Chapter 31*
In the meantime, Jeff made his way back out to the yard and started making trips back and forth with her stuff. He didn't want her worrying about the mess outside when he finally got her situated. What he had in mind required her undivided attention. With everything put away, Jeff settled in on the couch and turned on the television. Just like his brother, he began flipping through the stations not really caring what was in front of him. From all that she had revealed to him, he could guess what was going around in her head right now. He didn't see what she was thinking he did. She remained an independent, strong woman in his eyes-yet one who had unrequited emotions bottled up for so long, finally he had offered them someplace to go. He was grateful she had taken advantage of that. He was helping her start over with a clean slate-isn't that what she said she wanted when she explained why they had moved here? Jeff also knew that in a few minutes her mind would catch up and she'd realize that she'd been cloaked in next to nothing, let alone sitting in his lap. Although, at the time, he had been too angry to enjoy it, he was now wishing he had. He was in no way surprised that she had small features-but for her petite frame, it was proportionate. He liked the way all of her could almost curl up in his lap. His arms would encircle her entire body. "Shit" he cursed out loud and jumped off the couch running in the direction of the bathroom.
Monique was about to finish putting the mousse in her hair, when Jeff knocked on the door.
"Moni, are you ok?"
"Yes, I'll be out in a minute."
"What have you done?"
"What do you mean?"
"Are you dressed?"
"Um, not yet, but I'm covered if you want to open the door."
Jeff cautiously opened the door, afraid that halfway she'd change her mind and slam it on him. Greeted with the site of her wrapped in the towel he had set out for her, she had begun to work on her hair-it was just flowing down her shoulders and back, still wet, and curly as hell. Her skin looked and smelled so clean, tempting and inviting. He knew what lie beneath the towel and anticipated putting his hands all over her. Trying to hide and control the rise he could feel, he spoke "I brought all your things inside so don't worry about them, ok?"
"Thank you, you didn't have to do that."
"Yes, I did."
"Ok, well I am not going to argue with you."
He could see the familiar wall coming back and needed to stop it.
"Let's go-oh, do you have any lotion?"
"Depends on what kind" She started
"Anything will work, it doesn't matter." He interrupted.
She went to the closet with him right on her heels-perusing the contents, Jeff reached over her and grabbed one of the scented ones. He grasped her hand and once again, led her like a child to her bedroom. They approached the bed and Moni looked up at Jeff, questioning. He couldn't possibly be thinking what she thought he was. Jeff nipped her imagination in the bud and told her "Just lie down, and don't be embarrassed." Moni proceeded to lie on her back, but Jeff corrected her "No, on your stomach." Rolling over Moni tried to calm the inner fear that had crept in. She could feel Jeff's weight on the bed. He straddled her butt and was positioning her arms out to each side. He prodded her to lift her body up, and as she did so, he undid the towel, pulling it down just above the rounded beginning of her behind. Moni heard him open the lotion and relaxed-knowing what he had in mind. She reached up and pulled her hair over to the side, exposing her neck to him. For the next hour and more, Jeff massaged, pulled, kneaded, and rubbed every muscle in her body. More than once Moni feared she would either fall asleep or attack him and demand that he remove his own clothing. His hands made every single one of her senses run the gamut. How he managed to keep her awake and talking was a miracle. Moni comprehended everything they had discussed but she was slowly floating on a very enticing sleep cloud. She didn't understand how she was able to make decisions feeling as heady as she did right now. Jeff realized he was losing her to the pull of slumber, decided it best to stop and let her rest. He understood that emotional cleansing was draining, and he didn't want her to forget their conversation. Closing the bottle of lotion, he removed himself from his position over her. He threw her towel on the floor and pulled back her sheets. Helping her get under them, he kissed her forehead and tucked the comforter under her chin. "Sleep well Sunshine, see you soon." That said, Jeff took his leave.
Jeff had to bust his ass to get back to his house, lock up the bike in the garage and hop in the car. He had forgotten about Dad and Liger. Making good time, he entered the house to meet the sight of his father in the kitchen cooking. "Just in time for dinner eh?"
"Dad, look I apologize. Something happened and I wasn't comfortable leaving it the way it was."
"You could have called me."
"Yes, I am sorry. I didn't get any of my stuff done today-this was more important."
"Are you going to fill me in?"
Retrieving a bowl from the cabinet, Jeff started the inevitable salad and the story from the very beginning. Good thing he didn't take as long to get to the meat and potatoes the way Matt did.
In the meantime, Jeff made his way back out to the yard and started making trips back and forth with her stuff. He didn't want her worrying about the mess outside when he finally got her situated. What he had in mind required her undivided attention. With everything put away, Jeff settled in on the couch and turned on the television. Just like his brother, he began flipping through the stations not really caring what was in front of him. From all that she had revealed to him, he could guess what was going around in her head right now. He didn't see what she was thinking he did. She remained an independent, strong woman in his eyes-yet one who had unrequited emotions bottled up for so long, finally he had offered them someplace to go. He was grateful she had taken advantage of that. He was helping her start over with a clean slate-isn't that what she said she wanted when she explained why they had moved here? Jeff also knew that in a few minutes her mind would catch up and she'd realize that she'd been cloaked in next to nothing, let alone sitting in his lap. Although, at the time, he had been too angry to enjoy it, he was now wishing he had. He was in no way surprised that she had small features-but for her petite frame, it was proportionate. He liked the way all of her could almost curl up in his lap. His arms would encircle her entire body. "Shit" he cursed out loud and jumped off the couch running in the direction of the bathroom.
Monique was about to finish putting the mousse in her hair, when Jeff knocked on the door.
"Moni, are you ok?"
"Yes, I'll be out in a minute."
"What have you done?"
"What do you mean?"
"Are you dressed?"
"Um, not yet, but I'm covered if you want to open the door."
Jeff cautiously opened the door, afraid that halfway she'd change her mind and slam it on him. Greeted with the site of her wrapped in the towel he had set out for her, she had begun to work on her hair-it was just flowing down her shoulders and back, still wet, and curly as hell. Her skin looked and smelled so clean, tempting and inviting. He knew what lie beneath the towel and anticipated putting his hands all over her. Trying to hide and control the rise he could feel, he spoke "I brought all your things inside so don't worry about them, ok?"
"Thank you, you didn't have to do that."
"Yes, I did."
"Ok, well I am not going to argue with you."
He could see the familiar wall coming back and needed to stop it.
"Let's go-oh, do you have any lotion?"
"Depends on what kind" She started
"Anything will work, it doesn't matter." He interrupted.
She went to the closet with him right on her heels-perusing the contents, Jeff reached over her and grabbed one of the scented ones. He grasped her hand and once again, led her like a child to her bedroom. They approached the bed and Moni looked up at Jeff, questioning. He couldn't possibly be thinking what she thought he was. Jeff nipped her imagination in the bud and told her "Just lie down, and don't be embarrassed." Moni proceeded to lie on her back, but Jeff corrected her "No, on your stomach." Rolling over Moni tried to calm the inner fear that had crept in. She could feel Jeff's weight on the bed. He straddled her butt and was positioning her arms out to each side. He prodded her to lift her body up, and as she did so, he undid the towel, pulling it down just above the rounded beginning of her behind. Moni heard him open the lotion and relaxed-knowing what he had in mind. She reached up and pulled her hair over to the side, exposing her neck to him. For the next hour and more, Jeff massaged, pulled, kneaded, and rubbed every muscle in her body. More than once Moni feared she would either fall asleep or attack him and demand that he remove his own clothing. His hands made every single one of her senses run the gamut. How he managed to keep her awake and talking was a miracle. Moni comprehended everything they had discussed but she was slowly floating on a very enticing sleep cloud. She didn't understand how she was able to make decisions feeling as heady as she did right now. Jeff realized he was losing her to the pull of slumber, decided it best to stop and let her rest. He understood that emotional cleansing was draining, and he didn't want her to forget their conversation. Closing the bottle of lotion, he removed himself from his position over her. He threw her towel on the floor and pulled back her sheets. Helping her get under them, he kissed her forehead and tucked the comforter under her chin. "Sleep well Sunshine, see you soon." That said, Jeff took his leave.
Jeff had to bust his ass to get back to his house, lock up the bike in the garage and hop in the car. He had forgotten about Dad and Liger. Making good time, he entered the house to meet the sight of his father in the kitchen cooking. "Just in time for dinner eh?"
"Dad, look I apologize. Something happened and I wasn't comfortable leaving it the way it was."
"You could have called me."
"Yes, I am sorry. I didn't get any of my stuff done today-this was more important."
"Are you going to fill me in?"
Retrieving a bowl from the cabinet, Jeff started the inevitable salad and the story from the very beginning. Good thing he didn't take as long to get to the meat and potatoes the way Matt did.