Packing:
Meelon entered the house, placed her keys in the bowl in the hallway. She hears Vaughn in the bedroom and enters. Vaughn is standing at the foot of the bed with his back to her. She sneaks up behind him and wraps her arms around him, caressing his chest and stomach. She kisses his neck and he leans into her embrace. He turns to her, gathers her face into his right hand and brings her lips to his. They kiss deeply, bodies molding to each other. When they pull apart, she looks into his eyes. Vaughn says, "Your home early..."
"Yes... Michael, you're packing? What's going on?"
"Well..." The lie flowed quickly off his lips. "I need to go to a conference for Dean Cantrell. His doctor says he can't fly... ear infection or something like that. Any way... there is some grant money riding on our attendance at this seminar... he asked me to go. I know this is late notice... but he asked me and ... well..."
"Michael..." Meelon takes his face in her hands and kisses him. "I understand that you need to go. It's all right. How long will you be gone?"
"Meelon, I will be gone for two weeks. I will miss you terribly the whole time I'm gone."
"You better... where are you going?"
"Charlotte, North Carolina."
"Oh, Michael, I heard that's a beautiful city. I could call in, get some time off and go with you... maybe just through the weekend. We would have fun..."
Vaughn had not thought of this request. What should he tell her? "Meelon... I won't be having fun... there won't be time for us to be together. You would end up being bored and... Eventually hating me for it..." Vaughn smiles at her. Lying was never one of his strengths and he felt for sure that she would suspect.
"Michael, I didn't think that you were that insecure, I could never hate you. Any way, I know how to get your attention." She begins to move her hands over his chest again. "Michael, you know that I will miss you when you go. Will you call me?"
"I will call you as soon as I can. I won't get there until tomorrow and I am not sure of the initial schedule... so, I will call you when I can. I will miss you so much."
"I'll miss you too, but you don't have to leave right now, do you? We have the next hour or so?" Meelon's hands moved up to his neckline and started undoing buttons and removing his shirt.
"Yes, Meelon..." he said as his hands moved to her waist to remove her skirt and blouse. "I have enough time for you..." His words were muffled by her lips on his. He gathered her into his arms. 'She is so soft and beautiful. She loves and trusts me. I have lied to her... How could I?"
Vaughn's thoughts were interrupted by Meelon's beautiful voice. "Michael... normally, when I am half naked, laying next to you with my hands on your body... your mind is usually with me. You would enjoy me more if..." She props herself up from her position on the bed and continues. "Is there something you are not telling me that I should know? Are you worried about this trip?"
"I don't like leaving you for two weeks." That was not a lie.
"Michael, I have taken care of myself before and will again from time to time, I imagine. Although I am glad that we have been together every night over the last six plus months, but I can't expect us to be with each other al all times. I will be fine, and I am sure you will be fine too. But, it's very flattering the way you worry about me." Then whispering in his ear she continues, "It makes me want you more."
She takes Vaughn by the shoulders and pushes him flat on the bed. Meelon smiles as she realizes that her husband is totally into her now. Both naked, she straddles his hips and slides down onto him making him moan with pleasure.
The late flight from Phoenix to LA was quiet and uneventful. Weiss was drinking a beer next to him, Jack across the aisle. Vaughn closed his eyes and saw Meelon's naked body sliding on top of him. He thought of her words of encouragement and smiled at her ability to entice, 'We have the next hour.' Vaughn snapped awake from his memory. 'How could she know how long before he left? He hadn't told her when. He could have been leaving the next morning...
"Hey Mike, you look nervous." Vaughn calmed with the sound of Weiss's voice.
"No, it's just late and well... I don't know that I am looking forward to this. I had to lie to Meelon and ... I don't feel comfortable doing that."
"It's good to have you back Mike... I have missed that... um... little cricket on my shoulder." When Vaughn looked confused, Weiss continued "... you know Jiminy Cricket... the conscience... to Pinocchio? Man, you really are tired." With that Vaughn settled back for the rest of the flight, thinking about what he had to do in Hong Kong.
A/N: Please read the next chapter for the confrontation with Sydney. It took about 3 hours to write, but highly charged and emotional in my humble opinion. I hope you have enjoyed this and would like it to continue.