The Proposal Ch. 03

They lay quietly for a time before he speaks again. "That immersion is amazing. It reminds me of how much I love you. I feel like I'm twenty again, when I first fell in love with you. I'd forgotten just how powerful an emotion love can be. I've always loved you, but now I remember just how much I did love you, and do love you still." He pauses, trying to put his feeling into words. "If someone were to have asked me yesterday how much I loved you I would have said 'More than anything,' but I would have been wrong, because now I love you more still," he says, and he means it. The immersion has rekindled his love for her, the flame burning hotter and brighter than he can ever remember. He has always loved her, loved her deeply, but now he remembers how he had once loved her more than life itself, and how he lived simply to please her. That feeling is back, and he rejoices in it. "How about you? You've experienced it twice now. Tell me what you think of the immersion."

Charlie thinks for a time before speaking, her head still lying on his chest. "I can't say. I really can't. It just moves me, is all. I can't describe the way it makes me feel. Maybe it is the fact that it reminds me of us when we were younger. I don't know. I can't remember the last time I came as hard as I did during these last two..." she almost says 'fucks' but changes it, "... sessions. They've been amazing. But its more than the sex, it's like..." She falters. "I think you said it best... I've always loved you, but now I love you more." She pauses, then raises her head to look into his face. "It's like you're my favorite pair of jeans... jeans that I just found again."

"You're comparing me to old pants?" he asks with mock indignation.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it."

"On the other hand... wrapped around your shapely ass all day isn't a bad place to be."

She giggles. "Is that all you think about? Sex?"

"No," he replies, "but it's what I am thinking about right now."

With that he rolls her over onto her back, moving with her and covering her body with his own, kissing her lightly on the lips and face.

"Mmmm," she purrs, stroking his back and head. "It has been a long time since we've had a two-fer."

"Too damn long," he agrees as he kisses her neck. "But that's about to change."

"I hope so. I certainly hope so," she purrs, pulling his mouth to hers for a kiss.

They kiss, passionately, deeply, their tongues exploring each other's mouths for many long seconds, their kisses lingering as they soak up the closeness they feel. Where their previous lovemaking was fast and explosive, this time they take it slow. They've quenched their thirst, and now they are sipping, enjoying the closeness of their bodies and souls.

Todd positions himself between her thighs and attempts to insert himself into her but quickly realizes she isn't ready, so he withdraws and focuses on pleasing her first. He moves down and begins to tease her breasts with his tongue, Charlie making purring noises as he smothers her breasts in gentle kisses. When he begins flicking his tongue upon her nipples, she holds his head in place on her breast, encouraging his actions there, and he obliges her.

After long moments of his gentle kisses and teasing flicks of his tongue, she wants him inside her. She pulls his face away from her breasts, pulling him up, holding his head so she can look into his face. "I want you," she whispers.

He allows her to pull him upwards, reluctantly leaving her breasts before kissing her gently as he aligns himself and slowly pushes into her. She isn't as wet as he expects, but as he slowly, gently, enters her, her wetness flows to lubricate his passage. He holds himself still, lying lightly upon her, enjoying her warmth and closeness. They linger over their kisses, kisses that are still gentle but with more passion, their tongues just brushing against one another in a slow dance.

She hisses softly as he enters into her, pulling back slightly before pushing forward again, teasing her with anticipation while allowing her moisture to lubricate him once more. As he continues her body responds, her wetness increasing, and he begins to slide smoothly, deliciously, inside her. Her hiss becomes a gasp as he brings his mouth to her hers. They kiss, his tongue gently probing as their tongues slither about each other to wrap in a loving embrace. She caresses his back and arms as warmth flows through her before placing her heels against his buttocks, pulling him fully into her and encouraging him to start.

When she spurs him with her heels he begins long, slow thrusts of his hips, taking his time, enjoying the pleasures of a man and woman connected. He smiles at her, his love for her knowing no bounds. He doesn't have it in him for a third orgasm tonight, so he will simply make love to this fantastic woman and bask in the delights she gives him.

She feels him begin to stroke slowly. She can tell that there will be no second orgasm, but the feeling of him sliding inside her is intoxicating. She lies still, eyes closed, caressing him as they give themselves to each other, enjoying the simplest of pleasures.

He makes love to her, slowly, erotically, for the next half-hour until she begins to dry. At one point during their lovemaking he detects another small orgasm is building, but as he reaches for it, the feeling slips away and is gone. He doesn't care. He takes a great breath, inhaling her scent, knowing he will have to withdraw before he begins to cause her discomfort... despite his desire to make love to her the rest of the night.

Her lubrication is lessening, and despite her desire to have him make love to her for hours more yet, she knows that she's going to have to stop. He takes a deep breath and then remove himself from her, kissing her gently as he does, causing her to smile slightly, grateful to have such a considerate lover.

"I'm sorry," she says quietly.

"Don't be," he responds just as softly, his tender kiss reinforcing his words.

Now that the constant stimulation of his manhood has stopped, he begins to softening rapidly. He rolls onto his back and pulls her in the crook of his arm, holding her loosely as she snuggles into a comfortable position. Once she is still, lying partially on him, one of her legs thrown over his for support, he kisses her on the head, the only part he can easily reach, and gently strokes her back.

"Charlie?"

"Hmmm?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For talking Rick into sharing the immersion. I didn't understand why you were bullying him on this, but now I think I do." He stops, gathering his thoughts. "I like Rick, but I always thought him to be kind of aloof and standoffish. I knew he probably wasn't like that with Giselle, at least not in private, but I had no idea..." He doesn't know what he is trying to say. "Rick's just a regular guy is all I'm trying to say."

"I wish you could see this from Giselle's perspective. She was completely gob smacked by his proposal. I think she felt like we all did, that Rick's a nice guy, but he never allows himself to get close to anyone. I guess that's left over from when he was as kid. Whatever the reason, she recognized what a big step it was for him to open himself up to rejection like that by asking to marry her."

Todd nods his head slowly. "I know. Remember how you said you could tell what Giselle was thinking? I feel the same way about Rick. When he showed her the ring and Giselle took so long to answer, I knew, I don't know how, but I knew that he felt she was going to turn him down. Why did it take so long for her to answer?"

"I told you, she was gob smacked. I couldn't... she couldn't speak, she was so surprised."

They are silent for a time, enjoying being together before he speaks again. "Charlie?"

"Yes?"

"I want to promise you something," he says quietly.

"What?"

"I want to promise you I will never forget these feelings again," he says, his voice sounding ragged and stressed. "I don't know when I forgot how much I loved you, but now that I remember, I promise you that I will never forget them again," he says, his voice breaking just a little at the end before he kisses her again on the top of the head, issuing a small sniff as he pulls her just a little tighter to him.

She melts inside from Todd's words and tone. "I know how you feel. I feel the same way. I bet there are a lot of people that would benefit from experiencing this immersion. I know it has brought back feelings that I didn't know I'd forgotten." She's quiet for a long moment before giving voice to the thought circling around in her mind. "Do you suppose Rick and Giselle would agree to release the immersion?"

He is so surprised at her suggestion that he chuckles. "What?"

"Do you think that Giselle and Rick would agree to release the immersion so that others could experience it?" she asks again. "Remember, he once said that Feedback Alive needs a blockbuster immersion to jumpstart the market. Well... it isn't going to get much more blockbuster than this. There isn't a woman on the planet that wouldn't want to experience this, I guarantee it."

He mulls the idea over. "You may be right, but I can't see Giselle, not to mention Rick, agreeing to that."

"Let me talk to Giselle and get her take on it."

Todd frowns a bit. "Why, Charlie? What is it about this has gotten you so worked up?"

"Because, my love, look what this did to us. Imagine if millions of married couples suddenly rediscover their love for each other. How often does a person get to bring such happiness to millions of people?"

"How do we know it will affect someone else the way it affected us? What if it affects us so powerfully because we know the Chamfers? What if it works for us because I already, we already love each other?"

Charlie makes a noise of thoughtful consent. "You may be right," she allows. "Perhaps we need a small-scale test first."

"Small scale test?"

"Yeah. Just a couple of other people, people that don't know Rick or Giselle, to see how they react. It may fall completely flat for them. Maybe try it on some singles too, people who don't have a partner or someone to love," she muses.

"Uhhh, Charlie?" he interrupts. "Don't you think that before you setup your clinical trials that maybe you should talk to Rick and Giselle first?"

She laughs softly, "You're probably right. I may talk to Giselle about it tomorrow."

"Okay, but don't push too hard. Rick and Giselle are our friends and I'd like them to stay that way," he cautions.

"Don't worry. I got what I really wanted, which was for you to experience the immersion. Anything after this is... not as important."

Once again they are quiet and still, basking in the afterglow of their love. He can feel sleep beginning to take him when he remembers that they haven't had dinner yet. He doesn't care. He isn't hungry, his needs completely satiated by Charlie. With his last waking thought of her, he quietly falls into sleep.

Charlie hears his breathing change as he slips into sleep. Her mind is racing with thoughts of the immersion, but his deep breathing begins to lull her to sleep. As she relaxes, giving in to the drowsy tug, she realizes she is hungry, but with the choice between a cold salad and lying here, warm and comfortable in his arms, the decision on what to do is easy. A few minutes later she joins Todd in a deep and peaceful sleep.

***

Hours later, Rick raises his voice so Giselle can hear him in the bathroom. "It's happened. The Roses have accessed the link."

Giselle turns off the water after rinsing her face clean. "What?"

"I said the Roses have accessed the link."

"Really? When?"

"Today, early, about six."

"I guess Charlie couldn't wait any more," she says as she walks out of the bathroom and into their bedroom.

"Todd either. That was mean, what she was doing to him. Funny, but mean."

"I'm sure she made it up to him," she says with a mischievous grin as she slides between the linens with him.

"It is going to be interesting at the game tomorrow." He smiles, his eyes narrowing mischievously. "I wonder how Todd feels now, after having you and realizing how lacking Charlie is in comparison."

"Oh, stop it!" she scolds him playfully. "This isn't a contest of who has the biggest cock or the hottest wife." She leans in for a kiss. "I do like how you think though."

He entertains thoughts of trying to seduce his wife, but Giselle had been feeling randy last night and they'd very enjoyable tumble, so he decides to let her decide if she's in the mood for anything more than their normal pre-sleep cuddling.

As they lie comfortably spooning in bed, his knees slightly bent and tucked in behind hers, her buttocks in his crotch, he leisurely caresses a breast. She gives no signal that she is interested in anything more, so he simply holds her, breathing in her scent and enjoying her warmth. He continues to hold her until her breathing grows deep and slow.

"I love you Giselle," he whispers.

"I love you to," she mumbles, her words thick, slurred, and slow with sleep.

His mouth quirks in a smile, knowing she won't even remember saying it in the morning. He lies still, holding her as he ponders the morning. He tries to guess how their meeting will go, now that Todd has experienced the immersion, unable to pick which of the hundreds of scenarios he can think of as the most likely. Thoughts race about in his mind, tearing at each other, until in a desperate attempt to shove them away, so he can get some sleep, he starts thinking about all the wonderful things he would do to Giselle, if only she were awake. He doesn't wake her, content with holding her close, remembering the pleasures she has given him until sleep, at last, claims him as well.