"I noticed Janet took your truck again, she drives it a lot now" Phil noted when he walked into the kitchen listening to Eddie's conversation on the phone.
"When she needs to"
"Eddie are you just going to admit you love the woman and she's got you wrapped around her little finger and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it" Phil expected him to get frustrated.
"Yeah, I'll admit that" Eddie was eating a bowl of cereal he'd fixed while talking to his mom.
"You will?"
"I just did"
"So what are the two of you up to today?"
"We're going out to the lake to fish and have a pic-nick in the wildflowers" Eddie talked with his mouth full
"Really?" Phil didn't think that was the whole truth
"Really" Eddie dribbled milk on his dress shirt and tried to wipe it off then nearly gave Phil a heart attack when he washed his bowl.
"Sounds like a super romantic day for love birds to me." Phil watched him like he was under a microscope trying to figure out if Eddie was still in there.
"It does doesn't it. Maybe you should find a way out of this house and take your lady love for a romantic day."
"Romantic day, who's got a romantic day!!!" Pizza Girl walked in
"Seems Mr. Latekka is taking the future-future Mrs. Latekka for a day at the lake"
"Future-future Mrs. Latekka, does that mean your going to….."
"No, Phiz is getting way ahead of himself. He needs to get out of this house. The sunshine would do him so good"
"He's trying Eddie. We sit on the porch everyday now" Phil found comfort in her taking up for him but it also scared him.
"Then tell me something? What's the difference between the porch and the yard or the lake or even his own place?"
"Nothing, I'm getting there. I promise Eddie I know you're in a hurry" Phil turned white, even more pale than he was already from years of no sun.
"Phiz, I am in a hurry because if I don't do something I want have a girlfriend let alone a future future-future wife but I'm not telling you to leave today. We'll talk about it just the two of us tomorrow." That put his mind at ease a great deal and he was comfortable again but also holding onto to his fears even more.
"So Janet has given you the either or, now or never speech?"
"No, Janet would never do anything like that which is why she deserves what I'm about to give her."
"Which is?" Phil asked
"A ring perhaps?" Pizza Girl guessed
"No, not a ring and stop guessing because it's none of your business and she's here so shut it"
"It's still in one piece" Janet came in looking like the perfectly behaved young lady in her curls, pearls, heels and simple knee length wrap dress then handed him his keys back and gave him a peck. She brought the basket in sitting it on the counter already full of things from her house. She extracted some small bowls and began to prepare the things they'd bought that were at Eddie's house.
"Get out or else you'll be starving later." Janet scolded him for digging through the basket
"I'm starving now baby."
"Please you ate enough last night you should be good to go for a few days" Pizza Girl interjected.
"He always eats like that" Phil explained
"Why?" Pizza Girl asked
"Here" Janet just slapped him together a sandwich out of the bowls she'd been packing
"Thanks" Eddie kissed her cheek knowing she only did it after thinking about his latest marathon and not wanting him to say anything
"I knew it!" Pizza Girl caught their silent exchange
"Did I miss something?" Phil had to ask
"Nope, you weren't invited, either of you"
"Eddie" Janet warned sweetly
"Invited where?"
"Invited to whatever sick love fest they had going on the couch last night" Pizza Girl winked
"It wasn't a sick love fest" Janet responded quickly
"We were watching a movie" Eddie wasn't going to comp to it.
"What were you watching?"
"It doesn't matter"
"You weren't paying attention to the movie were you?"
"We know what movie it was" When Eddie blushed he gave it away that they indeed didn't watch it, in it's entirety anyway.
"Then why can't you tell us?" Phil asked
"Because it's none of your business, Phyz"
"Cheap cop out Latekka" Pizza Girl declared
"If Janet wants to tell you what movie we watched fine but I'm saying it's none of your business"
"So Janet, one girl to another. What movie did you watch with Latekka?"
"There's two guy's here so it's not one girl to another"
"Okay, but it's just Phil so tell me, was it something romantic like Gone with the Wind or maybe hot and heavy like........."
"We watched March of the penguins" Janet was leery of what she'd say
"So you were going at it like animals on the couch"
"We're going to be late" Eddie was ready to get out of dodge.
"Wait why are the two of you dressed up to go to the lake?" Phil just had to know
"We're going to church " Eddie replied
"Church…You? ....That's not even believable" Phil replied
"What's not believable is the fact that this town has nothing better to do than gossip about what me and Eddie may or may not be doing" Janet was all sweet sarcasm before she walked out.
"Sorry" Phil hoped that was going to help
"Here don't forget your basket" Pizza Girl handed it to a grinning Eddie.
--------------------------------
"We did not go at it like animals, she's just …I think the hair dye has soaked into her brain" Eddie said before shutting Janet's door.
"I personally think she's bored and if Phil wants to keep her he's got to figure out a way to fix that" Janet was pissed about it by that point and Eddie was a little glad she'd started defending herself.
"I'm supposed to talk to him tomorrow. I'll do it after work."
-----------------------------
"Well, there's proof miracles do happen" Robert managed to lay eyes on Eddie and Janet when they walked in mostly because everyone was talking about it.
Lesley turned around to see them. "That's no miracle, that's a man in love."
"How humiliating?"
"What?"
"Latekka's in church and my two sons are laid up one with a woman and the other probably high." Robert got up to speak
"Where are you going?" Lesley asked him
"To say hello"
"No you aren't, you're going to find out how she got him here and we both know it" Lesley said through gritted scolding expression
"You coming or not?"
---------------------
"Commander" Eddie greeted him
"Janet"
"Lesley, you've met Janet do you know Eddie?" Robert asked
"We've met briefly a few times, the name is very familiar though?"
"So what brings you two to church today?"
"Robert!"
"It's fine, Lesley. I knew showing up with him was going to give everyone something to talk about." Janet replied sweetly
"I personally suggest clubs for love sick puppies myself" Robert held a serious face as he had often done having suggested it to Janet. "If you hit them right....."
"Nick doesn't come to church anymore?" Eddie interrupted
"I think he's made a shrine out of Aubs and Ronnie's a degenerate anyway."
"Excuse us" Janet and Lesely took a seat
"So did you suddenly find the lord again or suddenly find out what he can create?"
"Commander getting personal, not really your style. Could it be that the Dean's worked a little voo doo?"
"I'm proud of you son, you've done well. Better than anyone ever expected but I knew you'd prove them wrong"
"Thank you"
"Could you maybe talk a little sense into Nick before he lets that one get away."
"I've got my hand's full with more than I can possibly handle with that woman right there"
"Ahh, those are the best kind."
"I want argue with you on that"
"I guess a sermon about the sins of the flesh would be extremely uncomfortable wouldn't it." Eddie knew the preacher, he was his high school football coach and had walked up on them. The Commander took his seat again.
"You wouldn't"
"I guess you should kiss that woman, she just saved your butt"
"I think I can manage that"
"You should be practicing on stopping after that, you never did know when to quit"
"I've never quit"
"You're about to. I give it a couple of months tops"
"I'm not quiting Janet"
The man chuckled "I was referring to you quiting bachelorhood"
"I have no intentions of quiting, I will however admit to forfeiting"
Janet walked up to Eddie and his former coach "Ms. Meadows, how are you doing this beautiful morning?"
"I'm good and yourself?"
"You know I nearly had a heart attack when I saw Latekka come in with such a beautiful woman but I guess we're all bound to serve in one way or another. I'm just sorry you got stuck with reforming this one."
"Eddie doesn't need reforming, he's not nearly as corrupted as most think"
"Well we know that, maybe he'll figure it out before long." The man headed to the front of the church
"What was that about?" Janet asked
"He threatened me with sins of the flesh sermons"
"Shhhh, I'd rather not be outed in my own church."
"Do you have any idea how much I want to kiss you right now?"
"Later"
------------
"That's got to be embarrassing" Eddie whispered to Janet when Allison and Kaitlyn sat down on the other side of the church
"Eddie, I'm sure just being here is punishment enough"
"Yeah but she sorta asked for it"
"Maybe?"
"I don't know, I'm starting to think Owen's going overboard with making her pay. He should forgive her or let her be." Eddie thought Janet was right in her speech to Owen from the tub
"I agree"
"Hey, mind if we sit with the two of you?" Owen startled Eddie since he'd just been talking about him. Conner sat with his dad.
"Of course not, Owen" Janet answered sitting next to Lesley
-------------
"What?" Janet caught Eddie starring at her
"I didn't know you could sing" Eddie asked whispering in the middle of a hymn and Janet just shrugged her shoulders at him.
"I never knew you could sing sober" She very quietly replied when they sat back down
"I guess I'll just have to show you" He made her blush
-----------
"Hey" Owen nudged Eddie whom had his arm on the back of the pew behind Janet.
"What?" Eddie was trying not to look at him wanting desperately not to embarrass Janet in church again.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Owen whispered top secret
"About what?"
"You know"
"No, I don't know"
"The reason you're here. You know" Owen motioned to his belly
"What?"
"When?"
"When what?"
"Good grief Eddie he wants to know if you're here because you knocked me up" Janet had ignored it as long as she could.
"No!" Eddie replied to Big O
"What are you laughing at?" Lesley barked at Robert
"Then why…" Owen asked again wiggling his ring finger
"Shut up" Eddie ordered again
"Is there a problem in the back?" Everyone turned around to look. Allison rolled her eyes and let out a puff of air
"Just praising the lord" Owen responded to the preacher
--------------------------
"Outside, NOW" Eddie ordered the second church was over
"What the hell, Big O?"
"Church, watch your mouth" Owen told him having to much fun with it
"Okay, what the mmmmmmmmm is wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing"
"Then why are you so mad?"
"Because I'm sick of people asking me if I got my girlfriend pregnant?"
"How many people have asked asked?" Owen chuckled
"Richard, mom, Phil, Pizza Girl, Commander...YOU"
"Sorry but if you want to avoid the question maybe you should let everyone know why you are suddenly so willing to…..hey I've got to go" Allison walked by with the children
"Willing to what?"
---------------------
"Hold up Janet, you're not getting out of here that easily"
"Are you sure the doors only like ten feet away, I'm almost there?" She was playful
"Alright go if you don't think he'll wait" She couldn't leave then
"Sorry about the disturbance."
"Eddie and Owen have a habit of not paying attention. It's sheer miracle Eddie caught that pass."
"He knows but in all fairness Owen wouldn't leave him alone."
"Care to share what was so important they needed discuss it so urgently"
"Owen wanted to know why Eddie was here?"
"And…"
"Eddie didn't understand what he was asking"
"Didn't or didn't want to?"
"Some of both knowing Eddie"
"Knowing Eddie he wouldn't be on the back side of that alter if his reasons were more than just that of wanting to be with you"
"Thank you for not assuming"
He smiled at her "Your sins are your sins, I'm not here to judge just help you figure them out."
"I think I've got a pretty good idea what they are"
"I will assume Mr. Latekka does as well."
"We've talked about it a few times."
"Have you come to any conclusions?"
"Run, I've got it" Eddie whispered into Janet's ear having walked up to her before she noticed. Janet did run but only because Eddie wanted her to.
"That was kind of you"
"I'm not going to let you force her into a nervous breakdown"
"So are you prepared to answer the question"
"You're expecting me to say no"
"Not this time."
"Yesterday after we woke from a night of praising.." He knew exactly what they were praising "we went to lunch with my mother where she dropped all the words that use to scare me… … … marriage, love, babies.." Eddie blew out a puff of air "and sex and condoms and everything she could possibly think of to force me to grow up"
"She doesn't need to force you, you've done that own your own for Janet"
"When we got back to my place for a change and the house attacked her again, I walked in and she was lying on my bed and naturally I couldn't help my self and one thing led to another."
"As it often does?"
"I'm getting there, something happened and somehow we ended up happy to just settle on just talking and believe it or not a nap"
"How much something happened before you settled, happily of course" His coach picked on him
"A little but that's not the point, the point is I don't feel guilty. When she was lying there in my arms, her skin against mine knowing I made her feel safe. That's what it's all got to be about doesn't it?"
"What does she think?"
"Janet's got mixed emotions about it. She feels guilty for not feeling guilty and I'm afraid I've caused her to be ashamed."
"When you say you don't feel guilty, I assume you mean you don't feel guilty for not feeling guilty unlike she does. Does she know that?"
"I told her"
"You know I can't honestly condone the behavior. I will say that I think your on the right path to making a mends with the situation though."
"Then I might as well tell you I plan on asking Janet to move in with me"
"I see and I'm not sure if you're wanting me to tell you that makes it better but it doesn't make it worse, it's the same sin Eddie."
"I understand that and if you were asking me to give up things I've done in the past to make a mends with her I would, I could but I want give up her."
"Even for her?"
"You have to understand what that woman does to me. It's everything, the way she smells, smiles, how much she cares…she's so soft and everything is different now that she's around. I'm different and I don't want to go back to a world of one night stands. I know it's corny but I didn't know I was lonely before Janet because now I know what it feels like to not be."
"Does she feel the same way?"
"I think so. I've been putting off telling her I love her because first off I'm scared to death and then there's the whole upsetting her if she's not ready to hear it."
"So you're not going to tell her?"
"No, I'm going to when we get to the lake in a little while."
"Any chance you can do it with out the sex"
"I can try, but I'm not making any promises" Eddie grinned
"Give it your best."
"Is there a magic line between what's okay and what's not"
"Yeah, it's called clothing ...with pockets. Keep your hands in your pockets and you'll be fine" His coach laughed
"I'm never going to make it but just for my own curiosity can I not just be with her?"
"The being with her, the skin on skin, the gentle kiss, slow touch is what makes the sex so pleasurable and that feeling, the one of pure love for the woman in your arms is to be reserved for those who enter the sacred bonds of matrimony because that Latekka is the sacred part"
"That would explain why it feels so good." Eddie let a small chuckle out
"Can I ask you something?" Eddie nodded
"Why not take her as your wife, you'd get the whole to have and to hold."
"I don't want to rush, you know me I never was one for rushing even on the field."
"This isn't a field and making a field goal isn't the plan. This is your life and keeping her on the field is"
"Then I'm thinking defense isn't the way to go"
"I should have known the two of you would be talking about football" Janet walked back up having spoken to nearly everyone she knew and chewing Owen out.
Eddie scooted over just enough and took her by the hand. She sat squished between him and the end of the pew while facing the preacher turned around and sitting sideways on the one in front of them.
"Football wasn't my best endeavor. If you had any idea how much those boys put me through between the foul mouths and lack of morals…."
"I'm quite sure Eddie was one of the worst"
"He had a way with the ladies, his way mostly but he had the best intentions and the most heart of anyone I've ever coached."
"Yeah, I guess he's not so bad if he ever lets you get to know him."
----------------------------
"We've got to change clothes Eddie."
"We can do it when we get there. Unless you just want to go rip Phil's head off and be done with it" Eddie licked his lips and grinned as he drove.
"I didn't rip his head off I told the truth and the truth hurts sometimes."
"Come here"
"Not while your driving, Eddie"
"Would you just get over here?" Janet slid over next to him mindful of wearing a dress. Eddie put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.
---------------------------------------------------
"This looks like good a place as any" Eddie pulled over so they could change.
"You need some help over there?" Eddie asked as Janet slid her panties off from under her dress
"You seem to be having problems dressing yourself" Janet was taking longer having changed out of her church panties
"I'm good" Eddie snatched his shirt over his head and crawled across the seat through the truck to get to her.
"What are you doing?" Janet asked having just gotten her panties up.
"I came to help" Eddie pulled the tie on her dress slowly sneaking his hands beneath "I believe you owe me a kiss" Eddie bent to kiss her a powerful but sweet kiss. He took a deep breath "If you let me kiss you again...I'm going to do everything in my power to lay you down right here" He whispered then bent to kiss her again and she let him but pulled away before it went to far.
"I'm just....yeah" Eddie made himself let go and embarrassingly stood as Janet finished changing. She used him to balance herself in the sand.
----------------------------
"Who's place are we invading?" Janet asked as Eddie unlocked the door
"Mom's"
"If you had the keys why did we change by the truck" Eddie just smirked
"I'll be right back" Eddie went inside and signed the card to the flowers then came back out. Janet was standing on the dock waiting for him.
She had all their things ready to get into the boat. Eddie brought a small pillow and a throw blanket out with him and Janet settled into the bottom of the boat while Eddie fished.
"What?" Janet asked closing her book when he purposely dripped water on her feet that were all but in his lap anyway
"What time is it?" Eddie asked rubbing the cool water into her feet and ankles
"A little after 2:00"
"Those wildflowers are sounding pretty good right now"
"I thought you came out here to fish"
"I did, but you're distracting me a little"
"I'm sorry"
"Don't be, you're more beautiful right now than you've ever been" She had on her favorite pair of old jeans raveled at the feet, waist and had a small hole in the pocket along with a simple v-neck white tee-shirt. Her flip flops kicked off, her curls in no particular order and her skin glowing in the sun.
"Hunger going to your head?"
"You could say that" Eddie replied.
------------------------------
"Just so you know I've never brought a girl fishing with me" Eddie was stretched out on the blanket after they'd eaten with his head in Janet's lap looking up at her and playing with one of her curls as she ran her fingers through his hair.
"Just so you know I've never been fishing with a guy that actually wanted to fish" Eddie took her hand in his and held it to his chest "I like it out here, it's quite and slow" Janet added
"I like being out here with you" Eddie replied
"I keep waiting for one of the guy's to jump out from behind a tree"
"You still upset about the bathtub thing?"
"Upset no, bothered by it yes and I can't even tell you what it is that bothers me about it because I honestly don't know."
"I think…." Eddie sat up to face her "It's because" He brushed her hair back off of her shoulder "we were having to do the exact opposite of" He cupped her face looking her right in the eye. "what we really wanted to be doing"
"Duck Sitting?" Janet said softly and quietly in a near whisper as Eddie rubbed her cheek with his thumb
"Mr. Duck will never get to make love to Ms. Duck the way I get to make love to you" Eddie whispered back through his kiss.
"I bet he's nowhere near as good at as you are"
"Any man could be if they just had you."
"What if someone sees us?"
"Then they'll be jealous, their problem baby not ours" Eddie pulled her shirt over her head and it wasn't long before she urged his up as well. After a few moments rolling around Eddie unbuttoned her pants and discarded them as well.
"I thought you were never going to kiss it again" Janet asked while he was nearlly on all fours above her
"With fear of sounding to chauvinistic, it's my crown."
"I guess you've earned it since I've slept with you more times than I've had sex in the entirety of my life as it is."
"I like it that way. We can undo all of the ones before."
"So how much longer do you think we've got before we undo yours?"
"Another year or two should do"
"It was just a joke, we should be close but I personally think we should call them undone because this is so much better."
"I've got to tell you something, Eddie"
"When you're not so hot for me otherwise it's like going to the grocery store hungry." He couldn't let her say it first and his obsession with getting it right was about to cost him if he didn't hurry.
"That would explain why Phil needed so many groceries I guess."
"You think I over did it?"
"No"
"You've probably bought three times that much food the last month that I know of."
"That's because I've been feeding you two sometimes three meals a day plus snacks because you really do never stop eating do you which is why I suspect your responsible for the mysterious deposit into my checking account last week."
"Like you were going to take it any other way" He still kissed over her slowly
"Haven't gotten your bank statement this month I take it"
"You didn't" He stopped to look up at her
"I did, Eddie I don't need your money. You spend way to much as it is."
"You can't count taking you out, that's my part."
"But the gifts and gestures and I'm not even going to start on Sully's"
"Good, it's not going to matter" Eddie kissed her again. He had a way of holding her neck and face and head that just melted her
"God you feel good" Janet moaned out as he kissed her
"I usually prefer to hear that once we're a little more naked" He stopped and looked at her. Janet didn't move just waited for his mouth again. She was already down to her bra and panties Eddie to his jeans.
"Take what you can get" Janet replied when he kissed her again
"I'm going to like you being off when I am. You know better than anyone that I like going to Sully's but I really like getting you out of there and away from everyone so I can have you to myself."
"I was worried you'd think I was starting to get clingy and I don't want to smother you Eddie."
"I like clingy"
"Since when"
"Since you started getting all clingy"
"When?"
"About four dates in, you drug out the shackles and started hissing at other women"
"I did not"
"Sorry that was a naughty dream wasn't it"
"Do you only think about sex?"
"Is that a trick question?"
"Yes" Janet moved a little and let out a slight groan
"Roll over I'll massage your back"
"We should go back and let Lars and Travis do us again. It felt so goooooooooood. Oh God why didn't you ever tell me you could do that." His hands worked wonders.
"I should have known with the way you do my feet" She added
"Princess?"
"What charming?"
"Shhhhhh" Eddie massaged over her back and it wasn't long before he began to seduce her again. He let his hands go lower and further to the side kissing on her as he went. He unhooked her bra and Janet never showed protest even when they heard the boat go by. They were far enough a way to not be identified. After a little while Janet rolled over to face him pulling Eddie's shirt over her chest since her bra was rendered useless in it's current unhooked state.
She sat up with him still straddle of her legs. "What is it baby" Eddie whispered as she stared into his sole. "I just wanted to see your face" Janet reached out to touch his face.
"Why?"
"I knew you were smiling" She made him blush
"Why is it that you are not?"
"Your lips are so far away" She whispered back to him. Eddie bent and kissed her gently on the forehead. Then her nose and taking her face in his hands her lips passionately.
"Never again" Eddie spoke against her body and he knew she just needed him close, not to make love, or pass time but to be held in his arms.
------------
"Where are you going with my clothes?" Janet was laying in the blanket her curls in the grass. Eddie put them and the pic-nick basket back into the boat then returned still in just his jeans and sitting down next to Janet.
"I was wrong" He had never been able to resist playing with her hair. "You're more beautiful right now, just the way you are…..You're always twice as pretty afterwards" He put a small flower in her hair from the tiny miniature bouquet he'd made from the peteite wildflowers for her while she was fixing his lunch. He'd wondered off for a bit and came back with it.
"After what, we didn't have sex"
"We were together baby"
"What's gotten into you lately? You're being extra sappy" He knew by her voice she liked it.
"I just ……….I'm glad you came with me"
----------------------------
Back in the boat Janet propped her feet on the side and settled with her book again wearing just her panties and Eddie's flannel shirt, it wasn't long before Eddie threw anchor under the shade from a few overhanging limbs.
"I can't read if you're staring at me"
"You've been doing it for ten minutes"
"What are you doing?" Janet asked when he settled in the bottom of the boat next to her, only his jeans and her silky legs tangled with bare feet to be seen.
"I need a nap"
"I wondered how long it'd take you" Janet giggled
"move over" Eddie inched her over playfully just enough he could get slightly under her, her shoulders resting against his and her head on his arm as a cushion between her and the boat.
"So is this going to be an imaginary nap like the imaginary sex we had?"
"I didn't imagine anything."
"Then maybe I was asleep?"
"We were intimate Janet, it may not of been intercourse but .........."
"Foreplay maybe"
"What are you reading" Eddie changed the subject.
"Nick's book"
"Why? Haven't you read it before?"
"It's been a while, besides I want to see who I'm sharing a boat and imaginary sex with"
"That's not me, I'm nothing like that character in the book"
"I don't know about that, on one hand your all business, on another your all play but in ….."
"Your hands I'm all about both" He finished her sentence then kissed her tenderly again
"Who else knows of this super romantic, really sexy, unbelievably sweet, push over that I know"
"You're the only one which means I'm all yours"
"And I plan on keeping you to myself to"
"Really, all that time just me and you, we might have to find things to do so we don't get bored"
"Are you afraid of getting bored, Eddie?"
"I'm afraid I'm going to be so not bored that I'll never get that nap"
"We wouldn't want to spring an imaginary leak" Eddie knew that meant no going at it in the boat
"God your sexy when you talk like that" Eddie said it so serious staring right into her eyes and Janet just laughed at him causing him to laugh
"If we had sex shouldn't you be satisfied right now; not wanting to do it again."
"I'm very satisfied but you are the queen of the second time is the charm"
"I am not."
"We almost always go twice sometimes more and you know it"
"It's not my fault you can't get enough the first time around" They did what they did best flirting with each other
"Do you know that it's extremely difficult if not damn near impossible for most men to be able to go that soon afterwards. Including myself before you took over my worldly needs"
"Your Eddie Latekka, I've never thought about it. I guess I just assumed that among other reasons is the reason your so desired by the ladies"
"No and there's a differnce between a lonely drunk and desire."
"So why now?"
"Because your to beautiful to touch"
"You've said that before, I heard you say that. When?"
"One night I thought you were asleep but Janet I want you to know how beautiful a woman you really are. I can't tell you exactly what it is because I don't know but I think it's the innocence and the child like way you look at the world. You're still that little girl, to strong to ever be truly afraid. The need to please those around you and to hide from those you think you can't. Just enough fire inside to dare the world even when it bites back and the naiveness of thinking you can escape it."
"Eddie, I've never done this before and your wrong I'm afraid I'll have to wake up from this dream sooner or later"
"I told you I'd rather watch my sleeping Beauty sleep. Nothing can touch you when you're here with me" He was referring to his heart but Janet just needed his arms and a confession of love. She needed that promise even if she knew he had no control over it.
"You should really read the book, baby it's nothing like the movie." Eddie let Janet change the subject knowing he was on shaky ground about her mother.
"I can't read it on principal"
"I'll read it to you" And she did until he fell asleep listening to her voice and she dozed with him.
-------------------------
Janet screamed waking up to a fish flopping her lap and Eddie laughing. He didn't do it on purpose but it made a hell of a funny sight. He crawled over to get it and Janet kept squirming. "Baby be still your going to flip the boat"
"I smell like fish now" He still laughed as she dug around for her clothes.
"So you like to play in the mud but not with Chester " Eddie held the fish up making fish lips at her himself.
"Chester?" She giggled Changing shirts as carefully as she could as not to be naked, she didn't even attempt to put her bra on in the boat.
"Yeah, you haven't met Ernesto's cousin?" Eddie let the fish go.
"I have yet to meet Ernesto"
"Trust me you've met ERNESTO"
"Pervert"
"What time is it" Janet asked against Eddie's kisses before she could wiggle into her jeans. He just moved them further away not that she'd have room to dress without flipping the tiny boat anyway
"almost dark"
"I can see that. How long have you been awake?"
"A while" He'd been reading Nick's book
-----------------
"come on"
"I'm not getting out of here until I get my pants on" Janet refused to get out of the boat
"Why, you've got panties on and I can already see through your shirt"
"Because that's why"
"How is that any different than a bathing suite?"
"I don't do bathing suits"
"Well you do white tee shirts and panties unless you want to spend the night in there" Eddie helped her out of the boat and up onto the dock
"Mom would have killed me if she ever caught me with a woman up here."
"I would have serious problems if she did now."
"You're the only reason she let me have a key" Eddie replied as he unlocked the small lake house.
"So she knows we're here?"
"She knew we were coming out to the lake" Eddie responded and Janet took the opportunity of there being a bathroom.
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"She keeps fresh flowers because she comes often???" Janet bent to smell them
"Maybe" She didn't read the card, never even saw it and Eddie wasn't about to ruin the moment by pointing it out like an excited child.
"Maybe you think you're creativity is going to be rewarded" Janet watched him open the solid wall of glass doors onto the deck over the water.
"Maybe it already has been" Eddie lit the candles and had turned the dock lights on letting them dance in the ripples of the water.
"Maybe you'll tell me what your up to?" Janet asked as Eddie turned on the stereo and walked out onto the deck. Janet followed him and he started to dance with her.
"That would take all of the fun out of it."
Janet laid her head on his shoulder forgetting for the moment she was barely dressed "So when are you going to sing for me?"
"What do you want me to sing"
"You sure you trust me enough to pick" Janet teased him
"You're right I'm probably safer just going with what ever comes on next"
"That'll work for me" It wasn't long before the next song began to play
"Eric Clapton, you should have let me pick" Janet laughed
"I've got this" Eddie began to sing to her.
Its late in the evening
Shes wondering what clothes to wear
She puts on her make up
And brushes her long blonde hair (Eddie changed it to dark and made Janet giggle)
And then she asks me
Do I look alright
And I say yes, you look wonderful tonight
Though the first verse they both giggled through by the second Janet had gotten comfortable in his arms.
We go a party
And everyone turns to see
This beautiful lady
That's walking around with me
And then she asks me
Do you feel alright
And I say yes, I feel wonderful tonight
Eddie loved holding her and when she turned her head facing into his chest instead of out he kissed her. He grinned to himself knowing how perfect it really was. His mom was wrong perfect by his definition did exist in that very moment.
I feel wonderful
Because I see the love light in your eyes
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just dont realize
How much I love you ( He said it he couldn't believe he said it.)
Eddie felt Janet hold on a little tighter as they danced with him holding her hand to his chest again. He kept his head bent down to sing right to her.
Its time to go home now
And Ive got an aching head
So I give her the car keys
She helps me to bed
And then I tell her
As I turn out the light
I say my darling, you were wonderful tonight
Oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight
It was so quiet and calm, as if they were in another universe, everything stood still just for them."So what are you proposing we do with this you and me time?" Janet asked looking up at him. Eddie was doing his best to leave his confession innocent. Her voice remained delicate in the breeze.
"I don't know, we're all alone in this incredibly romantic place and you're barely dressed so what about a little truth and dare."
"Truth and Dare?"
"I'm going first. So locks what's it going to be truth or dare?" His voice was slow and seductive. There was no laughter
"Locks?"
"That's what my Dad always called you because of your curls. He knew you'd never be able to resist me"
"Really?"
"Maybe that's not exactly the way it went."
"Truth it is then"
"You don't play fair" Eddie kissed her running his hand lower down her back to the lace that covered her bottom
"Does Janet Meadows really want to be with Eddie Latekka for the long haul?" She wasn't expecting that.
"There's no where else I'd rather be and no ones arms I'd rather be in than yours Eddie" He bent down to kiss her and when they broke Janet turned her back against his chest and he held her as they looked out over the water
"Truth or Dare" He chose Dare nibbling her neck
"I dare you to read Nick's Book"
"Alright, but you should know I read some while you were snoring."
"I don't snore and what did you think about it"
"Ummm, it's my turn"
"Dare"
"I dare you to break your promise. Let me have it Janet" He shhh'd her when she started to speak
"Dare" He whispered into her ear
"I dare you to choose truth" She said faintly but with fixed purpose
"I'll tell you anything you want to know, baby?"
"Are you still ashamed of dating me?" Eddie knew he'd reached the end of stretching their legs, they needed to climb and he wasn't ready but willing to dive in.
"When I first asked you out I surprised myself because your right your nothing like the women I've dated before and I'm glad because I didn't need them but I do you Janet. So much it scares me sometimes. My doubts and yes I'm admitting I had some, there's no point in lying to you about that because we both know it. They were so much more complicated than what other people would think and I don't expect you to understand or even believe me but I ask that you just trust me when I say I'm right where I should be because I don't think I can live without you now. I need you to take care of me and I need you to let me take care of you to."
"Do you want to Eddie?" Janet looked back over her shoulder
"I want to, more than you know" He was a bit shy as he kissed her and Janet turned in the kiss to face him.
"Two out of three isn't bad" Janet meekly mumbled and Eddie figured it was another one of her jokes he'd get days later like he'd done so many times before but at the moment he had more important things on his mind.
"Truth or Dare baby"
"Dare"
"I dare you to go for a swim with me"
"So you don't want to….." His look said it all
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"The waters still cold Eddie" He was doing his best to resist his needs
"Well, I want say anything about yours if you don't say anything about mine."
"I couldn't if I wanted to my teeth want stop chattering"
"Come here" He couldn't help himself and with in moments knew he was going to have her before the night was done but she hadn't said I love you back and Eddie knew he had to give her a chance. "How well can you swim?"
"Why?" Eddie just started treading water and slowly working his way deeper.
"Where are you going?"
"Maybe you're the one that's scared of the dark?"
"I'm scared of dark water that has things that can bite so get your butt back over here"
"I can't, sorry" He swam further out
"Why not"
"Because you asked me to roll off and since I can see right through that white tee-shirt that's sticking to your boobs, it's not likely to happen unless I'm over here."
"That's not the only thing that's not likely to happen if your over there"
"So come out here then"
"What if I just get out"
"Go ahead I don't have a problem watching bra less women in wet tee-shirts"
"Do that often?"
"Every chance I get but it's been a while so why don't you come show me"
"Why don't you show me" She called and Eddie came. Janet got out and walked away with his clothes. He didn't care just walked right up the dock naked to the deck where Janet was perched watching him.
He took his time not getting into a hurry but when he got to her he didn't waste any melding his mouth to hers and his hands to her body without ever speaking a word. He kissed and sucked her breast through the shirt before raising it up and continuing to suck at her hard nipples. Eddie didn't usually do the half dressed thing, but he wanted her hot and ready and a little dirty play about it would help to get her there. Eddie finally peeled off the shirt leaving them both naked on the deck.
"Dance with me some more?" He had to calm down before it got dirty on night it didn't need to.
"Out here, it's freezing baby" He had her naked in complete vulnerability and it was to cold for him to push her into being comfortable with it.
"Don't move" He left her long enough to claim a few towels. He'd taken the opportunity to look at her when he walked back to her but just for a second as he moved to comfort her. Eddie wrapped the big fluffy towel around her and Janet watched his still naked body move through the room until he had her wrapped tightly and then put one around his waist as well.
"Janet"
"Shhhh, I'm listening"
"To what?"
"Your heart, like I do at night" She looked up at his confusion "Sometimes at night when you're asleep I crawl over carefully so I don't wake you and lay my head on your chest so I can listen"
"Sometimes I feel you there and I just lay there so I can feel you against me"
"Why don't you say anything?"
"I do but my god Janet you are to beautiful to touch, sometimes it's enough just knowing your there"
"That can't be so when you've touched me so many times"
"I'm only a man Janet"
"I only want the man" Janet walked away from him and Eddie followed as she led him by the hand to the bed.
Eddie stopped her kissing her gently down on to the bed. He kissed down her chest three times and eased between her legs as Janet willingly allowed him to enter of his on accord, no hands to guide the way. He held her so carefully beneath her head slowly passing through her body. Slow long thrusts until she began to moan. She was climaxing but taming her tongue and Eddie loved her to scream out, he didn't want to reserve anything and pushed into her deeper than he'd ever done before to evoke it just as she reached orgasm. He was afraid it was to hard but she held on and it was the longest orgasm he'd ever given her. Janet's voice was nothing he'd ever heard before, not quite pain but an intensity like never before as she arched her back twisting the sheet in her hands and closed her eyes tilting her head back unable to breathe. He was so enamored with her presence at the moment he'd hardly noticed he'd never said I love you again. She had to of felt it from with in him. There were no need for words he thought as their bodies had said it all.
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Janet laid in wait for the words to pass his lips again. They didn't come. She knew in her heart for sure that they would have and made love to him believing he loved her in return. As she laid against his chest, his fingers across her skin she accepted he wasn't able to completely even if he'd wanted to. Someone still held a piece of his heart. "We have to work in the morning"
"I know" Eddie replied and Janet started to get up but he stopped her. "Not yet"
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Janet sat beside him on the bed and kissed him gently awake. Eddie went with it kissing her more firmly before opening his eyes. "Everythings in the truck"
Eddie didn't question her being dressed already or taking it upon herself to get their things together. He was scared to know what was wrong.
When they got back to Janet's she got out of the truck and he unlocked the door for her and then followed her inside. Janet got in the shower and was surprised by Eddie joining her. She didn't invite him in or even want him there at the moment. He kissed her hard against the shower wall and Janet didn't protest she so badly wanted it to be okay. He had to love her deep down even if he couldn't see it.
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"Baby I…." Eddie looked down at her and he held her close to his body "Hey, what's the matter" Eddie stopped in mid thrust
"Nothing"
"Am I hurting you"
"No, don't stop"
"You're not enjoying it" Eddie started to pull out and she held onto him burying her face in his chest.
"Baby don't stop, please I just want to feel you….." He got that she just wanted to lay there but it bothered him this time.
"Janet"
"Please" She said softly looking him right in the eyes "Please baby"
"My god baby, talk to me." He knew she had emotions that went far beyond him. The wall was coming and he knew she was aware of it but he'd be patient for her.
"Please don't leave, stay please Eddie don't stop not now I need you" The second he started again she clung to his chest again.
"It's okay baby, I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere" He wanted to stop and did several times but she'd plead with him not to.
He knew she didn't climax that time but with the amount of time they'd spent going at the last few days he knew she was bound to end up sore so he began kissing her chest. "I can't baby" he whispered softly. He really wasn't able to, seeing her crumbling wasn't something he could just look over for the benefit of his release. He continued to kiss her before pulling out offering her another way to relieve herself.
"It's fine" She eased his mouth away from her body and to her lips kissing him goodnight.
"You sure?"
"Yeah" She kissed him so lovingly with a smile on her face and laid still on her side of the bed. Eddie held her hand as they stared at each other until they fell asleep. She was okay, he didn't love her the way she loved him, there was no other he had all of her but it wasn't because he didn't want to and she believed he did love her in his own way just not the way he loved Rory, but as she told him she'd take what she could get"
"Janet, baby…we've got to talk for a minute. Wake up for me"
Janet rolled having not come to. Eddie nearly cried knowing he'd blown it. He waited to long or pushed to much. Either way he was going to just have to talk to her face to face, no romantic gestures or perfect plans just simple conversation. Janet woke the same way she fell asleep with a smile still worn.
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