"I thought you said there'd be green lights!" Ian said to Lucy with a laugh. "At the rate we keep hitting the red lights it'll be time to turn around afore we get there!"
"Those aren't the lights I was talking about at all," Lucy said with a smile. She sat next to Ian in the car with her hand on his leg. Just knowing that they were free and together for a whole weekend—the visit from the INS agents was already dimming in her mind. It was a good thing that she had left herself a note by the phone to call the attorney on Monday morning.
"Gas! You packed up the car, but you forgot to get any gas!" Ian said suddenly.
Lucy looked at the gauge, it was sitting between a half and a quarter of a tank, "We have enough to get us there and back. I'll fill it up on Monday morning when I take the kids to school."
"We're heading to the cabin…remember…the place where our cars ALWAYS break down! I'm stopping for a full tank before we get up there. Here's a station now, you just sit tight," Ian said as he stopped the car, and left to pump the gas.
After filling the tank, he went into the convenience store. He picked up a couple of bottled waters for he and Lucy, and something he knew they'd be using during the weekend. It wouldn't do for Lucy to get pregnant again so quickly after Caroline's birth…besides he wanted her to himself for a while. He paid for his purchases and they made the drive to the cabin in quiet companionship.
"I hope that all this napping hasn't spoiled her for the night," Lucy said as she carried Caroline into the cabin. "I didn't think about that before, and I really don't want to spend the night playing with her—I'd have a much better time playing with you!"
Ian growled low in his throat, "Aye, you'll get no arguments from me, woman!"
After taking in the luggage and food, Ian unpacked while Lucy fed and changed Caroline. The baby was lazy and contented, almost as if she knew that her parents wanted some privacy. After Ian set up the portable crib, Lucy put Caroline down with a kiss and covered her with a blanket. She stood up and stretched her back, making it crack just a little. Ian walked over and kissed her on the forehead, "Come and eat, then I'll give you one of my famous massages. Guaranteed to make you forget all your aches and pains!"
"Ummm, is that a promise?" Lucy said. She sat down at the table, admiring the way that Ian had set out the food. She had bought simple sandwiches, fruit and cheese. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until she sat down. Ian picked up the napkin and placed it in her lap. She looked up at him, and smiled with confusion in her eyes.
"Sweet Lucy, you take such good care of our family, that tonight I'm taking care of you. Would you like something to eat?" Ian prepared her a plate and sat down without giving it to her.
When she reached for the plate, he said, "Ah…ah…ah! That's my job!" He then proceeded to feed her some fruit. When she started to protest, he assured her that he had eaten while setting the table. As he attempted to feed her a bite of sandwich, he missed her mouth and smeared some mayonnaise on her cheek. Before she had a chance to wipe it off with the napkin, he moved in and tenderly licked it away. Lucy shivered in anticipation. Ian noticed, and continued to delicately kiss her cheek, and on down to where her neckline stopped just above her breasts. The sandwich lay forgotten on the table as he pulled her into his arms.
Lucy sat in Ian's lap as he cradled her head in his hands and explored her mouth with his tongue. Lucy reached around and pulled up his shirt so that she could run her hands over his bare skin. They continued kissing for several minutes before Ian broke away, breathing raggedly, "I'm not done taking care of you, love. If we keep going like this it'll be too quick for you." Lucy just nodded at him, the desire in her eyes almost tangible.
They stood up and Ian helped Lucy remove her top and slacks. When she was standing before him in her lacy bra and panties, he drew in a sharp breath, "So beautiful," he whispered as he gathered her into his arms. After a moment he led her over by the fireplace where he had laid out several pillows. As Lucy lay down, he picked up some lotion that he had warmed by the fire to massage her skin.
Lucy lay on her stomach as Ian worked the lotion into her shoulders and upper arms. She sighed in pleasure as he eased all the tension from her muscles. As he worked his way down her back, he followed his hands with his lips, branding her skin with small fires of yearning. After working his way down to her feet, he unclasped her bra and eased off her panties. Ian gently turned Lucy onto her back asking, "How's that, love? Are you feeling relaxed?"
If it had been possible to purr, Lucy would surely have done it. Being loved by Ian had always been wonderful, but this was beyond even her imagination. Sometime while she had been lying on her stomach, Ian had stripped off his clothes. As she lay in the firelight, Ian sat back on his heels and admired her beauty, "What did I ever do to deserve you?" he whispered almost to himself.
"You are the kindest, gentlest man I have ever known, and you see right into my soul. We belong together," Lucy whispered in reply. "I love you."
Her body was so taut and firm, it was hard to believe that she had had a baby only six weeks earlier. Ian stretched out next to her and kissed her again, pulling her hair back from her face. He kissed and caressed every inch of her face and neck and shoulders, until she was breathless with desire. When he reached her breasts, he paused and looked up at her with a question in his eyes. She smiled and nodded to him and allowed herself be swept away by the passion they both felt. It had been such a long time for them both, and Ian slowly and meticulously enflamed her every desire. He growled low in his throat as he took her, and she cried out his name. When they were spent, she laid her head against his shoulder and he felt her tears against his skin.
His hand touched her cheek and he looked at her in confusion and concern, "Lucy? I thought you were happy love? What is it?"
"Why?" Lucy said simply.
"Why…what?" Ian said in confusion.
"We've never used protection before, why now? Is there something you're not telling me? Is something wrong?" she answered with a worried look on her face.
"I was thinking about you, that's all. The wee lass is only a few weeks old, and you don't want to get pregnant again so soon. Before it didn't matter—but now we have to be careful," Ian answered. "I'm sorry that I didn't mention it, but I was…uh…kind of preoccupied."
"It's okay, I guess…I just thought maybe it was me…and …and …I don't know… something!" Lucy said and he noticed fresh tears running down her face that he gently kissed away.
"Don't you know yet how much I love you? There's nothing you could say or do that would ever change that? You are my life, Lucy Thornhart, don't you ever forget it. Everything I've ever done is with love for you in my heart. You can trust me, Lucy, just like I trust you."
They relaxed against the pillows, realizing that the baby had been sleeping peacefully throughout their storm of passion. Ian grinned with a twinkle in his eyes. He stood up and held out a hand for Lucy to pull herself into his arms. When she was standing, he led her up the stairs to the bathroom and started the water in the shower, "I seem to remember enjoying a few showers with you in the past. Let's take one now while the lass is still sleeping."
For once in her life, Lucy seemed to be at a loss for words. She was feeling so many different emotions that she didn't want to spoil the mood. She just nodded at Ian and kissed him on the mouth before stepping into the shower. Ian stepped in behind her and brought his hands up to caress her body. They allowed the passion to sweep them away once again, barely noticing when the water started to cool. They washed and rinsed each other before stepping out of the shower, their passion once again sated.
They put on heavy terry robes and Ian stood behind Lucy brushing her hair. They looked at themselves in the mirror, marveling at how right they looked together. Lucy tried to turn around and comb Ian's hair, which was sticking out every which way, but he kept turning her back around to the face mirror. Finally, she grabbed her brush out of his hand and ran into the bedroom, her laughter ringing out. He laughed and chased after her, almost catching her, but each time she squirmed out of his grasp and ran laughingly just out of reach. When they ran down the stairs to the living room again, she finally let him catch her, and he sat down on the sofa with her on his lap. She snuggled in his arms and let out a deep sigh.
"What is it, love?" Ian said. "Is everything okay?"
"Okay? Okay? Try fabulous, wonderful, stupendous! We have the cabin to ourselves, and our baby daughter has decided to sleep through the night—just in the nick of time I might add. I'm so glad we came up here," Lucy answered.
"Aye, we needed some time to ourselves, that we did. You have good ideas—maybe I should listen to you more often," he said with a grin.
Lucy pulled back and slapped him playfully with her brush, before using it to straighten out his hair. As she was leaning forward to brush the back of his head, he gently nibbled at her ear. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized that she was ready for him again—and she knew that he felt the same. After once again surrendering to their passion, Lucy sighed softly as they lay together on the sofa. He tenderly gathered her in his arms and held her until she was once again relaxed.
"Feel better, love?" He asked. She just nodded at him. He shook his head and lifted her hand to his lips, "Do you know what you do to me? I've missed you so much, Lucy."
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hugged him tightly against her, "You're all I've ever needed…or wanted…I love you so very much."
"Oh, Lucy, I love you," Ian said softly as they drifted off to sleep in each other's arms.
Lucy and Ian headed home late on Sunday afternoon. They had to pick up Danny and the girls because of school the next day. Caroline had been wonderful, playing and cooing and smiling at her parents during the day, and sleeping all the way through for the second night in a row. Both Ian and Lucy felt so relaxed and in harmony with each other, the visit from the INS had been completely banished from their minds.