Catherine

I live for the moment when I hear the catch in her throat with our first kiss. Her breathing getting heavier with each caress, touch, or stroke, of her sensitive places, I wait for those words she will say..., but not yet. Catherine

Catherine - Chapter 34

We're still Okay; Right?

The garage door closing behind me it's Catherine's who's already entering the code that will reset the alarm system to occupied as well as unlocking the door from the garage into the house. And with her holding the door waiting for me is where she proceeds on into the house as I hold the door for both of us.

And following her in, expecting her to stop at the coat closet but instead, she continues on down the hall, taking her coat off as she goes, only to lay it across the same sofa back I had her bent over fucking the daylights out of her not that long ago. But as I'm putting my jacket and scarf in the coat closet it's Catherine's, "Bobby, I need to use the bathroom," I hear.

"Okay," replying. "Oh, and how about some coffee when you get back; I'm going to put some on," telling her.

"Thank you, I'd love some." Replying back over her shoulder as she continues on down the hallway, turning lights on in the bedroom as she enters then disappearing from sight around the end of the bed to reappear when she enters the bathroom, turning those lights on too but leaving the door open.

With the lights on in the kitchen, the handful of mail I removed from the mailbox, laying on the island top, it's turning my full attention to getting the coffee maker up and brewing that sweet brown nectar of the gods filling the carafe with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, how I love thee.

Then with two mugs, sugar, creamer, and a spoon standing by it's turning my attention back to sort what is junk mail to me, from what is important to me. Two of my favorite magazines, two envelopes with my name in the address window, along with what I occasionally get addressed to Sally -- I'll call her about them to see if she wants me to save them, send them onto her, or wait till the next time I come down to Alice's; or shred it.

But it's the coffee maker beeping alerting me it's finished, so taking one mug of the two I set out, filling it along with adding in some sugar and creamer; Oh Yes! That first sip followed by a longer one at the same time looking to the archway expecting Catherine to have already returned from her trip to the bathroom; I hope she's alright? She did have more wine then I've seen her consume in one sitting; but tonight it did include food; or was it too much information brought on by the wine?

"I really could use some of that," she says, smelling the fresh coffee. Which breaks into those, too much information, thoughts as she's coming into the kitchen placing her cell phone on the island top. But instead of taking one of the bar stools to sit on she just stands there, looking down at her phone.

"Is everything still alright between us," Catherine's asking as I'm setting her coffee mug on the island top.

"Catherine, you've already asked that and I told.., "Yes you did! Breaking into what I was about to tell her once again."

"I mean, she says, what I was telling you was pretty over..."

"Catherine, I told you too..., it turned me on!" Repeating what I had already told her about that too because, it really, really did!

The pressure of my thickening and lengthening cock confined within my snug underwear and blue jeans along with sitting in that almost form fitting bucket seat; yeah I was.., very..., uncomfortable hearing how explicit she was in telling me about the sex she had that first weekend with Sandy and Richard.

"Look at me Catherine!" Telling her. "Nothing..., about how or what I feel for you has in any way, shape, or form changed; please believe it!

Which has her turning to me at the same time as I'm stepping towards her where the inevitable explosion of deep, long, hard, mouth crushing kisses leaves both of us stunned at the ferocity of it.

With her head bowed and my chin resting on top of her head, "I hate you..., you know." She tells me for like the hundredth time/

"If you really do, replying, and this is why you're here to tell me that; Catherine?"

"No Bobby... I don't... hate, you!" The emphasis in her voice. "It's just that I hate the way you make me feel!"

"I've known that for quite a while Catherine. So then, what other choice is there for you?."

"And that would be..,"

"That you put your coat back on right this minute and leave this house and stay away from me forever!" Where it's just the sound of breathing from one of the two of us, while waiting on the other.

"I can't..., do that!" She came back with that definite firmness in her voice again. "GOD... I hate you though!" She throws right back at me; again.

"Then drink your coffee, Catherine, before it gets cold."

Releasing my hold on her and stepping back to retrieve my own coffee cup, taking a long relieving sip of the now, lukewarm coffee, and her doing the same, but with her, it's an obvious sour look on her face at the temperature of it too.

"A warm up Catherine" asking, now that I've finished the last swallow of what was in my cup.

"Sure!" I get in return. And taking the cup from her hand to refill and redo the sugar and creamer for both.

"Can you stay tonight," asking as I'm turning around to place her re-filled coffee cup on the island top.

"I can't Bobby, she replies, "it's that.., I have to be in the office earlier than usual; meetings, three of them. the first at seven, then another at nine, and another about two-ish." She's telling me.

"Plus, she says, I would have to wear the same thing I had on today."

"A..., that's a problem," telling her. "But I've been known to wear the same things several days in a row; even underwear." telling her, "Because many times on deployments it's been days away from clean uniforms and showers," telling her.

"Yeah, but you're a guy." She mocks me. "But in your case; since I've known you anyway, it's not, You always look and smell nice." she tells me.

"Thank you Ctherine; I try. Plus I understand about you not wanting to be seen wearing the same outfit two days in a row; Sally, I know, is the same way. And in both your cases too, going into the office looking like you were fucked hard and sent on your way still leaking; like Sally was, when she left my hotel that Friday night I was down for Erin's recital.

"WHAT!" Comes right back hard, quick, and direct.

"So I guess lunch is out too," jumping in hoping to head off the barb she'll be throwing back at me. And dinner; I would have asked you too, but tomorrow night will be a rematch with Sargent Rei, telling her, and I know he's going to want revenge."

"I ah.., couldn't have had lunch or dinner with you Bobby," she tells me. BecauseI already have a lunch and dinner date for tomorrow, she says, "It's ah..., with Richard," she's telling me, "he's already over here for the reasons he does; a text from him when I was in the bathroom telling me he was at the hotel," she's telling me this too. And when he's here, it's usually for two days, which could be Tuesdays and Wednesdays or Wednesdays and Thursdays; depending on which two consecutive of those three days he needs to be here," she's telling me that too.

"OH!" What she just said , has caught me by surprise and triggered this thought; Sargent Rei better bring his A-game.

"That name, Sargent Rei, she says, he's the one that caused that large bruising where you had cracked ribs once before," she remembers.

"Yes, Catherine, Rei is the one. But he also left limping and nursing a split lip." reminding her.

"Why Bobby; beating up on each other like that." she's asking.

"Because Catherine, if that's all you have left to defend yourself; I'll be the one who walks away! And that's why we play for keeps."

"And now then Catherine, you might want to get your pretty self out of here; looking at the clock, it's pushing eleven, and you still have to drive home...carefully; please!" And with that I'm retrieving her coat from where she had left it on the back of the sofa; removing her scarf from the sleeve. But as I'm waiting with her coat so I can help her with it, she hasn't made a move from the bar stool she's still sitting on where it looks like she's doing something with her phone in her hand .

"Catherine..." Trying to get her attention,

"Yes Bobby," she replies. And with that she's back to me, turning around as she slips her arms into the sleeve's, then taking her scarf from my hand when all of sudden I realise; "Where's your purse, Catherine?" As I'm glancing around like I've missed seeing it.

"I left it in the car, Bobby," she tells me, All I brought in with me was my car keys."

"Oh..., Okay!" Realizing she hadn't planned on staying.

"Well then.., I'll walk you out to your car," telling her, as I step back to let her go ahead of me. And walking down the ramp she's already using the key fob unlocking the car doors, as I step around her to press the button with the garage door opening. But when turning back, she's already in the car closing the car door with the engine starting, the car headlights and the back up lights coming on. But as the car starts to back up it's with the drivers side window rolling down to hear her, "I'll call you," she says, as the car continues the rest of the way out, turning to face up the driveway.

And like every other time when she leaves, it's a quick acceleration to the top of the driveway, with only a flash of break lights just before she makes the right turn onto the road, along with her usual rapid acceleration to the sound of the Porsche speeding back towards the expressway, taking her to the next exit for her house.

"Good night Catherine!" Those words condensing in the cold night air; again. I never got a chance to tell her I'll be going back into the city for an unknown number of additional weeks. Because yesterday Howard Rich, the installation supervisor had me, John Wearing, Bains, and Lewis, taking us aside, asking each of us if we could stay on for the next system installation and turn up, which will take place in the building we spent twenty-six weeks learning about what's sitting on the floor behind us. Except, this new one, will be on the floor above the training center; Rich was telling us.

Then after some discussion among the five of us where we agreed to sign on to that project. No big change for any of us; travel time and commute cost would still be covered.

But standing here now in the cold night air thinking maybe my signing on with the additional trips into the city might not have been a good idea with tomorrow's all day distraction of Catherine and Richard, with him being in town already, and other things yet to come, An Rei tomorrow night -- he better have his fucking game face on!

Tuesday hits me like a smack in the face! I woke up late because I tossed and turned all night; my imaginationing her and what I know she will be doing with Richard, where I forgot to set the alarm button on the alarm clock that enables the alarm to go off at the time I have set for; 5AM.

Gulping down microwaved cups of stale coffee from last night's brew that was left in the carafe. Then waiting out a fender bender of two cars trying to be in one place at the same time trying to make the turn into the train station parking lot, Which had me missing the train I've been usually riding into the city; to be continued for the next, how many numbers of weeks.

But I have the ability for what's referred to as, compartmentalize, which means I can organize things of priority; the most important thing that helped me with that was, Sargent Williams constant reminder to, " keep my fucking head screwed on straight!"

Sargent Williams, probably the best marine to ever wear the uniform; a teacher, a mentor to me and someone to kick my ass when he thought I needed it. Sargent Williams, where are you now, as I'm walking across the plaza looking over to that tall glass and stainless steel building with those big letters, IIG on the top of it.

"Hey, Swagger," it's John, "You're a little late." he says. as he made his way over to me. "A series of errors I can blame it on, John, so how are you doing," asking as he reached me with his hand shake.

"Errors.., huh; you?" He starts on me. "Yes John, replying, "not setting the alarm clock, microwaved last night's stale coffee, then two jerks trying to get to the same spot at the same time," telling him.

"That's not like you, Swaggart; the first two, anyway. Sooo..., let me guess; oh yes, must be the girlfriend, how is she doing," he asks.

"Well, when she left last night she was in a big hurry to get home. Not even a quick kiss goodby," telling him.

"Damn," he says, "piss her off or what," John's asking.

"Distraction John; her's," telling him.

"Distraction," he repeats, "Ah, you couldn't get it up..., again; huh!" he bust on me.

"No John, I've never had that problem; where I've heard that about you." turning it back on him. "But I did have one hell of a hard-on listening to what she was telling me at the restaurant where we had dinner, Then again, a very difficult one when she was driving me home later with her picking up on what she was telling me back at the restaurant."

"Holy Shit; Swaggart!" His exclamation back at me. "What the fuck...; sorry, so; what was she telling you that raised so much disconfort," He asked.

"History John; history!" Telling him as I step around him on my way to the break area for some hot coffee.

"Huh..." he says, following right behind me.

"Just some things John, I've been curious about, like people, places, and things; that's all." telling him.

"Dirt; huh?" John's come back.

"Enough John..., we need to see about those updates that have to go in." Telling him as I walk away.

"Are you going to lunch Swaggart?" It's John coming up behind me." Drawing my attention away from what's scrolling on the computer screen in front of me.

"It's that time already?" Looking at my watch. "Yeah, why not." telling him.

"Good, John's reply, it's your turn to buy the pretzels." he's telling me. But as I'm taking my jacket from the coat rack; it hits me, lunch? And with a sharp turning of my head looking back across the room at the windows and what I know of the building across the street filling the view of what's out there. "Fuck!" saying it out loud.

"What?" John asking.

"Nothing John...just a thought," telling him. "Let's go before all the soft pretzels are no longer soft..., like your girlfriend wishes you weren't, John."

"Fuck you!" I get back along with his jab to my shoulder.

But all the way down the flights of stairs it's the thought of what Catherine told me last night; her lunch date with Richard; across the street, in the Regency Parkside Hotel; maybe a 'quickie' instead of a sandwich? Somethig to take the edge off before their marathon, blanket tossng, body shaking, leaving big wet spots on bed sheets fuck; after dinner their dessert in his room!

Hitting the sidewalk it's turning left as John tells me, "The Pretzel vendor is this way." Meaning the one which is usually right on the corner a short distance away.

"I like the one that's up this way on the corner," telling him in reply.

"What the hell, Swaggart, he says, they all get their pretzels from the same bakery at the same time," John's telling me.

"Yeah John, but I think this guy up here keeps his fresher," telling him. "And how would you know that," John questions in return.

"Just my gut feeling, John!" Replying. But it's the gut feeling about who I might see going into that hotel on the opposite side of the street from where the pretzel vendor sets up his cart, that I keep to myself.

"Fuck..., Swaggart!" Is what I get back.

At last, time to go home. And with John and several others following us down the stairs to the street; my posse, who I've shamed into the exercise of stair climbing and descending. And from the building we're in now, it's about twelve blocks for me, to and from the train station, eats up the time I would have waited in the school's cafeteria before leaving for the train station. Like today, I would have been wondering about the two of them along with what I was planning for Sargent Rei who's going to pay dearly for no other reason than my frustrations.

But it's limping from a very sore knee, along with a large darkening bruise on my upper right arm and shoulder, as I'm making my way into the house. Where I know, Sargent Rei is feeling a hell of a lot worse; the humiliation hurting his pride even more, as he's going into his house.

Dropping my gym bag on the floor, just outside the archway into the kitchen; I need a pot of coffee all to myself. Along with two non-aspirin pain relievers and a kiss to make my sore places better, especially to that expanding bruise on my arm, would be nice.

And it would have to be my right arm and shoulder, of course, my dominant side; making it painful lifting even my coffee cup. But, what the fuck, my attitude and mood I was in is better knowing I kicked Rei's ass! That being the main reason for the mood and attitude changes. The other though; she'll tell me about it because she likes to tell me about it. And weird me, I'll love hearing it.

With the change out of my sweats, a hot shower, a cold pack taped to my upper arm and two more pain relievers and cups of coffee; life is calm again for the moment. But what the hell is this; using my left hand to lift my cell phone from the desk top to see the screen..., now what the fuck! It's Catherine's name appearing on the screen; a Richard, "Nancy," Catherine? Do I swipe, or just let it go to voicemail? But swiping it anyway, is followed by, "Hello me."

"Hello, it's me," comes out of the phone on speaker.

"Where are you," she fellows up.

"I'm in the den, going over this paper I'll be turning in tomorrow night," telling her.

"Oh.., that's right, tomorrow's your night over at the college campus." she says, remembering. "Also tonight, was your smack down with Sargent Rei," her soft laugh behind that.

"He's hurting; big time," telling her.

"Oh my god... and you," she asks.

"Hurting big time too, with a very bruised right upper arm, shoulder, and left knee," replying.

"Bobby...!" The rise in her voice.

"Catherine, where are you?" Concerned she may be driving.

'If I told you I was sitting in my car right outside your garage," she tells me.

"WHAT! What the hell are you doing out there? I thought you would be..."

Leaving that last part hanging. But my thoughts continue that she would still be with Richard; along with her change of clothes for tomorrow; as I'm looking at the time displayed at the bottom of the computer screen in front of me.

"Can I come in," her voice coming through the cell phone with her asking that; breaking my thoughts.

"Of course Catherine, why would you even ask!" Telling her.

"Just because..." Just because what, Catherine; interrupting her, " now get your pretty ass in here; I know it's cold out there!"

"The garage door is opening now," she's telling me, where I'm already ending the call. Then out of my desk chair, wincing from the pain in my knee but, what the fuck is a little pain, if it means seeing her pretty face. And just as I'm getting to the kitchen entrance, the door to the garage is opening and there she is -- the aching pain in my arm and knee magically disappearing as she's coming towards me.

'What's that on your arm," she asks, stopping just short of reaching out to touch it.

"It's a cold pack Catherine, I sacrificed that arm and shoulder to deflect one of Rei's head removing roundhouse kicks aimed at it. But at the same time it opened him up to a take down of my own which took his leg out from under him crumpling him to the mat where I was right on him putting my full weight and a knee between his shoulder blades along with my left hand on his head pulling it up and back where I raked my right hand across his throat like I was slitting it. In our bouts with Sargent Rei; it's called and I quote Catherine; "revenge,with a capital R, a dish best served cold." And telling her all that took longer than the act of doing it.