Chapter 15
By Tess

~~~~~~~Brian and Sherry~~~~~~~~
Brian felt his feet hit the water and he grinned. He was down. He had done it! Gone parasailing and lived to tell the tale. It had been an exhilarating experience, much to his surprise. One he had to do again. But not right away.
Sherry turned in his arms and laughed at the relieved ___expression on his handsome face. She knew he had enjoyed the ride. She had heard the excitement in his voice every time he spoke. She reached for the buckle and unhooked herself from him.
"Wanna go again?" she asked.
Brian looked at her like she was crazy.
Sherry couldn’t help but laugh. "Okay...I get the picture," she said, laying a comforting hand on his arm. "Once was enough to prove you could do it. Twice would only prove you’re nuts."
"No...I would like to go again. But maybe after lunch. I’m starved."
"I heard terror will do that to a person," Sherry teased.
"Funny..."
They trudged out of the water to find their driver waiting for them.
"Did you have fun?" he asked.
"Yes," Sherry answered reaching for Brian’s hand.
"Could we go again? Say after lunch?" Brian asked.
"I’m sorry. I’m booked the rest of the day," he told them.
Sherry smiled. "That’s okay. Thanks for the experience. It’s one we won’t soon forget."
They headed for their towels, plopping down in the sand as they reached them.
"So now what do you want to do?" she asked Brian.
"Let’s definitely eat."
Sherry laughed. "Ok...let’s go back to the hotel so we can shower and change. Then we can grab something for lunch before deciding what else to do today."
Brian stood, then reached down to help Sherry to her feet. They gathered their things and headed toward the hotel hand in hand. Brian smiled. So far the day was going perfectly.
~~~~lunch~~~
"Is this spot okay?" Brian asked as they came to a beautiful clearing, surrounded by fragrant hibiscus.
"It’s perfect Brian," Sherry said with a smile.
They spread out the blanket and Sherry sat down, pulling Brian down beside her. She set aside the picnic basket and smiled at Brian. He had the bottle of wine in hand and was trying to pull out the cork. She laughed as it flew from the bottle and landed half way across the clearing.
"This should be good," he said with a grin.
He poured the wine into two glasses and handed one to her.
"To getting to know you better," he said, touching his glass to hers.
"To getting to know you better," she echoed, shyly.
"So....what do you do again?" Brian asked, trying to draw her out.
"I’m an English teacher," she said quietly.
"What grade?"
"Tenth grade." she answered.
"And do you make the kids write essays and stuff?" he asked, laughing.
"They did a writing assignment where they had to imagine themselves as a famous writer......"
"That sounds interesting."
"It was. They had some real imaginative ideas to what it would be like to be famous," she said dreamily.
"So, you want to be a writer?"
"Well....ah....yeah......maybe someday........" she said quietly.
"Have you ever written anything?"
"Ah....well...." she stammered.
"You have! What was it?"
Sherry blushed at the thought of him knowing that she had tried her hand at writing a steamy sex novel. No one had ever read it. Not even her friends. She just couldn’t bear the thought of being the brunt of their jokes.
"It’s not really good....."
"Can I read it?" Brian asked, curious.
"Oh...I...."
"Come on.....let me read it."
Sherry shook her head, the blush on her cheeks a bright red. She picked up her drink and drained it, needing the alcohol for calming support. She couldn’t let Brian read her novel. She would just die!
"It’s not here," she lied, picking up the bottle of wine to pour herself another glass.
"Oh...." Brian said, a little disappointed in her answer.
She was embarrassed, he could tell, but he really wanted to read what she had written. Oh, he knew she had it with her. He could tell in her movements that she had lied about that particular part. But he would convince her to let him see it. He had all day.
Sherry reached for the picnic basket and unpacked it, laying out the wonderful lunch of cold fried chicken, cheeses, fruits, and a loaf of french bread that the kitchen had provided on their blanket. Sherry handed Brian a piece of fried chicken and a napkin with a smile. Hopefully, if they ate, he would forget all about her little novel. She reached for a piece of cheese and popped it in her mouth.
"So...what’s your novel about?" Brian asked.
Sherry nearly groaned out loud. He wasn’t going to let this go.
"Ah...It’s a romance......"
"A sexy romance?"
Sherry looked at him and nodded, her cheeks a bright pink. How had she lost control of this conversation?
"You are going to let me read it, right?"
"Brian....I....."
"Right?"
"Brian....really...It’s not something you would want to read. You wouldn’t be interested...."
"I’m interested in everything about you," he said quietly, reaching for her hand.
"I’ll think about it," she said as he kissed her hand.
"Okay," he said, knowing he was starting to wear her down.
They lazed around for the biggest part of the afternoon, just talking while they ate, learning more about each other. Now the sun was beyond its highest point and they were still just lounging in the grass.
"So...what are we going to do now?" Sherry asked.
"I’m enjoying the peace and quiet right here," Brian said, leaning over to quickly kiss her cheek. He laid back, his hands behind his head and stared up into the sky, watching the clouds drift by.
Sherry placed a hand to her cheek and smiled. She could still feel the warmth of his lips on her skin. This was turning out to be a wonderfully romantic day.
~~~dinner~~~
Brian knocked on Sherry’s door while fidgeting with his tie. He had a special evening planned for her and he was nervous. More than he thought he would be. More so now then when he had gone up parasailing. He heard the door opening and glanced up just in time to see Sherry emerge from the room, wearing a red slinky dress.
"Wow......" he muttered.
"I’ll take that as a compliment," she said, smiling broadly.
She glanced up and down his trim body and smiled warmly. He looked so incredibly handsome in his cream colored suit. He took her breath away.
Brian pulled a black scarf from his jacket pocket and motioned for her to turn around. He slid it through his fingers and smiled at her. She looked very apprehensive.
"Trust me," he said.
Sherry turned around, her heart pounding. She took a deep calming breath as he tied the scarf around her eyes, blindfolding her. She reached out and he took her arm, placing it on his. She took another deep breath and let him lead her to his secret destination.
When he stopped, she stood, listening to the sounds around her. She could hear the surf, pounding on the sand and the soft romantic music. She felt him ease behind her and suddenly the scarf was gone from her eyes.
She blinked her eyes, trying to get them to refocus. She took in the romantic scene and gasped.
He had turned the terrace into a romantic rendezvous for two. Hundreds of candles lit the night sky, beautiful flowers adorned every flat surface. Beyond the terrace, moonlight shone on the ocean. She couldn’t believe how much trouble he had gone to.
"This is so...I can’t believe...." she was literally stunned speechless.
Brian held out his hand and waited for her to take it. He pulled her close to him and twirled her across the terrace to the soft music. They danced, holding each other tight. Sherry laid her head on his shoulder, breathing in the scent of him. She could feel his hand on her waist, the other holding her hand tightly. She sighed, contented. Brian was making this a day to remember....and it wasn’t over yet.
The music faded and Brian pulled back to look at Sherry. He touched her cheek and gently kissed her.
"There’s dinner....you hungry?"
Sherry smiled softly, nodding her head. Brian took her hand and led her to the table. He pulled her chair out for her and then pushed it back in as she sat down. He went around and sat across from her. He signaled with a quick gesture and a waiter suddenly appeared pushing a cart with two silver, dome covered plates and a bottle of chilled champagne on it. The waiter quickly poured two glasses of the chilled champagne and then placed one covered dish in front of each of them. Then he disappeared as quickly as he had come.
Brian raised his glass and smiled at her.
"To a wonderful day......with a wonderful woman......."
Sherry smiled. It had been a wonderful day. And it was still far from over. She clicked her glass against his and then took a sip, her eyes never leaving his. She frowned as she watched him stand, wondering where he was going. When he pulled a guitar from behind a hedge, she felt her heart begin to pound. Suddenly, the strains of music echoed in the air and Brian began to sing. Sherry could feel the tears pool in her eyes as Brian sang to her, his voice strong and sweet. As he finished his song, the tears spilled over her lids, running down her cheeks.
"That was beautiful........." she whispered.
Brian sat back down and took her hand in his.
"I wanted to make this night special for you. Something you will never forget."
"You have, Brian."
~~~after dinner~~~
Brian and Sherry walked along the beach, their shoes in their hands. They were holding hands and laughing as the surf broke over their bare feet. They were just about to the front of the hotel. They would have to go in soon. It was getting late. And Brian had to work tomorrow. Brian quietly led her to the front doors and to the elevator. They rode up to their floor, neither speaking. When they got to her door, she turned to him.
"This day was perfect, Brian. The parasailing, the picnic, dinner, dancing...your serenade. Just perfect," she said dreamily.
Brian smiled softly. He was glad she had enjoyed her day. He sure had. "I enjoyed spending time with you."
"I wish you didn’t have to go," she said wistfully.
Brian pulled her into his arms, crushing her lips with his. He didn’t want to go either, but they had agreed that if they were going to make love again, they wouldn’t be drinking. And they had been drinking tonight. When they made love again, it would be because they wanted it, not because the alcohol had warped their senses.
He pulled away, kissing her softly on the tip of her nose.
"I’ll see you tomorrow," he said softly.
"Brian....I.......wait........"
Sherry went inside and within moments, she returned carrying a binder.
"My novel.....I want you to read it....."
Brian took it and held it close to his heart. He knew how hard it was for her to have done this. To trust him enough to allow him to read her novel. He was touched. He leaned over and kissed her again. Then he turned and walked away.
Sherry went inside and closed the door, leaning against it, her lips burning from his kiss. As she stood there, she suddenly felt ill. She threw her hand over her eyes and groaned. What had she done? Oh, God! She had given Brian her steamy sex filled novel!
~~~~in Brian’s room~~~~~
Brian laid in bed, the sheet cool against his skin, Sherry’s novel propped up against his bare chest. He turned another page, completely involved with her story. It was good. Too good. The love scenes were making him very uncomfortable. And not in a bad way, either.
The heroine was a lot like Sherry and he could almost see himself as the hero. Almost. As he continued to read, his eyes grew heavy. They burned and he could barely keep them open. He closed them, then blinked quickly, trying to refocus on the words in front of him. He blinked again....and the novel slipped from his hands...
~~~~~~Brian’s dream~~~~~~~
She walked seductively towards him, her hair falling over her shoulders to cling to her wet body. The red bikini she had on barely covered her, leaving little to his imagination. He watched as she slowly licked her lush lips with the tip of her tongue, leaving them wet and moist and wanting to be thoroughly kissed. He stood from his lounge chair and reached for her, dragging her nearly naked body into his arms. He held her close, so much so that he could smell the raw sexual desire she felt. He slid his hand down over her body to cup her round bottom in his palm. He pulled her against him and held her tight, the evidence of his own desire pressing into her.
His other hand twisted into her hair, pulling her head to his. He leaned down and captured her lips in a rough kiss, his tongue plunging into the dark recesses of her mouth. He heard her moan, the sound highly erotic to his ears. He felt her hands on him, pulling on the waistband of his swim trunks, trying to free him. His hand moved up to her back and pulled the ties of her bikini top free. The silky red material fell to the ground, leaving nothing between them.
"I want you.........." she whispered seductively in his ear as she tongued the soft lobe, her breasts rubbing against his chest.
He moaned and dropped back to the lounge chair, pulling her down with him.
~~~~Brian’s room~~~~~~
Brian tossed and turned in his bed, the damp sheets tangled around his sweat soaked body, Sherry’s steamy, sexual novel lying on the floor. He moaned in his sleep and whispered her name softly. Another moan slipped into the quiet night air and then he was silent, his breathing slow........and a smile on his lips.