Free Playing for Julia by Annie Carroll Page B

tension in my body and legs is released explosively.  It is even more powerful than before.
    His climax follows mine in seconds.  “Julia , baby,” he gasps as he thrusts deeply into me. Then again, I become aware of the weight of his body on mine, as he clasps the sides of my face, his long fingers in my hair and kisses me tenderly. I am utterly limp.  We lay like this, together, as our breathing slows, our hearts slow their rapid pounding.
    “ I told you it was going to be good, Julia.”  He is smiling again.
    “Better than good .  I didn’t know…”  And, it’s so true.  Until now, I didn’t know sex could be like this and it is wonderful and amazing. He is amazing.
    He pulls out of me and lies by my side.   We are still, quiet, smiling at each other.
    “You’re a quiet one. You let your body say it all.”  He leans over and kisses me softly.
    Then he sits up. “I still want that steak dinner.  I wonder if the kitchen is open.”
    He picks up the phone , calls the front desk and grins at the answer he gets.
    “Get up.  Get dressed,” he says to me as he reaches for his jeans.
    “I have to shower.  I’m a mess.”
    “Shower later.  Get dressed now.  We can still have dinner if we get out there right away.”
    I find my peachy-pink bra and silk panties on the floor. When I put them on he stops and looks at me.  “Very tempting—but not right now,” he grins.
    My black blouse, tossed onto the floor earlier, is not too wrinkled.  I slip into my new white jeans and quickly step into the bathroom to see I how I look.  Oh dear—whisker burn, but not too much.  I brush my hair and put on some lipstick.  This will have to do.
    I discover that I am hungrier than I thought and eat every last bite of the steak.  The wine is excellent.  Austen tells me about Carmel and how it has been an artists’ haven for decades.  We’ll go see the village tomorrow, sometime.
    Then we go back to the room and make love again, this time slowly.  At the end I fall asleep in his arms, exhausted and happier than I have ever been.

Chapter Ten
     
    A thin band of sunlight falls across the room and onto the blue comforter we must have kicked to the foot of the bed. The blue and green striped drapes are open just a sliver.  Austen, still sleeping, is wrapped around me—warmer than any comforter. I could stay like this forever, but I need to take a shower.  I feel sticky all over.  I don’t want to wake him, so I lie still and think about last night.  He was amazing.  The whole experience was astonishing.  I have never felt like that ever in my life.  I never in my wildest dreams imagined that my body could feel that good, that satisfied, that relaxed—and all because of him.  And I want more.
    Then his breathing changes and I realize he is awake.  He nuzzles my hair.
    “ Morning, baby.”
    “Good morning.”
    “How do you feel?”
    “Sticky.  Good, but very sticky.  I need to take a shower.”  I slip out of his arms, get out of bed, lean over and give him a chaste kiss.  With my toothbrush and tooth paste in hand I go to the bathroom.  The sun is shining through a small, high window onto the pale blue tiles that go up to the ceiling.
    The turn on the shower and the water warms up rapidly as I brush my teeth.  Better.  My mouth tastes much fresher now.  I step under the warm, almost hot, water and it cascades all over my hair and body. It feels heavenly. The soap I take out of the white paper wrapper is scented lightly, citrus and floral.  I rub some on a washcloth and begin to wash my face and neck.
    Then I realize Austen is leaning against the doorway to the bathroom watching me with a honey smile on his face.
    “You are so beautiful, Julia.”
    He walks across the bathroom and steps into the shower with me.
    “Let me wash you, baby.  Turn around and stand still.”
    He rubs some more soap into the washcloth and starts rubbing my shoulders and my neck.  I feel my muscles relax