WhiteOut- Part Two - FINAL Update 3/6/13

WHITEOUT

part two

(starting with chapter Eight)

Author's note: First part of this (not so short) short seasonal story, can be found at:

http://emb4mj.blogspot.com/2012/12/whiteout-christmas-story.html

8

Lisa’s eyes held a mixture of incredulous disbelief and distress. Shit, the last thing in the world he wanted to do was hurt her.  Well, he had meant to hurt her real good only seconds before, but in a totally different context.  

“You don’t want to...to...” She looked totally floored- her voice was a deep whisper. 

Were those tears?  Oh gosh.... If only it was all about what he wanted and not what he knew was for the best.  

“No- I mean, yes- I mean,  I think you can tell how much I want to. Want you...but...”

Lisa visibly grappled with understanding his well presented thought.  Damn! How could he shed light when he was stumbling around like a blind man himself? The blue in her eyes was stunning. Funny how dark the rest of the room had become, and yet her eyes were like a clear beacon in the absolute obscurity of his mind.  He could see them with his eyes closed- dreamt of them, wished to disappear in them.

And now, he would give anything to not see the rising disappointment. 

Well, then, oh ye, greatest male idiot alive, why don’t you get off your high horse and back on track with what you know you wanna do.  Bury yourself in her heat.  Forget everything.  Take what she is offering. No questions asked.

Sadly, life wasn’t that easy. Neither was their relationship.  Making love to Lisa was never a ‘no strings attached affair.’ While it had been an affair only too often.  Like when she had been married to Keough, when he was legally bound to Deb, followed by Lisa and her speed marriage to Cage... All those times they had followed what they felt to be right- and it never had led to anything good.

Now, here they were.  Against all odds.  And she was married again. Plus, as an added complication, she had told him she didn’t care anymore.  Oh how he had hated her for those words with the flipside of his intense, immortal love.  In an endless mantra he had chanted that acceptance of his love also needed to entail that she had decided to seek shelter from the madness of their feelings. Maybe she even had believed in her own delusional indifference.  He had fought so hard to accept the truth as she had defined it: that she didn’t care. 

So?  She cares enough to sit half naked in your lap, dude.  She cared enough to ride your fingers, her pussy dripping all over herself. She cared enough to massage your cock to the point where you almost came in her hand like a some idiotic virgin.  

And he cared enough to at least try and figure out what the hell all that was about.  Think first and go with what came oh so natural for them later.  If there was a later. Because, heaven knew, they had done it the other way ‘round way too many times.  Had thrown caution to the wind and given into this incredible passion.  And seconds after collapsing into each other, the  painful questions had started. Oh yeah, when he had been younger and full of energy, he had possessed the luxury to pretend it was all fun and games.  He had always loved her- and had made sure to tell her that. And still he knew she had come away from their crazy encounters feeling used more than once. As had he.  Women weren’t the only ones who at times felt used for the comfort of their bodies.

And now?  What the heck was all this about?  To say he was confused would be about as much of an understatement as saying this place was a tiny bit cluttered and slightly dirty.  The whole day had been surreal. Their current situation was extreme.  She had been injured. They were trapped in a nasty dump, totally isolated from the real world as either one of them knew it.  They were half drunk.  On booze and each other.  While things in the past had not always been clear between them, he felt as if he was staring through a fogged up, dirty, sullied ancient window.  And the Windex had run out a long time ago.  

A bit more than a year ago, she had signed her declaration of indifference. Now, she was in his lap, her hand in his pants and her little body begging him to make love to her.

Make love...

Make love to me, Michael.  Fuck me...

Had it been that?  Had her words stopped him?  The sudden contrast between ‘making love’ and ‘fucking?’How could he make love to her? Didn’t that mean she had to make love to him in return? She was in love with someone else, wasn’t she?  In the past, even when they were supposed to be with other people he always knew she loved him.  Lisa might scream she hated him, might fight him, try to punch him, yell at him...but he always knew there was love in the chaotic mix.  Their sexual encounters often ran hot and wild- and still there always was love. He knew her protests and angry fits were bullshit.  Until she had gone cold and calm.  So...where did he stand now, in this moment?  Or moments ago, when her body gave him a whole different perspective again.

What did she want?  Making love?  Or just outright fucking?  He cringed.

And your problems is, what exactly?  How long had it been?  How long since you felt secure enough to totally let yourself go?  LIke you can with her?  So what if she doesn’t love you?  You still feel safe with her.  You know her.  You know what she needs and she knows the same of you.  Why does there have to be love?  You are both adults and she seemed to be more than a consenting participant. So do it: fuck her. What’s the problem if she pretends not not love you?  Not like you can pinpoint the millions of feelings you have for her.

Feeling his heart rate speed up, he knew he could not afford to be anywhere near that question.   How do you look at the infinity of the universe and count the myriad of points of light.  How do you enumerate the sand on the beach?  How to measure the deep darkness of space?  Did the name of emotions really matter?  What was love?  Why was it so important?  Long ago he had taken it to be a promise of something solid only to now realize its mercurial nature.  Things change, circumstances differ, people adapt.  He had moved on.  She had made him move on. Lisa was the past. It seemed pretty simple.  Only problem was,  the past was sitting in his lap, tears in her eyes, her very naked, very sexy chest heaving.  He could tell by her face and the chewing on her quivering lower lip that he was not the only one trying desperately to figure this all out.

Suddenly, Lisa’s face became still and controlled. Something snapped into place. Her body straightened.

“It’s fine- you don’t have to explain. Really- I should apologize. I’m such an idiot. I misread...”

He almost had to laugh at her formal tone.  Her she was- little naked Amazon, talking as if she was standing in her best suit in a boardroom. And no, Lise- you didn’t misread my hand up your pussy.  Jesus! 

Lisa started to get up and he held her in place firmly.  His hand cradled her face and he felt her go rigid under his touch.  His heart ached.  Not that he could explain, why.  It was crazy how important her feelings obviously still were to him.

“Lisa Marie. Don’t do that. Don’t go all cold on me. You’re not an idiot. And ...you obviously, didn’t misread anything.  We got carried away.”

“Yeah, fine, cool. It’s all good. Would you let me get up so I can get my shirt...I mean, your shirt?” Her eyes were lowered, and Lisa did that thing where she hid under her lashes. That thing he adored and that always awoke some odd protective streak.

Sadly, she didn’t need him to protect her anymore.  She was running for cover all by herself. And fast.

He felt as if he was looking at Lisa disappearing behind a steadily increasing sheath of ice. As if her soul had descended into this deep abyss and a layer of frozen nitrogen spread like a shield over her.

Thinking it was smarter to not see her amazing boobs presented to him, her nipples still hard, his mouth still recalling their taste and texture, he did reach other and handed her the shirt.  He helped her put it on, against her initial protest.  Lovingly, he pulled her hair free.

Again, she tried to get up- and away from him.

Ah, no...Not like that.

His hands closed around her waist.  Gosh, it still felt so good to feel her body beneath his touch.  Like heaven, actually.  She had changed a bit.  And still, her contours, the way she moved, the unique fragrance of her skin, the taste of her body...it all was so very familiar.  And so damn exciting. His dick once again moved, protesting his ridiculous effort to be some sort of adult.  Well, he had always known it: adults don’t have any fun at all.

Lisa felt him under her for sure- and her eyes flew back up to him.

“Let me get up, Michael. Now.”

“Not till we talk.  You look as if I murdered your toy rat or something. But you told me Mallory was dead already.”

HIs attempt at humor didn’t even earn him a smirk.

“We can talk when your cock is not trying to complete what you so obviously do not want.”  Her sarcasm made him smile.  She was so adorable- and exasperating!

“Woman! It’s not that I don’t want you.  That I don’t want..this... It’s that I’m confused, and to tell you the truth also a bit freaked out. And I don’t wanna take advantage of you.”

She made a face.

“You’re a saint.  But the facts that I held your dick in my hand and had my tongue shoved down your throat probably were good signs you weren’t taking advantage of me. But thanks that you protect me from myself- even if it’s your cop-out to not have to admit what’s really going on.”

Oh, she knew what was really going on?  What?  She came all the way to Ireland for a bootie call? Not likely. She drove him absolutely mad when she acted as if everything was simply about sex. 

Unless, you’re totally misreading her and things for her, indeed are about sex.  One more romp with the past.  Maybe Lucky dear couldn’t hit all the right places.  She did feel kinda tight... Babygirl always had know where the good stuff was...

Instead of wondering if Lisa was really using him for sex, he instead almost felt...some odd form of macho pride. For real? Well, good to know his thoughts indicated that indeed he wasn’t all that grown up after all. 

See?  Take that shirt back off and see if that pussy is still creaming.  Just do her, man! 

No! He could do this.  He could take the high road...before he exploded and made love to her after all.

“Lisa- you know people in extreme conditions do extreme things.”  How could he make her see that she would only hate herself later- and that he really did not want to risk her hating him all the more.  On the other hand- maybe hatred would be a step up from the proclaimed indifference.

Lisa cocked her head and rolled her eyes. 

“Mike, dude. We are not stranded on top of a mountain after a plane crash.  As inconvenient and nasty as this place is, we probably shall survive.  I promise I wasn’t about to eat your skinny ass in some efforts to survive.”

“No, shit. I was more afraid you were gonna eat my dick while being shit faced and would hate me for not being able to resist taking that sweet little pussy on the ride it so obviously needs.”

They started at each other.  Both obviously taken aback by his choice of language.  That was Lisa- bringing out things he’d never say to another human being. 

Whoa! Where in the heck did that come from? Maybe his level of light headedness indicated that those shots he had taken were indeed rendering him a bit sloshed.

“I don’t need shit from you.  I got a man, remember?”

Okay, now she was starting to piss him off. 

“That’s special, Lisa. Seconds ago, you massaged my dick. And now you brag about your man?  Well, maybe he just ain’t measuring up to your expectations...or your memories.”

“You’re such a prick.”

Yeah, and she had been after his prick big time not too long ago.  Man! She could make him so frigging mad! All he could do was glare at her. Damn! Lisa brought out the most extreme emotions.  And the ugly side he normally could contain from the outside world.  Just going to prove that Lisa was not an outsider at all.  

“So, why did you beg me to fuck you? See my point now?  You can barely stand me- and we both have been ...ah...stressed.  We shouldn’t have taken those shots...and we have ...you know...history. We tend to go with what feels good and then it never leads to anything but more pain.  See? I’m trying to look out for us...for you.”

Pushing against his chest, she got up.  And this time, he didn’t pull her back.  Looked like she’d be alright.  Mad, but alright.  Lisa was obviously starting to see his point. 

“Well, thanks for coming to my rescue again.  Just send me the tab.  Or send a Saint Bernadine with a vat of rum in the next time.”

“Like you need more to drink.  Or I really need your money.”

“Well, donate it to a foundation to rebuild decrepit Travelodges.”

“Lisa- I hope you can look back at this one day and know how...hard...eh...difficult it was to stop.”

Her gaze descended and found his still very pronounced bulge.  He had a pretty good idea she knew how hard it was.

“It’s alright- I know things changed.  I changed.  I’m older.  Fatter.”

What? Do you really think I see you as anything as the most beautiful, desirable, maddening, gorgeous...

Michael grabbed her arm. “Stop that! Do you even know?  Do you even comprehend what you do to me? What you’ve always done to me?  Still do to me?”

Lisa stared at him with wild eyes. “Yeah.  So much you gotta totally humiliate me. But hey- payback’s a bitch, I guess.  No- don’t say anything.  I can’t do this. Not sober.” She grabbed the bottle.  Her eyes seemed to throw out a challenge. 

Sober?  Okay...

“Lisa- don’t...I don’t think you should have more...”  

Ignoring the fact that she was on the other side of sobriety already, she raised that eye brow, and threw her head back, taking another large sip. Putting down the bottle finally, she swayed. 

“Well, you don’t get to tell me what to do. Leave me the fuck alone.  You don’t want me? Fine. I disgust you?  Great- I deserve it. I get how I hurt you, okay.  I know you called after the trial to reach out to me.  And I said...what I did.  Karma’s a bitch.  I hope you had your revenge getting me to offer up the goodies so you could throw the offer back in my face.  I just wish you would just come out and say so.  Stop playing Mr Goodie Two Shoes when really, despite your impressive hard on, you think I’m not even good enough to fuck anymore.  Guess I lost even that purpose. Cheers.”

What in the world had been knocked lose in Lisa’s head? Michael stared at her, stunned.  He had to stop this madness.  Stepping up again, he reached around and snatched the bottle from her.

“Gimme that!”

“Stop it!” she swatted at him, trying to angle for the Whiskey. Missing, she almost fell.

“No, you stop it! You must have fucking lost what was left of your mind!” He raised the bottle high, looking for a place to deposit it.  He noticed there was not all that much left- damn! No wonder they acted like two lunatics- they had just about killed the whole bottle.

“Michael- give me back the fucking whiskey!” 

He twisted away from her, using his superior height and agility.  Nice to know he wasn’t an old man yet!  Of course, beating a half drunk, angry woman was probably nothing to write home about, either.

“You had enough!”

“Fuck you! I ain’t had nowhere near enough.” Lisa grabbed his shirt.

He twisted away once more and hopped up onto the bed. Not like he would have to worry about getting the comforter dirty. For once, he’d not be responsible for messing up a hotel room. Nothing much he could do that hadn’t been done before he walked in.

“Come get it then.” Good thing he had her fear of bedbugs and those germs on his side.

Lisa stood by the bed, huffing, her hands braced on her hips in frustration. 

“Don’t think I won’t.”  

She looked like a little kid and her tiny, stubborn frame made him laugh. Looking all mighty in his Mickey Mouse jammies. 

Obviously, his laughter, just made her angrier, and in one move, she jumped up on the bed, reaching for the prize once more.

“I ain’t giving it to you, little brat!” He managed to squeak out between bouts of laughter.  Her pawing at the bottle he held up high like a little cat trying to get a ball of yarn was too comical. Lisa changed strategies and started jumping on the bed, making it pretty difficult to hold the bottle up high and still stay upright.

“We will see about that!” She glared at him, smiling in an evil way.

Seeing his advantage, Michael used his free hand to push her slightly and Lisa lost her balance, falling onto the bed. Before she went all the way down, she grasped his leg and the momentum also made him fall.  

“Dammit!”

He rolled to the side, holding the bottle off the bed, glad it hadn’t spilled.

“Told y’a I get you down!”

Lisa rolled over and came to rest on him, once again reaching for the stupid whiskey.  Michael was well aware the battle was no longer just for the booze, but had become a matter of principle.  She was out of breath, and her face was flushed again- and he knew she wouldn’t give in.

“Now we both will be contaminated by that nasty ass bed...all because you can’t lose...” He was still laughing, and just about out of breath now as well.

The increase in his breathing might also have had something to do with having that body on him, her movements rubbing her breasts against him, and her hot little center against his quickly hardening cock.  Oh shit!

“Just let me have it...”  She crawled up his body- and was close to reaching his hand.  Fine! He was not going to lose this one.

Twisting, he quickly switched hands holding the Jameson, and turned his head, bringing it to his mouth, and gulping down the remainder of the burning fluid.  

Her expression was priceless as she stared down at him.  Ha! Victory! 

He put the bottle down on the floor and stared up at her, grinning. 

Lisa’s eyes narrowed and she shook her head.  “You sneaky little....” 

“You ain’t gon’ get it now, baby girl...”

For a second she seemed stunned. But Lisa was quick.  When he saw that evil glint, he should have known something else was coming.  

Grabbing his head in a surprise move, Lisa approached, her lips so close to his now, he could smell her breath, and almost feel their texture. 

“You sure I ain’t gonna get it, Mike?”  

Fuck! She was not playing fair at all. And no, he was not sure at all.  Not when she looked at him like that.

Straddling him, Lisa bent over him, her hands in his hair, her thumbs caressing his cheek, her hair falling around them, creating a space where all his senses were held captive by her: The blue of her eyes, the scent of her freshly washed hair, the whiskey on her breath.

One again, his resolve broke like a marble stone hit by Thor’s hammer.  Reaching for her, he closed the small gap between them, his mouth slanting down over her in a deep, open mouthed kiss.  His tongue went on the offense immediately, and Lisa granted him access, her velvet tongue stroking his, before she sucked on it lightly, making his dick engorge and jerk against her.  

Just when he thought he was about to pass out, Lisa broke away, and lazily opened those hooded eyes.

“You taste like the Jameson, still. So, I got some after all.”  Her eyes had that impish spark and the evil little grin didn’t do anything to diminish just how sexy she was to him right now.

“Little witch!”

“You ain’t seen nothing yet. I want you all in my spell...all of you....” She bent forward again, kissing his neck and tracing a trail down his chest.  She kissed a circle around his nipple, making him go absolutely nuts. He sighed her name over and over, and felt her smiling against him before she started to lick and tease each hardened pebble.

Once again, his hands dipped in her shirt, and he found her breast, delighting how full they felt in his hands. Her diamond tips were hardened and he plucked and rubbed them, causing her to whimper. Lisa backed off from him, blowing on his wet tips now, causing him to sharply draw in his breath.  In response, Lisa lifted slightly, giving his straining cock some space, while still using her body to rub against him in the most tantalizing way.  

“Lisa...Lise...you drive me nuts.  I want you so badly...”

“Oh yeah...what do you want?  When I do this?” Bending forward she bit his nipple and he moaned.

“Oh yeah...little cat...”

Knowing he should push her away, he pulled her head closer to him instead.

“Cat, hm?  Cats scratch and bite, Mike...and lick...”

Holy shit...

With that, Lisa let her nails rake a path from his nipples down his sides, as she nipped, licked, and kissed a little path to his belly button, scooting lower. 

Shit, shit, shit. He should really stop her...

His cock jumped and filled with more blood. Enough to take any nourishment from those pesky brain centers constantly getting in the way.

“What else do you want, Mike?  When I lick lower...go looking for that sweet milk...?”

Dammit! Images of Lisa sucking him, him spraying his milk on her tongue, possibly on her tits, almost made him cum.

It also made him remember the other stains on that blanket.

“Lisa- you lick any lower and there will be white stuff all over this blanket...joining the DNA collection already present.”

“Damn, Michael!” She licked the dark path from his navel to his pants. “You know how to cool a girl down...”

Cool her down? 

Oh, yeah, that was exactly what they needed! A cooling down!  So he could think- and possible come up with a cleaner place to give it to her.  Because, after the most recent torture, it started to occur to him that holding back tonight possibly was just not going to happen.  

“You wanna play, Lise? Sure you can stand what you might stand to lose?”

Her fingers traced the elastic of his pants and she playfully nipped at the fabric.  Looking up at him, her eyes narrowed. 

“Better question yet: can you stand what you might win?”  

“Come on then...” He pulled her up to him once more, and she made a protesting sound. 

Flipping her over, he came to rest on top of her, using his weight and his hands to pin her down before her busy little hands would make things impossible to contain.

“Michael!”

Kissing her thoroughly one more time, until she went soft and pliant under him, and till his dick was just about to explode from her moving against him, he used all his resolve to pull her up.

“Let’s go! Let’s see who will win what.”

“Go? Go where?”  

Man, even sounding drowsy and confused she looked so hot,  Her skin was red, her lips swollen, her eyes sparkled, and her hair was a wild mane.

“Outside.  I’m gonna kick your ass in a snowball fight.”

Her eyes widened “I knew you had a huge hard on- but I think the blood loss to your brain was too much. I’m not going outside!”

The last words were spoken as if she indeed was talking to someone several fries short of a Happy Meal.

“Why? You afraid you gonna lose? You know I’ll kick your ass.”

“Not if I kick your scrawny ass first for even thinking about taking me outside.  It’s cold there.”

“Yeah?  So?”

Was she afraid all the heat they had generated in the last hour or so was going to send a huge cloud of steam into space?  

Michael started to get off the bed and look around in his suitcase for clothes she could wear.  He threw a sweater and some jeans at her. “There- we can make those fit. And I think your boots are dry again- so those will work.”

“Michael!”  With an exasperated expression, she sat on her heels on the bed. “ I am not...and hear me- N O T- going outside. Why would I?”

“Cause...” He looked around for his own jeans, dropping his pajama pants, revealing his still significant arousal in his boxers. Lisa’s mouth dropped open. Literally.  She was so cute right now.

“Cause, I’m gonna school you in snow ball fighting. And then, after we cool down a bit, and after I win....”  He shimmied into his pants, struggling to pull them over his rebellious, still swollen member, “...after I win, we...we can talk and figure out how to deal with all this...”

This madness...this hot desire. The fact that he stopped to care less and less that she was in another committed relationship right now.  One that also seemed to have slipped her mind.  

“You got it all planned out, don’t you?”

“Are you gonna put on the clothes or are you going out like this?”  He pulled on a t-shirt and a fleece sweat shirt. 

“Ahhhhhhhhh! Crazy ass!” Lisa let out a frustrated yell.  Oh, yeah.  He knew that one! He had won.

“You are such a frigging lunatic! What the hell do we have to go outside for?  We can cool off in here- and talk...and...whatever!”

Fat chance. ‘Whatever’ likely would include him showing this lady lady what she had been missing.  A truth that certainly must be crystal clear to her as well, as Lisa started to reach for the sweater and pulled it over- looking at him like a pouting child. Only, her pout brought thoughts to mind that were anything but childlike.  

Chill, Mike. You almost are in the clear.  The snow will help. It’s cold- it will bring clarity.  Distract you from wanting to take her in all kinds of different ways. 

“No, Lisa- we can’t. All I can think about is nailing you right now.  I can’t help but think about all the things I want to do to that sweet body of yours.  There- honest enough? And I’m confused because you seem to pretty much want me to do all sorts of things to you as well.  When you had said before...that....well, you know...that you don’t care for me- for us- anymore. So- gimme a second, okay?”

“What happened to you, suddenly?  I’m not used to the honest, direct approach with you.”

“Well, maybe I found out that time is precious.”

Shrugging, Lisa got off the bed and dropped the Mickey pjs.  His turn to swallow hard and stare.  Man! She was still a sight to behold.  That girl seriously had an ass that just would not quit.  And those nice, toned legs...with that hot V between her legs.  He could just about bet her panties were soaking wet...

“Get your eyes out of my panties, Michael.” She took his jeans and glanced up at him with a half smile.

“If I was you, my eyes in your panties is not what I’d be concerned about.”

Lisa rolled her eyes, pulling on his jeans.  “Talk, talk, talk....There- See? They don’t fit. As little as you are, they are still too big.”

He was going to ignore that comment about being little.  For now.  

Till when? Till you can show her how little ole you will make her walk funny for days, making Mr Presley wonder what the hell happened to his wife?

Gosh, he really needed to get a handle on himself.  Looking over at Lisa helped a bit.  He almost burst out laughing watching her struggle to put on his clothes.She looked so comical. And so sweet.  Like a kid playing dress up.  And she was right.  Those pants would fall off her in a heart beat.  Well, her well rounded bootie might keep them up, but he better help her out. Michael looked around for a belt. Finding one he picked it up and held it out to her.

“Wat’cha gonna do? Spank me with it?”

Oh, tempting thought.  File for later...

“Lisa! You keep it up and you will find out what I’m gon’ do.”

“You keep it up enough for the both of us, big man,” she quipped and he rolled his eyes.  If he didn’t know any better he’d be sure this woman was out to provoke him into getting her laid.  Unless she was simply stalling to not have to go outside. 

Outside- remember? Where the cold chill of this Christmas night will knock some sense into both of us.  

Silently, he wondered if at this point there was enough snow in the universe to accomplish that feat.

Stepping up close to Lisa, he inserted it into the loops of the jeans, bringing her against him. There was something crazy sexy about him dressing her- in his clothes.  His penis stirred again, making his own pants barely fit.  

“There! I made it fit.”

His eyes found hers.  

“Yeah, you always do...” Her voice was a velvet whisper. 

Memories of Lisa beneath him...straining to take his size...of him moving against her, kissing her, teasing her, giving her time till he was totally sheathed in her body.. Damn! The things she could do to him without really having set any action at all.

Heat raced through him, and, silently, he stepped away.  “Off we go- cool down time!”  Michael turned toward the door.

“Michael...”

Her voice stopped him.

“Yeah?”

“Let’s make it worth the effort- the cooling down thing, I mean.”  With that she gripped him by the sweater and pulled him into her.  Her lips found him and she placed several light kisses, before his arms snaked around her little body, lifting her into him, kissing her with burning urgency once more.  

Lisa grabbed his ass and pulled him into her more.  Then, suddenly, she stepped away.

She bent and rolled up the jeans, then stepped into her boots, before pulling on her parka. 

“Let’s go. Get ready to lose Jackson.”

He had to laugh. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.” She took him by the hand and marched out as if the whole thing had been her idea. 
“So, what’s the loser gonna have to give up, Mike?”

“How ‘bout the truth, Lisa?” 

The truth about why she was in Ireland.  Why she had contacted him. Stalled him. Why she didn’t seem to be the least bit concerned to sex it up with him while Lucky was siting at home on his pot of gold, watching her kids.  And most of all...why what he saw in her eyes was everything but indifference.

She stopped and stared up at him.  For a second they both attempted to read each other.

“Well, I hope I can take your truth, Michael.”

He smiled down at her, kissing her nose. “I think you can take anything I can give you, girl.  And maybe I throw some of that in as a little consolation, - seeing you’re gonna lose your pants.”

“Good thing then I wear your pants, big mouth!”

And with that, Lisa turned and headed out onto the battlefield.

9

“Okay, I give, I give....no more...stop it...” 

I was laughing so hard, I could barely squeak the words out.  Well, plus I was in the snow, on my back, and Michael was sitting on me, peppering me with more snow balls.  Really, I had already conceded and declared him the winner- but then, just as he had turned, I -in a brilliant move -managed to get one more snowball down the back of his shirt.  Well, he had said he wanted to cool down- so why was skipping around and yelping as if he minded?

“No, you cheat! How can I trust you really give this time?”

“You can’t- but shit, look at me- you’re about to bury me. Would you wanna rescue me again tonight?”

He held the snowball he was about to launch and his eyes narrowed.  Really, he had just simply resorted to throwing handfulls of snow, but hey, they were still cold- and wet.

“You deserve it- because clearly you could not accept my snow angel was better.”

I looked over to my side, comparing our snow angels... Okay, his was pretty good- but I’d bite my tongue off before admitting that.

“Was not...”

“Oh yeah...” He smiled broadly and got ready to release the snow bomb.

Breaking out laughing again, I reached up and grabbed his arm. “No! NO! Seriously, you win.  No more! Your snow angel makes mine look like a lost bat. A drunk, disoriented bat...”

His grin widened. “Yeah, I know.”

Using his distraction, I reached behind.  Oh yeah, he might think he won, but it was not all over yet.  The fat lady was just warming her swan song.  I could get at least one more hit in- and I’d make sure to make this one count.  He was real close after all...this should be a piece of cake.

“Gloating is not nice.”  

Just keep him distracted a bit longer...

“Okay....I’m not nice.” 

No, he wasn’t.  He was gorgeous.  His hair having been wet and falling in wild curls into his face now. His cheeks reddened. His eyes sparkling. He was all that- but not all that nice. 

After all, he made me not only go out into the snow, but also convinced me to climb over a rickety fence and romp around in some unsuspecting person’s field. Or big yard..or something.  When we left the hotel, we both had noticed  there was really nowhere to go, given the layout of the place was reminiscent of some odd, forsaken business park.  We both assessed the situation. The snow had slowed down and was now falling in magical flakes all around us, the clouds had lifted, and stars decorated this Christmas Night.  The whole thing was strangely unreal.  Magical.  And I was totally under the spell of the night.  And this man.

“Okay- nowhere to go- let’s go back in.”  My attempt to pull him back in was thwarted by Michael staying rooted in place.

“What’s that?” He pointed beyond the parking lot to a little fence.

“Someone’s property.  And I look fucking awful in stripes, so I ain’t going to jail for trespassing.”

“Who will arrest you?  The snow patrol? Santa's Elves?”

And so, once again, I was a reluctant accomplice to one of his idiotic plans.  

Not the first time I helped him be reckless...and, as always, the result was crazy fun.  

“Will you be nice enough to help me up? I’m getting cold... Please?”  I gave him my very best submissive, saccharine, innocent batting of the eyes and he dropped his arsenal. Yes! I still had it!

“Okay, baby, girl, as long as we are clear who won.”

“Clear as the Christmas Star.”

Triumphantly, and -if you asked me- a bit overbearing, Michael laughed again and reached his hand down to poor little loser me.  Smiling sweetly, I took it and, just as he pulled me up, took full advantage of his relaxed state to use all my weight as leverage.  And I yanked...hard. Oh, yeah, baby- this was how little Lisa toppled a giant! 

“Lisa! Shit! ” He squealed, having totally lost his balance.

Right before he fell down on me, I unleaded my handful of snow- right into his very surprised face!

Bull’s Eye! The look of total surprise was priceless!

“There! Last hit- I win!”  Knowing I’d better start running for cover, I attempted to roll away from under him while he was sidetracked with attempts to breathe under the onslaught of the wet, cold stuff.

“Oh, no, you don't!” 

Damn! How did I ever forget how fast this man was?  Still half blind, he held me in place under him.  Trying my best to fight him off, I tried to grab some more snow, but Michael saw through that plan and, using his body to keep me in place, reached for my arms, pinning them above my head. Now, that move brought back some memories that could easily make this whole winter wonderland melt in a jiffy.  Good thing I was too distracted to fully engage with the delightful mental image.

“No, let go....” I was still struggling, laughing, trying in vain to pull away.

“You little wild cat! I ain’t letting you go again. I can’t trust you... You’re....you're sneaky!”

Oh, his accusatory, indignant tone was too funny! 

Running out of steam fast, I tried to get him off me for another ten seconds or so, until some part of me realized it was no use...And to be honest, his weight on me felt kinda nice.  Freedom was way overrated when I could look at Michael who was still laughing so hard, he could barely speak.  And enjoy the familiar and yet newly discovered feel of his weight one me.  I stilled- causing him to raise his head and look down on me.  I gazed into his snow covered face for a second, then, at the same instant, we both burst out laughing again, Michael sinking against my neck.  

Hot breath hit the chilled flesh on my neck. Droplets of snow brought yet another conflicting sensation. Distracting. Tantalizing. I shivered.  Feeling the different quality of the movement, he looked up again.  His face appeared to have been freshly touched by rose pedals.  There was a translucent flush and a glistening sheen from the melted snow. Drops of winter’s dew decorated his lashes like the most precious pearls.

“You okay?”

The smile froze under the glazing onset of passion. Was I?  

Yes. Oh, Good, yes.  I was more okay than I had been in years.  

The only danger right now was the fleeting wings of time that would carry him away from me as soon as this perfect moment was over. Unless...

“Say it again...” My hoarse whisper suck out without having been cleared by what was left of my rational thinking.

My voice had succeeded in closing the distance. His face right there now- painting his image blurry on my retina. 

“Say what?” His breath was my fog machine, capturing me in a mysterious myst.  I was in my own boat, about to break through to the mysterious island that was Michael.  And I’d be his priestess once again.  As long as he wouldn’t turn me away in one of my foolish escapes. 

“That you ain’t gon’ let me go...”

“Lise...”  

I took a deep breath. I knew it was coming.  Diving head first from the cliff, the thrilling seconds on the magic ride coated me with bravery as I anticipated the stunning impact. 

Michael’s cool lips gently kissed my cheeks, then my eyes, my nose.  Again, I felt as if each spot he touched glowed from the impact.  A moment ago, I had been aware of the snow all around me, despite having been warm from all the laughing and fighting. Now, it was as if his eyes branding me with the glowing tip of the obsidian fire transported me into a bubble with it’s own stratosphere. 

“Michael...I...please....”

Please kiss me. Please don’t stop.  Ever. Please don’t ever let me leave again. 

Touching his lips to mine broke whatever spell that had rendered us both suspended in time.  As he still held my wrists, I was totally at the mercy.  Not that I minded.  After first nibbling on my bottom lip, he used his velvet tongue to trace the edge.  A sweet, tantalizing temptation.  Not nearly enough.  Impatience riding me hard, I dug in my spores and nipped at his luscious lip.  God...there was nothing like biting and sucking on that pouting, perfect flesh. Well, nothing but biting and sucking that other pouting, perfect flesh. The mere thought caused my nipples to strain against his shirt and warm fluid to flood my pussy.  Instinctively, my body moved.  In silent, ancient response, his own shifted, pressing into me, making me enjoy his once again growing hard on. I was the soft clay to his mold- about to be fired again in the intense kiln.  

Michael’s mouth plundered mine, our kiss turning more hungrier by the second.  I know I made a sound, half mad from lust, half desperate for air and he pulled back.  His dark eyes wore the glaze of the identical insanity driving my actions.  

“Okay?”

Why did he keep asking that?  And oh, how I loved that he did.

“Don’t stop...” I reached for him.  

He smiled in a dark way. “Oh, girl. I gave you enough outs tonight...I don’t plan on stopping. You’re mine.”

Okay.... There it was.  That’s what I had missed. That crazy passion in his eyes.  Obsessive possessiveness in his voice.  They  touched me like a physical presence, stirring...causing whirls of pleasure to radiate from my belly to my breasts and down to my center.  I was his, indeed. And he was mine. 

Hunger and thirst could not hold a candle to the urges riding me.  Hunger for his heart.  Lust for his body.  Thirst for his love.  Not being able to decide how to proceed, I went for the physical release first.  As he pressed into me, my pelvis lifted up. Feeling added pressure was essential, I gyrated against him with absolute, primal urgency.  

Michael released my hands and captured my face, once again stealing my breath. His tongue...demanding...dancing...surrounding mine, stroking, teasing...torturing.  I whimpered again, and he left my mouth, kissing a path of fire to my throat.  He bit my flesh, then soothed the sting with his tongue, before moving to my ear, devouring my earlobe with gentle bites.  

“Michael...you drive me crazy...” With every wisp of visible breath, I envisioned parts of my soul floating toward him.

“Oh yeah...you know what I wanna do to you...do you have any idea how many ways I wanna feel you?”

His tongue traced the outline of my ear; he nipped and kissed along the outside, before explore further.  Shit! The action almost made me cum. Partly, because it reminded me how Michael had once imparted on me that kissing my ear was so similar to eating my pussy...how he loved to tease the outside before going in for the kill.  And right now, with him pressing against me, rotating his hips in an imitation of making love, I was oh so close to being killed. 

“Baby...”  

Shit.. I shouldn’t call him that...but I couldn’t resist.  We weren’t polite exes any longer.  Friendship was out the window- No more lies, no more hiding from what was right there in front of me in this very moment.  All the shit I had shoved into the closet over all these years had dried up.  Highly flammable bullshit- Caution highly advised. Now, a torch had been thrown into the middle of the long ignored essence of who were were.  Certain things became clear.  Others had to take a backseat and stay hidden behind smoke and sooth.  But certain truths shone too brightly to be ignored any longer.  I had feelings for him, alright.  And the one right on the surface was a sexual passion I had never felt for anyone else.

To put it plain: He got me so unbelievably, fucking hot. Not for the first time tonight, but this time I wasn’t going to let the fire-fighters march in. If he thought he’d pull the old “lets think about this and be rational’ act on me again, he’d better think twice.  I was so beyond being rational.  I didn’t care about who I was outside of here or what my obligations were.  I didn’t care what he’d think of me in the morning, of how much I’d possibly hate myself.  Tomorrow simply did not exist.  I didn’t want to ponder the feelings that, layer by layer, threatened to bury me under an avalanche.  I had already known I was not indifferent, and I still cared.  Only, it was way beyond scary to shine a light on just how much caring or whatever else I has stored away under the staircase of my consciousness.  

The only thing that existed was Michael. Here. With me.  Loving me. Wanting me.  Looking at me as if he needed me more than air.  Could it be? Was it possibly I had not succeeded in totally poisoning that flower of love I had once tended to with such obsession?  Had the roots somehow survived?   

No, Lisa...this moment...focus on just this moment.  

Michael was back to kissing my neck.  I felt his developing stubble on my skin, marking me.  I didn’t care.  I needed each and every feeling and sensation in this ultimate moment of re-awakening.  His lips, tongue, teeth, stubble....I wanted to be a canvas to all his expressions of passion.  Each touch was a brush stroke, carrying me closer to the final masterpiece. 

One of my hands was in his hair, feeling little ice crystals form, holding him close to me.  My other hand was on his ass now,urging on his movements against me.  Dryhumping in the snow... I almost had to laugh at the thought.  My hand slid around and between us, finding that rock hard bulge.  I applied pressure and rubbed against him, my hand providing stimulation to both of us. Michael took in a sharp breath and did some exploring of his own, as we once again became fused in a crazy, dizzying kiss.  

I squealed as his cold hand came under my parka and under my sweater, finding my incandescent skin.  My protest was half-hearted and temporary at best and I strained against his intoxicating touch.  

“Lise...oh shit...you’re so hot...you feel so soft...”

A hoarse laughter escaped. “Well you’re hard as fuck to make up for it...” My fingers, shaking, but not from the freezing temperatures, opened his zipper and unbuttoned his jeans.  I reached in...finding his hard cock.  Oh yeah...my man...so proud...so thick...so ready...

“Damn...girl..” His mouth came down on mine, just as his fingers found my breast, squeezing it, before pinching my nipple, rolling it between his fingers.

“Michael....” I breathed against him.

“Shit...baby..I’m about to lose it right here....Let’s move this party inside...whadday’a say?”

What?  Surrender his touch for even a second? How would I survive that? What if he changed his mind again?  Could I risk it? Well, at some points, I had to simply trust my instincts.  And the smoke signals going off from our bodies.  

Michael could obviously not let go yet either before stroking and fondling my other boob. Then, he kissed me once more before sitting up on his haunches.

He grinned down at me.  Man- had he ever looked more heavenly? His hair wet from the snow, his face flushed, eyes blazing...pants open. Looking down on himself, he grinned. “Now, how the heck am I gonna make myself look decent... you got me so damn sprung, Lisa.”

“Why bother- they’re coming off anyway.” 

His grin widened.  “The sooner the better...damn tight in them...And I wanna feel a different kind of tightness.”

Michael reached out to help me up, and this time I cooperated fully.  We ran over to the fence.  Every now and then, he stopped, pulling me into his arms, kissing me, before we hurried along again.  RIght before we entered Travelodge once more, Michael, pressed me against the wall.  Willingly imprisoned by both his arms, he once again stole my breath away.

“Hey look...”  Pointing, he looked behind me, up into the sky.

“What?”  

“I think that’s the Christmas star. See how bright it is? Merry Christmas, Lisa.”

“Merry Christmas. Great- now let’s go open presents.” Greedily, I pulled him into my body again.

“I like how you think...” Michael giggled, kissing me again.

“Hm, hm, hm...I can’t get enough of this...But you know what?  Let’s go see if our beds are turned down and we find some chocolate on the beds.” Well- that was not exactly what I was in a hurry to do.  But I sure loved his playfulness. On second thought...

“Don’t even joke! If there is something brown on the bed, I know the rat had diarrhea from inhaling dust bunnies.”

“Lisa! Gross!” Michael laughed and made a face.  Kissing me once more, he pulled me inside.  Drunk on each other more than any whiskey, this time, we both were oblivious to the state of the hotel.  What had been my problem?  Looked like the foyer of the grandest hotel in the world!  I was so giddy, I felt like giving ole Mallory a thumps up.  And maybe I should thank Joey for being the shitty manager of this crappy place.  Had it all not been so crazy ridiculous, I might not have taken off to find booze, which had lowered our resistances considerably.  Come to think of it, this place had a certain charm. Maybe that’s why all the rooms were full and couples fucking like bunnies.  Distracting me from further musings, Michael pulled me along, and we made it almost to the stairs, laughing but trying to stay as silent as we could, before he pulled me against the wall once more.

“Lise..Lise..princess...God...you got no clue what you do to me...” Another breathless kiss. 

“Among other things...I made you lose.” I smiled up at him while he once again framed my face, “I won the fight...so you owe me the truth...”

Michael raised an eyebrow and made a face, kissing my nose.  “You! You cheated. And you’re gonna pay...”

“Oh yeah...” I grabbed his jacket, pulling him all the way into me, nibbling on his delicious neck.  “Make me pay, Daddy...”

Michael grabbed my ass and moved his hips against me with the most provocative rounded movement.  “Oh, you gon’ pay, alright...” His lips inprisoned me as he marched me toward the stairs.

“Oh- top of the night to you Miss Lisa and,- I assume her lucky husband?”

Imagine a needle screeching on an old record.  Damn!

Joey had come back! What the heck?  Didn’t he have stockings to stuff or something? Or was it his hobby to sneak up on his randy patrons?  I better make sure he didn’t hold a camera or something.  Of course, he probably was used to people dragging their perverted asses in here, tongues hanging out, ready for some action.  If only he knew what a pair of high profile perverts he had sheltered tonight! Well, lucky for us, the way we were standing, I was facing him and Michael was pressed into me, his face now hiding in my neck, laughing hysterically. He raised a hand in greeting, but otherwise stayed put.  I was so glad, he didn’t decide it was time to give the man a free Christmas show.  With him one never knew.  I still remember that crazy night at the Ivy so many years ago, where he just had to make it more than clear what we had been up to. Or would be up to.  

“Fuck! Now what...Lisa, no sudden movements..my pants...remember...” His choked whisper almost made me laugh. My guess was Joey here had seen his share of people in heat. Still, we didn’t want to stun him with the size of Michael’s super soaker.  And some secrets I'd liked to keep.  Well, not that anyone who had ever seen my love wrapped in tinfoil  had been left in the dark about certain attributes. Mr Shy, my ass!  Anyway, I guessed it was my turn to made a polite, tasteful exit. Without exposing any candy canes.

“Hey there- We...we took a small breather, went outside for a bit.   My husband here has a horrible headache. So, if you excuse us- we gotta get going.” 

“Oh yeah. You two love birds better take care of what ails him.  Anything else you be needing?”

Besides his whiskey and beer?  Well....I could think of several things, like a real room, a real bed, some real towels, and maybe clean sheets.  But all of those things paled in comparison what I really was in the most dire need of.

“Nope. We’re good. Let’s go...Night, Sir!” Michael did his deep voice thing and pulled me away, his back facing toward Joey as he once again made for the stairs.  

The poor man probably thought we were incredibly rude...or incredibly horny- and he would be dead right on count two. 

“Night! We’re in kind of a rush...” I turned and waved to the Master of the House, as Michael pulled me off, almost making me fall up the stairs.

We heard Joey’s snickers. “I can see.  Night! Hope you cure that headache! Me and my Mary will also be working on head...aches...Merry CHristmas.”

Laughing more, Michael forged ahead, and we both were breathless when we arrived on the top of the stairs.  

“Shit- did he say his woman was Mary?  Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem?  I better not wake up tomorrow and this is all a dream,” he giggled. 

“We better make sure we stay awake then- so we don’t wake up and find we missed out on this dream of a place.  Maybe I should pinch myself just to make sure?  Or pinch you.”

Suddenly, I was afraid.  This better be real.  Helpful as he could be from time to time, Michael did the next best thing to pinching me.  He pushed me against the wall, his hand fisted in my hair, kissing me so hard I almost fainted. 

“There...feel real enough?’ he panted when he broke away. 

My world spinning, all I managed was a nod- and he inserted the key, pushing the door open, and dragged my dazed ass inside. 

Before the door he kicked close had a chance to slam shut, he had me against the wall once again, feasting on my neck, impatiently pulling off my coat.  

“Let’s get you out of those wet clothes....we don’t wanna get you sick.”  

Shrugging off his own jacket, and pulling his fleece sweater off, he smiled down at me, while I threw the sweater he had lent me from me at record speed and came out of those boots.  

“Yeah, and I got lots of wet clothes...” I agreed with his wise assessment of the state of my wardrobe.

“Yeah, I bet...I bet this here is dripping.” Kicking off his own boots, he grabbed my crotch and applied pressure.  

Oh hell yeah.  Not only was it dripping, it was also swollen and aching - and there were way too many barriers still in place. Another hot kiss.  I took him by the hand and pulled him into the room. Michael reached for the belt that held the jeans on me, hindering my progress, but bringing him against me.  While I attempted to pull his shirt off, he fiddled with the belt, his own long, sexy fingers slightly unsteady now.  I tossed his shirt to the other corner of the room, and started to kiss and bite from his neck to his collar bone, my hands roaming over his flat abs, his ribs, to his back and down to his pants.  I couldn’t get enough of him. So gorgeous...His skin like a healing salve to my fingers.  

Michael made progress getting me naked as well, and he pushed the pants down, his warm palms now on my thighs and caressing my shivering skin. Tracing a tickling, soothing path up my legs, he arrived at my panties, and he gingerly stayed right on the borderline, teasing me.

To pay him back, I was once again attacking his cute little nipples, teasing, sucking, and biting each one. Serenaded by his gasps, my hands teasingly traced the outline of his pants dipping inside the back, grabbing his ass, delighting in his moan.

“You got such a nice ass...and way too many clothes on, Jackson...” My fingers were shaky, but nonetheless inpatient, and I slowly pushed down his jeans.  Our eyes locked.  Michael bit his lip. I noticed him swallow hard.

“Lisa...” there was a look of uncertainty on his face.  Almost...fear.

My heart constricted.  Gosh, I still knew him so well.   Cocky and proud one moment, until you reach his insecure core.  In another tim, I had peeled away the layers.  This wasn’t the first time he was about to trust me with his body.   But it had been a while.  This was serious.  I knew what this meant to him.  His fears were a well kept secret.  Once, he had know I’d keep the key to all this hangups and doubts- that I’d be able to fight that dragon of self hatred and disgust he at times fed so well.   He boasted to have a rhinoceros skin- but years of hours staring into mirrors, of listening to ridicule and false accusations had worn down the defenses that had never been as strong as he made them out to be.  Outside voices painted him a freak and he accepted that as a true reflection- thought of himself as something other than the pure beauty I always had seen.  God, I knew him so well- every inch was familiar territory- and yet...  I realized this was new all over again.  I felt suddenly how damn difficult it was for him to be naked. So many hang-ups in such a beautiful man.

I touched his face gently, till he looked at me- still with great difficulty.

“Michael, not fair how gorgeous you stay while the rest of us age...”

His expression shifted.  His eyes watered.  He blinked, then smiled.

“Lisa you...” his voice broke and he cleared his throat.   A slight shift...“You’re gonna drive me mad... I want you so much...You are the gorgeous one. All of you.”

He understood.  And I was glad he didn’t make a big deal out of it.  When had we lost this ability to communicate with our eyes alone?  Where had it been stored?  And how did we so effortlessly rediscover it?  Now? In this place... I had my own insecurities- and they all dissipated when hit by the blow torch of his eyes.

“Yeah?” I smiled at him, keeping eye contact, noticing him stepping over the pants that had pooled on the floor.  Reaching for his hand, still not surrendering the strong connection of our eyes, his chocolate fire consuming mine, I brought his hand to my core again, applying pressure, making sure he’d feel just how much I wanted him in return.

“I think I want you quite a lot myself.”  I moved against his hand which now started to improvise, his fingers pushing aside the material, feeling my swollen labia, tracing the pouting flesh, then - finding my juices- he rubbed along my slit, making me moan and whimper.  Still- knowing he loved to tease me, I knew he avoided both my opening and my clit...driving me nuts with desire. 

Trying to encourage him to move this along, I pulled my shirt off, shaking my hair, rubbing my tits, bringing them together while holding them up. 

“Shit...Lisa...you are so damn beautiful..more than I ever dared to dream...and you’re real...”

“And all yours...Michael....all yours...”

He looked up at me with a glance that touched my heart, then, following the passion roaring through us both, he bent forward, his hands still in my panties, while he tended to my nipples with strong strokes. 

“Oh baby..shit...fuck...that feels so good...”

“Yeah? You like that?” He looked up at me while lapping at the tips presented to him.  

“Oh shit, yeah....damn...” My hips gyrated against his hand, and I wished he would finally enter me- one way or another.

“Michael...I need...” I rocked against him, hoping he’d read my body language.  

“What ‘cha need baby?  This?”  Taking my breast in his free hand, he kneaded it, then bit down on my diamond peak with just the right pressure.  A jolt of lightening hit me and reverberated in my clit.  I gifted him with a small scream, wrapping around his name.

WIth a next quick move, Michael grabbed my panties and pulled them off me so fast, all I could do was gasp.  While he switched his bites to the other breast, my hand found him in his boxers, pulling his hard length free over the elastic.  I started to massage the hard length of him, matching the rhythm of his hand rubbing my pussy more aggressively now.

Michael moaned against my touch, and I used his distraction to free him of his boxers.  Slowly kneeling down before him, coming face to face with his immense cock that jumped toward me in   anticipation, I licked my lips.

“Damn...Lisa...girl...go easy..”

Oh, had gone easy all day! With burning eyes, I gazed up at him.  He was so damn gorgeous.  It had been way too long, and I certainly had not expected to see him like that again. Naked. Glistening...his hand now grabbing his dick, holding it out to me while his other hand caressed my face, traced my cheeks, then my lips.  My tongue darted out and I licked his fingers, then took it in my mouth, given him a little pre-show.

“Lisa...” His growl was so damn sexy, making me want to cum just from the sound of it. 

I surrendered his finger and turned my attention to his glistening dick.  God- how exactly had I forgotten how large and splendid he was?  I used my tongue to say hello to every inch, every vein, every bulge.  Licking up, I circled the exposed glans, gently licked the mushroomed head, dipping into the opening, delighting in his taste.  I took over now, holding him up, licking down the underside of his weapon, finding his balls and gently licking them, hearing the hissing of his breath as he called out me name over and over.

Backing off a bit, I grabbed him harder, while looking up at him, loving the agony and delight painting him like a Greek god. I moved the now slippery skin of his shaft along the hard core, holding him close to my lips, allowing my tongue to lick his head once more.

“Fucking hell, girl...you gonna be the death of me...”

“Oh yeah...well, we should aim to go out with a bang then...”

Smiling up at him wickedly, I took him into my mouth. Or at least as much of him as I could stand without gagging.  I took him in slowly, loving his sounds that were a mixture of moans and whimpers. When he hit the back of my throat, I closed down and sucked harder, then pulled back, my tongue snacking around him, and I sucked again, letting him leave my lips with a noisy sound.

“Shit...” Both his hands were on my head, playing with my hair. 

I got ready to suck him some more, consumed with an almost crazy urge to taste him, possess him, have all the power, but Michael had a different plan.

Reaching down he pulled me up, kissing me, sighing and moaning into my mouth. 

“I can’t wait, Lisa....”

Kissing me, his fingers found me again.  This time he probed my opening, tracing it, spreading my honey, driving me absolutely mad.  

“Michael...” My body was shaking, and my voice was a whispered plea.

Still kissing me, he suddenly picked me up, and I didn’t even have to think before my legs closed around his lean hips automatically.  His hands came to rest under me, and he entered me with first one finger, then two, making me yelp.  He kissed my neck, then lifted my breast again, feasting on it.  I moved my hips and Michael pumped his fingers in and out of, wiggling them around inside me, finding those hidden spots he knew so well.

The wall of fire raced toward me, and I was only too ready to go up in the blaze.

“Michael...damn...you’re gonna make me cum...I’m so close...”

“Nothing wrong with that, baby....you feel so good. Let go...So wet....so damn tight...shit....and so fucking hot...I can’t wait to be inside you again.”

Well, that made two of us.  I was more than primed. What in the world was he waiting for?  I didn’t even mind we weren’t on a bed...actually, we had always had a tendency seek places other than beds, and I knew Michael loved making love standing up as he felt it gave him better leverage. 

“Michael...make love to me...please....” I wiggled against him, and the movement caused his fingers to go deeper.  I moaned and shivered against him, goosebumps alternating with heat flashes.

Ever so gently, he removed his fingers, and I grabbed his hand.  

He laughed...”Still my little pervert...here..clean them off...” I did as he instructed, sucking and licking his fingers, while he used his other hand to pet my pussy, this time starting to rub my clit, causing me to moan.

“You want it, Lisa...you ready?”

HIs hips arched up and I felt the huge head of his dick stretching my opening.  Michael pressed me against the wall and we kissed hungrily.

“Yeah. Daddy..give it to me..”

“Put it in, Lisa...put it where it belongs.” 

I reached down and rubbed him against me, making sure his glistening tip hit my clit.  Shit- I was ready to go off.  

“Michael....fuck me...”

Michael looked at me, and something in his eyes shifted.  Oh, fuck- no- he was not going to stop again, now, was he?

His hand joined mine on his cock, only, where I wanted to have him impale me, he stopped right there.

“Tell me, Lisa....tell me...”

What? What did he want from me?

Oh, Lisa. You know exactly what he wants.  And don’t be an idiot.  Don’t give it to him.  He doesn’t need to know. 

Didn’t he?  He was here, opening himself up to me again..... He took a risk. He had no clue what was going on. Didn’t I owe him..something?

He is opening you up, girlfriend. He is about to fuck your body. Don’t let him fuck with your head. Not again. 

He seemed to have read my unspoken question.  

“The truth Lisa....tell me...”

He rotated his hips, almost entering me, I felt the pressure of his head.  Damn...and he felt so good.  My body clenched, needing the key to unlock long hidden secrets.

“Make love to me Michael... I...God help me...I love you....I love you so much.”

He blinked, and I could not tell if he was pleased or surprised.

A sob escaped, and I could tell it originated from the depth of his soul.

“Lisa...damn...I never stopped....I love you, baby girl...” 

And with that, before I had a second to ponder what any of this meant, he lifted me slightly, then entered me with one full thrust, causing me to scream out his name.  Loudly.

Fuck! I had just held him, sucked him..and still- nothing, nothing compared to the feeling of having Michael inside me once again. I was delirious.  Totally out of my mind.  Totally in another world.

He sank against me, biting the soft flesh of my neck, while moving against me to adjust, making me moan again. “Lise...oh shit...you feel...so tight...oh baby...damn....”  

“Michael, oh God...” He withdrew, entering me forcefully once again, slamming me against the wall.  It seemed he touched every single detonator inside of me, and when our bodies connected he followed up with a founding movement, sending me over the edge and into a mindblowing orgasm.  The blinding rain of fire and colors took my breath away and, fighting for breath, I convulsed against him, calling his name out over and over as I gyrated against his body  

“Shit. Lise...oh God...you’e squeezing the daylights out of me.” Michael slowed his movement and gave me a chance to ride out my blinding orgasm, before he sped up once more, jabbing up into me with renewed vigor, making me never quite come down from my ride over the rainbows.  

Within seconds I was close again, and all my nerves felt on fire.  I clutched his sweaty shoulders and kissed his hot, salty skin.  Between wild kisses, moans, sighs, and whimpers, I was transported to a totally different place, where I felt complete and loved. I felt like laughing. I wanted to cry.  

Michael reached around and held my ass in his hands now, as he fucked me hard.  It had simply been too long.  We both were loud and wild.  Guess we were paying our neighbors back big time. 

“Shit, Lisa....cum for me one more time....I can’t hold it..I’m about to cum....”

I felt him grow even more and the drag of his huge cock in and out of my dripping pussy, hitting my clit hard on every connection had me dizzy.

“Oh yeah....baby...yeah....shit...so good...” When Michael spread my cheeks and brought me down on him with force, I was ready to go again.  

I also felt the tensing in his body, and then we both launched off into space at the very same time.  Our screams filled the air.  I could literally feel his hot seed shoot off into me.  His jerking movements gave my body wings, and I could tell the clenching of my muscles around his thumping staff, kept him shivering and moaning.  

I had no clue how long it took us to calm down, but it felt like an eternity before I sank against him, totally spent.  Weakly, I kissed his shoulders, being still supported by his arms.  

“Wow...” He was also hiding in the crook of my neck, kissing and nipping, his hair tickling me.

“Wow is right.... You can let me down...I must be heavy.”  

Really, I hoped I could stay just like this just a bit longer.

He lifted his head. “You want me to let you down?  And no, you’re not heavy.”

“No, I don’t want you to. I want you to hold me like that forever, as a matter of fact.” 

He made a face.

“Well, forever is a long time, babe. My legs are starting to shake a bit. Remember, I’m not getting younger, lady.”

I looked up at him, smirking. “Could have fooled me. That was pretty athletic, dude.”

Michael glowed and kissed me. “Yeah? I still got the moves, hm?”

“You sure do. Question is: where are we gonna move this party now?”

He looked around- making me remember where we were. Oh yeah.  That was a problem.  Santa didn’t magically drop of hazmat suites while were were screwing like bunnies, and unless I planned on getting marks all over my back we wouldn’t be able to do it against walls all night.

Unless..unless he was done...

“Are we?  Are we gonna party on?”  Guess he had the same question. 

“Well...I don’t know...I mean...” 

What Lisa? Did it just occur to you that he got his whistle wet and is quite done for the next couple of years?   And you had to run your mouth and tell him you loved him.  Bright idea!

Damn- that.... I was still not ready to go there.  It was too fresh a discovery.  And I was way too vulnerable right now to have him poke around in that open wound.  

“What do you think..” He moved his hips and I could tell he was far from being flaccid. As a matter of fact- it felt as if he was getting hard again.

My eyes flew up to his and he cocked an eyebrow.

“Well...okay...”

“Okay, indeed.  More than okay.  I ain’t done with you, love.  I’m not done having my fill of that gorgeous body of yours.  I’m gonna make love to you over and over and over.  And then- then we’re gonna talk.”

“Over and over?” I grinned and he kissed me, his penis jumping inside my body, causing me to shiver.  Oh yeah...My own engines were also coming online again quickly.  That bit about talking could be put off by rounds and rounds of fucking as far as I was concerned. No rush at all.

“And over...! But first, where did I put that damn blanket from the car?  Cause I am not about to make love to you on that petri-dish of a bed.” 

Still carrying me, Michael found the blanket and threw it on the bed.  Then, lifting me off him, causing me to emit a protesting whimper, he gently put me down on top. I reached for his hand and pulled him down next to me, snuggling up against him, desperately needing his heat. 

“Lisa, Lisa, Lisa...girl...what am I gonna do with you?” He kissed me gently, his hand traveling all over my body.

“Well, you said something about wanting to feel me in all those many ways.  You could share what you had in mind...”

He laughed, kissing my nose.  His fingers rested on my hips, but now traced down my legs, around to the front of my thighs and then between us, where I was nice and sticky.  And still feeling very raw.  

He touched me gently, and I shivered against him. “Oh, baby...still sensitive there...”

Enjoying his touch, heating me once again, my hands rubbed along his chest, then went on an exploration mission of their own.  Finding him rock hard once again.

My eyes flew up to his. “Wow..that was fast...”

He grinned sheepishly. “It’s been a while...”

His fingers became more insistent and the flames licked higher...

“Lisa...shoot....you are so hot again, and wet....Crap, Lisa?”

Spun in my cocoon of heat and warmth, I did not care for his suddenly alarmed tone.

“What?” I looked up.

“Ah...We didn’t use protection. And...I ain’t got none.  So, unless we’re gonna go downstairs or next door and ask for some, we might be shit out of luck. Are you..on something?”

I sure wasn’t.  Damn.  Did he always have to bring reality in?  And why was I such a crazy, reckless nincompoop whenever he blinded me with his golden cock?  And why, with all the madness surrounding us in the past, was I not the least bit concerned.

I bit my lip, wondering what I should tell him.

“Lisa?  Do you wanna....I mean...should we...you know...stop?”

Lisa! This is your flashing arrow to do the right thing! You rolled the dice once, lets not make it worse.  

Shit! I was not on anything, but I also was pretty sure my conceiving days were over.  Something was simply not right with me, and with all the problems of the past, surely we’d be okay.

My rational side pulled a sheet over her head and hid in a corner.

“I think I’m good.  Unless..do you wanna stop?”  

Michael’s eyes narrowed and he seemed to think something over.  Then, before I knew what was happening, he pushed me down, rolled on top of me, and entered me with one swift thrust.

“You tell me, Lisa.  Does this feel like I wanna stop?”

Well, now that that was clear, my legs locked around his hips before I pulled his head down to swallow his arising moans. 

10

“You do realize I will be black and blue, right...?”

Lisa sounded hoarse and out of breath, and sexy as all get-out.  Really, he was not sure how she managed to speak at all.  He was still recovering.  Well, if her little whisper even qualified as speaking.

He kissed her head as she lay against him, her hair fanning out over his upper body.  Jeeze...he had lost track of what round they had been on.  Counting required blood. In his brain. And the blood supply in the upper regions of his body had been scarce the past couple of hours.   

“Wasn’t me...it’s this damn bed...” For the first time in a while he noticed the hard mattress below him.  Funny, how that hadn't been  a factor at all when Lisa rode him just minutes ago.  When he held her waist steady as he plowed into her.  His mouth on her breasts, his hands on her ass. Teasing her...touching her...spreading her...touching her in places he knew would get her even wilder. 

Lisa kissed his chest before she looked up, her hair a mess, falling in a tangled web over her flushed face with the sparkling sapphire eyes and the heavenly swollen lips.  Swollen from sucking him...kissing him...being kissed... Or devoured, really.

And just like that there it was again.

Lisa obviously noticed as well, her eyes wide. “Dude! Down! I need a break!”

Michael blushed and snickered as well. “I can’t help it...”

“Isn’t there some warning about an erection lasting more than four hours?”

“Hey! This was not due to some blue pill, lady! This was due to some incredible blue eyes...”

“And maybe some blue balls?”  

He broke out laughing again, “Yeah, maybe that, too.”

Lisa cuddled against him some more, obviously not in any rush to move off him.  Which was fine. He liked where he was right now.  Nice and snug and warm, surrounded by her still quivering heat.  His attention diverted to the place of their continued connection which was sticky from their combined juices.  That’s right. It was weird.  He knew he should have insisted they stopped.  No protection was madness. She had been with at least her husband.  And just the thought made him shudder.  Hopefully she had been safe there.  And she..she didn’t know...couldn’t know if he had been a wild sex-fiend or a monk.  Then again, who was he kidding. Lisa at the very least had some basic working understanding when it came to his sexual practices.  Which was much more than anyone else could say.  And for some reason she was well aware that even if he did go there with someone else he’d use at least one safeguard. 

Either way, why, with all those logical thoughts about protection, did he not experience one ounce of regret about having gone bareback?  Funny, how Lisa was the only woman on this planet- no, in this universe, that he would ever trust to not trick him one way or another on this subject.  If anything, in a galaxy long, long ago, he had tried his best to get his swimmers to the goal line and speed up her laxy-daisy efforts to divorce ex-husband number one. 

“Anyway....” He played with her hair again, enjoying the soft sensation of it running through his fingers like spun gold.  So soothing.  Funny how he always thought of a gentle harp when he did this.

“Hm...?”  Lisa moved against him, causing his encased member to enthusiastically enlarge even more.  

Was that a question?  Or an encouragement. A purr?

Well, his hips knew exactly how to interpret her body-language: shall we dance?

Michael’s fingers skipped along Lisa’s spine down to the soft curvature of her hips and that cute, round ass that just won’t quit. 

“What are you doing?”  The lazy tone did not match the hot, steadfast clenching of her internal muscles.  Guess her hot little pussy wasn’t as confused as the rest of her pretended to be.

“Resting...and...ah....gosh, Lise...”  

Her upper body staying in place, Lisa’s hips rose off him, causing that tantalizing dragging, smooth sensation again his cock. Seemingly they had exhausted all capacity for wild, crazy sex, and now were down to playful and slow... Well, really, he thought they had finally started to rest, but since he was hard and she was wet and ready- why not take advantage of the situation before..

Before what? Before she is done unwrapping her presents, decides they don’t fit, and returns to her husband?

No, it couldn’t be.  She told him she loved him. 

Yeah. She always tells you she loves you.  

Well, no. She at times would tell him she hated him. And then had fired the indifferent bullet.  But either way- every time Lisa had finally seen reason and had come to her senses- and ended back up in his bed- it had been a new start of some sorts.  How many times had she cried, swearing she was wrong to pick any number of other loser.  Men she distracted herself with. Men she tried to get him jealous with.  Men she used to force his hand.  Or tried to force his hand anyway. He had never responded how she wanted him to. 

And now?  What was her agenda this time? Well, this time there was nothing she could possibly want. Unless- unless she  wanted him back.

And why could he not decipher if the thought induced panic or euphoria.

Or, maybe, Lucky has a short magic wand and Lisa couldn’t reach her end of the rainbow just right.  

That thought induced great glee.  So, yeah, maybe this was just like putting on old trusted dancing shoes that felt right.  And the glee was gone just like that.

Okay, so if she really just needed an itch scratched - that would be good news, right?  Cause in that case he didn’t have to worry about her making demands again, making him feel like shit because he simply could not bring himself to trade in his freedom for a chance of more marital mayhem. How he had hated that discomforting realizations that Lisa, despite all she had done in the past, deserved to have that commitment she craved.  The one she had once thrown away.  Yes, he knew she had been like a two year old breaking her most treasured possession to hurt him.  Only to have the hand grenade tossed back at her.  As much as he tried to understand and forgive- he had never been able to fully forget that she had pulled that damn pin in the first place.  So yeah: maybe it was about sex. Only, he hated that thought, too. Dammit- he was not her Christmas Dildo! 

And why did all this old baggage fall out of Santa’s sleigh tonight?

“Michael...you look as if you’re a thousand miles away...”

He noticed she had looked up and was staring straight at him.  Her radar had gone off.  She still had her sixth sense.  And his job was to snow her into believing those planes with bombs were not suicide bombers but innocent defensive warriors. 

“Nope...I’m right here...” Grabbing her face, he kissed her as his hips lifted against her sweet body, bringing her down into him, his hands massaging her behind.

There you go, Mike. Stay in the present.  Everything else is fraught with land mines.. As you should know given it took you long enough to regrow your limbs. 

“So...you asked a question...?”  Her eyes opened and she stared at his neck for a second before kissing it, making him see stars.

Question?  One? He had a million... None he could recall with her lips on him- but he knew they were swirling around, waiting to land once his brain would be open for business again.

“Oh, yeah- how can you be black and blue, when I’m the one at the bottom?” 

Nice come-back, man! You still got that down pat! 

“Because..” Lisa grinned at him with a sly smile before licking and nipping a burning path down his neck and to his chest.  “You fucked me fifty ways from Sunday all over this room- and the bed is not the only hard surface you drilled me against...”

Oh yeah...the memories made him smile...and blush. 

“Sorry...?”

Lisa laughed. “Don’t you dare.”

“Bossy woman!”  His next thrust was more purposeful and harder than the previous one, probably because al the teasing had him fired up like mad.  Guess they were done with soft and playful for now.  Lisa rose to the challenge.  Literally.  She sat up, straddling him, and he reached for her boobs, bringing her forward toward him again, so he could bite the swollen and no doubt tender tips. And he knew she appreciated a little pain when she was hot like this. 

“Michael...oh yeah...fuck...”  Lisa gyrated against him, and he looked down watching their juices visible on him when she lifted up on the next move, this time expertly going all the way to the glistening head, making him fear she’d allow him to slip from her.  Damn, she was so swollen down there.  The thought of how he had worked her over made him smile- and filled him with that weird sense of pride again.  

“Yeah..you are bossy....and you know what?”

 His own hips rose just in time to catch her descending body.  He give her that round little jab that would touch her g-spot and also provide her clit with the drag driving her crazy.

“Shit...what...?” 

So cute how she tried to keep the convo going. Michael noticed her skin was taking on that adorable pink hue starting in her cheeks and her chest when she was close to her climax.  He smiled.  Gosh...this woman was so damn responsive while at the same time giving him more pleasure than he had in years.  Time to treat her in return.

“Time for you to feel that mattress!” 

Michael grabbed her hips and, in one smooth move, flipped them around, coming to rest on top of a stunned Lisa.  Without surrendering contact.  Oh yeah.  He still had moves.  She bit her lip, then grinned at him, her eye brow rising.

“What ch’a gonna do now, big man?”

She was about to find out.  Having gained much more leverage, he slammed into her hard, and Lisa cried out again.  Staying connected while rubbing his pelvis against her, he got on his knees, spreading Lisa’s legs wide, picking her up under her knees, lifting her against him.  Oh yea... the change in angle allowed for even deeper penetration, and his balls tightened while his dick seemed to be on fire, sending   waves of pleasure all through his body, making his toes curl.  

“Fuck...oh, shit....Michael...”  He felt her leg muscles tighten up, knowing pleasure get her ready like a primed bow.  And he was her arrow- ready to be launched into the dead center of their common target. 

Lisa’s eyes were huge and glazed over.  Her lips were swollen and glistening, and her teeth were buried in the bottom.  Michael pulled back, watching his wet, straining cock in fascination as it left Lisa’s tight little hole.  The angle and the fact that she was nice and smooth down there allowed him to admire the way he stretched her, her juices seeping out, dripping down to her ass.  Michael lifted her legs, spreading her more, and Lisa whimpered once more, her muscles protesting the drag.  Michael reached below and spread her juices over her lower region, making her cry out, and freeze as she stared up at him.  

“I still know how you like it.  I know all your dirty little secrets... Damn, Lise..you’re still getting me so damn hot..”

“Oh yeah, come on Daddy, give it to me good...fuck my hard” She wiggled against him, making that tight control snap and he surged forward into her, being less than gentle now.  Lisa cried out when he hit end and he moaned at the impact, watching the sexy bouncing of her boobs.   

Needing to feel her as completely has possible, Michael brought her legs up straight now then rested them against his shoulders.  Lifting her by her ass, he started to fuck her without mercy.  If she wanted it hard- he’d give it to her just like this.  So close to losing total control. And yet- he always knew Lisa could take everything he had to give.  What a forgotten luxury to let go like this and to know he was one hundred percent save.

Her little sounds turned to whimpers and little sobs.  “Michael....oh shit...oh fuck...damn....I ...I..”  Lisa’s head was thrown back, rolling from side to side, and her internal muscles, burning against him in a fiery grip, started to contract.  

“There you go...good girl...use that hand...rub that little snatch...I wanna see you come all over me.”

Lisa looked up and he knew his dirty talk pushed her even closer.  Watching him from beneath lowered lids, she stuck her index finger in her mouth, wetting it, almost making him cum from the sight.  Then, she approached her pussy- making a nice little show before she started rubbing her clit.  Her circular movements brought her in contact with his hard shaft as she used her escaping juices.  Her touch on his more then sensitive dick gave him added shivers. 

“That’s a good girl. I feel you’re so close. Come on...let go...”

“Not till I feel you cuming, Daddy.  God, you’re so damn huge....fucking ...damn...”

“Lisa- look at me...”  Breathless, Michael felt he was racing toward a ball of fire coated in frozen nitrogen.  The red glowing iron was about to be dumped into steaming ice.

Her body was totally flushed now, her bouncing tits crowned by diamond tips, her skin was glistening- and her eyes burning. 

“Michael, I love you....I love you,....shit!!!! Oh fuck...”  Her words cumulated in a scream just as her body closed down on his, triggering his own explosion.  Michael felt as if everything inside him had tightened into this one perfect, blinding point of light that exploded against a backdrop of every possible emotions and sensation into a kaleidoscope of colors and the most perfect symphony concocted of their moans, their rushing blood, and their exhilarated heart beats.

While both were still convulsing and moaning, Michael reached forward and pulled Lisa up so she came to rest against him, clinging to his own sweaty body, her legs locked around his hips, her head hidden on his shoulders.  The different angle triggered another series of aftershocks.  Helplessly drifting into space without a line of a tank, all that was left to do was to hold on tight, kiss her, whisper his love into her ears. 

“Damn!” Lisa panted as if she had run a marathon.  At least he wasn’t the only one feeling a tad bit taxed. 

“You curse a lot!” He kissed her salty shoulders.

“I’m sorry- say what?” Lisa nipped at his skin, snickering.

“Ouch! Shit! Stop that.” His nerves were still aglow with hypersensitivity. 

“You should hear yourself when you come, dude.  Cursing doesn’t begin to describe it.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about...but I gotta lay down- I’m dizzy.”  Which was true.  He was probably dehydrated.

“We were laying down before you started something else. Trouble maker!”

“Yeah... guess I started moving your hips on me all by myself.”

“Well, you were supposed to be soft and all after we just got done- and not...rise to another occasion..”

Well, this time it felt as if he had been drained.  Maybe he should finally pull out.  Michael noticed he was getting a bit chilly. 

Kissing Lisa, he finally left her body.  He noticed the gush of fluid accompanying the move.  

“Hold on- I get you something to clean up.- and to put on... I’m feeling the chill and I don’t want you to be cold.”

Lisa bit her lip and didn’t hold eye contact.  “Yeah- guess with all the sweating and stuff...and the fact we don’t have a clean cover given we’re using that blanket as sheets...maybe we should get dressed.”

Michael got of the bed and looked for his pjs.  Oh, yeah, there- across the room.  

“What you want?  Pants, sweater? What?” Rummaging through this suitcase he also looked for tissues.  Not like he had seen any around here.  

Looking up, he caught Lisa’s eyes, which she averted as soon as his found her.  Oh great.  The wonderful post-coital awkwardness was setting in.  Yeah, no surprise.  It was a miracle things had felt this cozy and comfortable for all this time.  Like the old days...

Well, time for a reality check, man. These are the new days.  

“A shirt will be fine.”  This time she had a little smile on her face which again warmed his heart.  

He held up one of his old red shirts.  Dang- he hadn’t even known he had any in there.  Raising an eyebrow he asked the silent question.

Lisa’s smile broadened and she nodded enthusiastically.  Okay, good.  Things weren’t too bad yet.

Michael tossed her the shirt and she pulled it on.  

“You’re coming back to bed, right?”  Her eyes fluttered over his face like a shy little butterfly trying to make it’s first flight after leaving the safe cocoon. 

No. What he should be doing was take a shower, and then take a long walk.  Try to find a working phone.  Get her away from here.  Pretend this all didn’t really happen and was simply a crazy dream.  

Well, while that was exactly what the smartest thing would be, he did not feel like leaving her.  Plus, it wasn’t even light outside yet.  He found his watch and noticed it was indeed the next day.

Merry Christmas! You were granted the greatest wish you never knew you had! 

And what exactly was he supposed to do with it now?  He knew what he wanted to do. Which was to crawl into the horrible bed with her and pretend time didn’t matter.

“Yeah.  Sure.  Here..” He tossed her the tissues.  

“Thanks...”  Lisa caught them then sat there, looking down on herself, probably also wondering what the hell had happened that left her a mess.  

“I...I gotta...you know...use the bathroom...be right back...”  It was probably time to give her a little privacy.

He turned to go.

“Michael?” 

Spinning around on a dime he faced her.

“Yeah?”

Gosh- here was the mirror image of his own state- right there, in those dark eyes: confusion. Insecurity.  Doubt.  Fear... and ...that other emotion that was easy to spell out loudly while they were fueled by passion but could not be uttered now.  

“Nothing...go ahead...” A shy little smile tugged at his heart and he blew her a kiss.

Michael escaped into the bathroom, avoiding to face his own messed up state in the mirror.  After relieving himself, he turned the faucet on, washing his hands, then cleaning up a bit.  Finally, he washed his face, turning the water to cold.  Stunned by the chill, he closed his eyes, forcing his breathing to calm down.  Why was he so damn bent out of shape?  Well, that was a funny question.  How could he not be?

What in the world had he done?  How could he be so frigging stupid?  To get carried away like that.  Sure, they had been drinking and the tension had been murderous, but damn! 

Take it for what it was.  Nice sex.

He almost broke out laughing.  Not in a good way.  It would have been a laughter laden with sarcasm and pain.  Nice sex?  With Lisa?  No, nice sex with Lisa didn’t exist.  Neither did sex without meaning, or sex without strings.  Was it really that easy?  One roll in the hay, or- more aptly the snow- and he once again found himself in love with her?  He told her he never stopped.  Heaven knows he had not thought about the words- they simply were there.  Just like his songs.  Not forced and not invented- but presented by some heavenly revelation.  

The sigh sounded heavy and full of agony. God never gave him more than he could handle, but this was another doozie he had not seen coming. 

No one had hurt him like she had.  And no one had healed him but her.  And never, ever, did he have to face his own ugly, vengeful, retaliatory side than when he had to examine what he had done to Lisa.  Provoked- yes.  Still... He cringed every time he analyzed his own actions.  Sure, she might have started the war- but he had obliterated her whole world.  And not even realized it until it had been way too late.  Oh, he loved the outcome: his children.  Still...he continued to stunned how much the whole Debbie mess had cost Lisa.  What had started as him taking up a friend on a seemingly innocent offer had treaded lose an avalanche of rocks that had buried both him and Lisa.  Despite the escape from the rubble with their bare lives, there were bruises and scars. 

He had thought she had been over it all- until she had thrown it at him again right before he got Blanket.  The final split had been her idea.  She said she couldn’t do it anymore.  Years of trying and loving her had been reduced to this: an it.  She said she was stuck and needed to grow.  That he kept her stagnant. Stagnant, how?  By loving her?  He recalled just shaking his head, telling her to do whatever she needed.  He had been so sure she’d be right back. She had been, too.  Like a fleeting ghost.  Till she was gone.

They hadn’t been speaking in over a year.  She had gotten remarried.  And yet- one day together, and it had felt as if they never had been apart.  

In good, old fashion, being with Lisa left him confused and drained.  So damn satisfied.  Full of love.  Full of guilt.  And still without answers.

Well- it was a new day.  And she better be ready to shed some light.

Lost in the jungle of his thoughts, his eyes finally focused on his image in the spotty mirror. Damn! He was a mess! His eyes tired and slightly red, but looking kinda high.  All that without anything he shouldn’t have.  Well- unless you counted his recent return to favorite unhealthy habit: Lisa Marie.  

That’s what she did- caused a tornadic reaction.  She was like one of those homeopathic medications.  In small doses she could alleviate his pain.  But he never managed to just want a small does- and in large doses she tended to poison him.  And he sure appeared to have been through the ringer: hair all over the place.  His face stubbly. 

His mind flashed back to leaving red marks all over her body.  And why did that make him smile...

“Hey...if you’re ready...” Lisa stuck her head in. “I do have to go...”

“Oh yeah, sure.  Sorry.  I just thought I really should shave..”  Blinking, he smiled at her insecurely. 

Lisa stepped up next to him.  In a startling move, she tenderly touched his chin with the side of her index finger.  “No, don’t.  You look so damn sexy...”

Blushing, she looked down.  He couldn’t help but step up to her, kissing her head. 

The glowing face with the starry, sparkling eyes was lifted up to him.  What was he to do but kiss the innocent masterpiece?  Oh shit.... And the little sweet kiss obviously also was the key to the cage of butterflies inside.  

“Go- do your thing.  I’ll find us those nuts and see if I got more cereal bars.”

Michael left her in the bathroom, pulling the door shut without closing it. 

“Perfect to go with the warm beer.” She laughed. 

“Grains for breakfast...”  Lisa laughed louder at his little joke.  Gosh...this felt odd. Familiar.  Bizarre.  

Listening to her run the water, he turned and actually managed to find some more food items.  And a two bottles of water.  Oh yeah! Good thing at least he knew how to travel in prepared fashion.  

Minus condoms...

Yeah...minus that.

But Lisa said she ‘should be okay.’  Which did not exactly mean, yes, I am using protection, Michael.  Well, she was married and unless she suddenly wanted kids again, she probably was using birth control.

Unless....

Exasperated by his internal back and forth he ran his hand through his hair. No, surely she didn’t want more kids...now? With that dude?  Why fish in the shallow end of the gene pool?

Maybe he should start to make a list of the things he needed to know:

Why did you call?

Did you know we both were involved in the same charity?

Why were you out in the snow?

Why did you rip my heart out when you should have known you were the only person who could restore me to the world of the living?

Do you and Lucky plan to make little leprechauns while in Ireland?

And....

Drummroll..

Can you please tell me why I love you so damn much after I really, really thought that pirate ship had sunk?

Lisa came out of the bathroom and looked at his watch on the counter.

“Sure am glad you always have your trillions of watches with you.  Man- I can’t believe it’s almost morning....Merry Christmas.”

With the last words, she turned to him.  That little insecure smile again as she eyed him from below her lashes.  His little girl.  So shy...so sweet.  Standing there in his shirt- ....

Damn, how he loved seeing her in that shirt.  And knowing she wore nothing else was the cherry on the cake.  As if she was all his...

Except...except she wasn’t.  

He cleared his throat. “Merry Christmas.”  A little pause. “Princess.”

You just can’t help yourself, you damn crazy sap! Could you get your head out of your ass and stop all this senseless, useless, mushy stuff. She’s not your princess anymore...she’s Lucky’s Little Charm.  

Well...maybe not.  That had to go on the questions list: What exactly is going on and where do we go from here.

Lisa smiled and turned to straighten the blanket out.  “You know, if we get real close, we can cover up with the sides.  Thank God the heater in here is working at least.”

Oh...she wanted to make some sort of cuddle burrito?  Well....cool. 

“Hey, look. I found some water.  You want something to eat? I can offer you trail mix, unsalted almonds, and a selection of only slightly crumbled special K bars.”

“How much stuff did you pack?”

“Enough to make it through a snow storm should the need arise.”

Lisa rolled her eyes and sat down on the bed.  Well- the blanket.  She might be reckless about fucking ex-husbands without rubbers but she wasn’t going to risk a staff infection or mysterious illness from the discomforting comforter. Smart girl.

“I take some water, thanks.”

“Not hungry?”  He handed her a bottle and brought some snacks with him, just in case.  Wouldn’t be the first time Lisa pretended to be sated only to change her mind. 

“Not right this minute.” She took a sip from the bottle, then became lost reading the no doubt thrilling nutritional information on the bottle.  “So, when do you think we’ll have phone service again?”

Taking a sip himself, he noisily and carefully opened the trailmix and examined the content.  It was one with chocolate MnMs and he started to pick through the nuts to find some red ones. 

“Well, it looked like the snow stopped.  So, it could be any time, really.”  There- success! He tossed the MnM up and caught it with his mouth. He looked over at Lisa in triumph.  

“Can I have one?”

Ha! He knew it!

“You said you weren’t hungry!” 

“You made it look good.”  She grinned sheepishly.

“You never know what you want, girl! Fine...here..”

“I do know what I want. I ...I want some trailmix.”

And here he thought she’d say she wanted to get out of here.  Or phone service.  To call someone so she could escape.  But it was chocolate she was after.  Hm, interesting. 

Watching her, he suddenly, also knew what he wanted.  And it wasn’t trailmix. It was the little thing he found on his trails in the snow last night.  

Lisa grabbed a handful and stuffed her face.  Hey! He hadn’t said she could take it all.  Greedy woman!

Michael giggled and stared at her as she chowed down. With gusto.  Like someone who had worked up an appetite.  That proud feeling again.   

Lisa noticed and stopped chewing- looking like a little hamster. “What?” She asked with her mouth full.  

He laughed again.  Reaching out, he brushed a little piece of pretzel off the corner of her bottom lip. “Nothing...”

Her eyes narrowed.

“No, really...Here, just take the rest of the package.  There’s another one right here.”  

“You sure...?”

In response, he took her hand to pour the rest of the baggy out for her.  Changing her mind, he kissed her palm first- then delivered the goodies.

Lisa’ eyes seemed to water and she swallowed.  Blinking, she took a sip of water before she inhaled the rest of the trail mix.  Maybe she was strong enough to do some heavy lifting. 

“So....Lisa...we were gonna talk, right? I mean,  chances are we’ll be able to leave this little treasure of a chalet soon- and I still don’t know...”

“You really think we’ll be able to leave soon?  Like when?  Hours?  I mean, I also looked out and it looked pretty rough still. Maybe we’ll be stuck another day or so... I mean, one never knows, right?”

Did she want to stay here?  With him?

“Well, at the very least we should have phone service, I hope. You gotta call...I mean, I know you wanna call the kids....and...”

Nodding, she pulled her legs up, hugging her knees. “Oh gosh, yeah.  I can’t believe I’m here. On Christmas- without them.”

“Well- I know.  Believe me.  I thought I’d be with my three today as well. Never in a million years did I think...well...  I mean,  this isn’t something I could have ever guessed would happen. And I’m sure you also wanna...call...you know...”

Lisa looked over, her eyes suddenly with a hard glint he could not immediately decode. 

“Yeah. I also gotta call Lockwood. Thanks for bringing him to my attention.”

What was with her tone? Why the heck did she look mad?  Not like he made her get another husband so she could feel whatever it was she felt after hooking back up with him again.  This was really not anything he had planned for.  At all. 

“Don’t you think we oughta talk about ...about this...?”  He made a sweeping gesture.  

Yeah.  This. Whatever this was.

“No. I don’t think we should talk about this.  And I really don’t think we need to discuss my husband right now, either.  I mean, not like you wanted me to ever bring up Deb after you rolled off me.”

Excuse him?  Was she mad?  With him?  For what?

He simply stared at her until she blushed and averted her blazing eyes.  Good.

“Sorry.  That was mean.  I... I’m just so damn confused.  I mean...crap.  Here we are...again.  We’re stuck in a stupid storm.  In another country.  And we...we ...” Lisa looked up to the ceiling as if the spiders were going to spell out some magic script for her up there. “We fucked and....”

Well, the spiders got that spelled wrong! Without thinking Michael grabbed her arm.  His chest was tight and the chilling coat of anger wrapped itself around his shoulders. 

“That’s nice.  Real nice, Lisa.  Lay out how you really feel, won’t you.  And while you’re at it, please spell out why I am here at all.  And once you get rolling, why don’t you explain how little detached and indifferent you called me out of the blue, in this fucking ‘nother country and tried to get me to talk to you. To meet with you.  And imagine my surprise when I found out that coincidentally the reason for my delay was a charity with your little scheming ass on the board.  A coincidence, right?  And then, for some very odd reason, I find you on the very road I am on- and here we are.  Fucking again.  ‘Cause that’s all we ever do, right?  We fuck!  Well, next time you fuck me,” he spat the words out at her now, enjoying watching her cringe every time he emphasized the f-bomb with gusto, “could you please spare me your damn lies about loving me. ‘Cause, sweetheart, believe it or not, I can get it up just fine without hearing your little lies.  I don’t need your heart if I want you pussy.”

His rant left him breathless.  Lisa’s eyes had watered and he noticed a tear forming.  Dammit! He tasted salt as well and forced his burning throat to swallow the useless waste of emotions.  

As they stared at each other, Lisa’s lip quivered slightly, then she caught herself and her eyes took on a silver glint.  Oh yeah.  He was not the only one pissed off- and confused.  And...you name it.

“First, let go of my arm..” Her eyes dipped down to where his strong, angry hold turned her skin red.  Feeling as if he got burned, he removed his hand.

“Second- I didn’t lie.  You don’t need my heart?  Well, that’s great. You stupid idiot never noticed just how much I loved you. And let”s not get into how many time you lied that you loved me to get some pussy as you put it.”

“I never....”

“Shut up! My turn. I’m sorry.  Okay?  I’m sorry I told you I was indifferent.  I didn’t...I couldn’t...face it...face suddenly having all your feelings and fears laid out there. I felt as if I was racing toward a fucking wall, Michael.”

“Well, I had hit a wall- at full speed- and you were supposed to be my tail hook.  Only you let me crash!”

“You didn’t need me.  Not really.  At least I didn’t think so.  I was so afraid that being with me would mess you up even more.  And that it would kill me.  And I bailed.  It was so damn wrong.  I couldn’t say the words that were right there, choking me.  But it’s done.  And I made my choices..”

“Yeah, you chose to get married and to leave me to my misery...alone, Lisa. You abandoned me and I was alone!”  So much for being over it.  Just saying the word was like drinking acid spiked with bleach.

“I know...”  Her head lowered and she turned.  Michael knew she wiped a tear from her face and he saw her shoulders tremble.  God- it was so tempting to reach out to her.  But this...this was bad.  Somehow the old bandaid had been ripped off the scab- and it felt as if ten layers of skin had been blasted away.  Old memories had dragged him through the forgotten streets of their misery and and he was a raw wound.

And so, instead of following his instinct to hold her and to tell her he forgave her, he sat there, in silence.  The anger was too powerful.  And forgiving was easy- as he just found out: forgetting was not. 

And all because she had once again taken the easy way out.  He was so damn tired of her ridiculous defenses that had cost them both so much here recently.  

Oh no, Lisa.  We didn’t simply fuck tonight.  And I was not about to let her use this easy out and crawl back to her loving husband.  We weren’t gonna play it that way.  

Michael was in no mood to be generous.  He had given too much.  And too much had been stolen from people thinking they knew what was best for him.  He was not gonna lay down and let her hide.

“So, anyway.  Yes, I wanted to see you.  I wanted to tell you....that.... I wanted to apologize...to make some sort of peace.  To be able to...you know.”

No, he didn’t know.  Her ramblings were about as clear as mud. 

“Be able to do what? Move on?  What? Did you wanna be friends, Lisa?”

The sarcastic tone should be a reminder that they had tried that one before.  Also, he had asked her that after she wanted that damn divorce. And she had shot him down.  Too much bad blood- and all that.  Well...After her decapitating him last year, he had his own grudges that would sort of prevent chumming around like nothing happened.  And ignore that he loved her.  Wanted her. No, the friend thing was a bird without wings. 

She looked over.  “I guess. I don’t know.  I know you deserve answers.  But I can’t give them to you. Not the ones you want.  And none that make sense. I don’t know why I called.  Something made me...”

A bitter laughter escaped. “Something made you?  Yeah, Lisa. It’s called guilt.  Some sick need of yours to let yourself off the hook.”  

Lisa shrugged. “Maybe.  I ain’t no saint, Mike.  I don’t pretend to be.  I’m human and I’m fucked up.  All I know is that when I called you I had no early clue why.  And then...okay, yes.  I knew you were going to leave.  And I thought if I could only talk to you, we could iron things out.  So....”

“So, you used a charity to get me to stay? Unbelievable, Lisa!” Well, not really.  He was going to believe that one.  Especially since he had kind of suspected it.

“It’s not like I didn’t work with this organization already.  And I really thought you’d be interested. So, what harm was done?”

“Yeah, what harm indeed, other than delaying me from spending Christmas with my kids.”

“Last I checked I was not in charge of snow storms, Michael.”  

There were a million things he could reply.  LIke that it wouldn't even matter that there was a storm.  If she hadn’t meddled, he’d be on a plane days ago with his kids.  And she’d be snuggled up with her odd looking man. Why did that thought irk him?  He should be so lucky! He wished she was with her pale, skinny hat rack of a husband. And he’d be without her.  He wished he’d never...

No you don’t. As a matter of fact, the mere thought of Lisa ever being with that man again drives you insane.  And just possibly accounts for your rotten mood right now.  And you know damn well that you’ve never been able to regret being with Lisa in any way, shape or form.

“Whatever, Lisa.”  

“No, you don’t get to shut me up.  You threw all this shit my way- now you’re gonna hear what I have to say.  So, yeah, I knew you might be interested in the organization.  But then I heard you found out I was involved and you ran.  So, I tried to change your mind. I wanted to tell you that you didn’t have to leave just because I was involved...that you should stay...”

“No- I didn’t have to leave ‘cause you were involved. I had to leave ‘cause I wanted to be with my children!” She didn’t really have to know that he had run like a blind chicken once he thought he might have to deal with seeing her again. And he had been right on- given how the shit had hit the fan after he did see her. 

“And here is where my responsibility ends.  Had there been no snow storm you’d have been with them in time.  As a matter of fact, I had already decided that I wasn’t gonna chase you down and had turned around...when....”  She stopped and bit her lip.

Ha! That’s why she had been on the road?  She was going to stop him? Where?  At the airfield?  Damn! Talk about persistent.  

Well, it seems she was really going after what- or who - she wanted.  

“That’s why you were out there. You tried to get to the airfield.”  He pointed a finger at her. 

“No... well... initially, yes.  But, but....I changed my mind...”

“Before or after you thought I had left?”

“I turned when the snow became too bad. And I realized that I was being a crazy lunatic.  That I needed to be home with the kids and my husband.  The man who loves me- and doesn’t yell at me...and respects me..”

“Well, we’ll see if Mr Saint won’t yell and will love and respect you after you get home from your little vacation here, won’t we?  He might notice your ginger walk, darling.”

Man! There it was. That ugly side only Lisa could trigger.  Wow.  He was almost stunned at his low blow.  

“You’re such a bastard!”  Flashes from her darkening eyes should have shut him up. 

“And yet you let me fuck you.” 

Stunned silence.

What in the world was wrong with him? Damn! He really needed to stop this! Really, all this anger, jealousy, and ugliness had been kicked lose when he felt she didn’t love him... 

Dude! She said she was sorry. She said she tried to talk to you.  She said she drove out on Christmas Eve to see you.  

And she said she loved him.  More than once.  With her words and her body.  He knew Lisa.  She had not been lying.  

But he needed her to stop lying to herself.  Stop pretending this was about sex. Both of them could probably get laid pretty easy if all they needed was sexual healing.

Lisa had stared at him for a second, then jumped out of bed. 

“That’s it! I’ve had it with your insults. Who the fuck you think you are? Yeah, I messed up! But so have you! Let’s not forget that all this crap came about because you brought an outsider into our marriage.  And then you couldn’t get your act together and strung me along for years like a pitiful repenting sinner. You chose to sideline me for the yes-men you were in love with more than you loved me! The damn medications you could hide behind kept you nice and blind to the ocean of shit that was about to drown you.  Too stubborn to know what was best for you- and too blinded by every one’s lies to see what was right in front of you.  I was there, Michael.  I was brave enough to point out the shit that stunk.  And you know why?  You know why I wanted you to fight for the tough choices? To open your eyes and see that the bloodsuckers had sunk their teeth into you?  Why do you think I nagged and fought and scrapped?  Because I love you, you stupid lunatic!  I always loved you! And you never, ever, ever did anything but hurt me!”

Lisa stood by the bed, then jumped back on in a surprise move. “I hate you, Michael! You got no fucking clue how much I hate you!”  Before he had a chance to do anything Lisa launched at him, pummeling him with her fists.

“Hey!”

“You stupid, bastard! I hate you so goddamn much!!!”  

Trying to catch her arms while shielding himself from her crazy, sudden attack, Michael struggled to get Lisa under control.

“Lisa! Stop it! Calm down...damn...”

“I’m done with you! Done!”  She struck at him again and he finally was able to capture her writs, using her momentum to pull her down.

“Can you be done hitting me? Stop that! You’re gonna hurt yourself....Lisa!”

Tears streaming down her face now, he attempted to pry her hand free and he got a hold of her other arm.  Never shy when fighting, Lisa tried to use her leg and he feared her knee would find areas he might need again at some point in his life.  Rolling over, he finally managed to pin her down, using his own leg to keep her still.

Man! You’d think that after a night of making love, and a crazy day in the snow, she’d be tired and worn out.  Maybe she had a brain injury after all.  He read once people sometimes became quite violent and vicious when their frontal lobes were impacted.

“Let me go!” She seemed to be done struggling and he sank against her.  Phew! Good thing she was running out of steam- his handful of trailmix would only carry him so far.

“Will you stop acting like a wild cat? Please?”

A sudden loud banging from the other side of the wall brought everything to a still-stand.

“Quiet! Will you finally stop over there?  Get some sleep, for pity’s sake! Merry Christmas!”

Damn! And who were their neighbors to talk?  Not like they were watching a silent porno earlier.  Well, the only bonus of their interruption was that Lisa had finally stopped fighting him.

He lifted his face and looked down at her.  Lisa, her face flushed, looked exhausted.  And slightly embarrassed.

“I’m sorry....but you get me so damn mad. Plus...I’m exhausted...maybe I do have a brain injury.”

“Yeah? I was just thinking the same thing.”

“Thanks. You can let me go. I promise to not attack you like a lunatic.  Or to upset our neighbors- Merry Christmas to you!”  She yelled the last part toward the wall. 

Looking pretty much as exhausted as he felt, Lisa blew a lock of hair from her face.  The gesture made him smile.  Gosh...how did she do that?  How did she turn him from angry to ...whatever this was.

“I don’t know... you hit me pretty hard. Not sure I wanna free you just yet. You’re tricky.”

“Wimp.”  A little smile.  A glance from those hooded, sexy eyes. 

“Hey!”  

She smiled sheepishly.  Tears still in her eyes, she had never looked more enticing.  Lisa shifted under him, and he noticed her shirt had crept up on her.  The bottom was high on her belly and during the struggle the upper buttons had come undone. All but one anyway.  

He also noticed her chest still rising and sinking rapidly- and fascinated, he watched the fluttering of her pulse in the vein on her neck.

“Michael...”  Her voice had changed.  

“Hm...?” As had his. 

Letting go of one of her wrists, he brushed the hair out of her face.  LIsa’s free hand didn’t slap him- but instead cradled his face.  Pulled toward her by that magic force, his eyes dove into the rising darkness of yet another kind of stormy gaze.  

Lifting her arm above her head, changing the position of his body so one leg came to rest between hers, his center against her naked heat, there was no other option but to kiss her.  Lisa moaned against him, returning the kiss.  Carefully, he tested her lips with his tongue, before going in deeper as the contact became more passionate.  His fingers left her wrist and  interlaced with hers as the kiss continued.

After several breathtaking minutes filled with moans, kisses, and sweet tension rising, he broke away, panting once more.

“Still hate me?”

“No, I think I’m back to loving you.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sorry...I didn’t mean to imply what we did didn’t mean anything.  That we....that we just fucked...”

Her eyes teared up again as did his time time.  He kissed her nose.

“I know.”

Lisa’s hand returned to his cheek, her fingers caressing his stubble again.

“God, you are so damn sexy like this...”

He giggled. “I’m a mess.”

“I love it when you’re a mess.  And I love you.  I do...And being with you means the world to me. It really does.”

“Lisa...” This woman took his breath away.  When she finally stopped being defensive and aggressive. 

Misty eyed again, she pulled his face down to her, kissing him deeply.

When the kiss ended, she rolled to the side, coming to rest against him.  Their fingers were still intertwined.  Her head on his chest, her leg thrown across him.

“Michael.  I’m so fucking confused.  I never thought we’d be like...well...like this again...”

Michael smiled and kissed her forehead.  His free hand rubbed her back, and the slid lower automatically, encountering the slope of her butt.  

“Like this, hm?”  He liked their current state.  A lot! Liked her soft and pliant against him.  Molded to his body like the perfect match she was. Allowing him to feel her planes, valleys, and hills below his fingers.

“I mean...I feel so many things...I love you....”

“I love you more, Lisa.”  And he knew he heard a “but” in her declaration.  And not the round masterpiece under his hand, either.

She sighed against him, kissing his chest.

“Lisa.  What are you gonna do?”

Lisa remained silent and he braced himself, holding his breath. 

“Well, I...I guess I gotta ...you know...go back to my family...at some point.”

Yeah, her family. And her husband.  Would she tell him?  Would she confess who had rescued her?  And who she had been with? Well, unless the man was as dumb as he looked he would notice.  Would see it in her eyes.  See the marks on her body.  Not like Michael held back and Lisa’s skin tended to show every nip and bite.  

“And then, what?”  He could not help himself.  It was so difficult to get a read on where her head was.

“Michael. Jeeze! I don’t know. I have no idea right now. Gimme a minute. Can’t I just lay here? Enjoy being with you?”

He frowned. Well...that was different.  Certainly different from ‘Michael, I want us to try again. Please I want to leave that loser I’m with.’ 

“Sure.”  

His monosyllabic answer spoke volumes.  If she listened.

“Michael, please. What do you want me to do?  I can’t just up and leave... my family.”

In other words: she couldn’t just leave her guitar player.  Why?  Was it so difficult to find another one?  He knew Santana- maybe he could put a good word on for her. 

“I didn’t ask you to.” 

“No, you never ask anything of me, do you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Did she have amnesia?  He had indeed asked her to leave Stooge Keough.  And he had asked her to marry him.  Which kinda had implied he wanted her to stay married to him.  Forever.  That had been the plan.  He had asked her to have his children.  And most importantly, as well as most recently: he had asked her to rescue him.  And yet she had withheld that life-giving breath and instead had offered him an iron lung.

He tried to pull his hand away from hers, and she wouldn’t let him.

God! This woman was so damn confusing! He surrendered and stayed connected to her touch.  His lifeline.  Not good- considering, she could cut it at any moment. 

“You never put in an ounce of effort when I want to do one of my stupid things and walk away.  You just let me go. Every time.”

Well, he was not the sort of man to chase after her.  Stubborn pride was a lifelong problem. 

“Lisa- I kinda assume you know what’s best for you. Don’t you have enough people telling you what to do?”

“Would it kill you to for once say, Lisa, don’t go. Just once.”

“You said you want to get back to your family.  I can’t tell you not to go.”

What was that she had said earlier? That she couldn’t say the words choking her?  Well, suddenly he knew how that felt. Everything inside screamed the words:  Don’t go. And if you do- come back. I need you. Still. Always. 

But sadly- he had been brave once.  Had stuck his head out there. And she had cut it off with the sharp blade of her feigned indifference.  So, no.  There was no bravery in his stocking this Christmas.  

Lisa rose up, propped up on her hand, resting on her elbow. 

“So, you want me to go back to Lockwood. As if nothing happened.”

“I want you to do what you need to do.”  His eyes hid from her inquiring laser beam.

No, the fuck he didn’t want her to go back to that man.  Unless she really loved him.  Unless all this didn’t mean a damn thing to her, after all. Maybe this was her revenge for staying legally married to Deb for so long. No, surely, that couldn’t be it.  She knew what the deal had been there.  Whereas he was totally clueless about the state of her marriage.

“Michael. You’re the most frustrating person I have ever known. I hate when you’re closed off like this.”

“I’m not closed off. Kinda hard to be closed off when we’re both half naked.”

Lisa smiled and shook her head. “I like being half naked with you a lot. But I like being naked with you even more...”

Why did he get the feeling she was getting back to safe grounds.  Funny when sex was safe grounds again. Funny- but not unheard of. 

His hand found her upper thigh and somehow slid up the nicely toned limb. Yeah, why torture them both with ‘what-ifs’ and silly questions. Maybe he should simply enjoy he while she was right here with him.  He’d be alone and miserable soon enough. 

Unless...unless, she did decided to leave her safety net.  Then again, could he really ask that of her? 

“Lisa- do you love him?”

The smile froze on her face. “Michael...don’t...why you gotta...”  Her turn to try and pull away.  And his turn to hold her in place.

Oh shit! Was it true? Had he been this wrong?  Did she actually love that clown?

Fear took his breath away.  

“No, I think I got the right to know.  You always knew I didn’t love Deb.  I loved you. Always.”

Lisa rolled her eyes again.  Did she still doubt his feelings for her?  What in the world could he ever do to make her see?

“Well, so you said.  But you let me leave.  You didn’t want to marry me. You didn’t love me enough to give up the stuff standing between us.”

“Okay, let’s move off the old shit.  How ‘bout now?  Do you love that husband of yours?”

“Michael- I can’t explain it to you. He grounds me.  He is my safety line.  He’s calming and he keeps me out of trouble.”

“He sounds like a mixture between a nanny and a safety harness. And he sounds boring.”

Lisa made a face.  “He’s not boring.  He’s like a smooth ride.  You’re like a roller coaster. Living with him is like a nice day at the beach. Loving you is like a straight shot into the sun.”

What was wrong with the sun?  Kinda needed that one to be around.  Her logic was sorely lacking at times.

“That’s all very lovely. Do you love him?  Why can’t you be straight with me?”

“What does it matter?  If I said I didn’t love him the same way I love you, that I love him like a friend, would it matter?  Would you ask me to leave him?  Would you want me to leave him?”

Yes! Of course! If she loved him, she needed to leave her farce of a marriage! But how in the world could he tell her that?  Again?  He’d done it once, and he knew she carried guilt for years. Well, things were different, then. She did share kids with Keough.  What did she share with this one? An affinity for Japanese food?  Maybe she should have just gone out to get sushi and skip the wedding.

“I can’t tell you what to do.”

“You’re right. You can’t. But you can tell me what you think is going on here...where you think we need to be going from here.  Or even if it would matter to you if I went back to Lockwood and never looked back.”

“Well, if it’s that easy to not look back, then I guess you do love him.  More than you say you love me.”

His stomach was in knots and he felt his temperature rise while he felt as if he was naked chained to an iceberg at the same time.  And iceberg with Lisa’s Titanic racing toward it.

Suddenly, Lisa leaned in and kissed him.  Hard. Passionately.  Told him with her lips what she could not make her vocal chords put together.

When she finally broke away, they were both breathless and he was dizzy. Okay- not cold anymore. The iceberg had melted and now he floated helplessly in the sea of her eyes. At her mercy.  

“Don’t you know? I won’t ever love like I love you, Michael.  But I can’t live without knowing what you want.  I’m too old to do casual.  I can’t follow you ‘round like a love sick puppy. And I made a commitment.”

“I’m not asking you to do anything.  I just was trying to figure out where you’re at.”

“Right now, I’m here with you.  Isn’t that enough?”

Maybe she was right.  Then why did it feel as if he was fighting a losing battle. And he was tired of losing.  Distracting himself, he worked the remaining button on her shirt.

As it fell open, he traced the material, making sure he teased her skin, loving her new goosebumps.

“Guess it’s gotta be enough for now...”

“Make love to me....” Lisa pull him to her and her hands easily found their way into his pants. 

Forgetting everything for the moment, he once again dove into the heaven of her body, forcing himself to not think about anything but the moment they were trapped in.  Wrapped in their little cocoon, he ignored the starting breaking of the shell around their little world.  

Much later, the sun starting to peak into the window, being intensified by the rising sun, he held Lisa close as she slept, snuggled against his body, her arm and a leg over him, his arm around her.  Watching her body rise and fall he was well aware of the ticking of the time bomb that would blow everything to hell.  

At some point, he must have dozed off, when a strange ringing startled both him and Lisa awake.  Confused, Lisa looked around, then her eyes fell on the phone.

“Who the hell?”

She answered.  “Yeah.  Oh....wow.  Yeah. Thank you. Merry CHristmas.”

“What?” He sat up, staring at her. 

Lisa had her back turned and her head was lowered.  She looked like she got some serious bad news. 

“That was Joey.  The phones are working again. He thought we’d want to know.” When she looked up, he noticed she had tears in her eyes.

Well, splendid.  They were saved.  And he felt as if he just had been sentenced to death.  

11

December 31, 2006- Las Vegas, Nevada

“Miss Presley?....Is there anything else you need, Miss?”

The voice finally made it through the perpetual fog in the labyrinth of my mind.  I realized this was not the first time the poor bellboy had tried to get my attention.  Blinking, the beautiful suite before me zoomed into focus.  Wow! Gorgeous! What a difference from...

From what Lisa? From a week ago? When you were in the worst shit hole you ever had set eyes on?  The place you wish you could go back to- if only that damn time machine worked.

Deep breath.  All I had to do was keep breathing.  And stop zoning out.

“No, thanks, I think I’m great.” 

I had no clue how my attempt at a smile came over, but I almost thought the poor dude dude looked scared. He probably thought I was nothing more than yet another high flying society idiot with her brain scrambled by drugs or booze.  Man, if only!

I handed him a generous tip, and his eyes lit up.  My eyes fell on the name tag: Joey.  

Oh God! How could fate by this ridiculously ironic?  

No, I had to get a grip.  Joseph in all its variations was not a rare name.  Neither was Michael.  As evidenced by my major achievement of marrying two.  And just like that, I was back on topic.

Michael... Michael Joe at that...

Butterflies, pain, love, anxiety, worry, confusions.  They all raced free at the starting shot of his name in my mind and raced around aimlessly in my body and mind.  I was possessed.  Again.... Still.... Always...

Well, I might not always be aware of the magnitude of my madness, or my love.  The insanity ran so deep, I often declared myself to be on the  sane side of being fucked up- which fooled exactly no one.  Lockwood certainly had not been duped.  Neither did he enable my initial pretense that I was the same person returning on that chilly Christmas Day who had left a mere twenty four hours before.  

Let’s just cut out all the nonsense and talk about what’s really happening. You know I know - so lets talk about it...

How did I ever think I could simply push everything from my mind and go with the flow. As much as I pretended I was all cool, I have never been that sort of flake.  Not even in the midst of a snow storm.  No, the edges and spikes of my crystal kept me stuck to Michael’s heart.  I had gambled everything and won- and now had to figure out how to fit my new riches into the small space I had carved out.  The tiny niche of calm serenity I had created.  Well- realizing the magnitude of the earthquake that had shaken my world blew any pretense of smooth sailing out of the water. With the force of a tsunami.  I knew I hadn’t been indifferent, I might even have suspected that I still carried a torch for my enigmatic ex. But shit! How had I not seen the inferno of the molten star I shlepped around on my back?  

I loved him. So fucking much.  Once I spoke the words all hell broke lose inside.  It was there- as if it had never left. No- much, much stronger.  The damn of my denial had not simply broken- it had been blown to smithereens.  I was stripped bare.  Any insulation was gone.  My nerves were hanging out there, exposed.  It was the anniversary of the birth of baby Jesus- and I felt like a vulnerable, naked, shivering newborn.  And so I did what was always my doom.  I tried to pretend I was made of titanium, when I was nothing but paper.  

Michael wanted answers. Well, really, I caught on real quick that he had most of them figured out. But he wanted to hear them from my lips.  How could I provide him with something I did not have?  As much as I tried, all I had were questions:  How had I not known I still loved him?  No- that I loved him so much more than I ever had?  Could I believe he loved me like he said?  And what did that mean?  I knew he loved making love to me...but would that carry us through his previous reluctance to commit?  Was that very question a cop-out, forgetting he had already stuck his neck out there?  And what about the lives we had attempted to rebuild away from each other? His children...my husband...  

Michael’s subtle digging about me calling ‘my family’ had kicked lose feelings of guilt I was not ready to face.  Talk about a rockslide! This was not like Danny.  And it certainly was not like Nic.  Lockwood had been there for me.  He had been patient as I tried to live one day at a time- recovering from my addiction.  But is the need for air really constitute an addiction? Or is it a mere necessity, indicated by nature?  My loving Michael- maybe that was simply part of my DNA.  Does the dolphin have to apologize for needing water? 

And so, I did it again.  I hurt Michael.  I lashed out.  It was as if my brain stood by with gaping mouth as my lips blabbered on reducing what had happened to the word fuck.  I knew his buttons oh so well- and that was one of them.  Hard to label what had gone on: protection, counter-attack before the fact...?  Or just my usual inanity.  Strapping on that bomb belt.  Hey, maybe it was a good thing.  He let loose- which is a rare thing.  He was right- we never, ever, had just fucked.  Well, at times it had felt as if that’s all he had been after the divorce.  Still- I knew him.  Despite the filter of ugliness those around me had forced me to see the world through, my heart knew.  He loved me.  Didn’t always trust me- and hey, how could I blame him. But he trusted me with his body, his soul, and his heart.  On some sort of short-time rental sort of term. 

And still.  When all that old crap about Deb had broken lose from some dark room of my soul, I had been shocked myself.  I thought I had been over all that.  And I had seven days to run every word we said to each other over and over in my mind.  Something had caught my attention: did I  say what I did to punish him for the ‘Deb-thing’ as I had come to call it?  Was it possible I was that big of a bitch?  

Or was it more likely I had never recovered from him simply wanting to take his buddy up on her horrific offer.  From stringing me along after the papers were signed while still playing hide the sperm in the nurse.  

The years of back and forth- did they all go back to that?  And what about him?  Did everything really come down to me not wanting a child while all we did was fight and fuck?  

As if there ever is a perfect time to have a baby...

Speaking of...

Oh shit...no, not that again.  

What, Lisa?  What?  Did you think you’d get a break from the eternal loop in your head?

What if I’m pregnant...What if I’m pregnant...What if I’m pregnant....

Knowing I should be horrified and scared. When all I felt was some joyous glimmer of hope.  

No protection! What in the hell was wrong with me?  Was this another case of Russian Roulette that would cure my headache?  Had I implied I was on something to simplify dealing with my marriage?

Sorry, Lockwood. I gotta leave you. Seeing I’m knocked up by my ex and all. No hard feelings, okay? Friends?

And what if I was?  How would Michael react?  Would he believe I wanted him for himself, and not because circumstances forced me toward him?  And would I ever believe he’d want me for me?

Worse yet?  What if I wasn’t? And he also had used this week to think things over. And discovered our dream vacation was nothing but a trauma induced reaction?

“I don’t want you to make any decisions Lisa.  Not right now.  I want you to think this over- and to really think about what has happened here. I think things happen for a reason and sometimes God intervenes to push us onto the right track.  I think I made it clear how I feel.”

What had he meant?  Back when he wanted a life with me after the trial?  Or now? Clear?  Clear how?  Yes, I had been defensive- but he had pulled his pawns up tightly to defend his most valued piece.  And I wasn’t talking about his dick. No, he had been more than generous with that. 

There it was again.  I felt dizzy... Reaching behind me blindly, I pulled up a chair.  

There you are...you’re dizzy...that has to mean...

No, it was way too early.  For symptoms anyway.  A week...

“Hello doc, just a question, how early can pregnancies be detected?”
“Oh, Lisa Marie- how lovely, are you and your husband trying after all?”
“How soon, doc.”
“Well, the human growth hormone can be detected up to seven days after fertilization and implantation.”
“So, that means, I don’t have to wait till I miss a period?”
“Not necessarily. But early results are highly unreliable.  If you want to be sure I recommend you wait until you are late and then come in for a blood test.”

Today, the week was up. And since I had not been in any mood to pee on a stick in an airplane bathroom, I would find out soon. After...

My heart pounded in my chest.  My mouth dried out.  My fear was running marathons in the dessert.  

What the hell are you doing here, Lisa?  You don’t know shit yet. And here you are, practically outside his door step. What are you going to tell him?  
‘Hey- wanna watch me pee on a stick and see if your greatest dream can be turned into a horrible nightmare? You might get another baby- but you’d also get me.  Surprise!”

No he’d be happy.  About the baby part anyway.  And he’d fake the rest. He had proven he didn’t have to love or even like who he procreated with.  And my eggs did come with a certain pedigree.  

What was wrong with me?  He told me he loved me.  Yes, he had been angry, but I knew he was hurt and panicked.  I knew because I felt the same way.  With the ringing of the phone that morning, we both were freaking out.  Oh, we were so perfectly adult about it. Running some kind of contest who could act more nonchalant. Cool as cucumbers.  While we both had shellshocked panic screaming form our eyes.  I got up and made some horrible tea he pretended to like.  It was hot...and that was all I recalled.  Burning my tongue almost made me cry.  Well- I pretended it was fine and I escaped into the bathroom.  Running the water.  Turning on the shower.  Before I sank onto the toilet seat and cried my eyes out.  Desperation at the prospect of having to leave here.  Having to leave him.  I really did not remember the last time I had broken down like that.  That pure and honest kind of cry that rips the sobs deep from the twisted pain inside your guts and throws them around in your tight chest. 

“Lisa- open up...”

His voice sounding as miserable as I felt.

“I’m....I’m taking a shower...”

I had to keep that internal door shut.  The hammer of fate had descended and the cracks were starting to show.  Any second I’d shatter into a million pieces, never to be reassembled again.

“No, you’re not. You’re in there pretending to shower.  You’re in there crying.  Open up before I break the door down.”

“You won’t break the door down. You’ll hurt yourself.” Sniffling, I reached for the toilet paper to blow my nose.

“How is puffing once or twice gonna hurt me?”

I had to smile through the tears.  His little joke made me start crying again.  He was so silly! And I wanted to be rained on by silly comments and goofy jokes nonstop for the rest of my life.  

“I’m fine, really.”

Silence.  

Did he give up this easily? I mean, didn’t he want to find out what was making me cry?  

Before I consciously knew what was up, I was at the door, turning the lock as silently as I could.  How dare he feign concern and then just back off?  Did he really care this little?

I opened up the door to peek through.  And found his dark eyes staring down at me.  Michael leaned agains the door frame, having obviously played his hand smarter than I had.

“See?  Look at you. I knew you were crying. Stop playing and talk to me.”
“About?”  Stubborn as always, I wiped my face in his shirt sleeve.

“Gross!”

“You got like fifty more like it.”

“Not a good enough reason to leave your DNA all over this one.”

“Too late...send me the bill to have it cleaned.”

Michael laughed and shook his head. “Can I come in?”

“No, my turn to shower.”

He pushed the door open and stepped into the bathroom.  He took orders so very well.

“Except you’re sitting in here crying, pretending to shower.  Acting all tough as always.  Don’t you know I’ve seen all this before.  And you know what? There was a time, when I thought, fine, let her play her game and I’d let you run your train off the tracks. Only, it usually crashed right on me.”

Yeah, like when I told him to go right ahead and inpregnate Nursey, or when I told him I wanted a divorce, expecting him to jump in and swear he’d change.  How fucked up had I been?

How fucked up was I still?  Had anything changed, really?  I still expected him to read my mind.  To be someone I knew he was not.  Yeah, sure, I might pretend to be Miss Tough Shit who lived in Reality Land, but deep inside I probably wanted nothing more than a Fairy Tale where my Knight in Shining Armor put everything at my feet.  Where Michael would beg me to drop everything.  Well, he had done just that once.  And look how that had worked out.

“You wanna know what’s really going on with me?”

I looked up at him through the continued haze of my tears.

“It might be as refreshing as some Febreeze for this place. Even though I think a match might solve all the problems around here in one stroke.  Just like you could shed some light right now, please.”

“Fine.  Here it is: I love you.  I had no clue how much.  I thought I wanted to talk to you and figure some shit out, but I guess that barely scratched the surface.  I am happy in my marriage, really...”

Michael cringed, but refrained from making a snarky remark.

“It’s more peaceful- and I thought that’s what I wanted.  And then I ran my car off the road.  I feel as if I’d fallen down the rabbit’s hole.  I’m here with you, and despite..this....” I made a sweeping gesture, not able to describe our castle in the clouds in any appropriate manner, “Despite this place, I don’t think I would trade the past day for anything.  But Michael- you got a life.  And I got responsibilities.”
“Hey- it’s not like I asked your for anything, Lisa.  I didn’t say, leave your life, or even leave your husband...”

“No, no you sure didn’t...”

“Is that what you want?  That I do ask you to...to...give it...give us another chance?”

We stared at each other like two price fighters waiting for one to give a signal.  Only, sadly, we had been in one too many rounds, and we knew the wounds that could be inflicted.

“All I know is that I don’t want the phones to work.  I don’t want to leave here.  I don’t want to go back to my real life.  And I don’t want you to leave.”

Michael stepped closer and wrapped me into his embrace.  I tried to resist...but I melted into him after about a second. 

“Baby-girl.  We gotta leave.  You know that.  But that doesn’t mean we can’t figure out where we’re going from here. If you wanna figure out where we’re going, that is.”

“Together?”  I looked up at him, and he caressed my cheek.  

I held my breath.  The silence stretched between us.  It replaced any life giving oxygen.  Even the dust bunnies stopped chasing each other.

“I can’t do it again, Lisa.  I’m just starting to put myself together after...after last year.  I asked you...I begged you....” 

Elegant fingers ran though his hair in a frustrated gesture. His voice broke, and I saw tears in his eyes.

Yeah. I heard him loud and clear.  He had done the very thing I had asked him before.  He had been honest.  He had told me how he felt.  Had laid it all out there.  And I had pulled the rug.  So I knew what he meant: he  couldn’t risk himself again. Couldn’t wait and see.  Couldn’t even ask or suggest there was a future holding a ‘together.’

This one was on me.

I had to figure this out.  I had to clean up this mess. I didn’t know what would happen, but I felt that I could not go back to my life as it was the previous day.  Not now.  Not ever again. Only, I had to go and talk to Lockwood. I owed him that much.  But then, if there was a chance...if Michael  could actually still want me... If he would take the risk one more time. How could I ever make him see what had gone on with me in 2005?  When it all seemed so inconceivable now.  Even to me.  How in the world had I turned him away?  What forces powered my hand slamming the door into his face?

“You know... Then....I was so damn scared, Michael.  I thought you were just reacting like a child that has been hurt- that you were reaching for some old security blanket.”

And I was convinced he’d end up ripping my heart out again. Not on purpose. The bullet doesn’t know what it’s doing when it rips through flesh and blows out the fire of life. The end result is the same.  Death. 

Michael cocked his head attempting to make sense of my words.  I could see he really struggled.  

“Security blanket, hm? Is that how you think I see you?  Interesting.... Okay- but what about now?  How do I know you mean it when you say you love me now? Hey - how do I know you don’t get frisky with all men who find you in a snow storm and take you to a place with stuffed - and real rodents?  I mean...come on...” 

I appreciated the attempt at humor.  But I also got the message.  I couldn’t trust him then.  How could he trust me now? What if I made him hope?  I already told him my marriage wasn’t unhappy per se.  If he had any illusions I’d simply come back running this time, I must have cured him of those already.  

“Yeah, you’re right on. They key to get me to whisper the three magic words is to throw me down the rabbit hole. And have a big stuffed rat run by my announcing it’s late for a very important date.”

He laughed, then turned real serious.

“So, what does it all mean? You saying you love me...and you also saying you care for him..your..” he made a face, “husband.” 

Yes, what indeed?  Why could life not be a little clearer?  I could go for a little black or white right now.  The problem was not that my heart didn’t know the clear choice: that Michael would forever be ‘the one’ for me.  The problem was that reality had kicked my teeth in and I was suffering from a series of flashbacks.   The love was there as if it had never left.  Stronger and brighter than ever.  However, I was older now and I had started to doubt that that kind of love we shared was really meant to survive in every day life.  A major crisis had brought us together in a way.  The Chandler mess had really pulled me into his life in a way that was not real.  All my protective instincts had been kicked into gear.  And he was hurt, vulnerable reaching out, needing me in a way that he never had before.  A great injustice, a travesty was committed against the man I had started to love so passionately- and I was a fighter. No, a soldier really. Then we entered the drama of the divorce, the secret marriage, the keeping things under wraps to help Danny save face for a while.  It was great- we were such a united front. So happy. So in love.  And then real life set in- and we crashed.  After my health scare we went at it again- pulled together by the knowledge that we could not live without each other. That it didn’t matter how complicated things were. But again- every time things looked as if they would finally work out, one of us bailed.  It’s like the happily-ever-after scared the shit out of both of us.

The ringing cell phone ripped me from my thoughts.  I checked the caller ID and immediately felt that rush of guilt again. 

“Hey...”
“Hey. I’m not trying to be a pain. Just wanting to make sure you got in okay.”
Oh yeah.  I was in Vegas- with my mind still stuck in the castle in the dust cloud in Ireland. I closed my eyes.  God, poor Lockwood.  He was so grown up about all this.

“Yeah, I just got into the room, thanks. How are the kids?”
“They’re fine.  Danny will pick them up in a bit.”

Oh great.  Talk about two men who will have loads to commiserate about how Lisa, the bitch, fucked them over.  With the same man.

“Okay. Yeah... Are you...” I swallowed hard.  “Are you gonna say anything to him?”
“I don’t think that’s my place Lisa.  I know he’s got his own feelings about...the subject.  So, I don’t wanna add fuel to that fire.”
“Thanks.”

Gosh, the first in my stomach dug in deeper.  This was so damn hard.  Even though I knew it was the right decision.  The only one I could make.

And he knew.  With all the disappointment and pain written on his face, I could also see that this was not a total surprise.  The timing, maybe.  Even the setting.  But the rest?  As he had said to me with those sad eyes: The sun will rise, Lisa.  Despite it being night, it’s not that big of a surprise when it does.  

We ended the conversation quietly, and I could not suppress a tear.  I hated hurting people.  Hated disappointing them.  Oh, I could be a right, cold bitch when people deserved what they got- but Lockwood hadn’t deserved all this crap dropped on his head on Christmas Day. Or any day. 

I almost wished he had ranted, raved, yelled, thrown things.  At least then I could have reacted with some kind of provoked anger in return.  But no- that time, he left me drowning in the puddle of manure I had cooked up all by myself.  Well, with a little help from fate.  

That morning, I thought it would be the best if I called home, let them know I was safe, and then arrange for a car to take me back where I would somehow muster up the guts to break the news- and break my husband’s heart.  Part one of the plan had come together amazingly well.  I went downstairs to call, after we finally made it out of the shower.  Yeah, of course, all that crying and soul searching had led to some interesting sex in a itty bitty tiny space. Good thing I went for those little wired guys. 

I had started out by myself, then Michael had opened the curtain and hopped in. I turned to attempt to push him back out. This was not gonna work.  We really had to keep our heads about ourselves.

“There’s no room for two in here, I think.”
“Oh come on! That’s what you said about the air plane bathroom, too.”
I had to laugh at the memory.  Yeah, I had been black and blue after that little escapade, too.  And oh so satisfied.  Followed by being oh so embarrassed when Michael’s shit eating grin didn’t exactly hide our membership in the Mile High Club. 

“And I was right.”
“What do I always tell y’a?”
He brushed my wet hair from my shoulders and traced the path of droplets down my skin.  
“You make it fit?”

Smiling his dirty little grin Michael bent forward and kissed my shoulder- banging himself on the wall in the process. 

“Ouch! Dammit!”
“See? Watch out- you’re gonna make a hole in the fine tile and then we’ll come out in Joey and Mary’s shower probably.”
“Yeah- and you know the first thing they’ll do is ask if I can sign something for them- handing me a waterproof pen.”
“Before they tell you the wall was built by a master architect and will cost two millions to replace.”
“So, I guess I gotta be careful how we do this.”

His hands were getting busy spreading bubbles all over me.  God, his touch, the warm water...the safety bubble of the shower which kept all reality out for just a little while longer... All so very tempting. 

“What?  Wash?”
“Uhum...wash...”  He wiped some soap off my shoulder and kissed me there, his tongue drawing circles.  

“Mike, I really don’t think this is a great idea.  You picking me up and doing me against the wall will cause us to drown in plaster, fake tiles, busting pipes... Or us breaking through- no joke. I think we better be real here.”

My body was yelling at me to have my head examined as it already surrendered to his touch, his smell and the overall vision of aroused, wet Michael in the shower before me.  Kissing me, stealing both my breath and my oxygen, Michael turned my body so I came to be pressed against him.  And his very hard penis communicated that he had every intention of figuring out the current lack of space and solid walls. 

“Who said Imma gon’ lift you up?”
One hand already played with my puckered nipples, while the other came around and found my swollen and very wet pussy again.  So much for keeping up any pretense I wasn’t into this spatial puzzle.

“Spread your legs, Lisa...” The growl against my ear gave me the rest.  
He urged my forward and guided my hands to the wall.  I double checked I found two spots without mildew.  

With a firm touch, his hands glided back to my shoulders, then massaged down my back as he kissed the back of my neck, biting the already marked skin.  What did I care?  I was all his once again.

Moaning, my butt jutted out, just in time for his hands to find it and massage there with the firm grip I adored.  I turned my head and Michael’s kiss made me dizzy while his hands descended down my thighs now, pressing them a little further apart.  At the same time, his body pressed into me and I felt how ready he was. Surrendering my spot on the wall, I reached between us and caressed his pulsating cock, drawing some moans from him that I greedily drank. Just another part of that aphrodisiac I craved.

Michael’s fingers returned to my ass and he spread the cheeks.  Helpful as I could be, I guided him to where I knew he wanted to be and one of his hands joined mine.  I loved when he did that: I adored feeling the velvet steel under my fingers, covered by his long elegant hand, as he guided me in the movement we both craved.  He played at my dripping opening, teasing me, making me think he’d finally fill be before he rubbed the mushroomed head accross with the sweetest torture.  HIs free hand came around, and  ever so slowely descended down my tightening belly.  God, he drove me nuts.  Looking down at his hand on my skin, approaching my  heat, made me tremble with need.  When he finally arrived at my mound, his finger slid easily between my folds, taking great care to avoid the distended nub longing to explode.
“Michael...please...”
“That’s right, baby.  You remember this. You remember how well we dance together.”
His fingers spread my honey to the opening his dick still was playing at.
My body was on fire, the water on my skin felt like a million tongues caressing every nerve.  

My hand once again returned to the wall, bracing for what I knew was coming.  When he finally entered me with one strong thrust, I cried out his name again.

“Oh girl.  You’re mine.  You better never forget it. You might have thought you got away for a bit, but I’ll never let you go.  You are all mine...”

His hand found my chin and he once again turned my head, kissing me, drinking my sobs and moans.  Yes, he was indeed my drug. My life and my death.  And we’d figure this out.  Because I was his.  And dammit- he was mine.  I wasn’t about to let him slip through my fingers again.

Once again, the ringing of the phone brought me back to reality.  No, I wasn’t in the middle of a snow storm now.  I was in the middle of a desert illuminated by a million lights.  And I was hot on his trail.  

Seeing my friend’s name on the caller ID, almost made me drop the phone.  Oh, please God! Please let her have found out!

“Did you get it?”
“Hello and Happy New Year to you, Lisa.”
“Rebbie- no playing. And you don’t even do New Years.”
“True.  But it’s so much fun to hear you all flustered.”

Yeah, I was sure I was a laugh a minute right now. 

“Did you find out his address?”
“Well, my squirly little brother didn’t exactly make it easy. But- this is gonna make you laugh.  I called mother and tried to be all covert. Then, she said, Rebbie- if you’re in contact with Lisa Marie- he didn’t want me to give his number to anyone but her.  So- that’s the only way I can give it to you. If it’s for Lisa.”

My eyes closed and I sent a quick prayer of thanks to heaven.  Amazing really how much I had prayed again this week.  I was finally returning to who I knew I could be.  

For me! He had told him mother to let me know where he was! That had to be good, right?

With shaking fingers I took down the information.  Okay.  So, now all I had to do was to call him. I mean...I could also take a cab and show up, but his kids surely were with him.  So no, if he gave his mother the number that had to mean he’d be okay to talk to me.  Finally!

All this torture had been for nothing.  When I hadn’t head from him right away...when I thought he’d already regretted having ever gotten mixed up with me again.  When I cried to the point of almost throwing up, realizing that maybe he really had only needed some sexual healing.  Here I was, breaking apart my family- again- and he simply up and left without another word.  I had elevated wallowing in self pity to an unrivaled art form.  Until I finally turned on the tv to distract myself- and found out James Brown had died.

Oh shit! Of course!  No wonder Michael had disappeared.  God- what a selfish bitch I was, not even realizing one of his main idols has passed away.  Naturally he hurried off to be at the funeral.  His mad dash flight from Ireland had not been inspired by little idiotic me, but by the loss of a dear friend.  

I really had to get a handle on this ever present insecurity.  If this was going to work, I had to learn to trust his love.  As long as there was trust.

No, Lisa.  THat’s why he has taken up all these relationships.  All these women he lets into his life.  Oh wait- he doesn’t, you idiot! Wake up and don’t screw yourself out of a chance before you even get started.

Yeah.  Because this was it.  There was no back-up plan.  I had to do this the same way Michael did last year.  I had to jump in and put it all on the table.  And hope and trust that he was smarter than me.  Even though I still had some trouble calling anyone smart who’d voluntarily got involved with me.  I just burned through my fourth marriage.  Well, on the bright side, the notice on the death certificate of marriages one, three, and four all matched.  

Lisa’s unavailable heart  snuffed out any chance of longevity. 

So, now I simply had to make Michael understand that I’d spend the rest of my days making any pain I had eve caused him up to him. And I had to make him believe that this was not all simply connected to the flimsy hope of carrying our baby.  Which would make me incredibly happy- but also would make me wonder if he’d forever question my motives.  Because heaven knew, I would despite my best efforts.

Did he want me?  Or did he want the baby?  Well, of course he’d want the baby.  My hand found its way to my stomach.  

If you are in there already- you are such a little blessing.  

Suddenly it hit me.  My mouth dropped open.  Oh gosh, it had been so simple all along.  It was not a choice.  I didn’t want either Michael or a baby.  I wanted him- and of course I’d welcome a baby.  Because I loved him and I would love it- just because. Because it would be my child.  It’s not an either or at all.  It was indeed possible he’d feel the same way.  

Something expanded in my chest.  I rose and walked over to the mirror, staring at my reflection.  Noticing the sheen of tears.

Was that it?  Had he felt that way all along?  Yes, he wanted a child. And yes, his way of thinking  had been fucked up in every conceivable way.  The Debbie thing was a disaster.  And still- he had wanted me.  He had told me- said the very words during that horrible conversation more than a year ago: Please don’t think this is about anything other than me wanting you in my life. I wanna grow old with you.  You are my family, Lisa.  You.

I got dizzy.  Okay, one thing at a time.  It was okay.  I had to have faith.  Trust.  Faith and trust: two of my worst events.  

Trembling, I retrieved the number I had jotted down.  I took a deep breath.  Phones were not my friend these days.

Just like when I had just about passed out calling Lockwood from the lobby of the Travellodge.  With Joe pretending he was not listening in.

“Lisa! Oh thank heaven! I was going nuts! Where in the world are you? Are you okay?  - Yes, it’s Mom...okay- hold on...”

“Mommy!!!!!!” And just like that I was talking to my babies, tears streaming from my face as I turned away from the desk.  

Finally, after I assured both Riley and Ben that I was okay and that I would be home soon, Lockwood came back onto the phone.  

“Lisa! Baby! Tell me where you’re at and I’ll have you picked up. Shit- I’ll dig my way to where ever you are!” He sounded so sweet. Relieved.  Full of joy.  Well, I’d cure him of that soon. 

“Ah, no, that’s not necessary, really.  I...I will get a car.  It’s still pretty snowy here...and...”
“What’s wrong, Lisa?”

Dammit! He knew me too well.  My voice was odd, I could tell.  I faked sounding relaxed and happy- but I was horrible at it.  

So, I spent the next couple of minutes trying to convince him everything was honky dory.  He finally relented about picking me up.  One shock at a time. 

“Everything alright with you, Miss Lisa?” Joey eyed me curiously and even Mallory seemed to have question marks dangling above her.

“Oh, just splendid!”
“You’re not in any rush to leave this comfy little place, are y’a?”
“Oh no, I was wondering if we could stay for a week or two. It’s that great.”

“You Americans! I can never tell when you’re sarcastic.”

I seriously started to wonder if Joey had ever set foot in a real hotel.  Or motel, even. 

“Can you tell me where I can rent a car?”

His eyes flew open? “Today? On Christmas Day? And where you’d be driving in this snow?”

Oh, nowhere. Just back to my husband to rip his heart out.  

When I got back to the room, Michael was on the phone as well, making some kind of arrangements.  Well, he had more local resources than me, so maybe he’d have more luck. 

Hanging up, he searched my face.  His own features were calm and collected.  But the panic was right there in his eyes.

“Well?”
“Well, what?”

“Did you get through?”
“Yes. Yes, I did.  The kids were so frantic! They were practically bouncing through the phone.”
“Awe- that’s sweet. I know they must have worried so...”
“Yeah...so... I guess we won’t be able to rent a car.  Joey informed me it was Christmas Day.”
“Well, I’m glad he told us.  We might have forgotten or something.”
“He also mentioned something about snow...”  
“Wow- he was a true oracle, then.  No wonder he seems to work every shift.  This place would fall apart without him.  Oh...wait...Never mind.”

I managed a little smile.

Michael got up and pulled me into his arm. “Lise! It’ll be alright. You look like a little lost girl.”

Fighting down tears, I inhaled him.  This would last me.  I could do this.  I’d fill my lungs with him and that would carry me through like a hot-air balloon.  Till I could land safely again in his arms.

“Lockwood was gonna pick me up.” I hid my face in his sweater.  His body tensed.
“Yeah, I think that’s a bad idea.”
Looking up, I rolled my eyes.  “You think?”
“So- no rental cars, hm?”
“Not till Saint Paddy’s Day.”
“Oh, wait... I bet I can find us some cars.  I’ll call Paddy- and I bet we find some sturdy cars that can make it- and some strapping Jewish boys that don’t mind driving this lovely lady back to her kids.”
“Not pretty enough for Christian boys to interrupt their Christmas frolicking?”  Finally able to smile again for real, I looked up at his now shaven face.  Gosh- I missed that stubble already.  
“Princess, you got this Christian boy wrapped securely around those pretty fingers again.  I’d drive you anywhere.  If I had gas.”
Michael kissed me and I cuddled up against him again. “Yeah, well. I don’t think you driving me is a bright idea. So, let’s see if your buddy can help us out.”

It took several hours, but Michael did get it done.  After he got a hold of his friend, he actually managed to arrange for not only two cars, but also two drivers to bring them to us.  He was such a miracle worker.  

“Guess we call Joey to prepare the bill, then. You wanna make the call, Mrs Smith?”
“Did we ever ask how much this will set us back?”
“Ah- no- but shit, you know what?” Michael stared at me.    
“No? What?”
“Do you have money?”
“I think I had some in the car...Crap!” It just occurred to me that I had zero memory about taking my purse with me when Michael carried me to safety. 

“What?”  He looked a tiny bit worried now.
“I don’t think we brought my purse?”
“You don’t think?  Why didn’t you bring it?”

“Because you dragged me out of the car like a neanderthal.”
“Seriously, Lisa?  I thought women always grabbed their purse so they have their girly stuff with them?”
“Girly stuff?”
“Yeah, you know....goodies...”
I had to laugh despite being slightly irritated. “Dude - I think I had my goodies with me just fine.”
Michael blushed. “You know what I mean. Make-up and stuff.”

Yes, in Michael’s world all women cared about was to carry around their make-up and stuff. Maybe he needed to stop hanging out with Karen for a while. 

“Michael, what’s the big deal. I’m sure you have money, right?”

Oh crap - then it came back to me.  Michael hardly ever carried money around.  Certainly not credit cards.  He didn’t like them.  He usually had cash stashed away, though. 

“Well, I was heading to the plane- what did I need money on the plane for?  And then I was gonna be right in Vegas.  So, why would I have money with me?”

Shit! Was this for real?  Two of the richest people in America stranded penniless in Ireland.  

“Great.  Perfect.  No what? Cause you know, in the real world, people have to pay their hotel bill, Michael.”
“No, really, Lisa?  Tell me about the real world, will y’a?  Cause I know you read about it in a romance novel at some point.”

“Cute, Michael, really...”  I glared at him from below my eye-lashes.
“Okay, sorry.... Well, I guess we could tell him who we are and sign stuff for him.”

Yeah, great. And have a ‘Jacko spends weekend with ex in Motel O’Love’ article hanging from the wall of fame down below.  Wait... Had there been a wall of fame? 

“Or I could give him some ass. I saw him checking me out...”
“Lisa Marie!” His horrified voice made me laugh.  
“Chill! I’m only kidding.  I have standards!”
“Could have fooled me. Bad enough I gotta share you with one clown...” 
“Say what?”

He looked up. “Nothing. Sorry.”

“Okay- seriously. What are we gonna do?”
“Let me call Paddy again.  What’s one more favor?”
“Yeah- tell him to bring that pot of gold.”

“Call your buddy downstairs and ask how much this will set us back.  Priceless experience that it was.”
“Hey! It did have it’s good parts.”  I walked over to the door, ready to once again inhale the magical scent of Mallory. I’d really miss her.  Maybe I’d steal her just for the heck of it.

Michael stepped up behind me and pulled me into an embrace, taking me by surprise with a kiss.

“Amazing parts..Off you go...” He smacked me ass, making me laugh.  

Joey promised to have the bill delivered to our room, seeming really sad we managed to secure an escape route.  He even offered us some bread, cold-cuts, and cheeses which I took only too willingly.  

So, about another hour later, Michael and I tried to ignore that reality was about to rip us from this dust filled, stale smelling, dirty matrix.  We had managed to talk about all kinds of things other than how we’d proceed.  He filled me in on his kids and I caught him up on Riley and Ben’s recent escapades.  Showing me pictures, I was amazed how tall his three had gotten.  And so beautiful.  Especially Blanket killed me with those gorgeous eyes.  We even managed to get some snow collected in the sink to cool the left-over Guinness which went amazing with cold cuts and cheese.

The easy conversation stilted at some point.  Michael cleared his throat, “Lisa...about...us...  I mean, you and me.  You do what you need to do, okay?  And I’ll be in touch.  I don’t wanna push you, but if I don’t hear from you in a week, I’m just gonna take that to mean you gonna...you know...stay the course you’ve chosen.”

Did he have to sound so remote?  And so formal?  

“And you’d be okay with that?”  I couldn’t look at him, when I uttered the question. 

Suddenly he turned and grabbed my shoulders. “Really? You really gon’ ask me that? No, the fuck I won’t be okay with that.  I want you, okay?  What I want is that you tell me right now you’re gonna leave him.  That this means something to you.  That I...that I mean something to you.  Enough to be with me. But you know what?  I learned that things don’t always happen the way I think they should.  Believe it or not, I’m catching on that I see the world a bit different than others. And look what that’s cost me. So, I’m trying to do what you always asked of me: I’m trying to be a grown-up about this. But please don’t ask if I’m okay that you’re gonna drive off and drive back to that man.”

“Michael, I love you.  I really do... It’s just...” 

I had to make a clean break before I cold make any kind of real promise.  I had to do this the right way.  He deserved that. This time he needed to know that I could free myself to chose to be with him.

“Yeah. I know. You’re happy in your marriage and he is Mister Wonderful.  I gotta go pee.”

Great!  My mouth dropped open at the speed he disappeared on me with. This man was so damn infuriating! Why could he never let me finish what I was going to say?

Looking around, I gathered up the rest of the things we had out.  Well, really his things, since I had not suitcase.  Or purse.  I held his shirt up  and wrapped my arms around it.  Maybe I could somehow sneak it out of here.  A piece of him.  I could always return it.  Soon.

A knock at the door.  Great.  Joey was probably bringing the bill.  Still clutching the shirt, a smile on my lips, I opened the door.  

And stared into the eyes of my husband.  Clad in some odd yack like coat and bizarre hat.  

“Merry CHristmas!   I know you said don’t get you...but I called back from the number on the ID and then got the address.  You sounded so odd...I was really worried... So..so I thought I’d come and get you myself if you got yourself into any sort of trouble or anything. Lisa- you okay?

Feeling dizzy and faint, I could barely catch his voice through the sudden fog. What the hell?  How did he get here? Well, he told me, but still... Oh shit!

All I could do was stare like an idiot.  I didnt’ even come close to forming thoughts I would then have trouble getting out through my paralyzed voice box.

“Lisa, you look as if you’ve seen a ghost. You really didn’t think I’d let you make your way out of some snowed in middle of nowhere by yourself, right? By the way- wow- what a place.  Can I come in?”

Could he come in?  Into my room?  Mine and Michael’s room?  Oh holy shit! 

“Hey...wow...I’m...stunned. Why- why don’t you wait downstairs. I’m actually ready to go- just need to grab my jacket...”

“Seems you grabbed some shirt.  Did you have a bag with you?  I was freaking out, worried you’d freeze to death or something. Damn- what’s that on your head?” 

He reached out to touch the little cut on my forehead and I jerked my head back.  

“Nothing- banged my head a bit in the snow...I’m fine.”

His eyes zeroed in on my neck and I reached up.  Shit! My neck... Michael’s marks...

“Did you bang your neck as well...what’s happening, Lisa?”  His eyes were narrowed.

Michael picked that very moment to make one of his grand entrances.  And to be totally honest, he didn’t do anything but appear back into the room.  But man, that went over with a bang.

“Lisa- hey, the cars should be here any moment and....oh...sh...oot.” He stopped in his tracks and stared at Lockwood, whose color totally drained from his face.  

If the earth could have opened up and swallowed me at this very point in time, I would have been eternally grateful.  

Of course, when did anything ever go my way?

“Lockwood- this is...”

“Really, Lisa?  I know who this is.  What I don’t know is why you’re here with him.”

“Why don’t you come in so we don’t give everyone a free show?”  Michael the voice of reason?  Since when did that happen?

In a total trance, I stepped to the side, allowing Lockwood into the room.

Closing the door, I sank against it, my legs suddenly made from jelly.  God, this was so bad. So much worse than telling him later.  He wasn’t an idiot.  He knew so much about Michael and me.  Too much.  And the hickie on my neck was more perfect than any A ever could be.

“Well?”

“Look, I know you must be pretty stunned. But really. There is a perfectly innocent explanation...” Michael started out, walking in my direction. 

Oh, baby! You are so behind the power curb: he already caught on.  He saw it in my eyes - and he read your signature on my neck. 

“Lisa? Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?  You said you were in the storm and your car ran off the road.  And someone helped you. You neglected to tell me the someone was your ex.”

“Look- she did hit her head and she was pretty out of it.  I just happened to be on the same road and found her. She probably didn’t want to worry you and she called before the phones all went dead.  I mean, why worry you...”

Lockwood still would not look at Michael and instead killed me with his eyes. 

How could you. 

There it was. Written as plain as day.  Yes, I fucked up again.  Only, the real, major fuck-up occurred in the summer of 2005- not the winter of 2006. Not that this was right.  Because it was all sorts of wrong.  

“Lockwood...I’m sorry.  I should have told you.”

“Told me what, Lisa?” 

He took a step towards me, and Michael was by my side so quickly I wondered how in the world he had changed positions with such quiet speed. 

“Hey- stop it. She’s still not feeling well. Give her some space. I just told you what happened, man.”

Lockwood turned toward Michael for the first time.  “I can see she’s not feeling well.  I also saw the bruise on her head.  But excuse me, if I’m trying to figure out all this....”

“No, it’s fine.  You got every right to know what happened.  We...we got stranded. Michael was gonna drive me back home but we ran out of gas. And the gas station was closed.  So we made it here.  And we...hunkered down to ride out the storm.  That’s all...”  The fact that I could not keep eye-contact did not exactly make Lockwood relax.

“Lisa- sit down.  You look real pale.  I don’t want you fainting again.”  Michael touched my arm and I could see Lockwood cringe as if I’d slapped him. 

“You fainted?”

“She was passed out when I found her, okay.  Give her a break, will y’a?”

“I’m fine, Michael, really.”

“I still think you should sit down, Lise.”

The endearment made it clear that he was the expert and authority on my welfare.  God! This was insane!

“And I think we should leave. You ready, Lisa Marie?”

My heart started racing for real.  No, the fuck I wasn’t ready!  I was about to seriously freak out. 

“I got a car coming for her.”
I almost smiled at Michael’s defiant stance.  He did not like this at all. Not one tiny bit.  Despite his polite demeanor, it was written all over his eyes and in every tense stance of his body.  I’d seen him like this before.  Bundled energy.  

“Well, I’m here now, and  can drive her back- so thank you. Thanks a lot for all your...help.”

“Lisa- I don’t think this is a good plan.  I don’t like this- are you sure you’re ready to go?”  

Michael grabbed my hand and pierced me with his eyes.  I clung to his fingers for a moment, deriving the strength I needed. 

“Lisa.  Why don’t you get your stuff together and I wait downstairs.”  Lockwood marched toward the door.  “Jackson..” He nodded toward Michael, “Thanks for helping her in the snow.  But I really wish you’d just stopped at that.” With that he slammed the door.

I sank against Michael who held me close.

“Guess he knows, hm?”
“You think?  Fuck, Michael! This is horrible! I never wanted it to go down like that.  Never.  I wanted to tell him...but not like this...oh shit...”  I started to cry and Michael held me close.  

“On the bright side, it’s out in the open now, I guess. Hey- you think he’d pay the hotel bill?”
Startled, I stared up at him.  He broke into a small giggle.  “Sorry, I couldn’t resist!”
I punched him lightly. “You’re such a shit!”

“So they say...”

And so, we said rushed good bye’s, time having been ripped from our hands.  Lockwood and I barely spoke on the way home.  Which was really merciful as my head was killing me, and I felt like crying, my heart breaking into a million pieces.

Trust us.  

Those were the words Michael whispered to me before I left the room.  At first I thought I didn’t hear him right- but now they rang loud and clear in my heart.  

The pain of the separation, not hearing from him, the talks with Lockwood...everything that had happened in the eternally short span of this past week still left me dizzy.  I wiped a tear away and with trembling fingers dialed the number.  He told me he’d give me a week.  Which time zone did he talk about?  Had he given up already?

It rang for what seemed like forever.  Just when I thought it would go to voicemail someone answered.  And the someone sounded very female.

“Hello?”
“Yes, Hello?  Who is this?”
“I need to speak to Michael.  Now.”  If this was the wrong number, the person surely would tell me.

“How did you get this number?” 

Who the hell was this bitch?  
“It was given to me by Michael. Now please get him.”
“I’m sorry he is not available right now.”

“But this is his phone, correct?”
A short pause.  “Yes...but he is not taking calls right now. I can relay a message, however.”

This didn’t sound like Grace.  I knew her haughty tone too well. This was another bitch in my way.

“This is Lisa Presley- please get Michael on the phone right now.”
A pause.

“As I already told you. He is not available and...” 

“Raymone- who’s on the phone?”  

Raymone Bain, of course! That bitch had been on my nerves one too many times. 

“No one, - wrong number...”

No one? The bitch was about to lose some hair.  And that via the phone.  I prayed Michael wouldn’t buy that bull.

“No one?  Long conversation for a wrong number. Hand me my phone.  Please. And now.”

Gosh- I seriously wanted to kiss the face that bossy yet calm voice belonged to.  

“Hello?”

My heart pounded all the way into my throat.  He obviously had wrestled the phone away from the dragon.

“Michael...hey...”

A pause.  Oh god! What if he hangs up. What if he changed his mind? What if he hated me for creating havoc in his life once again? What if...

“Lisa! Lisa? For real? Oh, girl!”  

No, that didn’t sound too bad at all. I clutched the phone.  He sounded surprised.  Stunned. But not in a bad way.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner. It never occurred to me you’d give your Mom your number for me. I thought I had to wheel and deal to get it and then Rebbie told me ...” I had to catch my breath..I sounded as if I’d run a million miles.  

He giggled. “Slow down! It’s fine- I have to apologize- I didn’t get a chance to call after I heard..you know... And I had to be at the funeral. Then time just got away...”

“I know. I heard. I’m so sorry- I know you loved him a lot.”
“Yeah...I did...I hate losing people.  I'll never get used to that, Lise.”

“Yeah- me too, believe me. Michael, I gotta see you.  There’s something I gotta tell you...”
“Lisa, I can’t fly out tonight.  I’m sorry.  Can’t you tell me over the phone?”

He sounded hesitant.  As if he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.  I couldn’t blame him, really. For all he knew, I was calling to tell him something he’d hate.  I caught that the reference to losing people did not only pertain to his friend. 

“Fly out?  Oh, I forgot: I’m here.  In Vegas. At the Bellagio.”

His turn to be quiet.  Again, the silence stirred all kinds of fears burning my soul.

“Wow- here?  Okay- I’ll be there. What room?”

Okay- I exhaled and sat down, barely able to suppress a smile.  Obviously he didn’t mean to waste time.

“Penthouse- Fountain View Suite”
“Nice! Okay- I got connections there. I can get smuggled in.  And Raymone can babysit and make herself useful for once.”

I sneered, hoping he ruined her evening plans. 
“How ‘bout I meet you and smuggle you in. Pretend not to be you, okay? I don’t feel like fighting off your entourage.”
“Oh really? And what do you feel like, Miss Presley?”

His playful tone gave me butterflies. Obviously, by now he had figured out that I did not plan to murder him all over again and dump his tattered heart into the fountains. 

“Talking to you.  Seeing you... Hugging you...”  
More confirmation.  I could almost feel him relax and smile.  

“Well, that certainly sounds good.”
“And hurry. I don’t wanna start another year without you.”
“Wow....That sounds even better.”

“Michael?”
“Yeah?”
“Hurry!” I broke out into laughter, being amazed at my sudden fearless inpatience. 

He giggled. “If you keep me on the phone I can’t hurry.” 
“It’s a cell phone, right?  So walk and talk, dude!”
“Aren’t we a tad bit bossy?”
“Sorry...just hurry, okay?”
“Lisa?”
“Yeah?”

“I love you.”
I held my breath and closed my eyes.  My heart flew apart toward him, then came back together. Healed. 

“Oh God- you don’t even know how much I love you more.”

Clutching the phone I seriously thought I was going to explode.  

“Going now so I can hurry.”

When we hung up, I think I kissed the phone.  Yes! It would finally be alright.  It was New Year’s Eve- and whatever we found out tonight, as long as we loved each other it would finally be okay.  

UPDATE 3/6/13 STARTS HERE

12

Michael hung up.  Stunned. Elated.  Wow!  He could not suppress that goofy grin.  There! All his freaking out and worrying had been for nothing.  Not only had she reached out, she was here. In Vegas- minutes from him.  For once his erratically beating heart was due to a good sort of freak-out.  Man! He closed his eyes, then was almost afraid to open them; scared it was all just another wishful nightmare.

“You didn’t really mean that, right?”

He almost jumped out of his skin.  Then reassessed the situation.

Okay, good. 

Not the reality check he would pick, but it would do.

Raymone.

Raymone was here. Raymone, who had answered his phone and who had been on the brink of hanging up on Lisa. Once again alarm bells went off. The lady had been way too controlling here lately- of course, while pretending to have only his very best interest at heart.  Maybe it was time to make some significant changes. 

“What was that about?” He kept his back to her and his voice even.  Of course, she should have noticed the air temperature dipped, but she was not all that perceptive. 

“Yeah, that’s what I would like to know....I know you must have been joking about me babysitting.”

Turning, he kept himself in perfect check.  Raymone had the gall to look annoyed.  

“Didn’t you say minutes ago that you were working tonight and would stay here.” 
Slowly he turned and faced her.

“I said,  we would bring the New Year in working, it seemed like.  Now it appears you have made some plans.”

“Yes- private plans.  On my private phone. Which you somehow happened to answer.  And then it seemed you lied to me about who was or wasn’t on the line.  Two things we need to talk about. But not tonight.”

Tonight he had totally different plans.  Plans involving hope.  Surprisingly.  Stunningly. There was a glimmer, no, a streak of light at the dark horizon of his future.  Despite all his careful safeguards to not expect a miracle, to, as a matter of fact, expect disappointment, he felt himself  falling prey to the dangerous siren call of the sweetest possibility: a life with Lisa in it.

“I didn’t lie. You had said earlier you didn’t want to talk to anyone.”

Okay, obviously, he had to deal with this first.  He sighed, and popped in a new piece of chewing gum. 

“What I said, was that I didn’t want to talk to my father who called non-stop.  I really fail to see how you translated that into I didn’t want to talk to Lisa...Miss Presley.”

The look in Raymone’s eyes as well as the slight, sneering twitching in her mouth did not escape him.

“Oh, it’s Lisa again, I see.  Oh, Michael...”

God give me strength to not knock that fake look of pity of her face.

Tension spread through his body and he clenched his jaw.  Keeping calm, he made sure the glint in his eyes and the sharp edge of the employed tone of voice could not possibly be misinterpreted.  

“My private life is not your concern.  Please remember that.  And since you are on my payroll tonight, please make sure the kids don’t eat any more sweets.”

Michael started to turn, considering the conversation finished.

“I’m not your nanny, Michael.”

Spinning back he stared at her, his eyebrow raised.  Oh, this was almost funny.  Raymone was on a suicide mission tonight.  Had he really been this much of a push-over?

“No, you’re my employee. A trusted employee.  Right?  Who wouldn’t possibly try to go behind my back and keep me isolated from people I love.”

Raymone blushed and bit her lip. 

Bingo! Yeah, sugar, the jig is up.

“Michael.  She’s no good for you. And she’s married.  I really don’t know what gets into you when it comes to this woman. Grace was right....”

“And Grace has not worked for me recently, correct? .” His voice cutting, making it clear he would not discuss this further, he turned one last final time to run upstairs.  This conversation had expired and he had no patience to deal with the Bain in the ass now.  Ha! He smirked to himself.  Still, should he really leave his three with her, knowing he just ticked her off?  No, bad idea.  

“Actually, you know what?  My brother called earlier and offered for the kids to come over to stay with him if I had plans.  I think I’ll call him back and then have him swing by here to get them.  So- there. You are not needed anymore, after all. Happy New Year!”

Had he not been buzzing from wanting to get over to Lisa’s as fast as possibly, he might have wasted a couple of seconds to giggle internally at Raymone’s open mouth.  Take that!  That should remind her who was the boss here and who was payed to be around.

Jackie was excited to hear back from him and even offered to have the kids picked up.  Talking to his three, it was nice to see they also were onboard  with the change of plans, and immediately got their overnight bags ready.

“Daddy, are you sure you’re okay by yourself?  I don’t want you to be sad.”  Hugging his leg, Paris looked up at him.

He assured her, he would be perfectly fine, thinking that if things went well, he might not be lonely or sad anymore.  Oh Gosh- if only he had interpreted Lisa’s tone correctly.  

If only her presence in the States, and in this city meant she had made a choice.  The right choice.

No, stupid. Why else would she be here?  Away from her loving, slightly unlucky husband? 

Maybe he was with her... Maybe it was some sort of payback for the very uncomfortable encounter in Ireland.  He shuddered. God- what a shock that had been to find the man himself right there, having come to rescue his wife...A wife who needed no assistance  at all.  And, as a matter of fact was  still glowing from making love.  And not to her current legally wed man.  But to the man she was meant to be with.  

Michael sighed.

No- Lisa wouldn’t do that.  She had seemed torn- between her guilt- and her love for him, Michael.  Expressing how she felt about him, letting him know she didn’t want their strange exile to end...  Crying with tears that dissolved any resilient anger and tore his heart out with its honesty.  No, she had been clear.  And with Lockwood obviously being very much cued in that they had kept warm with their bodies, things were out in the open.  

After they had parted ways, Michael had meant to call Lisa right away to check in on her, wanting nothing more than to make sure she was okay.  He had been anxious and worried to leave her like that.  Without his protection. He felt like a punk letting his woman go like this.  Michael had to reign in his paranoia and do a reality check:

Her husband, Lockwood, while looking like a doofus, seemed to be an okay guy.  Lisa obviously cared for him and had felt safe and secure.  Maybe it wasn’t right to ask her to leave it all again.  But shoot, it was time to think about what he needed.  What Lisa needed as well, obviously.  How solid could this marriage be if Lisa, at the first sight of a snow-flake and a splendid hotel-room tripped and fell on his penis?  Okay, so maybe there was more than one snowflake and the hotel was slightly less than splendid.  But trip and fall she did- over and over again.  

Dang! His groin tightened at the thought of those two crazy days.  And then- having to leave in a rush after finding out his dear friend, his inspiration, had passed away.  Emotions were all over the place.  Sadness and loss triggered all kinds of other emotions he had shut away for fears of being buried.  Everything was such a whirlwind.  Searching for a stable point to orient himself by it always came back to her image.  What he didn’t know was wether she was simple the feverish mirage produced by wishful thinking or the steadfast sentinel he could follow out of the dark. 

Either way, it didn’t seem to matter.  Logistics got in the way when he  had realized he didn’t have Lisa’s number- and he was not sure she had his new US number.  What he did know was that Lisa had mad skills in tracking him down.  Using his family, usually. The fact that she seemed to be closer to them than he was, despite their repeated separations, had been both annoying and convenient.  So- he had made sure Lisa could find him if she was so inclined.  

If... The word kept ringing in his ears in a permanent case of tinnitus. 

The agony of the wait almost had killed him.  Had it really only been a week?  It certainly felt more like an eternity.  Could he trust her to come through? Would she trust him? Herself?  Her feelings?  Yes, he had asked her to trust them.  Trust in their love and that they could make it. Despite his most horrific fears and insecurities he had reached out. He couldn’t understand why, but he felt this was the time to make another move. A move involving more than his pelvis.  And that this time, she might not run scared.  Yes, he was afraid to be hurt- but hey, he had learned that the big things in life had to be crafted carefully and pursued with rigor.  Things didn’t simply happen: he would make damn sure he set everything in place to make them happen.  True, the last time he had grasped for her in the dark she had vanished like a an evil genie. Had left him feeling skinned alive.  And now the new armor had just started to regrow.  Could he risk it again?  Or would the final infection of the reality that while she was “it” for him, he was nothing but a memory in the scrapbook of her life, be the last straw?

A shiver went trough him.  Taking a deep breath, he straightened.

No!

This time was different.  They would not be on the phone.  He’d  have her in front of him.  She’d have to face him.  Eye to eye.  Heart to heart.  Last time, he had messed up by dropping everything on her long distance.  He should have gone over to see her.  Should have made her witness his pain.  She would have seen, would have comprehended: His love, his,  the thread his life hung by,  the knowledge that he had to change- that the metamorphoses had already started. She could have read it all in his eyes.  And when she turned him down, when she hurled her spear of indifference, he could have judged her sincerity first hand.  Lisa was an open book to him.  She was perfect at spewing the most ridiculous lies- but her eyes always told him the real story.  He could have called her out on her bullshit.  Would she have turned him down, if he lowered his guard?  If he allowed her to see what was in his heart and his soul. Would she have had the the strength to push him away then?  Maybe, maybe not.  Who knew.  But this time he’d have no regrets and there wouldn’t be any unanswered ‘what if’s.’ 

They’d come full circle.  To the place where beginnings and endings came to shake hands. Everything would be clear.

As clear as her call now.  A gift from heaven to the soul that was almost ready to turn away from the glimmer of the remnant ember and march into the desert of pure ice and darkness.  Just when he started to doubt her- or started to doubt himself and his power over her, she had called.  Sounding more than thrilled.  Bossing him around to hurry.  Warmth infused him and made his hands and feet tingly.  And that silly smile appeared once again.  Oh yeah.  His girl was in town. And he had it bad.

Waiting on pins and needles for the kids to be picked up, he raced upstairs as soon as they were gone, and reached for a grey jacket.  Nearly tripping over himself, he got ready to leave his room, then stopped suddenly.

Hm....Should he change out of his jeans and white t-shirt?  Almost automatically, he touched his chin.  Shoot...a shave probably wouldn’t hurt, either. 

No, that would take time.  He had wasted enough of that precious resource.  And didn’t Lisa say something about loving the stubble?

Grabbing his keys, his phone rang again.

“Are you standing me up?”

He smiled.  Someone seemed to suffer from incurable impatience almost worse than him.

“I’m sorry. Who is this? Whoever it is, I am meeting this stunning woman, and I can’t drive and talk, so please don’t distract me.” 

Security already had given him the green light that there didn’t seem to be any mass gatherings of fans outside.  He had given everyone off and didn’t meet too much resistance after the token question if he was sure he wanted to drive himself.  Michael got into his car and started to back out.

“You are driving?”

Did she have to sound so totally incredulous? This was not the worst idea he had all year! That cake had been taken by letting her go without much of a fight.  He actually made it out into the road, and it didn't’ seem as if anyone was following. Probably because he had perfected sneaking out and used his smaller car that staff normally utilized to get around. 

“I seem to have misplaced my helicopter, so yeah, I’m driving.”
“I mean...why don’t you just take a cab or something...”
“So I don’t read about myself doing God knows what weird thing in a cab tomorrow.”

Lisa giggled.  “Okay...but the parking is not cheap here.”

For a girl who inherited a fortune she always agonized about prices. It made him smile.  She was such a nut! 

“I think I can scrape the change together.”
“You never carry money, remember?”
“I could ask your husband to pay again.”

Ouch- maybe it was too soon for that, but it slipped out.  

A small pause.
“Not funny, Michael!”

Yes, it was.  Now- in retrospect.

“Sorry.  He’s not there, is he?”
Better to grab that bull by the horns he had placed on the man’s head and ensure he was not present.  Husbands could be so totally superfluous in certain situations.  

“Who?”
“Your husband.”

“What? Why? You wanna bring the new year in with him? I’m hurt.”
“I did hear he knows the most amazing guitar jams.”

“I’m still not laughing.”

“That’s because you have no sense of humor.”

“It’s not funny, Michael.  Just hurry, okay?”

Okay. Guess it was too soon to joke about that.  Come to think of it, Lisa never had appreciated his amazing cracks at her men menagerie. Hey- he had to keep his sanity somehow- and his sick sense of humor helped immensely.  Her urgent, almost pleading tone also lifted his spirits immensely. 

“Where’s the fire?”
“I’ll show you when you get here.”

His foot stepped on the gas and he almost ran a red light. Horns blared at him.  Man! Traffic was a real b... bad situation today.  He better watch out- it would not do to die this close to the finish line.

“What was that?” She sounded worried.  She probably had a similar thought.  
“What?”
“The horns...  Please be careful! - How close are you?”
“I see the Bellagio from here. Close. Hey- don’t worry about meeting me, I got it covered.”
“Okay...see you in a few, then.”
“You sure will.  - Lisa?”
Did he imagine it or was she holding her breath.

“Yeah?”  Her voice faltered. 

Girl... Don’t you know by now?  

Well, just in case he’d re-enforce things for her. 
“I love you.”

This time he was sure he heard her exhale. 
“I love you, too- Way too much. Please don’t kill anyone -or yourself!”  Her last sarcastic comment let her infuse her voice with some strength again.

Rolling his eyes, he realized he had to work on her ability to have a little faith. 

“I kinda got plans for you.” Her voice got even lower than normal.  

Okay- that  added comment made up for her lack of faith.  

Michael made another call to his connection inside the Bellagio and arranged for both the parking and for someone to meet him and enter the code to get to Lisa’s suite.  Perfect! Checking his watch, he grinned through the butterflies inside his belly. Almost there! At the verge of all his dreams coming true! 

Everything went surprisingly smoothly, and before he knew it he was in front of the penthouse suite.  Before his raised hand connected with the door, it was opened by the very woman who after all this years still managed to totally take his breath away.  

For a second, they stared at each other as if it had been years and not a mere week.  Lisa wore jeans and a black shirt, her hair open, her make-up very light. She looked good enough to eat. 

“Hey...” All elaborate expressions were blown away by the sudden impact of the realization that she was really here. Right before him.  And this was not a dream.  He hoped, anyway.  If so, he’d just stay asleep.  If needed, forever.

Leaning against the door frame, she looked at him in that way that always drove him crazy- making it seem as if she was shyly regarding him from below lowered lashes. “Took you long enough.”
So much for the shy act. 

“I got a delivery for a Miss Presley.”
“Yeah?” Her lips formed that little smirk he would die for. 
“Yeah.” He pulled out the sunflower he had arranged for.  Took a bit to find it in the middle of winter, too.  

Lisa’s face became illuminated by a smile more brilliant than any spectacle of nature he could have been witness to. A fitting reward for his effort, indeed.

“Wow... How d’you manage that?”  

Girl, I’d move heaven and hell for you.  How do you not understand that?

“I tell you, if you let me come in...” His voice dipped lower.
She blushed. “Oh, sure, sorry... Come on in.  Please...”

Lisa stepped to the side, and he entered the suite.  Michael looked around, taking in the beauty of the suite. 

“Nice. Nothing like this other place I recently had the privilege of staying in.”

The reward for his wit was a husky laughter.  “Yeah, my thoughts exactly.”

“And yet...” He let the flower touch her cheek, “it had its benefits.”  He held the flower out to her.

Another blush before she took the gift with the care bestowed upon the most delicate treasure.  She touched the pedals in an almost reverent manner.  Oh yes, she was well aware of the significance: the symbol of their love.  A symbol for never failing hope.  For unwavering faith. 

Once, he had shared with Lisa the story from greek mythology: The water-nymph Clytie had turned into a sunflower after grieving the loss of her love, the sun-god Apollo. As a sunflower, she always is turning toward the sun, waiting for Apollo’s chariot to return, so she might be reunited with her love.  Lisa had cried, and snuggled against him, saying she hoped they’d never be torn apart, as she would wait beyond this lifetime to be reunited with him. Luckily, that feat might - against all the odds- be accomplished before then.

“Let me find a vase real quick- or something that can double for one.”

Michael followed Lisa inside.  She found a tall glass in the bar area and held it up triumphantly.  
“There.”  With much care, she placed the flower on a central table in the living area of the suite.  

Walking behind her, he had not been able to ignore her round little behind in her jeans.  She stopped to put the flower up- and so did he; with his eyes still glued to her glutes. That bootie looked so good! Suddenly all his thoughts were distracted from ethereal symbols and tragic stories.  Damn! He knew he had missed her, but he had not realized how much his body had longed for her as well.  Just a couple of glances and he felt the familiar tightening in his own jeans.  Crazy how some things never changed around her.  And checking her out always got him sprung like no tomorrow.

Michael stepped up even closer.  Lisa seemed mesmerized by the flower, seemingly lost in deep thought.  When she finally turned, she appeared startled to find him in such proximity.  Startled, but not displeased.  Her eye-brow rose and she didn’t retreat.  No more silly escapes.  

For a frozen moment, they stared at each other.  Shaken, he still could not fully comprehend she was right here.  In the same room.  With him.  It seemed so incredibly unreal.  Surreal, almost.  Maybe if he touched her...

“Lisa...,” he started.  His voice was coated with emotions.  Too much to say.  Not enough words in all the languages of the universe to express what was in his heart.

Her eyes deep and blue, she raised her hand, cradling his face. There it was.  She knew.  She understood. And the feel of her hand brought it home. This was really happening. 

“You really came...” Her voice told of her own astonishment and wonder.  

Reaching up, he took her hand, captured her wrist, and placed a kiss on her palm. “No, you really came...”

Another long moment when only their eyes conveyed the story of their emotions.  A symphony beyond syllables or notes. 

Lisa blinked, and reached out with her free hand, grabbing his jacket, pulling him into her in a sudden startling movement.  At the same time, he reached for her, pulling her into him. The tension snapped, and they bounded into each other.  Oh yeah, words were way over rated.  He had to prove to himself some more that she was indeed right here before him.  

Their lips collided.  Heat...frozen nitrogen...fusion.... Shockwaves spread from the sweet epicenter through his body, warming every cell, infusing him with the most incredible energy.  It had been such a long, horrific week. From having to leave her to grieving the loss of one of his greatest inspirations, to wondering if she would come through this time.  All culminating in this one perfect moment. 

The kiss was everything he could have wished for. It told of everything he could not express in mundane words or logical thoughts.  Questions were answered, a future started to take shape, past mistakes and hurt lost their power and faded against he startling sunrise of possibilities. 

“Michael...” She broke away to catch a breath.  He took the  chance to feast on the sweet skin of her neck.  His name was not a call to stop.  It was an expression of her wonder.  

“I missed you baby girl...” He found her earlobe and nipped at it, before sucking it into the hot cavern of his mouth, letting his tongue skim it like the most delicious candy. “So badly...”

“Oh God....you don’t even know how I miss you. Or what you do to me when I see you...holy shit...Michael...”  Her head fell back further, granting him more access yet.  Michael once again found her sweet lips and worshipped them with his kiss and his tongue. Lisa opened up further, and he took full advantage, stealing her breath as they brought each other back to life.

Michael felt hot and dizzy. He was faintly aware of his painfully engorged penis pressing against his jeans and thus Lisa.  Lisa’s hands that had been in his hair moved back to his shoulders, and at the periphery of the most intense passion he realized she had gripped his jacket again and was yanking it off his shoulders.  On total remote control, he helped her along, reveling in the tantalizing touch of her hot fingers on his arms as the jacket was removed rather quickly and thrown into the abyss around him.  The feeling of having her mouth on him, her tongue dueling with his, her lips speaking without words had him at the edge of their very own universe.  They only existed where they touched and where their boundaries became obliterated by heat and fusion.  Everything around them was unimportant to the point of abeyance.  Twin stars being reborn in their very own nebula of sparkling stardust and blinding, pure light.

Sure, his every intent had been to talk about what her presence meant.  To figure out what she had decided.  However, the way she clung to him with a determination to not allow any redundant air or light molecules as well as the way she surrendered and returned his kisses, made things pretty much obvious.  No use over-thinking things now. Not when every nerve axon was supercharged.  God, he knew he had missed her - body and soul- and but that ancient, ever-present chemistry once again did a number on him. 

Still- damn- was it really appropriate to just rip her clothes off and throw her down on the no doubt exquisite carpet?  Well- there were also some walls, a sofa, an oversized chair with a huge ottoman, and a desk, as well as a table, and several other surfaces.  Had Michael had any braincells left that were not taken over by physical need, he would have giggled at his quick observational skills. 

Lisa broke away, gasping for air, her face flushed, her eyes glossy and high.  Breathing hard himself, he reached out, needing to touch some part of her, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.  His yes roamed over her- noticing the very impressive outline of her puckered nipples through her thin shirt.  Damn.  How did his dick just got harder?  How was that even possible?

Lisa reached out and touched his unshaven cheek again.  He noticed red marks on her neck, cheeks, and lips, where he had scraped her.  Wasn’t it funny how with her things could be hot and heavy and still sweet, tentative, almost hesitant at times. 

“Sorry..,” he panted, “Didn’t take time to shave...”

She looked up, the wicked blue glint of her eyes shining through her dark lashes.   A playful smirk danced on those amazing, pouty, swollen lips.  His chest tightened.  As did his pants.  
Shoot...

Man, not his fault his whole body knew those lips very intimately. And certainly the muscle memory in his lower, currently very active, region knew what the pillowy, wet, heaven worshiping him felt like.

“Yeah- you did that on purpose. You know I can’t resist you like this.”
The smile relaxed his face. “Yeah?”
“As if you don’t damn well know.”

Well, okay- so maybe he’d had a hint.  Plus, he knew it always drove him nuts to see her marked her... His woman.  His girl. The lady in his life, indeed. 

“Lisa...”
“Michael...”

Smiling at their little chorus, he bent forward and stole another butterfly kiss.  Or two.  Possibly three. Lisa closed her eyes and sighed, stepping in closer.  He lowered his head and they leaned against each other- their foreheads meeting.  Michael shut his own eyes, taking a moment to inhale her sweet breath.  Too often vision was such a detractor.  Shut it out and it was amazing how the palette of emotional colors expanded.

“Lisa...should we...” 

Breaking off the whisper, he had no clue how that sentence had been planned. 
Should they.... talk? Make love? Have tea...what?  

His penis jerked- voting for option two.

Lisa’s eyes flew open.  She bit her luscious bottom lip.  Gosh, he simply could not wait to do the same. And to feel her heavenly mouth on his body.  All over his body...

“Yeah, we should..”  Grabbing his shirt, she pushed him against the closest wall.

Wow.  Okay. Guess she was pretty certain on how she wanted the question to end. Hey- her interpretation worked for him.  

Lisa’s hot hands made their journey under his t-shirt.  As soon as she made contact with his back, he felt like jumping out of his skin. Flames licked the ice shell he had built so carefully.  Every touch, every stroke resulted in a crack.  But instead of blood and pain, soothing salve seemed to coat his very soul, making him shiny and new once again.

Seeing if he could return the favor, he imitated her move, delighting in the silky heat of her skin, following a trail of goosebumps up her back, to her shoulders, then down to her ribcage, holding the tiny span of her body.  Sliding his hands forward, he found the swell of her breast, and his thumbs followed the sexy curve of the perky treasures.  Lisa arched forward, her lower body shifting, pressing against his painful bulge, lifting herself up on her toes to provide added torture.   At the same time, she moaned against him, her tongue drawing circles on his neck before her hot little mouth found that hollow on the base of his throat. The  very spot she loved to lick and suck on- driving him to absolute distraction.  

Yeah, talking was pretty much out at this point.  He was just about convinced she would not inform him she’d flown to Vegas to tell him in person she wanted Lockwood.  In another lifetime he would have taken that very much for granted.  Would have known she’d chose him.  As she over and over had done.  Now- his ego bruised and tattered, he sent another quick prayer of gratitude into the universe.  She was here.  She was all over him. And her eyes spoke of emotions more than pure lust.  In his mind he had not been the clear choice this time- but it seemed Lisa had made up her mind of who she wanted to be with.

And it was scary to think how much he loved her.  How much he had to have her.  Now.  

Finding the rigid pebbles of her nipples, he surrounded the hardened peaks, and Lisa sighed against him, moaning his name.  Well, someone either had travelled without a bra or had been pretty convinced it would not be needed tonight.  The thought thrilled and excited him further. Feeling at the very verge of exploding, he hoped he would not either go up in flames or cum like a little boy in his pants.  With the latter being a definite possibility the way he felt right now. Lisa seemed to be possessed by her own sense of urgency as she quickly pulled her shirt off.

Swallowing hard, Michael stared at her. His throat both bone dry as took in the sight of his own hands on her beautiful tits.  Lisa shook her hair and leaned back slightly, making his next move to bend forward and take one breast into his mouth the most logical thing to do.  Sucking on her hard, he loved the look of total abandon on her face as she called out his name. He pulled back, then his tongue laved her glistening tip, surrounding and teasing.

“Michael...oh..god...” Lisa whimpered, her eyes opening slightly, her eyelids already swollen from lust and passion. 

Laughing hoarsely, he switched over to her other breast, switching up the first hard pull with tender licks and strokes, while his finger plucked the other, now wet and slippery nipple.  Continuing her sighs and little noises, Lisa pressed her chest into him, granting him full access, while her now shaking, impatient fingers played at the waistband of his pants, starting her teasing caress at the back and coming around to his front.  As one hand aggressively grabbed and held him, massaged him, he almost held his breath while the other skillfully undid the button  and then slowly pulled down the zipper.

Michael could not suppress his own moan while he now switched from the soft strokes to harder suckling, feeling her nipple elongate on his tongue, pressing it against the roof of his mouth, rolling it.

“Damn..oh damn...”  Her voice was deep and dark; urging him on. Oh yeah, he knew full well she needed it harder, craved his bites by now.  And he also knew how to draw out her pleasure.  Watching her skin flush his mouth now watered imagining her no doubt dripping pussy.  

Lisa changed the angle of her hand, finding his straining erection.

“Fucking hell, Lisa...careful...” 

She grabbed his loaded weapon and he knew it was just about to go off. Girlfriend better watch where she pointed that thing.  

“Damn, you are so fucking hard, Michael.  This must hurt...hurt like my tits when you play with them like that...” 

Looking up at her, he switched it up once again, this time holding the perky little breast up, enjoying her hold her breath, watching her swallow hard.  Her hand tightened, and he shivered as she started to stroke him ever so slowly, as she pulled his painful cock out from his pants.  Michael looked down, the site of his pulsing erection in her tiny hands enough to make the blood thunder in his ears. 

“What, you like that?”  He bent forward and licked hard, his tongue being rougher now.

The pressure of her little hand tightened and he was damn glad that wall was still behind him. 
“You like that?”  She gave his throbbing cock a little yank.

“Hey- watch out! Don’t rip it out.  You’re being rough!”  Secretly, he hoped she wouldn’t ease up, he liked how aggressive she was tonight. 

“And you’re not rough enough...”  Her other hot hand somehow managed to wiggle inside the pants as she pushed them and the underwear down a bit, grabbing hold of his tight balls.

In retaliation, or as a reward, he bent and bit down on her hard and erect peak, pinching and rolling the other nipple, delighting in her little cry.  Switching it up in the name of fairness and equality he supplied little bites to her other boob before licking over both dark, rosy, elongated tips.

“Better?”
Having observed the expression of total abandon on her features, her face flushed, her breathing erratic, almost made him loose his load in her hand.  He noticed precum was escaping in a steady dribble, and Lisa used it to cleverly lubricate the straining, swollen head, running her thumb over it every time her hand arrived at the top of his dick.

Her eyes locked to his, her hand gave a sharp twisting motion that almost made him cry out with intense passion.  Then, before he knew what was happening, she pushed against him once more, her mouth attacking him in an open, wet, lustful kiss, while her hands grabbed his shirt.

“Lise- careful, you’re gonna...”

The sound of the ripping fabric ended his sentence and he stared at her, starting to laugh.

“Rip it?  Oops?”  She looked not the least bit sorry.  Even though he had to give her little effort at an innocent batting of the eyes a passing grade. 

“Woman! You’re in a hurry or something?”

Kissing him once more, her lips got busy kissing down his neck, licking along his collar bone, then kissing his chest, finding his nipples, repaying him for the favor he had just bestowed on her.

“Yeah..” Her tongue surrounded his nipple and he took in a sharp breath. “Or something...” Her lips closed around the sensitive tip and he held his breath, knowing what was to come.  When her teeth came down, the sensation went straight to his lower region.  He could not help it. He had to grab himself.  Shit.... He could not remember the last time he’d been this painfully hard. Oh wait....a week ago. In Ireland when nailing her on a bed that was a tad bit harder than the wall he had him against now.  

The heat of her mouth was counteracted by the icy sensation when she pulled away, blowing on him, smiling evilly when he shivered, before she hungrily went to town on the other side of his chest.

At the same time, she pushed his pants down, taking a small detour when her hand covered his.
“I love when I feel you touch yourself.” She looked down, then back up, licking her lips.  “Your big, beautiful hands on that swollen cock are enough to get a girl weak in the knees.”

Michael could not help but grab her head, tempted by those swollen lips, kissing her, while Lisa finally dropped his jeans.  In a rush, he kicked off his shoes and stepped out of his pants.

“Are they enough to charm her pants off her?” he asked with a low whisper.
“Oh yeah....you got no idea how I wanna be out of them damn pants..” Lisa murmured before returning to being kissed.  Both sets of hands met at her pants, and it was almost comical how he was trembling so hard he had difficulty getting them open.  

“There..wait...”  Lisa quickly accomplished the feat and stepped out of her jeans quickly, kicking her shoes across the room, leaving her even smaller against him.

Michael stared at the little red number she decided to leave on.  What was that about? 

“You forgot something....” His finger traced down from her sternum to her panty line.  It was too cool how her nipples hardened even more without him touching them.  A little tremor shook Lisa as his finger gently went along the silken outside, then ventured between those amazing thighs.  

“Do I have to do everything tonight?”  She tossed her hair and huffed at him.

Michael couldn’t help but laugh at her little pout.

“Oh, don’t worry...I’ll do all the heavy lifting in a minute.”  

Bingo- he arrived at the drenched material between her legs.  Damn! He had been pretty sure her little pussy would be weeping, but she felt as if she was just about to drip out.  Michael caressed the damp cloth back and forward, feeling the outline of her swollen lips and Lisa’s head fell against him, her lips immediately starting to kiss his chest, while her one hand found his cock once again.  Her other hand snaked between them, covering his own, her fingers interlacing with his, guiding him, pushing him to explore inside the final barrier. 

“I’m not heavy...”  

Oh shit, no- but she sure knew how to grab his dick...man! 

When he found the moisture coating her outing petals, he needed no further urging to explore further.  Using her juices rub alongside the length of her slip, Lisa meowed like a little cat, rubbing him, then kissing and sucking on his neck.

Okay, that did it.  She was not the only one in a hurry.  “No, you’re not heavy. But you’re wet as can be, baby girl.  Did you miss me?”

“That doesn’t even begin to describe it. Make love to me, now, before I...oh shit...”  His finger entering her tight canal obviously took her ability to finish.  Didn’t matter much- as the way she felt, he knew she’d finish in a totally different way any second now. 

Her internal muscles grabbed him, and his dick engorged, wanting - no needing- nothing more than to be inside her.  Now.

Lisa seemed to have a similar thought and pushed her panty down, then reached up to grab his head, pulling him down to her mouth, kissing him hard.
Pumping her a time or two, he could feel how close she was to flying apart.  Staying away from her no doubt ultra sensitive clit on purpose, he rubbed her once more, greedily feasting on her moans.  Michael withdrew his hand and Lisa made a cute little protesting sound.  

“What? I gotta stop for a minute so I can do this....” Picking her up by her waist, Lisa immediately was on board with the plan.  Her legs locked against him and she clung to him.

“Oh, okay...Damn- I need you.  I want you so much. For now. And forever. I love you, Michael.”
“OH yeah...I love you too...so much...”  

In the ultra aroused stated he was in, he didn’t even need to guide his penis to her hot little pussy. It was right there, at her soaking, clenching opening.  Lisa reached down and held him still, rubbing herself with the head of his cock, moving her hips in a way that indicated she indeed wanted him inside her body asap.

“Lise...you want me to use something. This time I actually came prepared...”
Lisa stilled.  Something changed in her eyes- but before he could think about it it was gone. 

“Oh- pretty sure of yourself, hm?”  Bending her head, she bit his shoulder.  
“Ouch!- Well, it’s Vegas- I thought I’d take a gamble...,” he half joked 

Lisa wiggled, obviously trying her best to get him where she needed him. Where he wanted to be.  Holding her still was torturous- but he wanted to make sure there were no more rushed and hurried encounters.  Everything from now on had to happen in a planful, fully conscious way.  If one could be called conscious when all blood was in a huge, throbbing erection.

“Lisa...yes or no...I’m about to go blind from blood loss.”
She turned serious for a second and kissed him sweetly. “No, Michael. I don’t want you to use anything.”  Just as suddenly, that playful light returned.  “Anything but that huge, throbbing, hard...”

The control snapped and he entered her in one hard, swift thrust.  Lisa threw her head back and he thought the pleasure racing form his penis to his brain and back down to the base of his spine would make him fall to the ground.  

“Fuck, fuck, fuck.....” Lisa bit her lip as she clung to him.
“Oh yeah, baby girl...that’s what I’m about to do...hard...”

It occurred to him that fucking her against a wall might be slightly dangerous at this point.  He didn’t want to slam her against the hard surface and bruise her up, but he also knew he couldn't go slow.  

He craved the leverage- needed to express all the pent up anxiety and frustration of the past week in the movements of his body.  

Glancing up, he spotted a little desk across the room, and, holding her tightly, his penis solidly encased in her pulsing, scorching warmth, he took a couple of long strides to get over, each movement causing Lisa to cry out as she shivered against him.  Hopefully, she didn’t have anything too important there, as one sweeping motion of his arm cleared all items off the shiny surface, sending them flying.  

“Mike!” Lisa squealed, the shout making her internal muscles tighten even more, causing him to gasp, even as he lowered her very gently. Thankfully, the table was just the right hight so he could do it all without making himself leave her hot sheath. 

“Hold on Princess, the ride is about to take off. Hope you got your buckled up.”

Lisa’s legs came from around his waist and her feet came to rest on the edge of the table.  Michael glanced down between them, drunk from feeling her, smelling her, and now seeing her open to him.  His mouth watered. Maybe he should eat that delicious fruit first... 

“No need to buckle up- I ain’t afraid of falling.  I know you got me.”  Pulling him down for another crazy kiss as her ass gyrated under him, now having better leverage, she reclined, bracing herself.  

Okay, no, no way could he pull out right now.  Not when she gripped him so tightly.  

“I got you alright..” Holding back any longer became impossible. Michael reached for her, grabbing her so her ass was cradled in his hands.  Pulling back, watching in almost reverent fascination as his proud, hard, wet cock pulled back, causing Lisa’s juices to drip out onto her swollen flower, he marveled at her firm calfs, her sexy thighs, her wet pussy lips, and her stretched opening.  As the week before, Lisa was smooth and shaven down there, making it real easy to watch what he was doing, providing an extra level of stimulation.  Massaging her round ass, holding her in place, his hands spread her even more. His fingers also came into play and he opened her up to him fully, exposing her swollen, glistening clit to his gaze and the air.
Lisa’s eyes closed as he pulled back with that initial lazy drag, then she bit her lips, emitting a guttural sound. 

For a second Michael halted, keeping the extremely swollen and sensitive top of his cock just inside her, knowing it stretched her more, taxing and massaging the reactive area right inside her sweet opening.  

“Michael...please....oh gosh...baby....I need, I need....”  Her panting indicated she was starving.  As was he. And yet, it was too beautiful to watch her skin start to sparkle and flush all over.  

Lisa’s hand was now free to roam over her body and she grabbed her tit, squeezing it, then pulling her nipple.  At the same time, she looked up at him.  Her eyes were a dark, mysterious pond being ready to be graced by a dance of nymphs in the floating moonlight.

“Oh yeah, I know...I know...” Finally, he surged forward and they both cried out, Lisa’s head falling back while her fingers went on to play at her other breast.  Damn... She was so sexy, taking her pleasure while moving against him, being able to buck up, working his dick with her internal muscles, making him feel as if he was hooked to some sort of ultimate electric power source while standing in a pool of water.

Biting his lip, Michael started fucking her hard, not being able to hold back.  On every reconnection he made sure to switch the angle of his hips, hitting her clit while also hitting all her internal pleasure zones.  Lisa moaned and sighed, calling his name and urging him on to give it to her.  And so he did.  Hard.  Steady.  Full out force.  His legs started to burn with the effort, and he felt little streams of sweat tickle his face and chest.  

“Oh fuck...so good...so damn good....please...” Lisa whimpered, holding steady, rounding her hips.  Her features reflected abandon and he knew he was hurting her in all the right ways.  Lisa bit her lip while her moans continued.  Michael licked his lips and tasted the same pearls of sweat decorating Lisa. Once again he looked down, his cock swelling to the point of pain as he witnessed her sweet honey dripping down to her little puckered hole.  Still holding her open, lifting her lower body completed off the table he inched one hand forward and used his thumb to spread her juices, using them to rim her down there. Lisa’s eyes flew open and her mouth formed an “ohhhhh” that   reflected both her surprise and her pleasure.

“That’s right...you like that, don’t you....I got you babygirl.  I know all your little secrets...”

“Oh yeah...?” Lisa returned his little smirk. Man, she looked so damn adorable.  Sweaty, flushed, her nipples high and hard, her lips glistening, her abs tight... And that spark in her eyes caused by so much more than intense physical pleasure: he saw love- founded by a shared history and trust. As always, their love making was intense because it transgressed anything physical.  Oh, he knew how to please her and how to use his body to make hers sing- and Lisa’s physical attributes certainly kept him hooked.  But he was well aware that without that crazy connection of their hearts he would never be able to reach the plane of satisfaction that absolutely freed him from any restraint.  Nothing was tabu, nothing dirty or depraved.  Making love was simply a trip to the temples that housed their hearts and souls.

Lisa sat up and the movement squeezed him from the outside.  Shit! It felt as if his dick was pushed and squeezed at the same time.  His balls were high and loaded.  Lisa reached between them, her fingers squeezing his penis as he withdrew, tracing the underside gentle, then going around and fondling and squeezing his balls.  

“Fuck....oh girl...” He froze for a moment, enjoying her touch, afraid to move.  For a brief second it occurred to him that his ejaculation might just launch Lisa off the little table.  The spiral of velvet fire swirled in his belly and started to send canon balls down lower.

“Yeah...I know what you like, too...”
“Touch yourself Lisa.  I want you to rub your clit.  Look how swollen it is...” It looked like a delicious little morsel.  One he longed to suck on, to rub, to surround with his tongue.  Just imagining the intimate act made him shiver.  

Once again her fingers touched his cock as he thrust back into her gripping heat.  Feeling her insides flutter as her temperature increased, he knew she was close. Lisa glanced down- spreading her pussy lips for a better view.  

“I don’t think I need to....I’m so damn close...I feel it coming...oh fuck...”

“Do it- touch yourself. Now.” 

She bit her lip, and did as she was ordered and he became hypnotized by her little fingers touching the swollen folds, then spreading her moisture over the swollen nub.  Her muscles tightened more.  Michael’s fingers joined hers and before he had a chance to rub over her distended bundle of nerves, her whimpering turned to cries and she started to convulse under him.

Pressing his lips together he closed his eyes for a second as Lisa wildly bucked against him, feeling like liquid, molten light, pulling him in further.  She screamed his name as her upper body fell back and her hands gripped the table edge.  Fascinated, he watched her abs contract, being able to witness her intensive orgasm inside and out.  Michael held still for a moment, and Lisa continued to glide along him, her hip pressed into his.  His choice was to either join her or to fuck her through this magnificent display.  Oh, he was so close to pure heaven, but he was also still afraid to pass out from his own eruption.  So why not see where this could go?

“Oh fucking hell....shit...” Lisa’s eyes opened slightly and he felt her glutes relax in his hands. He knew her so well.  She always got ready to launch off by taking this deep, relaxing breath before all hell broke loose.  Time to get busy.  Carefully he pulled back and she froze and trembled.  Surprised, she looked up again.  

“What..why are you stopping...? How beautiful his breathless, confused little girl was.

“Cause...”  Against every urge in his body, he held perfectly still, counting down to make sure he backed her off that impending orgasm just enough. 

“Michael...” she whined, wiggling her hips, which he held still as he carefully pulled back.  THis was so hard.  His jaw was set and he just about grinded his teeth. But it would be so worth it. 
“Don’t...don’t you dare...”  Her inner muscles gripped him in protest.
“Trust me...” He pulled out and shivered.

Lisa sat up, and he placed one hand on her abs, holding her back. “Lean back and open up.”

Understanding hit.  Her eyes were hot enough to melt glass.  And she complied like the good girl she could be. Especially when ridden by lust.

Fascinated, he watched the display.  Lisa reclined.  Her thighs before him, splayed wide open.  Her hands went from tweaking her nipples to reaching between her legs, spreading her slippery folds.  

Michael swallowed, grabbing a hold of his cock.  Which was still nice and lubricated by the same honey dripping down her from her slit.  

“Wider.”
“What you wanna do, Mike?”  Her voice was deep and dark- her tone belying her innocent question.

His hand pumped himself and Lisa’s blush intensified as her eyes were locked to his hand.  She lifted her legs back up and braced her feet on the table’s edge once more as she reclined a bit further.  

“I wanna suck on that swollen candy you got down there.”

Lisa used her wet fingers to spread herself, revealing the distended nubbin.

“That?”

Kneeling, he grabbed her and pulled her even closer to the edge.  Lisa sat up and watched with hot eyes as he placed his hands on her inner thighs, his thumps rimming her pillowy folds.  God! She was so swollen, so wet... He adored the beauty of her sex.  The spicy smell of her desire.  His tongue darted forward, lapping at her greedily.

“Michael...oh baby...” Her breathless sigh was a great reward.

Cleaning off her dripping honey, he gave her pussy several long licks: from the sensitive area just below her opening up her slit, and around her clit,swirling around it without actually hitting it.  Lisa trembled and moaned, but managed to keep her eyes on him.  Her fingers still held herself open and he noticed her muscles trembling as more juices flowed. 

His tongue once again supplied several licks, only this time he applied more pressure.  Arriving at the apex, he licked the little cherry, first using the tip of his tongue, then the rough surface, before closing his lips over it, sucking it into his mouth as he had done with her nipples before. His thumbs kept her opening teased and caressed, before he entered her with two fingers. Lisa moved against him frantically, having started to scream: first in little breathless whimpers, then with ever increasing volume and pitch

“Michael- of shit, shit...SHIT!!!!” 

He knew he was taxing her to the max, keeping her open while massaging and sucking her clit without mercy. 

He felt her inner walls tighten and contract, felt the heat increase, felt her clit swell more as he didn’t ease up- and Lisa came apart screaming and convulsing.  One hand held her in place so she wouldn’t come off the table, while the other kept fingering her now tight hole.

He stopped his sucking movements as he drank her essence, now allowing the movement of her hips against his tongue to adjust the pressure she needed.

“That’s my baby...you cum for me... Oh yeah...” 

While she was still going, he got up, leaning over, kissing her, knowing she loved to clean herself off.  Grabbing himself once more, he didn’t give her a second before he surged into her and felt her body freeze before she clamped down.  

“Dammit..your tight little cunt is on fire baby...fuck...oh shit...”

“Oh God....holy shit....Michael....” Another tremor obviously took her as she either raced into another climax or her previous one was prolonged.  Either way. Her heat, her wetness, her frantic movements...he was so close to totally losing his mind.  

For a moment, he squeezed his eyes shut, wiping sweat off his forehead. 

There you go... Breathe in, and breathe out....ignore the wall of fire...keep going...

Reaching up, he caressed her breasts, then her sweaty face.  She turned and kissed his face, clutching his hand, as wave after wave rocked her against him.

When she finally calmed, he placed her soaking wet behind back on the surface and bend forward, kissing her mouth, her eyes, her nose, then her lips again.  Lisa purred against him.  Her internal muscles relaxed slightly, but continued to flutter against his more than taxed flesh.  

“You’re gonna be my death...” Lisa finally whispered against him. 
“And you’re my life...my love...” 
Her eyes opened and she gazed up into his.  The azure tint of pleasure became deeper as a veil of tears rose.  She swallowed.

“Never let me go again...” Her hand again cradled his face and pure bliss spun it’s secure and protective cocoon around them. Oh hell no! If she thought he’d ever let her slip from him she was totally insane.  
“You ran out of chances-you’re mine now. Didn’t I just prove that?”

He moved against her, reminding her that his raging hard was not done proving anything to her.  Oh yes, emotions were running high.  And so were passion and lust And while maybe he had taken the edge off for her a bit, he was obviously not done saying hello.

Lisa smirked, and playfulness again spread across her features.  She wiggled against him.  Lifting her delicious ass, swiveling her hips...which made him moan and his penis jump.  Joke was on her because she was still sensitive and tender down there.   Her little whimper and shiver made him smile

“Keep on proving it, babe.  I feel you.  You’re so damn hard and full.  Gimme that thing again.  Fuck me baby....hard...I wanna see you get off.  You’re so gorgeous...When you give it all over and cum for me”  the last part was spoken in a low tone that almost accomplished the feat.
Kissing him, she started to rock against him gently. Oh yeah...friction...heat... HIs own hips reacted and the slow rhythm started once more.

“I don’t want this to end.  Got some time to...” his hips hit her hard, “hang out?” 

Another deep kiss.  Their tongues sliding against each other.  His nerves down lower reacting.  

“This year...and next...and a lifetime...”

An answer and a promise.  Funny, how they still hadn’t formally clarified her presence.  Oh well.  Seemed kinda redundant now.  Kinda difficult to misinterpret her hot pussy gripping him while her eyes showed him a future that matched the one he once had constructed for himself, but had to erase from the crystal ball in his mind.  But here it all was- clear as day.  All the fog had lifted and the images took shape.  The smoke of his nightmares was hit by the rays of the sun and revealed to be the splendid feather coat of the phoenix rising into the sky.

“Lisa...” Pulling her up, kissing her, he held her against him.  His voice choked. His heart so full he thought it would burst.  And his penis on fire from the change of angle.  

“Michael...baby...you feel so fucking good...I need you...”
“You got me...” Buried in her to the hilt, he moved against her, enjoying her shudder.  His lips moved from her lips to her throat.  Salt, sweat, love, passion...he quickly became drunk on Lisa. 

“Do me from behind.  I need you deep...hard...again...”

Oh well.  Who was he to turn down a lady?  

Kissing her hard, he pulled from her and giggled at her little sound of protest.  Lisa scooted off the table, and he helped, his hands on her hips.  Not being able to resist, he once again squeezed her boobs.  Lisa laughed lowly, and -reached down- gripped his wet, rock hard erection.

Oh yeah....

“See that? See how hard you make me?  How wet I am?  How hot from your little pussy?” he encouraged her administrations.

Lisa’s grip tightened.  Her skillful hand manipulated his skin along the granite core in a twisting motion that had him almost black out. At the same time, she guided his hand to her swollen center.

“See how wet I am still...again...Fuck me, Daddy...give it to me good...I wanna feel you cum...I wanna drip with what you gotta give me...”

Oh hell! If she wasn’t gonna watch it, her belly would be decorated with what he had to give her! Shit! Kissing her, he took charge of the situation and turned her around, still worshipping her lips.  Lisa placed her hands on the table and spread her legs, leaning forward.  He broke away from her lips, kissing her neck and shoulders, while reaching between those heavenly thighs, spreading her folds once again, using her arousal to tease her a bit, causing her to cry out.  Not being able to wait longer, he guided his glistening cock to the dripping, swollen opening.  Entering her, he enjoyed the return to her pillowy heat.  

“Give it to me...oh shit...you’re so hard...I know you’re ready to explode...let me have it...” Lisa looked over her shoulder and he kissed her- their eyes staying open this time.

Slowly and deliberately, he gave her inch after inch.  “Michael....please...” Lisa’s little pleas made him smile under the kiss.

“Patience...”
Finally, his rod was all inside her once more and he stilled for a second.  

Lisa lifted an eyebrow and reached down, grabbing his balls, then squeezing his cock at its base.  “Oh yeah...?”

“Shi.....t!” 

That was it.  He reached down and retrieved her hand, putting it on the table. “You better hold on.”

Lisa laughed, and he jumped from the play of her muscles on him.

Within seconds the only sounds heard were their combined moans, curses, and the sound of the table as it hit the wall from the impact of his thrusts.  Lisa held her own, taking the brunt of his passion while pushing against him with all her strength.  His hands had started holding her little waist, then dipped to her ass once more, massaging and spreading her, delighting in the view of her pussy being stretched.  He was on fire.  Sweating... his pulse so erratic he thought he’d pass out, his breathing out of control.  It was heaven.  Once again, he feared the impending orgasm- the little death- even as he raced toward it.  

There was no holding back this time.  His whole body felt like a cocked weapon. Every muscle was burning.  Thunder in his ears was deafening him to everything but Lisa’s cries, dirt talk, and words of love.  Lightening flashed behind his eyes and fueled his reactor to go into overdrive.  Lisa was shivering and moaning, his balls slapping against her with every hard jab, her juices escaping, running down her thighs now.  Reaching around, he tweaked and twisted her nipples, and she cried out as he kissed her.  His hand moved down her belly and he could feel himself in her, pushing her to the limit.  Which in turn unleashed a universe of light and heat swirling all around them.  Until all movement, all sound, all light became centered into one point of contained, nuclear heat.  Everything stilled for a moment.  Time itself took a knee. Feeling as if he dove into pure ice, he took one more sheltering breath.

“Let go...I’m so close...let go Michael...Shit....fucking hell- Oh God, I love you so much...”

Those words were his sentinels- his anchors.  And the eruption came- darkness became flooded with white light.  Death became re-birth.  The physical ejaculation became a mere symbol of his soul being ripped from the very center of his being and merging with her.  Lisa.  Her name was on his lips, as was his love.  The first wave of his blinding orgasm ripped her along in its tidal wave and she also screamed and convulsed against him.  Each grip, each spasm, each rush of heat triggered more of the earthquake that buried what was left of the past to create a fertile foundation for the future. 

Michael had lost all concept of time and space.  He faintly was aware that he had pulled Lisa against him, his arm securely around her chest. When he was finally able to feel all his limbs again, he carefully opened his eyes.

Okay. Good. She was still here.  

He pulled himself from her.  Lisa made a small meowing sound and turned to snuggle against his chest.  Smiling, he kissed her head, holding her close.  

“I think I passed out at some point...” She kissed his chest.  

Oh yeah. He knew just how she felt.

“Man...Lisa...that was....”

No words.  And yet she understood.

She looked up. Swollen eyes, swollen lips...her cheeks red. Her hair a mess.  

God,she was so beautiful.

“And it’s not even time for fireworks yet.” Her smile was like a comet streaking across the night sky.  Who needed fireworks?

“As long as I can see that fire in your eyes that’s all I need.”

“Well, I need to sit down...You fucked the shit out of me... Or my legs from under me...or whatever.”

Only Lisa could make him cum, laugh, and cry in the span of two seconds.  But she had a good point. His legs felt mighty shaky as well.  And realizing how sweaty he had become, he also noticed the sudden chill.

Kissing her, he picked her up and carried her over to the couch. 

“Ohh...I like how strong and manly you are!” 
He dropped her into the sofa and looked around for a blanket. Voila! 

“Don’t get used to it. I’ll probably need a wheelchair tomorrow. Here,” he motioned toward the blanket. “Will that do or do we need clothes?”

“Why bother? Unless you got another party to go to. Maybe with Miss Raymone?”

Michael giggled and rolled his eyes. “Yeah- not likely.”

Sitting down next to her, he pulled her into his lap, then covered them both with the warm throw.

Lisa snuggled into his lap.  Her fingers traced his chest, then kissed it. “Hm...I got you all sweaty.”
Kissing her shoulder, nipping at her, he repaid the compliment.  “Yeah- you taste like a saltine cracker yourself.”

“Serves you right.”  

For a perfect moment, they just held each other.  Michael could feel Lisa’s heart beating against his own chest.  For the first time in years he felt whole.  Well- no wonder.  Difficult to run around with only half of one’s core in place. 

“So...that went differently than planned...” Lisa started, kissing his shoulder again.
“Oh yea? I thought that was your plan all along?  To seduce me- have your way with me...trap me with your lovely...”
“Pussy?” SHe looked up, smirking in that dirty way again.
He burst out laughing.  “Not what I had meant to say...but okay...”

She giggled.  Michael kissed her head again.  Lisa shifted.

“You okay?”
“Well- yeah- but I think I better go clean up for a minute.  I mean- you jetted that stuff all the way up high but ...”
“Lisa! Okay, jeeze- no need to be super-graphic!”
She pushed him lightly, laughing harder, “You’re such a wuss.” Suddenly she turned serious. “Michael, for real. I’m gonna go pee and, then get us something to drink, and then we gotta talk. There are some things I gotta tell you.  I mean, I think you know...why...that I...that I made a decision...”

He could make a silly joke about maybe that’s how she said good-bye to all her men, but he thought it might be wiser to take this part seriously.  Because really, he did.  He knew this had not come lightly.  This was not a knee-jerk reaction.  Just like he wanted it.  He needed her to think about it.  Nneeded her to make the call.  God knew, how he had found the strength to hand it all over to her once again.  After that last, horrible time. 

No, he had to stop thinking about it that way.  THIS was the last time.  This was the goal-line.  That blessed snow-storm, that horrible hotel- all those crazy, unforeseeable events had hit some sort of re-set button.  He would pray for forgiveness for the rest of his life.  He had started to doubt- but it was true.  Prayers could be answered.  But most often not on a human timetable or schedule.  

“Lisa.  I hope I know.  But yeah- go get cleaned up. Got another bathroom in here?”
“Yes, I do.  And there are robes in all of them! And towels that are not made by Bounty.”

Lisa started to get up. Oh no! He reached for her hand and pulled her back down.  
“Kiss me, woman!”
“I’ll do more than kiss you in a minute if you keep it up!” She giggled.
“Oh, it’s coming back up alright...” 

The kiss lingered longer than expected and finally, he got up first, pulling her up with him.  

“Michael?”
“Hm?”
“There are two robes actually in the main bedroom...let’s just go there...”
“Always trying to get me into the bedroom...”
“Yeah...cause we need a bed to get into trouble...”

He swatted at her butt.  “You better move, before I show you just how much trouble I can be on a couch.”
“Give an old lady a break, will y’a?”
“You got five minutes.”
“Four!”
Laughing, Lisa pulled him off toward the bathroom. 

“Are you gonna shower?” Watching her little round ass before him, he noticed he was getting sprung again for real. 
Lisa glanced back and her gaze wandered south. “Wanna join me?”
“Michael laughed as she reached for his hand, basically dragging him off. Guess talking would have to wait another minute.

Or sixty...

An hour later, Michael sank against the pillows of the California King.  Lisa snuggled against him.  Both were wrapped in their soft robes, their hair wet.  Well- he had indeed given her a little break.  If that’s how one could count the time he took to soap her up, taking great care to wash every inch of her, including her hair.  On ‘purely accidental’ contacts with her hot little pussy, he soon found out she was wetter than any shower could ever account for.  Making sure he stimulated her further, he kissed and tasted every sweet inch of her body, making sure he had cleaned her well.  Quality control, after all, was an important part of the service he loved to provide to her.

Lisa reciprocated by washing him, then urged him to sit on the granite bench, sinking to her knees, holding him in her  tight little fist before her mouth found him, making him moan and once again lose his mind.  She brought him to the very brink with her tongue, her lips, and her heavenly suction, then pulled back.  Opening his eyes, wondering if she had changed her mind, she looked up at him.

“I wanna watch...cum for me...” Since the explanation was uttered in that breathless, husky tone, and Lisa was so sweetly on her knees, who was he to turn her down?
Not finding any resistance, she grabbed his aching cock, stroking him as his pelvis arched up into her hands until he ejaculated forcefully.  Lisa used her free hand and lifted her boobs up to him, about giving him a heart-attack as he watched his essence combine with the sparkling drops of water on her chest.  Fucking hell! 

He never went soft after that thrill, and- after washing her off, using the shower gel to stimulate her further, Lisa rode him into another cataclysmic eruption. More fireworks- and it wasn’t even midnight yet.

Holding her close, he played with her hair. “You ready for that drink now?”  He wasn’t in any rush to get up, but he remembered she had talked about something to drink earlier. 

Lisa raised her head and looked over at the clock.  “Wow- look- almost midnight.”

“Will you turn into a pumpkin at midnight?”  
“Yeah- did I forget to tell you that? Sorry!”
“Nut!”  Another kiss  “So- want a drink?  I need some water.  But we can also raid your bar. I hear you can afford it. Unless you wanna go and steal someone’s beer and whiskey again.”  

Michael started to get up and head for the bar area.  He certainly was in a celebratory mood. Toast the New Year. And the New Beginning.
“I just take the water- thank you.”  

Oh really?  He stopped and turned to look at her.  Surprisingly, she avoided his eyes. Okay...

Michael brought back a pitcher of water, two glasses and some lemons.  Maybe Lisa was laying off the booze for a while.  Okay- well, he was high enough without any alcohol needed.  All he needed was the little woman on the huge bed right before him.

“Thanks...Okay...Well- I think you figured out why I’m here, right?”  She took a sip and was not looking at him. What was this about?  Yeah, of course he had figured it out. Unless... 

His stomach dropped.  

No- she could not possibly be this cruel.  But what was with the lack of eye-contact?

“Well, up until about a second ago, I thought so.” His jaw held all the tension contained in his body. 

Her eyes flew up to him.  Lisa jumped up on her knees, and she reached for his hand. “What? Oh, no- no. Shit- I always make a mess of things. I mean, yes. You are right.  I’m here...cause..well...you told me to trust you. To trust us.  And ...shit..Leaving you, Michael, you gotta know, it killed me.  It literally tore my heart out.  I mean, I hated having to go back with Lockwood, knowing he knew and all. But that was kids-play compared to.... Compared to fearing I might have fucked up again and lost you...” Her eyes swam in tears.

Okay.  Phew.  His heart once again resumed activity.  Did she have to scare him like that? He was getting too old for those adrenaline rushes. Well, he liked some of the rushes she provided- but he could do without the panic induced ones. 

“Lisa, baby. It’s okay... No need to go back there.  You’re here.  For good...right?”  That little kernel of doubt in his voice could not be helped.  Yes,he thought he knew.  But it wouldn’t hurt to hear her say it.  Once and for all.  He sat down and pulled her into his lap.

“Forever, Michael.  I wanna spend the rest of my life making all the pain...all the hurt....all the fuck-ups...making it all up to you.  I didn’t trust what you said last year. I didn’t trust myself.  I thought, well, great, you had all those epiphanies about how right I have been and how wrong you were. But I was so sure once the initial shock wore off, you’d go right back to...you know, before.  When you trusted everyone, but me... When you didn’t believe when I warned you those bastards were out to gut you.”

Wordlessly, he pulled her into him.  She clung to him.  And he to her.  The truth stung:  She had hurt him so badly- but damn, what about the millions of times she had ranted and raved that people were out to steal from him, hurt him, betray him.  People he thought were his friends.  And he only laughed in her face, telling her she was too suspicious; that he wasn’t worried. That he could trust them.  Why, oh why did he dismiss her?  She had warned him over and over- and he had accused her that she was only worried about money.  When really it was about so much more than about money being stolen.  Why had he trusted the outsiders?  Why not Lisa?  

A deep sigh wrestled from his chest. 

“I’m so sorry.  I know- I told you when I called you.  You were right. Over and over.  And don’t you see? That’s what I needed you to know: that I knew.  That things would be different.  And I know you had no reason to believe me. I’m sorry I hurt you so much that you felt you couldn’t trust me one more time.”

Lisa pulled back and reached out.  Her hands came to rest on his shoulders. Her face so close.  Her eyes open.  With nothing but pure love shining at him.  

“I love you. More than anything.  And I trust you.  I think maybe I thought that I wasn’t important enough for you to ever fully believe you.  That you would ever love me the way I love you..”

“Lisa...”  His finger came to rest on her lips. She kissed it. Took his wrist and moved his hand, holding it gently.

“No- You gotta let me say it: I will forever be so sorry about what I did. I was ready to throw it all away- throw us away.  I pretended I was happy and that it all was for the best. Only, doing so fucked you, it fucked me, and it fucked Lockwood.  I had some grand delusion of saving everyone while hurting all of us.  You were so hurt, Michael- and yet you reached out.  You were so brave and I was a fucking coward.  I swear to you- I will spend my life making it up to you. If you let me...If you’ll have me.”

If he’d have her?  Oh God, he had dreamed of nothing else. Cradling her sweet face, he bent forward and kissed her gently. He felt her exhale.

“Lisa Marie: I love you. It’s time to forgive each other.  I prayed you’d take that leap.  I thought I lost you. Again. But here you are.  That bossy, sexy, crazy, amazing pain in the ass that you are.  Calling my house- bossing Raymone around...”

Lisa made a face. “She needs bossing around. We gotta talk about that bitch..but..”

He kissed her again to shut her up. One thing at a time.  “Hey- let me finish! - I love you. And if you love me that’s all I need to know. Right?”

She bit her lip.  He knew that face.  Okay.  There was something else to know.  What was it?  Had she decided to become a Mormon?  Have two husbands?  Was Lockwood about to jump out of the closet?  Did she not want to get divorced...what the heck was it?  Because he damn well knew something else was bugging her. 

“Lisa?”
“Okay- there is something else.”

He raised his eyebrow.

“No- it’s nothing bad. I hope.  I- I love you. I love you so fucking much.  You got no earthly clue how much. And before you jump to some odd conclusions- my marriage is over.  He wasn’t thrilled, but he knows.”

Okay, no move to Utah.  What a relief!

“Okay.... What is going on, then?”

Lisa took a deep breath and her hands fell into her lap.  She played with the belt of her robe, twisting it tightly. 

“Okay. So. When we...you know... When you and me..when we made love in Ireland....”
“Yes...?”  He seriously had no clue where this was going.

“Well, we weren’t...you know....prepared...”
“Yeah, you didn’t even have a first aid kit.  I still don’t get that...and you left your purse in the car?  I mean...I sure hope you got it back.”

Lisa stared at him. ‘What? Oh yeah, I did, But- but shit, that’s not the preparation I was talking about.”

Oh- okay.  Now things were starting to get clear.  This was about condoms and such. 

Michael’s eyes widened. Oh hell no! Lockwood better not have discovered he had some rare disease or something...

“Don’t tell me...You got something... I mean..”
“What? 
“Is it curable?”
“Is what curable? Oh- shit...no..”  Lisa emitted a nervous laughter. “No, nothing like that.”

Michael reached for LIsa’s hands.  Her fidgeting was driving him nuts! 
“Lisa! For heaven’s sake! Can you just spit it out before you take this into next year?”

“Fine!” She took another deep breath. “I told you I was good with protection...but I wasn’t.  I hadn’t used anything because I was getting ready for  fertility treatments.  Which is also why I hadn’t had any...you know...sex with...Lockwood...to get ready for the procedures.”

What? She had been getting ready to have babies with Lockwood?  Well, wonderful.  

Oh shit! Suddenly it hit him.  Fucking hell.  He should have known that was a possibility.  That’s why she was only drinking water.  And that’s why she was all freaking out now.  Okay..he had to close his eyes.

Well...that’s fate, for you, man.  You did it to her.  On purpose.  Now fate is paying you back...

“You’re pregnant?” he was finally able to stammer. 

Lisa blushed.  “I...I don’t know... Look, I’m so sorry.  I know...that’s a shock...but...I don’t know...it’s...” Her voice dropped.  

His whole body stiffened. And not in a good way. 

There...the fist in his gut.  Guess it did matter.  Is that how she had felt?  When he had told her about Prince?  Had told her that parentage didn’t matter and that he hated how she made such a big deal out of who the baby’s mother would be?  

Divine justice indeed. 

Unless... Okay... He could do this: He loved all children.  He’d love this one.  Even if it meant another man he’d have to deal with.  He’d do it- for Lisa.  

Lisa who sat there like a puddle of misery. She finally looked up at him- almost frightened. 

“Mike- say something...I’m sorry...”

Michael reached for her ice cold hands.

“Well...okay... Look..I mean...I guess I should have know it’s a possibility.  But we’ll figure it out.  We can do this.  Even if I guess it means we gotta deal with Lockwood a bit longer.”

Lisa looked startled. “What?  Why? What does he have to do with....” Her eyes widened, “Oh shit- No! No, Michael.  Oh, hell no!”

Se started to laugh.

What the hell?  

“What’s so funny?  You tell me you’re pregnant with your husband’s baby- or you maybe are or whatever. But I don’t care. I love you. I’ll love this baby- just like I love RIley and Ben...”

And he really hoped that once again Lisa’s genes would kick through. Because heaven knew this little one would need an extra dose of love looking like Lucky the Dweeb, son of Riff Raff from Rocky Horror. 

“Michael! It’s not Lockwood’s baby! I just told you I hadn’t had sex with him in ages! No! The reason I don’t know is that my doctor said I could try to do a test a week after implantation the earliest.... If I’m pregnant it’s your baby.  Yours and mine.”

His mouth fell open.  All he could do was stare at her.  Oh Lord! Butterflies stirred in him.  Breathing became difficult as his chest constricted and then seemed to expand.  Heat rushed at him.   His hands became all sweaty and tingly. 

“My...my baby?  How? What...”

Well, maybe not the most intelligent of inquiries, but his mind was totally blown.  Years of trying. Years of playing Russian Roulette while not using protection- or being very selective in when using it.  Was that all it had taken?  A snowstorm and a dirty hotel?  Man- he should have taken her to somewhere in Montana years ago!

“Michael! Say something! Are you upset? I’m so sorry I lied about protection. I thought- shit- I’m not sure what I thought.  I wasn’t thinking with my brain... I swear this was not planned or anything... I’m so sorry if you’re upset.”

Michael jumped off the bed- he could not sit still another minute.  He started to pace up and down, slightly aware of Lisa sitting there, biting her lip, waiting for him to say something.

He stopped and reached for her.  “Mad?  Oh shit....no! Damn...Lisa...baby...”  Grabbing her, he whirled her around and around. “A baby! We might have made a Christmas baby!”
“Michael!!! Michael! Put me down...” she laughed.  He stopped, then raised her up, kissing her, as he lowered her against him.

“So, you’re not mad?” She panted when they finally broke away.
“Hell no! I wasn’t mad when I thought it was Lockwood’s. Even though I worried about the little one...but hey...”
Lisa laughed and hit him across the chest lightly. “Be nice!”
“I am nice! And so frigging happy!”
Lisa turned serious. “You would have been okay had it been his? For real?”

He tipped her chin up to him. “Girl. You still don’t seem to know how much I love you.  It would have been difficult- but I want you in my life.  I would love any child of yours.  But our baby... Damn! Okay- when will you know.  Tonight?”
“Well, I brought a test... But maybe we should wait. There can be false results.”

His turn to bite his lips.  Maybe she was right.  

“Yeah. Maybe....You might be right..”

Then again...how in the world was he going to make it through the night not knowing? 

“Get that stick, Lisa. I wanna see.”  He picked her up and kissed her again.
“And you’re gonna be okay, either way?”  
“Look: if it’s positive, I’ll be ecstatic. If not- we can work on that some more.  Unless....you don’t wanna.... Either way- I want you, Lisa. With me.”  

He would not push her on that issue ever again.  Having a surprise baby was one thing.  Making a baby a condition was quite another.  He had learned that. 

Her smile could have lit the city over a second and third time. “Yeah?”

“Yeah!- Now let’s go and pee on the stick before midnight so we can move on to other activities on my agenda.”

“Other activities?”

“Oh yeah- I wanna be stroking inside you at the stroke of midnight, my love.  I wanna go out doing what I wanna do all next year. And every year till we are too old to walk.”

“We will be too old for it?”  Lisa made a face. 
“I said, too old to walk...”

Laughing, Lisa pulled him into another kiss.

+++++++++

As fireworks went off, Michael looked over at the clock.  Oh yeah- perfect timing.  

“Happy New Year...” he panted against Lisa’s once again sweaty skin, where she had fallen against over him, after riding him into heaven.  
“Happy New Year...seems like we have been making love since last year...” She smiled against him, then leaned down to kiss him thoroughly.

Still inside her, still slightly hard, he wondered if he’d ever get enough of her tonight.  Or any night.  Lisa snuggled against him, resting against his chest.  Rubbing her back, he enjoyed the closeness, listening once more to their hearts.

“Are you disappointed?”
He kissed her head.  He knew she was upset.  He had read it all over her face when the test showed no added line.  Yes, he was a bit disappointed, as well.  But all that really counted was that she was here with him.  In the first seconds of the new year.  She finally was all his. Forever.

“It might be a false negative, you know.  And I told you: all I want is you. And our five kids we have already. And if at some point we add to that, that works as well.”

“I know.  And we can keep practicing, right?”

Raising her head, she smiled up at him.  How he loved that satisfied, now sleepy look on her face.

“First you gotta let this old man rest for a minute.”
Giggling, she kissed his neck.  “Okay.  A minute...But you know what?” 
“What?”

“We haven’t started making love this year yet....We only ended making love this year.” She took one of his nipples into her mouth and sucked on it.  

Michael smiled and arched up.  “Indeed...hm...good point.”

“Oh- someone is big and ready...”
“And someone will be sore as hell tomorrow...”
“Well, good thing I don’t have to get out of bed...Unless you can’t take it, old man.”

Michael kissed Lisa hard and flipped her over in one smooth move.

“Hey!” she squealed under him.

Michael framed her face with his hands. “I thought I’d give you a little rest..while I show you what this old man can take...”

And with that, he went back to worshipping her little body.  Until once again he became lost in the dizzying blizzard or sand storm, rendering him and Lisa once more stranded in a place they would never leave again- their own, safe and secure snow globe fashioned of love and trust.

Epilogue:  Ireland, December 2009

“Are you serious?”
I had been distracted reading a book to Blanket. Okay, maybe that was my very personal attempt to not criticize Michael’s driving in front of the kids, but hey, I was making an effort here. Riley had urged me to be less critical and appreciate all the things he was doing by himself without staff now, and I do have to say, I am still amazed.  He had changed so much.  He was the man I had always needed him to be. The family man. The man taking my advice into consideration. The man who had pulled back out of the spotlight even when for a second earlier this year it had looked as if he would be seduced into a tour again.  Till I put my foot down- and he agreed.

So, while I tried to calm my inner control freak, I had totally zoned out. Till he stopped and I looked out of the car window.  And found myself in a long past nightmare.  One that also was the starting point to my biggest dream.

“I thought they should see the scene of the crime...”

No.  No one should.  It was a funny story.  When far away.  When not sitting outside the place in the parking lot. Nothing amusing about it now. And my face conveyed that message just fine.
 “You are absolutely insane!”

Michael turned and looked at me, starting to crack a smile. 
“Come on! Live a little!”

“I intent to.Hence no exposing myself or the kids to scurvy and rabies. I agreed to drive by- but I am not getting out here.”

And really- I had thought he was kidding when he said he’d drive by the Travellodge.  I mean...How could I possibly assume he was going to do this?

“Daddy- why are we stopping here?”
Paris had asked the question, but the other kids also also looked slightly confused.  Only Prince smirked, leading me to believe that Michael had as usual made a co-conspirator out of our son. 

“Don’t worry, Paris. I’m sure Daddy just wanted to switch off so I can drive back to the house.” I gifted him with a look he obviously found very amusing.  And he didn’t budge out of the driver’s seat.  Oh, he was so going to pay for this later!  If only his damn smile and emerging giggle weren’t so damn sexy. 

Great Lisa...what is it about his place? Five seconds of sitting outside, and visions of throwing your panties into the snow are already dancing in your head.  

  

“Because, this is where Lisa and I spent Christmas a while back, and before we are rolling back to the lodge to see get ready for Christmas Eve DInner, I thought we should stop here and maybe...”

“Set the place on fire?” Ever so helpful I suggested the perfect way out.

Ben laughed, “Mom! Seriously! You are so rad! Is that where you were stranded that year?  No wonder...”

Was there no loyalty in the world?  Of course, my heart was about to explode knowing how much Riley and Michael still adored Michael. Even if they often did join in with him in driving good ole me crazy.  And the funny part was: I didn’t mind.  I’d rather be stark raving mad with Michael and our family than ever be without him again.  Ever.  

“No wonder, what, Ben?” Paris asked, putting her ipod down, now seriously interested in what was going on.  

“No wonder, Lisa doesn’t want to stop.  It looks...not like a hotel at all,” Prince asserted with astute observation skills. “Dad- you said it was a magical place.”

Yeah, well, he would.  And it had been.  Our very own manger.  When we needed shelter from our lunacy.  

“No- I don’t think that’s what he meant, Prince. No wonder what, Ben? And when were Lisa and Daddy stranded here?  When we were in Ireland before?” Paris insisted.

Riley laughed, knowing exactly what her brother was talking about. For a moment, Lisa thought her oldest would succumb to the “let’s torture Mom” virus as well, but then Riley did wink at her before addressing Paris.  “Don’t listen to Ben, Paris- he’s just being a bad influence. He meant no wonder Michael and Mom fell in love again.” She shot a warning glance at her brother to keep things on the down low.  Witnessing the exchange, Lisa was well aware Ben and Ri  had figured out what was what, but she totally appreciated Riley’s efforts to keep things contained.

“Yes, Ben. You’re a bad influence Just like Michael.  Let’s go, okay? Before a snow storm or something hits.” With my luck, one never knew. Actually, for the past three years, my luck had been pretty damn outstanding.  I had my heart again.  Right here next to me.  Which still did not mean I wanted to expose my children to this ....this place.  As fond as my memories were- I am sure the cooties running amok inside had also had a good time multiplying in the past years.

“Hey- If a storm does hit we can always get some rooms. I heard they have excellent service...” Michael chuckled.

“Yeah, the mice and rats are working hard to keep the place afloat. Let’s roll. See if I let you drive again...” Leaning up, I kissed his cheek, while using the opportunity to reach over and pinch his side.  

“Hey! Watch it!” Michael squealed and protested while now seriously laughing.  God, how I adored his free and crazy laughter.  And I appreciated him pulling out of the parking lot even more.  Okay.  Cool! I did not have to wonder if everyone had their tetanus shot.  

“Mice and rats?  And birds?  Like in Cinderella? I wanna see!” Blanket put his action figure down, suddenly interested in the conversation.

“No- not like that, baby.  More like the Frankenstein version of Cinderella. You don’t wanna see that. It’s real scary.” Hey, so maybe scaring our little boy wasn’t cool, but neither was getting him flea-bitten. 

“The real scary part was that only Mommy saw the mice... But that might be cause she had found some ...juice...special juice.” Michael quipped, earning him a punch to the shoulder.  He was lucky I was still too thrilled at Blanket calling me Mommy to be seriously mad at him.  He was a goof-ball.  And I was so happy to have been witness to that side of him emerging from the ashes of his past trauma. 

“Jackson- you will pay for this later.”  Leaning up, I whispered into his ear, taking a stolen moment to kiss his neck, while he gave me a look that indicated he was looking forward to whatever punishment I could come up with.  And I was very inventive! 

“Hey- see that field over there?  I kicked Mom’s bootie in making snow angels...”  

Man, he was not playing fair.  A smile appeared and I almost forgot I was being upset for having been hoodwinked into coming out here.  “And I kicked someone’s bootie winning a snowball fight.”

“Yeah, ‘cause you cheat.”

“I won you, didn’t I?” 

He stopped the van again and I once again leaned over. Just as he turned to kiss me.  I loved it when we were in synch like this.

“Mommy! I gotta go pee. Now!”

Crap! Now we had done it.  And who knew the potty training would pay of right at this very moment. 

I turned to address our two year old daughter Aaron.  

“Do you have your pull-up on?”
“No! Daddy said I’m a big girl.”

“Michael?- Really? In the car?  Why would you not put pull-ups on them in the car?”
“Cause you said I gotta stop babying them.”

“Mommy! I gots to go pee-pee, too.” Another curly sleepy head looked up from her gorgeous dark eyes.  It was still funny how we had fraternal twins- one with light eyes inherited from me and Mike’s Dad, and one with his delicious chocolate eyes.  

“Hey- Mommy and Daddy had a snowball fight here!” Blanket informed his sisters- always so proud to be the big brother.

“Snow balls????” The twin squealed with delight.

“Michael! See what you did? You started this!”  How did he get his way like that?  Did he enlist our daughters in his evil plan as well?

“Me?  You mentioned snow balls!”

“I’ll grab your balls...” I scooted up, pretending to pick up my bad, whispering to him, causing him to break out laughing again.

“Mom! I know what you said! Gross! ” Ben laughed.
“What she say?  What?” Blanket tried his best to figure out what all the rioting was about. 

And so- despite all my previous protests, Michael and Lisa “Smith” and their seven children visited the Bethlehem TravelLodge once again.  What had started as an emergency potty stop for the twins turned into some kind of reunion as, to my surprise, both Joey and Mary were on duty on this Christmas Eve.  Even Mallory, only slightly worse for wear, and still raggedy and stinky as three years before was at her post.  

While Michael took Blanket to the bathroom, Joey approached me. 

“Well, Miss Lisa.  You are even more beautiful than...what was it? Three years ago?  My lord how time flies.  And I still can’t seem to place where I’ve seen your husband before.  He looks so familiar, does’t he, love?”

Mary, her cheeks flushed, looked as if she was well aware of who her visitor was.  But she didn’t want to make a big deal, or fill her husband in, it seemed like.  Judging by her wink toward me anyway.

“Some people have faces like that, me love.  LIke you seen them before.”

I noticed she folded up a paper... the paper talking about a famous family visiting Ireland once again.  I nodded at her, indicating my appreciation. 

“That’s it- You know, Joey: All us Americans look alike, right?”

He laughed- probably agreeing with me silently. 

“Well, anyway.  How cute are your twins?  And how old are they, prey tell?  Look like around two...two and a bit more?” 

I blushed, knowing full well what Mary hinted at.  And she was right.  Katie and Aaron were my little souvenirs from an unforgettable Christmas. Or our “positive negatives” as Michael called them. 

“Well, whenever you want to come back and stay with us- please know we are always happy to have y’a.  Just make sure to call. We are a very popular establishment.”  Joey very helpfully offered.

I was sure they were.  Where else could you have dirty sex that was always cleaner than the sheets?

So, when Michael and Blanket finally emerged, we all bid a fond farewell to Bethlehem’s Travellodge.

Later that night, after the kids finally had given up their plan to wait for Santa, I snuggled against Michael, my head on his shoulder, after he had just stuffed my stocking over and over.  He was humming what sounded like Break of Dawn and, smiling drowsily, I kissed his chest. 

“Maybe I’ll buy it. And turn it into a major tourist attraction.” Almost hypnotized by his melodic voice without listening to his actual words, it took me a minute to catch on.

“What?  THe Lodge?”

“Yeah.  Turn our bedroom into a special ‘off limit’ zone- preserving the magic.”
“Great idea, babe.  I can see the sign now: And here is where Michael and Lisa Jackson’s DNA joined the magical quilt made of cum and other bodily fluids as they created their twins.”

Michael giggled and kissed my head.  “Yeah...We did good, though, Lise, didn’t we?  We made it out of that mess. And we beat the odds.  And we got our family.”

I teared up a bit.  Oh yeah. We made it out of the mess, alright.  And not just the hotel.  And we had our amazing twins- and the other kids that were wrapped into the amazing package of our family tied together by our love.  

Which reminded me. “Oh, by the way.... I got an early present for you.”  I reached over and retrieved something out of my nightstand.

Sitting up, I held the package out to the man of my dreams, laying there, relaxed and glowing from our love making.  How did he get more gorgeous every year?  

Grinning, he opened the package and then started at the slim content. “Oh shoot...for real?”

“Well...it might be a little early.  And we might wanna wait for a week.  I mean, New Year’s seems to work well....”
Michael’s eyes sparkled as he pulled me into a tight embrace, rolling around, making me laugh and squeal as he smothered me with kisses.

“Michael! I can’t breathe!”

Kissing me deeper this time, he rolled on top, and I felt his hardness between my thighs.  

“Again?”  I made a pretend serious face, blowing a lock of hair out of my forehead. “Work, work, work...”

“I figured we better give it another go.  Just in case we get another false negative.’

Reaching between us, I guided him to where I already needed him to be again.

“Good point. And Michael?”  

HIs hips bore down and his engorged member entered me smoothly. “Hmmm...?”

My hands enjoyed the pay of his muscles as I glided along his skin, finding that amazing ass, while his eyes bore into mine, tying us together. For eternity.  Just as we had vowed.

“Merry Christmas.”

Another kiss. More sighs as we moved against each other with slow, languid strokes. No more urgency.  We had all the time in the world.  A lifetime.  Our lifetimes.  And beyond.

“Lisa...with you every day is Christmas...I love you so very much. Thanks for making me miss my flight back then and for running off the road.” 

I laughed, making him cringe and me shiver due to his penis getting fuller inside.

“Anytime.  Now show me how deep that gratitude runs.”  

As my hips urged him on to lift us to the highest heights, I suddenly realized that I had arrived.  Arrived at the ‘some day at Christmas Day’ that all our dream would come true.  For all time. 

THE END

©2013 Erika B Michaels. All Rights Reserved. This story is a work of fiction. Any names, places, and other identifying features are used in a fictional manner, for entertainment purposes only, and are in no way representative of actual events. This work may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted, or stored without expressed written permission by Erika B Michaels. All photos and images, mentioned songs or song titles are copyright their creators. ABSOLUTELY no disrespect is intended to any persons portrayed in this work.