a singed cat.
How could he forget the nights he had just spent getting over what he believed
was the love of his life? No way he was ever going there again! Bolting out of
the room, he left her in complete shock. After a moment, she heard Tom and Brad
warming up and refocused on the matter at hand. It was time to go to work!
Steven’s idea was to have a tape recorder running during
the rehearsals so they could catch a lot of the ideas that slipped away in the
memory process. She had brought in a whole box of cassette tapes and set
herself up in a corner behind a row of Joe’s marshals. In a notebook, she kept
careful notes that went along with the tapes. Between these sessions and the
notes from Steven’s lyric notebook, she hoped to keep his thoughts organized
enough so he could develop a clear thought pattern. Although brilliant in his
songwriting, Steven tended to be undisciplined and needed a push to keep
himself on track. Often he would get so tied up in every other musical aspect
of a song he’d forget all about the lyrics. Her job was to keep him focused.
As the rehearsal cranked up, she found her mind wandering
back to what had almost happened with Joe. She couldn’t help but keep staring
at him while he played. That body, those eyes, the way he held his guitar...he
possessed a raw sexuality that had begun to torment her body. She felt her face
burn shamefully at the unbidden thoughts he stirred within her. It was such
pleasure just watching him that she was blissfully unaware of how quickly the
morning had passed. Somewhere around twelve-thirty, the sounds of thunder could
be heard over the guitars. Everyone agreed that it was definitely time for
lunch.
Throughout the rehearsal, Joe had stood with his back
toward Lily. He couldn’t bear the thought of looking at her after what he had
almost done. He had let his emotions show and knew without question that she
had seen what he had been trying desperately to hide. It made him feel awkward,
fueling the anger that lurked within. Rationally, he now understood that his
anger shouldn’t be directed at her. The feelings she had aroused had also set
free a hidden well of dark emotions leftover from the pain of his divorce. All
the months he had suffered silently, never saying his peace, were now working
themselves to the surface. He decided that he would take off by himself for the
upcoming weekend, maybe do some hiking in the mountains. Anything to clear his
mind.
While Brad and Joey stepped outside for some air, Tom
puttered around the kitchen making himself a huge sandwich. Steven sat with
Lily, going over her notes while she transferred them to her laptop. Perfect
time for a little entertainment, he thought, looking about for the cassette he
had brought. To his dismay, it wasn’t where he left it.
“What are ya looking for?” Tom asked, his mouth full. Joe
ripped apart the area, searching frantically.
“A fuckin' tape I made last night! I finally worked out
the bridge of that one song that’s been trippin' me up...now where the hell is it?”
It was nowhere to be seen.
Tom shrugged casually.
“Hey man, just play what you remember. It’ll turn up later.”
But Joe didn’t seem to hear him. He was bent on finding
the tape and would do no less. Suddenly he saw the tape recorder that Lily had
been using and he froze in place. The cassette inside it was exactly the same
kind as his. No fuckin' way! Without stopping to think, he wheeled around and
started toward her.
“Hey! Did you record over the tape I brought in?” he
snapped loudly. Both Lily and Steven looked up, not comprehending exactly what
he was saying. The blank look on her face reminded him for a second of the look
his ex-wife had given him after he practically begged her to stay. In the end,
she walked out the door without a word.
“What tape?” Lily asked, her face looking rather pale
beneath his angry eyes. Outside the thunder echoed loudly with the approach of
the gathering storm.
“The fuckin’ tape I laid down on one of the amps this
morning!” Joe raised his voice now, aware that he was pushing dangerously close
to the line. He was unable to control himself, feeling distant as if somehow
watching outside of his body.
Steven leaped into the thick of it. “WHAT tape, Joe? You
didn’t mention it before now!”
“I know I didn’t! But I worked out that song I keep
fuckin' up on and rewrote the intro! I was up half the night with it!”
“Look, just slow down a minute! You’re not gettin' all
bent out of shape about just a tape! Besides which, why would you assume that
Lily would take it?” Steven answered him heatedly. Lily kept her head lowered
so no one could see her face.
“Well isn’t she the one with the tape recorder?” Joe spat
back sarcastically. “IT’S HER SECOND DAY AND SHE’S ALREADY RUINED HOURS OF WORK
I PUT IN ON THAT PIECE! I MEAN, DON’T YOU THINK I KNOW HOW MUCH I’VE SUCKED
LATELY? I’M TRYING TO TURN THAT AROUND BUT NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE ABOUT THAT! YOU
GUYS GIVE ME A LOT OF SHIT ABOUT MY ATTITUDE LATELY BUT YOU’RE ONLY CONCERNED
ABOUT HOW IT RELATES TO THE PRINCESS!”
“Joe, I think you better put it in park before you blow a
fuse, buddy! I just found it.” Tom had spotted the tape partially buried
beneath a pile of cord and was bending to retrieve it. But Joe wasn’t listening to him.
He didn’t even hear the door open when Brad and Joey came back inside. The knot
of emotions that had been building up inside of him was erupting and coming out
in an uncontrollable torrent. Before he was finished, someone was gonna get
hurt.
“YA KNOW, I DIDN’T WANT HER HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE! NO
ONE ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED! BUT NOBODY FUCKIN CARES ABOUT WHAT I’M THINKIN
ANYWAY! I WANT TO KNOW RIGHT NOW, WHAT THE HELL IS SHE HERE FOR?” he yelled,
angrily hurling his guitar case up against the far wall of the room. Wheeling
around, he faced her squarely. “WHY DON’T YOU GO BACK TO WHATEVER BACKWATER
TOWN YOU FUCKIN CAME FROM AND GIVE ME SOME PEACE! EVER SINCE I LAID EYES ON
YOU, I HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO GET A CLEAR THOUGHT OUT OF MY HEAD MUCH LESS A
CHORD FROM MY FINGERS! YOU BOUGHT COFFEE, PUSHED THE BUTTONS ON A RECORDER AND
YOU SEEM TO KISS STEVEN’S ASS REALLY WELL! ARE YA GONNA ROTATE AND DO US ALL OR
ARE YOU JUST ON HIS PAYROLL?”
The words hung in the air ominously for a moment, bitter
and sarcastic. Outside, thunder rolled loudly as a bolt of lightning crackled.
Completely drained, Joe sank heavily into a nearby chair. The fog of his anger
lifted and it was as if he could see clearly for the first time in months. The
shocked faces of his band mates made him flinch. Then he looked at Lily and his
heart rose to his throat nearly choking him. Her face had gone ghostly white
and she looked as if someone had struck her. But it was her eyes that cut him
down to the bone.
What had been in those eyes was a compassion and
tenderness that he had not experienced before. It frightened him. It made him
feel vulnerable to the kind of pain he had just experienced with the breakup of
his marriage. The anger and frustration of those months had finally broken free
but at what cost? Joe involuntarily caught his breath sharply as he tried to
speak but was overcome with the rawness of his emotions. His voice faltered for
a moment, then failed. A silent teardrop fell unchecked down her face as she
quickly rose to her feet and ran out the door. Brad ran after her. Steven’s
face was dark and angry.
“Joe, she spent most of last night deciphering all my
scatterbrain notes to some form of legible English!” Steven said. “I mean, you more
than anyone else, bitch and complain all the time about me not having enough
work done on the lyrics? Well, she’s helping me organize my thoughts so we can
start pumping out some music! Where have you been? Didn’t you get that in the
beginning or were you just lost in some self absorbed trip about yourself?”
Joe hung his head, feeling all the tension in his body
release. Shame burned on his face. “I
deserve that..” he nodded. “I deserve a lot worse! Steven, I’m sorry... I don’t
know what’s wrong with me..” He could feel tears burning his eyes. When he
turned to Tom and saw him holding the cassette tape in his hands he wanted to
die.
“Well, I can’t find her!” Brad said as he came back
inside the studio. “She’s nowhere to be seen and her car is still here.” There
was already rain drops on his dark jacket and the sounds of thunder were nearly
deafening.
Joe wasted no
time in heading out to look for her. It stood to reason it should be his
responsibility to find her. The others followed him, their faces marked with
concern. Steven held his anger in restraint but it burned brightly in his eyes.
Outside, it was warm for an October day. Overhead, the skies were filled with
dark clouds and wind was beginning to whip up dirt and debris. The sound of thunder
pealed again as lightning licked the dark skies. Lily’s car was still sitting
next to Steven’s red jeep. There was a highway that ran directly in front of
the studio but the surrounding area was nothing but farmlands and marsh. Behind
the studio, a path led down into some trees that covered about fifty acres of
land between them and the closest housing development. The old path led down to
the trees and disappeared.
“I bet she followed that old trail!” Joey chimed in. “She
asked me about it before. I told her about the bridge.”
“But why would she go there? Didn’t you tell her it
was falling apart?” Tom said.
“Is it?” Joey seemed bewildered. “I didn’t know..”
“She was too upset to remember it even if you had! It was
obvious she just needed to get away for some air.” Steven said dryly, trying to
keep his tone in check.
“Go ahead and say it! She was trying to get away from
me!” Joe had already started down
towards the path, the wind blowing his hair around wildly. “I’ll go find her!
There’s no point in you guys getting wet because I behaved like an asshole!” He
disappeared into the trees and when Tom started to follow, Steven grabbed his
arm, shaking his head.
“Let him go, Tom. He needs to face this demon down once
and for all. We’ll give him head start before we follow.” Steven spoke raspily.
“Why doesn’t he just admit that he loves her?” Brad
seemed distraught. “I mean, I think we’ve all noticed the attraction! He
deserves to have someone special in his life.”
“I totally agree!” Joey added. “It’s like he’s been dead
for months now!”
“I think we just witnessed the breaking point today. I
mean, whatever else happens, I bet the Joe that disappeared down that trail
won’t be the same one coming back out.” Tom said, nodding in his wise way.
“Come on, let’s see if we have rain gear or not!”
Meanwhile in the woods, Joe could feel drops of rain as
the storm edged closer. The wind was bending the tops of the trees overhead. He
was moving along the path in a half run, his eyes scanning the surrounding
ground and the path in front of him. Up ahead, he could see the bridge coming
into view. It was an old access that had been used by farmers to shortcut the
highway by crossing the river there. When the studio had been built by the
road, the path still remained, an old worn trail untouched by time. As he
neared the bridge, he called out Lily’s name, listening and hoping for some
kind of reply but hearing nothing.
The storm hit just as he reached the bridge. Blinded by the
sudden rush of wind and rain, he stumbled out onto the bridge, calling her
name. Lightning split open the skies as the sounds of thunder shook the ground.
He called to her again but could hear nothing. The old moss covered bridge was
made of wood and once wet became black and slippery. Below, the river itself
wasn’t very deep but was filled with plenty of sharp rocks and the drop from
the bridge was at least fifteen feet if not more. Suddenly he felt a knot in
the pit of his stomach. On the far side of the bridge, he could see part of the
railing had collapsed. It took seconds for him to cover the distance. That’s
when he finally heard her.
She was hanging onto the bridge, trying desperately to
get a foothold to climb back up. Joe grabbed onto her arms just as one of her
hands slipped off the wet wooden planks. There was both fear and surprise in
her eyes. The rain was coming down even harder now and the wind drove it
directly at them like a curtain of knives. Joe held onto her tightly, refusing
to let go no matter what the cost. He locked his hand around hers, feeling for
the first time how perfectly it fit into his own.
“Lily! Grab my other hand!” Joe yelled over the roar of
the storm. She nodded in understanding and took a deep breath before letting
go. When at last he had both of them, he pulled her up, bracing himself against
the remaining railing. He prayed that it wouldn’t give way. The surface of the
bridge was so slick that he had no other choice. If the railing crashed, they
would both fall to the rocks below. When he had her up, lightning struck a
nearby tree, shattering wood and branches everywhere. Instinctively, Joe used
his body to cover hers, pushing her down on the wet planks. She was shaking and
he could hear her heart beating wildly against his own. A feeling of fierce
protectiveness forced aside his own fear. When the strike had passed, he
quickly acted on his instincts. He knew they had to find some shelter.
Stumbling up, he pulled her along with him as he ran. The safest place for them
to be right now was probably on the bank just under the bridge. The lightning
was coming down sharply all around them, as if being hurled by someone out to
get them.
Underneath the bridge, the light was dim and shadowy. For
a long moment, they both looked at each other. Joe wanted to speak, but found
that he could not. All he could do was stare at her, his eyes taking in that
lovely face as if for the first time. All the anger had faded; all of the
barriers had fallen aside in ruin. In their place burned his overwhelming
desire for her. He stood there before her awkwardly, the emotions filling his
eyes were naked and raw.
Reaching out he gently touched her face. Her skin was
velvety soft like that of a ripe peach. He felt her shiver and watched as she
dropped her eyes beneath his gaze. He could feel her hesitation, sense her
doubt. Moving closer, he slowly turned her chin upward, tenderly forcing her to
look into his eyes. He felt himself falling into those deep pools of green, no
longer afraid. He moved closer and took her in his arms, feeling the rush of
sensations as their bodies touched. The softness of her body pressed against
his harder more muscular form generated a warmth that spread through him like
liquid fire. He felt her quiver as he slowly lowered his face closer to hers,
stopping barely two inches from her lips.
“I’m so sorry, Lily..” he whispered. “..I never meant to
hurt you. I’m just afraid of the way you make me feel...”
“Say it, Joe...you have to say it right here, right now!
I see it in your eyes. Can’t you see it in mine?” She barely breathed.
He teetered on the verge of tears. She had opened up the
very core of his heart. “I’m afraid to open up, Lily! I don’t want to get used
to needing you and then wake up one morning alone! I can’t go through that
again...” A tear found its way down his cheek. His voice cracked under the
emotions that were breaking free of their prison.
“I’m not going anywhere..” she whispered fiercely.
Reflected in her eyes was a look of love like none he had ever seen
before.
“I.....I love you..” The words tumbled out all at once,
his voice trembling. “...ever since that first night, I’ve wanted you so
badly!”
“Don’t you see that I feel the same way? You don’t have
to be afraid of my love...its yours for always.”
There were no more words. He kissed her, drinking up her
essence like a man dying of thirst. She met his mouth with a fire of her own,
pulling him even closer as her fingers gripped the lower curve of his back. Her
lips were soft and yielding making him dizzy with passion. Neither of them
could get enough, each of their souls starving for the other. While the storm
raged on around them, he held her tightly, his mouth never leaving hers; her
breathing becoming his own. When the storm finally died down to a misty rain,
their passion had built to a storm of its own.
Suddenly there were shouts from the trail above, breaking
into the magical spell that bound them together.
As difficult as it was to leave the intimacy of that
moment, Joe realized that Lily was shivering and he needed to get her home. To
her surprise, he quickly kissed her once more then picked her up and carried
her back to the trail. Steven met them in the middle of the bridge, his eyes
wide with alarm. When he saw Lily rest her head on Joe’s shoulder, he
immediately relaxed. No one else said much about the incident beyond their
relief that she was safe. Of course, the remainder of rehearsal was postponed
at that point. Since Brad had ridden with Steven, it was decided that he would
drive Lily’s car home. Joe put her in his truck with such tender loving care
that his four band mates couldn’t help but exchange glances. Tom had been
right; Joe now seemed like a different man. His eyes, once shadowed, were clear
and bright, his face reflecting a light from within. It was clear that
something special had happened under that bridge.
Though the ride home was silent, emotions flowed between
them like unspoken words. Lily closed her eyes contentedly, thinking back to
the kiss that had all at once changed every- thing. Joe kept glancing at her, a
secret smile toying with the corners of his mouth. When he pulled up into the
driveway, he felt his heart begin to beat faster. After Brad dropped off the
car, he said a few words to Lily, then hopped back into Steven’s jeep. Joe
waved at them and Steven smiled. The look of peace on his buddy’s face was
exactly what he had hoped for.
For the time being, Lily had moved into the rustic
Victorian cottage that served as Steven’s guest house. Though occupying space
on the grounds of estate, it was still far enough from the main house to
guarantee their privacy. Joe walked her to the door then paused awkwardly. He
didn’t want to go home but she had not yet asked him to stay. Unlocking the
door, she turned to him with a warm and inviting smile.
“You should come inside and get yourself dry.” she said,
her voice petal soft like a whisper. He nodded, trying to hide his eagerness.
What he wanted more than anything was to get her back into his arms again.
The house was still as he remembered it, decorated in the
warm country cottage style that brought out the rustic charm of the wooden
flooring. Of course now it contained her feminine touches as well. Flowers,
cozy pillows and a multitude of candles echoed an atmosphere for romance. On
the far wall, a huge stone fireplace sat empty and void of warmth. Tonight he
would start a fire to warm them both. He was trying to imagine what she would
look like bathed in firelight when he realized she was speaking.
“Joe?” She was smiling at him, watching his face as he
glanced around the house.
“What? Sorry, I was...thinkin'...” he began, smiling back
as he shook his head.
“About what?” she asked breathlessly. She was afraid to
take her eyes off of him, fearing he might vanish like a dream.
“I was thinkin'. that I need to get that fire started. It
looks like tonight is gonna get chilly.” His eyes searched hers questioningly.
“I’d like that.” she answered, understanding well what
burned in his deep brown eyes. “Why don’t you go upstairs and get a hot shower
first? There’s some clothes in the guest room...I think they might even fit
you.”
He nodded in agreement. “They will. They’re probably
mine. I was staying here for awhile...until my divorce was final.” It seemed so easy now to speak of the
divorce. In the sunshine of her presence, it seemed like a distant shadow. She
seemed kind of surprised but gave him a dazzling smile before she disappeared
to the master bedroom, which was on the first floor, tucked around in back of
the house. When she was gone, he bounded up the stairs two at a time.
Alone in the
shower, Joe let the hot water run over his aching muscles. There were a few
bruises on his arms that he hadn’t noticed. Every time he closed his eyes, he
could see her face, taste the sweetness of her lips, feel the heat of her touch
on his skin. There was an urgency in his heart as he hurried to get dressed.
Tonight would be perfect for both of them. He found an old flannel shirt and a
pair of jeans among the clothes. Call it plain luck or sheer irony, he was glad
that he had never quite moved out. If I am dreaming, please God, don’t let me
wake up...
When Lily stepped out of the shower a little later, she
heard an unfamiliar sound coming from the backyard. Peering out her window, she
could see Joe chopping some wood for the fire he had promised her. Her breath
caught in her throat as she watched. He was unbelievably handsome. His wavy
dark hair fell to his shoulders; the arms that wielded the axe so strong and
powerful. Remembering how he had held her tenderly in those same arms made her
feel a happiness that seemed too daring to consider. Turning back to getting
dressed, she worked at steeling her nerves. It was nearly six and would be dark
outside in a matter of minutes. Being with him on such newly intimate terms
took on another meaning with the setting sun.
Sometime later, Joe stared at the fire as it was being
born in the once cold fireplace. Just like me, he thought. The heart within
himself that once lay empty and untended now beat with a fiery passion again. A
small voice in his head chided him for rushing into a relationship so quickly
but his heart had drowned out all its reasoning. There was no turning back now.
He looked around the room surveying his work.
With the coffee table pushed out of the way, he filled
the space in front of the fire with a comfortable piling of quilts and cozy
pillows. The only light in the room besides the flames came from a scattering
of candles placed randomly around the room. There was no music and no champagne
but then again there didn’t have to be. The only thing he wanted to hear was
Lily softly sighing in his arms; the only drink he needed was from the carafe
of her sweet mouth. There would be no interruptions tonight. Even the phone had
been unplugged.
Joe had gotten the fire to a healthy glow when she
finally emerged. He was kneeling by the hearth, deep in thought when he caught
her movement into the room. Rising, he found himself suddenly not knowing what
to do next. One look at her nearly knocked him off balance. She was wearing a
mid-length black robe made of elegant Italian lace that skimmed the contours of
her body perfectly. Her hair was pulled up loosely with a few stray tendrils
falling around her face. He stood up, trying to steady himself.
“You’ve been busy..” she looked around, eyes wide at what
she saw around her. “Joe, this is so romantic..”
“I wanted to show you that I could be a gentleman if I
tried real hard..” he spoke softly, his eyes following her every move as she
walked closer. “Lily, you look so beautiful..” The robe fell just above her
knees, revealing two very shapely legs. Her feet were bare, the toenails
painted a delicate shade of pink.
“Are you hungry?” she asked, walking over to stand in
front of him, their bodies barely inches from touching. The look in his eyes
told her dinner was the farthest thing from his mind.
“No...are you?” he touched her, running his fingertips up
her arms, caressing her shoulders with his thumbs. He saw a desire to match his
own, glittering in her jade-like eyes.
“No...” Her voice was barely a whisper, her breath caught
in her throat. She could hear her heart pounding. He pulled her into his arms,
letting his mouth trail kisses softly down the curve of her neck into the
hollow of her throat. A warm dizziness spread over her body, making her feel
lightheaded. Joe was pulling her down with him as he sank to his knees. There
was something in his brown eyes that soothed her, frightened her and thrilled
her all at once. As she met his mouth with hers, his tongue with her own, his
fingers were unclipping her hair, caressing an untamed tumble of curls as they
spiraled around her shoulders.
Joe drank in her sweetness hungrily. She aroused him to
no end. The intensity of his passion was nearly a shock to his body. She had
unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it off. Her fingertips were touching his bare
skin, setting him on fire. Tearing free of her mouth, he untied her robe and
slid it off of her shoulders, down her arms, revealing a black lace chemise
beneath. When he felt her fingers slide beneath the waistband of his jeans, he
groaned softly.
Lily kissed his neck, running her tongue up to his ear.
Her hands slid down his muscular chest and down his rock hard stomach muscles.
She could feel another hardness pressing against her as she pulled him close,
letting her hands grip the firm curve of his lower back. His breathing was
erratic and she could hear his heart beating wildly in his chest. As her
wandering fingers found the top button of his jeans, she felt an unmistakable
quiver in his groin. By the time she had slid the zipper down, his mouth had
found hers with a renewed urgency. Gently, she pushed him down on his back.
He surrendered in breathless anticipation smiling as she
undressed him completely. He saw her eyes widen, her skin flush when she had
tossed away the last layer. Sitting back suddenly, she pulled her knees to her
chest and looked at him with those same wide eyes. He rose to sitting and put
his arms around her. “Baby, what’s wrong?” he whispered gently.
“Joe...I’ve..” she faltered. “..the truth is, I've never
done this before.” She lowered her eyes, afraid to look at his face. She had
never before felt so stupid. But Joe tilted her chin upward and kissed the tip
of her nose tenderly.
“Is that all? You scared me for a minute there.” he was
smiling at her lovingly.
“You probably think its hokey but I’ve always wanted to
save myself for the right one.” she said softly. He was stroking her hair,
pushing it back from her face tenderly.
“No, baby...its a precious gift.” he answered
reassuringly. He leaned forward to kiss her, seeking out her tongue with his.
His hands found the bottom of the chemise and slowly lifted it up and away from
her body. Pulling her against him, he felt a shudder of ecstasy as they touched
skin to skin. His hands slid up the length of her silky smooth back and around
to gently cup her breasts.
“Show me...how to make you happy...”she whispered, her
eyes hazy with desire. Her hands, fingertips, her mouth were already making him
crazy.
“You’re doing just fine...”he nuzzled her ear, sliding
his tongue around its outer curve, teasing her with master precision. In turn,
she explored his upper body, running her fingertips over the smoothly muscled
skin, watching his face. As he felt her move down his abdomen, he took one hand
and slid it even lower still. He breathed in sharply as she touched him there,
all the while held prisoner by her luminous eyes. He leaned back a little as
she eagerly began. With her dainty hands, she stroked him up and down, passing
over the tip with her thumb. He was quite large and at first it rather
frightened her. She could put her hands end to end around it and still the
large circumcised head cleared the top of her second hand by more than an inch.
But it was beautiful and smooth like the rest of his body and she grew
increasingly bolder with every movement.
Under her inquisitive hands, Joe was in absolute heaven.
Just watching her alone was enough to keep him at the edge of bliss. In the
firelight, her peaches and cream skin glowed sensuously. He longed to touch her
body, tease the taut pink nipples he could see on her full, rounded breasts. He
was letting his eyes wander over her body when she unexpectedly brought her
mouth down, wrapping her perfect lips around the pulse of his love. There was
magic in the air as she worked him over so expertly, so soon. He guided her,
speaking softly between low moans of pleasure. But it had been so long since he
had been with anyone, he knew that he would have to rein himself in hard to
maintain enough control for the long night of lovemaking ahead. After a moment,
he pulled her gently upward to sit in his lap, facing him. He could feel the
softness of her body against his as he reclaimed her lips.
He let his hands wander down over the curve of her hips,
pulling her lower body against his. The sensation sent ripples of pleasure through
both of them. One hand explored down further still, finding the dewy center of
her womanhood. With his fingers, he opened her up like a flower, stroking the
petals and the tender bud. She moaned softly, arching her back slightly. He let
his mouth wander down her neck to the creamy perfection of her breasts. Taking
one nipple in his mouth and then the other, he teased them mercilessly, running
his tongue over their tautness. Her love flowed like warm honey around his
fingers. As she softly sighed in ecstasy, he slowly eased one of them into her
softness, feeling her body stiffen in surprise. He left it there for a moment,
capturing her mouth with his once more. Then with another slow deliberate
movement, he slipped another one into place beside it, as he rubbed the bud of
the flower with his thumb. He heard the gasp in her throat and felt her quiver
but kept his mouth to hers.
Lily soon relaxed as the circular rhythm of his thumb
began sending new sensations over her entire body. She was powerless to resist
his touch. He had ignited a passion within her body that was growing to a
fevered pitch. Then without warning he drew his hand away and lay her back
among the pillows. As he eased his body down to partially cover hers, she felt
an aching desire growing deep within. His hands met her every touch as his
mouth and tongue possessed her body hotly. Golden threads of passion bound them
together in a perfect dance as he trailed kisses over her breasts and down her
stomach to her belly button.
Joe could hear her softly sighing, sense her longing and
her fear all at once. Glancing up at her face, he gave her a long smoldering
look and continued on, carefully avoiding the center of her fire as he made his
way down her thigh, kissing the soft firmness of her skin. She was moving
instinctively drawing him toward her without knowing why. Once more, his
fingers found her aching need and she moaned, arching her back towards him. She
was such an exquisite creature, so beautiful and so full of desire, it was
difficult to control himself. As he moved in to taste her silky sweetness, she
went wild.
Waves of pleasure sent her beyond the point of return.
Her fingers stroked the thick waves of his hair as she felt herself floating
away in the mastery of his seduction. His hands fed the flames of her desire as
his mouth gave her such sweet torture. She felt ripples of desire down to her
very toes. The sensations came faster now, swirling around inside of her until
they finally exploded in an unexpected contracting of muscles that left her
feeling light headed. She could hear herself calling his name as over and over
he brought her to the edge then pushed her over.
Then he was beside her
again, his face buried in the cloud of her hair as he nuzzled her ear,
whispering lovingly to her. “Baby, I want you so bad..”
She gazed up at him, her eyes were wet with tears. But
they were not from sadness, rather the overwhelming love and happiness she was
feeling for the man in her arms. There was no need to say a word, her kiss on his
lips said everything. She felt the full weight of his body settle gently
against hers, his hands moving her into place beneath him. When he locked his
gaze into hers, she was hopelessly lost in the love she found burning there. “I
love you, Lily...I love you so much...”he whispered over and over as he made
her his own.
At first she was overcome with a sharp and swift pain
that made her gasp. She clung to him, her fingers gripping his back. Then as
the pain lessened, she was increasingly aware of the pleasure his movements
were bringing to her body. Kissing him deeply, she pushed her tongue against
his, melting in the sheer strength of his male body.
Joe settled into the warm softness of her body, feeling
her tightness surround him. There had been a momentary resistance, then a
breaking through. He watched her face, seeing the desire, the fear and the
discomfort of her pain. But he was a part of her now, and he had never before
felt so connected to a woman. She was responding now, moving her hips against
his. The pain was gone from her eyes, replaced by sweet passion. He wanted to
remain there with her forever, lost in the waves of the love that flowed
between them.
As the waves grew higher and higher, he rocked her
faster, making her cry out in her hunger for him. He could feel the velvety
softness of her inner body beginning to contract, sending shivers of pleasure
up his spine. He was close to losing all control but wanted to wait, watching
her face for the right moment. Then suddenly it was as if she had burst into a
million glowing stars. He felt the spasms of her body and saw the glow of sheer
ecstasy on her face. Her breathless cries came from deep within as she held him
tightly. With the surging of the tide, he let go and rocked them both ashore,
his own passion finally exploding in an
earth shattering moment that would forever remain frozen in time. Her name was
still on his lips as he collapsed down beside her, trying to catch his breath.
Moments later, he pulled her into his arms, brushing back
the hair from her face as he kissed her forehead. The fire had burned down low
but still filled the room with a peaceful glow. Or perhaps that was just the
light from her face. Either way, he had never before felt such a deep
happiness. Lily turned her face up to his, looking at him with such love that
it rendered him breathless again.
“I love you, Joe..” she whispered softly. Joe turned so
that they were facing each other.
“I have never loved anyone as much as I love you right now.
I hope you don’t get tired of me telling you that.” he said, tracing one finger
around her full lips.
“I didn’t hear you...what was that?” she feigned
confusion.
He smiled as he kissed
her.
“Allow me to demonstrate.” He was pulling her on top of
him. She eyed him, feeling the stirrings of his passion recovering quickly
beneath her........
*******
As the night traveled on to morning, the two lovers
became as one. When dawn crept into the sky, tingeing it with a deep pink, they
finally slept, tangled together in the aftermath of their loving. For the first
time in many long months, Joe slept the peaceful sleep of a contented man. He
could think of nothing else he desired or needed beyond the warmth of the woman
in his arms. Maybe happily ever after wasn’t so far out of his reach after
all.........
Read the Sequel: All That Really Matters