This is for CS Katie who thinks that Vince is her favorite. He's adorable but kind of shy.
I picked up his bag and took it to the bathroom. "All the towels in the bathroom are clean. Why don't you get cleaned up and I'll meet you in the bedroom."
"Same rules as last night, Steph. Any funny business and we'll get married in the morning."
That was a chance I was willing to take.
Vince the Moderate
Merry Man Part 4
By Alfonsina
He came out of the bathroom with just a pair of sweat pants on and a white undershirt. I'd been up close and personal with the chest last night, but hadn't been able to see it. I'd already made up my mind, I was definitely going to have to get a better look at that before the lights went out.
"I know you've had a long day," he said. "But I'm still kind of hungry, do you mind if I have a slice of pizza?"
My appetite had long since vanished, but he shouldn't suffer just because I couldn't eat.
"I'm sorry, I can be a lousy hostess at times. Want a beer or anything else to go with it? I think I've got some soda or bottled water."
"Water'd be great," he said as he pulled about three slices from the box. At least he wasn't shy about eating.
He kept dropping his neck trying to stretch it out.
"Want me to rub it for you?" I asked.
"That'd be nice," he said as he dropped his head to his chest. "I don't mind sleeping on the ground, but I like having something under my own head." I knew he was teasing about being a pillow last night.
I stood behind him and started to rub and knead the knots out of his neck and upper back. If all massage clients were in this kind of shape, I would consider a change in career. I might even do it on a strictly volunteer basis. It was the least I could do for the best pillow I'd ever had, wasn't it?
After about three minutes Vince let me know I was done.
He looked at me and said, "I brought something to watch if you want."
"Sure, as long as it isn't a Tarrantino flick. I'm not up for lines about 'a block of wood, bucket of ice and a hatchet, sir'. Do you have something that is kind of quiet?"
I really didn't feel up to Ghostbusters, it just didn't seem to fit the mood.
"I have one of the best movies ever made," he said going over to his bag. He pulled out a DVD of The Princess Bride.
I looked at him and smiled. I loved that movie, especially Miracle Max. I just wished Miracle Max had a pill to miracle my mother into silence some days. I guess that is why it is a fantasy picture, no miracle on earth would ever get my mother to be quiet about things I'd done wrong or what I was doing now.
"You can't tell any of the guys about this," he said. "They like mostly violent stuff and porn. I think life is bigger than that. Plus this movie has something for everyone."
"Want me to make popcorn?" I hoped I had popcorn in the cabinet.
He shook his head. I guess he'd had enough to eat, but for me somehow the whole movie watching experience just isn't the same without the popcorn.
I set up the DVD player while he dimmed the lights in the apartment. We settled onto the sofa next to each other. I loved the interplay between the child and the grandfather … it reminded me of my own grandfather.
At some point I yawned and put my head on his shoulder and I think I fell asleep. Despite what he says about not wanting to be a pillow, Vince is a fantastic pillow.
When I woke up, I thought there was an earthquake. The ground beneath me was moving and things just felt odd. I opened my eyes to realize I was being carried into the bedroom.
"You should put me down," I said. "I'll break you."
"I can bench press two of you, not a problem," he said. "I'm sorry I woke you up, but it is getting late and you should sleep in your own bed."
He put me down so he could pull down the covers.
"In you go."
"Where are you going to sleep?"
"Sofa."
I wanted to whine or pout, but couldn't think of any way to do it where it didn't come off needy.
"It's a queen with clean sheets. Big enough for two, I promise to be good." If he wasn't so principled I could promise to be very good all night anyway he wanted me to be.
"Promise to keep your hands to yourself?"
I nodded solemnly. I fully intended to keep my word and my hands to myself and if I did any exploration it would strictly be an accident.
"Which side is your side?" I asked. I always slept on whichever side of a bed was closer to the bathroom for emergency nocturnal trips.
"The middle."
Oh boy.
"No really," I said.
"Just like last night. If we're gonna do this, you need to get on top of me. You like to cuddle and it is the only way I can be a pillow for you."
"I could stay on my own side," I said. No I couldn't I usually took most of the bed no matter how big it was.
He just looked at me and shook his head while he took off the undershirt.
"Go get changed into whatever you want to sleep in, I'll be here when you're ready."
So I did a speed version of my nightly routine. I made sure there wouldn't be too much mascara under my eyes, I brushed my teeth and swished some mouthwash through it and put on a pair of boxers with a t-shirt from Grandma Mazur that I'd never had the courage to wear in public. The t-shirt said, "Lick You All Over. Ten Cents." It was Vince and I was safe. If Morelli ever saw it, he'd pull out all of his change and wink at me. If Ranger ever saw it, he'd probably pull out a twenty and I'd be a willing prisoner until he got his money's worth.
When I left the bathroom, he was indeed in the middle of the bed already dozing. I shut off the lights and contemplated crawling in next to him.
"Will you at least give me a good night kiss?" I asked before I got in the bed.
"Just one kiss, and I was serious about you sleeping on top of me. It's comfortable and I don't have to worry about needing a blanket."
Yeah, but I will and probably going to need a cold shower before this is all over. I should have taken the sofa and left him in the bed. I've slept on the sofa a lot, it wouldn't have been a hardship. On the other hand, I'm looking at an extended celibacy period and not really enjoying that prospect.
I climbed on top of him, straddled more like. The way things lined up I was really disappointed that he wouldn't fool around at all. Things would have fit nicely and other things felt like they would exceed my hopes and expectations.
I leaned down for the kiss. His hands came up and caressed my face. I about lost it when he started to run his thumb over my bottom lip. If he kept this up, neither of us was going to need a blanket; damn it was getting warm in here and he hadn't even kissed me yet. He dropped delicate little kisses over my forehead, my cheeks, my eyes and even my nose before I shifted so he would actually kiss my lips.
Did I mention that he likes to kiss? He not only likes to kiss, but he takes his time. There was nothing hurried or rushed. It made me think about the 'most perfect kiss' they talked about in the Princess Bride, I think this would have been a close second to that one. The only thing that would have made it perfect would have been a couple of hours of naked exploration.
"Steph, we need to get some sleep. It's late," said the voice of reason.
I didn't want to be reasonable. I wanted to be unreasonable, completely wanton and extinguish some of the fire between my legs, let him rebuild the fire and then put it out all over again.
"I'm serious, Steph."
Fine.
"Good night, Vince. Thanks for tonight."
"Goodnight, Steph. Sleep well. Don't touch or I'll most likely marry you in the morning."
"Vince, you sound like the Dread Pirate Roberts," I said as I snuggled into this chest.
"Oh you mean the line about 'Good night, Westley. Good work. Sleep well. I'll most likely kill you in the morning.'? Well I won't kill you, but if you do anything that compromises my virtue, I will most likely marry you in the morning."
"That's the one. Sleep well, Vince."
xx
The sun was trying to come up and I didn't want to see it. I was comfy, warm and happy until I felt my pillow start to grumble.
"You get until the count of three to move your hand, or else."
Crap. I wasn't with Morelli and I didn't have a right to have my hand where it was. Force of habit, I guess.
"One."
I didn't move but finally did open my eyes.
"Stephanie, you don't know how hard you are pushing me. Two."
"Ok. Ok. I'll let go," I said with a sigh and I relinquished control of what wasn't my toy to play with anyway.
"Thank you," he said gruffly.
I struggled to get up.
"Where you going?" he asked. He didn't want me to play with him but he didn't want me to leave either.
"Mother Nature," I said.
"Come back when you're done, I'll get cold."
Talk about mixed signals.
I wasn't in the bathroom all that long, but I heard him talking to someone when I headed back out.
"Yes, it happened again." Pause. "The usual place works for me. You got time for it today?" Pause. "Perfect. See you then. Later man."
"Who was that?" I asked.
"Just Binky. We're gonna meet him today after work."
"Something important?"
He shrugged and said, "Come back, I'm cold."
I didn't have to be asked twice. I went back to the bed, straddled his body and planted a kiss on his chest before I lowered my head to go back to sleep.
I really could get used to this. Damn he felt good.
I said, "Goodnight, Vince. Sleep well. Don't touch or I'll most likely marry you in the morning."
He started to rub my back and down my hip. The feeling was addicting. Definitely if there was such a thing as reincarnation, I wanted to come back as Vince's cat; I'd never stop purring.
"This afternoon," he mumbled and he was gone.
