Chapter XIII: Musings & Maneuverings in Madrid
Author's Note: All usual disclaimers apply. No copyright infringement intended. Also, Spice Meter is back! If it's not your thing, stop at second page break! Thanks to all who are following, reading, and reviewing. I couldn't be more thankful!
Shane and Oliver strolled hand in hand, making their way through the busy streets of Madrid. It was early evening, and the happy couple felt like being out and about. They decided to take a walk through the Parque del Retiro, since Oliver had mentioned there was a lovely pond on the premises. They entered through the breathtaking monument of the Puerta de Alcalá. As they walked, they were captivated not only by their surroundings, but by the people who gathered in the historic park.
People-watching at the Parque del Retiro was entertainment in and of itself. There were couples of all ages, groups of friends, and parents of small children; most of them running around creating a beautiful cacophony of sounds, all full of excitement and delight. All sorts of languages could be heard, but Madrid was famous for gathering people of many Latin American countries. It was the different Spanish accents blending into melodies that were akin to music for Shane and Oliver. Madrid was such a different experience from London and Paris, although each of those cities had their own individual charms.
They walked in comfortable silence. Shane lost herself in the surroundings and eventually her thoughts followed suit. Her musings had her contemplating that as long as she was with Oliver, she could be happy anywhere. "I've never felt such peace with anyone in my life." Shane inadvertently spoke her thoughts out loud.
They finally reached the pond and Oliver leaned against the railing next to Shane. "The feeling is entirely mutual," he said, as his eyes held hers. "May I ask what brought forth this contemplation?"
Shane wasn't sure she should reply. The complicated answer would involve sharing certain details that might not be received well by Oliver. Would he be willing to hear more about her past?
Knowing she was gathering her thoughts, Oliver voiced his. "It stands to reason if you feel at peace when you're with me, there might have been times with other people, where that may not have been the case?"
Shane winced slightly, because he was right. Another person might not have picked up on her body language, but Oliver was so attuned to her, he noticed immediately. "My love, you told me in Paris by the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower, that I could share anything with you as long as I spoke from the heart. That goes both ways. I hope you know that." A slight breeze had blown a strand of Shane's hair across her face. Oliver swept it back, tucking it behind her ear. Shane wondered if Oliver realized how naturally these tender and loving gestures came to him. They pleased her to no end.
Holding his gaze, she said ruefully, "I don't think talking about previous relationships is the best topic of conversation during a honeymoon."
"Maybe, among other couples. But we're not a typical couple, are we? I just want to know all about you," Oliver said.
"I do agree to deepen and strengthen our marriage we have to share our thoughts and feelings." After a lingering pause, she said, "Alright, I'll share. But for the record, you asked. Understood?"
Chuckling, Oliver answered, "Understood, my love."
"I don't want jealous nor possessive Oliver making an appearance!" She blurted out.
"When have I been jealous or possessive?" Oliver asked, incredulously.
Shane rolled her eyes. "Don't get me started on our first Postal Ball and your behavior when I danced with Jordan."
Oliver lowered his head slightly, looking up at her in that roguish way of his. "I might have forgotten about that." He tried to hide a small smile.
"Oliver O'Toole, you're lying," was Shane's response, fully emphasizing the last word. "And you once said you could never lie to me."
"Well, that is true, but you know I'm only teasing you." Oliver punctuated his words by giving her a brief but sensuous kiss, effectively distracting Shane. "I still would like an answer to my original question. What brought forth that contemplation?"
She sighed. She would oblige, but she felt slightly manipulated. She had to chuckle to herself. Oh Lord, he'd learned from the best! She was finally getting a dose of her own medicine. She might have to make him pay up later on for his manipulative maneuvering.
"Alright…well, you know Steve and I were together for a while."
"Don't remind me."
"Oliver. You were the one who brought up this topic of conversation."
"I'll stop. Please do continue. I'll do my best to restrain myself."
Shane gave him her best side-eye look before fixing her gaze on the pond and picked up where she left off. She told him how alone she felt when she was with Steve. It was certainly ironic to feel alone while you were supposedly in a relationship with someone. Shane didn't think she could even call what they had back then a relationship. He was out of the country six months out of the year and when he was home, he was a workaholic. Their dates were just a preamble to fall into bed, both seeking some sort of emotional connection when there was none. He thought they had one, but Shane knew, deep down in her heart they didn't. Aside from the occasional dinner out, there was no romantic effort from Steve. Shane wanted to break free, but she had fallen into a pattern. It was easier to throw herself into her work, keep busy while he was out of the country, and have someone to fall back on when he returned. She knew it wasn't a healthy relationship but couldn't gather the courage to break it off. Steve always manipulated her to keep her within his grasp. Shane was grateful Becky transferred her to Denver. It gave her the push to finally muster the courage to get out of the vicious cycle she was in.
Oliver stiffened as he listened to Shane, wanting to kick himself for introducing this topic of conversation. What's done is done, and he knew he needed to listen to everything to get a better understanding of his wife. God forbid he would ever let himself fall into any sort of behavior that was similar to the men who had been part of her life. He let her continue.
"Going further back, I never really dated in high school. Too busy with debate team and robotics and trying to get as good grades as possible so I could go to college. During that time, I dated a couple of guys and I fancied myself in love, but I know now it wasn't real. A lot of people thought I was a bit odd… maybe it was the combination of degrees; art history, philosophy and information technology. Guys saw a 'cute blonde', but then ran for the hills once they heard what I was interested in talking about."
Oliver's smile spread as he listened to Shane. Maybe they had more in common than anyone thought. He'd had his share of dates pre-Holly where the women had been so bewildered over his love for anything mail related, it was a miracle they didn't bolt after a first date. He wondered what might have happened if he and Shane had met years before they actually did…before Holly, the infamous Mr. Marek… their story could've turned out quite differently.
"Did you have any serious boyfriends before you met the infamous Mr. Marek?" Oliver asked, bracing himself.
Shane looked at him from the corner of her eye, deciding to ignore the way Oliver decided to refer to Steve. She knew he was trying to keep himself in check, so she gave him that. However, Shane kept a mental list of all these comments… they could come in handy at some point!
"I had a couple. I was engaged once."
Oliver was flabbergasted. How come he didn't know this? Sputtering, he finally managed to ask, "You were what? To whom? When was this?"
"Oliver, you were married when you met me. This was way before we even met."
"How come you've never said anything?"
"The subject never came up, I guess, and it was such a long time ago." Shane replied.
"Being engaged is a big thing."
"It is, Oliver, when it's with the right person. It is a momentous event in a person's life. For me, the only engagement that's mattered was ours." She looked at him with those honest and gracious crystalline eyes of hers. Oliver simply tumbled into them, losing his heart to her all over again. The fist he felt around his heart was simply a physical affectation of how much he loved her. He wished he could erase all the past hurts she suffered. He gave her one of those smiles she adored; the half smile with soft lips and tender eyes. Oliver's eyes were so kind, Shane felt like she could see his heart through his eyes. She prayed it would always be that way.
Kissing her hand, he said, "I'll let you continue, my love."
Shane took a deep breath. It was a difficult chapter in her life. She never talked about it and the last few years she never remembered it. It felt like she was rummaging around in her hard drive of memories just so she could share that part of her life with Oliver.
"His name was Nicholas and I met him when I was getting my master's degree in Georgetown. He swept me off my feet. I never really knew what he saw in me. We were so different. He was studying law and I was working on a computer science degree."
"My love, you're a smart cookie. A master's degree in computer science? Georgetown? I've done a terrible job of getting to know you."
"You know the most important stuff, darling. These are just details."
"Yes, I know who you are, but I want to know everything."
"Well, you asked," she said dolefully, "want me to continue?"
"Do go on, my dear."
Shane continued her story, sharing how she'd met Nicholas. It had been at a local bar. While some people found their soulmate at bars, Shane always knew that wouldn't be her fate. But Nicholas insisted, got her phone number from one of her girlfriends, and pursued her so intently she agreed to a date just to get him off her back. He swept her off her feet, and while she was riveted by his good looks and intelligence, Shane always wondered what he saw in her. She realized back then, at 24 years of age, she still didn't know herself, nor what she really wanted out of life or in a partner. All the details, the fancy candlelight dinners, flowers, and impromptu weekend getaways to warm locations, were extremely nice and made her feel good. It was difficult not to get caught up in the moment nor the web Nicholas created around her.
Oliver held on to her every word wondering why that engagement had been called off. It was difficult for him to listen to her story, but he kept himself in check. He reminded himself that as tough as this was to process, Shane was his wife. She had chosen him. Oliver finally bit the bullet and asked her, "Why did you break off the engagement?"
"Why do you think it was I who broke it off? He could've left me."
"My love, nobody in their sound mind would ever let you go." Oliver curled an arm around her waist, bringing Shane closer to him, and lovingly kissed her forehead.
"Darling, do you know what your tender touches do to me?" Shane shivered, fully knowing it was her husband's demeanor, and not the spring breeze that caused her reaction.
"I just want you to feel protected. And loved, of course."
Shane sighed. "You have definitely succeeded on both counts."
"So, what ended up happening with… Nicholas?" It was quite a strenuous effort for Oliver to utter Shane's former fiancée's name.
"I broke off the engagement. He cheated on me."
Oliver's eyes widened, his surprise evident, but he let her continue.
"I found out he had another girlfriend in his hometown of Richmond. His parents wanted him to marry somebody else. He was being groomed for a life in politics and his family had selected who they thought could be the next Jackie O. Nicholas pursued me mostly as an act of rebellion. He didn't plan to fall in love with me and he proposed on a whim. Everything he did was on a whim; he didn't think about anyone else but himself. He certainly didn't think about how much he could hurt me. I fell for the charisma and the swagger. It was just a matter of time before the relationship would implode."
Shane stopped for a moment, getting her bearings. In the meantime, Oliver shared something he remembered. "I had a conversation with Norman once… when Ramon's interest in Rita was evident and he was having a very hard time dealing with their camaraderie. I mentioned that love can survive on swagger and charisma only for so long," Oliver said. He turned around, leaning his forearms on the railing, lacing his fingers together. He turned his head to look at Shane, smiled softly, letting her know without words she could continue her story at whatever pace she was comfortable with.
Shane looked at Oliver, then fixed her gaze on the lovely pond, looking at a pair of ducks swimming by. A small smile adorned her face, and it was such a cute sight. "I don't think that was love, Oliver. I never understood what true love was until I met you."
"I might have fancied myself in love before, Shane, but I know now it wasn't real. I have never felt what I feel for you." Eyes locked, their gazes bore deep into each other, communicating without words the depth of feelings between them. Oliver broke the silence. "If you don't want to continue, it's alright, my love."
"It's okay, Oliver… there isn't much more to the story anyway."
"Do go on, then," he said, as he held her hand in his.
"Nicholas was engaged to his hometown girlfriend as well. To top it all off, this revelation came out on Valentine's Day." Shane grimaced. "Remember that time I told you and Norman I had spent Valentine's day crying in the ladies' room? It was the day I learned about his other fiancée. Nicholas dropped the bomb on me during dinner that night."
"Goodness gracious, Shane. I finally understand why you had issues with Valentine's Day. I can't imagine how awful everything must have been," Oliver replied, vowing to erase those memories when they celebrated their first Valentine's day as husband and wife.
Looking down and taking a deep breath, Shane finished sharing this particularly sad chapter in her life with him. "Before things could get any more complicated, I broke up with him. At 24, it was all very difficult to process and overcome, but eventually I did. The whole experience taught me that it's better to get to know a person slowly, form a solid friendship and take things one day at a time. Only a true solid foundation can lead to a strong relationship." Shane smiled, a tear prickling the corner of her eye. It was indeed true that all experiences led to this present moment in her life. If she hadn't lived through the heartache of that relationship, she wouldn't have appreciated what she had with Oliver right now.
"My love, how do you feel?" Once again Oliver asked the right question at the precise moment it was needed.
With a sense of relief of having let go of this load she'd been carrying, Shane replied, "Better than I thought I would. Thank you for letting me share this."
Oliver drew Shane to him, hugging her, his chin on the top of her head. "Anytime, my love. Even if it's difficult to wade through a particular topic, we can't close ourselves up or shut the other one out."
"Oliver, I thank God every day for the gift that is you," she said, as she stood on her toes and gave him a heartfelt kiss.
"Want to go to dinner, Mrs. O'Toole? It's finally tapas hour in Madrid."
"I suddenly find myself famished, Mr. O'Toole. Yes, let's go to dinner."
###
Dinner was a lovely event. They had an assortment of typical Spanish tapas… pan con tomate, jamon serrano, queso Manchego, tortilla española, patatas bravas…and they washed it down with a perfect citrusy sangria. The restaurant had live flamenco music. Shane was feeling a bit woozy from the afternoon's emotional upheaval, the sangria, and the sultry sounds of the Spanish guitar. When Oliver asked her if she was ready to go back to the apartment he rented for their stay in Madrid, she readily agreed. She wanted to take a shower and cuddle with her husband. She wanted Oliver to embrace her. She wanted to feel protected. She just wanted to feel him.
After a shower that dissolved any leftover tension Shane was feeling, she stood in the bathroom brushing her hair before going to bed. Oliver stood behind her, leaning against the door frame and looking at her through the mirror. They smiled at each other through the reflection. Shane would never get used to how handsome Oliver was, even while wearing lounge pants and a t-shirt. She swore he could wear a garbage bag and he'd look good. That last thought had her stifling a giggle.
Oliver walked closer, placed his hands on her waist and softly kissed her cheek. "I adore the sound of your laughter, my dear Shane."
"Aren't you wondering what the cause of the laughter is, darling?"
"Of course."
"I was just thinking I have a very handsome husband."
"And that's funny?"
Shane looked at him, tilting her head to the side. "Oliver, are you giving me the smirk with the eyebrow raise?"
Oliver rubbed a hand over his face, intending to erase the expression Shane accused him of, smiled, and laughed. "What am I going to do with you, Shane?"
"Love me forever?"
"You can count on that. Always."
"Maybe kiss me?"
Oliver softly kissed her cheek once again. "Happy to oblige."
"Care to kiss me somewhere else?"
"Surely," he said, as he placed a lingering kiss on the corner of her lips.
"Oliver."
"Yes, my love."
"That's not a proper kiss."
"And what would that be, pray tell?"
"Do you want me to tell you or show you?"
"Hmmm… I think this time around I want you to tell me." Oliver was trying very hard to stifle the laughter that was threatening to rumble from deep within him. He absolutely adored teasing his wife and could spend a lifetime doing it.
"Well, I'm sorry dear husband, but my intent is to show you." With that said, Shane jumped into Oliver's arms, her mouth devouring his in a blazing hot kiss that rendered both of them breathless.
"Is that your idea of a proper kiss?" Oliver asked, breaking off the kiss, even though it physically pained him to do so.
Shane whispered sultrily, "I haven't even started yet…"
"You haven't?"
"Would my dear husband stop making fun of me?"
"My love, you just make it so easy…" Oliver tightened his grip on Shane, his lips landing on hers, and the full impact of his strong, fervent kiss had Shane shuddering immediately. He took her face in his hands, opened his mouth over hers, feeling a ravenous need he hadn't felt before. "Shane, I love you… so much… you don't know how much," he whispered, as he tore his lips from hers, holding her hard against him, his hands on her lower back, curving slightly over her bottom.
Heady with desire Shane said, "Oliver, please, I need to feel you…"
"As I do you, my love, as I do you."
###
Oliver's eyes fluttered open slightly. They had fallen asleep. At some point during the night, they had curled up against each other. His arm was around Shane's waist and her back was nestled against his chest. Her hand was on top of his, suggesting they had held hands as they slept. He could stay forever like this, cuddling his beautiful Shane, feeling her against him. She felt so tiny, so slender, and so vulnerable. Oliver wanted to feel her even closer to him, the need to protect her consuming him.
His thoughts went to the night before and all her confessions. Selfishly, and quite chauvinistically, he had to admit he wanted to wipe out any memory she had of her previous relationships. He rationally knew their loss was completely his gain, but irrationally he wanted to consume Shane in such a way that no memory of previous boyfriends could stay in her mind.
Oliver kissed her temple, taking in the scent of her hair, his hand on her waist. She had washed her hair and it smelled like honey and almonds. It blended in with her signature rose scent. Oliver would forever associate roses with his wife and he sensed that all these aromas would be forever imprinted in his memory.
The hand on her waist traveled up and down her side, as he gently caressed her from her ribcage down to her hip, making his way back up again. Oliver couldn't get enough of the feel of her skin. She was wearing some sort of coordinated underwear ensemble suited for sleeping in lieu of a nightgown. The delicate periwinkle blue fabric was an incredibly soft cotton that contrasted beautifully with her creamy skin. He might have to mention something to Shane later. He was thoroughly enjoying her lingerie selections and he truly appreciated the great care she had taken with her choices for their honeymoon.
Oliver wanted her again. Her scent, her feel, and his reflections regarding her lingerie had his body stirring. All he wanted was to make love to her slowly, fully, deeply. He gave her a whisper of a kiss on her temple and glided his lips to her neck, right behind her ear. Oliver knew kissing her there was one of her triggers, but he couldn't stop himself. Shane stirred, moaning softly, but kept her eyes closed, suggesting she was still asleep. Oliver softly traced his tongue down the chord of her neck, taking a deep breath, wanting to fill his senses with her very essence.
Shane writhed slightly, snuggling closer to Oliver, her bottom unconsciously doing things to him that had his blood rushing through his veins like liquid fire. He clasped her hip gently, wanting to still her movements, so he could at least try to keep a semblance of control. He wanted her desperately, but wanted to take his time.
His kisses now nestled at the base of her neck, traveling down to her shoulder. He gently slid down the lacy strap of her bralette, baring her shoulder, and the fabric slid to reveal the curve of her exquisite breasts. Would he ever get used to her beauty? Would he ever satiate this continuous hunger he felt for his wife? He knew the answer to both questions, fully understanding he was more than blessed.
Shane was dreaming. There was no clear vision in her dream, as it was all feeling. She felt warm, drowsy, languid. It was like stretching on a beautiful puffy cloud that warmly cuddled her. She felt soft puffs of air that gave her delicious goosebumps. She didn't want to wake up. Out of their own volition, her eyes fluttered open, and along with them, the cognizance her husband was cuddling her. The beautiful puffy cloud she dreamed of was their bed in their apartment in Madrid.
Shane whispered his name, wanting to turn around to fully embrace him. He didn't let her.
"My love… I want to love you this way…" Oliver breathed in her ear. Shane sighed, letting herself get lost in the whirlwind of feeling Oliver deftly created within her.
His hand cupped her breast, teasing it in such a way that Shane felt little frissons of electricity running down her body. She gasped softly, wanting so much more. Oliver ran his fingers from the base of her neck, down between her breasts and to her belly, as if he were slowly strumming a guitar. The path his fingers took left a blaze on Shane's skin, leaving behind even more of an urgency to feel him within her. Shane was about to voice her wants when his hand traveled further down, slipped underneath her underwear and found her pulsing with need.
"Shane, it's an inebriating feeling when you absolutely melt in my arms," Oliver managed to say in a breathy whisper.
She couldn't say anything. It was so much heat, so much feeling, so much everything, she couldn't conjure up a way to verbalize just how much she wanted him at that moment. He continued to play with her. As he pressed his fingers into her, he found a rhythm that vanquished all thought. Shane almost couldn't bear his touch. She wanted it, oh how she wanted him to continue, but at the same time, it was so much she didn't know if she could endure the sweet torture any longer.
Her hand traveled down to hold on to his and Oliver stilled himself. "My love, do you want me to stop?"
"Yes… No… I don't know…it's so much Oliver, so much…"
"Trust me, Shane, I will always take care of you." It only took one small flick and a fraction of a second to feel her exploding, fluttering convulsively, with her hand still gripping his. He gently disengaged his hand from hers, touching her hip and pulled down the wisp that was her underwear. The different soft textures, the cool cotton and her very warm skin made his heart race. He wanted to feel himself deep within her, luxuriating in all the emotions and sensations when they became one.
Oliver was more than ready but hesitated so she could adjust to the torrent of sensations she was feeling. She was still riding the wave of her orgasm. While it was beautiful to watch her, it only made him want her more. When he felt her go limp in his arms, he lifted her up on that beautiful wave of sensation once again, filling her, finally joining his body with hers.
###
"You know, Oliver, yesterday I thought I was going to make you pay for your manipulative maneuverings." Shane said as she poured a cup of black coffee for Oliver. They were having their first dose of daily caffeine before heading out to the Chocolateria San Gines for churros and hot chocolate.
"You must be mistaken, my love. I don't manipulate. That's entirely your department."
Shane looked intently at Oliver. "Didn't you goad me into sharing certain…things… I might have not shared otherwise?"
"Hmmm… maybe… but we did agree for the sake of our marriage we have to share everything."
Sighing, she said, "Alright. I'll give in. You win this round."
"My love, it's not about winning or losing, but depending on how you might have wanted me to pay for said… maneuverings… I could've been persuaded." Oliver gave Shane a self-satisfied smile.
Smiling into her coffee cup, she replied, "That's good to know, darling, that's good to know."