I own none of the characters of October Road or the song "THING CALLED LOVE" By Bonnie Raitt.
This song was requested by CBD as a sequel to Something To Talk About. Hope you enjoy it.
Don't have to humble yourself to me
I ain't your judge or your king
Baby, you know I ain't no Queen of Sheba
We may not even have our dignity
This could just be a powerful thing
Baby we can choose you know we ain't no amoeba
Are you ready for the thing called love?
Don't come from me and you, it comes from up above
I ain't no porcupine take off your kid gloves
Are you ready for the thing called love?
I ain't no icon carved out of soap
Sent here to clean up your reputation
Baby, you know you ain't no prince charming
We can live in fear or act out of hope
Some kind of peaceful situation
Baby, how come the cry of love is so alarming
Are you ready for the thing called love?
Don't come from me and you, it comes from up above
I ain't no porcupine take off your kid gloves
Are you ready for the thing called love?
Ugly ducklings don't turn into swans
And glide off down the lake
Whether your sunglasses are off or on
You only see the world you make
Are you ready for the thing called love?
Don't come from me and you, it comes from up above
I ain't no porcupine take off your kid gloves
Are you ready for it?
Are you ready for the thing called love?
Don't come from me and you, it comes from up above
I ain't no porcupine take off your kid gloves
Are you ready for it?
Are you ready for love? Baby
Ooh yeah babe, are you ready for love?
Eddie and Janet were lost in each other and their kiss even though they were far from alone. They stood in the middle of the dance floor at Sully's surrounded by other couples dancing and kissing. The other people in the bar who weren't wrapped up in each other were applauding the newly formed couple; something that neither of them noticed. The only thing they were aware of was each other.
"Let's get out of here." Eddie mumbled into her ear when they finally broke their kiss and Janet could only nod in agreement. She still was in shock over what had just transpired between the two of them. Grabbing her hand, he went up to the bar, paid his tab and after a round of "Goodnight" and "Have a good night" with knowing winks they were finally able to sneak out of the bar.
"Where are we going?" Janet asked as Eddie helped her into his truck.
"I thought that we would go back to my place. Is that okay?"
"Yeah sure." Eddie kissed her softly, shut her inside the truck and then rushed around to his side. As soon as he put the truck in gear he reached over and took her hand.
"So Eddie…"
"Yes Janet?"
"What exactly are we?"
"Huh?"
"I mean are we friends?"
"Of course we are friends."
"I know that but that friendship changed back in the bar with those kisses."
"It sure did."
"I'm just wondering where that leaves us."
"How about we play it by ear and see where we end up?"
"Eddie, I just don't want to lose our friendship."
"You won't lose this friendship. I promise." Eddie squeezed her hand in encouragement.
"I'm going to hold you too that." Janet squeezed his hand back and laid her head on his shoulder for the remainder of the ride.
"Welcome to Casa Latekka." Eddie announced pulling into his driveway. He shut off the truck, turned his body towards his passenger, lifted her face up to his and kissed her again. He couldn't get enough of her mouth.
"Are we going to stay out here all night?" Janet whispered breathlessly when they finally broke apart fifteen minutes after he pressed his lips to hers.
"No. I have a much nicer place in mind where we can continue this." With a grin, they climbed out of the truck and walked hand and hand into his house.
"Hey guys." Phil greeted the couple.
"What goes on Phil?" Janet asked. Before he answered his eyes widened when he saw their connected hands.
"Not much. What goes on with you two?" He asked with a smile.
"Still working out the details."
"Do you guys want to join us? We were just getting ready to start a new game?" Pizza Girl asked enjoying the fact that there was finally another girl around.
"No thanks. We are going to head upstairs and watch a movie." Eddie released her hand long enough to go over to Phil's massive DVD collection and grab one.
"Have a good night." Phil called as they made their way up the stairs and Janet's face could not have been any more redder than it was right then.
"So this is the famous bedroom." Janet commented stepping inside his room.
"My bedroom is famous?" Eddie shut and locked the door.
"You have no idea." Janet looked around. "It's not quite what I expected." She told him.
"What did you expect?" He asked as he put the DVD in the player.
"I don't know…silk sheets, black light, mirror on the ceiling…" Eddie burst out laughing.
"I am not that tacky."
"It's cleaner than I expected too." His room was simple yet masculine and clean.
"I'm not a slob."
"You're a guy."
"All right you caught me. I cleaned it today."
"Were you expecting company?"
"Maybe I hoped for it." Janet's heart began to pound.
"Maybe I should leave so the guest you hoped for can come over." She flirted.
"She is already here." Eddie reached out and took Janet's hand. "Come on. Let's watch the movie." He led her over to his bed. Eddie settled against the headboard on the side closet to the wall while Janet settled next to him. She leaned against him and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her to his body.
"What movie are we watching?"
"Just wait and see."
During the first fifteen minutes of the comedy that Eddie had chosen they both pretended to watch the movie but they weren't seeing anything. They were both consumed with thoughts of the change in their relationship. Janet tried to watch the movie but it was difficult to accomplish because Eddie was staring at her. No one has ever stared so blatantly at her before so it was making her self-conscious.
"Stop." She whispered softly.
"Stop what?"
"Staring."
"As you wish." Janet sat up and turned towards Eddie. Eddie sat up, turned his body towards Janet, placed a hand on her cheek and pressed his lips to hers. Their kiss quickly intensified. She opened her mouth and he quickly pushed his tongue in. A small moan escaped from Janet and the two of them fell back onto the bed,
"You are gorgeous." He told her.
"Tell me more." He pulled away and began to run his fingers through her curls.
"You're hair is so pretty."
"I wash it." He looked deeply into her eyes.
"Your eyes are the most beautiful shade of blue that I have ever seen."
"Genetics." He began to nuzzle her neck.
"You smell so good."
"I use soap." Janet felt him grin against her neck. He continued to kiss and nuzzle her neck while his hand moved down under her shirt to caress her belly.
"Your skin is so soft."
"I moisturize." Eddie pulled back and looked at the woman beneath him.
"Do you moisturize everywhere?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out."
"Challenge accepted." Eddie sat up on his knees and pulled Janet up to a sitting position. "Is this okay?" Janet answered his question by raising her arms above her head. With a tender smile, Eddie pulled her shirt over her head, tossed it on the floor and then took a minute to gaze at her without a shirt. Slowly, he reached out and ran his fingers over the newly exposed skin. "Just as I thought; so soft." He mumbled. His caressing hands made it to her back where they unhooked her bra and slid it off her shoulders and onto the floor. Janet let out a soft moan the instant his hands made contact with her aching breasts.
"My turn." Before Eddie could respond Janet was yanking his shirt off and throwing it on the floor.
"Well, well, well."
"Hush now." In an instant, Janet had Eddie on his back and she was straddling his thighs. She leaned over and kissed him softly. "You are so sexy."
"Tell me more." She ran her finger over his beard.
"This facial hair makes you look very manly."
"I am manly with or without the facial hair." She ran her fingers over his chest muscles.
"Nice Pecs." He flexed his pectoral muscles making Janet giggle. "That is sexy and creepy at the same time."
"That's me; creepy and sexy." Next, her fingers brushed over his chest hair.
"You have the perfect amount of chest hair."
"I shave it."
"Shut up. You do not." Her eyes settled below his waist.
"And that sir is very impressive."
"You ain't seen impressive." In one swift movement Eddie flipped Janet over on her back.
"Taking control are you?"
"I am but I am about to make you lose control." He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
They made love slowly and tenderly. They took their time and learned what touches turned the other on. It was a sexual experience like none either of them had experienced before. The only word that could describe went they experienced was magic; pure magic.
"Do you want to stay the night?" Eddie mumbled sleepily. Unlike the other guys Janet had slept with, Eddie didn't finish up, roll over and fall asleep. He actually cuddled and snuggled with her.
"I really don't have a choice since you did the driving tonight."
"If you want to go home, I will take you."
"Do you want me to go home?"
"No. I want you to stay."
"Then I will stay."
"Good." He kissed her slowly. "Tonight was unlike any night I have ever had."
"It that a bad thing?"
"No Janet. It's a very, very good thing." Janet rolled over onto her side as did Eddie. He wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close to his body. "Good night Janet."
"Good night Eddie." He kissed her bare shoulder.
"I love you." He whispered.
Janet's eyes flew open at those words. He should not have said those words. Their relationship just changed today. She wasn't even sure what exactly their relationship was. They hadn't talked about it. Eddie was the man known for his casual relationships and when Janet walked into his bedroom for tonight she expected to be a participant in another casual relationship but with those three words; I love you; changed things. Those weren't casual words. Those were relationship words and Janet wasn't sure what to think about that. Eddie wasn't a relationship kind of guy and eventually he was going to leave and it was going to hurt her but it will hurt less if he left their casual relationship or at least that is what she is telling herself.
Janet lay perfectly still until she heard Eddie snoring against her ear. Once she was sure he was asleep she slowly and carefully removed herself from Eddie's embrace. As quietly as she could because she didn't want to wake Eddie, she began to search for her clothes in the dark. There was no way she could spend the night now. She needed to think and she couldn't do it lying in bed next to him. She managed to find everything she wore into his bedroom except for her underwear. She had no idea where Eddie tossed them and she couldn't risk taking any more time to search so she quickly dressed in what she had and snuck out of his room.
"Janet what goes on? Are you leaving?" Phil asked.
"Yeah."
"Where's Eddie?"
"Sleeping."
"So how are you getting home?"
"Walking. It's not far."
"You cannot walk home. It's late."
"I work late most nights. I can take care of myself. I will be fine. "
"Eddie will never forgive me if I let you walk home."
"First of all Phil, you didn't let me do anything. I don't need your permission and secondly, what Eddie doesn't know, won't hurt him. Goodnight Phil." Before he could respond, Janet was out the door.
Eddie rolled over and reached for Janet but all he found was the spot she fell asleep in was cold and empty. Hoping she was in the bathroom, he climbed out of bed, found and slipped on his boxers and out of his room. After finding the bathroom empty he headed downstairs thinking that maybe she needed a snack or a glass of water but all he found was Phil and Pizza Girl on the couch.
"Have you seen Janet?"
"Uhh she left about an hour ago."
"What? Why?"
"She didn't say."
"How in the hell did she get home?"
"She walked."
"What? You let her walk home?"
"She is a grown woman. She didn't ask my permission."
"You should have come and woke me up. Dammit Phyz."
Eddie stormed back up to his room, threw on the light and quickly dressed. As he was tying his boots, he noticed Janet's blue lace underwear. He couldn't help but laugh. She must not have seen them when she was sneaking around. He finished putting his boots on, grabbed her underwear, slipped them into his pocket, grabbed his keys and took off for Janet's house.
Janet was sitting on her couch, wrapped up in a blanket thinking over the events of the last twenty four hours when there was a knock, a rather impatient knock at her door. Even though she expected this knock, she was still apprehensive about it. Maybe if she sat quietly he would go away.
"Come on Janet, I know you're in there. Please let me in." Sighing, she got up and let him in. "Are you okay?" He asked pushing his way into her house.
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" She nodded. "I just wanted to make sure since you snuck out of my room and house."
"What makes you think I snuck?" With a grin, Eddie pulled her underwear out of his pocket.
"If you weren't sneaking you probably would have put this on."
"Oh my God." Janet instantly turned bright red. She reached out and grabbed her underwear out of his hand. "I can't believe you put this is in your pocket." She walked away from him and into her bedroom with Eddie's laughter following her. "What are you doing here?" She snapped in embarrassment when she returned to the living room.
"You told me that you were staying the night with me and an hour later you were gone and I want to know why."
"You bed wasn't comfortable. I couldn't sleep."
"Liar. I have an awesomely comfortable bed."
"I couldn't sleep and I didn't want to keep you awake so I left."
"Lying again." Eddie took her hand and led her to the couch. He sat and pulled her down onto his lap. "Why did you leave Janet?" She laid her head on his shoulder but did not respond. "Talk to me."
"You said you loved me." She whispered softly.
"That's what this is all about?"
"Yes."
"Why such an upheaval?"
"Why? Are you seriously asking me that?"
"Yes I am. I don't understand why that upset you."
"Of course you wouldn't understand."
"I'm trying to. Just tell me."
"This…what we have…what we did was supposed to be casual and as soon as you said those words it became serious."
"Whoa. Who said that this relationship was a casual one?"
"You only do casual relationships Eddie."
"That was before you."
"A tiger can't change his stripes."
"That hurts Janet."
"Sometimes the truth does."
"Are you scared of this little thing called love?"
"Love isn't a little thing. Love is a huge thing."
"Are you scared of being loved by me?"
"You cannot possibly be in love with me."
"Why in the hell not?"
"Well because…I…uhh…because you just can't." Eddie just laughed.
"I have been falling for you for quite some time and now I am done falling. I am in love with you."
"No you're not."
"Don't tell me what I feel."
"It's too soon."
"No it's not. We have known each other for years and like I said, I have had feelings for you for some time now. I just needed a boost to tell you how I felt and today or actually yesterday with everything that happened; everyone saying that we should get together, it's just what I needed."
"I'm not like the other woman you have been with."
"No you're not and that's a good thing." Janet tried to stand up from his lap but he held her down. "You are unlike any woman I have ever been with and I love that about you. You are smart, funny and beautiful. You have a personality of your own and you don't put up with any of my crap."
"You do give a lot of crap."
"Do you think that I have ever chased after a girl who left my bed? I haven't. You are the only girl I have chased and do you know why I chased you?"
"Because you love me?" She whispered.
"Very good. What is happening between us, I'll admit it's happening fast but I don't want it to stop. Last night, or a few hours ago when we made love, I swear to you Janet, I have never felt anything like that before and I think that is because we are in love and I will tell you right now that I never want to be with anyone else ever again."
"You can't possible know that after one night."
"You're right. I can't. I've known for awhile that you are the one I am meant to be with. Last night, just confirmed it. This crazy thing called love is out of our hands. We can't help who we fall in love with. That comes from up above and we are helpless."
"Eddie…I…"
"Before you tell me yet again, how I could not possibly be in love with you listen to this last thing. You are the first person, I think of when I wake up in the morning and the last person I think of when I fall asleep. I can't wait to see you every morning and when I do finally see you I think "Oh Goody. Now the fun begins."
"Oh Goody, now the fun begins?" She repeated with a grin.
"Am I the first and last person you think of everyday?" She gave a slight nod. "Do you get happy butterflies in your stomach like I do when we see each other?" Another nod. "I read somewhere once that the first person you think about when you wake up and the last person you think of before falling asleep is either the one that causes you pain or the one you are in love with. I know which category you fall into so now you need to decide which one I am in."
"Eddie…"
"Don't decide right now. Sleep on it."
"Awfully bossy aren't you?" He nodded proudly.
"Come on. Let's go to bed. I am exhausted." Janet quirked an eyebrow.
"You think you are staying here?"
"I do. I am." He gently pushed her off of his lap, stood up himself up and took her hand. "Can I stay?" Janet answered him by leading him to her bedroom.
Once in her bedroom, Janet crawled into bed while Eddie stripped down to his boxers and then climbed in next to the woman he loved. They were each on their sides, facing each other. . "You know, I prefer what you were wearing earlier when I fell asleep." He mumbled.
"I wasn't wearing anything."
"Exactly."
"You are hopeless."
"One of many reasons that you love me."
"True."
"I beg your pardon?" He asked with a grin.
"I love you Eddie."
"I know that." He looked so unbelievably cocky that it brought a smile to Janet's lips.
"Of course you did." Janet leaned forward and pressed her lips to his in a slow and tender kiss. "Being in love so soon is crazy and I can't explain it but I really do love you." She whispered softly once they broke apart.
"And I love you."
Over the next month, Eddie and Janet were inseparable. Every free moment possible was spent with each other. They went out on dates; hung with their friends at Sully's or simply remained at Janet's house (because that is where they got the most privacy) and talked. They talked about anything and everything. There was nothing they did not know about each other. She shared with him that she always thought of herself as the ugly duckling and even though in real life, ducks don't turn into swans she felt like one in his presence. Eddie told her of the fear he had that because of his reputation she wouldn't give him or their relationship a chance. He thought she was too good for him. When they opened up to each other about their fears it drew them closer than ever.
Since their first night together they have spent every night thereafter together at one of their houses. It got to the point that they couldn't sleep or didn't sleep well without the other. When Janet would have to work the closing shift at Sully's and Eddie had to be up early and couldn't wait with her he would attempt to fall asleep but never did so he gave up sleeping when she was working. He waited at work for her to finish her shift and then they went home together, Eddie was exhausted the following day, but he wouldn't have it any other way.
Eddie and Janet were deliriously happy together. Neither had ever been so happy or in love before. There was no doubt in either of their minds about the love they felt for each other. They felt each other's love for each other every time they looked, smiled, touched, kissed and made love to each other. They never ended a conversation or went to sleep, or left each other without saying "I love you."
On the day of their one month anniversary, Janet came home from work to a path of rose petals that led to the living room where Eddie was down on one knee holding a dozen white roses and an engagement ring. Janet's first instinct was to say no because it was too soon but as soon as that thought crossed her mind, she pushed it away and said yes. In her heart, she knew it wasn't too soon. The love they shared was the same as a couple that had been together for years; maybe even stronger and they both knew it. Even though their relationship was only one month old there was no doubt that marriage was the next step. This crazy little thing called love had taken over both of their lives.
Six months later, Eddie and Janet walked down the aisle and professed their never ending love to each other in front of their families and friends and everyone who watched their exchange of vows saw that they were meant to be together.