UNDER CONSTRUCTION, CHAPTER 18

 

         The next few weeks were the happiest Charlie could remember ever experiencing. Work and company business was booming although she still hadn’t received a definite response from Jessie Flanagan, but the company had way more work than time and that was very good. The best part, however, was Adam.

Practically overnight, her days began and ended with Adam. If she bought take-out and brought it home, he was waiting when she got there. If she went to his house, he would have cooked some wonderful food for them to share. The evenings were spent talking, laughing and loving. They always ended up in bed and that time remained a revelation to Charlie.

In the past, she’d loved sex and had many partners, but none of them had ever made her feel the way Adam did. Not only was he inventive when it came to having sex, or making love as she’d begun to think of it, but he was always tender even when his superior body strength dominated hers. And, when they’d both orgasmed, sometimes together and other times separately, neither of them got up, dressed and left. They always spent the night curled up together. Some mornings they made long, languid love or if Charlie had to get to the office, it would be quick, but fun and rewarding.

Adam hadn’t made any further pronouncements about what he wanted from her, so Charlie had let his wants remain in the locked box in the back of her mind. She’d have to deal with them eventually, but for now she was just going to enjoy what was for her a wonderful wonderful time.

Charlie had even stopped fussing about why they hadn’t heard from Jessie Flanagan. She'd decided she'd hear when she heard. Having made that decision and turned her thoughts to other matters, Stephanie buzzed her that very afternoon.

“It’s Jessie Flanagan on line one.” 

“Thanks,” Charlie responded and took a deep breath before pushing the phone button.

“Hi Jessie. It’s good to hear from you and I hope all is well in your neck of the woods.”

“Hi yourself Charlie. I apologize for taking so long to get back to you with a decision, but I wanted to be absolutely positive about my choices.”

Charlie’s heart clenched a bit at the word, “choices,” but responded with, “I’m sure it was difficult because of what you want as well as the cost.”

“Here’s what I have in mind Charlie. I’m going to give the office building contract to the Simmons Company. They have two platinum awards to their credit, so even though you and your team were most impressive, I decided to go with their company.”

“I can certainly understand that; and I actually take it as a compliment to be your second choice after Simmons. They are fabulous and you won’t be sorry.”

“That leaves my house. I heard via the grapevine that there was going to be a magazine article about your own personal house. Since I went to university with one of the editors there, I called and begged for a chance to see the article and photos ahead of publication. I have to tell you I was tremendously impressed by your little house. It does appear to just grow out of the ground and all the products you used and the way you used them gave you a beautiful home. I want you and Terrance to design a similar house for me and I want Ridgeway Construction to build it.”

Charlie wanted to jump up and shout halleluiah. She hadn’t seen the article or photos herself, but they must be really good she thought. “Wonderful news, Jessie, wonderful news. Have you found a location yet?”

“After I saw the article about your house, I changed my mind about what I wanted when it came to the building site. I have found about an acre that has some gently rising hills as well as a small stream that runs through. Your Terrance will have to take a look, and maybe you too, to see if building a house that looks as though it grew there will be possible. I’m in the process of negotiating with the current owner, but will definitely end up with the property.”

“So, once you’re the owner, how soon do you want Terrance and I to come take a look?”

“I think we can wait until after the first of the year. The holidays are coming faster than I think we all realize, so I’d like to start the year with fewer commitments than I’m looking at right now. Would that work for you?”

“Yes, that would be perfect. I know Terrance and his family have a huge celebration with all kinds of relatives coming to visit. And, someone I’ve been seeing has talked about taking me north to meet his family. I’m not yet sure if I want to do that or not.”

“If he’s taking you to meet family, it sounds pretty serious on his part. I’m just being nosy here, but you don’t reciprocate his feelings?”

“Well, it’s not that exactly. It’s just that I’ve never really considered getting married or having kids and he wants both. He’s told me in no uncertain terms and it kinda scares me a lot.”

“Well, speaking as a happily married mother of three kids, I highly recommend both providing you’ve found the right person. My husband is extremely supportive and doesn’t expect me to be the perfect wife or perfect mother. It’s really a partnership where he does just as much as I do to make things work; and in some cases, goes beyond the 50 percent he’s supposed to give when I’m too busy to do my half. Of course, it works both ways and there are times when I need to step up and do much more than normal when he's very busy. If you’ve found a man like that, grab him and hold on tight.”

“I didn’t realize you were married or had kids. I also just realized we never really met in your personal office where you most likely have photos displayed. And, your advice is very sound and Adam, that’s his name, Adam may just be a guy like your guy. It’s just terribly new and for once in my life, I’m a scaredy cat.”

“You haven’t asked for my advice, but here it is. Go north and meet his family. You’ll be able to tell a lot about him by his interactions with them. Then, depending on your gut vibes, you’ll know if you want to go all in.”

“Thanks for that Jessie. I guess we’ll be in touch after the first of the year. Until then, wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season.”

“Charlie, you’re not getting off that easy. I’ll be sending you and Terrance some photos of the land once the deal is done. I also want emails back from you about Adam and how the trip went. I told you I was nosy, didn’t I?” Jessie laughed and they both said goodbye.

Charlie couldn’t wait to tell Adam the news. It kind of surprised her because she would have thought her first calls would be to Terrance and Dennis. But no, she hit the speed dial for Adam. When he answered with his usual, “Hi Babe.” Charlie said, “You’re never going to believe this. Well maybe, but I’m so excited.”

“You got the Texas job.”

“Well, not exactly. We didn’t get the factory and office building, but Jessie does want us to design and build her home. She knew someone at the magazine and got a draft copy of the article about my little house. She wants the same kind of home, only larger. We haven’t talked specifics yet, but I think it will need to house a family of five with room for visitors.”

“Congratulations Charlie. That’s wonderful news, but I guess that means you’re heading off to Texas soon?” Adam responded while trying to keep his voice congratulatory and upbeat. He actually wanted to moan because this meant she wouldn’t be going north with him for Thanksgiving.

“No, not yet. And that was the other thing I wanted to tell you. Yes, I’ll go north with you for Thanksgiving, but I do have one requirement.”

“That’s great news too, Charlie, but what’s the requirement, separate bedrooms. We’d probably get that at my folks in any case.”

“Nope, I want you to tell your family how you make your money. I want you to admit to them that you are A. M. Foster. I plan to take them copies of your books as a bread-and-butter gift. It’s time you stopped not exactly lying, but not really being honest either. It’s important to me, Adam, and should be to you too, that you give your parents and family the gift of complete honesty.”

“Charlie, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. My parents are very conservative. They just might kick us right out of the house.”

“Adam, we can talk about this more tonight. My other line’s ringing, so I have to go. Love you.”

Charlie couldn’t believe the last two words she spoke had been love you. She hadn’t meant to say that. She hadn’t used that word once during their relationship and yet it had come out as natural as saying goodbye. She shook her head and picked up the phone on her desk.

Adam was ecstatic. Charlie had finally used the L word even though it seemed as though she hadn’t really thought about saying it before she said it. He tamped down his happy reaction. It could just be her way of getting him to fess up to his parents. She’d go north and say the L word if it meant he’d come clean. He shook his head and stretched his shoulders. He needed to move on with the research he was doing for his next book. As she’d said, they’d talk more tonight.

Adam’s research went well. There were a multitude of articles and information out there about the Salem witch trials. He’d decided his next book would be historical fiction set in those times. In some ways, he wished he’d been able to live back then. So many wrong ideas and knowledge existed then that had been proven incorrect over time. He’d been pushing the idea around in his head forever, but now, he had a name for his female protagonist, Josephine or Josie by friends and family. He also knew that many of her attributes would be the ones he’d found in Charlie. She was an excellent example of what he wanted his heroine to be.

That evening Charlie acted as thought she’d never used the L word and Adam didn’t bring it up. Instead, they compared calendars and discussed the trip north. They also discussed her desire to have Adam be honest with his family. She was positive they wouldn’t do something drastic when they found out he wrote erotic fiction. For all he knew his sister and sister-in-law had already read some of them even though he didn’t think they would have. As for his mother, he was positive she’d be appalled at the very idea of her son knowing such things, let alone writing about them.

In the end, Adam gave way only because he was working on a more acceptable book. It wouldn’t have any eroticism in it and would be based on history. If nothing else, even if it didn’t become a best-seller, it would at least be a topic his mother would find acceptable and might even read.

“Adam, you know your family loves you. And I don’t want to have to watch what I say and do just because you haven’t told them about your writing career. I want everything to be open and honest. I think you also know or understand my going with you to meet your family is a huge step for me. For the first time, I’ll really care about what they think of me. I’m going to be so nervous I’ll probably make an absolute ass out of myself.”

“There’s no way you’ll manage to do that Charlie. You might have butterflies or be nervous, but your career and your dealings with people from all walks of life will hold you strong. Besides, my family isn’t going to be unkind or exceptionally nosy if for no other reason than I’ve never brought a woman home to meet them.”

Charlie practically stuttered, “You’ve, you mean you’ve never brought anyone home to meet the parents before? Tell me that isn’t true. Oh. My. God. The pressure I was feeling just increased about a thousand-fold. Not one? not ever?”

“Well, I don’t count the girls I dated in high school because there was a whole crowd of us hanging out in one home or another. In college, I didn’t meet a single girl or woman I liked well enough to introduce to my family. Sorry, but you’re the first and I’ve waited a long time for you.”

“Great, just great,” Charlie muttered.

“Hey, look on the bright side. At least there’s no other person they really liked that they’ll be comparing you to, and even if there was, they’d fall way short of impressing the family the way you’re going to.”

They’d been sitting on the couch and Adam pulled Charlie to him and settled his lips over hers in a long and tender kiss after which he murmured. “They’re going to love you Charlie, just as much as I do or maybe even more. Now stop worrying about Thanksgiving.”

Adam’s mouth sought her ear and his tongue tickled it and sent shivers throughout Charlie’s body. She rearranged herself so she was laying across Adam’s lap and his hand crept beneath her shirt to grasp her lace covered breast. She could feel his erection against her back. As always, Charlie’s only thoughts turned to Adam and what they were doing to each other.  

Before long, Adam scooped Charlie up and carried her to the bedroom. They’d both decided love-making, and that’s what it was Charlie had decided they did, was best done in the comfort of a big bed.

They loved each other lingeringly, stripping off each other’s clothes until they were at last skin-to-skin. As if they’d discussed what they’d do to each other, Adam caressed, licked, and brought Charlie to the brink of orgasm before he entered her hot and very wet pussy. Once there, he knelt between her thighs and used his thumb on her clit to make her orgasm. He loved watching her and knowing he was responsible for her pleasure.

Then, it was Charlie’s turn to give Adam pleasure. Her legs went around his ass and pulled him tight against her. Her hands reached down and caressed the very base of his erection and gently clasped his tight balls. She looked into his eyes and met each of his thrusts with her own, watching his open mouth, hearing his breath become gasps as he reached toward his own orgasm. With a final thrust that had him grinding against her, she watched his eyes close in ecstasy. When she felt his final pulse in her pussy, she used her legs to pull him down so he was laying on her. She ran her hands up and down his sweaty back until his breathing returned to normal. By then, Charlie was almost asleep and allowed Adam to move and move her so his front was close against her back, her legs bent to cover Adam’s.

Satisfied, tired, happy, Charlie’s last thought had nothing to do with Adam’s family and Thanksgiving, but was about how much she was coming to love this man.