Chapter Ten
I disclaim
Dave and Leila spent the weekend making love and talking about his return. Leila was honest with him about how she felt, her insecurities about all the women he worked with and the miles between them.
"Leila, I'm not 25 years old. I don't need to have sex with every girl that crosses my path." Dave got up from the couch, kissed her gently and checked on dinner. He wasn't a professional chef but it was a hidden talent that not many knew existed. "Baby girl, you sure did a great job with this house. I can't get over how many personal touches you put into it." When he got no response he looked into the adjoining family room. "Lei? Where'd the hell she go?" Dave looked around the expanse of the family room, kitchen, breakfast nook and hearth room. He smiled as he remembered the conversation he had with Leila. What the fuck is a hearth room? Isn't it the same as the family room? Why do I need a hearth room if I have a breakfast room? It's Florida, why do I need all these fireplaces? Even Maggie giggled at him. Dave couldn't help but feel the lump rise in his throat. "Leila?"
"What?" Leila said as she came back down the steps.
"I didn't know where you were." Dave said relaxing and hugged and kissed her. "I was talking to you and you weren't there."
"Next time I need to go potty I'll let you know first." She looked up at him with a slight smile and wrapped her arms around him. "Mmmm, smells good, I'm starving."
"Me too." Was his lusty reply as he nuzzled her neck. All Leila could do was giggle. They walked into the kitchen and Dave started the chicken. She sat by the window in the hearth room curled up in a big overstuffed chair.
"So that's what a hearth room is for?" He looked at her and smiled.
"So I can be in the same room with you without sitting at a table or standing in your way. It's my favorite room. It's an intimate gathering space, a family room on a smaller scale." Leila tried to explain.
"So it's just another room that needs furniture." He looked over with a smirk.
"Um, yes, pretty much." She watched Dave move around the kitchen. Something about him standing there with his basketball shorts, no shirt, bare feet, muscles moving as he chopped vegetables, he could make dishwashing sexy. She knew his cupboard was empty and that added to her thoughts. As usual the phone rang. They both looked at eachother as if to ask if they wanted to answer it.
"You know the only ones with this number are your girls and Steph and Paul." She said not moving.
"Exactly." He groaned. He didn't want any disturbances but as soon as he heard Abby his heart melted as always.
"Hi, sweetheart." Dave said he'd talk to Michelle and Leila about the girls coming down earlier and staying longer. Michelle got on the phone and said she was coming too; they just wanted to clear it first. "I'll talk to Leila and we'll call you back." Leila walked over and whispered for the dates. When he responded she shook her head. "OK, I love you too."
"I knew it would be ok with you I just want to make them suffer for a few minutes. Michelle wants to come down too. Tim has a some sort of ophthalmology conference Thursday and Friday." Dave rolled his eyes and Leila crinkled her nose.
"Boring." She replied sounding like a teenager. She tried to grab a piece of green pepper and got her hand smacked.
"You can wait." He smiled at her as he took one for himself.
"That was wrong on so many levels." She whined and this time successfully snagged a bite. When Dave caught her she tried to run but he grabbed her. He pulled her against him and buried his face in her hair.
"We have about 10 minutes." He didn't wait for an answer and removed her girl boxers. He nudged her forward and kept his chest to her back as he walked her to the loveseat. He slowly turned her, showered her with kisses and guided her to sit. He pulled her legs so she was positioned at the edge and he knelt in front of her. He continued kissing her as he removed his own shorts and as soon as he was free he slipped into Leila. She grabbed his hips and took command of the pace, her own desires setting a strong rhythm and it caused him to reach his own release too fast. He changed the pace and watched her. He knew her expressions, the things she did signaling her impending fulfillment. He loved to wait for her but he wasn't sure if he could this time. As he fought with his own body, he felt Leila getting closer and he discharged himself inside her just as she spilled onto him.
"Why can't I get enough of you?" He asked as if he didn't know.
"I'm glad you're still interested." He looked at her as she spoke and he caught her hidden serious tone behind the sexy smile.
"You're magical in so many ways." He kissed her softly and regretted the timer going off signaling dinner was ready. He went to the kitchen and she quickly freshened up. On her way back she answered the phone and told the girls they'd be waiting to pick them up at the airport on Wednesday evening. She had to hold the phone away as they both squealed with excitement. Honestly, Leila couldn't wait to see them either. Michelle and Tim would stay in the guestroom and the girls were beyond excited to see their rooms.
Leila and Dave sat down for dinner and chit-chatted about things from the weather to Leila's busy work schedule the next few weeks to the 'family' visit. He was proud of her and her accomplishments. She was clearly talented but he always saw an underlying current in her eyes. If you didn't know her you'd never see it. He'd catch her sometimes staring out the window or at a blank tv screen. He knew enough to know he didn't want to talk about it unless she needed too. Psychology wasn't one of Dave's strongest subjects but knew he could be a good listener.
"I forgot to tell you, my Mom and sister want to come down here for Christmas this year. I think Mom's sick of the snow. I offered to get her a condo or townhouse so she could move closer, but I think she's scared. She's lived in the same house for 25 years." He stared as his plate as he thought again. His mind sure was in the doom and gloom space today.
"Do you want to show her a few things? Maybe that would help." She reached for his hand and held it.
"That would be great, can't tell her though until she's here." He knew his mom would never agree. He began thinking about bringing them down now so she could see the girls too. Michelle and his Mom still had lunch once a week and often took little trips together. "Maybe I'll call her and she if she'll come down with Michelle." They finished dinner and Leila cleaned up while Dave called his Mom. She hadn't met his Mom and it made her nervous. "She's coming." Dave said almost shocked. "So is my sister."
"Um, Steph called while you were on the phone. They're coming too." Was Leila's reply. While she did the dishes they talked about all the guests. Space was definitely not an issue; they planned the things they could do. His mom and the girls were staying an extra week so they had roughly 10 days together.
"Oh shit. I need to get their tickets." He left the room and went to his office to book the flights online. He loved that ability, it saved so much time and it was hassle-free. He looked around his office and smiled at the personal touches Leila put into the room. Pictures of his girls, him with the girls, wrestling action photos, even his lunchboxes had a special spot. He said to himself, "I need some of Leila in here."
"Uh, no you don't." Was the response Dave got as she walked in and sat on the leather chair opposite him.
"And why is that?" He leaned onto the desk lacing his fingers as if they were in a meeting discussing something important.
"The pictures you have are a reflection of your career and the girls since you don't see them all the time. You see me all the time, no need." Sounded logical to her.
Dave held up a picture of himself by himself, "What's the point of having a picture of myself?"
"That one is my personal favorite and you look sexy as hell." Again, sounded logical.
"But this is my office, take it to your house, or are you telling me you're moving in here?" He smirked seductively.
"I have that one, I snuck it from Stephanie's office. She had it in a promo file. Why would I move in here when I have a perfectly good house five minutes from here?" Leila knew she wasn't answering the question directly.
"Five minutes is too far away. I repeat, why would I need a picture of myself in my office?" He stood up leaning across the desk with his hands resting at the edge.
Leila stood and got inches from his face. "I repeat, it's my personal favorite and you look sexy as hell." She let her tongue tickle his lower lip. "You know how you look, it's intentional." She held the back of his head and bent to kiss his neck, his body shivered from the light touch and feel of her breath. Dave groaned and let his eyes close. His head fell to her shoulder and he kissed and licked her neck and shoulder. Leila broke away and walked out of the office.
Dave called out to her, "I wasn't finished with you."
"Yes you are." She looked over her shoulder at him and gave him bedroom eyes. He broke into a run chasing after her and she screamed and laughed as they both ran through the house. When he finally caught her he threw her over his shoulder and headed upstairs taking them two at a time. He did his usual and launched her through the air and onto the bed. He pummeled her mouth with kisses, loving the way she felt beneath him. They couldn't get enough of eachother, they were eachother's drug. When they slept, their bodies still maintained some sort of contact, skin always touching skin. She thought of him and what he meant to her. She was scared out of her mind and yet powerless to resist him. His kisses intoxicating, his touch exhilarating, he drove her senses into a tailspin. How could one man be so powerful? How could one man control her every thought, emotions, physical being? The ways he made love to her made her feel like she was his only thought and care.
Dave thought the same thing. Leila was all consuming. He was heading back to work and how would he cope without her? "I love you, baby girl." He whispered as he lay panting next to her, his body glistening with sweat. She rolled over and sat on top of him raining kisses all over his face. The simplicity of her naked body above him caused his body to react again. He knew there was no way he could handle it again today but he sure as hell was going to give it his best shot. The slightest, most subtle shift in the kiss told Leila the kisses went from fun, flirty and lovey to erotic, dangerous and seductive.
"No more, can I get a break?" She asked between kisses. Dave simply shook his head.
"I need one too, but I can't fight my natural reaction to you." He rolled her to her back and gave her a few more deep kisses. He pulled her up with him and he went into the bathroom. "Pick out a movie and lets sit in the bath." He started the bath, lit some candles and climbed into the nice hot water. She came in, started the movie and climbed in sitting in front of him. Leila had arranged Dave's bathroom so it was big enough for a comfy chair. She had a flat screen mounted across from the tub and the electronics were tucked into a nook in his closet; she had thought of everything. Dave only lasted about 20-30 minutes in the bath and got out. She could sit in there all day if he let her! They finished the movie with her in the tub and him in the chair.
He laughed as she wiped her tears away at the end, he laughed because it was a happy ending. They lazily got into bed and snuggled. Three more nights of peace and quiet, three more naked nights and they'd have guests. Dave nonchalantly brought up her moving in again and she said she'd think about it. There was plenty of space for her she'd just need to figure out where to put her furniture. She had decorated Dave's home with Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel items, hers was more rustic and Americana. Leila naturally assumed Dave wouldn't want any more children since he already had two and they were practically grown. She could convert one of the extra bedrooms into a space for herself.
She knew it was crazy to think she'd be with Dave for the rest of her life much less have the opportunity for children, but it was something she dreamed as if she were a school girl and he was a dreamy rock star. Stephanie told Leila on more than one occasion to just 'casually' ask him about kids. She wasn't convinced it was a casual question to ask. It would lead to other questions about lifetime commitments and bring up emotions she had long since suppressed.
"Dave, can I ask you something uncomfortable for us both?" He couldn't help but laugh at her awkwardness.
"Of course. I'm guessing it's a girl topic like feelings." He replied. Leila rolled over facing him.
"Why are you really asking me to move in?" She shyly asked. He took a deep breath and stroked her face.
"I want to be with you, Lei. Not just this week, not just this month. Will it lead us to marriage? I don't know I'm not sure if I'd want to do that again since I'm not very good at it. All I know is I can't imagine a day going by and not seeing you or hearing your voice. I want to know when I fly in after taking a beating for four days you'll be waiting for me in our home." And he kissed her.