Chapter Sixteen
We had talked to the guys, basically trying to make sure everyone would be on their best behavior when Friday rolled around. I had called Paula after she said "yes" to Aaron's invitation, and we had talked for almost an hour. I had suggested she bring an overnight bag because I was pretty confident the guys would be as smitten as Aaron and I had been, and we agreed to meet on Friday morning. I told her that we would have a girl's spa day, on The Order's (I was starting to think of it as The Order, complete with capital letters by then) credit card.
We met at the same spa where I had spent my pre-nuptial day. I was waiting in the lobby when she came in. I stood and kissed her, firmly, lovingly, not a simple greeting among friends but a kiss between lovers, and she kissed me back. It was a good kiss.
There's a special intimacy about a day like that. We were naked in the steam room and then in the icy pool. Then in the hot tub and later being massaged, deeply, yelling occasionally.
And we talked.
By the time we finished our late lunch, the Surf and Turf for both of us with a glass of wine but nothing stronger, I knew her better than I had ever known any woman in my life.
As we were finishing up, napkins on our plates, I reached across the table and covered her hands in mine. "I don't think of myself as a lesbian," I said, holding her eyes with mine, "or even bi-sexual for that matter, but I REALLY hope this works out tonight because I can't WAIT to bed you."
She giggled and actually blushed but then, doing her imitation of that caricature voice you hear from time to time when a low-class hooker is introduced in high society, said, "It's mutual I'm sure." But the way she pronounced it, in a high, forced falsetto voice, was "It's mewchewal, I'm shuah."
We were both giggling as we left.
She parked next to my Mustang and pulled a small bag from the trunk of her oh-so-sensible Toyota Camry.
I swiped my key card and held up my hand for her to wait when I leaned inside and yelled - "Face the wall. Anyone who looks is cut off."
I waved her in and as we passed through the great room to the staircase I was pleased to note every man facing the wall and, as far as I could tell, nobody peeked.
"Stay here," I said after we were in my suite. I went downstairs where all nine of them were grouped around the foot of the stairs.
"Christ, guys, settle down or you'll scare her off," I said. "The clock on the wall says 6:08 p.m. I will present Paula at 7:00 sharp, so please have everything ready."
The various responses were predictable. Mark's Roman salute. Wayne dropping to one knee and intoning "if that is thy bidding my Mistress." Heels clicked and "Jawohl." I laughed and went back upstairs.
Paula was standing exactly where I had left her.
I giggled and said, "nervous."
"I just hope I don't throw up," she said, which made me laugh.
"Paula," I said, holding her eyes with mine, "this is a party and every one of those beautiful young men down there understand that 'no' means 'no.' You can always say 'no.'"
She giggled at that.
"Becky," she said, absolutely serious now, "it's not that. I'm just," and she wound down and I could see her eyes welling with tears.
I waited and she took a deep breath.
"I'm just afraid they won't want me," she managed.
I laughed and took her into my arms. "That," I assured her, "is about the silliest thing I've ever heard."
I released her and gently guided her to the full-length mirror on the closet door. I stood behind her, almost taller enough than her to see over her head, and said, "what do you see?'
"A fat girl," she said instantly.
And that made me laugh again
I reached down and laid my hands on her hips. "Wanna know what I see?" I asked.
"Yes," she said in a very small voice.
I let my fingers trace her face, lightly brushing her forehead, her eyelids, her cheeks, her nose, her lips. "I see an outrageously cute redhead (I was taking a little poetic license here, her hair is more auburn) with a cute button nose," I touched her nose lightly, "piercing brown eyes," I brushed her cheeks under her eyes, "and a mouth I can't wait to cover with mine," and I lightly brushed her lips with a finger.
She started to say something but I touched her lips again, silencing her.
"I see a sexy woman with sexy tiny titties," and I cupped her breasts, captured in a padded bra that made them damn hear bulletproof, "and hips that beg to be worshipped," as I lightly traced my way down her waist to settle on her hips.
I shushed her again when she started to speak.
"And an ass that is absolutely fucking GLORIOUS," I said, cupping and then patting that big caboose.
I stepped away and gently turned her with my hands on her shoulders.
"So don't you worry sweety," I conclude.
She stepped close and threw her arms around me, kissing me and saying "thank you."
I held her briefly and then pushed her away.
"Now let's get ready to wow them," I said and then added, my hands finding her hips again, "unless you want a pre-party quickie."
She looked at me speculatively but finally said, "I think we should probably get ready."
I pouted and she giggled and kissed me.
"Later," she said with a pretty good Groucho Marx eyebrow waggle.