The Heat – Part 4 [Epilogue]

The heat

“The supernova sun would be cooler than the fire lighting our desire.”
― Missy Lyons

Part 4 – Epilogue

“…The blackout hit the entire city. I really thought it was just this block, or my office… The building a bit old, you know…”

“Yeah, I know… But it wasn’t just your office…”

“Not at all! I tried to get back into the building but my magnetic key just wasn’t working. So I stayed in my wife’s car for a bit, listening to the radio and trying to figure out what the heck was going on. Apparently, the whole city was left in the dark for about an hour. They kept saying that this shit is the result of an intense heatwave the blanketed the American West, exacerbated by poor planning in the face of climate change…”

Michael scoffed as the three of them walked down the secluded road where he had parked his car. He kept staring at his own feet.

“Yep. No doubt about that…”

“And so it affected L.A. as a whole…” Alan glanced over at Lisa and scrunched his eyebrows. “Lisa Marie? Are you sure you’re OK? Damn, you guys look messy as hell!”

He sounded worried and Michael’s eyes moved from him to her. Alan really didn’t need to be super-concerned about Lisa. She was more than fine. Just a bit embarrassed at the state she was in. But not even that much. She was mostly enveloped in that subtle afterglow that always made her shine and followed some very good orgasms. He smiled to himself ever so slightly, his eyes downcast once again. It was nice to know that he was the maker of that look. That he could still be that man.

Her man.

To be quite honest, in different circumstances Michael too would have been utterly flustered, but not tonight. First of all, the last thing he cared about was looking like someone who had just walked through a car wash tunnel. Secondly, he didn’t even mind what kind of ideas might cross Alan’s mind. He would just keep holding Lisa’s hand.

How comforting it was that she seemed okay with that, too. To the point that she had even interlaced her fingers with his as they finally left the building-from-hell.

“I’m good, Alan. Thank you. I just need a shower.”

“Another one?” Michael grinned and she threw him a look. It was supposed to be annoyed, but he saw the sarcastic glint in her eyes.

“Yeah, another one.”

“I’m so sorry, guys. When I finally got back in through the back entrance, I found your note in my office and thought you were gone. I had no idea you were stuck in that old thing… I didn’t even see your funny red car, Lisa…”

“That’s because I took a cab.”

“Oh.”

“But anyway, Alan… It’s fine. We were just stuck in there for a bit. Nothing major…” She and Michael exchanged another quick glance and he saw her blushing slightly. She cleared her throat. “Nothing happened… until that stupid fire alarm went off.”

“Yeah, uh…” Alan rubbed his forehead. “I don’t even know why it happened. I guess the temperature inside the cabin activated the sprinklers when the power finally went back on, so…”

Oh yeah. The temperature inside the cabin had indeed been scorching hot. Once again, Michael had to smile to himself.

“But don’t worry about that. I’ll have it fixed. I think it’s time.”

“Yeah, it certainly is.” They stopped near Michael’s car and Michael patted Alan’s shoulder. “The whole building needs a renovation, my friend. But look – we’re fine. Lisa and I took it as a chance to… talk things through. And I think we’ll find a way to make this whole trip abroad work.”

“Yeah, he’s right.” Lisa let go of Michael’s hand and gave Alan a quick hug, even though her clothes were still pretty much drenched. “Here. The least you deserve is to partake in this mess.”

Alan smiled.

“It’s fine. You guys can send me your laundry bill. I’m serious. I just hope those clothes aren’t worth thousands of dollars.”

Michael had to laugh.

“Lord, aren’t you stingy!”

“Whatever you say, man. I’m just glad you two are no longer fighting. Just let me know if I can help you any further, OK?”

Alan spoke as he began walking backward toward his own car, which was parked across the street. It was pretty apparent that he was very relieved that he no longer had to deal with two nutcases trying to figure out how to make their separation work without having to admit they still cared way too much about each other.

Michael and Lisa just stayed there for a bit, waving their goodbyes. Waiting for Alan’s car to speed off and disappear into the night.

And then they were alone again, only – this time there weren’t any tight confines preventing them from leaving.

He turned to look at her, his head cocked to a side.

“So you took a cab, huh?”

“I sure did…”

Well, would you look at that.

Baby girl looked a bit insecure. And flirty. He shared the same sentiment but, all of a sudden, he didn’t feel like going home and be alone any longer. He didn’t want the evening to end. Not like this – in a way that, if they didn’t do anything about it soon, would surely end up looking so much like way too many other evenings. Leave the unsaid unspoken, say goodbye, walk away. Wash, rinse, repeat.

He was tired of that crap, not physically but emotionally.

“What are you gonna do now? Wanna call another one, or am I allowed to drive you home?”

He hoped his casual tone conveyed how much he really, really wanted her to say yes.

Lisa watched him carefully, pondering over his words. Michael was almost sure she would say no, that she would wall up again and go back at being the woman who did her best to avoid him. Instead, she smiled – just a little tiny smile.

“Well, all things considered… I guess you can, yeah.”

“All things considered? Meaning…?”

She laughed.

“Michael..! Don’t push it.”

He decided to just ignore her – even though this was getting somehow funny.

“Besides, you wouldn’t wanna have a cab driver snitch to the press about your utterly messy appearance, would you?”

“Right. You got no idea how many fucks I give…” She laughed again and walked around the car. “Come on… Take me home, Jackson.”

Butterflies.

Taking off in her belly, flying all around, clogging her reasonings – and her thoughts. It happened every single time she glanced over at him, while they quietly drove back to Hidden Hills in the middle of the night.

She was a mess, but so was Michael. In so many ways. And yet, even all ruffled like that and with his clothes all crumpled, he still looked as gorgeous as a dream come true. He also looked fully committed to what he was doing – driving slowly and carefully toward the gated community. A short drive, and yet it felt way too quick and almost interminable at the same time.

When Lisa had told him that she needed a shower, she truly meant it. They both needed a thorough wash and a good night of rest, but mostly, she needed to get rid of the scent of sex that still reached her nostrils every time she took a breath. The scent of his skin was all over her, and it was intoxicating. How was she supposed to soldier up if her senses were so wrapped up in him?

Or maybe you shouldn’t soldier up at all. Maybe you should just loosen up a bit and do what your heart tells you to do. How about that, Lisa?

Yeah, maybe. Or maybe not. She had always followed her heart and too many people had accused her of being impulsive and pigheaded, way too many times not to have finally hit home. This time – since their separation – she had been trying to be rational, and yet she felt as if she was going nowhere anyway. Maybe full rationality just wasn’t for her.

Besides, she knew exactly what day today was. Failing to acknowledge it out loud wouldn’t change a thing.

“There you go…” Michael slowed down the car into the driveway, turned off the engine and rested his hands in his lap, turning to look at her with that calm, serene expression in his eyes. “…You’re home. Safe and sound.”

“Cool… Thank you…” She retrieved her purse and rummaged inside of it, looking for the keys. Looking for a way to dilate the moment a little further.

Just go. Say goodnight and leave. Isn’t that what you want? What your rational part tells you to do?

“Lise…”

Her fingers closed on the keys. She paused.

“Hey, Mike… Wanna come in for a minute?”

Michael didn’t even miss a beat.

“I would love to.”

When he smiled, she couldn’t do anything but smile back at him. Immediately, he got out of the car and jogged around the vehicle – opening the car door for her. The usual gentleman. Maybe with his dickhead moments, but still genuinely polite in ways that were beyond endearing. Old-style, even.

More butterflies took off in Lisa’s chest cavity, the flapping of their invisible wings almost resounding into her ears, deafening her. This felt all so… surreal and familiar at the same time.

However, she didn’t hold his hand while they walked toward the mansion – together, like they had done many times before. And he didn’t attempt to take her hand like he had done when the darn elevator doors had finally opened and they had found themselves face to face with Alan. Did he regret doing it? Or even worse, did he regret having made love to her in that hot as fuck cabin? Maybe he had just accepted her offer because he wanted to see his babies. After all, Michael was indeed an absolutely wonderful father.

Without a word, Lisa opened the door.

“Miss Lisa… Are you OK? You look… Oh!” Julie, the babysitter, was waiting for Lisa in the foyer. When she noticed Michael, she blushed. “Good evening, Mr. Jackson…”

“Good evening, Julie. And it’s Michael… I told you.”

He smiled in that sweet way of his, like a father would, yet the reddening on her cheeks intensified. Julie had bumped into Michael a couple of times before, and yet the effect he had on her hadn’t waned yet. She was starstruck, for sure. Lisa didn’t mind, it was innocent. People like Julie were never a threat to him – or her.

“I am so sorry, I know we were supposed to be back at least an hour ago, but there were… uh, unforeseen circumstances…”

Julia scanned Lisa’s attire from top to bottom and shrugged.

“Yes, I can see that. Do you need anything? Are you OK?”

Lisa smiled.

“Yes, we’re both fine, thank you, Julie. It’s not as bad as it looks. How are the kids?”

“They’re good. All asleep. I was watching TV, then I heard the car coming up the driveway. Did you notice the blackout, earlier?”

“Yeah, we did.”

“The TV said it was pretty widespread. Thankfully, the emergency system worked just fine here at Hidden Hills. We were in the dark for no longer than two minutes. The kids didn’t even have time to get scared.”

“Oh, good. I’m happy you didn’t experience any… ah, discomfort. Look, I’ll make sure you get rewarded for staying so late. Who’s picking you up?”

“I’m gonna call my dad right away…”

Lisa shook her head.

“Oh, no. I’ll ask George to drive you home immediately. Again, I’m so sorry we’re late, Julie.”

“It’s fine, Miss Lisa. I don’t mind staying with the kids. They’re adorable.”

Lisa smiled again, then took out her cell phone and called one of her security guys, instructing him to make sure the girl got home safely. Five minutes later, Julia grabbed his backpack and books and wished them goodnight.

When the door closed behind the babysitter’s shoulders, Lisa finally relaxed and threw her purse on the small loveseat near the living area. This night truly was absurd.

“Hey… want something to drink? After tonight, I think I need it…”

Without waiting for Michael’s reply, she walked over to the bar corner, not even bothering to turn on the lights. The moonlight coming from the wide French windows and the light from the lamps in the patio were more than enough to invade the living room with just the perfect atmosphere. Quiet, peaceful.

“A drink would be great… Thank you…”

“Whiskey?”

“Vodka. On the rocks.”

“Wow. You’re serious about this. OK… You know what?” She took out two glasses. And a bucket of ice cubes. “I’ll have some too.”

She took care of the drinks and all the while felt Michael’s eyes on her. Never leaving her. If she paid attention, maybe she’d even be able to hear his thoughts. Yeah… that was nothing but wishful thinking. As well as she knew him, she also had come to accept that he could be inscrutable at times. It was part of his charm.

Walking back to him, she handed him the glass and they sipped their drink quietly.

“You tired? Am I overstaying my welcome?”

“Yes to the former. No to the latter.” In a very casual, nonchalant manner, Lisa put her glass down on the nearby table. “Since you’re already here and all, maybe you can go check on the babies with me… Just to make sure they’re all tuckered in.”

“What, you don’t trust Julie?”

Lisa smiled and took the empty glass from his hand. Noticing that he gently brushed her fingers in the process.

“No, I do, she’s amazing. But I’m their mom… And I love to watch them sleep…”

His face became tender.

“Yeah… I do too.”

And so they went upstairs, together. Side by side, not uttering a word. At first checking on Alex, who had fallen asleep with a book in his lap, over the covers. Quietly, Michael took the book, closed it, and put it on his son’s nightstand. Then he stroked the boy’s hair while Lisa kissed his forehead.

Then they walked over to the twins’ bedroom. Just like Julie had announced, they were indeed out like a light. Emma looked like a little princess under her bright pink bedsheets, while Cubby was as messy as usual. He would constantly thrash and turn in bed and his pillow had already landed on the carpeted floor. Lying on his side toward the wall, the little boy had his thumb in his mouth and snored lightly. He looked as peaceful as his little sister.

Smiling, Lisa shook her head and made sure to cover him with the blanket, while Michael put the pillow back in its place.

“Tomorrow morning, he’s probably gonna wonder why it isn’t on the floor, you know,” she whispered.

“I doubt he’ll even remember swatting it off the bed.”

“No, he will. He’s usually still awake when he throws his pillow. It’s just one of his quirks.”

Michael nodded and stayed quiet. He had no idea, which meant that it had to be recent, a pretty new behavior. How much had he been missing, when it came to his kids? His wife? Sadness threatened to choke him and Lisa felt the shift in his mood. Reaching out in the darkness, she grasped his fingers and pulled at them gently.

“Let’s go. We don’t want to wake them up…”

“You don’t want them to see that I’m here?” Michael asked her once they were back into the corridor.

Lisa stopped mid-track, then resumed closing the door to the twins’ bedroom. Finally, she turned slowly and faced him.

“No, It’s not that. It’s because it’s one in the morning, and they’re never gonna go back to sleep if they wake up now…”

His dark eyes just studied her for a moment. As if he was waiting for her to say something, do something. She didn’t really know what to make of it. All of a sudden, she felt unsure about his intentions. He had seemed very much inclined not to leave when they had arrived at the mansion, but right now she couldn’t tell if he wanted to stay or go.

Well… what do you want, Lisa? Do you want him to stay or go back to his apartment?

She cleared her throat.

“Do you want to leave?”

“I got nothing to do at the Hideout.”

“Don’t you have a shower to take?”

He shrugged.

“I guess it can wait for a bit. Do you want me to leave?”

She hated him when he acted like that. When he threw the ball back in her corner, giving her the responsibility to take the next step. His was a well-oiled tactic that would always give him the chance to measure what he would say or do to keep himself safe. Or so it seemed to her, at least. After all, she wasn’t in his mind. She couldn’t know what the effect that this whole night was having on him was. She could only assess hers. And in all frankness, it felt strange to have him at home in the middle of the night, as if he still belonged there.

“Hey, I tell you what…” She looked down at herself. At her dirty, crumpled summer dress. “Unlike you, I really need to clean up and change my clothes right now. Why don’t you go back downstairs and relax? Have another drink, maybe? And then we can talk some more, once I’m done… we can finish talking about my trip to Ireland…”

Ten minutes later, Michael entered the bathroom quietly – but made sure that Lisa knew that he was there. The last thing he wanted was to have her freak out, thinking that some stranger had sneaked into the room while she was in the shower stall.

“Do you need something?”

Her voice was muffled by the sound of the water. He just watched her beautiful, almost incorporeal silhouette through the misted glass.

“Nothing I can’t help myself with… For now…”

As he spoke, he slowly began to take off his clothes. He could tell that she had turned her body in a way that made it possible, for her, to see what he was doing. If she really wanted to send him home, the timing was now perfect. He knew that what he was doing was a bit rash, maybe risky even, but was willing to take his chance and see how things would progress from here. After all, this was a very uncommon night.

His pants and underwear pooled at his feet and he stepped over them, untying his ponytail and letting his curly hair down on his shoulders as he quietly opened the sliding glass door.

Now, Lisa was turning her back to him and God, was she a sight to behold. He hadn’t seen her naked in a year and, just like that, his throat felt parched. She was even more beautiful than he remembered.

Damn… how had he even been able to pretend he didn’t miss the sensory overload that being with her like this entailed? All his senses were focused on her, and he craved the feel of her skin against his. Her breathing against his skin. The feeling of her hair through his fingers. The taste of her body.

She turned her head, glancing at him over her shoulder. She smiled, just a tiny, almost imperceptible smile. She looked only mildly surprised by his appearance in such a private, intimate space. Maybe his luck hadn’t run out, after all.

“What’s going on, Michael? Couldn’t that shower wait a little longer?”

“No…” He stepped into the stall and under the water jet, his arms immediately around her waist, gently pulling her close to him. Making their naked bodies adhere to one another. “It really couldn’t…”

Lisa leaned her head back, against his shoulder. Her eyes closed as she began caressing his forearms.

“We do have other bathrooms in the house, you know…”

Yeah… her voice definitely sounded affected. Raspier, huskier. More whispered than it usually was.

He swallowed and bent his head, kissing her neck.

“Oh, I know… But we can save water this way…”

Her hand came up, her fingers tangling in his hair on the back of his head. She turned her face, their lips close.

“You’re right…” She stared at his lips. “…And time.”

Once again, nothing but a whisper.

What was he supposed to do? There was no way at all that he could wait another minute.

His mouth found her and they kissed, slowly, thoroughly. Whatever had happened between them earlier that night or the previous month, this once again felt different. There was no hurry in this. There was no urgency. It wasn’t something that was happening because of some unforeseen, exceptional circumstances that they could only partly control. This was purposeful. This was driven.

The kiss intensified and Michael was thrilled when he heard her moan into his mouth, when her grasp on his hair, on his arm, became more assertive. He couldn’t even control his own physical reactions at all, and he knew that she could feel all of it.

Right on cue, Lisa turned her body fully into his embrace, coming to face him – all the while still kissing him. Her flat abdomen against his straining penis felt more than amazing and his head began to spin. His breathing became slightly uneven – just like hers.

“Here… I know you’re a tough girl and all… and that you really don’t need anyone… but… Let me just take care of you for once…”

Reaching out, he took the sponge and the shower gel from the little glass shelf. Still kissing her – her mouth, her face, her naked shoulders – he began lathering her beautiful body. He could feel her eyes on him and the comfort that followed was hard to explain. He had never had to worry about feeling uncomfortable or shy in Lisa’s presence. He had never had to hide from her – not the most sublime essence of who he was. And it occurred to him that this was what love was. This was what being home meant.

When she reciprocated his gestures and began sliding the sponge all over his body, he let her and just stood there, watching her as she took care of him like no other woman had ever been able to do. Not before her, and certainly not after.

Their separation… deciding that they didn’t work anymore… It all had been a huge mistake. It had been the stupidest thing ever. How had he been so blind to that? To such an obvious truth? He and Lisa had always needed very little to find each other again. They just needed to spend some time on their own. He knew that now with a clarity that he had ignored up until this point. And he was so sorry his vocal cords felt paralyzed, and his words wouldn’t flow as easily as his thoughts and feelings did.

When Lisa stepped closer again and let the sponge fell to the floor, he allowed his body to speak for him – at least for the time being. They kissed again, and he held her in his arms, pushing her against the wall at first. He felt the urgency resurface in the pit of his stomach and knew that this was not how this whole thing had to pan out.

“Mike… What are we doing…”

“What we should have done all along… What we have always wanted to do… Don’t you know it by now, Lise?”

Almost surprising him, her hand reached down, grabbed him, massaged him. Held him in a way that made him weak at the knees.

“Damn… You’re so hard again, baby…”

He kissed her hard one more time, enjoying her touch on him a little longer. Just a moment of pure perfection, and then he would stop. Then he would move this party someplace else. And then, they would finally turn it into something more than just sex. Because it never had been just about sex.

He broke the kiss and licked his lips.

“You made it special… What happened earlier…”

She brushed his wet hair away from his face.

“How?”

“You turned a stupid event into an adventure. I had almost forgotten all about that… How you make my entire life feel different… better…”

It was so difficult to talk, right now, when his body craved to speak a completely different language, but it had to be done. Her other hand traced his shoulder, rested on his chest, over his heart.

“But it was an adventure. Everything about us is… And…” She blinked, several times. He could see her confusion.

“And, what?”

Lisa shook her head slightly, still holding onto him.

“I hadn’t forgotten. I can never forget how much I want to live every single adventure with you… from the silliest one… to-”

He couldn’t help it. He had to kiss her again, with all the pent-up passion that, at this point, he was becoming unable to control. She reciprocated his kiss right away, with the same rapture.

Without leaving her mouth, he picked her up and she immediately wrapped her legs around his hips, her center brushing against his cock, driving him to distraction.

“Oh, shit…You wanna do it right here, daddy?”

He had to smile. How he had missed that cute nickname. His baby girl was lost in the magic, just like he was. And for a moment, for the time being, she too would forget that their relationship hadn’t entirely be fixed. Not yet.

“Oh, I wanna do it alright…” His hips moved, almost in an automatic motion, sliding against her rhythmically without entering her. “…I wanna love you all night long… Until we both can’t take it anymore… But not here…”

Still holding her, he turned and slid the glass door open. Lisa didn’t even protest. Instead, she just clung to him and began kissing and sucking his neck, causing shivers to run up and down his spine. No woman he had shared his bed – or dressing room – with, while in Vegas, had ever been remotely capable of evoking such intense reactions, physical and otherwise. He had to remember that. He never had to forget that – ever again.

And she didn’t have to forget either, what he could do to her. What they could be together.

Without wasting any more time, he pushed the bathroom door open and walked over to the bed they had shared since they had gotten married, twelve years earlier. He hadn’t slept in there since their separation and it felt thrilling to be immersed in such a familiar place once again. Every single detail in the room, in the house, was something he knew by heart. It was a synonym for safety and comfort. But also absolute and utter freedom. How stupid had he been, at times, to feel like a prisoner in his marriage? It had never been that way. He had always been free. Freedom had many faces, many voices, many colors. Freedom was many things, and one of them was to be able to fully let himself go, with this woman who had always loved him for the man that he truly was. Stomping her feet and protesting at times, but ultimately, never really letting him go. How fortunate was that?

“Lise…”

He stopped at the foot of the king-size bed.

She found his eyes and hers were glazed over, bright.

“Yeah…”

“Do you still love me? Are you still in love with me? I gotta know. You gotta tell me.”

He would give her this very last chance to back off, if she wanted to stop now, if what they were doing was not what he thought it was. This was her very last opportunity. If this was about more than sexual healing, she’d have to fess up, because he had felt it, earlier in that elevator cabin. He had almost heard the words that she hadn’t dared to say out loud. Well, no more. She would have to take that leap of faith. After all, it was exactly what he was doing.

Lisa’s hands cradled his head, then framed his face. She stared at him and, once again, her aqua eyes were all he could see. For a second, he thought she would never reply, but then she spoke.

“Yes… More than you’ll ever be able to realize… and probably more than I’ll ever be able to admit, even to myself…” She tilted her head to a side, watching him in a way she hadn’t watched him in quite some time. “I have always loved you… so much… So much, Mike.”

That was it. It wasn’t all that he needed to hear, but it was also the first, and probably the most critical staple that could allow them to build something again.

Never letting go of her, he knelt down on the mattress and lay her down on the fresh, cold bedsheets. Her torso arched, her tanned skin shining in the dim light of the room. Bending over, he kissed her collarbone, her breasts, forcing her to moan out loud and cling onto him. The taste of her skin mixed with that of the water against his tongue was intoxicating. He never wanted to stop doing this, ever again.

His kisses moved down and he gently parted her legs, needing to have her again in the most intimate way possible. Lisa complied, and whatever emotional resistance she had displayed up until this point seemed to be gone. Finally.

He had to taste her, reacquaint himself with the most intimate essence of who she was, and without any hurry this time. With the awareness that he truly was back where he belonged. And so he did.

She arched up again, her head pushed back into the pillows as her hands moved over onto his head, stroking his hair, holding him there – where she wanted him to be. Where she had always wanted him to be. He knew that now. He knew what was beneath all her fears and concerns, what hid behind her apparent detachment, her anger at times. It all became clear like it hadn’t been in… God, he didn’t even remember how long.

He felt her writhe and shake and, when she began to come, he didn’t let up, cupping her ass with both hands as he drank from her, allowing her to take her pleasure and make it last. Then, when he glanced up at her and saw her smile, her eyes closed – when he saw her tears – he knew that he was finally home.

This was heaven.

Was it even real? Was she dreaming? If that was what it was, she didn’t want to wake up. She wanted to stay right where she was, with him. With Michael taking that last step back to her, that step Lisa had hoped he would take one year earlier, instead of walking away. Not everything had been said, not yet, and yet she felt as if her invisible glass cage had finally been shattered. Small crystal fragments flying and falling all around her, and for once, she was not afraid she would get hurt. She knew that she wouldn’t bleed.

When he took her with his mouth, his tongue, his fingers – it was exactly what she had experienced earlier in that elevator, only multiplied tenfold in duration and intensity. She thought she would die – and she felt she was born again.

After he finally let up and raised his head, he looked more than aroused. His eyes were shining and his skin was flushed, and he was the most handsome man she had ever seen. He leaned over again and she immediately grabbed his head, kissing him hard, loving to taste herself in his mouth. God… this man had always adored going down on her, and he had been the only one able to bring her to such heights that she always thought she would never descend. Holding onto him for a moment, trying to distract herself from the feeling of his steel sliding against her center, she pushed him back and sat up, waiting for him to sit back on his calves.

She stared at him for a moment, then kissed him again. His mouth, his closed eyes, his forehead, his chin and cheeks, then his neck. His shoulders and chest, going down still. His muscles contracted under her lips and she reached down blindly, once again getting a hold of him. The feeling – once again – too difficult to describe.

In her most secret nights, in her loneliest nights when not only physical miles separated them, but also emotional connection, she had dreamed of this moment plenty of times. Since the very beginning of their relationship, the sexual connection she had experienced with Michael was unlike anything else. And she had missed him – not only for the pleasure he was able to inflict and receive, but also because being entangled with him that way also meant finding solace in the beauty of his soul. Which, ultimately, was blinding.

There wasn’t an inch of his body or his heart that she didn’t love. And right now, it was paramount that she reminded him that nothing had really changed, even though so much had.

“Just stay there… Don’t move…” She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear as she descended on him. “I want you to watch me…”

Yeah… she had dreamed about this, plenty of times.

When she took him into her mouth, he immediately sighed and his hand came to rest on her head, his fingers closing in a fist in her hair. Lisa closed her eyes, allowing him to take all the space in her senses and sensations. When his hips began to engage in the dance slowly, she thought she would come again.

“Oh, shit… Yeah…” His voice was husky, very low and very dark. “That’s it… Oh, God… I missed this… Missed you…”

Her free hand reached around and found the small of his back as she took as much of him as she could, taking it easy, wanting this moment to last. She let him set the rhythm, enjoyed the feeling of his cock engorging even more in her mouth, craving the loss of control that would often accompany moments like this. A part of her aimed at making him lose it, just to make sure that she could still have that effect on him. And that part, Lisa was unable to push back.

She knew that he didn’t want to finish that way – that he was probably afraid that a blowjob would put an end to their night together. That it would be the endgame of this whole reconnection. Well, he was sorely mistaken. She wouldn’t send him back home, this time.

“Lise… baby… Slow down… You’re gonna make me lose it if you keep going…”

But she could no longer stop. And so her response was to carry on, without hesitation and without restraint. Of course, he could have pulled back had he really wanted it, but the reality was that he too needed this. The release. The scalding heat and then the liberation. She knew that, she could feel it.

“Oh shit… Oh…”

His grip in her hair tightened and he just let go. He had to. His movements became more driven – unguarded like they had been in the past, when they were solid, when they were a unit, and he began to climax. She was ready and took all he had to give, feeling elated and aroused at the effect she had been able to evoke.

It took him a minute to calm down. All the while, she took care of him gently, kissing him, stroking him, her lips finding his muscular thighs, then moving up again, the tip of her tongue enjoying the play of his firm abdomen, then his chest, his nipples, his neck again. He never, ever stopped caressing and exploring her body while she did so. Glancing up at him, she grabbed his head and pulled it down, kissing him hard as she knelt up in front of him. Breaking the kiss, she stared at him. He was taking long, deep breaths, trying to calm down his breathing. His hair was still wet and plastered on his forehead. He looked… Like a man who had just found his harbor again.

Michael framed her face with both hands and kissed her for the longest time. And something incredible happened. Lisa didn’t avert her gaze, didn’t feel like she had to hide from him, let alone run away or wall up.

“I love you… And I miss you. I wanna come home.”

Her eyelids fluttered closed and she swallowed. This was it. This was all she had needed to hear.

Her eyes opened again.

“You are.”

“Lise… what are you saying?”

Say it. Stop hiding.

Her throat burned. All the tears she had stubbornly refused to share while he was away threatened to spill.

“You’re home now, Mike. So… stay. Don’t ever leave again.” Her voice broke. “You said I don’t need anyone, but it’s not true… I need you. I love you so fucking much… Please, I-”

Immediately he pulled her into his arms and held her tight, breathing heavily – shaking almost. And she clung onto him as if he was her only raft in the storm, the pain – and the love – finally flowing freely, no longer being kept at bay. Like the sea, the waves could no longer be contained. She felt the tears, but they were not painful. Instead, they became balm to soothe her wounds – and his.

Her head buzzed and she faintly heard him speak to her softly, whisper into her ear as he kissed her face again and again, as his hands caressed her. She couldn’t really tell what he was saying, but she understood the most profound meaning of their communication. He had found her again – and she had found him.

When Michael made her lie down on her back and came to rest on top of her, her legs parted and she welcomed him once again. Keeping his torso lifted, he allowed her – and himself – to see their bodies finally connect in the most intimate embrace ever experienced. She watched him as he breached her slowly, inch by inch, felt her body resound in that chant she knew by heart as pain and pleasure mixed in the most delicious way. She saw the look of intense concentration on his face as he focused on her pleasure, putting his aside for a moment. And then, when he finally entered her fully, she heard him let out a deep, heavy breath.

He took her hands and put them above her head, interlacing his fingers with hers as his lower body once again started to move. Her thighs rose, cradling his hips and they became the two perfect pieces of a puzzle that could be invisible to pretty much the rest of the world, but not them. They became one.

She didn’t know how long it lasted exactly, but she could tell it was the longest time. He made her come again and again, and every time she was led astray, she knew that he would always be at the shore, waiting for her to come back to him.

When he finally allowed himself to let go, when she felt him tense up and go rigid before he released his essence inside her body, Lisa climaxed one more time – in perfect sync with him. Clinging to his shoulders, her nails pushing into his muscles.

This time, the words he whispered in her ear were more than clear.

“I love you too.”

Hidden Hills, California – The next morning

“Mike?”

His brain was fuzzy. He didn’t think he had fallen asleep at all, but apparently he had been out like a light. Squinting, he opened his eyes and found himself face to face with Lisa. Still naked, still sitting in bed – their bed – a white sheet barely covering her gorgeous body. She looked…

“You look…”

“Well fucked?”

He laughed, then pulled her close for a kiss. The umpteenth since they had stepped into the house.

“Yeah, that too. But I meant, as beautiful as a rising star. How much have I slept?”

“Not much, actually. Less than an hour.”

“Dang… I feel like I’ve been out for days…”

She smiled in a very mischievous way.

“That’s because you were finally able to rest. And it’s all because of me, you know. I worked you over good and you’re obviously getting older, so…”

His eyes widened in pretend shock.

“I am not!”

This time, she let out one of her raspy laughs he had once lived for. Well… he still lived for. It was so good to be still able to joke and be silly like this. He had thought he would never happen again.

“Well, technically you are…”

She retrieved something from the nightstand. It was a little lemon tart. With a candle on top. She also made sure to light the candle before handing him the plate.

“Here, baby. A slice of heaven. Happy birthday…”

Touched by that little gesture, Michael sat up on the bed and stared at her. Lisa blushed and shrugged.

“Don’t you want it? I know you really don’t like to honor your birthday, but I think there’s so much we should celebrate…”

Blinking, he took the tart from the plate and blew on the candle quickly, wishing they would be like this forever. He and Lisa in bed, feeling stiff and tired after a night of mind-blowing lovemaking, ready to spend the day with their kids. Ready to make plans for their future.

“I love it. And I love you… so much…”

He leaned over and kissed her again – a series of pecks on her luscious lips that tasted better than any dessert, then he finally focused on his little birthday cake. It looked amazing and smelled just as good. He took a bite, then fed it to Lisa. They kept staring at each other for a moment.

“What are we gonna do now?” She asked. She didn’t sound insecure, just very calm. Serene. He felt the same way.

“You mean from now on?”

“Yeah. I mean… We’re one year late.”

He winced.

“Yeah, I know.”

“But it doesn’t matter. As long as we’re here now, that’s all that counts.” She took his hand and kissed his knuckles.

“Lise…”

“What, Michael…”

“You gotta believe that I love you. Maybe you never really gave me much credit for my love for you.”

“You think?”

Once again, her question did sound genuine. She was open – vulnerable. She trusted him, and his heart took a leap in her direction.

He just nodded his head.

“I believe you… I do. But I still wonder… How did it happen?”

Oh, he knew what she meant. How had they let everything get in the way? How had they believed that what they shared was over, when deep down they both knew that some things just were forever?

“I don’t know. We grew distant. We allowed what we had to slip away from us.”

Lisa sighed, then played with the tart on the plate, her eyes downcast.

“Who knows, maybe in an alternate reality we would have chosen to undergo couple therapy and we would have fixed what was wrong with us… before it broke us.”

“Yeah… our lives seem to be filled with a whole lot of sliding doors, don’t they?”

She looked up again and her eyes were honest.

“Maybe. But still… it doesn’t matter how many doors I could open without finding you on the other side… I know that nobody would make me happy the way you do.” Her grip on his fingers tightened. “I want you back, Michael. I don’t wanna be without you… I really don’t.”

His entire body relaxed. The relief he felt was palpable. This was the reassurance he needed. And yet, it was still… bewildering how much her behavior had changed in one single night. Or maybe those hints had always been there, and he had only been unable – or unwilling – to see them until now. He stared at their hands, connected, and his eyes fell on his wedding ring.

“There’s something I wanna tell you… I resumed wearing my wedding ring one month ago, after we made love…”

Her eyebrows rose, but she didn’t say a word.

“I did it because I knew I still loved you, even back then. Not that I had ever forgotten… but after what had happened, it just became impossible to ignore.”

Her eyes sparkled, and he just couldn’t wait any longer. He put the plate back on his nightstand and pulled her close, until her head came to rest over his chest. He kissed her hair.

“I’ll fly to Ireland with you…”

“Are you fucking serious?”

He laughed.

“Totally serious…And maybe you can consider moving to Vegas until I’m done with the shows. December. Three months, Lisa. And then…”

She raised her head and kissed him.

“…And then, we can leave this place and start anew, someplace else. Wherever you want… Unless, you know… Unless you have some more plans in store for the future.”

No, he didn’t. His residency had solidified his stance. He was tired. He was still young, but no longer young enough or driven enough to live the life he had lived in the past, for his entire existence. Recording studios, stages, red carpets. An extenuating, never-ending circle. He needed a break – it was long overdue. His only plan was to be a father – and a husband.

“No plans. Except for being with you and the kids.” He traced her lips with his thumb. “I would have told you sooner, hadn’t you made a point to avoid me…”

She bit his thumb playfully, then kissed the palm of his hand.

“Are you ever gonna stop bringing it up?”

“Never.”

Pushing herself off him, Lisa rose, standing fully naked by the bed.

“Come on, then. Go get dressed. We gotta wake up the kids.”

“Ah… My clothes are dirty, Lise. And still on the bathroom floor, I think.”

She took his hand and tugged at it until he too came to stand next to her.

“Doesn’t matter. All your stuff is still in your closet.”

God… he loved her. Nothing had changed, after all. Some things truly were forever. Lisa laughed and pinched his side, making him jump. Twice in twenty-four hours! He would have to get used to that once again.

“Are you zoning out now? Come on!”

Yeah… he had indeed spaced out for a moment. Caught in this perfect reality. This perfect world.

“Alright… What are your plans for the day? Amuse me.”

“Well, birthday boy… we’re gonna get dressed and go take care of our children, and then, later tonight, I promise I’ll give you a present you won’t be able to forget anytime soon…”

He pulled her close and kissed her neck, smiling when he noticed goosebumps on her skin.

“Mh… Sounds tempting…”

“Oh, you got no idea…” She raked her fingers through his hair. “But first, we’re gonna go tell our babies something very important… something that will make them… and me… very happy.”

“And what is that…”

“That their daddy is staying.”

The End.