The luckiest

Chapter 4

The next day is spent just consumed with one another.  Charlie is insatiable and I can’t blame him.  So am I.  We have three days to ourselves, but I feel as if something is wrong or off with our trip.

I in fact know what it is, “Ginny?”

“Hmm?”  I ask, as I mindlessly cut potatoes into oval chip shapes.

“Baby, if you miss the girls; call your parents.”

“I won’t seem needy?”

“No, you won’t.  You’re their Mom.  Do it.”

Ten minutes on the phone with Mom and I feel much better.  She’s even let me listen to them gurgling away and I think somehow, she gets me.  In fact, I think my Mother is relieved I’ve grown up finally.

Charlie comes to sit at the kitchen table while I prep dinner.

“You’re gorgeous.”  He muses as he rests his chin on his hand.

“What?”  I scoff.  My hair is piled high and my face is make-up free.  I feel relaxed and at ease, but not gorgeous.

“Just like this.  Not to sound like a sexist pig or anything, but I like you in the kitchen.  You look so relaxed and happy.  I like you happy.”

“Buddy, you should see me in the kitchen with twins crying and a pot over-boiling.  Not so relaxed and happy then.”

“Either way; you’re my wife and I’m a lucky son-of-a-bitch.”

Oh my God!  It doesn’t take more than that to turn me on.  I’m around the counter and in between his legs, my mouth on his in rushed, hungry kisses.

Needless to say, dinner was put on hold, but another basic need was met.

We decide on dinner in town and agree on the first place that will take us without a reservation.   We end up in Burlington and are both not keen on having left Stowe, which is more idyllic.  Our adventure takes us to Bleu Northeast Seafood Restaurant.  Luckily we’re both dressed appropriately.

“I’m so hungry; I don’t care where we eat, really.”  Charlie groans.

“Well, I could always keep busy with cooking and do less of what’s keeping you starved.  Your choice, Mr King.”

He rolls his eyes, “Oh, the choices I have to make are very tough.”

“So stop your whining!” I tease.

The hostess seats us and our waiter is with us almost instantly.  It’s a reminder of the days before we had the girls; when all we did was partake in fine dining, weekends in New York, hotel stays and frivolous spending.  A part of me aches for it, but I quickly chastise myself for thinking this way.

“Your order, babe.”  I hear Charlie through my thoughts and snap out of it.

“Oh, yeah.  Sorry.  I’ll have your coldest Sauvignon Blanc, please.”

“Certainly, Ma’am.  Sir?”

“Same, thank you.”  Charlie mutters, looking thoughtfully at me.

I smile at him, waiting until our waiter is out of earshot, “What is it?”

“Ginny, are you alright?  You seem to drift off a lot lately.”

“I am.  I swear.  I think I just miss the girls a bit more than what I thought I would.”  I lie partially.

“OK, but if its anything else, you’ll tell me, right?”

“Right.”

Just then a crowd of people burst into laughter in the opposite corner of the room.  I glance over and notice they’re a group of well-oiled suits, enjoying a night out sans wives.

“I definitely don’t miss those days.”  Charlie scoffs.

“So glad I never met you then.”  I laugh.

“Baby, you’d have been bored with me in minutes.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I hated corporate.  The late nights, early mornings, ass-kissing.  Actually wasn’t that different to life now.”

We both laugh at his reference.

“At least you have some down time when you go to work.”  I realise how this sounds after it leaves my mouth.  Ah, Ginny, there you go and do it again.

“OK.  That’s what you think I do at work.  Down time?”  Charlie is such a saint though, he doesn’t even get mad at me.

“No, I don’t think its actual R and R.  I just think its easier than having baby company all day.”

This is a fact.  I literally crave conversation with someone who could talk back.  I try not to call Mom all day.  Holly still helps David with work from home, so I try not to bother her either and Charlie’s Mom is great, but I wouldn’t pick up the phone to just chew the fat.

The waiter comes back to an awkward silence to deliver our wine and take our food order.

“Uh, Grilled swordfish ratatouille, thank you.”  I say, handing him the menu.  Charlie is still giving me his thoughtful, concerned husband look.

“Sir?”

“Rib Eye steak, please.  Medium.”

The noisy group of suits laugh again.

I look over at them again, this time more annoyed.  Then I notice him.  s**t!  Well, f**k me sideways.  Cane Ashby.  Twice in one weekend.  I look back at Charlie.  Good, he hasn’t noticed him, it seems.

I don’t think he’ll be annoyed, but I do know it would be an awkward situation.  I can now single Cane’s voice out of the others’.  His raspy laugh vibrates over everyone else’s.  I’m more aware of him now.  That’s normal though; when you can distinguish someone’s voice out of a group’s, especially after seeing him sitting there.  It doesn’t mean anything.  Then why am I feeling so guilty?  Damn it!

“How’s your wine?”  I ask Charlie.

“OK.  Your’s?”

“Its good.  So, what are doing tomorrow?”

“I thought you were happy holed up in the lake house.”  He’s teasing me.

Cane laughs again.  s**t.  Can’t he shut up?  What is he?  A hyena?  God!

“Ginny!”

“What?”

“What’s got you so distracted?”

They laugh again and this time, Charlie looks over.  If ever he’s gone red in the face, right then would have been the worst.

“Seriously?”  I can’t read whether he’s pissed at me or the fact that Cane is here.

“Its obviously coincidental.”  I offer meekly.

He doesn’t seem to hear me.  He’s just glaring at Cane, who is in his element, regaling his company with some story or another.

“You don’t think this is planned, right?”  I’m starting to feel a bit annoyed with Charlie.

“No, of course not.”  He shakes his head.

“Good.  Now let’s focus on each other.”

I smile at Charlie and stroke his hand across the table, “Hey.  Eyes front and centre Mr King.”

He smiles, barely, but it’s a smile, “Yes, Ma’am.”

We go through dinner, still unnoticed by Cane, which is a relief.  I admit, its an odd feeling, being seated in the same place, and not talking.  Then again, we never made it past six months.

“OK, ready?”  Charlie asks as he finishes paying the bill.

“Yes, I am.  The Uber cab is literally around the corner.”  I say, checking my phone.

As we turn to leave, Charlie slipping a hand on the small of my back, I hear him.

“Gin!”

Turning around slowly, I plaster a smile on my face, Charlie’s grip tightens.

Cane’s gotten up from the table and is sauntering towards us.  I can feel the mood shift as Charlie groans quietly, almost like a low growl.

“Wow, what a surprise!”  I muse.

“Twice in one weekend.  You’re following me!”  he laughs, “Just like in college.”

Asshole!

“Hey, watch it!”  Charlie says quietly enough not to cause a scene, but with enough menace to warrant an apology from Cane.  Well sort of.

“Just kidding, right Gin?”   he asks, his hand on my shoulder.

I don’t know what’s happened to self-assured me then, but my husband is clearly done with the interaction as he takes my hand to lead me out.

“Goodbye, Cane.”  I manage politely, which demands a stern look from my husband, who is usually very adoring.

Cane stands there, an amused look on his face and shrugs, waving me off.

The drive back to the cabin is quiet.  Charlie holds my hand tightly and strokes it all the way.  I snuggle closely against him.  He’s so beautiful.  Cane was an absolute jerk and I love my husband for defending me.

I kiss him chastely when we get inside and then head off to get ready for bed.

After I’m dressed in a barely there ensemble, covered by a satin robe, I place some logs in the fire place in our room.

I feel his hands on my ass, cupping it and I feel his length against me, “If any man makes the mistake of thinking you’re available or disrespects you ever again, I’ll lose my s**t and do anything to defend or protect you.”

“I know.”  I say quietly and turn to face him, kissing him on the mouth, “And I love you all the more for it.”

His words are warming to my soul and I want to consume him.  He is everything to me.  This sculpted, hardworking man I’ve been blessed with.  I can’t think of anything more I could say to him that would affirm my love and respect for him.  So, I do the one thing every man can appreciate and surrender myself to his will.

He doesn’t waste any time and slips my robe off, then turns me around, placing my hands on the cool marble of the mantle.  His hands explore the flesh coloured lace that’s pulled taught over my body.  His expert fingers free my breasts and he twists my n*****s gently.  I moan, a tightening feeling in my groin beckoning him.

He nibbles on an ear and I feel the slickness between my thighs instantly.  His hands travel down between my legs and his fingers slip into the folds of my s*x.  I let out a moan so wanton, it drives him to push his fingers inside of me.  I start feeling the pull and he stops.  I manage to steady my breathing as he gives me a break from the sweet torture, but before I can fully recover, his fingers are inside of me again.

“Charlie.”  I murmur.

“Not yet.  Don’t.  Not bloody yet.”  He groans against my neck.

“Baby, I can’t hold back.”

He stops stroking me suddenly, but is quick as he pushes his erection inside of me, to the hilt.

I gasp and then find my footing as he pushes back and forth, our bodies moving in perfect unison.  I am pushed to the edge as quickly as before and try not to lose control, but the way he is holding me steady with one arm around my breast and the other on my hip, I can’t resist the feeling building inside of me and let go.  My head thrown back in complete ecstasy, I call his name and let out a breath I have been holding for what seems like forever.

He pushes harder and faster, getting himself to his edge and I feel the way he is throbbing inside of me as he buries himself as deep as he can without hurting me.

“Now, would you trade that for anything?”  he asks, slapping my ass playfully.

“Not a chance!”

Our last day is spent with a walk along the lake and then back to the cabin to just spend time with one another, in complete relaxation.

“I enjoyed this.”  I tell Charlie, whose sitting on the couch, my legs thrown over his lap while he reads the Portland local paper online.

“I’m glad you did.  So did I.”

“We should do it more often.”  I muse, thinking that we should and how relaxing its been.

I’ve limited my check-in of the girls to texts and will actually miss the alone time.

“I was thinking at least twice a year.”

“That’s great.  Maybe we could do a couple’s retreat with David and Holly.”

“We could add Jamie and Emma too.”  He looks at me hopefully.

“I guess.”  I smile, but my twitching eye giving me away.

He shrugs, “Just a thought.”

“Are you all packed?”  I change the subject.

“Yep, are you?”

“Uh-huh.  Let me make sure.”  When I say this, I’m going to make sure Charlie is all packed, which is unlikely.

I spend the next hour walking around gathering bits and pieces he has left in various places around the cabin.

We leave magical Vermont by five that evening and I start feeling anxious to get to my girls.  I can’t wait to inhale that sweet baby smell.

We’re in the cab home and my heart is pounding with excitement.  Charlie reads me so well, “Excited much?”

“Can you tell?”

“I am too.”  He kisses my hand.

I loved Vermont, but I look forward to being with my girls again and then seeing my big brother the following weekend.

We pull up outside our house and its just after nine P.M.  The porch light is on and so is the living room.  I practically ditch Charlie and leave him with all the bags.

Before I can unlock the door, Mom is there, her finger over her lips, “Ssh!  They’ve just had their feed and are finally asleep.”

“Aw!  I was hoping they’d still be up.”

“We stuck to your routine as best we could.”

“Thanks, Mom.”  I head up to their room to sit there a bit and just watch them sleeping soundly.  Charlie has to tear me away eventually.

My parents fix us something warm to drink and we sit up and chat for a bit.  They’re staying over and leaving in the morning.

“OK, I’m off to bed, folks.”  Charlie announces, “Early day tomorrow.  Thank you again for helping out Mom and Dad.”

“Its our pleasure, Charlie.”  Mom rubs his hand thoughtfully.

“What do you mean?”  I asked, shocked.

“I’m going to work tomorrow.”

“I thought you’d take one more day considering we’re back so late.”

He gives me a stern look, “Gin, I have to go in.  There’s only so much my manager can do.”

“Fine.” I feel sulky and want our weekend back.

He kisses me on the forehead and heads upstairs.

I sit a few more minutes with my parents and then head up myself.  I go to the girls’ room and check on them one last time before heading to bed.

Charlie is actually passed out when I eventually get into bed.  He looks so peaceful.  I cuddle up next to him, my head on his chest and my arm wrapped around his torso.

It doesn’t take me long to doze off either and I dream of my husband, a lake and a dark-haired stranger at the door, trying to get in.