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.