Thursday, September 15, 2022

When Chuck licks his hand, Harry's eyes flutter open. The memory of the previous night is fresh in his mind. Nataley's sobs had finally died as he soothed her by rubbing at her back and murmuring soothing nothings in her ear. Falling asleep with her head on his chest while he ran his fingers through her hair, she had sighed deeply and snuggled closer to his side. It brought him such joy to experience her need for his strength. With most people she fakes being strong -- sometimes even with Harry. For the thousandth time since Friday night, he wonders again if he should just let her exit his life. Is it selfish on his part to want her by his side forever? Would it be kinder to let her go?

This time, things are different. He can tell. They're making progress on so many fronts. Just a little longer and perhaps they can address the elephant in the room. Cautiously, he lifts the duvet and slides out of bed, pulling on a pair of joggers.

"Come on, Chuck," Harry whispers. The loud jangling of the dog's collar worries Harry, and he glances back at Nataley curled up in the bed. Padding into the living room, he opens the door and encourages the cavachon to wander outside. Leaving the door slightly ajar, Harry tiptoes to the kitchen and searches the cabinets for coffee. As it brews, he rummages in the fridge to find a pear and some cheese, both of which he slices thinly onto a plate. He fills Chuck's bowl as the pup bounds to him after taking care of business. Sticking his nose into the food, Chuck's tail wags continuously as he devours the morsels. After closing the back door again, Harry finds a tray and carries two cups of the freshly brewed coffee plus the fruit and cheese plate into the bedroom.

Her nose twitching, Nat yawns and stretches her arms over her head. "Coffee," she mutters, eyes still closed. "Mmmmm. Someone must love me an awful lot."

"That would be me," Harry comments, slipping out of his joggers and back into the bed. "But you've got to sit up, love. I couldn't find a coffee sippy cup."

A ghost of a smile drifts across her lips as she follows his directions. Once seated, her pillows plumped behind her back, she uses grabby hands to demand her cup of liquid adrenaline. With a laugh, Harry passes it over before gently picking up his own and taking a sip. Placing the plate between them, he grins as her tongue darts out to wet her lips.

Nat reaches for a piece of pear, partnering it with a Vermont cheddar. Biting into the combination, she sighs blissfully. "Perfect, H. Thank you."

"You're welcome. It pleases me to bring you joy."

A red flush covers her neck. "Sorry about last night."

Surprised, he cocks an eyebrow. "Sorry for what? Letting me hold you while you were emotional? That brings me joy too. The fact that you can be vulnerable with me means more than you know. I love you, Nataley, and that means all of you all of the time."

"But you don't even know what set me off."

"Don't have to. Honestly, it doesn't even matter what upset you. It was enough for me to know that you needed me." He pauses, surveying her as he sips the black coffee. "But if you ever want to talk about anything, I'm here to listen."

Picking up another slice of pear, she delicately nibbles at it, her gaze remaining on the plate until she shifts her scrutiny to Harry.

"Do you really think I could make it as a tour lighting designer?"

His heartbeat speeds dramatically, and he attempts to keep the corners of his mouth from turning up, failing miserably. This is something with which he csn actually support her!

"Stop," she playfully swats at him.

"What? I didn't do anything."

"You're grinning like you just ate Tweety bird."

"Okay, okay. I'll be serious." Harry schools his face into a placid expression, fighting the twitching of his lips. "The honest answer is yes. You would be an amazing lighting designer for a tour."

"Why do you say that? Because you love me?"

"Nope. Because you're good, Nat. You use lighting all the time to set a mood on the show. When you've created lighting plans for my songs on Late Late, I know I'm going to be treated to an emotional wave that's relevant to the music but enhances it rather than hijacking it."

She picks at nonexistent fluff on the duvet. "But that's for television."

"Listen, I'm not going to shine you on, Nat. You'd probably have to apprentice with someone first. I don't think it's likely that you would be hired outright as the lighting designer for a show without some experience in tour lighting. Not because you can't do it, but because it's slightly different to what you've been doing."

"Yeah." Her small voice crushes him. "Maybe I could get something at a smaller local venue like the Troubadour? Learn on the job? Then when Noah graduates from high school and starts college, I'd be ready to join a tour."

Clearing his throat, he speaks softly. "No. Cause that's not tour work, Nat. That's getting to know one setting like you've done with Late Late. While there are set lighting cues and setups for a tour, there are also different venues that require adjustments because of the seating or the layout. If you want to be a lighting designer for a music act, you're going to have to actually go on tour."

"But how do I do that with Noah?" Stricken, her eyes fill with tears. "I cannot and will not leave him with his father for months on end." Her words confuse him.

"But after Saturday, Duane will be out of Noah's life. Right?"

She bites her lip as her eyes drift away from him before taking a sip of her coffee, "Probably." Hurriedly, she stuffs a slice of cheese in her mouth. "I can't take Noah on a tour away from his friends and school. How would he learn? How would he connect with others his age?"

Holding up his hand in a stop sign, Harry twists to face her, folding his legs criss cross in front of him. "You're not upset about having to apprentice?"

"Upset?! Hell, no. My mind is racing trying to think of who I would want to be my mentor. There are so many amazing lighting designers out there."

Pride bursts from his chest, radiating throughout his body. His Nataley would of course be a learner in this as she seems to be in all things. "Who's your top three?"

"Shit. That's hard." Tilting her head, she ponders. "Maybe Clare Mathison. She lights for Little Big Town. Or Bob Barnhart, but I don't know who he's lighting these days. Nick Whitehouse would also be amazing." Her shoulders deflate then. "But I'm sure they all have apprentices. No reason to take on someone new."

"Stu Dingley?"

"Oh, yeah. Stu's wicked talented." Her head whips up. "Stu is your LD." Her tone is accusatory.

"Taking me out of the picture, is Stu someone that you could learn from?"

"Of course! I mean it when I say he's a powerhouse in the industry."

A plan rapidly forms in Harry's brain. Stu doesn't usually travel with the tour. He sets it up and allows his apprentices to run and adjust the shows for weeks at a time before he checks in, available for emergencies. Nataley and Noah joining the tour would be a dream come true.

"Oh, no. I see those wheels turning in that head of yours, H! I'm not uprooting my kid to travel on tour with you."

Unsurprised that she has surmised his thoughts, Harry shrugs. "Wouldn't matter what tour you accepted, Nat. Noah would have to travel to make it work."

"Yeah." She deflates with the single word. "It's a pipe dream."

"Not necessarily. Sometimes children travel on tour with either a tutor or online learning."

She's already shaking her head, and he feels fear gripping him. No, no, no. He was too close to convincing her.

"He wouldn't be around kids his own age."

"Sure he would. Emi visits Adam with Silver and Spike, and if the tour were mostly during Noah's summer, he wouldn't be missing any school at all." Deciding he better stop before she rejects the idea simply because he's pushing it, he leans over and captures her lips. "No decisions need to be made right this second. We need to think about getting ready for work. Ben will be here in less than an hour."

Disappointment crosses her face, lowering her eyebrows and lips in a parallel manner.

"So no time for manky panky?" The smirk she releases makes him grin, the dimple on full display.

"Hmmm...depends on how lubricated you can be in the next two minutes."

"Shit. Knew I should have packed that lube." Surveying him, she orders, "Lie down, H."

Obediently and without question, he complies. Placing her coffee cup on the nightstand, she folds down his underpants to reveal his soft cock. Removing his pants fully, she rises from the bed and strips off her panties, leaving her top covered in his hoodie. Climbing on the bed again, she positions herself with her head near his cock.

Picking up his member gently in her hand, she rubs its base while sucking just the head, her fingers tickling his balls. Harry scratches at her back as his body starts to respond. Breathing deeply, he sighs as she releases the head from her mouth, softly smoothing the tips of her fingers over his length as he brushes at her hair. The moan that escapes his mouth as she returns the tip to her lips is one of hunger.

Nataley presses kisses to his chest as she cups his balls. Folding his arm behind his head, he feels himself growing harder as she nuzzles her nose into his armpit, wrapping her legs around his thigh as she snuggles into him. His cock is fully alive now, but he can't tell how her body is responding.

"Oh fuck," he moans as Nataley holds the tip of his cock with one hand while stroking the length. She returns to suckling his nipple as his knee slides into her core, and her dampness makes him happy. The sounds that leave his throat are full of contentment as she uses both hands to stroke his cock. Sliding up the bed closer to his face, she continues her strokes as she kisses him, and his hips buck as his knees draw together.

They exchange a kiss as she traces the veins of his member. Twisting on the bed, she turns her head to his cock, and he can't resist. Reaching for her cunt, he teases the outside of her walls before delving inside with a finger. His thumb tickles her clit as she massages his balls while her fingers glide along his cock.

"Mmmmmm," he murmurs.

"Sexy," she agrees. Abruptly, she sits up, positioning herself over his crotch as she continues to stroke him. Shifting, she guides him inside her, and he feels her walls convulse around him as she begins gliding on his length, kissing him with her breasts pushing against his nipples.

"Ah," she moans. "Oh, fuck, H."

He holds her hips in both hands as he drives up into her repeatedly, the sound of their bodies slapping together the loudest thing in the room. Drawing his knees up, he pumps faster into her as she cries out, "Fuck me!" When his orgasm overcomes him, he raises his hips from the bed, his seed emptying into her non-existent womb. She shatters around him seconds afterwards, and his arms wrap around her shoulders to draw her as close as humanly possible.

Pressing her cheek to his chest, Nataley relaxes around him. Not nearly long enough later, Chuck barks at the bedroom door.

"Shit. I forgot to fill his water dish," Harry grumbles.

"No worries. You can take care of that while I take a quick shower." Crawling off him, her hands using his stomach for leverage, she allows her breasts, still trapped in his hoodie, to brush over his cock, and his lower body twitches.

"Evil woman!" he growls.

"Just making sure you remember that I'll be here tonight just for you. No Noah. Just the two of us."

Prince Charles yaps again.

"And Chuck," Harry murmurs, laughing.

"Yep. Him too. But if we smear some peanut butter in his kong toy, he'll be busy for long enough."

Sitting up, he smacks her bare arse as she bends over to pick up her panties and his briefs. The sound in the quiet room is fulfilling, and he prepares to repeat the gesture when Nataley grasps his wrist.

"No playing with the goods when you've got to get to work."

Naked, he stands, stripping the sheets from the bed. Carrying them to the laundry room, he bundles them inside, twisting the knobs and adding detergent. His finger hovering over the controls, he wonders briefly if Gabe's house has a large enough hot water heater to run the washing machine and the shower at the same time. Depressing the button, he listens to the whooshing sound of the water with one ear while keeping the other tuned to hear Nataley's screech. When it doesn't arrive, he smiles. Gabe definitely has a large hot water heater.

Padding to the kitchen, he fills Chuck's water bowl before remembering the dishes in the bedroom. Rushing back to the bedroom, he grasps both coffee cups and the mostly empty plate, hauling it all to the kitchen. Harry scurries because he would like to spend at least a few minutes in the shower with Nataley. It's been too long since someone has scrubbed his back.

Sadly, by the time he arrives in the bathroom, she's stepping out of the shower.

"Water is perfect, H. Enjoy."

Stepping into the stall, he grins as she plays music on her phone. The strains of Chris Stapleton's "Starting Over" permeate the air. Nat hums along as she applies a moisturizer and a light coat of mascara. Twisting the knob to colder water, Harry shivers as the icy liquiud hits his back. Not the same as having it be scrubbed, but safer for sure. The glass fogs up, and he uses his shower gel to lather his pecs and belly, washing his cock too, deleting the traces of Nataley's essence.

The domesticity of the moment isn't lost on Harry. Life could be like this all the time. Forever. Somehow he needed to convince her that it was the best solution to their issues. The engagement ring quickly comes to mind, and he pictures it on her finger as a car horn blazes out front.

Nataley glances at him, and he shrugs. Wrapping herself in a robe, she exits the bathroom. Minutes later, she's back as Harry is drying his body.

"Ben's here."

"I assumed," he dryly states. "He's a bit early, isn't he?"

"Eh. He cares about you, so naturally he wanted to see what our lives are like off set."

"A few minutes earlier, and he would have gotten the x-rated version."

"X? I think you mean 'triple x'," Nataley teases. "I'll get dressed and keep him company. My beauty regime is much shorter than yours."

"Mhm," he mumbles around the toothbrush in his mouth. "Sheets are in the washer."

"Cool. I'll move them to the dryer."

At the door, she plants one hand on the door jamb before twisting to him.

"I love you."

With those words, Nataley disappears, leaving Harry wondering if perhaps he should take another cold shower.