Beautiful Release
by Tina
There's a couple of people I need to thank, so I'm gonna do it now 'cause I'm ashamed I haven't thanked them before. Vero and Audrey, thanks a lot for helping me out with this ;) You guys keep me going! Mwah!
P.S. This chapter is possibly just as "hot" as chapter 3. You've been warned. But, again, nothing too graphic, with excessive description or vulgar vocabulary. I'm trying to capture only the relevant. If you want porn, there are specific websites for that. You can copy and paste and then switch the names to Ross and Rachel. That way, you can even have Mona or whoever else you'd like there.
Not that I do that, I'm just saying. haha!
Rachel was silently applying moisturizer onto her legs, sitting on the bed. Barry had the t.v. on, but she didn't even notice what it was airing. He chuckled a couple of times. She turned to look at him.
"You're playing racquetball tomorrow morning, right?"
Barry turned to look at her.
"Of course I am. It's what I do every Saturday, isn't it?"
She didn't even mind the way he put things - almost implying she was stupid - anymore.
"OK."
She looked at her watch and sighed, unquiet anticipation filling her.
As if on a cue, her cell rang. She picked it up from her nightstand and smiled at the name on the screen. She looked at Barry, who was chuckling again at the t.v., oblivious to this, and left the room.
"Hey"
"Hi." And she fell in love with the sound of his voice. "Is me calling OK? 'Cause I just wanted to ask if everything was all set for tomorrow?"
She walked into her closet and locked the door.
"It's OK, you can call." She smiled wider. "And yes, everything's settled."
"Good."
"Good."
She paced around, nervously. It felt like she was fourteen all over again. Funny, she didn't recall going into any time machine. But, actually, the irony would be that when she was that young, Rachel hadn't felt this way. She was after all the cool girl who got everything she wanted, all the guys and the whole package. But, for some reason, Ross finally brought that out of her. And she liked it.
"What are you wearing?" she felt herself getting bolder, aroused by the thought of seeing him again the next day.
He chuckled.
"Hm, boxer shorts and a t-shirt." She smiled at her mental picture. "You?"
"A pale blue baby doll."
He took his time to reply and she figured he too was taking a mental picture of her.
"I bet it brings out your eyes."
She smiled wider. It was not exactly the comment she was expecting. It was somehow more flattering. It was sweet. She looked straight at her reflection in the mirror before her. Her cheeks had turned red. And he'd noted it right. The blue of her eyes seemed to successfully seek out for attention, in a way she'd never noticed before. Even though she'd wear that color all the time.
"So, how was your day? I mean, we didn't really get to talk, with the others around and all..."
Rachel paused, surprised by his question.
"It was fine. Monica and I had a good time." She looked at her watch. "Listen... I better go or Barry might get suspicious."
"OK. I'll see you tomorrow."
She smiled.
"Bye."
---
Rachel walked into the hotel lobby and approached the desk with long and confident steps. The dark sunglasses were not removed when she got the clerk's attention.
"Hi. I'm here to meet Ross Geller."
"Oh, yes. He's already waiting, Miss." He turned around to get a magnetic key. "Here, it's room 1206. The elevators are right there on the left."
"Thank you."
-
She stopped by the door and took a moment to herself. She sighed and opened her purse, taking a tiny mirror from it. She looked at herself, finally removing her glasses. Golden.
She knocked lightly and inserted her card. The door opened.
Ross was pouring champaign into two long glasses, right next to a bowl full of strawberries. He looked up and smiled at her.
"Hey."
"Hi." she replied, surprised.
"I know it's a little early for champaign, but..."
Rachel closed the door and stared at it again, almost in awe. She knew if she ever said yes to the indecent proposals Barry's friends made to her all the time, they would shower her with nothing but the best. Yet she knew it would only be to prove themselves. But Ross... She could tell this was different.
She grasped to that thought with both hands.
She walked up to him and took both glasses.
"Then we'll save it for later."
She set them on the table, next to the ice bucket. Ross watched how she teased him, moving very close to him, touching him slightly as she took the glasses, how she looked at him when she spoke and then casually walked away. She removed her coat, still with her back turned to him, and revealed a pale blue shirt, very low on the back.
Ross swallowed hard.
She turned back to face him. She threw her coat and purse on the couch.
"Well, I was right. The color does bring out your eyes."
She smiled.
He approached her and they kissed softly. So softly she barely heard any sound when their lips parted. They kept their arms around each other and locked gazes.
"I guess it's become inevitable now, huh?"
He felt a hint of fear in her voice. A fear he too couldn't deny.
"I'm afraid so."
She looked away briefly. Then she looked back at him and smiled. They kissed again.
Before they could get too carried away, though, she broke the kiss. She took his hand and led him to the couch, making him sit down. He did so with no questioning. She approached the table and took a quick sip of the champaign, she would need it.
She turned back to him and smiled weakly.
Without further hesitation, she started undressing. Ross watched her fragile figure and just somehow knew there was a meaning to it. He didn't know what it was, but felt flattered he'd chosen him to share it with her.
And his gratitude wasn't just for his fun on the part.
After she finished, she stood before him, naked. Ross looked straight into her eyes. And he didn't have to tell her she was beautiful. Even though she hadn't felt much sexy before he came along, she just had to look into his eyes and she felt it, instantly.
She got down to her knees and began undressing him. He breathed heavier and swallowed hard when he realized what she was doing. Carol was never a fan of plain sex, let alone anything oral. (If he knew the irony on that...!)
He threw his head back and closed his eyes. After a while he opened them again and watched her. It wasn't as dirty as a regular mind would've pictured it. He couldn't help but allow his heart to fill up a little more with feelings for her. As dangerous as those might've been.
She looked up at him and the meeting of their eyes threw him off the edge.
"Oh, I'm gonna come, Rach." Ross whispered.
She pulled away and reached for tissues in her purse, handing them to him.
"Thanks."
She stood up and walked to the table again, drinking the rest of the champaign in her glass and giving him some privacy. After a while, he joined her too, hugging her from behind. He planted a few kisses on her shoulder, while his hand softly stroked her flat stomach.
"Come here"
He turned her around and they smiled weakly at each other. He took a strawberry from the bowl and put it between his teeth, kissing her. Rachel laughed and took her half, kissing him back on the process. She chewed and swallowed, smiling at him.
"That was so cheesy, Ross."
"It felt like the thing to do..." he said in a way she could only describe as adorable.
She kissed him and they fell together onto the bed. And made love until her toes curled.
Rachel collapsed on top of him, exhausted, breathing hard. He threw his arms around her, determined to avoid what had happened the last time they'd been together. She wasn't gonna run away so easily.
But, to his surprise, she seemed comfortable this time and made herself at home, adjusting herself properly. And their bodies fit. Every curve was filled with the other's. And her face went perfectly on the nape of his neck.
"That was amazing." she told him and kissed his chest.
"It really was."
He smiled proudly. He loved the way he put her up. It might seem silly, but Carol never spoke to him that way after they'd had sex. At least he didn't remember so. 'Oh, it's been such a long time now' he thought.
As the beautiful silence rose, she got him thinking. On a daily basis, would she put him up over everything? Over a published work, an award, father's day... He imagined her beaming up with pride for him. He liked to think she would.
They laid lazily in silence for a long time. When she felt her eyelids getting heavy, she spoke.
"What time is it?"
"Twelve twenty five."
"I gotta get going soon."
He nodded.
A brief silence followed again, before she started getting up. He made a few complaining noises and she laughed.
"I'm going for a shower. Care to join me?"
He smiled.
---
Ross entered his apartment wearing a goofy grin. He was afraid it would rise up any suspicion on Carol, but he just couldn't shake it off. First person he noticed, though, was Ben, watching t.v. on the living room. The little boy looked up at his father and smiled.
"Hey, dad!"
"Hey, son."
Ross kissed the top of his head.
"Where you at work? I woke up and you weren't here."
"No, I just- I went to meet a friend, that's all."
Carol entered the room, holding a plate with pizza snacks for Ben.
"Oh, there you are." she said.
"Hey."
"Have you had lunch yet?"
"No."
"Well, I've just finished putting everything away and-"
Her irritated tone made him close his eyes a bit.
"OK, OK, Carol, that's fine. I'll fix myself something, don't worry."
Carol looked at him for a while.
"OK then. Here you go, Ben."
"Thanks, mom."
Carol turned to leave the room, but stopped herself before she could reach the door.
"Oh, and by the way, Monica called. She said your parents have just decided to throw her and Chandler an engagement part next Saturday at their place."
"Oh. OK."
Carol left. Ben turned to Ross.
"Can I go too, dad? Please, please-please-please?"
Ross smiled at his son, his big brown eyes, just like his own, filled with innocence.
"Sure you can, son."
Ben smile mischievously.
"Mom, see? Dad said I could come!" Ben shouted, running towards the room.
Ross closed his eyes, realizing Carol hadn't let their little boy go. Well, that sure would earn him a big fight. He sighed and started preparing for it.
-
Rachel laughed the hardest that day. She sat with her friends on a trendy restaurant, shining so brightly her friends all noticed.
"Hey, what's up with you?" one of them asked.
"Yeah, you look... I don't know, radiant today."
"Well, thank you." she graciously replied.
"So, what's the secret? Care to share?"
Rachel smiled wide.
"Sex." she allowed herself to say. They would all figure it was sex with Barry, anyway.
The girls laughed.
"Ah, I wish Liam still made me feel that way."
All the personal notes from her friends muffled the two first rings of her phone. But at the third, Rachel picked it up, smiling at Monica's name.
"Hey, Mon!"
"Hi, Rach, how are you?"
"Fantastic! You?"
"Can't complain. Listen, I'm calling 'cause my parents have decided to throw Chandler and me an engagement party, just for a few close friends. I know it's a little close to be calling to invite you, but they've just decided it. It's gonna be on Saturday at their place. Can you come?"
"Oh, of course, sweetie, I would love to."
"Oh, great! My parents are dying to meet Barry. And quite honestly, so am I."
Rachel's smile faded when she saw the scenario before her. Barry would be there. And Ross would too. With his wife. It had happened before, yes, just the previous weekend. But it had been different back then. Way different.
"Hm. Right. Of course." she ran her hand through her hair. "Of course he'll be there."
"Thank you, Rach. I'll call later with more information, OK? I can tell you're busy right now, from all the noise."
"OK. Thanks for the invitation."
"Thanks for accepting it. Bye, sweetie."
"Bye, Mon."
Rachel hung up and sighed.
Tah-dah. It took longer 'cause my classes started again. It's gonna start taking even longer for me to post new chapters, so be patient, please. I'll still try getting them out as soon as I can. Now, please, post me a comment and tell me what you thought :) Thanks for reading! Oh, and don't worry. I'm avoiding the greater clichés in this story. You might know what I'm talking about (wink-wink).