She was woken by the lack of blinds, the weak sun casting a ray on her, but despite being awakened the sensation of the smooth sheets against her naked body and the slight soreness in the right places was not a bad way to start the day. She could hear Jess in the kitchen, a sweet scent filling her nostrils, promising the continuation of their indulgences. This had definitely turned out better than any spa weekend. She sat up, put on the items she'd worn the night before and drew her fingers through her hair, pulling it back up into an imperfect ponytail, before pattering into the kitchen.
"Good morning," she said as she wrapped her arms around Jess's chest from behind.
"Morning," Jess said with a smirk, as he turned towards her, giving her a kiss. "Breakfast will be done in a few," he added, checking on the french toast he was making.
"Looks good," she commented, enjoying his touch around her hip just under her shirt.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked.
"I did," she replied. She wasn't the kind of person who slept well in hotels or when she was visiting someplace new, but here, perhaps due to the accompanying stress-release, she felt well rested.
"Do you need to head back this morning or...?" he asked with some hesitation. He didn't want to sound like he wanted her to leave, yet assuming she was in no hurry didn't seem right either. It hadn't been exactly clear when she'd come that she'd be staying, so there really hadn't been a concrete plan.
"No, I don't need to. Not before the evening at least. But I don't want to be in the way, you said you had plans," Odette replied thoughtfully. She certainly didn't want to impose, but she was in no hurry to leave. But she also knew that sometimes in a new relationship overextending one's welcome did more harm than good, no matter how much she was enjoying herself.
"Have you even been to Philly before?" he asked, realizing he hadn't asked before.
"Actually no. Well, I've had a layover at PHL once, but I'm pretty sure that doesn't count," she replied, smilingly.
"If you want I could show you around town a little. You could even join me at Adrian's party," Jess suggested. "It's an afternoon thing - he's got two preschoolers, your namesake included," he added.
"I could, but I don't want you to feel like you have to do that," she replied. Meeting his friends seemed like a big deal, and while they seemed to be in a good place she didn't want to push.
"I want to," Jess assured her. "But fair warning - it's probably going to be loud, a little messy, and Adrian himself can be a little rough around the edges," he added. It was not that he was ashamed of his friend, not at all, but he was a careful not wanting to subjected her to a lot of what she was not perhaps the most comfortable with. Despite knowing that she was very much down to earth about most things, he still felt like she was a princess of sorts, in the very best sense of the word.
"I really don't mind," she replied. Not only did she not feel like deparing yet, but she felt like she needed to experience more things outside her comfort zone, having no longer her former Family name to lean on that would've explained her lack of experience with normal life.
"Okay, then, it sounds like we have a plan," Jess sighed, cocking his head a little, giving her another kiss.
They ate their toast with orange jam at the kitchen bar bench, the sun casting shadows through the entire apartment now.
"Really good breakfast. You're going to spoil me like this," Odette replied laughingly as she'd licked her fingers clean playfully.
"That's the plan," he replied with a crooked smile.
She stood, stepping in between his legs, and gave him a deep thrilling kiss, her hands gently stroking his thighs.
"You want to join me in the shower?" she asked in whisper, causing him to shiver momentarily. There just was something about the pitch of her voice, the warmth of her breath and undeniably the craving undertone it carried tht left him utterly helpless at her mercy. Within a fraction of a second his feet touched the ground, his arms lifted her by her hips, as her arms held onto his shoulders. She giggled in response to his swiftness.
Her toes flinched against the chilly ceramic floor momentarily, as he put her down to turn on the tap. As steam was beginning to fill the space, heating it pleasantly while they continued to kiss, she then pulled off her t-shirt, allowing her panties to drop almost simultaneously, while he removed his. He got into the shower first extending out his hand to her, so she wouldn't slip. The light was different there, brighter, showing more detail of their bodies. There was nothing to hide anymore. Jess enjoyed the view of her as she allowed the water to pour all over her hair and face, head pushed back, eyes closed, opening her mouth to inhale, the water dripping down her chest. She pulled off her hairband, tossing it somewhere in the distance. As she emerged from the stream, she pulled him closer as if saying it was his turn. She ran her fingers through this medium length hair again, a motion that she was beginning to love, helping the water dampen them more easily. The warm water softened his shoulder muscles, as it hit them, making it utterly enjoyable. Her touch was tender on his scalp, making his brain overload due to the intoxication he was feeling. Jess' lips landed on hers in response, creating a deep demanding kiss that caused her to hum.
While he couldn't wait to do unspeakable things to her, wanting to hear her climaxing again which was like music to his ears, she was way ahead of him. Her hands travelled along his sides to his hips, once more over his abs and then down south until encountering his arousal. Her palms stroked his length, creating a wicked smile on his lips that still kept kissing her, the water dripping down his shoulders. He hadn't quite expected what she did, dropping to her knees and without waiting for a reaction took him into that beautiful mouth of hers, her tongue flicking around him. God, how he wanted to savor this image, this feeling. He leaned his hands against the shower walls. Her head moved up and down, alternating between firmer and milder suction and different speeds.
"I won't last very long if you keep that up," he grunted, feeling all the sensations at once - the water burning slightly on his skin, that felt so much more vulnerably now, the softness of her lips and the wetness of her tongue, each pressure she created and the way her nipples brushed against his thighs, while he ate the view of her up with his own eyes when he could keep them open.
She continued her ministrations, lowering the speed just a little to allow him gather himself a little, ensuring a longer experience. His right hand found the back of her neck, guiding her just a little, allowing him to see a smile in her eyes as she looked up at him. She could feel him pulsing in her mouth, tasting him already as if letting her know unmistakably that he was close. Allowing him to make a few deeper thrusts he came into her, leaving a trace of him onto her lips as well. She swallowed, allowing the shower to take care of the rest.
Jess hauled her up despite feeling quite weak, hugging her to him, mururing into her ear while still panting, "You are just bloody amazing."
He was spent, but unwilling to leave her any less satisfied than he was. His hands moved up and down her back, over the curve of her ass, grabbing in playfully. His head cocked down sideways to her nipple, first grazing it with his tongue, then applying pressure with his teeth, making her bite her lip. His lips moved back up her chest and neck, kissing her lips once more fiercely, then continuing back down along her neck to her other nipple. While he did that, his hands continued to massage her ass and thighs, teasingly getting closer and closer to her center.
An anticipated moan crept from her lips, as he slid his fingers between her thighs finally, sliding along her folds. He succumbed to his knees, between her legs, his mouth taking in her clit while his finger continued the back and forth movement along her slit, careful not to enter her.
"Agh...you're such a tease," she moaned with a deep inhale. She would've gladly just relaxed her knees and landed on his lap, his own erection beginning to take form again, but she had enough sense to hold off, with the lack of protection. She moved her hips, as if wanting his fingers to slip in their cautious path.
It was then her foot slipped and she landed on the floor, the back of her knees landing over his thighs with a gale of laughter.
"Are you hurt?" Jess asked with an involuntary chuckle.
"Just my pride," she replied in giggles.
Jess repositioned his legs a little, pulling her onto his lap, continuing to kiss her, their mouths open, tongues exploring each other, returning their minds to more urgent matters needing to be resolved. His one hand held onto her waist, while the other ran across her slit again, his thumb caressing her special spot. Her feet now had some leverage enabling her to just thrust herself against his fingers more freely, letting out a deep moan of relief as she succeeded and his fingers entered her. He slid his fingers in and out, pumping her saturated center while observing her build up that her body showed.
"Oh god, Jess!" she screamed in a trembling voice as her orgasm hit her hard, leaving her insides throbbing in tremors.
Still somewhat scatterbrained from all the "happy" hormones, they spent the morning walking the city center. He'd been pleasantly surprised when he realized she'd brought a change of clothes, meaning she'd really hoped for this development. They visited the Magic gardens and had a light lunch in Fishtown. They even made a quick stop at Truncheon, Jess needing to pick up a printout he'd forgotten on Friday which he hoped to work on the following day. But in a way he felt it was nice to show her where he worked. Despite not being the owner of the place, not now nor ever before, he still felt like it was a bit like his own handiwork, having joined the business just after the original owners. He told her how he'd felt even a little decieted when Matthew and Chris had decided to sell and to HPG out of all possibilities. But now, with the changed dynamic, both concerning Logan's position within the HPG and his own, and how Logan's worth in his eyes had increased seeing how he was no longer the jerk he'd met in Hartford years ago, excluding the fact Jess himself felt a little uncomfortable in a management position, it hadn't turned out like the worst thing in the world.
As they arrived at Adrian's white timber cladded suburban house in the afternoon, they could already see a driveway full of cars and a handful of kids running around the front yard and jumping on the trampoline located at the side of the house. The weather wasn't exactly warm that day, but the kids were clearly still enjoying themselves in their windbreakers. Some adults were hanging out on the porch, some fleece blankets wrapped around two of the women sitting on the bannister with wine glasses in their hands.
Stepping out of the car, they could already see a stocky guy in dark green flannel walking towards them, a can of beer in his hand.
"Hey, man," Jess greeted the man loudly with a pound hug. "Happy birthday!" he added, handing him a gift wrapped in simple brown paper.
"Hey, glad you could make it," the man replied. "Thanks for this," he added.
"Adrian, I'd like you to meet Este," Jess introduced, gesturing between the two, adding, "Este, this is Adrian."
"Well alright! Great to meet you, Este," Aidrian shook her hand with a satisfied tone, glancing a brief appreciative look between her and Jess. "And somewhere on that trampoline are Celeste and Leo, 4 and 3. And my wife, Katie, should be in the back or inside, I'm not sure actually," he added, shrugging at the slight chaos surround the house. There were toys all around the front lawn - chalk, plastic bats, inflatable hammers and swords and giant bubble makers.
"Happy birthday," she added, smilingly. She would've been lying if she didn't feel out of place.
"Thanks," he replied. "I know it might seem like it's the kid's birthday or something, but I've learned that keeping them occupied is it the most vital part of actually enjoying your own time," Adrian chuckled. "Anyways, help yourselves to drinks and food, they're all in the kitchen. Enjoy!" he added generously as he already walked towards the next guests who'd just arrived.
"Come on, let's get something to eat," Jess suggested, draping his arm over her shoulders, leading her up the stairs.
"Actually, I might go look for the restroom," she said as they stepped inside.
"Sure, it should be on the left there, I'll go get us something to drink. Any preferences?" he asked.
"Maybe just something non-alcoholic, not too sweet, okay?" she replied.
Jess replied with a nod.
"Well?" Adrian patted Jess' back, having returned indoors for another round of food, as Jess was getting their drinks, a non alcoholic IPA for him and a glass of fruit juice with a dash of bubbly water for her, knowing from their previous outings that she liked her drinks some bubbles.
Jess knew of course what he was asking about, but decided to pretend clueless for now, "Well what?"
"She's quite a catch," he noted, raising his eyebrows. And he had just spoken barely two words to her.
"You have no idea," Jess replied, shaking his head a little, still in disbelief, unable to hide the ridiculous grin that the corner of his mouth formed.
"Serious?" Adrian asked, taking a sip of his beer and a few potato chips from the bowl.
"It's fresh, but I hope so," Jess replied.
"That's my man," he said rowdily, adding another pat as congratulations. "Christ and Spencer just got here, they're hanging out at the back. Spencer is buying a new car," Adrian added, explaining the topic at hand.
"I'll be by later," Jess replied, seeing Odette wander towards him.
"Here," he handed her her drink, and continued to plate himself some roasted vegetables with halloumi, chips and meat-skewers.
"Thanks", she replied, taking a sip. She added a few skewers and some fruit slices onto his plate for herself, not bothering with her own plate. It was these little things - how comfortable she seemed around him, how naturally things came, that still made him wonder - how was this even possible?
"Want to go sit out in the front? The guys are having a car buying debate in the back, it might be a little boring for you," he advised.
They settled into a L-shaped porch couch, snacking on their food, while Jess talked to some of his friends about his moving plans and some work stuff that came up. As more people gathered around them beginning to talk to each other as well as them, Jess had a moment of worry, whether she was in fact bored. But he found her staring at the trampoline, the kids running around, full of laughter. It was then he was reminded by the urgency she'd spoken with when she'd talked about her plans to have a kid. The details, the timeline of these plans were somewhat of a mystery to him still, and he certainly knew this was not the time nor the place for this discussion, but he could the longing in her eyes, giving him plenty to think about.
They didn't stay terribly long, stopping just briefly in on the car selection argument the guys had ongoing. He'd sensed her struggle a little with the conversations, having to make up some stories about her schooling or work on the go, elaborating the truth a little towards the boring kind. And he certainly didn't want to force her to stay there for long.
"You okay?" he asked has they sat into his BMW, beginning to drive off.
"I am. It was probably the first party I ever felt so out of place in but the people were nice," she replied truthfully.
"Well they liked you, I could tell," Jess replied.
Half an hour later they stood at the departure hall at the train station, her in his arms, speaking some words of sweet nothings, how he'd be in New York soon and promising to keep touch inbetween.
They both knew that they'd started something, something worth holding on to. But they could also sense a tad of apprehensiveness - bubbles tended to burst, and they knew this from life experience.
Her train was about to leave in a few minutes, hence their goodbye kiss was like a rapid gush of emotion, that was interrupted by sheer force knowing otherwise they simply wouldn't. He could feel her departure take a little piece of him with her, as her train pulled away, and all he could do was let out a deep exhale.