PeakExperience (13 page)

“My sweet Thumbelina! It is wonderful to see you.” The woman
wrapped Lena in a hug so tight Daniel thought Lena might not be able to
breathe. “We expected you later in the spring. I was away until this morning
with friends. When I saw your little red car I was thrilled. You should have
come over to say hello and let us know you’d arrived, naughty girl.”

If Mrs. Pierce could get away with calling Lena “Thumbelina”
and “naughty girl” in the same conversation, she must be someone very special.
He took in the other woman who looked old enough to be Lena’s grandmother. Her
face was etched in wrinkles, which clearly came from smiling and laughing.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Pierce. This was an unexpected visit. And
it’s going to be short one since we’ve got to get back to the city as soon as
possible.”

“You’re working too hard again, aren’t you?”

“No,” she said.

“Yes,” Daniel said at the same time.

“I’m inclined to believe the handsome man,” Mrs. Pierce
said. “Who are you?”

“I’m Daniel Royer.”

“Daniel, this is our neighbor Rebecca Pierce. Mrs. Pierce,
Daniel is an artist, and we’re working together on a project.”

“A project? Is that what you people are calling it these
days?”

Daniel liked watching Lena blush to the roots of her hair.

“We’ve got a big possible client and Daniel is working with
me to create something magical.”

“Everyone needs a little magic,” Mrs. Pierce said, clearly
still not talking about Lena’s work.

“Well, we need a miracle because what we’ve come up with so
far hasn’t been right. We’ve been working some long hours.”

“And have you been eating properly? That helps, you know.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Which is where I can help. I don’t know if you know this or
not, Daniel, but our Lena isn’t much of a cook.”

“She suggested as much to me when we arrived,” he said,
proud of himself for keeping a straight face.

“Well, it’s true. The first time she came here for vacation,
her momma called and asked me to check on her. Mr. Pierce and I live right
across the road, and we’ve been friends with the Crane family going all the way
back to when her dad was a little one. Anyway, I came over with warm apple
cobbler and what did I find?”

“I can’t imagine,” Daniel said, knowing the question was
rhetorical.

“This one,” Mrs. Pierce gestured with her chin to Lena,
“living on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Chinese food.”

“I like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” Lena said
defensively.

“Of course, but that doesn’t make them a good, steady diet.
I make a point of coming over a few times while she’s visiting to leave food in
her refrigerator, and she has dinner with me and Martin at least once. In fact,
since you’re not staying long, I’ll be expecting both of you tomorrow night.”

“Oh, Mrs. Pierce, that isn’t necessary,” Lena said.

“But we’d love to,” Daniel said, jumping in before Lena
could protest. He was curious about this woman who knew Lena so well.

“Good. There will be a roast with all the necessary sides
and I expect you to bring your appetites.”

“Yes ma’am,” Daniel said sincerely.

Mrs. Pierce started out of the kitchen and patted Daniel on
the cheek. “Such a polite boy. I’ve left soup heating on the stove and turkey
sandwiches in the fridge. See you kids Friday.”

She waved as she left and a moment later they heard the
front door close.

“Where is my head? I should have known she’d stop by.” Lena
sat on a stool and placed her head in her hands.

“She’s hard to forget. What a little whirlwind she is.”

Lena looked at him. “I hope you don’t mind or feel bullied
into having dinner over there.”

“Are you kidding? The smell of that soup is making me
insane. We’d be crazy to turn down an entire meal cooked by her.”

“She’ll pry into every corner of your life before the night
is over and you’ll answer her without realizing it.”

“Well, my mom was especially good at that, so I can hold my
own.”

“I hope so. There’s not an answer Mrs. Pierce won’t get out
of you if she wants it.”

That was fine with Daniel. As long as he got a few more answers
about how to get closer to Lena.

Chapter Eight

On the beginning of their third day, Lena pulled on socks to
ward off the chill of the floors and padded down to the kitchen. She was
getting used to Daniel making coffee for them in the morning. It was hard to
believe how he had slid past all her defenses. She didn’t want to lie to
herself. He mattered to her.

Talking and working with him was as wonderful as making
love. She blushed. Well, almost as wonderful. He was the most amazing lover she
ever had. Receptive, responsive and inventive. With him she experienced the
heady combination of desiring someone while being deeply desired. She couldn’t
decide which excited her more—pleasing him or being pleased by him. Both had
advantages and unique thrills. She was learning as much about herself in their
time together as she was about him. This was new to her, although, she
acknowledged, she probably wasn’t open to it in previous relationships.

The word made her pause. A relationship. This was a
relationship. She put her coffee mug down and let the truth sink in as her
coffee cooled in its mug. This wasn’t a one-night stand. This wasn’t a fling.
She cared for him and those feelings were growing rapidly.

He found her staring at a blank page when he came downstairs
from his post-run shower. “That doesn’t look very promising.”

“Thanks,” she said with a smile. “I knew that what I was
missing was someone stating the obvious. Any bright ideas this morning?”

“There is nothing bright around here. I’m feeling soggy and it’s
only the second day of rain.” He poured himself a cup of coffee. “Let’s head to
the living room.”

They sat on opposite sides of the long sofa, each with a
sketch pad. The coffee table was covered in charcoals and pastels. She drew
erotic pictures of lipsticks, mouths begging for kisses, but nothing that would
make someone see it and think—that’s what I have to buy. Looking up, she saw
Daniel focused on his pad. Without thinking, she picked up a charcoal and
starting sketching him. After a few minutes she found herself liking how the
picture was turning out, but it wasn’t getting her any closer to an idea about
makeup.

“I need a distraction,” she said.

“Any ideas?”

She looked around the room and noticed the game cabinet.
“How about a game of strip Connect Four?”

Daniel did an actual double take and Lena laughed. “I don’t
remember that being part of the usual camp course listings. Was it offered one
of the years when I wasn’t here?”

“Well, we bring it out on special occasions and for certain
campers.” She paused. “And truthfully I can’t bear to think about makeup for a
little while. There’s just no inspiration for me today in eye shadows and
mascara.”

“Understood, but Connect Four?”

“It’s faster than strip Monopoly. If you get a fire started
I’ll make coffee and hunt up some cookies or something.”

“Agreed.”

As she dumped cookies on a plate thoughts of Daniel filled
her head. She was becoming more and more comfortable with him and thinking less
about the differences in their ages. When had that happened? After their last
intense but unproductive brainstorming session? Or was it during their last
night in bed? She knew it probably didn’t matter when the change happened. He
was no longer the artist who seduced her at his gallery opening or Danny, the
camper who had a crush on her and tracked her down.

He was Daniel, a man she was passionately and powerfully
drawn to, who made her laugh, listened when she spoke, and want to share her
interests and ideas with. It didn’t matter how they met or what their
backgrounds were. They were together and with every day, she wanted more.

The coffeepot gave its last gasp, breaking her out of her
reverie with a smile. A few minutes alone and she was having epiphanies and
insights on a relationship she couldn’t have imagined a week ago.

And she had a game of strip Connect Four to look forward to.

When she arrived back in the living room, Daniel had a
roaring fire going and the game set with two large pillows on either side for
them to sit on. She nodded at the fire and said, “I know you weren’t a Boy
Scout, so did you sign up for camp craft when you were here?”

“Actually,” he said, “I did.”

“And here I thought you spent all of your free time in the
art cabin with me.”

He smiled. “Most of it, but occasionally I did try other
things. I sat at the beach on the first night and watched the counselors build
the opening bonfire. I thought it was really cool how you could start with a
small amount of kindling and build it to something so enormous it could blaze
for hours and be seen for miles away. I asked them to teach me and by the end
of the first session I was pretty good at it. They let me help with most of the
fires at the beach. I loved it. Didn’t you come to any of the all-camp
gatherings?”

“Not after the first night. I wasn’t very sociable that
summer.”

“Could have fooled me.”

She knew after all he shared with her this could be a good
time to tell him about her only art show and the disaster it was, but he said,
“Ladies first,” as he gestured to the game and the moment passed.

“I’ll be red,” she said.

“That can be arranged.” When she blushed he said, “See, told
you.”

She laughed and dropped her piece into the game board. The
first two games ended in a draw, but she won the third and was rewarded with a
view of his chest when he removed his sweatshirt. “No t-shirt?”

“Didn’t think I was going to need layers today. Do you have
anything under your sweater?”

She pulled back the collar and looked inside. “Nothing
exciting. Just a white lace bra.”

“Maybe not exciting to you, but you’ve given me incentive to
win the next game, and a few more after.”

She couldn’t help but laugh as he dropped in a black piece,
and the game was on. It took three more rounds, but it was finally time to
sacrifice her sweater. It was harder to strip then she thought and when she
hesitated he said, “You do realize I’ve seen you with a lot less on.”

“Not useful,” she said with a smile. “And I know, but we
were in bed then, not sitting across from each other. I feel more exposed this
way.”

“Can I help?”

“Help?”

“Help you take it off.”

She laughed. “I think I can manage.” She tossed the sweater
on top of his sweatshirt and was grateful the fire would keep her warm.

“Yes, definitely distracting,” he said, “but also
inspiring.” He leaned over and kissed her as she dropped in a piece to start
the next game. The kiss lingered before he made his move and she didn’t notice
how distracted she was until she lost a second game in a row.

“Pants,” he said.

“Thanks for the recommendation.” Deciding he needed a dose
of his own medicine, Lena stood, unbuttoned her jeans and very slowly inched
them down over her hips, giving a suggestive wiggle as she did. She continued
to make a production out of it, sliding the pants down her legs, and then
stepping out of each leg gracefully. When she met his eyes, the hunger she saw
there was worth every slow movement. She walked around the game board, bent
over and dropped the jeans in the clothes pile then made her way back to her
seat.

“Your turn,” she said with a smile. He didn’t say anything.
Or do anything. “Daniel?”

“Right, the game. Sorry. My mind was on other things.”

“Like my legs?”

“Yes, and those white wispy panties you’ve got on. I never
thought white was particularly sexy until now.”

A shiver passed through her. “Does this mean you concede the
game?”

He shook his head. “Never.”

“Good, because I’m looking forward to watching you take your
pants off next.”

“Ah, a woman who loves a challenge. That’s sexy too.”

It took two more tie games before she made it impossible for
him to block her moves. He removed his pants quickly and she took her time
looking at him, which made his excitement evident.

“Winner take all?” he asked. “One last game for all the
clothes of the loser?”

“Deal,” she said.

After five more ties, he pushed the game aside, letting the
pieces scatter across the room. “Fuck it, I can’t wait any longer. I want you,
Lena, and I want you now.”

His words were as exciting as his actions as he reached
across and pulled her to him. She landed in his lap with a laugh and his mouth
came down in a bruising kiss, sending her heart racing and a rush of wetness
between her legs. His hands went immediately behind her back and unhooked the
bra. As it fell off, he moved down to her panties and skimmed a finger under
the edge, teasing her before he slipped it under the fabric and into her.

“Oh God, yes,” she moaned at the sudden and intense invasion
and as she arched against him, he slid a second finger inside her. Her
excitement bathed his fingers.

She broke their kiss to move her mouth lower, first to his
jaw, then his neck and chest, letting her tongue circle his nipples as she
gently sucked each one in turn. Her hands drifted to his erection, and she
followed his lead by finding the opening of his boxer shorts and wrapping her
hand around his cock. It was his turn to moan. She loved the sound. He rolled
her over and she gasped at the cold floor against her back.

“This floor is not very accommodating to knees and hip
bones,” she said.

“Sofa.”

They dove to the plush couch, although Daniel stopped to
double back for his wallet. He fished out a condom and placed it on the floor
next to where she waited.

“Always good to be prepared,” she said.

“I’m starting to see the logic of it,” he answered and
lowered his lips for another passionate kiss.