Charley (20 page)

“Sounds like a great idea to me,” PJ replied with a smile.

While I walked around the pool, Marlene appeared at the patio door and PJ introduced us.

“Charley, this is Marlene; Marlene, this is Charley.”

“Hi Marlene, I am so glad to meet you.”

“Good to meet you too Charley. I’m so pleased to finally put a name and face together. I heard you mention a steak cookout. Coach, would you like for me to go to the grocery and get some steaks and ingredients for potato salad and the rest of the dinner? I can have everything prepared while you and Ms. Howard freshen up.”

With that she walked over to me and whispered, “I’m also glad you’re here at last. He’s talked about nothing else but you. The master bedroom and bath is at the far end of the house and includes a sitting room. You can close the door and have complete privacy with Coach if you like.”

I liked Marlene immediately. The older woman already understood my relationship with PJ and wanted to be helpful without interfering. She got it. “Thanks Marlene, I appreciate that.”

PJ returned to the patio and announced to both of us. “Well, I talked to the ladies and they were overjoyed with not having to dress up and go out to eat. They’ll be here at 6:30. Yes please Marlene, I would appreciate it very much if you could do some shopping for us. Why don’t you call Vincent and you and he join us?”

Suddenly he thought about it and looking at me added sheepishly. “If that’s okay with you, Charley?”

I smiled and laughed. “Yes, of course it’s okay with me, you big lug.  Marlene and I have already been talking behind your back. Now, come show me this bedroom I heard about … I really, really need a nap right now!”

PJ pulled my luggage toward the master bedroom. I stood in the hallway at the entrance to the small sitting room outside the master suite. This was obviously PJ’s man cave.

“PJ, this room definitely needs a woman’s touch. It’s soo… brown and bare!”

“You leave my room alone. I like it just as it is, thank you very much. You’re welcome to play with the rest of the house, but this room is mine!”

PJ had tried to sound tough, but he failed badly, as a big smile brightened his face. “Maybe you’ll like the bedroom better?”

When I stepped through the door to the bedroom, the change was dramatic. “PJ, this room is beautiful. I just love the pale blue walls, and the white accents on the woodwork are perfect. The fan gives this room a cool airy feeling. Oh, wow … the trey ceiling is gorgeous, and the hardwood reminds me of the condo. It pulls this all together. You weren’t kidding about studying interior design, were you?”

I walked around the spacious bedroom, touching the walls and the white drapes framing the picture window on the right. Sheer white curtains hanging from ceiling to floor allowed the bright sun to filter into the room giving it a soft glow. “I feel like a princess in this room. Where does the door lead?”

“That’s your small private garden. Go on out and see if you like it.”

The garden was striking. “Oh PJ, I love this. Those burning bushes must become a beautiful red in the winter. What’s the lovely white climbing flower on the arch?”

“That’s a passion flowering clematis, it has a brilliant purple splash of color in the center of each pure white bloom. It flowers all summer. The clematis in the summer reminds me that life is beautiful. The red burning bushes tell me that beauty can be found even in the coldest of times.”

“A decorator and a philosopher as well as a florist? That’s not what I would expect from a jock …”

“I guess there are a lot of things about me you are going to have to learn.”

For privacy, the arch had a door that could be latched. Two upholstered deck chairs and a modest table completed the small garden spot. This was a peaceful retreat within a retreat, a private place off the bedroom where one could relax and gather thoughts. “My little patio at the condo doesn’t begin to compare. I love this.” I lingered longer in the garden, letting the ambiance of PJ’s private retreat wash over me. 

From inside the house, PJ called through. “I’ll put your bags in the closet. Marlene has made some drawers available for you.”

I reluctantly stepped inside and walked to the door PJ held open. “This is a closet? It’s the size of my bedroom at the condo.”

There were two chests of drawers and several racks of clothing and a special cabinet for shoes. “And you’re so neat. I know that’s one thing we definitely do not have in common. And your clothes are sorted by use and also by color! Now that’s weird.” 

His clothes were organized with dress and casual pants, suits and shirts, all hung neatly together. I couldn’t hold back a loud laugh. “If you could see my closet, you would be shocked. You beat me big time on neatness and organization. That’s another interesting thing I’ve found out about you.”

This neatness issue would have to be dealt with if we ever lived together.

The drawers were lined with fresh scented paper, obviously Marlene’s touch. There were also a dozen or so soft padded clothes hangers on the clothes bar, beside the chest of drawers.

I bet Marlene did this; I’ll have to thank her.

Stepping back into the bedroom, I was struck by the super king sized four poster bed dominating the far wall. The quilted bedspread was a creamy white, with a bank of white pillows stacked at the headboard. A pink pillow sat prominently in the middle of a white pyramid of pillows, with a single pink rose laid across it. My throat choked as I bent over to smell the fragrance. I know PJ is thoughtful, but he didn’t put that rose there. Marlene must have done it. It’s really nice to be welcomed by PJ’s friends. They don’t have any reason to accept me; except they love PJ and they want him to be happy. That says a lot about the man.

PJ interrupted.“You like it?”

“Marvelous. Did you decorate this yourself?”

PJ grinned. “No, this is the way the previous owner had it, and I chose to leave it this way. What do you think?”

“You’re lying!
You
did this, didn’t you? This room is magnificent, PJ. I suspect there’s a feminine side to you all along, waiting to burst out.”

“Maybe so.”

PJ smiled as he slid behind me and wrapped his long arms around my waist. I relaxed in his grasp, enjoying the closeness and sense of security those strong arms represented. Slowly I turned in his arms, reached up to bring his lips to mine and responded to his loving kiss.

PJ yawned and murmured. “I sure am tired. Why don’t we get a nap?”

“In a minute, honey. I have a present for you. I think you should open it now …”

“Can’t I open it later?”

PJ obviously had other things on his mind.

“No, now is the right time. It’s in the blue bag wrapped in white,” I purred seductively. “Open my luggage; I think it’s on top. Please fetch it.”

We sat on the edge of the bed, and PJ tore the wrapping paper off the package about the size of a shoe box. “What have you gotten me?”

“It’s not just for you, sweetheart, it’s for us.”

With a sideways glance and a matching grin, he took off the top of the box. I had wrapped the contents in the pinkest tissue paper I could find.

“Goodness, what the …!”  He couldn’t finish the sentence because he burst out in uncontrollable laughter.

Soon I joined him; we nearly fell off the bed. “Do you like the present?”

He barely got out the words through the bout of laughing. “Oh yeah!”

He began to pull the items out of what was a shoe box. First out was a pink can of shaving cream. Following that was a pink safety razor, compact hair trimming scissors, and finally a small bottle of lotion.

“I thought we could use these,” I said giggling, remembering our painful experience.

At the bottom of the box were three bottles and a small sandwich bag containing three blue pills. One bottle was a scented lubricant, labeled ‘good for that intoxicating smell while he’s exploring you.’ His grin told me the second bottle was a bit of a surprise. It was a different cherry flavored lubrication, ‘guaranteed to help negotiate those tight places and reduce the pain of entering unexplored regions.’ His sideways glance drew a wink, raised eyebrows, and a smile from me. The third bottle was a massage lotion, ‘guaranteed to increase your and your partner’s sensual experience.’

It was the bag of pills that especially intrigued him. “What the heck are those? Headache pills for the day after?”

“Those are a couple of prescription pills for enhanced male performance. I got them from some of the regular girls who come into the bar. Gosh, I had to swap a couple of rounds of drinks for those three pills.”

“Male performance pills? You think I might have trouble down there?” He pretended to be a little peeved at the suggestion.

“Of course not, you have the profile of a stallion. But these pills are the same ones that male actors in porn films use to keep it up for a long time. You’re so damned good, so I want you to be able to love me for two or three hours at a time. I don’t want a quick thirty second pleasure trip. Understand, honey?”

PJ relaxed and laughed out loudly. “You think of everything don’t you? You cheat the girls out of expensive pills, and then go on down to the Hustler’s Adult Store. Are you maybe planning on a little sex during the time you’re here? Did you think those things might not be available out here in flyover country?”

“If we can’t do it three times a day, I’m going home. Think you’re up to it PJ?” I playfully hit him on the shoulder with my fist.

For the first time I felt relaxed around PJ. Gone were the sexual tensions of last week. I still longed for his arms around me and his soft hands caressing my body. I still wanted him to whisper in my ear as we were having sex. But now the urgency was not there. I knew that heart stopping sex was there for the asking, but I also knew that if we didn’t feel like mad passionate lovemaking, that was okay as well.

I will admit that sitting on that bed with PJ, holding my goodie items, did give me a tingle. “I think I need that nap now,” I whispered in his ear. “I’ll be right back,” I said as I slipped off the bed and backed to the closet and closed the door.

I had brought a sexy black baby doll negligee just for this first time. As I slipped off my clothes and pulled the skimpy negligee over my head, I knew we would never get a nap.

When I walked into the room, I noticed PJ had slipped into a silky pair of black pajama bottoms. He held out his arms beckoning me to him. In his softest voice he said. “You are really so beautiful.”

I almost cried.

“I have a present for you as well,” he said as he crossed the room and took me in his arms. He carried me to the bed.

I grasped his head in a tight grip, and pulled his face to mine. At first we kissed sweetly, with our lips brushing across each other and lightly touching. Quickly, our kisses became more demanding. I licked his willing lips, and plunged my tongue into his mouth with a deep fanatical thrust.

The bed covers were pulled back, and there, on the crisp white sheet was a beautiful array of fresh rose petals; brilliant reds, soft yellows and pure white petals. The fragrance was distinctly rose and delicate, with a hint of sweet aroma.

I cried.

“I said you deserved a bed with crisp sheets, soft music playing, a slight warm breeze, and a bed of roses.” He gently laid me in the middle of that bed of roses and whispered. “Welcome to my world.”

It was only 4:15.

Marlene was knocking loudly on the door. “Coach, Charlotte, it’s a quarter to six. They’ll all be here in forty-five minutes. Steaks are on the grill, I got Vincent to come over to help. See you in a little bit. Come on … get up you sleepy heads.”

PJ leaned over me, kissed my closed eyes and said. “I think I’ll just tell them to start without us. We’re busy.”

“You will not,” I declared, and punched him in the arm.

“What was that for?” he mocked.

“For being a clod. You know I want to meet your friends.”

“Okay, you win; I’ll get the shower going. You can join me if you like.”

“I’ve got to find something to wear tonight, you go on without me. Perhaps later.”

I really wanted to go play with big boy in the shower, but I had to unpack and find something to wear. So I slowly rolled out of bed, and began to search through my bags for the cute pink shorts and white silk top.

“Honey you come on,” he shouted back. “The shower is yours. I’m going to get dressed and see if I can help Marlene.”

“Could you bring me an ironing board please? I need to press something after I get out of the shower.”

I heard PJ walk into the kitchen to find Marlene and Vincent working on the dinner. “I hope you two are going to stay as well. Oh, Marlene, Charlotte needs an ironing board. If you can tell me where it is, I’ll take it to her.”

“Coach, we would love to stay. You help Vincent and I’ll help Charlotte. Have a good nap big boy?”

“Huh? Oh yeah, actually, yes we did, thank you very much, very relaxing.”

These walls are thin; I hope they weren’t in the kitchen a couple of hours ago!

I could hear Marlene getting the ironing board and steam iron, and head for the bedroom. I stood in front of the mirror with PJ’s tee and boxers on, and had a decidedly mixed reaction.  My hair was a mess, no make-up, my eyes were red and the loose fitting clothes did nothing for me. Well nothing on the outside, but just the smell of PJ lingered in his tee-shirt, his boxers nearly fell off my hips … and I had a huge smile on my face! I look terrible, but I feel fantastic. In fact, I’ll take fantastic any day.

Marlene knocked softly. “Need some help?”

“Can you work magic?” I replied, laughing.

“Little girl, get in the shower and wash your hair. I’ll fix it when you get out. We’ll get something for your eyes.  I can tell we are going to have to get a lot of girl stuff to make this guy’s bedroom and bath livable. What clothes do you need ironing and we’ll get you ready. Don’t worry. Everyone coming will love you!”