Seasons of Sorrow (27 page)

Finally, on Wednesday, two weeks after the night Greg almost made love to her in the kitchen, Charlotte decided she needed to make the next move. It was obvious that Greg wasn’t going to push and that he wanted to let her make the decisions about when their relationship became physical.

Well, Charlotte was fairly certain she was ready. Though the tiny, critical voice in the back of her mind didn’t agree. The knowledge that she would have to tell him she wanted more made her heart beat faster with anxiety. She wanted it enough to make the move, but she was so used to sitting back and letting the man make the moves, that it was intimidating to face the possibility of rejection.

After they went to the movies on Sunday afternoon and Greg dropped her at home with only a kiss that made her legs feel like jelly, Charlotte made the decision and began to plan. Finally, Wednesday, she began the first part of her scheme.

She called Greg after work.

“Hey, Char, what’s up?” he said when he answered the phone.

“I have a question for you.”

“Okay.” He sounded slightly confused.

“What are you doing this weekend?” she asked.

She heard papers shuffling. “Nothing that I know of. I finally finished in California and I don’t have to go out of town again for the rest of the month.”

“Great. I wanted to see if you wanted to go out Friday, but it will probably go late, so I wanted to make sure you didn’t have anywhere to be Saturday.”

Charlotte hoped that he wouldn’t want to go anywhere Saturday or Sunday. If things went according to plan, they would hole up in her house the entire weekend.

“Sure. We’re still on for Saturday night, right?” he asked.

“Of course,” Charlotte replied.

“So what did you want to go do?”

She went with the easiest explanation. “It’s a surprise.”

“Can I wear jeans?”

Charlotte grinned at the role reversal. That was usually her question.

“Yes. It’s going to be very casual.” So casual that nudity was appropriate.

She only hoped that she didn’t lose her nerve. This would be the first time she tried to seduce a man. Charlotte tried not to think about what she would do if he turned her down.

After she finished her conversation with Greg, she called Brandy.

“Lo?” Brandy said when she picked up the phone.

“Hey, I need your help.”

“What is it? Have you heard from Derek?” Brandy asked.

“No, no. Nothing like that. This is way more important,” Charlotte answered.

Brandy sounded confused when she said, “What’s more important?”

“I’m planning to seduce Greg. I have no idea what I’m doing and I need your help.”

Brandy was silent for a moment then she screamed. “YES! Finally! What do you need me to do?”

“Tell me how. I don’t know where to start.”

“Well, the man has a penis and the woman has a vagina and, when they love each other…” Brandy said.

“Shut up, B. I’m serious. Where do I even begin?” Charlotte asked.

Brandy sighed. “You were married for eight years. What did you do when you wanted to have sex with Derek?”

Charlotte didn’t say anything.

“You mean you never initiated sex with him?” Brandy asked incredulously.

Embarrassed, Charlotte said, “Well, it was always so hit or miss and he usually made it very clear when he was interested. Then, while I was pregnant, I tried, but he started turning me down.”

“God, hon, I hate to say it when you probably already know it, but your husband is a dickhead.” Brandy sighed. “Okay, well, first, do you have any sexy lingerie?”

“Not really,” Charlotte answered.

“Start with that. Then, you need to set the stage. Candles are a nice touch, though most men don’t notice them, but candlelight is extremely flattering to the naked female form. Be sure to have easy to eat food, like grapes, cheese, and crackers, stuff that you don’t have to prepare. I have a feeling you’ll be in for a marathon session if you and Greg do the deed and you’ll need to refuel.”

“Okay,” Charlotte said. “I can do that.” She paused. “But I’m not sure how to go about the actual, you know.”

“Come on, Charlie, I know you’re not a virgin. You know how that part works,” Brandy said.

Charlotte sighed. “That’s not what I mean. I don’t know how to be sexy. I don’t know how to make the first move.”

“
Being sexy
is a state of mind. If you feel sexy, you will be,” Brandy started, “and I know you can handle that. As for the rest, the best way to get what you want is to
tell him what you want
.”

“It’s just so hard for me to speak up, especially about this kind of stuff,” Charlotte said quietly.

“I know, baby girl, but, if you really want Greg, you’re probably going to have to. He’s determined to give you as much time as you need. If you’ve had enough and you’re ready to take the next step, you have to tell him. The good new is, once he knows he has the green light, he’ll probably take over from there. But you will have to take the first step.”

Charlotte knew Brandy was right. “Okay. Thanks, B.”

“Good luck, Charlie. Call me this weekend and let me know how it goes, okay?”

Charlotte laughed softly. “If I call you, then it didn’t go how I wanted it to.”

“Yeow!” Brandy exclaimed. “You do have plans. Okay, if I don’t hear from you, I won’t start bugging you until Monday.”

“Good,” Charlotte said. “Love you, girl.”

“Love you, too. Go buy some sexy lingerie.”

They hung up and Charlie glanced at the clock. It was just after seven, plenty of time left to make a quick run to the mall before Victoria’s Secret closed if she hurried.

Two hours later, Charlotte came through the mudroom carrying two bags full of lace and satin underwear. She carried everything up to her room and set the bags on her bed. As she took everything out of the tissue paper wrapped around it, she knew she had bought too much. Charlotte couldn’t resist it all, though. For so many years, she felt frumpy and very unsexy. While she browsed through the racks of bras, panties, and teddies, she started imagining Greg’s reaction to the pieces that she liked. It made her entire body feel hot.

She went about the process of washing everything. Almost everything she bought was both sensual and functional. She did buy a few teddies that wouldn’t necessarily work beneath her clothes but did look incredibly sexy. Everything else could be worn beneath her work clothes. The thought of wearing a garter belt and matching panties and bra felt slightly illicit. It was something she always wanted to do, but never had the confidence.

She just hoped that she could follow through. She wanted to, desperately, but her natural reticence made it difficult for her to make such assertive moves.

The next two days passed by in a blink. Friday, however, seemed to drag on forever. Charlotte found herself checking the clock every thirty minutes after lunch. She barely got any work done. Every time she tried to focus, all she could think about was that night and what might happen, what she wanted to happen.

Finally, it was 5 p.m. and Charlotte shut down her computer and headed out of the office. Greg was supposed to be at her house at eight. If she hurried, she would have time to shower and put on some of her new lingerie.

Traffic was horrendous as she tried to get home. Finally, she gave up on the expressway and took side streets the rest of the way. The drive that normally took her thirty to forty minutes max, ended up taking an hour. When she made it to her house, she rushed inside, stripping her clothes off as she dashed up the stairs.

By seven, she was fresh out of the shower. Naked and damp, she stood in front of her bed, hands on her hips, trying to decide what she would wear. Charlotte finally chose the lacy teddy in deep rose. It made her pale skin glow and her brown eyes seem darker and more mysterious. It was also made of sheer lace and mesh that revealed almost as much as it covered.

Charlotte went into her closet and found a sleeveless grey wrap dress that she usually wore over her bathing suit at summer barbeques. It was suitable to wear in public, like a restaurant, but was also easy to put on and take off if she wanted to go swimming. The easy to take off part was the most important characteristic. Then she put a pair of black peep toe stilettos on her feet. She didn’t bother with jewelry, only a dab of her favorite perfume between her breasts, behind her ears, and on her wrists.

After talking to Brandy, Charlotte wracked her brain for the right way to go about seducing one of her best friends. He wanted her, so that would help, but he had the idea that he shouldn’t rush her stuck in his head.

Finally, after a two sleepless nights, Charlotte realized she would have to pull off a blitz attack. Once she got him inside the house, she would need to act fast and get past his initial protests. That was the part that made her the most nervous. She was not a sexually aggressive woman. She preferred to let her lover take the lead, but she would probably be forty before Greg would do that.

Charlotte took a deep breath. Greg had already said that he probably wouldn’t be able to stop if he got his hands on her again. She was counting on it. Smoothing the soft fabric of her dress over her ribs and hips, Charlotte took one last glance in the full length mirror hanging on the back of her closet door.

The door bell rang and she tensed slightly. Greg was early. Anticipation and nerves tangled in her belly until she wasn’t sure which she felt the most. Charlotte made her way downstairs and double checked. Greg stood on the porch, in the flesh, fifteen minutes early.

Well, it gave her the perfect excuse to have him come inside. She would tell him she needed a few more minutes to get ready.

Charlotte felt her hands tremble as she opened the door. God, she was nervous. But she was also excited. The memory of Greg’s hands and mouth on her skin created the ache for more. Tonight was her chance to get that.

“Hey,” she said, her voice cracking. Clearing her throat, Charlotte fibbed, “I’m not quite done getting ready. Do you mind waiting for a little bit?”

Greg smiled. “You look fine to me, but I know I’m a little early.”

Charlotte stepped back and let him inside. It was then that she noticed he’d brought her flowers, sunflowers this time. They were huge and beautiful. She didn’t know how she could of missed them. Well, her nerves were jangling crazily, so that could have been why. He handed them to her.

“They’re gorgeous,” she said, feeling the trembling from her hands work its way to her chest. “I’ll go get a vase for them. Do you want something to drink while I finish getting ready?” she asked.

“Just water,” he answered.

Charlotte nodded and walked into the kitchen. Quickly, she put the flowers in a white pitcher, then got Greg a glass of water from her fridge dispenser. Before she went back into the living room, Charlotte reached into the pantry. The only alcohol she kept in the kitchen was either sherry or Irish cream. She settled on Irish cream and took a slug straight from the bottle.

Then she picked up Greg’s glass and walked back into the living room. He took the glass from her with a soft thanks.

After he sipped, Greg said, “You look pretty tonight.”

Charlotte smiled tremulously. “Thank you.”

She stepped forward slightly so that the skirt of her dress brushed his knees. Slowly, she moved her hand to the sash that belted the waist of the dress. In a slow, deliberate movement, she took one of the loose ends and tugged. Charlotte hoped he couldn’t see how badly her hands were shaking.

Greg’s eyes followed every move she made and he appeared completely transfixed. He didn’t say anything, but his pupils dilated. Seeing his reaction gave Charlotte more confidence. Sucking in a deep breath, she pulled on the end of the sash until the bow around her waist fell apart. With a slightly clumsy flick of her fingers, she unbuttoned the small buttons inside the waist of the dress that helped the wrap style stay put.

The dress opened, hanging at her sides. Already feeling naked, though she still wore her lingerie, Charlotte rolled back her shoulders and let the dress drop down her arms to the floor.

During the entire striptease, Greg sat perfectly still on her sofa, his hands clenched into fists on his knees. When the dress hit the floor, he drew in a sharp breath and his hands flexed on his thighs. Charlotte was standing close enough to see his pupils expand further until they nearly swallowed the grey of his iris.

“Jesus,” he said roughly, shifting on the sofa.

When he didn’t move immediately, Charlotte began to feel even more uncertain. Then she studied him for a moment longer. His jaw was clenched and every muscle in his body looked as though it were rigid. He wasn’t as unresponsive as she thought.

She steeled herself, knowing she would regret it if she didn’t continue. Greg wanted her and she wanted him. She was ready to take the next step.

Still moving slowly, she bent down and placed one knee on the outside of his thigh. Her new position put her lace-covered breasts level with his face. Charlotte heard him swallow.

“I want you to touch me,” she whispered.

Greg shook his head, but his eyes were glued to her nipples, which were visible beneath the sheer rose-colored lace. He swallowed hard.

“I don’t think this is a good idea, Charlie.” His voice was hoarse.

Though he wasn’t doing what she hoped he would, Charlotte paid attention to his body language and his reactions. It was clear that he wasn’t unaffected by her. It gave her even more confidence in her plan. She shifted forward, placing a hand on the couch behind his neck, then she brought her other knee onto the cushions so that she was kneeling over his lap.

Never taking her eyes off his, she lowered herself until her bottom came into contact with his rock hard, trembling thighs. Charlotte hummed in the back of her throat and slid forward until her center was resting against his erection. His body was definitely interested, even if he was worried about going too far.

Greg’s hands clamped down on her hips and, for a moment, Charlotte thought he was going to push her away. Instead, he held her still over him. Determined to break through the iron control he had on himself, she lowered her head until their mouths were merely an inch apart.