As my front door closed, Jack asked, “Any chance someone will drop by?”  I shook my head.  “Thank god.” 

He shoved me against the wall of my foyer and kissed me while he reached for the tie to my dress. 

Opening it wide, he groaned.  “Look at you.”

Crouching on one knee, he rubbed his face over my belly and inhaled the scent of me.  He planted open-mouthed kisses over my mound. 

“I’m stripping you down this time.  I don’t want to destroy another pair.”  He rubbed his lips over me through the delicate lace before sliding them down my legs. 

Life tip from Leda Andreadis to her daughters:
Always wear nice panties when you leave the house.  You could get hit by a car and meet a nice doctor in the emergency room. 

His palm massaged my ankles and up the back of my leg.  He stared up at me as he stroked his fingers over my folds. 

“Jack?”  He stilled and waited for me.  “What if I hadn’t ended things with Kevin?”  I was curious.

“I’d have stolen you right out from under him.  It wasn’t my first choice but no way was he latching himself to you, sucking the life out of you.” 

“You’re honest even when I could take it badly.” 

Leaning forward, he dragged his tongue through my cleft as he held my gaze.  “I want you to see me.  The bad as well as the good, Petra.  I’m just a man.  One who wants you with everything inside myself.” 

He took me apart while I stood inches from my front door.  We made it to the couch and he made me scream. 

There was a break for reheated leftovers from my fridge and more glasses of bourbon than we should have consumed. 

Then he attacked me again.

Hours later, we collapsed freshly showered and naked in my bed.  Jack took cuddling to a whole new level.

The following morning, I opened my eyes and watched early sunlight flicker over Jack’s face.  He was so pretty.

There was a slim chance he might be a lunatic but I was willing to roll the dice.  Who among us hadn’t Facebook stalked random people, exes, family, or colleagues? 

I was guilty of it myself in regards to Jack.  After the first time Kevin mentioned him in obvious jealousy, I couldn’t help looking him up. 

After our first night together, I learned everything I could find about him.  Less extreme, admittedly.  Guilty all the same. 

Using the bathroom and brushing my teeth, I walked naked into my kitchen to start coffee.  I felt terrific from head to toe.  Jack was climbing from the bed when I carried two cups into my room. 

“Two minutes,” he said groggily as he shuffled away to handle urgent business. 

“There are new toothbrushes in the vanity drawer.”

“Thank god.  The bourbon left fur on my tongue.” 

I laughed and put the cups on the dresser so I could pull on my robe. 

I was plaiting my hair into a braid when he wrapped his arms around me from behind. 

“I love your hair.  You’re a powerful woman, successful, and you have these hyper-feminine touches that slay me.  Your long hair, delicate underthings, sky-high heels.” 

“I’m a contradiction.” 

“No, you’re everything you want to be.  I respect that.” 

“Are you?  Everything you want to be?”

“Almost.  One or two more things to check off my list.” 

He stared at me in the mirror above my dresser and I knew he didn’t want me to ask so I didn’t. 

Something in the back of my mind said husband was a description he wanted to add to who he was.

I turned in his arms.  Stroking my hands up his chest, I smoothed them over his hair.  “Hungry?” 

He lifted me to sit on my dresser and stepped between my knees.  “Let me take you out.” 

“You’ve got to stop with the lifting.” 

“Let me take you out,” he said again.  “Somewhere ridiculously expensive where we can start fresh.” 

Cupping his face, I said, “We already started fresh.”  He looked surprised.  “I’m not dragging you over coals.  I asked and you explained.  I see how it could get out of hand and I’m not going to hold it against you.” 

Tilting his head, he frowned.  “I don’t…is it that easy?” 

“Jack, I like you.  All other signs in your life point to a normal man who gets pissed when women are disrespected, works hard, and has a soft spot for moi.” 

Strong fingers gripped my ass and pulled me to the edge of the dresser so he could grind his cock against me.

“Also, you deliver orgasms like a fucking machine.” 

He separated my robe and looked down to watch the head slide between my lips.  I dropped my head back on my shoulders. 

“You’re killing me, Jack.” 

“I hunger for you, Petra.” 

Then he carried me back to bed and as he followed me down to my mattress, I thought, “He’s going to keep lifting me.  No matter what I say, he’s gonna do it.” 

It was the last coherent thought I had for hours. 

* * *

Over the next two months, Jack and I learned what a relationship between us could be. 

We didn’t define it to ourselves or anyone else but we spent our spare time together.  I met his friends and he met mine.  We had Sunday brunches with our mothers. 

I attended a gala with him where he received an award for his work covering a conflict on the African coast.  I stood up and clapped louder than the rest of the room.  When he was leaving the stage, I wolf-whistled and made him blush. 

A week later, he was my escort to the grand opening of a hotel my mother bought and renovated.  I’d done all the marketing and website development. 

Halfway through the evening, he pulled me into an alcove and growled, “Your brilliance makes me hard.”  Then proceeded to molest me ten feet from two hundred guests. 

It was extraordinary. 

He took an assignment in Ireland and I asked him a million questions while he packed his gear case.  Laughing, he opened his travel bag and handed me the ticket he bought me. 

“We’ll be gone six days and I have all the chargers you need to work.  Pack your shit and I assume your passport is up to date.” 

The following month, he insisted I join him in the middle of a job in Tokyo.  “I haven’t seen you in ten days.  Help me get through this and I’ll fuck you stupid.” 

“Charmer,” I told him as I started packing. 

He joined me for a business trip to New York and when my client needed stills, I suggested him. 

Wherever we traveled for business, we took an extra day or so to relax.  Since both of us worked all the time, it looked like we took a lot of vacations on social media. 

We were six months into a relationship we didn’t technically refer to as a relationship when he called me in a panic. 

“Petra!  I need you to come with me to Greece.” 

“Why?” 

“I don’t speak the language, beauty.  My client doesn’t speak a word of English.  Help me out.” 

“Yeah, because trips to my ancestral country are so difficult for me.  Of course I’ll go!  Give me the details.”

Four days later, we drove the rental car along the narrow roads and Jack pulled beneath the carport of an enchanting villa on the water. 

“I hope your client has food.  I realize we ate three hours ago, but the air here makes me ravenous.” 

He laughed.  “Glad I’m not the only one.  Come on.” 

Opening the trunk, he grabbed our bags and grinned at me as we walked up concrete steps. 

I tilted my head when he took a keyring from his pocket.  “You have a key to your client’s house?” 

“Something like that.” 

The inside was breathtaking and a solid wall of glass showed the deep blue of the water beyond. 

Jack dropped our bags and took me in his arms.  He kissed me until I was limp. 

Staring down at me, he stroked one hand over my cheek.  “I love your body, your eyes, your hair, your delectable mouth, and your sweet, sweet pussy.” 

“I happen to adore all the goodies you have to offer as well.” 

“As much as I worship your body…it would never be enough on its own.  It’s why I appreciate your brilliant mind, sense of humor, and sarcastic participation in any given situation.”

“I can’t help it that stupid people don’t know they’re stupid, Jack.  If you can’t school them, mock them.” 

“I hear you.  Believe me.”  He kissed me again and I realized his hands shook slightly.  “Your body, your mind still wouldn’t be enough for me.” 

He rested his hand over my heart and I stilled.

“Do you love me, Petra?”  Tugging my lower lip between my teeth, I nodded.  “I love you, too.” 

“Jack…?” 

“If you’ll trust me with your mind, your body, and your heart, I’ll never give you a reason to regret it.  I’ll treat them gently, help them be strong, and lean on them when I feel weaker.” 

I whispered, “I trust you, Jack.” 

“In thirty-seven years, I’ve never given my heart to another person, Petra.  Not once.  I don’t think you have either.  The time had to be right for both of us.  We had to meet.  Maybe you even had to be wearing that hideous yellow dress.” 

I blinked back the tears in my eyes. 

“I brought you here, far from our friends, our family, our clients, so that I could tell you how much I love you, how much I need you…without an audience or other people’s expectations.  It isn’t about them.  It’s about us.” 

I nodded. 

“You’re strong.  I know you don’t need me and it’s part of what makes me love you.  Don’t feel any pressure…” 

I reached up and put my fingers over his lips.  “Jack.  If you don’t fucking ask me, I’m going to start screaming.” 

His smile never failed to slay me.  “Marry me, wench.” 

“Fuck yes, I will.” 

After hours of animalistic sex on every surface in the villa, I started laughing out of nowhere. 

“I’m afraid to ask,” he mumbled from his position collapsed on top of me. 

“I’ll never have the energy for UFC the way you fuck me.” 

He snuggled closer and I thanked God I wasn’t claustrophobic the way he held me when he was tired. 

“Traveling karaoke sales?  We swoop in and corner the lucrative bar market, get them hooked on our sweet tunes, and leave their society in shambles behind us.” 

“Mass destruction on a scale that would fit into our busy schedules.  Darling, you’re a genius.” 

He kissed my neck.  “We have to be careful not to get hooked on our own product.” 

“Always a risk with the seductive melodies…” 

His laugh was warm on my skin.  “I’ll watch you.  You keep me away from anything Bon Jovi or Billy Joel.”  He lifted his head to look at me.  “You know I love the BJs.” 

I burst out laughing.  “You’re delirious.” 

“You mean hilarious.” 

We talked hot nonsense and laughed like idiots for hours.  I’m not sure who fell asleep first. 

When I woke up, there was a vintage diamond ring on my finger that stole my breath. 

Just like that, the next chapter of my life opened like a flower in front of me and it was marvelous.