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A manager walks up as we’re finishing dessert, and he looks equal parts elated and nervous.

“Mr. Cochran, we are so honored you chose to dine at our humble little restaurant. I hope you found everything to your liking?” His face makes it clear that anything less than a glowing review might destroy his life.

“It couldn’t have been better. I suspect we will be frequenting your establishment many times over,” I say, feeling extremely verbose thanks to the champagne. The manager claps his hands together.

“And your wife? Did she enjoy her meal?”

“Oh, I’m not…” Arie starts to say, but I cut her off.

“She did, most definitely. My wife thoroughly enjoyed every dish. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen my wife eat so voraciously before.” I wink at Arie, and she blushes. Damn, what has this champagne done to me? Stop being so damn forward, you goon, I think as I watch Arie shrink back into the booth.

“That is wonderful to hear, Mr. Cochran! If you need anything else tonight, or would like to return at any point during your stay in Auckland, just let us know and we will get you a table. No trouble!”

I tip a glass in his direction, and he scurries off back to the kitchen. Arie looks me, flabbergasted.

“Your wife, huh?”

I wink at her. “Want to head back to the hotel, Mrs. Cochran?”

When we walk through the door of our hotel room, we discover the babysitter chilling out on the couch, watching TV and flipping through her phone. I look at my watch and see its 9pm, so I suspect Chloe is asleep. The babysitter turns with a grin.

“She went down like a trooper. Been asleep for an hour, sleeping like an angel. She had dinner before, so she should be good until the morning! And with that, I’ll be on my way,” she says as she gathers her bags and starts for the door.

“What do I owe you?” I ask before she can escape. But she just shakes her head with a smile.

“Not a thing. The hotel has taken care of your bill. You two just enjoy the rest of your night.” She gives me a wink before she leaves, then shuts the door behind her. When I turn around, Arie is standing in the middle of the living room, and she looks so beautiful, I feel like I’m going to lose my mind. I don’t know what I want to do; part of me wants to cross the room and pull her in my arms and kiss her. For real. Like I’ve never kissed her before. Her huge, beautiful blue eyes are flashing at me, so full of life, and energy. I am suddenly completely overwhelmed by my passion for her. But, I don’t want to take advantage of her vulnerability, after everything we talked about tonight, and ruin it with my stupidity, or my lust. So, I just stand there like a fool. I don’t do anything about the tension coursing through the room.

But suddenly, she does. Arie rushes up to me, grabs my head in her hands, and ferociously pulls my face down to hers. She kisses me, hard. She nibbles at my lips, and plunges her tongue into my mouth, and I can’t help but respond in kind. Yet, suddenly, grief takes over me. Grief for the way I treated her before. Guilt for the man I used to be. And I don’t want to hurt her again, even though I want nothing more than to make love to her right here on the living room floor.

“Jesus, Arie. If you don’t stop doing that, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to, h

oney,” I warn her as the tug in my groin clues me into just how much I have been longing for her touch these past few years.

“Who said I want you to stop?” She is breathless from our frantic kiss, her eyes alight with passion and wonder. “Chloe might wake up. I don’t know how much time we have, but I don’t want to waste a second of it.”

She drags me over to the living room, leading the way, holding tight to my hand; she is determined in her steps, and when we get to the stairs that lead up to the loft, she gives me a playful glance over her shoulder. Then she kisses me again, a frantic and demanding kiss, as she pulls me down on top of her on the stairs. I am suddenly enveloped by the familiar scent of her, spicy, yet homey. Her hair smells of lavender and roses, and it brings back a flood of memories that threaten to drown me.

I take off my jacket first, then my shirt, and she reaches out and lets her hand run up and down my chest. As I drop my pants to the floor, however, I am suddenly hit with a pang of self-consciousness. No one but my family and my doctors have seen what a mess my leg is now, and I am afraid she will be horrified. I wince, and start to step away from her, but she just looks up at me with a sad smile. Then she stands up too, and slowly unzips her dress. After it falls to floor, she takes my hands and puts them on her stomach, where I can feel a thick scar across her abdomen. My heart begins to thud a thunderous beat as she stands in front of me, defiant and brave, dressed now only the slightest wisps of lace underwear, and so beautiful I think I might cry. Arie looks up at me and whispers,

“We all have scars, Pierce. You and me, we fought hard for ours. They are nothing to be ashamed of. They make us beautiful.”

I can feel tears welling in my eyes, so rather than let her see me cry, I swoop her up into my arms, and set her down on the stairs again. I bury my head in her stomach, kissing her navel and then tracing kisses along scar and back up, as my hands drift along her sides and ass. She moans as I squeeze the mounds of flesh in my hands, full yet soft… just like her. I glance up into her lovely face, and then ease my way back up, so I can kiss her perfect lips again. She is less aggressive now, but I can see the lust smoldering in her sapphire eyes. Arie closes her eyes to me as I plunge my tongue into the depths of her beautiful mouth, savoring each moment, each taste. Her tiny hands hold tightly to my shoulders, then loosen their grip as they begin to explore my body.

“Oh, Pierce,” she purrs as she lets her fingers dance over my muscles, and as I pepper another flurry of kisses down her neck, to the pink lace covering her pert nipples. I cup her breast, clad in the flawless lace, and begin to tease her nipple with my tongue. She is so perfect, even more beautiful than I remember, even more amazing than she has been in my dreams. I want nothing more than to spend the rest of our lives exploring her body like it’s the first time, to tease her forever, but I tell myself to hold back. To give her the attention and love she deserves, after everything she’s been through. My fingers edge down the lace of her bra, letting her full, sensuous breasts fall free. I suck gently at first, increasing the pressure, until she gasps when I gently bite down on her erect nipple.

“Do you like that, my darling Arie? You want more of that, don’t you?” I ask her, watching her lovely face as I pinch the nipple between my thumb and forefinger.

She nods, biting intently at her lip. I feel my cock throb at her unintentionally sexy gesture, and move my attentions to her other breast, where I lavish the same attention. She is sighing with every movement I make, so I let my hand slide lower, over her soft belly, until I am gently cupping her pussy. I let a lazy finger softly stroke her moist lips, and I wait until I feel the encouraging gesture of her hips rising to meet my anxious hand. I am so content with her response, I give her sexy nipple another squeeze.

“Pierce, please. I need more. I need you,” she begs, her hips grating against my touch. I inadvertently let out a deep, low growl, loving the way her body responds.

In one swift movement, I slide down her panties, as she unfastens her bra and throws it across the room. I kneel in front of her on the stairs, and pull at her knees so her legs are spread apart, her thighs spread open for me, reveling in the aroma of her, and marveling at just how damn wet and hot for me she is. I run my finger down the inside of her slick folds, and rub tenderly at her clit.

“Oh Pierce, don’t stop, please,” she cries as I pull away my finger. I tilt my head down, and let my tongue jut out to where she is waiting for me; I lap softly at the spot where I’ve just pulled away my fingers, and I can already tell she is in heaven. Arie tastes so delicious, and I can feel the pull of her body as it pulsates and writhes with pleasure. Just when she’s starting to settle into the feeling, I plunge two fingers deep inside her and build her up with a relentless rhythm that instantly threatens to take her over. “Oh, god Pierce, I need you now. I’m think going to come!”

“No Arie, I want you come. You deserve this. Next time, we will get there together, I promise.” I continue to lavish her pussy with my undivided attention until she cries out softly, and I feel her soft muscular walls tighten around my fingers. A rush of fluids bathe her even further in delectable, salty juices.

Arie’s body goes limp, and I inch my way back up her, resuming my attention on her luscious breasts, sucking and biting until she begins to writhe against me once more.