Honeymoon

Chapter 82

NORA RETURNED TO her loft after dinner with one thing on her mind: Craig. All that talk about their sex life had her wishing she were with him now. She’d have to settle for hearing his voice. After changing into her pajamas, she climbed into bed and dialed his number.

It rang five times before he picked up.

“Did I wake you?”

“Not at all,” he said. “I was in the other room, reading.”

“Anything good?”

“Unfortunately, no. It’s all work stuff.”

“Sounds boring.”

“It is. All the more reason I’m glad you called.”

“Do you miss me?”

“More than you know.”

“Ditto for me,” she said. “I wish I were there with you. I have a feeling you wouldn’t be doing any reading.”

“Oh yeah? What would I be doing?”

“You’d be holding me.”

“Anything else?”

Nora breathed into the phone. “Kissing me.”

“Kissing you where?”

“On the lips.”

“Soft or hard?”

“First soft, then hard.”

“Where are my hands?” he asked.

“Different interesting places.”

“Where exactly?”

“My breasts. For starters.”

“Hmmmm. Good start, as I remember. Where else?”

“My inner thighs.”

“Ooh, I like that.”

“Wait… they’re moving higher. Slowly. You tease.”

“I like that even more.”

Nora bit her lower lip. “So do I, actually.”

“Can you feel me?” he whispered.

“Yes.”

“Am I inside you?”

Click.

“What was that?” he asked.

“Shit, it’s the other line.”

“Ignore it.”

Nora looked at her caller ID. “I can’t, it’s one of my girlfriends.”

“Now we’re talking,” he said with a laugh.

“Very funny. Hold on a second, okay? I had dinner with her earlier and if I don’t answer, she’ll be worried.”

She clicked over to the other line. “Elaine?”

“You weren’t asleep yet, were you?” she asked.

“No, I was very wide awake.”

“Wait, you sound out of breath.”

“I’m on the other line.”

“Don’t tell me… Craig?”

“Yes.”

“And I beeped right in the middle of it, didn’t I?”

“It’s okay.”

“Call waiting interruptus. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

“I just wanted to tell you again how ecstatic I am for you, honey. Now get back to whatever you two were doing.”

“I think I will.”

“Soooo jealous!”

Click.

“You still there?” asked Nora.

“I’m here,” he said.

“So, where were we?”

“We were at the point where I definitely wasn’t going to be able to sleep tonight.”

“Me, either. Tomorrow I’m driving out there for the real thing.”

Nora waited for him to say something. Instead, there was silence. What is he thinking?

“I can’t tomorrow,” he said finally.

“Why not?”

“I’ve got this thing I’ve got to attend in Chicago at the home office. In fact, that’s what I was doing the reading for.”

“What kind of thing? You can’t just blow it off?”

“I would, it’s a seminar. Only I’m one of the featured speakers.”

“Oh,” she said, deflated. “Poo.”

“I’ll be back in a couple of days.”

“Will you call me from Chicago?”

“You know it. Maybe we can even pick up where we left off.”

“Maybe, if you’re a good boy.”

“Oh, I’ll be good, all right,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about me.”