Manhattan, New York
The Spencer Penthouse

"Ready Mrs. Spencer?"

Elizabeth nodded with a wide grin as Lucky turned the key inside the lock and their front door swung open. He balanced her in his arms as he crossed dashingly over the threshold. Except for that not so dashing moment when he nearly lost his balance over the large brown heap in front of the door.

The large heap was a reluctant man’s best friend and generally ornery dog…Foster.

Lucky shook his head as Elizabeth giggled. Unaware that she laughed at his instantly annoyed expression, and not the fact that Foster had made himself at home at the front door.

"Wallace couldn’t wait to bring you back, could he?" Lucky sighed. "What’d you do, bite him?"

Maneuvering herself until she was out of Lucky’s grasp, Elizabeth dropped to the floor. Gathering the large dog’s face in her hands with affection. She talked to him in that high voice that got his tail wagging manically back and forth.

"You didn’t bite him did you boy? You were a perfect gentleman as always, weren’t you?"

A sound that probably meant ‘yeah right,’ escaped Lucky’s mouth as he rolled his eyes behind her. Linda, they’re neighbor had watched Foster for the first two weeks of their honeymoon, and then it had been Wallace’s turn to take over. He could only imagine how much fun the two of them had had together…slim to none was more like it.

Lucky had begged Lucinda to stop in on them from time to time, and thankfully she’d stopped the two of them from killing one another. Wallace obviously hadn’t taken Foster to the kennel and Foster hadn’t ripped out Wallace’s jugular. And that was the best anyone could hope for.

Bending down, Lucky reached out to pet Foster’s head and was quietly rebuffed. If he didn’t know better, he’d say that Foster actually looked…smug! The canine turned his body so that he was directly in front of Elizabeth. His tail going even more crazy as she began to rub and scratch at his lighter fur.

"Ooooh really?" Lucky challenged. Crawling around to face his dog. "Take a look at this," he said. Grasping his wife’s hand. He extended it in front of Foster and watched as the ring glinted in the dogs face. "Ha! I MARRIED her…how do you like them apples?"

Foster answered with a hearty licking of her fingers. "Oh stop with the licking!" Lucky barked. Removing Elizabeth’s hand as she laughed. "If anybody’s gonna be getting their stomach rubbed, it’s ME," Lucky pronounced boldly, jerking a thumb towards his chest.

"Oh he just missed me," she smiled. Holding the dogs face up to hers. "I missed you too Foster…

"Besides," she added suggestively, with a glance over her shoulder to where Lucky stood. "You know you’ve got the only belly I like rubbing."

When she turned back to where Foster lay panting, Lucky stuck his tongue out at the dog.

He’d do some deep self-analyzing later.

"Well he might have missed you," Lucky said. Pulling her up to her feet. "But I’d bet big money I missed you more." He growled and leaned forward to nibble at her neck. Steering her through the living room and towards the hallway.

"Oh you missed me huh?" Elizabeth asked. A flirtatious smile beaming up at her man. "At what point exactly did you find the time to miss me?…That time I went to the bathroom on the jet? Ooops…no, you were in there with me, I forgot….Hmm, could it have been that time I stopped in the airport to use the…nope – you were there with me too…"

"I missed during the elevator ride up here," he corrected. "I miss you right NOW," Lucky groaned. Easing his hands down over her firm rear. She could barely walk with his legs flanking hers. Their steps were rendered as ineffective as a drunken weeble-wobble as they moved down the short corridor to the bedroom.

They became even more ineffective by the sudden presence of 4 more legs…and a tail.

"Wallace may not have taken you to the slammer, but I still might," Lucky grumbled. Trying to maneuver them both past the dog that seemed intent upon following them, and then circling just before they got to the bedroom.

Elizabeth laughed and wrapped her arms around Lucky’s neck. "Oh come on…he missed you too."

"Are you smoking crack?" Lucky asked with a smile. "My dog has not MISSED ME since he met you……Can’t say that I blame him but he’s trying to horn in on my territory here….MOVE!"

When Foster refused, Lucky narrowed his eyes. "I’m about to get the yellow pages and look for the nearest kennel…or better yet…I’ll call your favorite person in the world…DAD."

Foster whimpered and trotted back down the hall instantly. Lucky smiled and resumed his hot mouthing of Elizabeth’s neck. At least some things never changed. He could still get his dog to cooperate with a few well-aimed threats. Sometimes you had to hit a dog where it hurt…in his big skillet head.

"And now," Lucky began. "There were a couple of things we needed to discuss…"

He hauled her up into his arms. Hiking her up over his shoulder as they finally entered the bedroom. She guffawed with laughter when she landed on the bed, a slice of king size heaven enveloped her in the thick comfort.

On his knees at the foot of the bed, Lucky took his time. Letting his gaze linger on her as she stretched in the middle of the bed. Her arms reached up above her head. Hands fiddling with the edging of pillows as her legs moving languidly over the cool surface.

A clear, winter night sky peaked in from just outside and he thanked God above that he had one more night to just be with her like this before the real world intruded.

Hibernation was the key word for this evening. And to make sure she stayed right here in this room, in this apartment…he’d have to get her nice and naked first.

Lucky started with her shoes. Removing a boots from each foot and then her socks. He trailed one fingertip up the center of her foot. She squealed and squirmed at the ticklish sensation he found himself hardening at the sound. At her breathy attempts at speaking through it. At gaining composure.

‘No can do Elizabeth,’ he thought. ‘No composure for you for hours…get ready.’

His fingers tickled mercilessly, until she could barely breathe. She panted and tried crawling away. Sighing in barely restrained desire as his hands finally stopped the ambush and slid up her sides. As he rolled on top of her. His voice was thick with passion…along with other parts of him.

She felt him throb against her thigh, and spread her legs in automatic response.

"Do you know how many times I’ve fantasized about you lying right where you are…looking up at me…the way you are, with your eyes all ablaze like that?"

Elizabeth bit the corner of her bottom lip. Her hair fanned out on the pillow beneath her. Wickedly tempting with an array of chestnut tangles.

"How many times?" She asked seductively. Watching as the real fun began. His hands joined reached out for her flesh, sliding up her calves at the same time. Stopping just short of her thighs. Right at the knee where the hem of her skirt stopped.

"Would you hate me if I told you the first time I saw you? The very first time I looked at you I thought of you…right here…in my house…in my bed."

She shook her head. "I wouldn’t hate you. In fact I think I’d love you even more…for your persistence…and more importantly your restraint."

Damn straight. Actually, the word restraint didn’t quite cover what he’d had to press down inside of himself at the mere thought of her for months! ‘Patience’ didn’t even cover it.

Torture, torture and more torture…this was what he’d endured. And now it was time to make her pay…dearly.

"Then I’ll tell you then," he continued. His voice deepening as his body pressed closer. He inched the zipper at her side down, denim peeled away from her hips like a second skin. The thin elastic of her panties beckoned him silently to peel them away as well. But he’d wait on that for now.

She squirmed in protest. Desire having already pooled between her thighs. She watched with partially closed eyes as he pulled her skirt down her legs and then tossed it to the floor.

His hands found her legs again then. Pushing them up and ever so slowly, yet deliberately apart. Elizabeth smiled and yielded to his silent instruction as her legs fell open into the perfect split before him. He came to her then. His hips meeting hers in a deep grind.

The khakis he wore served as a rougher barrier to the lace that covered her femininity and the cotton of both of their shirts was the only thing cool enough to temper the heat of her body as he rubbed against her.

Lucky’s grip slid back and forth. Pressing gently on her upper thighs and then gliding towards her knees. Her body strained for his erection. A stiffness that they both felt pulse beneath his jeans and through her panties.

She moaned so deeply and loudly that Lucky thought maybe he’d hurt her with the positioning. He eased back and Elizabeth caught his hands. "No…no…God that feels so good…Lucky…Oh God," she moaned again. "Don’t ever stop!"

It was Heaven and Hell all mixed up into one, and she couldn’t decide what she wanted more. For him to rip her panties off and thrust so deep inside her that he got lost, or keep doing exactly what he was doing. Rubbing incessantly and without remorse.

Her eyes rolled skyward and then shut.

He smiled and continued. HolHHolding her steady as he rocked forward. She was so open to him in this position that it killed him not to take her like this. But the longer he waited…the better it’d be.

Elizabeth clasped her fingers on his shoulder blades. Holding tight through the light blue cotton. It was summery and light and entirely inappropriate for the winter weather of New York, but it reminded her of sultry nights on an island…some island…any island. She wasn’t sure which.

"Uuuugh…m- more," she groaned as Lucky heeded. Intensifying the pressure between them. He felt just about ready to tear off his pants. And settled for removing something of hers instead. His hands slid under the shirt she wore. Finding the center, front clasp of her bra in seconds.

It came off quickly and he threw it behind him. When he failed to hear it hit the floor, he turned around. It had landed on Foster’s head.

Elizabeth smiled when she followed Lucky’s glance. Their dog circled the bed as if concerned with what was going on. Her moaning could have woken the dead, and Foster pranced around the large rectangle in the room with worry.

Lucky managed a strained laugh at the way Elizabeth’s bra covered one of Foster’s eyes like a pirate patch. He panted as his body tightened under the pressure of a quick in coming orgasm. "Big - biggest…thrill of his life."

Elizabeth started to laugh, but it died in her throat as the intensity of orgasm ripped through her body. Sending her into a rapid and violent convulsion. Her shouts of his name and God’s had Foster running back and forth. Black nails tapping out a panicked rhythm against the hard wood floor.

Lucky jumped off the bed as she came down from the high. Her body still trembling as he removed his pants with haste. His erection painful. He was a married man now! He wasn’t going to come in his pants!

"Foster if you don’t get out of here…

The dog scampered out of the bedroom. Huffing and lying down dejectedly somewhere in the hallway.

Through the haze she watched beneath her lashes as Lucky quietly and quickly disrobed. Her husband’s body was amazing. Absolute perfection. Long, lean lines and excellently toned muscle.

Long…everywhere.

He came to her without preamble. Removing her panties and sliding inside before even getting to the shirt that she wore. She didn’t care either and her body arched towards his in an invitation to push deeper. Take her fully.

She opened to him and he filled her without a moment’s hesitation.

All the times they’d watched sports in this room, eaten in bed, joked about things that had happened during the day. All the times the tension between them had made the air in this room to thick to breathe through. It was different now. All of it was joined by this.

A perfect…this.

Love came and breathed new life into their penthouse in a matter of seconds. Everything would be different now, and neither of them could wait to see exactly how things would go. Embarking on the grandest adventure that either one of them would ever go on, was too exciting to even fully comprehend.

As was the orgasm that overtook Lucky. Rendering Elizabeth powerless to the next that rocked through her…and the one after that.

~~~~~~~

Lucky tried to be as quiet as possible. Flipping quickly through the rotating tie wrack on his side of the closet. He needed his lucky blue tie, and something told him he’d forgotten to repack it before they’d come home.

‘You don’t need your lucky tie,’ he instructed himself. ‘You don’t need luck at all. Just a nice healthy dose of confidence…and caffeine.’

Elizabeth’s coffee would have been awesome right then, but he wasn’t about to wake her up for that. Especially not with her lying there across the room…so tempting and completely naked. If he wanted coffee he’d have to get his ass in gear and make his own. Or line up like all the other poor shmucks at Starbucks on the corner.

The president at Game One had called around the crack of dawn. Requesting a meeting with him first thing in the morning. When Elizabeth had mumbled an expletive into her pillow about who could be calling so early, Lucky had played it off as Wallace. Knowing what her response would have been had she known the company president had been calling him so early.

She would have anticipated the worst….Namely, that he was upset after having heard about their elopement. That he’d found out that she’d been a stripper and was instantly outraged by it. Shocked, appalled and ready to fire Lucky because of it.

No, he wouldn’t have put that worry on her heart just then. How could he when her hand had reached under the covers to do naughty things to him, even with her eyes still shut.

Glancing at her precious sleeping form now, Lucky smiled a bit. His heart ached at the thought of leaving her. It had been weeks since he’d had to do this. Get up and go somewhere without her by his side. And the way she looked at this precise moment in time – her hair mussed from hours of lovemaking, her arms bare and curled beneath her head…arms that he knew led to other bare parts – made him rethink working for a living at all.

Hell, he was a wealthy man. He was 25 years old, and had more money than decency should have allowed. He could choose to live like a filthy rich slacker if he wanted. He could choose to move them out to the Hamptons somewhere and chuck it all for a life of greener pastures and hours of uninterrupted loving of Elizabeth.

Of course then their neighbors would be people like the Davenports and they’d be invited to even more country club affairs than he already was.

Nope…He’d simply have to work…and maybe fit in a quickie around noon.

Lucky took another deep breath and turned back towards his closet. If his gut was right, this morning’s impromptu meeting was about the promotion he’d wanted since he’d started at Game One almost 6 years ago.

A grin, pulled at one corner of his mouth. He could always quit after a couple of years as VP of Game One. Heck he could start his own computer gaming company and never have to work again.

He loved his job. If someone would have asked just a few months prior what the most important thing in his life was, it would have been that. His work, his career, his rise to the top. But now…damn all he could think about was spending every waking minute with the beauty in his bed.

A sigh escaped him as he finally set his sights on the electric blue tie. Cursing under his breath when the hanger creaked. He heard Elizabeth shift beneath the sheets behind him. She started to sit up. Catching the movement of his silhouette.

Groggily, she glanced at the atomic clock above smooth wood headboard and then at her husband. Jet lag and weeks of honeymooning had completely disorientated her.

"Lucky…what are you doing?"

With an adoring grin he turned to her and walked towards the bed. Fastening his tie around the crisp white of his collar. He knelt at the edge of the bed and kissed her awake.

"Going to work Babe."

As if the concept were foreign, she once again looked at the clock. There was barely any light in the room.

"Mmm…it’s too early," she sighed. Tugging at his collar as if to take off his shirt. Lucky allowed himself to be pulled halfway back into the inviting bed and the even more inviting circle of her arms. The sheet around her, slipped a few inches and he was treated to an unhealthy peak of just what he’d be leaving behind. His heart palpitated.

Because he was stupid and he had a thing for torture, he reached out to stroke one lovely breast. His thumb lingering on one blushing nipple.

"I know," he mouthed against her lips. "Boss man called me though. Wants to meet up for breakfast…….That’s like unheard of…So, I guess I couldn’t necessarily say no Sir, I’m busy writing the sequel to my honeymoon."

Elizabeth’s quick grin at his words faded. As did his caress when she sat up abruptly. She flicked on the lamp on their nightstand and Lucky was unable to take in the fully lit joy of seeing her naked from the waist up, because of the sudden expression of terror on her face.

"Why does he want to meet with you?"

She was suddenly completely awake. Soberly awake.

"Oh my God…Lucky, is he firing you?"

She might as well have asked him if pigs were flying around the Empire State Building.

"Huh?…Sweetie why would he……." His voice trailed off as her fear dawned on him. The exact fear that had made him remain silent about his boss’s request when he’d first called.

"Oh…look, Elizabeth don’t worry. I think…I think this is a good thing. I think it’s about Road Fury. I think he wants to talk a little shop about the release, that’s all. And maybe chat me up about some of my ideas for the company. That’s all…"

‘And maybe promote me,’ Lucky thought. But he didn’t want to jinx his chances, so he shut up about it.

The worry on her face didn’t leave, and Lucky’s own expression morphed into a cloned model. His bottom lip pushed out in concern.

"Hey," he sighed. Kissing her softly. "Nothing to worry about…I promise...ok?"

Elizabeth bit her lip and nodded as he pulled away. "Wow…" she whispered. "We’re really back aren’t we?…Back in the real world. With real problems and –

"Hey," Lucky said again. Cutting in. "This is NOT a problem. And this…our life - It’s gonna be GREAT Elizabeth. It’s gonna be fantastic. Aside from me having to leave this bed, I can’t see any drawbacks at all……..

"Elizabeth," he explained. Softening his voice. "I get to go to work and brag about getting married to the most wonderful woman on the face of the planet. I get to make every guy in the place insane with jealousy. And I’m not even remotely kidding."

She smiled softly, in spite of the sense of dread that turned over in her stomach. It was just that she didn’t want to be away from him…that was all. Their time together during these last few weeks had been the most amazingly special time in her life and now…

Now they’d be susceptible again. Now SHE’D be susceptible again. As soon as one of those people Lucky was so hot to brag to at work, decided she wasn’t good enough for him, she’d start doubting it again herself.

Sure, she’d been a ball of enthusiasm and courageousness while they’d been out of town, and sure she’d made it seem as if she were fine with every thing…but now that they were back in a place where they were no longer all alone…

It scared her more than she wanted to admit.

Lucky held her face in his hands. "So what is my wife gonna do today while I’m away?"

She should have said she was going to look for a job. But suddenly she felt the extreme urge to stay inside. Shut the blinds and be completely alone. The only thing better would be if he could stay with her.

"Well…I’m going to volunteer to help Lucinda out with her big party."

Lucky smiled. Wallace had called and told them about Lucinda’s gig with Vogue. The party was set for the coming weekend. It’d be their first sort of ‘outing’ among friends as a married couple…Lucky couldn’t wait.

"And," Elizabeth continued. "I’ll probably work out. I mean…it’s been weeks since I’ve stretched or –

Lucky raised a brow and trailed a finger down the center of her body, until it circled her navel. "Oh I don’t know…I think you managed to stay in perfect shape."

Elizabeth licked her lips and leaned forward. She smiled and then captured his mouth. Her tongue slipped between his lips to find its mate and her voice found itself hindered in the process.

"I…wonder how I kept in…in good shape……it wasn’t like we…exercised or anything."

Lucky laughed and the rumble moved through her body as he climbed onto the bed. Filling her with comfort. Half of his body rolled atop of hers and she wanted him to stay there forever. To kiss her in the sloppy way he was doing, all morning.

"I know…you were…pretty…limber last night," he chuckled.

She eased one limber leg up over his hip and ground her hips towards his. He’d started to stiffen at the first swipe of her tongue, and now he’d have no hope of surviving. He took a quick breath. Trying to clear his senses as he pulled back.

He had 35 minutes. That meant 10 minutes to haul ass to the subway station, a 20 minute ride, and another 5 minutes to walk to the deli on the corner where he was supposed to meet his boss.

Lucky threw back the sheets that only barely covered her now and found her center. She arched towards his hand, and he found her so moist he couldn’t possibly back out now.

God…two minutes…he just needed to two minutes here and he could satisfy them both for at least the next half hour…

After that they were both on their own to contemplate the next time they’d touch each other’s flesh.

As if reading his mind, Elizabeth attacked his belt and then the zipper of his pants. She barely got her fingers inside the elastic of his boxerbriefs before he pushed them down, and slid inside her in one fast thrust.

Elizabeth cried out at the instant contact within her deepest realm. Her legs hitched upwards quickly as he pushed hungrily through her walls. Bringing them both to the brink of orgasm within seconds. His body pulsated with need and met hers with exquisite precision.

It took less than a minute for her pleasure to reach it’s full potential and she shook around him like humming bird sucking nectar. Pulling at him, demanding he come as well as she clenched tightly around him.

Lucky came with a shudder. Grunting loudly as he thrust hard and fast into her once…twice…three times for completion.

He wanted to stay there forever. The sudden purging of energy so great that it left his bones weak. How the Hell was he supposed to get up now? Leave her here?

Having touched her now was even worse than if he’d left while the getting was good.

Elizabeth saw him glance at the clock behind her head and said the words she knew he would need to hear before he left her body, let alone the apartment.

"It’s ok Lucky…go ahead. I don’t want you to be late….we’ve got a lifetime of this ahead."

Because she sealed the permission slip with a deep kiss, he believed it. But withdrawal from her, was almost physically painful.

"I want to come home for lunch," he whispered. Nuzzling her neck.

Elizabeth shook her head. "Lucky you already told me you’d have a lot of work to catch up on…and who knows how long this meeting with your boss will take…….I’ll just see you when you get home. Don’t worry," she added with a seductive smile. "I’ll be right here waiting for you…" She bit her lip. "Maybe I’ll have a surprise for you."

Lucky licked his lips. Damn it, damn it, damn it! He was like a child ready to throw a tantrum at the thought of having to leave the candy store and go back to school!

"Ok…no quickie for lunch," he groaned. "But I’m coming home early. I figure I’m technically going to work early……so I can leave early."

Giggling, Elizabeth sat up. "And what shall I make my husband for dinner?"

"Anything but salmon."

Elizabeth socked him in his arm.

Lucky laughed and grabbed her. Promising himself that this would be the last kiss. "Are you kidding?" He mumbled. "Who the Hell needs to eat?……There’s only one thing I’m hungry for lately anyway."

She had to push him away 30 seconds later. "You have to go Lucky…go…go….go!"

Groaning aloud, Lucky pushed himself off of the bed and rearranged his clothing. Fixing his briefs and pants.

"A half-day. That’s it…I’m easing my self back in to the workplace."

"Get out of here!"

Lucky sighed again as leaned down to kiss her. She had to push hard at his chest. "Go!"

"Ok…ok…I love you…bye." Another kiss for the road.

Elizabeth smiled dreamily. "I love you…bye."

Lucky glanced up from the email reviews he’d received from kids who’d won the contest for Road Fury 2. The game had yet to be officially released but if these preliminary reviews from the kids at FAO Schwartz were any indication, he had absolutely nothing to worry about.

The president had expressed nothing but absolute confidence in him this morning at breakfast as well. A grin slid over Lucky’s lips.

Things were going…well. Very well.

"Yeah," he said finally. The knock on the door having sounded once more. "Come on in."

Wallace peaked his head in through Lucky’s office door. Cracking it only a couple of inches.

"Coast is clear?…Nobody’s under the desk are they?"

Lucky stood up and reached out for Wallace’s hand. Performing the manly ritual of a private and complex handshake before Wallace pulled out the chair in front of the desk and flopped down in it.

With a grin, Lucky shook his head. "No, nobody’s under the desk."

"You’re sure?" Wallace continued. Craning his neck to peer over the top of it. As if Elizabeth would pop out of it like a birthday cake. "Here Lizzie-Lizzie-Lizzie-Lizzie…"

Wiping the grin away from his face, Lucky insisted. "She’s NOT here ok! Just sit down and open up that bag, wouldya? I’m starving!"

Wallace lifted an eyebrow as he started to unroll the brown paper bag. "You haven’t seen me in almost a month and all you have to say is ‘open the bag?’…Why the rush?" He questioned seconds later. "Do we have to scarf them in 2 minutes?"

Rolling his eyes, Lucky decided to respond to the question even when his gut told him not to. "And WHY would we have to eat them in two minutes?"

"Just in case you’ve got a quickie planned," Wallace said matter of factly. "I mean I can make myself scarce don’t you worry – not a problem.

"After so long on honeymoon it can’t possibly be easy or even…HEALTHY, to go back to the land of 9 to 5 and. HOURS of no nookie –

"She’s NOT under the desk," Lucky repeated. Cutting him off. "Open up the damn bag."

"In the bathroom then?"

"No."

"In the boardroom?…Because you know the company frowns on that. After that time with Gillman and his assistant –

"She’s not in the boardroom! She’s at HOME."

"Testy…testy," Wallace diagnosed, shaking his head. He finally removed Lucky’s sandwich from the bag and handed it to him. "The first sign of being cut off from an irregular sex dosage."

Lucky took a bite out of his sandwich and closed his eyes for a moment. Savoring the pastrami. He re-opened them as something occurred to him.

"So let me get this straight…first you’re concerned with my LACK of sex life and now…your concerned that I’m having too much?"

"No, no…not concerned," Wallace said. Glancing up at the ceiling he mulled it over. Searching for the perfect descriptor. "More like…interested…disquieted even by the lack of concentration that various individuals have seen you exhibit all day…"

"Ok," Lucky swallowed a mouthful. "It’s best not to listen to ‘various individuals,’ and for the record - I don’t want you interested or…even ‘disquieted,’ about my sex life. In fact it’s probably best that you don’t think about it at all."

Wallace thought about that for a moment and then nodded his agreement. "Yeah… probably for the best.

"But when are you leaving for your quickie? It’s too late for a nooner…Like I said Lucky…it must be mighty har – I mean DIFFICULT to be away right now."

Lucky rolled his eyes and placed his sandwich on a huge napkin. Just when you thought it was safe to come home from your honeymoon.

Lifting the sandwich once more, he took a healthy bite and answered inaudibly.

Wallace shook his head at the unintelligible words.

"What? I didn’t catch that."

"I’m….two………home."

"Excuse me?"

Swallowing hard without benefit of the soda that sat in front of him, Lucky cleared his throat and spoke again. A sheepish expression covering his face. "I’m leaving in two hours."

Wallace guffawed and nearly choked on his sandwich. "A HALF DAY?! You’re taking A HALF DAY?!"

"Will you LOWER your voice?" Lucky hissed. "Good God were you a megaphone in your last life? Do you feel it your duty to make an announcement to all those ‘various individuals’ in the building?"

Disregarding his comment, Wallace shook his head. "Well inquiring minds wanna know!….Oh man, I can’t believe you’re taking a half day after taking an entire MONTH off – right before your game comes out, I might add. A game that you and I SLAVED away on for about a year now. All those sleepless nights….And here you are…gallivanting…

"Oh come on – not again with the gallivanting…………And it’s NOT TECHNICALLY a half day. I got in at 8 am. I’ve already been here," he said, checking his watch. "I’ve already been here almost FIVE hours…which is longer than I set out to be here."

"You WORKAHOLIC YOU………" Wallace smiled. "So why were you here so early?…Was she killing you?"

Lucky tried suppressing a cocky smile. "Well aside from getting to LEAVE early…I had a meeting with Johnson."

Wallace gulped at his soda. "Our illustrious president got out of bed THAT early to meet with you?

"Wow," Wallace continued at the nod of Lucky’s head. "I heard tell that he was diggin’ on you…So it’s true what they say then - he wants to have your babies?…Cause if it’s true, you gotta tell him you’re already my baby-daddy."

Lucky covered his face as if tired. "As disturbing as you are…Yeah, he’s pretty pumped about the how the contest went and all the customer reviews…Just generally diggin’ on yours truly……He liked all the good press."

"And he didn’t care at all about that…other press?" Wallace broached the subject carefully around a bite of sandwich.

"You mean the secret wedding press?" Lucky asked. At Wallace’s expression, he continued. Lowering his sandwich. "Nope…….not a care. Elizabeth is gonna be relieved, that’s for sure."

"She was worried about his reaction, huh?"

Lucky licked his lips and took a drink of soda. "She was worried about everybody’s reaction. Mostly worried about how it would be perceived by the press though. How things would work out for me – you know with…her past and all. The stripping."

Wallace nodding. Sensing that now probably wasn’t a good time for one of his stripper jokes. He did have some decorum when necessary after all.

"So she wasn’t worried about you know…her family? Some of that stuff you told me about?"

A peaceful kind of smile tugged at one corner of Lucky’s mouth. "She was more worried about me."

Wallace stifled laughter. The guy had turned into the biggest sap imaginable! He’d always had the whole ‘sensitive guy’ thing happening, but this was incredible.

He shook his head. "Well I’m happy for you man…Married life already seems to be agreeing with you."

"It agrees in spades," Lucky grinned.

"Yeah well…that must be nice."

Lucky looked up from his desk at the errant comment. Knowing it hadn’t been uttered by Wallace. Jack stepped in through his office door. Wallace obviously hadn’t shut it all the way.

"Just passing by Jack?" Lucky asked sarcastically.

Wallace kept his eyes staring straight ahead. Not swiveling in the chair to acknowledge the man behind him. The boy…the child…the asshole.

He mentally cursing himself as well, for not closing the door all the way as he lifted his soda and took a long drink.

Catching, his best friend’s tight expression Lucky did his damndest to get Jack out of the room as quickly as possible. He planned on moving out of this office soon enough, but he didn’t need it riddled with bloodstains before that time.

"What can I do for you?" Lucky continued through the thick silence.

Jack shrugged and leaned against a filing cabinet. As if making himself at home.

"Nothing really. I just came by to see if it was true…what all the papers reported…I guess it is, huh?"

"And why do I have that knawing feeling that you didn’t come here just to say congratulations?"

Jack shrugged. "Well, I suppose I should say that. But really," he sighed dramatically. "I just feel bad for Liz."

Lucky took a deep breath and shifted his glance to Wallace, who simply lifted his can to his lips once more and shook his head. Lucky’s eyes moved back to Jack’s. He didn’t want him feeling any sort of emotion for Liz what so ever.

"And why would you feel bad for her Jack? It’s hard for me to imagine you feeling anything for anyone but yourself."

"Well you’d know all about that wouldn’t you Lucky?…About people’s feelings…About hurting someone?"

Wallace rolled his eyes. In a minute he’d be forced to turn around. Damn it he really didn’t want to. His day had been going perfectly fine until now. Pleasant even.

His best friend was back, his girl was in better spirits than she’d been in since before he could remember thanks in part to some McKenzie lovin’ this morning and a little known magazine called Vogue.

And now…this. A longsuffering sigh escaped him.

Lucky sat silently, folding his arms across his chest as Jack continued. Too in love with the sound of his own voice to stop even when no one but himself was really listening.

"Yeah, I ran into an old friend of yours the other day…ours really – Stephanie. Remember her? Pretty blonde that you dated for awhile before you dropped her like a bad habit."

Lucky nodded resolutely. "Yep, I remember that bad habit. Glad I broke it."

Wallace held back a chuckle thinking about how good that one was. He was going to rub off on Lucky yet.

"Oh that’s cute," Jack said. Folding his arms in indignation. "I can’t believe you can even make light of this…after what happened."

It was Lucky’s turn to sigh. "Jack would you spit it out already and then get the Hell out of my office?! What are you babbling about!"

Jack shook his head and played coy. "Nah…forget it. She told me not to say anything. I don’t know why I’m here in the first place…Just know I’ve got my eye on you Spencer."

Wallace exploded out of his chair. Finally spinning around to face the jerk off. "Oh good, good Jack! Why don’t you do that? Go ahead and watch Lucky for awhile. Stalk him and while you’re at it maybe you’ll leave Lucinda the fuck alone."

Lucky jumped up and strode around his desk. Stepping in front of Wallace before he leaped at Jack.

The man across the room held up his hands and smirked. "Don’t worry man, you can have her now…I’m done. I never was really good at sharing my toys, but once I finished with them I always took ‘em on down to the Goodwill for the more needy kids to –

Lucky pushed Wallace all the way back to the corner of the office when he advanced.

"Jack get out," Lucky demanded. His voice, quiet but tight. "You guys wanna act like two 15 year olds, that’s cool…take it outside. But it’s not gonna happen in my office again."

He watched as Jack nodded again and neared the door. To busy getting Wallace to cool off to really pay attention to his parting shot.

"Funny you should be adverse to violence Lucky…that’s really funny."

In the next instant he was gone, and Lucky let go of Wallace. Apologizing immediately.

"I’m sorry man. I woulda let you pull out his throat and stuff it up his ass, but I can’t do anything right now that’s gonna jeopardize this promotion. You guys throw down in my office, who do you think gets ripped a new one? Me."

Wallace nodded and found his way back to the chair in front of Lucky’s desk. He stuffed his only half eaten sandwich into the bag and threw it into the wastebasket. He’d lost his appetite as soon as the asshole had come into the room.

"I just don’t get how you can sit so calmly in your chair there while Asshole boy rambles on."

Lucky licked his lips. "Because he’s a fucking gnat. Nothing I have to worry about…He likes getting to you more than anybody…and now he’s got more ammo then ever before."

At his friend’s angry expression, Lucky leaned forward and continued. "He still screwing with Lucinda?"

At the tilt of Wallace’s head, Lucky rephrased.

"Sorry. Bad choice of words…Is he still buggin her?"

Wallace shook his head. "No. Not really…not in a little while now. It’s just after the things he said to her…he’s still in her head, you know?"

Lucky knew exactly Thankfully the voices in Elizabeth’s head was becoming her own and no one else’s.

"What the fuck was Jack goin’ on and on about, do you think? Has he said anything about the wedding in the last coupla days?"

Wallace shook his head. "He’s probably just pissed you beat him at one more thing. Not only are you about to swipe the job he wanted more than anything…but you just got hitched too. You’re batting a thousand Lucky…The guy’s still stuck on the bench."

His friend’s fabulous baseball analogies aside, something was still settling uneasily in Lucky’s stomach.

"What was all that crap about running into Stephanie?"

"She probably tripped over the New York Times on her way out of her apartment and ruined her Collagen...be ready for a lawsuit."

Lucky nearly spewed his soda. "She didn’t…did she?"

"Collagen?" Wallace questioned. "I don’t know…but Lucinda says she saw her in the audience at some fashion show she went to and one of the models nearly tripped over Stephanie’s bottom lip when she got to the end of the runway."

Lucky covered his own mouth and laughed…hard.

Wallace’s smiled as tears nearly came to his eyes.

"You know…I think I’m gonna take a page out of the Lucky Spencer book, and check out of here early today."

Lucky nodded in approval. "Do it. You deserve it man."

As if it were the best idea ever, Wallace raised his soda can in a paused salute. "Here’s to a jealous Jack…may he get the name of Stephanie’s doctor and ask for a similar procedure on his dick…"

Lucky raised his arm and clinked his soda with Wallace’s. "I’ll drink to that."

~~~~~~~

"Honey…I’m home."

"I’m in here Dear."

Lucky threw his coat up on the wrack behind the door and spun around with a chuckle for their pleasantries. The laughter stopped dead in his throat at the site of his wife cooking in an apron…

And nothing else.

Elizabeth bent slightly over a simmering pot and stirred with a wooden spoon. Inhaling deeply. She spoke as if there were nothing unusual about her cooking or being virtually naked.

Finding that his feet suddenly felt leaden, he pushed himself forward. His throat had gone completely dry in a matter of seconds. She spoke before he got his first word past a paralyzed tongue.

"Would you taste this for me?"

It looked like soup…of some kind. Something red…and maybe…maybe there was seafood in it. He couldn’t quite wrap his mind around what was happening. He’d just stepped into an alternate universe. A universe where he not only had a WIFE…but a wife that thought it was completely normal, and enjoyable it seemed by her smile, to be cooking her husband dinner in the buff.

He was obviously dreaming. He’d obviously fallen asleep at work and this was his punishment for fantasizing all day long instead of getting his job done.

Yet he opened his mouth when she ladled the hot liquid and placed a hand beneath his mouth. Feeding him with the other. He couldn’t seem to blink. Afraid he might miss something if his eyes didn’t stay riveted to her. His taste buds barely comprehended that he had anything in his mouth at all.

"It’s…it’s good?"

It came out as a question and a knowing smile slipped over Elizabeth’s lips. She knew it was good. It was better than good actually, because she’d had it delivered from Tony’s just down the street. She’d warmed it up in a pot and voila. A virtual masterpiece!

Elizabeth figured she could have taken a chance and cooked dinner herself, but why bother? Especially when she had other talents that Lucky seemed to admire so well. Living in New York City there’d always be some place to eat. Even if she never ever learned to cook, they wouldn’t starve.

After she placed the spoon back inside the pot, Elizabeth draped her arms around Lucky’s neck and pressed her body against his. Besides, she thought. Her man cooked…in more ways than one.

"You’re sure?" She said. Pushing her bottom lip out just a bit in a sexy pout. "It doesn’t need any more spice…or anything?"

Lucky swallowed hard. Her body was collagen-less and absolutely perfect. She was a goddess beyond measure.

"No. It doesn’t…doesn’t need anything."

"Oh good," Elizabeth smiled. Trailing one casually ‘aimless’ finger down from his Adam’s apple to the tie around his neck that already hung open. She lifted both hands to pull it the rest of the way through the loop and from around his neck. She threw it over the counter and it landed somewhere in the living room.

Her fingers fiddled absently with the buttons on his shirt then. Slowly seducing him right where he stood.

"We should definitely eat it now then…while it’s…you know…" she whispered. Forcing herself up to her tiptoes, to rim his ear with her tongue. "While it’s hot."

Hot? Was she kidding? It was fucking sweltering in here…Somebody open a window. Somebody do something…

Yet Elizabeth looked cool as a cucumber. And certain parts of her body hidden beneath the thin apron that demanded that he ‘kiss the cook,’ announced proudly that she was indeed a bit chilly in the middle of the kitchen.

His hands slid around her waist, as if awakening from shock. They lowered as soon as they made their way behind. The bare skin that slipped beneath his fingertips was enough to drive him crazy.

Elizabeth bit his plump bottom lip at the contact. His slightly roughened fingers sliding along smooth, rounded flesh.

"Oooh," she cooed. Licking at his Adam’s apple then. Her fingers pushed the sides of his shirt aside. "I see you found my surprise."

Hell, he’d seen her surprise peaking out from behind the sides of the apron when he’d first walked into the apartment. That luscious ass of hers could not be hidden. Nor should it ever be.

Because he seemed too stunned to speak, Elizabeth continued to do the talking. Slowly undressing him. Her mouth pressed hot, wet kisses along his yummy collar-bone, then down the center of his chest.

"Mmm-mmm-mmm…You certainly do taste good Hubby…Better than anything I’ve got going on that stove that’s for sure."

Certainly not better than anything she had going on under that apron, Lucky thought.

"But I’ve been slaving away all day long," she whispered. Standing to her full height once more. "So as soon as you want to eat –

His mouth crashed hungrily into hers, and his fingers dug tightly into flesh…wherever they could find it. Elizabeth moaned her approval into his mouth. Biting back when his teeth nipped at her. Hot passion coursed them both. Bubbling up hotter than the simmer on the stove.

"I want to eat right now," Lucky growled, taking her mouth in a lustful fury. His hand slipped under the apron she wore and wrapped tightly around her thigh, gripping it and forcing it up to his hip, until she had no choice but to push herself up on tiptoe with the other to remain balanced.

He ground against her, and she discovered that he had his own surprise. Only it was no longer a surprise to her any more…just a wonder that God had blessed him with – and by extension – her.

Because he needed her, tight and hot against him, Lucky lifted her completely. Gripping her other leg as well. Elizabeth hoisted herself up against his chest. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he stalked forward. Pinning her between himself and the stainless steel refrigerator. Pictures of family, friends, and Foster fell to the floor with the clattering of various magnets. Yet no sounds were heard over the roar of blood in each of their ears.

Lucky slipped his hand between her thighs. Finding her wet and straining against him as she bucked at his fingers. "Inside me Lucky…inside."

She shut her eyes as he slid two fingers inside and she came. It happened so quickly that her body went still with it. Pressing into the cool surface behind her in a shocking rush. He groaned something about her being his every fantasy come true, in her ear.

She was on her way down from that first high, when he thrust into her so powerfully, that she reached up to grab the edges of the refrigerator. Certain that it would fall over as he began humping. With arms spread wide, her fingers curled into the top edge of the ice box.

The vague sound of something falling over inside, penetrated her mind, but not quite deeply enough to be processed over the penetration of his body. He moved through her walls at a wild frenzied pace. Forcing her to match it as his entire body consumed hers.

Lucky felt himself being swallowed whole by her and continued to plunge deeper. Wanting to be taken in completely. Wanting to devour and be devoured. He raked his fingers down the front of the apron. Needing to see her quivering flesh without a moment to spare to go looking for where it tied behind her back. Her breasts bared to him, he took one into his mouth.

The refrigerator squeaked behind them as it banged against the wall. It was one of those times where the fleeting thought of being rich and able to afford a new one if need be, was a good fleeting thought to have.

The world was at his feet, and it gave Lucky a sudden rush.

He drove into her with everything he had, and her breath caught in halting gasps. Her mouth sought his sweat-beaded forehead. Mouthing things against him without the benefit of voice or oxygen. She felt wet and slippery from head to toe and only he had the power to keep her from slipping right out of his grasp.

The cool of metal at her back and the heat of flesh at her front sent her senses into overdrive. The smell of sex and food mingled and caused her to shut her eyes. Every thing came at her at 100 percent. Nothing was dulled. Not a sound, sight, smell or sensation. All of it crashed in a wave of totality, and she came with a cry of sobbing abandon.

Relentless, he pushed on. Trying to ease his body’s unquenchable thirst for her. He grew so tight inside that when she clenched around him, it wasn’t enough. He needed it again. Needed her to come again.

His hands reached for hers, and fingers slid beside their mates. Twining and weaving in odd arrangements against the steel surface. Gasping as his slippery chest slid against hers, pushing her nearly flat she obeyed his silent demand. Quaking as he rubbed and ground against the very spot that triggered detonation.

He came then, with a pounding rage. Fully and completely inside her. Flooding her with all the passion and emotion that had built up within him during the hours he’d been away. She accepted the warmth of his seed and could have sworn she felt it move through her like the rushing of water. Her toes curled tightly beneath his rear, and slowly relaxed.

Every muscle started to uncoil. Centimeter by centimeter as Lucky collapsed against her. His head fell onto her shoulder as both of them panted. Searching for breath that would take awhile now to come back.

Pulling both of their hands down from atop the refrigerator, his fingers slid over the tacky skin of her arms. She was clammy and cool to the touch, even though her insides – the well that still sheltered him – was 90 degrees. He pulled her close. His arms wrapping around her upper body, as her legs stayed wrapped around his.

With a few deep breaths, to get some strength back into his legs, Lucky stepped carefully out of his pants and placed his hands beneath her bottom. Carrying her away from the refrigerator as her arms slid around his neck.

He reached up to pull his fingers through moist strands of hair when her head fell against his shoulder. When she kissed the crook of his neck.

"So…like I was saying…I made dinner," she mumbled there. Tasting the salt of his skin.

Securing his grip, he walked slowly out of the kitchen. Careful not to slip out of her body as they made their way towards the bedroom.

"Whatdya say we have dessert before dinner?" He asked thickly. Opening their bedroom door.

Elizabeth smiled against him and ran her fingers along the nape of his neck. Moist sticky, skin greeted her. She couldn’t wait to be between the cool sheets that lay of their bed.

"I thought that’s what we just had," she laughed smokily.

Lucky laid her down on the bed. Still connected on every level. Phyiscal and emotional as he gazed into her eyes. "That was just a snack compared to what I want to have now…..God, I didn’t even know how hungry I was until I got home…to you."

She could smile and stretch in contentment as he made his way south for another snack.