She shouldn’t be here.
He knew that, perhaps better than she did.
Yet neither voiced any objections or even attempted to stop what was going to happen.
What was happening between them already.
They moved with painstaking precision, never rushing and pausing only long enough to lock eyes, allowing a soundless assent pass between them. Cautiously, almost shyly they tested the boundaries of the nameless mystery they were delving into.
Soon, she was barefoot, trailing after him down the hallway, her hand intertwined with his, feeling her pulse race with increasing speed as they approached their destination.
sleep, my love
dream warm and hard and true
in pieces, in colors
in a cloud of awkward blue
His heart jumped slightly as the door shut behind them with a click. He felt her thumb graze the back of his hand. Once. Twice. Three times. A reassuring gesture telling him that he was safe with her. He turned, aching to feel her sweet mouth against his once more. Cupping her face in his hands, he watched as she licked her lower lip and as he finally descended upon her, his lips taking hers in a searing kiss, he felt the pain of Emily’s visit wash away. She responded in kind, her tongue studying the recesses of his mouth, tickling his gums gently. He smiled in response, deepening the kiss even further.
And as their mouths explored, so did their hands. Wandering the hills and planes of a physique they had secretly wondered about but never dared consider, they longed to discard it of its clothing, but took their time, knowing that smooth skin was a sensation they would soon become experts at. As time passed they became more brazen, kneading areas that would result in moans, abrading that would render its victim gasping for air.
Pushing.
Pulling.
Teasing.
Storing away all the special spots, promising the other to spend extra attention on those areas when the time came.
She was getting impatient and Armani be damned, she wanted to feel what his silk shirt had been teasing. With surprising ease, she tore the shirt open, satisfied as the buttons flew to all corners of the room. A guttural moan escaped the back of his throat when she pressed her hands against his chest, digging her nails in ever so slightly. Not to be outdone, he pushed her against the mantle of the cool fireplace, turning her back to him and pinned her against it. Impatiently, he removed her suit jacket and carelessly tore the blouse that came with it. When she stiffened slightly, he pressed his lips to her ear and whispered words that made her weak at the knees, forgetting all about her expensive outfit that sat in a pool on the floor. Placing a row of kisses between her shoulderblades, his tongue laved a slow trail down her spine. She gripped the cold marble, whimpering as he made the ascent just as deliberate as his descent. Not waiting for him, she released her heaving bosom from the confines of her bra and when his hands closed around them, she cried out, the first of what was sure to be many times.
hold, my hand
I feel the things you tell no man
move through you, so easy
where it's a knife that cuts me through
She would make him cry out too.
Ready for a more comfortable place to continue, she led him to the bed, her eyes glittering with a promise that the sounds to echo the room were going to be his as well as hers. Pushing him onto his back, she straddled him, grinding against the bulge in his pants. He closed his eyes, groaning heavily and his hands clutched her waist. Suppressing her own pleasure filled sigh, she removed the belt and unbuttoned his pants. Still reeling from her earlier form of torture, he hardly realized her hand had slipped past his boxers and closed around his engorged member until he shouted her name, his fingers clutching onto the bedding for dear life.
When he called her name, her toes curled and the warm dampness forming at the apex of her thighs ignited. Removing the remaining garments that hindered them, he rolled her over and positioned himself between her lithe legs. Waiting until their breathing had calmed and their fingers were twined together tightly, he slowly entered her.
and you bring me your charms
in the cool of your soft little hands
in the heat of your legs and your arms
you bring me your charms
Their gazes did not waver as they watched the other experience the earth shattering union.
Far away were the thoughts of the world that divided them, a world that would forbid them from being together, even briefly. All he could think of was loving her, and all she could think of was loving him.
And being loved like never before.
in, my arms
in the circle of my arms
you're my baby, my lover
that is warm and hard and true
As he thrust himself deeper into her, she rose to meet him, over and over and over again. When she whispered his name softly, letting it caress her, he covered her sweat soaked body with his, feeling the suctioning, leaving nothing but their deepest desires between them. She curled her legs around him, bringing him closer. He felt her arch against him and he cried out her name for the second time. Their feverish pace quickened even more, the dawning of what was mere moments away making their blood boil and when she sang out his name, he roared hers response. The windows and doors of the room shuddered at the deafening noise, only becoming still when the cries subsided.
Basking in the warmth of his embrace, she watched his glistening chest rise and fall as he tried to catch his breath. She inhaled deeply, relishing his scent, committing it to memory. She would never forget it. His free hand reached down and began to lazily stroke the side of her toned framed, letting his fingers slide along her firm thigh, over the rise of her hip and down again, feeling her shiver slightly when he stopped.
“Cold?” he asked.
She looked up at him, the pad of her thumb brushing his chin and up his jaw line. “A little bit.”
Grabbing the ends of the comforter, he covered them both. “Better?” She nodded, letting another shiver roll through her when he secured his hand on her hip. He felt the movement and almost asked if she was cold again when it dawned on him that her shiver might have nothing to do with the coolness in the air. It was his touch that made her tingle from head to toe.
It was him.
when you bring me your charms
in the cover of our evening sheets
in the twist of our legs and our arms
you bring me your charms
She giggled gently, startling him slightly. “What?” he asked, feeling a small smile grow as he heard her giggle again.
“I don’t even know your last name.”
He looked down at her, his sapphire eyes shimmering with amusement. “I mean,” she said, “there’s more to you than the man who formerly answered Sonny’s door who also happens to be a Father.”
She smiled, her gleaming white teeth flashing in the dark.
“It’s Alexander.”
“Johnny Alexander,” she said aloud. “Strong name.”
He shrugged, moving his head slightly to give her room when her head rested back down on his chest. “It’s Greek, it means ‘protector of man’, if you can believe it.” He laughed, “sounds like I should have been a cop, huh?”
“I believe it,” she said softly. “You are most definitely a protector of those you love.” She propped herself up, looking thoughtfully at him.
He thought about that for a moment. He loved his daughter and once upon a time, he’d loved her Mother as well. He’d spent his whole life ensuring their safety, despite the fact that Paige died and Emily had almost died on several occasions. “I don’t know,” he said doubtfully, “when they needed me the most, I wasn’t there.”
She looked at him in disbelief, “are you kidding me? You can’t control every situation Johnny. From what I’ve heard, Paige died from breast cancer. Are you telling me you have the cure hidden somewhere in this room?”
He shook his head. “But Emily-“
“Emily is a teenager. You could have been in her life and she still would have done things her way. You’d still be dealing with a girl who occasionally falls into the wrong line.”
He tilted his head thoughtfully at her. “Sounds like you know what you’re talking about.”
She nodded. “I worked in juvenile court for a couple of years. Saw the same kids, saw the same hang wringing, hair pulling, frantic parents with them. Emily never got that far. She’s calmed down. I see her hanging around her normal friends and going to school. You really did do the best you could. Stop blaming yourself for the bumps in her life.”
He wasn’t sure he believed her. Not completely, at least. “We have these little talks, and they always seem to drift back to me,” he remarked. “What about you?”
“Nothing to tell. Born and raised in California and came out here after a stint in San Diego. Been here ever since. Never married, no kids although I do have a good pension plan.”
“Ever been in love?”
The words rolled off his tongue easily, but he sucked in his breath as though prepping himself for a devastating revelation. Of course she’d been in love! Many times with men more worthy of her affections than he. He studied her expression as she contemplated her answer.
You bring me your charms
She thought about her brief relationships in college and law school and the one in San Diego. She thought about Justus and Marcus Taggert. “I can’t say that I have,” she replied sadly, “terrible thing isn’t it, for someone at my age to have never been in love?”
He shook his head quickly, determined to erase the negative impression from her mind. “No way, I think you just know what you want and won’t settle for anything less. Especially in love.”
His hand reached up, brushing a few dark strands of hair that had fallen in front of her eyes. Pushing it behind her ear, his hand lingered on her forearm, feeling the baby softness of her skin. He couldn’t imagine ever getting tired of feeling her.
You bring me your charms
“What about you?” she asked. His gaze shifted, seriously considering her question, his hand not moving from her forearm and she realized how serene his touch made her feel. It was wonderful, and something she wasn’t too keen on letting go of.
“Just once.”
“Paige?”
He nodded slowly. She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat, both from sadness and jealousy. “Would you have married her?”
His eyebrows arched at the question and he shook his head, smiling ruefully. “I loved Paige, but we were very young and marriage was the last thing on our minds.”
“I know the feeling.”
He arched his eyebrows, interested in her remark. “Really? Not the marrying type?”
She shook her head. “I think there are ways to be with someone without having to make it legal.”
He laughed. “So it’s a legal matter?” She smiled at his response, enjoying his playfulness. “Not entirely, but I think,” she paused. What did she really want to say? Her voice dropping an octave, she softly continued. “Vows should be unspoken, unnecessary. It’s not about the flowers or the white dress or the guests. It’s about something more.”
He was mesmerized by her. Her words were carefully chosen and her brow furrowed with effort. This was important to her. And now, watching her, he realized it was important to him too.
You bring me your charms
“You’re choosing someone to share your life with. Your love and all of your flaws with. Your beauty. You promise to go on this magnificent journey with them, to endure the rough storms and relish the quiet peace. Through it all, you promise to take their hand and stay with them. To cherish them and comfort them. You’re their rock, their lifeboat, their shelter-“
“Their everything,” he injected smoothly. Their gazes coupled and instinctively, her fingers gently traced his palm. She smiled calmly and nodded slightly. “Yeah.”
Without a word, she felt the urge to lay her head against his chest and as if reading her thoughts, he opened his arms and welcomed her into his embrace.
“Your everything,” he said quietly, stroking her bare back. “One day, kalloni, one day.”
You bring me your charms
Several hours later
He slipped out of bed and quickly donned his silk boxers and robe. It was just a little after 1a.m. and he wanted to prepare some food for when she woke up. Shutting the door behind him, he made his way downstairs, his thoughts consumed with the dark beauty upstairs. He would have continued across the room had he not noticed the sliver of light peeking underneath the front door into the darkened room. A new guard wouldn’t be arriving for several hours, but by the looks of it, there was someone behind the door. Quickly, he retrieved his glock from a locked drawer at the desk and positioning himself, he opened the door cautiously.
What he saw surprised him, but his old bodyguard senses made him check the foyer area ensuring it was secure before he knelt in front of the sleeping figure.
“Emily,” he whispered softly. She was curled up against the wall, fast asleep. For a few seconds, he allowed her to continue sleeping as he watched her breathe deep, serene breaths. Getting no response, he called her name with more force. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open.
“Jason?”
He swallowed hard. “No, it’s me Johnny. What are you doing here, Emily?”
Throwing her arm to shield her eyes from the foyer lights, Emily sighed. “I couldn’t go home, I thought he might come back if he thought nobody was around.”
His eyes filled with obvious concern. Things weren’t going as he planned. Willing himself to keep it together his hands took Emily by the forearms and he easily pulled her into a standing position. His heart raced as she sleepily leaned against him, murmuring her thanks. “You can take a bed inside, I don’t want you out here,” he instructed softly as he led her back inside. Taking her down to the room across from his, he placed her in the double bed, pulled off her coat and shoes and gently covered her with the blankets.
“You’re the best, Johnny,” Emily mumbled as she snuggled underneath the covers.
“You're my child,” he replied, ever so softly, before quietly shutting the door behind him.
*~*
Charms by the Philosopher Kings
kalloni-beauty in Greek
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