26- New Beginnings… chapter twenty-six

Walter, laying on his back while Lynn laid her head on his arm looked up at him. "Walter?"

He glanced down at her, "Yes?"

"Does sex always hurt?"

"No, should not hurt at all- should make one feel good, close, connected and together. It is an act of giving, not taking. A giving of self to the other to ensure mutual satisfaction of physical union." He cocked his head, "to be honest, this is a rather new experience for me as well. In my one other relationship, I thought I had the connection, but, the mutual giving was not there. Think it is called a 'passive aggressive' relation- no matter how much I wanted to give, tried to meet expectations, it never seemed to be enough and I was always the one causing the failure. Granted, the sex was good, physically beneficial, but the lack was the real emotional connection as the differences were just too great, and, a relationship cannot be sustained by sex alone. As I said, there is so much more to a relationship than that one aspect, no matter how good that one aspect is." He chuckled," like trying to live well eating nothing but desserts- just does not work."

Lynn chuckled, "at least you had the one relationship to learn something from, I am flying blind, here. Except for movies and novels, don't have much of an instruction manual, and let's face it, much as I like them, movies are not overly realistic." She rose up on her elbow putting an arm across Walter's chest. "Talking with Sue, she said to take the first step- was as simple….. and hard… as that." She leaned in and kissed him, "I am taking that first step, Walter, after that I am needing you to lead the way."

Walter smiled, putting a hand along her cheek and kissed her running his tongue along her lips until she parted them and he entered gently sucking her tongue. He ran his hand lightly along her hip up her ribs to cup a breast causing her to gasp. He raised his head to look at her, "you OK?" Lynn gulped and nodded, "wow, sensitive." Walter smiled, "that is to be expected….. ready?" He slowly kissed her along her jaw down her neck then the top of her breast to then gently suckle while slowly and lightly running his hand along her stomach causing her muscles to contract and her hip to spasm and unconsciously part her legs, her breathing fast and shallow. He used his palm to cover her center and she pushed against him. He kissed her other breast and gently nipped and suckled causing her to part her legs farther and push against his palm. "Gods, Walter. What are you doing to me," Lynn gasped, "I want you, I want you….."

Walter laid on his back and pulled her leg over his hip, "Your decision, you choose….." Lynn raised up and he held himself until she lowered herself onto him with a groan. She began to ride frantically, but he placed his hands on her hips to slow her down. "Easy, make it last, feel everything, I want this good for you." He started to guide her hips to slowly penetrate deeper, he reached down to part her center and make the right angle to help her reach a climax when he felt her clenching him he sat up to capture her mouth in a passionate kiss, one hand behind her head to hold her in place, his arm around her to clasp her tight against his chest as he released. She kissed his shoulder, arms around his neck. "Gods, I could die right now in your arms and be happy."

He laid back with her on his chest and chuckled, "there will be no talk of dying…. though I understand the sentiment." He brushed her hair over her shoulder, "I did not hurt you, did I?"

"Gods, no," Lynn said closing her eyes, "just the opposite- I never could have imagined such feelings."

Walter reached over and pulled the blanket over them. "Nice, cozy and warm. Isn't togetherness a grand way to spend a night? I could definitely get used to this on a regular basis…. hmmmm, maybe I will ask you to marry me," he said yawning, but Lynn was already dozing.

Lynn awoke first in the morning. Looking at Walter, long, curly hair all mussed, obviously very relaxed in sleep, he looked younger than he did when working, out and about taking care of things during the day. What an extraordinary man she thought with a smile- wow, sure taught me a few things last night. I knew I cared for him, wanted to be around him, is this love, I wonder. Sure happy that one relationship he was in failed. Not nice to think that- he was hurt deeply- said he isolated for months. But, it brought him to me.

Walter sighed and reached for her. She put her head on his shoulder and he put his arm around her and sighed again. She pulled the blanket up and went back to sleep.

Walter awoke feeling Lynn against him and smiled. Gods, he thought, hate to get out of this nice warm nest with her, but ugh, I really have to use the facilities. Maybe I can get out and back without waking her so he slowly slid from under her arm across his chest, got his arm from under her head thinking he had managed to extricate himself without waking her when her eyes opened and pinned him.

"Trying to escape?" she asked with a wry smile.

"Was hoping to get to the bathroom and back without waking you…. but I really have to go, back in a minute- don't go anywhere!" He jumped out of bed and ran to the head to return quickly and land under the blankets again.

Lynn laughed at him, "the hell with Coke, that is the pause that refreshes? That is in reference to a Coke commercial from a long time ago… damn, you know how one person yawns and it causes others to yawn? You had to use the facilities, now I have to use the facilities… back in a minute." Lynn jumped out of bed, ran into the bathroom, to return and dive under the blankets laughing. "Damn, feel like a kid."

Walter snorted, "You ARE a kid…. want to take a shower with me? Save water and all that." He got up, "come on, the day is wasting away. I normally do not sleep so late, but you wore me out last night, young lady. You forget I am an old man."

Lynn got out of bed, put her arms around him, "I wore YOU out the Arcturus alien says?" She laughed as they headed to the bathroom to shower.

Walter opened the shower door and turned the water on, "more strawberry? How about just soap? Come on in the water's fine, bring the sponge."

Getting showered took longer than expected, "so much for saving water," Lynn said drying off, then rubbing her hair with a towel as Walter did the same.

"Ha! I got the comb first," Walter said. "Turn around and let me comb your hair out. Have a lot of colors in it, especially when it is wet."

Lynn grabbed the comb when he finished to comb his hair. "Yours is just dark- still see no gray, old man. Love the curls, though."

"Don't know about you, but I am ravenous, and I am lacking decent groceries, so how about hitting one restaurant or another. You took the day off work so should go somewhere special," Walter said going into the bedroom to get dressed. Lynn pulled clean underwear, jeans and t-shirt out of her duffle bag to get dressed. "As long as whatever place you go to is OK with casual clothes. Didn't pack anything special, no after five formalwear in here."

"OK, jeans and t-shirt it is," Walter said. "While you finish getting dressed, slowpoke, I am heading down to start the coffee and check mail."

Walter went downstairs, into the kitchen to start the coffee maker then went to his desk. He opened the laptop to check mail to see a message from Gene in Arizona and Richard.

Walter- new eyes, indeed. That chick crawled around that set of engines for over two hours- she wedged herself into places I was not sure she would be able to get out of. Spent another two hours in the cafeteria with a sketch pad and designed a full fuel delivery system, both shorter runs and less weight. She did say some GOOFBALL in LA named O'Brien could work up the fuel component ratio, pressure and flow data….. but NOT to mention she brought this goofballs name up. What is it with you two? I contacted Richard, so he may get hold of the GOOFBALL in LA and ship his butt to Arizona to mess with some math, work out the parameters and set up a test. Richard should be contacting you soon, GOOFBALL. Gene

"What you reading, Walter? Your frown is intense," Lynn said coming down the stairs. She went into the kitchen, poured two cups of coffee and joined him at his desk.

Walter pushed the laptop around so she could read Gene's message. "I tried to do Gene a favor- remember I mentioned Happy, the mechanical genius? Gene with the fluctuating number three engine? I told him to contact Happy and see if a new set of eyes could fix his problem. Guess she came through so now I may get dragged into the fiasco. Let me see what Richard has to say."

"She called you a goofball in LA. Gene sure seems to like that nickname. You two sure have a strange relationship… and your mechanical genius just threw a monkey wrench into it."

Walter pulled the laptop back and opened Richard's message.

Walter- Got a message from Gene in Arizona engine test facilities. Seems you caught some engine fluctuation, and now he says he needs your math to get the parameters straightened out. Had no idea you were keeping track of the engine test site- want to fly over? Let me know when you are home and I will pop over to discuss it. Richard.

Walter hit reply-

Richard- Just happened to notice the engine fluctuations and messaged Gene- has kind of snowballed. Totally unintentional. Home now but was heading out for lunch. Walter.

Walter sat back, put his feet up on the corner of the desk and sipped his coffee, looking at Lynn. "You are a test engineer. Like to take a jaunt to Arizona and check out some engine test sites? Think I am going to get roped into this mess so I may as well have a sane person along."

Laptop signaled new mail- from Richard.

Walter, sending a car- lunch is on me. Richard

"Well, hope you like Italian, Richard is sending a car and knowing him there is a 97% surety we will go to his favorite Italian place. He is absolutely fixated on Italian chow. Don't get me wrong, the place has really good food, but there is Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Indian, even good 'ol American comfort food. But it is always Italian… maybe he is related to the cook? Damn, that was fast," Walter said when there was a knock at the door. Getting up he opened it, "well, Dave. You work Saturdays, too? Let me guess, the Italian place?"

Dave laughed, "even I could work out the probability on that. Yes, the Italian place. Ready to go?"

"Come on, Lynn, in the mood for lasagna, spaghetti, marinara… I said I was ravenous so a good Italian meal is just the thing." Walter shut the laptop and slid it into its case, with hand on Lynn's back went out the door, set security and Dave opened the car door for them to get in.

Getting to the restaurant, Walter opened the door for Lynn and followed her in then led the way to Richard's usual table. "Afternoon, Richard. Hope you don't mind Lynn joining us."

"Of course not, pull up a chair and let me know just what is going on in Arizona."

The waiter came by, took orders and left to get their drinks.

"Just for kicks I was watching the Arizona test clips and noticed the number three engine fluctuate. Contacted Gene- he is a good guy and got on it fast. But, he and his crew were having problems so I suggested he contact Happy- fresh eyes and all that. Well, you remember Happy- she crawled in and all over that set up, designed a better system- lighter, too, and said she needed a math wiz to set fuel parameters. So here we are. Since Lynn is a test engineer, I asked her to join in the fray- the more the merrier…. isn't that how the saying goes, Lynn?"

The waiter brought everyone's lasagna and the conversation continued while eating.

"Well," Richard said, "what have you planned for the next few days? Like to fly over to Arizona- have you ever met Gene? Super smart cookie- and gets along with people."

Lynn snorted at that causing Richard to glance at her. "You know Gene, Lynn?"

"No, just read a couple messages between him and Walter- they have a funny way of communicating."

"Monday at seven the structural engineer crew are coming to the loft to open the walls. Monday through Wednesday morning. Then there is the usual Wednesday ride with Dave to a data center on his list."

"Do the structural engineers know what they are supposed to do- you don't need to be there to give instructions? I can have Dave there to watch over the place while they are there- can't find anyone more trustworthy- give him the security code and change it when you return. Believe me, the garage will be safe with him there. The data center can wait for your return- nothing has been breached as yet, so should be OK for another week. How is your back, your last check-up was good according to Dr. Wilson. I do not see you using your cane. You ARE still supposed to be taking it easy. You fly over to work with Gene, nothing strenuous- no climbing around engines- just do the math get it straightened out and back to LA. Sound good to both of you?"

Walter looked at Lynn, "What do you think?"

"I don't have to be back to work until Wednesday morning- think we can be back by then?"

Richard snorted, "Lynn, I am your boss- this will be paid company time until you get back, then a day off before going back to regular schedule- all the flying around you need recovery time. You, Walter I do not think anything disturbs your equilibrium, so back to your normal schedule when you return… with a bigger bank account. I was just expecting Walter so just have the one corporate card- he can pay your way, Lynn, so always get the most expensive thing on the menu. Dave can take you to pack, and the jet is ready to go when Dave drops you off, I will contact Gene to have someone meet you though you will be landing just at the north end of the test site where the hangar is. The jet will be on stand-by until you are ready to return."

"Well, Lynn, what you think? A quick pack and take off for a day or two?"

"Get me to my place and I can throw some clothes together and be ready to go."

"Keep me informed of what is going on, I may pop over if a couple things I am handling get done before you are back." Richard said finishing up and raising his hand to the waiter to bring the tab. "Sorry for the rush, but the international financial execs are waiting for a video conference."

Walter rose, "between Gene and me, you will be informed every step of the way. Thanks for lunch, Richard, see you whenever." Lynn joined Walter and they went out to the car. Dave opened the door then got behind the wheel. "Dave, Richard said you could stay at the garage- have some structural engineers coming to remove walls. We need to go to Lynn's place so she can pack some stuff then hit the garage so I can get things together. Does Richard always drop things like this on you?"

Dave laughed, "yes, quite used to Richard and his fast planning. We are used to it. Give me the address Lynn and we will go to your place first, then the garage, you can show me what needs to be done there, the security codes then I will drop you off at the airport. The number two jet is doing preflight checks so should be ready to go as soon as you get aboard."

Getting to Lynn's townhouse, she went in to pack a couple days worth of clothes while Walter and Dave conferred in the car about Dave staying at the garage. "The crew is supposed to show up at seven Monday, they know what to do- just don't let them demolish the place. There is a separate security system for the cellar- no one is to breach the cellar under any circumstances. The desktop computer will be shut down- do not power it up. WiFi throughout the garage so you can stay on-line with your equipment. You have my contact info so if there are any problems that arise, message me as I will have the laptop with me." Walter pulled out a pad and pen from the laptop case and wrote the security code for the garage and handed it to Dave.

Lynn came out with a suitcase, so Dave opened the trunk to store it, helped her in the car and got behind the wheel to go to the garage. Once there, Walter opened up and went upstairs to pack his duffle, checked the security system for the cellar, and returned to the car. "Off to the airport. Certainly isn't how I expected this day to go when I woke up this morning."

Lynn laughed, "do visitors from Arcturus ever have normal days on Earth?"