"Darlin, we're here." JR gently moved her head from his shoulder, causing her to stir. It had been a long and arduous journey but he knew that it would be worth it. "JR?" she asked as the driver opened the door for her before moving to the boot to take out their bags. JR got out and walked quickly to her side of the vehicle before holding out his hand to help her.
Darkness had fallen several hours ago but the heat of the late summer's night hit her as she stepped out of the air- conditioned interior of the car. She smiled at the realisation that, finally, they were there. "Welcome to the Hotel Eden" the doorman greeted them, holding the door open and waving them through.
Several minutes later they were in the lift desperate to settle into their hotel suite. Sue Ellen's stomach lurched at the thought that this, their first night in Rome, would be their first spent together since that fateful day when they had agreed to attempt a reconciliation. JR smiled widely at her and touched her hand in reassurance. He knew, just like he knew most things about her, she decided. She returned his smile. "I'm exhausted" she told him, "but I really need a shower before bed." JR nodded but didn't speak. The tension between them was palpable.
Entering their suite on the next floor to the top, Sue Ellen gasped as she approached the window. "Oh JR! Just look at the view!" The corner suite gave them an almost panoramic view of the city, its historic buildings lit up against the night sky, dream-like in quality. "Wait til morning, darlin. I've been told it will be even more spectacular then" he responded, before leaving her to attend to their bags which were in the process of being brought in.
Sue Ellen stared out of the window and shivered slightly. Just over a week ago she could never have imagined that this was possible. She and JR had been daggers drawn whenever they came into contact with each other. He was marrying Cally and she was contemplating a new life in England with Don. She smiled to herself at the memory of that fateful day when he has chased her down and convinced her that they could make it, finally, this time.
"Sue Ellen?" he asked, jolting her back to the present. Moving away from the window she walked towards him and held out her arms. "I was just thinking about how much has changed between us in so little time" she answered, allowing him to envelope her in his embrace. "I told you, the past is in the past. This is a fresh start for us, honey, and where better than here?" "I did wonder why you chose Rome as our first destination? I mean, wouldn't London have been more logical?" JR shook his head. "We'll get there, eventually. I wanted to start somewhere that I knew you'd find fascinating but, more than that, romantic. I remembered how when we were first married you always said that you wanted to come here."
She kissed him lightly on the lips. "You have a good memory, JR. That was a long time ago." "I know, sugar, but where you're concerned there's so much that I remember. It's an indelible imprint which, at times, haunted me and at others has been a source of comfort. No woman has ever affected me in the way that you do, Sue Ellen."
She gazed into his eyes. "We have a lot of talking to do, don't we? Right now, though, I need to shower and get changed into my night things." He walked to the bar area, took a bottle of Scotch and poured himself a large glass. "No Bourbon" he muttered. "This will have to do instead." Settling down on the sofa he watched as she opened the first of her suitcases in pursuit of what she needed to get ready for bed.
"Do you want me to wash your back?" he asked cheekily as she gathered her things and made for the bathroom. She shook her head shyly. "Not tonight but soon, I promise" she replied closing the door behind her. He smiled and shook his head but didn't attempt to argue. She had asked him to take things slowly and he wasn't going to ruin things between them by applying too much pressure.
Twenty minutes later she emerged. He scrutinised her appearance carefully before handing her a glass of iced water. "Thank you" she responded, accepting it gratefully. "Are you hungry?" he asked. She shook her head. "No thanks. I just need to get into bed. Are you coming?"
"I am, but not until I have washed. Sue Ellen, do you know how beautiful you are?" She laughed gently, unconvinced. "I mean it! I fell for your looks initially but you also need to know how much I admire your personality, strength and achievements. You're the entire package, you know, and I am one hell of a lucky man."
She kissed him lightly on the lips, hinting at what might be possible." "Do you know, JR, that I never married you for the money. I did, I do, love you, more than any other man. In the past you've said to me that I was only with you because of everything you could give me. I do so hope that you now know that isn't true?"
He nodded, touched. "Perhaps I never thought that I was good enough for you without all that becoming a Ewing would bring? But I do know, now more than ever, that you love me. And I love you."
She touched his hand. "Hurry up now. I need to feel your arms around me when I go to sleep." He raised an eyebrow, indicating that might not be enough for him. "I mean afterwards…." He smiled widely, now understanding that, whatever her thoughts had been earlier, she was ready to take their relationship that important step further. "I'll be back as quickly as I can."
Tbc