PMDS**

Part 12..

"MMM… keep that up and we'll never get out of this apartment." Della returned his kiss putting her hands on his chest.

"Now that's a good idea, but my aunt would be very disappointed that I hadn't returned to finish my chores." He whispered in her ear dropping his hands on her waist holding her, and looked into her eyes. She half-heartedly smiled at him as she swatted his chest and pushed him away playfully. She turned back to the coffee pot pouring the liquid into the mugs and handed him his cup and he sat down at the table.

"Sorry, Perry it's going to have to be without milk and sugar." Della apologized to him joining him.

"Dark roasted coffee is just fine. So where is this diner?" Perry asked interlacing his fingers with hers.

"It's down the street about two blocks. It's in the center of town. They have parking in the rear of the building and on the street if you're lucky." She sipped her coffee and noticed him staring at her chest.

"What's the matter?" Della looked down at her chest then back at him.

"I will never look at my shirts the same way." He confessed to her giving her a wicked grin, and sipped his coffee.

"If you don't want me to wear them, tell me." She looked unapologetic rising from her chair and approached him seductively. As she passed his chair, she leaned down kissed him on the cheek. He responded by pulling her into his lap. He claimed her mouth and gave a deep passionate kiss before finally breaking from her. Stroking her hair out of her eyes, he touched her exposed chest through his shirt. Her temperature started to rise again as he touched her heated flesh, and he could feel the heat coming off her as he skimmed his fingertips on her body.

"Perry, I need to wash up..before we go." Della gasped as his hand drifted down further resting on her thigh.

"Don't take long. I know where to find you, or would you like for me to join you?" Perry nuzzled her neck with his nose. He sighed into her chest before pulling back from her releasing his hold on her and took her hand in his kissing it tenderly. She ruffled his hair.

"Sorry to disappoint you but maybe next time." He smiled at her comment as she went towards the bathroom. Putting the coffee mugs in the sink, he turned to look for his suitcase and pulled out a fresh pair of dark slacks and dark blue dress shirt to wear for the day and thin dress socks.

Perry left Della shower while he took a peek out the window watching a few pedestrians walk across the crosswalk, and few cars passed through the traffic lights. Della was finished in the bathroom. Coming out with a towel wrapped around her body and another drying her hair, as she looked in the mirror. She took notice of red blotches just below her clavicle and another on her neck and then another on her thigh. Blushing at the evidence of her recent activities, she walked into her bedroom looking for something to wear.

In the meantime, Perry quickly took a shower. As he dried off in front of the mirror, he turned slightly looking over his shoulder and saw scratch marks on his back. He smiled to himself and scrubbed his hair dry and changed into clean clothes. Coming from the bathroom, he stood in her doorway watching silently as he buttoned up his shirt.

Going through her closet, she flitted one dress aside while she looked at another shaking her head. He watched her trying to make up her mind.

"Della, just pick something out. You can wear a potato sack and still be beautiful." He told her before she selected a red and white sleeveless sundress with a sweetheart neckline and picked up a pair of white sandals.

"A potato sack, Perry. Are you serious?" Della laughed out loud at his remark.

"Of course, I wouldn't think any less of you." He spoke up as he joined her at her closet.

"Speaking of thinking any less of me, there would be some people that would frown upon that, especially me." Della sound dejected for a moment leaving Perry alone in her bedroom. Perry followed after her, but the bathroom door quickly shut and he waited for a few minutes before entering.

"What was that supposed to mean? That I don't think you are beautiful if you weren't all dolled up? Are you kidding? You are gorgeous inside and out I told you that's why I fell in love with you. I love you no matter what, and I don't care what people think about us." Perry declared his love taking her hands in his.

"What about other women? Once you get your office, where ever that might be, Los Angeles or back East, are you still going to look at me the same way, when you encounter other clients and the secretary pool?" her voice sounded broken and a tear slipped down her cheek. He hated to see her cry. He wiped the tear away tenderly with his index finger.

"No one will change my feelings for you, Della. I will always love you." He reassured her as he sealed his statement with a tender kiss.

"Since we are on this subject of other women and clients, have you thought how I would feel about men chasing after you in the office?" His eyes grew dark looking down into her eyes waiting on her response.

"You don't have to worry about them, Perry. I'll tell them I'm already taken, and if they continue to pursue me, then I guess you'll have to take care of the problem, won't you?" Della pressed her body against him.

"Better believe it, Della."

"Breakfast first then out to your aunt's?" Della poked him in the chest with her finger then slipped out of his arms.

"Perry, we better go. It's mid-morning already. If we don't hurry, will miss their breakfast. Fixing her hair in the mirror one last time, she completely forgot that even if she wore her sun hat it would do little to hide the mark on her neck. She found a striped scarf and tied it around her neck covering up her exposed skin. Slipping his loafers on while she strapped her sandals on, they exited the apartment and passed one of her neighbors on the front stoop.

"Della, is that you, my dear?"

"Oh, Hello, Mr. Tipton. How are you doing?" she greeted him with a smile.

"I'm doing just great. It's good to see you back from law school. How did your term go?" He asked looking over at Perry, knowing he wasn't a familiar face.

"Mr. Tipton, this is Perry Mason. We met at law school and we are both awaiting our final exam results," Della took Perry's arm in hers and he came closer to her.

"Glad to meet you, Mr. Tipton." He gave him a firm handshake.

"Mr. Mason, glad to meet you. Well, I better let you two go on your way. My Lily is waiting upstairs if I'm late I'll be out on the couch tonight." He chuckled at the two of them and went on his way entering the building. Finally, Perry and Della were free to go to breakfast. As she got into his car, she slid on her side while he got in and started the car heading down the street. Traffic was moderate Perry found a spot right in front of the diner as a patron had pulled out of their allotted space.

"What luck of finding a spot in front of the building." Perry pointed to the vacated spot.

"Must be your lucky day, Perry."

Perry parked and exited the car. While walking to the curb, he opened her door and helped her out taking her hand. Entering the establishment, they found a secluded booth near the back with a window view of the street.

"This is nice. They have a great menu too." Della told him looking out the window.

"You've been here before I can see that." Perry glanced at her then back at the approaching waitress who held their menus.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I have Perry," Della picked up her menu and skimmed it.

"Care to tell me about it?" He curiously asked her looking at his menu then back at her poker-faced.

"I have no secrets, Perry. Michael used to bring me here, and also my friends and I would come here on occasion." Della gave him a quick smirk adjusting herself in her booth. Dropping the conversation, he let her read her menu not pushing the subject of her ex. The young waitress arrived with her pad and pencil and looked at Perry smiling and then back at Della, waiting on their orders.

"I'll have French toast, eggs, bacon, and the fruit medley with orange juice." Della closed her menu handing it back to the young woman.

"I'll have the same." He handed her the menu back to her.

"I'll be right back with your order." The young woman hurried off to retrieve their orders. Bringing their order back to their table, the waitress sat down their plates in front of them. Balancing the serving dish in one hand, she grabbed the two glasses and placed them on the table.

"Anything else, just let me know." The young girl smiled and left them to their meals. Enjoying their breakfast together, he watched her while she ate albeit trying to distract himself from her mouth and looked out the window briefly. He shifted in his chair adjusting his trousers. Taking notice Della smirked at him then took a sip of her beverage and eyed him closely.

"Perry, are you alright?" she knew what she was doing to him. She could see it in his posture across the table.

"Della, you're such a tease." He gave her a wink and smiled at her while he continued to watch her eat her meal. He slowly ate his breakfast while she finished her plate pushing it aside. The fruit medley consisted of; strawberries, melon, raspberries and sliced bananas. Della took her fork and took out a strawberry, moaning at the freshness and caused Perry to look up from his empty plate. He gazed at her as her lips took in the berry watched her close her eyes as she consumed it. Not wanting to be left out. he picked up his fork and jabbed a melon slice and ate it. Della finished her meal as Perry took his time not wanting to rush. He rolled his fruit around in his bowl with his fork picking up a fruit piece, he held it out for her. She took it gently off his fork with her mouth as her tongue darted out to taste the juices that trailed down her chin. Only having a few pieces left in his bowl, he fed her what was left. Perry moved up out of his chair leaning across the table as he couldn't control his urges anymore. Capturing her lips with his, he tasted the fruitiness that lingered and gasped into her mouth. Giving her a quick kiss to her cheek and nuzzling her ear, he made her squirm in her seat. He sat back down in his chair and gave her time to regain her composure. The waitress rounded the corner, and Perry asked for the check. After paying their bill he left a hefty tip for the young woman making Della raise her eyebrows at him.

"Perry that was generous tip." Della tilted her head towards him, smiled, and got up from her chair as he pulled it out for her.

"Why you don't think she deserved that tip?" He hugged her to him as they exited the diner walking down the street to his car.

"Oh, she did Perry, but that was a lot of money."

"So, you're telling me twenty-dollar tip was too much? But I had a nice breakfast with my love and getting a sweet kiss without getting tossed out of the building. Come on Della let's go over here." Perry said pointing at the jewelry shop. Entering the jewelry shop, Della looked at the necklace section while Perry busied himself at the engagement ring section and also browsed the bracelets that were enclosed behind the glass case. Della slowly came back to Perry's side as he was transfixed on one particular ring that was the most elegant and beautiful catching his eye, he pointed it out to the jeweler. It was a three-carat marquis cut diamond set in platinum with bezel diamonds surrounding the ring.

"That's a great choice for any bride to be." the older man said.

"Yes, that's perfect." Perry said before Della approached him from behind.

"Has the lady been fitted for the ring or do you know her ring size?" The jeweler asked.

"Della, can you extend your hand so he can size your finger for the ring?" Perry gently took her hand in his but Della never saw the ring until the jewelry displayed it before her, making her gasp.

"Perry, oh, that's so beautiful." Della put her hand out to be sized Perry slid the ring on her finger and gave her a quick kiss.

"Della, I'm going to settle the bill here. You want to finish looking around or wait out in the car?" He whispered against her lips giving her a quick peck on the cheek.

"I'll wait out in the car, Perry." Della proceeded to look at the ring on her finger as she slowly walked out the door while the stone reflected against the sunlight, and sparkled.

Perry settled the bill, but before he left, he also picked out a nice gold bracelet. It would be a surprise when he got her back to her apartment, but for now, it would be in his pants pocket.