Knight Vision (8 page)

“Annie, honey.  What is wrong?“ Jeff spoke as he witnessed tears trickling down her temples. 

She released his hand, rolled onto her side and curled into the fetal position with her back to him.  At the moment, she was incapable of speaking to him.  Why was she doing this now, she pondered, especially with him of all people?  She felt him stretch out down behind her, wrap his arm over her and draw her back into him.  “Annie?“ he questioned.

She started to shake uncontrollably.  He sat up, bringing her with him.  Cradling her in his arms, he lovingly rocked her without speaking.  He gently kissed her tightly-closed eyes and kissed away her tears.  Drawing her clenched hands to his mouth, he kissed them until they relaxed under his attention.  Somehow, instinctively, he knew how to bring her slowly back to him.  She managed to move her arms and wrapped them around him as he kissed her lips.  She felt his surprise when she started to respond to his kisses. 

He pulled back from her.  She opened her eyes and looked deeply into his worried face.  “Honey, I am glad you are back.  I want you to know that I’d never, ever do anything to hurt you.  I won’t do anything you don’t want me too,“ he whispered.

Her tears started again, not from fear this time, but gratitude.  Her heart went out to this man.  Pulling her into his embrace, he started his rocking motion again as she clung to him like her life depended upon it.  “Oh, Jeff,“ she whispered into his neck.  “I am sorry.“  He continued to rock her and began to caress her back in long strokes.  “I don’t know what happened,“ she continued.

He stopped his movement and backed out of their embrace.  He reached for her right leg and swung it around his torso so they faced each other.  Satisfied, he pulled her back into his embrace.  “Annie, you have to talk to me.  Remember our song.  I am your knight and I love you.  What happened?“ he asked quietly.

As his words penetrated her jumbled mind, she could feel the beating of his heart.  She once again felt safe, warm and protected.  Debating on what to tell him, she recalled that he had just said he loved her; her heart opened and everything poured out.  Everything, starting with her inner pain of being a fat child, to the two loveless relationships which she had experienced in the past.  She told him it had been over a year since her last failed relationship and she felt inadequate in her lovemaking abilities.  She laid out her life to him; every detail was uncovered. 

She talked for over an hour.  Only once did he release his tight hold on her; he had reached behind him and picked up her blouse and placed it over her shoulders.  He didn’t interrupt her during her outpour, but she knew he was listening, because he would hold her tighter or begin to pat her back at different points.  When she finished, she expected to feel exhausted and spent, but she felt the opposite.  She felt alive and rejuvenated, like the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders.  She backed out of her cocoon and looked into his face, not knowing what to expect.  What she saw written on his features was compassion, understanding, love and deep within his eyes, desire.   

Her blood started to boil.  She wrapped her arms around him, kissing him deeply.  From her position on his lap, she realized the pouring of her soul had not deterred his desire for her.

“Annie?“ he asked into her hair.  She nodded in response.  “Are you sure?“ he asked.

“Yes, Jeff,“ she replied, sitting back and undoing the buttons on his shirt while moving her hips provocatively on his trapped manhood.  She heard his responding cry of delight as he fiercely grabbed her, causing her blouse to cascade to the floor.  Gently pushing him back, she continued her task. 

She backed off his lap and tried to pull his shirttail out of his pants, but this was impossible due to his current excited state.  He started to move to assist her, but she stopped him. “You would not allow me to assist you with mine,“ she purred at him.

Chuckling for the first time in quite a while, he held up his hands and surrendered to her.  She knew in order to finish the task she would have to undo the buttons on his jeans.  Concentrating on this task, she found herself biting her tongue; it was sticking out of her mouth, just a little.  This was a family trait which could be annoying to others, but she heard him chuckle again.  She glanced up from her task and gazed into his face.  He was watching her, smiling.  Merriment was dancing in his blue eyes. 

With her right hand still on his belt buckle, she leaned forward and kissed him.  Smiling, she returned to her task.  Within seconds, she realized her task would not easy due to his state of arousal.  She worked slowly to undo his buckle and buttons of his jeans.  As the fly opened, she registered the fact that his manhood was straining against his underclothes.  Feeling extremely awkward, she avoided touching the front of him, as she pulled the caught shirt out of his pants and opened it to reveal his naked chest.

He sat up and grabbed her, pulling her into his embrace.  She gasped as their bare skin touched.  Instantly, her breasts reacted to the contact.  This simple meeting of their bodies placed her right back to where she was physically before her ’episode.’  Her need for him was growing by the second.  He lowered her down on the comforter.  This time, no fear was evident in her system.  She responded by bringing his hand down to the waistband of her slacks, giving him unspoken permission to continue where he had left off earlier.

He looked at her with so much heat, it melted her very core.  Unbuttoning her slacks, he tried to push them down her legs.  She raised her hips to assist him with his task, causing him to laugh.  In the process of removing her slacks, he stopped to kiss the now-exposed skin as he made his way to her feet. 

Her hands were aching to touch him, but he was out of her reach.  She grabbed hold of the only thing available to her, the comforter.  She felt no fear this time, but instead a burning sensation was coursing through her body, and his actions were the cause.  As he reached her feet, he carefully removed her shoes and stockings, and then pulled the slacks all the way off.

She was exposed before his eyes, only clothed in her underwear, feeling not one bit shy or ashamed.  He sat back on his heels, playing with her feet.  Looking at him, she was surprised at the expression on his face.  There was not a trace of disgust; he was devouring her with his eyes as he massaged her feet.

She cried his name.  “Jeff!“  He focused on her face and crawled back up to her side.  She watched his progress, noticing he still was wearing his opened jeans.  As he lay down beside her, she started to move.  He started to protest, but she stilled him with her eyes.  “What was good for the goose is good for the gander,“ she declared.  It was her turn to do the same to him.  She rolled him on his back and leaned over and kissed him full on the lips.  He started to reach for her, but she sat back on her heels.  Quickly grabbing his hands, she placed them under his head, begging him with her eyes to keep them there.  He nodded, smiling that he understood.

Satisfied, she began her exploration of his body.  Using her hands first, then her lips, she caressed his exposed, upper body.  She heard him occasionally call out her name as she made her way down his body.  As she reached his stomach, he reached out to touch her.  She sat up and looked pointedly at him, frowning.   Feeling a little guilty, he chuckled and returned his hand back under his head.  Smiling, she continued on her path.  At the waistband of his underclothes, she crawled to his feet.  She undid his laces on his shoes and removed them.  Reaching under his pants leg, she removed his socks. 
Now, the pants
, she thought.  Moving up, she grabbed the waistband of his jeans, and said one word, “Up!“  He did as commanded and with one, strong tug she had the jeans down to his ankles.  As he rested his buns, the pants came off.

***

Chapter Ten

In the aftermath glow of their lovemaking, Jeff and Annie spooned.  She was extremely relaxed, as her body heat returned to normal.  “Well, did I pass?  Or, do I have to do it again, Teacher?“ he asked, kissing her ear lobe. 

“Let me think.  Oh, you pass,“ she said happily, snuggling deeper against him. 

“Damn.  I was hoping to have to try again,“ he swore lightly, hugging her close to him.  Annie purred deeply like a kitten at her contentment.   Hearing and feeling her purr, Jeff whimpered softly like a playful puppy.  “I thought you said you were inexperienced,“ he whispered.  “The things you did to me.   WOW.  To whom do I owe for those pleasures?“

Annie giggled lightly.  “I guess you should thank the authors of the romance books I read.  I will gladly provide you with their names if you want,“ she offered.

“Romance books provide you with that much detail?“ he asked, shocked. 

“Yessssss,“ she replied, rolling out of his arms to face him. 

“I might have to read one,“ he offered, looking into her eyes. 

“Oh, you do not need it.  Believe me.  You already possess the knowledge,“ she said, provocatively kissing him.  “However, I could give you a copy, if you like, so you can gain insight on just what expectations women want guys to fulfill.  You know, thinking about it, I feel sorry for you guys.  The romance books paint a picture of seduction which I thought, before you, was all fiction.  I definitely did not experience this level of satisfaction in my past real encounters.  I was too shy, too afraid, too self-conscious, too stupid, too inexperience, too .  .  .,“ she paused.  “I was just too uncomfortable with them,“ she shared openly.

“What made me different?“ Jeff asked, truly interested in her answer.

“This, I think.  Being naked beside you without cover and not feeling exposed.  The ability and comfort level to discuss anything with you.  Freedom, . . . no not freedom.  It is more like permission to be myself, to be able to pour out my soul earlier.  The desire I see in your eyes, even now.  You have touched my heart; I feel love from you.  I have never felt this way before,“ she admitted honestly.

Annie saw Jeff’s eyes glaze over at her words. 
Damn
, she thought.  I have shared too much.  Ever present self-doubt crawled onto her shoulder and whispered into her ear. 
“You blew it.  Get up, get dressed, and walk home.  It WAS fun.“
  She shook her head and screamed,
No
, in her mind. 
I am not giving this man up
.

Reaching out with a shaking hand, she brushed the hair on his forehead.  “Hello, are you there?“ she asked quietly.  Jeff’s eyes refocused on her.  “Penny for your thoughts,“ she voiced worriedly, pulling her hand back.

“Thoughts,“ Jeff echoed, not smiling.

“Yes,“ she pushed.

“Your words.“

Annie replayed her words in her head. 
Crap
, she used the ’L ’ word. 
What the hell?
 she thought, as a sinking feeling overcame her.  She had to save the moment.  “Jeff, I said the wrong word earlier.  I meant desire not the other word,“ she amended quickly. 

“No, you meant what you said originally,“ he stated, squinting at her.  “I have learned that much about you already.  You speak the truth.“

“I don’t know what to say.  If you want me to go, I understand,“ she admitted, with tears building in her eyes as she moved away from him.

“Where are you going?“ Jeff asked softly.

“I don’t know.  Away,“ she responded. 

“Not so fast, little lady,“ he said, reaching for her and pushing her onto her back.  Shifting positions, he placed his leg over hers and perched his upper body on his elbow so he could look down upon her.  “You are not going anywhere.  You had your turn; it is now mine.“

Annie’s heart was beating so hard, she thought it would explode in her chest.  Seeing the fear in her eyes, he reached out and lovingly brushed her hair away from her eyes.  “I vowed earlier to you that I would never hurt you, so relax and listen to me.  Your words started me thinking.  That was what I was doing.  When you said you feel love from me, it shocked me.  I really thought I was incapable of love, giving or receiving it.  I don’t think I have ever experienced it.  I come from a broken home with some really deep-dark demons in the closet.  I have functioned my entire life on just surviving one day to the next.  I have no root system, no balance, and I believe it is the reason I write poetry.  It gives me an outlet for my feelings without the messiness of personal relationships.  That’s it!  I am a failure in personal relationships,“ he informed her.

“No, you are not,“ Annie said, reaching out and placing her hand on the side of his face.  

“Oh, yes, I am or was until you,“ Jeff confessed.

“Me?“ Annie questioned unbelievingly.

“Since I first heard your laugh, something changed within me.  As I stood there watching you last night, I knew you were special.  I have not been able to get you off my mind,“ he said, turning his head into her palm and kissing it.  Reaching up with his left hand, he captured her hand and placed their joined hands on his chest over his heart. 

“Jeff?“

“No.  Let me finish,“ he begged.  “When you bumped into me on your flight to the restroom, I was blown away by your incidental touch.  Your flustered facial blush sealed the deal.  Annie, you glowed to me.  I know it sounds strange, but I didn’t see it until that encounter.  My eyes followed you and I was mesmerized.  I truly believe that was the moment when the wall around my heart cracked.  Believe me; I have never, ever felt that way before.  A part of me died when I walked out of there without talking to you.  It did not occur to me until I was back here that you might not call.  I just couldn’t fathom I cared that much.  I returned to see if it was real or not.  When I reentered and saw your glowing aura, the crack expanded.  I felt humbled in your presence.“