Myles' gentle, hidden side

Myles can just be so meltworthy sometimes.

Kim, that was so wonderful!! Myles did very, very well today!!!

Joy

I do hereby declare that if, by some miracle, this post causes puddlefied fingers to ooze across the keyboard of computers, I am not responsible for the damages.

“It’s beautiful,” Sue whispered from her perch in Jack’s arms as they crossed the threshold into one of the Water View suites at the Inn at Perry Cabin. The sitting room was exquisite with doors opening to a private veranda that overlooked St. Michael’s Bay. When Jack had insisted that they honeymoon somewhere within driving distance of Washington because of the discomfort she experienced when flying, she felt sure they would never find a place that would rival the snow capped mountains of the Rockies, the white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico or the aroma of the lush tropical flowers of Hawaii, but she was wrong. This place, nestled between the Miles River and the Chesapeake Bay was perfect: secluded and serene, as peaceful as the gentle movement of the lights of the fishing and sail boats on the water just beyond the glass doors of the veranda as they were rocked by the gentle ripples of the tide driven water.

She felt the rumble of his chest against her side, causing her to turn. She nearly melted at the heat in the darkening swirls of his chocolate brown eyes. She felt her cheeks flush as she could only imagine what he had said in reply to her observation of the room and its view. She started to ask for him to repeat what he had said now that she was facing him, but his lips – velvety soft, a little moist and infinitely gentle against her neck as they alternated with teeth then tongue to tease the oversensitive flesh and elicit a throaty groan she felt building from the tips of her toes – quickly shattered her thoughts. His mouth, hot and hungry, slipped slowly up her neck to where her jaw overshadowed it as he slowly lowered her to the ground. She tensed for only a moment before her softness melded with the chiseled hardness that lurked just beneath the clothing he had changed into when they returned to his apartment to pick up their suitcases and change for their hour’s drive to St. Michael’s Maryland.

“Jack,” she murmured as she felt the heat coiling deep within. His lips continued to move against her skin, leaving a tingling trial from her neck to her earlobe. He had just begun to sweep tenderly across her cheek when she felt the vibration of his groaned response, first deep within the chest beneath her own then transmitting across her skin beneath the feathered softness of his mouth. His hands, tenderly strong slid along the woolen waistband of her trousers, one creeping ever higher along her side, darting shyly underneath her breast then feathering across the swell as it followed the slightly raised gray stripe that patterned the cotton fabric of her blouse until it reached her shoulder. There it traveled to her back, sweeping across and up her neck until it tangled in her hair. The other sliding around her waist until she felt his fingertips against her spine, their warmth quickly driving the swirling heat higher as they ran in gentle sweeps up and down the fabric that still covered her skin. He pulled her closer, her softness mingling with his angles until even their clothing seemed to melt together like children’s crayons heated on wax paper, the colors mingling and mixing until you couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began.

“Jack,” she whispered once more, turning her face slightly until his lips brushed over hers. Quickly, she captured them with a hunger all her own. One had slid from its resting place just above his heart to tangle in the soft thickness of his dark hair, holding his lips against hers as he turned the tables and began to devour her with his hunger. He moaned. Or maybe it was Sue who moaned. He could no longer tell as breath mingled and tongues tasted and chased, hers at first timid until coaxed into the dance by his curling and teasing. Her other hand slipped from his chest and slowly slid down, following the trail of tiny buttons until she encountered the denim waistband of his jeans. Her fingers, feather soft and timid followed the edge of the waistband around, nearly tickling his side as they eased around until she could flatten her palm against the muscles of his back.

He turned slightly, hearing her unconscious gasp as he now settled more intimately against her. He eased away, the spell she had entranced him with momentarily broken as he remembered this was their first. Their first Valentine’s Day as husband and wife. Their first day as husband and wife period. Their first journey together as a married couple. Their first night…He needed to slow down. She deserved a leisurely pace despite the demands his body was placing on his fragile control. Sue deserved the chance to call a halt to things, even though he couldn’t wait to become hers as she became his. If she weren’t ready for this, then he would wait. After all, they had a lifetime together.

“Sue,” he choked out. Moving his hand from her hair, he gently stroked her mottled cheek, heated from the passion swirling between them. Her eyes fluttered open. “Sue,” he whispered. “Sweetheart, if you’re not ready…”

Her fingers touched his lips with just enough pressure to still them. Her eyes, darkened to almost black gazed at him with such tender adoration and pride, his knees threatened to buckle beneath him. Her lips, swollen and red curled upward into a gentle smile. Without a word, she stepped out of his embrace. Her hand slid down his neck, along his shoulder and down his arm, leaving goosebumps in its wake until it settled against his palms. Her fingers, trembling slightly curled around his hand. She tugged gently as his fingers responded by wrapping around the petite hand. She turned and stepped towards the French doors that separated the bedroom from the sitting room. Glancing over her shoulder along the way, she led him to the doors, not releasing his hand until she had opened the door and stepped through, pulling him along.

“Sue.” She caught his gaze, gently shaking her head with that angelic smile on her lips. Stepping closer, her fingers closed around the first button. With a simple twist, she freed it from its button hole. Then she slipped the next one free. Then the next, his muscles rippling in response as his skin drew taunt and prickled with goose flesh. She tugged, the fabric easing from his waistband as the shirt parted completely. Her hands slipped beneath the fabric, lightly brushing the skin of his torso. He shivered, despite the fire building deep within. Her hands curved over his shoulders, pushing the material off and down his arms as she stepped closer still. He tensed slightly as the soft moistness of her lips made contact with the skin of his chest for the first time. They trembled as she timidly traced the light line of defined muscles upwards to his throat. He swallowed as they pressed lightly against the roundness of his adam’s apple. “Sue,” he rasped.

Feeling the rumble in his throat, she looked up. The desire in his eyes warmed farther by the love and devotion beneath. War waged between embarrassed shyness and emboldened passion knowing that her touch, her kisses, her very presence had placed the dark swirls in his eyes. She lowered her eyes, lids fluttering rapidly to keep the building tears at bay. “Jack, please.” Her eyes swept upwards, taking in the minute details of the rippling muscles beneath the tanned skin of his chest. They caressed him as gently as her fingers had as they swept over his face before being caught in his heated gaze. “We’ve waited long enough, my darling.” Her eyes searched his face. “I’ve dreamed about this moment.”

“So have I,” he admitted before he captured her lips once more.

She was once more swept into his strong arms as he carried her to the bed. Gently, he settled her onto the downy softness of the mattress. She shivered as his hands drifted leisurely over her cloth covered curves. She was mesmerized at the gentleness of his hands. Hands that could easily crush the throat of a criminal were tender and careful as they slipped first one button, then the next, free of the button holes of her blouse. Sinews and muscles moved in delicate harmony as they freed her from the bonds of her clothing. She tensed, then relaxed as they brushed against curves as yet untouched. She felt as if she would burn up from the inside out as he slowly exposed more and more of her skin to his tender touch.

With a delicate gentleness that showed his heart through his touch, he skimmed along her body, leaving tiny trails of fire as he deftly unfastened and slid off garments that kept him from branding her as his. She arched, then shied away, unsure of the feelings he stirred. His eyes caressed her, leaving her feeling cherished like a fine gemstone held to the light of day in the awed hands of a treasure seeker. Her eyelids fluttered closed as he lowered his lips, feathering her lips before leaving a barely there trail across her cheek to her ear. His tongue swirled and caressed until she felt like a rippling tidal pool of emotions.

She felt the bed shift as he stood. Then, as suddenly as he was gone, he was there, nothing between them save their own skins. And still, she wanted him closer. She wanted to climb inside his skin, finding shelter in his heart as he found shelter in his. Her hands trembled as they lay against his chest, fingers tingling as the muscles rippled beneath her feathered touch. His hand lifted to her cheek, stroking it with his thumb until her eyes fluttered open. He held her gaze gently in his, offering her a glimpse of his own shyness and uncertainty mixing with the growing desire driven by a soul uniting love.

How could she not believe that this was where she was intended to be? That Jack was her missing half. That they were as meant to be as stars that littered the clear February night. She fell completely and wholly in love with this man three years ago. They had fought feelings, denied desires and hid behind rules until the secrets of their hearts almost tore them apart. But now, there was nothing between them. No secrets. No denial. The weight of her engagement ring and wedding band reminding her that she was his as she caught the glimmer of the band on his left hand in the light of the low light from the other room; the band that told the world Jack Hudson was hers, now and forever. No longer feeling the timidity of new love, emboldened by his love that wrapped itself around her heart and entrenched inself in her soul, she reached for him, their hearts touching as she sought his lips with her own. Then, as their greatest Valentine’s Day to date melted into their tomorrow, she gave herself wholly and completely to the man who would treasure her for a lifetime and more.

More later
Kim

that was wonderful so pleased they are together as husband and wife
now I cant wait till the next post
Lin

Speechless... breathless...

Because right now I'm a puddle, I can't say something so



Tere

I think I've just had my Valentine's present early. What a wonderful romantic post. Thank you.

You know, there was a great lack of fuzzies of THIS proportion on the board as of late. I just want to thank you for bringing them back to us before I completely and udderly melt into a puddle of the most wonderful goo.

Love you Kim!

Wow..it was...oh...I am speechless...
Josy

That was absolutely beautiful! Incredible writing... so, so, soooo wonderful! Lovely job, Kim!

I am glad you gave that warning. What a beautiful wedding night you have written.
I loved the tenderness and the touch of shyness. Just like one might expect for their first time together. Jack's concern that Sue was ready was so touching. What a wonderful post to read on Valentine's eve.

WOW . . .

Beautiful romantic fuzzies Kim

Your writing seems so effortless. Your words flow from one to another. Thank you for sharing your gift with us.

That was truly a remarkable scene.

My brain is mush,
my spine is jelly,
my tongue is dry and won't seem to come back into my mouth,
my eyes are glazed,
my hands are trembling,
my ears are red, my knees are wobbly,
my butt is plastered to this chair and refuses to move,
my cheeks are burning,
my hair got limp,
and MY HEART IS SO ACHINGLY FULL that the least I can do is wish that this Valentine's Day you experience something as beautiful as what you just wrote. Heck, I wish we all do. And now, I face the impossible task of writing fuzzies of my own. How am I supposed to follow that?


Tina

I don't know how you do it, but your words encompass so much more than what you described - you set the scene wonderfully and carried us along into the beauty of it!!!

I'm not just a puddle - I'm a sighing puddle - perfectly happy to be a puddle!! Thanks for taking us on that journey!!!

Joy

woooow that was beautifull...really beautifull. just as what i expected sue and jack's honeymoon would be.

Happy Valentine's Day, guys! And thank you for reading this story! We have come to the end of this Operation. Again, thanks for taking the time to read this. You are the absolute greatest!

He’d left nothing to chance. He had everything planned out down to the last second. He’d driven the route a million times over the last few months. The suitcase was already in the trunk of the car, where it had been almost since the day she had told him. Jack smiled as he remembered the way Sue’s eyes twinkled the day of their six month anniversary.

He had planned the day, the entire weekend as a matter of fact. He had booked the room at the Inn at Perry Cabin where they had spent their honeymoon and arranged for them to take a few days off. Although they had decided not to exchange gifts, he did spend hours hunting for the perfect card, trying to put into words how absolutely amazing the last six months had been and how he was completely confident that the rest of their lives together would be just as amazing and filled with joy. Over a candlelight dinner prepared by room service, he had shyly slid the card across the table to her.

Her eyes had filled with tears, the love shining brightly behind them. “You right, Jack. It has been amazing. And it’s about to get even more amazing.” She had risen from her seat, taking his hand in hers. With a light tug, she pulled him up, silently urging him to follow. Sitting on the loveseat that faced the view through the French door of their private veranda and the water beyond, she pulled him down beside her. Reaching underneath a pile of magazines on the coffee table, she presented him with his own card.

She drew her bottom lip between her teeth and chewed nervously as she watched him slip the card from its envelope. One of his eyebrows had met his hairline as he read the words on the front of the card. “To my Daddy on his anniversary.” His heart began to thunder in his chest as his eyes lifted from the card to her hesitantly expectant face. Tears blurred her from his vision for a moment as she reached and opened the card for him, silently urging him to continue reading. He ran his hand across his eyes before lowering them to read the familiar script inside. “Although I’m not even as big as your fist, I already love you. And I know, once you know about me growing safe and protected inside Mommy, you are going to love me, too. Mommy loves you too, with all her heart. And she thanks God every day that He brought you into her life. She thanks Him for the deep and abiding love the two of you share. Of course, I already know how much you and Mommy love each other. That’s why I’m here, after all. Then, she thanks Him for me, asking Him to help me grow healthy and strong. Then she asks that you and she will be the best parents possible, asking for guidance to be just that. I love you, Daddy. You and Mommy both. And I can’t wait to meet you. But, since it will be at least seven more months, I guess I’ll just have to be patient. Happy Anniversary. With all my love, Junior.”

He raised his eyes to gaze into the love swimming in hers, swallowing the lump the growing love for her in his heart had lodged in his throat. With a tearfully happy smile, she reached up and caressed his cheek, capturing his tears on her thumb and gently wiping them away. “I love you, Jackson Samuel Hudson.” She the lowered her hand, taking his hand into it and drawing to her still flat belly. Pressing his palm gently against it, she sniffed softly. “We both do.”

“Jack.”

Sue’s voice was soft, but urgent as it broke into his thoughts. He turned from the hockey game he was sitting on the sofa watching to see her standing behind him, one hand gently stroking her distended abdomen and the other white knuckling the back of the leather recliner. “Darling. I think it’s time.”

“It’s time!” Jack shouted, jumping off the sofa and leaping over Levi as he slept in the space between the sofa and the chair. He placed his hand against her abdomen and felt a powerful answering kick. “Sweetheart, are you sure?”

“Pretty sure,” she groaned, letting out a slow deep breath. “The contractions are about five minutes apart.”

“Okay.” It was taking every ounce of his agent training to keep from panicking and falling apart right there in the middle of the living room of the house they had bought about three months after their wedding. He took her hand in his, easing across the floor. He helped her into her coat to ward off the March wind and swept his keys from the table in the foyer. Giving her hand a reassuring squeeze, he smiled gently. “Let’s go see if we have a junior or a juniorette.”



He’d left nothing to chance. At least that’s what he told himself as he lead his blindfolded wife up the sidewalk. “Come on, Bobby. Take this thing off of me.”

“In a minute, luv,” he chuckled.

“But I can’t see a thing.”

“Trust me, luv. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Humph.”

“What,” Bobby signed. “After six months of marriage and you still don’t trust me?”

“I trust you, Bobby,” Tara begrudgingly admitted. “I can tell by the direction your voice is coming from that you are walking backwards. I trust you to trip over a crack or a tree root and send both of us sprawling to the ground.”

Bobby snorted, stopping for a moment to move to her side. Taking her hand, he drew it into the crook of his arm. “Is that better?”

She smiled, a slight giggle tumbling out with her words. “Yes it is. Thank you, Koala Boy.”

He chuckled, happier than he could have ever imagined himself when he was with Darcy. Tara was the love of his life. He thanked the stars every day that she had accepted his proposal a mere three months after Operation Mismatchmaker. He was grateful that she didn’t let their past history cause her to miss her match. “We’re here,” he smiled as he stopped and turned away from the street. Reaching behind her head, he tugged on the knot that held the blindfold in place, pulling it from her eyes. “What do you think?”

Tara’s eyes gleamed in the light of their house. “Bobby,” she whispered, turning to face him with awe widening her eyes. “Is it…”

“Ours?” Bobby laughed. “It is. Or at least it will be in about thirty years when the mortgage is paid off.”

“WhooooHooo!” she shouted, bouncing on her tiptoes. “Can we go inside?”

“We sure can!” He reached in his pants pocket. The ringing of his cell stopped him in the middle of withdrawing the key. His eyes widened as he recognized the number on the display. Dropping the keys back into his pocket, he reached for Tara’s hand as he flipped open the phone and held it to his ear. “What’s up, Sparky? Really? Really. Really! Okay, we’ll be right there.” He turned to his wife, his hand trembling slightly. “We’ll go in as soon as we meet our new niece or nephew.”



He’d left nothing to chance. He had spent months planning this. The restaurant. The flowers. The right words. The ring. He’d even planned the date: March 20 the beginning of spring with its renewal of life. That’s what Operation Mismatchmaker had offered to him, Myles Leland, III. A renewal of life with the woman he loved.

Following Jack and Sue’s Valentine’s wedding, he had slowly wooed Lucy, earning back her respect, her trust, and finally her love. Then, he had carefully searched through jewelry store after jewelry store to find the perfect ring. And it was. Not as large as he could afford, but simply elegant, just like she was. Then he had carefully thought out and planned his words to seduce the answer from her lips. When it had, he slipped the ring on her finger and captured her lips in a dizzying dance that ended with the ringing of his cell phone.

No, he had left nothing to chance although it was obvious that Jack and Sue had. Okay, he groaned as he twisted in the uncomfortable waiting room chair. They didn’t leave it to chance, but to God to decide when to grace them with a new life. He was at least thankful that they had waited until he proposed and Lucy accepted. Although, he had envisioned the hours after his engagement to be spent in her arms, tenderly indulging in the prelude to the rest of their lives and not in the tiled, cold waiting room of the maternity wing with Lucy, Bobby and Tara, and D and Donna.



No, they’d left nothing to chance as they gathered around Sue’s bed and gazed at the new little family. Sue, despite the hours of labor was radiantly beautiful as she held Sarah Grace Hudson in her arms. Sarah Grace was the perfect mixture of her mother and the man who held them both in his arms as he sat on the side of the hospital bed. Jack Hudson had never sported a bigger grin or a brighter gleam in his chocolate brown eyes as he did when his gaze drifted from his little daughter to the woman he’d love for the rest of his life.

He knew some would look at he and Sue and see a mismatch. But he knew differently. They were a perfect match. Their infant daughter with Sue’s little nose and cute chin and his dark hair and eyes was proof of that perfection. His gaze drifted to their friends gathered around to greet the newest member of their family. Some might think they were mismatches as well, not only as friends, but as couples. He, however knew that what God brought together were never mismatches. They were perfect blendings of strengths and weaknesses that made the whole powerful enough to deal with the evils of the world and come out on the other side still loving, caring people who, thanks to the blonde beauty who had stolen his heart the day she stormed into the Bullpen, could see the good beneath the evil. In just over a year, Operation Mismatch had morphed into Operation Perfect Match. And may we all live happily ever after, he wished as he brushed his lips gently against the fuzz of his daughter’s head before pressing them to his wife’s knowing that whatever life held in store for them, the perfection of this moment would never fade.

The End
Kim

Oh... wow. Words fail me, because that was just beautiful! I love how you wove the "nothing to chance" thread through each of the conclusions, wrapping it all up in a pretty little bow - and a pink one at that. What a wonderful, fuzzy story that we can read again and again. Thanks for writing and sharing it with us!!!

I can't think of a better way to end the story. I'm misting up as I write this, so glad that I caught it so soon after you posted. I loved the weaving of passion and affirmation of not only their love, but their faith, as well. WOW.


Thanks for a great story, and Happy Valentine's Day!!



Regina

That was a beautiful tale, full of love and happines as we saw three amazing couples come together in three perfect matches made in heaven.

I can't say anymore, again all my admiring and my respects for you Kim!

Wonderful story, I really love it!

Tere

Kim that was a wonderful wrap up to a perfect story. Thank you for allowing us to take this journey with you.

Bravo!

WOW! Perfect ending to a perfect story!!!

Thanks, Kim!!!

You do "loving" so very well. Leaves you just knowing that Daddy Jack and Mommy Sue and all their friends will watch Sarah Grace be joined by "cousins" in the not too distant future and one can just imagine the loving way they all share that future... together.

Thank you Kim!

Tina

That was so beautiful and such a wonderful ending from begining to the end it showed so much love for the three couples and then sarah at the end was
just so lovely cant wait for more from you Kim any chance of a sequel please
Lin

Lovely end Kim to a beautiful story...
Thanks Kim
Josy

Just so you know that (^^) is supposed to be a standing ovation!

This was just a wonderful story, Kim! And as usualy, you've taken my breath away with your writing. And this was the perfect ending of the story and a great beginning to the rest of their lives.

what a great ending...i love..they really did leave nothing to change. it was absolutly a great story.

Kim, this whole story is amazing!! I love the way you took us to another huge moment of change for all our couples to end your story!! Absolutely Happily Ever After!!!

Thanks for sharing your incredible talent with us once again!!!

Joy

Perfection for sure

I enjoyed this story so much Kim. I loved all of it, but I have to say that I had a smile that I thought my face would burst as I read the post Jack read the Anniv card from baby Hudson.

I totally agree! Thank you for the wonderful post of their wedding night... I forgot to breathe a couple times!

Bug

Very nicely done, from start to finish! I enjoyed your story very much and I have to say, you are very talented! Thanks again!

Bug

Simply perfect. I just loved this story. The ending was wonderful.
thanks,
Terie

That was an incredibly satisfying, perfect ending. Kim, this story was a wonderful Valentine gift. I picture it like one of those red cellophaned wrapped hearts full of delicious chocolates, and you never disappoint us in any way.


BRAVO

Wow, Kim, I'm totally speechless. That closing vignette was so beautiful it's going to stay in my mind for a long time. I love the thought of Daddy Jack! You have a masterful way of weaving words into an incredible story. Thank you for sharing this one with us.

kav

An incredibly beautiful story, Kim. I’m at a loss for words. Where do I start? I started to write comments after each post, but after the first few posts I just didn’t want to stop reading. A perfect combination of humor (Myles trying to prevent Lucy from chasing down Jack and Sue); parental love (the remembrances by Mark and Carla were so poignant); budding love (by Myles wooing Lucy, taking her places she wants to go but wouldn’t on her own, and Bobby spending the day acquainting Tara with Australia).

And, of course, Jack and Sue’s love. The proposal was awesome….Jack renting the whole theater just to propose; them relaying the story to their parents, blushing at the passionate kisses in front of their parents, Jack's awkwardness at seeking Carla and Mark's permission to marry Sue, Jack's many beautiful thoughts on his love for Sue, the beautiful wedding. I loved the description of Lucy in her wine colored dress. The trumpets at the reception; and then, the honeymoon, the merging of their two half hearts into one, so exquisitely written; and ending with Bobby and Tara married, Myles proposing to Lucy and she accepting, and the joyful appearance of Sarah Grace.

I cried through most of the story, tears of joy streaming down my face so much, at times I had to stop reading. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep up as you posted, but it has been a joyful afternoon of reading. Even though my eyes are swollen and my nose is red, my heart is bursting with joy! The ending was perfect. I love “happily ever after” stories and you are the Master! If there is one sentence which symbolizes the love Jack has for Sue, for me it would have to be Jack’s remark to Lucy at the church: “ I will never hurt her, Luce. ” He shrugged slightly. “ How could I hurt the other half of my heart. ” Oh, that just did me in…Jack calling Sue “ the other half of my heart.” Truly a beautiful story into the souls of Jack and Sue.

As others have said, you have a way of describing scenes so vividly I feel like I'm right there in the same location, could reach out and touch them. Truly a marvelous gift you have. Thank you, once again, for gracing us with your incredible talent.

Lynn

Loved the story

Dianna

Perfect ending to a perfect story
Love it
Kammy

Oh this story was marvelous. It was simply amazing.



Hope ~