Feast or Famine

When Marissa got back to the set, everything went right. It was as if someone had flicked a switch. Suddenly every take was spot on first time and she was through with her scenes before she knew it. She couldn't help but smile at the difference a visit to Ryan had made. How had she become so dependant on him … on the physical him … that she didn't function well without him anymore? And more importantly … how would she ever cope when she returned to Europe to tidy up her loose ends and finish off fulfilling her commitments? She removed her make up and then called Ryan to tell him that she was on her way back to Newport. He promised to leave within the next hour. They would actually get to spend an evening together.

---

Emily was exhausted. Sandy, Kirsten and Keith had kept her on the go all day. Sandy had politely explained to Keith about the fact that Ryan and Marissa needed some time alone and he had been happy to help with their plan. When Emily had looked like she would have liked a nap after lunch because she could barely keep her eyes open, they had taken her to the playground instead. She had been for walks on the beach, played soccer, and been shopping; anything and everything that would tire her out. One or the other had been keeping her moving to ensure that tonight when Ryan and Marissa got home she would be safely tucked in bed and sound asleep. Kirsten made her dinner at 5 o'clock and when Marissa walked in the door, she just got to say goodnight to Emily before she was out like a light.

Keith was going to a movie with Samantha, the girl from Victoria's Secret and Sandy and Kirsten offered to drop him at her house on their way home. Marissa smiled and she thanked them all as they left. She knew that they were exhausted. Keeping a four year old busy for the day could do that to you. But she knew that they had done it deliberately so that she and Ryan could spend the evening together … hopefully without interruption. Of course they had no idea that she and Ryan had already managed to find some time together today. But she wasn't complaining. That had just been an appetiser. Tonight they would be able to have the main course. After the others had left, Marissa made her way back inside and quickly had a shower to freshen up. She couldn't wait for Ryan to get home. She picked up the phone and ordered Thai remembering to get his favourites and opened a bottle of wine. She had a feeling that this was going to be a night to be remembered.

---

Thursday morning, Ryan was sitting at his desk trying to get some work done. It was difficult when all he could think about as he glanced around his office was his 'visit' from Marissa yesterday. It seemed as if the memory was burned in to his brain. He kept looking about the room, imagining other possibilities of places and positions that they hadn't yet tried. He hoped that they would get a chance sometime to try them all out. He knew that his office was not exactly a bastion of privacy from the looks and comments that Annabel had made after Marissa had left yesterday. She obviously knew exactly what had been going on behind the closed door. Still if he had to put up with a bit of embarrassment in order to get what he got … then he would happily do it again anytime.

Although really what he needed most right now was a good night's sleep. When he'd arrived home last night, thanks to Sandy and Kirsten apparently, Emily was already in bed sound asleep. Marissa had been waiting with a glass of wine, candles and his favourite Thai. Dessert had been Marissa in her Victoria's Secret outfit that he had finally gotten to see. And she was right … he did like it on her … but he preferred it off her. They had made sweet sweet love the whole night, pausing only long enough to recover before starting again. It wasn't the frenzied coupling that had taken place in his office but slow and passionate. They had been sure that Emily would wake up at some time so they had decided to make the most of the opportunities they had, figuring that they would get some sleep once she was in bed with them. But she had slept through the night; which meant that neither of them had gotten more than a couple of hours sleep after finally collapsing in one another's arms, totally spent, about 4 am.

So he was tired … more than that ... he was exhausted. His body ached. They had tried things that he wasn't even sure were in the Kama Sutra. And it was good … really good ... he couldn't wipe the smile off his face. Just the thought of it enough to have his body begin to respond again. If they got the opportunity, then they'd do it again ... and again ... just like last night. He wondered what their chances of getting any time together would be like this weekend. He needed to sort out just what was going on and so he picked up the phone to call Sue. He knew that she would be able to help him with what he needed to know.

---

Marissa and Emily were out beside the pool when the phone rang. She looked at the caller id and quickly answered it.

"Hey you." She said smiling as she did so.

"Hey. How's my beautiful girls?" Ryan asked.

"Right now? Not very beautiful." She replied.

"Impossible." Ryan commented.

"Yeah … well … Emily decided she wanted to do a painting for you for your office. Sandy and Kirsten bought her some finger paints yesterday when they were all out shopping. So Em's trying to paint with her left hand and I've been trying to help. But I think that I have more paint on me than on the paper. I'm not sure that green is my colour?" Marissa explained.

"Finger painting hey? I think I'd like to do some finger painting." Ryan suggested.

"Well you'd be welcome to join in. I'll make sure we keep you some paint and paper and you can have a go when you get home." Marissa said.

"I don't want paper." Ryan replied. "I was thinking a naked you as my canvass. Then I could use my fingers to …"

"Ryan …." Marissa smiled.

"I promise I wouldn't hurt." He said seductively.

"Ry! " Marissa said mock indignantly.

"What?" Ryan asked innocently. "I'd even volunteer to help wash it all off when I was finished." He added.

"Ever the gentleman." Marissa smiled.

"I promise I'd be gentle." He replied huskily.

She thought for a moment and replied. "That sort of sounds like fun. But I think we should wait until we are alone. You never know where it might lead."

"I think I know. Or at least I know where I'd like it to lead." Ryan replied.

Marissa laughed. "I don't know about you, and I never thought I'd say this. But I actually think I've had enough of you for just right now. My whole body is exhausted. Good exhausted. But exhausted nonetheless."

"I know what you mean." he laughed. "But we do have good recuperative powers." He added.

"True. But since Emily arrived, it really seems to be a feast or a famine with us doesn't it?" she laughed. "But I'm sure that's not what you really called about. Have you spoken to Sue yet?" Marissa asked.

"Yep. We're all organised. Apparently Cheryl is coming on quite well. She is out of the coma now. They just heavily sedate her to help her rest, but she is very keen to see Emily. Sue's been talking to her every day. And I have made an appointment for Emily tomorrow afternoon to get her arm checked out. I thought we'd fly up in the morning. I'll actually go and do a bit of work while you and Keith take Emily to see Cheryl and I'll meet you back at the hospital in time for Emily's appointment. I'll get Annabel to book us some rooms for the night and then we can go back and see Cheryl again on Saturday before we come home."

"So we can still go to Sandy and Kirsten's for lunch on Sunday?" Marissa asked.

"Yeah. Why?" Ryan asked.

"It's just that Summer called earlier and said we had to be there because she had a surprise for Emily. I have no idea what it is but I haven't told Emily about it yet because I didn't want to disappoint her if we weren't going to be back in time." Marissa explained.

"No. We'll be back Saturday night. If that's all okay with you?" Ryan asked.

"Yep. It's fine. I'll make sure I let Keith know." Marissa responded.

"Okay. I'd better go and try to get some work done if I'm going to be out of town tomorrow."

"Okay. I'll see you tonight." Marissa replied. "I'll be thinking of you."

"Same here." Ryan said and he hung up.

He looked at the phone thinking about his beautiful fiancé. Much as he was disappointed that Marissa wasn't pregnant, he had to admit to having second thoughts about the joys of parenthood – at least as far as the way it had affected their bedroom activities. He figured that Mother Nature was pretty remarkable. If you started your family in the normal way … with a new baby … then you would be too tired to want to be too active sexually. You would be gently weaned in to this sexual ration's business. But with Emily's arrival, they had jumped from maximum to minimum in one foul swoop. It hadn't been pleasant. The last 24 hours had been a godsend. He shook his head trying to refocus on the work in front of him. He was 25 and a successful businessman. What was it about Marissa that had him thinking with his dick like a 15 year old schoolboy? He smiled. He really didn't know the answer to that but then again did he really care?