Page 68 of Rewrites of the Heart

He playfully fingered her breasts. The morning light streaking through the bedroom window told her they needed to prepare for class. Still, she hesitated to let go of him. They had left the unexpected anniversary lunch without anyone noticing. Ironic, she thought, but she wasn’t in the least bit surprised.

“It’s time, you know,” she said, her eyes shut, still feeling the sweetness and tenderness and surge of sexual energy of the prior evening. The explosion which eventually settled into a satisfying gentle completion lingered with her and probably would throughout the day. This man certainly had it all.

“I know,” he answered. But instead of distancing his body from hers, he enfolded her even closer. Then he tenderly traced his fingers over her lips. He smiled and whispered, “I think I’m having an epiphany,” and confidently and passionately kissed her.

Every nerve in her body swelled. Her senses tingled with uncontrolled desire as she wrapped her leg ever tighter around his waist.

Sighing, he eased out of the kiss, holding her at arm’s length. “It goes without saying, Dr. St. Clair, that you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen but…”

“But?” She caught a glimpse of the twinkle in his eye that she loved so.

“You are also the most confusing. Those times when I really didn’t mean to set you off, you ranted, raved, and raged at me. Then when I’m sure I’m about to feel your wrath, I discover an epiphany.”

“Like yesterday?”

“Exactly,” he said, as his hand gently caressed her shoulder. “I’m not complaining, mind you, but I felt sure that anniversary lunch signaled our demise as a couple.”

“It almost did.” She thought about the soul-crushing dread she felt when everyone sang that lame happy anniversary song. “But then Alex said something that put it all in perspective for me. And I realized what a pompous ass I’ve been about so many things.”

“Mind sharing these words of wisdom? I’d love to hear them.”

She bit her lower lip.How to explain this without saying the cousins from Kansas were actually characters from her novel—and that within several months everyone would be reading about them.

“I guess I just realized that if I’m going to have a life outside my novels, I’ve got to understand and accept that some areas are an open book. Instead of hiding and suppressing the details of my life and relationships, I need to follow Alex’s example—and start enjoying every minute of them. Even the seemingly embarrassing ones.”

A silence settled over the room. He turned his head to the side and stroked her hair.

“But I was terrified that epiphany would push you away. I felt when I kissed you at the cafe, I was risking our relationship.”

“Nothing, but nothing could make me leave you, JJ. It took me too long to find you.” He gave her another impassioned kiss.

“Class soon,” she said, as her toes involuntarily curled, and her pelvic area eased closer to him.

“I know.” Slowly he removed his lips from hers.

“I do have to run home and change clothes before I go to class. I may be calling it a bit close.”

“We’ll just have to solve that problem, then,” he said, a smile slowly forming. “Why not bring a couple changes of clothes here, just for weekday moments like this. I think we both need these mid-week diversions.”

“You may have hit upon the solution,” she answered instantly. She surprised herself with the ease she accepted the idea. She really was undergoing a transformation.

And much to her surprise, she liked it.

Chapter 47

“Are they dangerous?” Alex’s hand tightened around Blake’s as she whispered in his ear.

“I doubt it, love,” he whispered back, never taking his eye off the line of what appeared to be random creatures and mutant humans waiting to get into the Physics Café.

“Hey, you two,” shouted a short guy with pointed ears. Blake thought he resembled an overgrown leprechaun in what appeared to be a uniform.

The leprechaun-like creature spoke again. “Get to the back of the line.”

The others in the line grumbled as well.

“Then again, I may have misjudged the potential for hostility in this situation.” By this time, he had his hand on the knob of the left door of the double set entering into the café.

As he scanned the long line, he realized many of the “things” standing in line had pointed ears. He got a better look at the uniforms as well. It seemed there was just one type. It was blue and from the quick survey of those wearing them, they were only properly worn if they were skin tight. On the left shoulder the garb sported a triangular emblem.

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