Chapter 34: Weekend in Venice Beach (2)
The next day found Rose waking up spooning with Jack. Her back was against his chest and his arms was wrapped around her waist as she was snuggled into his embrace. Waking up feeling warm and comfortable, it took her a while to even move. She enjoyed waking up like this. So close to the one she loved. She couldn't remember a time when she woke up feeling so completely safe and loved. She didn't want it to end. But she knew that eventually it would have to. They couldn't spend the whole day in bed. She wanted to explore Venice beach some today and tonight...of course tonight in itself was going to be very special. Then tomorrow afternoon, they'll head for home, back to their normal everyday lives...except...things will be changed. As a couple, they'll be closer and stronger than ever, hopefully.
She smiled as she felt his lips press against the nape of her neck. She turned around in his arms and smiled into sleepy blue eyes. What a way to wake up. She would love to wake up like this every morning.
"Mmm, I'm spoiled already," She sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Well, we've already decided a long time ago that you were a spoiled brat. How much more spoiled can you get?" Jack chuckled, his voiced dampened by sleep.
"A lot more, obviously. Waking up next to you like this...to the sight of your beautiful eyes when they first open from a good night's sleep...a girl can get used to that. I'm just saying," She grinned, rubbing his nose against his. "It's going to be hard to return to the world where I wake up alone..."
"Let's not think about that. Let's enjoy what we have left...what we still have to look forward to," Jack smiled, kissing her nose before turning around and sitting up on the edge of the bed.
Rose sighed, missing his closeness. "What are you up to now?"
"I'm up to getting dressed. We have a long day today, including breakfast. Then we're going to spend the day outdoors, walking the boardwalk, enjoying the beach, and then tonight...well...that is special. But the point is we have a full day ahead, so up and at them Rosebud. Get dressed into something cool and comfortable."
Feeling disappointed that she wasn't going to get any cuddling time in that morning, Rose lifted herself out of bed and went about getting ready for the day.
Two hours later, after they both had taken their baths, gotten dressed and prepared for whatever it was Jack had planned, Rose found herself joining her boyfriend downstairs, in front of the door leading out onto the porch.
"Ok, so we're up and dressed. Where to first?" Rose asked, handing all decisions over to Jack, who seemed to know more about what they were to do today than she did.
"Breakfast at this little cafe down by the boardwalk...and then we'll go for a nice stroll," Jack grinned, ignoring the hungry growl of his stomach.
"Sounds like I'm not the only one that thinks breakfast sounds good," Rose giggled.
Jack just laughed and took her hand. "Well let's get started then. Would you like to go to Denny's or do you want something more local?"
"Doesn't matter to me. Just as long as there's food," Rose giggled, following Jack to the car.
Ten minutes later, they're inside a tiny cafe with a stack of pancakes for them to share and a cheese omelet for each of them along with orange juice.
"Jack, are we going to be able to eat all of this?" Rose eyed the food curiously.
"We can try," Jack laughed, gaining a playful eye roll from Rose.
"I can hear my mother now, nagging me about my weight."
"Well it's a good thing that she's not here," Jack chuckled. "This is a day of fun and adventure, Rose. No worries about your mother. You can worry about her tomorrow night, when we return."
"Yes sir," Rose giggled, placing three pancakes onto her plate and drowning them in butter and strawberry syrup.
Another hour of eating and talking about their plans for New York and the future pass and soon they are walking along the boardwalk, hand in hand. Rose took everything in with wide eyes. She couldn't believe that after all this time living in California, she had never been here before!
"So what do you think?" Jack grinned, enjoying seeing her eyes widen with delight as she took everything in.
"It's like another world...an artistic, creative world...where you belong! Why are you not here permanently?" Rose giggled. She gasped as she saw a building with a face painted on the side of it. It was gorgeous and so life like. "Jack look!"
"Amazing, huh?" Jack let her pull him over to the building. "I'd never be able to pull something like that off."
"Oh I bet you would. You can do anything Jack, you're so talented," Rose gazed at the picture.
"It must have taken months for this to take shape..."
"Come on...I want to see more," Rose grabbed his hand and pulled him away from the masterpiece.
For the following hours, Jack and Rose brought artwork, watched performers and left them dollar tips, and walked along the sandy shore and ocean, just enjoying each others company. They had almost forgotten about the special plans for that night, but sitting on the beach, in Jack's arms as they watched the sunset, Rose could think of nothing else.
"It's been a long day. Ready to head back to the house? We can pick up some take out for dinner," Jack suggested, kissing her cheek, relishing the sent of her perfume.
"That sounds like a lovely idea...god it's so beautiful, the sunset. It's like we're in a totally different world," Rose sighed snuggling against her boyfriend, enjoying his closeness.
"I wish I could give this to you everyday," Jack sighed, hating that their weekend was almost over. If he could, he would fix up the old cottage and make it their home and support Rose with his art while she did whatever her heart desired. They could live a happy life here, if only they were older.
"Then it wouldn't be special. It's only special because it's something that we can't have everyday of our lives. Besides, we have New York to consider as well. You still want to go to New York, don't you?" Rose giggled.
"Of course I do," Jack laughed, his plans for the future returning to the front of his mind. "Actually, I'll be happy just as long as we're together. Whether it's New York or right here on Venice beach..."
"It's a nice dream, regardless," Rose sighed. "Maybe we can come back after graduation. Buy a small house. You can paint on the boardwalk and I can have a small law practice somewhere nearby, and we can eat lunch in that little cafe we ate in this morning."
"Now that sounds like a plan," Jack chuckled, getting up onto his feet. Speaking of plans, it was time for them to return to the cottage and for him to make the right preparations for the rest of the evening.
"Well, it's time to head back. We have things to do back at the house."
Rose blushed, remembering their original plans. She had been so taken by the sights that day, she had almost forgot. She took his hand and got up onto her feet as well. She took one last look at the last of the sunset, feeling sad that it was almost over. "Thank you. This has been the most wonderful day since...the explosion. The world doesn't seem so harsh at the moment."
Jack smiled, feeling that he had at least accomplished one mission already. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her pale fingers. "It's not over yet. I have so much more to give you."
"Lead the way..."
…..
The small house was dark and quiet upon Jack and Rose's return. It was obvious that there had been very little activity inside that day. Rose placed down her bags and began unpacking and admiring the artwork that she had purchased that day. She couldn't wait to get them home and hung up in her room or around her mother's house. In her opinion, the place needed a little color.
Jack, in the meantime, had disappeared into the bedroom. First he spread a blanket down on the floor and sat up a small picnic area where they were to have dinner. Then he placed candles around the room and lit them, letting them be the light. Then there was the music. John Legend at first, to set the mood, then other artists afterwards. He then spread rose petals onto the bed, giving it a flowery scent...like roses. He stepped back and smiled at the set-up. It was everything he had imagined and he hoped that she loved it as well and put her at ease. Tonight, he was hoping to give her back something that had been torn from her, as well as all of himself. She held his heart and soul and tonight, he wanted to show her that he was completely hers for as long as she wanted him. He was not going to hold anything back from her.
He stepped out of the room and went back downstairs to find Rose holding up a colorful painting against the wall. He couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you doing?"
"I"m seeing what this painting would look like hanging up. I know it's not my room, but it'll give me some idea," Rose answered, her eyes never leaving the painting. "Hmmm, maybe it should go in the living room instead of my room. That house can use a little color."
Jack walked the rest of the way downstairs and took the painting out of Rose's hands and sat it aside. "Come on, baby. I have a surprise waiting for you. Interior design can wait..."
"A surprise? For me? Jack, you've already gone above and beyond today, what more can there be?"
"Just follow me," Jack grinned, leading the way up the stairs, not letting go of her hand. Reaching the bedroom, he slowly opened the door.
Rose gasped in surprise whens he saw the set up. A picnic area where their food was set up to be eaten. Candle light, music, a rose petal covered bed...it was all so romantic and he had set it up all for her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight, truly touched. "Jack this is so beautiful..."
"Not nearly as beautiful as you are, but I did try," Jack chuckled, inwardly wincing at how cheesy that sounded, but he honestly couldn't think of a response that sounded smooth enough. Besides, he wasn't lying. Nothing could compare to how beautiful his girl was.
"I guess we better start with the picnic first. I am getting a little hungry," Rose giggled, entering the room. She reluctantly let go of Jack's hand went and sat down on the picnic blanket that was spread out.
Jack followed and poured some white grape juice that he had purchased into the waiting glasses. "I think I'm hungry too, plus we are going to need our energy for what comes after dinner..."
Rose blushed, getting the idea. Was she nervous? Yes, but looking at Jack, remembering what they had done the night before...her need to know what his bare skin against hers felt like...it pushed her nerves to the back of her mind.
They ate in silence, their minds going over what to expect next. Jack halfway expected her to get scared and put a stop to it. He didn't want her to get scared, but he thought that it would be best to expect it. Rose for her part did feel a little scared, but she also remembered how just the shape of his hardness had felt beneath her and how he had held her close...how she had wanted so much more. It was like she couldn't get close enough to him. She needed this. Not only to get closer to Jack...but to take back the meaning of what making love was. Cal had made it a violent, frightening act. An act that destroyed girls like herself and Annabelle. She didn't want it to be that anymore. She wanted it to mean what it once meant before Cal. An act of love and tenderness and in some ways, when allowed, an act of creation. There was no power play involved. Only a need to express her love and devotion to Jack, the boy she knew that she couldn't live without.
Finally the quiet meal was over and the couple just sat there, wondering what to do next. Neither of them were an expert on what to do on romantic dates. It was Jack who got to his feet and held a hand out to Rose.
"Want to dance?" He asked. He didn't really feel like dancing, but they had to progress somehow. In the movies, the couple usually danced first and then things would progress naturally from there. It was worth a try.
"Sure...," Rose smiled, taking his hand as she got to her feet.
He pulled her into his arms and together they just swayed to the music. The tension in the air was suddenly thick, and they knew what was to come in the next few minutes. Jack looked into her eyes, searching for any signs of fear.
It's hard for me to say the things
I want to say sometimes
There's no one here but you and me
And that broken old street light
Lock the doors
We'll leave the world outside
All I've got to give to you
Are these five words tonight
"Are you scared?" He asked.
"A little...but not much," was her answer, feeling embarrassed for even admitting that a part of her, a small part, still held that fear, but she knew that honesty was best. It was the only way Jack would know what was going through her mind.
"If you want to stop, tell me, alright? It doesn't matter how far we get, if you're not comfortable, if you feel like you can't go through with it, just tell me and we'll stop. No problem."
"Okay," Rose nodded. She had to admit, Jack's words made her feel more comfortable. He had put the ball in her court, which she had known he would...but still, just hearing it from him, it made her trust him all the more.
They continued to sway to the music, letting the lyrics fill their senses, pushing everything else away into a different world.
Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
For parting my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
Thank you for loving me
They looked in to each others eyes, her green and his blue. Both of them filled with an emotion that they couldn't put a name to. A need that had been growing for months now and was to be filled tonight. Jack licked his dry lips before bending his head to claim Rose's in a kiss that deepened more and more by the second.
I never knew I had a dream
Until that dream was you
When I look into your eyes
The sky's a different blue
Cross my heart
I wear no disguise
If I tried, you'd make believe
That you believed my lies
The kiss filled Rose's senses. She gasped as his tongue entered her mouth and playfully ran along the side of her own. She moaned as her tongue returned the playful pressure, running along side his in a playful dance.
With trembling fingers, they undressed each other. Rose wasn't aware that she was fully undressed until she felt her dress slip off her body and Jack's fingers unhooking her bra. Her own hands pushed off the red shirt he had been wearing, leaving him only wearing his jeans and socks.
Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
For parting my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
Rose's hands explored Jack's bare chest and back, relishing the feeling of his warm skin beneath her fingers. She slid her hands down until they touched denim and stopped, not sure where to continue. She needn't have worried. Jack took the initiative and unfastened his jeans and pushed them off his hips, where he stepped out of them, along with his socks. He now stood there wearing only his boxers while Rose still had on her panties.
On even footing they pulled each other closer, gasping and moaning at the feel of their bare skin against each other. Something that they had never experienced before. Again Jack stopped and looked into her eyes.
"Still okay?" He panted, concern, love, and desire burning in his blue gaze.
Rose simply nodded and went back to kissing him and allowing her hands to explore his chest and back, taken away by her own desire for him.
You pick me up when I fall down
You ring the bell before they count me out
If I was drowning you would part the sea
And risk your own life to rescue me
Feeling his desire grab hold of his senses, he pulled off his boxers and with more hesitation, placed a hand on her silk covered hips, asking if it was okay to remove her panties as well. A small lust filled moan was the answer. So slowly, he slid her panties down from her hips and let them fall to the floor, where she stepped out of them.
Jack hugged her nude body against his own and nearly exploded from the pleasure of his warmth pressed against his own nudeness. Ever since the day he drew her in his room, he wondered what her naked body would feel like and now he knew. She was soft, warm, curvy, pure perfection and he never wanted to let her go.
If Rose had any fear at the thought of being so close to her boyfriend like this, it flew out the window. She did not feel afraid of Jack. Instead, she felt loved and protected and warm. His muscles, while not as big as Cal's, held their own strength that was not overwhelming, yet would protect her from any and everything. His arms, chest, eyes...they all promised her sanctuary. Jack made her feel safe.
And that was exactly what she needed as he backed them up towards the bed and he laid down on his back, signaling that she was in charge. That she was to sit the pace.
And the pace was a slow one at that. Rose took her time, running her hands along his bare chest and thighs, familiarizing herself with his nude form and not resisting as he gently did the same. His touch was a bit more hesitant, asking permission before he touched her anywhere, knowing that a wrong move had the potential to cause a setback.
But no setback was had. Jack's touch was soft and careful and loving. In Rose's mind, he had such fine hands...the hands of an artist. He made her feel beautiful and cherished, like one of the artworks that they had purchased that day.
Nearly overcome with passion, Rose bent down to Jack and whispered in his ear before claiming his lips once again.
"Take me to the stars, Jack..."
He didn't have to be told twice. He wrapped his arms around her and gently flipped her onto her back. His lips never left hers as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He pulled out of the kiss to look into her eyes, wanting her to see him.
"Are you ready?" He panted, wanting to make sure that she was okay. That she knew that she was with him and not Cal or anyone else. That this was their world.
Rose nodded. "I'm ready..."
He smiled, stroking her red hair. "I love you, Rose..."
"I love you too, Jack...," She stared into his eyes, getting lost in their blue depths.
She gasped when he entered her and clinged onto his shoulders, her world still filled by his steady blue gaze as he indeed took her to the stars and back on a wave of passion, security, and above all, love. As they reached their climax, they knew that they were meant for each other. That there would never be anyone else, nor did they want there to be. Rose was Jack and Jack was Rose and that was all there was to it.
Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
You parted my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
Coming down from the euphoric journey to the stars, Rose looked up into his eyes and felt tears in her own. He had given her back something that she had lost a long time ago. She didn't have a name for it, but she knew that it had been stolen from her for far too long, and now this beautiful man...her soulmate...he had given it back to her. She didn't know what to say to express how she felt at that moment. She just knew that she felt it.
Awed, she gently touched his face and ran her hands through his damp blond hair. "You're trembling..."
He just smiled, also breathless. "Don't worry. I'll be alright."
She kissed him again, before leading his head down to lay against her chest. She held onto him for dear life, never wanting to let him go. He had been her hero, her savior, and now her lover. She wished that the night could last forever and every evening could end like this...
When I couldn't fly
Oh, you gave me wings
You parted my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
Thank You For Loving Me-by Bon Jovi