Author's note: To my Editor...thank you for your candor and pitch perfect guidance. To my Girls...keep being awesome. And finally to the Stray...this is your fault, dammit. I wasn't supposed to write another one of these things!
Stephen looked out the window. The rain was coming down harder. A mere twenty minutes ago, it was cloudy, but not threatening. However, the soft staccato of the drizzle turned into the hammering of full on storm. A frown furrowed Stephen's brow as the thunder rumbled low. He had hoped that Lindsay had decided to wait the storm out before returning from the bakery down the street.
When they woke up that morning, she bounded into the bathroom, peeked into the shower and asked him what he wanted from Gleason's Bakery. By the time he got out of the shower, she was gone and left a note:
S –
Back in a bit. Breakfast will be in bed. Dress appropriately!
Kisses –
Linds
Rereading the note, he chuckled. He'd never understood the word "energy" until Lindsay came along. She was like a hummingbird on caffeine. Lindsay went through her day with gusto and verve that was unique only to her. Today was a perfect example. Even after coming home late last night from a company function, she was up early buzzing around the house. She mentioned to Stephen that she was jonesing for a blueberry muffin. And despite his best efforts to entice her to stay, Lindsay was raring to go for a walk.
"Forty-five minutes, tops," she said to him amidst the steam of the bathroom.
"You want to wait for me?" Playfully, he flicked water at her. "I can be done shortly."
A laugh that denoted the word "silly" escaped her lips. "Nah...I'm just going to brush my teeth and I'll be off!"
"Or," Stephen said tugging on her hand, "You can help me finish my shower and we can go together." His smile was dangerously flirty.
But she was not swayed. "Nice try...but the smile won't separate me from my blueberry muffin." Lindsay pulled back. "I'll be back here before you know it. We'll curl up in bed with a little breakfast and see where the day takes us." Blowing Stephen a kiss, she backed out of the bathroom. Before exiting, she quipped, "We'll talk about your idea when I get back. After all...we have an entire Sunday to ourselves." With a growl, she disappeared around the corner.
Another low roll of thunder swept across the sky. The sound of rain hitting the roof and the ground was deafening in the quiet house. Looking out the living room window, Stephen crossed his arms in concern. He contemplated hopping into the car and seeing if he could pick Lindsay up at Gleason's.
Just as he was about to dash for his keys, Linsday came sprinting into view down the sidewalk in front of the house. Scrambling to the door after a few precious seconds of comprehension, Stephen realized she had no umbrella. He swung open the door as he heard the clink of her keys hitting the bricks.
"Baby," he exclaimed as he pulled her inside the house. Lindsay was using a bag to cover her head and was obviously soaked through.
She stopped abruptly, "No, wait. The floor."
"You're soaking wet from head to toe and you're worried about the floor?"
"Yes, water stains are a bitch."
That was Lindsay's way. Her mind was always running in a million directions, but focused at the same time. Stephen learned to accept this quirk quickly, in fact, he found it oddly endearing.
Lindsay handed him a soggy, brown mess. "Well, the Sunday paper bit the big one. Luckily, they double-bagged the muffins!"
"I'll take care of it, baby." Stephen appraised her state of distress. Lindsay's thick, shoulder length hair was matted down with water. She looked like a little forlorn puppy with one glaring exception: A smile that went from ear to ear on her angelic face. Nothing ever seemed to faze this woman, even as water dripped down her onto the entry way rug. As she kicked off her tennis shoes, he noticed something. "You went in your pajamas?"
Stripping off her drenched, grey sweatshirt and dropping it to the floor, she whined, "I ruined one of my favorite pairs!" Lindsay straightened herself, "Goodbye pink bunny pajamas." The soft cotton clung to her shapely legs. As Stephen's gaze moved upward, his eyes were glued to her body. The pajamas weren't the only things clinging to her. "OH MY GAWD!" Lindsay hugged herself, "You can see through my shirt!"
"Oh yes, you can!" Stephen whistled as she blushed. As confident as she was, her humble nature got the best of her at times. He teased her, "Now, now. It's not like I haven't seen them before."
Smiling slyly she teased back, "Oh, I'm not shy, buddy. I just don't want to give the whole show away without proper compensation."
"Compensation?" An eyebrow went up.
"Yes. I went out for breakfast, got caught in the rain and YOU get to view the goods?" Hands on her hips, she stared at him incredulously, "Don't think so."
He moved quickly, playfully backing her against the door. "Oh really?" Stephen brushed his lips against hers. Lindsay felt the door press into her. She mewled in weak, half-hearted protest. Stephen's kiss became deeper. He pressed into her mouth without touching her body.
This always got Lindsay going. Sliding his tongue into her willing mouth, Stephen hummed against her lips. He knew exactly what he was doing. Stephen was a masterful kisser and she enjoyed them almost more than anything.
Pulling back and leaving a fleeting peck on her cheek, he heard Lindsay draw a deep breath. Stephen took her face in his hands and held it. He watched, waiting for her to open her bright eyes.
Inhale. Exhale. Open.
"Go dry off," Stephen whispered. "I'll take care of breakfast." Swooping quickly he kissed her neck and murmured mischievously against her skin. "And then...I'll take care of you."
Stephen had pushed all the right buttons. With a twinkle in her eyes, Lindsay challenged him right back. She pulled her shirt up over her head and dropped it on the entryway rug. As she undid the drawstring on her pajama bottoms, Stephen stumbled back a step.
"What are you doing, you crazy girl?" Lindsay didn't answer. She just took off her bottoms. Whistling Stephen eyed her, "Not that I don't mind..."
Without pausing, she slipped off her socks. Piling her clothes neatly on the rug, she walked past Stephen clad only in her panties. She walked up the stairs under his loving gaze. When she hit the halfway point of the staircase, she turned to meet his eyes. It was a heavenly vision. The roundness of her breasts was fully exposed. Lindsay did nothing to hide it. A coy smile cut her face. "Honey, could you toss those wet things in the laundry room?"
"Of course, baby. Anything for you," he replied. Satisfied with his response, Lindsay tossed her damp hair and continued upstairs. Meanwhile, Stephen lingered until the last possible second. There was nothing better in this world than the sight of her body.
He shook his head and Stephen gathered the clothing off the ground. Their constant flirtation was quite the turn on to him. Most women, in his experience, expected to be treated royally. As much as he wanted to do that for her, Lindsay went against the grain. She understood that there was a pleasure to give and take. And as much as she was giving...she was also perfectly willing to take what he was offering.
Dumping the clothing in the laundry room and discarding the soggy mess of the newsprint, Stephen pulled out a breakfast tray. The fleeting vision of her on the staircase, sauntering up the steps and the implicit tone of her wry smile played in his mind. As he set-up a breakfast fit for a Reluctant Princess, the image became sharper in his brain. Clarity of the sight started to set in and he felt himself moving faster. As the sharp smell of brewing coffee began to fill the kitchen, the silverware clinked against the saucers and coffee cups as he put together the tray. In a split second he dropped the sugar bowl. Though Stephen caught it, the bowl had knocked into the creamer which spilled its inky white contents on the counter. His coordination slipping away, Stephen laughed to himself, realizing what was happening. Grabbing a towel, he shook his head. Lindsay always had that effect on him.
It was simple: He couldn't wait to be near her again.
The warm water cascaded down gently over her. Lindsay thought it was much better than being outside. She enjoyed the rain, but the sprint home was a little much. Sighing, Lindsay lathered up her body and relaxed. Closing her eyes, fingers unconsciously went to her lips and her smile broadened.
That kiss. "Damn you. Why do you have to be so good?"
Of course she couldn't imagine her life without Stephen in it. Well she could. She just knew it wouldn't be pleasant. Lindsay knew she was a different person since meeting him. He just brought out something in her.
Shutting off the water, she grabbed a towel. The plush cotton tickled her skin. As Lindsay meticulously dried off, she caught sight of herself in the foggy mirror. Wiping it down, she took a moment to study her visual echo and marveled at the change that had taken place in her. Stephen brought "it" out of her. But "what" was it that did that? In her life, Lindsay couldn't remember feeling so catered to.
Intellectually, they matched well. Their conversations, in her mind, were legendary in their length and breadth. He was very laid back. She saw herself as frenetic and always running around. Stephen never worried. Lindsay was learning the fine art of letting go. Her friends once asked her what exactly made her flip for Stephen. She couldn't really answer.
As Lindsay continued to look at her reflection, her fingertips lightly traced her collarbone. The brush of his kiss at that spot was a specter on her skin. Her cheeks blushed as she remembered his sweet, yet bold gesture.
And that was the "what" that brought out the "it" in Lindsay. He was always so sure of himself. He was always sure about her. Stephen's security in his own skin and his love for Lindsay fueled her drive for him. Admittedly not supermodel material, but next to Stephen she felt unshakable. The blush deepened on her cheek and spread down her face as she joked with her reflection and said aloud, "Unshakable. Yeah. Maybe sometimes."
But there was no denying it. Stephen shook her to the core every single time.
