Rumour Has It

Chapter: 10

Rating: PG-13

Mary met her parents for dinner at a little café around the corner from WJM. She wanted to make sure she was at Lou's when he got there. And she rather liked the idea, greeting him at the door. Or perhaps in the bedroom.

"Hello, sweetheart." Walter rose to his feet and kissed her daughter. "How are you?"

"Well, daddy." she replied. "How are you?"

"Can't complain." he pulled out her chair for her. "Your mother and I were just look at the wine list."

Mary leaned across the table to kiss her mother. "Hi, mom."

"Hi, baby." she kissed her back. "Have a good day at work?"

"It was productive." she replied. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

Walter shook his head. "Not at all." he said. "We're just happy to see you. You haven't been around as much lately."

Mary picked up the menu. "I've just been busy, that's all."

Dottie smiled at her daughter. "Your father thinks it's because there's a new man in your life."

She tried to keep herself level. After all she and Lou were still new at everything, it was something they wanted to treasure between themselves for a while. They just seemed content on being together and exploring things. "Does he?" she asked, glancing over the menu.

"Yes." Walter replied. "You know I don't know why you insist on keeping things to yourself. We just want you to be happy, sweetheart."

Mary lowered the menu. "I am happy, dad."

"We'd love to meet him, dear." her mother said. "Maybe the two of you could come over to the house for dinner."

"Mom, I never said there was anybody..."

Dottie interrupted her. "No, but your smile did." she said. "There's no way you're going to convince us you're not seeing someone. So why don't you just go ahead and tell us about him?"

There was no harm in it. None at all. After all these were her parents. And if her relationship with Lou fell to the wayside it would be her mother's shoulder she would cry on. "You already know him."

Walter nodded. "So you patched things up with Joe, huh?" he asked. "I always liked him, he's a real man's man."

Mary shook her head. "No, dad." she replied. "It's not Joe. It's not any of the men I've dated before."

Dottie nodded. "But we know him?"

"Yes." she replied. "Lou Grant."

There was an interesting silence between the Richards family. Walter was the first to speak. "Seems a little...old for you, dear." he said. "I mean he's got to be..."

"Now, Walter." Dottie interrupted. "You're sixteen years older than I am." she reminded him. "And besides what difference does it make if Mary's happy?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose it doesn't." he replied. "As long as your happy."

Mary smiled and raised the menu back up. "I am."

Dinner went rather smoothly and Walter had left the table to pay the bill. Mary glanced down at her watch. It was nearing eight thirty. "Somewhere you have to be, Mary Elizabeth?"

Damn. She had just gotten double named. And by her mother no less. "No, mom." she replied. "I just have a busy day ahead of me tomorrow."

"Mmm hmm." she sighed. "Going over to Lou's? You know you could have brought him along."

"He's working late." she replied. "He said he probably wouldn't be home until well after nine."

"Then we have plenty of time."

"Well, I want to be there before he gets..." she stopped.

Dottie arched an eyebrow. "So things are going that well, are they?" she asked. "How long have the two of you been seeing each other?"

"A little while."

"And you're already spending the night?"

Not a conversation she wanted to have with her mother. "Who said anything about spending the night?" she asked. "Maybe I just wanted to see him."

Dottie smiled, knowingly. "I take it the two of you are serious."

"We're certainly heading that way."

"Why don't you bring him over for dinner?" she suggested. "I'd like to get to know him."

xxxxx

It was nearly nine by the time Mary got away from her parents and back to Lou's apartment. Luckily though he wasn't home yet. She sat down on the sofa and watched a little television, but then decided that her earlier idea of soaking in the tub sounded perfect. Mary undressed, leaving a trail of clothing from the livingroom, through the bedroom, and into the bathroom. Within moments she was sinking into a hot bubble bath.

Lou came through the door not twenty minutes later. He hung up his coat on the rack next to Mary's. There was something about coming home to someone that he liked. Or maybe it was just the thought of coming home to Mary. Whatever it was he felt a little less alone in the world. He headed for the bedroom, smiling as he came across her dress. He bent down and picked it up, continuing into the bedroom.

He placed the dress over the chair and followed the trail into the bathroom, carefully stepping over pink lace on his way into the bathroom. Candlelight illuminated the room. "I see you've made yourself at home." he smiled, sitting down beside the tub. "I like that. I also like the trail of clothes leading me in here."

"Well, I wanted to make sure you'd find me right away."

"Clever girl." he closed the bathroom door behind him. "How was dinner with your parents?"

"Good." she replied. "I told them about us. I hope you don't mind."

Lou sat down on the rug next to the tub."No, not at all." he smiled. "In fact I'm glad you told them. Kinda makes it more real."

"More real?" she asked. "I think what we have could get any more real."

"We'll have to tell people eventually." he leaned over to kiss her. "But not now. Now I like keeping you all to myself."

"I never knew you had a selfish streak."

"Only when it comes to you."

Mary smiled. "How was work?"

He loosened his tie and took it off. "Exhausting." he dipped his hand down into the bubble filled water, his fingertips brushing over her breast. "I think I need a little pick me up."

"What did you have in mind?"

"Mmm." his hand gently squeezed her before skimming down her abdomen. He began to tease her ever so lightly. "Depends. How long are you going to be in there?"

"Oh, I don't know." her knee fell to the side of the bathtub, encouraging him to continue. "A little while longer. Why don't you join me?"

His caress became a little more deliberate. "Why don't you get out?"

"And leave this romantic atmosphere?"

"I guess it is rather romantic." he agreed, pulling away from her. "I'll join you for a while."

Mary whimpered at the loss of contact. "Lou..."

"Relax." he soothed her. "You know I never start anything I don't intend to finish."

It didn't take long for him to undress and join her in the tub. She immediately moved to straddle him, bubbles sliding down her body revealing wet, smooth, silky skin and lots of it. "I take it you missed me." his hands eagerly covered her breasts.

His touch sent what felt like bolts of electricity throughout her body. "I was getting a little lonely." she arched into his touch.

"I'll take care of you." he leaned in to kiss her.

"You'd better."

He thoroughly massage the firm flesh beneath his hands, evoking moans of appreciation from Mary. Her body instinctively arched against his and she raised up on her knees with the intention of completing their connection. His mouth replaced his hands, stilling her. His fingertips were feather light as they caressed her back all the while pulling her closer to him.

She moaned out, his name escaping her lips softly and seductively. "Lou." she rasped. "You're killing me."

He pulled away from her. "No, I think I'm pleasuring you."

"I think we should get out."

"I just got in."

"I really think we should get out." she told him.

The candlelight illuminated her wet skin. "No, I like it in here."

His hands slid down to her hips, gripping them tightly. He encouraged her to follow her earlier train of thought. Hot kisses trailed against her neck and then her lips as he pressed further and further into her. She kissed down his jaw until her lips were touching his. She traced his bottom lip with the very tip of her tongue, his lips parted slightly and she indulged them both with a devouring kiss.

They moved together rhythmically, Mary dominating every incredibly intense moment. His hand roamed her wet body with possession and precision, touching and caressing and massaging all the right places at the right exact time. He slid his hand down between her breasts, skimming over her abdomen and down to her hips helping to guide her as her movements became more and more restless.

Their bodies came closer and closer to the devastating yet desired threat of release. Their breath quickened, their hearts pounded, their blood rushed. His body rose up to meet hers deliciously in the middle. It was all too much. There was nothing left for her to do but give in, his name echoing her lips, breathlessly. Mere moments later he followed behind her, a low, guttural groan escaping his lips followed by the delicate whisper of her name.

She collapsed against him. He gently stroked her wet back. "Are you okay?" he managed.

"Yes." she breathed out. "Fine."

"That was incredible. You're incredible."

"Mmm." she sighed."I love you." it was the first time she had spoken those words to him. It was the first time she felt the need to say them.

He smiled. "I love you, too." he said. "I liked coming home to you tonight. In fact I could get used to it."

"So could I."

"Move in with me."

tbc...