- Steele on Our Own Part 5/6
Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2000
"Linda" <bonnell@ix.netcom.com>
Part 5 is a Tony-free zone.
For anyone who minds that kind of thing there is a sexual scenario
but no bad language.
So this was what people meant about relationships being work.
In the recesses of his mind Harry recalled how he thought that
the 'work' was over for Laura and him years ago, when they were
finally able to declare their feelings for one another and get
on with being a couple. Oh how he was wrong.
For what seemed like eternity, they both stood rooted in their
spots.
Inertia set in, as did the inability to say a single word. And
then, just when each thought the moment would never end, it did.
Laura reached out and took hold of Harry's hand, gripping it
tightly. Harry reciprocated by looping his arm around her waist
and pulling her close. He angled his head downward and, ever
so tenderly, touched his lips to hers. Heat. Preparing to get
lost in the sensation, Harry briefly conceded to himself that
e needed no other reason to fly 6,000 miles than this.
"Please stop." Laura took a step back and placed both
hands on Harry's chest.
"Why?" Yes, why indeed?
"Because I---I think we need to clear the air first, to----talk
about everything that's happened."
"Well then, go right ahead, Laura, since clearly you seem
to be the one running the show here." With that, Harry reached
behind Laura and slammed the door shut for emphasis. He seized
her elbow, walked her around to the sofa, and none too gently
helped her find a seat. Harry stalked to the other side of the
coffee table and settled in to a chair there. "Do tell."
Laura huffed: "If that's the way you're going to act then---"
"Stop right there. Don't lay claim to being the injured
party just yet. Do bear in mind that I am the one who chased
YOU halfway 'round the world. I am the one who, having spent
the better part of last night standing across the street looking
up here, was left wondering what exactly you were doing with
our dear friend Antony. Apparently I need wonder no more,"
he said as he gestured wildly toward the still-open bedroom door
and began to pace.
"Hey! Nothing happened that I need to be ashamed of."
"Is that so? You walked out on me, Laura. You waltzed right
out of our life together. Do you feel the slightest twinge of
guilt about that?"
Harry had her there, and he knew it. Pressing his advantage:
"And even though you didn't sleep with Antony you still
found it acceptable, no, desirable, to confide in him instead
of me. I mean, this is our marriage we're talking about here,
isn't it? Or is that over?" Stopping for breath, he strode
across the room and knelt in front of Laura, who still sat on
the sofa, wearing a dazed expression that threatened tears. Harry
seized her hands, holding them roughly at first, but then he
began to caress them lovingly. He turned them over to reveal
her palms. "I'm in your hands, you know."
Way too long a pause, and then "I'm sorry." She's sorry.
What did that mean?? Sorry but this is the end of the road? Sorry
I skipped out of town but I needed something at Harrod's? Harry
waited.
"I left because I wanted to be the one doing the leaving,
not the one left behind," Laura came out with in a rush.
"And what" Harry whispered as he moved to nestle between
Laura's knees "could possibly make you think I would ever
turn my back on our marriage?"
"You want, no, you need a family, I know you do. Look, we've
talked about this. You were as determined as I was to make it
happen. And, well, I feel very responsible that it won't happen."
"Laura, that's rubbish. You're my family, you're the only
one I need. I know this conception Olympics has been difficult
for both of us. But if I ever gave you the impression that it
was in any way more important than what we are together, I am
heartily sorry. It isn't and it never will be."
Laura wrapped her legs around Harry's waist and pulled him toward
her. She found his mouth and tasted it. He returned her kiss
with equal ardor, and placing his hands on her hips, drew her
even closer.
The hurt melted away, and passion took its place.
"I missed you. And not just the last few days. More like
the last year. We didn't do right by each other," Laura
found the breath to say.
As he fingered the top button on Laura's blouse and placed kisses
down the nape of her neck, Harry stopped long enough to say "But
do you hear me, do you really hear what I'm saying to you?"
And then he began to ever so slowly pull her blouse from within
its neatly tucked position under her skirt.
"I-----I hear you. I believe you." Each of the buttons
on Laura's blouse were methodically undone. "I---oh, yes----"
"And what else? " Harry prompted as he reached under
Laura's skirt to peel her pantyhose off.
"I won't ever leave you again," Laura panted.
"And.." he coached, as her panties were the next item
of clothing to go.
"And you won't----oh-----you won't ever leave me."
As Harry pushed up Laura's skirt and parted her legs he murmured,
"I think you stated our intentions just right. And now my
intentions are to strip you of what little clothing you're still
wearing and do my best to remind you that I love you."
And so he did.
End of part 5
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6
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