Chapter Six

 

Gabriel

 

Part of me was still processing everything that happened when I got home that night.

How could Cherry possibly still be a virgin?

She was gorgeous, incredibly sexy, and fun to be around. The incident in the laundry room alone proved that she was almost impossible to resist. If Jess wasn’t there, I would have been tempted to strip her wet clothes off and give her a ride of my own, bubbles be damned. She was even more adorable when she came stomping back to the laundry room carrying a mop and bucket, so she could clean a path to the other washer to finish her laundry. She was resilient and independent, but I still found myself wanting to swoop in and take care of her.

I imagined that she had her choice of men and could happily work her way through them like any other woman with her looks and personality would. I couldn't decide if her revelation that it was a conscious choice made it more or less surprising to me. The thought immediately reminded me of that night, all those years ago, once again. The image of her standing there in lingerie was one that I always carried with me. I often wondered what would have happened if I hadn't turned her away that night. If I had acted on the primal hunger that I had for her. I had been intensely attracted to her back then, and now that the age difference didn’t loom over us, it was harder to keep my mind off her. Brent had been fiercely protective of Cherry and he made it clear he wanted me nowhere near his baby sister, but it was even harder now to look at her and see her as anything young and innocent.

I forced myself to turn from my thoughts of desire back to her announcement that she would agree to the contract. I was genuinely surprised when she told me that she had already made a decision. It was a huge decision to make and I had expected her to have a long, complicated thought process. Since my father told me that I had a year to have a family or at least the prospect of one, I was willing to wait for her for a few months if that was what it took. But she had seemed completely confident in her decision, and I suddenly felt excited.

I didn't want to waste any time. The next day I had my team of lawyers draw up the specifics of the contract. It felt stiff and awkward to put something with Cherry into such formal legal terms, but the businessman in me knew that it was a necessity. No matter how close I was to Cherry's family or how much I thought I knew her, I had to remind myself that this was a business transaction. I needed to make sure that the two of us, and our baby, were guarded in all the possible problems and situations that my legal team and I could come up. It was sobering to think of everything that could go wrong and what would have to happen in each situation, and by the time the lawyers had outlined several contingency plans for what would happen if Cherry absconded with the newborn, I was feeling fairly deflated. I left the room, entrusting the rest of the contract to the lawyers. I had made it clear that Cherry was to be as involved with the baby as she wanted to be and would have as much freedom as possible in visitation. I would be responsible for making decisions and providing financial support for the baby, along with Cherry and her mother. The rest, to me, was unnecessary details.

I went back to my office, glancing at Cherry’s desk as I went. She wasn’t there, and I checked my watch. I figured that she must be out at lunch and quickly sent her a text, telling her that I would swing by her apartment later that night so that we could finalize the contracts. Having her sign the papers was important, but it was only one of the reasons I wanted to see her that night. There was something that I wanted to give her and was too impatient to wait. The bear that I bought for the baby the day that I asked her was waiting at my house. Even though she wasn't pregnant yet, I wanted to give it to her now. I felt that it could be an inspiration to her. That it could serve as a reminder of the choice that she had made, and why she had made it.

Giving the stuffed animal to her now also carried another motive. In two days I was leaving the country for three weeks on business and wouldn't be able to see her. That bear would be a reminder to keep her focused until I got back. I had already reached out to the doctors and made an appointment a couple of days after I got home so that Cherry could get checked out. Hopefully, then we would find out how and when we could start the IVF process. The IVF doctor had assured me that since there was only one donor involved, me, the entire process had the potential to go much faster and smoother than typically. It might only take a few months. It was hard to believe I was that close to being a father.

 

There was a light rain falling as I pulled into her building’s parking lot that night. I had driven one of my classic collectible cars and was thankful for deciding to keep the top up instead of lowering it to enjoy the night air like I usually did. The rain fell progressively harder as I looked around for a covered spot, but everything was out in the open. I grumbled to myself as I parked in the closest spot to Cherry's apartment, wishing that I had an umbrella so that she wouldn't have to walk in the rain. I finally resigned myself to the fact that rummaging under the seats was in vain and rushed out of the car toward her door. She came out holding an umbrella and I grinned at her.

"Good planning," I said.

I took the umbrella from her and held it high enough that we could both get under it as we walked quickly to the car.

"No limo today?" she teased.

"Not today. I haven't had a chance to take this one out in a while."

The rain increased even more in volume and she tucked closer to me.

"I hope it's amphibious," she said.

"We'll see."

Unfortunately, that night I learned a very important lesson. Vintage cars have feelings and get offended when you make fun of them.

Things went smoothly enough for a few miles. After that, the car started to hiccup, shuddering and skipping as we continued on. Two miles later I was willing the car, silently at first and then out loud, to keep going. Another three more blocks and we were stopped on the side of the road and Cherry was laughing hysterically.

"I don't see what's so funny about this," I said.

"I'm sitting in an old broken-down car by the side of the road… with a freakin’ billionaire."

She laughed even harder and I wondered if there was some backstory or inside joke that I didn’t understand. The sound of her laugh joined the rhythm of the raindrops on the oiled cloth of the roof and it filled me with a surge of emotion and need. I wanted to touch her. I wanted to pull her into my lap and lose myself in her.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and called my chauffeur. It was his night off, but I hoped that he would answer. It went straight to voicemail and I couldn’t help but let out a groan. A few more calls produced nothing but confirmation that I needed to let my staff off in rotation rather than all at once. My last resort was roadside assistance, who reassured me that they would have their nearest tow truck to me in no more than two and a half hours.

Apparently, nobody can fucking drive in the rain.

"Alright," I said, turning to Cherry. "We have a decision to make."

"Okay."

"My house is less than half a mile from here. We can wait for the tow truck or we can make a run for it. It's up to you."

"What kind of shoes are you wearing?"

"Does that really matter?"

"I can't bear the thought of ruining a good pair of shoes."

"I'm wearing Italian loafers."

"Good loafers?"

"I don't know, they're just one of the pair I wear when I'm not at the office."

"I don't think it’s going to work."

"Why?"

"Because you can't run in fancy loafers."

"Why not?"

"It's right there in the name. They're made to loaf."

"What does that even mean?"

"You know… like loafing around the house."

"I don't think I loaf."

"You should try it."

"I tell you what. If we make it to my house, you can show me how to loaf."

Without another word, Cherry opened the door and flung herself out into the rain. I grabbed her umbrella and jumped after her. She was jogging down the side of the street and I chased after her, trying and failing to convince her to get under the umbrella. She turned around to shake her head at me and her feet slipped in the mud that had formed on the shoulder of road. There was a moment when she seemed to pause, a kinetic sculpture of impending doom, and then she toppled.

I rushed up to her, squinting against the rain that was now coming down in sheets. Cherry was trying to scramble to her feet as I reached for her, but her hand was slippery from the rain and the mud and she dropped back down to the ground. I plunged the tip of the umbrella into the dirt beside me to try to anchor myself and reached for her again. This time she gave a tug, bringing me down into the mud with her. I shouted as I landed, but I could hear her laughing again and my own laugh bubbled out of my throat. I remembered when she was younger and would pester Brent and I until we would let her into our football games. Not wanting to hurt her, I would scoop her up against me and bring her down to the ground in a modified tackle. She would always squeal and wriggle to get away from me, but even as I released my grip she would stay still for a few more moments before scurrying away.

I recreated that now, lunging toward her and wrapping my arms around her, causing us to land on our sides. Cherry let out a squeal and I expected her to try and escape my grip. Instead, she pushed her weight forward, catching me off guard so that I tumbled onto my back and she landed on top of me. I felt her body crush against mine and wrapped my arms around her waist, rolling her onto her back again so that my body enveloped hers. I looked down into her face and felt the playful grin on mine disappear. Her expression softened, and I saw heat rise in her eyes just like the first time she saw me in the office.

I lowered my mouth to hers, catching her lips in a kiss. It was a compulsion, a need I had to fill, and I pulled away with horror when I realized what I had done. Cherry was beginning to say something when headlights washed over us, temporarily blinding me. I squinted and lifted a hand to shield my eyes while trying to get off Cherry. The car slid to a stop beside us and I recognized it as my chauffeur’s personal car. The passenger-side window rolled down and the overhead light popped on. I could see Harlan, my chauffeur, another cherished member of my staff who had been with my family since before I was born, leaned across the center console toward us.

"What in the hell are you doing?"

I got to my feet and reached down for Cherry.

"We slipped in the mud," I said.

She grasped my forearm this time and managed to get control of her feet beneath her.

"Mm-hmm," Harlan said, clearly unconvinced. "I bet you did. Where is your car?"

"A bit down the road," I said. "It’s not far from here. It broke down. You must have passed right by it."

He shook his head.

"I didn't see it," he said. "Tow truck must have gotten it."

Two and a half hours my ass.

"We didn't hear or see it," I argued.

"Well, unless that car drove itself home or slid down into the ditch and disappeared into the Earth, the tow truck got it."

I couldn't believe that I had been so wrapped up in Cherry that I had managed to miss the lights and commotion of a tow truck a quarter-mile away.

"The rain must have muffled everything," I said.

"It does that. Well, come on now. Get in this car. I'll get you home."

"Are you sure?"

"I've been doing it every day for the last forty years save Sundays, holidays, and deaths in the family. I think I can manage."

"But your car," I argued.

Harlan gave an exasperated sigh.

"Would you rather I go back to the house and get one of your cars?"

"No. I just don't want to get mud in your car."

"In the time that you've been standing out there getting soaked to the bone and fussing, we could have gotten all the way back. So why don't you get in here and we'll deal with the mess later?"

I reached for the door handle and opened it, ushering Cherry in first before tossing the umbrella in after her and joining her in the backseat.

"Thank you, Harlan," I said. "I'll get it cleaned for you."

"You bet you will."

 

It only took a few minutes to drive home and I was relieved to see my car sitting in the driveway.

"Look at that," Harlan said. "It beat you home and is waiting for you."

I was glad that the tow truck had managed to get the car back to my house, even if they weren't capable of notifying me or noticing that we were on the side of the road and might need assistance.

"I really appreciate this, Harlan," I said as Cherry and I climbed out of the car into a night that had suddenly become clear and still.

He nodded.

"Is there anything else I can do for you?" he asked.

"No," I said. "Thank you so much."

"I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Gabriel. Miss Cherry."
"Goodnight, Harlan," she replied warmly. We watched as he drove away and then she turned to me. "I love that your staff isn't afraid of you."

I looked at her quizzically.

"Why would they be?" I asked.

She shrugged.

"You're extremely wealthy and powerful. Around the office people talk about you in these hushed tones – even Blake almost hyperventilated after he spoke to you. Everyone is intimidated by you. But your staff seems to love you."

"They're like my family," I said. "Edna worked in the office when my grandfather was a few years away from retiring and then was with my father all those years. Harlan was the driver for my parents and his wife, Emma, was my housekeeper growing up. She took care of me after school and was always there for me when my parents weren’t. Now Emma and her daughter run my house."

"That's it? That's all the staff you have?"

She seemed surprised that my house wasn't crawling with scores of servants.

"It's all I need," I said.

"If they worked for your parents, why do they work for you now? I mean, your father still works and I'm sure that he needs staff at his house. Why are they with you?"

"You know when people are making their will and they have their children go around their house with sticky notes to point out what they want? Well, that's what I did."

Cherry's face dropped.

"You did what?"

"Yep. Blue sticky note. Right in the middle of Harlan's forehead." I gestured like I was putting the note into place. "Fortunately for me, Dad decided that I could go ahead and bring them with me."

She continued to stare at me and finally I laughed.

"I'm joking," I said. "What do you think happened? When I took over my first office, Edna worked there with my father. Because she was already familiar with the work we did there, she stayed there with me while my father went to work in one of the new offices with new staff. Like I said, Emma has been with me my whole life, so when I came back into town and bought my house, I asked my father if it would be alright if I hired the pair of them to work with me. Of course, I would help him find a new staff for his house. Everyone agreed, and they came to work for me.”

"So… you poached them."

"It's better than labeling them with a sticky note, right?"

"That's true."

The moonlight was peeking through the clouds now and it illuminated Cherry's face. The kiss earlier hung in the air between us, but neither of us said anything about it. I gestured to the house.

"Do you want to come inside?" I asked. "The contracts are ready and there's something I want to give you."

She eyed the door.

"Your real house," she said, sounding impressed. "Should I be honored to be invited here?"

"I'm not sure about honored, but I don't usually bring people here."

I reached into my pocket and grimaced at the cold, squishy feeling of the rain and mud accumulated in there. I withdrew my now filthy keys and let us in the house.

"Let me get us some towels. I’ll be right back."

I rushed to the laundry room and brought back an armful of towels from the large cabinet where Emma kept the linens. I knew she wasn't going to be happy when she found the soppy, dirty mess the next day. Hopefully Harlan would give her a bit of a heads-up tonight. When I came back to the foyer, Cherry was still standing exactly where I had left her, as if she was hesitant to head any further into the house. I offered her a few towels and we both tried to dry and wipe ourselves off as best we could.

"I'm sorry about the whole rolling around in the mud thing," she said.

I shook my head.

"It was fun," I said. "Not as cleansing as the detergent bubbles the other day though. Maybe we should have coordinated those incidents in reverse order."

We exchanged a smile and my body tightened, responding to her and to the memory of that brief kiss. She handed the towels back to me and I nodded toward the study, giving her directions to it and telling her that I would meet her there. I went and dropped the towels off in the laundry room and returned to find her perched on the edge of one of the leather chairs in the study.

"I don't want to get anything messy," she said.

"It's fine," I said. "When we're all through with this, if you want to take a fast shower and rinse off, you can wear some of my sweats."

She nodded, looking grateful. I sat in my chair and pulled the manila envelope containing the contract out of the drawer. I slid one copy toward her and Cherry picked it up, starting to scan it. We spent a few minutes going over it, each initialing and signing, going through every detail carefully until we reached the end. Both of us exhaled.

"So, I guess that's done," Cherry said.

"Do you feel good about it?" I asked. "Is there anything that you want to revise or add?"

She shook her head.

"No," she said. "I think everything looks good."

"Okay. Well, remember, there is a clause for renegotiations down the road. You will have the right to bring up issues that we might not have foreseen and have them put into the contract."

Her expression darkened slightly.

"I don't like to think about any issues that might come up that aren't already included in there," she said. "That was a pretty extensive extenuating circumstances section."

"I know," I said. "The lawyers seemed to be very enthusiastic about that portion. I think it was some sort of game of make-believe for them." She still looked worried and I stood up. Now would be the perfect time to give her the baby gift. "I'll be right back."

I got the bear from the living room and brought it, along with a small box, into the study. Cherry looked up at me when I came back, and a soft smile formed on her lips.

"What's that?" she asked.

"I got this for the baby," I said, offering the bear to her. "I thought that since I'm going to be gone for a while and we're going to get started on the entire process when I get back, having it would help get you ready."

"That’s so sweet," she said.

"I also brought you this."

She settled the bear into the chair beside her and reached for the box I held out to her.

"What is it?"

"Open it."

She put the box on her lap, seeming to search for a few seconds to find a section of her pants that weren't muddy. She moved the tissue inside the box aside and her eyes lifted up to me.

"Another bear?" she asked.

She looked down again at the smaller, worn bear settled in the box.

"It was mine when I was little," I said. "It went everywhere with me. I remember the first time that Brent came over to my house to spend the night and the bear was sitting on the bookshelf in my room. I had taken it off my bed but didn't want to take it all the way out of my room because I was still really attached to it. I felt really stupid about it and was worried that he was going to make fun of me for having it, and that he wasn't going to want to be my friend anymore."

"What did he do?"

"He picked the bear up and brought it over to where we were playing superheroes. He grabbed a bandana and wrapped it around its neck to make a cape and said that it was now Super Bear."

Cherry laughed.

"That's the best."

"I packed it away when I got older but went looking for it when this all came up. I think that the baby should have it in their room."

Cherry touched the top of the old bear's head and then set the box on the chair beside her. She stood up and stepped toward me, her eyes filled with emotion. Suddenly she wrapped her arms around me, tucking her head against my chest.

"Thank you," she whispered.

I held her close to me for a few moments and then she stepped back, her face tilting up to look at me. She looked so incredibly beautiful in that moment, so sweet and alluring. I couldn't resist her. I leaned down and touched my lips to hers again. She didn't pull back, but melted into me, bringing her body even closer, deepening our kiss. I pressed my hands to the small of her back and pulled her closer, touching the tip of my tongue to her lips to gently coax them open. The touch seemed too much for her and Cherry stepped back, her cheeks red with color.

"I think that I should go ahead and get that shower if it's still alright with you," she said.

"Of course," I replied.

I told her how to get to the guest bathroom, knowing there was fresh towels there, and told her I would bring a change of clothes. She nodded and walked out of the study, turning to glance back at me over her shoulder once more before disappearing down the hallway. I drew in a sharp breath. I heard her footsteps going up the stairs and I knew that it would only take her a few seconds to get to the bathroom. Images filled my mind of her closing the door and standing there uninhibited, letting each article of wet, muddy clothing drop from her fingertips onto the tiled floor before stepping into the water and allowing it to stream down her sexy body. I could picture each individual droplet touching her skin, gliding over each one of her curves. I imagined Cherry tilting her head back to wash her hair as streams of water poured over her generous breasts and down her belly to her thighs.

I forced myself to go to my bedroom and grab a pair of sweats and socks. They wouldn't fit her, but at least they would warm, and cover, her up. Finally I followed the sound of the water to the guest bathroom. The feelings inside me were threatening to boil over and I knew that those kisses weren't enough for me. She may have ended the kiss in the study, but before she stepped back, I could feel her desire for me. I knew that she was feeling the same yearning that I was. I needed her. I had to possess her. I got to the bathroom and knocked on the door.

“Yeah?” Cherry called out, her voice muffled by the water.

"I have clothes for you," I said.

My throat was tight with the desire that I felt for her and my voice came out low and mumbled.

"I can't hear you, just come in," she called back.

I reached for the glass doorknob and slowly opened the door. Steam had already filled the room and it enveloped me in warmth and the fresh smell of soap. I walked into the room and set the clothes down on the vanity. My eyes were locked on the frosted glass of the shower door. I could only see a hazy outline of her body as she bathed, and I was instantly grew hard knowing that she was naked only a few feet away from me. Even if I had the conviction to resist her before, I didn’t now. I didn't want to resist her. I wanted to take her into my arms and do what I should have so many years ago.

"Gabriel? Are you there?" she asked.

The shower door slid open a few inches as she peered out, keeping her body concealed behind the glass. It only intensified how sexy she was, as if she was waiting for me to find her, to discover the treasure waiting for me. Without bothering to respond, I crossed the bathroom and stepped up to the side of the shower. I tucked my finger beneath her chin and lifted her face to mine, capturing her mouth in another kiss. She didn't pull away this time. Instead, her lips parted softly, and I was able to sweep the tip of my tongue across the inside of her tender mouth. I kissed her for a few moments before stepping back. Not taking my eyes away from her, I grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled it off. It fell to the floor to join her pile of clothes and I heard Cherry draw in a breath. She didn't retreat into the shower, but I saw her fingers tighten around the side of the door as she continued to stare at me. I released the button at the front of my pants and lowered the zipper. Soon they too had been cast aside. I didn't want to move too fast. I didn't want to scare her or make her feel like I wasn't distinctly aware of what was about to happen. When she didn't move and didn't ask me to stop, I peeled away my underwear and kicked them out of the way. She kept her eyes focused on my chest and then stepped back into the water. It didn't seem like she was afraid or that she was trying to hide from me, so I approached the edge of the tub. I ran my fingertips along the glass, tracing the curve of her silhouette.

A moment later her fingertip touched the glass and she repeated what I had done, tracing what she saw of me through the frosted door. Her hand flattened, her fingers stretching to spread across the glass, and I reciprocated. The size of my hand engulfed her tiny one. Finally, her hand left the glass and came around to the side of the door, taking hold of it so that she could push it slightly out of the way. I rested my hand on hers and pressed the door open enough so that I could step into the tub with her.

Neither of us said anything. We didn't need to. No words could define this, and we certainly needed no introduction. I stepped into the water and finally let my eyes take her in. All of her. Seeing her naked in front of me allowed me to fully appreciate every sweet curve and arch of her delicious body. It was sexier now than I could have ever imagined and knowing that no one else had touched her, no one had appreciated that body the way it was meant to be, made my fingertips tingle and my cock twitch. She deserved to be worshipped.

I combed my fingers through her wet hair and let them trail along the curve of her neck and onto her shoulder. She let out a breath as my fingertips brushed against her collarbone and then up the front of her throat and onto her lips. I felt Cherry kiss my fingertips, briefly opening her lips just enough that I could feel the warmth of her breath on them. I stepped closer and rested my other hand on the swell of her hip. I filled the space in front of her, silently begging her to touch me.

Finally, she lifted her hand and ran it down my chest before resting both palms on it. Her hands trailed lightly down my chest and past my stomach, her fingertips tracing the ridges of the muscles as if she was attempting to memorize them. The touch of her skin against mine sent a shock through me and I bit my bottom lip, closing my eyes for a moment to bring myself back under control. This wasn't the time to rush. I had no reason to hurry. As much as I wanted her, I refused to waste even a second now that I had her in my arms. I had thought about this so many times and I was going to explore her in every way possible.

I craved the touch of her skin. I wanted to taste her. I wanted to coax new sounds out of her. I wanted to discover what drove her wild. I wanted to lose myself in her. With any other woman it would have been easy to just act on my primitive urges and then be done. Not with her. Not with Cherry. She was finally standing in front of me, vulnerable and exposed, and I wasn't going to miss anything.

I traced the curve of her jaw and then across her closed eyes, feeling the fluttering of her eyelashes on the pad of my thumb. She opened them and gazed at me, welcoming my touch, silently offering herself to me like she had all those years ago. I bent down and closed the drain, so the tub would fill with the water still streaming from the dual shower-heads positioned on opposite walls. It was like we were standing in the rain again as I brushed my lips across hers. They were slightly swollen from our earlier kissing and it made them even more intoxicating. Cherry tilted her head to press her mouth further into mine, seeking more of my touch. I happily obliged, crushing my mouth against hers while her lips parted beneath mine, finally letting me taste her mouth with my tongue.

We stepped closer to one another, shattering the thin barrier that had existed been between us. Neither of us was questioning this anymore. We weren't thinking. We were acting on pure instinct. I loved what I was experiencing and knew that I needed more. Cherry arched her back slightly and I felt her body brush against mine, her breasts pressing into my chest and the apex of her thighs resting against my leg. I was already hard when I stepped into the shower with her, but I was aching with need now, my erection straining toward her. I took another step closer and felt my hard length nestle against her skin, pressing into her belly. Cherry gasped in surprise, and I met the sound with a deeper kiss. I tightened my hips to nudge harder against her, willing her into the euphoria that I was beginning to feel, urging her to give herself fully to me.

Cherry's mouth opened slightly, and I plunged in my tongue to tangle with hers. She ran her hands back up my stomach and onto my shoulders before wrapping them tightly around my neck. The weight of her body pulled on me and I swept one arm around her waist to hold her, stabilizing her, letting her know that she was safe.

Cherry stepped away from me and I saw her reach for a bottle of body wash sitting on the ledge. She filled her palm with the translucent gel and rubbed her palms together to coax it into a thick lather before bringing her hands to my chest again. She ran them along my body, tenderly washing me while exploring. I felt like she was nurturing me, showing me in her own way that I was safe and cherished. When she finished, I rinsed away the suds and kissed her again.

I lowered myself down into the water that had begun to collect in the tub, guiding her down with me with the pressure of my kiss and the touch of my hands on hers. I sat down and turned her just as she was sitting down into the water. Positioning her sitting between my legs, I guided Cherry back to lie on my chest. The position allowed the water from both of the showerheads to continue to stream down on us while keeping our heads out of it. She rested her head back against my shoulder and I kissed her cheek, then her cheekbone, then her temple. Her hands came to my thighs on either side of her and she ran them down to my knees and then back up toward my hips. Part of me was surprised by her forwardness and her apparent desire for more than just feeling my skin. But I reminded myself that these feelings were not new for her. She had been thinking of me just as I had been thinking of her. I ran my hands up her back before gripping her shoulders. Cherry arched her back, allowing my hands to slip slightly further so that they just brushed the swells of her breasts. I wanted more. My palms cupped over both breasts and kneaded into her soft flesh. I could feel her tight, hard nipples pressing into the center of each hand and I groaned at the way her body responded to me.

Cherry rose up slightly and turned her head so that she could kiss me on the side of my neck. I felt the tip of her tongue split between her lips and run across my skin experimentally. There was an openness to everything that she was doing, but also a sense of shyness. I knew that she was unsure of what she was doing, and I wanted to carry her through it, be her guide and reassure her. I wanted her to follow her instincts and allow her body to take over, so we could follow through on what we both had been waiting so long to do.

I massaged her breasts for a few more moments before letting my hands glide further down her body. Her skin was wet and hot, seeming to hint at the blissful indulgence that was waiting for me. I brought my hands down to her hips and rested them there for a moment. I could feel her body shiver as I ran my fingertips from side to side. I knew that I was close to her in a way that no one else had ever been and I wanted to give her a chance to get accustomed to the feeling, but I also didn't want to hesitate too long. I wanted her to be caught up in the ecstasy of what I could offer her, and to discover all that she was capable of offering in return.

I could feel her thighs pressed against mine on either side as her legs opened slightly. It was clear that her instincts were taking over. Her body was showing me what it wanted, like it had a mind of its own. I took the invitation eagerly, dipping my fingers lower so that they slipped across her tight pink bud. That first intimate touch drew a gasp from Cherry and her fingers tightened around my thigh. I didn't stop. I brought my hand lower and touched her soft entrance. It was already open, wet and hot and ready for me. I turned my hand slightly so that I could brush my thumb over her clit again and felt another rush of silky wetness between her thighs. I gathered some of that silky wetness and brought it to her peak to allow my fingers to glide uninhibited. I traced my fingers around her clit in small circles, gently drawing it from beneath its hood until I could bring out its most sensitive reactions. Cherry clutched my arm, her gasps turning to whimpers as new feelings rushed through her body.

I wondered if she had ever touched herself, if she experimented and explored her own body. Even if she had, it was obvious that the way that I was touching her was bringing her to a level of pleasure she had never experienced before. She was starting to let herself go, opening to the possibilities of what we could do without hesitation. The way her body moved in response caused her to rub up against me, her soft skin rubbing against my cock, making it even harder to stay focused. My hand delved through her delicate folds, pushing her forward, when suddenly she tightened her grip harder on my arm and pulled my fingers away from her body. She looked at me with nervousness in her eyes.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

"It's too intense," she said, sounding breathless. "I feel like I'm losing control of myself."

I smiled and kissed her shoulder, then her lips, then the side of her neck.

"Don't worry," I said softly, drawing my lips up the side of her neck to nibble lightly on her earlobe. "I've got you. Let go. Let it happen."

She turned to look at me, her eyes briefly fluttering down and then coming back up to mine.

"I've been waiting for you for so many years," she said. "I want this to be exactly what I had always imagined. When I come, I want it to be with you inside of me."

I moaned in response to her words that felt erotic as hell, yet so innocent. I wrapped my arms around her, letting her settle back against me so that we could lay in the water together. The water calmed and soothed our bodies, but my mind was still racing. Finally, Cherry turned off the showerheads and started to drain the tub. As the water slipped away, it revealed her body once more to me, making the anticipation I felt even stronger and more intense than before. Cherry had thrown away all her inhibitions in this moment with me and I was going to ensure that every single one of her dreams came true.