Tuscan Skies

Part 22

J.R. followed Sue Ellen back to their cabin to shower, and dress for the final evening on their sailboat cruise. Sue Ellen opened her wardrobe bag, and removed a navy blue strapless gown with a shirred bodice, and a flared skirt. J.R. selected a charcoal grey suit, a white shirt, and a silver and grey striped necktie. They enjoyed a long shower together, and dried off. Sue Ellen styled her hair in a chignon, and applied some makeup to her bronzed face. J.R. approved of her appearance, and smiled, as his eyes scanned her from her to toe. They walked arm-in-arm to the upper deck of the sailboat, for a romantic evening of dining and dancing.

The upper deck of the sailboat was elaborately decorated with strings of lights, and bouquets of lavish tropical flowers. The dining table was covered with a white damask tablecloth, and three candles in hurricane lanterns decorated the center of the table. Sue Ellen smiled at J.R., and kissed his cheek, as he pulled out a chair for her to sit on. J.R. sat in the chair next to Sue Ellen. The glow of the candlelight amplified by the glass hurricane lanterns provided a brilliant framework for the hazel color of Sue Ellen's eyes. J.R. was captivated by the myriad of colors that seemed to sparkle in her eyes. J.R. lifted her hand to his mouth, and kissed the back of her hand. She lowered her eyes, as a flush of red spread across her cheeks. J.R.'s heated touch on her hand was sending tiny sparks of electricity coursing through her. She was unable to get enough of J.R.'s touch. They had grown so close that she momentarily contemplated accepting his offer of marriage, instead of pursuing her goal of living together, as lovers. The lovemaking was everything that she had hoped for. They weren't afraid to experiment, and the frequency of their interludes left her hungry for more. They languidly enjoyed their meal, and moved away from the table to spend the remainder of the time on deck dancing.

J.R. held Sue Ellen tightly to him, as the music played over the speakers in the background. Sue Ellen focused her attention on J.R. His eyes were a deep blue, and she couldn't help but gaze into the lush pools. She inhaled, and her senses were filled with the aroma of his masculinity, his cologne, and the virile scent of the man himself. God, it was dizzying, she mused. She recalled their first dance together. She was terrified that she might stumble, or worse, step on his feet. J.R. was an exceptional dance partner, and his actions swept Sue Ellen off her feet.

She placed a delicate kiss on his lower lip, and said, "I want you to know how much I've enjoyed our cruise, and our vacation, J.R."

J.R. pulled her head to his, and whispered, "So have I, Sugar. There is nowhere else I'd rather be in this world, than here in your arms. I love you, Sue Ellen."

He pulled his head away from hers, needing to see her eyes. Sue Ellen kissed him, and pressed her body against him. She ached to feel his hands on her, as they were when they made love. J.R. rested his arm around her waist, and twirled her around the dance floor.

Sue Ellen asked, "Tell me, J.R., how are things goin' on your operation in the Gulf?"

J.R. said, "I thought you already asked me that question?"

Sue Ellen retorted, "I did, but you were busy doin' somethin' else."

J.R. remembered being distracted by his attempt to make love to Sue Ellen on the secluded lower deck two nights before, and grinned at her.

He said, "It's goin' really well. Bart called me the night before we drove down to the marina, and said that the rig was pumpin' full-out, and the core samples, and initial bore tests for my second rig were promisin'."

Sue Ellen was curious and asked, "What does that mean for your plan to get Ewin' Oil back from Jeremy Wendell, and West Star?"

J.R. flashed her a surprised look, and asked, "How did you know that's what I was plannin' to do?"

Sue Ellen smiled, and said, "You forget how well I know you, Darlin'. Besides, if some no-account weasel like Jeremy Wendell were to take my company, I'd be hell-bent on doin' whatever was necessary to get it back from him."

J.R. was impressed by her comment, and said, "Damn, Sugar, How 'bout becomin' a partner in my new venture?"

Sue Ellen laughed, and said, "I don't think so, Darlin'. My plate is full with tryin' to start a new Valentine Lingerie promotion, and findin' a model for our high-end product line."

J.R. asked, "What type of face and body are you lookin' for?"

Sue Ellen said, "Hmm, I hadn't really thought about it. I suppose I'm lookin' for a real classic beauty, someone elegant, refined, with a slender build, and…Oh, I don't know. Any thoughts?"

J.R. said, "Sounds to me like you just described the woman of my dreams."

Sue Ellen glared at him, irritated at the very thought that he would refer to anyone other than her, and said, "Who, may I ask, would that be?"

J.R. said, "You, Honey. You just described yourself to a tee."

Sue Ellen shook her head. She was shocked by his comment. She had modeled when she was younger, much younger, but never lingerie. She could not have conceived of the thought of her being photographed clad in a sheer negligee, or a merry-widow corset, and a pair of thigh-high stockings. It was one thing to dress like that for J.R. but surely he wouldn't approve of her being photographed wearing lingerie, even classy lingerie. That had been the very thing that ended his relationship with that Mandy Winger tramp, when Sue Ellen hired Mandy to be the first Valentine girl. The last thing she wanted at this point in her relationship with J.R. was to give him a reason to end his love affair with Sue Ellen.

J.R. could feel his old insecurities surfacing as he thought about some strange man thumbing through Valentine's upscale lingerie ad, and getting turned-on while ogling a picture of Sue Ellen. Then again, she was incredibly beautiful, and her well-maintained body was a perpetual turn-on for him. The men J.R. had seen taking an interest in her certainly seemed to share his views on the subject, especially that Gian Carlo Montevideo character. Maybe if the photographs were tasteful, with the right kind of lighting, and, his approval of course, maybe then he could envision Sue Ellen as the upscale Valentine Lingerie model. For the time being, she belonged to J.R., the rest of the world would have to wait to see her scantily clad in a seductive nightgown, that view was reserved for J.R.'s eyes only.

J.R. couldn't subdue his arousal as he thought about other men seeing Sue Ellen in a lingerie ad, and pulled her to him for a passionate kiss. Sue Ellen gasped for air when her released her. His hands were on the bare skin on her back, and his touch was stirring her desire for J.R.

She said, "I guess this means that we're finished dancin'?"

J.R.'s deep voice was low and enticing, as he said, "Let's go back to the cabin, Honey."

J.R. pulled Sue Ellen through the darkened hallway leading to their cabin. He unlocked the door to their cabin, and held the door open for Sue Ellen. He shut the door behind him, and secured the locks. Sue Ellen stood in the middle of the dark room. The only light that could be seen was the light from a solitary candle, slowly burning atop a table in the corner of the room. The shadows cast by the candle gave the room a mysterious ambience. Sue Ellen waited for J.R. to make his move.

She didn't have to wait long, as he reached for her hand, and said, "Sue Ellen . . . "

She pulled him to her, and kissed him hard. Her hands fell to the waist of his trousers, and she fumbled with the closure. J.R. removed his jacket, and threw it aside. He reached for the zipper of Sue Ellen's gown, and slowly lowered the zipper, as he kissed her neck, and whispered his intentions for her into her ear. Her breath caught in her throat, as his words fanned the flames of her longing for him. She ripped his shirt off of him, and sent the garment flying over his shoulder. She was wild, as she greedily reached to pull him to her. She pushed J.R. on top of the bed, and straddled his legs, as she lowered herself on top of him.

J.R. reached out his hands to pull her body closer to his, but she said, "No . . . I'll tell you when I want you to touch me."

J.R. repeated her name, over and over, as her hips thrust down on him. She pressed against him, sending erotic pulses surging through him. He tried to hold back, wanting it to last, but the more she moved against him, the more difficult it became for him to stop. She writhed on top of J.R, lost in her quest to quench her thirst for him. She called his name aloud as she collapsed against his chest.

Sue Ellen lifted her head, and held J.R.'s gaze. His hands rested on her hips, as he lasciviously grinned at her.

J.R. said, "God, Sue Ellen, you are just full of surprises, aren't you?"

Sue Ellen wiped at her mouth, and said, "I have to do somethin' to keep your attention."

J.R. said, "Like hell, Sugar. Just knowin' you're in the same room as me gets me goin'. I swear that I will never get enough of you."

Sue Ellen leaned forward, and kissed his chin, as her fingers traced the outline of his lips. He opened his mouth, and pulled on her index finger with his teeth.

Sunlight could be seen under the door to the cabin. J.R. held Sue Ellen in his arms, as he had when she fell asleep the night before. Sue Ellen felt him move, and slowly opened her eyes.

J.R. hugged her, and said, "Mornin' Honey. Are you hungry?"

Sue Ellen nodded her head, and said, "Not really, but I would like some coffee. Care to join me?"

J.R. and Sue Ellen talked over coffee, as they waited for the sailboat to reach the marina at Punta Ala. They had returned a few minutes ahead of schedule, and waited on board the sailboat for Gustavo to arrive with their limousine. J.R. thanked the captain, and the crew of the sailboat for the enjoyable cruise. J.R. and Sue Ellen walked hand in hand down the ramp to the dock, when they saw the limousine pull into the parking lot. Gustavo opened the driver's side door, and climbed out to help J.R. with the luggage. J.R. waited while Sue Ellen climbed inside the limo. J.R. climbed in, and sat next to Sue Ellen.

Gus asked them if they were ready to drive back to the villa, and J.R. said, "Take it away, Gus."

Sue Ellen felt a twinge of remorse at this being their last day in Tuscany. She was afraid that once they returned to Dallas, the closeness she shared with J.R. might dwindle. J.R. could sense her uneasiness, and asked her what was wrong.

Sue Ellen's voice was full of emotion as she asked, "J.R., will you still feel the way you feel now, when we get back home to Southfork?"

J.R. lifted an eyebrow and looked at her, saying, "Darlin', what the hell kind of question is that? Of course I'll still feel this way when we get back home. Nothin' could change how I feel about you, and how I feel about us. I've wasted too many years away from the love of my life to let you go."

Sue Ellen leaned into him, and kissed him. His words had calmed her down, and quieted her fears.

J.R. helped Gustavo pack the trunk of the limousine, while Sue Ellen walked through all of the rooms of the villa, making sure that they hadn't left anything behind. She took one last lingering look around the villa, and closed her eyes as she recalled the times she and J.R. had made love in the beautiful estate. J.R. opened the main door to the villa, and asked if Sue Ellen was ready to leave.

She took his hand, and handed him the door key. He placed the key to the villa into a lockbox, near the gate to the courtyard. Gus drove them to the airport in Florence. J.R. heartily shook Gus' hand, and thanked him for providing such a valuable, and reliable service to him and Sue Ellen. Sue Ellen hugged Gustavo, and kissed his cheek, thanking him for all of his loyal service to them.

J.R. held on to the carry-on bags, as the walked through the jetwalk to board the non-stop Al Italia flight 4903 to New York City. They would catch another flight from New York to Dallas.

J.R. said, "Thank you for an incredible vacation, Sue Ellen. I promise you that I won't lose interest in you, or us when we get back home to Southfork. I love you, Darlin'. I always have, and I always will."

Sue Ellen cupped his chin in her hands, and kissed him, saying, "You have such a way with words, J.R. I love you. I love you more than you'll ever know."

The plane taxied down the runway, as Sue Ellen closed her eyes, and joined J.R. in sleep . . .

This is the last installment of 'Tuscan Skies.' Join J.R. and Sue Ellen for lots more lovin' and some fun and games in 'Alliances.'