Chapter VI: Andante Amoroso Part 2

Sunday, June 16th, 06.35 a.m.

Erin was sleeping, lost in a peaceful sleep, a slight smile lingering on her lips. She was dreaming...

Loving arms were around her, she was feeling the comforting warmth of a male body crouched against hers, on the nape of her neck the pressure of tender and hot lips... Here was finally somebody who loved her, who wanted her, who would chase away the loneliness troubling her heart... Then suddenly she found herself alone, abandoned, refused... No, no, not again, she couldn't stand it... Anguish crushed her chest, taking her breath away, choking her...

Erin woke up with a start, gasping for air, her heart pounding wildly, a lump in her throat, an iron grasp squeezing her stomach. The early sun illuminated the closed curtains. She was in her bed... and terrified she realised she was alone.

"Jarod..." she squeaked. An indescribable panic took possession of her soul, cancelling all her rationality: he was gone, he had left her!

She stood up; naked, her legs yielding in distress, she staggered through the room to go out looking for him. Walking by the guest bathroom, she stumbled and almost crashed into the closed door. She leaned heavily on it, trying to regain her balance. Through the wooden panel, the faint noise of the shower reached her. Her eyes widened in disbelief; her breath hanging on a hope she didn't dare to believe yet, she wrenched the door open.

Scared by the sudden noise, Jarod spun around; he was under the shower, his well-built body covered only by a few curls of foam, and he stared at Erin through the transparent Plexiglas of the box. He saw her, one hand on her throat, her chest raising and lowering convulsively as if she had been about to choke and was now breathing better. He realised that she had been in a terrible anguish, even if he couldn't guess the reason: maybe a bad dream? He moved to meet her, to offer her his comfort, but she anticipated him, opened the box door and jumped in. She threw her arms around his neck and Jarod could see that she was on the verge of tears. She trembled violently in his arms, and he held her tight, stroking her back to reassure her, while water was soaking her from head to toe.

"It's all right, baby", he whispered in her ear, "It's all right... I'm here, with you."

After a few moments, Erin stopped shaking and raised her head to look at him. Her eyes were still immense and wide open because of the fear she had felt.

"I'm sorry", she whispered, ashamed by her weakness, "For a terrible moment, I thought you were gone. Right gone, with no reason, like..." her voice trailed off, but Jarod guessed the rest: like the other one.

"I'd never do such a thing on my own will", he declared firmly, "They'd have to take me away from you by force!"

To emphasise his words, he lowered his head and kissed her. Erin opened immediately her mouth, clutching on his lips as if they were her salvation, and Jarod realised once and for all that, if she was his lifeline, he was hers. From that moment on, none of them could ever forsake the other one.

Desire shot through them like a fire, a desire that was of both body and soul, a desire that was need.

She felt the evidence of his longing against her abdomen, and shoved one hand between their clinging bodies to caress him intimately. Jarod groaned, his parted lips against hers. Erin kissed him in the most arousing way she knew, wishing to make him understand how much she wanted him.

He understood; flattered, he slipped one hand between them and searched for the most hidden folds of her body. Feeling his fingers coming forward, Erin lifted one leg and twisted it around his to favour him. Gently, Jarod plunged one finger into the core of her femininity: with water pouring on them, he couldn't feel her wetness, but he caught her warmth, and the moan she uttered couldn't be mistaken. With a gasp, he clasped her buttocks and lifted her from the ground, propping her against the wall to keep his balance.

The tiles were cold, but Erin barely noticed it; she lifted her knees and closed her legs around his waist, hooking her ankles behind him. Looking into her eyes, Jarod lowered her on himself, slowly, because she was still very narrow.

Erin grasped his shoulders as she felt him penetrating cautiously, deeply, into her body. His tenderness, plain sign that he cared for her, touched her beyond every word. She felt him beginning to move inside of her, with that strength mingled with gentleness she had already experienced the day before. In this position, she was completely at his mercy; filled with a trust that she hadn't believed she could ever feel anymore, she surrendered to Jarod, placing her head on his shoulder and allowing him to do whatever he wanted.

He sensed her yielding and felt incredibly moved. I love you, he thought, biting his lower lip as not to shout it aloud, I love you… He held back, because such words, uttered in this very moment, could easily be mistaken for just a momentary fancy, while he meant them seriously.

He would wait.

And in the meantime, he would take her to paradise.

He sank one hand in her hair and pulled back her head, close to his; this way, he had her breasts almost exactly at level with his face. He began to bite gently the soft mounds, until he seized one nipple with his lips, sucking softly.

Erin inhaled abruptly and realised she wanted to scream out loud in pleasure. Unable to restrain herself, she began to utter a throaty groan, at first low, than gradually louder, until it broke out in a yell as she reached the top, arching her body in bliss. Some more thrusts, and she felt Jarod bursting inside of her with a hot spout and a delighted gasp. Breathless, she collapsed in his arms, feeling weak.

Little by little, their breaths calmed down. Erin's legs loosened their grasp around Jarod's waist, and he let her gently slip down, back on her feet, but still holding her tight. He went on kissing her flushed face, her brow, her eyes, her nose, her cheekbones, until he reached her mouth, where he lingered for a long time, tenderly.

"It's wonderful making love with you", he whispered on her lips. Erin felt a lump in her throat and wasn't able to reply, but her that said the same thing.

They were both exhausted: that way to make love was tiring at least as much as it was satisfying.

"I've never made it this way", Erin stated in a slightly stunned tone. Jarod blinked as he realised the reason she was telling him this: she wanted to let him know that she had made with him something she had never made with her ex.

To make him feel special.

What a woman! he thought.

"Nor did I", he admitted, "I hope you liked it."

"Very much indeed", she answered, grinning back at him, "And you?"

"I, too. But I'm really… how to say… broken, so please don't ask me to do it again too soon!" Jarod added, making a face and massaging the protesting muscles of his lower back. She couldn't help but chuckled, then kissed him on his chin:

"Don't worry, here's the same!"

They finished showering, enjoying lathering each other; then they dried their faces and bodies with large towels, got dressed and headed for the kitchen to have breakfast.

They were loading the dishwasher, adding the tableware they had forgotten the night before, when they heard the doorbell ringing with a pleasant carillon. Jarod tensed as the frightful thought that the Centre might already have found him shot through his mind. But how could they? He had even avoided contact with Sydney by phone, contrary to what normally did since the day he had escaped, not wanting to risk being somehow discovered...

Erin noticed he was frightened and guessed it had to do with the secret he was hiding; then she recalled the reason why someone was ringing at her door and slapped her forehead:

"Gosh, I completely forgot I had to go out with Marge! Excuse me one minute, Jarod..."

She ran to the hall and, after checking through the peephole, she quickly opened the door. Her friend, a pretty woman of colour about 40 years old, greeted her with a smile:

"Hi Erin, are you ready?"

"Sorry, Marge... something happened..." Erin began, quite embarrassed: it was really not her habit screwing her dates. She glanced involuntarily at the blue Corvette parked in front of her house; Marge followed the direction of her gaze, then turned to look at her, noticing only now her friend's bright eyes and radiant expression.

"Oh..." she said, as her fleshy lips bent in a naughty grin, "Is this something tall, blond and handsome?"

"As a matter of fact, he's tall, brown and handsome", Erin corrected her chucking.

"Well, if you want my opinion, I'd say it was about time!" Marge commented, opening her arms and hugging her with affection, "Go back to him and don't think about anything else, but tomorrow morning make up carefully to hide the black rings around your eyes...!"

Erin slapped her shoulder, pretending to be angry, and after taking her leave, she got back inside, laughing. She reached Jarod in the kitchen, where he had just finished loading the dishwasher.

He turned and caught her by surprise asking her unexpectedly:

"Is the mall open, on Sundays?"

Erin frowned, perplexed:

"Yes, sure, but why?"

"I want to go and buy drawing paper, an easel and wax colours", he answered, "I feel like to paint a portrait of you, and today there's a fantastic light."

Erin was amazed and didn't hide it:

"Jarod, you really never stop amazing me!"

"And I hope to continue doing so for a long time!" he replied merrily.

OOO

It was almost noon, when he returned with the supplies. He found Erin in the kitchen; there was a delicious aroma in the air, which made his mouth water.

"Oven-baked lasagne", she announced, smiling and kissing him lightly, "I set the table outside, under the gazebo. It's ready in fifteen minutes."

They had lunch on the stony table and, as usual, Jarod was enthusiastic: Erin was really a very good cook, virtue that summed over all the many ones he was discovering.

Later, Erin asked him if she had to change her dress for the portrait. He grinned mischievously:

"Actually, I was thinking to paint a nude", he teased her, not speaking seriously. Erin smirked back to him and stripped in no time, ending up in her birthday suit; Jarod stared, stunned.

"I suspected", she said and in her voice a laugh was wibrating. He shook his head, grinning: he had to think better than teasing her! Erin's sensuality and sexuality came not without modesty – her frequent blushes proved it, making her look like a naïve young girl – but they were joyful, carefree and playful, free of hypocrisy and false modesty. Being with her meant spending happy hours, in every way.

He asked her to kneel down next to a bloomed bush, three-quarters, in her hands a yellow lily and in her hair a white camellia; Erin knew the meaning of these two flowers: it was respectively you are my queen and I adore you. She simply couldn't believe that someone would feel that way for her: her natural modesty prevented her.

Jarod worked quickly, but it took him all the same about one hour to complete it, with a few breaks to allow Erin stretching her legs. The sun shone hot, birds twittered and the air was full of the scent of the flowers and plants of the Irish garden.

"It's superb", Erin sighed, staring in awe at the portrait. The bright colours and the firm lines revealed Jarod's optimistic and resolute character, while the pose he had chosen for her and the light permeating the picture indicated his romanticism and sensitiveness.

"It's yours", Jarod said, happy she liked it. Erin looked at him and in her eyes, Jarod read such a deep feeling, he felt lost in it. A wonderful sensation.

"Thank you", she whispered; she grasped his hands and kissed them one by one, "Nobody has ever given me such a beautiful and precious present."

Jarod wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. Because she was still naked, he couldn't avoid his body reacting to hers, and when Erin noticed it, she pulled back with a merry laugh.

"Catch me!" she challenged him, mimicking a childish voice, and ran away to dive in the swimming pool. As she re-emerged, in her wet hair water drops blazed like diamonds, making her more seductive than the mermaid he had compared her to a few weeks before.

Jarod made a face to hide a smile and accepted her challenge: he undressed quickly and plunged. It was easy for him to catch her, but of course, she had no intention to escape him: as he seized her by her waist and turned her to him, she threw her arms around his neck. Jarod carried her where the water was less deep; there, he sat down, his back propped against the edge, and lifted her in his lap. He kissed her passionately, as his hand wandered along her back, her hip, her thigh; he used his fingers to caress the fold behind her knee and a sigh of pleasure encouraged him. Then, he slipped one hand between her thighs, brushing the sensitive skin of the inner side, climbing slowly; she parted her legs, inviting him to go on.

Jarod broke off the kiss, but immediately he placed his lips to the edge of her chin, right under her ear; there, he lingered, nipping gently. Erin threw back her head, exposing her pulsing throat, and he moved his mouth upon it, caressing her with the tip of his tongue. Meanwhile, his hand had continued climbing slowly along the inside of her legs and his fingers had now reached the junction of her thighs; he brushed the core of her womanhood and felt its heat.

Feeling him touching her, Erin held her breath, then moaned softly and opened her legs wider, yearning for his touch. She felt such a strong need that, if Jarod would take her that very moment, she would be ready for him. Jarod's fingers went on exploring the soft, warm flesh between her legs, with a gentle as well as exciting touch, and Erin moaned again. God, she wanted him so badly! Not only his body, even if it was highly desirable, but him…

Feverishly, she began to kiss him at the base of his throat, darting with her tongue, while with her fingertips she drew increasingly smaller rings around his stiffened nipples. Then, she lowered her head and took one between her lips, and at the same moment Jarod slid one finger inside of her, brushing her clit and making her shiver in pleasure. She realised she wouldn't stand it not even one second longer; Jarod realised it, too, feeling a spout of warmth hitting his fingers. He withdrew his hand, and Erin pulled back to rise on her knees in front of him. Yearn fogged Jarod's gaze as his eyes caressed her gorgeous shape; for the first time in her life, Erin felt confident about her beauty. Instinctively, she adopted a seductive pose, lifting the wet mass of her hair with both arms and pushing forward her upper body. Jarod's gaze darkened even more; he extended his arms and grasped her waist, pulling her to him and sitting her in his lap, her beautiful legs around him; but before he could penetrate her, she slipped one hand between their bodies and seized him at the base of his shaft, stroking its whole length. He uttered a cry of surprised pleasure and she flashed him a charming smile, full of promises, continuing touching him in this exciting way. Jarod reciprocated her smile with one as seductive as hers and slipped one hand between her legs, beginning caressing her again. It was Erin's turn to utter a cry and Jarod's smile widened.

"We reap as we sow", he murmured, before kissing her.

"Traitor...!" she whispered in return on his lips. She grasped his hand and pulled it away, then lifted her pelvis, rubbing herself against him, and finally she lowered herself slowly on his manliness. A little adjustment and he slipped easily inside of her: she wasn't so narrow anymore to demand particular caution, but in spite of this, Jarod preferred penetrating her slowly, relishing every single inch of the warm depths of her body.

They moved in unison, languidly, with wide and sweet movements, both longing to make it last as long as possible. Thrust upon thrust, pleasure began pooling, growing little by little, setting them on fire, dragging them in the turmoil of delight, hurling them to the top, until they vibrated, in their bodies as well as in their souls, like the strings of an ineffable instrument. At last, Erin climaxed, throwing back her head and uttering that cry of hers that made his heart pound hard; Jarod called her name, repeating it in a crescendo that arrived to the top, went on and calmed down at the rhythm of his orgasm. The spasms of the almost simultaneous climax amplified his and her pleasure equally, leaving both incredulous and breathless.

Hearts pounding wildly, out of breath, they held so tight as if they wouldn't let go any more of one another, until they returned on standard mode, still holding each other, reluctant to pull away, prolonging this perfect moment in time as they caressed each other tenderly. Jarod brushed her brow with his lips, then her temple and her cheek.

"I had no idea..." he whispered, cupping her face and looking into her eyes, "I had no idea it could be possible to fee this way..." he stopped, searching for the most appropriate description.

"This way how?" Erin asked softly, her heart beating hard. Jarod found the words:

"As if I was alone in the desert, almost dying from thirst, and I found a spring of pure and fresh water. As if the emptiness of my soul was suddenly filled. As if I found the missing half of my being..."

Erin felt tears welling up in her eyes and blinked; she leaned over and kissed him.

"I feel the same way", she admitted. Jarod caressed her cheek, his eyes full of light.

"I love you", he said, simply. Erin felt her heart losing one beat and then begin to dance a mad samba. She opened her mouth to reply, but her voice refused to come out. Jarod placed two fingers on her lips.

"You don't have to say anything", he whispered, "if it's too soon for you, if you're not sure... I'll wait as long as it takes, until the day you'll feel ready to tell me that you, too, love me."

Speechless, moved, Erin kissed his lips, nose, forehead, eyelids, the tiny mole under his right eye, again his lips, holding him tight. Then she cupped his face, like he had done to her earlier, and whispered:

"Thank you, Jarod."

OOO

They spent the rest of the afternoon playing merrily in the water and sunbathing, laying down on large towels spread in the scented grass, where they exchanged kisses and caresses.

"I've known you... let me think... for three weeks?" Jarod considered at a certain point, in a soft tone and looking her in the eyes, "But it seems to me that I've known you for a long, long time. I have this strange feeling that, as a matter of fact, I knew you even before I met you..."

Erin swallowed hard.

"I, too, have this strange feeling. Besides, when I met you the first time, I felt a blow in my head", she whispered, "Right here", she touched her nape, "It happened to me only once before..."

Her voice trailed off and she lowered her gaze. Jarod's heart ached.

"With your ex-husband, isn't it?" he asked softly. At Erin's surprised glance, he felt he had to explain: "Jean told me something, the first night at the gym. She loves you, don't you know?" he grinned, "She threatened to beat me, if I was to mess around with you, martial artist or not", at this news, Erin, too, smiled, "Then the other night I heard your conversation – it wasn't my intention to eavesdrop, but I couldn't help it – and so I realised I had to make a move."

Erin had blushed like a little schoolgirl and hadn't the heart to raise her glance. Jarod took her hands and gently squeezed them.

"I understand that you loved and suffered very much, and the idea to trust again somebody who could betray you, like your ex-husband did, terrifies you. Erin, I swear to you that..."

Abruptly, she raised one hand and placed it on his mouth, silencing him.

"Don't swear", she begged him on an urgent tone, "He swore in the most solemn way, in front of God and men, and didn't keep his word..."

Her voice faded; then Jarod covered her hand with his and kissed her fingers, one by one.

"I hope that man will never cross my way", he growled with unusual fierceness, "I'd be capable to kill him because of all the pain he caused to you..."

He held her tight; Erin, her head on his chest, heard his heart beating strong and a little erratically, and the sound had the power to calm her down. She returned his embrace.

"I will gain your trust", Jarod declared in a low voice, "As I told you before, I'll wait as long as it takes, a month, a year, I don't care. Please, just give me a chance."

She was unable to say anything: a lump stuck in her throat. She nodded only, but it was enough for him. He made her lift her face to his and placed his lips on hers, softly, tenderly. He slowly fell backwards on the large towel and dragged her with him, not stopping raining kisses all over her face. Erin returned his kisses, her heart pounding hard, and they stayed this way, kissing like teen-agers, for an undefined time.

OOO

As the night fell, they had dinner and then watched an adventurous movie, cuddling on the large sofa in her drawing room. When they went to bed, they fell asleep in each other's arms, thinking that the world was perfect, at last.