Eleven by Karen Rodgers Page B

was
happening. We smiled and fell into it.

Chapter 15
    Ringing
    We slept in late the next morning, then
awoke for yet another roll in the sheets.
    We were breathless and spent from the
sheer exhaustion of our passionate indulgence. There was
desperation in our desire for one another; the likes of which,
neither of us had ever experienced. We knew our lives would no
longer be singularly defined. We needed one another in the most
basic way to complete the entirety of our existence.
    He looked into my eyes and expressed
with great tenderness, “I’ve never wanted anyone this much. I’ve
never needed anyone like I need you. I need you as much as I need
the air I breathe and I can’t imagine my life without you in it.
You are the one I have waited for, for so long. You have completely
and totally stolen my heart.”
    I returned his emotion, “You have my
soul, Mister. You are my soul.”
    He smacked me fully on the backside and
changed his tone, “What’d ya say we hit the Plaza today? I need you
to help me pick out some things for the house. I bought this place
a couple of months ago and it is in dire need of a woman’s touch. I
think you just might be the woman for the job.”
    We climbed out of bed and this time, we
showered together. We enjoyed playfully running the soap over each
other’s bodies. The feel of his fingers entwined in my hair as he
shampooed and massaged my scalp sent a tingling shiver down my
body. It was Heaven!
    The downtown Plaza of Santa Fe was
bustling with tourists that day. We enjoyed the local flavor by
indulging in French pastries and coffee for breakfast, then hit
Pasquale’s for lunch.
    We meandered in and out of the shops
and galleries. It was refreshing to discover we shared similar
tastes in art and décor. We picked out several colorful, abstract
pieces to hang on the walls of his house. We found colorful
Moroccan rugs and pillows at Seret & Sons. I assisted him in
stocking up on utensils, pottery, stemware, and cookware for the
kitchen.
    It was the most fun I had ever had
shopping. He spared no expense. In between selecting items for the
house, he lavished me with several purchases. He rather enjoyed
picking out things for me to wear; beautifully woven tunics,
leggings, hats, and jewelry. His most extravagant gift was a
gorgeous, full length leather coat with a silver fox fur collar. He
also treated me to a funky pair of vintage boots that were
oh-so-Santa Fe.
    Our weekdays were filled with feasting,
shopping, touring pueblos, and museum hopping.
    Our nights would end the same;
indulging in the pleasure of each other’s bodies. We chased each
other through the rooms and christened damn near every one of them.
From pressing me against the panes of great room windows to tracing
and teasing my body with the chocolate covered strawberries on the
dining room table—we made special memories in every square inch of
the house.
    Friday evening arrived all too quickly.
It would be our last night in Santa Fe. We would drive home on
Saturday so he could get ready for his flight to Dallas on Sunday.
He was flying to the Metroplex to attend the final hearing and sign
the divorce papers. I was ready for it to be behind us—so he could
be all mine.
    We parked by the St. Francis Cathedral
and walked through the Plaza one last time. We strolled through the
streets and made our way on foot, hand-in-hand, to Tomasita’s in
the Guadalupe district. While enjoying our meal, we noticed it had
begun to snow outside.
    As he paid the ticket and we prepared
to leave, he offered, “It’s quite a ways to the truck. Do you want
me to go get it and come back for you?”
    I laughed and replied, “Don’t be silly.
I don’t mind walking in the snow.”
    After all, I was wearing the vintage
boots and long leather coat he had given me earlier in the week.
And there was no place else more beautiful in December than Santa
Fe. The Plaza and surrounding area were decorated for the season.
Everywhere we turned, there