“I bought the underwear when I purchased the dress,” she said as he unfastened the clasp of the lacy red bra that was a wisp of material and so different from her usual practical cotton underwear.
He placed his hands on her hips and inhaled deeply. “You’re gorgeous,” he whispered, his eyes raking over her lacy panties down to her thigh-high stockings. She was still in her red pumps.
As he looked at her she unfastened the buttons of his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. Her hands worked to loosen his belt and then his suit trousers and finally they fell away and she pushed down his briefs to free him.
She stroked him lightly and he inhaled, picking her up. She kicked off her pumps, and he placed her on the bed, switching on a small bedside light before kneeling beside her to shower her with kisses.
As she wound her arms around his neck, she rose up slightly, pulling him to her to kiss him. “Aaron, this is so good,” she whispered.
He moved over her, kissing her passionately while she clung to him.
Later, she lay in his arms, held closely against him. “Aaron, you’re changing my life.”
He shifted on his side to face her, toying with locks of her hair. “You’re changing mine, too, you know.”
“I suppose,” she said, gazing solemnly into his eyes. “I hadn’t thought about that, but I guess a baby will change both of us. Even just knowing we’ll have a baby will bring changes. I was talking about this week and my makeover, my new clothes, meeting so many people and persuading them to help. Of course, I have the pictures and figures to persuade them.”
“You’re the cause, more than pictures and numbers. The mayor couldn’t have had anyone do a better job.” Aaron wound his fingers in her hair.
“It’s a long time from now, but do you think you’ll be present when our baby is born?”
“I want to be and I hope you want me to be there,” he said.
“Yes, I do,” she answered, hurting, wishing she had his love. “I want you to be there very much.”
He hugged her again. “Then that’s decided. I’ll be there.” They became silent and she wondered if he would still feel the same way when their baby came into the world.
“You’re beautiful, Stella,” Aaron said hoarsely. He drew her closer against him. “I don’t want to let you go,” he whispered as his arms tightened around her.
Her face was pressed against his chest and she hugged him in return. “I don’t want you to let me go ever,” she whispered, certain it was so soft, he couldn’t hear her. “Tonight we have each other,” she said. “Tomorrow we go home and back to the problems.”
* * *
When they flew back to Royal on Saturday afternoon, she had eight more big checks to deposit in the Royal storm recovery fund. As they sat in the plane, she was aware of Aaron studying her. “What?” she asked. “You’re staring.”
“I’m thinking about all the changes in you. Now you’ll be the talk of Royal with your makeover, plus the money you’re bringing in to help everyone.”
She laughed. “I’ll be the talk of Royal maybe for five minutes. But the checks will last for quite a while. Aaron, I’m so thrilled over the money. People have been really generous. Thank for your introductions.”