My-Serendipity.net - A Pilgrim Soul Valentine

Valentines Day was supposed to be a day for lovers, a day of splurges and romance unequaled to any other day of the year, but for Melissa it was spent where she always seemed to be - in her car with Kona. She loved what she did, being part of the Search and Rescue team had been a dream of hers and the satisfaction she got from helping people made any pain worth it, most of the time.

The search she was returning from had been draining one on many levels. She had spent the last few days with Kona down an abandoned mineshaft that some teenager's thought would be a good 'hang out,' that is, until part of it collapsed. One of the group hadn't survived until the team could get to them and it would be a sad Valentines Day for his family. The rest had learned a harsh lesson and would, hopefully, take life's risks more seriously from this point on.

Her marriage to Hayden was less than a year old and they had both been looking forward to this lover's holiday, but their lives kept getting in the way. She had come out of the dark recesses of the mine to a voicemail from Hayden, saying he had to make 'a quick trip' to L.A. She knew all about those trips and how quickly they got extended, especially now that the countdown to the release of Episode III was nearing. Even if he wouldn't be there, she wanted to be home - to at least spend her first Valentines Day as Mrs. Melissa Christensen in their house, sleep in their bed, and take a really long, really hot, soaking bath.

With those visions motivating her, she set out for home before the team, who had opted to spend the night and start driving the next morning. She was exhausted, easily at that point where she was too tired to sleep, and felt awake enough to drive home safely. If she got sleepy, she'd simply pull off and take a nap, it wouldn't be the first time. Turning up her radio, she focused her mind on what awaited her at the end of the ribbon of freeway she was following.

The sun had set when she pulled through the gates of their mountain home and the dim lights of the house welcomed her. Automatic timers were a wonder; she hated coming home to a dark house. Kona seemed thrilled as she leapt from the truck and raced a weary Melissa up the steps to the door. With barely a crack open, the spotted nose of a purring kitty poked through. "Hey Phoebe," Melissa said with a scratch to her ears as she casually walked past. All Phoebe wanted was to see Kona.

Never had a cat and dog gotten along so well, but Hayden had explained it once to a guest in a way that always made Melissa laugh when she thought of how true it was. "It's a relationship that works," he had said, "because Phoebe is a cat raised by a dog that thinks she's a human." Indeed, that was the pair to a tee.

There was no sign of Hayden and Melissa yearned for that bubbly tub. Kona's post-search ritual bath would have to wait this time; besides, she was far too busy licking Phoebe to be bothered.

When Melissa had designed their home she had put in several features that meant something extra special to her, one of which was the oversize Jacuzzi tub. Filled with hot water, bath oil and bubbles, she turned on the jets, closed her eyes, and let her spirit rest and her mind remember back. Hayden had proposed to her in bath similar to this and each time she looked at the opal on her finger, she remembered how perfect the moment was as he raised her hand out of the water to show her how it looked on her finger.

He had told her that it reminded him of her, elegant and full of natural beauty. He said it was one of a kind and priceless to those who understood it's meaning and its purpose, just like her. Indeed, if anyone could understand Melissa, it was Hayden and he showed her each and every day though his words and his actions. To say that she felt blessed would be an understatement, and she found herself feeling guilty for wanting more for Valentines Day. It was, after all, only a day marked on a calendar. The love that she shared with Hayden stretched far beyond just one greeting card holiday.

Dragging herself from the tub as it cooled, she put on a red satin nightgown and matching robe she had bought, deciding that she would simply stay in it until Hayden returned home. It was long, with an empire waist and, she thought, very flattering. Looking herself over in the mirror before going to feed Kona and Phoebe, she was happy to not see the person who had slept in dirt for three days.

As she descended the stairs she caught the scent of musk and began to smile, knowing what that meant. Standing at the kitchen counter was the man of her dreams, the one who's arms kept her safe, who's eyes read her soul and who's smile greeted her when she woke most every morning. "Hey Love," she said sweetly.

He turned around to see her and his grin grew larger. "Wow Beautiful...do you always dress like that when I'm gone?"

"Oh, always," she replied with a devilish grin.

"That does it then. I'm never leaving again."

"Heck, if that's all it took, I should have done this ages ago," she laughed, walking to him and putting his arms around his neck as he held her waist. "Welcome home," she had whispered as his eyes fixed themselves on her lips and leaned in to taste them. While their relationship wasn't new, his kisses still left her weak in the knees.

"I have a surprise for you," he said, his lips so close to hers that even the thinness of a butterfly wing couldn't have passed between them. "Come with me." Taking her hand, he led her toward the back porch where they had spent countless nights curled up together under the stars.

The patio was lit by a dozen candles, scented by twice as many roses, and kept warm by torch heater stashed off to the side. Their oversize chase lounge had a bucket filled with a bottle of champagne and a dish of fresh strawberries sitting beside it, waiting to be enjoyed. "Wow" was all she could muster; even this was topping Hayden's typical romantic nature.

Melissa sat between Hayden's legs and rested back against his chest as he poured a glass of champagne that they sipped together while he fed her the juicy strawberries. She had seen the combination in movies and when she tasted it, she knew why. Not only did they taste great, but she also found the process of eating them far more erotic than she could have ever imagined. "So," he said quietly, "how did it go?"

She knew he was referring to the search. He tried to be there when she got home from any search involving kids, he knew they weighed heavy on her mind. No matter who was involved, he always asked about them, knowing that it helped her to talk about it. "Five families will have a good Valentines Day," she said.

"Weren't there 6 kids lost?"

"Yes."

"Oh beautiful, I'm sorry," he offered, pulling her closer and stroking her arm with the tips of his fingers.

"I'm ok, really. There was nothing more we could have done. Now, how about you?" she asked, ready to change the subject. "How was your trip?"

"Good I guess. I can't believe they are already ramping up for the press tour. But that's months away and tonight is only about you and me." He nuzzled his head into the nape of her neck, breathing in the smell of jasmine that he loved, and placing small kisses along her shoulder. "I missed you so much," he whispered.

"That champagne has everything spinning."

"No no no," he grinned. "That's me."

"Really?" she said, changing the angle of her body so that she could look more easily into his eyes, immediately loosing herself in them. His face was perfect. The gentle flickering from the candles reflected in his eyes and made the moisture of his lips glisten. Running her fingers down the chiseled line of his cheek, she brushed her fingers across his lips before pulling his head toward hers. "Better prove that," her tone low and sultry as they met in a passionate kiss.

The electricity created between them surged and both felt the charge. Hayden's hands slid up her spine and across the open back of her gown, her skin hot under his touch, the heat only intensifying his desire. Her hands were exploring him as well, having found their way up and under his sweater. Gliding her hands across his chest and down, Melissa had always loved the soft feel of his ribs and the subtle changes they made as his breathing became heavier - and heavier it became.

Leaving her lips, he kissed his way over to her ear and down her neck as one hand slowly explored her body. She moaned softly and let her head fall back as his trail continued across and down her chest, his free hand sliding under her gown and slowly up her thigh.
Just before the passion overtook him, he pulled back to gaze into her eyes, now glazed over with desire and he had his answer.

Standing up and offering his hand to her, she followed, her eyes never leaving his. One side of his mouth curled into a small smile and she saw the gleam in his eye just before he scooped her into his arms. Carrying her up to their bed, his need for her intensified by the nibbles of attention she was garnishing on his ear. Laying her down, the fact that they had all night no longer mattered, their need was too great.

"Let me help you out of these," she offered, pulling his shirt off over his head before pushing him down and tracing a line down his body with her tongue to the top of his black button fly jeans. Slowly and deliberately unbuttoning each button, she purposely would brush against his throbbing erection, knowing she was driving him wild. It was with that same calculated leisure that she pulled his jeans past his hips and tossed them to the floor. His boxers soon followed, her craving for him rising to a near uncontrollable level as she kissed her way back up his body.

Self-control was something she was good at, but not him, not when it came to making love to her anyway. In a flash, her gown joined his jeans and he filled his mouth with her breast, her moans urging him on and her back arching to get closer to him. He moved his attention back to her lips as he positioned himself above her, his arms bursting out in definition as they supported his weight. His full lips had a way of massaging hers that drove her wild and today was no different as she devoured them in a wanton frenzy.

Both wondering how their love making only seemed to get better, Melissa groaned into kiss as Hayden pushed inside of her. Their bodies melted together, finding a rhythm, each stroke urging their bodies closer to the edge of climax, each thrust blinding them with pleasure. Every pore tingled as their skin drew heat from the intimate embrace. Still thrusting into her, Hayden's lips returned to her breasts, the combination of sheer lust and delicate passion taking her to unimaginable heights.

"Love," she whispered. "Look at me..." She needed to see his amazing eyes, to read the story they told and to gaze into them. He did as she asked, both instantly realizing that was too much to ask of the ever-shrinking control of they had over their bodies. Feeling her body tighten around him, he never took his eyes off her. She had asked and he never denied her anything. Melissa's orgasm overtook her and she closed her eyes as Hayden allowed his body to follow hers into the starry universe they had created.

Wrapped in each other's arms, they held tightly to the other as their breathing steadied. "I love you," Melissa whispered as she twisted her fingers through the small rings of hair at the base of his neck.

Raising himself up on one elbow, Hayden smiled and leaned over, gently brushing his nose down the side of her face, nudging wisps of hair back toward her ear, kissing each part of her face as he did. "I love you too beautiful," he whispered in return. "Happy Valentines Day."

She had wanted a day for lovers, splurges and romance and, for Melissa that was exactly what she had gotten. The greatest gift was knowing that, at least for she and Hayden, days like this weren't limited to only once a year. "Happy Valentines Day to you too," she said simply. Held tight in each other's arms, they drifted off to sleep.