***Thursday Morning***
Jennifer got up with Jonathan, and they had breakfast together, before he left for the office.
"Ok, Mr. H. I'm headed to the poker tournament. You two have a nice trip".
"Here, Max. Play a few hands on me".
Jonathan handed him several bills.
"Thanks, Mr. H."
"We'll be home sometime Sunday night".
"Max, the keys to my Jeep are on the hook, if you need to drive it".
"Got it. Have a nice time".
"Darling, I'm going to run get us some snow things this morning. Do you need anything specific?"
"I could use whatever you find".
"Got it".
"I'll be home around 12, if you want to wait, we can go together".
"That might be best, so you can try things on".
She poured him a to-go mug of coffee, and then walked him to the door.
"I love you, I'll see you when you get home".
"I love you too".
She gave him several kisses and then headed to get in the shower.
By the time he got back to the house, she was almost packed.
"Jennifer?"
"In here".
"Hi baby".
"Hi darling".
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
"I'm almost packed. I checked the weather for Aspen, and it should be good and cold all weekend."
"Wonderful".
She had on destructed skinny jeans, a black long-sleeved top, and some black flip flops.
After he was changed and they were both packed, they loaded their bags into the car and headed out.
"I brought us some empty duffle bags so we can pack whatever gear we purchase".
"You are so smart".
They headed to the outdoors store, and ended up finding a treasure trove of ski gear.
After both of them purchased some thermal leggings and tops, thick socks, ski pants, ski jackets, gloves and goggles, they headed to the car and headed to the airport.
They stopped to get lunch and take it with them, and when they got to the airport, Jennifer quickly packed their new purchases into the empty duffle bags.
They boarded the plane and got settled.
Jonathan popped them a small bottle of champagne and poured them both a glass.
"To the official start of our romantic getaway".
"I'll drink to that".
She leaned over and kissed him, and they clinked glasses and took a sip.
"So, are you an experienced skier?"
"I've done it a time or two."
"Same here".
They ate their lunch and drank their champagne, and spent the whole flight completely lost in each other.
Before they knew it, they had landed.
Jennifer changed from flip flops to her UGG boots, and threw on a poncho sweater, and they exited the plane.
Jonathan had rented them a Tahoe, and it was waiting for them at the airport.
They had a very easy drive to the resort, and Jennifer took tons of pictures as they drove along of the Colorado mountains.
The snow started falling just as they arrived.
"Ok, here we are".
Jonathan checked them into the resort, and they were given the keys to their cabin plus a packet to read about the resort policies.
They made their way to the cabin and unloaded the car, and then got settled.
Jennifer made up the bed while Jonathan brought the bags in and figured out the fireplace.
"Darling, I realize that I should have probably asked you this back in Los Angeles, but are all of these bags really necessary?"
"Yes, darling, they are".
"Just checking. Can you tell me what's in them?"
"Our clothes, our snow gear. The towels, extra pillows, sheets, and some blankets".
"Want to make a grocery run?"
"Yes, let's".
They decided to grill out all weekend, and Jennifer made them a grocery list.
Jonathan was like a kid in a candy store, cracking Jennifer up on every aisle, as they selected their groceries.
They got it all back to the cabin and put away, and Jennifer started marinating chicken for dinner.
Jonathan built them a fire, and got it going and made the living room comfortable. He was thankful Jennifer had packed a few blankets.
"Darling, if we want to, we can go snow tubing tonight".
"That sounds fun".
He started reading over the policies.
"Damn".
"What is it?"
"Well, this says that if we cause an avalanche, we will be fined, banned from the resort, and might even get arrested".
"You were planning on causing an avalanche?"
"No. I was planning on you and I skiing to the top of a mountain and finding an out of the way place, and making love in the snow. And we both know that you have a hard time controlling yourself, so I just figured with you screaming my name-"
"Jonathan Charles!"
"I'm kidding. But, it would be kind of cool if you and I-"
"Yeah, that would be. Have you ever made love in the out of doors?"
"Nope. Have you?"
"Nope. And I'm not saying it's out of the question, but we will not be causing an avalanche."
"Fine".
She leaned over and put her head on his shoulder and scratched his chest some.
"This is so cozy, with the fire, and the snow falling, and the lovely view".
"Yeah, I agree".
He got up and grilled their dinner, and then they got ready to go tubing.
For the next 3 hours, they had the best time of their lives-laughing, racing each other down the hill, riding down the hill in the same tube with their arms wrapped around each other. Jennifer couldn't remember when she had laughed so hard in her life.
Just before the resort closed for the night, they did one more run down the hill and then headed back to the cabin.
They changed out of their snow gear, and into some pajamas and made some hot chocolate.
"Darling, how about a movie in bed?"
"Yes, please".
He started the fireplace in the bedroom, and they took their hot chocolate to bed, and got the tv all set up.
As soon as they climbed into bed, he noticed how warm the sheets were.
"Darling, where did you find these warm sheets?"
"They are flannel sheets, honey. They are a lot warmer than cotton sheets".
"I love them".
"I'll keep that in mind".
He wrapped an arm around her, and she scooted next to him, and leaned back against him.
They watched their movie and tried to get into it, but couldn't.
"Darling, is it just me, or this the worst movie you've ever seen?"
"Oh, thank God. I thought I was just being picky".
He started flipping through the channels, and she rolled over and started kissing his neck.
"Honey…turn it off".
He reached up and turned off the light, and then turned off the tv.
They spent a couple hours having explosive, electrifying, uninhibited, and romantic, mind-blowing sex.
He cradled her in his arms afterwards, and they fell asleep together, more in love than ever before.
***The next morning***
They were up somewhat early, so they could get lift tickets, and beat the crowds for skis and boots.
Jennifer looked positively adorable in her lavender ski suit, and Jonathan's blue one really brought out his eyes.
After a hearty breakfast, they bundled up and headed to the ski lodge.
They skied for about 4 hours straight, doing one run after another. It was invigorating for both of them.
They took a break for lunch and then got right back at it and skied till well after dinner.
They finally gave it up and headed back to the cabin. Jennifer started marinating some steaks and put some potatoes in the oven to bake.
She took a hot bath while Jonathan took a hot shower.
After dinner, they curled up on the couch.
He could see she was pretty tired.
"How was your bath?"
"It felt amazing. I added these new bath beads I brought, for sore muscles. They really helped".
"You skied pretty well today".
"So did you".
"I was trying to keep up with you".
"You mean you were chasing me?"
"Yeah, I guess I was".
She smiled at him and dragged her fingernail along his jawline.
"I love it when you chase me".
"I'll chase you as long as you'll let me".
He leaned over and kissed her and then got up and headed to the bedroom.
"Darling, can you heat up a mug of water and bring it to me please?"
"Certainly".
She got up and got the mug of water, and then headed to the bedroom to see what he was doing.
"Perfect timing."
They climbed on the bed.
"Darling, take your top off".
"Oh…"
She took her pajama top off and tossed it to the end of the bed.
He grabbed her pillow and put it at the foot of the bed and she stretched out on her stomach.
He straddled her back, and started rubbing the massage oil into her skin.
"Oh god, that feels amazing".
"Do you like deep tissue massages?"
"Love them".
He kneaded all of her stressed points and used pressure to get to the deep tissue, and got her all relaxed.
"Mmmmmm".
He leaned down and kissed her cheek.
"Don't move, I'll be right back".
A few minutes later, he climbed on top of her again and scrubbed her back with a warm washcloth, getting all the massage oil off.
"Ahhhhh".
She sat up and put her pajama top back on, and then they switched.
He was moaning and groaning over how good her hands felt.
She used her elbows to work his shoulder blades, and about halfway through, he fell asleep.
When his massage was finished, she leaned down and kissed him a few times, waking him up.
"Did I fall asleep?"
"Yes, you did".
He sat up and climbed under the covers, and embraced her.
"I'm sorry I fell asleep on you".
"Oh, that's ok".
He reached up and turned off the light and she settled onto his chest.
"Darling, do you like going out to dinner at nice restaurants?"
"Yes, I do".
"And do you like going to charity events?"
"I don't hate it".
"Do you like going to bed with me and waking up with me in the morning?"
"You know I love that. Jonathan, what's all this about?"
"Well, I was thinking. I love coming home to you, and knowing that I can spend my evening with you, and I love waking up with you and I want nothing more than to be able to take you to fancy dinners and have you by my side at business dinners and dance with you at charity dinners and charity events and to take you to the opera and to Dodgers' games, and to wherever else you want to go. And there's just one thing that needs to happen before I can do all those things".
"Jonathan, if you're about to get on one knee-don't".
"May I ask why not?"
"We haven't been together, officially, for very long. And you haven't really gotten to know my father yet. I definitely want that to happen before we get engaged, because I for sure will not be walking down any aisle without my father's blessing or without him giving me away. Also, I don't necessarily need a piece of paper to know that what you and I have is real. Just knowing that you want to be with me is good enough for me".
"I can respect that. For the record, I wasn't going to propose".
She sat up and stared at him.
"Why not?!"
"Now, hang on. Two seconds ago, you were practically begging me not to, and saying that you would turn me down if I did propose. Now that you know I wasn't going to, you're upset about it?"
"I think I'm good enough to be proposed to, thank you very much".
"I agree with you. I didn't say I would never propose. I just said I wasn't going to a few minutes ago".
"So, what were you going to say?"
"I was going to say, move in with me. You quit your job, so now's the perfect time to move to Los Angeles. You can sell your townhouse, and move in with me and Max and find a job in LA".
"You want me to live with you?"
"Yes, I do. And Max loves you, and thinks the world of you. He'll be thrilled. And it will be a lot easier than you and me driving back and forth to see each other all the time".
"That's true. But darling, if I'm not working, I'll just be in the way".
"No, you won't. You don't see how much joy you bring to places. You liven up my home, my life, everything. You make it better, you make everything better. I can't imagine spending one more minute without you".
"You're sweet. Are you sure Max will be ok with it?"
"I'm positive. And if not, he's out on the street".
"Jonathan! Don't you dare!"
"I'm kidding. I would never throw him out, and I would never throw you out".
"Not even if I cheated on you and took all your money?"
"What, you got something going that I don't know about?"
"No, don't be silly."
"Darling, if you took all my money, I'd be forced to come with you, so I could get it back".
She started laughing.
"Good point".
"Plus, if you were involved with someone else. I think I would know".
"You think so?"
"Yeah, I think so. Men talk, darling. And you are so beautiful, that I promise, whatever guy you were with would be forced to tell his friends about it and then it would get back to me and I would know".
"You're so crazy".
"About you. And that's the best kind of crazy to be".
"That's sweet. But darling, there are women who can successfully have an affair and keep it a secret. I'm not one of them, but they do exist, just like there are men who have successful affairs and keep them a secret".
"Do you think I could keep an affair a secret?"
"No, I don't".
"How would you know that I was with someone else?"
"Trust me darling, I'd know".
"I trust you more than I've ever trusted anyone".
She leaned forward and kissed him.
"And I trust you, and I believe you and I believe in you".
They shared several romantic, slow kisses.
"And if I was having an affair, which I'm not, I'm confident that it wouldn't last very long".
"What makes you say that?"
"Chemistry. Plain and simple, chemistry. You and I have chemistry the likes of which I've never known with anyone else. And I'm convinced that nobody else would ever or could ever make me feel the way you do. You make me happier than I've ever been. And yes, I'll move in with you".
She leaned up and kissed him, and he rolled them so she was on her back.
"You know something? I think all this outdoor activity and the chill in the air, has really amped up your virility".
"Perhaps you're right".
For the next 4 hours, they had passionate, mind-blowing sex. But it wasn't just sex to them-this conversation had reignited their passions and desires for each other and had awakened something in both of them, strengthening their connection and making it the strongest it had ever been.
When they were finally sated and content with their lovemaking, they snuggled up and fell asleep together, content in knowing that they had something nobody else could take from them.
***Sunday***
Jonathan and Jennifer got up and had breakfast and then went and did another couple of ski runs. Jennifer wanted to try snowboarding, but Jonathan talked her out of it.
"Darling, I think I can do it".
"Look how long that line is. Plus, you don't have poles and the beginner class isn't held on Sundays. I would hate for you to get hurt or to get stuck and I wouldn't be able to help you".
"Ok, you're right".
They stuck to skiing, and then in the late afternoon, they flew back to Los Angeles.
They boarded the plane and got settled and then waited for takeoff.
"Thank you for the most wonderful trip I've taken in I don't know how long".
She leaned over and kissed him.
"You're welcome. It won't be the last, I promise".
They had a very easy and relaxed flight, and landed in Los Angeles shortly after dinner.
The plane landed, and they exited the plane, only to find that Jonathan's car wasn't at the airport.
"I'll be right back, darling".
He kissed her cheek and headed up the stairs to the cabin of the plane and called Max.
No answer.
He called Bill, and got an answer.
"Hey, have you heard from Max?"
"No, why?"
"Well, Jennifer and I took a trip and we brought my car to the airport and parked it and now we're back and it's not here He's not answering the phone".
"Well, I haven't heard anything, but if you need a ride, I'm happy to come help you out".
"That'd be great. We are by my plane, you can't miss us".
"I'll be there in ten minutes".
"Thanks".
He bounded down the steps and came and wrapped his arms around Jennifer.
"No answer at the house. Bill will be here in ten minutes to give us a ride home, though".
"This just doesn't make sense, though. Where is Max?"
"Oh, I'm sure he's at a poker game or something. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for all of this".
Bill pulled up and got out.
"Hey Valentine. Hey little lady".
"Hi Bill. Thanks for the rescue".
Bill and Jonathan loaded the car and they headed to Jonathan's house.
When they pulled up, nothing seemed out of place.
They unloaded the car and then headed to the front door and went inside.
"Thanks Bill, you're the best".
"See you later, guys. Have a great night".
They headed inside.
"Max, you home?"
"In here, Mr. H."
"Max, do we have any champagne?"
"No, we are all out. What are we celebrating?"
"Jennifer is moving in with us".
"I don't think that's a good idea, Mr. H."