2020-08-14 - Lunchtime Tales - Ira Levi Annette Jasper and Sasha

Levi held the landline phone slightly away from his ear as the voice on the other end yammered on and on.  Mrs Urusula Norris was a lot of things, but one of those was a hell of a wise investor.  That was why she had the money to afford nuisance lawsuit after nuisance lawsuit.  He didn’t mind it … it gave him and Natalie something to do now that things had calmed down after the almost excitement of the Sasha and Dante assault case.  But Alexandra remained a mostly relaxing town.  “Mrs.  Norris, it is my suggestion that you not appeal.  It’s a waste of your money and the judges time.”  he arched both of his brows as the voice continued.  “Yes ma’am.  I have heard that Jewish people make good lawyers…”  he pinched the bridge of his nose.  “I suppose you could try another law firm.  Good luck and have a nice day.”  he set the receiver down and shook his head.  Standing, he grabbed his suit jacket and headed for the door of his office.  On the way out, he waved to the secretary, Kira Delmonaco.  “I’m going to lunch.”  he told her.  “I’ll be back in an hour … maybe more.”  it was a nice slow day and he was going to meet his best friend Ira Rothenberg for lunch.  He might even see Jasper Rogers, if the clinic wasn’t busy.  Entering The Daily Deli, he paused to look over the menu, even though that wasn't necessary.

Sasha walked up to Levi and smiled “Mr. Samuels. So good yo see you. I have an awesome table waiting for you...the corner booth actually. Is it just you or how many?” As he asked the question a big bear of a man walked up to Ira and clapped in on the shoulder. Sasha had met this man too in passing “Ira….wait you guys know each other? That’s great!” He knew Ira was Annette’s friend. He had basically seen them for 5 minutes as he slid on a backpack and offered Annette his room for her stay. He had gone to stay at Paige’s…..well Paige and Iris’s but lately more just Paige’s as Iris was crashing a lot at Seamus’s family’s house with he and Katie. Sasha was wearing his daily deli work t-shirt and his usual pair of old jeans with his black and white trainers. He had a plain white half apron on and a daily deli baseball cap.

Ira grinned “Levi…..and Sasha right? Yeah we know each other…..does the booth fit four with a big guy? Jasper’s joining us right? Annette’s meeting us shortly.. Ira was in his usual plain black shirt and old but decent blue jeans with black runners.

Jasper was almost out the clinic door when he got paged “Dr. Rogers to reception please. Dr. Rogers.” Jasper turned around and looked at the reception desk “You could have just called out my name Shelly. What can i help you with?”

Shelly Newcastle gave Jasper a sweet smile and battered her eyelashes. “I can’t read your writing on Mrs. Wong’s forms here….on line 12…” As Jasper came over and slid his finger down the the line she bumped hers beside his “Oh sorry Doctor….I’ll let you…” She looked all flushed.

Jasper looked at her awkwardly “Hip fracture….I swear I printed neatly. I have a lunch date Shelly. I’ll see you later.”

Shelly looked disappointed and then nodded “Enjoy...Doctor Rogers….” She sat down behind the desk again.

Jasper rushed out the door texting Levi as he walked:

Running late but on my way. Love you.

Levi smiled at Sasha.  “Hello, Sasha.”  Ira comes up behind him and claps him on the shoulder.  “Yes, it will be four of us.  Jasper …”  his phone vibrates and he looks at it.  “Will be meeting us soon.” he puts the phone back in his suit jacket and motions to the booth.  “We’ll order once they get here.”  he slides in and motions for Ira to sit on the other side.  “So …  how do you like Alexandra?”  he asks, eagerly.  “I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet you this weekend.  Saba came too and I wasn’t expecting her.”

Annette walked along Water street with Mary Henry.  This was their first face to face session and Mary had suggested they walk along the street.  It wound up being incredibly relaxing and Annette had truly opened up.  She admitted that she had not had any urges for a while.  The last time was when she’d had to speak about her mother, so there was no testing that until the next call.  In the meantime she had to admit that, more and more, she was finding that she didn’t have the urges, or rather she was discovering there was only one man she wanted. But he, of course, was out of her league.  Mary had told her not to assume anything.  She would never know unless she actually talked to him.  Him, of course, being Ira.

They approached the Daily deli and Mary waved goodbye as she crossed the street for the clinic.  Annette could see Ira and his lawyer friend inside and she cleared her throat, then smoothed her long blue skirt.  Her long sleeved blouse was buttoned up to the neck and securely tucked into the wide elastic waistband of her skirt.  On her shoes were her plain black flats.  She opened the door and walked in.  She noticed that the men were on either side of the booth, which meant she either sat next to a near stranger so she sat next to Ira.  ira who she would soon have to talk to … if she could find the courage.

Sasha loitered a bit as his other tables were sorted and he wanted to chat with this group and wait for Annette. He listened in and leaned on the edge of the booth, smiling broadly as he saw Annette “Bonjour!” He greeted as she sat down by Ira.

Ira answered Levi with a grin “It’s nice. Quiet here and that’s a nice change. Hey no worries man...family first, always. How’s Saba liking it?” He looks up at Sasha who didn’t know why Levi had called his family to visit and said casually “How was the visit?” He couldn’t help but glance back a few times as he ended up with his back to the door. It was obvious he was looking for someone, Annette. As she came in he froze just staring at her and then smiled and turned back around as she sat beside him “Hey there.” He said a little quickly.

Jasper burst through the door about a minute after Annette and saw Levi immediately and made for the table, about to slip in beside him but politely smiling at the young server “Sorry, excuse me..”

Sasha backed up a little “Oh no I’m sorry. You must be Jasper, the last of the table. I’m Sasha and I'll be your server.” He didn’t know Jasper as anything yet but part of Levi’s lunch party that included his cousin.

Jasper smiled warmly “Hi Sasha.” Casually he reached for Levi’s hand and gave it a little squeeze. So far he let Levi determine if they would kiss hello except that one time he’d kissed him at the lantern ceremony when it was almost dark. “Hi….sorry I’m late.” He offered to Levi. Then he looked across the table “Ira and Annette? I’m Jasper. It’s so nice to meet you.”

Levi smiles.  "Well, you are about the only best friend I have left, so in a lot of ways that makes you family.  But the visit went WONDERFULLY."  he admits.  "Talk about a load off." Jasper comes in and takes his hand.  Now that his family knew, or rather all of his family that mattered to him.  He lifted the hand to his lips and kissed it.  "No problem, we're all just getting here I think."

Annette offered a slight smile to Sasha.  "Bonjour, Sasha."  she sat beside Ira but closer to the edge of the bench seat.  Ever since they'd come to this place it felt like she  was resisting being close to Ira.  It made no sense whatsoever.  So she sat beside him as far as she could without looking like she was trying not to be close to him.  She nearly jumped to her feet when another man came and slid into the both beside Levi.  He introduces himself as Jasper and she nods.  "Yes.  Hello Jasper.  How are you.  I'm Annete ...  ira's roommate.'' She saw the hand kiss and was, frankly, jealous.

Sasha beams at the hand kiss and looks between Levi and Jasper like he thought it was just awesome. He notices some weirdness between Annette and Ira and didn’t know what to make of it so he teased Annette a bit “Socially distanced roommates? You’re going to fall off the bench Annie. Do you folks need a few minutes?”

Ira looked touched by Levi’s words “Aww ya mushball. Back atcha.” He grinned widely about the family visit and coming out going well and nodded “Good to hear. I didn’t think they were assholes, any of them.” He saw the hand kiss too and greeted Jasper with a reach for a handshake and then lifted his hand back “Sorry….and you’re a doctor. Doubly sorry. I am very happy to meet you though. You’re good to my boy…” He head juts at Levi. Then he turns to Annette as Sasha says she’s going to fall off the bench “Oh hey am I hogging it?” He tries to press more into the wall and get smaller but Ira is just a big guy. He lets his gaze linger on Annette, taking in how her modest clothes fit her softly and perfectly and inhaled. He resisted the urge to tug her in closer. Because if he did she would fit. But it also felt like the world might implode if he did it. “I know what I want.” Ira stated to Sasha’s question. His eyes were still on Annette and then he blinked and looked up “The reuben but skip the swiss please. It’s vegetable oil on the grill right? Can I be picky and ask that it’s not made beside anything with cheese? I won’t make you clean the grill. And a Coke please.”

Sasha takes out an order pad and writes down Ira’s order “Is it an allergy or intolerance?”

Ira shakes his head “Neither. Kosher, not so strict that I’m going to raise hell. Just skip the cheese please.”

Levi grins.  "No, but you never know.  Saba was wonderful.  She still wants those great-grandkids."  he looks at Jasper.   Then Ira and Annette start ... he didn't know how to describe it ... with the bench.  Ira was broad and Annette was thin, but it felt like they were avoiding touching each other.

Annette blinks a bit at Sasha's words.  "No ... no ...  I .. no Sasha."  she moves herself onto the bench, but does try and avoid touching him.  "No, Ira .. you're fine. I just don't want to crowd you .. of course."  she looks at Sasha.  "The cucumber and cream cheese, please."  she looks at Jasper.  "Oh you're a doctor.  Thats nice.  How long have you two been together?"

Jasper looks a little curiously at the space negotiations between Ira and Annette and then answers her after a wink at Levi “Yes at the clinic here.” He looks at Levi and has to chuckle “Not long…..and forever, and we will be forever.” He sighs looking at Levi like the sun rose and set on him before giving a little shrug “This island people say has….well I don’t know….some kind of magic. But I’ll take it.” Then he blushes a bit and looks at Sasha “Sorry you’re waiting for my order and I’m rambling on….uh the chicken pesto panini please.”

Sasha had written down Annette’s food and then grinned “No apologies. It is the island.” He points between Levi and Jasper after he writes down the food “Not that you guys aren’t meant to be...but that’s the key maybe. People fall deeply in love here…..faster...like lightning. Trust me it happened to me with my girlfriend. I swear it was less than a day…..more like hours. I mean we met and it started and then bam…hey did you want anything to drink Jasper? Oh and Annie I didn’t get your drink?”

Jasper nods along with Sasha and looks at Levi with a little grin “That’s exactly what happened….I swear within 4 hours?” He looks back “Oh uh iced tea please.”

Sasha adds that “Yep. And I just watched it happen to my aunt and my fa….well Paige’s dad. You could almost see the lightning. Anyhow, Levi what will you have?”

Ira looks at the generous space still between them and sighs at Annette a bit. His feelings felt so one sided. He didn’t push it. They had cuddled back home to help her cope but maybe she had just needed a friend. He could be that, even though sometimes it was pure agony. Then he listened to Jasper and Sasha talk about the mysterious love power of the island. He had to admit his feelings for Annette felt amplified and therefore triply rejected too. He focuses on Levi “Great grandkids huh….she pushing you guys to get hitched and adopt a bunch of babies?” He knew Jasper had kids but wasn’t sure what counted with Saba.

Levi smiles right back at Jasper when he speaks to Annette.  he looks at Jasper and nods.  "It was ... well .. the last thing I was planning the day i met him was falling in love ... but fall I did."  he nods.  "I think it was ....  After the interview ...  "  he grins.  "Oh .. Sasha I'll have the same as Levi, thanks." He laughs at Ira.  "No, she knows Jasper has kids so ... if you smell something that is the smell of her spoiling Jaspers kids."  he teases.

Annette smiled, looking a bit confused  at the time.  "Magic?'' She looks at Sasha as well.  "Oh ....  well ...  that's ... that's ... sweet."  it sounded incredible and even if it wasn't.  It would never work with her.  She was already in love so where was there to fall?  She blinks at Sasha not so much disapproving.  "That is very sweet Sasha.  And for you two .. too."  Then he mentions his aunt.  "Tante Lisette?"  she blinks and realizes she didn't give a drink order.  "I ..well ...  iced tea .. please."  she looked down at the table top.  Concentrated on it.  learned every scrape and scratch.

Sasha writes down the rest and confirms it will happen “I’ll get that going for you all.” Then he looks a little worried for his cousin. Annette seemed a bit off “Tante Lisette. Oui.” He pauses before leaving and leans down by her, keeping his conversation with her in French “Est-ce que tu vas bien? (Are you alright?)” He did it like French speakers do best and said it real fast, hoping the other three didn’t speak it well enough to tune in.

Jasper laughs along about Esther wanting to spoil his kids “Just what I need. She is sweet though. I like your family Levi. After the interview for me…..just.” He looks at Ira as Sasha seems to be checking in with Annette with a quizzical expression “They know each other?”

Ira had been laughing with Levi and Jasper “OK so Doc you’re the whole package then for Saba….and Levi….I don’t want details on anything package related that’s not your kids.” He was aware Annette was uncomfortable and it worried him. Was she picking up on his feelings and offended? He had tried to be discreet and her friend. He nods at Jasper “Cousins. From the same little French town in Manitoba.” Sasha was definitely checking in on Annette but Ira had dropped French the second it was optional in school and hadn’t looked back. He was aware the word bien meant good but he also remembered there was context stuff and he couldn’t decipher the words, just the overall tone of concern. He decides not to make Annette any more uncomfortable. Maybe they could talk after lunch and he could….well he wasn’t sure if he could tell her how he felt but he could try and reassure her that her friendship was important enough he wouldn’t mess it up. For now he zeroed in on Jasper “So, how many kids and how old? Please make Levi change diapers….and send me videos.” He snorts.

Jasper laughs heartily. He was out of practice with French and Sasha talked fast so he tuned out the conversation on the other side of the table “Sorry Ira, no diapers. Although from the age of his siblings I have every faith in his abilities. I have three kids. Duncan’s 17, Miranda is 16 and Romeo is almost 15.”

Levi grins at how Ira laughed at him.  "He is.  But I want to be a place he can escape from after a hard day.  You know what I mean.  And of course, not rushing the kids, although it seems that Jasper's son was also affected by the island.  A beautiful Latina ...  Puerto Rican I do believe, right?"  He also looks at Annette with concern.  She was not looking at Ira and he had to wonder if she was angry.  Had they had a fight? He kept watching the pair, because it was odd.

Annette realizes that her misery might be obvious.  Usually she would excuse herself to the ladies room to relieve that stress, but she had left that behind.  She didn't know why but that was harder this week than ever before.  But she couldn't do it.  Not if she ever wanted to be normal.  So she almost literally sucked it up.  Inhaling deeply, she straightened and looked at Sasha,  "Oui.  Oui.  tres bon (very good)."  she replied, patting him on the shoulder.  Even though the men were all looking at her oddly, she smiled and moved closer to Ira, as if everything was normal.  "Yes, we are cousins."  she confirms.  "Very large family."  she listens to the rest.  "Ah, doctor, you have a boy Sasha's age.  Do they know ... is it .. Seamus, oui?"  she wondered if that could get them off of the subject of how everyone could be in love with everyone else except for her with Ira.

Sasha had looked relieved as Annette reassured him but he was still curious. He shook his head, possibly mishearing “No he’s not Seamus’s dad...they’re all red haired brick shithouses...no offence Jasper. And Seamus’s lady is Iris, Paige’s sister. But they fell just like we did...like you two did...” He looks at Levi and Jasper “ like Lisette and Grey....seriously Annette be careful who you make eyes at in this place. It can end up...well...you might find your otter. They mate for life.” He steps back now and gestures at his order pad and goes to put in their food orders and get the drinks.

Jasper chuckles about redhead brick shithouses “None taken Sasha. I’ve seen those guys around.” He nods at Levi “Yes Duncan too with Fernanda. She is a wonderful girl. There are a lot of cases. Medically speaking I might even call it an epidemic. But we’re all sick of talking about those.” He jokes. He looks after Sasha as he walks away “He’s comparing us to otters?”

As Annette relaxed a bit Ira did too but he still felt unsettled. “A love epidemic? An otter infestation? The end is near!” He teases. “Ira you and Jasper better shack up while the gettings good.” He points “Because next week...locusts right?”

Levi chuckles at Sasha and Jasper.  "Apparently he is ... do I have to grow a mustache?  No, that's walruses, right?"  he chuckles and takes Jaspes hand again.  "Love epidemic.  What a way to go, right?"  he watches his best friend.  "I'll keep my place.  Our little live nest, if you will."  he shrugs.  "Once my family gets out of it, of course."

Annette shakes her head.  "Non .. I meant that he and Seamus were the same age.  I thought you all knew each other."  she clarifies.  But then it turns out this Seamus has his love as well.  Sasha warns her to be careful at who she makes eyes at, lest she find her mate for life and she gives him a laugh.  "You and your otters." she teases him.  But then she turns her head to look at Ira, hoping maybe .. she would feel a jolt.  But she doesn't.  Did they have to be strangers?  Or was it just that ... Ira wasn't her otter?  Or was it all just phony fairy tales.

Ira feels Annette’s gaze and turns to look at her. He gives one eyebrow wiggle and a smile and turns back to Levi. She was searching him but he didn’t know why. Maybe for the truth he was considering risking? He focused on Levi and his new man “ Oh I think you should grow a stache... like 1970s cop stache. Screw the floating rodents.” He cracks up. “Jasper, stache or no on your lover’s face?”

Jasper smiles at Annette “My kids might know more people than I do. I work a lot.” Then he winces at Ira and squeezes Levi’s hand protectively “No cop stache please. Levi, I love your face just as it is.”

Ira is on a roll “Alright how about a big epic beard like the Hacidic Jews. And a little flappy hat...suspendees...a wagon...”  Ira laughs so hard he’s coughing a bit.

Sasha walks up and starts passing out drinks to everyone “Everyone doing ok? The food will be very soon.” He can see Levi and Ira clowning around. “You guys have known each other a long time. I can see it.”

Levi shakes his head.  "Thank you, Jasper."  he grins at him and then turns to Levi.  "No 1970's porn cop mustache.  And oh my got .. the beard..."  he begins to laugh right along with them.  Sasha returns and he tries to breathe.  “We have ..." he looks at Ira.  "How long?  God it feels like a million years ago."

Annette smiles at the eyebrow wiggle and smile that Ira gives her and relaxed as the men bonded.  She knows it's been a long time since Ira has seen Levi and they seem like brothers, almost.

Ira clears his throat and rubs his chin “God how long? I mean Synagogue and then school later but I think the first time we really played as kids together was Camp Abraham. Cabin 12..” He looks around at the others to explain “Levi replaced my bunk mate halfway through the first week. Joel Greenberg got so homesick he was puking from the stress. Right over the side of the bunk...sorry not pre lunch conversation.” He laughs “Levi though...Levi was fearless. We heard a rumour about an old haunted cabin in the woods and snuck out. The rumour was bullshit and we made too much noise sneaking back in. I thought we were made. But smooth talking Samuels here dove for the floor by our bunks and convinced the counselors a bear was at the door.” Ira snorts “Except I was still  outside. I was the bear. So I scratched and growled. They didn’t even check my bunk they were so busy shouting. I slept outside but we never got busted. That was the beginning.” He grins at Levi.

Sasha had enjoyed the banter and the story and lingered after the drink drop off “Well you’re kinda bear like now Ira.” The order bell rang and Sasha had to go take food to another table.

Ira laughs “Yeah I know. Let’s blame Levi.” He watches Sasha go and then looks sideways at Annette “It’s possible I’m more of a teddy bear.” It was a joke and an unintentional flirt.

Jasper looks like he really enjoyed the camp story “Smooth talking Samuels.” He puts an arm around Levi now after letting go of his hand first.

A few minutes later Sasha comes back with their lunches and slides each plate in front of the right person “Bon apetite.” 

Levi laughs.  "I knew you could handle it, and I got the counselors to look anyplace but where they should."  he chuckles.  When Jasper puts his arm around him, he leans in until the food comes.  "In my defense, I needed a bodyguard.  I'm not the smallest guy in the world, but I needed protection sometimes."

Annette found herself smiling and laughing at the story.  Ira looks at her and makes a comment about possibly being a teddy bear.  "How comforting."  she murmurs, staring at him until the food comes, and finally pulling her eyes away from him.  "I ... wouldn't know."  she murmurs and drinks a bit before she begins to eat.

Sasha gets pulled away immediately to seating another table of two tourists.

Jasper eases his arm off Levi as they get food “Thank you Sasha.” He grins at Levi and then Ira and Annette “Maybe that’s why you became a prosecutor?” He teases Levi. Then he takes a big bite of his sandwich “Mmmm..”

Ira nodded at Sasha and then smirked at Levi  “Always got your back buddy.” He saw Annette gazing at him and heard her words. He was so confused right now. The only thing he knew for sure was how in love he felt with Annette. As others started to eat he did too. He looked pleased with the sandwich.

Levi picks up his sandwich and chuckles.  "Maybe."  he begins to eat with satisfied noises.  As he does he looks at his friend.  He knew how in love he was with his roommate, he just didn't know how to help if the island wasn't going to do to them what it did to so many he knew.

Annette concentrates on her meal.  The food is very good, but she is distracted.  It's all so frustrating.  One thing she gives herself is not falling into the old behaviors.  Maybe that would count for something when she told Ira she would like to try .... what? dating?  that was almost laughable to her.  Making love?  No one had ever made love to her before. She only ranked fucking.  How could she tell Ira how she felt?  Would it be too abrupt?  She considered as she ate, getting no real answers except that she was in love with a man who didn't feel the same way.  They were friends.  She could live with it, but that didn't make it less painful.

The meal went on. Ira asked Jasper more about himself. Jasper answered all his boyfriend’s best friend’s questions with good humour and his boyish smile. His devotion to Levi seemed to gain Ira’s favour. By the time they were waiting for their bills, Ira gave Levi a little nod “I like this guy. He’s good people.”

Jasper grinned a little and also looked grateful. It went well meeting the family so far and the best friend.

Sasha did a bit of a sideways slide up to the table “Four bills? Two bills? One bill?” He had the portable machine in hand to do any card transactions.

Jasper and Ira both raised their hands to offer to pay at the same time.

“I can...” Ira started as he leaned sideways, almost but not quite touching Annette to pull his wallet from his back pocket.

Jasper had a card ready to pull out faster in his left dress shirt pocket “Please allow me? It’s been so nice to meet you both.” 

Sasha just waited and then said “I think the good doctor wins this round Ira.” He keys in the total and passes the machine to Jasper who does tap his card and pay.

Ira concedes “I did already say I like you. But thanks Jasper. It’s been really good to meet you too.”

Out on the streets, Walter McLeod was on a bicycle. A very special bicycle that had once belonged to his great grandfather Bill the Butcher. Walter had lost a bet with his brother Paul over way too many beers and a Stanley Cup playoff game and now he had the old bike with a new trailer hooked up full of Thriftys food deliveries. And he was a disaster on wheels.

Levi chuckles as Ira questioned Jasper and Jasper replied with patience and good humor.  That was good,a s he wanted both of these men in his life for the rest of it.  After Ira's assessment, he chuckles.  "He really is."  he agrees.  Then he watches them vie for the check and Jasper win.  "You can get it next time."  he says with a wink.

Annette did not look like she was drawing away from Ira when he went for the check, but she did a little.  It looked polite, she was sure.  She looks bemused by all of the men, including Sasha as she gathers herself to go.

Sasha bids them all good bye and if he can he’ll sneak a quick hug in with Annette “Hey good to see you Annie. Take good care of my room. Have a good one gentlemen.” And after that the order up bell rings and Sasha gets back to work.

Jasper says his goodbyes and heads out the door with Levi standing a little to one side close to the building  as they chat and wait for the other two.

Ira wishes Sasha a good one too and waits for Annette and then opens the door for her. As she walks through it and out to the sidewalk there’s a skidding of wheels and a loud shout of.

“LADY LOOK OUT!”

An out of control bike with a trailer hits a pothole and veers wildly towards Annette.

Ira reacts with adrenaline and lunges forward, grabbing Annette back just before she gets hit. She turns as he pulls her to him. He stands there holding her and looking down into her eyes, his heart pounding “Are you ok?” He knows there was no impact but he feels a jolt like he’s been hit, like he’s been hit by lightning. Out of the blue he confesses his feelings “Annette...I love you. I’m madly in love with you.”

Jasper had pulled Levi back too and gasped “Holy shit..” The driver appeared unharmed but there were groceries all over the street and he was swearing his face off as he tried to retrieve them. A small river of milk trickled by and some potatoes rolled in the opposite direction. But most intriguing was watching Ira and Annette.

Levi lifts his hand to say goodbye to Sasha as he leaves with Jasper.  Annette goes through and there is an accident.  Ira saving Annette at the last possible second.  He can hardy believe it ...not so much the mess of a bike trailer, but Ira and Annette.

Annette grins and waves to Sasha.  "I will, I promise."  she moves to the door and Ira holds it open for her.  She has always loved having a door opened and held for her.  "Thank you..."  she murmurs to him, knowing his French was shit, but never having cared.  And then she can hear someone screaming "LADY LOOK OUT!" and she feels a yank.  She looks up into Ira's brown eyes and starts, as if shocked.  He asks if she's OK and she stares.  "Oui..."  She swallows and has an overwhelming urge to kiss him when he tells her that he loves her.  Madly.  And as if she's said it a hundred times before, she just outs with it.  "I love you too, Ira.  So much!"  she begins to cry and gives into the feeling ... lifting herself up n her toes and going in for a kiss.

Ira looks overwhelmed by Annette’s return of his love and her tears. As she moves to kiss him he grins and lifts her right up off the ground in his arms and kisses her with tender passion for a long time. Not caring who’s watching them in the middle of the street.

Walter McLeod was a loud man and after he swore he got on the phone “Yeah Pauly... listen I had a little accident...” He paused and looked up as a couple started kissing and blinked “What the.... yeah I’m still here...”

In the window of the Daly Deli Sasha peeks out and beams at Annette and Ira and does a fist pump in the air.

Jasper smiles at the loving exchange and kiss and takes Levi’s hand “Good for them.” He whispers. Island magic strikes again.

Levi unabashedly beams as Ira and Annette start kissing.  He nods at Jasper.  "He's been in love with her for at least a year now ....  and it seems the feeling is mutual."

Annette kisses Ira, only slightly aware of noises in the background.  He's lifting her up, she knows.  He's holding her. And he is kissing her.  What else mattered?

Japer gives Levi’s hand a tug “It’s beautiful. Let’s give them some room. Walk back with me?”

Ira slowly eases Annette down to her feet but keeps kissing her until she’s on solid ground. Then he breaks the kiss and leans his forehead to hers, running his hands through her hair “Annette…” He whispers.”Let’s get out of here. I want to have the rest of our conversation...in private.”

Meanwhile Paul McLeod walks up in his work apron and gets into what looks like a frustrated rant at his bearded brother as they both work to salvage anything from the groceries that were on the bike trailer.

Levi nods and walks with Jasper in the direction of the tug.  “It is.  Time to get back to work?”  he asks.  “I’m a little more open with lawsuits than you are with medical check-ups and all.”

Annette knows she has been lowered, but barely feels the ground.  His hands in her hair is intoxicating.  “Yes.  Please.  We have to finish it.  Real talk.”  she is gaining some coherency.  Clearly they’ve been miscommunication somewhere.  “Where…  should we go?”

Jasper laughed as they walked around the arguing brothers, indeed heading back to work. “Yeah my afternoon is pretty stacked. And I’m no Smooth Talking Samuels.” He steals the label Ira used in the bear story.

Ira vaguely notices Levi and Jasper have walked off and gives a little chuckle and then kisses Annette’s forehead “My hotel room? It’s not a proposition I swear...it’s just the only room we have right now that’s not shared with your family?” He steps back a bit more and looks like he’s struggling with the idea of letting her out of his arms but he eases his hands to her waist and then tries to take her hand to walk together holding hands.

Levi laughs at being called Smooth Talking Samuels.  “Hey … it’s a living.  We don’t take the ambulance chasing route, but some days I swear we’re close.”  he winks and considers, offering a goodbye hug in front of the dentists office. 

Annette giggles a bit when Ira offers his hotel room.  “I get it … and that’s .. fine.  I mean we live together, for goodness sake.”  she takes his hand and turns to see a messy accident and two men in a heated discussion.  “Oh … my … what’s all this?”  she’s only heard someone tell her to look out and the rest .. was all Ira.

Jasper hesitates in front of the dentist’s office too and then laughs “I never know how to greet you or say goodbye when we’re...out here. What would you like Levi?” They had been holding hands a lot in public so it was becoming obvious to a fair few people in town they were a couple.

Ira laughs and shrugs “I honestly have no idea. But it got us together….so maybe when they’re not in eachother’s faces...when I see him next I’ll….you know what fuck it….” He calls over to the two men “Hey! Hey!” Ira’s slightly gruff voice could get really loud when he needed it to.

Walter and Paul McLeod turned and paused their argument. Walter sort of half grinned at the big guy calling to them “What?”

“Just wanted to say….thanks!” Ira held up his hand holding Annette’s and smirked “Good luck with that.” And with that he started off with Annette if she was ready to move from the scene towards the Parthenon.

Paul looked at his brother and then the couple a little baffled “Uh…”

But Walter clued in and started laughing “Anytime.” He gave his brother a little swat “Big guy saved the pretty lady...from me. I kinda saw it. Now they’re probably going to boink. I spread joy Pauly. Don’t deny it.”

Paul McLeod face palmed “Jesus Christ Walter……”

Levi looks at him.  People had seen them together, and the firm hadn't gone under yet.  His family knew.  He takes half a step to Jasper and, if allowed, will give him a long, soft lingering kiss.  "I'd like to keep living in this comfort that is out love."

Annette smiles and is glad that Ira didn't let her hand go.  She moves with Ira and several steps later can clearly hear the big man with his big voice.  "Oh God." she doesn't blush, because she's heard a millon times worse.  "Ira...."  she glances up at him.  "Promise me one thing ... well maybe a few things..." she keeps her hand in his, even squeezing it.

Jasper inhales and grins into Levi’s kiss and returns it feeling both comfortable and incredibly happy. He slides a hand to cup Levi’s face as they break it “Me too. I love you.” He sighs “I have to go back to work…” He half groans and then smiles “But I’ll call you later.” He can’t resist sneaking in one more kiss before he has to let Levi go and walk away.

Amelie Beaulieu was coming out from the dental exam room to call a patient in for hsi cleaning when she saw two men kissing out the front window. Then she did a small double take when she recognized one of them as Levi Samuels, the lawyer who had done so much for Dante and Sasha. Then she just shrugged and smiled for them and greeted her patient “Brayden if you’ll follow me please….” And they were out of sight.

Ira heard the bearded guy’s comment and had only laughed. Then Annette was squeezing his hand and asking him to promise her something “Anything…..what’s the first one?” He grins at her as they walk.

Levi watches Jasper walk away and turns to head back to his own office.  He’d made the right choice moving to this strange place.  No question.

Annette wanted Ira to know that she was serious, but also not that serious, so she squeezed his arm, looking up at him.  Gazing, even. “First one is …  I’ve been boinked … and I’ve been fucked, and I’ve been boned, shagged, rooted, screwed, banged, pounded, nailed …. Well you get the idea.  Hard, fast and … not at all fun.”  she sighs and rests her head on his arm, suddenly realizing how much experience she has and how foolish this might sound.  “If we ever … just ... please never do those …  I want …  God, how stupid is this?  I want you to be the first man I make love with …. If it … ever happens .. I mean…” and she is stammering again.

Ira actually stopped mid step and took Annette into his arms again if he could, They were in the middle of the sidewalk and two different people had to step around them but he didn’t care at all. He smoothes her hair again looking at her with so much love it almost seemed pained “It’s not stupid at all. I’ve done all those things too and had people want only that. Probably not as many because well a guy that looks like me isn’t every girl's dream boink.” He chuckles as he uses the vocabulary of the bearded man.” I don’t want that with you...ever. I love you Annette. I’ve never said that to anyone but family. And when we get there, we’ll make love. Be a first for both of us.”

Annette nods as he speaks, ignoring the people walking around them.  “I get it.”  she tells him.  “And good .. because … I’ve never said it, felt it, thought it with anyone but family and … sometimes even that was a lie….”  she thinks on her family with a sigh.  She turns.  “Come on … before I get run down by the reality wagon.”  she jokes.

Ira snorts “No more runaway wagons or bikes…” He walks with her to the Parthenon and inside past the front desk where Emily is sitting reading something off the computer screen, Ira greets her since they've developed a bit of rapport “Hey Emily.” He’s not stopping to chat and notices her look between he and Annette with a little smile. As they get to Ira’s door he sighs “She totally thinks we’re hooking up.” He chuckles and swipes the key card to let them in. He contemplates where to suggest they sit since he doesn’t want Annette to think he’s in any way looking for a hook up, especially after what she asked of him. “How about over here?” He gestures to the two comfortable chairs by the window. “Because I do want to talk about this. I’ve been holding a lot back, afraid to fuck it all up.”

Annette laughs light heartedly as they walk.  She also notices the desk clerks look and inwardly sighs.  It’s unavoidable.  “Well, that’s her problem.  I mean, you are, but not like that .. hooking up …”  she heads up the stairs with him.  “I should be happy she thinks you're hooking up with me and not having me balance your books the way I am dressed.”  she giggles.  She nods and sits on one of the chairs, looking out of the window.  Then he speaks again and sle looks athim.  “A lot .. like …  what?”  part f her is terrified and another part curious.  “Has it been a long time … like .. with me?  Ira, I’ve been in love with you … maybe a year now?  More, I think.”

Ira watches Annette as she talks, sort of drinking her in without fear of her seeing him looking at her like that finally. “I love the way you dress….this way…” He gestures to her blouse and skirt “Does it for me like you wouldn’t believe. I mean I’ve seen you in a short skirt, a tight top….I know within reason what’s there. But just the flow of your skirt around your hips….the way your top hints at…” He realizes he’s looking at her chest and looks away “Sorry...I have a big imagination. You’re beautiful in anything and you can balance my books anytime.” He ends on a  joke to detract from how much he’s gone on about his enjoyment of her body and thinking about it. Then he just sighs at her when she admits she’s been in love with him for a year “About the same. A year. Fuck why did we torture ourselves and move in together?” He laughs and then looks serious “But I knew you had stuff to work through too.”

Annette is amused at his imagination and not offended.  She’s actually fascinated.  “Beautiful?  Dressed like a sleazy corner whore … or high class call girl?”  part of her is stuck on her mother's thoughts if she had ever seen Annette dressed as she used to dress.  Ira moves on to wondering why they tortured each other.  “I don’t know.  I told you my problems ..an you were a wonderful friend but ….”  she takes his hand.  “I thought … you’ve seen other men touching me and going into the VIP room with me, or taking me out back…”  she blinks, seeing it all from another angle now.  “God …  I always just knew you wouldn't want a slut like me …  yes I had my reasons but …  “  she covers her own mouth in horror of this new perspective that has opened up.

Ira holds her hand tightly “You’re no whore. Clothes don’t define that Annette. And for the record you could walk in that door dressed in a burlap sack and I’d still think you were the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. I don’t care how many people you’ve been with or how or why….I’ve had meaningless sex with people. Does that make me a slut? Because it’s just the world right? And yeah it’s more so where we spent time….at the Velvet. But I always hoped that meant we were participating in a more open view of it all. From everything you told me about your life growing up, maybe you needed to go right to the flipside of all that repression. I don’t know if that makes sense? But just know I’m not judging you and I never will.”

Annette looks at their clasped hands and nods as he compares their lives.  He wasn’t a slut and neither was she … now that her mind felt free to consider it.  “Maybe I did need that … Or maybe seeing my father … messed me p more than I thought.  Or my mother.  Or the Church.”  she rolls her eyes.  “But Ira …”  she bites her lip.  “If we went to the Velvet right now and a woman came up to you …”  she looks mildly confused.  “I think I’d rip a bitches hair out …”she admits.  It feels hypocritical, but its how she feels.

Ira can’t help but laugh at her proclamation of what she’d do to a  woman coming up to him now “Wow….and I’m the bouncer.” It’s a bit of a tease but he’s oddly flattered. He brings her hand up to his face and kisses it “We’ve changed it….it’s ok. I don’t want anyone but you. And if we do go back to the Velvet….well we’d go as a couple….not to assume….but I really want that. More than I want to go back to the Velvet honestly. Been thinking about what else I could do to be honest, since we’ve been off. I know you have your work for the church. I feel like I need to do something…..something with more substance myself.”

Annette laughs at the bouncer comment.  “As long as you don’t throw me out, you can restrain me .. a little … if you wanted.” she had a small kinky side .. or she thought it was kinky .. to belong to one man and one man only.  She stands from her chair as he is still speaking and boldly sits in his lap, putting both of his arms around her securely.  She listens to the rest.  “Well, my work with the Church is more to satisfy Maman.”  she admits.  “Maybe when we get home …”  and it's really feeling like home … as long as she is with Ira.  “You can consider it.  Doing what?  I love my computer work the most … and I can do it from home … or the park .. or anyplace, really.  That isn’t why I got into security work, but … now it’s come in handy.” she leans into him and rests her head on his broad shoulder.  “Anything you want to do … but I would love to know what?  And why you decided to be a bouncer, because you went to a pretty prestigious school so …  I’ve wondered a lot.”

Ira raised a brow and smirked at the restrain me comment and then Annette is in his lap and pulling his arms around her. He didn’t object at all and held her tightly. It felt amazing and also strangely like they’d done this a million times. He kisses the top of her head “So we both need a change of work. I don’t know what I want to do to be honest. I get working for the church to appease your mom. I almost became a Rabbi to somehow honour my father after he died. I felt like it would have made him happy. It might have even made me happy…..but I didn’t get to it. And it’s part of why I ended up a bouncer.” He gives her an extra little hug before he tells the story. “Things were really shitty after my Dad died, for all of us. It was a car accident and he was just suddenly gone. My Mom…..she had a really hard time...and my sister. You probably didn’t know I had a sister?” He chuckles sardonically “We’ve drifted so it’s not like we call or have dinner. Naomi. She’s two years younger than I am. Anyhow she ended up in trouble….with partying and a boy…..well correction a fucking asshole. She got pregnant and when she went to tell the guy he beat her up. Like real bad. She lost the baby and ended up in the hospital. I lost it on him and….well...I beat the hell out of him. His parents were both lawyers and of course they pressed charges against me. Naomi didn’t want to go to the police over him. His name’s Issac. Anyhow…..and here’s the part where you can run now if you want to. I got convicted. Community service but I still have a record. It changed my plans of studying to be a Rabbi because I missed my exams….I didn’t finish school on time. Eventually I got a GED. But I don’t have a fancy diploma from Sliverstein like Levi got. So I just became a blue collar worker,,,,construction, shipping and then I fell into the bouncer gig. Not every place will hire someone with a record, even a small one.” He looks down at her, worried she’ll call it quits before they really begin.

Annette listens to him and when he gets to his conviction, she snuggles in closer to him.  “I was wondering what happened.  It’s sad, what happened to your sister.  And it makes sense that you wound up being a bouncer … very … ironic, in a way, since that’s how we met.”  she lifts her head.  “You think I’m going to run because you have a criminal record?”  she readjusts herself so that she is straddling his lap, fanning her long skirt ofer the arms of the chair and behind.  It nearly reaches his ankles.  She moves his arms around him again.  “I’ve met far worse men than you, Ira Rothenberg.”  she sits up and looks down at him, then kisses him.  “I think you should have gotten a medal, but that’s me.”

Ira hugs her again as she seems to be taking it better than he thought and then he looks her in the eyes as she straddles him and he can’t help but give a little involuntary grunt. His hands slide from her back to her hips as he caresses her through the fabric of the skirt and all it’s drapings. He grins when she says she’s met worse men and then returns her kiss eagerly and sighs into the side of her face after “I love you. So much Annette. I know the moral part of it….it’s just with me for life….that choice. I don’t regret it though.” He tilts his head and kisses her again deeply as his arms go back around her very tightly.

Annette kisses him between sentences.  “The law is the law.”  she hears the grunt and takes his face in both of her hands.  “Tell me if I am being too …  I don’t know.  I’ve never done this .. like this.”  she kisses him again, grinding a bit under the draping of her skirt.  “Making moves on a man because I want him.”  she bites her lip.  “Is this what wanting a man feels like?  It’s so different …”

*****WARNING*****Graphic sexual content below. Reader discretion is advised.

Ira smiles at her as they talk between kisses and keeps kissing her back enthusiastically but tenderly. When she grinds on hip he holds onto her hips and grunts again “I want you too….different is good I hope.” He runs his hand all around her hips through the fabric of the skirt and then up her waist to the sides of her body, just grazing the sides of her breasts before his hands move to her back again, pulling her down to him for another kiss as he presses his lower body up against hers. His hands slide back around from her back to her front just lightly but now fully caressing her breasts as he works his way up to his fingers slowly unbuttoning her blouse.

Annette grins at his next grunt.  “This kind of different is beautiful.”  she tells him and kisses him yet again. He begins to caress her breasts and she smiles at him, pulling her shoulders back and presenting her chest as he begins to unbutton her blouse from the neck.  She leans back, sliding her hands over his knees and down his legs, aying back in her kneeling position so he can have freer access to her chest.  Despite the size of her chest, she had an underwire front closure bra on .. utilitarian white silk.

Ira watches her lean back and feels her hands on him. “Holy shit you’re flexible…..oh god…” He pressed up at her again right from his groin and got her shirt all the way unbuttoned but didn’t remove it. Instead he leaned forward and kissed all around the top of her chest and edges of her bra. His breath came faster and he slid one hand to the front closure of the bra and fiddled with it until it popped open. Then he smiled down at Annette “Come back up here a bit…” He tugged her to a more upright position again if he could “You’re beautiful Annette...so beautiful.” If he can get her to move back up he’ll kiss her mouth again and then lift her up a bit and keep one hand around her back so she’s balanced and then with the other hand peel the bra off both breasts and start kissing and caressing them lovingly for a long time until he unexpectedly presses her breasts together and takes both of her nipples into his mouth and then opens his mouth, flicking them with his tongue.

Annette grins at the ceiling when he comments on her flexibility and shuddered when she felt his lips on his chest.  She comes up gracefully when he asks and kisses him as he removes her bra and starts playing with her nipples.  Putting them both in his mouth to play makes her gasp.  “Oh Ira…  I didn’t …”  she giggles a little as her nipples harden.  “I didnt know this could feel good.” she caresses his head, looking at him and grinds lightly on him a bit.

Ira moans into her as her body reacts to him and her nipples harden. He plays a bit longer and then kisses back up to her neck “I want to find all the things that feel good…..and do them all….” He grips her hips more securely and stands up with her if she'll let him, carrying her with her legs around his hips towards the bed. He’ll lay her down gently on her back and then carefully hover over her, lying on her without putting his full bodyweight on her as he uses his elbows ana  knee to prop himself a bit. He knows he’s a big man and doesn’t want to crush Annette. But then he’ll start kissing her again, more of him pressed into her than before in the chair and one hand slowly tugging up her skirt and going under, just caressing her knee and thigh at first.

Annette smiles at his words and when he stands, she wraps her legs around him happily.  “I want that, too.  So much, Ira.”  she breathes.  She lifts her knees when he lays her on the bed and he lays between them, not smothering her with his weight.  Under her shirt are stockings.  Not with garters, but more modern elastic bands. She feels his hands on her knee and thigh and blows out a shuddering breath.  “Its electric.  Your touch.”  she is panting slightly just anticipating his touch and knows she is already sopping wet.  “Just … love me, Ira.  Please.”

Ira feels the stockings and goes up on his knees a bit to start slowly taking them off. As he does each one he kisses down the leg where he’s peeled it away from “I feel the electricity from you too….I’ve never had that.” He looks down at her as he runs both hands over her thighs now, the other thighs “I do love you….and i will.” He slides a hand between her legs and gently starts to feel her through her panties and discovers there’s already wetness happening and bites his lip “Mmmmm….” Unabashedly he bends down and pulls her skirt over top of him as he start kissing up her legs to her center and then just breathes her in before he can’t hold back and he simply moves the fabric to one side and lightly begins to lick her, savouring the taste.

Annette shudders as he peels away her stockings and moans in bliss as he touches her outside of her panties.  He vanished under her skirt and she feels him move the panties and lick her.  She used to trim neatly, but with Covid and her therapy she’s not so she is quite natural now.  She arches to meet him and he can likely feel her clit pulse.  Her orgasm isn’t overpowering but it feels incredible.  “Oh God …  Ira yes.  Again … make me cum again … please…”  she’s been wet since their talk ended and play began and the orgasm feels almost like a blessing.  She’s never been this ready and she wants him to make her cum again, even as she comes down from the first sudden one.

Ira can’t believe it when Annette cums so easily. And here he was worried he was a little out of practice lately. He sucks on the pulsing clit and then when she asks for more he’s happy to give her more. How many orgasms could he give her? He felt himself get hard at the very idea and then began licking her more intently, circling her clit, letting his hands caress her all over her thighs until he began to explore her with his finger inside, ready to take it away if she really liked things more on the outside. He settled into a bit of a rhythm and grunted into her as his head moved under her skirt.

Annette moans audibly as he sucks and lifts them and spreads her knees wide for him.  She moves her hips as he circles her clit, but they go still when he puts his finger inside of her.  It doesn’t hurt, it's just not preferred for her.  Sitting up a bit, she pulls off her shirt and bra.  “Naked …  ira .. I want to be naked for you…”  she realizes her words seem like a plea .. and she’s never begged for a man's touch.  Ever.  “I want to see you eating me.”

Ira doesn't notice a big reaction to his fingering so he takes that out of the mix. She’s happy with what he began with. But now she’s asking if they can get naked and he pulls away briefly to help with that. He’s a little self conscious about his body and he focuses on taking off her skirt and panties first before he looks a little shy as he takes off his shirt. He’s fit now and a big guy but he’s had a battle with weight his whole life too. “I haven’t been to the gym in a while…” He tries to explain. He’s got a bit of a tummy but his chest is pretty firm. “Did I mishear you? Cause we can work with just you naked..” He chuckles, leaving his pants on for now but starting back to his prior position and activities.

Annette watches as Ira begins to undress.  She realizes that she has never really seen him in any state of undress, even after she moved in.  Now that she is naked, she looks at him.  He has a tummy but he can, as he’s heard some men phrase it ‘see his own junk’.  He tries to suggest that they can work with just her naked and she sits up, using the waistband of his pants to help her and looks up his body at him, smiling.  “Oh no you don’t, you beautiful, beautiful man.”  she kisses his belly and undoes his belt and pants.  “I love you.”  she reminds him.  “If you want to go to the gym and workout that’s fine by me.”  she works the pants off of his hips, hooking his underwear with them.  She looks at his cock and smirks.  “Just ….”  she kisses the tip of it.  “Not right now, please.” and she takes him in hand and begins to lick him up and around his cock.

Ira looks a little overwhelmed by Annette at first as she undresses him but her words go right to his heart and her hands undoing his pants go right to his cock. “I love you…..I’ve got some stuff…..I mean we’re all working through….” He moves so she can take off his pants and underwear  and shudders at her kissing the tip of him. Ira was a big guy in every way. Her hand and licking make him harden to his full size though and he runs his fingers through her hair “Oh god Annette…”

Annette licks his cock, kisses it and rubs her cheek against it.  “We’ll work through it all.  Bt by bit.”  and she believes that.  She isn’t cured and isn’t even sure if she’s doing this ‘normal relationship’ right or not.  Of course her mother would want her to marry before sex and a Catholic man as well but … she shoves her mother out of her head and gives her attention back to Ira.  She feels his fingers in her hair and doesn't worry about it unless he grabs and tries to take control of it.  She knows how to give a blow job. He’s got a large cock, she notes.  She’s taken them before and doesn’t have a problem with them, as long as the man takes his time.  Running her tongue around again, she finally grips him at the base and takes him into her mouth, sucking him softly, not even trying to make him cum.  She wants to taste him, listen to him and feel his excitement .. which is already new for her.  Usually she wanted a guy to cum as quickly as humanly possible.  Not Ira.

Ira’s fingers in her hair are gentle and loving. He looks down at her smiling and grunts again at her as she begins to suck “Oh god...I feel like I took your turn..” He laughs a bit but is clearly enjoying everything she’s doing to him “I promise to more than make it up to you…” He squirms a bit and lets himself lie right back “That feels really good….mmmm…”

Annette looks up at him, her mouth full of him and her cheeks puffed a bit.  She doesn’t answer, she just switches her position as he lays down, making herself comfortable as she continues.  She is drooling for him a bit, which wets him.  Her hand on his shaft moves up and down with the occasional twist.  Her other hand moves to his balls, taking them and caressing them between her fingers.

Ira’s breath comes a bit faster yet and he grunted a few more times as she starts to move up and down. The twists make him jolts a bit but happily. As she moves a hand down to his balls he gently redirects it back up. It wasn’t a thing for him but everything else she was doing really really was. His hips begin to move up and down a bit and he moans “Oh god Annette…..”

Annette moves her hand when its guided away from his balls.  She lifts her head and looks at him.  “I love you, Ira.”  and she lowers her mouth back on him, this time using both hands, one above the other and still giving her mouth plenty to suck on.  As she sucks at him, she rotates one hand left and the other right, even as they both move upland down.  The benefits of a large cock.

Ira lifts his head again and looks at her after she tells him she loves him and replies “I love you too….” And then as she uses both hands on him and twists a bit as she goes up and down and sucks he looks like he’s losing his mind “Holy fuck…” He watches her and leans back on his elbows and then his face begins to contort “Oh…….oh oh oh…….oh god…….oh…” And his hips are lifting in time with his moans until he holds in a shuddering thrust and his cock pulses as he cums hard “Oh!!!!! Ahh…………….oh god…” He falls back and collapses. It’s the most intense orgasm he’s had in his life.

Annette had not been able to resist pleasing him to the best of her ability and when he came she began to swallow, getting most of it.  She looks up at him and daintily wipes at her lips, getting a bit more into her mouth.  She lays beside him and snuggles into him with a slight ‘cat that swallowed the canary’ grin on her face, obviously pleased with herself.  

Ira takes awhile to catch his breath but then rolls to Annette and wraps his arms around her “I don’t even have words for that. Other than I fuckin love you….to the ends of the earth Annette…” He laughs a bit and takes in the look on her face and laughs some more before kissing her. Then he gently rolls on top of her but carefully propped up again like he did before and keeps kissing her before briefly breaking the kiss and murmuring “But I did steal your turn…” He begins to trail kisses down her neck and to her breasts and then goes between them and caresses and kisses and flicks with his tongue as one of his hands moves between her legs and begins to gently make very light circles around her clit. He wants to finish what he started for her.

Annette keeps grinning at him.  “Those words will never get old for me, Ira.”  she caresses his face and grins when he rolls on top of her.  “Yo did, but you were trying to hide your beautiful body and beautiful cock from me.  I had to see it … and then taste it and …” she sighs when he kisses her breasts and moans slightly, spreading her legs when he moves his hand between them.  She looks into his eyes.  “You make me feel incredible.”  she tells him, gasping at the light circles.  “Is it because we love each other?”  she asks, searching his face, her breath deepening, but not quickening.

Ira looks up at her as he kisses lower and caresses his face into her stomach “I love everything you just did to me….it’s never felt that good.” He keeps circling, adding just a tiny bit more pressure between his fingers and her clit as he smiles “I think love is a factor…” Then he backs up and goes up a bit on his knees, lowering his head and replacing what his fingers are doing with his tongue in their place and pressing even just a bit harder but not too hard. The tempo is still very slow and gentle.

Annette smiles, watching him.  “Ditto ..”  she nods her agreement that love is a factor and spreads her legs wide for him.  “Oh, Ira …”  she breathes, reaching down to caress his hair.  “You make me feel so good.”  she moans and lowers her knees to the mattress.  She is very limber, but almost no one knows.  And no one expects it from a woman who dresses like she does in everyday life.

Ira feels her legs widen and her hand in his hair as she speaks to him. Then he happens to look sideways and sees where he knee ended up and moans into her clit in his next circle. He speeds up a little and increases the pressure and also grabs one of her legs and pulls her foot up on his shoulder, wanting as much access to her as he can get. His hand moves to his mouth but remembering how she reacted before he doesn’t try to finger her but just lightly strokes at her labia as he keeps at her with his tongue.

Annette moans as Ira puts her foot on her shoulder.  Then he begins stroking her labia and she moans a bit louder.  “I haven’t … “  she is breathing harder now.  “Trimmed ….”  although there is nothing that would make her get up right then and correct that.  “Oh, god Ira .. yes …”

Ira can hear her reacting and he also hears her talk about trimming. He'll address that later. He could care less about grooming and she was so perfect to him right now he couldn’t imagine any part of her being any less than it was at this moment. He kept going, just a little harder and faster with his tongue circles, pushing his face into her a bit as he did, still striking her with his hand and enjoying the feel of her hairs, the scent of her, how much of her was dripping all over his face now. He moaned into her again, encouraging her.

Annette moans with each pass of his tongue over and into her clit.  She can’t remember ever being this wet, and she feels herself on that beautiful edge.  “Ira ….” She is panting now.  “Ira .. please .. please ..make me cum … make me cum … please.”   the build up is intense .. like nothing shes ever felt before.

Ira is assuming she means by doing what he’s been doing so he keeps going, steady in his task but also just a tiny bit harder and faster. He’s still stroking. He loves every minute of it and it shows as he presses into his movements and grunts and moans.

Annette can feel the buildup end and she veins to crash into orgasm.  She watches up into his mouth, crying out in pleasure, but also feels a wetness … a squirting orgasm.  Her body is nearly convulsing for a moment and after awhile she collapses, her hips still writhing.  “Ira …  Ira …  Ira…”  she pants, his name a whimper of pleasure on her lips.  Before her eyes are stars and she feels deliciously light headed.

Ira’s upper body goes along on Annette’s ride as her organsm crashes on him, soaking him completely as she squirts. He moves his mouth over it, drinking some in after the initial rush catches him off guard. His face and neck are wet from her now and he kisses back up her body as she pants his name until she’s in his arms and he’s kissing her mouth lightly and snuggling into her “Holy shit. You’re incredible…” He murmurs into her neck. 

Annette attempts to recover as he takes her in his arms.  She kisses him back, still trembling and panting.  “Never … came … like …  that …  Jesus …  Ira … God…”  she turns and looks at him, running a shaking hand down his chest between kisses and words.  She take hold of his cock .. wanting it .. wanting him.  “Please … Ira …. Make love … to me … please …”

Ira grins at her and nods “That was beautiful and intense.” Then her hand moves to his cock and she’s asking to make love. He gasps a little “Annette…..oh god.” He’s semi hard but not all the way yet. But he was a moment ago and it won’t take much. Ira kisses her and then looks like he’s trying to focus and think something through with some difficulty. “Just a second…” He kisses her again and then looks around muttering “Condoms…..in my wallet...in my jeans…” He swipes his arm around on the bed and feels denim finally and yanks the jeans to him and fishes out the wallet...all the while kissing her over and over and encouraging her hand around his cock “Keep doing that..” He slides a hand over hers and moves hers up and down “Please….I want you…” With his other hand he’s trying to fish out a condom.

Annette grins a bit.She can barely speak and he is fumbling and it is the sexiest thing she’s ever experienced.  He has his wallet and is trying to get out a condom while she strokes him.  “Let me help…”  she murmurs and plucks the condom from his fingers.  Still stroking, the rips the package open with her teeth and then lets his cock go.  Placing it, she puts it on mostly using her mouth, but finally her mouth and hands.  Careful of her teeth, she sucks him a bit as she makes sure the fit is right.

Ira lets her take the condom and wiggles his eyebrows at her “Mmm ok….thank you…” And then when she does it using her mouth he just stares down at her like he’s won the lottery, open mouthed and panting and within seconds as hard as he can get. Shuddering, he breathes out “Annette……” He has to collect himself a bit as he moves back on top of her “That is the fuckin hottest thing I’ve ever seen...and felt….oh my god.” He positions himself so he can enter her but hesitates “Yes?” He bites his lip looking at her. For some reason despite all they’ve shared this seems like a threshold they’re crossing, both physical and emotional.

Annette listens to his shuddering breath and feels him grow fully hard in her mouth. She repositions herself a little higher on the bed and spreads her legs for him.  Ira positions himself and then … asks permission?  She smiles and feels tears in her eyes for this man .. “No one's even asked before…” she swallows and caresses his face.  “Yea … Ira … take your woman.”  she tells him.  There’s no one in the room with them and in a sudden jolt of insecure fear wonders if he’ll get up and go find her …

Ira looks down at her with love “I just wanted to know you were ready. I love you Annette….” When she says take your woman he kisses her and then slowly and gently begins easing into her just moving a bit further each time until he’s all the way in unless she stops him. He knows his body. He wants it to feel good for her. He keeps kissing her and moving gently with slow deep thrusts, truly making love.

Annette nods, a tear falling.  “I love you …”  and then he begins easing into her.  She moans deeply at first, as he eases in.  By the third thrust she is lifting her hips to meet his thrusts until he is all the way in.  She moans into his kisses each time he thrusts into her .. each time she meets that thrust.  “Oh, Ira …  god yes …”  she lets him enjoy, because she is enjoying him.  More than once, she would tighten her kegel muscles to encourage a man to cum as quickly as possible.  Not now.  Now she wraps her legs around him and moans louder with more feeling.  “My Ira…”  she can feel another orgasm building … another rarity.

Ira begins to moan with Annette and enjoys every bit of this. He can feel an energy between them, like tht lightning feeling he had when they first kissed but more grounded, in a way more real. It heightens his pleasure but doesn’t push him over the edge too quickly. But as her legs go around him he feels himself ramp up and speeds up a bit “Oh god…..Annette…...my Annette….oh” He goes faster and deeper and moves slightly to an angle where he’s bumping her clit as he enters her. He feels like she’s building too but waits for more feedback.

Annette has lost all sense of time.  They had been making love for minutes or maybe hours.  She doesnt know and really doesn’t care.  Using her legs she pulls herself up into his thrusts and he moves faster and hits her clit perfectly.  “Ira …  oh …  Ira ….  I ….”  The last of it is a loud cry as she begins to cum again, bucking under him, holding onto him with her legs for dear life.  He feels so good .. fills her up more completely than anyone ever.  She gives herself to him .. every bit.  Mind, body and soul.

Now Ira can feel Annette begin to cum as she cries out and bucks under him and it pushes him right to the edge and over it. He thrusts hard and deep as he cries out too and then just moans and shudders as he ebbs, still riding the wave with her. He forgets in the moment where his body ends and hers begins. He’s never felt so connected to another human being. Eventually they both slow and he rolls them to their sides a bit so he can collapse and release his body without worrying he’s going to be too much for her by collapsing onto her “I love you.” He murmurs into a kiss and then breaks it and just holds her “I love you I love you I love you…” He laughs breathily into her hair “In case you didn't catch it the first time.”

Annette rides with him and as it ebbs loosens her grip with her legs.  Ira rolls them onto thor sides and she lays kissing him and listening to his i love yous.  She laughs.  “I love you, too ira.”  she reaches and backs off a bit so she can take the condom off.  “That IS what you were saying, right?”  she teases looking around and racing for tissues then tossing the condom without leaving his embrace much.  “You know … I almost forgot the condom?  Me?  I use them religiously … pun absolutely intended .. but with you … I just wanted you.”  she bites her lip.  “So … this is what Sasha and Levi and Jasper were talking about…”  she shakes her head. 

Ira backs up as well and looks both grateful and impressed she’s dealing with the condom again “Yes that’s what I was saying…...my god you spoil me Annette.” He teases “I’ll get out of practice.” He has to laugh about her religious pun about condoms but then caresses her hair and her back “I know. I almost wanted to skip it too. I wanted nothing between us. But I also don’t want to push us into anything we’re not ready to take on yet.” He exhales “Yeah this sounds like what they were saying...except that we were already in love.” He smiles “Maybe this just made us get off our asses and admit it?”

Annette smiles softly.  “I don’t mind spoiling you.”  she tells him.  “Let's try and keep our heads so neither of us gets out of practice.” she nods about the reasons they use condoms.  “There are...safer times.  Like a day or so after my period ends …  or … there’s the pill …”  she suggests.  “Or even an IUD … plenty of methods of birth control.”  she pauses.  “Unless it’s disease you’re worried about.”  she glances down.  She’d absolutely understand his fear of disease with her … past.  Then she considers and rests her head on his chest a moment.  “Could be … I knew I was in love with you.  It was no stunning revelation ...but I thought you … wouldn’t want me. Knowing … so much about me.”

Ira looks at Annette sweetly “Considering how adept you are at putting on a condom and the fact that I know you use them I was more concerned about pregnancy. But we’ve both had other partners...not just you so I wouldn’t want to risk you either. I’ve always been safe. But I suppose I could go get tested for stuff just to be extra sure.” He kisses the side of her face “Up to you about the other methods. I mean they would affect you more than me so I’m not going to tell you what to do with your body Annette. In some ways….actually in all ways...you opening up to me about who you are and your honesty made me and makes me love you and want you more.”

Annette smiles at his concern.  “Maybe someday …”  she’d never really considered kids for herself before.  It’s his concern for her safety that gets her in the heart.  “Well, I can go see a doctor when we get home. And as for disease, I mean we could see a doctor about that, too.”  she grins at him.  “You’re the one with all the connections.”  she places her hand on her chest.  “I’m your girl if you’re worried about cavities or halitosis.  I coil dhave Felix hook you right up.”  she grins.  Then he mentions her opening up.  “See … that’s one thing I don’t get … this island bringing people together, but I told you I had issues with my parents .. that I was hypersexual … long before we came here.  I never heard of this place before Amelie moved here.  And that’s just not something I just .. share …”  she continues the snuggle.

Ira looks at her curiously when she says maybe someday “Maybe someday about birth control?” He’s a little confused and then looks thoughtful “I don’t want you to think my getting into this now means I don’t want kids. Guess that’s my maybe someday. I do.” He says matter of factly. He snorts “Well the only doc I really know right now is Jasper.” He starts laughing and ponders how that might go “Hey Levi….I need your loverboy to inspect my goods….don’t worry he’s all yours Tiger.” Then she mentions halitosis and he cups his hand over his mouth and checks his breath “I never should have had that corned beef before taking you to bed.” He jokes. But then he gets serious as she does and listens as he runs his fingers up and down her arm “I’m really happy you told me all of it...and that you got some help too.” He inhales and looks thoughtful “I had heard of Alexandra but this is strangely my first visit. I grew up in Cedar Point which used to be this island's sister town. They’re both a little strange. I mean I told you my mom died in an earthquake…..an earthquake that destroyed Cedar Point but the surrounding areas….were fine. Lots of those people moved here. I’ve actually seen a few familiar faces since I’ve been walking to and from your aunt’s house in the last little while. I don’t think they recognize me…..I was the fat kid in school and then in grade 7 I went to Silverstein. See you’re just getting all my issues thrown at you today...sorry.” He looks sheepish about it but it was stuff he hadn’t really talked about before.

Annette buries her head in Ira’s chest and nods.  “Yea …  babies … maybe … if it keeps being this incredible …”  she tells his pec.  Then she’s laughing.  “Now you have to go see Jasper. And say exactly that .. and record it if you can.”  she teases. “And in fairness, I don’t think either of us was thinking we’d wind up here when we woke up this morning.” she listens.  “So … were you born there?  Cedar Point?  Well, it’s nice to know some people here besides Levi, even if they don’t know they knew you.  In my school I was the prissy stuck up religious girl.  Who would be a virgin until I found a man who could compare to Jesus.”  she laughs a little.  “I don’t mind hearing about your issues.  Mine are all messed up, so I can’t complain.  My parents know next to nothing about hygiene … my father … I don’t know why he married my mother, but he isn’t faithful.”  she bites her lip.  “I told you that my hypersexuality really started when I saw him with another woman … didn’t I?”

Ira hugs her a bit and laughs “I’ll take you with me. I don’t know if I want a recording of that appointment.” He shudders a bit and then nods “Yeah I definitely didn’t expect we’d be doing this. But I’m the happiest man alive right now about it. I love you Annette. I can’t stop saying it now that it’s out.” He squeezes her again a little “Yeah I was born in Cedar Point. My parents fell in love with the place on vacation before they had kids. My father was a Rabbi...hence my wanting to be one so his work wasn’t there in town. My mom was a mortgage broker for the Credit Union. Hell I think we were the only Jewish people living there as far as I know.” Now Ira listens to her and nods “It sucks to have to cater to who other people think you are.” He thinks about the last part “I’m not sure you did tell me that detail but it makes sense. So small town and he just like chanced it with a neighbour thinking he wouldn’t get busted? Because I grew up in a small town too….everybody knew each other's business….good and bad.”

Annette presses herself against Ira as he speaks of being the happiest man alive.  “Ah to be the only Catholic in any town…”  she quips and then sighs.  “No … you’d think that the whole town would be up in arms, but I don’t think anyone ever found out.”  she pauses.  “He forgot something when I was like … 11 … my family ran a store .. runs a store I guess.  My mother told me to run it out to Madamoiselle Dubois and no one answered when I knocked, so I checked the back and found them in the shed.”  she sighs.  “I was fascinated.  He showed way more affection to her than he ever did to my mom and … I saw them having sex.  Maybe I should have been disgusted since he was my father .. or indignant because he was committing adultery.  But I just … thought he was a hypocrite.  But he was always happier after he’d been with her and I wanted to be happy too so …  masturbation, then men but .. I never enjoyed any part of sex until today.”  she looks into his face.  “You made me cum so hard I squirted, Ira.  I didn’t even know I could do that.  And I had spots in front of my eyes.” she shudders in bliss at the memory and presses a little more against him.”

Ira nuzzles his nose into Annette’s hair when she presses against him. She felt so good. Then he reacts at various times to the story “Shit…..” He mutters at her finding her father in a shed with another woman. He nods about Annette’s own choices, masturbation and then men. “Do you think your father...and I’m not excusing the on the side approach...but do you think he fell in love with this woman?” He’s trying to wrap his head around it and then he beams at her “I’ve never made anyone do that before and it was fucking amazing. Spots? Wow…” As she presses against him more he presses back “Mmmm….” He kisses her gently “I want you to enjoy it, every time…” He kisses her again.

Annette enjoys the warmth of Ira’s body.  She is thin and always cold.  “Maybe … she was very young.  I’d say around 20 someplace.  Her parents worked around town.  They were poor and black … not that that has anything to do with anything, but …”  she considers it.  “Anything is possible.  My mother is a devout Catholic.  You’ve heard of Irish twins?  I’m an Irish quintuplet.  There’s no more than 11 months between me and any of my siblings.  And knowing my mother, I can totally see her being like ‘I’ve given you five children, so there is no reason for sex.’ with my father.  Loving couples who can have sex do have sex … right?”  she’s read it is so.

Ira looks thoughtful about the young woman Annette’s father had an affair with. “Hard to say. Unless your dad chose her for it for some nefarious or conscious or unconscious racist reason. I’m not assuming but….anyhow…”Ira’s eyebrows then go up at the 5 kids all in a row. “That has to be hard on the body. Isn’t that why people space their children a bit….to allow things to recover and heal? Shit no wonder she’s an unhappy woman. I mean I might be betraying my lack of knowledge about the female reproductive system but I feel like that’s a strain. My sister is two years younger. My parents told us they planned it that way. I dunno…” He smiles at her and tries to reassure her “Loving couples do have sex. It sounds like your parents might have more issues in their marriage than just sex.”

Annette looks thoughtful.  “I don’t think he is a racist.  He’s just a man.”  she shrugs, as her opinion of the vast majority of men isn’t terribly high.  She knows wonderful men, like Felix and Sasha and even now Jasper and Levi.  But overall, the believes men want and even need sex.  “She was expected to have plenty of kids and she did … and … “  she hears the speculation that her parents had more problems than just sex and she scoffs.  “Yea .. they are Catholic.”  she sighs.  “So no birth control, plenty of children, and damn near everything is a sin.  I mean … my mother was scary sometimes … especially abut how we girls were supposed to dress.  I still dress modestly.  I mean now it’s because I like my long warm skirts and long sleeved warm blouses.”  she chuckles.  “I take after my father … Jack Sprat could eat no fat.”  she rolls her eyes.  “Anyway my sisters rebelled more.  I was too scared … I got roped into a threesome with this guy one summer … me and a tourist girl.  She was a cutter and she was the one to tell me that orgasm for me was like cutting for her.   Self-harm.  I hid it from my family, learned to cum fast … no joy in it for me.”  she sighs.  “Yea … Mary and I are starting in on my issues with them.”  she kisses him softly.  “But I know I am getting better because I don’t want to get off because my mother is a bit of a bitch.”

Ira shrugs at her assessment of her father. Neither of Annette’s parents sounded like anyone he wanted to meet now, especially with all the harm they’d caused her so deeply. He listens compassionately “I love how you dress but I’d love you in any clothes...I’ve seen you both modest and less and you’re just beautiful. Like I say it’s an imagination thing….and honestly I kinda get off on how your skirt feels…” He gives her a little grin and then takes note of the warm blouses “Are you cold now?” He will roll a bit to one side and try to gently lift her as he frees the covers under her and then under him so he can pull them over the two of them “I’m always warm. Feel free to leech my heat.” He looks sad about the self harm side of it but not judgemental about the threesome. “No joy…” He swallows looking at her “I’m sorry. You haven’t wanted to….hurt yourself in any other way have you?” Ira looks truly concerned. He returns her kiss “Thank god for Mary. I’m serious Annette.”

Annette grins.  “Thank you for saying that.  I do like my modest clothing.” she nods a very little in answer to being cold and shimmies under the blanket.  She moves and lays on top of him.  “I’m not too heavy, am I?”  she asks him, half seriously.  Then she shakes her head.  “No … I’m not suicidal.  Mary IS fantastic.  I may be a bit of a masochist, but then again, you are the one who suggested I move in after your roommate went to quarantine without you.”  she teases.  “So we could torture ourselves for .. what now?  Half a year?”

Ira cracks up laughing when Annette asks if she’s too heavy “You are not too heavy at all my love.” He moves a strand of her hair out his path to kiss her and kisses her gently. “I’m glad you’re not that.” By which he meant suicidal. And then he smiles “Then we’re both masochists. I already knew I was a bit of one….I mean I’m a boxer. Hey man let’s hop around a ring and try and punch each other out…...what else can we call that honestly. But quaratining with you was a beautiful torture. And it got us here.” He looks at her with wonder “I like here….I love it and you.” He looks a bit emotional almost and then smiles “So we’re still on daytime here Annette. Are the uh...Beaulieu’s expecting you...or us for dinner? We didn’t really talk about a plan after the whole lunch thing. I have an errand I want to run before the shops close for the day.” He head juts at his wallet “I only have one condom left and we might wish for more later. I’d love it if you stayed here with me tonight. If you want that. I understand if you want time with your family too and I won’t get in the way of that.”

Annette giggles as he confirms she isn’t too heavy for him.  “I’m glad we got here without anyone but us having to beat anyone up.”  she caresses his face.  “I love you … and … I can’t say it enough.”  she glances out of the window.  “Well, I can tell Amelie to set a place for one more…”  she tells him.  “If we aren’t hiding all of this..”  she caresses his sides.  “I think Amelie and Sasha might be glad to know … you know…”  she smiles shyly.  “How you rescued me from being run over by a bicycle.”  he mentions his errand and she grins.  “Mint and coffee.”  she tells him.  “My favorite flavors …”  she winks at him.  She kisses him quickly.  “Will the rates change if I … stay the night?  I do want to spend time with my family but … you are also part of my family … does that make sense?”

Ira smiles and closes his eyes, leaning his face into her caressing hand and kissing it. “I’m good with hearing it over and over….like a dream come true. Oh and by the way I love you.” He chuckles “And I don’t think I can hide it anymore if my life depended on it. So tell them...I mean maybe not details about anything but the rescue.” He blushes a little which is very rare for Ira. “They’re charging me for the room. It’ll be the same. And why didn't you come with me and then you can see what flavours there are in case they don’t have those two. I’ve never heard of coffee condoms but I could see them being advertised for morning sex.” He jokes and then looks emotional again when she says he’s part of her family “It does make sense. I haven’t really had a family in a long time. The Samuels….I’m like an extra cousin from someone’s seventeenth divorce. And you fit right in with Levi so you’re feeling even more like family today. I like your family…..Sasha, Amelie, Felix, Rene, Cath, Gen…..I’d be happy to be a part of it…..” He makes no mention of her parents but her family here on Alexandra feels like a fit to him, as does Annette.