Velvet Kisses Ch. 09

"The next few gifts are from me and Kitty," Naohito said as he pushed forward two packages that were wrapped in decorative rice paper.

Deciding to open the smaller one first, both Dane and Jeneda excitedly tore the wrapping paper off of a small gift box, which held a decorative heart that was fashioned from strong twine.

"Is this hemp?" Jeneda asked as she lifted the decorative heart from the small gift box.

"Yes. The word for it in Japanese is Shiraga," Naohito said.

"You're going to have to help me out with this one, dad," Dane said. "What's the meaning behind it?"

"Hemp is very strong, and made to withstand lots of pressure." He pointed toward the heart, then said, "You notice how the fibers of the hemp are white?"

"Dane and Jeneda simultaneously nodded.

"That symbolizes the gray hair of old age. So by giving you this heart made of hemp, Kitty and I are wishing you a long and joyous future together."

"That's beautiful, dad. And thank you too, mom," Dane said.

"You're welcome, darling," said Kitty.

"This really is a very thoughtful gift," Jeneda said. "Thank you both for the well wishes."

"You're very welcome, Jeneda," Naohito said before gesturing toward a metallic gold gift bag. "Now open the second present."

Not needing to be told twice, Jeneda reached her hand into the bag and lifted out a bottle of sake.

"Dad, this is daiginjo sake," Dane said as he glanced at the label on the bottle. "The most expensive sake in the world."

"Yes, I know," Naohito said.

"It cost five hundred dollars a bottle."

His father simply smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling with faint amusement.

"Wow." Dane ran his thumb along the embossed label that was wrapped around the bottle. "This is a fantastic present, but we would have been perfectly happy with just a bottle of Hakkaisan Ginjo or Kubota Suiji."

"Dane, just accept the gift already." Bradley, who was seated on Dane's right side, clapped a hand on his shoulder as a gesture of lightheartedness. "Unless you find yourself *really* uncomfortable with the idea of drinking such an expensive bottle of alcohol. Which in that case, I'd be more than happy to take it off your hands."

"Not a chance, but nice try, Bradley," Dane said before once again addressing his father. "Thank you so much dad. We'll definitely enjoy this."

"Yeah. Thanks a lot, Naohito," Jeneda added.

"No problem. I'm glad you two like it." He smiled, then pointed to the bag and said, "There's also a sake set in there, as well.

Jeneda reached into the bag once again, and after procuring four sake cups, as well as a tall sake flask, she admirably studied them. "Wow, these are beautiful."

Made of high quality porcelain, the sake set was painted a deep red color, which created a beautiful contrast against the black and white kanji symbols which were inscribed against the porcelain surface.

"Thank you so much, Naohitio."

"You're very welcome."

Monica, who was last to present her gift, placed a large shopping bag on the table in front of Jeneda and said, "This is from me and grandma Addie. I hope you both like it."

"Thanks mom, I'm sure we will."

There was a rustling of tissue paper as Jeneda procured the item from the bag, and as a large quilt was revealed, a number of people around the table moved in closer to check it out.

"Wow, this is beautiful." Jeneda ran a palm across the expertly crafted wedding quilt, which was constructed from alternating patches of white cotton and red silk. "It must have taken you guys forever to do this."

"Only three days. Your great-grandma Addie is a master quilter, so it went a lot quicker than I expected." Using her index finger, she pointed towards a square of red silk that was centered directly in the middle of the bedspread. "You'll notice we monogrammed your initials, and if you check out the top right corner of the quilt, you'll see that we stitched two interlocking circles, which represent you and Dane becoming one."

"That's beautiful, mom," Jeneda said as she ran the pad of her thumb over the linked gold rings.

"What's the meaning behind this block?" Dane pointed out a square that contained a pie crust.

"It's meant to illustrate that your family will always be held firmly together," Monica said before adding, "I know you and Jen Jen don't have a family yet, but with the help of the fish and seaweed that Mitsuko gave you, I'm expecting you won't be childless for very long."

Several of the guests kneeling at the table lightly chuckled, and with a smile on his lips, Dane's translated the words that Monica had spoken so that his grandparents could be let in on the joke. In response, both his grandmother and grandfather laughed, then replied with some words of their own.

"Obaachan and Ojiichan want me to tell you that you did a wonderful job on the quilt," Dane said to Monica. "And that you can look forward to grandchildren soon, because the seaweed and fish they gave me and Jeneda always work as expected."

"Good." Monica smiled, then rubbed a palm against Jeneda's back, who only lifted her eyebrows and offered a weak smile in return.

"I notice you added cranes to many of the squares," Naohito said as he leaned in to have a closer look at the quilt. "Did you know that they're a Japanese symbol of good fortune and longevity?"

"I did," Monica said as she turned her attention back to the bedspread. "I thought it would be nice for the quilt to also represent Dane's Japanese heritage, so I did some research online, and when I found that crane's mate for life, I decided that they had to be a part of the wedding quilt."

"I'm amazed at the detail you put into this," Dane said. "Thank you so much for this incredible gift. And if I can call your grandmother to give her my appreciation as well, that would be great."

"I'll be sure to give you her number, Dane," Monica said. "I'm sure she'd love to hear from you."

"I'm speechless, mom," Jeneda proclaimed. "I don't know what else to say, except that you truly outdid yourself."

"Thanks, but I can't take all the credit. Your great-grandmother Addie is the one who did most of the work."

"But still you contributed. So thank you for that." She gave an appreciative smile.

"You're welcome, baby. It was my pleasure."

"It really is a fantastic quilt." The admiration in Naohito's voice was obvious. "And adding the cranes in was a fantastic idea."

"The craftsmanship is exquisite," Kitty chimed in. "Very impressive, indeed."

"Thank you." Monica's smooth, brown face lit up from all of the compliments.

"Well, I guess this concludes the gift giving portion of the ceremonial procedure," Naohito announced, and with his eyes on Dane and Jeneda, he continued. "We hope you enjoy your gifts, and on behalf of everyone in attendance, we wish you a long and very happy future together.

"Thank you," the couple simultaneously said, and with matching smiles, then shared a brief peck.

With the formal part of the ceremony now over, all of the guests were free to engage in chit chat, and they jovially did so while being served tea and various confections which were referred to as, 'wagashi.'

With several conversations going on all at once, the room became filled with soft chatter, as well as the light clinking of teacups against saucers. Dane and Jeneda, who were endlessly questioned about their upcoming wedding, as well as their honeymoon destination, barely had a moment to think before being besieged by the next question. But instead of feeling overwhelmed, they were both graced with a sense of excitement, and more than happy to satiate the curiosity of their guests.

Every once in awhile, Jeneda would feel Dane rub a palm against her lower back, and sometimes he'd even graze his fingers along the top curve of her ass. They'd share a knowing smile, then go back to conversing with the guests, but there was no denying that they were eager to get in some alone time.

Eventually Dane's arm ended up wrapping around her waist, and in a deep, yet smooth voice that made the hairs along the back of her neck stand to attention, he leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"Ore ketsubou tame fakku kimi."

"What?" Her eyes shifted to meet his.

"You'll find out later," he softly said before placing a tender kiss behind her ear.

And with not another word, he went back to conversing with Bradley. But Jeneda was too fuzzy headed to include herself in their conversation, let alone think about anything except the hot flush of arousal that was building in her lower belly.

* * * *

After two hours of shaving, waxing, plucking, moisturizing, and otherwise beautifying her body, Jeneda slipped into a floor-length evening gown with a silver beaded bust and black, sequined bottom. Along with a lace up back that showed off her curves, the dress had a slit that reached mid-thigh. Her hair, which had been curled and styled into a sexy updo with a side-swept bang, showed off her long, elegant neck and smooth, brown shoulders.

To top off her Valentine's Day look, she'd chosen to wear a pair of chandelier earrings, which sparkled beneath the pendant lights that dangled from the cathedral ceiling of the loft apartment.

As she glanced at herself in the mirror, she knew without a doubt that her attire for the evening was certain to impress Dane, and after grabbing a beaded evening clutch, she turned on her heel and headed towards the living room.

As soon as he heard the soft clicking of her heels, Dane looked up from the magazine he was reading, then stood up from the couch and watched her approach with a hungry gaze. Delighted by his reaction, Jeneda gave him a little smile, then came to a halt right in front of him.

"Wow." Dane's eyes dipped from her perfectly made-up face to her breasts, before coming to rest on her right leg, which peeked out from the thigh-high slit of her dress. "You looking amazing."

"Thanks." She flashed a brilliant smile, then looped her arms around his neck and tilted her chin upward.

He kissed her tenderly yet lightly so that her lipstick remained intact, then pulled back to give her another once over. "You look incredibly sexy tonight. How expensive was the dress?"

"I paid just over $200 for it. Why?"

"I'm thinking I might rip it off by the end of the night." As if to convey that he was seriously considering it, his fingers lightly tugged at the flimsy strings which created a criss cross pattern against her exposed back.

"Normally I wouldn't agree to destroying a brand new evening dress, but I guess I wouldn't be entirely opposed, as long as you made it well worth my while."

"Oh, I think we both know I definitely would." His nearly black eyes darkened even further.

More than a little aroused from his intense gaze, Jeneda emitted a light groan, then ran her fingers through his lush, dark hair. "Still keeping me in suspense, or are you finally going to tell me where we're going?"

"You'll find out once we get there."

She pouted, yet despite the look of slight disappointment on her face, Jeneda's entire body was buzzing with excitement.

"It's Valentine's Day, sweetheart. Wouldn't be very romantic if I told you what I had planned, would it?"

"Guess you're right," she said.

He led her toward the door, and after taking the elevator to the ground floor, they exited the building. The first thing Jeneda noticed was a sleek black limo, and as her eyes drifted to a uniformed driver who stood at attention next to the passenger door, he tipped his hat and opened the door. Once she was seated in the car, Dane climbed in beside her, and after closing the door behind them, the driver took his place behind the steering wheel.

"I wasn't expecting a limo," Jeneda said as the vehicle pulled away from the curb and made its way down the street.

"Only one of many surprises I have for you this evening." He retrieved a bottle of wine from a bucket of ice, then popped the cork and poured her a glass.

"Thanks," she said as he passed it to her, and after taking a sip, she took his hand in hers and stroked the back of it with her thumb. "You really know how to woo a girl, don't you?"

The corners of his lips quirked upward. "It's the least I can do, considering how happy you make me. And besides, you deserve the best."

She leaned in closer so that her nose nearly touched his, and with her chocolate brown eyes gazing deep into his she said, "You're wonderful."

"And you're beautiful." His palm coasted along the exposed leg that peeked from between the slit of her dress until his fingers bumped against the edge of her panties. "Satin." His eyes took on a lustful glimmer as he added, "Nice."

She pulled his face to hers and gave him a slow, wet kiss, savoring the slightly minty taste of his mouthwash as his tongue joined with hers. The scent of his aftershave drifted into her nostrils, stimulating not only her olfactory glands, but also her sex drive, which was already raring to go.

Her breath deepened as his silky tongue probed her soft, warm mouth, but before she could fully indulge herself in the decadent kiss, he abruptly pulled back.

"Gonna have to blindfold you," he said as he procured a strip of silky material from his pocket.

"Why?"

"Because if you see where we're going, It'll ruin the surprise."

"The last time you blindfolded me, I ended up on my knees with my ass in the air."

"I don't remember hearing any complaints from you," he said. "There was, however, quite a bit of moaning and begging for more."

Jeneda lightly smiled before saying, "Go ahead, blindfold me."

She closed her eyes, and as Dane secured the strip of silk around her head, she lightly sighed and unconsciously wet her lips. Although her eyesight had been taken from her, Jeneda could feel the weight of Dane's stare, and as his breath tickled the lobe of her ear, a light shiver ran through her body.

"You're turned on."

He said it so matter of factly that she had no choice but to agree, and with a slight nod of her head, she said, "Maybe a little."

He lightly chuckled and ran a finger along her arm, causing goosebumps to rise along her velvety skin. "Not to worry, you'll have me soon enough. And when you do, I promise I'll be very thorough in pleasuring you."

The words he spoke made her instantly wet, and her breath slightly quickened as he traced a finger along the swell of her cleavage. For the remainder of the drive, neither one of them spoke a word. And due to the silence that passed between them, the sexual tension that Jeneda felt only seemed to heighten.

Although she no longer had use of her eyesight, she undoubtedly knew that Dane's eyes were pinned intently on her. It wasn't just the fact that she could feel him staring at her, but the way that his palm gingerly stroked her soft face.

Every now and again he would give her a soft, lingering kiss, and sometimes his hands would roam downward to slide along the fabric of her dress, but for the most part, he was frustratingly well behaved.

Since they were spending a night out on the town, she supposed she should have been grateful that he wasn't messing up her makeup and hair by ardently ravishing her. But as soon as he'd slipped the blindfold over her eyes, memories of the kinky nights they'd shared in Japan came rushing back to her, and now she was horny and seeking some serious sexual attention.

Dane knew what she wanted. She could tell by the way he was teasingly caressing her body, and the way he lightly tugged at the thin straps of her dress told her that he was definitely in the mood. There was something incredibly sexy about the way that he was silently watching her, and she definitely wouldn't have stopped him if he'd made an attempt to engage her in a bit of naughty fun.

But to her disappointment, he did little more than simply touch and kiss her. Forty minutes passed before the limo finally came to a stop, and as the smell of jet fuel, along with the unmistakable sound of plane engines reached her ears, Jeneda excitedly posed a question.

"We're at the airport?"

"That's right." Dane removed the blindfold, then studied her face as he waited for her reaction.

Jeneda gazed out at the view that lay beyond the window, and with wide eyes, she said, "We're taking a private jet?"

"Of course. You didn't think I would take you on a regular plane dressed like that, did you?"

"No. But I also didn't think you were taking me on a plane at all. I figured we were just going out to dinner."

"We will be having dinner, but not in a restaurant."

"Then where?" She asked.

He brought his hand to her chin and gently cradled it, then looking deep into her eyes he said, "It's a surprise, baby. Just enjoy the uncertainty and allow the night to unfold, alright?"

She nodded, and with a still-stunned expression, stared at the jet which idled on the tarmac. Clearly relishing her surprise Dane gently smiled, and after stepping out of the car, he extended his hand to assist her in getting out. Her long, shapely legs were revealed as the slit in her dress parted, and with grace, she rose to her feet.

"Enjoy your evening." The chauffer gave a polite nod to the couple, then watched as they made their way across the pavement of the runway.

Still in awe that they were actually about to board a private jet, Jeneda allowed her eyes to rove over the exterior of the plane, which was white with metallic gold accent stripes.

"I really didn't expect this," Jeneda said. "Setting all of this up must have cost you a fortune.

"Well it definitely wasn't cheap," Dane said. "But I really wanted this to be a Valentine's Day you would always remember, so I decided to splurge and charter a plane for the weekend."

"We're going away for the weekend?" She asked with a panicked look on her face. "But I didn't bring a change of clothes, and what am I supposed to do about toiletries?"

"It's all taken care of, so you can relax."

"What do you mean?" She asked as they climbed the short flight of metal stairs to the entrance of the plane.

"There are two suitcases in the luggage compartment beneath the plane. They're filled with everything we could possibly need for two days, so believe me when I say that you'll have everything you need."

"I do believe you." As they entered the cabin of the private jet, Jeneda noticed that it smelled pleasantly of cherries and vanilla. "I'm just a little curious to find out how you knew what to buy for me."

"I've been studying your morning routine for nearly a week. I know what type of facial and hair products you use. I purchased duplicates of your Mac makeup, and I also packed a couple of your favorite outfits."

"I'm impressed," she said as they sat down in plush, leather swivel chairs. "Sounds like you went through a lot of trouble to make this weekend happen."

"You're more than worth it."

Jeneda linked her fingers through his, then gave him an adoring look. "Could you be more perfect?"

"I don't know, but I can certainly try." He smiled, then gave her a peck on the lips before pulling back to check out their surroundings. "So, what do you think of the plane?"

"I've never seen anything like it," she enthusiastically said. "I'm totally blown away."

Large enough to seat seven people, the interior of the jet was done up in a white and black color scheme. Instead of tiny laptop trays, there was a generously sized wood table for Jeneda and Dane to share. Its high gloss finish was so reflective that Jeneda could see her face in it, and along with a bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries, there were also feta cheese and cucumber skewers laid out for them to munch on.

Mounted on one of the cherrywood walls was a flat screen TV, which displayed the logo of the private jet company, and a large, long mirror was affixed to the ceiling to give the impression of a more spacious interior.