Rome

I didn’t think I could possibly feel this happy and this aroused, but I’m not going to rush our first time together. Our much-needed discussion has put the brakes on the baser instincts to fuck. It’s for the best it happened like it has. We’re embarking on a new era, and I want it to be perfect.

With an iron will, I gently push her from me. “Can I use your bathroom? I’ve been travelling for a day and I…”

“Of course, it’s just through there.” She motions to the door off to the side. “Forgive me. When I’ve been travelling, the first thing I always do as soon as I get home, is take a shower. I should have offered when we first walked in...”

I press one last kiss on her lips before I very reluctantly make my way from the bed. “I won’t be long.”

“There’s fresh towels in the side cupboard, and please, feel free to use whatever you want.”

When I reach the doorway, I turn back to her and ask, “do you want me to shave?” as I rub a hand over the stubble on my face.

“No, you’re perfect the way you are.”

“As long as you think so.” I give her a wink and disappear into the bathroom. Cool tones of mint, teal, and white greet me and the overall effect is crisp, calm, and refreshing. A long white stone bench with two sinks runs one wall. Above the sinks is an equally long mirror with a track of LED lighting. Under the bench is all drawers and cabinetry in a high gloss white.

I pass the walk-in closet and another door I guess leads to the toilet. All that’s left in the bathroom is a very oversized walk-in shower with multiple shower heads and a large spa bath situated underneath an unusual round window. It looks like a giant porthole, but the view is spectacular. I can see us sitting in there with a glass of wine and enjoying the view.

Maybe other men don’t notice details like these. I do. After all, it had been my stock and trade for ten years. I made it a point of figuring out all the places for seduction, and I see possibility after possibility in here.

I grab a fluffy bath sheet from the tall cupboard in the corner and strip off as quickly as I can. I don’t want to be away from Carlene for a second longer than I need to.

As soon as I step into the shower, I sigh at the feel of the hot water sluicing over me. The pressure is just right and the temperature perfect. I also note the tile under foot is the non-slip type—oh the possibilities for later.

I find Carlene’s body wash and just as I remember, it isn’t anything too feminine scented. Rather some sort of combination of coconut and lime. I squirt a good handful of the stuff into my palm and spread it over my body in quick swipes. I can take my time later.

I worked my hands lower to wash around my very hard cock and stroke my hand along my length a couple of times. I’m so hard for her. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I consider jacking off before I’m with Carlene. I want her too much. That’s never happened. My control is something I pride myself on. It never let me down. But with Carlene, particularly this way, I’ll be challenged.

Carlene, the woman I love. I want everything to be perfect for her, and even knowing that, I also know she’d be fully okay if it isn’t.

A hint of movement catches my attention, and I spin around to see her very naked and about to step into the shower stall. Before I have a chance to get my wits about me, she does just that.

Carlene moves toward me, confident and sexy as hell. “Thought you might like me to wash your back.”

“You have no idea,” I groan as she reaches for the body wash and presses down on the pump pack before adjusting the taps so even more water rains down and shoots out at us.

I watch the water pool on her skin and roll in little streams down over the swell of her breasts before following the lines of her tummy and finally dividing to pass over her mound and her legs. So sexy, sensual, and now mine to enjoy every day. There’s something so comforting and exciting to me about the realization.

Carlene moves behind me and starts to massage the body wash into my shoulders. I can’t remember the last time I had someone take care of me. Her touch is sensuous but also full of love and caring. This is what I’ve been missing out on for years. Time and time again, I’ve given but never really received the way a man needs to receive to feel fulfilled—whole.

“Feels so good, baby,” I manage as her hands slip to my lower back and over my butt. And it does, feel so good.

“It still seems as if I’m dreaming, Rome.”

I reach back and pull her front to my back. “You’re not dreaming, Oz. I’m really here, and I hope you don’t mind, but I have no plans to leave.”

“I don’t mind at all. I’ve been rattling around in here by myself for so long.”

“I know exactly what you mean.” I hadn’t been alone like Carlene, but even though I’d been with women, I’ve never connected. I’ve never let myself. It wasn’t part of the game. This is different.

This is all for me.

This is my reward for foregoing a meaningful relationship for so long. And I know in the moment, I’d wait another ten years if it meant I’d have Carlene.

Her hands move from my back around my waist to pause momentarily on my hips before skirting lower on my belly. Then I realize what she’s doing. She’s following the V of my oblique muscles right down to…

“Carlene…” I warn.

“Yes, Rome?” her voice is little breathy and a little sassy.

“What are you doing?”

“I thought I’d finally see what all the shower sex fuss is about.”

I have nothing but a groan to offer as one of her soaped hands curls around my cock and the other my balls.

“I thought we were going to make love in the bed this first time…” She closes her fist around me and smoothly moves her hand along my length. Inch after inch of exquisite torture.

“I couldn’t wait any longer. We’ll get to the bed.”

“If you’re sure…” She squeezes my cock harder and I suck in a labored breath. I brace my hand against the tiled wall and watch in sensual fascination as the water pours over her hand on my cock.

“I’m sure. Now I want you to show me how to give you the perfect blow job. I want to do and try everything with you.”

“You’re giving me a damned fine hand job, right now,” I grit, trying to hold on against her efforts.

“Rome…” she warns. “I need this to be about us equally.”

“I know, babe. I know. I’ll show you later, but right now, I need to be inside you. I need to know you’re really mine.”

She eases around in front of me, and I trap her body against the length of the tiled wall before I crash my mouth down on hers.

Her hands falter on me, and I take the opportunity to work my hands up her arms and pull them over her head. The new position plumps her breasts into tantalizing offerings, and I’m not about to resist their temptation. My lips close around the hard peak of one, and I suck deep, wanting her to feel all the need and out of control desire I feel for her in the moment.

“Ahhh…Rome,” she pants.

“Tell me what you want, baby.” I’ve had a head full of ideas about how I’m going to make long slow love to her but that isn’t looking like what she wants right now. We’ll get to it—eventually.

“You. Now.”

I bring my lips to her other nipple and fist my cock before teasing it through the lips of her pussy.

She’s so wet. Drenched.

Not just from the water but also from need.

The temptation to slip inside and feel her close around me is high, but discipline holds me back.

Instead, I tease her clit with the tip of my cock until her breath is coming in even fiercer pants.

“Come inside me, Rome. I need you,” she begs and pleads as her leg moves up to try and wrap around my hip.

So tempting.

“I need a condom.”

She shakes her head and works her hips against me.

“Take me, Rome,” she demands, pushing against me harder.

I’m not going to fight the war of need any longer. Not when Carlene is demanding my surrender.

I bring her hands from above her head to my shoulders.

“Last chance, Carlene. Are you sure? Are you protected?”

“Yes!”

I trust her. Carlene is not reckless nor is she a fool, and they are just a couple of the things I love about her.

“Put your arms around my neck and wrap your legs around my waist,” I demand as I drop my hands below the curve of her butt and lift her up firmly against the wall. With no effort at all, I lower my knees and thrust up into her.

As I slide deep into her body, I nearly come from the intensity of the sensations and the feeling of being bare inside her sends racing through me.

This is not what I initially had in mind, but fuck me, it’s incredible.

Carlene looks like a passion-drunk water nymph, with her head thrown back in glorious abandon, absorbing every hard thrust I brand her body with.

Mine!

Mine!

“Yes. Rome.”

I drop my head to her chest and keep up the ferocious rhythm I’ve set. My toes curl into the tiles for purchase as I grind out every last molecule of pleasure and connection for both of us.

Her hands fist in my hair, and she tugs in time to the thrust of my hips. Every cell in my body is surging with electricity as we drive on hard to orgasm.

I split my stance slightly more, looking to get even deeper and harder into her.

“Yeeeees, right there,” she shrieks as I thrust faster and harder. Then I feel her whole body tense around mine and relief floods me as I release the brakes on my own orgasm.

Another three hard thrusts is all it takes. Her fingernails dig into my shoulders, and she turns wild in my arms. I slam my body into hers, pinning her against the tile to keep her safe as I dive into the abys of pleasure with her.

The feeling of being able to lose myself in a woman I love with nothing between us is something I haven’t experienced in years. On and on, the pleasure rolls through me while the water cascades down over us, cleansing me of the past and leaving my soul stripped back and ready to be rebuilt with Carlene.

I’m right where I want to be.

I’ve found my future.

Carlene

I wake with the sun just beginning to rise over the dark indigo of the Pacific Ocean. The first thing I realize is being cuddled up to Rome. His body wrapped around mine. Yesterday, I woke up with possibility and hope. Today, I wake up with the man I love, a sense of belonging, and being excited about our future together.

“You awake, beautiful?”

“Mmm.”

“Hell of a sunrise, Oz.”

“It’s pretty special.”

His hand rubs up and down my stomach, teasing me a little.

“Have you been awake long?”

He nuzzles his face into my neck. “Probably a couple of hours. My body clock is a bit screwed up.”

I turn in his arms. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“I wanted you to sleep.”

“That’s very thoughtful of you.”

“I’m a thoughtful kind of guy. Do you normally wake up this early?”

I run my hand down his shoulder and arm before lacing his fingers to mine.

“Generally, about now. I like to go down and take a walk along the beach to start my day. Just like we did in the States.”

“Sounds like a great way to start the day. Hard to have a bad day when you begin it like that, here.”

My phone beeps with a message on my bedside table, and I roll over to take a look.

“Who would be texting you at this time?” Rome looks a little surprised.

As I expected, it’s Jackson. I read his message and consider about what he’s suggesting. We could be about to face the first and probably biggest hurdle in our relationship.

“It’s my son, Jackson. He’s an early riser too. He’s coming down for a surf this morning, and him and Chelsea, my daughter, thought they’d call in for brunch mid-morning. How do you feel about meeting my kids?”

I hold my breath and wait, not quite sure what his response will be.

“Sure. I’d love to meet them. Do they know about us?”

“They know there’s something between us. In fact, they’ve both been encouraging me, in their own ways.”

He splutters a little in amusement. “Should I be offended that even with their prompting, you hadn’t reached out?”

“Hey! I was working up the courage! You’re in my bed now. So no more complaints out of you, mister!”

Rome kisses my throat and shoulder. “No complaints here, Oz.”

“Is it too soon for you to meet them? I don’t want you to feel pressured.”

“If you’re comfortable introducing me, then I’m fine with meeting them. In fact, I’m excited to meet them. If they’re anything like their mom, they’re going to be amazing. Why wouldn’t I be fine?”

I see the unspoken question in Rome’s eyes as I quickly send Jackson a text back confirming I’ll see them later in the morning and also the news that Rome is here.

I place the phone back on the table and once again snuggle into his side.

“I don’t know. I guess we just haven’t really talked about what my kids mean to our relationship. I know you know I have kids, twins. But that was before. Things are different now.”

He trails his finger-tips over my cheek. “What do they know about me? About us?”

“They know I spent the time I was in the States with you, and they know I thought you were special. I think they’ll be fine with us. Jackson accidently found your letter to me. I’d been reading it, and I left it on the table. He turned up unexpectedly and noticed it lying on the table. I don’t keep secrets from my kids. He pushed me about our relationship, and I told him. He seemed supportive.”

Rome nods and keeps stroking my face. “Chelsea, well, she’s been supportive from the start. In fact, it was Chelsea who found Perfect Gentlemen in the first place and sent off the first email that got the ball rolling.”

“Then I most certainly owe your daughter a debt of gratitude for giving me the opportunity to meet you.”

“You do. But don’t forget you also owe Anton a similar debt because if he hadn’t busted up his leg…”

“You’re right, I do, and I’m sure he will remind me at some stage down the track.” There’s a very knowing tone to Rome’s voice. I also note affection there. Anton seems like more than just an employee to me.

Rome has made it very clear he is retired from seeing clients, but he hasn’t mentioned what his on-going involvement in the business will be, which has me curious.

“You’ve got a frown on your face, Oz. What’s worrying you on this fine morning?”

Is it my business to ask? I contemplate that for a second then realize Rome had been adamant I ask him anything I wanted to know.

“Are you still going to be involved in Perfect Gentlemen?”

He’s silent for a second, and I wonder if I asked the wrong question.

“You know, I haven’t really thought about it too much. What I do know, is I’m not personally in the game anymore. How I’m involved from here on out, I’m not so sure. At the moment, I’ve got Roxie and Anton running things. Roxie is more than capable of keeping the wheels turning and everything running smoothly. I don’t know if I want to be involved day to day. I am generally very good at spotting talent for the roster. Maybe I’ll just leave it at that.”

I laugh. “You know what women want and how to deliver it.”

“At the risk of sounding terribly arrogant, I do. I’m not sure what other level of involvement I want, if any yet.”

“And now I’m the lucky woman who gets the sole benefit of all those very special skills.”

“That you do.” He smirks and gives me a ticklish caress down my ribs.

A peel of laughter spills out of my throat.

“What do you know? My lady is ticklish.” He waggles his eyebrows at me playfully, and I see ticklish torture in my future. If it involves Rome’s hands on me, I’m okay with it.

“Are you really going to tickle me?”

He shrugs off-handedly and places a kiss to my forehead. “Probably.”

“Awesome,” I say with a healthy dose of sarcasm.

“You’ll love it. I promise, because tickling will no doubt lead to other things…”

“I’m rather partial to other things,” I admit.

“I’ve discovered that.”

“You’ve created a monster,” I joke with him.

“Not a monster, a woman who knows what she wants and deserves.” His lips brush against mine fleetingly.

Rome’s right again. I do know what I want.

I want him, and I’ve made some solid progress on figuring out what I want to do with the rest of my life and now seems like as good a time as any to tell him. Yesterday, we managed very little more than getting reacquainted and comfortable with each other again. Once I let my guard down, we just “clicked” back into place. It feels easy and natural between us—perfect.

“I can see the wheels turning in your head again, Oz. What are you thinking now? Because I know what I was thinking.” He nudges his hips over against me, letting me know just how aroused he is.

My hand slips between us, and I wrap my palm around his very hard length.

“I’ve been doing some thinking about what I want to do with my time, besides spend it with you, of course.”

He looks a little surprised, and his hand closes over mine as I continue to stroke his cock. “That was quick. What did you come up with?” He gently dislodges my fingers from him. “I can’t think straight when you’re doing that. I want to know what you’re thinking.”

“But…” I protest.

“In a little while. I’m not going anywhere.”

I slide my hand up over his abs, to his chest and rest my chin on the back of my hand.

“I’ve decided to do something with kids. As I mentioned, Jackson was down the other day and I guess it really hit home for me how much of their childhood I missed while they were at boarding school. I missed a good six or seven years. I really regret missing those years.”

Those pesky tears prick my eyes again. What is with me?

“It makes sense, baby.” He strokes his hand over my head and down my back. “I can see why, as a mother, you’d feel that way.”

“It was in the kids’ best interest,” I reply, sounding a little too defensive.

“Sure. But it doesn’t negate the fact you feel you weren’t there for them.”

How does he just get this stuff? He seems to always understand what I’m feeling.

“What specifically did you have in mind?”

“I don’t know yet. I’ve been researching options. Setting up a private foster care agency, maybe an outdoor adventure camp.” I gaze up into the dark chocolate of his eyes. He’s taking in my words but there’s more going on.

“They both sound like great ideas, given your resources.” Then his eyes really connect with mine. “Have you thought about having another child?”

Another baby?

I’m stunned. The idea never occurred to me.

I’m forty years old.

“You can’t be serious?” I ask, still stunned he’s even suggested it.

“Why? Is there some reason you can’t have another baby?”

“No. Not that I know about. I guess I had my kids so long ago and I got one of each first go, I kind of never thought about having more.”

A little smile cracks across his lips.

“What are you smiling about?”

Then a teasing light twinkles in his eyes. “I was just imagining your belly round with my child. You’d look so lush and sexy.”

“You’d want to be a father?”

He sighs. “It wasn’t something I ever let myself think about, Carlene, because that just wasn’t the path I was on. But you came along and changed everything.

“Actually, that’s not quite true. I realize now I was done with the life months ago. I just hadn’t fully admitted it to myself. Then fate brought you into my path and made things really clear for me.

“Leaving the game opens up all sorts of opportunities which come along with being able to have a partner and a normal relationship. Fatherhood is one of those. I’m not saying we should try for a baby now. It’s something we’d need to think through, but I’m certainly not opposed to the idea if you would want to become a mother again.”

Wow!

I glance out the window and see the sun really starting to rise over the ocean. A new day, new possibilities. Rome is offering me far more than I’d even thought possible.

Then a frown comes across his face, and he shakes his head a little as if he is annoyed with himself.

“What?”

“I just realized in less than twenty-four hours with you, I’ve thrown away ten years of religiously practicing safe sex.”

A laugh erupts out of my chest at his obvious condemnation of his action. “I don’t understand. We talked about this, and you said there weren’t any issues.”

“There isn’t, but we didn’t fully talk about it. I should never have just left you with responsibility for birth control and not spoken to you about it before I came inside you multiple times. I assumed you were protected because of what you said, but I never actually asked.”

“I told you I had it covered. I have an IUD. I have had for years. If I hadn’t been certain, I wouldn’t have let you, you know…” I drop my eyes and find that spot on his collarbone I love to focus on when the conversations turn like this one.

Rome cradles my chin in his hand and joins his lips to mine in a kiss that seems almost reverent.

“Please understand, I trusted you, Carlene, yesterday, just like I trust you now. I know you’re not irresponsible. I guess the point I’m trying to make is that I want a relationship where we’re equals. Where we don’t take each other for granted, and I feel like I did that to a degree yesterday. I’m sorry. I left the responsibility up to you.”

To hear him say those words…it isn’t the subject. It’s the sentiment behind it. I knew before but now I’m even more certain.

This is the type of relationship I want, with a man that will make all my dreams come true, even if I don’t know what they are right now.

“Thank you…” I murmur.

He looks confused. “For what?”

“For just being you. For understanding I need an equal partner in life, someone who wants to be right there with me through whatever happens. Someone to experience life and enjoy life with. Your past doesn’t matter, Daniel. It’s what we make of the future that counts.”

A hopeful little gleam spreads across those eyes of his which says so much.

“Are you saying, what I think you are?”

I nod. I know exactly what he’s getting at. “Your past was never a problem for me, Daniel. I’m not going to cast judgement on it. It’s made you the incredible person you are. We all have pasts. Somebody I really love and respect recently pointed out to me it was about embracing the future, and I’m choosing to do that with you.”

“Oz…” His eyes turn heated and his body shifts from being comfortable under me, to being something entirely different. “I think we’re done talking. There’s nothing more I need to hear right now. I think it’s time I show you just how much you mean to me.”

Suddenly, I find myself on my back and Rome leaning over me.

Something grabs his eye, and he looks from mine over to my bedside table and begins to chuckle. His stomach rolls into mine in time with his laughter.

“What?”

“The crystal. Surely you have to believe now?”

I laugh right along with him for a second. “I guess I do. You’re here, and I love you so much already. I still can’t believe it’s real.”

“It’s real, Carlene, and I love you more!” He pops a kiss to my lips playfully.

I’m done with talking. I want my man in the most elemental of ways.

“Make love to me, Daniel,” I demand in a throaty tone.

I watch his slow satisfied smile slip into place before my eyes.

“I’m never going to get tired of you hearing you say those words, Oz.”

“Good. I think I’m going to enjoy saying them—a lot!”

He bumps his hips into mine, letting me feel exactly how much he wants me also. “God, I hope so. Guess I’d better do something more than talk about it, then.”

“Yes, please!”

He doesn’t say any more. Just lets out a very knowing chuckle. It doesn’t take long, and I’m at a loss for words, too. And sometimes lightning does strike twice.