Grace Takes a Time Out Ch. 18

He gives her a questioning look at 'do your hair', but complies. "If I can't keep my hands off you, you'll have to stop me right away." She jokes as he sits down. "Might be this morning all over again if you let me carry on more than a second." They both chuckle at that, but she looks around the room, sees a towel and gets it, then puts the towel around his neck. She puts a little mousse on his hair and massages it in, adds a bit more, then combs and shapes his hair so it is an open but smooth shape curving back from his forehead, lower profile on the sides leaving his ears exposed. She removes the towel after a couple of minutes of work and he stands and turns to her, his expression hesitant and uncertain. "As the song says, 'a-hunk-a-hunk-o'-burnin-love'." She giggles sincerely and continues: "Whopperman has become hunkman. Grace is going to swoon. You go get the champagne organized and I'll go see if I can find you a date." She leaves, not before one last head to toe looking over.

A couple of minutes later Peter is in the kitchen with the champagne bottle on the table, getting three flutes from the cabinet when Judy calls: "Come on down: you are the lucky winner!" He walks out to the living room and what he sees stops him in his tracks.

Grace's all black cocktail dress is tight, revealing and suggesting all of Grace's shape and form: seemingly loose gathered fabric panels crisscross from shoulders to just below her hips in front to accentuate the low neck line and full cleavage with the round, curving tops of her breasts exposed; the horizontal bottom panel fills in below the crossed panels with the dress ending just above mid-thigh. Sleeveless, the sleek black dress sets off the smooth and lightly tanned skin of Grace's face, chest, arms, and legs. Her dark blonde hair is curled and shaped - forward to her cheek on her right and pushed back to her ear on the left: full bodied and voluptuous like Marilyn's. Some eye liner and shadow, just enough to accentuate her light brown eyes. Lipstick and nails (fingers and toes) red like fire engines. Her firm and well-shaped thighs and calves are accentuated by the medium height black patent heels she wears: open tops and sides, held on by simple straps at the ankle and another at the base of her toes so the appearance of her legs is barely interrupted from thighs to toes. Her only jewelry is a snug ¾" wide diamond choker necklace - 6 rows of tiny diamonds that sparkle and glitter around her neck.

"Like it?" Grace asks, trying to speak in a low and seductive tone, but having trouble masking her girlish joy and excitement. She turns to show the back similar to the front of the dress - crisscross panels leaving the back even lower cut than the front. When she faces him again her smile is ear-to-ear and even her white teeth seem to sparkle.

Peter's mouth hangs open for a moment while he takes it all in and thinks of how to express himself: "I am dazzled." He pauses. "You are more than gorgeous. A goddess." He lapses back into speechlessness, just looking at her with wide eyes.

Grace walks over to him and feels the shirt fabric between her thumb and forefinger; the heels make her taller and she looks down into his eyes from a few inches away: "You don't look so bad yourself, sailor." and gives him an air kiss and a come-hither look. She turns to Judy: "Where's the party?"

"I think he got out the glasses and the bottle; I'll go look while you two stay at least six feet apart for safety." Judy says cheerfully and goes to the kitchen. Peter is still staring at Grace; he steps back and looks her up and down a couple of more times and mouths 'WOW' to her. Judy returns within a minute with a tray holding the bottle and glasses. Grace does the honors, and pours them all an effervescent share.

"My life begins again," says Grace lifting her glass to touch the others and toast. They all have a sip. "Widow no more," she adds and they touch glasses again. Smiles all around. "I want a picture - Joe had some specialized camera stuff and I found a 4 x 5 with a polaroid back, and even some film that's still good." She turns and goes across the room to a table on which there is a large camera with flash gun; she brings it back and instructs Judy on how to use it. She and Peter pose with their champagne glasses.

"Smile," says Judy; flash. Grace comes across, pulls out the film and says to Peter:

"Give us one minute." He checks his watch and times it. They talk briefly about how long it's been since they used film on anything, and Grace comments that she doesn't want this in a form that could get out on the internet. When time is up Grace peels the film sheets apart and there they are - happy, smiling, dressed to kill.

"Judy - one more so we both get one. Do you want one, too?" Judy shakes her head 'no', and as the two pose again Grace hands Peter a small, neatly folded piece of dark fabric and says: "Put this in your pocket in case I need it." He gives her a look - questioning and, knowing her, not questioning as he puts it in a trouser pocket. "Remember when we were kids, Judy, the joke was that a nice girl always wore clean undies so if she was in a car accident or something the ambulance guys and emergency room people would think well of her?" Judy nods as she fiddles with the camera.

"Smile." Flash. "Yeah, what's your point?" Judy asks.

Grace turns to Peter and says: "If there's an accident, put those on me right away." And looks down at the pocket he put the fabric into. Peter looks at her for a moment, gets it, and rolls his eyes in genuine surprise; Judy laughs out loud and almost drops the camera. Grace just smiles happily at the two of them and pulls down her hem an extra fraction of an inch.

*

The Miata pulls into Grace's garage after midnight, the top still down and Peter driving. Grace's hair is windblown. He hits the door button as soon as the motor is off and they sit for a moment as the door closes. "You have been a bad girl Grace," he says with mock seriousness. "Teasing me all evening - pulling my hand between your legs at the restaurant, grinding your pussy into me while we danced, and playing with yourself on the way home when I had to concentrate on driving. It's been very stressful."

She looks concerned and replies in her innocent young girl voice: "I had no idea. I am so sorry." To show her concern she reaches over and strokes his lap.

"Enough!" he says sternly. "This is quite serious." He gets out of the car and walks around the front of the car to her side as she watches in anticipation of the game. He stands by her door and leans down to speak to her at close range, pausing only, blatantly, to view the grand canyon of her cleavage from above. "I am Detective Richard and there has been a report of public lewdness."

"Does that mean you're going to be a dick about this?" she asks innocently.

He straightens back up and opens the door. "It's not wise to joke with law enforcement, miss. Please step out of the vehicle. It is my duty to investigate you thoroughly."

She gets out of the car slowly, one long, bare leg at a time, the skirt riding up and almost flashing him as she does; she gives him a hard edged look. He looks back at her with the lust-filled look she has seen a couple of times before. "Now please face the vehicle and assume the position: spread your legs and place your hands on the vehicle," he instructs her firmly.

"I've seen your type before. You just want to fuck any innocent girl you can pull over."

"Not at all miss. Just the ones in red sports cars."

"But it's such a low car!" she complains as she turns to face the car. "I'll have to bend way over." She does, bending her back into a downward curve as well. He busily undoes his belt and slacks to free his erection, steps up behind her and raises the dress hem to uncover her ass as he slides his erection between her thighs. "Oh! Mr. Detective! What a big night stick you have!" she says, again in her best innocent young girl voice, while reaching back with one hand to guide him to her. He enters, thrusts, grabs her hips, and pounds her hard and fast - she bends even further down and pushes back. Within a couple of dozen thrusts they both come, and loudly.

"God, I needed that." he says in his normal voice as they separate; she stands and turns to him and they embrace. "You have been driving me nuts all evening."

"I'm only just now starting," she replies quietly, smiling. She pushes his slacks down the rest of the way and stoops so she can slide off his loafers as he lifts first one leg then the other. She turns and walks to the door to the house, gyrating her ass as she walks on her high heels. She opens the door and as she steps into the house he grabs her from behind at the waist with both hands and pulls her back to him, kissing her shoulder and ear lobe. Then he reaches down to her hem and in one smooth motion slides the dress up and over her head; he tosses it into the kitchen - she is now naked except for her strapless push-up bra, high heels, and glittering choker. She steps ahead into the kitchen and turns to face him putting her hands out to his chest. With both hands she makes circular motions, massaging him, ending with her hands working down the shirt buttons until the shirt is undone so she can push it open and back down his arms. He lets her, and when the shirt is off he grasps her shoulders, turns her away from him, undoes the bra, and tosses it aside. She doesn't move; he steps up behind her, reaches around, and pulls her to him by her breasts. "Kitchen table?" she asks, "Or can you wait long enough for us to get to my bed?"

He has one hand still on her chest and one is now between her legs, both working her. "I can hold it for 10 seconds or so, then I'll have to do you again." He says, huskily, into her ear. Then he bites her shoulder slowly and gently.

She pulls at his grip to turn herself to him, her hands wrap around him and her nails rake his back. "Table it is then." She looks at him, her eyes now burning with lust for him, and backs to the table, drawing him with her. They kiss hard; she pulls away and tells him: "Put me on this table, Peter, and eat me, drink me. Then fuck me every way you want."

Epilogue

Sunday morning the dawn light from the window through the curtain gives Grace's room a misty feeling. Peter and Grace roll together in semi-consciousness and awaken in each other's arms. Nothing is said as they entwine slowly and once tangled together make love slowly, languidly, with a quiet but determined, smoldering intensity.

They sleep for a while longer, follow with a period of drowsiness before becoming fully awake, and contemplate each other across a pillow. Finally they kiss and first Grace then Peter climbs out of the bed, Grace to her bathroom and Peter down the hall. A little while later in the kitchen, dressed for mundane housework, they quietly embrace and gently kiss once more. "Breakfast?" Grace asks; he nods.

"Coffee or tea?" Peter asks as he fills the kettle; she answers 'green tea' as she opens the refrigerator to prospect. After a few minutes of slow bustle they are at the table with what is certainly a decent and healthy meal but they pick at their food without enthusiasm. "When are they back?" he asks.

"1 or 2 - in there someplace. It'll be good to have Joe and Claire back. I need to make the beds and do some shopping. Mom and Dad are staying until Tuesday. How about you - what's your day?"

"I need to do yard work at home, make the house look like I've been there the whole time and just cleaned it up." Grace smiles at this. "They're supposed to be home by dinner so I'll call Mom's cell after lunch and see if I can make some dinner. Or maybe they'll stop for pizza."

"Your week?" Grace asks. "I still need some garage work. Can't believe we didn't get it all done." They both grin resignedly at this. "Maybe Wednesday? The kids will be happy to see you: tell you all about their trip to Disneyland. And regular Saturday morning?"

"I'll be here; text me or e-mail about Wednesday. Nothing this week; school starts next week. Oh, I almost forgot - Shirley's social schedule. I was planning to call Alicia today and see what she really wants to do." He pauses to stare into space as he thinks about it.

"Go with your gut. Don't push."

"You're right. I need some slow time anyway."

Grace smiles softly, affectionately, at him. "Me too, but I have the family torrent coming to take my mind off it." She pauses. "It really has been great and I really do thank you for your all of attention and support. And for being a fabulous lover." She reaches over to hold his hand.

He takes a breath as he tries to sort his emotions. "Thank you too, Grace," is all he can get out as he looks at her. Affection, infatuation, abandoned innocence, lust, friendship, life's unresolved mysteries - his mind is in a dull rumble of confusion about his feelings. He also feels good, confident, like he's been somewhere and done something he didn't expect he could, but sad that it's over and there's nothing to replace it. Or maybe there is. He doesn't know. He'll miss their closeness.

They put away the breakfast dishes, pick up their clothes from last night still strewn on the garage and kitchen floors. In the guest room he sorts out his clothes and hangs some of them in the closet knowing he will be back. Another kiss and a last quick embrace at the door as he leaves - they have both steeled themselves for this moment.

When he gets home Peter goes up to his room to put away the clothes he brought home; he pins the picture on the inside of his closet door, giving it a long look. The bed is still a mess from Friday morning; he imagines he can still smell Grace on the sheets and he carefully makes the bed, as if to trap her essence in it for a little while longer. He goes to the garage and prepares to do the lawn mowing and other of his regular yard work chores, but pauses first to take his cell phone out, search for a number, and press the call icon.

"Alicia - it's Peter."

"Thanks, I'm good. You?"

"Yeah, I'm OK. Taking a lot of deep breaths." He tries to sound light and airy about it.

"Would you like to come over and talk today? Or I can come over there."

"Right, your house is probably not the best."

"I have some yard work to do and the family won't be home until later. I want to talk with you about Shirley's schedule."

After listening a few moments he laughs at her response. "She's pushy, that's for sure. But I want to know what you want, how you feel. I hoped we could hang out and just talk, see where we are. It's been crazy, I'm sure for you too, and I'd like to figure some of it out at least. Maybe in a couple of hours?"

"Thanks. See you then."

-The End—

*****

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