by Judy
nOT SO FAST, ANGELS. A couple of author's noted first - thanks for indulging me!!! Glad to see the early morning angels are still "asleep" & I am sorry to have missed the late night West Coast crowd - I couldnd't get connected at 11:00 pm late night, soooo I got up at 5:30 am this morning!!! Which isn't too bad when I think of those of you with cute little babies who were uphalf the night. This little diversion is because today is my baby's 15th birthday!!! At this time 15 years ago, I was in labor - which lasted til 6:15 p.m.! So, whatever comes, today should be less painful than that day! So, enjoy your little ones while they are little, but be sure they are safely tucked away while you read this cause I wouldn't wan't their little minds warped by what lies ahead . . . enjoy! Judy
Reunion Part 8: "A Night of Passion . . ."
When they finally returned to the house, it was late afternoon. The sun was beginning to set on the water and they sat in their spot by the pool watching the flames dance on the waves. Jax's arms were wrapped around Brenda as she leaned back into him for support.
"Are you hungry?" he asked her.
"Depends on what you have in mind," she answered wistfully. Then, whipping around to face him she said in a matter-of-fact tone, "Actually, I'm starved. All this exercise has heightened my appetite. I'm in the mood for something hot and spicy." Her eyes danced mischievously.
"Me? Or Thai food?" He never missed a beat.
"How about . . . Mexican?" The word stretched into a long, lingering thought - half question; half answer. "Do you think Anna would mind preparing her fabulous chicken mole for us?"
"I think she'd love it. I'll go ask her, now. It might take her awhile to put it together. Can you wait - or do you want a snack?" His tone was full of innuendo.
"Hey, I'm good at waiting, remember?"
"Yeah, sure. Be right back." He pretended to let her fall backwards as he moved away, but he caught her and set her upright. "Careful," he chided.
Brenda returned her gaze to the water. It was exactly the way she had imagined.
******
Returning to the terrace with the news that Anna would be happy to grant
her request, Jax paused for a second to admire the woman he loved. He watched
her staring off into the sunset and for just a moment, the old doubts surged
through him. He quickly focussed on the pool and saw his image reflected
behind hers. She was smiling back at him. Their images were clear and strong
in spite of the dimming light. She repositioned her body and her likeness
was absorbed into his; the glow of the sunset cast a bright red spark in
the place where their hearts merged. His fears subsided and he chastised
himself for having had them. Would he ever be totally confident in her love?
He banished the thought from his mind and approached her.
"It's all set. Anna said it would be her pleasure."
"Jax?" Her voice stretched and rose.
That tone, again. He knew she wanted something from him.
"Would you mind if we got dressed for dinner?"
"I was kind of hoping we wouldn't," he teased.
"Please, Jax. You look so-o-o-o-o gorgeous in a tux and . . . I have a surprise for you."
The inflection in her voice peaked his curiosity; his thoughts flashed to the mystery item inside the bag. He couldn't imagine any dress being that important. But if it would make her happy, he was certainly willing to oblige. "Okay, he said, but you owe me. I'm in a jeans and T-shirt kind of mood."
"Not a problem," was her only reply. Giving him a parting kiss, she slipped into the house.
Upstairs, she chose to dress in the guest bedroom to avoid the possibility of his seeing her while she got ready. She locked the door behind her and leaned on it for a moment. Then she began to prepare for the night ahead.
********
Brenda remembered that she knew just how long it would take him to get dressed.
"Funny," she thought to herself, "I don't remember knowing that before."
The realization that she knew more about him than she had imagined made her
a little sad. There were so many things she hadn't been able to fully appreciate
during their year together. But she resolved to use her memories as a positive
sign and it helped to steady her nerves. In spite of the fact that she wanted
to give him this perfect night, she was as much anxious as excited.
Jax's curiosity was killing him. He couldn't remember Brenda ever being this mysterious before. Oh, sure, she had taken him on a number of intriguing dates in her attempt to win him back, but there was a very different feel to this night. It was far more intense, more serious.
He couldn't wait to see what she had in store. Taking the stairs two at a time, he carried a bottle of champagne for them to share. Entering the master suite, disappointment overtook him. The room was empty; his dinner jacket had been laid out on the bed.
He so loved watching her dress - the smell of her perfume and the way she played with her hair while deciding how to wear it. The vacuous feeling overwhelmed him and he rushed to find her.
"Brenda?" he called loudly in the hallway.
The urgency in his voice alarmed her and she came to the door, partially dressed, smelling of shampoo and soap.
"I missed you," he said simply. "Why are you getting dressed in here?"
"Oh, Jax," she apologized, "I just wanted you to see me all finished and ready for you. It's part of the surprise. I'll be done in a jiffy, I promise. Now go get dressed and I'll race you to the terrace."
Reluctantly he left and prepared himself for her arrival.
Anna had outdone herself. From the balcony of the upstairs bedroom, Brenda could see the terrace, below. It was alive with colored lights swinging in the breeze, the pungent smell of hot spices and the strains of seductive music wafting through the night air. She hurried down to greet him, but he was already waiting when she arrived.
The sight of her took his breath away. She was always a stunning vision, but tonight she looked sultry and sensuous. Red. She was dressed in flowing red silk. The bodice of her gown skimmed the crest of her breasts then dipped between them in a gentle V that nearly reached her navel. It was held together by a thin insert of black lace. The skirt was slit to her thigh where it revealed another hint of black.
Her hair was swept up to one side. A few strands had escaped the clasp and cascaded down, skimming her shoulders - an invitation for the others to join them in abandonment. A hibiscus was positioned in the clasp. Her make-up was intense in a way that he hardly recognized her.
"So this is her surprise," he thought.
She spoke not a word but walked straight to him, her eyes piercing his soul. Her intensity demanded that he treat her almost like a stranger. He stood up, took her hand and kissed it. Then stiffly, he pulled out her chair and seated her. His eyes were embedded in hers. She was ravishing. He could hardly speak but knew she would expect it of him.
"You look exquisite," he finally managed.
"Thank you," was her only reply.
He couldn't eat and he couldn't take his eyes off her. His mouth was open as if to speak, but no more words escaped.
She enticingly picked up a piece of fruit and placed it between his parted lips. "Eat," she said in a provocative tone.
Jax finally composed himself and relaxed - a little. The tension in the air was unmistakable. She had caught him off guard. Jax, the man who was always in charge found himself following Brenda's lead.
She knew she was in control but she was nervous because she had taken this approach with him only one time before. Their relationship had always been about fun and friendship; their lovemaking playful and tender - the shaving cream, the bantering, the avoidance of what Jax had once described as -passion.
He had conceded to her only once that he knew it had been missing from their relationship. At the time, he framed it so gently, so carefully, that she nearly missed his meaning. He had said they both deserved better. But now, Brenda knew: he had been longing for someone who wanted him, only him, passionately, completely. She finally understood that why Miranda's letters had hurt her so: they told her that he had experienced such a love and though it hadn't been perfect and he'd known it only briefly, it was enough for him to recognize its absence in Brenda. Even so, he had stayed with her. It was a gift she had not returned.
Jax's response to her the night she had taken the lead in their lovemaking had taught her that from her giving she would get far more in return. His present to her that night had been the vulnerability he'd been withholding. That night, she knew she'd been able to touch him in a way he had never experienced with her before. And in that instant, she knew it was the connection, the intimacy, she had always denied him. She had vowed to herself that she would prove to him, in as many ways, for as many times as it took to convince him, that he was the only man in her thoughts, in her heart. It was at that moment that this night of passion had been conceived.
They ate in silence, connected by a deeper understanding than words can express. And when they were done, Brenda walked over and turned on the song she had played in her head so many times. She was terrified that she would be unable to go through with her plan. It would take as much courage as stopping the pills, as standing in front of the cameras. Tonight she would dance for the man of her dreams - a dance of seduction, a dance of love.
Drumbeats introduced the deep pulsating sound of the music like the blood surging through her veins. She was thankful it covered the pounding of her heart racing in her chest. She couldn't let herself think about what she was doing, only feel herself slip into the words, the sounds of the music. Slip into the crispness of the air as it stung her damp flesh. Slip into the mesmerizing lights flashing in the breeze as the air flowed across the terrace.
Jax sat, spellbound watching her, not fully realizing who was before him. He was in a trance of her creation. He had never before seen this Brenda and he could hardly believe his eyes.
"Who calls this child to walk on her own?
Who leads her down this treacherous road?
She's dancing to a song we can't hear
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Come dance with me
Come dance with me
Come, come, come
God makes us dream but won't set us free
God calls his dance to songs we can't hear
Come dance with me
Come dance with me
Come, set me free
Come dance with me. . ."
Her body swayed and rocked to the steady, passionate beat of the sensuous melody. She hardly heard the words. She had entered his spirit, could feel herself meld into the very essence of his being. The lights flashed like fire around them. The pool capturing them as a display of fireworks; the drumbeat the sound of their explosion.
"Oh, come on down
Come, set me free
Come, come, come, come
Come, dance with me*
She danced for him, around him, to him. The music reached a feverish climax, and when she could no longer bear the thought of not touching him, she extended her arms as an invitation. He stood up. They danced to music they could barely hear. They were lost in each other's minds, hearts, souls.
Jax kissed her so hard and so deep that she thought he would touch her heart from the shear force of his power. She ached for him and because of him. She knew him as a man of many passions, but never before had he shown her its depth in this way. His powerful hands gripped her shoulders; her arms, her buttocks and he drew her into him with great urgency. There was no space, no air between them.
The lights cast strange, alluring patterns on the terrace, over his face and body. She could see it reflected in his eyes as he gently, but steadfastly peeled her out of the gown. She removed his jacket, his shirt . . .
The song had changed, but the impact of the music was ever as intense . . .
"And in your eyes I see ribbons of color
I see us inside of each other
I feel my unconscious merge with yours
And I hear a voice in my head sat, 'What's his is hers'
I'm falling into you
This dream could come true
And it feels so good falling into you
I was afraid to let you in here
Now I have learned love can't be
made in fear
The walls begin to tumble down
And I can't even see the ground"
Their eyes never wavered. Jax lifted her up and carried her to the pool, their pool. In its truth they found each. The heat of their passion warmed the cool water. They reveled in the purity, honesty and fervor of it. And when they had exhausted every way of expressing their love, they relaxed and held onto each other, staring into the night with only the steady sound of the waves crashing on the shore to speak of their commitment.
********
Jax carried her to the room where earlier that night he had longed for her
presence. He had never shared this room, this bed with anyone. He tried to
tell her, but she already knew. It was their place to be lovers without the
haunting of past loves. They had purged those demons without having to give
up that part of their lives. They had each had a first special love, but
first loves are rarely meant to last a lifetime. They had made peace with
their pasts so they could move on to their future. Now they would develop
a love based on a truer appraisal of life, knowing that neither is perfect
and recognizing they would yet have to deal with some painful blows. Their
friendship and love had reached a new plane of existence, one they both now
trusted. Yet, both also knew it would take work to keep their love alive
and strong. It was work they would do, together.
The music from the terrace continued to seep into the room and they were lost in each other, again.
"I'm falling into you
This dream could come true
And it feels so good falling into you
Falling like a leaf, falling like a star
Finding a belief, falling where you are
Catch me, don't let me drop!
Love me, don't ever stop!
So close your eyes and let me kiss you
And while you sleep, I will miss you . . .
Falling like a leaf, falling like a star
Finding a belief, falling where you are
Falling into you
Falling into you
Falling into you"**
*Selina, God's Child (a loose translation of the lyrics)
**"Falling into You", Celine Dion; Words and music by Billy Stein, Rick Nowels
and Marie Claire D'Ubaldo