JC arrived back on Thursday afternoon for the blood tests. It was probably the most pleasant needle experience he’d ever had. Francesca chatted him up and stroked his hair in an attempt to distract him from the fact a sliver of metal was under his skin and in his vein. She didn’t let him take his eyes of her. He wouldn’t say he enjoyed it, but her presence made it bearable. When it was her turn she simply sent him from the room.
They spent the rest of the afternoon clothes shopping. Francesca suggested if he was going to become a fixture in Chicago, he might as well keep clothes there. Far be it for JC to argue! The very idea she made space in her closet for him pleased him to no end.
Francesca held up a navy blue sweater against JC’s chest. “Maybe with a pink shirt under it?”
“A little warm...”
She arched an eyebrow. “You aren’t planning on being here this fall?”
“Well yeah, I am.”
“You aren’t planning to outgrow your clothes in a couple of months are you?”
“With your cooking?”
Rolling her eyes, she said, “I’ll just get your sizes and shop by myself, smarty pants.”
“You don’t need to go spending your money on me,” JC protested.
“I don’t mind.” She brushed a brief kiss along his jaw. “I rather like it.”
Her bright eyes and earnest smile made him feel all warm inside. No other woman he had ever known had caused such a sensation. Only his gypsy girl. “You spoil me, Francesca.”
“You’re mine to spoil,” she replied blithely.
He was so hers...
Francesca’s text message made JC laugh.
Clean. Need U 2 come SOON!
JC had given permission for the doctor to inform Francesca of his health status. She then would pass the news to JC. Evidently the outcome was good. This meant she had gone on the pill and they could forgo condoms. And now they could indulge in other activities a previously forbidden to them. Yeah, he needed to get to the Windy City real soon.
How soon? JC texted back.
I’m calling.
His cellphone chimed with her personal ringtone – Lady Marmalade. “Hey, babe!”
“I can take Friday off if you want to do the wild thing,” Francesca announced breathlessly.
“Miss me much?” He was pleased he was not the only one eager for a reunion.
“Not at all. I just need you to make that mold,” she teased.
He chuckled, wondering if she had actually bought that kit she’d taunted him about the second weekend.
“So, lover, what works for you?”
“Mmm... I can take the red-eye Thursday night if that is cool with you.”
“I’ll be there with bells on.”
“Gypsy, you’re making me hard just sounding so eager,” he warned her.
“Hold that thought. We’ll have three days... I may even be a bad girl and skip mass and brunch Sunday.”
“Whoa!”
“Confession’ll be a bitch. I’ll probably give Father Tom a stroke.”
JC laughed. “You actually go to confession?”
“And most of the time I’m a bore.”
“You never bore me, sweetheart.”
“JC, I have to get going. Just let me know your flight info and I’ll pick you up.”
“I can take a taxi.”
“But I can—”
“Be waiting there in bed for me when I get there.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive. See you then.”
“Bye, darling.”
The ‘darling’ warmed him as nothing else could. He wondered if he could tell her he was in love with her yet.
Even though she was not picking JC up at the airport, Francesca checked when his flight was due to arrive. She had preparations to make. A trip to the market. A stop by the naughty lingerie shop Gaëlle had mentioned. Last but not least an adult toy store accompanied by Justine.
“Are you seriously going to make a mold of his dick?” Justine asked when Francesca bought the kit.
“Probably not. It is more of a joke,” Francesca answered.
“Well if it is so impressive I want a look at the thing when you’re done.”
“Thing?” Francesca giggled.
Justine shook her head. Her friend had to be in love. She had never known Francesca to be so giddy over any other man. “Then you’re glad I meddled?”
“I should be mad as hell, but I’m not. JC is definitely something special.”
“So... the ‘L’ word?”
“Not so soon.”
“Why not? It was love at first sight.”
“No. It was lust at first sight,” Francesca corrected. She’d wanted to jump JC’s fine bones. It still amazed her that she had actually acted on the impulse. Francesca was ever the cautious one. Everything about her when it came to JC was out of character. She could only hope it wouldn’t end badly.
“What’s wrong?” Justine picked up on her friend’s sudden thoughtfulness.
“I don’t thrust things that come so quickly. And the fact JC isn’t my usual type—”
“Means you’ve been looking for the wrong type all along,” Justine finished for her. “You’ve been disgustingly happy since your hottie came back. That has to mean something.”
“It means I’m getting some on a regular basis.” Francesca grinned and waved at the assortment of vibrator in all colors, lengths, and materials. “These would be collecting dust.”
Francesca picked up one made out of the kind of glass of which cookware was made. It was clear and red. “Then get this one. It claims to be dishwasher safe.”
It was very early on Friday morning when JC quietly entered Francesca’s loft. He silently made his way to her bedroom — what he found made his heart melt.
Evidently she had planning to greet him in celebration. The lights were set on the dimmest setting. The chunky candles on one bedside table had guttered out, leaving behind pools of hardened wax. The other table what had been champagne on ice was now champagne in a bucket of water. The sleeping Francesca wore a short red negligee of lace and satin. Her glorious silky hair was loose, trailing across both pillows. In slumber she looked like an innocent.
Damn the flight delays! He had been targeted for a completely welcome seduction. Now the seductress was fast asleep and it would be ungentlemanly to wake her.
With a resigned sigh, he removed his clothes leaving them on a chair and climbed in bed behind her.
Francesca woke a little when something hard settled against her rump, nestling between her cheeks. “Mmm... JC...”
“Yeah, baby. Go back to sleep.” He leaned over her shoulder to brush a kiss on her cheek.
“You’re late,” she announced unnecessarily.
“I know. We had weather. I’m sorry.”
“S’okay.”
Well, it was not okay with him. He’d had sinful plans of his own.
“The Cristal is probably warm.”
“Like I said, go back to sleep.”
Francesca turned to face him, smiling drowsily. “Some parts of you are very pleased to see me.” She noted the erection poking at her.
“All parts of me are happy to be here.”
“Want me to take care of this?” she asked, caressing him, making him moan softly.
“It’s four in the fucking morning, Francesca.”
“And we have nowhere to be four the next three days but this bed.”
He flashed a wicked grin. “You mean we can’t change venue?”
“Touché.” She ran her fingers through his short hair. “You need to grow this — give me something to grab on to.”
JC chuckled. “It’s curly.”
“Oooh, then you definitely to need to grow it!”
It was his guess she was no longer sleepy when she drew him in for a sultry, lingering kiss. He reached down to lift the brief hem of her nightie to discover it was the only garment she wore. Leave it to Francesca to realize a sexy nightgown was more seductive than naked and still not want to make it too difficult to get naked. Breaking the kiss he slid his lips to her ear. “Baby, there is something I hafta do; something I wanted to do that first night...” he whispered.
“Something I’ll like, I bet.”
“I hope you more than like it.”
First he tugged her gown over her head and tossed it away. Next he urged her to lie back. “I was drooling when you said you liked going down but loved getting it. Fuck, I wanted to lick you right then and there. Then in the shower... Just that little taste... I wanted more so bad...” JC kept his voice low and seductive. The husky timbre had Francesca ready to beg.
In an abbreviated tongue bath, he covered her torso in nibbling kissing and leisurely licks. At her breasts, he sucked as she mewled her pleasure. Moving lower, he scraped his teeth gently over the inner faces of her thighs before plying his tongue.
“JC...” she murmured breathlessly, trying to urge him to hurry to his destination.
But JC wouldn’t be rushed. He kissed her mons, teasingly tugged at the curls with his teeth. Her outer petals were swollen already parting to reveal the rosy inner lips. Sucking and licking, he made her his early morning snack.
“Oh, God!” She writhed beneath his tender torture. How long could this go on?...
At last he paid attention to the begging jewel standing out from its hood. His tongue licked it firmly from bottom to top until it elongated as far as it possibly could. Swirling his tongue around it, he pushed her thighs even farther apart, opening her offering to him completely.
Francesca had never known a man could take such care and time... He was killing her! “Please...”
With that one word he understood exactly how much he was pleasing her — and he’d yet to finish.
Tangling her fingers in his hair, she arched her hips, offering herself to him completely. “Now!” she commanded.
Obeying, JC closed his lips over the jewel and sucked tenderly as his tongue flicked at it.
“Ahh... Jay... Cee!...”
Eager to taste her fully, he lapped and sucked up the love nectar she generously offered. This sent her up one more time.
Francesca still quaked as he moved back up to join his body to hers. Her hands on his hips signaled she didn’t want him to move just yet.
It was one of the most erotic, deeply intimate moments JC had ever experienced. He felt every last tremor to the final mild ripples as her body held him. “Wow...” It was awesome, that connected feeling.
Francesca smiled knowingly. “Really wow.”
Then they made love, slowly, lingeringly. They relished each sigh, each moan and each whimper. Totally in tune they came together a brilliant wash of sparkling bliss.
Later JC welcomed Francesca crowding against him as they drifted towards sleep.
“Morning, darling,” she murmured just before her soft rhythmic breathing signaled she now slept.
“I love you,” JC whispered into her hair, knowing he dare not say it in waking.
The long weekend was one long sexual foray. Free to express passion whenever and wherever they chose was liberating. The loft became their playground. Francesca proved to be a wonderful surprise. Nothing seemed taboo. She was open-minded about position and location. And didn’t seem to take more than a glance or a touch to re-ignite them.
“I need a week to recover from this weekend,” JC joked when Francesca waited with him for his flight to be called again. With her face glowing with sexual satisfaction he found her even more beautiful.
“Then don’t wait so long between visits,” she suggested impishly.
“I don’t think I can stay away now.” He bent his head to whisper. “I think I’m addicted to that talented mouth of yours.”
Francesca giggled. “I don’t know. Yours is pretty amazing!”
JC kissed her. A sweet, long kiss having nothing to do with sex and everything to do with love.
“I know. I love you, too,” she confessed.
“Francesca!” How dare she say it when he had only minutes to hold her? “I love you so much, Gypsy.” He held her close. “If I didn’t have stuff lined up, I’d stay longer...”
“I’m pretty busy right now. Just knowing you were around would distract the hell out of me.”
“Then I guess it’s a good thing for our careers we live half a country away.” JC gave her pained smile. He wanted to tell her to come with him. Fuck her career. But he knew he wouldn’t dare.
“I’m less busy in the winter time. In fact I deliberately take on less after Thanksgiving and take month off that includes Christmas and New Years.”
She was telling him she was taking time off and letting him plan...
JC’s flight was called a second time.
He gave her a quick kiss. Instead of saying good-bye he said, “I love you, Francesca.”