Looking out the large bay window of their living room he could tell the morning would be crisp and cold. He could see the fog swirling over the bridge and the grey cast of the sky gave him a slight shiver. It was a Monday, and a holiday, he wouldn’t be working today. He’d risen early and dressed in khaki Dockers and a black cotton pullover sweater. The sky reflected in his blue eyes making them stand out even more than usual, especially on a day that looked as stormy as this one would turn out to be. Recalling this bad news about the weather he was doubly glad he didn’t have to face it to get to work. But as for her … a different story. Her boss was an idiot and insisted there were no such thing as “paid holidays” … she would be facing the elements this February morning. Silently in his head he cursed her employer and wished she would call out, knowing she wouldn’t. She was too reliable for that … too loyal, even when there were no reward for her devotion.
She came from the hallway and brushed passed him toward the kitchen. A quest for coffee he guessed correctly, as he watched her pull her favorite mug from the cupboard and fill it with cream and brown sugar, and then, the brew from the pot. He turned and leaned against the cold window frame, then crossing his arms across his chest as he studied her. She’d dressed a bit more casual than usual today. He imagined it were her silent protest to being forced into the office on a holiday. A slight defiance. It was so her. She was wearing a deep crimson colored dress. All soft linen like a rich wine flowing down her body. Short sleeved and knitted fine with a square neckline. It hardly clung to her form at all, just gave hints of her hip curves and stopped an inch above her knees. It had a sweater that matched exactly which she’d already hung by the door to pick up on her way out. Her stockings were silk and hardly shaded her ivory skin tone, it looked as if she weren’t wearing them at all. And modest black shoes with hardly a heel, but they gave off a classy shine. Soft brown hair was loosely clipped with a silver barrette in a fanlike fashion. Wisps were already falling along her nape and over her ears. She looked exquisite and smelled even better. He wished again for more time with her today.
He knew she was running late as well. Not like her at all. It surprised him but he wasn’t about to shun the extra time with her. She’d been working most of the weekend as well, trading her rightful “off time” to visit clients in jail and others in their own private homes. A lawyer … he still couldn’t believe he’d married a lawyer. And even more startling that this intelligent, sassy, silver-tongued champion of the courtroom put all of her trust in him the minute she was home. How did that happen? How could someone so independent and so brutal among her peers submit to him as she did? God, what made her tick? He knew he’d never understand it, he was just grateful for what they’d had.
While fixing her cup of coffee she had the feeling he was watching her. Nothing new, he usually was. Not thinking much of it she reached up to her shoulder and straightened her bra strap, it kept slipping but she didn’t have the time to change it and didn’t want to risk wrinkling her dress in the process. She absently brushed a strand of hair from her face and sipped more of her drink. From where he stood at the window he locked his eyes to hers. She froze in place and a small smile turned up the corners of her mouth, sensing the connection. “What?” She asked? He didn’t reply with words, but uncrossed his arms and entered the kitchen. He walked straight up to her and put his hands around her waist and then leaned in to kiss her. A soft brush of his lips on hers and then straight to her ear where he whispered softly, “Stay with me today.”
More than anything, she wished she could. But there was a hearing scheduled for Wednesday and she needed all the time she could get to run information past her client. Make sure everything was going to patch together. She couldn’t afford a day off. And the managing partner in her firm wouldn’t allow it anyway. She was trapped. She had to go. But he felt too good wrapping himself around her to deny a quick embrace this morning. Barely five feet tall she needed to stretch herself as much as she could to lock her hands around his shoulders. He was a bit over six feet tall. She tightened her arms up around his neck and kissed under his ear in turn. “You know I can’t … “
“Oh, I know you could … if you wanted to,” and his arms tightened about her waist.
“It’s not about ‘want’,” was her reply.
“Everything is about want.”
She sighed. He was right. About most things, and definitely about this. And she did want. Enough to hug him closer and press herself to his body. Feeling her begin to melt he slipped his hands down her body and caressed the backs of her thighs with just his fingertips while his mouth sought out hers. He loved the taste of her tongue, even with coffee. Her mouth tasted like sweet, creamy espresso. He couldn’t complain. But now that he’d deepened their kiss she began to pull back, to try and untangle from his arms. “Mark … please, I can’t.”
He let out a sigh and released her. Not really willing to let her go. She’d spent too much time away lately. Where was his time? Suddenly it occurred to him that he’d never have time with her unless he made it happen. Though he didn’t really prefer to demand things of her it was becoming difficult to avoid this. She wasn’t giving of herself, he’d been letting her slip on too many occasions. His own fault really. That was about to change.
She left the kitchen and headed back to the bedroom, he knew she was brushing her teeth and would be applying her lip gloss. Last minute things before leaving him for the day. The entire day! After a whole weekend without her as well. No, this couldn’t happen. He picked up her cup and began rinsing it in the sink. Even though she’d only taken three sips and the liquid was still piping hot, he knew she was done. In the years he’d known her, she’d never once finished a cup of coffee.
Oh, and about unfinished things, frowning, his mind returned to the night before. When she’d finally come home from the office (extremely late) she was drained. But that didn’t stop her from climbing into bed next to him and kissing him, spooning against him and holding herself to his body. Having not seen her for over a day he was instantly aroused and when he turned to her to return the affection she pulled her mouth away from his. Even turned on her pillow a bit. At the time he felt sympathy for all of her long hours … for how tired she must really be and he spent a better part of an hour caressing her hair and kissing her temple until she slept.
Today he felt rage. He felt teased and led on. Now that he thought of it he suddenly couldn’t recall their last truly intimate time. Last week? Last month? When had she taken on this new client anyway? He was so determined to let her be successful that it was wearing even him down. What about his need after all? And for crying out loud, it was a holiday still. Suddenly he had a need unlike he’d felt in a great while. A need to just ravish her. Something he hadn’t done in an extremely long time …
***
She was coming down the hall preoccupied with the task of clasping her wristwatch in place when she heard his muted voice as she reentered the living room. It stopped her in a dead panic under the threshold.
“Hello, Mr. Kendall? Good morning, I’m calling for Belle … Yes she will be in but I’m afraid she’s running awful late, her car is acting up …,” he paused, listening.
In shock she cried out at this untruth falling on her employer’s ears, “Mark!”