Have their dreams come true? Is happiness and true love finally real?
Love Made Over
Part 3
Cast of Characters:
Wendell Davis Anders
Gwendolyn Rene Jacobs
Marylinn (fellow waitress at the diner where Gwen works)
Life is full of twists and unexpected turns of events. Often, they are not welcomed or even wanted, but sometimes they are truly amazing… Such are second chances… An opportunity to set wrongs right, to make amends and to experience happiness and joy. For Wendell and Gwen, it might be life changing.
Gwen seemed like a different person today, at least to those regular customers who had grown accustomed to her world-weary aura on an average day. It’s not that she was surly or curt with most people but rather just tired and resigned to making it through another day. So, the smiles and cheerfulness were like the difference between night and day to them. For every smile she shared, more were returned to her in kind. The happiness fed on itself and grew with each passing hour.
After Wendell drove away from the diner, he had wondered where he might take Gwen to dinner that evening. Thinking of food made him remember that he had next to nothing in his fridge or pantry at the house yet. Conveniently, he was passing a supermarket when this thought struck him, so he made a quick turn into the parking lot and found a place to park near the doors.
As he got out of his jeep, he realized that he was still dressed in his dress uniform from the day before. Now that he was officially retired, he felt as though he didn’t need to be fully presentable as such. I took off his jacket and folded it over the back of the front seat. He rolled up his sleeves and took off his tie and loosened the top button of his shirt. Now feeling a little more casual and relaxed he smiled at himself in the side view mirror and closed the door before heading into the supermarket.
Wendell grabbed a buggy and started shopping in the produce department. A bag of potatoes, a bag of onions, carrots, celery, some tomatoes, and a head of lettuce. From there it was to the meat cases, as an idea was forming in his mind, and he smiled all the more as it took shape and began to be a plan for tonight. Along with a pound of bacon, some rolls of breakfast sausage, and a package of chicken wings, Wendell ***********ed two thick bone-in rib eye steaks.
Up and down the aisles of the market, Wendell pushed his buggy adding to his purchases almost at a whim. Canned goods, sugar, flour, cornmeal, pasta, cans of soup, even some breakfast cereals. He got some milk, cream, sour cream, butter and a tub or cottage cheese. In the bakery department he got a loaf of bread, some croissants and a couple of French baguettes. Ticking off items in his head, he realized that he’d better get some kitchen essentials… like aluminum foil, some cling wrap, wax paper, olive oil, and shortening. Passing by the spices he took a moment to add salt, black pepper, garlic powder and a haphazard collection of other spices and seasonings.
By the time he was headed to the check out, his buggy was nearly overflowing. He made one more stop before heading to the registers though, in the floral department. His first inclination was to get a single rose. Knowing that a single rose often meant more to the recipient than a whole dozen or more. I smirked to himself, though he did want to get that message across loud and clear to Gwen, it might not be just the right time yet, so instead he bought a large bouquet of mixed variety of blooms as a centerpiece for the kitchen table. He had to carry the bouquet because there was no room in his buggy.
The teen aged girl at the register was nearly in awe of one, Wendell standing there holding a large bouquet of flowers, and two his heaped to overflowing buggy as he placed item after item onto the belt for her to ring up. It took two people to bag up his purchases and two buggies once it was bagged to get his goods to the jeep.
Once home, Wendell had to make several trips from the jeep up the stairs of the back deck, both levels, to the back door and into the kitchen. First things first though, he found a large bowl, a punch bowl of all things, one his mom left with the house. There were no vases big enough to hold the flowers. Improvising worked well. Next was the food in the pantry and fridge. He left the steaks out and a couple of potatoes and the makings of a salad. He washed and wrapped the potatoes in foil and put them in the oven, checking the time first.
The steaks were removed from their packaging and seasoned liberally on both sides before being put on a platter and covered. He left the platter out to bring the steaks up to room temperature, again checking the time. He opted to leave the salad to be prepared as the steaks were cooking later. Speaking of which, he stepped out onto the deck and pulled the gas grill around to set it up for its debut performance. It wouldn’t take long to heat up to cooking temperature, so he left it off. Had he not had to go and pick up Gwen later, he would have opted to use the charcoal fired side of the grill instead.
While the food was either cooking or getting ready to be cooked later, and the grill was ready to go… it was time to check on the hot tub. Wendell pulled the padded cover off the top of the tub and folded it to set it aside. He checked that the water level was good and then turned the temperature up to a comfortable 100 degrees. He tested the jets to see that they were all working properly then smiled and shut them down for the time being. He flicked a switch on the privacy enclosure to see the lights in the tub turn on and the little accent lights around the enclosure turn on as well.
Happy that the tub was ready for use later, Wendell again checked his watch and noted the time. Just a couple of more things to take care of yet. One, a shower, shave and change of clothes. Then to *********** some music for listening to later. Not knowing for sure what Gwen was into listening to these days, he opted for some old classics and some music that he remembered her liking from their childhood and teenage years.
At two thirty that afternoon, Gwen was positively giddy with anticipation. Not that she could have hidden that if she tried, but it seemed everyone noticed it. Including Marylinn, the same waitress who had lent her and Wendell her umbrella last night. Marylinn was again Gwen’s relief for her shift at the diner.
“Honey, you look like you are about to burst!” Marylinn said with a teasing smile.
“Do I?” Gwen asked and blushed slightly though she returned a sheepish grin.
“I don’t even have to ask what happened last night, girl, it’s written all over your face. Good for you!” Marylinn said with a wink and a knowing smile.
Gwen didn’t know what to say to that, so she just kept silent and fidgeted all the while watching the clock, and the front door of the diner. Marylinn didn’t miss that either.
“Is he coming by again this afternoon?” Marylinn asked as she sidled up a little closer to Gwen and rubber her shoulder to Gwen’s to nudge her to speak.
“Yes. He’s taking me to dinner tonight.” Gwen gushed and smiled again. She couldn’t help herself.
“Oh my! Two days in a row? Just how serious is this guy?” Marylinn teased, though she was very happy for Gwen.
Instead of saying anything, Gwen just held up two fingers that were crossed and smiled again. To be honest, she couldn’t have said much if she wanted to. The feelings, the emotions, the thoughts and hopes were all a jumble in her mind and heart. The butterflies in her stomach seemed to just complicate everything else. All the happiness and joy were tempered yet somewhat by the one remaining secret that she knew she had to share with Wendell. She wondered how he would handle that.
It seemed that she was checking the clock almost every minute as the time got closer and closer to the end of her shift at three. Marylinn noticed too, and she giggled to herself realizing that Gwen was a ball of nervous energy.
“Honey, Gwen… why don’t you go on and get cleaned up and primp a little bit. It’s not busy right now and I’ve got it. Go!” Marylinn prompted with a hip check to the fidgety Gwen behind the counter.
“Why am I so nervous?” Gwen whispered then smiled and whisked off to the back room to take off her apron and clean up a bit.
As Gwen was fussing with her hair in the mirror of the bathroom at the diner, Wendell was checking out his own reflection in the rear view mirror of his Jeep. He’d just pulled into the parking lot at the diner a moment ago. He was early he noted glancing at his watch. Gwen had said her shift ended at three and he had not wanted to be later than that, better early anyway. Stepping out of the jeep, Wendell did one last check of his appearance. He was dressed in jeans, a dark blue polo shirt and an old pair of boat shoes. One last check of his hair in the side view mirror then he set out across the parking lot to the door of the diner.
“Oh my…” Marylinn said under her breath as Wendell came through the door and the little bell over the door jingled.
At the same time, Gwen had reemerged from the bathroom and was coming around the back of the counter to watch for Wendell. She froze in her tracks as she saw Wendell about the same time that Marylinn had spoken.
“Oh, my is right…” Gwen spoke softly and blushed when she glanced at Marylinn then smiled.
“Hello handsome… what can I get for you?” Marylinn said with a sticky sweet voice and a bright smile as she propped her elbows on the counter and rested her chin in her hands watching Wendell take a stool in front of her.
Wendell smiled a sheepish grin at Marylinn, but his gaze was captured by Gwen who sidled up next to Marylinn and gave her a bump with her hip as if to say “down girl”. Marylinn grinned and then moved on down the counter to refill a cup for another customer. Gwen smiled at Wendell and took the same pose Marylinn had, her elbows on the counter and resting her chin in her hands.
“Hi.” She said sweetly.
“Hi yourself.” Wendell returned both the greeting and the smile.
“You look… nice.” Gwen said and then rolled her eyes and blushed, giving Wendell a grin.
“I do?” Wendell asked then winked.
“You look amazing.” Wendell added, still smiling.
“Oh stop! I’m a mess.” Gwen objected but still smiled all the same.
Glancing at the clock, Marylinn stepped up close again and nudged Gwen with her shoulder.
“Look buster, if you’re not ordering anything, you need to move along. Those seats are for paying customers.” She said with a wry grin before giving him a wink and continuing. “Why don’t you two go on and get out of here. Go have fun or dinner or whatever.” Marylinn said to them both, then leaned in and whispered into Gwen’s ear “Oh you lucky girl you! Have fun.” Then she moved on down the counter on the other side of Gwen.
Gwen blushed again and looked at the clock behind the counter before turning to Wendell in an unspoken question if he was ready. His response was to slide off the stool and stand up. Gwen grabbed her purse and went to the end of the counter and around to join him. Wendell held the door for her on their way out of the diner.
After opening her door and helping her into the jeep, Wendell went to the driver’s side and got in. He started the engine and then turned to Gwen to ask.
“Do you need to go home for anything?”
Gwen paused a moment before responding. “Well, I’m not exactly dressed for going to a restaurant… do I need to change into something a little more casual?”
“About that… instead of a restaurant, I thought we might just have dinner at my house. It’ll give me an excuse to try out my grill, and besides, you’ve not seen the place since the renovations yet. Is that okay?” Wendell asked hesitantly.
“If you don’t mind the waitress uniform, then I’m fine with that.” Gwen said with a smile and a curious glance.
“Great! You still like steak?” He asked, smiling, putting the jeep into gear.
“Only if it’s medium rare.” Gwen said, her mouth watering at the very thought of a steak. Well, maybe not just thought of the steak.
It was about a fifteen-minute drive from the diner to the old house. Gwen whistled as they pulled into the driveway. Structurally the house looked pretty much the same as it had so many years ago when she had spent so much time here. It did kind of feel like home to her she thought. When they got to the garage and got out of the jeep, Gwen got her first look at the two-level deck that Wendel had had built onto the house. She whistled in appreciation then gushed about how gorgeous it was.
“Wow! This is amazing Wen.” Gwen said as they strolled about the second level of the deck, the grill near the back door leading to the kitchen. “It’s so nice.” She added.
“Thanks. I wanted someplace where I could sit and relax, maybe watch the stars at night. I still have my old telescope from when we were kids.” He added.
Gwen leaned on the rail looking out over the lower level and the back yard. She saw it as it was today, but also as it was when they were kids. How many times had they laid on a blanket in this backyard and watched the clouds or at night the stars? Some of her fondest memories were in this yard and this house. Happy times. Remembering those times also caused her to reflect on events that followed that as well. Not so happy memories. And that nagging thought that she still had to share one more secret to share with Wendell. Maybe tonight sometime, if the time was right.
“Penny for your thoughts…” Wendel said as he too leaned on the deck rail and looked out over the back yard.
“Just thinking back to happier times.” Gwen said softly.
“Hopefully there can be happier times now too…” Wendell said softly and nudged Gwen with his shoulder.
Gwen sighed and leaned her head on Wendell’s shoulder and said softly. “There’s always hope.”
“Come on, I’ll give you a tour of the house before I put you to work.” Wendell said as he pushed off the rail and turned to go to the back door. Gwen turned and followed him.
Wendell showed Gwen around the house, pointing out the things that he had changed and what he had kept that was original to the house. She oohed and aah-ed and gushed about how nice the old house looked. Gwen also told Wendell how much it felt like coming home in a way. Ending up back in the kitchen, Wendell checked the potatoes in the oven, determining they were pretty much done, he turned the oven off. He checked the steaks and said they were ready to cook as well.
“Anything I can do to help?” Gwen asked.
“As a matter of fact, yes. I was hoping you could make a salad to go with our steak and potatoes. Here, let me pull the stuff out of the fridge.” Wendell said as he began setting the lettuce and other veggies on the counter for Gwen.
He also pulled out a couple of bottles of chilled beer and opened them. They clinked their bottles together in way of a toast and smiled as each took a long draw. Their eyes never left the others. Gwen broke the spell.
“Knife? Bowl?” She asked
“Oh yeah!” Wendel said sheepishly as he pulled out several drawers before he found the knives and held up a couple for her to choose from. Then he pulled a salad bowl out of the lower cabinet and set it on the counter as well. He opened one of the upper cabinet doors and pointed to the seasonings and spices saying she could help herself to anything.
“Anything?” Gwen asked with a teasing lilt and a grin.
“Anything.” Wendell confirmed, not missing the teasing and flirtatious suggestion.
“Better get those steaks started then. It won’t take long to make a salad.” Gwen said, still smiling as she picked up the head of lettuce and reached for the knife.
Wendell picked up the platter with the steaks and a pair of tongs and headed to the back door to the grill. In a couple of minutes, he had the grill ignited and heated up. He came back into the house and through the kitchen to the den to turn on the sound system… queuing up his music ***********ions he had made earlier. Checking that he could adjust the volume with his phone, he returned to the kitchen to see Gwen swaying to the beat of the music as she worked on the salad. Wendell just leaned on the door frame and watched her until she noticed him and paused and smiled.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing, just enjoying the view.” Wendell said in response, smiling at Gwen.
“I love the music.” Gwen said as she continued to cut up veggies for their salad.
“I had hoped you might. I can change it to anything you want to listen to though.”
“No, this is fine. Thanks. How are those steaks coming along?” Gwen asked with a smirk, though secretly she was loving the attention.
“The grill should be hot enough now. I’ll go put them on. They won’t take long to cook though.” He replied before he went back out on the deck.
A few minutes later, Wendell was turning the steaks on the grill when the back door opened, and Gwen came out carrying the salad bowl stacked on a couple of plates and some silverware in her other hand. She stopped by the grill leaning her head on Wendell’s shoulder as she peeked at the steaks sizzling over the open flames.
“Smells wonderful.” She purred before stepping over to the small glass top table to set out the plates and silverware.
Wendell watched her every move and had to smile when she caught him watching so intently. Gwen smiled too. She remembered the potatoes still wrapped in foil in the oven, so she went back into the house to get them and another beer for each of them.
“Sour cream or butter?” Gwen’s voice rang out through the screen door to the kitchen.
“Yes, please!” Wendell replied and he heard her laugh at his response.
A few moments later, Gwen reappeared through the screen door carrying a bowl with the two potatoes, in one hand, two unopened beer bottles tucked between her forearm and her side, and a small tub each of butter and sour cream stacked in the other hand. She looked at Wendell and grinned and shrugged as she set everything on the table.
When he determined that the steaks were just shy of medium rare, he turned the gas off to the grill and transferred the steaks to a clean platter. He closed the top of the grill then carried the platter over to the table to present it to Gwen to choose her steak.
“Ladies choice.” Wendell said with a smile.
“Oh my!” Gwen answered as she poked at both steaks with her fork before choosing the smaller of the two.
Letting the steaks rest for a few minutes, just long enough for them to cut open their potatoes and dress them as they liked. Wendell fluffed his with his fork and then put some butter in it to let it melt. A dash of salt and some pepper then a dollop of sour cream on top. Gwen fluffed hers too, watching Wendell work on his own potato. She only put some butter and salt and pepper on her potato though.
Gwen used tongs to put some salad on each of their plates before setting the salad bowl to one side of the table. They both sat in silence for a moment or two, simply looking at one another. Both smiled and even blushed a little before Wendell’s stomach growled. Gwen giggled at the sound and that was that… they both picked up their utensils and began eating.
“Mmmmm so good.” Gwen murmured between bites.
Mostly they ate in silence, simply savoring the meal and each other’s company. They didn’t rush but it wasn’t long before they had both had their fill and were leaning back in their chairs, relaxing and sipping their beers. The music still played softly in the background and occasionally Gwen with a sway or nod her head in time with the music of a favored song. Wendell smiled, loving how relaxed she appeared. He didn’t want this to ever end.
“I’m going to put these dishes in the dishwasher, I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.” Wendell said with a smile as he pushed his chair back and stood up.
Of course, Gwen stood up too, she felt that she needed to help even if she was a guest. It wouldn’t be the first time the two of them had ever cleaned up after a meal or washed dishes together, though it had been a very long time since then. Wendell started to object, but Gwen was not having any argument from him about it. So, they both took the plates and bowls and silverware into the house. The leftover salad was put into a seal able bowl and put in the fridge, the rest was scraped off the plates and dishes then put into the dishwasher.
After closing the door of the dishwasher, Gwen turned and leaned back against the counter crossing her arms and studied Wendell as he dried his hands on a small kitchen towel. The setting sun was shining through the windows of the kitchen, making shadows and sunbeams. It almost seemed like a dream to Gwen and the smile on her face looked pensive, almost sad as a million and one things flashed through her mind. The what ifs and could haves and should haves that her life might have been if things had been different long ago.
Wendell didn’t need to know exactly what she was thinking but he knew that just by the look on her face made him want to wrap her in his arms and hold her close… forever. So, he got started on the forever, two steps up to her and enveloped her in his arms resting his head on the top of her head as her face turned to the side to lay against his chest. Nothing was said, but Gwen sighed contentedly and melted into his arms.
“Oh Wen… this feels like a dream. If it is, I don’t want to wake up.” Gwen uttered in almost a whisper.
“It’s no dream, but it can be…” Wendell responded just as softly, still holding Gwen tight in his arms.
“What do you mean?” Gwen asked, pulling back enough to look into his face.
“This place… I love it, but honestly, it’s just a house… and a lot of house… for just one person. Gwen… would you like to live here? Too… with me?” Wendell posed the question and then realized that he was holding his breath waiting on Gwen to process the question and then answer.
Gwen just stared into his face, her eyes searching his for any sign of kidding or a joke, but only finding his earnest and serious gaze in return. She could feel her heart beating faster.
“You’re serious? You want me to move in here… with you?” Gwen asked, awestruck.
“As a heart attack. I lost you once, I never stopped caring for you or loving you. Now I want to hang on tight… if you will have me.” Wendell said with a soft smile playing at the corners of his lips.
“Well… when? I mean… there’s so much to think about and…” Gwen began to babble.
Smiling and squeezing Gwen a little tighter, Wendell leaned in and found her moving lips with his own and effectively silenced her for the moment… all but the soft moan she let out that is.
“You don’t have to decide right now… it’s an open invitation. I would… would like you to stay the night though…” Wendell whispered after drawing back from their kiss and looking into Gwen’s eyes.
Gwen merely nodded her head as she stared back into Wendell’s eye as if she were trying to decide if this was real or a dream. When she nodded, Wendell smiled a little brighter and leaned back in to continue their kiss. A slow lingering sensual kiss. After a few more minutes of kissing, the two pulled back to look at one another.
“Want to try out the hot tub?” Wendell asked suggestively.
“I don’t have a bathing suit with me…” She began to object.
Wendell smiled and shook his head slightly before saying, “You don’t need one, it’s got the privacy screen around it and… I happen to know the owner… he won’t mind.”
“Oh… well then… sure.” Gwen said with a smile.
Gwen squealed and giggled when Wendell scooped her up in his arms and carried her through the kitchen and out the back door to the deck. He carefully maneuvered the stairs down to the lower level of the deck one step at a time. The sun had set by this time, and it was getting dark out. There was a noticeable chill in the air as well, but that’s not why Gwen shivered as Wendell carefully set her on her feet just outside the hot tub enclosure.
Wendell opened the door and let Gwen enter before going in and turning on the lights and the pumps for the tub. He then pulled some towels from storage to one side and set them on the edge of the tub then stepped close to Gwen to take her into his arms again from behind, his arms going around her waist and his chin nuzzling her neck. Gwen’s head was on a swivel taking in the recessed lights in the tub and the little fairy lights strung around the enclosure that created a low but comfortable glowing atmosphere.
“Oh Wen… it’s beautiful. And no one can see us in here?” Gwen inquired as she tilted her head to press against Wendell’s on her shoulder.
“They might see a glow and maybe vague silhouettes, but no, no one can see in.” Wendel murmured into her ear as he nibbled and kissed that tender spot beneath it.
Gwen moaned with the delicious feeling of Wendell’s attention to her neck and the feel of his arms wrapped about her. She turned in his arms to face him once more and tilted her head up and slightly to one side before locking lips with him again. The kiss went from delicate and chaste to heated and hungry in short order. After a few minutes of tongue dancing and stealing one another’s breath away, they pulled back again to look one another in the eyes.
With no other words spoken, Gwen began to unbutton her waitress uniform top, never taking her eyes from Wendell’s. Slowly and methodically, she undid each button, dropping lower to the next in succession until she got to her waist. Gwen pulled the tails of the blouse out of the waistband of her skirt, pulling the blouse open in the process. She smiled as Wendell’s eyes followed her hands and took in the bared flesh beneath the garment. Wendell then came to her assistance by bringing his hands to her sides and sliding them up her skin raising goosebumps as he slipped his hands under the fabric and pushed it over her shoulders and down her arms. The blouse dropped to the decking beneath at their feet.
Sliding his hands back down her arms, he wrapped his arms around her back to unfasten her bra and pull the straps forward around her sides. Gwen brought her arms together between them and allowed the bra, too, to drop to their feet. Now topless, Gwen reached for the bottom of Wendell’s shirt and pulled it loose from his jeans, and up over his torso and head, and dropped it to join her blouse and bra.
Wendell started to wrap his arms around Gwen’s waist again, but she stopped him with a hand on his chest and pushed slightly away then waggled one index finger in a negative “no no” fashion, before reaching for his belt and unfastening it. Wendell smiled and held his arms out to his sides and let her take the lead. In a flash, Gwen had the belt open and was unsnapping the button and pulling down his zippered fly.
The next few moments seemed to fly by and neither really knew who removed what from whom, but they were both standing there completely naked in front of one another. Gwen looked down and noted that Wendell was firming up quickly and giggled. Wendell smiled and shrugged, but offered his hand to her so that she might climb over the side wall and into the tub. He soon followed, sinking down up to his chin in the bubbling heated water, sitting across the tub from an equally submerged Gwen.
Noting where Gwen was sitting, Wendell smiled mischievously and stretched his right arm and hand over to press the button to activate the water jets. There was a rumble and suddenly the hot water and bubbles were shooting out of the many jets around the inside of the tub below the water line. One jet was between Gwen’s legs in her current seating position and another pair at the small of her back.
Gwen gave a startled yelp of surprise, her eyes got huge, and her mouth formed a silent “OH” before she locked her surprised eyes on Wendell’s. He smiled and winked at her knowing that she was getting a watery thrill from the one jet in front of her, and a massage from the two behind her. After she got over the initial shock and surprise, Gwen began to smile and relaxed back down into the water up to her chin and closed her eyes with a sigh.
“Oh my! A girl could get used to this!” Gwen said dreamily, her smile broadening even wider.
“I thought you might like that.” Wendell said with a resonant mirth laden deep voice as he too relaxed back into the jets on his own back.
As Gwen was being swept away on a feeling of euphoria and her muscles began to relax all over her body, she noted that her feet had begun to drift upwards, floating towards the surface of the water. Then she yelped as her head ducked under the surface for a brief moment as her body weight shifted. With a splash and some sputtering, she replanted her feet on the floor of the tub and pressed her body back into the seat and lifted her head above the water again.
“I should have warned you about that.” Wendell chuckled.
Gwen just giggled and closed her eyes and rested her head back against the edge of the tub. She was smiling but it began to change into a look of concentration, changing still further into mild surprise and wonder. Wendell grinned even bigger as Gwen began to shift slightly from side to side in her seated position, her mouth opening a little to form a breathless silent exclamation. Suddenly her eyes popped open in a look of surprise and wonder mixed with delight. Her mouth completely open, her jaw slack, as her body began to twitch and convulse with a very nice little orgasm that seemed to just roll on and on. Her eyebrows twitching from surprise to questioning puzzlement back to surprise as she rode out the unexpected climax.
“Oh… Wen… Oh my god… Ohhhhh…” Gwen moaned breathlessly, her eyes rolling up in the back of her head as she leaned it fully back to rest on the side of the tub again.
Gwen took a long deep breath and shuddered as she exhaled in an equally long sigh. Her face was a study in rapture and contentment, with that oh so beautiful little smile a woman wears after such a pleasant climax.
“Well!” Wendell began, “I had no idea that the dip in the hot tub would be so… exciting. I’m not sure if I should apologize or thank you for such a beautiful show.” He said warmly with a hint of humor.
“I don’t know about a warning, I might not have believed you if you had. But I do know I should thank you… Lord! That was… amazing! It’s still shooting against me but I’m too exhausted to move. It’s almost too much right now.” Gwen retorted, shifting ever so slightly in her seat.
“I can turn the jets off if you like.” Wendell offered.
“Oh! No… it’s okay… just gotta… shift a little to one side so that it’s not hitting a certain spot…” Gwen murmured.
It was Wendell’s turn to jump, when he felt Gwen’s right foot slide up the inside of his right thigh and her toes came into contact with his submerged erection. His balls contracted as her toes brushed over his sack and then slid up the underside of his shaft to tickle at the base of his crown. He let out a soft moan then opened his eyes to look across the tub at Gwen. She was studying his face intensely, her own face a mask of concentration and mischief, with one eyebrow arched up playfully and a feral little grin to match the twinkle in her eyes.
“Whew! Now who needs a warning?” Wendell asked with a startled smile.
Gwen answered with one eyebrow raised questioningly and smiled in return as she manipulated her toes and foot on Wendell’s submerged erection. Her smile grew almost predatory as she stretched out both arms along the back of the tub behind her and raised her other foot to join the party.
“Oh my! Someone is very excited.” Gwen said with a smirk.
Wendell laughed and then groaned as the footsy assault under the water was quickly becoming too much for him. He sat up and grabbed both of Gwen’s feet with his hands and pulled her across the tub to him. She gave a startled yelp and then giggled as she barely kept her head above the water as she was dragged into his lap. Wendell’s rock-hard cock being mashed between them as her knees settled on the seat on either side of Wendell’s hips.
“I’m not sure how much experience you have with hot tubs or fooling around in water, but it’s best to keep it to foreplay. It can be done, but sex just isn’t that enjoyable in the water in my experience… Would you like to take this inside?” Wendell asked as his hands slid up Gwen’s sides and onto her back to pull her into his chest and her lips to his.
“Why Wen… I do believe I would…” Gwen responded between kisses as she had wrapped her arms around his neck and was running her fingers through his short, wet hair.
Rather than respond verbally, Wendell just slid his hands down to Gwen’s backside and gripped her ass cheeks firmly and stood up with her in the tub. Gwen squealed in delight and partly out of fear as he stepped over the edge of the tub. He toed the screen door open and carried her up the stairs to the upper level of the deck.
Gwen wrapped her legs around his waist and locked her ankles behind him and giggled between kisses as he carried her to the door to the kitchen and then into the house. The cool air conditioned air causing goosebumps to rise on both of their skin. Gwen had to release her lips and break the kiss as she giggled out loud when she realized that Wendell’s hard on was smacking her backside with every step he took.
After nudging the bedroom door fully open with a foot, Wendell crossed the room and turned to sit on the edge of the bed. Gwen settled into his lap, and they continued to make out as if their very lives depended on one another’s lips. Eventually though, they had to break the kiss just to breathe.
“Please tell me I’m not dreaming…” Gwen whispered while gazing into Wendell’s eyes.
“If you’re dreaming, then so am I.” Wendell responded.
“Do you want me to pinch you?” Gwen asked with a sly grin.
Wendell just grinned and with both of his hands splayed on her bare back, drew her in again for another long sensual kiss. Or at least it started out as a gentle sensual kiss. It quickly evolved yet again into a mad passionate make out session with their tongues dueling for supremacy over the other. Gwen was running her fingers through Wendell’s hair and moaning as much or more than breathing especially as she felt Wendell’s cock still pressing against and between her butt cheeks as she rocked back and forth in his lap.
They parted again, both gasping for breath and feeling if not hearing their own hearts pounding in their ears. The look on Gwen’s face made Wendell’s heart melt that much more. The pure unadulterated lust and longing combined with excitement and… love. That exquisite adoration of the one woman in the world that he ever wanted more than anything else in life. Wendell could have wept with the joy and happiness surging through his heart and soul.
“Make love to me Wen…” Gwen all but whispered, her eyes never even blinking, staring into his very soul.
Wendell swallowed the lump in his throat, gazing lovingly and wantonly into Gwen’s eyes. “It would be my pleasure.”
“Oh, it will be more than just your pleasure, Wen…” Gwen responded then yelped with a giggle as Wendell fell backwards onto the bed and dragged her with him. His arms encircling her waist pulling her tightly against his body. His steadfast hard on finding its way between her thighs and smacking at her dripping sex.
Breaking their heated lip lock just long enough to rise up and reach down between them, Gwen grasped Wendell by his manhood and placed the head at her entrance. She tilted her head back and sighed a long low moan as she slowly impaled herself on him. Wendell, too, moaned out loud but he could not take his eyes off of this goddess in his arms and mounting him. Yes indeed, this did seem like a dream. The dream that he had had since his teen years but had been suppressed because he thought it would never really happen.
They made love. It was long and languid, sensual and emotional for both of them. They did not hurry anything, savoring what they were experiencing, drinking it all in and rejoicing in each other’s love and happiness. Gwen was on a roller coaster of sensations, dips and turns and twists and climax after climax, some bigger, some smaller but oh so sweet all the same. Wendell somehow managed to hold off his own inevitable finish for what seemed like hours. It wasn’t that long of course, but in all honesty, time lost all meaning to the two of them at that point. Nearly exhausted, in the end, Gwen nearly passed out when Wendell finally did hit his peak and climaxed inside of her. It seemed to go on for ever and ever, pulse after pulse of electric thrill shot into her core as she gripped the sides of his neck with her hands and his hips with her legs.
They both collapsed into a sweaty, panting, pile of satiated bliss next to one another on the damp sheets of Wendell’s bed. After several minutes of heavy breathing and hearts pounding in their ears, Wendell noticed that his hand was grasped tightly in Gwen’s. He wasn’t sure when that had happened, but he knew that it was a feeling that he would treasure for the rest of his life. He, she, THEY, were connected. Not just sexually, that was fantastic in itself, but on a level that is hard to describe to anyone who has never felt that deep, deep, soulful connection by way of a simple touch like holding hands.
Gwen knew that this was the high point of her life. This moment was the most special she had ever experienced. She didn’t want it to ever end. She rolled into Wendell’s side and clung to him as if her very life depended on this closeness, this contact. Wendell, sensing more than any words could convey, enveloped her in his arms and clung just as desperately to her smaller frame…and wept silent tears of happiness and thanks to whatever god or fate had brought them back together again. It was in each other’s arms that they both fell asleep.
It was a smell that woke Wendell the next morning. Still groggy and mostly asleep, his nose twitched and wrinkled as his body tried to place and identify that smell. A moment later his eyes shot open, and he sat bolt upright nearly in a panic. He looked to his side, but the bed was empty. The sheets and covers were a mess and strewn awry about the bed. The night before came flooding back into his mind in a flash. His heart was pounding as he looked about only to realize that Gwen was not in bed with him. Where was she? Then there was that smell again…
With his brain finally coming online and beginning to function rationally once more, the smell was identified as… bacon! Bacon and something else… coffee maybe? His stomach growled and he smiled to himself as he realized that Gwen had risen before he had even awakened and was, he assumed, in the kitchen. He shifted to the side of the bed and got up. Crossing the room to the door to the en suite bathroom to empty his bladder and splash his face with cold water. Maybe the water to the face first as with his morning predicament it would be difficult to empty the bladder first. Washing his hands afterwards, he grabbed a bathrobe off the back of the bathroom door before heading towards the kitchen.
Gwen was a sight to behold, when Wendell paused at the doorway from the hall to the kitchen. She had her back to him as she stood at the stove cooking, eggs from the smell of it. She swayed and bobbed to a rhythm and beat that only she could hear, but it was clear that she was happy and dancing. She had on nothing but one of his tee shirts, it seemed oversized for her, like a brief night gown perhaps. To Wendell it was the most beautiful thing in the world… well… next to nothing at all anyway.
She must have sensed him staring at her, Gwen turned her head and twisted her body enough to look over her right shoulder to see Wendell standing in the doorway. That first moment of recognition, the smile and the love in her eyes made Wendell’s own heart skip a beat or two.
“Hi sleepy head.” Gwen said with a smile and turned back to the stove, and her task at hand.
“Good morning to you too, beautiful.” Wendell responded, snapping out of his trance and approaching her.
Wendell came to a stop directly behind her, easing his hands and arms around her waist to pull her closer and nuzzle into her neck to kiss it. Gwen stilled her movements and moaned softly in appreciation to the closeness and the kiss. Both thought “This is paradise.” Gwen reanimated with a giggle and bumped Wendell back a bit so that she could finish cooking the eggs, turning to slide them off onto the plates she had on the counter beside the stove. She reached over and turned the stove off and set the skillet aside, before turning in Wendell’s arms and wrapping her own around his waist to lean back and look up into his smiling face.
Wendell took that as an invitation and leaned down to place his lips delicately on Gwen’s pursed and puckered sweet lips. They kissed for several minutes before they separated once more with a sigh and smiled.
“Come on, food is getting cold.” Gwen prompted, extricating herself from his arms and picking up the two plates from the counter and motioning to the table.
There were already two cups of coffee set at the table along with a bowl of fruit, a plate with some toast and silverware for them both. Ever the gentleman, Wendell pulled Gwen’s chair out for her, earning him a smile of appreciation from her as she sat. They both ate and drank, both the food and each other’s company. Sitting back after a few minutes, sipping coffee, Wendell and Gwen studied each other, smiling but thoughtful.
“Were you serious when you asked me to move in here Wen?” Gwen asked a little sheepishly as if she still didn’t believe him.
“I was, and I still am. Gwen… I never want to be far from you again. We lost so much time…”
“Stop… just… the past is the past, Wen. We can’t change it… we can’t go back. We can only deal with the consequences and move forward. And… you did nothing wrong. I was the fool who…” Gwen began but was interrupted.
“Now YOU stop!” Wendell said, in a serious tone that although softened with a smile still carried enough authority to pause Gwen in mid speech.
“You are right, we can’t go back. It would be so wonderful to be able to and correct what mistakes were… made… but we can’t. What we have is here and now. I know for myself I want to make the most of that… with you. If you will have me.” Wendell said a little more softly, as he reached his hand over to clasp Gwen’s hand that rested atop the table beside her plate.
There it was again. That look of unconditional love and acceptance in his eyes. Gwen’s mind reeled in happiness as her heart took flight and soared like never before. But it was tempered, and a cloud passed before her eyes as that last secret loomed large in her consciousness. How would Wendell react to that, what would he think… what would he do? With a sad smile and a fierce return grip of her own to his hand, she got up quickly and walked to the kitchen door and out onto the upper deck.
Wendell was puzzled and a little shocked at her exit… the look in her eyes, just before had been so open and hopeful before clouding over and her standing up and bolting outside. He worried it was something he said or had not said. He had to know… he stood and quickly followed her.
Going through the kitchen door onto the upper deck, Wendell saw Gwen standing at the rail overlooking the back yard. She had her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if hugging herself for comfort or solace. She stood still, as if a statue, staring not out over the backyard but inwardly perhaps. There were tears in her eyes and tears on her cheeks, and her lips trembled.
Wendell eased up beside her, not sure if he should try to wrap his arms around her or not. Instead, he merely stood there next to her and his right hand came to rest lightly on the small of her back, just letting her know he was with her and there for her. It seemed like an hour passed, even if it were only a moment or two, but Gwen did acknowledge his presence, she half turned and offered him a sad smile and swallowed to clear her throat.
“There’s something else I need to tell you, Wen.” She began… again swallowing and clenching her jaws to still her trembling lips and steady her own voice.
“Is there… is there someone else?” Wendell queried haltingly, afraid of the answer that might come from that question.
Gwen let loose an exhale that almost came close to being a laugh. She then wiped her tears with the back of her hand and sniffed loudly while shaking her head resignedly.
“Yes, sort of.” She answered plainly. The words causing Wendell’s hopes and dreams to begin to burn and crash, falling about his ears as his heart grew heavy like lead. He stopped breathing…until.
“Somewhere out there.” Gwen added cryptically.
“I… don’t understand.” Wendell stammered, the hopes and dreams halting in mid crash, his heart skipping and starting again.
“I told you about getting raped our senior year, at the prom… I didn’t tell you the whole story, Wen. I was… I got… I became pregnant. I had a baby…” Gwen said haltingly as if each word tore another piece of her heart out and she bled raw emotions along with the blood and tears.
All personal thoughts and considerations vanished within Wendell when he heard those tortured words come from Gwen’s lips. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her mightily, cementing the thoughts and intentions of his being there now and forever in her mind and in her heart. Gwen just melted and dissolved into tears and wracking sobs for a few minutes, held in his arms and wrapped in his love and reassurance.
When the sobs abated, and the tears all but dried up, when the shaking stopped and there was nothing but the occasional sniff and sighing breath, Wendell led Gwen over to the little glass topped table that they had eaten dinner on the night before. He pulled out her chair and she sat down. He pulled another chair up next to hers and took a seat himself. Still holding her hands, he looked at her, into her eyes and said…
“Start at the beginning and leave nothing out. I’m not running away, and you have nothing to be ashamed of.”
Gwen studied his eyes as if seeing them for the first time, again. These were the eyes of the boy who stood up to two bullies that first day they met so long ago. The same eyes of the boy that grew to be her greatest and best friend. The same eyes of the man that had found her again after so many years and saw her with joy and love in his heart. These were the eyes she could trust like no other… so she began. First, finding out that she was pregnant, it was revealed weeks later after the prom, when her period was late. The decision to keep quiet about it was her own. It was close enough to the end of the school year and graduation that she was not showing, and she wanted to finish school.
Not knowing exactly who the father was and no way to prove it if she did, she didn’t know what she was going to do. Her mother, so tired already and in failing health herself, did what she could to support them both. In the end, however, she knew it was best, for the baby anyway, to give it up for adoption when the time came.
Wendell had left by the time her pregnancy began to show and was of course gone when the child was born. It was a little baby girl. Gwen was allowed to hold her in her arms and nurse her for the first time… bittersweet memories indeed. When the nurses took her from her arms it felt like they were ripping her heart out of her chest, she told Wendell. She didn’t even get to name the baby. There was no father on record, only the mother’s name and address at the time.
Gwen hung her head and breathed deeply before going on to tell him the rest of the story. Wendell sat there like a stone statue, hearing it but not sure how to react, or even if he was supposed to react in any way. His heart was wrenched by the tale, and he felt so bad for Gwen.
“I was back in the hospital a week after the birth. I was bleeding. I had complications from the birth, something was torn…” Gwen began with a sob. She felt Wendell’s hand squeeze hers gently and she continued.
“They performed emergency surgery and were able to stop the hemorrhaging but as a result, I’ll never be able to bear any more children.” She said the last part so quietly and so sadly that Wendell nearly wept for her… instead he simply squeezed her hands again and didn’t let go.
Gwen lifted her face and those saddened eyes up to look into Wendell’s eyes once more. She saw the raw emotions she was feeling reflected in his own face and eyes. His tears were not falling but they were threatening to all the same.
“Gwen… I’m so sorry.” Was all that Wendell could think to say… his voice as tight as he had ever felt or heard it.
“I know I have a little girl out there somewhere. I don’t know her name or where she was taken or grew up. I only hope that she’s had a happier life than I had. I know she’s probably had a better life than I could have given her myself.” Her head hanging down once more as she finished.
“Mom passed a couple of years later. Then I was on my own. I’ve been on my own ever since. I thought I was destined to be alone the rest of my life… until the day you walked into the diner.” Gwen said, her head lifting once more to look into his eyes. “I’m just so afraid that this is all just a dream, a wonderful, unbelievable, dream. Wen… is this real?”
Wendell felt his heart soar again… taking flight anyway. There was something that came to mind that he didn’t even have to think about. The one way that would make her, Gwen, realize that this was real and that he was real… and that his intentions to be there for her forever was real.
Wendell stood up from his chair, pushing it back with the backs of his knees, still holding Gwen’s hands in both of his. He kneeled on one knee in front of her chair, not looking up into her face. A face that was at once confused, excited and unbelieving, if still hopeful.
“Gwen… I’ve asked you to move in with me. I was serious and I am still serious. But I don’t want a live-in girlfriend. I would much prefer that you would be far more permanent than that. Gwen… would you… consider being my wife? Would you marry me Gwendolyn Jacobs, to become Mrs. Wendell Anders?” Wendell swallowed after asking the question… swallowed and held his breath.
Gwen was stunned, stunned and shocked. Her head reeled, she had just opened her heart and bled out her darkest secrets, her fears and regrets, and here he was asking for more. More than she could ever have imagined, at least with a straight face and serious consideration. To be married, to be his wife! Her head reeled and her heart exploded with more love and happiness than she had ever experienced in her life up to this moment… yes… yes… YES… YES!!!!
“YES!” erupted from Gwen’s lips even as they trembled, and the tears rolled freely. She leapt from her chair into his arms and smothered his face in wet sloppy tearful happy kisses. Wendell fell backward onto the deck wrapping his arms around her as she continued to kiss and kiss and kiss. He laughed joyously and returned kisses every time her lips came within reach of his own.