* * *
"Well, here we are again," Ken announced as he ushered her through
the front door of the townhouse. They'd just returned after a nice stroll
on the boards; it was still a safe assumption that Monica, Maria and Louis
were happily playing the slots, or even heading to yet another casino hotel
in search of "hot" machines. Ken knew that Kathy was working the
blackjack tables tonight, giving them some time to themselves. He offered
her a seat on the couch while he excused himself for a minute to head
upstairs. She'd promised that Jitterbug lesson on his back porch on the
way over to his place, and he wanted to take a minute to clean himself up.
While he brushed his teeth and put on a new shirt, Maddy inspected
herself in the downstairs powder room. Pulling a naturally bristled
hairbrush out of her purse, she smoothed out some wind-blown tangles,
powdered her nose and applied some lip gloss. As she stared at her
reflection in the mirror, Ken's words came rushing back to her. You're
beautiful. And as she adjusted the scalloped elastic sleeves of her black, offthe
shoulder blouse and smoothed her slightly wrinkled black linen pants,
she tried her best to believe them. When a final tug of her silver chain belt
revealed it was securely in place, she walked back out into the living room,
where he was already waiting for her.
The sight of him standing there in a pumpkin-colored, button-down
shirt and black jeans, wearing his ever-present smile, caused her breath to
catch in her throat. No matter how many times she saw him freshly put
together and ready to devote his full attention to her, it always sent the
same otherworldly shivers down her spine. And as Maddy moved towards
him to take his hand, Ken felt the bolt of electricity with which he'd
become accustomed ever since that night on the Key Largo patio.
Without uttering a sound, he pulled her close to him and into another
delectable kiss.
And as their lips and hands explored each other, all thoughts of
college educations, taunting co-workers and overprotective family
members drifted away with the tide, along with the reluctant
acknowledgement of Monday morning's impending arrival, which would
herald the inevitable return to their respective sides of the river. In spite
of himself, he wanted nothing more than to scoop her up in his arms and
carry her upstairs, where he would make passionate love to her until
sunrise. Alas, for now, he contented himself with the softness of her skin,
the curve of her back and the sweetness of her mouth.
After what seemed like an eternity, they paused, with Ken's strong
arms still holding her close. "You know, you did promise me something
else," he whispered.
"What was that?" she asked, temporarily forgetting their phone
conversation earlier in the day.
"You said you would sing for me," he reminded her. As a slow smile
crossed her face, Maddy affirmed, "Yes, I suppose I did."
"Well?" he pressed her.
"You want me to do it right here?"
"Sweetheart, do you have a better place in mind? You did say you
wanted privacy."
"So I did," she recalled. "Ok, do you have a special request?"
"Not really, other than a slow, beautiful ballad."
"You're sure Kathy's not coming back?"
"Very sure."
"Ok, then. I really love Vanessa Williams' new song, so I guess I'll go
with that. One request, though."
"What's that?"
"Can we slow dance while I sing?"
"That's one of the easiest requests I've ever had the pleasure of
honoring," he said softly, as he began to sway slowly with her in the
dimly-lit room. Maddy cleared her throat, and then delivered her best
performance.
Everything he'd heard about her talents proved true as he savored
every note of her soulful serenade and felt the electrifying currents course
through his body. For a second he wondered if he'd conjured her up in
his mind-his ideal match, his perfect woman, a phenomenon much too
good to actually be real. And as his hands rested around her waist, he
wished this moment never had to end.
When she finished, he enfolded her in a big bear hug and affirmed
not just her impressive vocal abilities, but his enduring love and burning
desire for her, although he couched the latter in terms that clearly
reflected his understanding that such desires would not be satisfied
tonight. An emotional Maddy gazed up at him, thrilled to awaken his
passions, yet simultaneously concerned about how often interludes like
this could really take place.
It was becoming quite obvious to her that Ken's normal manly
longings weren't the only issue; with every consecutive minute spent in his
embrace, her own body was beginning to want more than just tender
kisses and anatomically safe caresses. Why didn't anyone ever bother to address
the female's raging hormones in any of the morality lessons of her youth? Why did it
always seem like such an easy task to wait?
"I'm sorry," was all she could whisper back.
"Nothing to apologize for, baby," he assured her. "I'm just standing
here picturing you walking down the aisle in your beautiful white gown.
God, what a vision you would be."
She was stunned into silence as she tried to absorb everything she'd
just heard; it was all so overwhelming. Maddy buried her head in his chest
and held him closer, silently wishing the persistent inner demons back to
their rightful place in some deep, dark abyss, where they'd no longer wield
any power over her.
"Hey," he whispered into her hair. "Will you come with me upstairs?
I promise you, it's just to hold you near me, that's all. I love you too much
to do anything to scare you away. Please?"
"Yes." Her voice was barely audible, though her heart was pounding
furiously as Ken easily lifted her off the ground and carried her to his
bedroom.