Eagle's Destiny (37 page)

After loading pizza slices and salad on plates for both of us and pouring the wine that Michael had already opened, I carried everything into the living room.  Michael switched on the television and we watched the end of the Dodger and Giants game while we ate our food. 

Michael finished off the last of the pizza and I carried the dishes back into the kitchen.  Taking the remote control from Michael’s hand, I turned off the television.  As he sat on the couch looking up at me, I stood in front of him.  I had gotten his attention.  Next, I pulled my sweatshirt over my head.

Michael audibly sucked his breath in.  I smiled fully aware of the effect I was having on him.  The material on the beige bra I was wearing was transparent and it was almost as if I had no bra on at all.  I knelt down in between his legs and ran my hands up his thighs.  The swell in his jeans was evident as I ran my fingers lightly over his zipper.  I looked up and his eyes were intent on me.  Michael was silent as I moved my hands up under his t-shirt.  His t-shirt was off in a flash. 

Sitting next to him on the couch, I bent over and kissed his stomach.  My lips trailed up to his chest and I lightly flicked his nipples with my tongue.  As they hardened for me, I nipped them with my teeth.  This elicited an “
Oh god
” from Michael.

I straddled his lap and put my arms around his shoulders.  In this position, my breasts angled directly within reach of his mouth.  He put his hands on my back to bring me closer and his mouth connected with my breasts.  Michael sucked and teased my nipples with his mouth through the material of my bra.  It was my turn to gasp.

Whispering to Michael, “If you go run a bath for us I will take off the bra and show you what I’m wearing under my jeans.”  I brought myself down into his lap and wriggled my hips against him. 

He pressed me firmly to him and whispered in between kissing me, “Elizabeth, you are my hellcat.”

I giggled, sat back down on the couch, and pointed to his bedroom.  “Go, and let me know when it’s ready.”  I poured myself another glass of
wine while he drew our bath.

Michael called me about five minutes later.  I walked through his bedroom and stood at the bathroom door.  He had done well.  Candles completely lit up the bathroom.  He was already in the tub surrounded with bubbles.

“Now it’s your turn.”  He called to me.

I grinned at him and very slowly unbuttoned my jeans.  His eyes were watching my every move.  I moved to my zipper, pulled it down, and then paused.  My hands moved up and I unbraided my hair.  Each movement I made was unhurried and languorous.  After my hair was undone, I pulled it forward to cover my breasts.  I reached around and undid my bra.  My breasts fell forward and I covered them with my forearm while pulling off my bra.  I dropped it to the tile floor.

Michael swallowed hard when I placed a hand on each breast and leisurely ran my hands over them and down my stomach.  When I arched my back and sighed he looked like he was going to faint, but still he did not move.  My hands inched my jeans over my hips.  The pants finally dropped down to my ankles and I stepped out of them.  I stood there in a beige colored thong.

Moving forward, he leaned up against the edge of the tub.  I turned around and pulled off the thong bending over to make sure I completed the view for Michael.  He uttered, “Oh Elizabeth, I want you.”

I turned around, “So do you like what you see?”  I asked.

He stood up in the tub and it was plain that he liked what he saw very much.  He helped me step into the tub and then pulled me down into the water.  Between the bathtub and his bed that night, Michael made good of his promise to make me scream several times.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

As the days progressed, we all fell into a routine.  I did give in, well sort of.  I slept with Michael every night curled up next to him in his bed and usually
awoke
sprawled out on top of him.  The timing of our nightly activities was limited to more quiet behavior when Tammy was home.  During the days when she was at school, Michael and I simply ran amok.

Our dogs now ran together in a pack with us in the mornings when we jogged.  Michael was faster than I was and normally would take the lead.  Topper and I, being the slowpokes often lagged behind. 

While I worked on my book, the dogs liked to lie around my feet because I would drop little snacks for them on the floor.  I typically wrote in my cabin
,
but he set up a small desk for me in his bedroom
too.
I
was often there while he was working in his office.

We regularly visited the eagles too but did not spend the night.  I knew all along that the overnight trip we had spent together was an excuse he had used to get me alone.  A very clever man.  Michael shared his newest project, the eagle book with me and suggested we partner together on the book.  He wanted me to write a story about the eagles on our mountain.  I tried to spend a little time every day developing the story with him.

Working with him was heavenly.  I had never had the kind of working relationship with Kevin that I was sharing with Michael.  As it turned out we were good collaborators too, he was open with his praise and accepting of my ideas.

I still had not approached him on a discussion about him not being completely truthful about his friendship with Tommy and Marie.  At the moment, I wanted to stay blissfully ignorant but I knew that it would eventually bug me enough to mention it. 

Our trip to Monterey was coming up quickly and I was looking forward to another road trip with Michael.  He had been away several days to do
additional shooting on the whale migration project.  I had offered to drive him to San Francisco but he turned me down and told me to spend the time on my book.

Tammy and I put the evenings to good use.  I helped her with an English paper that was due.  She was agreeable to having me around and happy she would not have to stay with Debi and Don.  I slept in Michael’s room and joked with him when he called that he needed more pillows on his bed.  He made me promise that I would not get more pillows.  He complained that it was crowded enough with the dogs.  I teased that I could always go home to give him more room.

By Friday morning, I awoke anticipating both Michael’s homecoming and the Monterey trip the following day.  By the time I returned from my jog, Tammy had already left for school.  I fed all the dogs and made my coffee and breakfast.  Michael always packed his refrigerator with interesting ingredients.  Many things that I would never considered buying.  He was insistent about buying free-range organic eggs, and if we were going to eat meat that had to be free range too.  Far from being a vitamin nut, Michael preferred to get most of his vitamins from the vegetables and fruit he ate.  I got dizzy trying to keep track of the massive quantities of food he ate, but he never seemed to gain weight.

Michael called me as I was eating the last of my toast.  “Babe, I’m glad I caught you.”

“Hi honey,” I said swallowing my toast.  “Where are you?”

“I just arrived in San Francisco, and I’m waiting for my luggage.  Can you do me a favor?”

“Sure.”  I answered.

“Give Annie a call and confirm that I’ll be at her house this afternoon at three.  I need to finish up the pictures of her baskets.”  He said over the drone of the airport announcements.

“Of course.  Can I come with you?”  I asked.

“I’d love that.  I see you in a little bit.”

I sat down to write in the little corner of Michael’s bedroom that he had arranged for me.  New music on my IPod and my headphones were on, I was set to go into the zone.  Lately, I was less likely to feel blocked, which made the entire writing experience easier.  The story was flowing from me quickly and I felt more relaxed as my deadline was approaching.  Before I knew it, a couple of hours had passed.

Suddenly, my heart leapt into my throat.  I felt arms around my shoulders and I let out a loud piercing scream.  It took me several moments to realize that the arms were not Kevin’s but Michael’s arms.  The hands that I thought were wrapping around my neck were really hands stroking my face.  My entire body shook and the tears quickly started to flow down my face. 

“Oh god,” I said crying and holding my hands to my chest trying to steady my breathing, “I thought you were Kevin.”

Michael pulled me up into his arms and his arms enveloped me, “Babe,” he said trying to soothe me as I stood tightly embracing him.  “I’m so sorry.  Come on, come sit down.”  He led me over to the bed and pulled me into his lap.  He slipped his hand under my chin lifting my head up.  “I’m here and you’re safe.”

I looked at him and nodded.  He placed a soft kiss on my lips.  “I’m sorry Michael.  It’s just that Kevin used to…”  I trailed off.

“Sshh.  You don’t have to explain.  I know.”  He murmured into my hair as he pulled my head against his shoulder holding me securely against him.

Michael patiently sat on the bed holding me while I attempted to recover myself.  My tears stopped and I snuffled into his shirt.  Michael smelled good, and he was wearing what had become my favorite cologne.  I lifted my head slightly and kissed him below his ear along his jaw.

“Feeling better?”  He asked tenderly.

I nodded and looked at him.  He wiped away the teardrops still on my face gently with his fingers.  Michael put a light kiss on my forehead and then his lips moved down to mine where he put a much stronger kiss.  I scooted off his lap and lay back on the bed pulling him with me while he continued to kiss me.

We both broke the kiss simultaneously when we heard Tammy’s voice.  “Oh, are you two at it again?”  She had a grin on her face when we looked at her.

Michael spoke first, “School?”  He questioned.

She answered rapidly, “Friday, short day.  I thought Elizabeth would like to have lunch with me, but,” she said, “I can see she’s otherwise occupied.”

“You know Michael,” I said, “lunch does sound good.”

He raised an eyebrow, “Better than this?”

“I’m hungry.  It’s been a long morning.”  I said.

He rolled his eyes and rolled off me.  “Fine.  Go have lunch.”

I got up and he called to me, “Next time, I need to shut the door.”

Both Tammy and I giggled.  “Do you want to come?”  I asked.

“Yeah, might as well.”  Michael lumbered off the bed.

After Michael took us to lunch, we dropped Tammy back at the house and drove out to Annie and Frank’s house.  They lived outside of Mintock on several acres of land, which was part of the Pomo reservation.  Their property butted up against the mountain and the lake.  Annie spent most of her days in the summer in her little shop in town where she sold her baskets to the tourists. 

Annie had been my aunt’s best friend.  My aunt was a little scatterbrained so when I would stay with her during the summer, Annie
always kept her eye out for me.  Annie also managed to keep Don and I separated long enough so that no romance could bud between the two of us.  Now I was glad for that because I saw Don as a brother.  At sixteen, I thought she was meddlesome.  During my mother’s illness and then subsequently my aunt’s, I was happy to have Annie in my life.  Their passing happened very quickly and my dad and sister were no help to me since they were grieving too.  At the time, it had never occurred to selfish me that Annie was also grieving at the loss of her best friend.  Now she was my mom here on earth.

We pulled up in front of a modern ranch style house.  Dogs ran around to greet us as we exited Michael’s jeep.  Frank came out of his four-car garage, which was full of antique cars, and it was easy to see where Don had developed his love of cars.  He wiped his hands on a towel, gave me a big hug, and shook Michael’s hand. 

“Annie,” he bellowed, “they’re here!”

Annie came running out of the house.  She wore her normal outfit of blue jeans, boots, and a colorful denim blouse.  She had braided her long hair and wrapped it as a bun on the back of her head. 

“Oh Mija, I’m so glad to see you.”  Annie hugged me almost as hard as Frank had and then she turned to Michael.  “Hello handsome man.”  She wrapped her arms around his waist, and she barely came up to his chest.  She hugged him with enthusiasm.  Then she winked at Frank, “Look at the handsome man I found.  Are you jealous?”

Frank laughed and looked at Michael, “You can have her.  She has been hell on wheels today.”

Michael laughed and wrapped his arm around my waist, “I think one hellcat is enough for any man.”

Frank laughed again, “See, what did I tell you?  The leaf didn’t fall from the tree.”

“Hey, we’re standing right here you know.”  I protested.

Frank put his hand on top of my head and stood on his toes, “Michael do you hear something?”  He looked around and past me.

“I don’t think the boys want any lemonade, do they?”  Annie grinned and took my hand.  We went into the house and left their laughter behind.

Annie’s kitchen was in the back of the house and it was bright and sunny.  Annie poured four glasses of lemonade and placed two on a tray.  I took the tray out to Michael and Frank, and I found they were already sitting in the chairs on the front porch.  Annie carried out the other two glasses for us.

“Debi and Don are coming for barbeque tonight with Betsy.  I told them to pick Tammy up on their way out.  Jay should be home for the weekend, and that will give Tammy some incentive to come.”  Annie explained.  “Don’t worry Michael.  I have some meatless burgers for you.”

Michael grinned, “Thank you Annie.  Well, I better get started before I lose the light.”

Michael had decided after seeing Frank’s antique cars to use one of the convertibles and put the baskets in the back seat.  Frank trailed after Michael ostensibly to help.  I sat with Annie on the front porch.  She handed me a half-finished basket and supplies and I started weaving as we talked.

“So I heard that you’re pretty much living with Michael and Tammy now.”  Annie said.  Her hands moved swiftly over the basket she was weaving, adding different colors as she went along.

“Debi has a big mouth.  We’re not living together.”  I countered.

“You wake up together in the same bed, don’t you?”  She looked at me over her glasses.

I merely nodded sheepishly.  Why did I feel like I was sixteen with her?  I was a grown woman wasn’t I?

“Don’t get me wrong, Mija.  I like Michael.  He’s a good man.  And, he’s good for you.”

I smiled and nodded.  “Yes, I like him too.”

“Oh, I think it’s a little more than like Elizabeth.”

I blushed and studied my basket.

“He’s powerful Mija,
and
he’s a very sexual man.”  She stated.

My blush deepened and I studied my basket even closer.  I sighed, “Yes he is.”

She snapped at me, “Elizabeth, the size of a man’s penis does not define the sexuality of a man.”

I looked up at her.  She put the basket down and looked back at me.  “A man’s sexuality is defined by many different things and most of them are not physical.  It is the essence and the emotional make up of the man.  How he treats others, his own self-confidence, and his love and respect for women.  Do others judge him as an honorable man who stands by his convictions?  Does he have compassion for others in need?  Many criteria judge a real man.”  She leaned forward to me, “Elizabeth, not many women are fortunate to experience a good man.  My Frank is a good man, Don is a good man, and Michael is the same.”

I looked at her, “You make Michael sound perfect.  You know he does have flaws.”  Of course, at the moment his flaws escaped me.

She stared right back at me, “And you do too Mija.  No one is perfect.”  Annie picked her basket up and continued weaving. 

I picked up my basket again.  “Annie, I’m glad you like Michael.  It is important to me that you do.”

She nodded and we worked with a tranquility surrounding us. 

“Annie, why did you discourage Don and me from dating?”  I asked breaking our silence.

She laughed and picked up a different color to blend into the basket.  “I knew the two of you were not right for each other.  Do not get me wrong, Mija, you are good as friends.  But as husband and wife, no,” Annie shook her head, “no, it would not have worked.  Don needed a different kind of woman.”  She put the basket down and looked over at me again.  “You, Elizabeth are like the eagle.  You soar above the trees, when you want something; you zero in on the target and pick it up as easy as can be.  You find comfort and safety in building your nest and in one man.  You need someone who is as quick and sharp as you are.  Don would have bored you after a while.  Don is a big lumbering bear, and he needed another bear to keep him in line, to keep him straight so to speak.  Debi is that bear.  They are good together.”