Isabella Sexton Sat in her office pouring over her mail when her boss walks in, and slams the door surprising her. She jumps and the mail sprawls before her on the desk. Confused, Isabel, as she had come to be called by those who knew her well, ignores the mail and stands to face her partner in business, mouth open ready to inquire as to the nature of his disturbance. Paying no attention to the fact that she was going to speak, he continues speaking about company expenses that he needs her help with. She has to hold back the smile that threatens to turn to laughter and rounds the desk to place a calming hand on her flustered partner's shoulder. Then she says looking him directly in his eyes, " Now Richard Hagan, you know that everything is going to be just great." "I have been working on this problem all weekend and I think I have come up with a wonderful campaign to ease the company through monetarily until the merger is complete." "And besides, we aren't in any financial danger anyway. That's why Castle & Partners wanted to join us in the first place. We are a financially stable company with bright prospects for the future so calm down she chuckles." Richard heaves a huge sigh of relief, "Isabel Sexton you are an angel sent to guide me through all of this madness, I am so glad I chose to take you up on the offer to go into business with you ten years ago." He smiles, touches her arm and seats himself opposite her. Taking the storyboards from her cabinet drawer she hands them to him. "Look over these and make your suggestions and I will put them with mine and come up with a working calendar to help us meet the deadline before the business meeting this afternoon," she smiles in a professionally reassuring manner. Isabel sits back in her chair and watches his face for his reactions to the sketches and the ideas they present. That is why she and Richard had always been a winning team. He was always brutally honest and constructive with his criticism while being so. Awaiting his reply she takes a sip of coffee watching him over her cup. Finishing he flips the pieces onto the desk before her and turns to Isabel, "Excellent work, Isabel, you have done it once again," he hesitates and motions to the foam core presentations before her, "I see no stone has been left unturned. The best angle has not slipped by your sharply creative mind once again, may I shake the hand of my brilliant partner?" He extends his hand to her to shake hers, "A job well done, ever the cutting-edge idea to show me where my place is, eh Isabel?" She smiles and laughs slowly, "Thank You Richard I didn't intend it to put you in a bad light or anything, just a great design to help the company win the clients account again. Now I think I need to finish my coffee, read my mail and file it for later attention and go home for, she glances down at her watch, very late lunch," she finishes with a smile. "Oh bring the mail with you Isabel and go home woman it is late and you have done more than enough for one morning to deserve an extended lunch don't you think? Take a little break before the meeting," he rubs her shoulders and exhales slowly and deeply as if administering therapy to a tired and weary client "You know, she winks, I think I will, but I promise to be back for the meeting at four sharp." "Ok, see you at four then," Richard finishes and heads out of the door.
Isabel looks down at the desk and starts gathering the scattered mail, shoving it into her briefcase. At the last piece of mail she stops. In the Return section of the envelope is a name she well remembers. It was his, what could he want she asked herself curiously hands shaking. Looking at it she glances at the calendar. Yes, it was about that time she told herself, closing her eyes she taps her head with the envelope and slips it in her purse. This one she will have to pay special attention to she notes in her mind, picks up her purse, closes her briefcase and heads out of the door.
Isabel toils over the letter as she drives home, going into automatic drive since she knew the route so well. If this was to announce another of their at the last moment reunions, she was not so sure she wanted to go. So many things had happened since then the last one and still she had not forgotten him or the odd circumstances around their goodbye. Gray Allen had stolen her heart and she had spent the last 10 years trying to let him and his memory go. She had not intended to tell him how she really felt about him, but on the day they walked away from one another for what they thought would be the last time, she had been talking with her friends about how she felt about him. Did he catch his name that she breathed out as he passed her on his way to his car? Had he heard all that she had said to her friends? Shaking herself from her turbulent thoughts, Isabel turns into the driveway of her home, parks and goes inside. Grabbing a cup of tea from the tea maker and a tuna on rye, Isabel settles down in her over stuffed sofa and slides off her shoes. She looks at the letter sitting on her lap and laughs shaking her head. Who ever heard of a reunion in college she giggled. ONLY this group of friends would attempt to rally such an event she laughs to herself. As she opens the letter and reads, she notices that it is just a reunion of the three departments that had worked so closely together that last year of college. He would be there she smiled with mixed emotions. Yes, if he got this letter as well, then prospects of running into him again were high. Looking at the clock, Isabel slides the letter onto the end table, digs her notepad from her briefcase and starts making the calendar for the ad campaign she would present in 2 hour. She slips the R.S.V.P. to second place in her thoughts for the moment, until the meeting was over and all was settled and ready to go with the campaign.
At four o'clock Isabella attends the meeting, presents her ideas and finalizes the plans with their client. "That's why I always bring my business to you Isabella," Julian Hargrove tells her, "You are by far the best in the field and our sales show it time after time." "Thank You," he shakes her hand and pats her on the shoulder. "Always the best for you Mr. Hargrove," she smiles sincerely, shaking his hand. "If you need anything else, Richard will help until I return from my trip and then, of course, I'll check with you when I return." She escorts him to the door and bids her goodbyes, closes the door and leans against it. She realizes what she had said. She had subconsciously decided to go to the reunion. So now, she would have to get ready to face Gray once again. She informs Richard of her plans to go to the reunion and hands him the schedule she had drawn up earlier. "I should not be longer than the weekend she tells him, but if it goes longer by chance, she pauses wondering what had made her even say such a thing and goes on when I know where I will be staying, I'll call and leave the number with Marcie just in case you need anything." " BUT only if it is emergency," she winks. Then letting out a hardy laugh she heads for home.
Isabella hadn't expected these refreshing butterfly feelings she was starting to feel within her. She was feeling all of the excitement and nervousness of a schoolgirl going to her first major dance. But the feeling was wonderful; it makes her feel alive again. She packs her clothes and heads for the professor's camp on the river where they had reunited for the past two reunions. Arriving, Isabel drives through the gate of the camp stopping to be greeted by her old college professor who owns the camp. Glancing in the rearview mirror as she hears a car engine pull up behind her she sees him. She feels a kind of eerie feeling yet one that was also exciting at the same time. This was the first time she had laid eyes on Gray in ten years and still he manages to drag those old feelings back to the surface. Smiling to the professor she says nervously, "I better go park and let someone else drive through." Laughing he shows her where she is to park and she pulls away as Gray enters the gate. It seems like a dream set on replay, she shakes her head laughing to herself. Jumping from the car she grabs her bags and turns quickly as Veronica, her dearest college friend, calls her name and hugs her tightly. "He's here you know," Veronica smiles darting her eyes in the direction of his vehicle. Isabel darts here eye in the same direction then quickly back to Veronica, Oh God does it show that much Roni, as she had always referred to her?" Isabel asks blushing. "No, not really, I just know how deep the feelings go and how hard you have to work to keep those old memories from your mind." Isabel just nods as she feels an arm circle her neck and she is pulled against a strong form. Her eyes look at Veronica questioningly and Veronica just laughs. Then the voice close to her ear speaks, "Hello Isabella," the strong voice came. Only one person insisted on calling her by her full name and only one voice could do this to her she admits to herself as her stomach flutters and her heart pounds. Quickly gathering her emotions together, Isabel spins to smile and hug Gray back, "Hello stranger she says teasingly," her eyes flaring as they come to rest on his. She was trying with all of her will not to let him see in her eyes or hear in her voice that she still felt the exact same way about him as she had ten years ago. "How are you Isabella?" Gray asked. She slightly shivers, "I'm doing very well, Gray," she smiles and returns the inquiry politely, "How have you been?" "Oh not too badly myself," he smiles as silence falls between them. Noticing the awkwardness of the moment, Veronica rushes to greet Gray and says to him with a grin, "Now if you don't mind Gray, Isabel and I have a lot of catching up to do, we'll see you at dinner," Not waiting on his reply she turning and walking away dragging Isabel with her. Isabel just smiles and shrugs at him as Roni whirls her away.
Dinner is very informal. Music fills the air everyone mixing and mingling as they talk of life since they had spoken last. Isabel found her thought traveling to him, question after question invading her mind as she starts out from the bridge over the water. She had purposely walked to the bridge to avoid the inevitability of coming face to face with Gray. She didn't know how long she could hide the feelings from showing from her eyes. Then angry with herself for harboring these feelings for someone who no longer cared for her, she scolds herself out loud in disgusted hisses. " How, Isabella, could you be such a fool? Entertaining such naïve thoughts, wishes, desires her voice lows, you probably don't even cross his mind anymore and still you…" she trails off as the silky voice lowly interrupts her. "How could you what, dear Isabella? Please, do go on," he strolls into the light.
The blood rushes from her face as she closes her eyes tightly and turns slowly to face Gray. He was searching her face, "What do you want me to say Gray?" she shakes her head, eyes pleading asking for his help to find the words to tell him what she should have had the nerve to tell him ten years ago. His answer to her plea came in the form of his own admission. "What I should have said, what WE should have said, he corrects himself, ten years ago My Isabella," he said. Emotions high, her eyes fill with tears as she turns to him swallowing hard, "And what is that Gray?" she asked. "That we love each other more than life itself, but we were both too scared to open ourselves to the possibility of rejection that we let ten years pass us both by before saying what we so desperately have wanted, no, needed to say to one another. Isabella just stood in stunned silence, unable to speak. She opens her mouth to speak but all she could say was "I thought…" before he rested his finger soft over her soft full lips to silence her words and her denial that he was sure was to come. His eyes study the glistening fullness of her lips as he slowly bends to kiss her hungrily. He circles her waist with his arm and pulls her into his body tightly until he feels her tenseness ease from her body and she flows into his embrace. All of her reserve was falling away. A passionate hunger for him of a power she had never believed would be expressed was now replacing her rigid denial. Come with me Isabella, let us go and discuss this further in a more private place, he says sliding his hands down her arms to her hands he leads her to his room, Isabella following him in silence.
In his room Isabella's breaks her silence. "Gray, she speaks softly, it has taken me ten years to come to this point, to be able to open myself to you, my thoughts and feelings. To think that all it took was your kiss to assure me that you will not dismiss my feelings, their depths and strength for you, let alone you returning them equally is just amazing." Gray walks over to Isabella, kissing her deeply then trailing soft tender kisses down her slender neck to her shoulder. He looks into her eyes for her nod of approval that he may continue. She just nods instinctively knowing without words what his eyes were asking her. They were so utterly connected at this moment that it made her knees weak and she falls against him for support. He catches her and sweeps her in his arms and carries her to his bed. He slips the sweater from her curvaceous body dropping it to the floor. Her finger caress his chest and one by one she releases the buttons and slides the shirt from his virile form. He takes her breath away upon sight of his taut muscular chest muscles toned and firm just as she always had suspected. " You are so strong, so handsome my love," she whispers hoarsely as her eyes follow her hands that adoringly caress his golden skin. He lightly kisses her tiny well-defined nose then moves his head back to gaze upon her lovely face. His eyes hold hers as his hands lightly tremble over her jaw line, drawing a path over her face up to her hair caressing her head lovingly and back to her chin. He tips her face up to his saying, "No, My Isabella, you are the lovely one here, you are every bit as breathtakingly beautiful as I remember." His words make her quiver. The love between them was so powerful and potent that both of them were breathing deeply yet quickly trying to keep emotions long pinned up under control so as to not go too fast with this beautiful moment of their sensual expression of love for one another.
As she stared into his eyes, Isabella's hand slid down Gray's firm body stopping at his hips. She pulls him tightly against her soft body feeling his stiffness press into her stomach. She kisses his earlobe and nips it as she flicks her tongue over it. She pulls back and slowly she slides down his body hands rippling over his taut muscular build and her body tingles with arousal. Isabella wanted him so badly she had waited so long for this moment in time. Reaching his abdomen she starts kissing her way down softly biting into him abdomen as she worked her way down his lithe body. The feeling is so intense that she cannot help but to tremble with emotion. Her hands shake as she touches his manhood and kisses along his tender pelvis to his thighs. She rises above him and then lowers her lips to place a tender kiss on the crown of his manhood, flicking her tongue softly, lightly over it. Then with hunger she parts her lips and takes him inside her mouth. Slowly moving him in and out, Isabella strokes him with her mouth. She moans and whimpers. This was becoming too intense for her to restrain the feelings she longs to express in a most intimate way that she raises her eyes to him asking for the permission she sought to do as she wished. She raised her arms to him and he took her hands in his tenderly then pulling her over him she lowers herself on top of him sliding him deep inside of her and they begin to move in harmony with one another. Looking at him she says, Oh Gray I tried to hold back but… Gray Shook his head no, "I know," he said stopping her apology. "I feel the same way, and I understand the urgency that demands your actions but no apologies are needed because we will have our whole lifetime together, if you agree to it, to take our time. We have already waited far too long to share these emotions that we feel for one another that it's only natural that we take it a little faster than we had wanted to. But if you'll allow me Isabella, I will renew these feelings every opportunity I have." Isabella closes her eyes allowing the tender emotions to drive her on as she moves him inside of her slowly at first then more quickly as the need inside of her grew. The same urgent desire growing in him, Gray held her hands and rolls her under him and lying on top of her he drove deeper and deeper into her touching every part of her sweet wet womanhood.
They start to breathe heavily, moans and shrieks escaping from their parched lips as the passions consume them. The strong instinctive connection they share announcing that the flood can no longer be held at bay. They look into one another's eyes and kiss deeply as, with one more strong thrust, they burst into screams of Passion, Love and Desire as their bodies erupt into a whirl flurry of dizzying flames. The heat of their sensual union flooding into one another allows their souls to touch and mix together. As their heated exchange subsides the rhythm slows to a gentle dance of their bodies and they collapse in breathless exhaustion against each other. Fully satiated for the moment they lay in each other's arms beads or perspiration trickling down their heated bodies. Isabella smiles up into Gray's eyes as he smiles back into hers he looks up to the heavens then back at Isabella and says, this has been more special than I had ever imagined this could be in my mind all of those years we have waited. Which, he stresses, makes it all that much more special that I ask you what I have always wanted to ask you but was too chicken to," he chuckles lowly to himself. His hesitation after his statement causes her to draw her head back and stare at him waiting for him to go on, but instead he rolls away from her and reaches into his travel bag and sits beside her on the bed. Turning back to her he pulls her to sit on the edge of the bed facing him as he stands, turns and kneels before her, taking her hand in his. He begins to speak and his other hand rounds his side presenting a ring. Isabella starts to cry in happiness when she realizes that her dreams were finally coming true. "Isabella Renee Sexton, Will you marry me? He asks as he slips the ring on her finger. She shakes her head yes pulling her hand from his and hugging him tightly to her she repeats the word over and over Yes, Yes, Yes, Gray Allen I will marry you, Yes! He relaxes; relieved that she had accepted his proposal and what had always been destined to be.
The morning sun rose not long after they had settled into a restless in each other's arms. It was amazing that sleep ever came to them because they were so excited to spread the news to their friends that it seemed the sun would never raise soon enough. They dress quickly and head to the breakfast room in the main room of the camp and stand next to one another at the head of the table as everyone seats themselves. Gray looks down at Isabella, "Are you ready?" He asks smiling at her. "Oh, you know I am," she glows. "You do know that they have all waited for us to come to our senses all of these years don't you?" He asks to her. She just blushed and nods to him. "Ok then," he says clearing his throat. Ok guys I know that for the last ten years, everyone was wondering when we two would come to our senses and see what was right in front of our faces. Well the dam has burst, the bells have rung and we have seen the light he laughed embarrassed. I have asked Isabella Renee Sexton to marry me and she has accepted. The feeling of excitement is so intense that it chokes her and she raises her face to look at him eyes misty and face glowing with love. Then she looks out along the table to meet with Veronica's knowing grin of excitement. "I knew it would happen this year, Veronica screams, I just knew it!" she says and runs to hug Isabella, congratulating her two best friends. Veronica turns to the table and jokingly says with exaggeratedly dramatic voice, "It was about time those Embers ignited into Flames!" at this, the room erupts into laughter, heads nodding in agreement as Isabella and Gray hug and kiss and laugh, "AMEN," they say raising their juice glasses in a mocking toast.
