door open and stepped onto the landing at the top of the stairs. Pausing, he tossed her a look over his shoulder that was full of promise, erotic promise. “Oh, yes,” he whispered, “I’m going to take you up on that.” Then he was gone, running down the stairs, his soft laughter wafting back to tease and excite her.
* * * *
Friday morning dawned bright and clear with a light breeze that carried the elusive scent of spring. Melting snow created runnels on shoveled pavements, turning the rutted streets into mini-rivers. The voice of students, liberated by spring break, sparkled in the mild air. Inside Alycia’s apartment, chaos reigned.
While Karla and Andrea scurried around attending to the last-minute details of getting ready to leave, Alycia calmly prepared breakfast and a pot of coffee. Amazingly, the three women finished and converged at the table at the same time.
“Why do you look so glum, Alycia?” Andrea asked, absently buttering a piece of toast. “Argument with Sean?”
“No.” Alycia shrugged. “I’m thinking about tomorrow.”
Karla gave her a shrewd look. “You no longer want to go to Williamsburg, right?” She frowned when Alycia nodded in answer. “But you’ve paid for a room at the inn and you can’t afford to lose the money, also right?”
“Yes “ Alycia sighed.
Andrea sighed.
Karla’s facade of cynicism dissolved. Impulsively reaching out, she clasped Alycia’s hand. “You could always say the hell with the money and stay home,” she said. “Then again, you could use the trip as a breathing spell away from Sean to sort out your feelings for him.”
“I love him, Karla,” Alycia said with quiet conviction. “I don’t need a breathing spell away from him, and I don’t need to sort out my feelings.” She lifted her chin. “And I believe Sean loves me.”
“Okay.” Karla’s smile was gentle and genuine. “You’ll have the rest of your lives together. Compared to a lifetime, what’s one week?”
Andrea grasped Alycia’s other hand. “Karla’s right, Alycia,” she murmured. “You’ve been looking forward to this trip for months. Go and wallow in history. Sean will be here, and probably eager to discuss the trip with you, when you get back.”
Alycia was quiet for some minutes; then she gave a small, rueful laugh. “You’re right. I’m being silly. I’ll go just as I’ve planned. What’s one week, anyway?”
* * * *
After Andrea and Karla had gone, Alycia attempted to keep her spirits up by straightening the apartment and preparing for Sean’s arrival. Foregoing her usual quick shower, she slipped into a warm jasmine-scented bath. She shampooed and blow-dried her hair until the silky strands gleamed with healthy color. She dressed casually but carefully in a soft, flowing skirt and silky blouse. She was waving her hands to dry the fresh coat of polish on her nails when Sean appeared, a bouquet of perky daffodils in one hand, a long, flat velvet case in the other.
Exclaiming with delight, Alycia arranged the flowers in a tall vase while Sean removed his coat and boots. She was fussing with the placement of the blooms when he slid his arms around her waist and nuzzled his face in the curve of her shoulder.
“Umm, you smell good, fresh and sweet, like a spring rain.”
Laughing, Alycia turned in his embrace and curled her arms around his neck. “And you smell good, too. Like fresh air... and fresher man.”
“Fresh?” He laughed. “I’ll show you fresh. I owe you one, remember?” He nipped teasingly at her soft skin.
One second they were laughing together, and in the next second they were staring into each other’s eyes.
“Dear God, I want you, Alycia.” Sean broke the tension-filled moment in a harsh, strained voice. “I want to make you a part of me. I want to be a part of you.”
Her brown eyes glowing with love, her smile sensuous, Alycia slid her fingers into his thick hair to draw his face to hers. “And I want to be a part of
* * * *
Friday morning dawned bright and clear with a light breeze that carried the elusive scent of spring. Melting snow created runnels on shoveled pavements, turning the rutted streets into mini-rivers. The voice of students, liberated by spring break, sparkled in the mild air. Inside Alycia’s apartment, chaos reigned.
While Karla and Andrea scurried around attending to the last-minute details of getting ready to leave, Alycia calmly prepared breakfast and a pot of coffee. Amazingly, the three women finished and converged at the table at the same time.
“Why do you look so glum, Alycia?” Andrea asked, absently buttering a piece of toast. “Argument with Sean?”
“No.” Alycia shrugged. “I’m thinking about tomorrow.”
Karla gave her a shrewd look. “You no longer want to go to Williamsburg, right?” She frowned when Alycia nodded in answer. “But you’ve paid for a room at the inn and you can’t afford to lose the money, also right?”
“Yes “ Alycia sighed.
Andrea sighed.
Karla’s facade of cynicism dissolved. Impulsively reaching out, she clasped Alycia’s hand. “You could always say the hell with the money and stay home,” she said. “Then again, you could use the trip as a breathing spell away from Sean to sort out your feelings for him.”
“I love him, Karla,” Alycia said with quiet conviction. “I don’t need a breathing spell away from him, and I don’t need to sort out my feelings.” She lifted her chin. “And I believe Sean loves me.”
“Okay.” Karla’s smile was gentle and genuine. “You’ll have the rest of your lives together. Compared to a lifetime, what’s one week?”
Andrea grasped Alycia’s other hand. “Karla’s right, Alycia,” she murmured. “You’ve been looking forward to this trip for months. Go and wallow in history. Sean will be here, and probably eager to discuss the trip with you, when you get back.”
Alycia was quiet for some minutes; then she gave a small, rueful laugh. “You’re right. I’m being silly. I’ll go just as I’ve planned. What’s one week, anyway?”
* * * *
After Andrea and Karla had gone, Alycia attempted to keep her spirits up by straightening the apartment and preparing for Sean’s arrival. Foregoing her usual quick shower, she slipped into a warm jasmine-scented bath. She shampooed and blow-dried her hair until the silky strands gleamed with healthy color. She dressed casually but carefully in a soft, flowing skirt and silky blouse. She was waving her hands to dry the fresh coat of polish on her nails when Sean appeared, a bouquet of perky daffodils in one hand, a long, flat velvet case in the other.
Exclaiming with delight, Alycia arranged the flowers in a tall vase while Sean removed his coat and boots. She was fussing with the placement of the blooms when he slid his arms around her waist and nuzzled his face in the curve of her shoulder.
“Umm, you smell good, fresh and sweet, like a spring rain.”
Laughing, Alycia turned in his embrace and curled her arms around his neck. “And you smell good, too. Like fresh air... and fresher man.”
“Fresh?” He laughed. “I’ll show you fresh. I owe you one, remember?” He nipped teasingly at her soft skin.
One second they were laughing together, and in the next second they were staring into each other’s eyes.
“Dear God, I want you, Alycia.” Sean broke the tension-filled moment in a harsh, strained voice. “I want to make you a part of me. I want to be a part of you.”
Her brown eyes glowing with love, her smile sensuous, Alycia slid her fingers into his thick hair to draw his face to hers. “And I want to be a part of
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