DAYS OF DISCOVERY, NIGHTS OF PASSION
At the end of The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito,(Book) Perry Mason and Della Street have left their office and retreated into the desert. They arrive at the camp run by Salty Bowers. After discussing the outcome of the murder of Salty's partner Banning Clark, they are informed that the prospector and his fiancée Lucille, along with Doctor Kenward and his nurse Velma Starling, are leaving the next morning on a marrying party. When their host leaves them alone Perry suggests to Della that perhaps the minister would give them a discount if there were three couples to marry. Not the most romantic of proposals. Della turns him down again stating that they are happy the way they are.
This Missing Moment, suggested by one of my ghost writers, is our idea of what may have happened when our favorite couple is left alone to guard the camp until the newlyweds arrive the next day. It isn't long but a treat for the Holiday season.
THERE IS SPICE!
Special THANKS to my wonderful BETA Andrea who makes me and these stories sound better!
CHAPTER ONE
It had been a very cheerful evening with the other two couples as they talked excitedly about their plans to stay overnight in Las Vegas. Della had not really said a lot but she noticed Perry looking at her several times that night. She had had a hard time falling asleep as she remembered their discussion from the afternoon before.
His words had surprised her a little, although he had mentioned marriage previously, but the way he phrased "I bet the preacher would make a reduced rate on marrying three couples instead of two," that was surprising.
Some people wouldn't be surprised that his approach to marriage was so cut and dried. If you saw him in court his demeanor was that of someone who knew what he wanted to do and went right for success. Oh he was handsome and women liked the way he looked but one wouldn't say he came off as romantic.
As far as she knew, since they've been together, she was the only one who had seen the romantic loving side of this man. He was a man who loved romantic dinners, dancing, and never forgot your birthday or the Holidays with wonderful gifts. The general public who saw a brilliant attorney with so many successes, and the beautiful women who traipsed through their office, were often surprised he wasn't susceptible to their charms.
When he had talked to her of marriage that day she wanted more than anything to say 'yes', but instead reluctantly she said more or less, "forget it". He only asked why.
He couldn't understand that her answer was given out of fear. When she had said, "we're happy now. You can't tell what marriage would do to us. We'd have a home. I'd be a housekeeper. You'd need a new secretary. You don't want a home. I don't want you to have a new secretary,"
That really said it all; she didn't want to be put in a house. She loved the work they did together. She loved being able to spend so much time with him. If she married him she couldn't see any way that she wouldn't be on the sidelines and that just wouldn't work out at all.
With those thoughts running through her head she fell asleep finally. Over in his sleeping bag Perry Mason could see her moving around. As he had time to think it over he knew the way he approached her to join the other couples in Las Vegas was all wrong. He knew what loyalty she had to him and how much she loved her job and everything that went with it. All he knew is he never wanted to lose her.
Della Street was the most beautiful woman he had ever known in his life, both inside and out. His biggest fear is that she would meet someone else and leave him. The one time she had disappeared from his life he thought he would go crazy. It was all sorted out and there was a good explanation but he realized that his life was nothing, his successes were nothing, unless he had her at his side. Maybe it was time for a conversation that would air out their feelings about this situation. As he noticed she was no longer moving around he was able to relax and fall asleep.
The next morning Salty was up early and fixing a big breakfast for everyone. There was a lot of excited talk and the women were all excited because their prospective grooms told them to go to an exclusive women's shop to pick out an outfit for the wedding. Perry had learned about this shop during a previous case and that it was called Julie's and it was a very expensive. Maybe if he had suggested this to Della it might have changed her mind.
Once they were gone and it was quiet He asked his secretary, "what would you like to do now." Della laughed, "Well all I see here are burros and I don't think I'd like to take a ride on them. Do you have any suggestions?"
"Well Salty left some equipment and said if we got bored we could do some prospecting."
"Would you even know where to get started?" She inquired.
Walking over to the stash Perry told her, "I think together we probably could figure out something and he showed me an area over here where he said there was a possibility of finding some amethyst. It's not gold but it is very pretty."
Looking over the gear she admitted, "it doesn't look too complicated."
"It's not too far away but I think we should take one of the burros and pack it with water, some food, and what we'll need to use on the ground and the rocks. We also have clothing that's more suitable to prospecting."
He left some nutritious snacks, nuts, beef jerky, and such, wide brimmed hats for protection from the sun, big handkerchiefs, sunglasses, and picks and axes. There is even a canvas bag for our cache.
Picking up the pants, shirt, and boots she told him, "I'll go change in the tent. It's a good thing Salty has had Lucille out prospecting so he has women sized clothing."
Mason laughed as he said he would pack up everything and be waiting for her. By the time she changed they were ready to go. As she walked toward him he thought she would look great even if she was wearing a plain brown sack.
She noticed him watching and wondered if she looked unfeminine. When he pulled her into his arms and began kissing her she figured she must look alright!
The tall lawyer looked down at her as her arms wrapped around him. "I hope you know I love you." he said quietly.
Squeezing him and lying her head on his broad chest she said as she listened to his rapid heartbeat, "of course I do. Do you know how much I love you too?"
As he kissed the top of her head he replied, "Yes I do so why won't you…..?"
This was what she was afraid of as she said, "not now Perry…if you want we can talk later on. After all we're two prospectors and we'd better get on the road."
He didn't like being put off but at least she said they could talk later. Instead as they walked the short distance to the area that Salty had pointed out to him they talked about their beautiful surroundings. When they got to the outcropping it turned out to be more sheltered than they had anticipated and while it was hot the sun wasn't beating right down on them.
"This is the area. Now you can show me your prospecting skills Mister,"
Perry decided that he would go along with her cheerfulness and enjoy himself. It took them a little while to get used to using a pic and axe and as they were getting the hang of it there was much laughter and teasing.
Della was the first to find an interesting rock. She held it up and the sunlight created a rainbow of colors. She was so excited and rushed over to him to show him her find. Her eyes were shining and she had a big grin on her face. Her excitement was catching.
A while later, Perry found a big rock that had purple striations and as he gently broke it apart, he found a big piece of amethyst with incredible facets. Della was fascinated by its many shades of purple. Each new find brought on shouts of excitement.
Taking a break and leaning up against some rocks in the shade, Della moved the big stone all around so they could see the beautiful colors. Perry watched her with a smile on his face. When she looked up at him he slipped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her in tight.
"Perry, this is beautiful what do we do with it next?"
He was thoughtful as he answered, "I guess we take it to a gem cutter and see what they could do with it or we could leave it like it is and enjoy it."
Maybe…..we could look for some more stones and do both," she suggested.
He laughed, "Oh no now you have the prospecting bug I won't be able to get you away from here."
Trying not to laugh she reassured him that it was just a temporary fixation. "You won't have to worry because we'll have these stones and rocks to remind us of our time in the desert."
Perry took the stone from her and laid it gently on the sand, then he turned and pulled her into his arms. As their kisses became more passionate Della moved away from him but was very upset at the look on his face.
"Sweetheart," she said, "Please don't be upset. I love when you kiss me but I don't think we really want to do anything more right here in the sand."
He was looking down at the beautiful stone as he replied, "I was afraid you might be rejecting me because you thought I was going to pressure you to follow them to Las Vegas to get married."
Della smiled at him; this bigshot attorney could act like a little boy sometimes. "Mr. Mason we've been down this road before and I've never rejected you. I've only stated the reasons I don't think marriage is for us."
"Never?" he asked nervously.
"I never said never but your career is moving so fast. We have gone from case to case with hardly any breathing room. It is been wonderful and exciting. I am so lucky that you have let me be such a big part of it."
Stroking her arm he told her, "I wouldn't have it any other way. As I told you before, don't ever leave me I need you."
"Yet," She said tolerantly, "do you think we can get married and nothing will change? Few women stay in the workplace unless they have to after they get married. They are expected to stay at home, keep the house, and raise the children. It would be frowned upon if I was still working with you."
"What do I care what people think? That's the way I've led my life and that's the way I've run my career. If they don't like the way I run my office or my business then they can go and look for another lawyer."
"Oh my love you yourself said it wouldn't look good if we were married, and you were giving me orders. Nothing has changed you still give me orders."
"Della, sweetheart, everyone knows who really runs the business. You have your ways of getting around me so I will do exactly what you want me to do when you want me to do it," he explained.
"So you are just placating me? " She asked.
"No I trust your judgment so much I know you wouldn't steer me wrong."
"Nice words Mr. Mason, but you are good at using them to get your way," she said grinning at him.
He pulled her over on his lap. Looking deep into her eyes he said, "let me convince you of my sincerity."
In between kisses and him fumbling with all the clothes she had on she started to laugh, "what is so funny?" he demanded.
"You! This isn't the time and place. How about we do some more digging and head back to camp?"
Reluctantly he agreed and helped her up. They found some more small pieces and spent the time teasing each other and just enjoying the solitude that was too infrequent in their lives.
Later after a meal of sausage, bacon, and eggs they relaxed even more. Della had changed to brown slacks and a comfortable red sweater knowing the evenings could be cooler.
Perry had expertly built a big fire and then changed into slacks, a long sleeve shirt and a vest. He took their two sleeping bags and spread them on the sand overlapping each other. Della smiled to herself; sometimes he could be so obvious.
They started by sitting close together looking up of the panorama of stars. Soon they were lying down holding hands. "It is such a grand spectacle," he sighed.
"It is big and magnificent, and so quiet. I feel so relaxed and had such a deep sleep last night," she told him.
Rolling onto his side he looked into those beautiful hazel eyes. He brushed back her chestnut curls and tenderly kissed her cheek. Then he moved to the mouth that begged to be kissed and explored its depths.
Della wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him against her chest. She could hardly breathe from the sweetness of his kisses and the passion that ran through her body. Her first thought was 'NEVER' stop but she was so much aware that once they started there was no going back.
Alone in the desert with a million stars twinkling down on them, the vastness of the land around them, and feeling like they were only two people in the world, they wanted to examine every sensation they created in each other.
Perry's hands began to wander and his hands were moving up under her sweater. The little wisps of material that covered her breasts we're no deterrent to his determination to explore everything he loved about her.
She moved so there was more access to each other's body. His tongue moved swiftly across her nipples as she began unbuttoning his shirt. His chest was so broad and muscular she loved running her hands across its hardness.
It became so much more difficult to concentrate as his lips encompassed her breasts and began to enjoy her lusciousness. Della's breath was taken away as his lips moved down the sensitive spots across her belly and she unzipped her slacks.
Quietly, short of breath he asked her, "raise your hips up a little," and she was glad to oblige. Easing their bodies together she could feel the hardness of his manhood straining against his trousers.
"It is your turn to raise up," she declared, "so I can ease your constrictions."
He grinned at how proper she could sound. He knew his decorous secretary was not proper at all in the throes of passion. However he didn't hesitate to do her bidding. Once they were free of all clothing their only thoughts were of pleasuring each other.
Their hands were doing a dance on each other's bodies that was stretching their patience to the limit. Yet the pleasure was something they wished could go on and on.
"Let me make perfect love to you," he choked out as his body begged for completion
Without a word she opened her legs to him and wrapped them around his waist. He gave a thrust and buried himself in a world of ecstasy that only included them. Every movement made him realize how much he wanted and needed this woman for fulfillment.
Della reveled in his every stroke as she moved higher and higher thinking if her body responded much more she would die. The world was full of color and the thrill was his joining with her in such a loving way. This was the ultimate meaning of making love not just having sex.
He grasped her tighter and whispered lovingly, "I can't stop now the sensations are too strong but it is so important that I am pleasuring you as you fulfill me my love."
"Fulfilled? Pleasuring? What was he thinking? Every nerve ending was alive and quivering. Waves of vibrations rippled through her body and all she could feel were sensations so intense her only thought was, would she ever reach those heights again.
They were gasping for breath as they came down from their high. Perry didn't want to let her go and lose their connection. No woman had ever created in him such a feeling of ecstasy. Della gave him everything and more and yet never used it to manipulate him. She was the other half of him he never thought he would find.
On the other hand Della had felt or feared that no such man could exist. It was a fairy story, a myth. Then she had met Perry Mason and was falling in love with her boss. She knew it could possibly not end well but she couldn't help herself. Incredibly he loved her too and after the first time they made love she knew it was no fairy story. This was the man she had dreamed of and hoped for and no matter what people might think all she wanted was to be by his side and a part of his life.
When they could speak again she was wrapped in his arms. He kissed her temple and murmured "I wish we could wake up like this every single day."
Snuggling against him she confided, "I do too but I can't see any solution that would work and I am not prepared to not be a part of your life as we are now."
Brushing back her hair he whispered, "I want you to still run the office. We can get typists to do the work. You and I can work on cases together and with Paul. I promise no one will ever take your place in my life. I don't care what anyone thinks and I don't care what anyone says."
"Darling, it sounds wonderful But you know something will happen and it won't work out the way we had hoped. she said wistfully. "
"I know, your attitude toward me would be more protective. You don't think so right now but you would always be thinking when we're out on the firing line that I'm your wife, not your secretary."
Rising up on an elbow and looking into those shining eyes he replied, "Baby, you have been in dangerous situations before and nothing changed. Remember when you disappeared when we got back from the Orient? I was a wreck. I couldn't sleep I couldn't eat I couldn't even give proper representation to our client. All I could think about was you. Paul even suggested that maybe you had met someone else and left me. I almost hit him. It was incomprehensible that you would leave and not be in my life."
Della touched his face gently, "Oh Perry."
He took her hand and kissed the palm before he went on. "When the nurse woke me up after our bout, just days ago, with poisoning there was only one thing I wanted to know. She wanted me to go back to sleep and rest but I needed to know that you were all right. When she told me you were resting comfortably and would be alright, then I could go back to sleep. Nothing else mattered to me and that's never going to change."
The love that shone out of his eyes overwhelmed her. More than anything she wanted to believe they could marry and have a family and nothing would be different. She knew whatever he did he was all in, but he had a work ethic that when he was on a case everything was set aside toward that goal. The hours were long for both of them, and clearing their client was uppermost on his mind. A home and family would weigh down on him after a while. He wouldn't be free to just fly off wherever he needed to be at a moment's notice. As hard as it was to say no, he probably would never understand that. What they had together now was for the best.
Della wrapped her arms around him. She loved the feel of his body against hers. He slipped an arm around her waist as he pulled her tighter against himself. They hadn't finished their discussion but his need for her was becoming so intense it was blocking out any other words he might have said to convince her to become his wife.
As he opened his mouth to speak she covered her mouth with his. This time she was taking the initiative kissing him with an intensity that made him gasp. All she wanted at this point was to express her feelings for him by making love to him with an passion that would divert his thoughts from anything but the feelings that were building in them right then.
Her breasts were crushed against his chest. "Let me show you how you make me feel," she insisted.
Perry moved his hands down to her bottom and pulled her ever more intimately against him. Della groaned, "Oh God", as he pressed his growing manhood against her equally growing need.
For so many years they had anticipated the thoughts of the other like a well-oiled machine. In their love making they had grown to know how to build the intensity of their desire so powerful that nothing but fulfillment was uppermost in their minds.
"I love you," he whispered in her ear as he joined his body with hers.
As he moved slowly inside her giving her the ultimate satisfaction, Della told him breathlessly, "I love you more than you can ever know Perry Mason."
"Marry me! Marry me and make me happier than I have ever been, my love," he begged.
This was the hardest decision she'd ever had to make in her life. It was so difficult to look into his handsome face with those devastating dimples and know that the choice she was about to make was the best for both of them at that time. Instead of answering she began moving against him meeting him thrust for thrust. There was no doubt it took his mind off the question he had asked.
As their passion intensified, his only thoughts were how to make this experience so satiating for them both that his lover would want to keep repeating it over and over. "Oh Della," he gasped, "I want you and need you so much, only you."
Della was longer in her body she was floating somewhere where there was only feelings, no thought. Her nerves endings were vibrating with his every movement. As she encouraged him he strove even more to make this an experience neither one of them would ever forget.
Somewhere along the way they both seemed to be having an out of body experience joined together as one. They were only expressing words of love and wanting the feelings to never stop. What brought them back to earth was a burro nibbling on Perry's naked shoulder.
Della started to laugh, "if ever there was a mood breaker that was it."
Perry rolled off her, jumped to his feet stark naked, and pushed the burro away. As he walked away she said, "now see what you have to look forward if we got married and had a family? Just such interruptions."
After he had tied the animal up again he came back and grimaced, "it was like having a bucket of cold water thrown on you. You are absolutely right Della it definitely changes the atmosphere. Are you sure you didn't let that animal loose to get my mind off marriage?"
She began to laugh again, "not at all." She choked out, "but we do need to come to an understanding. If our lifestyle was different and you were a different kind of lawyer then marriage would definitely be in our future. Right now we have the best of both worlds. That doesn't mean that can't change and when it does Mister you won't have to propose. I'll be dragging you down the aisle."
Wrapping a blanket around himself, the lawyer sat next to her and wrapped her in the blanket too. "Can I get that in writing?"
"You don't need to have it in writing I'm never going to change my mind. You are my one and only love. I've seen you in the very good times and in the very bad times and it's never changed my feelings for you. You are stuck with me counselor."
Della snuggled against him as he explained. "you know I am going to hold you to this young lady. You also need to understand that part of the reason it would be smart if we were married is to protect you legally. I know I told you everything is set up if anything happens to me that everything goes to you, but I would hate for anything or anyone to give you any problems about that."
"In other words you're trying to make an honest woman out of me?" She inquired.
He grinned at her and once again his dimples did their job. She kissed him thoroughly before he went on to explain. "In my heart, in my mind you are my wife. I've never met anyone else that I wanted to take that place. So Miss Street, YOU will never have to DRAG me down any aisle. I will go WILLINGLY."
She looked into those eyes and that face that had captivated her from the moment they'd met. Then she grinned at him and asked, "can I get that in writing?"
Pulling the blanket more tightly around them and running his hands up and down her back he said decisively, "I think we better get dressed and think about fixing something to eat just in case the honeymooners decide to come back here."
"Always the efficient lawyer. All right Mr. Slave Driver All that activity this afternoon has given me an appetite….for food. I'm starving."
Getting up, quickly dressing, and straightening up the camp site when they were through Perry told her, "yes we do need some sustenance because if they don't come back tonight I'm going to need all the energy I can get."
"Before we start dinner and you start having more amorous thoughts we must make sure that the burros are tied up securely." Della reminded him.
He began to laugh, "enough talking Baggage let's get that food going because if we do have a night alone I will need all my strength to get you to change your mind."
As he was starting a fire Della looked at this wonderful MAN, but could not stop from thinking, "Mr. Impatience!" Well at least when they were sure there would be no more interruptions she KNEW just what to do to keep his mind off marriage. She would just let him enjoy their HONEYMOON!
EPILPOGUE
It is now been two months since their interlude in the desert. The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito was closed. There has still been no formal marriage but Della has made sure Perry is aware how enjoyable a honeymoon can be. It is her birthday and they have gone away for the weekend and are staying at the Oceanside Vista Del Mar Hotel. They have dressed for dinner and are getting ready to leave.
Della was standing in front of the mirror making sure she looks just right in her new royal blue silk dress. Perry came up behind her and handed her a velvet box. She turned to him as she held it in her hand and said, "what is this?"
"Just a little something to celebrate your special day and to commemorate our time in the desert." He replied
She opened it slowly praying it was not an engagement ring because she didn't know what she would say. To her surprise there was a beautiful amethyst ring. Della turned to him and asked, "is this the stone we found…"
He interrupted her, "yes. This is part of the stone we found out in the desert. I wanted you to have something to remember our prospecting."
Reaching up to kiss him she exclaimed, "oh Perry it's absolutely beautiful. Were they able to save anymore of the stones?"
From his pocket he pulled another jewelry box. She opened it up, and there was a pin with her initials and an amethyst in the middle. "Turn it over," he urged. On the back was engraved P loves D and D loves P Forever"
There tears in her eyes as she pinned it to the front of her dress. "I love them and I love you."
He pulled her in for a long passionate kiss. As he moved away he grinned.
She looked at him curiously. He explained, "it is time for dinner. I know you are starving, as you told me earlier in the shower. After all, you will need all your strength to THANK ME."
As he gave her his mischievous wink, she knew later their evening would take all her concentration and sensuality. Taking his arm she leaned against him and whispered sensuously, "I can hardly wait."
The End