Reunion

Part 11

Sue Ellen and J.R. drove into Dallas to pick out a wedding gown and a tuxedo. Sue Ellen had an appointment with a dress designer, and J.R. had a later appointment with a tailor. He wanted to wait while Sue Ellen tried on several gowns, before she found the 'perfect' dress. The designer displayed several of her creations for Sue Ellen to try on. Sue Ellen would come out of the dressing area in each of the different gowns, and 'model' each gown for J.R. J.R. would tell her which gowns he liked, and which gowns were his least favorites. The dress designer also brought out a dress from designer Vera Wang. The creme colored dress had a wrapped bodice with tie backs and wide set shoulder straps. The skirt portion of the gown was godeted and had a sheer layer over the silk organza skirt of the gown. Sue Ellen tried on the gown. J.R. stood up from his chair and said, "Now, that's the gown I'd love to see you wear on our weddin' day, Sugar." Sue Ellen turned around, as she glanced at her appearance in the full length, three-way mirror. The dress accentuated her fantastic figure, and the neckline was low-cut, but tasteful. J.R.'s eyes roamed the entire length of the gown. The look in his eyes told Sue Ellen that he approved. Sue Ellen reached to take his hand as the dress designer walked back into the dressing area. J.R. said, "Wrap it up, we'll take this dress." Sue Ellen looked at the price tag, and her jaw dropped. She pointed to the tag and said, "J.R., don't you think it's a little bit much?" J.R. pulled her into his arms and said, "Darlin' We are gettin' married for the last time. Money is no object." The designer wrote down the measurements for the few alterations necessary to make the dress a custom fit. J.R. handed the dress designer his credit card, and she rang up the sale. Sue Ellen was giddy with excitement. They left the dress designer shop with a business card, and were told that they would be notified when the gown was ready.

It was Sue Ellen's turn to wait, while the tailor designed a tuxedo for J.R. The tailor measured the distance around J.R.'s neck and chest, and his waist. The distance between his shoulders and waist, and measured his inseam, for the trousers of the tuxedo. J.R. chose a black wool fabric, and a cream-colored tuxedo shirt. Sue Ellen picked out a cummerbund to go with the ascot tie, and some elegant cuff links that matched the pearls on the waistband of her wedding gown. Sue Ellen walked around J.R., as he was being fitted for the tux. She gently touched J.R.'s shoulder as she admired the way the tuxedo jacket fell in the back. She tied the ascot around the neck of his shirt, just to get a feel for how it would look on their wedding day. The tailor finished writing down the measurements for the tuxedo, as J.R. walked over to a large design table where Sue Ellen was putting the finishing touches on what she hoped J.R. would wear with his tuxedo. J.R. walked up behind her and kissed her neck. Sue Ellen leaned her head into his kiss. He asked, "What are your doin', Sugar?" Sue Ellen asked him, "What do you think, J.R. Would you be comfortable wearin' this on our wedding day?" J.R. turned her around to face him, and whispered, "I'm more interested in the weddin' night, Sue Ellen." Sue Ellen's cheeks turned red with embarrassment, as the tailor walked over to where they were standing. The tailor handed J.R. his business card as J.R. followed the tailor to the checkout counter to pay for his tuxedo, and all the other items' Sue Ellen picked out to go with it. J.R. held Sue Ellen's hand as they walked out of the store.

Sue Ellen asked J.R. if he'd take her to the Valentine Boutique before they drove back to Southfork. J.R. asked her if she needed to take care of some business, and she replied that it was personal. J.R. was curious, and readily agreed to drive her to the boutique. Sue Ellen opened the door to the boutique. She and J.R. were the only people inside the store. J.R. asked, "Why is the store closed, Sue Ellen?' Sue Ellen turned her head over her shoulder to look at him, and said, "My entire sales staff is hawking my merchandise at a bridal show at the Galleria." J.R. followed Sue Ellen into the boutique. She locked the door from the inside and motioned for J.R. to follow her to the stock room. Once they were inside the stock room, Sue Ellen touched J.R.'s arm and said, "If you're more interested in our weddin' night, maybe you'd be willin' to help me pick out something to wear?" J.R.'s smile changed to a suggestive grin, as Sue Ellen started to remove her jacket. Sue Ellen tempted and teased J.R. as she tried on several items of intimate apparel and lingerie. Some of the items were opaque, and some of the items left little or nothing to the imagination. J.R. had a difficult time watching his beloved wearing some of the items. J.R. appreciated what he referred to as "trashy lingerie," but not on the woman he cared about, especially when this particular woman was Sue Ellen. But, J.R.'s eyes lit up when she tried on a floral print, flyaway baby doll silk ensemble. Sue Ellen was adjusting one of the shoulder straps, when J.R. reached out, and touched her hand. She glanced up at him and grinned when she saw the look on his face. He pulled her into his arms and said in a voice deepened with need, "Sugar, I can't take much more of this. I'm only human, Sue Ellen. If you don't stop, I'll be tempted to make love to you on that table over there." Sue Ellen looked at him, wondering if he was joking with her. The look he flashed her told her that he was dead serious. J.R. kissed her with an intense urgency. Sue Ellen's heart was racing when he pulled away. She touched her mouth. Her lips were warm from his kiss. Sue Ellen said, "I'll put my clothes back on, so we can hurry home." J.R. helped her put the lingerie back into the display bins and shelves. J.R. held open the door to the boutique, and made sure that the security system engaged as Sue Ellen locked the door.

Sue Ellen intently watched J.R. as he drove back to Southfork. She wasn't sure if his reaction to her trying on the lingerie was genuine, or if he was bored with her. She softly said, "J.R., I'm curious . . . Are you gettin' bored with me?" J.R. looked at her and said, "Sue Ellen, why the hell would you ask me a question like that?" Sue Ellen shifted her body in the passenger seat to face him squarely, and said, "I don't know, you didn't seem too thrilled when I was tryin' on the lingerie back at the boutique." J.R. applied the brakes to the car and slowed it down, so that he could pull over to the side of the road. He was appalled by Sue Ellen's comment. He held her shoulders and said, "My God, Sugar, how could you say that? I'll admit, I had a difficult time watching you try on all that stuff, but I sure as hell wasn't bored. It was all I could do to not make love to you in that stockroom, and you tell me that I seemed bored? I swear, Sue Ellen, sometimes, I wonder how your mind works." Sue Ellen blinked her eyes, and then she spoke, "I'm sorry, J.R., I guess it's just old insecurities, and old memories coming to the surface, again. I didn't mean to upset you." J.R. softened his tone and said, "Sugar, I thought we were gonna start over, with a clean slate?" He cupped Sue Ellen's chin in his hands. She slowly smiled at him and said, "You're right, Darlin'. I'm sorry. I'll work on gettin' over my insecurities." J.R. leaned over and kissed her. Sue Ellen reached up and touched the side of his neck as he deepened the kiss. A few minutes later, J.R. hugged Sue Ellen, and said, "I love you, Sugar. Please don't ever question my love for you, or think that I could be bored with you. You are the most beautiful woman I've ever known." Sue Ellen's eyes looked down, and she was ashamed by her insecurities, and remorseful for upsetting J.R. He lifted her face to meet his gaze and said, "I mean it, Sugar. I love you and I find you incredibly desirable." Sue Ellen smiled at him, and said, "I feel the same way about you, J.R." J.R. checked the side view mirror of his car and squeezed Sue Ellen's hand in his. He said, "Let's go home, Sugar." They continued their long drive back to Southfork.

John Ross ran out to the driveway to meet his Mamma and Daddy. His hands held a pile of mail. He excitedly told his parents that almost everyone he had invited to his birthday party had accepted. J.R. turned his head away from John Ross and rolled his eyes. Sue Ellen nudged him in the arm and said, "That's wonderful, Sweetheart. Don't you think that's wonderful news, J.R.?" J.R. glared at her for an instant, then he reached out and touched his son's shoulder, and said, "That's wonderful news, John Ross." John Ross aid, "I'm going to go inside and count how meany people are planning to come over. Thanks Mamma and Daddy, thanks for letting me invite all my friends."

J.R. couldn't help but smile at John Ross' genuine gratitude. Sue Ellen folded her arms across her chest and glanced over her shoulder at J.R. She waited until John Ross was inside the house before she spoke to J.R. She unfolded her arms, and placed her hands on her hips, and said, "I hope that he didn't see what I saw, J.R. I can't believe you rolled your eyes. John Ross is very excited about this party, it'll probably be the last one he has until he graduates from High School." J.R. looked at her and said, "You're right, Sugar. I just don't think there's enough bourbon left in the house to get me loosened up enough to handle a house full of teenagers." Sue Ellen laughed aloud at his comment, and touched his arm and said, "It's not as if you'll be dealing with them one on one, J.R. it's a party, not a board meeting." J.R. laughed, in spite of himself, and said, "You're right, Sue Ellen. I'll be okay knowin' that you and Mamma, Clayton and Bobby will be dealin' with the kids, too." Sue Ellen grasped his hand and said, "Let's go inside." J.R. followed her into the house.

J.R. shut the door to his bedroom, he wanted to pick up where he and Sue Ellen had left off when they were in the Valentine Boutique. Sue Ellen looked at him and winked. She removed her jacket and unbuttoned her skirt. J.R.'s jaw opened as he watched the skirt slide down her legs and onto the floor. She reached down and removed one of her shoes. She kicked the shoe aside with her foot. She did the same to her other shoe. J.R. was grinning from ear to ear, as her watched her movements. Sue Ellen unbuttoned her blouse. She was standing across the room from him wearing nothing more than a slip, and pantyhose. J.R. walked over to where she stood and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her, as he ran his hands through her hair. Sue Ellen returned his kiss with the same ardor. Sue Ellen broke away from his kiss and pulled him over to the bed. She was leading him by his tie. She removed his suit jacket and threw it across the room. She ran her hands up his arms to the collar of his shirt. Her eyes wandered down to the knot of his tie. She quickly untied the knot, and tossed the tie aside. J.R. was having difficulty breathing, but he didn't seem to mind. Sue Ellen carefully unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it off of his shoulders, as she watched him pull his arms out of the sleeves. J.R.'s pulse was increasing with every touch of Sue Ellen's hands. She reached for his belt, when her seduction was interrupted by a knock on the door. J.R. cursed out loud and looked over his shoulder. "Who is it?" he growled. John Ross said, "Daddy, Grandma Farlow wants to know if you and Mamma are ready for lunch?" J.R. said, "No, thanks, though, son. Tell your Grandma that we'll grab something later on, if we're hungry." J.R. listened until he was sure that John Ross had gone back downstairs. He turned his face to look at Sue Ellen. She was flashing him her most devious grin and she said, "You should have seen the look on our face when John Ross knocked on the door." J.R. pulled her to him, and he was tired of wasting time.

J.R. and Sue Ellen lay in bed, facing each other. J.R. was gazing at her hair. He absently twirled a strand of her hair in his fingers, Sue Ellen glanced up at his hand, as she reached over and touched his chin. She softly said, "If I haven't told you lately, I want you to know that it feels so right bein' back here at Southfork with you." J.R. stopped playing with her hair and pulled her to him. He gently kissed her, he hugged her after his kiss, and said, "Sugar, I can't tell you how happy you've made me. The day you came back to Dallas, I promised myself I'd spend the rest of my life loving you." Sue Ellen kissed his cheek and rested her head against his shoulder. They lay arm in arm, listening to the sounds of their breathing, eventually, drifting off to sleep. They awoke a few hours later. The evening sun was setting. J.R. turned over in bed and looked at the clock on his night stand. It was almost six o'clock. J.R. stretched and lifted his arms over his head. Sue Ellen sat up in bed and glanced at the clock. She stifled a yawn, and smiled at J.R. She asked, "Are you hungry, Darlin'?" J.R. said, "Now that you mention it, yes, I am. I don't think we've had anything to eat all day." Sue Ellen got up out of bed, and walked toward the bathroom. She and J.R. freshened up and changed into something suitable for dinner. They walked out of J.R.'s bedroom, just as John Ross opened his bedroom door. John Ross grinned at his parents, as the three of them walked downstairs to join the rest of the family for supper.