Jake and Gill

"Can I undo your shirt, honey?" as she crawled forward on the bed.

"Of course you can."

He stood next to the bed while she stroked his chest through the fabric. He lightly stroked her hair.

"Beautiful shirt."

"It's silk, handmade in China."

"Beautiful," she undid the top three buttons and kissed his chest.

"You," kiss, "are," kiss, "beautiful." Kiss.

With each kiss she undid a button, exposing another section of skin to kiss, and she continued to kiss him all the way down to his belly button as she undid the last shirt button. She noted his chest was smooth and hairless, the smell of his skin zesty with citrus from his shower wash, his muscles firm under taut skin. His underwear-covered erection was rigid and pressing into her chest. She reached up and slipped the shirt off his shoulders and it slid silently, effortlessly to the floor.

"Lay on the bed," she ordered and he complied immediately.

She scooted down the bed and pulled down his underpants. Again, his briefs were silk and weighed next to nothing.

"Do you ever wear boxer shorts?"

"No, do you think I should?"

"Well, they seem to be more popular, you'll have to speak to Clay...." her voice trailed off.

"Yes?"

"Oh dear, we should be two single people overcome with heaving passion, and here I am calmly discussing underwear, like a ... like a mum!"

"I thought you were just trying to make me relax, and it was working."

"Well, not all of you is," she sniggered and pointed, "that thing there is certainly not relaxed. But I can help you with that, if you'd like."

"I would appreciate your assistance, kind lady, if you are offering."

"Just try and stop me!"

"I won't!"

She gripped his erection around the base and started to lick it like a lollipop and then engulfed the top with her mouth.

"Can you move round so I can return the favour?" he asked.

"Of course," she broke off from what she was doing, "scoot down the bed a little.... Yes, that'll do."

She turned over and straddled Jake, and back-pedalled until her mouth was over his juicy stick and her own pleasure zone close enough for him to participate in the mutual pleasure giving. As she started sucking him again, he began to make tentative licks, so she ground her pelvis down, pushing herself onto his mouth. She broke off her sucking, sufficient to say, "Harder, Jake, lick and suck harder!" He pushed his tongue along her slit and sucked for all he was worth.

"Jake," she panted, "I'm ready now."

She lifted herself off and twisted round again, this time positioning her pelvis over Jake's. She lowered until she could guide him into position, then sinking down slowly, feeling herself being filled up.

"God, you're so hot!" he exclaimed.

"That's the best compliment I've had in years!" she laughed.

"Oh, you know what I mean, you've always been 'hot' to me but can't believe how hot and slippery you are, you must be burning up inside."

She started moving up and down.

"All that heat and juice is all down to you, sweetheart, you feel so good."

She started moving quicker, until suddenly Jake flipped her over. He re-entered her, with some adjustment to get comfortable and then began to pound into her. Gill's eyes rolled in her head, her breathing became harder and more uneven, ragged. She tried to thrust up in time with Jake's desperate grinding, but most of the time they were out of sync.

"Oh!" Jake screamed.

Jake's breathing became more pronounced as he exhaled on the second or third thrust. Gill started screaming and Jake shuddered as he came with her and collapsed on top, slightly to one side. She clutched his heaving body tightly to her.

"Oh Jake, that was great, honey. Are you all right?"

"Yes, I think so. Yes, of course I am, that was absolutely amazing! I think I'm completely spent."

"So, do you feel this is something you'd like to do again ... and possibly again and again?"

"Oh yes, please!"

Chapter 7

They lay there cuddling for a while. Gill had pulled the duvet over them although neither were really cold.

"You hungry?" he ventured to suggest.

"You bet!" she said, sitting up, "I need to freshen up first, though."

"There's a bath robe for you hanging up in the bathroom, and in the shoe rack on the left there are several pairs of backless slippers, I wasn't sure of your she size. I'll go sort out the meal."

"Darling, you're so thoughtful."

Jake got and up fetched his bathrobe from the other bathroom, while Gill entered the other doorway. The dressing room was large and she thought she could have got her entire wardrobe, and the kids' in there too, and still have had space to expand her wardrobe by a factor of three. Then the bathroom was something else, huge, with a large standalone bath. Jake had already thoughtfully lined the shelves with new aromatic candles, ready to light, if she wished. She picked up a couple of candles and breathed in their heavy essences. For now she just washed herself down and put on the brand new robe, in soft, fluffy cotton, before joining Jake in the kitchen.

As soon as she entered the kitchen she could smell the spicy goulash. Jake had pulled the large pot out of the oven and had it resting on the marble centre island. He directed her to sit at a breakfast table for two at one end of the console. The table was laid with a setting for two, with the same bright shiny cutlery and cut crystal glasses he used for their first meal, for water, sparkling wine and table wine. Having sat her at her place, he handed her a glass of Champagne to be getting on with. He sat opposite her, smiling, taking her free hand and kissing it.

"Happy?" she asked as his lips sent a tingle through her.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to wash this smile off my face."

"Me too, thank you Jake, you have been a godsend. From being at such a low ebb a few months ago, I now feel I could fly."

"Well, to me you are an angel, so fly wherever, so long as you come back. You ready for something to eat?"

"Mmm, I'm starving, and it smells delicious."

He took some warm plates out of the oven, ladled some of the peppery stew onto the plates, stirred in a spoonful of sour cream and sprinkled some freshly chopped parsley on the top. With a tea towel he carried their steaming plates to the table. He poured a couple of glasses of dark red wine from an already-opened bottle. Gill blew on her first spoonful and tasted the goulash.

"Honey, this is delicious," she said, "I'm not just saying that, I really mean it, this is so tasty."

"Well, I couldn't have this kitchen installed and not use it properly. In fact it's nice to be able to cook for someone else for a change."

They went back to the bedroom and cuddled under the covers for a while, kissing and stroking each other until once again their passions took them over, this time in simple missionary position lovemaking, taken slowly and gently as they worked their way to exhausted mutual satisfaction.

***

They lay sleeping in the bed as the sun came up and illuminated the bedroom. Jake stirred first and Gill, who had her head resting on his chest and one of her legs across his thighs, was disturbed.

She stretched. "Morning, hon, did you sleep well?"

"Like a log, how about you?"

"Very well sweetheart, now, before you cook me breakfast, should we do something about this particular log?"

"Mmm, I must go to the loo first."

"Me too!"

It was in the post-coital glow, assisted by the low spring morning sun that they explored each other's body, systematically stroking, kissing, and commenting pointing out what bodily concerns each had. One of the first observations Gill made was that while Jake's limp left nipple stiffened under attack from her tongue and teeth, his right one was half erect all the time.

"That one was created by my surgeon, Sir Michael Rahn, who is considered an artist with skin, to replace one they couldn't save."

"You poor baby."

"It doesn't have any feeling in it, so I really only have one nipple."

Gill lifted her head off his chest and sat up, cradled her own small but ripe, definitely shapely breasts in the cups of her hand, moving the thumb and forefinger of each hand to the nipples and teasing them until they were nice and stiff. A smile played on her lips. Jake licked his.

"See these babies, Jake?" she breathed.

"Ye-yes."

"These sweet little tits are not mine any longer, I'm giving them to you, they're yours, I'm just minding them for you."

"Mine, eh?" Jake grinned, "They're beautiful."

"They're yours. Your beautiful little tits. You can get them out to play with whenever you want. You can touch them, kiss them, suck them, bite them. When I say any time, I mean, you know, within the bounds of decency, of course; I would want to be able to show my face in the Co-Op again!"

They laughed.

"So, Jake a little maths test: How many nice little titties with working nipples do you have?"

"Er, three?"

"Wrong!"

"Just the two, then?"

"Right, those two on your chest, the working one and the wonky one, they're mine. I'm putting in a claim. I mean it's only fair, you've just been handed two quite nice little titties."

"It is only fair, and I realise that I can give these ones up because I now have the two nicest titties I've ever seen."

"You're damn right. So, who's the artist here, Sir Michael the surgeon or Mother Nature the miracle worker?"

"Mmm, hard to tell without a thorough examination, and you can't get that on the National Heath."

"Well, Jake, I'm just going to check out my one and a bit working tits, what about you?" She raised and lowered her eyebrows a couple of times.

"Sounds a plan, honey, so come here!"

They continued to explore, touch and comment. Jake kissed her stretch marks, even though he couldn't really see what her fuss was all about, regarding them as defects was wildly exaggerated at best.

Gill meanwhile explored every inch of Jake's skin. His chest was hairless, Jake saying that hair only grew around one nipple, which he shaved to balance with the artificial one. When Jake rolled over, so she could kiss his back, Gill had to fight back the tears, his skin on his upper back was puckered and bubbly and an angry red colour.

"My clothing melted onto the skin, which killed off the outer skin layers. As the skin died and flaked off, it left what you can see and feel behind. Sir Michael did some skin graft work here, mostly on the lower back but I had had enough by then. Sir Michael checks me over every six months and says he would love to work on me again, using new techniques, lasers etc, but I'm happy with how I am."

"Yet, you hide yourself away, Jake," she poked him gently, "not just your body, but you hide in the print room when you should be out carving a career in the bank."

"OK, I may wear short sleeve shirts and shorts on occasion in the future, but a banking career?"

"You were brilliant analysing the pony trekking business plan, pointing out the only two possible areas of improvement. And all the advice you give at the bank; you are a natural, honey, and it's a waste of your talents."

"We'll see, let's not talk business this weekend, eh?"

"Sorry, sweetheart."

With no hurry to be anywhere, they cuddled and caressed until hunger drove them to the kitchen. They talked while Jake cooked, popping the sausages and bacon under the grill. He prepared the mushrooms and fetched a can of one-calorie oil from the cupboard.

"I use that brand, too, initially for Clay's fried breakfast, and when I wanted to lose weight, but now I find it a boon for everything," she said, "you look good on it, Jake, really good."

"Thanks," he grinned, "you look pretty fantastic on it yourself."

It was warm with the spring sunshine streaming through the windows of the flat and they were wearing shorts and tee-shirts, Jake was at last comfortably allowing Gill to see him, all of him, albeit indoors together. If he felt self-conscious, his happy expression failed to display it. Gill was soon able to see past his skin and see his shape and the way he moved, and was increasingly fascinated by him.

He placed the plates on the table, she reached over to kiss him thanks, and they sat down opposite one another.

"You were saying how low you felt at Christmas?" Jake asked.

"I was at a low point, the divorce proceedings definitely lowered my self esteem, I almost didn't take the promotion that Gerald offered me, only I needed the money to buy my new house and I felt I couldn't afford to refuse the offer."

"Everyone tells me you've been brilliant in the job, better than Alan, who'd been coasting for too long to his retirement. As his deputy, you'd carried him for the last two years."

"I love my job. But in January, when they were making the appointment, I didn't think I'd get it, there were so many rumours of people who were being interviewed, that someone from outside would likely get the job. So Christmas was a sad low point for me. When Wayne came over for Christmas dinner with the kids, he was feeling sorry for himself too, he stayed behind after they went to bed and drank too much to be allowed to drive home. I made up a bed for him on the sofa and one thing led to another and he ... he seduced me.

"I thought he wanted to call a halt to the divorce and move back in with his family, but it was only later that the kids told me that his girlfriend was in the hospital having his baby while I thought we were getting back together. For him it was only sex, for me it was betrayal all over again, and not very good sex at all."

"I thought the old saying was, 'there's no such thing as bad sex'?"

"It can be bad, believe me, Jake, when there's no love left between you, it was bad. It felt empty, he wasn't interested in making sure I enjoyed what we were doing and I felt cheap, used. Not a thing like the beautiful experience I have when we make love."

"I thought I was too nervous, being my first time, my first exposure to the emotion of it all. I've kept myself bottled up so long."

"You were perfect my love, absolutely." She reached out and grabbed a hand, kissed it. "Look, you may have been nervous about your little white lie about the flat downstairs, but I can understand you being reserved. It's difficult completely opening yourself up to someone for the first time. This is your home and, more than that, it has become your sanctuary from what strangers may think about you or your body. I feel privileged to be here with you and I am unshakeable in my belief that you are a beautiful man, the most beautiful man I know."

"I am the one who feels privileged, Gill, you are perfect."

"None of us are perfect and if there is by some miracle someone out there that is, that person would only be perfect for the blink of an eye, before age or illness or an accident takes that away. I really can't imagine what it felt like, losing your family in one cruel blow, the hurt the pain -"

"I was out of it completely throughout the accident, the trip to the hospital, the initial care while they removed the melted clothing, cut off all my burnt hair. They kept me sedated for several days, I think, and no-one would tell me anything, except that I was not allowed visitors. When I did awaken, I had lost all sense of time. And then my Gran was allowed to come and see me and broke the news to me about Mum and Dad never coming back. It was a shock knowing I would never see them again. They left a hole that even Gran couldn't completely fill, although she tried. I didn't come back here to their, our apartments until I was 15 and started to organise the renovation and modernising. Then, when I started work a couple of years later, I wanted to move back here and live where my parents had lived."

"Well, what little I've seen of the place, piques my interest. I think this is the best time to show me around, let's get the kitchen straight and then you can satisfy my curiosity."

Gill and Jake explored the flat and the views all around the City of London from six stories up. She loved the sheltered roof garden with its triple-glazed garden room, the wonderful furniture and carpets, paintings and the modern kitchen, the many bathrooms. He lovingly described how he designed and remodelled each room, doing a little of the work himself, becoming an accomplished tiler and plasterer in the process. Gill was impressed not only by the quality of the rooms, but that more kept appearing.

"How many bedrooms do you have here, Jake? I think I have lost count."

"Six, although an estate agent may well call this library another bedroom, if my office next door was turned into a bathroom."

They walked through into a cosy but practical office, with a sofa, an easy chair and an old mahogany or walnut desk next to the window. In an alcove stood a tall bookshelf mostly containing ring binders.

"This place must cost a fortune to upkeep, Jake, living here on your own."

"Yes, it is a little sad and pathetic of me, really."

"You can never be regarded as pathetic, Jake, you are the most cheerful, upbeat person I know, and you are wasted in that print room. I've often said so."

"I know," he grinned, "I print out all your reports."

"Well, if ever you need to take in lodgers, I think Jenny would kill to have her own bathroom."

"You and the kids could move in any time you like, Gill."

"I'll give it some serious thought," she laughed, "actually, I think I'm completely lost in this labyrinth."

Jake moved to the bookcase, pushed it with one finger and it swung into the next room. Gill followed him through and found they were back in the master bedroom. Jake closed the bookcase door behind them and it looked just like solid wall.

"If you did move in, Gill, and you couldn't find me, I'd probably be in there."

"I don't know," she chewed her lip.

"Think about it," he smiled and held her hands, "no pressure, but I would love it if you and the kids were here, it would bring life to this whole building."

"It is just too soon. I love you, you know I do, but we have only been seeing each other for three weeks, and we've only just become lovers."

"I love you, Gill."

They held each other for a long time, each filled to the brim with their thoughts of each other and what it would mean to be together. Then Gill lifted her head off his shoulder and looked at him.

"I'll have to think about it, there's things to take into consideration, like chipping into a share of the costs of this place, then there's my mortgage, I'll have to look into using a rental agency."

"Actually, I know someone who would rent your place tomorrow."

"Really?"

"You know Jimmy, Gerry's driver, don't you?"

"No, I don't think so ... do you know everyone, Jake?"

"No, but Jimmy lives with his daughter Sally and her husband, and she's expecting Jimmy's first grandchild in three months' time."

"And ... they need the extra bedroom?"

"They do and more than that, their lease on the flat they are currently in won't allow babies."

"When do they have to move?"

"Anytime, the landlord has already given them notice. He couldn't miss Sally, she's normally tiny but now she's big as a house! Your house would be handy for the Tube to where she works, Grant's car would fit in the garage and Jimmy could park Gerry's car out on the drive, perfect."

"I'm bewildered with all these names, who's who here?" she asked, "I can't rent out to people I don't know."

"Well, they are all family, my family. Jimmy is a second cousin of mine on the Nicholls side, he is divorced and has two daughters. Sally is the eldest and she works for SWN Facilities Management, in the print shop at Winstone's, been there ten years now, after her first two years at Standhope Winter. Through her, Gerry took on Jimmy when he left the Army eight years ago. Grant is ex-military, too, and he's been a taxi driver for about four years."