Tuscan Skies

Part 20

Sue Ellen tried to distract J.R. from his urge to make love to her on the secluded lower deck of the sailboat. She wasn't at all comfortable with the situation, and desperately sought a diversion.

She asked, "How are things goin' on your rig in the Gulf, J.R.?"

J.R. was undeterred. He continued kissing her neck, driving her insane with longing. He lowered one of the straps of her bathing suit, as his eyes followed the thin string of fabric over her shoulder, and down her arm. Sue Ellen lifted her hand to the strap, to prevent the bodice of her bathing suit from fully exposing herself to J.R., and anyone else who might be watching them. She had nightmarish visions of someone taking pictures of them with a telescopic camera lens. J.R. noticed how uncomfortable she was, and tried to reassure her that no one would be able to see them.

He said, "Darlin', I love you, and the best way I have to show you how much I love you is to make love to you. I can't get enough of you, Sugar. I crave you. You're like an addictive drug, and I need my fix."

Sue Ellen relaxed somewhat, when she heard his comments, but a part of her wished that they could go down below deck, to their cabin. J.R. held her face in his hands, and lifted her face to look into her eyes. His gaze was piercing, and the steel blue color of his eyes was darkened by his need to possess her, and make love to her. Her breath caught in her throat, as he removed his swim trunks. She lifted her hand to the thatch of silver hair on his chiseled chest, and followed the glistening, silken path leading down to his abdomen. Her fingers swept over the hairs on his chest, arousing him more than she intended to. He was like a powder keg, seconds away from exploding. He lowered his body over hers, and raked his hands through her hair. He was about to remove her bathing suit, when he heard her speak.

She whispered, "J.R., I…I can't do this, I'm sorry. Maybe if it was dark outside?"

J.R.'s eyes were blazing with passion, but he understood her need for privacy. He smiled at her to reassure her that he wasn't angry. He was frustrated, and titillated, but not angry. He swept her into his arms, and kissed her cheek.

He said, "I'll wait, Sue Ellen. I'll wait as long as it takes. I can't help myself, sometimes. You are so incredibly beautiful, I just get caught up in how much you turn me on."

Sue Ellen responded to his offer to wait with a gentle kiss. She admitted to herself that, although she wanted J.R. as much as he said that he wanted her, physical acts of love were meant to be a private matter. God, how she wished that she felt differently. J.R. smelled so good, and when she kissed him, the mixture of sea salt on his lips, and his cologne made him taste good to her, too. She wanted J.R. to know that she would be more than willing to make love to him later, under the cover of darkness, if he still wanted her.

She said, in a voice shaky with fear, "J.R., please don't be angry with me. God knows how much I want you…"

He cut her off, saying, "Sue Ellen, I'm not angry with you at all. I need a cold shower, but I'm not angry. In fact, the thought of some lecherous pervert seein' you out here stark naked, makes my blood boil. I don't ever want another man to see you that way. I don't know what I'd do, if that were to happen."

He put his swim trunks back on, and pressed an intercom button to have some cold drinks delivered to them. J.R. ordered iced tea for both of them, and asked if they would bring them a pitcher of iced tea, to keep their glasses filled. Sue Ellen glanced at J.R., and he smiled at her. His smile was genuine, and she relaxed, knowing that he truly wasn't angry with her. Their drinks were delivered promptly, and placed on a table on the secluded lower deck. J.R. took a glass of tea, and handed Sue Ellen the other glass.

He lifted his glass into the air, and said, "A toast, to the most desirable woman in the world, and the only woman who has my heart."

Sue Ellen grinned at him, and said, "Thank you, Darlin'. I love you, J.R."

J.R. lightly tapped his glass against the glass she held in her hand, and said, "I love you too, Sugar."

He kissed her lips, and pulled her onto his lap. She rested her hands against his shoulders, and returned his kiss. J.R. held her tightly against him, not wanting her to ever leave him again. He opened his legs, and she nestled her hips between his thighs. Her back was pressed against his chest, and she leaned her head against the inside of his neck. She lifted her hand to the back of his neck, and played with the hair at his nape. J.R. kissed her temple, and inhaled, breathing in the heady aroma, of her perfume, the smell of the salty sea air, and the very essence of Sue Ellen.

He closed his eyes, and throatily said, "God, you smell good, Honey."

Sue Ellen turned her head, and kissed the side of his face.

She said, "I could spend the rest of my life wrapped in your arms, J.R."

J.R. lifted her chin, and parted her lips with his tongue. She opened her mouth to him, and savored the way his kisses sent shivers down her spine. She moaned as his kisses intensified. Her heart began to race, and she knew that if he continued, he could have his way with her. J.R. also knew where his aggressiveness might lead to, so he pulled back from her. He was out of breath, and his skin was red from his increased blood pressure.

Sue Ellen cleared her throat, and said, "J.R., let's go back to our cabin, please?"

J.R. stood up from where he was seated, and reached for her hand. He quickly led her across the ship's deck, and down the stairs to the cabin area. He wanted Sue Ellen, and didn't want to wait until dark. He opened the door to their cabin, and she hurried inside. He slammed the door shut, and pushed Sue Ellen up against the wall. His hands were all over her, as he kissed her with complete abandon. Sue Ellen tilted her head back, as J.R.'s sought the soft skin of her neck. He lowered the straps of her bathing suit, and she lifted her arms under his, and dug into the skin on his back with her fingernails. J.R. kissed her collar bone, as she leaned her head into him, seeking his mouth. He lowered her to the floor of the cabin, and covered her body with his. Their lovemaking was fever-pitch, unrestrained, and intensely satisfying. J.R. rolled off of Sue Ellen, and onto his back.

He said, "God, Sue Ellen. You'll never know how much I enjoy you."

Sue Ellen sat up, and wrapped her arms around her knees, and said, "Oh, I think I have a very good indication, Darlin'."

J.R. said, "Come here, Sugar. I want to hold you."

Sue Ellen asked, "Why don't we move over to the bed? It's much more comfortable than this floor."

She stood up, and reached her hand out to help J.R. off of the floor. J.R. had never seen her the way she stood before him. His eyes traveled up her body, and he felt his desire for her stirring, once more. He took her hand, and stood up. She turned around to walk toward the bed, and he pulled her into his arms. She arched her back to him, as his hands grasped her waist. He lifted her into his arms, and walked over to the bed. He lowered her to the mattress, and looked into her eyes.

She said, "Make love to me again, please?"

J.R. wasted no time in answering her request. This time, he was deliberate, and slow-paced. He wanted to make the way she made him feel last an eternity. Sue Ellen urged him to quicken his pace, but he shook his head.

"No, Sue Ellen, I want this to last," he said in a low voice.

Sue Ellen flashed him a sullen look. She knew he wouldn't disappoint her by any means, but she was greedy, and wanted instant gratification. J.R. brought her to the point of no return, over and over, only to slow down, and keep her wanting more. He relented when he heard her whimpering. J.R. lifted her off the bed, and gave her exactly what she had been waiting for. Sue Ellen collapsed against his shoulder. J.R. tightly held her waist, as his heart rate returned to normal. Sue Ellen lifted her head, and grinned at him with half-closed eyes.

She said, "Oh my God, that was so worth the wait, J.R."

J.R. kissed her, and said, "I was hopin' you'd say that, Sugar."

Sue Ellen stayed in his arms, until J.R. asked her if she was hungry.

She said, "Yes, I'm starvin'. What about you?"

J.R. said, "I'm famished. Why don't we take a quick shower, and then we can call for room service?"

They showered, and dressed in their robes. J.R. ordered seafood salads, and two large glasses of club soda.

Sue Ellen looked at him, and said, "I don't believe I've ever seen you drink club soda, J.R. Are you feelin' all right?"

J.R. said, "Now, Darlin', that's not a very nice thing to say. I feel fine, I just figured that since I've given up my bad habits, I might as well give up drinkin', too. Besides, my doctor suggested I quit drinkin' a month or so ago, I just never had a good enough reason to stop, until now."

Sue Ellen gave him a curious look, and asked, "What reason do you have now?"

J.R. sat down next to her on the side of the bed, and said, "I want to grow old with you, Sue Ellen. I want to live long enough to see my grandchildren. I want to make love to you even when you're old and gray."

Sue Ellen touched his silver hair, and winked at him, saying, "Funny, I have the added benefit of your bein' old and gray now."

J.R. reached behind her, and pinched her butt. She tried to move away from him, but he grabbed her, and pulled her down to the bed.

He laughed at the look on her face, and said, "I might have gray hair Sugar, but I'm not too old for this," as he kissed her, and she returned his kiss. They were interrupted by a knock on their cabin door.

A voice from the other side of the door said, "Buon pomeriggio, Signor e Signora Ewing, your lunch is served."

J.R. rose from the bed, and opened the cabin door. The man wheeled their lunch into the cabin of a silver serving cart.

He lifted the lids off of both platters, and said, "Goda il vostro pasto."

J.R. tipped their server, and thanked him, as he closed the door behind him.

Sue Ellen walked over to the table, and moved a vase of flowers off to one side of the table to make room for their food trays. J.R. wheeled the serving cart over to the table, and sat the trays on top of the table. Sue Ellen lifted the glasses of club soda off of the cart, and placed the glasses on the table, next to the salads. They sat down, and started to eat.

The salads were filled with the freshest ingredients imaginable, chunks of crab, scallops, and freshly caught shrimp. The greens were crisp, and delicately seasoned with the slightest hint of olive oil. They shamelessly devoured their salads, and drank all of the club soda. J.R. moved the serving cart out of the cabin, and into the hallway. He closed the door behind him, and smiled at Sue Ellen.

He asked, "How would you like to go back to that secluded deck, and we can sit and enjoy the scenery, Sugar?"

Sue Ellen said, "I'd love to. We might want to get dressed first, though, don't you think?"

J.R. laughed, when he realized that they were still wearing their robes. Sue Ellen dressed in a black dress with a halter closure, and a pair of black sandals. She pinned her hair back, away from her face, and removed her earrings. She didn't want to risk losing them somewhere on the deck, or have them fall into the sea. J.R. wore a crisp white shirt, and a pair of black linen trousers. He didn't bother wearing a tie, and he rolled up his shirt sleeves, opting for a casual, and relaxed look. He reached for Sue Ellen's hand, and they closed the door to their cabin.

The sun was setting in the horizon. The yellow-orange, red, and violet colors of the sunset blended perfectly with the blue-green colors of the Tyrrhenian Sea. J.R. glanced at Sue Ellen. He wondered if the dramatic view had as much of an impact on her, as it did him? Her eyes were filled with emotion, as she returned his gaze. He pulled her into his arms, and kissed her forehead.

He said, "There's nowhere else in this world that I'd rather be, than right here with you, Sue Ellen."

Sue Ellen kissed him, and said, "You really mean that, don't you?"

He said, "I meant that, as much as I've ever meant anything."

J.R. kissed her, as the last trace of daylight slipped away from their view. The lights came on over head, as if on cue. J.R. told Sue Ellen to stay where she was, and he walked over to the intercom, and flipped a toggle switch that would provide them with music to dance the night away.

J.R. walked back to where Sue Ellen was standing, and asked, "May I have this dance?"

Sue Ellen took his hand, as he twirled her around, before taking her into his arms. He placed one hand at the small of her back, and held her hand against his shoulder with his other hand. Sue Ellen put her other arm around his shoulder, and rested her hand on his neck. Sue Ellen didn't turn away from him, as she had so many times before. Her eyes held his gaze, and he smiled a wide grin.

He said, "Listen, Sugar . . . they're playin' our song."

J.R. hummed along to the music. Sue Ellen smiled at how at ease he seemed. The old J.R. would have been uptight, and never would have agreed to spending two weeks in a foreign country, unless it involved business. She was thrilled by all of the changes she had seen in J.R. He was loving, thoughtful, considerate, and spontaneous. He had regained almost all of the character traits that Sue Ellen was attracted to when they first met, and fell in love. The only trait that was missing was his fear of spoiling her, if he were to act upon his sexual urges. He had gotten past that fear years ago, and she couldn't have been more pleased.

The lights dimmed overhead, and J.R. lifted one of the cushions surrounding the secluded deck, to look for a blanket. He lay the blanket over the cushion, and sat down. He patted the seat next to him, inviting Sue Ellen to sit by his side. She gracefully walked over to where he was sitting. He reached for her hands, and she smiled at him. Her sensuous smile was dazzling, and made his heart race. He pulled her down onto his lap, and hungrily kissed her. Sue Ellen met his urgency without restraint. The night enveloped them in a shroud of darkness, and the only light that existed, was the light that exists between one person and another, as their bodies became entwined in a timeless dance. Sue Ellen was the aggressor, and J.R. wallowed in how good she felt. She moved against him, until he cried out her name. They held each other, covered by a blanket, under a cloudless Tuscan sky . . .