I'm so sorry that it's taken me so long to update, but RL hit me and I am also working on three more stories and a contest one-shot. I promise that I will finish this story!
I want to say thanks to all that are reading Mara and Emmett's story, and especially those that are reviewing! They are precious to me.
No copyright infringement is intended. These songs are included to enhance the scene.
Now let's get back to Mara and Emmett, with Sheri and James, and their night out.
Chapter 12 An Enjoyable Evening and Karaoke
The hostess showed us to a semi-circular booth in a secluded back corner of the room. Sheri and I slid in with James and Emmett following beside us.
"Your server will be right with you," she said, placing a heavy, padded menu before each of us. "Please, enjoy your meal."
As she turned to leave, I caught the surreptitious wink she flashed at Emmett. I saw his lips twitch as he glanced down at his menu.
"You liked that, didn't you?" I asked with a smirk.
"What?" he countered, feigning innocence.
"You know what," I replied. "What would you have done if I wasn't here?"
"Just what I did…nothing," he answered, taking my hand and kissing the back of it. "I haven't even looked at another woman, babe. Since the first time saw you, no other woman has caught my eye. You don't have anything to worry about, sweetness, you are the only woman I want."
I smiled and looked over his shoulder as our waiter appeared.
"Good evening, my name is Marcus and I'll be your server," he said, smiling pleasantly. "May I get you something from the bar while you make your dinner selections?"
James and Emmett both ordered Heineken while Sheri and I each ordered a glass of white zinfandel.
When Marcus returned with our drinks, we placed our orders with him. James and Em each ordered a 16oz. porterhouse steak while Sheri and I both ordered the 6oz, bacon wrapped filet minon; each meal accompanied by baked potato, steamed asparagus spears and a green dinner salad.
While we waited for our meals, Emmett stood and held his hand out to me.
"Dance with me, sweetness? He asked.
I smiled at Sheri and rolled my eyes, grinning. Taking Em's hand, he helped me to my feet and led me, his hand on the small of my back, through the tables to the small wooden dance floor in front of a small, raised platform. I could hear the whispers of recognition as we passed through.
A small trio was playing softly, and Em turned me to face him, wrapping his arms around my waist. I was thankful for my three inch heels as I reached up to wind my arms around his neck. Tangling my fingers in the curls at the nape, I pressed my cheek to his broad chest. The stretch had me pressed tightly to him, and his hand slid down my back to rest at the swell of my ass.
"You know that you were recognized, right?" I asked, looking up into his face with smirk.
"I couldn't care less, babe," he whispered, leaning down to my ear. "I'm proud to have you with me, so let them talk."
The music was soft and mellow as we swayed in each others arms. When the tempo changed, Em twirled me around and pulled my hips back against him. With his hands he led me in the erotic dance. He pulled me tightly to him and I could feel him hardening against my ass. I whirled around and executed a perfect booty drop, and sliding back up his body, heard his breath catch on a groan.
"Oh, babe," he whispered into my hair. "If you keep that up, we're gonna miss dinner."
"Hmm," I smiled up at him, taking a step back. "I'm very hungry, dimples, so maybe we'd better head on back to the table."
Running his knuckles gently down my cheek, he smiled and led me back where Sheri and James were waiting.
We had just sat down when Marcus arrived with our dinners. After enjoying a delicious meal, we sat and relaxed, enjoying the last of our wine. Marcus arrived back at the table and asked us if we'd care for dessert. I started to decline, but Em interrupted.
"I'd like a large strawberry sundae with whipped cream and nuts, and a cherry or two on top," he said. "Oh, and two spoons, please. You will share with me won't you, sweetness?"
"Sure," I replied, smiling indulgently. "Sounds yummy."
"I'll have the triple chocolate fudge brownie, ala mode" James ordered. "And two spoons with that, also."
Sheri raised her eyebrow at him and smiled. James usually wasn't a sweet eater.
When the desserts were placed in front of us, I gasped. The strawberry sundae was huge, consisting of four large scoops of French vanilla ice cream drenched in fresh strawberries and a mound of whipped cream with four cherries on top.
"I hope you can eat that, baby," I said with a laugh. "Because I'll only be able to manage a couple of bites."
"Not a problem, babe," he replied, scooting closer to me and handing me a spoon.
With childlike enthusiasm he dug into the decadent concoction.
Glancing at James and Sheri, I had to laugh at the expression on her face as she stared incredulously at the chocolate goodness before her. On a salad sized plate sat a four inch square, two inch thick brownie. Chocolate chips and sauce glistened beneath two large scoops of vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup and whipped cream. She reached for her spoon and brought a small bite to her mouth.
"Ohhh, God," she moaned, speaking around her mouthful. "This is heavenly!"
Em picked up a spoon and, taking a big scoop of the sundae, brought it to my lips.
"That's too big a bite," I said laughing. "Are you trying to tell me I have a big mouth?"
"You'd better have, sweetness," he said, wriggling his brows suggestively, shoving the spoon into my mouth when my jaw dropped.
After the shock wore off, I was moaning at the deliciousness invading my mouth. Then I grabbed the spoon out of Em's hand and scooped up a generous bite and shoved it into Em's mouth After swallowing, his booming laugh rang through the room, causing heads to turn curiously.
Sheri looked at James threateningly.
"Don't you even think about it, James Connery," she said.
He pouted playfully.
"Aw, J, you're a spoil sport."
I actually ate more than I had anticipated and when I set my spoon down, Em leaned close to me.
"You have strawberry syrup right here," he said softly, and licked the corner of my mouth before kissing me deeply.
James cleared his throat, and Emmett pulled back reluctantly. Touching my cheek, he turned to face him and Sheri.
"Why don't we head on up to the lounge. It's very nice and I know you'll enjoy yourself."
Emmett added the dinner bill to his hotel tab and we climbed the stairs up to the Diamond Lounge.
The top of the stairs opened up into a large open room with several clusters of plush couches, chairs and coffee tables situated around three sides of a crowded dance floor that took up nearly half of the room. At the far end stood a small stage where a very good local rock band was performing. The lighting was dim and intimate, lending an air of privacy to the groupings. The bar ran the entire length of the right wall, manned by three talented and entertaining bartenders; two men and one woman.
We were led to a small two loveseat grouping to the left of the dance floor, and settled in for a night of fun.
"Okay, what's your poison, ladies and gent?" James shouted over the din in the room. "I'll make this run."
Sheri and I decided to enjoy a beer with the guys and in a few minutes he returned carrying a tray laden with four bottles of imported beer and eight shots of tequila; including a shaker of salt and a dish of lime wedges.
"What are you trying to do, sweetie?" I asked with a smirk. "Get Sheri and me drunk so that you gentlemen can have your wicked way with us?"
"Oh, hell yeah!" Emmett answered excitedly for him, pulling me tight against his side, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. "Wicked ways are my favorite, right, sweetness?"
"Mmmm," I replied, laying my hand high up on his thigh. "Oh I love your wicked ways, dimples."
His eyes darkened slightly as he leaned in to kiss me, resting his other hand on my stomach, his thumb grazing the underside of my breast.
"I hate to put a damper on you two," Sheri said, laughter in her voice. "But there are quite a few people here and I'm sure that some of them have cameras."
With a groan, Emmett sat back, rubbing his hand over his face. Suddenly he sat forward and picked up my hand. Turning it over, he raised it to his mouth and licked my wrist. Taking up the salt shaker, he covered the spot with salt, and picked up a shot and a wedge of lime. Tossing back the shot, he licked the salt from my wrist and bit into the lime, then kissed me, letting me taste the melding of flavors in his mouth.
I repeated the action on him. The burn of the liquid down my throat, followed by the salt, was actually soothed by the lime I took from between his lips. After a long drink of beer, we took the next shot in the same manner.
With a groan, Emmett sat back, rubbing his hand over his face. Then standing, he held his hand out to me.
"Come dance, babe," he said, pulling me to my feet. "I need to hold you."
A DJ was taking over from the band as we made our way to the dance floor and he pulled me into his arms, holding me tight against him, and we stayed that way through three songs…no matter the tempo. But when the song Do You Love Me by the Contours came through the speakers, I did something that I had never done before. It must have been the alcohol that loosened my inhibitions, because I leaned back, my arms still around Emmett's neck, and wound my leg up around his hip.
For a shocked moment he stood stock still and I began to rock my pelvis into his. Then, with a cocky grin, he put his hands on my waist and bent me backward as he twirled us around. For a few moments, we were the center of attention as we dirty danced. But soon everyone had joined us; shrieks and laughter filling the air.
When the song ended, we were totally out of breath and made our way back to Sheri and James. I was surprised that they, too, were out of breath. I looked at her questioningly.
"What?" She asked with a laugh. "My sweet love can dance, too you know!"
I grinned and winked at her.
There were more beers and shots on the table and we unhesitantly downed the shots and sipped the beer. We were sitting comfortably, more than a little tipsy and talking about leaving, when the DJ stepped to the microphone.
"Okay, people," he said. "It is now midnight and as you know this is Karaoke time. I have a few people already signed up, but if you'd like to participate, there's room for more."
"Oh, James, that sounds like fun," Sheri said, crossing her hands on his shoulder, kissing his cheek. "Let's do it."
"Oh, no," he replied. "You know I only sing in the shower. No way!"
"Oh, please, sweet love," she cajoled. "No one except Mara and Emmett know you here. Please?"
She leaned in and whispered something into his ear, and his eyes widened as a huge grim crossed his face.
"Well, maybe," he said. "But only if you sing with me."
"Yes!" she cried, standing up and pulling at his arm. "Come on, let's go find a trac and sign up.
He rolled his eyes at us and let her pull him toward the stage.
Em looked at me and shook his head. I cocked my head and raised a questioning eyebrow at him.
"Not on your life, babe," he said. "I'm not known for my singing, and I don't want to make a fool of myself.
I gave him the puppy dog eyes, and he groaned.
"No, sweetness," he said. "And that's the end of the discussion. But you go ahead; you know that they'll love you."
"Uh, nope, not if you don't," I replied, leaning back and crossing my arms across my stomach.
"If you sing for this crowd, they will be able to tell their friends that they saw you perform before you were famous," he said as a bribe, sliding back to take me in his arms. "And I really would love to hear you again. It's been quite a while."
"You really aren't playing fair, you know," I said, looking up at him through my lashes with a pout.
"I know," he replied, placing a finger under my chin and turning my face up to him. "If I got up there and tried to sing, I'd run everyone off."
"I've heard you singing in the shower, sweet cheeks," I said. "You're not all that bad."
"Bad enough to know that this would not be a good idea," he argued. "But you would hold them spell bound. Please?"
I looked at him for a long moment, watching his eyes plead with me, and sighed heavily.
"Fine," I said, slipping from his arms and standing up. "I'll go see what they have in the way of tracs."
I found one that would do and had just returned to my seat when the performances started. Some were pretty good and some were really bad. But they were all just having fun. After a few songs, Em got up saying he needed the bathroom. He was gone quite a while when I saw him speaking to the DJ before returning to us.
"What were you doing, baby?" I asked as he sat back down.
"I was arranging for you to be put at the end, sweetheart," he replied, kissing my cheek. "I wanted to save the best for last."
I just shook my head at him and leaned back into his arms, resting on his chest.
The next to be called up were James and Sheri Connery. Em and I made sure to clap and whistle loudly.
"When we decided to do this, we thought about doing Sonny and Cher's I Got You Babe." James said, taking Sheri's hand. "Then we saw this one, and reached for it at the same time. This was sung at our wedding, and it's pretty damn special. Maestro, if you please."
The intro started, and so did my tears. I had sung it for them on that day. Emmett held me tighter as they started to sing.
The Association-Never My Love
You ask me if there'll come a time
When I grow tired of you
Never my love
Never my love
You wonder if this heart of mine
Will lose its desire for you
Never my love
Never my love
What makes you think love will end
When you know that my whole life
Depends on you
You say you fear I'll change my mind
I won't require you
Never my love
Never my love
How can you think love will end
When I've asked you to spend your
Whole life with me
Never my love
Never My love
Never my love
Never my love
Never my love
Never my love
Never my love
Never my love
Tears were streaming down Sheri's face, and I thought I even saw the shimmer in James's eyes. The enthusiastic applause had him blushing as they made their way back to us.
"They are deeply in love, aren't they?" Emmett whispered in my ear.
"Yeah, they are," I whispered back, just as they came back and sat down. "Great job, you two."
"Awesome, guys," Emmett added as he stood up.
"Damn, I'll be right back," he said. "Guess I've had too much beer."
While he was gone, another pretty bad performance was given, although the kid tried really hard and had fun with it. When he was through, the DJ took the mic again.
"We have a special performer next," he said. "And he asked me to introduce this by saying. 'Only for you, sweetness'."
I gasped and sat up straight. With my heart racing, I watched as Emmett stepped up on the stage and took the mic sheepishly. Then, as the intro to the song started, he looked up, straight into my eyes, and spoke the word "sweetness" just before he began to sing.
By Georg Alexander-The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the endless skies, my love
To the dark and empty skies.
The first time ever I kissed your mouth
And felt the earth move in my hand
Like the trembling heart of a captive bird
That was there at my command, my love
That was there at my command
The first time ever I lay with you
I felt your heart so close to mine
And I knew our joy would fill the earth
And last till the end of time, my love
The first time ever I saw your face
It was as if we were the only two people in the room. I saw and heard no one except my Emmett, and he sang like an angel. The words of the song played on my heart strings, and I knew that nothing would ever touch me in the same way again.
As the song was ending, I rose and walked slowly toward the stage and met him at the bottom of the steps. He took my face in his hands and kissed me with so much love. I think that was when I finally realized and accepted that he really, truly was in love with me.
Stepping back, I laid my hand over his heart and felt it racing as hard as mine.
"You've been holding out on me, my love," I said softly.
"Just so that I could surprise you, sweetness," he replied.
Suddenly I realized that there were cheers and applause sounding all around us.
"Wow," the DJ said. "That was totally awesome. Hopefully we'll see Emmett McCarty in a musical film someday. Now, I'm told that we are in for a real treat. Emmett has told me that Mara Brannigan and Sheri Connery…the beautiful blonde lady that sang with her husband…are in the middle of recording their first CD. She's gonna sing for us, now."
Touching Em's cheek and kissing him sweetly, I climbed the steps and took the mic.
"I'd like to ask a favor of you, if I may," I said to the DJ. "Do you mind if I call Sheri up here and we borrow your keyboard?"
He nodded, and I called Sheri up to the stage. As she came up the steps, I spoke to her and, with a grin, she agreed to what I was asking. While she settled herself at the keyboard, I turned back to the audience.
"Hello, I'm Mara Brannigan and this is my partner and accompanist, Sheri Connery. I was originally going to sing The Very Thought of You as sung by Natalie Cole, but this is one that Sheri and I have been working on and I'd like to sing it for you now. This is dedicated to you, sweet cheeks."
My eyes trained on Emmett, I nodded to Sheri and she began the intro.
By Celine Dion~Falling Into You
And in your eyes I see ribbons of color
I see us inside of each other
I feel my unconscious merge with yours
And I hear a voice say, what's his is hers
I'm falling into you
This dream could come true
And it feels so good falling into you
I was afraid to let you in here
Now I have learned love can't be made in fear
The walls begin to tumble down
And I can't even see the ground
I'm falling into you
This dream could come true
And it feels so good falling into you
Falling like a leaf, falling like a star
Finding a belief, falling where you are
Catch me, don't let me drop
Love me, don't ever stop
So close your eyes and let me kiss you
And while you sleep, I will miss you
I'm falling into you
This dream could come true
And it feels so good falling into you
Falling like a leaf, falling like a star
Finding a belief, falling where you are
Falling into you
Falling into you
Falling into you
After acknowledging the thunderous applause, Sheri and I started down the steps and up the aisle toward where James and Emmett were sitting. Halfway there, Emmett met us and, taking my hand, literally pulled me through the club, down the stairs, and through the lobby to the elevators.
Once we had procured an elevator, I was pressed tightly between the wall and Emmet's hard body, his mouth devouring mine.
"I love you, I love you, I love you," he murmured again and again against my lips.
I wrapped my legs around him as held me up, his hands cupping my ass. When the doors slid open, he carried me across to his door and slid his keycard in the lock. He kicked the door shut behind him, and carried me straight to the bedroom.
As soon as the bedroom door was closed, I found myself pressed up against it, Em's mouth plundering mine. His hands were everywhere as he pressed his body to mine, holding me up. I reached down between us to help him untie my dress. He leaned back, still keeping me in place with his hips, to give me easier access. I shrugged out of the top portion of the dress, hastily slid his blazer off of him, and reached for the buttons on his shirt. When my fingers fumbled in my haste, I just grabbed the placket and ripped it open. Shoving it over his shoulders, he shook it down his arms and let it fall to the floor.
He made short work of my bra, tossing it behind him. Then skimming his hands up my back to my shoulder blades, he pulled my torso forward to suck a nipple into his mouth. With a deep groan, I arched my back, and when his lips left me to lick across my chest to the other breast, I whimpered.
"Oh, God, Em," I groaned, grinding my pelvis against him. "Baby, I need you so much!"
I lowered my legs and stood, allowing my dress to slide to the floor, and there I stood in only my green lace thong. He kicked off his shoes as I unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants. Sliding down his hips, they pooled around his ankles and he stepped out of them, kicking them aside.
He stood there for a moment, gazing at me. Then the fire in his eyes flared brighter, and he dropped to his knees. Grasping my hips gently, he leaned forward and placed a kiss on my sex, over my sodden thong. I moaned as he slid his fingers under the waistband and slowly slipped it down my legs and off.
Sliding his arms between my thighs, he raised me up, spreading them wide, my knees resting over his elbows with his hands planted firmly on my ass. He pressed me back against the door and leaned in to swipe his tongue through my dripping center.
"Ohh…fuck!" I groaned, having to grasp Em's shoulders to steady myself. "Ohh…God!"
He alternated delving deep inside me and teasing my clit with the tip of his lightening fast tongue. It didn't take long before I could feel my muscles tightening and my legs stiffening. Suddenly, he flat tongued me from my entrance to my clit, taking it into his mouth biting gently and sucking hard.
"Unghh…shit!" I cried as waves of orgasm coursed through me. I flooded his tongue as he continued to draw out my pleasure, and lap up all I gave him.
"You okay up there, sweetness?" He asked with a wicked smirk as he leaned back to look up at me.
"Mmmhmm," I mumbled, leaning weakly back against the door. "You have an incredibly talented tongue, Mr. McCarty."
"I aim to please, babe," he replied. "But only you, sweetness, only you."
He carefully lowered my legs, but they were still weak and shaky, and collapsed under me as I tried to stand. Catching Em off guard, I tumbled onto him, knocking him on his back, me on top of him. We laid there for a couple of minutes, until I felt strong enough to move again.
"Well, now, isn't this an interesting position?" I grinned down at him as I slid up to straddle him, rubbing my core against his fully erect and throbbing cock."
He rose up on his elbows and hissed as I reached down to grasp him, lifted myself, and slowly slid down onto him. I almost came right then at the feel of him filling me so completely.
"Fuck, babe," he groaned, grasping my hips. "You're so tight and feel so damn good.
I smiled and leaned down to take one of his nipples into my mouth, swirling the tip of my tongue around it in rhythm with my hips. After giving his other nipple the same treatment, I kissed up the column of his throat, over his chin, and latched onto his mouth. I moaned as I tasted myself on his lips and licked them clean.
Suddenly, with a deep growl, he gripped my hips and flipped us over, putting him on top, and began to pound into me. I matched him thrust for thrust, and soon I felt the tightening in my pelvis as his movements became erratic. I began squeezing my walls around him, loosening them with each thrust and tightening with each withdrawal; in effect milking him to orgasm.
He began to grunt with each thrust. Soon he stiffened and lifted himself up onto his hands, throwing his head back as, with one final thrust, he shouted his release, filling me with streams of his hot creamy cum. I followed seconds later, my muscles clamping around him, prolonging his completion.
Collapsing down on me, he rolled us to our sides and held me as we regained our breath. I heard his quiet chuckle and looked up at him, questioningly.
"We couldn't even make it to the bed," he said with a grin. "We're like two horny teenagers, fucking anywhere and everywhere!"
Reaching up, I ran my finger down his right dimple.
"The difference being that now we are mature adults, and know what we're doin'." I said with a soft giggle. "No more fumbling around for us…thank God!"
He laughed and stood, holding his hand out to me to help me up. I shrieked as he picked me up, and threw me over his shoulder. Did I say mature? Oh, but what a nice view of that taught round ass!
The next thing I knew, I was being tossed onto the massive bed.
I looked up at him, my heart swelling with love for him. I held my arms out to him, all teasing gone.
"Please lay with me, baby," I said softly. "Will you just hold me for a while? Sometimes all of this seems too good to be true, and I need you to show me it's real."
"Ahh, sweetness," he crooned, lying beside me and wrapping me in his arms. "It's real, babe. I was wandering aimlessly after what happened with Rose. I felt like I would never find the kind of love my parents have. Then I walked into the Torch Club and saw the most beautiful woman in the world. I was drawn to her, but when I heard her begin to sing, the ice surrounding my heart began to melt. And when I kissed her, just a fleeting brush of our lips, I felt the rest of the ice melt away."
His hand came up to cup my face, his thumb caressing my lips.
"I love you, Mara Brannigan," he whispered, his eyes shining brightly, sparkling.
Then he kissed me.
Whimpering, I buried my face against his neck, kissing his throat.
"You have given me back something that has been lacking in my life for a long time, Emmett," I said softly. "You've given me the true love of a man; a gentle, caring, loving man. I was afraid to let anyone in, and I had built up high strong walls. But when you kissed me that night, in the hallway, backstage, you started chipping away at those walls. Now they have crumbled, and only you can shatter my vulnerable heart. I love you, Emmett McCarty, with all the love I have."
"Oh, Mara," he murmured just before his lips captured mine in a tender kiss, one filled with love…the passion swirling around it.
Reaching down, he pulled the comforter over us. I sighed contentedly, snuggling tightly to his side.
We were quiet, just holding each other, reveling in the love surrounding us. I was close to falling into slumber when Emmett murmured my name.
"Mara?"
"Hmmm?"
"I've been thinking about this for a while, and I want to ask you something."
"Yes?"
He took a deep breath, and tilted my head to look up at him.
"Will you marry me, please?"
My eyes went wide as I stared into his. Sincere love was there, sparkling and shining with love and…hope. I wound my arms around his neck.
"Yes," I whispered, pulling his face down to mine. "Oh hell, yeah!"
A/N
All of the songs included are available on . I don't know how to include the links, here…sorry!
They are:
Never My Love as performed by The Assocation
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face as performed by George Alexander
Falling Into You as performed by Celine Dion
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