Somewhere in an A/U. Characters belong to Janet Evanovich; I'm just playing, not making any money on this project (sadly).

Babe story; HEA; smut alert and graphic language ahead, so be warned.

Chapter 38

By the time Carlos returned about an hour later, I'd climbed out of bed and thrown on a short satin robe from Victoria's Secret and a pair of killer 4-inch stilettos. I'd also used the time to visit the bathroom to freshen up my makeup, applying another coat of mascara, more lipstick and taming my wild curls with just a bit of mousse. Then I picked up the small bottle of baby oil I always packed (you'd be surprised at all of the uses it has) and an ear to ear grin split my face. Mmmmm….this could come in very handy. I had a plan to let my man know just how grateful I was for his 'more than should be expected' behavior. Oh, yeah, I was going to make the man very happy….

But first I put my other plan into effect: I sat down at the desk and pulled out some of the hotel's stationary. I'd had the idea ever since I had read the Ketubah that Stella and Patrick had composed for their wedding. A love contract from me to Carlos. Yes, that would be a perfect way to express my love for him, and my knowledge that time would only deepen my love even though we were apart. I hoped he would be able to tuck this one sheet of paper in his pocket and pull it out whenever he had any doubts that we were real and that I would be waiting, just counting the days until he was back in my arms again.

The words flowed easily from my heart, and I finished the 'contract' with plenty of time to hide it until I could find the perfect time to present it to him. Maybe over dinner? He'd mentioned taking me out tomorrow night for dinner and dancing. Romantic, yes. Perfect! But what would I put on? I ran to my closet, checking out what I had left to wear. Not much, unfortunately. I hung up my bridesmaid's dress, and bit my lip, thinking.

He'd promised a trip to Victoria's Secret tomorrow….that would mean a Mall visit. Which would guarantee a Macy's nearby. I could find a dress there, for sure. Or maybe, just maybe, if the price of the dress was an extra special deal---on a Columbus Day sale, say--I could even handle Nordstrom's. Especially since I had some really killer shoes here, and wouldn't need to buy shoes if I picked the right dress. Which was…mmmmmmm…what, exactly? Sexy, obviously. But I was thinking dramatic, as well. Depended on the restaurant, but I could get more information on that from Carlos.

The sound of my phone distracted me from my musings, and I grabbed my purse and reluctantly pulled it out. Damn! My mother! Of all of the people I didn't feel like talking to………

"Hello, Mom," I tried to infuse some happiness in my voice.

"Stephanie! Is the wedding over yet?" My mother sounded harried, and my stomach dropped. Oh no, she wasn't going to……

"The reception is just breaking up," I confirmed, checking my watch. "It was a lot of fun, Stella looked--"

"Never mind that," she interrupted me firmly, "I need you home asap."

Yep, that was exactly what I'd feared she'd say. But it wasn't going to happen. Nope, not even if blood was flowing on the kitchen floor and the EMTs were out in force on the Plum lawn. I wasn't missing my weekend with Carlos for anything or anyone. Time to start showing my mother exactly who I was now…and who I wasn't anymore.

"Not happening, Mom." My voice was unapologetic, "What's the problem?"

"Your father and grandmother are fighting again and my poor nerves can't handle it anymore. I need you here to keep your grandmother away from your father before he kills her."

"Sorry, I won't be able to help, except by phone. I'm here until Monday morning, then I've got to go to work Monday afternoon. I can stop by Monday night for a bit---"

"That won't help me at all, Stephanie," she snapped, "By then my nerves will be shattered permanently. The wedding reception is over; you have nothing to stay in Newark for. Check out of the hotel now and you can be here in less than an hour."

"I said no, and I meant it, Mom," I held firm. "I'm not checking out tonight and coming over there. If you want me to talk to Daddy or Grandma, put them on the line."

"Can you hear that yelling?" I could. Shit, it sounded bad, all right. "That's your father and your grandmother--and it's been going on for almost 3 hours. 3 hours, Stephanie!"

"What started it?" It sounded worse than anything I'd heard before. "Or should I say, who started it?" As if I didn't already know the answer.

"Your grandmother heard a noise in the bushes next door and thought it was a prowler. She got out your father's gun and---"

"Omigod! Grandma shot someone?"

"She shot at someone! Fortunately, she didn't hit him. Turns out the Roznecki's are having their place appraised Monday--they're selling and retiring to Florida--and they'd hired a man to do some last-minute work on the gutters outside. Your grandmother missed him by a foot or so, but he took off on a dead run then called 911. The police showed up and it took some fast talking to get them to forget charging her. Joe Morelli's on the force now; he answered the call. You remember Joe? Such a sweet boy."

"Yeah, he's a real sweetheart, all right, Mom. Good old Joe Morelli." I remembered him all too well: fingering me in the garage at age 6, taking my virginity at age 16 behind the éclair case of the Tasty Pastry, and writing about it on the wall of Mario's Sub Shop before he joined the Navy. Some sweetheart! "Too bad Grandma didn't use the gun on him!"

"He gave your grandmother a stern warning, and talked to your father," my mother rambled on, oblivious to my bloodthirsty mutterings. "But your father's been on the warpath ever since the police left, and my poor nerves can't handle it anymore."

"Well, Mom, I'm really sorry things are going bad there, but there's really not much I can do to help out."

"You can come home---"

"And do what, exactly, Mom? Handcuff Grandma to me and drag her out of the room every time Daddy enters? Take her out for a few beers and a pizza? Or maybe drive her somewhere for shooting lessons so she doesn't miss the next time?"

"That's no tone of voice to take with your mother, young lady."

"Mom, I'm enjoying a weekend here that I've been looking forward to for months. Months. I've got plans--and I'm not canceling them for anything."

"Not even for your father or your grandmother? Or even, God forbid, because just once---once--your mother asks you to help her? I don't expect much from you, Stephanie, but this…this I absolutely must have!"

I took a deep breath and ignored that last dig. "Daddy and Grandma don't need my help, they are adults. They can be reasoned with. Just go put one on the phone and I'll talk to them while you talk to the other."

"I need you home! Nola Weizenblatt's daughter would come home if her mother asked her to!"

"That's because Selma Weizenblatt is an idiot. Her mother walks all over her! Selma caves because her mother throws a monster-size guilt trip on her and Selma never learns. Like Charlie Brown and the football, she falls for the same shit every time."

"I am not putting a guilt trip on you," my mother said, doing just that. "If you don't care that I have a pounding headache that could very well be my blood pressure spiking to a stroke, then there's obviously nothing I can say or do to change your mind."

"You don't have blood pressure problems, Mom. You never did. But just in case you've suddenly developed them in the last hour or so, you can always borrow Grandma's monitor and check your pressure. Then if you really do have a problem, you can have Daddy drive you to the hospital. It'll split him and Grandma up, and the fighting will stop for the evening. Maybe you could go that route."

"I don't like your attitude, Stephanie Michelle."

"You don't have to like it, Mom. I'm not coming home. End of discussion. The offer to talk to Daddy or Grandma stands, but only in the next 5 minutes--"

"He's your father and she's your grandmother. How can you not help when they need you here?"

"They don't need me there, Mom! And besides--he's your husband and she's your mother. You've known them longer than I have, and you live with them 24/7, so you know how they get. This isn't their first fight, this won't be their last. If you're really that sick of listening to them, then just get in your car and take yourself out to dinner and a movie. By the time you come back, they'll be fine."

"They'll have killed each other."

"Well, then your big problem will be solved, won't it? No more fighting to get on your poor stressed-out nerves."

"God knows your dear sister Valerie would never behave like this to her mother."

"Fine, Mom. You're right. She wouldn't--she's perfect. So, hey, you know what? Call her right now, and you can commiserate with Valerie on what a bad daughter I am and how much of a disappointment I am to you. It won't be the first time you've done that, either." I knew that for a fact, too.

"I baked a pineapple upside down cake for dessert--"

"Sorry, I'm stuffed with wedding cake. But thanks for the thought, Mom."

My mother hung up on me, and I smiled at satisfaction. I hadn't cracked! I pumped my fist in Victory! Go, me!!

"Proud of you, Babe."

I spun around to see Carlos leaning against the door jam, amused. He was holding his duffle bag in one hand and a big McDonald's bag in the other. He'd changed his clothes since the last time I'd seen him, and now sported well-worn blue jeans that fit like a glove and a black T-shirt that almost looked painted on. A black leather jacket and black boots completed the picture. Damn, the man looked sexy!

"I didn't hear you come in," I confessed, "How long have you been standing there?"

"Since you told your Mom that you weren't coming home no matter who your Granny shot. Who was the poor bastard, by the way?"

"She missed him, luckily. She heard someone moving around outside next door and decided to shoot at who she thought was a prowler. It turned out to be the neighbor's handy man instead. But fortunately the cops aren't pressing charges against her."

"Why not? That should get her hauled downtown, for sure."

"Good old St. Joe Morelli is on the police force. My mother's new hero. He decided to let Grandma off with a stern warning--which we all know she'll ignore."

"Joe Morelli? Where do I know that name…?"

"He was the first guy I slept with. Remember? I told you."

Something moved over Carlos' face, just for an instant. "The damned Bakery Poet?"

"The very same. My mother has forgiven and forgotten, clearly. 'He's such a sweet boy.' She's elevated him to Saint status for this, from the sound of it."

"Someone I need to worry about, Babe?"

"No chance in hell, Superman. Anyway, long story short, my Dad and my Grandma have been fighting ever since--it was his gun she pulled, after all--and my Mom ordered me home to mediate the latest family crisis. I said no, being a selfish bitch."

"Forget selfish. And you're not a bitch. You didn't cave in, Babe. You stayed strong. You weren't tempted even a little bit?"

I grinned, "To leave you and go listen to them screaming back and forth at each other? You think I'm crazy? Nope, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Carlos. I'm not giving up this weekend for anything or anyone. I'm not taking her calls anymore tonight: I turned off the phone. And I'm not the least bit tempted to swing by Trenton and check to see that everyone's still standing by the end of the night."

He smiled then, and I swear I damned near orgasmed, he was so damned sexy!

"Then it's a good thing I brought you something to keep you happy for the next ½ hour or so." He handed me the McDonald's bag, and began to unpack his duffle bag. "I figured I'd be spending the night, so I packed a few things---"

I grinned, "Good, because I missed you while you were gone. I was actually having second thoughts about letting you out of my sight. Thinking I should have gone with you…and then we could have stopped to do it in the back seat on the way to McDonald's."

"Not that I'm turning down that option in future, Babe, but that car of yours is a real piece of shit. I was very lucky to get it started at all."

"Damned battery, no doubt. I'm going to have to replace it soon."

"I rented a car for tomorrow. Just in case your car won't start."

"Riiight. Sure you did.More likely, you rented it because you didn't want to be seen in public in my POS any more." I nibbled a few fries and caught his quick smile of agreement. "What kind of car did you get?"

"A surprise," he winked, "But that brings up my next question. What do you want to do tomorrow? What is your perfect day?"

"Sleeping late, for starters."

"Nah! You'll waste half the day that way, Steph!"

"Making love over and over then sleeping."

"Like I said, very good way to start the day, Babe."

"I thought you'd agree," I giggled, "We have lots more condoms to make use of, after all. And I have a surprise for you that you're gonna love."

"I'm sure I will," he leaned in for a long kiss, "Mmmmmmm, you taste like ketchup."

"That's because these are absolutely delicious," I munched happily on my fries, and beamed lovingly at Carlos who was by now crunching away on his garden salad. "Thank you again, Superman!"

"De nada, Babe," he grinned, clearly enjoying the sight of me lying almost naked on the bed while I stuffed myself with my cheeseburger and fries. "That's just what you felt like?"

"Oh yeah! They're yummy beyond words. Much better than room service, for sure!" I sighed, licking the ketchup from my fingers, "I'm going to make you a very happy man for doing this for me. Not just once but twice over."

"That sounds promising," he said, with a huge wolf grin. "I'm going to be making those same happy sounds you are right now in no time at all, huh?"

"You definitely are! And thanks for the extra apple pie," I indicated the second dessert which he'd surprised me with, "I'm gonna save it for later tonight."

"So you don't need to O.D. on candy bars," he winked. "Which you will anyway, but still, I tried…"

"You did, at that," I nodded, finishing off my cheeseburger with a happy moan, "Didn't work. Won't ever work. Me and chocolate….mmmm, mmmm: perfect together."

"I thought that was you and me, Babe."

"That too. We are perfect together--we always will be."

"Yeah, Babe, we will. So? Answer the question. Got any ideas how you want to spend tomorrow? I'm wide open to suggestions."

"Honestly? All I want is to be with you, making love and then having dinner somewhere really romantic. With lots of slow dancing. And delicious dessert."

"There's this great Cuban restaurant I know…" he hesitated, "Unless you prefer something else?" He stopped, sounding uncharacteristically unsure of himself.

"I've never tried Cuban food, but I'd love to," I assured him, "Especially some of those fried stuffed potato thingies you told me about before. What did you call them?"

"Papas Rellenas," he replied, finishing his salad and helping himself to the last of my fries. "You'll love them. Guaranteed."

"And this place--it has dancing too, you said?"

"It's a really good restaurant, fine dining and then dancing to Latin music. Very romantic, Babe. That's why I thought of taking you there."

"Sounds perfect. Now…what kind of desserts are we talking about, Carlos?"

"Well, I love the flan, which is basically a custard. They have a few varieties of that. And they make their own ice cream, which is delicious. But you might like the Bacardi rum cake, which is one of their specialties. It's a very rich yellow cake with pecans and glazed with a truly decadent butter, sugar and rum mix."

"I like the sound of that," I licked my lips, "What else do they have?"

"Mojito cake," he smiled, "Which is angel food cake, mixed with pineapple and some lime juice. Iced with creamed cheese, rum extract, whipped cream and limeade, and then sprinkled with coconut and lime zest."

"That's what I want," I decided, "Closest thing I can get to the pineapple upside down cake I was bribed with tonight. The cake I'll never get to taste again, since my mother will never let me forget standing her up in her hour of need."

"Poor Babe," Carlos gave me a long kiss and a soft cuddle, "What can I do to make you feel better?"

I smiled, "That's my line to you. You got me my McDonald's…now I'm planning to make you very happy."

"Just looking at you makes me happy, Babe. Happier than I've ever been in my life."

"Back at ya, Superman. But I'm planning on taking that happiness to all new heights tonight." I stood up and shimmied to the desk, where I picked up the small bottle of baby oil. I loosened the belt of my robe, giving Carlos a clear view of my naked body, "Now…how would you like the best massage of your life?"

"Oh boy," Carlos grinned, shucking his clothes as quickly as I'd ever seen. "Now that's what I'm talkin' about!"

"I take it that's a yes?" I allowed my eyes to wander slowly over his naked body, and damned near licked my lips in lust. Carlos has the best body in the world, bar none. God, the man was a Cuban Sex God--and I had him all to myself for the whole weekend!

"That's a definite yes." He lay back on the bed, his arms folded under his head, his grin downright devilish. "How do you want me? You're calling the shots, Babe!"

"Roll over, then," I decided, trying not to drool, "I'm going to start with your shoulders and work my way down your back…then I'm gonna have some fun with that tight hot ass of yours."

Carlos moaned happily, rolling over as ordered and using his forearms to support his chin, "You can have all the fun you want with me, Babe. I'm not saying no to a damned thing."

"I'll keep that in mind," I tossed my robe down on the floor where his eyes could see it, and I straddled him, letting my pussy tease his waist with its dampness.

"I like that you're keeping your shoes on," he approved, his voice low and husky. "And I love that you're already wet for me. That means we're going to have a whole hell of a lot of fun very soon."

"Not too soon. First I have to work out the stress right here…and here…not to mention here." I slid my fingers over his muscles lightly, then reached over to grab the bottle of baby oil. I poured out a pool of it and warmed it in my hands before letting it drizzle slowly onto his shoulders and his back. His low rumble of pleasure sounded as I began to use my hands to massage his powerful muscles, leaning down to drop soft little kisses on his neck and his earlobe. I murmured some really dirty suggestions in his ear and was rewarded with a husky "oh fuck, yes" as I really got down to business and gave him a slow almost-professional massage.

My fingers slid over his naked body, and I enjoyed the feel of him and the sight of him just as much as he enjoyed my hands stroking him. I of course had to give a few wiggles and grinds to tease him, reminding him of what was in store for him later in the massage. He didn't seem to mind…

"You have the most perfect ass," I decided, climbing off him and taking one tight hot butt cheek in each hand. I cupped them in my hand then began massaging each, running my thumb in slow lazy circles as he groaned happily and surrendered his body completely to my ministrations. I grinned, then gave each butt cheek a saucy slap as I moved down to his muscular thighs, "You must live in the gym to have a body this fabulous."

"Not quite, but sometimes it feels that way," he admitted, pushing himself up on his forearms. "I need some…stress relief, Babe. Right now. An emergency, you could say."

"You do, do you? Urgently, huh?" I grinned smugly. His voice had lowered a full octave; he was clearly more than ready for the next phase of my seduction.

"Badly, Babe."

"Well, in that case you'd better roll over right now," I ran my thumbs up the length of his spine, loving the feel of him. "I think I'm going to have to adjust the order of my massage to help you with your…problem. Normally I'd start with your shoulders--"

"My shoulders aren't what needs relief right about now," he confessed, rolling over and showing me the most enormously rock-hard cock on earth. Holy Moly, Mother of God was he huge!!

"Oh yeah, I see exactly what your…problem is."

"Babe."

I licked my lips slowly, teasing him as his eyes darkened almost to solid black. "Hands behind your head, Mr. Manoso. I'm giving you a professional service here, you know."

"You are, huh?"

"Very professional. And I'm not the kind of woman who allows her clients to take liberties with her."

"That doesn't sound good, Babe. Because, I gotta tell you, I've been dreaming about taking a lot of those liberties for the last few minutes."

I leaned in, my lips oh-so-close to his, "Well, undream them: I don't let my clients touch me while I'm doing my work on them. So put your hands behind your head and keep them there." He complied, and our eyes locked together as I licked my lips again. "Just relax and enjoy…"

"I'll enjoy…but relaxing isn't in the cards, Babe."

"We'll see." I leaned in and dropped a soft slow wet kiss on his throat, then began to nibble my way down to his chest, stopping for a few minutes to tease his nipples with my tongue and my teeth. I heard him inhale sharply as I lowered my head to his groin, and in seconds I had my tongue running up and down his cock. I swirled my tongue over the length of him, flicking the head of his cock with my tongue before taking him in my hands and caressing him slowly. "Mmmmm. You're going to be my most challenging client, I see."

"I doubt that," he grinned, "I'm ready to cum right now just looking at you."

"Oh, you're not going to come just yet, Mr. Manoso," I corrected him, "I'm going to play with you awhile before I finally suck you off."

"Really?" His voice was getting increasingly huskier.

"For sure. Feel how…hard…you are. I'll have to work at relaxing you before you come fast and ruin all our fun."

"Babe."

"That's Miss Plum to you, Mr. Manoso. I told you, I don't allow my clients liberties. That includes familiarity with my name. The rules are that you call me Miss Plum."

"How the hell can I call you Miss Plum when you have your hands and your tongue all over my cock?" he complained. "Fuck the rules, Babe. Hell--fuck me!" He moved his hand, vainly trying to reach for the box of condoms on the nightstand.

I batted the box back onto the table, and grabbed his wrist. "You follow my rules, Mr. Manoso. Or my hands and my tongue stay far away from your…utterly scrumptious looking oh-so-delectable cock."

"Damn, Ba---Miss Plum! You're driving me insane here."

"Because you aren't cooperating with me. Now, put your hand back where it belongs." He did. I lowered my face down to his, then suddenly veered to the side to drop a soft kiss onto the base of his throat. "No fucking yet, Mr. Manoso. First I'm going to use my tongue and my hands on you until you about lose your mind. Then I'm going to deep-throat you and drain every last drop of cum from your magnificent cock. And finally, once you're relaxed, we'll continue our massage. How does that sound?"

"Christ, I'm going to cum from just thinking about it."

"I told you: no cumming before I allow it! First my tongue and I get to play with you a bit. Like this……" I licked down his muscular chest again, diving into his belly button as he groaned in pleasure, then reached his stiff cock. In less than a minute, I resumed my tongue's ministrations on him, holding his thick hard length with both hands as my tongue licked him like an ice cream cone on a July afternoon. His moans of appreciation grew louder, and I could feel the dampness pooling between my legs. God, I wanted him! But not just yet…we had time!

"MMMmmmmm," I sighed, "You taste so good! I need more!" I lowered my mouth onto him, taking as much of him into my mouth as I could. Forcing myself to relax my throat, I adjusted my mouth until I slid down, taking even more of him in my mouth. By this time he'd switched into Spanish, and the sound of his low raspy voice got me even more excited than I already was from the taste of him.

I let myself go completely, unleashing my lust upon my all-too-willing captive and riding him with my mouth, while stroking him with my hands. I couldn't get over how damned enormous he was….forget 11 inches, I'd clearly miscalculated. This was the kind of cock women would write sonnets about…or at the very least, the kind that would make women cum just looking at him. And this man was all mine! Woo Hoo, Stephie, girl: you done goooood!

Clearly, Carlos agreed with me: his body was straining, his rock hard abs now on clear display as he forced himself to lie back while I sucked his cock greedily. His hands clutched his pillow, his head rolling from side to side as his breathing grew shallow and his voice almost sobbed out his ecstasy. I had made my man very happy, as promised; but I was determined to make him even more so by the time I was through with him!

I cupped his balls with one hand, letting the other hand continue its work on his cock. My mouth continued to stroke him, and I could tell by his loud cries that before long he was going to explode in my mouth. Now sounded like the perfect time for that to happen…

With one last powerful suck, I drove him over the edge. He about bucked off the bed as he released his cum into my hungry mouth with a loud cry and near-unintelligible Spanish. I was ready for him, and began to swallow greedily as he emptied himself inside me. I sucked every last drop of his cum, then used my tongue to lick him clean. Damn, but he tasted utterly delicious!

As I finished up, I licked my lips and then straddled his waist, winning a smile that had my doodah doing the happy dance. "Now that we've got you relaxed down there, we can work on your upper body muscles."

"Mmmmm." He sighed happily, surrendering himself to my hands as I began to use them to relax his shoulders. "God, this is Heaven. Absolute Heaven, Babe."

"That's Miss Plum to you," I teased.

"Miss Plum," he whispered, "I'm going to make you scream when I finally do fuck you. You know that."

"I know it all too well, Mr. Manoso. But that time isn't going to be for quite some time. I have lots of plans for that delicious naked body of yours. And a massage is only the beginning."

"Dios. Cuando usted es terminado conmigo, voy a ser completamente fuera de mi mente."

"Which means?"

"By the time you're finished with me, I'm going to be completely out of my mind."

I grinned wickedly, "That's very perceptive of you, Mr. Manoso. But you're going to be a very very happy man, even though you'll be insane. Because I'm working up an appetite for you that puts last night's fucking marathon of ours to shame."

"That's not possible, Ba--Miss Plum. Last night was out of this world."

"It was, for sure. But you see…I know your body even better now, Mr. Manoso. What you like. What you love. Like this."

I lowered my mouth and began to suck his nipples greedily, each in turn, then nipped them with my teeth. Then I leaned over and moved my breasts in front of Carlos' face. "Suck them!" I commanded.

He didn't waste a second, taking my breasts into his mouth one after the other, while keeping his hands clutched on the pillow. I moaned happily, grinding my dripping wet pussy over his now-hardening-again cock as his mouth made me a very happy woman.

"Enough!" I pulled away slowly, my eyes locked to his glittering black orbs. "Tell me what you want!"

"What do I want? I want to suck your pussy, Miss Plum. I want to taste how delectable you are. I want to make you cum so loud that they can hear you screaming in the lobby."

My eyes widened in delighted surprise. "Why, Mr. Manoso! You've shocked me." I hadn't expected it, but damned if I didn't love the idea!

He grinned wickedly, "I won't move my hands. You just need to climb up a bit and let me--"

I couldn't move fast enough to get my pussy over his mouth, and I heard him laughing softly. I held onto the headboard and began to move as his tongue flicked against my pussy lips. Damn, just the mere touch of his hot breath on me had me so ready to cum I had to have a stern little talk with myself! Play first, Steph. Tease him…

Well, long story short, my brain and my body weren't very well connected right about then. I wasn't in any hurry to play right about now; instead, I wanted him to suck and suck hard and long. So I started moving my pelvis in slow circles and enjoying the feel of his long talented tongue as it flicked over my pussy's lips, doing things that made me whimper in utter delight.

Before long I couldn't stand moving my body even a millimeter: he'd found my clit with his tongue and I was so damned close to cumming that I was clutching the headboard and giving him some very definite verbal encouragement. Actually, I think I was begging him to make me cum, but that qualifies as verbal encouragement, right? He was certainly taking his sweet time with me, using his tongue slowly and teasing me until I was crying in frustration. I needed to cum. I needed it!!!

"Please, Carlos!"

"No Mr. Manoso? What about not taking liberties with you?"

"But, Carlos, I need it……" I was openly whining and didn't much care how pathetic I sounded so long as I got satisfaction.

"Okay, Babe," he whispered, taking his hands from the pillow and wrapping them around my waist as he moved his mouth into position. In seconds, his hungry mouth had latched onto my clit and he bit down softly, sending a wave of dizzy pleasure skittering throughout my body. My legs buckled under me, and I held onto the headboard for dear life as he began to suck my clit in earnest. I came over and over and not quietly, either!

By the time I'd exploded for what was at least--at least--my sixth orgasm, Carlos had flipped me onto my back and clothed himself in a condom. He pulled me into position, tossing my legs over his shoulders and pushing himself into my now-dripping pussy. I climaxed almost immediately, my arms wrapped around his shoulders and my nails digging into him, pulling him even deeper as I began climbing to the next height and realizing I was going to explode again almost immediately.

He knew my body as well as I knew his; by this time I was crying in pleasure and he was whispering soft Spanish endearments to me as his fingers wiped away my tears. And dear Lord, he was moving that pelvis of his faster than I thought humanly possible! I came over and over, and by the time he joined me, I'd been reduced to a boneless quivering mass of Jell-O. Did I say the man was magnificent in bed? Forget it: he was over the moon beyond belief magnificent. And I was sure I was never going to be able to cross my legs again. I was destined to walk crooked for the rest of my life…

"You okay, Babe?" he asked softly, after a few minutes of silence during which we both needed to work on catching our breath.

"Omigod."

"Yeah, me too."

"I never wanted you more, Carlos."

"Back at you, Babe."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

I felt the tears flowing suddenly, my emotions on total overload. How the hell was I going to survive 18 months without Carlos? He was everything to me. Everything. And God forbid, if anything happened to him, it would destroy me.

"Babe, I'll be fine. I promise: I'm coming back to you, no matter what it takes. I give you my word, Steph. Don't cry, Babe. Please don't cry!" He pulled me into his arms and began soothing me, his strong arms holding me against him as he kissed my forehead.

"I'm such a wuss," I apologized, blinking to try to control my tears, "I want to be strong for you, Carlos. I do. I'm sorry. I'm making it worse."

"You're allowed to be scared, Steph. Even when you're Wonder Woman. You're allowed to cry. You're allowed to worry. You're only human, Babe. It's gonna be rough on you; I wish it weren't true, but it is. I wish I didn't have to go, but that's my job."

"I love you so much it physically hurts," I sniffed, my tears slowing now as he slid his hands up and down my arms. "I never in my whole life imagined feeling anything this deep. It's so scary, Carlos. You have to promise me you'll come back. Because I need to hear the words. Look at me and tell me and I swear to God, I'll believe you and I'll never worry about it again."

"Look at me, Stephanie: I am going to make it through this just fine. I'm coming back to you. I promise you. No matter how hard it is, how long it takes, how bad things get. I love you so much that I couldn't not come back to you. Got that? I need you, more than I've ever needed anyone or anything. I need you, Stephanie Michelle Plum. You are my woman, you're my soul mate…and I swear to God, one day you're going to be my wife. So you don't have to worry. I'm damned well coming home to you. You got that?"

"I got that," I smiled, tasting the tears upon my lips. "And I needed to hear it because…because I'm a complete basket case right about now. My mascara's all over my face isn't it? You can tell me the truth: I look like a raccoon, don't I?"

He laughed, "You look hot as hell, you always do. And you look like you don't have the energy to make it to the bathroom to take your makeup off, even if it had run. Which, fortunately for you, it didn't."

"Promise?"

"Promise. Either that, or I have a really sick thing for hot-looking raccoons……"

I met his eyes and we shared a laugh, as I felt myself relaxing into his arms. I sniffled a bit more, and we lay wrapped in each other's arms, each of us memorizing the feel of each other. Preparing for the long cold nights to come……