10 comments/ 53117 views/ 20 favorites Chrissy's Deception Pt. 01 By: JewelTran Christina Michelle Stanton sat in the airport terminal doing one of her favorite things - people watching. As usual, she had arrived at the airport with way too much time to spare. Her flight didn't leave for another hour and she had already been at the gate for almost that long. She sighed and berated herself for her overly serious approach to life. "When will I ever learn to take life less cautiously?" she thought to herself, as she watched the other passengers milling about through the terminal. She was about to turn her attention to a story that she had running in her head, when she noticed a man pacing - and not just any man, but a man in uniform - camouflage, to be exact. She laughed silently to herself as she mentally cursed her attraction to uniforms. What she wouldn't give to have that particular uniform notice her, though. This man gave definition to his clothing that made Chrissy sit up and take extra notice! Chrissy covertly watched the man, through her lowered eyelashes. He looked to be a real man - not some teenager. She would guess that he was in his mid 30's. His hair, what of it she could distinguish from his regulation "high and tight", appeared to be dark brown. She would have enjoyed looking at him anywhere, but she was getting a particularly spectacular view because of his pacing. In fact, she notice, he seemed to be pacing a little too quickly. He seemed agitated. Chrissy's interest was way beyond casual now. She was totally caught up in her secret surveillance. Suddenly, without warning, the man turned toward her, walked rapidly over to her and stopped abruptly, directly in front of her. Chrissy noticed that he towered over her and that his face was knit into a deep scowl as he frowned down at her. His dark brown eyes were flashing with some emotion that looked a lot like anger. Chrissy knew that her eyes had to be as big as saucers. She was stunned by his actions, and as such, she was able only to stare up at him, waiting for him to speak. "May I ask what you are staring at?" asked Chrissy's GI Joe. Chrissy almost moaned when she heard his voice - it was just as deep and smooth as the richest chocolate. But she couldn't spend any time enjoying that thought, because Chrissy knew she needed to focus to handle this situation with tact. She wasn't sure what she was dealing with here. Maybe GI Joe was just a normal guy who didn't like to be stared at or maybe he was a stressed out war veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and was about to erupt into violence. Chrissy decided that humor was the best route to go in this situation - say something funny and not insulting. With a sweet smile and a twinkle in her eye, Chrissy said, "I thought you looked like you were on a mission to wear tread marks into the carpet, single handedly!" Her GI Joe looked at her and his scowl seemed to get even deeper as he processed her response. Then, suddenly, without warning, GI Joe burst out laughing. Chrissy gasped as his face transformed from attractive into stunningly handsome. He dropped into the seat beside her. "I'm on my way home for Christmas and I HATE flying!" he stated. Chrissy was looking at him with some confusion because he seemed quite at ease in the seat beside her, almost as if they had been life long friends. "Well, considering how hard you were pacing, you certainly could have walked where ever you are going by now" she teased him, deciding to stick with the humor since he was responding so well. And she sure didn't want him to get up and leave. GI Joe smiled at Chrissy and stuck out his hand, "My name's Mike. Mike O'Connor." He was holding out his hand and looking at Chrissy expectantly. Chrissy's mind was spinning. This incredible specimen of the male species had approached her and was acting quite solicitous. She wasn't sure, because she didn't have a lot of experience, but it felt like he was flirting with her. If he was . . . "My name is Mickey - Mickey Smith," Chrissy stuttered. Mike continued to smile at her and began waving his hand that he was holding out to her, "Do you shake on command?" he questioned, with a glint of humor in his eyes. Chrissy forced herself to shake his hand, as her mind was reeling with possibilities. Of course, changes were slim that anything would come of this meeting, but oh, if only something could come of it. And Chrissy had a pretty good idea of exactly what she would like to have come of this meeting. See, Chrissy had recently made some life altering decisions. She had a wonderful job as Commercial Loan Officer in one of the largest bank chains in the country. She had bought her first condo and had it almost paid off. Her life was going right as she had planned, except for one minor catch. Chrissy had decided, after long and careful deliberation, that she was ready to have a baby. But she was 30 years old and had never had a serious relationship with a man. She had always told herself that true love was just around the corner and that the man who could appreciate her was just about ready to enter her life. But she had waited and waited, done everything she could think of, and she still hadn't met that someone special. And Chrissy was tired of waiting. She just wanted to get on with her life. In her plans, Chrissy had always seen herself as a mother. Just because she didn't have a husband, it didn't mean she couldn't have her child. Chrissy had decided that she wanted several children eventually, but she realized that she was going to have to start with one. Although adoption was in her future, she wanted to experience pregnancy with her first child. She had done her research, contacted her doctors and created her strategy. First she would go celebrate Christmas with her sister and her sister's new fiancee, then she would head back home and be artificially inseminated. After that, her life would be on "go" and she would be able to continue with the plans she had made for herself. But sitting right here, beside what happened to be the most handsome man she had ever met, Chrissy was having second thoughts. If this man really was flirting with her (a concept almost completely outside her comprehension), then maybe she could actually seduce him and have a real live sperm donor. It wasn't the perfect time of the month, but, if it worked, it would be exciting to not be a virgin when her child was born. She would also be able to honestly tell her child something about his or her father. And since she had had the sense to not give him her real name, she could walk away from this man and never have to see him again. He would never need to know that he fathered her child. Chrissy realized that, if she ever hoped to pull this off, for the next 24 hours, she needed to truly become someone different from her everyday self - she needed to become Mickey Smith - confident, sexy and available Mickey Smith. So she took a deep breath and grabbed onto her new identity. As she turned to look at the man beside her, she wondered how one went about a seduction? She also wondered what he saw when he looked at her. She didn't delude herself into thinking that he was blown away by her beauty and charm. Chrissy knew what she had to work with - not only did she consider her features to be plain at best, but she also knew her body didn't meet society's expectations of appealing, either. She was short, barely topping out at 5 foot. She also was plus sized, extra curvy or fat depending on her mood any given day. Never had Chrissy been slender and sexy, but she had long ago decided that she could be neat and presentable. Not that anyone could tell, considering the ratty old outfit she had put on this morning, but most days she wore a suit and pulled her hair into an executive bun, looking as polished and attractive as she could, given what she considered to be her limitations. And most days Chrissy could deal with the fact that none of the men in her life saw her as a woman, only as an executive, a confidant and a friend. But some days it hurt. She was a woman, and she would have appreciated somebody noticing. But day after day, she listened to her male friends, which she seemed to have a lot of, bemoaning or bragging about their current love lives. Some days she wanted to pick up her briefcase and knock them over the head. She wanted to shout, "Don't you see that I am a WOMAN?!?" But she didn't. And, if the truth was to be known, there weren't really any men in her life that she was interested in having notice her in a romantic way. But, right beside her sat a man that she was very interested in having notice her in a romantic way. So, putting aside her doubts, she began thinking out her seduction. It made sense that first, she needed to find out where he was headed. This was a big airport and he might not be going her direction. If they weren't going to the same place, her plans would be all for naught. Putting on her huskiest voice, she drawled, "So where are you going for Christmas?" Mike seemed not to notice her effort at sounding sexy and answered blandly, "My brother invited me out to see his new ranch just south of Boise. I had a little leave time coming, so I decided to take him up on it. He has just up and decided to settle down, so I figured I better go make sure he's making the right decision. Once a big brother, always a big brother!" Chrissy's breath caught in her chest as he rambled on, talking about his family. She didn't bother listening to the rest of his story after he mentioned his destination. He was going to be on the same plane as her. Great! Now, how did she get him where she wanted him? Interrupting his continuing monologue, she abruptly asked, "Are you really scared of flying?" He looked at her, arching his eyebrow in surprise, realizing that she hadn't been listening to him. "As a matter of fact, today, I really am," he answered. "Maybe we could get our seat assignments together and I could walk you through deep breathing if you get too scared." Mike looked at her skeptically. "Deep breathing?" he questioned. "Yeah, it always works on TV!" she answered him quickly with a sweet smile. Mike's deep laugh drew Chrissy's breath up into her throat. She couldn't do this. Oh yes she could! And she was going to, even if she did have to make a fool out of herself. She was going to give this man a run for his money. If he didn't want her, he was going to have to spell it out. Mike was fascinated by the red haired tiger beside him. She was feisty with comebacks and quick with her wit. She seemed to not have a pretentious bone in her body. Her hair was pulled back loosely in a clip that flipped it up off of her neck. Her ample little body was covered in a sweat suit and her tennis shoes looked like they had seen better days. Comfortable clothes to travel in, but not really suited to trying to catch the attentions of a man. If she hadn't been so obviously trying to hide her observation of him, he doubted that he ever would have approached her. He enjoyed shocking people, but he hadn't managed to knock this little lady off balance. She hadn't been as put out as he had hoped by his forthrightness. She had just matched him, jest for jest. He liked how that made him feel. He liked how she made him feel, just sitting here talking about life. Mike hadn't had an easy life. He had been abandoned by his birth parents before his first birthday. When he was four, he had been adopted by an older couple, who weren't able to have children. When he was eight, his parents brought him home a brother. Mike was fascinated by his little brother. He was two years younger than Mike, he had been orphaned only the year before and he had been completely alone in the world. Mike had seen the fear and uncertainty in his little brother's eyes and had immediately taken him under his wing. Mike and his brother were inseparable as they grew up. Early on, Mike had filled out his lanky 6'3" frame and a coach grabbed him as a football player. Mike discovered that he enjoyed the game. Mike's parents weren't wealthy and Mike's upcoming college years were going to be a huge expense. Mike was fairly sure he could cover his cost with a football scholarship. That just left Mike's brother. But Mike wasn't really worried about him, because his brother was the real brain of the family. Mike was proud of the fact that his brother had even managed to skip a grade in junior high. But then the unthinkable happened. Mike's mother had discovered that she had cancer. After a long, painful battle in Mike's junior year of high school, she finally died, the first day of summer break. Mike's dad just couldn't face life without his wife. Even his sons couldn't bring him out of his depression. When Mike got the call that his dad had been involved in a one car, fatal accident, Mike couldn't even say that he was surprised. That turning event in Mike's life had occurred in February of his senior year in high school. Mike was going to turn 18 in March. After the funeral, Mike sat his brother down for a serious talk. They decided that since there was no money for college they needed to make other plans. Mike had asked his cousin, who was older, with a husband and little boy of her own, if his brother could live with them during his senior year. She had readily agreed and that situation had worked out really well. Mike was in a different situation, though. He knew that he had lost his focus during his senior year, and even with his athletic abilities, his grades were too low to get into college. So, without too much thought, Mike dropped out of high school and joined the Marines. Fortunately, Mike had a recruiter who was truly interested in helping the young people he was enlisting. He had made sure that Mike got his GED, even if he wasn't going to get his diploma. Mike entertained thoughts of going to college later on, but, once he got into the Marines, he felt like he found his niche in life. He loved the order, the planning and the opportunities. Mike was a good Marine and worked his way up the ranks. While serving his country in Kuwait City during Desert Storm, Mike had managed to save the life of a young Kuwaiti woman. Her father was a diplomat, and his praise of Mike's actions reached important people of higher rank. Mike's reward was to be moved to a job with a senior officer. He now served as Personal Assistant to one of the highest ranking officers in the country. Even though he was looking forward to his upcoming retirement from the military, he liked his life and he was proud of his accomplishments. The years had passed quickly for Mike. He had only visited his brother on rare holidays. His brother had managed to go on to college and didn't stop until he had his PhD in agricultural business. Mike had no idea where that interest had come from, but his brother had done well for himself. Neither of the brothers had ever married or had children. Mike knew that his own reasons were fairly simple. He had never met a woman that knocked his socks off. Occasionally, he thought about settling down and starting a family, but, since he hadn't met the right woman, and he was so often traveling, he had never even given the thought serious consideration. Mike had often wondered why his brother hadn't married, though. But things were different now. Suddenly his brother was getting married and he was inviting Mike home to meet the woman of his dreams. These two lovebirds were planning to spend the rest of their lives together and Mike's brother wanted Mike's blessings. Mike was a serious cynic when it came to romance, having seen far too many military marriages crumble under the stresses of life. But he wanted to give his brother the benefit of the doubt, so he was dutifully coming to spend Christmas with the couple. He genuinely hoped that he would be able to truthfully bless their union at the end of the holiday. But, right now, he was stuck in an airport with a cute little redhead. And right now, she was worried about his fear of flying. Hell, he was worried about his fear of flying. Not that it was really a fear of flying. He had never had a problem flying before, but of course, he had never bothered taking the time to think about it before, either. He was always on a mission, following orders, jumping ahead in his thoughts to his next maneuver. But here he was on "holiday" and he had nervous jitters about getting onto a commercial flight. Go figure. However, this fascinating creature was offering to help him out and he was just tempted enough to see where this was going. "Let me see your ticket," Mike said to Chrissy. She looked at him skeptically. He explained, "I'll go up and see if they can change our seats to put us together." Mike would have sworn that the redhead's eyes couldn't get any bigger. "OK," she murmured. He wondered at the expression on her face, but decided that it must be some woman thing that he didn't really want to understand. She handed him her ticket and he went up to the counter. Chrissy sat in stunned silence as she watched Mike's handsome backside walk away from her. She couldn't believe that this was going to work. She really hadn't counted on that, but now she really needed to plan her next step. She was still pondering the situation when Mike returned. He looked slightly perplexed when he handed her back her ticket. But before Chrissy could ask what was wrong, Mike shook his head, as if clearing out imaginary cobwebs. "I sure could go for a cup of coffee. Care to join me?" he asked. When he held out his hand to her, Chrissy took it with a look of wonder on her face. This was going to be easier than she had thought. Mike looked over at the woman beside him as they walked through the terminal. Apparently she hadn't realized that, when she gave him her ticket, she had given herself away. The name on her ticket was not Mickey Smith. It was Christina M. Stanton. Mike knew how tight airport security was these days and he knew that if this woman was able to get on a plane with that ticket, she had to have ID that stated she was Christina Stanton. Maybe the M. stood for Mickey and she went by her middle name, but Smith still wasn't Stanton. He reasoned that maybe she was smart enough not to give her real name out to just any stranger she met. That had to be it. She was just protecting herself. Mike breathed out a sigh of relief at having solved that mystery. Now that he was sure that he understood, he decided that he would wait until later to tell her that he had sleuthed out her identity. They could have a good laugh and she could tell him, in her own words, how she was trying to protect herself from some stranger she had just met. Over coffee, Mike stopped worrying about Chrissy's name. And Chrissy forgot all about her plan to seduce Mike. She got so engrossed in talking to him and enjoying his company that she lost track of her main objective. Mike was not only easy on the eyes, he was also a great conversationalist. He told her funny stories about his years in the service and made her laugh with exploits from his childhood. For his own part, Mike found that he liked to make her laugh. He enjoyed seeing the genuineness that shone from her eyes. He found himself wishing that the Christmas holiday with his family could be this pleasurable. Maybe he should ask where she was going to spend the holidays so he could look her up if things got too crazy with his brother. When he opened his mouth to ask, the PA system announced the boarding of their flight. Deciding that he would ask about her destination later, Mike helped Chrissy out of her seat and they walked back over to their gate. Chapter Two Chrissy and Mike's seats were the last two in the plane. By the time they boarded, Mike had completely forgotten that he had been worried about this flight. Apparently his Mickey had not forgotten though. She settled into the seat by the window and looked up at him expectantly as he stowed his carry-on. He sat down beside her and she reached over and took his hand. "Tell me what I can do for you," she whispered to him. Chrissy's Deception Pt. 01 Mike realized that she was trying to keep others from overhearing so he wouldn't be embarrassed. He decided that this wasn't the time to explain that he had overstated his "fear" and that he was actually a veteran of hundreds of flights. Instead, he looked down at their joined hands and came up with a brilliant idea. At least it seemed so at the time! "Well, one sure fire way to help me forget is for us to make out," he suggested, leering playfully at her. Mike was shocked spitless when she nodded her head seriously and said, "OK, when should we start?" He schooled his features to keep from letting her know how much she had startled him. "Well, maybe when we take off, it would be easier for me if we were liplocked." He was trying to still keep the conversation light, just in case she suddenly threw back her head and laughed in his face. He couldn't believe that a woman who was savvy enough to think to use a false name would then turn around and kiss a man she barely knew. But the look on Chrissy's face assured Mike that she was serious. After the initial flight instructions, the engines roared as the plane accelerated down the runway. Mike was certain that at any moment Mickey would back out of their planned kiss. Just as the plane left the ground, he leaned over toward Mickey to say he was just joking about the kiss. But before he could open his mouth, she grasped his chin and turned his face completely toward her. Mike barely had time to register what Chrissy was doing before she was kissing him. It took a moment for his surprise to fade. However, from the sudden stirring in his lap, Mike noticed that his body had kicked in before his mind had finished processing the situation. Being in the back of the plane had its advantages and the main one right now was that no one could see what they were doing. Mike wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her right, but there was no way with the seat belts restricting their movements. He had to make do with awkward angles and armrests, but damn, her lips felt good. As Mike ended the kiss and pulled away to look into her eyes, Chrissy felt her world spin. She had kissed a few guys in her lifetime, but she had never felt the earth move. OK, so she was in a plane in midair that was going through some turbulence. That had to be it. Kisses didn't make you feel like that. The look in Mike's eyes said that he was having similar thoughts. Suddenly he was kissing her again, as if testing the theory that the plane was playing tricks on their minds. Mike had managed to twist around in his seat and was pulling her body closer to his as their lips opened to one another. As Mike dipped his tongue into Chrissy's mouth for the first time, Chrissy heard a deep moan. She wasn't sure if it came from her or from Mike. The feelings she was experiencing were too strong for her to think straight. Time seemed to stand still as Mike continued to explore her mouth. Finally, another sound entered her mind. It was the sound of someone having trouble clearing their throat. She felt Mike pull away slowly and, over his shoulder, Chrissy saw the flight attendant standing in the aisle watching them. "Would you care for anything to go with that snack, or are you both fine the way you are?" the model thin, bleached blond asked, raising her perfectly plucked eyebrow. She was clearly intent on interrupting them, appearing quite annoyed. Chrissy was confused at the attendant's behavior for a moment before she realized that the woman only had eyes for Mike and she was giving him a rather sensual once over with those eyes. Chrissy almost laughed out loud as she realized that the woman was jealous of Mike kissing her. Chrissy couldn't remember anyone ever being jealous of her, let alone some Barbie look alike. Mike didn't seem to notice the underlying the flight attendant's unspoken offer, though. He turned back to Chrissy and said, "So, how about it Mickey? You want anything?" When she saw the blatant look of lust that he shot at her lips, Chrissy couldn't get words out past the sudden lump of desire in her throat. Finally, she just nodded her head. Mike smiled knowingly and turned back toward the flight attendant, "Two cokes, please." The woman served their drinks and breezed off in a huff. Chrissy finally couldn't suppress her laugh any longer. "You just broke that woman's heart!" she playfully chastised Mike. "Well, the bi . . . hummm, lady, shouldn't have interrupted," he muttered back. Chrissy squeezed Mike's hand and he turned to look her in the eye. She knew it was now or never. "Mike, if you want to continue, I don't have anywhere that I have to be tonight." Chrissy bit her lower lip and waited. Mike looked down into his drink and appeared to be thinking about it. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, he looked back up at her. "Mickey, I'm not in a habit of sleeping with women I have just met. But if you are offering, I need to make a phone call when we land, then I'd love to spend the evening with you." Chrissy's breath whooshed out of her. "Thank God," she whispered, not sure she could trust herself to say anything else. Mike studied Chrissy's reaction. He didn't get the feeling that this woman was used to casual sex, and he was a bit mystified as to why she was offering. He really didn't know a lot about her, except that she had lied about her name and that her kisses made him feel like a wildfire was burning inside. But he wanted to know more. He wanted to get inside her, body and soul and see what made her tick. He wasn't sure he had made the right decision by deciding to spent the night with her, but he knew that, in truth, he really didn't have a choice. His heart was going with this woman, and he figured his body might as well go along for the ride. During the rest of the flight, Chrissy was more relaxed and open. She told Mike about her sister, Tracy, having written to her about this man she had met. Tracy had told her that they were very serious. They had already moved in together, although her sister assured her that they weren't sleeping together yet. "Some things are better to wait for," her sister had said. Chrissy realized that her sister would be appalled at Chrissy's own plans for the coming night, but she couldn't worry about that now. Mike had agreed to her offer and life was looking up. She hoped all those stories about women getting pregnant the first time were true. As the plane began its final descent, Mike turned to ask Chrissy if she was going to rent a car when they landed. He barely got his mouth open before she was kissing him again. It took a moment to realize that she still thought he was afraid of flying and she was distracting him during the landing. It sure as hell was working, too! In seconds, Mike could think of nothing but the feel of her lips and the taste of her mouth. He felt like a starving man at a gourmet buffet. Again, it was that annoying throat clearing that brought them back to reality. The same flight attendant stood, scowling, over them. "The rest of the passengers have already deplaned. Are you two planning on staying here or are do you have a room somewhere you could go to?" she asked pointedly, barely concealing her disgust. Mike rolled his eyes at Chrissy and helped her out of the seat. He grabbed their carry-ons and followed her down the aisle, off of the plane, pointedly ignoring the flight attendant. Chrissy burst out laughing the moment they entered the terminal, "What a disappointed lady you have left behind!" she kidded Mike. Mike just snorted and began making his way toward the baggage claim. Chrissy walked alongside him as best she could. He was much taller and her short little legs didn't cover nearly as much distance as his longer stride. Finally, she said, "Slow down! We're not in a race!" Mike looked down at her in confusion, then smiled as he realized the problem. He shortened his pace and made an effort to match her stride, acknowledging that the last thing he wanted to do at this point was walk off and leave her. After they claimed their suitcases, Chrissy went over and rented a car, while Mike called his brother. His brother was concerned to hear that Mike had missed his flight (an outright lie, if he ever told one!) and was glad to hear that he had already booked one for the following day. Mike assured him that he would catch a cab out to his place after his flight got in. Mike didn't like lying to his brother, but he also didn't want to explain that he had a better offer for the night. When Mike came back, Chrissy met him by the exit. "I have the car, but when I asked about a motel, the man at the counter suggested that we use the motel right here beside the airport. It has a shuttle to it and he said it was rated the best in the area and we could get a discount from the car rental. I hope you don't mind, but I went ahead and booked the room," she finished hesitantly. Mike smiled, "I would have been glad to pay for the room. And, to tell you the truth, I'm glad it's close by." Mike snagged a luggage cart and loaded up their bags. They headed back through the airport to the shuttle. "Don't you need to go pick up the car, or check it out or something?" Mike asked. Chrissy said, "No. When I explained about needing a room for the night, they changed the reservation till tomorrow. They were quite accommodating!" The shuttle whisked them away from the terminal. It only took a moment for them to arrive at the motel. A porter directed them to the elevator. Although the porter also offer to take their bags, Mike declined. He was much more comfortable handling them himself. As they looked out the glass sides of the elevator, Chrissy sighed at the sight. She felt very decadent to be staying at a five star motel, planning to dine in the room on fine cuisine and the best champagne. Actually, Chrissy didn't drink, but it seemed that a true seduction must have champagne. With that in mind, she had already arranged to have it and some chocolate dipped strawberries placed in the room before they arrived. When the elevator stopped on the 12th floor, Chrissy and Mike stepped off into a beautifully decorated hall. There were only two doors on the hall. Mike looked quizzically at Chrissy. She tried to stifle her smile and act like she was perfectly used to booking an expensive suite of rooms for one night. As Mike brought the luggage off of the elevator, Chrissy went to the door on the left and slid the card key down the slot on the door handle. The door swung open and Chrissy's breath caught in her throat. Chrissy knew she had laid down a bundle of cash for this experience, but in that moment, she knew it was worth every penny. The sitting room was stunning both in structure and accessories. The far wall was completely glass, over looking a beautiful scene of trees and snow. The furniture, rather than standing out in the room, seemed to blend in, as though it were a part of the room rather than an addition. Chrissy crossed the threshold and stood in the middle of the room, soaking up the ambiance. "Wow!" was all Mike said as he followed her in. Mike walked past Chrissy and threw open the door to the bedroom. The two suitcases he was carrying fell from his hands. He stood in the doorway and just stared, open-mouthed. Chrissy came over and tried to get a better view, but Mike's body seemed to fill the door. Finally, she cleared her throat and said, "Mike? Can we go into the room?" When Mike finally stepped aside, Chrissy could see why he had faltered. The room was the most amazing bedroom she had ever seen. The covers on the massive king sized bed were folded back. The canopy over the bed had sheer drapes that were pulled back to allow access into the bed. In the middle of the bed sat the strawberries on a silver platter. There was a champagne bucket beside the bed and two flutes stood on the bedside table. There was also a heart shaped hot tub in one corner. In front of the wall of windows in this room, the floor was covered with large, colorful pillows, creating a sitting area on the floor. There were flower arrangements on every flat surface and music seemed to be coming out of the walls. The whole room seemed to exude an air of romance. It was Chrissy's turn to say, "Wow!" Mike turned around to face Chrissy. He had every intention of telling her that he didn't make it a habit to stay in a place like this, even for one night. But the look of pure joy on her face, as she stood there in her worn out tennis shoes and faded jogging suit caused him to stop. She had chosen this and, by God, she deserved it. He would worry about finding a way to pay her back later. As Mike smiled down at her indulgently, Chrissy looked at Mike with her eyes aglow. "Would you leave the suitcases and go back into the other room for just a minute, please," she pleaded. As soon as Mike was out of the room, Chrissy rushed to open her suitcase. She had brought several presents to give to her sister in honor of her upcoming wedding. One of the gifts was a pretty, sheer, lacy teddy. Chrissy had hoped that her sister would get a kick out of something so absolutely out of character for the both of them. But right at this moment, Chrissy had a different plan for that teddy - her sister would just have to get her own! After Mike backed out of the bedroom, he went back to take another look around the rest of the suite. He had scoped out the place and was standing in front of the windows, admiring the view, when he heard Chrissy behind him. He turned to ask if she had seen the view. But when he saw her, he couldn't get a word out. He found that he couldn't seem to breathe either. Standing in front of him, Chrissy had changed into some sort of sexy little scrap of material and nothing else. It was deep blue in color and very sheer. Even though there wasn't very much of the outfit, what there was of it did bring out the blue in her eyes. She had let her red hair down and it hung below her shoulders in cascading curls. As it caught the light, it looked like living flames. As Mike continued to stand there and stare, Chrissy began to lose her courage. She had been so certain when she had walked out of the bedroom, but she really had imagined some sort of response from Mike. In fact, she had imagined that her outfit would elicit a positive response given their kisses on the plane. But Mike just continued to stare. "Mike? Are you alright?" Chrissy questioned quietly. Suddenly shaking his head as if he had just returned to reality, Mike crossed the room in three long strides. He put his large hands on her shoulders and hauled her into his chest. She tilted her face up to look at him. When she did, his mouth claimed hers. Mike was kissing her like there was no tomorrow and Chrissy was lost in his kiss. Suddenly, Chrissy felt the earth move again. This time she realized that something really had moved. She opened her eyes and pulled her mouth away from Mike, "Wha. . .? Mike, put me down! I'm too heavy to carry! Put me down!" Mike ignored her pleas as he walked across the room toward the bedroom. He wasn't sure why she thought she was too heavy for him to pick up, but he really didn't want to spend a lot of time at that moment discussing it. Her outfit and his response to it had created an urgency that he hadn't felt in a long time. Hell, judging by the sudden binding tightness of his pants, he wasn't sure he had ever felt a need this deep. When he reached the bed, he sat Chrissy down on the side of it. "If you don't want jam made out of that tray of strawberries, I would suggest you move them," Mike growled. Chrissy quickly scooted across the bed to put the platter on the other night stand. When she turned around, she felt her eyes pop wide open. Mike had stripped off his boots, socks, and shirt and was standing beside the bed in only his camo pants. He was reaching for the snap when Chrissy managed to climb back over the bed and stop him. "I really want to do that for you," she whispered. Mike's knees almost buckled. He had never had a woman want to undress him before. Lots had wanted him undressed, but none had taken her pleasure from doing the undressing. Chrissy's hands were shaking so badly that she almost couldn't get the zipper down. She struggled to push the pants down over Mike's hips and then helped him to step out of them. When she looked back up, her breath got caught in her throat again. Mike was standing before her, naked except for his white briefs. The bulge in the briefs made his desire evident. Chrissy couldn't help herself. She leaned over and kissed that bulge, through the material of his briefs. Mike sunk his hands into Chrissy's hair and moaned deeply as he leaned into her lips. Mike realized how short this experience would be if he allowed Chrissy to continue her exploration, though. He guided her face upward and began kissing her mouth again. He left on his briefs and climbed onto the bed with Chrissy. He lowered her to the pillows and let his kisses trail down her neck and over the soft swell of her breast. Chrissy was moaning and arching under his hands. He chuckled at her obvious desire, flattered that she found his lovemaking that exciting. While he continued to kiss her breast, he let his hand wonder down her body. He felt the swell of her hip and slipped his hand inside her teddy to cup over her mound of curls. Chrissy gasped in his arms as he gently nudged her legs open. As he stroked and caressed her, it was clear that she was enjoying the moment. He slid one finger inside her and her eyes flew open in shock. Mike thought that was a strange response, almost like she had never experienced such a feeling before. Suddenly Mike pulled away from her to look in her eyes, "Mickey? Mickey, you are experienced aren't you? This isn't your first time is it?" Mike could tell by the "deer in the headlights" look that she gave him what the answer was. "You're a virgin?" he asked in a stressed voice that didn't sound at all like himself. Chrissy's face fell. She had debated telling him, but thought she could pull off her act, maybe even without him ever knowing. She raised her eyes up to Mike. "You aren't going to stop are you? Please don't stop," she begged. Mike looked into her eyes and was honest enough with himself to admit that he wasn't sure he could stop now even if he wanted to. But given the combination of her pleading with him to continue and his own desire raging inside of him, he knew there was no way he wanted to stop. He dropped a kiss on her mouth and said, "No, Mickey. I'm not going to stop. But I do think we need to slow things down a little." Mike wanted this to be everything his Mickey had ever dreamed about. Although his desire wasn't abating, he managed to exert a little more control over himself. He unsnapped Chrissy's teddy and slipped it off of her. Then he once again began kissing her breast as he pulled her into his body. He caressed her back and kneaded her backside as she once again lost herself in the feelings he was creating. He moved his hand around to the front and again stroked through her virginal curls. His fingers explored and probed this time, coaxing and teasing. She was wiggling desperately, trying to get his hand where she wanted it, but he was holding back, letting her desire build. Finally, he gave in and slipped a finger inside of her. She groaned out loud and began thrashing about under him. Mike loved watching her as he stroked and pleased her. He moved to where he could see what he was doing. She opened her eyes when she felt his weight shift. "Where are you going?" she asked fearfully, as though she was afraid he was going to leave her. Mike laughed to himself and thought, "Yeah, as if that were a real possibility!" Outwardly Mike just smiled and said, "Shhhhh. Don't worry. Just relax." Chrissy's Deception Pt. 01 Chrissy's body fascinated Mike. He had never had sex with a woman who was built like her. She was so soft. He loved the feel of her flesh and he really liked all of her curves and dimples. His hand stroked over her stomach and he watched her reaction. Although he suspected that she wasn't real comfortable with that part of her body, Mike found that he really liked to touch her belly. And she really seemed to like his touch. She arched and moaned as Mike continued his exploration. She felt so good in his arms. Mike was lost in the wonder of her lush body. Mike moved his hand over her, against her and within her, building Chrissy's passion to a fevered pitch. He held her back from the edge, each time adding an extra finger inside of her. When he was fairly sure that he had done all he could to prepare her, he pushed her over the emotional edge, watching her face and body contort and shudder with her climax. While she was still in the afterglow, he quickly ripped off his underwear. He rose up above her and slipped inside of her. Although he noticed the virginal barrier when he passed through it, she showed no signs of distress. Once he was seated inside of her, he took a moment to rest and let her get used to this new sensation. At that moment, Chrissy was beyond all logical thought. The only thing that mattered was this man. He was her universe at that moment. To feel him inside of her was the most completing experience she had ever had. The climax that had just shattered her soul was only a fitting prelude for what she was feeling now. Never had she imagined that sex could be like this. Of course, she had never believed she could feel so much desire for one man either. Mike seemed perfectly content to stay still above her, but she was losing patience with that stillness. She began thrusting her hips up into Mike's, trying to tell him that she wanted more. Mike laughed softly, "Well, so much for letting you acclimate to me." "Miiiiiike!" Chrissy cried. He took his cue and began meeting her thrusts. It only took a matter of seconds before they found a rhythm that worked for them. As Mike took her higher and higher, Chrissy swore she could see stars. When she felt Mike's body tense and thrust into her in his final release, she was sure that she saw the universe. As they lay together in the peaceful moments after their climaxes, Mike turned to face Chrissy. "Mickey, that was incredible," he murmured. Chrissy tensed briefly at the depth of her deception, but she wasn't going to stop now. She thrust aside the guilt and snuggled down into Mike's arms. "Is it always like that?" she whispered. Mike's laugh was loud in the quiet room, "Hardly! I've never experienced anything like that!" Chrissy sighed in contentment. Without really planning to, both Chrissy and Mike fell asleep as they lay entwined. When Mike opened his eyes again, it was getting dark. He glanced over at the clock on the bedside and realized it was getting close to supper time. They had missed lunch, and he was feeling some serious hunger pains. Of course, he could just munch on strawberries and fill up his hunger with more of the woman sharing this bed with him, but he really wanted to take her out and show her a good time. He didn't want to get too tired, because he wanted to come back to the room and have another exhilarating union. Union? Union? Oh, God! Mike realized with a sinking feeling that he hadn't used a condom. For Pete's sake! He had never had sex without a condom. Not even when he was a wet-behind-the-ears teenager! What in the world had he been thinking? Chrissy moaned in her sleep and rolled over onto her stomach. Mike was treated with a full view of her tempting backside. Almost without conscious thought, he reached over and began caressing her. "Mickey? Mickey? Honey, wake up." Chrissy opened one eye. When she realized where she was, she sat bolt upright in the bed. "Mike!" "Yes? Were you expecting someone else when you woke up?" Mike asked playfully. Although he was somewhat amused by her surprised reaction to finding herself in his bed, he quickly put aside that thought. He couldn't get waylaid now. "Mickey . . . God, I don't know how to say this. Mickey, I didn't use any protection. I . . . what if I get you pregnant?" Even as the words came out of his mouth, Mike realized that, for the first time in his life, the thought of having a child, especially one with this woman, was appealing. He brushed aside that thought as well, though, and focused on Mickey. She was laughing. "Oh, Mike. Don't worry about it. It's alright. I'm protected," Chrissy soothed him. Of course she wasn't about to tell him that it was her entire intention that she get pregnant. She wasn't sure what she would have done if he had pulled out a condom earlier, but fortunately she hadn't had to deal with that. Mike tried to feel the relief that he was certain he was supposed to be feeling. Instead, he was surprised to find a tiny speck of regret. He didn't have the time to dwell on his reaction, though, if he planned to take this woman out to dinner. "Come on, then. Let's go celebrate! Get up and let's go get some supper!" Chrissy frowned at Mike. She didn't want to celebrate that he was so pleased that she wouldn't be getting pregnant. She covered her disappointment at his apparent joy by saying, "I thought we would order up room service, so we could continue . . . ". Mike smiled at her, "Oh, don't think we won't continue, but I want to take you out and show you off first." Show her off? No man had ever even wanted to be seen casually with her, and here this incredible man wanted to take her out for a romantic dinner. Chrissy decided she couldn't pass up that offer. She pushed aside her gloomy thoughts and started to climb out of the bed. Mike was already across the room, "There's another bathroom off the sitting room. I'm going to go shower. You use this one. Be back in a few minutes." Chrissy went into the bathroom. As she warmed up the shower, she thought about what had just happened. She couldn't have asked for a more patient and considerate lover. He had shown her things she had never even imagined before. But the reality was that she wanted a child and Mike was thrilled to believe that there would be no chance of a child resulting from their night together. So it would all end tomorrow morning - just like she had planned. She wanted a child desperately, and Mike seemed to want desperately to not have a child. Oh, well, at least she had tonight. Chrissy had only packed one nice outfit. It was a spur of the moment purchase that she still was wondering about. It wasn't practical and she couldn't wear it to the office. It was a short red zip up blazer that had a fancy zipper on it that had an opener at the top and at the bottom. You could unzip it from the bottom or the top, or both. It was cut to show off her breasts, and it actually made her look like she had a waist. She put a black mini skirt on with it. When she added her black tights and ballet flats, she had to admit that she liked the outfit. She put on her choker necklace and dangling earrings. With her hair pulled up into a flip that allowed the curls to erupt over the top of her head, she felt sophisticated and somewhat sexy. Mike walked into the room right as she was finishing with her hair. He had changed into khaki pants and a button down blue oxford shirt. He had rolled the sleeves up and left the top button open. Chrissy blinked twice as she realized that she never had imagined him out of his uniform. He was stunningly handsome. His gaze swept over her and she watched as the desire lit up his eyes. It was shocking to her that he wanted her, but she wasn't about to question it tonight. If she had planned on having a real relationship with this man - one that lasted longer than one night - she would have wanted to ask him lots of questions about his feelings. But, as it was, tonight was not going to be wasted on questions. Mike crossed the room and pulled her into his arms, "You know, if I hadn't made reservations downstairs, I would greatly enjoy undressing you right now. However, I have made plans for you, so we will simply have to postpone that pleasant activity for now." He kissed her lightly before stepping away to grab his shoes and socks. Chrissy was very impressed by the restaurant that Mike had chosen. Of course, it was the motel restaurant, because neither Mike nor Chrissy seemed particularly interested in getting too far away from their bedroom. Nevertheless, the food and service were excellent. Although Chrissy noticed several women openly staring at her date, trying to get his attention, dinner was a pleasant affair. Mike seemed to not notice the frustrated looks on the faces of the women he casually ignored. Mike and Chrissy finishing off their meal with one of the hotel specialty deserts. Although they were supposed to share the key lime pie, Mike feed Chrissy each bite to Chrissy, from his own fork. She savored each bite, making a production of licking the filling off of her lips and closing her eyes as she slowly swallowed every forkfull. Mike was completely mesmerized by her mouth and couldn't seem to take his eyes off of it. She enjoyed teasing him, feeling the heat of his response and anticipating the nightcap that was to follow. When their dessert was finished, Mike paid the bill and pulled Chrissy to her feet, "Dance with me once before we have to go upstairs?" "Mike, I really don't know how to dance," Chrissy protested. "Don't worry, I don't plan on actually moving. Just lean into me and let me feel you," Mike urged. The dance was slow and tantalizing. Chrissy could feel Mike's arousal and it caused her own body to respond. She was dying to end the torture and drag Mike upstairs, but he seemed intent on finishing their dance. When the music finally ended, Chrissy looked up into Mike's eyes. She was floored by the passion she saw there. "Let's not waste anymore time, my dear," Mike whispered as he turned her toward the exit. He walked with her in front of him, weaving through the tables. Finally she realized that he was using her body as a shield so no one could see how aroused he was. As soon as the elevator doors closed, she was in Mike's arms. On the way up to the 12th floor, their kisses became frantic and their need escalated. Mike took the key from her hand and quickly opened the door to their suite. This time, they didn't make it to the bedroom. The huge couch in the sitting room was far closer and they didn't have the patience to go any further. Clothes were strewn about the room in their haste to come together. When Mike stepped out of his briefs this time, though, Chrissy was ready for him. She was determined to pleasure him with her kisses. Mike took her administrations for as long as he possibly could then pulled her up to devour her mouth with his own. He then started his own teasing trail of kisses down her body, as he too found ways to please her. His tongue tickled her into ecstasy and before she ever even saw earth, Mike was in her, filling her, thrusting into her, making her whole. This time, Mike called out her name when he climaxed, and Chrissy again experienced that moment of guilt. She had misled this incredible man - hopefully he would never find out, because she somehow doubted that he would understand that it had been for his own good. With bodies sated and heavy with pleasure, Mike and Chrissy fell asleep. Chapter Three When Mike awoke the next morning, he felt content and fulfilled. He recalled that, after their experience on the couch, Chrissy had woke him up in the middle of the night. They had moved to the bed. Mike had opened the champagne and they had shared the chocolate dipped strawberries as they made love again. This time slowly and deliberately. It had been beautiful and incredible. Mike had been with enough women in his life to know that this union hadn't been an everyday occurrence. What he and Mickey had was real and he wanted to give it a chance. He reached over to pull her to him, but all he found was an empty pillow. He sat up in the bed and found that he was all alone. Mike could smell coffee out in the sitting room, so he got up and made his way toward it. When he opened the door, he expected to see Mickey sitting on the couch sipping her coffee. But there was no Mickey. Mike called to her, but there was no response. With a cold chill starting up his spine, Mike walked over toward the coffee pot. On the counter beside the coffee was a note. "Mike," the note read, "You are the most special man I have ever met. I will never forget you. Thank you so much for accepting my company for the night. When you get ready to leave, just leave the key on the counter. I've already checked us out, but I told them you would be sleeping late. I hope you had sweet dreams. I know I will have sweet dreams of you for the rest of my life. Mickey." Mike stood in the middle of the floor, staring at the note. His brain was trying to figure out what it all meant, but his heart was already beating rapidly. She was gone. She had left him. He didn't know how to get in touch with her or where to find her. What was he supposed to do? Finally, Mike realized that he wasn't going to solve this problem by wasting time alone in a motel room. He would get his stuff together, drop by his brother's and head back to Chicago. He wasn't sure if that was where she was from, but it was where he had met her and he would start there. Thank God he had found out her real name from her airline ticket. At least that was a start. He would look up every Stanton in the state if he had to. But first he had to get dressed. Chrissy cried all the way to her sister's house. The old house sat on a huge piece of land, which once had been a prosperous ranch, proudly owned by Chrissy's family for generations. Now, all the animals were gone, the barns were falling down and the fence was in shambles. Yet her sister insisted on continuing to live here. To Tracy, it was her life. She had been the older sister with lots of dreams and plans, but she had gotten pregnant in her final year of high school. Tracy had never revealed who the father of the baby was and he had never come forward. Although her parents weren't thrilled with this turn of events in Tracy's life, they promised to stand by her whatever she chose. So, with their help, Tracy had managed to keep her baby. When Chrissy's parents had been killed in a car wreck a few years later, the insurance and investments had allowed Tracy to stay on the homeplace, while Chrissy used her share to move on - first to college, then to Chicago. But Tracy was different from Chrissy - she had wanted to stay on the ranch. Although she didn't have any spare time or money to make repairs on the ranch, Tracy had managed to keep the house in excellent shape. And her job at the local community college had allowed her flexible hours so she could continue to care for her daughter as she grew older. Tracy was happy calling this land her home. Chrissy's niece, Sky, had always lived on the ranch. Now she was 17 and headed off to college in the fall. Tracy had already explained that Sky would only be home for a few days this Christmas holiday, since two days after Christmas she was headed off to a mission trip with her church. Chrissy had arranged her schedule so she could spend the most time possible with them both. She had really been looking forward to seeing her sister and her niece, but now she wished she could back out of the visit. The hard truth was, that right now, all Chrissy wanted to do was turn her little rental car around and head back to that motel by the airport and jump back in bed with the most incredible man she had ever met. "But," Chrissy sternly said out loud to herself, "life doesn't always allow us to have what we want. You made your decision, now you have to stick with it." Then she just cried harder. When Chrissy knocked, Tracy opened the door of the ranch and took one look at her sister standing on her front porch before immediately pulling her into her arms. "Baby, what's the matter?" she coaxed. But Chrissy had decided that this was not a story she could share with anyone. Although the tears were gathering anew in her eyes, she sniffed them back and said, "Oh, nothing serious. I was just overwhelmed seeing our homeplace again." If her sister didn't believe her, she hid her doubts and helped Chrissy carry her things up to the guest bedroom. By the time the two sisters came back down the stairs, Tracy had Chrissy laughing over the antics of her teen-aged daughter. It reminded Chrissy all too clearly of the tricks and jokes that she and Tracy had pulled when they were teen-agers. The two sisters had always been close and Chrissy was glad that their friendship had only deepened over the years. As Chrissy and Tracy turned the corner into the kitchen, Chrissy stopped in mid stride. There was a man in the kitchen - a very tall, very self-assured man - standing at the counter, cutting up fruit salad. Chrissy looked at Tracy with confusion written all over her face. Tracy just smiled and shook her head, "The fiancee? You remember? I told you about him?" Chrissy had completely forgotten that she was coming home to meet Tracy's fiancee. When the man in question turned around to face them, it was his turn to stop and stare. Chrissy and Tracy could easily have been twins, except that Tracy's hair was short and blond, whereas Chrissy's was long and red. Otherwise, the two sisters looked incredibly similar. Chrissy put on her best smile and moved forward to shake his hand. Mark, Tracy's fiancee, was a handsome man with a kind smile. He greeted her warmly then turned to kiss Tracy. "You didn't warn me that she was the mirror image of you!" he lovingly chastised Tracy. Chrissy was pleased to see that this man was both affectionate and comfortable with her sister. The two sisters hadn't had a lot of loving acceptance in their lives and it was nice to see that changing - at least for Tracy. After brief introductions and a few moments of small talk, Chrissy found herself claiming a headache in order to escape. Tracy offered her some aspirin, which Chrissy took with her. She didn't really have a headache yet, but with all the crying she had done that morning, it was bound to be sooner than later when she got one. Chrissy put her clothes up in the dresser, and laid down across the bed in her old bedroom. Before she really knew what happened, she was fast asleep. The afternoon was almost gone before Chrissy woke up. She heard voices downstairs and knew that she couldn't hide out upstairs for the whole holiday. She pasted on what she hoped looked to be a genuine smile and headed downstairs. As she wound her way down the staircase, she put together the bits of conversation that she could overhear. Apparently, Mark's brother had shown up and was being welcomed by the family. As Chrissy turned the last corner on the staircase, she looked up at the group gathered by the front door. Mark was standing beside Tracy with his arm around her waist. Sky, who had apparently just walked in was standing on the other side of her mom. And the new comer was still standing in the doorway. When her eyes locked onto Mark's brother, Chrissy couldn't stifle the scream that rose to her lips. All four sets of eyes turned toward her as she scrambled to turn around and run back up the stairs. "Mickey!! Mickey!!" she heard Mike bellow as his footsteps grow closer. Then she heard her sister's voice. Although she couldn't make out what her sister was saying, it was obvious that she was stopping Mike from coming up the stairs. She could hear Mike's voice, raised in anger and frustration, as he appeared to be arguing with her sister. But Chrissy wasn't waiting around to listen to what was being said. She charged into her room and bolted the door. Then she grabbed her suitcase and started throwing her clothes into it. Chrissy's Deception Pt. 02 Chapter Four Dawn came early to the ranch house. Chrissy hadn't managed to get more than a few minutes sleep all night, but Mike was rested and refreshed. When they met down in the kitchen for coffee, it was all Chrissy could do to not be snippy with Mike. Fortunately, Tracy and Mark weren't up yet, so she didn't have to put on a show for their benefit. When Mike suddenly took her in his arms and planted a wet kiss on her open mouth, she felt like screaming! How dare him? And he looked and acted so relaxed in her home - well not exactly her own home, but it had been while she was growing up. After fuming and muddling through 15 minutes of stilted conversation, Chrissy muttered an excuse and headed back up the stairs for a shower. When she came back downstairs, almost an hour later, she was feeling much better. Tracy was in the kitchen getting ready to scramble some eggs to go with the bacon that Mark was taking up out of the frying pan. Mike was lounging at the table, sipping his orange juice and conversing with his brother and future sister. When he saw Chrissy, he stood up and crossed the kitchen to her. He pulled her into his arms and gave her their second kiss of the morning. Chrissy reminded herself that he was just playing a role, but it was far too easy to slide into his embrace as he wrapped his arm around her waist. When he led her back over to the table and sat down, she stood beside his chair. With their height difference, Mike could almost look Chrissy in the eyes when he was sitting down. He realized, with a tightening in his chest, that he really liked that. He struggled to follow the conversation he was supposed to be having with his brother, but he kept getting distracted by Chrissy. Her perfume - no, it wasn't perfume, it was her shampoo - was driving him wild. Her breast kept brushing against his upper arm whenever she moved, making him want to feel her flesh with his bare hands. And her voice, husky from her long, sleepless night, kept making him remember how she sounded in his bed. All in all, Mike was having a hell of a time caring what his brother was talking about, let alone trying to respond. He was relieved when the food was set on the table and the conversation was taken over by Tracy and Chrissy. Lost in his own thoughts, Mike only forced his attention back to the conversation when he realized that everyone was looking at him. "What? I'm sorry, I must still be tired. What did I miss?" he asked. Chrissy smiled at him, "I was saying that I need to go into town for some last minute Christmas shopping. Since you don't have a car, I was wondering if you would like to go with me. Tracy has a few items we can pick up for her if you are interested. Or you could stay here with Mark, if you would rather." Christmas shopping??? He had forgotten completely about why he was here. Mike mentally ran through what he had bought for everyone. He had brought a huge box of assorted nuts for his brother (a true nut junkie!) and a rather generic gift of nice white bathroom towels for Tracy, since he hadn't met her yet. He had even brought a gift card to Wal-Mart for Sky (surely all teen-agers loved that place!). He had the bases covered. Well, all the bases he had expected. He hadn't really planned on meeting a little redhead who knocked his world for a loop. What did he get for her? Yeah, he better go into town. "No, I think I'll take you up on the offer of a ride. I have a couple of things that I would like to pick up myself," Mike answered, rather absentmindedly. He was already going through a potential list of gifts for Chrissy and marking each one of them off as unacceptable. As Chrissy and Tracy were cleaning off the table, Sky wandered into the kitchen. "Just getting up kiddo?" Chrissy asked. Sky yawned and looked less than thrilled with life. Tracy laughed, "Don't let this act fool you. Come tomorrow morning, she will be the first one up, shaking every gift under the tree. She loves Christmas morning!" Sky looked somewhat abashed at her mother's clear perception, but, being a teen-ager, she was required not to let it make her smile, no matter how badly she wanted to. So, instead, she stuck her head in the refrigerator and pulled out the juice. Tracy just rolled her eyes at Chrissy, who just barely managed to stifle a giggle. It was just too much like she and Tracy had acted as teen-agers! Mike and Mark washed the dishes as Tracy went over the list of what she needed. Chrissy knew where to pick up most of the items. She needed to go to a few of the stores on the list anyway. Her mind was only half focused on Tracy's list, though. Instead, Chrissy was frantically wondering what to get Mike. She had painted some ceramic serving bowls for Tracy and Mark and she had brought Sky a couple of books from her favorite mystery author. Of course, she had also bought Sky some make-up, jewelry and funky socks as well - after all, one was allowed to spoil one's niece! But she didn't have anything for Mike. What do you get for a man who already has your heart, but doesn't appear to want it? The drive into town started out in silence. Since Chrissy knew that it would take her at least 20 minutes to get to the first store, she decided that she wasn't going to suffer quietly. "Mike, are you ok? You know, we don't have to go through with this if you don't want to," she said. "I said I wanted to go into town with you and I do," he replied stiffly. "Not the trip into town, you stubborn man! We don't have to go through with this charade if you are having second thoughts," Chrissy said crossly. Mike turned in his seat to look at her. Since she had to keep her eyes on the road, it gave him an opportunity to really take in her appearance. She was dressed in jeans and a long sleeved, button up shirt. It was light blue and made her face and hair come alive. She had left her hair down and it was curling in all different directions. As he sat there staring at her, he tried to put a finger on what it was about her that caused his heart to beat a little too fast and his mouth to be a little too dry. "Would you mind pulling over up there in that parking lot?" Mike suddenly asked. Chrissy saw the parking lot and pulled the car over. As she turned off the engine, she was wondering if Mike hated being with her so much that he was willing to get out and chance catching a ride with someone else. Or maybe he was going to throw her out of the car and go on into town by himself, leaving her to fend for herself. "What's up?" she asked, staring straight ahead, trying to look as though she wasn't worried. Mike reached out and put his hand in her hair. Startled, she turned to look at him. When she did, he leaned over and pulled her to his mouth. Even as she was trying to reason out what was happening, her left arm snaked around his neck and her right hand landed on his chest. "Chrissy. . . Chrissy . . . " Mike said in between kisses. Chrissy wasn't too interested in whatever he had to say, but she was certainly enjoying his kisses. Mike pulled away slightly to look into her eyes, but they were closed. "Chrissy," he said again. Chrissy opened her eyes and looked up at him, silently questioning what he wanted. "Aw, Chrissy," Mike moaned. "Look, you and I know that we are just putting on an act. But let's just forget for the rest of this holiday that it's a charade, OK? Let's just make the most of our time together, whether we are with our family or not," he continued. Chrissy's heart soared, "I would really like that. It will make it a lot easier when we are in front of Tracy - that is if you really don't mind." She knew that she was just using Tracy as a convenient excuse - Chrissy would have jumped at any chance to let her guard down to enjoy Mike. "Let's hurry and get this shopping done so we can get back to the ranch and practice making babies," Mike murmured against her lips. Mike felt Chrissy's smile on her lips before she opened up to him . He tasted her and savored the experience. She was his, if only on this fantasy vacation. He wasn't going to waste time reasoning out why having her be his was suddenly so important to him. He was sure he would have enough time to worry about that after they went their separate ways. For now, she was with him and she wanted him as much as he wanted her and that was enough - for now. After a few more kisses, Chrissy started the car back up and headed on into town. The first store was in a strip mall. Mike made plans to meet Chrissy back by the car in 30 minutes. As soon as she was out of sight, he headed to the jewelry store. He had no idea what he was going to get, but he knew he wanted something nice. As Mike opened the door of the store, his eye caught a display on the counter to his right. He looked closer and suddenly knew what he wanted. It took a willing clerk and 29 minutes to get it exactly like he wanted it, but, in the end, the gift was perfect. He paid for his purchase and thanked the clerk profusely before he left. Mike was feeling really good about his life right at that moment. When he looked up, his eyes landed on Chrissy, waiting for him by her car. His heart jumped into his throat at the sight of her. In that instant, he knew that she was the one thing that he needed in order for his life to feel complete. He hadn't even known anything was missing, but now he knew he would never be whole without her. The thought hit him in the gut and made his insides ache. He really needed her. Now what? Pushing aside such heavy thoughts, he stepped away from the jewelry store. Then he waved at her to get her attention. She waved back and he crossed over to her. "Did you get everything you needed?" he asked. She looked really stressed, but nodded her head, as she said, "Tracy's "simple" list ended up being a gazillion things! It took me the whole time just to find everything. So much for some leisurely shopping!" Concerned about her well being, Mike asked, "Do we need to go somewhere else? Or could we just go home and let you rest?" Chrissy looked like she would like to take him up on that offer, but, instead, she sighed heavily and said, "Yes, actually we have two more stores. Would you be willing to run into the drug store and pick up the things Mark needed? That would give me enough time to get the last of the things on this list." Mike assured her that he would take care of the drug store and off they went. The drug store happened to be inside of Wal-Mart. Chrissy headed off into the main part of the store as Mike walked into the Pharmacy. When he was finally in the door, Chrissy changed her direction and left the store. She practically ran to the upscale men's clothing store next door. She quickly grabbed a salesman and together they put together an outfit in 10 minutes flat! It was complete with an oxford shirt in a dark blue color, pants in a dark khaki color, a leather belt, some black socks and a pair of really sexy silk boxers. Chrissy planned to put the outfit under the tree, but to give the boxers to Mike in private. The salesman helped her box up her purchases and she ran to hide them in the car. Then she walked back into Wal-Mart, grabbed a shirt that looked to be about Sky's size and headed to the register. Mike met her in line, carrying the bag from the pharmacy. "I've been looking all over for you! Where were you?" he asked. Chrissy tried to look innocent, "I was trying on some clothes in the fitting room." Mike grimaced and nodded as though he accepted that answer and Chrissy breathed a sigh of relief. When Mike and Chrissy got back to the house, it was empty. There was a note on the kitchen table explaining that Sky was at a friend's and that Mark and Tracy had gone over to the nursing home to deliver flowers and fruit baskets. Mike and Chrissy smiled as they looked at each other, then it was a race to see who could get to the bedroom first. They burst through the door into Chrissy's room. Mike stopped to close the door, but Chrissy didn't stop until she was on the bed. She crawled over to the edge and knelt on her knees. Mike came over to stand beside the bed. She pulled him to her in a passionate kiss. Soon, it was as though the past thirty hours hadn't happened. It was as if they were still in the motel room by the airport - their passion was just as hot and their need just as deep. When they came together this time, Mike just couldn't bring himself to call her Chrissy. She was his Mickey and there was no way he could ever think of her as someone else. So, when the moment of climax came for them both, it was Mickey's name that he cried out. As they lay together afterward, Mike wanted to explain why he had called her Mickey. He wasn't sure how to say what he wanted to say, but he had to try. "Honey, I want you to know that I didn't make a mistake just now when I called you Mickey. I honestly don't know if I can ever think of you by any other name when we are outside the bedroom, but I do know that I will never be able to think of you as anyone but my Mickey while we are making love." Chrissy shut her eyes to stop the tears. She had been surprised when Mike had called her Mickey, but she thought maybe he had just lost his head in the heat of the moment. She knew that, as Mickey, she had been self confident, assertive and passionate. To think that calling her Mickey was a form of endearment from Mike, and that he understood that Mickey was a real part of who she was, made her feel like her heart was breaking. Added to the fact that he had said that they were making love and not just "having sex", Chrissy was overwhelmed by her emotions. What was she going to do without this incredible man? Mike kissed her cheeks gently. He noticed that she was trying to not cry. Misunderstanding the reason for her distress, Mike said, "Mickey? Is it ok that I call you that in here? If it really upsets you, I will try to call you Chrissy. Really I will." Chrissy smiled up at him even as the tears fell from her eyes. "No, please don't. It's ok. I love for you to call me Mickey - especially when we are making love." Mike let out the breathe he hadn't been aware of holding. He pulled her even closer into his chest and closed his eyes. Even if Chrissy insisted that this was going to remain a vacation romance only, he had every intention of enjoying each minute of it. And right now, he was enjoying the feel of her, pressed up against his side. She felt so small and right. He closed his eyes and gave into the sleep that was calling to him. Chrissy lay awake, snuggled into Mike's side. She thought about how Mike had already changed her world. She would never go back to being just plain Chrissy now. In Mickey, Mike had seen a part of Chrissy that she had been denying. Maybe the men in her life had never noticed her because she never made herself noticeable. Maybe she hadn't had a serious relationship because she hadn't been willing to let anyone know that she was interested. Chrissy had always hidden behind the fact that she was overweight, but Mike didn't seem to have any problems with her body. He had kissed and stroked every inch of her now, and he appeared to have liked every minute of it. But, Chrissy sadly conceded, it was a little too late. She might now realize that her own actions needed to change in order for men to notice her, but now she only wanted one man to notice her. And he would walk out of her life in three more days. Tears ran down her cheeks as she wiggled closer to Mike. Chrissy vowed to make every memory worthwhile in the time they had left together. When Mike woke up, he reached for Chrissy. Panic struck his heart when he realized that she wasn't in bed with him - NOT again! He jerked back the covers and was half way out of the bed before he noticed that her suitcase and clothes were still in the room. Surely she hadn't run off this time and left her clothes behind. Then the door was opening and Chrissy was walking in with a towel around her hair and a robe tied around her waist. Mike felt foolish for having jumped to the wrong conclusion, but he didn't let on as she walked over and kissed him. He decided that it was best for her not to know just how desperate he was beginning to feel. Since it was close to dinner time, Mike and Chrissy invited Mark and Tracy to join them at the local Italian restaurant. Sky was just getting home and decided that she would like to come too. The food was excellent and the company was great. Mike was surprised how easy it was to feel like this group was a family - his family. For so long, the only family memories that he had revolved around the pain and trauma of losing both of his parents. But sitting around the table, joking and sharing each other's lives, caused Mike to remember some of the happier times. "Hey Mark, remember that time that we got caught sneaking into the church?" Mike asked. "Mike, get serious. Which time that we got caught sneaking into the church?" Mark replied. Chrissy and Tracy wanted to hear the story of these two juvenile delinquents who broke into churches. "Not church-es - just church," Mike said. "Yeah, Mike and I used to sneak up to the church near our house and find an open door or window. Then we would get inside and do something really bad. . . we would play Sunday School! Mike was the teacher and I was his brightest student," Mark said, laughing at the memory. Mike laughed as well, remembering how much he had loved having a brother. Man, he hadn't realized how much he missed his brother. In fact, since he had met Chrissy, he was realizing a lot of things he was missing in his life. After they paid the bill, the group hurried through the snow back to the car. Since it was Christmas Eve, they drove to the church and went in for the candlelight service. On the way back home afterwards, they sang all the Christmas carols they could remember. After they finished up the really familiar ones, things got pretty silly. One of them would start a carol and realize half way into one of the verses that they didn't know all the words. That gave way to making up verses, which gave way to fits of giggles. Far too quickly, they reached the ranch and had to get out of the car. It was getting pretty late and Sky was really excited about going to bed so Santa could come. In fact, she was practically jumping up and down! Tracy just shook her head at her daughter and offered to tuck her in. Sky laughed and kissed them all good night before she took off to her room. Tracy and Mark tried to carry on a conversation, but both of them kept yawning. Finally, Chrissy said, "Enough! You two go to bed! You are worse than two little children trying to stay up to see Santa." Tracy and Mark both grinned and gratefully accepted the idea. When everyone had gone to bed except Mike and Chrissy, they sat in the quiet room, snuggled up together on the couch. Mike had lit a fire in the fireplace and they both were content to just watch the flames. After a while, Mike decided that he was ready to head to bed himself. He nudged Chrissy, but she didn't respond. He looked around at her face and realized that she was fast asleep. He laughed to himself and bent to pick her up. She briefly woke up long enough to tell him that she was too heavy. He ignored her and she promptly fell back to sleep. Mike put Chrissy into her own bed. He wasn't sure if he should join her or not. She hadn't invited him. But the thought of waking up on Christmas morning without her in his arms finally convinced him that he was going to be sleeping in her bed. He stripped off her shoes and slid off her pants. He left on her shirt and panties and tucked her into bed. His own clothes joined hers in a pile on the floor. Then he jumped in beside her. Her scent comforted him and her warmth drew him to her. He was where he belonged and he felt a peace he had never experienced before. Yes, he was exactly where he belonged. Chrissy's Deception Pt. 02 Chapter Five Christmas morning dawned bright and beautiful. Chrissy kissed Mike awake. When he opened his eyes, she said, "Merry Christmas." Then she gave him his first gift of the day. Mike would swear that he saw stars when she brought him to a shattering climax. He knew that he had never received a more precious gift than the gift of his Mickey. He just hoped that somehow, he could not only have his Mickey but that he could keep her, too. Downstairs, Tracy insisted that everyone eat breakfast before opening presents. It was a fabulous meal, but Chrissy was certain that Sky didn't taste a bite of it. She was bouncing around like a six year old. Finally, Tracy relented and they all moved into the den to open the gifts. Sky managed to open all of her gifts before anyone else had a chance to even start. She was thrilled with all her new "stuff". Of course, the new computer software that allowed her to design her own clothes was her favorite. She ran off to try it out, leaving the room feeling like a tornado had just torn through. "Ok, now for the rest of us!" Tracy said. She positioned herself beside the tree and handed out everyone else's gifts. Mark was thrilled with the huge box of nuts Mike had bought him. Tracy and Mark had given Chrissy a calendar from her favorite artist. Tracy had also added a CD of 80's music, just to make the gift perfect! Mike opened a package from Mark that contained a framed baseball trading card. Chrissy didn't recognize the player, but Mike's whole face lit up! He was obviously very pleased by the gift. Finally, it was time for Mike to open Chrissy's package. He was a little disappointed by the impersonal nature of the outfit, but he tried to hide it. When he reached the bottom of the box, though, there was a note taped to it. It said, "No outfit would be complete without all the essentials. If you want the rest of your present, meet me upstairs after this is all over!" Mike grinned at her and winked. She beamed at his acceptance of her playful present. Then Tracy handed Chrissy her present from Mike. It was long like a jewelry box, but Chrissy was certain that it couldn't be. When she opened the paper to discover that it was a jewelry box, she was shocked to say the least. She flipped open the box and saw that it was a charm bracelet. She looked over at Mike with a surprised expression. When he just smiled and nodded his head, she looked back down at the bracelet. There were four charms hanging from the bracelet. The first charm was a tiny airplane. The second charm was a strawberry. The third charm was a heart and the final charm was a baby carriage. The impact of the bracelet knocked the breathe out of Chrissy. Mike had given her a way to remember their time together and to bless their future. Chrissy ached to have Mike with her in that future, but she knew that he was a military man. He was going back and she would be on her own. But she would always have this bracelet to remind her. And hopefully she would have his child as well. She would have to settle for that and it would be enough. She took the bracelet out of the box and had Mike help her put it on. She wondered briefly if she would ever take it off again. After all the presents were opened, Tracy and Mike picked up the wrapping paper, while Chrissy took her gifts upstairs. She was sitting on the bed, admiring her bracelet when she heard a knock on her door. She opened the door, expecting to see Mike, but, to her surprise, it was Mark. "Hi Mark. What can I do for you?" Chrissy asked. Mark looked a little uncomfortable, when he answered her. "I was wondering if we could talk for a little while." "Sure, come on in." Mark took a seat in a chair in the corner of the room, while Chrissy sat on the bed. Mark began, "Chrissy, I really have enjoyed getting to know you. I want you to know that Tracy means the world to me. She adores you and it means a lot to her for us to get along. I'm really glad that you are an easy person to like, because I would have had to like you even if you were like some dragon-lady - just for Tracy's sake." He took a deep breath and continued, "I'm really glad to see you with Mike as well. Mike has never settled down to anything except the Corps, and I was beginning to think he never would. I have always wanted to see how the mighty would fall. I'm just glad that it was you that brought him down." Chrissy longed to correct Mark, but she didn't dare. She couldn't tell him that his brother was only pretending, and that two more days was all she had of her ultimate fantasy. Mark continued, "Chrissy, I've never met anyone like Tracy before. She is so incredible. I am amazed by all she has achieved in her life. And I want to give her the best of everything. I have a job over at the college teaching. But what I really would like to do is to bring this ranch back to life. I don't want to do anything though that might make Tracy feel tied down. She's just getting Sky raised. She says that she loves it here, but what if she is only saying that because she thinks that's what I want to hear. Or what if she's only saying that because she has never had the chance to dream. Maybe I should - oh, I don't know what I should do." Chrissy smiled at Mark's obvious concern for her sister. "Mark, Tracy loves this ranch with all that is in her. She isn't just saying she wants to stay here - she means it. She's a little worried that you will want to move away. Tracy is a homebody in the truest sense. But, you know, I think you do make a valid point. Even if this is her home and she doesn't want to leave it permanently, I do think you should help her see some other things in the world. You are right about her not having had the chance to dream. Help her dream, Mark. Then you can take her away for vacations that will make her feel adventuresome, and she will still have her home here to make her feel secure. I've never seen Tracy so in love, Mark. I wish the very best for you both." Mark laughed happily and hugged Chrissy. "I'm so glad we talked. I feel so much better! It's going to be great having you as a sister on both sides!" Tears stung Chrissy's eyes as she realized that he thought she and Mike would get married. But she pasted on a bright smile and made a non-committal noise. Mark didn't seem to notice as he headed to the door. "Thanks again, Chrissy!" he called as he left. Almost before Mark had had the chance to get downstairs, Mike was in Chrissy's bedroom. "Alright, where's the rest of my present?" he asked playfully. Chrissy shook off her lingering sadness from Mark's last comment and walked over to her dresser. She opened the top drawer and handed Mike an brightly wrapped package. When he opened it, his eyes almost popped out of his head, "Silk boxers??? No self respecting Marine has ever worn silk boxers!" Chrissy just raised a suggestive eyebrow. "Why knock it before you try it? Or are you scared?" She knew that questioning his courage was a sure fire way to get Mike into those boxers. Mike narrowed his eyes and growled, "Is that a challenge?" "Take it like you want to, Marine, but I still think you might be afraid of a little silk!" Mike walked to her door. "Wait here!" he ordered. Chrissy smiled as she imagined her big, tough marine slipping on the boxers for the first time. It was a pleasant thought! When Mike came back in her room, he was still dressed. She looked at him questioningly. "Well," he answered her unspoken question, "I wasn't going to come down the hall in just those things!" Chrissy sat down on the edge of the bed. "So, do I get to see? Or are you just going to torture me?" she asked. Mike stood before her, towering over her. "If you want to see the present, you have to open the package," he said in a deep and husky voice. Chrissy didn't need a second invitation. As she busied herself with the button and zipper of his pants, Mike slid his hands into her hair. God, he loved her hair. He gently caressed her as she finished her task and slid his pants down. She helped him step out of them before she sat back to look him over. Chrissy realized she was having trouble breathing at the sight of Mike, obviously aroused in the soft, silky material. As she reached out to stroke him through the silk, Mike threw back his head and she heard him growl deep in his throat. "So, you're sure you don't like silk?" she whispered. Mike's head snapped forward as he looked her in the eye. His eyes were dark with passion. "You sure could change this Marine's mind about silk, if you keep that up." Chrissy was all too happy to oblige. Although they both had wanted to take it slow and savor the feelings, in the end, their desire overran their original plans. Mike ripped off his shirt and Chrissy pulled him down on top of her. Mike ran his hands under Chrissy's shirt as she struggled to slip off her pants. Mike pushed her top over her head and latched onto her breast with his mouth. Without warning, Chrissy rolled him over to where she was astride him. Stunned, he looked up at her in surprise. Chrissy just laughed softly. Mike watched her intently, "Mickey? Are you sure about this?" Chrissy reveled in the power of her nickname. For some reason it made her more of everything she wanted to be. And here, straddling her man, she wanted to be everything for him. Instead of answering Mike, she slid back and forth over his erection, still covered in the silk boxers. The boxers were the only article of clothing left on either one of them and the sensations were driving them both wild. Finally, Chrissy lowered her hand and slipped the boxers down, but not off. Instead, the boxers were resting right below Mike's erection. Each time Chrissy thrust herself onto Mike, the boxers rubbed over his sensitive skin and softly caressed her, as well. Combined with their own chemistry, the experience was putting them both into sensory overload. Their union was wild and rapid. Mike moved his hand in between them and brought Chrissy to a breathtaking climax. As he felt the contractions from her orgasm, it triggered his. Mike was once again shocked at the intensity of his reaction to her. It was like nothing he had ever experienced, except in her arms. As usual, sleep overcame Mike as he lay, contented and warm, in Chrissy's embrace. He wanted so much to tell her how he felt. As he drifted off into sleep, he could have sworn that he heard himself say, "I love you." But he was certain his lips weren't moving, so he shrugged it off as a dream induced delusion. When Mike woke up first, Chrissy was still in his arms. She was lost in sleep and snuggled up close to him. He smiled at the picture she made. Her flaming hair was spread over them both and her creamy skin was pale and soft. She looked like an angel and he might have believed that had she not just loved him like a wild woman. She was definitely human and he was so glad that she was. Mike was beginning to formulate a plan in his mind - a way to see Chrissy after the holiday was over. But he didn't dare share his ideas with anyone. If Chrissy knew he what he was up to, he was afraid she would bolt. She had told him that she only wanted him as a sperm donor. But he kept thinking about the look he saw in her eyes when they made love. Surely he wasn't misreading that look. It was the look of love. Maybe she didn't know it yet, but Mike was going to do everything he could to help her realize her feelings. He might have only known her for four days, but he knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Mike wondered briefly what Chrissy had thought about the heart on her charm bracelet. She was still wearing it as she lay in his arms. The airplane, strawberry and baby carriage were obvious, given their relationship so far. But the heart was his own special message to her. She had stolen his heart in the airport that day - this was only a token to show he was giving it to her willingly. Chrissy began to stir in her sleep. She stretched out like a cat. Mike thought that it was more like a kitten, because she was so small. He never realized he liked cats until that moment. But if a kitten was anything like his Mickey, he was certain he would like one. Chrissy's eyes opened and that look was back on her face. Mike was even more certain it was the look of love, but he was almost positive that she didn't have a clue. Little did he know that he really had heard the words, "I love you," when he was going to sleep. He hadn't said them, though. Chrissy had. "How about a little Christmas lunch, you wicked woman?" Mike teased her. Chrissy looked at him with as much seriousness as she could muster, "Only if you promise to wear the boxers!" They both burst out laughing at the same time. After they dressed (complete with the boxers that Mike was beginning to appreciate!), they wondered downstairs for lunch. Mark and Tracy had just gotten up from a nap of their own and the four of them ended up in the kitchen at the same time. "So where's the ball of energy?" Chrissy asked, looking around for Sky. Tracy's brow knit together as she answered, "It seems that Sky's friend, Steven, might be getting a little too interested in my daughter. He took her over to his house for lunch. He wanted her to meet his parents!" Chrissy smiled at her sister's concern. It didn't take a genius to figure out how important Sky and Tracy were to one another. Tracy was trying, but it was really hard for her to let Sky go. It had always been just the two of them. Now, with Sky going off to college in the fall and Mark coming into Tracy's life, things were changing. Tracy was doing her best, but Chrissy knew Tracy was mourning the loss of her baby. Chrissy also knew that Tracy and Sky would just grow to be closer as time went on, but more along the line of adult friends rather than parent and child. And the transition, although painful at times, was going really well. Sky was well adjusted and happy. Tracy had a lot to be proud of in Sky. Over a lunch of soup and sandwiches, Tracy asked Chrissy to come walking with her. "Walking?" Chrissy asked, "It's 100 degrees below zero out there!". Tracy sighed, "Oh, and like Chicago is the tropics?" Then she burst out laughing at the indignant look on Chrissy's face. "Seriously, I have keys to the gym over at the community college. There's an indoor track." Chrissy smiled, "Well, in that case, I would love to go!" Mike and Mark begged off and planned to spend an afternoon snoozing on the couch. After Tracy and Chrissy left, though, Mark asked Mike to come into his office. "I want to show you some ideas that I have had. I love teaching, but I have all this knowledge about how to make ranches work as businesses, and now I'm going to be living on a ranch. I would love to put some plans into motion to bring this place back to life and make it profitable for Tracy. She's made do her whole life, and I would love to give her a gift that allowed her to take it easy." Tracy's ranch backed up to a Wildlife sanctuary, so there was a certain level of safety and security with the land. That gave Mark and Tracy lots of options. Mark pulled out some blueprints of barns and silos that he had researched. He also had some spread sheets showing the differences in the profits from various kinds of animals. Milk cows, beef cattle and different kinds of horse breeds all had pros and cons associated with them. Mark had even projected costs and profits of different types of crops, if they decided to farm the land. It appeared to Mike that his brother was full of ideas, dreams and plans. "Well, this all looks great," Mike said, "But how are you and Tracy going to do this all single-handedly?" Mark turned to face his brother. With a hesitant look on his face, he said, "Well, I was hoping you might have some interest in helping me." Mike's face showed his blatant surprise. Mark continued, "I know that you are coming up on 20 years in the Corps. You haven't mentioned what your future plans are, but I know that I could sure use your help. And since we both seem to have a weakness for the Stanton women, I was hoping . . . Well, I can't get any of these plans up and running before the fall, due to my teaching schedule. I'm not exactly sure when you get out, but, if you wanted to join me here, I would welcome your help." Mike was dumbfounded. He had given some thought to what he wanted to do after he got out, but he had never thought of coming to live near his brother. He found that the thought held a lot of appeal for him. He didn't want to get his brother's hopes up, but he truly was interested. He decided that a non-committal answer was called for. He nodded his head at Mark and said, truthfully, "I'll give it some thought." Mark seemed happy with that. As he put all of his charts and plans up, he suggested that they go take that nap they had planned on. They crashed out on the couch and were snoring out a duet within minutes. Tracy and Chrissy enjoyed their walk and then sat, talking, for a long time. They had always been close, but, somehow, Chrissy's botched plan to deceive Mike, had brought them even closer. Apparently Tracy had always felt that Chrissy was nearly perfect. But now, she was forced to admit that her little sister was just human after all. Since Tracy, herself, had always felt far too human, she took a great deal of comfort knowing that her sister and her had a lot in common. It allowed the two women to share things on a new level. As the two sisters sat together, they laughed and cried over the years that had passed them by. After awhile, they both were so emotionally drained that they just sat together silently. When they finally stood up to leave, Chrissy reached out and hugged her sister to her. Although Chrissy wasn't sure what life held for her, she knew that she never wanted to be far away from her sister again. Back at home, Chrissy and Tracy decided not to wake up the sleeping brothers. Instead, they set about fixing the traditional Christmas dinner from their childhood - lasagna! It was a time consuming dish to create. While they pieced together the ingredients and layered them into the pan, Chrissy and Tracy laughed about their dad complaining every year that normal families had turkey or ham for Christmas. Finally, when Chrissy had been about thirteen, and well into her adolescent sarcasm, she had turned on her dad one Christmas and yelled, "So who ever said we were normal???" Although she had been sent to her room for that comment, it had become a family tradition to repeat the same scene every Christmas. Each year (after the first) the family cracked up and laughed until they cried over not being normal. Even now, Chrissy and Tracy were close to tears as they laughed over the memory. When the lasagna was finally ready to cook, they put it in the oven and sat down to relax for a few minutes. Of course, it was at that very moment that Mark and Mike woke up and wondered into the kitchen. "Well don't you two have perfect timing?" Tracy said. The men set the table and offered to finish getting supper ready, if the women would go relax in the den. Not one to pass up such an offer, Tracy grabbed Chrissy by the hand and drug her to the den. Sky had come back home and joined the others for dinner. She was full of stories about Steven and his family. Every time she mentioned Steven's name though, she would blush just a little. Mark couldn't resist teasing her about it. Sky just rolled her eyes and said, "Moooooom, make him quit!" That caused the whole table to roar with laughter. Mike again thought about how much he had missed having a family to laugh with - hell, he had missed having a family period! After the meal, Mark and Tracy offered to clean up. Mike and Chrissy were really tired and readily agreed. It had been a really long day, emotionally and physically. Mike followed Chrissy into her room. "I am too tired to put any moves on you, pretty woman, but I sure would love to snuggle up next to you while I fall asleep," he murmured in Chrissy's ear. Chrissy's Deception Pt. 02 Chrissy giggled, then said, "You just try to walk out that door, big boy! There's no way you are sleeping without me tonight!" Almost before their heads hit the pillows, both Mike and Chrissy were sound asleep. Mike's dreams were filled with visions of Christmas trees and babies with flaming red hair. Chrissy's dreams were filled with visions of Mike. Chapter Six When Chrissy awoke the day after Christmas, she knew she had to make some plans to get out of the house. If she didn't, she was afraid she would end up feeling depressed and anxious all day. Both she and Mike were going to be leaving the next day and she didn't want to spend her last day with him worrying about her future without him. So, she needed a plan. Over breakfast, Mark mentioned that he and Tracy had some cleaning and decorating they needed to do down at their church. Then he pulled out two tickets to the Steelheads hockey game at 12:00. Mark said, "We aren't going to be able to use these tickets for today, so we thought you two might want to go. Usually the games are in the evening, but with the holiday, they wanted to capitalize on the family aspect so lots of kids will be there!" He continued, "After the game, ya'll can meet us at the church about 4:00 so we can all go out to supper together." Tracy jumped into the conversation to add that they needed to bring a nice change of clothes with them since the restaurant was really classy. Chrissy sighed in relief - now she had a plan for the day! Chrissy and Mike left the house about 10:30 and drove to the Bank of America Center, where the game was being played. It took awhile to find a parking place and get inside. Then it took even longer to grab some hotdogs and cokes. Finally, they got to their seats right as the buzzer announced the start of the game. It was a fast paced way to spend the next two and a half hours as the Long Beach Ice Dogs ran the Idaho Steelheads into overtime. The ice action was hot as the puck flew around the rink. Finally, the Steelheads managed to pull out all the stops and go for broke. With only seconds remaining, they scored the winning goal. The crowd went wild and Mike and Chrissy joined right in, screaming out their support and hugging everyone around them. High fives were exchanged with complete strangers and it seemed that, for a moment at least, everything was right with the world. Once they managed to get out of the Center, it was almost time to meet Tracy and Mark. By the time they got to the church, it was right at 4:00. Chrissy pulled their extra clothes out of the back seat of the car. Mike took her hand as they walked up the steps to the church. The door was unlocked, so they stepped into the foyer. Mark came rushing up to them from somewhere off to the left. The first sign that something was up was the fact that he was wearing a tux. Mike looked his brother over, "I know you said the place was classy, but a tux?" Mark giggled - all 6'2", 200 pounds of him giggled! Chrissy looked up at Mike with a raised eyebrow. Mike just stood looking at Mark like he couldn't figure out who he really was. Finally Mark said, "We're not going out to supper - well, actually we are, but not yet." Chrissy would swear she had never seen a man as agitated as Mark was right then - it was a happy agitated, but agitated none the less. "Chrissy, you go through there," he said, pointing to a door on the other side of the hall. "And, Mike, you come with me over here. You did bring different clothes didn't you, " Mark said, eyeing Mike's jeans and tee shirt. Without waiting for a response, Mark began pulling Mike after him. Mike shot a quizzical look toward Chrissy, but she had already turned toward the door Mark had pointed out to her. As soon as Chrissy opened the door and stepped into the hallway, she heard her sister's voice. She followed the sound and turned into a room on her right. Chrissy screamed! Her sister was standing in front of her in a beautiful, long wedding gown. "Surprised?" Tracy asked hesitantly. Sky was fluttering around her mother. She was dressed in a beautiful pale blue bridesmaid dress. "What's going on?" Chrissy cried. Tracy beamed as she said, "Oh, Chrissy, Mark and I just couldn't miss the chance to have you and Mike both at our wedding. We planned on waiting until next month to get married, but we want you both here. With Mike's military schedule, we never know when he will get to come home. So, we asked the minister to move the wedding up. We're getting married in about 30 minutes!" Chrissy couldn't take it all in. Her sister was getting married. In thirty minutes. What was she supposed to do now? As if reading her mind, Tracy said, "You need to change into your nicer clothes unless you want to be my maid of honor in your jeans." Chrissy looked over at Sky, "Isn't Sky going to be your maid of honor?" "No, silly, I'm the flower girl!" Sky answered, laughing at her aunt. "Aren't you a little old to be the flower girl?" Chrissy asked. "Well, I've always wanted to be in mama's wedding if she ever got married. And since I was a really little girl, I have wanted to be the flower girl. So here's my golden opportunity to do both and I'm not about to pass it up!" Tracy gently pushed Chrissy toward the bathroom, "Go. Change. Hurry." Chrissy quickly did just that. That morning, when she had thought she was simply going to a nice restaurant, Chrissy had borrowed a nice, dark blue dress from Tracy. It had spaghetti straps and a short jacket that matched. Now, she was glad that she hadn't worn her mini skirt! After she finished, Chrissy walked back out into the larger room to watch her sister, who seemed to have been transformed into a bridal model. Chrissy had never seen Tracy look so radiant or beautiful. When she told Tracy that, Tracy burst into tears. Then Chrissy started crying, and they just stood there hugging each other. Finally, Sky threw her hands up in the air and said, "Come ON, you two. Get a grip. We have a wedding . . . " Chrissy and Tracy both laughed, sniffed and touched up their make-up to hide their recent tears. When they were ready, Sky ran out to tell the minister that the women were set to go. Mike and Mark had finished dressing as well, so the minister cued the music. As Mark and Mike took their places up front, beside the minister, Sky began walking down the aisle. Chrissy waited until Sky was all the way down front before she started. Chrissy noticed a few people sitting in the front pews on both sides of the church, as she walked down the aisle, but she didn't recognize any of them. When her eyes settled on the two men beside the minister, though, everything else faded into oblivion. She first saw Mark, who looked handsome in his tux. Then she saw Mike. It was only a matter of will power that forced her feet to keep going. She was stunned by how wonderful he looked. And he was looking at her as though she were the only other person in the room. Suddenly Chrissy had a desperate longing for this to be her own wedding and for Mike to be her groom. When Chrissy reached the front of the church, she forced herself to break eye contact with Mike and turn to watch Tracy. As the music changed to "Here Comes the Bride". Tracy seemed to float down the aisle. Mark and Tracy only had eyes for one another as they drew closer to each other. Mark reached out and took Tracy's hand when she got close enough. The minister began the service as Mark and Tracy shared their vows. Mike locked eyes with Chrissy the moment Mark and Tracy stepped forward toward the minister. Every word that the minister said was branded onto Chrissy's soul as she shared the moments with Mike. She just barely caught when she was supposed to pass Tracy the ring for Mark. When the minister pronounced Tracy and Mark husband and wife, Mark pulled Tracy to him in the first kiss of their marriage. Mike's eyes burned into Chrissy. The intensity of his gaze made Chrissy's mouth go dry and made her palms sweaty. Finally, the service was over. After Mark and Tracy walked out to the music of trumpets, Mike held out his hand for Chrissy. As they walked down the aisle together, he leaned down to her and whispered, "Were you as surprised as I was?" Chrissy was certain that he was talking about the sudden marriage of their siblings. But when Chrissy answered, "More than you'll ever know," she was talking about how surprised she had been at her overwhelming longing to marry Mike. Mike seemed to catch something in the way she answered him. He looked at her quizzically, but she merely smiled and turned away. As soon as they were in the foyer, Tracy and Chrissy were hugging and Mike and Mark were slapping each other on the back, grinning from ear to ear. Sky was bouncing all around. The guests that Chrissy had seen on the front pews joined the group. It turned out that it was Sky's friend Steven and his family, as well as a few members of the youth group from the church. Everyone was talking and laughing all at once. Finally, one of the youth started directing the group around for a few pictures. After the girl had taken about 15 different shots, the group began to disperse. Sky kissed her mom and new stepdad, then grabbed her clothes and left with one of her friends. Since the group had to leave early for the mission trip the next morning, Sky had arranged to spend the night with one of the other girls going on the trip. The church was remarkably quieter when all of the teen-agers finally slipped out of the door. That only left Tracy and Mark, Chrissy, Mike and the minister. Tracy and Mark went to change into more normal clothes, as the minister directed Chrissy and Mike to sign the marriage license, as the witnesses. After Tracy and Mark returned, the minister offered one last prayer, then ushered the group out the back door and locked up behind them. Mike and Chrissy had agreed to join the newlyweds for supper at one of the best restaurants in the downtown area. During the meal, Mike made a toast to his new sister, "May you always hold the sunshine in your heart and the clouds in your hands, for it is only with both that one can have rainbows." They all said, "Here, here," and downed the bubbly champagne. The food arrived about then and the group began eating in earnest. They hadn't realized how hungry the surprise wedding had made them! After then finished their entrees, Mike excused himself to go to the restroom. On his way back, he cornered the waiter and asked for the best dessert that they had. When he explained that Tracy and Mark had just gotten married, the waiter had practically beamed. He patted Mike's arm and assured him that he would take care of everything. Mike sat back down and was enjoying a cup of coffee when he noticed the entire staff headed toward their table. He almost choked when he saw them carrying a small, two layered cake. The waiter he had spoken to had obviously gone all out for the occasion! The violins in the background began playing a haunting rendition of the wedding march. Tracy, Mark and Chrissy noticed that something odd was happening as a hush descended over the whole restaurant. The staff had almost made it to the table before Mark and Tracy realized exactly what was going on. Mark looked bemused and Tracy looked like she was about to cry. Mike sure hoped he had done the right thing! Their waiter placed the cake in middle of the table, the song drew to a close and everyone began clapping. Apparently, this restaurant loved to have wedding receptions - even spontaneous, unplanned ones! Tracy blushed as Mark leaned over and kissed her. Several catcalls came from the group and then the owner announced that all was good. That seemed to be the final word on the matter, because the staff dispersed and went back to their jobs. The owner stayed at their table for a moment more to wish the couple all the happiness life could offer, then he too went on his way. Tracy and Mark turned to look at Mike suspiciously. Mark said, "So you had to go to the bathroom, huh???" The four of them just laughed and cut into the delicious cake. Mike made a mental note to thank the waiter. The cake seemed to be the touch that made Mark and Tracy's wedding perfect. The glow on their faces made Mike feel both proud and envious. His brother had done well for himself. Could he manage to do the same? When they finished their cake and Mike had paid the bill (he insisted, saying that his brother didn't get married every day), they gathered in the foyer to say good-bye. Tracy and Mark were going to stay for a few days at a bed and breakfast near the Greenbelt. Since Sky wouldn't be back for a week, they didn't want to pass up this opportunity. But that also meant that they wouldn't be at the ranch the next day when Mike and Chrissy had to leave. So this was good-bye for now. Added to the emotional stress of the wedding, Chrissy and Tracy both burst into tears at having to part. Quietly, Tracy told Chrissy, "I know you and Mike have some issues, but give him a chance - a real chance. He really loves you." Chrissy longed for her sister to know the truth, but she wasn't going to spoil the mood right then. Mike and Mark both were trying to act nonchalant, but Mike finally grabbed Mark and hugged him tight. He whispered in Mark's ear, "I'm so proud of you - I'm really glad you're my brother. I love you." Mark couldn't answer for the lump in his own throat, but he nodded his head to acknowledge that he felt the same. Finally, Tracy and Mark dashed out the door to their car. Mike and Chrissy watched them pull away, waving until they couldn't see the taillights anymore. "Well, my dear," Mike began, "So ends another ordinary day in the dull life of the O'Connors and Stantons!" Chrissy dried her tears and smiled up at him. The hectic rush of the day had kept her from giving in to the pain that kept threatening to break her heart. But now the day was drawing to a close. There was no one waiting for them at the ranch and tomorrow would end their time together. Suddenly Chrissy couldn't wait another minute to be in Mike's arms. Mike was surprised when Chrissy grabbed his hand and began pulling him quickly toward their car. He chuckled as she pushed the keys into his hand and said, "You drive - and do it quickly!" He was beginning to get the picture! The trip back to the ranch was done in record time. Mike actually managed to get the door unlocked and to step inside before Chrissy pulled him down into a kiss. Suddenly, she was up in his arms, with her legs wrapped around his waist. Even though his mind was consumed with the taste of her lips, he really wanted to get Chrissy to a bed. It took a little longer for him to get up the steps, but he managed quite well. He was determined to keep Chrissy pinned against him and didn't let her go until he dropped her gently on the bed. Chrissy looked up at Mike with her eyes darkened by desire. "Please love me, Mike," she whispered. Suddenly Mike wanted to tell her over and over how much he did love her. But he didn't dare. Instead, he kissed her deeply, then stood to remove his clothes. Chrissy watched Mike undress. He was so much more than she had ever hoped for when she had thought of her dream man. Mike was big and strong, handsome and smart, loving and gentle. He was everything - no other man would ever hold a candle to her Mike. When Mike joined her on the bed, Chrissy took her time, touching and stroking each part of his body. She kissed his skin and ran her fingers through his hair. She lingered here and there, massaging his muscles and relaxing away his tension. She knew he was enjoying her touch and she loved how he felt. Finally, with her own desire burning, Chrissy stood up beside the bed and began to take off her own clothes. Mike rolled over onto his side to watch her. She slowly and deliberately removed each piece of her outfit. She had never thought of her body as sexy and desirable, but the fire in Mike's eyes told her a different story. That fire gave her the courage to gently tease Mike while she removed her clothes. She lightly rubbed her silky jacket over his chest and then teased his manhood with her soft panties. "Mickey," Mike groaned, as her erotic playing took its toll on his patience. Every time Mike called her Mickey, she felt a tingle all the way to the soles of her feet. It was the most intimate word she had ever heard and it held a world of potential for her. As the name rolled off of Mike's tongue, Chrissy gave herself over to the intense emotions it triggered. Suddenly, she wasn't the inexperienced, insecure woman she had been most of her adult life. Instead, she was more - more beautiful, more desirable, more daring, more exciting - more of everything she had ever wanted to be. She wasn't a captive in her body - she was a voluptuous siren, whose body was a joy to her and her lover. Chrissy moved against Mike in a sensuous dance as old as time, but as new to her as her next breath. In Mike's arms that night, Chrissy was reborn - whole and new. When Chrissy was wearing nothing more than her new charm bracelet, and with his passion stoked to the boiling point, Mike reached out and pulled Chrissy to him. She fell down on the bed beside him, laughing seductively. "You sure know how to sweep a woman off her feet!", she whispered into his ear. His only answer was a growl as he pushed her under him and rose up over her. Looking into her eyes, he nudged her legs open and positioned himself to enter her. "Mickey, do it for me. Use your hand to guide me. Let me feel you touch me as you bring us together." Chrissy reached for him without hesitation. She wanted Mike inside of her and she would gladly do whatever it took to get him there. As she accomplished her task, she was fascinated by the way Mike's face contorted as her entered her. He had a look of pure ecstasy on his face and his eyes burned with passion. Chrissy knew that the moment Mike thrust into her and joined their bodies together, she felt a completeness she had never felt anywhere except in Mike's arms. She wondered if that was reflected on her own face. Only moments later, Chrissy forgot about that question. Mike began thrusting into her in earnest and all coherent thought was pushed from her mind. Her body was on fire and Mike alone had the power to put out the flames. She soared higher and higher as Mike stroked her into oblivion. Finally, in a moment of complete abandon, Chrissy cried out her climax. Mike had obviously been holding out for that moment, because as soon as she began, he joined her. His own cries drowned out hers as they became one in the deepest sense of the word. In the hazy moments afterward, with their passion spent, Chrissy and Mike snuggled together. When he was able to move, Mike reached down and pulled up the comforter over them. It was warm and cozy and soon they were fast asleep. Mike wasn't sure how much later it was, but he awoke with a start. Chrissy was astride him, riding him hard. He had no idea when she had climbed on top of him, but he was mesmerized by the sight of her. She ran her hands up over her own breasts and moaned loudly as she thrust up on down onto his erection. Mike was overwhelmed by his desire as he watched her take her pleasure from him. Finally, with a wild groan, he sat up, grabbed her around the waist and sunk his mouth over her nipple. He began a rapid rhythm of thrusting that pushed them both over the edge in a matter of seconds. Sated, Chrissy dropped her weight onto him as she sank back down into the bed. As Mike slipped once again into the world of dreams, he only registered briefly how right her body felt, lying on top of his. When the morning light filled Chrissy's bedroom, Mike opened his eyes. He truly expected to find Chrissy already gone. She had run away once before and he really thought she would again. But she hadn't. She was lying right beside him, the sheet tangled around her short, supple, little body. Mike turned to face her. Leaning on his elbow, he stroked her body with his other hand. It wasn't a sexual touch. It was more like a sensuous petting. He wanted to caress her whole body and commit it to his memory, because he wasn't sure when he would have the chance to touch her again. Chrissy's Deception Pt. 02 Chrissy didn't stir for a long time. When she did roll over, Mike realized that she must have been awake for a while. Her cheeks were wet with tears. When he started to speak, she reached out and put her finger over his lips. "Shhhhh," was all she said. Then she pulled him down to kiss her. Their lovemaking this time was slow and deliberate. Neither one of them spoke. The only sounds in the room were their occasional moans of pleasure. They touched one another with a reverence that acknowledged their impending separation. Chrissy lay beneath Mike, feeling him and being filled by him. Their passion rose and together they climbed into the heavenly bliss that they found in one another's arms. Mike led them through their climaxes, then they began their decent into reality. All too soon, Chrissy got out of bed without a word, and went to the bathroom. Mike heard her start the shower before he slipped on a robe and went down to get coffee. When he returned upstairs, Chrissy was dressed and standing in the middle of her bedroom. Again, Mike started to speak, but, again, Chrissy stopped him. He realized that she wasn't planning on letting him talk to her at all. She wanted to leave without him getting to say a word to her. Anger flashed through Mike. He had a lot of things he wanted to say to her, and this might be his last chance. As he opened his mouth, yet again, to speak, Chrissy turned to look him fully in the eyes. The sadness that he saw in her eyes stopped him cold. He had not seen such desolation since he had last looked into his father's eyes. With a strength he didn't know he possessed, he shut his mouth and forced himself to smile at her. Mike opened his arms to Chrissy and she ran into them. She might not be planning on talking, but, thank God, she wasn't adverse to touching. Mike held her to him, then lifted her face to his. He didn't immediately move in to kiss her, but rather, stood there, staring into her eyes. He was willing her to hear in her heart all of the things that he longed to say out loud to her. She returned his look, opening her own soul to him. When the emotions finally got too intense, he crushed her to him in a kiss. It wasn't just any kiss - he was trying to convey the depths of his passion to her through that kiss. And in it, he was trying to drink in her very essence, as well. Finally, Chrissy pushed away from him. Mike heard a sob catch in her throat as she turned away. Apparently she had packed up her stuff the night before, because all that was left was for her to pick up her suitcase and walk out the door. Mike knew that her plane was leaving in two hours, which barely gave her enough time to get to the airport, return the car and get through security. His own plane home was a military transport plane that didn't leave until late that evening. Earlier in the week, Chrissy had offered to give him a ride to the airport, but he had assured her that he could get there by himself. Chrissy grabbed her suitcase and started for the door. She knew that she didn't dare turn to look at Mike because she was afraid she would blurt out her feelings. She had realized, over the last few days, that she loved Mike more than she had ever imagined possible. She had no idea how she was going to make it without him. But she had to. Deep down, Chrissy told herself, nothing had changed. She still wanted a child and Mike had only wanted sex. As she neared the door, she felt Mike's hands on her shoulders. He didn't turn her around, but merely pulled her body backwards into his own. He put his arms around her and held her tightly to him. His lips were in her hair and he was reigning kisses down on her head. When she thought that her heart would burst out of her chest, she pulled away and rushed out the door. Thankfully, Mike didn't come after and prolong their good-bye. Chrissy jumped into her car and headed back into the world from which she had come, only six short days ago. It was a different world - it was a world that existed outside the realm of Mike O'Connor. She ran her fingers over the bracelet he had given her and prayed that it wasn't the only thing of Mike's she was taking with her - she prayed that she was pregnant with Mike's child. Chrissy had only been back in Chicago for three days when, right on schedule, she started her period. She had never cried so hard in her whole life. Chrissy's Deception Pt. 03 Chapter Seven From the moment that Chrissy walked out of the front door of the ranch, Mike had been plotting to be with her again. She had told him that she wanted a baby, but he really didn't think her future plans included a husband! So Mike had kept his own future plans to himself - he hadn't told Chrissy that his time in the Marines was up because he didn't want to scare her away. Even before meeting Chrissy, though, Mike had been in the process of getting his retirement in order. At this point, all he needed to do was to get back to base, finish up the paperwork and close up his office. He had already applied for his terminal leave and it would begin in the middle of January. He would then have about 2 months before he was officially discharged, but he would be on leave for the whole time. It was a nice way to have some income and not have to worry as he was trying to figure out where he was going next. And where he was going next was definitely somewhere very close to Chrissy. It took Mike the full two weeks to finish all that he had to do in order to process out of the Marines. Time took on an unreal quality for Mike with one moment seeming to pass quickly and the next moment seeming to drag on forever. He was anxious to get back to Chrissy, but he was really excited about bringing his successful military career to an end. He had done well as a Marine and there were lots of friends that wished him well. It was with great pride and pleasure that, on January 15th, he closed his office door and turned in his key. Mike's car was already packed and pointed out of town. Next stop - Chicago! Over the past three weeks, Chrissy's life had been busier than ever. She had returned to work on Jan. 2nd and immediately immersed herself into the world of corporate loans. Rather than allow for the possibility of having any extra time on her hands to mourn for her loss (both of Mike and the child she had hoped for) she took on even more of the loan applications than before. She found herself being asked out to dinner, by more than one male client, in order to finalize their loans. Chrissy marveled that, just when she no longer cared about getting male attention, suddenly she seemed to attract it. Even though she had no intention of pursuing a relationship with any man, she accepted the dinner meetings and closed deal after deal for the bank. Although her personal life was in shambles, her professional life had never looked better. So, when her intercom buzzed on a bright Monday morning in the middle of January, Chrissy answered it with her usual, "C. M. Stanton - may I help you?" The intercom was wired throughout the whole building and it wasn't unusual for a new employee to call the wrong office. It was always safer to identify herself. "Ms. Stanton? There is a client here who needs to speak with you," came the hesitant reply from the information desk receptionist. Chrissy had worked with the bank long enough that she didn't have to handle the day to day customers. She only worked with the corporate accounts, and those meetings were arranged by appointment only. Annoyed at the interruption, she responded, "I'm afraid that I am not able to meet with anyone this morning. Is it possible that another of the loan officers might be able to help our customer?" Chrissy was hoping that the receptionist would take the hint and direct the customer elsewhere. But her hopes were in vane as the young woman replied quietly, as though trying to keep someone else from hearing her, "I'm sorry, Ms. Stanton, but he refuses to speak to anyone else!" Chrissy huffed out her annoyance but answered sweetly, "Very well. Ask our customer to give me a moment and I'll be right there." As she made her way out of the back offices into the main area, she pasted on her best smile. She approached the information desk, thinking about a few odds and ends she needed to wrap up, and vaguely wondering just what this customer wanted. "Katie? Is our customer here? The one that needed to speak with me?" Chrissy asked the receptionist. Katie's eyes were big and round as she pointed over to some chairs that made up a small waiting area. "It's the gentleman over there," she said. Chrissy wasn't sure what the man had done to intimidate Katie so badly, but she knew that she would need to do a little damage control when this meeting was over. Either that, or find a new receptionist since this one seemed about to short circuit! As Chrissy approached the area, she noticed that there was only one person in the waiting area. The man had his back to her. He was wearing a baseball cap and an old blue jean jacket. Not exactly the kind of corporate clothing she was used to her clients wearing. She cleared her throat, "Excuse me? I'm Chrissy Stanton." When the man turned around and looked Chrissy in the eye, her legs gave way under her and her face turned ashen. He was beside her instantly and guided her into a chair, squatting down beside her. Her heart was hammering and she felt like she couldn't breath. Her mind kept screaming, "It's Mike! It's Mike" - Mike couldn't really be here - could he? But it was Mike and he was grinning at her like a Cheshire cat. Chrissy reached out and touched his face. Mike turned to kiss her palm. Chrissy's eyes widened even more, "Mike? Are you really here?" "Yes, Ms. Stanton, I'm really here!" he answered, with a twinkle in his eyes. Chrissy realized that the receptionist had turned around in her seat and was watching them with great interest. Several of the tellers were also moving around behind the counter trying to get a better view of the waiting area. For the sake of deterring office gossip, Chrissy realized that she needed to get Mike out of such an open area and she needed to do it fast. "Why don't we go discuss your loan in my office, Mr. O'Connor?" she asked with business like politeness. Mike took his cue and stood up, offering her his hand. She accepted it only to stand, then broke the contact. Although disappointed that she hadn't held onto his hand, Mike obediently followed her out of the front office and down a hall into the back. Personnel offices lined the walls in this area of the bank. Chrissy turned into one of the doors on the left which had her name printed on it in block letters. Mike had a brief moment to register that her office was rather Spartan in appearance with nothing more than two rather generic landscape paintings on the walls. Then Chrissy was closing the door and suddenly all of his attention was focused on her. Her face had gotten a little bit of color back in it. She was wearing a pale green jumper with a hot pink turtle neck under it. In the dead of a Chicago winter, Chrissy looked like the blessed breath of spring. Her flaming red hair was drawn back into a twist, but several soft stands hung loosely around her face. Mike's heart warmed when she pushed her sleeves up on her arms, and he heard the familiar jingle of her charm bracelet. She was everything he remembered and all that he would ever want. But the look on her face said that she was less than amused at his presence. "Mike, what are you doing here?" Chrissy asked quietly, in a pointed and measured tone. "Well . . . ", Mike drawled, "I was hoping you could help point a newcomer in the right direction for getting a job." Chrissy looked at him suspiciously. "Just who is it that needs a job?" she asked. Mike's face broke into a huge smile. "Sweetheart, you're looking at him!" he said. Chrissy felt the blood drain out of her face once again. "Wh-what are you talking about?" she stammered. Mike moved over to one of her chairs and dropped down into it. "Well, when I got back, I packed up my bags, locked up my office and retired from the Marines. Now, I'm living the civilian life! I thought I might just settle down here in Chicago and make a go of it in the city. I've never lived anywhere like this before!" Before she could stop herself, Chrissy gave a cynical laugh at that comment. If Mike was surprised at her reaction, he didn't show it. He just sat there, looking around her office, like he was considering moving in to it. None of the fantasies that Chrissy had entertained over the last 3 weeks had prepared her for this moment. Never, in her wildest dreams, had she imagined Mike out of the military. The Marine Corps was his life. What was he going to do now? More importantly, what was she going to do now? Chrissy realized that she was still standing against the door. She crossed the room and sat down in her own chair. She felt a little more balanced with her desk in between Mike and her. But her thoughts were still in a muddled mess. "Mike, why would you come here?" she asked, sounding rather plaintive even to her ears. Mike looked as though he was actually pondering the question. Then, out of the blue, he asked, "So are you pregnant?" That question was so far out of the range of possible things that Chrissy had expected Mike to say that it took her several minutes to recover enough to answer. Mike knew the answer from the look on her face long before she formed the words to tell him "no". Until that moment, Mike hadn't totally comprehended how much he had hoped that she was carrying his child. The news that she wasn't hit him like a ton of bricks. He actually felt a physical pain in his chest at the loss. He lowered his eyes to hide his reaction from Chrissy. He struggled to get control of himself and to formulate a plan. Maybe this was just the break he needed. "I'm sorry, Chrissy," he said quietly. He continued, "I know how much you were hoping to be pregnant. Have you gone ahead with the artificial insemination?" His gut was clinching at the idea that she might not be carrying his child, but that she was willing to try to carry some other man's. He was hoping she hadn't had time to pursue her original idea for getting pregnant, but he needed to be certain. Mike hadn't thought that Chrissy could ever look any sadder than she had on the morning that she had last left him. But the look in her eyes at that moment rivaled the pain he had seen the last time they had been together. "No, Mike. I haven't been artificially inseminated. I won't be pursuing that any further," she answered him in a voice thick with emotion. The look that Mike gave her showed his surprise, "You've dropped the idea of having a baby?" Chrissy took a deep breath before she answered. "Yes. No. Well, sort of. What I mean is that I'm not going to be getting pregnant." At the completely startled look on Mike's face, she continued, "I wanted to get pregnant because I thought it would be the most fulfilling physical experience of my life. I wanted to feel, within my own body, what it was like to intimately hold another human being - to be one with another person even if it was only for nine months. But after Christmas, I had to admit that it would be impossible for me to ever experience anything that could top the intimacy that I shared with you. Even carrying a child in my womb couldn't compare to what you and I had. Therefore, I dropped the idea of artificial insemination. I will be going forward with my plans to adopt, but I won't follow up on the other." Mike couldn't have been more surprised if she had told him that she was an alien. He knew that he had never experienced anything like the passion that they had shared, but, to hear Chrissy admit that it had meant just as much to her, shook him to the core. Mike wanted to jump over the desk right then and show her exactly how much she meant to him - how much he loved her. He held himself back, though, realizing that he needed to bide his time. She wasn't pregnant, and she wasn't going to get that way without his help, so he had a chance. Now he needed to not blow that opportunity. With as casual of a voice as he could muster, Mike changed the subject, "Look, I know that we are taking up your work time. Will you have supper with me tonight?" When he saw the hesitation on her face, he added, "Please? I don't know my way around yet and I really could use a local's help." Chrissy couldn't hide the trepidation that she was feeling. She took a few moments, then said, "Do you promise that it's just dinner?" Mike looked confused. "What else would it be?" he asked. Chrissy sighed in frustration, "I don't know! I just know that I can't handle any more than dinner right now. I'm still stunned that you are here and my mind is all messed up and now you want to go out and I don't know what it is that you really want and I don't know why you are really here and why you picked Chicago and I'm not sure if I can handle all of this!" Mike would have laughed at her run-on explanation, if she hadn't been so serious. So he stifled his smile and said, "It's ok, Mickey. I just want supper." At the sound of her nickname, Chrissy's bones seemed to melt. She was glad she was sitting down, because her legs wouldn't have held her up at that moment. When Mike called her Mickey, it reminded her of the most intimate caresses they had shared. She swallowed hard and said, "Meet me here at 6:00. I'll make arrangements for dinner and then I can show you the city." Mike was much more interested in seeing Chrissy than he was in seeing the city, but he didn't let on. He thanked her adding, "It's really good to see you again. I've missed you." Then he was out the door and gone. Chrissy felt like she had just been run over by a truck! Or did she feel more like she had just ridden an emotional roller coaster? OK, maybe she felt like she had been run over by a truck while on an emotional roller coaster. Yeah, that sounded about right! She sat, stunned, at her desk, trying to put her thoughts back together. Mike was out of the Marines. Mike was in Chicago. Mike was going out to dinner with her. And, damn it, she hadn't even got around to kissing him! The rest of the work day was virtually wasted. Every time Chrissy looked at the numbers on the papers in front of her, they kept swirling around into heart shapes. The image of Mike's face kept floating to the surface of her mind. Her palm kept tingling from his kiss. And her body kept quivering, remembering what they had shared together. She was so relieved when the clock finally chimed six that she almost shouted for joy. Then, breathing a sigh of relief, Chrissy locked up her office and headed out the front door. Mike was standing outside of the bank, on the sidewalk, waiting for Chrissy when she came out. He had changed into the outfit she had bought him for Christmas. He looked so handsome. Suddenly she remembered the rest of what she had bought him and wondered if he had on the silk boxers. Her face turned bright red as she chastised herself for such a thought. She reminded herself that Mike had wanted her for sex over the holidays. Now that he was out of the Marines, and living in a new city, there would be lots of women interested in keeping his bed warm at night. Chrissy knew she didn't have what it took to compete against the beautiful women of the world in order to win the affections of a man like Mike. She wished she could just be happy that he was willing to be her friend. Chrissy tried to tell her heart that knowing that Mike could have his choice of women shouldn't hurt. They had had a deal and now it was over. He had looked her up because she was a familiar face in a new place - and that's all there was to it. But her heart knew that it was much more than that for her and it just kept aching for him. Mike reached out for her hand as soon as she was close enough. His grasp felt warm and secure and Chrissy longed to lose herself in him. She was afraid that she wasn't special to Mike, except as a friend, but she wanted so much more. As she felt a sadness creeping up on her, Chrissy brushed aside those thoughts. Anyway, she told herself, they had dinner reservations at her favorite restaurant so she didn't have time to stand in the middle of the cold Chicago streets mooning over Mike. She forced herself to smile up at him. She said, "We can walk to the restaurant then come back afterwards and pick up my car. I'll drive you around to see some of the sights after dinner". Mike nodded his agreement and they started off down the street. The restaurant that Chrissy had chosen was an Italian diner. The owners were original immigrants and Chrissy promised that the food was excellent. The atmosphere was loud and festive. When Chrissy walked in, several of the staff called out greetings to her by name. Mike was surprised by that because he had pictured Chrissy as a woman who was quiet and kept to herself in the city. But obviously, in this place at least, Chrissy was not a wallflower. After they were seated, the waitress brought them a bottle of wine to sample. Chrissy declined, saying that she needed to drive home later, but she encouraged Mike to try the offering. It was truly some of the best wine he had ever tasted. The waitress poured him a glass and promised to bring more when he finished that. As soon as the first waitress left their table, and before Mike had a chance to even get Chrissy's attention, a different waitress came over to them. This woman sat down by Chrissy and hugged her tightly. After she left, the host came over and kissed Chrissy on both cheeks. Finally, the owners arrived at the table and pulled Chrissy out of the booth to hug her. Not that he didn't like her himself, but Mike was amazed by everyone's open affection for Chrissy. "Just how well do you tip these people?", he joked when they were finally alone for a moment. Chrissy just laughed. "I met them all when I first moved here. I needed a roommate to share expenses. The owners' daughter was insisting on moving out of the family home, but they were horrified that she might fall in with a bad crowd. I offered to let her move in with me until she had a chance to get to know more about the world. She ended up living with me for about a year. I really enjoyed it and she had a taste of life outside of her family." Mike sat, waiting for her to finish the story, but Chrissy seemed oblivious. When she continued to remain silent, he finally burst out, "Well??? What happened then?" Startled, Chrissy laughed out loud. She hadn't realized that he wanted to hear more. She said, "At the end of the year, she met a good Italian boy from next door, took him home to meet the family and was married before the end of the next month! Her family thinks that I had something to do with getting them together and they are just so thankful that I chose an Italian! The truth is that I had no idea who my neighbors were at the time - their daughter went out on her own and met the people living around us. I'm just glad that, in the end, it was Nicky who lived next door to me and not some ax murderer!" Mike chuckled at her story and the sound filled Chrissy's heart with warmth. She knew that she had been miserable for the last few weeks, but until that moment, she hadn't realized just how empty her life had been without Mike. Throughout dinner, the staff kept coming over and talking to Chrissy. She introduced Mike to everyone as her brother. When there was a lull in the visitors, she whispered, "Since they are Italian, family means everything. They will understand our relationship a lot better if I couch it in terms of family." Mike nodded his head, sagely, but inwardly he wondered about her comment. He was glad that these people could "understand" their relationship, because he sure couldn't! After dinner and many well wishes and good-byes, Chrissy and Mike walked back to her car. Mike was glad to see that Chrissy's life wasn't a lonely one. When she had said that she had a simple, quiet life in Chicago, he had been afraid that she meant that she didn't have a lot of friends. He couldn't imagine that being the case, but he was still glad to have evidence that it wasn't. Although he certainly didn't want her to have any special male friends, he was pleased that she had so many caring friends. Chrissy's Deception Pt. 03 Once inside the car, Chrissy realized that she hadn't yet asked where Mike was living. Her plan was to drive around his new home and show him what was available nearby. When she asked him where his apartment was, the sheepish look on his face made her suspicious. Finally he said, "Well, I'm actually still in a motel." "A motel? What are you doing in a motel?" Chrissy asked. If the man was planing on living in Chicago, why was he still in a motel? Why hadn't he at least gotten an apartment? Then another thought hit Chrissy. "Exactly when did you get to town, Mike?" she asked. Mike actually blushed before he answered, "I got in about 10:00 last night." Chrissy's mind went into hyper drive - 10:00 last night? That meant that the first thing he had done in Chicago was come to find her. That had to mean something, didn't it? Her heart skipped a beat, thinking how much she was hoping that it really did mean something. Finally, Chrissy said, "Well, if you are serious about staying here, I'll drive around to some of the better places to live. You can get a feel for some of the neighborhoods." Mike started to say something then stopped. Chrissy noticed and asked what he had wanted to say. Mike cleared his throat and started again, "You just said, 'if I was serious about staying here'. And earlier today, in your office, it sounded like you weren't happy here anymore. If it's too personal to tell me you don't have to, but I was wondering what you meant." Chrissy gave a short laugh. She pointed the car toward the west side of the city before she answered. "Don't get me wrong. Chicago is a wonderful place, but I've lived here for almost 10 years now. Life here is fast paced and exciting. I'm just tired - tired of the hustle and bustle. I'm tired of the traffic. I'm tired of the winters. I'm tired of not having my family close by. I know it's my own fault for the way I have chosen to live here, but I'm ready to go somewhere where I can be comfortable enough to let myself experience life instead of rushing through it." Mike could barely contain his excitement at her words. He didn't have strong feelings about where he lived as long as he was with Chrissy. But if he had a choice, the truth was that he wanted to go back to Boise. He wanted to live near his brother. He wanted to be a part of his family again. And he wanted Chrissy to go with him. He tried to make his voice appear natural as he said, "So, if you could live anywhere that you wanted to, where would you go?" Again, Chrissy gave a short laugh and shook her head, "I want to go home. I want to live near Tracy. Over Christmas, I realized how much I missed the ranch and everything that goes with life in a place better suited to me." Mike asked, "So why don't you?" Chrissy looked over at him as she continued to drive, "Why don't I what?" "Why don't you go back home?" Mike prompted her. Chrissy sighed and said, "It would never work. I have an awesome job here and I can't just give that up. Anyway, I don't have anywhere to live there. I sure don't want to move in with the newlyweds." Mike was quiet for a few minutes. Then he said, "Chrissy, you are just making excuses. I know that you could request a transfer to a branch of your bank in Boise. And I know that there were at least three small homes sitting on land touching your sister's ranch. And two of them were for sale. Is there something else holding you here? Maybe somebody?" It was Chrissy's turn to be silent. She hadn't given any serious thought to leaving. It had been a long time since she had felt happy about where she lived, but she had just gotten into the rut of accepting it as a fact of her life. It had taken Mike less than one day to see what she hadn't seen for years. She had options - she could change the course of her life. As she thought of the possibilities lying in front of her, she felt excited. When she turned to look at Mike again, her eyes were sparkling with interest. "I really could go home, couldn't I? I could do exactly what you just said. I could transfer my job, sell my condo and move back to Boise. I hadn't even thought of that!" she said. Mike knew that this was the opportunity he had been waiting for. He casually offered, "Chrissy, I think that's exactly what you ought to do if it would make you happy. And I would love to help you anyway that I could. Maybe I could help you pack up. In fact," he paused as though he had just thought of it, "I could maybe even help more if I was living near you. Since I haven't gotten a job yet, I could pack up your stuff and run any errands for you while I'm looking for interviews. Are there any condos for rent in your building?" At that moment, Chrissy was too excited with all of her new thoughts to bother trying to hide her feelings for Mike. She didn't stop to think before she blurted out, "Why don't you just move in with me? It's not like we are strangers. Anyway, I won't be staying here long, if the transfer goes through, but, in the meantime, you would have a place to stay until you can get settled." YES! That was exactly what Mike had been hoping for! He once again tried to sound casual when he replied, "Well, that does sound like a reasonable idea. But only if you are sure." Mike realized he was holding his breath, waiting for Chrissy's response. When she said, "Well, of course I'm sure. I have so many things to do," Mike let out his breath, as Chrissy continued, "We can't tell Mark and Tracy - I want to surprise them! Tracy will never believe that I'm coming home. I need to . . . ". Mike wasn't listening to her at that point. He was too busy congratulating himself on getting her to let him stay with her. Now, he just needed to make that arrangement permanent. When Chrissy realized that she didn't need to show Mike around town, she asked for directions to his motel, so he could pick up his stuff. She waited in the car while he checked out. He came back to the car and threw a duffel bag into the back seat before climbing into the front. "Where's the rest of your stuff?" Chrissy asked. Mike looked at her and grinned. Then he answered, "What you see is what you get! That's all the stuff that I own in the world, right there in that duffel." Startled, Chrissy looked at him like he was kidding. "Are you serious?" she asked, incredulously. Mike just laughed, "I moved around a lot in the Marines. I had more stuff at one time, but then I had to travel a lot during the war with Iraq. My General was needed in a lot of different places over a long period of time, so I just figured I didn't need anything to tie me down. I sold off everything, except my clothes." Chrissy thought for a moment, "Well, when you do find an apartment, you can get one already furnished. That way you can take your time and pick out furniture that you really like for when you settle down." Mike wasn't about to tell Chrissy that the only furniture that he wanted in his future home was the furniture that she already owned! He hadn't even seen her condo yet, but he knew that it didn't matter if she used milk crates for her chairs. He was going to love it, just because it was hers. When they finally reached her home, Chrissy led Mike up the flight of stairs. It was a nice section of town and the buildings were in good shape. Mike was surprised to realize how pleased he was to know that Chrissy had enough sense to take care of herself in a place like Chicago. It was just another fact about her that made him strangely proud of his lover. The condo was simple with only a kitchen and living room, two bedrooms and a bathroom. There was a small lake in the back, so the view from the windows was quite nice. There were lots of windows and Mike imagined that it was a very sunny little place in the daylight. Chrissy's furniture was all light colored and the carpet was a pale blue. All in all, Chrissy's home was pleasant to be in. But Mike wasn't overly interested in assessing all the details of her condo right then. He wanted to get Chrissy in his arms. She had told him to make himself comfortable while she went to change out of her work clothes. He had done a quick walk through to familiarize himself with his surroundings, but now he was impatient to be with Chrissy. As he wandered past her bedroom door, he noticed that she hadn't closed it all the way. He nudged it open with his foot. Chrissy was standing in front of her bedroom mirror in her panties and bra. She was brushing out her long red hair. The tantalizing picture she made caused Mike to suck in his breath. Chrissy jumped when she heard him. "You scared me to death!" she accused him, with her hand over her heart. "Had you forgotten that I was here? Or were you expecting me to suddenly be someone else?" he teased her as he crossed the room toward her. Mike's words might have sounded light and playful, but the look in his eyes was anything but! Chrissy could see the desire in them even before he reached out to touch her. He let his right hand trail from her cheek, down her neck, over the swell of her breast. When he cupped her breast from underneath, his left hand wrapped around her head to pull her mouth to his. Chrissy moaned out loud as she felt his lips on hers for the first time in weeks. She had never thought she would taste Mike again, and now that she had the opportunity, she found that she couldn't get enough. It was only a matter of seconds before the two of them fell onto Chrissy's bed. Mike raised up over her to look at her. He whispered, "Please don't make me sleep in the guest bedroom tonight." Chrissy's throaty laugh was all the response she was able to make. Instead, she answered in a way that she was sure he could understand. She began unbuttoning his shirt and kissing him over and over. Mike let Chrissy struggle with his buttons for a moment, and then he jumped off the bed. He stripped his shirt and pants off in an instant. Chrissy's breath caught in her throat as she saw that he did have on the silk boxers. She looked up at him and saw the hint of amusement in his look. "Go ahead and say it," he said, "I know you are dying to!" Chrissy just laughed and answered, "I'm just glad that you like them, my sweet Jar Head!" That was the last of the conversation for the next little while. Words weren't needed as Mike reacquainted himself with Chrissy's body. He touched every curve and each place that he had missed so badly over the past few weeks. Chrissy touched Mike's body with a reverence forged out of the long nights of loneliness that she had thought would never end. After long minutes of exploration, the passion that their touch created began to burn out of control. Mike had wanted to make their reunion last as long as possible, but from the fire raging within him, he realized that he had just about reached his own limit. Chrissy opened willingly to his touch and he sank himself into her in one solid thrust. The moan that ripped from Chrissy's throat matched the one that came from Mike's soul. Their bodies were made for each other and they belonged together. Mike had worried that he wasn't going to last long enough to please Chrissy, but as her climax overtook her, he realized that he needn't have been concerned. As he felt her muscles tense into the involuntary contractions that signaled her release, Mike gave into his own desire. He began thrusting into her rapidly, lasting only moments before his own explosion. As Mike and Chrissy lay entwined with one another, Chrissy thought her heart might burst from the love she was experiencing. Never had she imagined that she would have the opportunity to love a man like Mike. Although she told herself that this was still just sex for Mike, she couldn't stop her heart from soaring with the knowledge that, for a few short weeks, Mike would still be a part of her life. And, even though it was only temporary, she would enjoy each moment, without worrying about how she would feel when it was over. Mike didn't leave Chrissy's bed that night. And over the next few weeks, the guest bed was never used. Chrissy put in her request for a transfer. Her boss and her co-workers had tried to talk her out of her request, telling her how much they needed her and how well she did her job. But Chrissy was adamant and the request was submitted to be processed. Then she put the condo up for sale with the contingency that she be allowed to live there until the transfer went through. Within 24 hours, she had a full price offer, with all conditions approved. Each day seemed to move her closer to Idaho. And each day also seemed to move her closer to Mike. Chapter Eight Chrissy and Mike spent every possible moment together. Chrissy showed Mike the city and they dined out in fine restaurants and even danced in a few bars. Each night was filled with a wonderful combination of passion and contentment. Although they made love often, they were just as happy when they only had the energy to snuggle together. They laughed a lot and shared things with one another that they had never told anyone else. And every night, they talked about the ups and downs that went along with ordinary living. As the weeks flew by they grew more and more comfortable around each other. Over dinner out one night, during their third week together, Mike had been telling Chrissy about some of the dinners and state functions that he had been called upon to attend due to his job with the General. He had made her laugh with stories about the expectations that some of the dignitaries had. Special foods and wines were the order of the day when certain visitors came to call - and for some there even had to be specific silverware and their own personal crystal glasses for the champagne. He had painted pictures of men and women that Chrissy couldn't imagine ever even meeting, let alone having casual conversations with. Yet Mike had seen and done it all. Even though he didn't dwell on any of the ladies from his encounters, Chrissy could only imagine that he had been able to take his choice of admirers on many occasions. When Mike noticed that the spark in Chrissy's eyes had dimmed while he had been telling his last story, he reached over and took her hand. "Chrissy, what's the matter? Is something wrong? You seem to be lost in thought," he commented. Chrissy looked at him with a genuine sadness in her eyes. Mike wrinkled his brow as he waited for her response. Finally, she said, "Mike, look, I know I'm not the kind of woman you are used to spending time with. I'm not worldly, I'm not sophisticated and I don't even know anyone remotely famous. I know that you have been spending all of your time helping me get ready for my move, but honest, if you want to go out and start dating, it would be ok." Mike sat, staring at her in stunned silence. Of all the things he had expected, having Chrissy tell him to get lost hadn't been one of them. He swallowed several replies before he finally managed to say, "Is there some reason you don't want me around? I thought we were having a good time together. Is there someone else?" Chrissy's eyes flew open wide. In an effort to make him understand, Chrissy didn't take the time to measure her words, "NO! Of course not," she said. "It's just that, when I hear all of your stories, I realize that I'm not beautiful and attractive like the women you are used to socializing with. Mike, you have to know that there's nobody I'd rather be with than you. But I don't want you to feel obligated to spend all your time with me when you could be out finding a woman who is more like you - someone with the body and mind to compliment you." Although Mike's eyes flared, he didn't respond to her. Instead, he pulled out his wallet, and threw enough money on the table to cover their bill and a tip. Then he reached out and grabbed Chrissy by the hand and began pulling her out of the restaurant. Surprised, Chrissy asked, "Mike, what are you doing? Where are we going?" Mike didn't answer Chrissy, but rather continued to pull her behind him until they were at the car. "Get in!" he growled, as he held her door open for her. Chrissy slid into the passenger side of the car and waited for Mike to get into the driver's seat. She was still wondering what was going on when he turned to face her. His voice was strained with controlled fury as he said, through gritted teeth, "Don't you ever say something like that about yourself again! I have never met anyone who interested me more than you. All the women that I have known in the past were superficial and transparent. You have more depth in your little finger than most of those women. And as for beautiful, you haven't seen what you look like when you open your eyes first thing in the morning, you haven't seen how your hair shines in the sunlight, you haven't seen your face burst into a smile that could melt a glacier. You have no idea what beautiful is because you can't see yourself. You are far more beautiful than I can explain." Shocked, Chrissy blurted out what she thought was her biggest flaw, "But, Mike, I'm fat. I'm not shapely and slender - " Mike cut off the rest of Chrissy's argument by claiming her lips in a searing kiss. When he raised his head, he looked into her eyes and whispered, in a voice that left no doubt as to the anger he was barely hiding, "Chrissy if you ever say anything like that about yourself again, you better make sure that I don't hear you. Now sit right here and don't say another word until we get home." Chrissy wanted to protest, but Mike gave her a look that brooked no argument, so she stayed quiet. When they got to the condo, Chrissy started to say something, but Mike put his finger over her lips. "No talking until I say so!" he said, sounding more like a drill Sargent than a lover. Once inside, he shut the door behind them and leaned against it. "Now, Ms. Stanton, I want you to go to the bedroom and strip. Wait for me on the bed. Do you understand?" Since Mike was still in his command mode, Chrissy snapped him a salute and answered, "Sir, yes sir!" before turning and running to the bedroom. She was relieved when she heard Mike's deep laugh following her down the hall. Mike entered the bedroom a few minutes later, wearing only his boxers. He and Chrissy had expanded his collection of silk boxers and this pair was dark gray. Chrissy sighed as her eyes roamed over his body. "Well," Mike said, "Do you want to repeat what you said earlier?" Chrissy looked at him blankly. She had been so caught up in enjoying the sight of him that she forgot why they had come to the bedroom in the first place. Chrissy was quiet as she continued trying to remember what she had said. Mike laughed and fell on the bed beside her, "That's more like it! I don't ever want you saying those things again and I would just as soon that you forget that you ever believed them." Chrissy suddenly remembered what she had said. She started to protest, "But, Mike, those things are tr - " Again, Mike managed to cut off her sentence with a kiss. "Chrissy, I'm going to go over this tonight and every night until I make you understand. You are not unattractive because of your size. It is a part of you and I find you incredibly desirable." Just for added effect, he rubbed his erection against her leg before continuing, "See what you do to me? That's not just because I am in bed with a woman. That's because I am in bed with you - you do that to me." "And as for not being shapely, my God, woman, how much more shape could I stand? You have this curve here," he stopped to cup her breast. "And this curve here," he moved his hand to outline her waist. "And this luscious curve right here," he smoothed his hand around over her stomach. His hand continued as the desire in his eyes grew. "And this curve here," he said as he ran his fingers over her feminine curls. "I love your curves, you silly woman. I don't ever want you to complain about them again. They are a part of you and I love - " Chrissy's Deception Pt. 03 Mike stopped in mid-sentence, realizing that he was about to tell Chrissy that he loved her. He wasn't ready yet for that bombshell, so he improvised and said, "And I love each one of them." It wasn't a perfect recovery, but it was the best Mike could manage. Fortunately, words weren't needed for the rest of the evening, as Chrissy let Mike show her just how much he truly enjoyed her curves! She was pretty sure that, once this night was over, she was going to need Mike to tell her, again and again how much he desired her, but he seemed more than willing to oblige. After getting that issue settled, the only thing that bothered Chrissy during the weeks to come was Mike's inability to find a job. She knew that he had been very specialized in the work that he had done in the Marines, but she had really thought he would be able to find employment quickly. He had assured her that he had arranged for almost two months of terminal leave, which provided him with a steady paycheck, so he wasn't worried about finding a new job. But Chrissy was getting worried. Weeks had gone by and he hadn't even mentioned getting any interviews. She had tried to talk to him about it, but he hadn't seemed interested enough to even have a conversation about it. At dinner one night, Chrissy finally decided that enough was enough. Mike had cooked supper for them that night, so they were at home. With no one to interrupt them or to overhear, Chrissy insisted that Mike talk to her about his job plans. Although he was evasive at first, Mike finally explained that he had put in his application for a civil service job. He told her that since he would soon be retired military, he had requested a rather high level job. The paperwork and cross referencing of his qualifications and the available jobs was taking longer than expected. Chrissy was satisfied, though, that he was making progress and that he wasn't going to be unemployed forever. She willingly accepted his explanation and dropped the subject. Mike was relieved that he had managed to appease Chrissy's interest in his job, but he hated having to lie to her. He had told her part of the truth, but since he still had not told her that he planned on going back to Boise with her yet, he couldn't tell her the whole truth. The whole truth was that he had requested a high level civil service job, but he had already been assured that it would be waiting for him whenever he arrived. He would be working with the U.S. Customs Service out of the Boise airport. The job sounded like a good fit and it allowed him time to settle down, get acquainted with Boise, and help his brother formulate plans for the ranch. He wasn't sure he would stay at the job until he retired, but it was a perfect match for him right now. And, most importantly, it let him stay with Chrissy. Mike had been keeping another secret from Chrissy as well. After she had put in for her transfer, she had contacted the real estate agent that was selling the two small farms near her sister's ranch. When she had gotten the information, she had shared it with Mike. Although both farms had a lot to offer, one really seemed to appeal to Chrissy. The house was in good shape, there was a creek running through the property and the pastures were already being farmed for corn. Chrissy had told Mike about some changes she would like to have made in the house, such as redoing the kitchen and updating the bathrooms. But, overall, the gleam in Chrissy's eyes when she talked about that house, told Mike that it was definitely the one she wanted. They had even flown over to Boise one week-end to see the house, without Tracy and Mark knowing anything about their visit. After that week-end, Mike and Chrissy had returned to Chicago. On Monday, as soon as Chrissy had gone to work, Mike contacted the agent and bought the farmhouse! Since he had never married and had never had too much opportunity to spend his income, Mike had invested a great deal over his military career. He had managed to have enough to make a down payment of half the cost of the house and still have enough left over to get the kitchen and bath redone. It had been tricky to keep his purchase and remodeling a secret - not only from Chrissy, but also from Tracy and Mark. But he had done it. According to his contractor, the kitchen was finished and the bathroom would be done in another week. Mike wanted to share his secret with Chrissy so badly, but he knew that, if he did, it would blow his surprise. So he kept quiet, even though it was an agony for him to do so! One Friday, about four weeks after Mike had arrived in Chicago, Chrissy came home after work earlier than usual. Mike was in her guest bedroom, packing up books in order to prepare for her move. Chrissy burst into the bedroom with her face glowing with excitement. "The transfer went through! I'm going to Boise!" Chrissy's happiness was instantly contagious, as Mike grabbed her around the waist and they spun around the room together. Finally, when they were both out of breath, Mike set her down. "When? When are you leaving?" he asked her excitedly. As happy as she was, Chrissy still felt a stab of disappointment that Mike was so eager for her to leave. The thought that maybe he hadn't enjoyed their weeks together as much as she had flickered through her mind. But she pushed that thought aside and smiled up at him, "I report to work in Boise in two weeks! My last day here is Monday. I just can't believe it - I'm really going home!" Over the week-end, Chrissy and Mike finished packing up the guest bedroom, the living room and most of the kitchen. Mike had already washed and packed Chrissy's extra clothes and dishes. So that only left the basics in the kitchen and in Chrissy's wardrobe. It was exhausting work. By the time Sunday night arrived, they both were ready to take a break. Looking over at Chrissy who was sitting on the floor in her kitchen, taping the last boxes shut, Mike said, "Want to go out?" Chrissy looked up at him ruefully, "Not on your life! Order me a pizza and don't forget the coke!" Mike laughed at her and went to call in their delivery order. When he returned to the kitchen, Chrissy was still sitting in the floor, but rather than taping boxes, she was staring off into space. Mike dropped down beside her and she smiled over at him. It was a happy smile, but with a touch of sadness around the edges. "Penny for your thoughts," he whispered to Chrissy, as he put his arm around her to draw her closer to him. Chrissy sighed, "It's just all so hard to believe. I know I'm making the right choice, but I'm also having to step out in faith. I mean, I still don't even have a place to live when I get there. And Tracy doesn't know I'm coming yet. What if this is harder than I can handle?" Mike longed to reassure her that he would be beside her every step of the way, but he held back. He wanted his surprise to be perfect, when the time was right. So Mike sat in the floor and held Chrissy while she talked to him about her fears and her hopes. When the pizza arrived, Mike paid for it and then sat back down in the floor with it. "Let's not bother with the table," he said, "Let's just have a picnic here on the floor." Chrissy readily agreed, then she reached over and pulled some paper towels off of the roll that was sitting on the counter. "Nothing like elegant napkins to accompany our elegant cuisine!" she laughed. Monday morning dawned bright and early. Chrissy was like a little kid going to a birthday party. She was so excited about her last day at work. Mike watched her bounce out the door and thought about how much he enjoyed being a part of Chrissy's life. She was his perfect mate. And it was almost time to tell her that. The next day flew by, with movers to be dealt with, utilities to be turned off and last minute details cropping up right and left. Finally, everything was finalized by Wednesday morning. Mike had told Chrissy that he would like to drive to Boise with her since he didn't have anything going on right then. He had implied that he would drop in on his brother for a few days and then head back. Of course, Chrissy had no way of knowing that, when Mike put his duffel bag in her car this time, he wasn't planning on any return trips. He was headed home, in more ways than one. Chapter Nine It was roughly 1600 miles between Chicago and Boise. Chrissy and Mike took turns driving. Their goal was to put in 400 miles a day. That was a long day, but not impossible. They didn't want to be worn out when they got to Boise, but they didn't want to waste too much time on the trip, either. On Saturday night, they were still about 100 miles outside of Boise, in Jerome. They decided that they would stop for the night and surprise Tracy and Mark first thing in the morning. They also didn't want to end up on Tracy and Mark's doorstep in the middle of the night. So they left a request for an early morning wake up call and headed off to bed. As usual, the room that they had chosen only had one bed. By the time that Chrissy finished washing her face and brushing her teeth, Mike had already fallen asleep. Chrissy crawled in beside him and snuggled up to him. In his sleep, he turned and draped an arm over her, then he sighed in contentment. Chrissy chuckled to herself at how comfortable they had become with one another. Although she was tired, Chrissy couldn't seem to fall asleep. Somehow in the excitement of the last few weeks, she had forgotten Mike would be leaving soon. She had slipped into the fantasy that they were a real couple and that this move was for them both. She had forgotten that it was all just a temporary arrangement for him. Now, it was over. This could well be the last night that they had together. That thought made her heart ache and tears come to her eyes. She snuggled closer into Mike's arms and hoped that sleep would come soon. Mike woke Chrissy up with kisses the next morning. He started by kissing her forehead, then moved down her face, lingering over her mouth, then continuing down her neck. By the time that he had begun kissing the soft mound of her breast, she was wide awake and moaning. Mike kneaded her flesh with his left hand, while his right arm was occupied with pulling Chrissy as close as possible to him. For her own part, Chrissy wasn't willing to be passive in their lovemaking. She reached out and stroked Mike's shoulders and ran her hands up and down his back. As Mike's touch became more insistent, Chrissy began to wiggle in his arms. He held her tight though and continued to love her. She was fast reaching the point of no return, but she wanted to take Mike with her. Without warning him, she suddenly shifted her weight and lowered her body onto his erection. It was Mike's turn to moan as he sank into her softness. That sound gave Chrissy a rush of power and she began moving under him. Mike picked up the pace and soon they were over the edge, finding their release almost simultaneously. Instead of drifting back down slowly, Chrissy grinned and jumped out of bed. She ran to the bathroom and started the shower. She turned back to Mike and said, "Want to conserve some water, Marine?" Surprised, Mike looked at her closely. He said, "Are you sure? We've never showered before." Chrissy's only answer was to arch her eyebrows suggestively before she jumped behind the shower curtain. Mike laughed out loud and bounded in after her. Getting clean had never been so appealing! Their shower ended up lasting far longer than either one of them had planned. It had resulted in another bout of lovemaking, which then required additional cleaning. Although they had hoped to leave by 7:00, they finally managed to get their clothes on and pack up to leave around 10:00. "Well", said Chrissy, "we can show up at their house when they get home from church!" The last 100 miles seemed to last forever. Chrissy was determined to hang on to her excitement and not give into the anxiety that was gnawing at her. Mike seemed extraordinarily relaxed which helped her stay upbeat. By the time that they had stopped to grab a bite of breakfast, and driven the last stretch, they were pulling into Tracy and Mark's driveway about 12:30. Mike was driving since Chrissy was too excited. He saw Tracy and Mark just getting out of their car at the end of the long drive. He pulled up behind them, blocking their car in. Mark gave a questioning look over the top of his car, wondering who would be showing up at their home. When he recognized his brother getting out of the car, he couldn't stop himself from yelling, "Mike!" Tracy had made it into the house already and was returning to see who had arrived. She heard Mark's excitement, but couldn't make out what he was saying. When she rounded the porch and saw Chrissy standing in the yard, she yelled herself and began running toward her sister. The two women hugged each other tightly and kept trying to talk at the same time. Finally, Mike raised his voice loud enough to be heard by them all and suggested that they go inside. The four of them finally managed to get into the kitchen and sat down around the table. Chrissy started by saying, "I wanted to come home." Tracy looked at her, somewhat confused. She said, "But you were just home at Christmas. Why did you want to visit again so soon?" Chrissy's face burst into a huge smile, "I'm not visiting, Sis. I'm here to stay!" The squeals of delight between the two sisters were almost more than Mark and Mike could handle. They just looked at one another and shook their heads, waiting until the women calmed down enough for Chrissy to continue. It took about 20 minutes to get the whole story out because Tracy and Mark kept interrupting with questions. Mike watched Chrissy as she talked to her sister and brother - in - law. He knew by the look on her face that she had made the right decision. She had never looked happier or more beautiful than she did right then. Mike couldn't wait until he could get her alone and let her know how much he loved her. Chrissy and Mike had left everything in the car when they had arrived. After finishing up her story, Chrissy realized that she wanted some of the things she had left out in the car. She had brought a few presents and some information for Mark about incorporating the ranch in order to obtain a loan. Mike and Mark volunteered to go get the stuff in order to let the two sisters have a few minutes alone. As soon as Mike was out of the kitchen, Tracy turned to Chrissy and said, "So how far along are you?" Chrissy looked at her sister in confusion. "Far along with what?" she asked. Tracy said, "Oh come on, how far along are you in the pregnancy? Chrissy's face fell. "I didn't get pregnant, Tracy. I started my period right after I got back to Chicago." Tracy looked at her sister suspiciously. "Chrissy, I might not know a lot of things, but I know a pregnant woman when I see one. When was your last period?" Chrissy scrunched up her forehead as she thought back. "Well," she said, still trying to remember clearly, "I told you, it was right after I got back to Chicago. Yeah, that was the last time." Suddenly, it dawned on Chrissy what she had just said. Startled beyond speech, she could only stare at Tracy. "Honey," Tracy began, "that was the first of January. This is the first week in March. You are a month late!" Chrissy suddenly felt dizzy. She had never even noticed that she hadn't had a period. She had been too busy focusing on her move. As much as she had wanted a child three months ago, now she wasn't sure what she was going to do. Then she had developed a plan, had a schedule and had made arrangements accordingly. Now, she was winging it. She was in a new town, at a new job, madly in love with the father of her baby, and facing his imminent departure. How was she going to manage? "What am I going to do? How am I going to handle this?" Chrissy muttered, in her shock. It didn't even cross her mind that Tracy might be wrong. She knew in her heart that Tracy was right - she was going to have a baby. "Mike's going to kill me! NO! Mike is not going to know!" Tracy looked at her like she had lost her mind, "What do you mean, Mike isn't going to know? You two are a couple. You made this baby together. He has to know." As they heard the men come back into the house, Chrissy turned to her sister with panic written all over her face, "Please, please, don't say anything. I know you don't understand, but please, promise me you won't tell Mike. Promise me, please!" Tracy nodded reluctantly as the men walked into the kitchen. "Hey, Tracy, what's for lunch?" Mike joked. Tracy tore her eyes from her sister and looked at him. Her face still held traces of annoyance, which surprised Mike. They had been home less than an hour and Tracy and Chrissy were having problems? That didn't bode well for the future. "I'll have some lunch for us all in a few minutes. Mark, why don't you take Mike and show him the new barns that we have decided on?" Tracy said. Chrissy knew that her sister was trying to get her alone again, and she was not interested. She turned to Mike and Mark and said, "I would love to see the barns as well. Can I come?" Mike looked suspiciously between the two women and noted Chrissy's look of forced innocence and Tracy's scowl of displeasure. Man, this was going to be a great visit! When the Mark, Mike and Chrissy returned to the kitchen, Tracy had set out sandwich fixings and had warmed up some tomato soup. The four of them settled at the table. Mike had been afraid that the conversation would be stilted, given whatever was going on between Tracy and Chrissy. But Tracy and Chrissy seemed to have called a truce and the meal was pleasant and peaceful. Chrissy asked where Sky was since she wasn't there to keep them all entertained, and Tracy explained that Sky's friend from Christmas was now her official boyfriend. After church every Sunday, Steven's family insisted that Sky join them for an afternoon of fun and games. It gave Tracy and Mark a chance to have some time together and Tracy knew that Sky and Steven were well chaperoned by his family. All in all, it was a nice situation. After the meal, the four of them moved into the den to sit in more comfortable chairs. It didn't take long for the conversation to become a chore as they all relaxed more and more. Finally, when Mark woke himself up with a loud snore, they all decided it was time for naps. Mike and Chrissy naturally went up the stairs to her old room and Mark and Tracy headed for the other end of the house to their bedroom. The quiet house and the lazy Sunday afternoon combined to make for a very peaceful atmosphere, as they all settled down to rest. Chapter Ten When Chrissy woke up, she was shocked to find herself alone. She wondered where Mike was, and then, with a start, she remembered what she had discovered earlier. She was going to have a baby - Mike's baby. She wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or to cry. She didn't want Mike to feel obligated to her or the baby in any way. Her original plan had been to use him merely as a sperm donor. Yet that was so long ago. So many things had changed. Now what was she going to do? The door to her room opened and Mike stepped in. He was carrying a tray with two glasses of coke and some powdered dough nuts on it. "No one else is awake yet, but I wanted something sweet," he said. "Care to join me?" he invited. Chrissy moved over on the bed so he could sit with her. They enjoyed the snack and then Mike took the tray back downstairs. When he returned, he looked anxious about something. Chrissy almost didn't notice since she was caught up in her own trauma, but when he kept hanging around the door and finally began pacing, she knew something was up. "Mike? What's going on? What's wrong?" Chrissy's Deception Pt. 03 Mike stopped in front of her. He looked down into her eyes with an burning intensity in his own. In a rather strained voice, he said, "Will you go for a ride with me?" Chrissy laughed at his seriousness and said, "Sure, just let me get my shoes and socks. I'll met you downstairs." After having been in the car for five days, Chrissy was surprised that Mike wanted to get back into it. But something was up and she would go with him and find out what it was. When she got downstairs, he was leaving a note for Tracy and Mark. He motioned her to be quiet as they went out the door, so as to not wake up the newlyweds. Once they were outside, he dropped his arm around her shoulders and led her to the passenger side of the car. He opened the door for her and waited for her to get in. She had assumed that she would drive, but didn't question Mike since he looked so preoccupied and focused. The car was filled with silence as they drove back down the long driveway and out onto the main road. On the way in, they had passed the house that they had looked at buying and Chrissy had commented that the "for sale" sign was gone. Now, Mike was pointing the car back in that direction. When he pulled into the driveway of the house, Chrissy shot him a surprised look. He was staring at the road in front of them with such intensity that she didn't dare comment. Finally, Mike pulled the car to a stop in front of the house and cut off the engine. When Mike turned to face Chrissy in the seat, she had no idea what to expect him to say. Driving into the driveway of someone else's house was rather strange behavior and she wasn't sure what he was up to. She looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to explain. Mike took several deep breaths as he tried to form the words that he wanted to say. Finally, he blew out a long sigh and said, "You want to go in?" Chrissy was even more confused, "Mike, the house isn't for sale anymore. Why would we go into someone else's house?" Mike just looked at her in frustration. After a few moments, he said, "Just come on. I can't explain all this. I've been trying to figure out how and you would think after a month I would know what to say, but I haven't got a clue." As she sat in the car, totally confused, Mike was climbing out of the car and coming around to open Chrissy's door. Chrissy took the hand Mike offered and followed him up the steps. She watched as he pulled out a set of keys and opened the door. None of this was making sense to her. Mike took her hand and pulled her into the house. Chrissy's eyes flew open wide as she recognized her own furniture, the same furniture that Mike had promised her he was sending to storage, sitting in the living room. "What's going on?" she asked as she began walking through the house. In the kitchen, she saw all the new appliances and remodeling that she had wanted done. She saw her kitchen table over in the corner. As she wandered through the house, she found her bedroom furniture in the master bedroom and her guest bedroom furniture in one of the spare bedrooms. The bathrooms had been remodeled just like she had wanted them. There were even curtains hung on the windows. The house was perfect. Furious by this point, she rounded the corner back into the living room where Mike was still standing. "Ok," she practically shouted, "Tell me what's going on and tell me now!" Mike had the audacity to chuckle at her outburst. As her face just grew more angry, he sobered up and began trying to explain. He kept starting then stopping, never managing to get a full sentence out of his mouth. "Look, I wanted to do this right, but I'm just no good at this stuff, you know?" he finally mumbled. "No, Mike, I don't know what you mean! What kind of "stuff" are you talking about?" Chrissy stormed at him. Mike ran his hand through his hair and sank down onto the nearest couch. He looked up at Chrissy and sighed, "I didn't handle this very well. Please, Chrissy, sit down and hear me out." Chrissy continued to look skeptical, but she sat down on the couch beside him, waiting for him to continue. Looking away from her, he began, "When I first met you at the airport, you rocked my world. I never imagined that I would meet someone who blew me away, but there you were. Then we had that incredible night together. I almost died the next morning when you weren't there. I've never been so happy as when I saw you walk down your sister's stairs that day. I felt like somebody on death row being given a reprieve. When you told me that crazy story about trying to get pregnant, I jumped at the chance to spend more time with you. I told you it was going to be a charade, an opportunity for me to have some casual sex," he turned to look her in the eye, "but Chrissy, it's never been a charade for me. I've wanted you from the moment I met you." Chrissy was barely breathing as Mike continued, "I went back to the Marines, knowing that I was only going to finalize the details of my retirement. I hadn't told you because I was afraid you would run away again. I didn't come to Chicago because I wanted to live in the city. I came to be with you. And these last five weeks together have been heaven. I just couldn't give all that up. So, I bought this house, I got a job in Boise and . . .", Mike fumbled in his jacket pocket before pulling out a ring box. He dropped down on his knee in front of Chrissy and continued, "and I want you to share this life with me. I want you to share this house and be a part of everything that's a part of me. My darling Chrissy, will you marry me?" Tears were streaming down Chrissy's face as she stared, first at the solitaire and then at the man, still on his knee in front of her. Her heart was screaming for her to say yes, but her mind wouldn't let go of one important fact - she wanted children. More importantly, she was going to have a child. And Mike didn't want kids. He had been clear from the beginning, hadn't he? A sob tore out of Chrissy's throat as she buried her face into her hands. Mike looked at her in confusion. "Chrissy? This is the part where you say 'yes'. Remember?" Chrissy raised her tear streaked face to him. There was no way her voice was going to hold up while she explained to Mike why she couldn't marry him. Finally, desperate for him to understand, she managed to squeak out, "But, babies . . . " Mike looked stricken for a moment, then he said, "Chrissy, I know I haven't gotten you pregnant yet, but we've only been trying a few months. We'll keep trying until we get your babies. I know you want them, sweetheart, and it will happen. We just have to give it time." Chrissy stared at him in confusion. She dropped her eyes and in a voice still filled with tearful emotion, she managed to say, "What are you talking about? I thought you didn't want kids?" Mike threw back his head and gave a happy laugh. "Oh, Chrissy, I have dreamed almost every night of babies with flaming red hair and dark brown eyes. Honey, I want to have children with you more than just about anything in this world. I know we haven't managed to yet. But, if it doesn't work out soon, I'll go to the doctor and be tested. And we still are planning on adopting, too, aren't we?" Mike put his finger under Chrissy's chin to pull her face up so he could see her. When he did, he was shocked to find that she was silently laughing. He flashed her a confused look, but she just burst out giggling in his face. "Chrissy? What's the matter with you?" he asked. Chrissy pulled herself together enough to answer. With a voice filled with happiness, she said, "Mike, Mike. What's wrong with me? You want to know what's wrong with me? I'll tell you what's wrong with me. I'm going to have a baby. I'm going to have your baby! We're already pregnant - but I was so afraid that you didn't want kids. I was scared to death to tell you!" Mike sat on the floor in front of Chrissy, with his mouth hanging open. "We're going to have a baby? How long have you known?" Chrissy smiled and said, "Actually, only about five hours now. Tracy was the one who called it to my attention!" Mike's only response was, "Oh", as he stared out into space. Tracy waited for a few minutes for Mike to speak again, but he seemed to be lost in thought. So Chrissy cleared her throat. When he looked at her, she said, "I think there was an unanswered question on the floor. Do you happen to remember what it was?" Mike grinned at her and said, "Yes, madam, I do happen to remember. This Marine was asking you to be his girl. And the offer still stands. Chrissy will you marry me and have babies with me and share this house and fulfill my life?" Chrissy's smile couldn't get any bigger as she nodded her head, and said, "Yes, my beloved Marine, I'll do all those things and more - I'll love you forever and ever." The ring was barely on Chrissy's finger before Mike was kissing her. They ended up on the floor with Mike gently laying on top of Chrissy. "I don't want to hurt the baby," he murmured. Chrissy just smiled, "I don't think you have to worry about that yet." As he fingered the ever present charm bracelet on her wrist, Mike looked into her eyes and said, "Chrissy, my love, my very own soul mate, from the very first day I met you in the airport," he caressed the airplane charm, "and fed you chocolate covered strawberries in bed," he caressed the strawberry charm, "you have had my heart," he caressed the heart charm, "and now you will have my babies," he caressed the baby carriage. Grinning at her with his cockiest grin, Mike added, "And that, my dear Mickey, is what you get for staring at strangers in the airport!" Epilogue Chrissy sat on a blanket near the river, enjoying the Boise Greenbelt. It was a beautiful spring day, with lots of sunshine. From where she was sitting, she could see that many young families had decided that it was a great day for a picnic. Blankets dotted the landscape and children of all ages were running and playing. Just for a moment, Chrissy closed her eyes and drank in the warmth of the sun on her face. Then the tiny, wiggling bundle in her arms brought her back to reality. She smiled down into the face of her newborn nephew. He was the spitting image of his daddy, but he had his mama's big blue eyes. The little boy had been a complete surprise. Sky had already started her third year at the university and was engaged to her high school sweetheart, Steven, when Tracy and Mark had found out that they were expecting. Sky had come home for the birth and had been in the delivery room with Mark and Tracy. Even with the age difference, it was obvious that Sky was quite taken with her little brother. And Tracy and Mark hadn't stopped beaming. Little Hank O'Connor was now two months old and the light of their lives. Chrissy and Mike had practically had to beg Tracy and Mark to let them take him to the park with them. Chrissy was lost in happy thoughts about her family when she felt a shadow cross her body. She looked up to see Mike looking down at her. He was the most handsome man Chrissy had ever seen and he still managed to take her breath away every time that she looked at him. This time was no exception. And with the addition of their two year old daughter on his shoulders, it made him look even better. "Hey, handsome. Where did you get the cute little redhead?" Chrissy said, teasing Mike as he reached up and took Mickey off of his shoulders. Mike plopped down on the blanket beside Chrissy as Mickey toddled over to her mother to inspect her cousin. Mike reached out to touch the baby's cheek before he answered Chrissy, "Well, I found this wonderful woman who was willing to fulfill my every fantasy - including giving me little red haired babies!" "Baby sleepin', mama," Mickey said, in a loud stage whisper. Chrissy smiled at her baby girl and said, "Yes, honey, he is. Where did daddy take you? Did you go down to the river?" Mickey immediately launched into a babbling tale that Chrissy managed to understand about half of. Mike smiled over his daughter's head and said, "You know, if we don't get another child soon, she's going to be Sky, made over!" Chrissy just smiled and reached over to her purse. She pulled out an official looking envelope. Mike and Chrissy had begun the process for adoption of a child from overseas. So far, most of the paperwork had been done and the in home studies had been completed. Chrissy hadn't told Mike yet, but they had received a letter the day before telling them that they had a son, 5 months old, waiting for them now. All that had to be done was to arrange the date for the trip to pick him up and to finalize the adoption. When she dropped the envelope in Mike's lap, he looked down at it, puzzled. "What's this?" he asked. Chrissy didn't answer him but merely waited as he opened the letter and read the news. Mike's war hoop of delight caused Hank to stir and several other families to turn around to stare at them. Mike was so excited that he didn't even seem to notice, though. "We have a son! We have a little boy! What's his name? When can we go get him? How soon can we arrange it? Do you want to go, or should I? Well, say something!" he blurted out, all in one breath. Chrissy just laughed at him, "Well, if you would give me a chance, I would love to say something. But you have to stop talking for me to be able to get a word in edgewise." Mike tried to look chastised, but he was just too happy for it to work. Instead, he grabbed Mickey up in his arms and said, "Baby, you have a little brother!" Mickey looked over at Hank and back at her daddy. Her little brow knit together in confusion. "Hank Mickey's brudder?" she asked. "No, no, you have a real little brother. Hank's your cousin. You get to have your own little brother, too," Mike told her, still too excited to calm down. Mickey just looked up into her daddy's face and patted him on the cheek, "Daddy be ok!" then she toddled back over to see Hank. "Well?" Mike prompted Chrissy when she just continued to stare at Hank and Mickey. "Which one of us gets to go get our boy?" he asked again. Chrissy turned to smile at him. She said, "The letter says that we can fly out anytime in about 8 more weeks. Since I don't think I'll be quite over the morning sickness yet, I think you better go." Mike just sat on the blanket, looking at Chrissy like a stone statue. Finally, he managed to squeak out, "Morning sickness? What morning sickness?" Chrissy smiled at her husband and pointed to her charm bracelet, "Well, we had an airplane charm, a strawberry, a heart and a baby carriage. First we added the wedding ring charm. And now, we've added a little girl charm and a little boy charm," Mike saw that she had already gotten their son's charm put on her bracelet. She continued, "But I have all the rest of this room on here and I really think we need to fill it up!" Mike laughed out loud as he reached out and pulled her into his arms. As she snuggled up to him, he caught sight of the bracelet and noticed that, indeed, it did have room for more charms. Life just didn't get any better than this!