This is the first fan fic I ever wrote... not that I've written many, but it's dedicated to Urs and his babes. Thank you Natty for agreeing to be my leading lady.

Sandie
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Chapter 1


He carefully lit the logs in the fireplace and dimmed the lights. There was already soft music playing from the stereo that he enjoyed. Tonight, he wore his comfortable clothes: the champagne colored silk shirt and the chocolate brown cords. It was just getting chilly out, so he had socks on, but preferred to not wear shoes… to confining for an evening indoors. She arrived on time, which was one of the things he admired in her. Natty, dressed in a long navy blue split skirt, burgundy blouse and boots, had already noticed all the little things he had done since the last time she had visited including the little basket on the table, the flowers in the vase, brass candlesticks with slender tapers waiting to be lit for the evening meal.

As she strolled toward him, he had already taken the chilled bottle of champagne out of the ice bucket and she watched enviously as he eased the cork from the bottle and slowly let the contents spill into the glass. He looked over at her and smiled as he handed her the glass. While she took the glass, she didn’t realize he had also reached for a strawberry from the antique bowl nearby. She only felt his arm gently glide around her waist. Slowly and without a single word, he plucked the stem off of the top of the very ripe berry and gingerly held it between his teeth as he lowered his head. Her mouth eagerly awaiting both the berry and his kiss, as he gently pushed the berry into her mouth, before sealing his lips to hers. She could barely breathe… the food, the kiss, the champagne.

Her senses were alive as his hand glided down her shoulder and arm as he gently took the glass from her hand and placed it onto the table, as the other one gingerly reaches upward. His thumb grazes her cheek as the other fingers reached toward the back of her neck. Again his lips press against hers in yet another deep and lingering kiss....Natty noticed the gentle pressure against the back of her neck and leaning closer, he squared his hips against her stomach as he grasped her right hand.

Slowly he raises her clasped hand as it grazed his shirt and she could feel his warm muscular chest. Their eyes were locked , her breathing heavy and with anticipation... quietly, he brushes the back of her hand against his cheek as he smiles and gently kisses each finger slowly and with great pleasure... as his left hand slips off her shoulder and around her waist. That left hand also noticed that her blouse wasn’t tucked in, rather, met the skirt at the waistband. She was wearing her favorite skirt with the long slit up the front that allowed her mobility without being pretentious. He also remembered the button and zipper were in the back.

Softly, she brushed her fingertips against the outline of his lips as he tries to kiss them again, without taking his eyes off of her face. Outside, a gentle rain has started and the sound harmonizes with the beating of her heart. Her left hand explored him too and like his, comes to rest against the small of his back. She too squared her hips against him. A slight blush appears at his cheeks and the smile widened with satisfaction. The song deftly changed and he leaned down again and put his cheek to hers. He could hear and feel her breath quicken as he softly hummed the tune they both knew so well. Soon, they were both quietly swaying to the music as she tightly closed her eyes and breathed in his cologne. She had wished for this night to be this perfect... this quiet.... this gentle...

She knew this would never happen in a nightclub, this closeness, as dancing to him was sensual and personal. He was quiet usually and she knew the first time she looked into his eyes those few weeks ago, that, he spoke more with his eyes than words. Soon, the song had ended, but they continued to dance. By now, she didn't know if there was music at all, other than his lyrical voice... and she held him tighter. His hand had slowly moved up her back and between her shoulder blades as he gently kissed her again... his lips still buzzing while he continued to hum.
Somehow, he led them back to the table, because the red rose in the slender crystal vase had disappeared from the bouquet. Suddenly, she smelled it and realized he had plucked each petal off of the newly opened bud and had sprinkled them through her long dark hair and over her shoulders. It had reminded her of the concert and how exciting it had been… the music, the guys, the reactions, the orchestra… and seeing him in person. She sighed to herself, not wanting him to think she was impatient. She had kept some of those petals from the concert, tucked away. When she was sad, she would pull them out and instantly remember. She wondered if he knew that all of the petals she kept were red.
She also remembered that when they were pressed just right, she could touch them to paper and make little kisses appear. She thought at first it was childish to do, but she wanted to make those kisses for him. Instead, she decided she would plant them for real, not petals that could be washed away, but lasting ones… down his neck, over that muscular chest, and create a path to his belly that only he would know and feel. He realized they were still swaying and his humming was the only music he could hear. Carefully, he released her and strolled over to the cabinet and selected something else, a muted trumpet played classical jazz. She didn’t think he was the type with his rock god image. She smiled and made a mental note to check into it later.

He held out his hand toward her. She wasn’t sure why he wasn’t coming back to her and looked over to his right. There was a warm fuzzy blanket, cushions and an intimate picnic meal. “Oh my” she thought to herself “he expects me to eat something after all this?” She took his hand as he led her to a place near the fireplace. He had noticed she didn’t seem to eat much when they had been together. He loved to cook too and hoped what he made for them would be to her liking. Then, she noticed he wasn’t wearing shoes at all, so she took off her boots and placed them near the door before returning to his side. He smiled lovingly at her, hoping that she would say something… hoping to please her in one of so many ways.

Smiling back, she took his hand as they strolled toward the fireplace and the intimate picnic he had made. He knew she didn’t like chocolate, but hoped she did like the small cheesecake he had ordered from the local bakery. Suddenly, she realized that it was going to be a bit awkward to gracefully sit on the floor… and seemed he thought the same thing too. He very gallantly said, “How about we sit on the sofa instead of the blanket.” She quickly nodded and perched on the edge of the creamy tan leather sofa. He sat beside her attentively, and looked to her once again. She was about to ask him about his day when he turned around and started to pick up different dishes, trying to decide what to choose. She wasn’t hungry at the moment and reached back for her glass of champagne. As she sipped at it, he realized that she probably wouldn’t want to eat anything or very little at best. His mind raced for a brief moment and he selected another fresh strawberry and dipped it into the very top of the cheesecake. As he turned around with a smile, she had just put the glass on an end table. Before she was fully turned around, he whispered, “Stay just as you are and close your eyes. I want you to try something for me please.” And with that, she smiled and closed her eyes, sitting with her back to him. Carefully, he moved closer to her and wrapped his arms around her once again. She could feel his heart beating at her back thru his shirt and his breathing seemed to quicken. He gently brushed back her hair and tucked it behind her right ear. Whispering, he said “Open your mouth and taste this. Let me know if you like it.” And he gently kissed her cheek.

Natty didn’t know what to expect and was surprised by the taste and texture. Just when she had figured out it was cheesecake and strawberry, he quickly turned her around and kissed her again. Her arms instinctively went around his waist as the kiss lingered. His mouth was so warm and it contrasted with the cold food she was desperately trying to swallow. He still held her and said teasingly, “So darling, was it as good for you as it was for me?” She knew he was teasing, and couldn’t resist teasing him back… “Ohhhhhhh ….. Oooooooh… Ooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhh yes…” They both laughed and continued to hold each other close staring into the fireplace. She peaked over his shoulder at the food waiting to be eaten and knew he had prepared most of it himself. She too didn’t want to disappoint him, but wanted to just snuggle a bit longer. Then, she saw the lobster tails and couldn’t resist it. He knew that was one of her favorites, so, he had made a pair of them to share. He noticed her looking at them and reached for the tray. He had also melted butter and had it in a warming dish still melted. He carefully tore off a piece of the lobster and carefully dipped it into the melted butter.

“So, you want some of this maybe?” She noticed the butter starting to drip down his hand and couldn’t resist. Before even she knew it, her tongue had caught the melted butter running down his hand and seductively licked the entire trickle of butter before reaching the lobster he held. His eyes widened in amazement of both the action and the feeling. Suddenly, he wasn’t hungry any more… at least not for that. She blushed and quickly swallowed as she knew that he was pleased and aroused. She wanted to excite him even more. Gently, she took his hand into hers and kissed each finger, slowly, looking into his face to see his reaction. He smiled broader and broader. He wanted to kiss her again, but also didn’t want her to stop either. His left hand just reached for her as he wanted to hold her close. It was a feeling of warm and cold he had never felt before… She also took that hand and holding the right one close to her chest, she kissed every finger of his left as well. He was speechless. She also moved his left hand to her chest and held it close. He could feel her heart beating faster and it too excited him. More than anything, he wanted to please her…. Please her for hours... for all eternity… Lock the rest of the world outside and just let it be the two of them… forever. Nothing more than to stare into those eyes, touch her, hold her, kiss her, be one with her… and never stop. Not for music, not for money, not for friends or family, not for all the fame in the world… for she was so much more.

Sis you posted it!!! I hope everyone enjoys this wonderful story as much as I did and still do!!!!

No need to thank me it was my pleasure to be the leading lady....just look at who the leading man was!!!

Natty

She remembered the beginning of the concert… how the excitement had built with just hearing the orchestra and seeing the white curtain around a part of the stage. She knew the guys would appear somehow from that curtained area… She wanted to recreate the excitement she felt for him… tonight. She had down loaded several of the concerts from the forum before and kept the CD with her to listen to daily. She had also read their book and knew that music was very important to him and filled him whether there was an audience present or not. She kept her plans in the back of her mind, waiting for just the right moment to put them into action.

She gently stroked his arm wrapped around her. She loved the feel of silk and the warm, tight muscles underneath. The definition of each muscle in his biceps was amazing. He in turn, was softly humming again and gently rubbing his cheek to hers. He kissed her deeply again and held her face in both hands. “Are you warm enough? Should I build up the fire again?” and started to cover her face with little butterfly kisses. He started to move his hand when she said, “Oh, you’re keeping me warm enough for now, but maybe a few more logs wouldn’t be a bad idea. I wouldn’t want you getting sick now. You can’t sing with a cold. “This could be the opportunity she was waiting for… with him distracted for a few minutes…..

He sighed and looked at all of the food left untouched… “How about I do that and take this food out to the kitchen and put it away”. Natty offered to help him, but he kindly refused, saying, “Make yourself at home, I’ll be finished in no time…” With that, he stood, ran his hands down the front of his thighs to straighten his pant legs and started to gather the food. She thought to herself how much she wanted to run her hands down his thighs that same way. She could imagine each muscle of his strong thighs under the material as she tried not to let that tiny shiver scampering through her show as that dreamy smile grew on her face at the thought of what was above that hiding under those cords and the front tail of that silk shirt. She was glad he hadn’t bothered to tuck his shirt in as she liked how the front and back tails of that type of shirt just made her more curious about what lay underneath. She had closed her eyes to think about it again as he returned to the room to gather more from the table.

He stopped briefly near her and saw the look on her face. He was puzzled at what she might be thinking, but couldn’t resist kneeling beside her and kissing her again. The warmth from this deep kiss only excited her more as she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close. Her fingers instinctively touched those wonderful curls. That was another thing she wanted to spend time on… running her fingers through those luscious curls. There wasn’t a part of him she didn’t want to explore in intimate detail…. The mental list she had so carefully planned was slipping into the depth of darkness as new ideas arose. He kissed her again and again, then, gently pulled away. “Ahem… I’ll …. What do you call it in the den??? Oh… brb.” He reached toward the table as he stood up; noticing somehow a button on his shirt had come undone. He left it that way. Yes, she had caught a glimpse of that fine chest too. Oh my gosh, she thought, he reads what we type in the den? She blushed at the thought and decided she would be more careful from now on.

He was already in the kitchen when she pulled the concert CD from her purse. She asked him if she could change the music and he agreed. He came around the corner and opened the cabinet doors. “Here, pick anything you would like.” And he returned to the kitchen.
She peeked around the doorway to see where he was and estimate how long he would be. She also glanced over and saw that most of the food was now in the kitchen and everything that was left would keep at least for a bit. She pretended to be looking at the CDs when he returned again. He saw the fire was really low now and knelt before the fireplace to rekindle the flame. Taking a deep breath, she changed the music to the concert CD and strolled over toward him. He listened briefly, continuing to add logs and smiled.

“Oh, that sounds familiar.” He said. He finished with the fire place and brushed his hands on his pants. By now, she was three steps away from him, on the edge of the blanket. He hadn’t noticed where she was yet as he was still watching the flames build. Now, he turned to look at her. You know, I’ve never really listened to the Intro by the orchestra in detail before. We were always getting to our mark and getting ready to……” On cue with the music, Natty’s long navy blue split skirt dropped from her waist to the floor just like the curtain for the first song of a concert. “…. “Helaiyahou” he said breathlessly with widened eyes as he looked from the skirt, slowly up to her waist. There before him were her long, slim, creamy white legs and bright red panties. She was about to give Him the concert experience of his life with the beautiful “music” planned for both of them.

Her carefully laid plans were slipping from her mind as she stepped away from her dropped skirt. He slid over the edge of the blanket toward her, not taking his eyes off of her. As they met, he couldn’t resist gliding his hands up the back of each calf toward her thighs. At the same time, her hands reached out to his head to return to those luscious curls. He wanted to touch every inch of her, and gently his hands returned to her ankles and slid up the front of her calves as he tenderly kissed her thighs. She began to tremble with excitement which he mistook for cold. He looked up at her face and reached for her hands. She knelt in front of him, both on their knees facing each other. His arm instinctively went around her as he drew her even closer, kissing her again and again. Her hands were on auto-pilot as they touched his shoulders, his waist, and his arms while they kissed. She wanted to see that beautiful chest, that small waist, those long legs, that great butt.
She reached for the buttons of his shirt left to be undone as he softly stroked her thighs. She tried not to bite her lower lip as she concentrated trying to undo those buttons as his touch was sending her mind in a million directions at once. He reached to help her with the last ones and easily slid it off, tossing it on top of her abandoned skirt. Her eyes widened at the splendor of his magnificent upper body…the muscles, the definition, the smooth skin that she couldn’t wait to touch, to kiss, and to enjoy.

Again, he wrapped his arms around her and their lips met as they continued to explore each other with eager hands and lips. Their enjoined silhouette reflected gracefully on the sofa behind them capturing it as ETILAY played softly in the background. He gently lifted her up, sweetly kissed her belly, turning, and laid her softly on the pillows propped against the sofa. He marveled at her beauty and grace. As he reached for the lower buttons on her blouse, fear flashed in her eyes. He hesitated, thinking he had done something wrong. He reached for one of the roses and touched it to her lips and gently traced it across her face. She smiled and she blushed as it was as warm and soft as his touch. The fear had dissolved as quickly as it had appeared. The rose was white and continued down her chin and neck, over her still buttoned blouse to her belly below. There, it stopped briefly as he gently kissed her belly in the path the rose had taken. He had not yet touched those red panties yet as he outlined the top of the bikini waistband with the flower. He wanted to take his time… he felt she deserved time and care and attention. The rose continued and outlined the bottom of her panties and trailed off down her thigh as he slid beside her to continue to her toes.
Her arms ached to hold him again though it had only been moments before that he had left them to travel with that flower. Slowly and eagerly, she sat up and reached for him. Her knees bent and she leaned forward to welcome him into her arms. Soon, the chocolate cords and briefs were added to abandoned pile of clothes, then the red bikini. How it occurred, she will never remember as she was enthralled with his whole splendid being. Sighing, she too added the burgundy blouse and front opening red bra. Their bodies were enjoined in moments creating their own harmony with vibrato neither had felt before. He entered her slowly at first and with great pleasure, matching the music thru each crescendo until neither could hear the stereo in the distance as they were wrapped up in their own world, creating their own music as no one had ever heard before. For both of them, time had stopped and both were in a state of bliss neither had known before. Their enjoined bodies glistened in the final flames and embers of the fire. She closed her eyes again and held him tight, breathing him in again as she tucked her head between his shoulder and neck. They lay quietly for a time and watched the embers slowly die. She once again kissed that soft spot on the side of his neck that sent tiny shivers down his torso. She smiled and marveled that this small act could cause such a big reaction. She must have drifted off for a moment, because she opened her eyes as he picked her up in his arms. He had left her for a moment to rest and readied his bed for the night, turned off the stereo, and return to her. He carried her down the hall, thru the doorway and into his room. Her head remained tucked beside his neck as he gently placed her on the cool blue satin sheets and big fluffy pillows. He had left her then only a moment to light some candles on the bedside table as he wanted to see her soft glowing body in the candlelight. He was awed by her beautiful, creamy white skin with all the right curves he had eagerly explored before and ached to explore again and again.

They continued to enjoy each other while the candles burned down and put themselves out. Finally, exhaustion had overcome both of them as they blissfully cradled each other and drifted off to sleep. They dreamed of the night they just enjoyed with nothing else in the way and for both of them, it seemed the sands of time had stopped as though the hour glass was gently turned on its side. His dream, his wish had come true as for the first time, he felt he was truly loved by this woman.

The next morning, he awoke slowly and smiled at the memories of last night. She was quietly sleeping with her head on the left side of his chest and her hand splayed over the right. Her leg was carefully lying across his belly and he had a difficult time sneaking out of bed to surprise her with a delicious breakfast. He grabbed his robe and padded down the hall, tying the cloth belt as he tiptoed out. As he passed the living room, he noticed the clothes they had left behind. He carefully picked up her things and carefully folded them in a neat stack, blushing at the handling of the red bikinis and bra. He tossed his own into the hamper, as he made his way to the kitchen.

Minutes later, he returned to her with a full tray of goodies he thought she might like, tea, and some champagne (just in case). She was in the same place he had left her and it made him smile. He stepped out and returned moments later with a few more things and her clothes. Carefully and as silently as he could, he returned to her side and gently kissed her on the cheek, whispering, “Good morning my love.”

He just as gently brushed the long dark curls from her face and kissed her cheek again. Slowly, she opened her eyes and blushed, remembering last night and what she had dreamed. “Good Morning Milord” she said as her arms reached to hold him close. They snuggled for a while, each wanting the moment to last. He tried in vain to wait, but couldn’t resist. Then, he whispered in her ear, “Musica or Caruso?” She blushed and smiled at the thought. Once again, this time as the sun slowly rose beside them; they enjoined and relived those moments of passion again. This time, she was not shy, nor was he. They easily found those tender places and rejoiced again in their own special harmony, matching note for note, verse for verse with an ever so delicate chorus.

Resting later, their warm bodies glistening, they continued to snuggle again. He carefully reached for the tray he had put near the bed and asked if she was hungry. She kissed him deeply on the mouth and replied, “Only for you.”

He smiled and said, “Oh dear, an encore so soon? My pleasure…. “

And with that, the food once again remained on the tray for a long time as they repeated the entire concert again. Then, both drifted off to sleep for a bit and awakened again.

He rolled onto his side toward her, kissed her forehead and said quietly, “Darling, I need to get a shower. You rest here awhile and I’ll be right back.” She nodded and pretended to return to sleep. He disappeared into the bathroom. She wanted to give him a few minutes of privacy first before she sneaked in to surprise him. Slowly, she hummed a song to pass the time. When she had finished, she noticed the shower had already started and there was steam wisps floating from the bottom of the door. He too had started to hum the same song even though he didn’t hear hers. She snuck out of bed and made her way to the door. Carefully opening it, she saw he was in the shower and wetting his hair. Taking a deep breath, she peeked behind the curtain and smiled saying, “I was lonely and missed you”. They showered together and dried each other off. While she was combing out her wet hair, he stepped out to give her some privacy…. Or so she thought.

Moments later, he knocked on the door and peeked in. “Are you finished? You couldn’t be more beautiful.” She smiled and nodded. He opened the door the whole way and she saw he had sprinkled white rose petals all over the bed where they had been. He held her close and kissed her deeply. “I thought it would be nice to stay inside awhile longer. And you must eat something. “Hand in hand they strolled toward his bed. Once again, he picked her up and laid her down on the soft, blue satin sheets and fluffy pillows. He lay beside her and took her in his arms as her cheek rested on his muscular chest. She listened for some moments to the strong, steady beat of his heart and quiet even breathing.

He heard her sigh as he gently stroked her upper back and rubbed her shoulders. They remained that way for most of the morning. He quietly reflected on the music and its new meaning for him. He wondered if she was thinking the same thing. She was. The concert she heard was distant now; their concert was foremost in her mind.

In the early afternoon, he reached over to the abandoned tray and picked up the little box he had tucked away. It had a red ribbon around it. He handed it to her and kissed her softly. “I want you to have this now and I want to take you shopping later. Okay?” She blushed and took the tiny package from him, returning the kiss. Carefully, she untied the bow and opened the box. Inside were white rose petals.
He gently touched her face and kissed her once again. “I know you have red ones from the concert, but these white ones are just for us. Keep them to remember what we have shared and what is yet to come.”

She didn’t want their time together to end. She basked in the warmth she felt in his arms, laying beside him with the cool satin sheets pulled up to her chin as they snuggled. Her hand lazily caressed his shoulders, arms and chest again. She loved the feel of his skin and rippling muscles beneath. She was awed by the strong jaw line, the magnificent cheek bones, and the deep dimples in his cheeks when he smiled, the gentle, full lips that kissed her.

Quietly, she kissed that soft, tender spot she liked so well on the side of his neck. He blushed and smiled as a shiver trickled thru him. His hands reached for and held her face as he bent close to kiss her again. Easily, he slid down to be face to face with her as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her on top of him. His arms held her warmly as his hands floated down to the small of her back. She could feel his fingers making tiny circles there as they progressed lower. Her hands reached instinctively toward his face and curls as she once again created her rose kisses path from his mouth, down his neck and over his chest toward his belly.

Carefully, his right hand slid up to her shoulders as he rolled over keeping her close as he was now on top of her. Her legs wrapped around his hips as he began to hum Passera. The song had always been special before, but now it was so much more. He kept his cheek to hers at first so she could feel the music resonate within him. As the song continued, he kissed her more deeply than the last, causing her lips tingle. Soon, their bodies were united in that glorious harmony as the sun shined brightly in the window beyond. Both of them glistened afterward, breathing heavily as they returned to cuddling. She thought about a return to the shower for herself, not to be away from him, but to give him some time to be alone. She knew he was one to need some alone time and she, much as she would miss him, wanted him to have that as well. She shifted to move, but he held her close. “Please, don’t move yet. I want to be selfish a bit longer. I’m not ready to be anywhere else except here.” He whispered and kissed her again. Gently, he slid down and laid his cheek on her flat, tiny belly. She lovingly ran her fingers through his chocolate brown curls as he lay there quietly humming a tune that she had never heard before at a concert, yet it sounded familiar.
He moved toward her face again and wrapped his arms around her, whispering to her, “Io ti amo.

Si, ti amo. Quanto ti amo…” and brushed his lips gently against hers before kissing her again. At first she thought he was just practicing the song. Then she looked into his eyes and saw he wasn’t practicing it. He kissed her again and again as a new melody became a part of their concert. Her heart raced as though she had run a marathon. Her mind soared in glorious flight, as it memorized those special words she longed to hear. They echoed in both Italian and English in her mind … “I love you. Yes, I love you. How much I love you… Io ti amo. Si, ti amo. Quanto ti amo… I love you. Yes, I love you. How much I love you… Io ti amo. Si, ti amo. Quanto ti amo… “

Time for both had stood still once again as two souls and hearts became one. The sun was beginning to set as they showered again, this time each alone. He showered while she carried the tray back to the kitchen and tidied up in one of his white shirts and silk boxers. As he shaved and dried his hair, she showered again. He loved seeing her in his shirt with it unbuttoned at the top.

She dressed in the clothes from the night before. He had put on his favorite pair of jeans and a white shirt and the black leather jacket and boots. They stepped out of his cottage home, walked the short porch and into the driveway. She didn’t want to try riding his motorcycle in a skirt, so he drove her car back to her house. They chatted along the way about things in general. He wasn’t the type to be affectionate in public and she understood that from the start. He had to appear in public as was expected, a free and sexy man. She knew he was hers in her heart and to her that was all that mattered. The fans could have the Music Star, but the real person he was inside was hers.

She unlocked the front door of her townhouse and they walked in. As soon as the door was closed, he took her in his arms and kissed her, saying “It took forever to get here… and I missed this so much.” Actually, it had only been a 45 minute drive from his place to hers. She wondered what it was going to be like when he went back on tour. She shook her head and tried to get rid of that thought. It was too far into the future and she knew anything could happen. She checked the mailbox, trashed the junk mail, looked at her answering machine and watered the lone plant in the kitchen before heading upstairs to change her clothes. He waited patiently in the hallway for her footsteps to return. After a few minutes, he tentatively crept up the steps. At the top, he called her, “Natty, darling, where are you?” She peaked out into the hallway and said, “I’m just checking my e-mail, be with you in a second.” And she disappeared back into the room.

He leaned against the wall near the top of the stairs and waited again, looking at the paintings and photographs she had hung on the walls. Minutes later she appeared thru the same doorway as before in a black v-necked sweater and black jeans. She decided on low-heeled boots as well. He met her halfway down the hall in a warm embrace. “I missed you… again. And you are even more beautiful than I saw you last,” he said. She took his hand and led him down the hall where he had seen her.

“This is my room, as I have seen yours. It’s only fair.” Natty said. She was hoping to christen her room as well some evening as they had done his hours ago. He blushed at first, then smiled as he wasn’t sure what to expect. He glanced around the room and saw it was very neat and tidy. His eyes stopped at the computer in the corner with his picture on it. He blushed again. She noticed the second blush and smiled too. “My favorite guy is always here, just like in the den darling. I see you every day and visit you in person or there.”

“I know you visit the den, honey. I see what is written there many times, though we’re not supposed to look there. I can’t help it. I want to make sure the fans are all right and having a good time.” She reached over and hit the power button on the tower. Then she wrapped her arms around him and held him close, kissing him all over his face. His arms held her just as tightly as he closed his eyes.

“I don’t want the babes seeing this,” she said. “They will be very jealous.” She took his hand and walked toward her bed. They held each other close as they laid there a short while. They were both tired and by now hungry. She got up to go to the kitchen and he followed her. Her kitchen was small but well equipped. Without thinking, he grabbed the apron on the hook and put it on. It reminded her of the times she had watched him on Martha. He looked sexy then and even more so now. Before long, they had a simple salad, grilled shrimp and pasta. He had helped her make all of it. They stood and ate at the counter in the kitchen even though there was a table close by. He wanted to feed her to make sure she ate well and would have energy for later. She wanted to feed him because she loved him to see him eat from her fingers, seductively licking off every morsel from each finger whether anything was there or not. Soon both were full and the meal was gone. They cleaned up the dishes and headed out into the evening. She drove them to a shopping area and parked the car under a street light. She was used to shopping alone and always parked in a well lit area. They held hands in the darkness and walked quietly up the sidewalk, looking into the shop windows of the stores that were already closed. He spotted a store that was open and held the door open for her to walk in. He walked in behind her and closed the door.

The store reminded her of the old fashioned department stores - the ones that didn’t have all of the glitz and flash. There was something for everyone regardless of their budget. They walked over to the clothing area and teased each other with outrageous outfits that neither would wear, laughing the whole time. Finally, she picked out a nice shirt, tie, jacket and pants for him and he chose a long dress for her. They kissed briefly and went to the changing rooms.

She knew he was used to wearing Armani suits on stage, but he didn’t need to wear one for her. She had chosen a gray blue suit with dark shirt and wine-colored tie. He had chosen a black off the shoulder gown for her. He had chosen the size well, as it fit like a glove as she slid it over her head and buttoned the front. She had the perfect heels to go with this at home. Then she glanced at the price tag and her heart fell. It was more money then she made in a month. There was no way she could buy this one… not in a month of Sundays. She did want him to see her in it and she was anxious to see if he liked what she had chosen. She stepped out of the dressing room and into the store where he was waiting in the suit she had chosen.

His eyes lit up and he smiled at the sight of her. He walked to her, hugged her and whispered to her, “If we weren’t in public right now, I’d show you how much I like seeing you in that dress.” She blushed and dropped her eyes to the floor. She knew he would be disappointed if she told him. Before she could get the words started, he lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. She saw concern and confusion at the same time. “I need you to go in the dressing room and change out of that dress before I loose my mind and we’re both arrested.”

She didn’t get the chance to tell him now wonderful he looked as well, as he was walking her to the dressing room to change. Quickly, he changed back to his jeans and headed to the jewelry department while he had a few minutes alone. He easily spotted what he was looking for and paid for it, tucking the small package into his jacket pocket. He had returned to the dressing room area just as Natty was stepping thru the threshold and back into the store. He carefully took the dress from her; with the suit she had chosen for him and headed for the register to pay for them. She stopped for a moment and realized he was paying for all of it. She wasn’t used to that. She had always taken care of herself as an adult. This could take some getting used to.

It was her sense of independence that was one of the things he admired in her. He smiled to himself as his mind continued plans for a special evening that the shopping trip’s bounty would entail. The sales associate carefully placed the suit and dress into garment bags and handed them across the counter with the receipt. Natty stood back a bit and looked around trying to be inconspicuous. Her mind raced at what she could possibly give him that would equal that gorgeous dress and she could afford. Before she could think of anything, he had taken her arm and they were walking out the door into the cold night air. She shivered a bit and pulled her sweater close. He sensed she was cold, so he offered his jacket to her. She politely refused as she didn’t want him to be cold. They decided to head back to the car as most of the remaining stores were closing anyway.

He deposited the bags into the back seat of her car, checked his pocket to make sure the tiny package was still there, as she started the engine and turned on the heater. He easily slid into the car beside her and reached for her hand that rested on the gearshift. Gently, he took it into both of his and rubbed her hand to warm it. Then, he brought it to his lips, gently blew on them before kissing each finger and the center of her palm. She instinctively closed her hand to hold that last kiss as his hands wrapped around it again. She tried to move her hand with his clasped around her to her mouth, but he had already pulled them to his chest and held it close to his heart. His hands spread over the top of hers so that only hers touched his chest. She could feel the warmth from him as his heart beat pulsed beneath her fingers. As he closed his eyes and signed, she leaned over and kissed him as her left hand reached around his neck to his shoulder. He slowly reached for her left hand with his and brought that one beside her warmed right hand and covered both with his. He looked deeply into her eyes and whispered softly, “See, you do hold my heart in your hands my love. What ever shall I do now?”

Tears welled in her eyes as these and the echoing words from earlier spilled thru her head. She trembled again as he released her hands and held her close once again. She tucked her head between his strong shoulder and face and silently allowed the tears to fall. He remained quiet as he held her and stroked her hair as he rested his cheek against the top of her head.

She couldn’t remember how they arrived back at her townhouse as it was all a blur. Her next recollection of the evening was them sitting together on the sofa, in each others arms as he gently rocked her. Tears seemed to haphazardly roll down her cheeks. He seemed worried at first, but realized from her lack of words and the look on her face that she was unable to express herself any other way. Now she was sure the words he had uttered before were real, not just said in the heat of passion. Her mind raced for some way she could say what her heart felt… what she knew now to be true.

Carefully, she moved out of his arms, straddled his slim thighs and perched on his knees to face him. She gently wiped the last tear from her cheek, took a deep breath, and opened the buttons on his white cotton shirt. His eyes never left hers and she gently touched his chest with her hands to find just the right place. He wanted to reach for her and hold her close, but she gathered his hands and placed them gently at his sides. Another deep breath and she slowly pulled off her sweater and unclasped her bra, dropping it to the floor. He marveled once again at her beauty and tried once again to reach for her, to hold her, to touch her. Again, she held his hands at his side as she leaned forward and kissed him deeply on his full eager lips. Gently, she found that tender spot on his neck, lightly kissed it and continued to his chest. There, over his heighten beating heart, she paused and kissed it. She leaned forward again and put her chest to his over the same place that was still moist from that kiss as her hands now moved up his arms to his face. She held his face for a brief moment and deeply kissed him again, holding her chest tightly to his. Quietly, she whispered, “With this kiss, our hearts are now beating as one… for now, for always. Mine to yours and yours to mine, for without you, I have no heart to beat on its own.”

As they kissed, his hand grasped her hips and slid the rest of her closer as his arms wrapped around her waist. She stretched her upper body up and gently guided his head to her chest. He kissed it gently and closed his eyes as he listened to her heart beat wildly. She should have felt cold, but didn’t. He head resting quietly on her chest was warm, as were his hands gliding gently up and down her back. A single tear trickled down his cheek as now he had no words to say. Now she gently rocked him quietly the hall clock ticked away the precious seconds.

He wanted to make love with her again, but his heart was too full. Instead, he laid her down on the sofa and returned his head to her chest to resume quietly listening to her heart beat. He needed to memorize it beat for beat just a bit longer… he needed to hear it, feel it, etch it within him. She carefully wrapped her legs around his torso and hugged him tight. Her fingers gently moving from his curls, to his shoulders and down his muscular back and retraced the path again and again. She closed her eyes and signed, remembering their words. Her heart was full to bursting too. She remembered his touch, his kiss, his head laying on her chest, her chest to his, his weight on top of her, inside of her and she too etched it into her soul and mind, before both drifted off to sleep.

Several hours later, he awoke and took a moment to remember where he was as darkness had engulfed the entire room. She had always used a timer on the lights in her townhouse for those times she fell asleep with the lights on while reading or listening to music. He smiled in the darkness as he recalled once again her beautiful words. He reached for her face and gently kissed her forehead. She seemed to be a bit chilled, so he carefully picked her up in his arms and fumbled his way to the stairs. He remembered his way down the hall and without turning on the light, laid her on her bed. He moved to the other side, pulled down the comforter and blanket. He picked her up again and snuggled her under the covers as best he could. Then, he undressed himself and moved close beside her in bed to warm her and hold her close. As she realized where they now were and he had nothing on, she too removed the rest of her clothes, dropping them to the floor beside the bed and returned to his eager arms. There they slept cheek to cheek, hand in hand, wrapped in each others arms both in complete bliss of each other. They dreamed the dreams that all lovers do.

He awoke the next morning before she did. He padded off to find the bathroom and then on to the kitchen. He tried to remember where the things were in the kitchen, but ended up opening cupboards and drawers to find what he needed. He once again grabbed the apron, tied it around his slim waist and made breakfast for both of them. As he was walking back the upstairs hall, he could hear her moving around the bedroom. He peeked into the room and she was picking up her clothes from the night before. She strolled to the bathroom and dropped them in the hamper. She closed the door, not seeing him and headed to the shower. He crept into the bedroom and set the tray on the edge of her computer desk. He slid quickly out of his jeans, untied the apron and took it off along with his shirt. He made his way to the bathroom door and listened quietly for a moment. He could hear that she was humming, but couldn’t make out the notes over the shower. He slowly turned the knob and walked in. As she had done to him the day before, he opened the shower curtain and said, “Morning darling, I missed you.” She had been washing her hair and stopped. Hands full of suds reached for him as he stepped in and embraced her. They showered together again and soon returned to the bedroom. She spotted the now cold breakfast and abandoned apron. She loved him in the apron and he knew it. They skipped breakfast and returned to her bed. She wasn’t used to this much attention from a man and adored it. They made love for a long time, snuggling and cuddling through out most of the morning.

Finally, he said that he needed to get a few things done today. They dressed and she drove him back to his cottage in the country. They chatted briefly before she headed back to her car and drove home. He had promised to call her later and she promised not to make any plans for the afternoon or evening.

He watched her car leave down the tree lined lane and onto the highway. Turning, he pulled the house key from his jacket pocket and unlocked the door. Quickly, he checked his answering machine and plugged his cell phone in to charge. Reaching for the phone book, he picked up the land line and dialed several numbers making quick calls. His plans were made before she even reached her street. He rubbed his hands together with great satisfaction. He checked his watch and walked down the hall to the spare room and reached for his yellow guitar. He strummed it lightly and hummed a tune he had been working on with the group for several days. He wasn’t quite satisfied with the arrangement, so, he continued working at it for several minutes. He checked his watch again and smiled. He returned the guitar to its case and wondered back down the hall to the kitchen. His cell wasn’t charged yet, so he used the land line again. Her cell phone was ringing as she unlocked the front door. She saw it was him, smiled and answered with a light blush on her cheeks. They chatted awhile as she tugged her coat off and hung it on the hall tree by the front door. Soon, she was saying,” see you later then darling” and hung up. She hugged herself and remembered all that had happened the last few days. Tomorrow would start her work week, so today would be their last together until her shift was over. She then ran up the stairs, turned on her computer and packed a weekend bag while her computer stared up. She quickly checked her email and the forum website. No one had been in the den in awhile and her PMs had remained in her Outbox. She decided to check them later in the week. She turned the computer off and grabbed her black pumps from the shoe box they were stored in. She tucked them in her bag and headed down the stairs and out the front door. She drove quickly to the spa as he had directed her to earlier and she signed in.

Soon, she was having a hot stone massage and later a facial and manicure. She felt like a princess as her skin had never felt so warm and soft. Though it was hours later, it seemed only minutes. As she walked back to the dressing room, he met her in the hallway and hugged her tight, wrapping his arms around her in the bulky white bathrobe. She smiled and kissed him back whispering her thank you so only he could hear. They chatted briefly and he whispered something to her. Soon, he patted her behind and she returned to the dressing room, blushing. He had arranged a quiet evening for them together at his cottage again with a catered meal that he meant for her to eat.

Soon she was dressed again and on her way to his cozy cottage in the mountains. He left the day spa after he watched her walk into the dressing room and headed home again to finish his plans. He needed to relieve the excitement building in him while he waited, so he had done some yard work and chopped firewood for the fireplace. He had just finished laying a new fire, when she appeared at the doorway. He hadn’t realized the time had flown by and he needed a shower. He answered the door and sheepishly smiled as he wiped his dirty hands on the back of his jeans. She wanted to hug him, but he stepped back and ran his hands down the front of his jeans again. She could tell he had been hard at work and she wanted to hug him anyway. He didn’t want to mess up anything about her, so he stepped backward again and quickly mentioned getting a quick shower. She made her way over to the stereo and selected the muted music they had listened to before as she heard the shower come on in the bathroom down the hall. She wandered around the room, looking at the pictures and photos he had placed here and there in the vast room. Soon, he appeared with a towel wrapped around his waist and his hair still wet. He took her by the hand and led her down the hallway to the spare room where he had kept his guitars. There, she found the garment bag with that beautiful black dress she had tried on the day before. He left her alone to change and completed getting dressed in the suit she had chosen for him.

By the time she was dressed and ready, he had already lit the fire and the caterer had delivered the meal. It lay under silver covers on the dining room table that he had moved near the fireplace. As he looked up, she made her entrance from the hall. His eyes gleamed as his smile widened when he saw her. She was breathlessly beautiful in that dress, as he opened his arms to hold her once again. He remembered to replace the roses on the table and he had refilled the little basket with petals.

She had tied her hair back with a black ribbon. He liked that she had done that to show him more of her creamy white shoulders. He held her close and kissed her gently. Then he pulled back to look at her again. He felt that dress was made for her personally. A tailor couldn’t have made it fit any better. He sighed and hugged her again. They walked to the table and he pulled out her chair for her. She was still warm and glowing from her spa day and his reaction to her. He looked so handsome in the suit too. It made her love him even more. He took his place beside her and lifted the silver lids to reveal a sumptuous meal. He lit the slender tapers on the table.

They talked easily and nibbled at the meal. He couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off of her. He hadn’t even noticed that the music had stopped playing on the stereo. Soon, they finished what they could and she helped him carry the dishes to the kitchen. He took off his suit jacket, rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt and put on the apron he wore for the Martha shows. He rinsed off the plates and stacked them in the dishwasher.

Natty couldn’t help herself and walked over to him and kissed him deeply. “You know I can’t resist a man that’s handy in the kitchen AND looks this sexy in an apron.”

He blushed and kissed her back. “Thank you darling. I try to be domestic, but sometimes it just looks like I am.” She laughed and untied the strings from the apron. He slipped it off and laid it on the counter as they walked back toward the fireplace. He quickly checked it, added a few more logs and put the screen back in place. In the mean time, Natty had changed the music on the stereo to something she had seen the night before. He came up behind her, kissed the back of her neck, and held her close, staying behind her. He deftly held her hand, turning her around to face him. With the heels on, she was almost as tall as he was, so they were eye to eye as he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her deeply. Her hands slid up his arms and she wrapped her arms around his neck. As though it were somehow scripted, just the right song started and they danced, gazing into each other’s eyes.

Soon, they strolled hand in hand to the sofa. They sat down and he reached for her hands. He gently kissed each finger and palm of each hand before placing each over his heart. Her words still echoed in his mind. “See what you do to me, my love?” She tried to feel his heart beat, but his tie was in the way. She managed to loosen his tie and he slid it off, replacing her hands over his heart. “Now, can you?” he said.

She smiled and blushed. She could feel his heartbeat now and she also felt her heart beat faster. They sat quietly awhile, watching the fire, listening to music and holding each other. He reached for the small package he had bought as well as a slightly larger one that he had hidden under the sofa. One he had wrapped in red paper, the other white. He gave her the larger red wrapped package first.

“Natty, darling, I want you to have this small token to remember our first special night together. I also want it to reflect how much I love you with all my heart.”

She didn’t know what to say. Already, he had given her the dress and the spa day. She gently opened the paper and saw the box. Carefully she opened it and found a gold necklace with a gold filigree rose between two identical white pearls. Beside it was a pair of matching pearl strand earrings. She gasped and lifted them out of the box.
“Oh, does that mean you don’t like it?” he said.

“Oh Darling, I love it. They are so beautiful. I don’t know what to say.” She said and kissed him. He kissed her back and helped her put the necklace on. It too fit well and the pearls and rose lay gently on her chest. She carefully added the earrings and smiled. “How does it look?” she asked.

“My love, you could not possibly be more beautiful. He held her face and kissed her gently. “Except maybe….” And he gently removed the ribbon from her hair. She shook her head to feel the tiny pearls touch against her neck and free her curls. …this.” He continued. He carefully laid the ribbon on top of his abandoned tie. They kissed each other again. Then, he slid off the edge of the couch and onto his knees beside her. “Natty darling, I love you more than anything. I would give up everything for you including my music, the guitars and my motorcycles. Please say you will be mine and mine alone?” and he opened the smaller box. Inside the box was the largest pearl she had ever seen with small rubies set on both sides. “I know we’ve only been together less than a year, but you fill my heart like no other. Please, please say yes.”

“Oh darling, I love you too – more than life itself…. of course…. Yes… always and forever.” She said. He gently slid the ring on her finger and kissed each finger of her left hand. Then he carefully turned her hand over and kissed the palm. “I would never ask you to give up those things… they are a part of you and who you are. They are part of the reason I love you.” She said.

She stood up and pulled him to his feet. They held each other close and kissed again and again. Hand in hand, they walked back the hall. When they reached his bedroom doorway, he picked her up and crossed the threshold into a quiet moonlit room and sat her on the edge of the bed. He gently kissed both of her hands and laid them on her lap. As he stepped back, he started to unbutton his shirt. Soon, it was on the floor beside his shoes. Then the rest of his clothes were there. She sat breathlessly watching. His muscular body glowed in the moonlight. He reached for her hands and she stood up. She took off her earrings and handed them to him to lay on the nightstand. He helped her out of the dress and took off her shoes. Lastly, he took off her panties and bra. She had turned down the blanket and sheet, but as she turned to face him again, he picked her up and gently laid her on the cool satin sheets kissing her. He lay beside her and they replayed their favorite concert once again.
That night, the fire burned to ashes in the fireplace unnoticed, the dimmed lights stayed on thru the night in the vast room. And abandoned on the floor of the bedroom were one suit, one shirt, two pairs of shoes, a pale yellow guitar and one very nice black dress. On the night table was one pair of pearl strand earrings, the alarm clock that was never set, one silk tie, and one black hair ribbon. In the bed, were two hearts that became as one.

He awoke first the next morning and looked at the clock. Natty slept curled up beside him, with her left hand on his chest. He looked down at the ring he had placed there so carefully the night before. Gently, he picked up her hand and held it to his cheek, rubbing the back of her hand against him. He turned her hand over and kissed each finger and her palm as he loved to do. She hadn’t stirred. He placed her hand back on his chest, and turned to face her. He saw the necklace, still in place and touched it lightly with his finger and kissed her warmly. He held her close as she awoke. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms and legs around him as he moved on top of her. They made love as the sun rose, warmly and slowly, as though time was never there. He had propped himself on his elbows and looked down into her still sleepy eyes. Her arms were wrapped around his neck and her legs snuggly around his hips. He couldn’t move if he wanted to… and he didn’t.

She realized it was Monday morning and she should be going to work. She quickly glanced at the clock and moaned. He reached for the phone and whispered, “Call off darling. I don’t want you to go yet. I need you close to me at least for a bit longer. I’ll be going back on tour soon and our time together is short, unless you come with me.”

She knew calling in to work from a different number would raise suspicion and she didn’t want his number flashing on the caller ID either. Even if she could be dressed and ready in a minute, she would still be late. Slowly, she got out of bed, put on his shirt from the night before and headed down the hall to find her purse. She dug out her cell phone and called in, saying she was with a friend in crisis. She didn’t give any details beyond that. Her boss knew that she didn’t abuse time off, so thanked her and said she would see her tomorrow. Quietly, she hung up, turned her cell off, and returned it to her purse. Oh the way past the table, she picked up the small basket with the rose petals. She crept back the hallway and returned to his room. He had gotten out of bed only to move the clothes out of the way and return his guitar to its case in the other room. She hadn’t seen that room yet and didn’t ask. She felt when he was ready, he would show her.

He had also fluffed the pillows and was sitting up when she entered the room. He reached for her with one hand and patted the place beside him with the other. She had hidden the basket of petals behind her as she walked in. She wanted to shower him with petals as he had done to her. She walked to where he lay and carefully laid the basket on window sill behind the headboard. She had unbuttoned the remaining buttons of his shirt she had worn to make her phone call as he reached for her.

He reached inside the shirt to touch her still warm body as she straddled his hips. Her hands reached for his face, holding it gently as she kissed him. Soon, the shirt was off and floating to the floor. They made love again, but this time, it was with longing as his words echoed within him. He didn’t want to push her into giving up everything, especially her job, despite the ring he had just given her. That would be too much to ask this soon. He knew she wouldn’t be jealous of the mobs of adoring fans, as she was one herself. He also knew that they would be together in person as often as they could, but that touch of hunger still remained in the back of his mind. Touring would last for months and he knew how grueling that time could be for him and the guys. He wondered whether it was the same for her. He would travel for hours to be with her, without sleep, without eating, just to feel her touch, to see her with his own eyes, to fill all of his senses with her.

She sensed his hunger now… felt the urgency to be close and held him tightly. They explored and memorized each other as they had before… with unbridled passion. Their bodies glistened as they rested in each others arms. His hands continued to softly stroke her back and shoulders as she lay on her side next to him, staring into his eyes. He felt exhausted and in need of sleep again, but he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. He couldn’t sleep, knowing he only had the day to hold her before reality set in and she returned to her work life… for the longest of hours, before he could hold her again.

She tried to understand in her own mind what had occurred between them the last few days. The time had flown by. Here she was with the man she had wanted to know, be a friend and comfort to, but she had not expected this kind of emotion. To hold him, be with him, him inside of her , her around him, was more than she could have imagined. It seemed a dream… a passion she had never felt before, a love that was blooming like a thousand roses at once before her eyes.

His breathing seemed to slow and he closed his eyes in contentment. Soon, he had drifted off as she nestled beside him. She managed to stay awake and quietly moved onto her back. She gently pulled him over so his face lay on her chest just below the necklace he had given her. His arms seemed to wrap around her as he held her close and snuggled tighter to her.

As she lay there, listening to his deep breathing, her mind continued to race. His words echoing in her mind… “… Unless you come with me… be mine and mine alone… I love you, yes I love you, how much I love you…. “ Her hands gently massaged his back, upper arms and shoulders, touched his hair, and kissed his head. She bent down close to his ear and whispered, “I’m lost every time I look at you” and kissed his cheek. She managed to reach behind her head and grasp the basket of petals. She smiled happily as she gently sprinkled them over him and returned the empty basket to the window sill. She let him sleep a bit longer, before stroking his cheek to awaken him. He moved his head and kissed her breasts gently one and then the other. Then he slid down her torso and soundly kissed her belly. Then he noticed the petals around him, and blinking, smiled. She slid down to be face to face with him and he held her once again. She loved the weight of him on top of her, pressing against her. She blushed and smiled, lifting the sheets over their head to return them to intimate darkness. The petals fluttered to the floor.

Late that morning, they relaxed in the bathtub instead of a shower. He rested his head against her chest as she wrapped her arms and legs around him under the bubbles. Soon both of them would be wrinkled from being in the cooling water too long. They both, reluctantly got out and dried. She dressed in the jeans and sweater she had packed in her bag. He too was in jeans and sweater.

In the afternoon, after, for her, a large lunch, they walked thru the wooded area behind his cottage, marveling at all of nature’s beauty. They talked easily of other things, keeping the time they would spend apart in the deep recesses of their mind. For now, they were together, sharing their world with each other. Hand in hand they walked the trails and stood by the pond with the tiny waterfall that spilled to the neighbors land. As the sun set, they returned to his cozy cottage. She thanked him again, put her bag in her car and kissed him. He hung his head and couldn’t bear to watch her car float down the lane to the highway and disappear. He went back into the cottage and felt it’s emptiness without her. He busied himself with making the bed and cleaning up the abandoned petals. He went to his “guitar room” and strummed several of his guitars, but couldn’t get into it. Checking his watch, he estimated she should be arriving home at that very moment. She had promised to call when she got there so they could make plans. She hadn’t called yet… but perhaps there was heavy traffic.

Natty was in deep thought while she drove back to her townhouse in the city. She saw through the rearview mirror the way he didn’t watch her leave as he had done before. She missed him and her mind still reeled with his words again. She decided to go to the park for a few minutes to think about their future… the future they would have together… what ever that meant… at least to her. The park was quiet and virtually empty this time of year. She smiled at the fountain in the middle of the park’s pond. It reminded her of the shower of rose petals. The water slowly moved, much like the pond at the cottage…. Another reminder of him. She tried to focus, but everything reminded her of him. She absently tossed a pebble into the pond and returned to her car with no resolution made, and returned to her empty townhouse. As she unlocked the front door, her cell rang. She looked and saw it was him. She opened the door as she answered the phone with an apology that she hadn’t called already. As they chatted, she gently touched the rose and pearls on her necklace. She took the boxes from her bag and put them in her jewelry box she had kept from her teen years. She patted the lid of it when she finished and her hand returned to stroking the necklace. They made plans for the evening for her place and she reluctantly reminded him she had to go to work in the morning no matter what. She checked her answering machine, absently flipped through her mail, took the bills with her to her bedroom and sat them with the others to pay with her online banking. She plopped into her computer chair and turned on her computer, checking her email and the forum. There was no way she could tell her friends who she was seeing. They wouldn’t understand. She couldn’t tell her forum friends either because she figured they either wouldn’t believe her or would be green with envy. He appeared to be a very quiet person about his personal life and now she understood why. It seemed to hit her in a wave that it was not just for him, but her as well. He would never want her to be subject to the jealousy or fan rage that could occur, especially this early in their relationship. Even if she did join him on tour to be with him, she couldn’t show it unless they were alone…. maybe alone with the other guys and their girl friends or wives, but not in public… Her eyes widened suddenly at the thoughts that now raced through her mind. How would she handle seeing him with all of those adoring fans? Could she handle him being surrounded by hundreds of them?
Her third and fifth fingers idly rubbed against the new ring on her fourth finger as she tried to calm herself. He would be fine…. She could handle it… It was her that he had professed his love to…. That would get her through anything… everything… at his side or left behind. She re-played the first concert they had performed in her area in her head… yes, it had been wonderful, magnificent… the tears rolled down her cheeks again as they had during the concert. As much as she wanted to be with him during the tour, she decided she would not go with him… much as her heart would ache. She needed to give him his time to fulfill the dream, perform, and be the star he was to the adoring crowds…. Without her hovering somewhere off stage or cooped up in a hotel room by herself. She could and would stand by him thru every tour, as long as it took, but not always at his side. He would need his space and if he returned…. God, what if he didn’t? Yes, he would return to her…. She could meet him somewhere, some times… that song played through her mind… ‘Somehow…Some day…Somewhere… Take my hand and I’ll take you there… It might as well be ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow…‘ She silently hugged herself and cried as she cursed the love songs created over the years for the first time ever. “What have I done? What has my heart gotten me in to this time?”

Her afternoon alone time had slid away with her tears and the knock at her door awakened her from her thoughts. She wiped her face and headed down the stairs, not even noticing the time. She opened the front door to a worried look on his face. He stepped in a quickly closed the door behind him, taking her gently into his arms. He said nothing for several minutes, just holding her as she tried to gain control of herself again.
Her mind still raced… Oh my, now he sees me like this? What is he going to think…? What do I tell him…? And I’m not ready… Oh, oh, oh it’s too much… and she started to cry again. Her hands wrapped around his neck and he gently patted her hair and back to comfort her. He had seen this before and had a very foreboding feeling in the deep recesses of his heart. Soon, she pulled away from him, wiping more tears from her cheeks.
He walked toward her as she continued to step backward. Then, she saw the confusion in his eyes. It was written all over his face. She ran to his arms and held him as tightly as her weak arm could. “Darling… Urs… love of my life… I love you always… I’m so happy I can’t help it…” she managed to stammer out. He lifted her chin to look in her eyes and saw it was true. He kissed her deeply and picked her up easily in his arms. He carried her over to the loveseat instead of the sofa and knelt down in front of her.

He gently kissed her face to wipe away the remaining tears and took both of her hands into his. “My darling Natty, love of my life… I would never want to bring you heartache ever… Please tell me… talk to me… what has brought these sad tears? What have I done? What can I do?” he pleaded with large sad eyes.

She reached for his lips and touched them gently. She drew a ragged breath and pulled him close. She couldn’t tell him, not yet at least. They remained motionless for awhile before she reached to him and he stood to sit beside her. He quietly, held her hand and she rested her head between his neck and shoulder. With words she didn’t think she had in her, she tried to explain what had reeled through her mind earlier that brought on the tears and self-doubt. He absently stroked her long, dark curls as he listened. When she finished, he again lifted her chin so she would see him as he responded. She hoped his eyes would again say more than the words she would hear. As she looked up, she saw his dark eyes shine as he too tried to hold back tears. He reached over and pulled her onto his lap.

“Oh Natty, I won’t lie to you or myself. Touring is hard and long. There will be times we can’t be together physically, but you will always be with me inside. The love songs I sing will be to you. The others will be for you and you alone. Yes, I do admit I like the attention of hundreds of screaming fans, but they do not fill my heart. You and you alone do that. There isn’t even room for the music any more as you have filled it all… even the deepest corners to overflowing. I thought I had loved before, but now I know that I am. I have never felt this way before even through the music that filled me in the past. Please know that I mean that with all my heart. I know you too need a life of your own to be just yours. We will always have our time together and that will be more precious to me than anything on this earth. Nothing can buy, steal or trade this honey. If you have changed your mind about me…. About us, I will try to understand…”

With that, she put her hand to his lips again to stop him from saying more. “Darling, love of my life that is not what I meant at all. I do want to be with you always. I do try to understand you and what you go through with your career and the fame. I just wasn’t sure I am strong enough to help you, be there for you, when you need me.” She said and kissed him gently. “My heart is also full and full like no other before or ever again…” He missed the rest of her words as relief crept over him.

They stayed together, not moving from the love seat for the rest of the evening, forgetting about dinner or the movie they were going to watch together. They held each other close with her head resting in its now favorite place next to his neck, hoping against hope that tomorrow would never come, just being together as one.

As the clock quietly ticked on, her breathing settled and calm embraced both of them. Soon, he moved to wiggle out of his jacket and toss it onto the armchair close by. She once again looked deep into his eyes and kissed him softly. Then, without a word spoken between them, she stood and took his hand. He followed her quietly to the stairs and paused to gently take her in his arms. He carried her up the stairs and down the now familiar hallway. As he crossed the threshold to her bedroom, he kissed her cheek and continued toward the bed. He stopped and gently sat her down on the edge of the bed, kneeled and laid his head on her lap. Neither spoke with words as he rested there, his arms snuggled around her hips. Her arms ached to hold him again, close… as she wished away tomorrow. She needed to feel him close to her, the whole of him. She took off her shirt and bra as he rested. Her hands reached to his shoulders and rubbed them gently. Only then did he stand to undress as well. She helped him with the buttons and caressed his chest, trying to find that special place where she had left that kiss that had served to join them as one. He held her close and she felt his chest warmly touch hers. That needed comforting warmth returned to her and she smiled. She reached down and undid the button and zipper of his pants and she visualized the curtain falling from the concert in her mind, but didn’t blush. His hands joined hers as the briefs also fell and he stepped out of them. As she had done to his, he too undid her pants and slid them down her legs, kneeling as the fell. He stopped to kiss her belly softly as her panties followed her jeans path. She too stepped out of them as his hands slid up her torso. They held each other close, molding each against the other, as they let the days worries melt away. They both knew that these special, private moments could sustain them through it all. It wasn’t a momentary blitz of sexual frenzy that would feed them, but a growing and tender joining of all. The passion they shared through the night would be like no other either had felt before, as no words passed their lips the rest of the night. Their bodies had spoken for them.

In the morning, she awoke first before the alarm had even gone off. She turned it off and turned to see her sleeping darling at her side. She carefully pulled up the blanket and tucked it under his strong chin. She kissed his forehead and cheek as he gently rustled to reach for her and pull her close. She held him for a time and reluctantly eased herself away from him and out of bed. Quietly, she tidied the clothes strewn at the side of the bed and made her way to the bathroom. She showered and got ready for work, occasionally peaking out to check on him. As she finished, she looked down at the ring on her finger and rubbed it gently. She had taken care to take it off as well as the necklace before she showered. Her other hand gently stroked the rose and pearls of the necklace. A warm smile crept on her face as she tip-toed out of the bathroom and down the stairs. She hadn’t noticed the small elegant vase of flowers on the table by the doorway until just then. She walked over and lifted it. She bent her head slightly to smell the aroma of the tiny roses that were just beginning to bloom. Another smile and blush came across her face as she remembered the petals from their time together. Carefully, she removed a white rose from the vase and returned to her room. There, she wrote a quick note, laid it on the pillow beside him where she had been and topped it with the single white rose. She then pulled the blanket up to cover the bottom of the stem, kissed his forehead again and set off for work.

The hours seemed to drag on through her morning as she tried to stay busy. Her thoughts kept returning to him as she tried to image what he was doing while she was away. She had needed to be the one to leave first this morning. She needed to know in her heart that he was close and she could still return to work as everyone else knew her with the secret life carefully hidden away. No one seemed to acknowledge anything new or different in her, other than she smiled a bit more. She hadn’t made a point of showing off her new ring or let anyone see the beautiful necklace that hid quietly beneath her blouse.

He had slept late that morning, arising from a deep sleep he hadn’t had in a long time. He was used to napping or lightly sleeping here and there as time permitted as he did while touring. He first noticed that he was alone and missed her lying next to him. As his eyes adjusted, he found the rose and the note. He held them in his hands and smiled. It was several minutes before he laid the rose down to open the note and read it. His smile broadened as he read her words. When he finished, he folded it carefully, laid it on his chest, and sighed. Soon, he was opening it to read again and again. Finally, he read it one more time, but held the rose as well, thinking of her saying each word she had written.
He crawled out of bed and headed to the shower. He put the rose in the sink and covered the bottom of the stem with water. He quickly showered, dressed, and returned the rose to the vase he found on the counter in the kitchen. He made himself some tea and sipped it as he strolled around the townhouse, trying to gain some insight into Natty’s life that he hadn’t already learned from their many conversations. He tried not to be intrusive, but merely wanted to learn and know her more. Soon, the tea cup was empty, so he returned to the kitchen, rinsed it out and popped it and the spoon he had used into the dishwasher. He returned upstairs and made her bed. Checking to see that all was back in order, he went down the hallway again and headed for the door, reaching into his pocket for his keys. He didn’t have a key to her place yet, so he contemplated how he could engage the deadbolt lock a moment. He shrugged his shoulders and firmly closed the door insuring at least the main lock had engaged. Quietly, he walked down the steps and got into his car. He didn’t like driving the small car, he much preferred one of his motorcycles, but it was too cold now for that. They were safely tucked away for the winter in climate controlled storage.

He headed down the street and headed for the shopping mall on the edge of town. Pulling into the parking lot at the far end of the mall, he found a space close to the North entrance, parked and locked the door. Though it was winter, the sun was bright, so he kept his sunglasses on until he well inside the building. He wasn’t really in the mood to shop, but, wanted to see if he could find another small something for Natty. Something nice but still something they could also share. He looked at several things in several of the shops, but didn’t find anything he really liked. On a whim, he strolled through the book store. He ducked down the aisle as he saw a huge supply of the group’s new self-written book. He was in no mood to be answering questions and being gawked at. He wasn’t that type of guy. He felt public displays of affection needed to be limited. That type of thing should be left for private moments behind closed doors. He wasn’t a prude, he just felt whether the public knew him or not, that just didn’t mean he couldn’t have some sense of privacy. There was the public him and the private him. Few people new the private him. Millions had seen the public him… there were after all, subtle differences he rationalized to himself, the group’s staff, the band, and the guys in the group. He leafed thru several of the other best sellers but put each one back. Finally, he found something that caught his eye in another section. He thumbed thru several volumes, before selecting a few. He also picked up two new journals as well and weaved his way to the sales clerk. He paid for them in cash and quickly left before he was noticed. He made a quick phone call on his cell as he entered the highway headed for his quiet cottage in the mountains. His trip home was thankfully uneventful. As soon as he had gotten in the front door, his cell phone rang. He checked the number and answered, carrying the book store package with him as he made his way to what he called his den. He continued to talk on the phone as he flipped on the lights and turned on his computer. The small laptop remained abandoned in the corner. He only used it when he was on tour to stay in touch with his family and friends. He made a mental note to get Natty’s email address and make sure she had his. He didn’t want her to have to rely on PMs through the forum or, heaven forbid, post them in his questions thread. Logging in, he impatiently waited for the right screens to come up, turned to his left and turned on the printer. After a few clicks, the pages were printing and he thanked his caller and hung up.

He was rubbing his hands together as his plans started formulating in his head. He knew Natty tended to work through the week and sometimes during the busy seasons, on Saturdays. He started checking dates and time working back and forth between the printed pages and his computer screen. After an hour, he started his phone calls. By early afternoon, his plans were complete. He smiled to himself at the job he had done. He checked his watch and turned off the printer and computer. Turned off the lights and headed out the door. He needed traffic to be light to make it back to her townhouse on time.

He quickly parked the car a few doors down the street from her townhouse and walked the short distance to the few stairs at her front door. He sat on them to wait the few minutes he estimated it would take her to get there herself. He didn’t have a key to her place and hadn’t asked, thinking that would be too forward so early in their time together.

As he waited, he thought back on their first encounter. She had been to his concert that evening and they had bumped into each other at the hotel the guys were staying in during this leg of the tour. He had noticed her in the crowd, obviously moved by their music. He had strained to see her through the various lighting changes on stage while he sang. It touched him that she was in tears during some of the songs. He remembered hoping she was all right and at times felt himself holding back tears himself. In the lobby after the concert, he and the guys had already changed out of their concert suits at the concert hall and were comfortably dressed for some relaxation. He was the one that was usually excited and full of energy after a performance, but he couldn’t seem to get her tears out of his mind. They had just stepped off of the elevator, preparing themselves for yet another photo flash blitz of lights and cameras stuck in their faces. Sometimes, it angered him that some fans would not let them have some time to themselves outside of their rooms. He tried to be patient and was pleasantly surprised when there were no fans there to greet them. No cameras, no flash, just people quietly conversing as they went about their evening. Then he saw her. Her tears had dried and her eyes were no longer red. She was still smiling and seemed happy, chatting with her friends. He noticed she had glanced his way and lightly blushed. The others hadn’t seen them and she seemed to not alert her friends either. He had scanned the rest of the lobby and continued on his way. Moments later, he was headed down the hallway and they nearly collided, neither really looking around. Both of them were by themselves. They seemed to excuse themselves politely at the same time. Then she looked up and saw him. He stared into the deepest eyes he had ever seen. They chatted briefly, she extended her hand, and she walked away. His eyes followed her as she walked down the hallway. She was a fan, but she had not hugged or pawed at him. That was a change for him. The rest of that evening was uneventful for him. He noticed she came to other concerts as well. One evening, she was waiting on a ride and he made a point of walking over to talk with her. She seemed to talk to him like an old friend. .. Comfortably, no pressure, no wild expectations. He managed to get her phone number after some hedging, which again, was so different from the others, and they went their separate ways. He wanted to call her that evening, but felt it would be very forward of him, so he paced in his hotel room for hours and restlessly tossed in bed the rest. He did call her the next day, but got her answering machine, so hung up without leaving a message. Finally, he reached her that evening and they made plans to meet for tea.

Again, the conversation was light and easy. They chatted and sipped their tea. The hours passed quickly and they made plans to meet again as both of their schedules permitted. The weeks had flown by with the performances racing him around the globe. Finally, they had a long week break in their schedule and he packed and flew home. They met several times during that break and it was always so easy and carefree to be with her. Many times he thought that she knew him better than he knew himself. It made him smile to himself. He wanted to kiss her often and thought about how it would feel. Many women had thrown themselves at him and, though he was often repulsed by the public displays of so much affection, he strived to accept it as part of being famous. The others seemed to take it in stride so easily, yet he struggled. Weeks had passed and their time together was sandwiched in between. He had planned that special night for over a week. Now, it had happened.

He checked his watch and noticed she was running late. He returned to his memories and stuffed his now cold hands into his pockets. Their first kiss, the first time they danced, her smile, her independence, her beauty, her grace, how she looked at him as a regular person, not the Hollywood image music star. They all seemed to come from her with no effort.

Natty left work that afternoon with plans in her mind. She had found a few things for him over her lunch hour and had tucked them away for the evening she had planned for them. He seemed to be so much in her mind lately…. And she smiled. No one had affected her like that before. She again, glanced down at the ring he had placed on her finger and gently rubbed her 3rd and 5th fingers against it. She also still felt the light weight of the necklace against her upper chest and blushed. As she turned onto her street, she noticed him sitting quietly on the steps in front of her door. She parked in the first spot she found and grabbed her purse and the tiny packages she had gift-wrapped with care. The store’s shopping bags were plain, so it was nice that her secret would not be given away before she was ready.

He stood to greet her and hugged her warmly as she said “Hello.” He tried to take her shopping bag, but she politely refused. They walked the few stairs to her door. She noticed the deadbolt hadn’t been latched, but quickly remembered he wouldn’t have been able to do that for her. She made a mental note to give him one of her spare keys later. Inside the door, he reached for her and kissed her deeply, holding her close in his arms. It seemed longer than usual to him for them to get safely inside so he could hold her and greet her as he wanted. They stood that way for awhile after Natty was able to put down her purse and package. Quietly, she stepped back and started to take off her coat. He helped her and hung it on the hall tree and covered her with his own. She reached for his hand as they walked into the tiny kitchen. She saw he had returned her flower to the vase and she thanked him for bringing the flowers the night before.

He blushed and smiled. “You are very welcome darling. I had forgotten about them last night when I came in. I see you found them.” And he kissed her hand. “ I do hope you like flowers. If not, is there something else you would like better?”

She kissed him deeply and snuggled into his open arms. “Flowers are nice, but I have here, in my arms, all that I could ever want or need,” as her head once again found its favorite place beside his neck. He kissed the top of her head and gently stroked her long, dark curls. A contented sigh came from both of them.

The phone ringing had startled both of them. She answered it and checked her machine for messages at the same time. A few quick words, smile, and she hung up. She checked her watch and looked at him smiling. She had not understood what this caller was trying to tell her. Quickly, she forgot about it as her plans returned to her mind. He walked over to her and took her hand, leading her to the sofa in the living room. He had disappeared to his car while she was on the phone and retrieved his next surprise for her from the passenger seat. He had tucked it out of sight on the far side of the sofa and quietly returned to hear her last words on the phone. The sat together, holding each other quietly for several minutes. He felt she had something on her mind and needed some time to form the words. He quietly waited for them. She too felt he had something to say and also waited. The clock slowly ticked in the background. She quickly stood up, retrieved her shopping bag and sat down beside him again. While her back was turned from him, he carefully reached for and touched his surprises for her too. He wanted to be sure where they were as the words he had planned marched thru his mind. He had chosen them carefully.

She cleared her throat and began, thinking if she started first, he would be more at ease saying what ever was on his mind. “Urs, I know things have happened quickly and I know your love is real. I can never put to words or even begin to show you I feel the same way. I’ve thought about what you had said with being on tour and our time away from each other. Though I can’t always be with you physically, nor you with me, you too will always be inside me… All of me… Always and forever.” He interrupted her briefly, held her face with both hands and kissed her deeply, lingering there for a long time. His eyes were filled with love and she could see the beginning of tears forming at the corners. She looked away from them briefly and continued. “I can never make the kind of money you do to buy you things to show you how much you mean to me, but I have found some things that, though not expensive, do try to fit my feelings.” She leaned over and pulled one of the boxes from the bag at her feet and rested it on her lap, followed by the other. “I know this is a time for you to follow your dream, be the best artist there is and, in my mind, ever will be. I do understand. I do wish that for you. But, please, know that, though I would follow you anywhere, at this time, I can’t. I need you to understand that, no matter how long that takes, how many miles are between us, you will always be with me. I know a fan had a star named for the group. I can imagine how that must feel. I read her message and every time I look in the sky, I will find it and see it. Through that, and my heart, we will be together at night, every night, no matter where you are on this earth. She wrote about being a guiding light. That was very special. So you too can find it, as well as your way back to my arms… well….” She handed him one of the packages.

He looked down, held it gently in both hands and closed his eyes. His hands covered the small box and it felt heavy compared to its size. He took great care in opening it. Inside was a dark wooden box with a small brass latch. As he set aside the paper wrapping, he stared at it, puzzled. She gently took the small box from his hands and opened the latch, and turned the opened box toward him. Inside the felt-lined wooden box was a small brass compass. He smiled and reached over to hold her close, kissing her forehead, then her cheeks, then her lips.

“Natty, darling, this is so lovely. I’ve never seen one up close before. Thank you so much.” He gently lifted it out of the box and looked at it more closely. He returned it, and kissed her again, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. The other gift slid silently off her lap and onto the sofa as her arms wrapped eagerly around him below his. She once again tucked her head between his neck and shoulder and she sighed contently. The hardest words were out now. He had accepted them as she had hoped. Her heart had tugged at her while she said them and it took all of the inner strength she had to say them. The rest would be easier, or at least she had hoped they would. They stayed in each others arms awhile then, until the corner of the remaining box started to poke at her lower thigh. She moved slightly to reach for it and pulled it to her chest. He moved back slightly to make room and see what she was doing. “Oh, there is more?” He whispered.

“Yes,” she said, leaning back to show him. “I also wanted to give you this as well. It’s plain but classy and tasteful, like you are. I hope you like it.” Again, he held the small package in both hands, reached over and kissed her lightly, whispering “thank you, my love, I know it will be fantastic”. She bit her lower lip lightly as he carefully open the package and found the small pocket watch and fob. It didn’t seem to fit his biker/rock star look, but it felt right to her. He gasped and took it from the box, turning it over gently in his hands. “It is as beautiful as you are Natty… small and delicate… I will cherish it always.”

She gently took his hands in hers and whispered to him, “Open it up and see…” Inside, she had set the time and had inscribed opposite the watch face the words… “Forever and Always…” in Italic script. His eyes widened with his smile. He held it close to his chest where she had kissed him that special evening and closed his eyes as he remembered her words and the kiss she had so lovingly placed there. Tears spilled from her eyes as she watched him. She couldn’t breathe as she saw him hold it close for a moment. Her hands moved to her mouth to try to hold back her crying aloud as a silent, single tear slid down his cheek.

She couldn’t wait any longer. She moved to her knees on the sofa and pulled him to her chest, holding his head just below where the necklace rested. She could feel her heart pounding strong with his. He eagerly wrapped an arm around her and snuggled there against her, as another tear slid away. Neither said a word for some time, they gently held each other tightly and listened to both the clock in the hall and his pocket watch tick away in harmony, matching beat for beat as time floated by.

Her knees began to buckle slightly, so she moved slightly to ease the ache. His head silently moved and found that special place on her that she had often rested at with him. Now she felt what he must have, as he snuggled between her neck and shoulder and kissed it. Both of them had quieted their tears and breathing. The sat contently, side by side, hold each other, with no words spoken out loud. Their hearts spoke the volumes for them… between them as the minutes changed to hours.

Gently, he moved from her and retrieved his surprises from their hiding place. By now, he was too emotionally exhausted to say the words he had so carefully crafted in his mind earlier. Instead he said, “Natty, darling… you can be with me physically when ever you want, when ever you can, “ and handed her the leather-bound portfolio. Inside, he had the group’s tour schedule, flight vouchers, a personalized staff ID card with her name on it attached to a black stringed lanyard, and backstage passes. “ I hope your passport is up to date, because we have some traveling to do. I want you to see the world, or as much of it as you can, with me. So you know what to expect, I also have some travel books of some of the places we will be touring “as he stacked several books on the nearby coffee table. It was her turn to be surprised and awed. Her eyes moved from the portfolio to him and back again. Carefully, she laid it on the table and kissed him. Quietly, she took his hand, stood up, and they walked toward the steps. This time, they walked up them side by side, arm in arm. Again, the evening plans had changed. At the end of the dark hallway, he picked her up in his arms again and stepped over the threshold into their unlit bedroom. Downstairs, the lights clicked on in the living room and hallway.

They undressed themselves at the same time, each looking at the other, as their clothes dropped to the floor. As before, he picked her up and laid her on the bed, sliding in comfortably beside her. They held each other close and stared into each others eyes, each lying on their side to face each other. Finally, he kissed her as he gently stroked her arm. She reached for his hand and gently stroked the back of it against her face several times, closing her eyes and smiling. He loved to watch her. He pulled their clasped hands toward him and kissed the back of hers. He too closed his eyes for a moment, keeping his lips lightly on her hand. She loved to watch him too. He large dark eyes always seem to speak to her. His full lips that she loved to touch and kiss and kissed by them. Slowly, he opened his eyes and smiled as he reached to stroke her hair and touch her cheek. Her fingers gently outlined his lips.

He pulled her close and held her tight, resting his head on her shoulder as he tucked his face close to her neck. He breathed deeply and lightly kissed her neck, trying to find that secret place that sent shivers through her. He knew he found it by her gasp and light tremble. He smiled and kissed the same place, again and again. Each time, the gasp and trembling was longer and stronger. Her hands reached out to hold him and stopped suddenly as she was torn between wanting more kisses there and not. Instead, she reached for his soft dark curls and absently ran her fingers though them as he continued to kiss her. He made his own rose petal kisses path down the rest of her neck and onto her chest. She rolled onto her back and pulled him closer. He wanted to kiss her all over and did so slowly. Her body reacted to each kiss, both the light ones and the deep ones, as he carefully moved down her torso. Her mind was ablaze with sensations she had never felt before. He reached up to gently touch her face and look at her. They made love again without a word spoken between them. Their eyes spoke the cherished words for them. Again, they snuggled and drifted off to sleep.

In the morning, he awoke first and looked over at her sleeping. He carefully tucked a stray curl behind her ear and kissed her lightly. Slowly, so as not to wake her, me eased out of bed and headed to the bathroom. She waited with her eyes closed a few seconds after she heard him close the door. He seemed to be humming softly, but she wasn’t sure. Quietly, she rolled over in the bed and reached toward the night stand, pulling open the top drawer. She had kept a spare house key taped to the underside of the drawer and she struggled to retrieve it, closing the drawer. She held it in her hand for a moment and listened carefully. As she noticed the doorknob move, she hid the key and closed her eyes again. He had opened the door slowly and peeked into the dim room. Smiling, he saw she was still asleep and he crept back toward the bed and put on his briefs. He headed out of the room and down the hall. She waited quietly, eyes still closed, for his steps to fade before crawling out of bed. She picked up his jeans and stuck the key in the front pocket, carefully dropped them to the floor and crawled back under the covers to wait for him. He wasn’t gone long and his steps slowed as he entered the room. His shirt was soon returned to the floor and he nestled in beside her. He looked down at her face and smiled, gently stroking her hair. “Natty, my love, my darling…. It’s time to wake up,” he whispered. She didn’t budge a muscle. “Natty, honey…” he said slightly louder, “ ..babe, it’s time to wake up now,” and he bent down and kissed her. Again, she willed herself not to move. He tried again and again, but still no response came from her. After a loud sigh, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, kissed her deeply and said, “… Io ti amo. Si, ti amo. Quanto ti amo.”

Her eyes popped open and she smiled. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she kissed him back. “Not that is how to wake someone up very nicely.” She replied. They held each other close for awhile, before he reluctantly pulled away. “It’s off to work for you and off to the music studio for me.” He said and patted her butt. They teased each other for a bit before, he sighed and got out of bed. She looked over at the clock and gasped. Quickly, she dressed, kissed him, and ran out the door, asking him to call when he had time later. She smiled to herself as she soundly closed the front door behind her. He would soon find the key she had hidden in his jeans pocket. She drove to work and arrived with mere seconds to spare. Her morning flew past and during her lunch hour, so checked her cell phone for messages, but found none. She turned it off and dropped it in her purse, as she headed back to work the rest of her day.

As she headed to her car that evening, she noticed him standing nearby. He knew where she worked, but didn’t want to walk in and take a chance of being bombarded with questions or create problems for her. He was wearing the sunglasses from the pictures she had seen in the forum. “God, he does look so darn good in those… and the jeans… and the…heck, everything.” She mumbled to herself. He held his arms out to greet her, looked around quickly and put them at his sides. He didn’t want to chance a scene in public just yet. He quickly stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets and shrugged his shoulders. She blushed, but understood. “He isn’t ready yet… That’s okay.. .I guess.” She thought to herself. He quickly looked down as though embarrassed, as she reached his side.

Gently, she put her hand on his shoulder and greeted him. “How about I take you to your car and we’ll drive to my place.” She said. He glanced around again and she saw a quick nod, as he stepped back from her. He opened her car door after she pushed the remote button and waited for her to start the engine. Then, he walked toward his car and he backed out and headed for the parking lot exit. He hadn’t noticed the stereo in her car was playing one of the group’s CDs. She listened to them in the car all the time. She liked to quietly hum and sing along with them. It was usually a quick drive from work to home, but tonight it seemed to take twice as long. She continued to think about how he had reacted to her in the parking lot at work. She tried to dismiss the negative thoughts that seemed to creep in her mind.

Finally, she turned onto her street and parked in front of her townhouse door. She saw he was his usual several doors down spot, getting out of the car. He walked briskly toward her as though nothing had happened moments ago. He walked around her car and opened her door for her. He stepped back again and as she stood, he warmly embraced her, kissing her on the cheek. All of those previous thought that had nagged at her vanished. He was with her… holding her, just as before.

She moved away from her car and he closed the door. She engaged the car alarm and they strolled hand in hand through the door. He helped her with her coat, and as she dropped her purse on the hall table, she hugged her again, kissing her neck and cheek. He quickly pulled off his jacket and hung it up as well. She stepped behind him and laid her head on his back, wrapping her arms around his waist. She had worn flats today and he had on his boots, so the top of her head almost met his chocolaty curls. He hadn’t pulled his hair back as he normally did while on tour before or after the shows. He had left it down and she was glad.

He looked down and cupped his hands gently around hers. His hands seemed cold to her. She wondered how long he had waited outside for her after work. It really didn’t matter, because they were together now. He looked over his shoulder as best he could and asked her about her day. They chatted awhile, neither really moving. Finally, he turned to face her, took her in his arms and kissed her deeply. “I’ve been waiting all day to do that.” He told her. He gently stroked her cheek and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. She kept her eyes closed for a moment, remembering, memorizing that kiss as she had the others. Sighing, she took his hand and led him to the sofa. They both sat and talked about their day apart from each other. Urs didn’t seem to tell her very much, but Natty didn’t pry. She hated that in other people and tried not to do that herself. He did mention that they were working on a new album/CD and she was eager to hear any and all details about that. He didn’t offer any, and though disappointed, she tried to remain positive.

Finally, she suggested that she make something for them for dinner. He tended to want to stay in lately and she didn’t mind. They both headed to the kitchen and she turned on the light. Her eyes light up and her hands went to her mouth to try to control her excitement. On the counter was a huge bouquet of red and white roses and outside her kitchen window she saw row upon row of rose bushes planted in her tiny back yard.
She turned to him and hugged him tight, kissing him again and again, whispering her thank you. He had spent the rather warm afternoon planting them and setting up the tiny lawn lights, complete with timer. He had set the timer to go off a few minutes before they arrived. The reason he had walked so quickly to her car and opened her door was not only because he was a gentleman, but he was trying to distract her from the light glow he had noticed they gave. He didn’t want this surprise to be seen or hinted at before he was ready.

He had called the store where she worked, pretending to be looking for a gift for his wife. He purposely fumbled the names of several products for effect and his own enjoyment. He found out that she would only be there until 4 pm today. He needed to be ready well before then to have time for a shower and get rid of any hint of the surprise. His back and arms were starting to feel the strain of the afternoon’s labor. He had worked out at any gym he could find while on tour to stay in shape, but since they weren’t touring, he had slowed down. Their activity in the evenings lately had been the most exercise he had had in weeks.

He tried to help her prepare the meal, but his arms ached. She had noticed his slower, somewhat labored movements and the mild grimace at times. She laid the knife on the counter, wiped her hands on the hand towel and took his hands. Now she noticed his hands and why they seemed cold earlier. She kissed him lightly on the cheek and sent him to the living room to rest while she finished. Reluctantly, he agreed, leaving the apron on and walked to the sofa. He dropped into it and grabbed a nearby pillow, holding it in his arms. He leaned back and closed his eyes, sighing heavily.

Thirty minutes later, she came out of the kitchen to tell him the meal was ready. He was asleep with his arms still snuggly around the pillow. Smiling, she returned to the kitchen for awhile to admire the flowers and give him some more time to sleep. It was while she was looking at the huge bouquet on the counter, that she saw the heavy gold chain around the vase. She touched it curiously with her fingers, following the chain around the side of the vase. She felt something different and turned the vase around to see what it was. Attached to the heavy chain were a small golden heart charm, a brass key, and a small envelope. Her name was on the outside of the envelope, so she carefully opened it. Inside was a hand-written note that said, “My darling Natty, you are my all, here is a small reflection of my love, you already have the key to my heart, now you also have the keys to our homes… Forever and Always” She gasped and held them to her lips, as tears spilled down her cheeks. She hadn’t heard him walk up behind her. She was startled at first when he wrapped his arms around her from behind. Holding her close, he kissed the top of her head, then her neck before gently turning her around to face him. Still holding the tiny envelope, she reached for his face and kissed him deeply, wrapping her arms around his neck.

He ate hungrily and she nibbled. He had worked hard that afternoon and it felt good to work in the soil. They chatted off and on as they ate. She gathered the plates. He stood to help and she asked him to rest on the sofa while she cleaned up. Wearily, he agreed. A few minutes later, she turned off the kitchen lights and walked over to him. His eyes were tired, she could tell. She held out her hand and motioned for him to follow her up the stairs. He slowly followed her down the hallway and into their room. She kissed him lightly as she unbuttoned his shirt. He sat on the edge of the bed while she went into the bathroom and started to run hot water in the bathtub. Steamy wisps floated out as she returned and finished undressing him and herself. Quietly, she led him to the bathroom and he carefully stepped into the bathtub and sat, letting the warm water wash over him.

She smiled and gently rubbed his aching arms, shoulders and back as he breathed deeply and sighed. Soon, he felt better and held her lightly in his arms as she joined him in the tub. They snuggled until the water had cooled. She stepped out first and then helped him out as well. She dried the both of them quickly. He aimlessly walked out of the bathroom and headed toward the bed, wanting to just hold her and sleep. Moments later, she joined him in their bedroom with a small bowl in her hands. She had warmed some oil that she had gotten at the day spa that special day. He smiled and gingerly rolled over onto his belly.

Carefully, she poured some of the warm oil onto her hands and rubbed them together to even the oil out. Gently, she reached for his lower neck, shoulders and upper back and rubbed the warm oil over him in small even circles. Adding more oil to her hands, she continued to rub his arms and hands. Then she returned to his back and continued to follow his spine to his lower back. He continued to breathe deeply and relax under her gently touch. She covered his back and shoulders with a large towel and started to rub oil into the backs of his thighs and calves. She then pulled the sheet and blanket up to his waist and rubbed the towel again. He moved to look at her with sleepy, relaxed eyes, as his hand reached to touch her wrist and pull her close. She had meant to massage the front of his chest too, but holding him close seemed more important. The half empty bowl was abandoned on the night stand as she nestled in next to him. He turned to face her and the towel quietly slid off. Instinctively, she reached for the sheet and blanked she had folded to his waist and pulled it to the top of his shoulders. The snuggled together the rest of the night. Natty didn’t sleep well as her mind replayed the day in her mind. Hours later, listening to his even, deep breathing, she drifted off to sleep.

When she awoke the next morning, he wasn’t beside her. She looked around the upstairs and couldn’t seem to find him or his clothes. She crossed to the front of the townhouse and peered out the window. His car was still parked in the same place she remembered from the night before. Puzzled, she went downstairs to try to find him. She was beginning to get worried when she didn’t find him in the living room, front porch or kitchen. Then, her eyes passed the kitchen window. She peeked out and saw him happily watering the new plants with the garden hose he had also gotten her. He seemed to know she was there watching and he finished up. In the mean time, Natty had started to heat some water on the stove. She knew he liked tea as did she. They should have time for a cup together before heading out for the day. Soon, he came through the kitchen door, rubbing his hands to get them warm.

He walked over to her and hugged her whispering his good morning greeting. She felt his cold hands through her light sweater and she shivered. A wide grin appeared on his face as he tried to tuck his ice cold hands under the back of her sweater and she screamed, pulling away from him. He laughed heartily as she blushed, tucking in the back of her sweater. Soon, he was warming his hands on the large mug of tea she had made him. They sipped and chatted easily, making evening plans for his cottage in the mountains. She agreed to try to ask for the next day off as she hadn’t used very many vacation days so far. She didn’t want to use too many in the event she did join him for some of the up coming concert tour.

Soon, they were both headed their separate ways for the morning. He had hugged and kissed her before she opened the front door. She shook her head as she saw him walk down the sidewalk. She didn’t understand him sometimes with affection in public. Again, her day flew by as she visited the different stores she dealt with as part of her job. By 3 pm, she had finished and was headed to her townhouse to pack a light bag for the overnight visit to the cottage.

Her boss hadn’t even asked her why she wanted the next day off and figured it had something to do with the stunning new ring on her finger. She hadn’t mentioned it to anyone and the boss tended not to get into personal matters unless she was given absolutely no choice in the matter. She knew Natty was a good worker and was pleasant at work. Something had made her happier lately and it must somehow be related to that ring.

She made a few quick stops on her way home, including the grocery store to buy something fresh for dinner. With her packages in tow, she headed home, checked her messages and email, packed a light bag and went to the kitchen to stare out at the rose bushes he had planted. As she gazed out, she sighed contently, eagerly awaiting spring and summer like never before. She didn’t like the cold weather that was approaching, never had and said to herself, “Probably never will either…” as she gently rubbed the chain on her necklace and touched the rose and pearls. She hadn’t worn the earrings since that special night, but had packed them just in case the right moment appeared. Sighing again, she gathered her things and headed out the door.

Her drive to his cottage was uneventful for the most part. As she made the final turn onto the side road, she looked toward it and her eyes widened. There were other cars parked there and she didn’t recognize any of them. She slowed to give herself more time to think and prepare. He hadn’t mentioned anything about other people tonight, or any details for that matter. She had assumed they would have a quiet evening together as always. Suddenly, she looked down at what she was wearing… jeans, nice but comfortable sweater, jacket, boots… and she hadn’t brought enough food either. Mild panic started to rumble in her chest. She checked the mirror to make sure she looked ok at least for the spur of the moment, as she parked her car at the far end of the yard. She didn’t want to seem distant, but wanted to give the other cars plenty of room…. Hopefully to leave, or give her self a quick getaway if worse came to worse.

She took a deep breath and reached for the car door. She had decided to leave the packages and overnight bag in the car, just in case, looking once again at the parked cars and the front door of the cottage. As she got out of her car, she continued to breathe deeply and force calm through her mind, and forcing herself to look at anything else in the area. Distracted this way for a moment, she hadn’t heard him come outside to greet her. He had been waiting by the window like a child on Christmas morning. He was curious why she had parked so far away from the cottage and why she seemed to be taking longer than usual to come to the door. When he saw her face as she got out of the car, he realized and ran to greet her. He hadn’t told her anything about the evening he had planned and he could see by her repeatedly looking at the other cars then away, that she was not herself. She was looking away, still holding the door firmly, when he hugged her close, startling her for a moment. He gently placed his chin on her shoulder and whispered to her. As her hands reached for his, her head leaned toward him as he lightly kissed her cheek. Slowly, he turned her around and again wrapped his arms around her, kissing her deeply this time. They stood there for a moment, gently holding each other. As though there were no cars or a hint of anyone else there, her arms wrapped around his waist and she kissed him back, a smile slowly returning to her face as she snuggled against him.