Part 10
PMDSXX
Two days later, after Perry arrived in Los Angeles California, he went to his apartment and noticed nothing had unchanged since he and C.P.O. Drake left for duty. He knew he wouldn't be staying there long since he would be living on base with Della in San Diego. He phoned a nearby storage facility that would keep Paul's personal items until he could pick them up upon his return from duty. Perry would inform Paul by written correspondence about the location of his belongings when he arrived back in California. He finished packing Paul's belongings and stopped at the facility where he paid for Paul's storage.
Upon his arrival in Los Angeles, Perry phoned his Naval officer and advised that he would be moving his stuff into the housing units as soon after his wife arrived stateside and a housing unit became available. Meanwhile, Perry telephoned his parents and informed them of his recent marriage to a wonderful woman, and that he would introduce her to them before they departed to Los Angeles. As Perry drove around town, he remembered a place he visited with his parents when he was growing up for vacation. Carmel Beach by the Sea was almost seven hours away from Los Angles but less if you took an airplane.
As he drove through the city of Los Angeles, he thought about Carmel being a surprise honeymoon for Della. Since it was a tourist attraction with beach fronts, hiking trails, art galleries, whale watching, and local shops. It was the perfect destination for the newlyweds, and Perry knew she would love it like he did when he was younger. He pulled out his picture of Della and sighed before he placed it back into his wallet and looked at his wedding ring. While he paced the floor in his apartment, he smoked a cigarette and looked out into the street from the window pane. Perry tapped his fingertips against the windowsill before he picked up the phone and made reservations for three days at a luxury hotel in Carmel. After he finished that call, he called the airline and chartered a flight to Carmel using his father's plane and pilot.
Della finally arrived in Los Angeles after three days of stormy weather. She had telegramed the naval base in San Diego which sent word to her husband. Once Perry received message about Della arrival on Friday afternoon flight, he decided that since he was a civilian that he wouldn't wear his uniform, but a nice suit and tie. Before he arrived at the airport, he visited a local florist shop that was located downtown and purchased a huge bouquet of fresh, red roses. He anxiously awaited her arrival in the bustling airport as passengers arrived from their earlier flights or boarded departing planes. He paced back and forth until another plane which he hoped would be Della's plane landed, but it wasn't her flight. He kept a watchful eye on the incoming passengers that had departed the plane while he nervously looked at his wrist watch.
In the meantime, Della listened to the captain's voice on the intercom that they would be arriving in Los Angeles. She felt relieved that she would be soon reunited with her husband while she looked out the plane's window. The airplane gradually descended with a few bumps when the shoreline and buildings started to appear below. The captain piloted the plane and safely landed his passengers and crew before it taxied on the runway. After the plane slowly came to a halt, the flight attendant opened the door for the passengers, who gradually left one by one. Della, who was dressed in uniform still received looks and smiles by the friendly passengers, which she acknowledged them with a friendly smile. When Della exited the airplane, she looked around at the familiar scenery and carefully descended the airplane as others followed her out the exit.
Perry leaned up against the railing as Della's plane landed, but he did not know she had departed the plane and walked through the receiving area. Almost immediately, Perry recognized her voice as she chatted with another passenger. When she rounded a corner still in conversation with an older female, Perry remained motionless and gazed at her while he held the bouquet of roses in his hand with a smile on his lips. Della caught off guard when the older passenger spotted Perry first as she watched them. Della stopped in her tracks and became speechless.
"I guess this is where we part company my dear." The older woman said as she looked at Perry and Della.
"Yes, he's my husband, and it was nice talking with you too." Della bid farewell to the older woman before she approached Perry with a smile. He enveloped her in his arms and kissed her on the cheek and mouth before he handed her the roses.
"Della, how was your flight? I'm so happy to finally wrap my arms around you." Perry whispered into her ear and kissed her again on the lips. She giggled as he released when he finally released her before he stepped back and looked at her.
"Perry, I didn't think your flight would arrive before mine. You look handsome even without your uniform and thank you for the flowers." She gently took the roses from his hand, smelled the sweet fragrance, and looked at him seductively.
"You're welcome, and you deserve so much more than just a bouquet of roses. I've got a surprise for you, but you have to wait until we get back to my apartment. Don't get too comfortable because I have plans for us." Perry took her suitcase in his one hand and placed his other on her lower back, and they walked out of the airport terminal to the parking lot.
While Perry placed her luggage in the back of his car, she stood at the side of the passenger door and observed him before she stepped aside, and he opened her door. As he drove to the apartment, Della wondered what he could possibly have planned and grinned at him before he took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. Perry's apartment was only forty minutes from the airport since it was a newly built complex. However, Della had not seen it until today when Perry pulled his car into the reserved parking for the tenements, turned the engine off, and looked over at her.
"Here we are, Della. It's a furnished two-bedroom apartment, but we will be living in a housing unit once I move all my belongings to San Diego. Do you need to move anything from an apartment?" Perry asked her while she was deep in thought.
"Perry, everything I have is in my suitcase. I had shared an apartment with another nurse, but I did not carry that much baggage since I didn't know when I would get deployed on the hospital ship." Della answered him before she leaned over and kissed him.
"Come on, Della. Let's get you settled in the apartment. The housing unit has a couple moving out in three days which I was told by my administrator, and I have to wait until I have clearance to move our things into the unit. Since we have at least three days of pure honeymoon bliss, I planned something special for us. We're going shopping, and I will not take no for an answer. Whatever you want: it's yours, Della, and I'm going to make sure you are happy and content." Perry eyed her lovingly and placed his palm on her stomach.
"Perry, I'm hungry…" Della lowered her voice to a raspy whisper and took his palm that rested on her belly into hers.
"I know a place we can have lunch before we purchase some outfits for you. If you want, we can go out to a nice restaurant, or I can cook dinner tonight. What do you prefer, Della?" He lowered his eyes to her chest and looked at her with a mischievous smile.
"How about we stay in tonight, Perry since I have not tasted your fine, cooking skills, and you haven't tasted mine." Della replied with smart remark as he shook his head at her and opened his car door.
Perry grabbed her suitcase in his hand and guided her to the quaint apartment. They got settled in his apartment after Perry carried Della over the threshold and passionately kissed her until they both were breathless. As they looked into each other's eyes, Della caressed his shoulder tenderly due to the surgery and tilted her head at him when he closed his eyes. She knew he remembered that day of the horrible accident and that he would carry the scar as a reminder of the incident.
"Della, you can freshen up in the bathroom if you need to change out of your uniform." Perry nodded in the direction of the bathroom before Della kissed his cheek.
"Yes, I need to change out of my uniform." Della caressed his cheek and his forearms.
While Perry waited for Della, he looked out the window and watched people cross the street. After Della came from the bedroom, she wrapped her arms around Perry from behind and hugged him to her as he laced his fingers with hers. He slowly turned in her arms, looked down at her, and captured her lips with his mouth in a sweet kiss.
"Are you ready to go? Did you need to do something else before we go?" Perry murmured against her lips while he searched her hazel eyes.
"Yes, I need to call my parents and let them know that I'm back in the states. They need to be aware that I'm safe and well cared for." Della quietly told him.
"Sure, the phone is over on the desk." Perry pointed in the direction of the phone.
"Are you okay with me calling long distance because my parents live in Chicago." Della called out to him as she looked over her shoulder and reached for the receiver of the telephone.
"Della, you can call long distance and take as much time as you need because they're going to be surprised with the news, you're telling them." Perry approached her and lovingly touched her stomach before he walked into the living room and sat down on the couch.
"They already know about you, Perry, but they don't know about the baby, yet." Della dialed her parents' number and hoped someone would be home to pick up the telephone.
When Della dialed the operator for a direct line to Chicago, she nervously twisted the phone cord between her fingertips and looked back at Perry on the couch. The telephone rang until a woman answered it as if she were out of breath. Della knew it was her mother and sighed.
"Hello?"
"Mom, this is Della. Sorry to call you at this time of day since we have a couple hours between our time zones. I am being stationed in San Diego, but that's not all. Is father with you or is he nearby?" Della asked before she closed her eyes and bit her lip in anticipation of their reaction when she broke the news to them.
"Oh, Della that's wonderful news. I'm glad you are back on home soil. Is there something wrong, my dear? Your father is working late, and your siblings are still at school." Her mother's voice showed concern since she wanted to know if there was something wrong with her daughter.
"I'm fine. I wanted to tell everyone that I recently got married, and we're expecting a baby." Della blurted out before she heard silence on the line.
"Della, that is wonderful news! I can't wait to tell everyone. I will tell them the news after dinner tonight. Did you finally marry that man? What's his name? Lt. Mason. From your last letter I received, you told me all about him and how you wanted to settle down with him." Her mother gushed and was overjoyed at the surprising news.
"Yes, mom, Perry has been so wonderful to me, and we will be living in San Diego in a housing unit. After we finish our duty for the Navy, we will visit when we are able." Della bid her goodbyes to her mother and hung up the receiver before she looked over at Perry, who was leaning against the door jamb as he eavesdropped on her conversation.
"Wonderful? Your parents have not met me yet, and you are already describing me." Perry slowly advanced on her and wrapped his arms around her. Della bashfully smiled at him and wrapped her arms around his neck while she leaned in for a chaste kiss to his lips.
"Mumm..hmmm, you are wonderful." Della pecked him on the lips and leaned into his embrace as he protectively held her in his arms. He studied her face and gazed into her eyes which changed color.
"You ready to go shopping for some outfits now?" He asked and waggled his eyebrows at her before he claimed her mouth with his own.
"May we have lunch first, Perry since I'm eating for two now?" Della arched an eyebrow at him and he nodded at her request.
Perry and Della ate lunch at the local café downtown and did some window shopping for some outfits that caught Della's eyes. Although some dresses and outfits were on sale, some were elegant with a hefty price tag, but Perry did not object. This shopping spree was all about Della, and he would provide for her regardless of the cost. Della opted for a nice casual outfit and five maternity dresses. She also purchased two evening gowns along with some undergarments. Perry browsed the nightgown and negligée section and chose to purchase some items when he was alone. After Della placed her purchases in the car, she visited a local jeweler and bought a necklace and a tie clip for her parents. Perry saw a window of opportunity and returned to clothing store. He spotted a black negligée and a white peignoir set along with two more nightgowns.
Once they finished their shopping, Perry drove down to the local market and bought ingredients for their dinner. He did not want to buy a lot since they would be leaving for Carmel in the morning. Della wouldn't know anything about the trip until later after dinner as a surprise. Once Perry and Della agreed on having a meal at home that evening, Perry picked out the steaks and the other ingredients that he would need for dinner. Della was limited on her choices of beverages and chose sweet tea. After he paid the cashier, and they returned home, Perry prepped for dinner while Della took her purchases to the bedroom. Perry had placed the negligée he purchased for her in the shopping bag while she shopped for her parents.
Upon seeing an additional package, she scrunched her eyebrow and tilted her head with a grin and knew Perry would do something like this. Della kept quiet about the gift and helped him set the table while he lovingly kissed her as she passed him the ingredients and watched over his shoulder. While Perry cooked dinner, Della yawned and covered her mouth before he looked in her direction with concern.
"Della, are you all, right? You look tired. Go and take a nap on the couch or on our bed." Perry's voice startled her out of her daze as she watched him stir the vegetables in the pot.
"I think a nap would do me some good, and please let me know when dinner is ready." Della pecked him on the lips and smiled at him before she went to go lay down on their bed.
While dinner was cooking, Perry looked in on Della and studied her for a brief moment before he smiled to himself and returned to the kitchen. He mixed the iced tea and placed it in the refrigerator, pulled two glasses from the cabinet and sat them on the table. When dinner was almost done, he turned his attention back to the vegetables on the stove and added the spices to the meat. Della stirred in their bed and woke up to the smell of their delicious steak dinner. She rubbed her eyes, sighed, and smiled at the thought of a surprise for Perry later. Perry placed the steaks on the dinner plates and added the vegetables on the side. He grabbed the iced tea out of the refrigerator and poured it into the glasses. When he looked up, Della entered the kitchen and sat down at the table before he joined her.
"Della, I was about to wake you up, but now you're here to taste my amazing cooking skills. Dig in." Perry teased her and watched as she picked up her fork and knife. He watched her taste the steak for a moment and saw the approval on her lips as she smiled at him. He knew how to cook, which was another talent that she didn't know about him. Although she could cook up a mean dish too, it was good fun. Della took a sip of the iced tea and cleared her throat before she spoke to him.
"Perry, this meal was delicious; however, you will be in surprise when you taste my dessert." Della arched her eyebrow and saw him shift in his seat since her sultry words went through him like double edged sword.
When those words came from her mouth, he squirmed in his seat as she ate her dinner. He couldn't keep his eyes off her and when he was caught looking at her, he diverted his attention back to his plate. They had not made love for four months and the tension was building up between them. Once he finished his dinner and consumed his iced tea, he picked up her empty plate, and placed it in the sink. As she sat there for a several moments, Perry washed the dirty plates and utensils along with the cups that Della gave him. She watched him until he was finished the dishes and wiped his hands on the dish towel before she took his large hands in her hands. He looked down at her with desire in his eyes, and she led him to the bedroom. He followed her closely without a word spoken between them until she turned and guided him to the edge of the bed where placed her hand on his shoulders, and he sat down. He obeyed her and when she touched his mouth with her thumb, his tongue darted and tasted the digit. She closed her eyes and sucked her bottom lip between her teeth.
"Perry, thank you for dinner. I have an excellent husband who is also a good cook." She smiled at him, and he looked up at her with confused look.
"Della, you said that I'm an excellent husband but only a good cook. How can that be?" Perry fingered the top button of her dress before he unclasped it. He skimmed the front of her chest with his large palm and claimed it as she gasped at the tenderness of her breasts.
"Just because you're a good cook, Perry, doesn't mean you are an excellent one. I can cook myself, and you'll be the judge of that in time, but until then you're labeled 'good'." Della whispered against his lips and kissed him hard. As their tongues wrestled for control, she broke the kiss while his mouth traveled down the side of her neck and nipped at her. She scratched his scalp with her fingernails and seductively stepped away from him.
"I want you so bad, Della. I'm going to burst if I don't have you soon. We've waited for four months, and I'm not sure if I can control myself any longer. With you being pregnant now, I don't want to harm the baby either." Perry's voice turned to almost an animalistic growl while his eyes traveled down her clothed body.
"Perry, you have no idea how much I craved you after you left. I missed your touch, your presence, and being held by you. I'm a nurse, and I know that we can still be intimate with each other. You thought we couldn't be intimate after I learned I was pregnant? You are so thoughtful, but we still can be together in a safe manner, and now it's on my terms because I know the positions that are safe for the baby." Della stood before him and walked over to the outfits that she purchased earlier, pulled out one of the sexy, lacy negligées that Perry bought and held it out for him.
"Who was this for, Perry? Because I didn't purchase this, and to my knowledge, I thought I was your wife. Is there someone else? Are you lying to the mother of your child? If you are, we need to have a serious discussion since this is going to be a problem, and I will not share my husband with another woman." Della playfully approached him and stood before him while he narrowed his eyes at her teasing manner and played along.
"Della, there is no one else but you, and I purchased that when you went to the jewelry store and purchased your parent's a gift. I can't help it if I thought my lovely, pregnant wife would look gorgeous in this outfit. When you said, "I do" and agreed to be my wife, you agreed that I would please you no matter what and make you happy." Perry reached for her hands, but she playfully brushed his eager hands away and walked to the bathroom. He wondered if she had become nauseated all of a sudden, so he gave her space and waited for her return. After he grew concerned, he got up from the bed and started for the bathroom door.
Della undressed in the bathroom and watched for any sign of Perry as she put on the negligée. She looked over her shoulder and saw she was still alone. When she looked at her small belly bump, she smoothed her palms over it through the silk fabric before she walked back out and found Perry mid stride. He abruptly stopped with wide eyes as she advanced on him with a raised eyebrow. He licked his bottom lip in anticipation of tasting her as he caressed her shoulders, down her forearms, while he took in her beautiful figure. She reached for his shirt and pulled it up over his head. Once his shirt was removed, her delicate hands eagerly unbuckled his belt, reached inside his pants, and felt his hardness. He sucked in a breath while she stroked him and rid him of his slacks.
Perry kicked his slacks aside and stood only his boxers. He reached for her hands, brought her closer to him, and kissed her on the lips. She wrapped her arms behind his head and kissed him while he rubbed her sides through the silk fabric. Della massaged and kissed his chest before she traced the scar on his shoulder. He flinched at her touch. Della slowly pushed him away playfully as his dark, brooding eyes watched her back away temptingly before she winked at him.
He watched her for a moment and knew what she was up to. He waited for so long to have her in his arms, and she was still making him wait. Della slowly moved around him and watched him with lustful eyes. As Perry extended his hand out to her, she guided him to the edge of the bed where he sat down and reached for her hands, but she quickly moved.
"Della, come on baby. Don't you think I waited long enough with my injured shoulder, and I haven't been able to hold you?" Perry groaned with displeasure.
"Perry, I thought you would enjoy the view since it had been four months since we made love unless you changed your mind about me." Della's slowly turned around and saw that he hadn't moved.
"No, my mind and heart decided that for me, and what I want is right here in front of me." He drooled as she walked around him.
He looked at her backside and painfully shifted on the mattress. He was rock hard, and by his groans of agony, she knew that he maintained self-control when it came to sex. When she walked away from him with a sway to her hips, it was almost his undoing as he closed his eyes and bit his bottom lip. She slowly approached him again, kissed him eagerly on the lips, and straddled his thighs. He wrapped his arms around her waist, while her wetness dripped from between her thighs and soaked his boxers. As the heat radiated off his body, Perry, still in his boxers rose off the bed and gently took her in his arms before turned around and walked toward the head of the bed where he lowered Della's feet down on the floor so that she stood before him.
Della rid him of his boxers before he sat down on the bed because he understood that she was setting the mood, and he sat down on the mattress and got comfortable. Della took his hand and straddled his chest. Perry's palms skimmed down her waist and tweaked her tender breasts. Perry removed the negligée and tossed it onto the floor where it joined his boxers before, he pulled her into a passionate lip lock. Perry broke the kiss as Della tilted her head while he tasted, teased, and sucked on her flesh. Being apart only made their love for each other grow stronger.
They made love into the morning hours until exhaustion took hold on the couple. Perry spooned behind Della and held her in place with his strong arm until she turned her head and looked at him. When she noticed he was still snoring soundly, she smiled at him and nudged him in the groin with her bottom until he stirred against her. He kissed her lips, buried his nose into the crook of her neck, and inhaled her scent. He fondled her breast with his palm before he pinched the overly sensitive bud, and she bucked against him.
"Perry, you're going to have to stop doing that! You are so going to pay for that…." Della moaned at the tenderness, and in a fit of retaliation, she grabbed his penis into her delicate hand, and he groaned loudly into her neck, and he bit her shoulder in response before he soothed it over with his tongue.
Della giggled as his tongue teased her earlobe before he sucked it into his mouth and lovingly nuzzled her ear as she sighed in contentment. He rolled onto his back while Della remained on her side for a moment before she slowly got up and walked to the bathroom. Perry soon joined Della in the shower where they explored each other's bodies again. Della realized that Perry was not ticklish at all, but when Perry's hands skimmed her flesh on the back of her knees, he found out that she was and made a mental note of it.
After they showered and fell asleep it was not until morning when the alarm sounded and woke Perry. He groaned in her ear and silenced the alarm. After his hand drifted down to the contour of her open thighs, he massaged her inner thighs before she clasped his hand into hers, brought it up to her lips, and kissed the digits.
"Morning Della. We have a plane to catch at the airport in a few hours so just pack the essentials." He whispered into her ear and kissed her cheek.
"Where are we going, Perry? Can we drive, or is it more favorable to go by airplane?" Della sighed into her pillow and closed her eyes.
"Do you want to spend seven hours in the car, Della? I thought it would be more convenient if we took a plane considering the baby and your frequent bathroom trips, and I also thought it would be more comfortable if we took a flight out and arrive there in two hours." Perry advised her and kissed her on the ear and cheek.
"Yes, you are right about the many trips to the bathroom." Della smiled warmly at him before she kissed him and laid her head back down on the pillow.
Perry grinned before he eventually got out of bed and went to the bathroom and shaved. Della hadn't moved since Perry left the bed and knew that he would be making coffee or tea shortly. After they drank their tea, the couple soon packed their luggage before Perry took out the trash to the bin since they would be spending three days in Carmel. Della dressed in a floral sundress and sandals while Perry wore a white polo shirt and navy chino pants
with loafers.
While Perry drove to the airport in silence, Della glanced at him and tried to figure out where he was taking her. As he pulled the car into the airport private parking area, Della wondered how Perry got clearance to park in the restrictive area. Since he was a member of the military, Perry was granted many privileges that were offered to officers and high- ranking officials. A young man with dark hair approach the car, and Perry smiled at the young man as he greeted him.
"Mr. Mason, I see you're back earlier than expected from the war." He opened the door for Perry and looked over at Della.
"Yes, I'm back, and I will be stationed in San Diego with my wife, Lt. Street-Mason. If we don't hurry, we are going to be late for our flight." Perry proudly looked over at her and she blushed. Once he got out of the car, Perry hurried to her side and opened her door.
"Yes, Sir. I will park your car for you." The young man called out to him.
Della noticed a small private plane parked on the runaway and looked over at Perry, who was greeted by the friendly pilot and shook his hand before he looked over at Della and tipped his cap at her in greeting. While he took their luggage in his hands, Della climbed the stairs to the aircraft as Perry followed close behind her and guided her to their seats. The pilot stowed their luggage and took his seat while the co-pilot secured the doors and walked to the front of the plane. They helped himself to some refreshments before he walked down the aisle and took his seat. The pilot announced their immediate taxi on the runway and soon be in the air.
"Perry, you didn't tell me you owned a private airplane." Della inquired and looked at him quizzingly.
"I don't own the airplane, Della. My father does, and he gave me permission to use it anytime I needed it. Also, my parents know I have a surprise which we will tell them before we leave for San Diego." Perry kissed her on the lips.
"Surprise Perry? You left out the part about the baby." Della whispered to him when he looked into her eyes.
"Of course, I told my parents about you, but the new arrival is the surprise for them. When I sent my last letter, I failed to tell them about the baby; however, I did tell them all about you and my plan to marry you whether I got their blessing or not." Perry took her hand and kissed the top of it.
Suddenly the airplane's engine roared to life and slowly taxied onto the runway after they buckled their seatbelts. They sat back in their seats as the airplane gained momentum and took off toward Carmel. The short flight surprised Della. When they landed, she peeked out the window and noticed the scenery wasn't that any different than Los Angeles.
"Perry, are you sure we didn't just fly around the airport? It looks the same. Where are we?" Della asked as her hand squeezed his thigh.
"Della, trust me. We are still in California, but we are not in Los Angeles. You'll love it, Della. I promise." Perry chuckled at her and she looked unamused at him.
"Okay, Perry but your surprise better be worth getting up early for and not sleeping in our bed."
The pilot taxied the airplane on the runway until the airplane came to a complete stop. Perry and Della unbuckled their seatbelts before the pilot and co-pilot met them at the exit door. Perry grabbed their luggage, and Della exited the door in front of him while he talked with the pilot. Della turned on her heels, watched Perry as he interacted with the pilot and nodded his head before he joined her.
