1650 words, this chapter.
Ratings Warning: This is still Teen or PG, but it is suggestive. I would appreciate you letting me know if you think its too much for the rating.
Mush Warning: May be excessive in places, but I felt they deserved it after all I put them through.
Chapter Seven, Conclusion, Broken Valentine
In Becker's apartment, Jess hummed happily in the bathtub. The doorknob rattled. She giggled. "I told you, you can't come in!"
"I thought you liked bathing together."
"Ooh, I do," she said, "but not tonight. Go…occupy yourself some way. I know, go polish a gun."
Becker laughed. "Well, I never expected to hear that from a girl on Valentine's Day."
Through the door, Jess giggled loudly. "I guess not. Fine, go buy me some chocolate."
"I'd rather wash your back," he said, rattling the door knob. "I'll let you wash mine."
He heard a large splash. "Go away!"
"Did you just throw a sponge at me?"
"Yes, and it was stupid. I needed that."
"I'll just pick the lock and get it for you."
"No! Now go away so I can relax!"
He sighed. "You're mean," he said but went away.
She giggled and lowered down into the bath. She sighed happily.
Becker sat on the couch and flipped through the channels. "I'm so bored!" he yelled, turning toward the bathroom."
"ur iposbul!"
"What?" called Becker.
"Ife ed ur iposbul!"
He laughed. "I can't understand you! Did you swallow some bubbles?"
The door opened, and Jess stood there, wrapped in a purple towel and dripping. "I said, you're impossible!"
"Oh," he said. He smirked. "I know." He looked her over from toes to the top of her hair. "Need some help?"
"No!" she cried, running to the bedroom.
"How long are you going to be?"
"Beauty takes a while, Becker!" she called from the bedroom.
"It does? I thought you looked gorgeous just now: drips and all."
"Aw…"
"Honestly, Jess, they might give our table away if we're late."
"Leave me alone and we won't be."
Becker grumbled and flopped backwards against the sofa. "Women…"
"Men!"
A while later Jess danced into the living room and posed by the sofa. "I'm ready."
Becker laid still. He smiled as he took her in. She was all in red. The skirt ended halfway up her thigh, with little red rosettes lining the hem. There was a wide red belt at her waist, also lined with rosettes.
She had one bare shoulder as the neckline was asymmetrical. The other side was sleeveless with a large red rose sitting atop the shoulder.
Becker smiled and moved off the couch. "OK. I apologize. The wait was worth it. You're simply breathtaking."
She smiled. "Thank you," she said, kissing him, "but you aren't ready!"
He laughed. "Guys take like, five minutes."
She giggled as he disappeared into his room, emerging a short time later wearing a black suit and a light tan, crisp shirt. He even had a red rose pinned on his lapel.
She growled. "You look yummy."
He laughed. "I love your way with words."
She giggled and danced into his arms. They slowly kissed. Becker rubbed along her back and she played with his hair.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Jess."
She smiled, illuminating the room. "Happy Valentine's Day, Becker."
He held her coat for her and she slipped her arm into his.
"So what's the plan, Captain?"
He smirked. "A romantic dinner for two, of course. You do like lobster, right?"
She squealed.
"Ow! Jess, you promised you'd work on that!"
She giggled as they walked to the car. "I'm sorry. I need more work, apparently."
"Or I need a hearing aid."
He opened her door and she squealed again.
"Jessica…."
"You're the one who left a stuffed pink unicorn on my seat!" she cried with a smile. "Ooh and Belgian truffles!" She began to squeal as Becker braced himself, but she controlled it. "It's so sweet of you!"
Suddenly a thought occurred to her and she looked panic-stricken. "It was you, wasn't it?
He reached down and gently stroked her cheek. "Yes. I'm sorry. I forgot that you might be sensitive to surprises."
The smile was back on her face. "No. I was just making sure." She grabbed the unicorn and hugged it. She then forced herself not to open the truffles. "I love them, Becker!"
He laughed. "Good. Throw them in the back and let's go."
"What? I'm not throwing them! I shall place them, gently on the back seat. You're such a guy sometimes."
He smiled as he shut her door and went to get into the driver's side. As he put the key in the ignition, Jess touched his hand. "Thank you," she said.
He squeezed her hand. "My pleasure. I love making you happy."
"Squeals and all?"
"Yes," he said with a chuckle. "I'm just slightly concerned about my hearing."
She giggled as he started the car and they drove to dinner.
The restaurant was crowded, but true to a couple in love they didn't notice. They barely noticed their waiter in fact.
"I'm very proud of you," said Jess, breaking into her lobster. "The waiter smiled at me when he served us and you didn't even scowl."
He smiled. "Someone has me in a very good mood."
"Oh? I wonder who that could be."
He leaned in and whispered, "It might be the very pretty young lady playing with my foot."
She giggled and nearly choked. "Stop it!"
He laughed. "Fine, as long as you don't."
She blushed. "I have no intention of stopping. My foot will get lonely."
He smirked and they chuckled together.
They finished their fantastic dinner and drank their wine slowly. They were brought a plate of extraordinary cheese to clean their palate before desert. They took turns feeding the chunks to each other.
As they waited for the desert, Jess sighed. "I'm so happy."
"Me too, Jess."
The waiter appeared. "Voila," he said. "An extraordinary end to an extraordinary meal. I have for you 'Chocolate Lovebirds."
The desert consisted of two pieces of decadent chocolate cake, decorated with red frosting roses, sitting on top of two birds sculpted from chocolate.
"Oh my…"
"I think I just lost my girlfriend."
The waiter laughed. "Unfortunately, that seems to be the way it is going tonight. We do apologize."
Becker laughed.
Jess was transfixed, sitting still and staring at the edible works of art.
"Too pretty to eat?" asked Becker.
Jess shook her head, smiled at him, and decapitated one of the birds, stuffing it in her mouth. "Bo by Bod!"
"There you go, creating another language again," he said with a chuckle.
She chewed and swallowed. "I said, "Oh My God!"
"I'm learning," said Becker. "That's what I thought you said."
"That is the best chocolate I've ever eaten!"
"Wow. That says a lot coming from you."
"I know! Here, sweetie. Taste," she said, offering him a wing.
"It is pretty good."
She stared at him like he was insane. "There you go, sounding like a guy again."
He laughed. He watched her taste the cake, exclaiming again in unintelligible words.
"I love you," he said, chuckling.
She swallowed and smiled. "I love you. To prove it, I'll let you share these with me. I wonder why they didn't serve enough for both of us."
"Uh, Jess? There are two cakes, two birds."
"Yes, and?"
He smiled and shook his head, laughing. "I think the idea was one bird, one cake for you and one bird, one cake for me."
"Nah. That can't be right. They do serve women in here, on a regular basis, don't they?"
"Yeah. They should have known better."
"Right."
Becker kept shaking his head and laughing. Jess, naturally, ate the pair of lovebirds mostly by herself. Becker didn't mind. He thoroughly enjoyed watching her.
When the plate was licked clean, she smiled happily and sighed. "That was wonderful."
"Yeah," said Becker drinking coffee. "I figured that out."
After dinner they drove to a secluded spot and parked.
"Becker, I'm surprised at you."
He smirked. "Why?"
"Why? You're shameful, you know."
"We are both adults, aren't we?"
"Yes, but…"
Becker laughed. "Not that I'd mind, 'getting busy' in the car, Jess, but I had something else in mind. Uh...Jess, please stop giggling."
She shook her head. "I can't help it!" She giggled more. "Getting busy?' Not your usual choice of words, Becker."
He chuckled. "Sorry."
She took deep breaths to stop giggling. "Don't be. So...what is this supposed other plan, Mister?"
"Come over to my seat, please."
She raised her eyebrow in question but moved over.
"Hang on," he said, and he leaned the seat back.
"You're not exactly convincing me, Sweetie…"
"Now, look up Jess, through the windshield."
She did as she was told. "Oh, Becker!" she cried with joy. They sat, reclining together and looking at the moon.
"You like it, then?"
"Oh, it's beautiful," she said, wriggling into his side as he held her, "and very romantic."
"Yeah, that's what I hoped."
"You did well."
He chuckled. "Good."
They stayed that way for quite a while. "Becker."
"Hmm?"
"This is lovely. It really is, but…can we go home now?"
He smiled and kissed her. "I'd like to, very much."
She smiled.
Back at Becker's place, Jess headed for the bathroom inside Becker's bedroom. Becker lit candles and lowered the lights. He then took off his suit and put on a pair of maroon pajama bottoms.
Jess stepped out of the bedroom.
"Wow."
She blushed. She stood barefoot wearing a lacy red, short nightgown. Her hair was tied up in a red lace ribbon.
"You are gorgeous."
She smiled and walked over to him. She lightly touched his chest. "So are you."
He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her gently to him. She reached up and fondled his neck as they kissed passionately.
"I love you so much," he whispered.
"I love you too."
They smiled and he picked her up and carried her to bed.
"Finally," she whispered.
"Finally what?" he asked as he kissed down the nightgown.
"Valentine's Day is picking up," she said as he laughed.
The End
Happy late Valentine's Day!
