First Class to Portland (12 page)

“No, it
is
perfect. What a birthday present,” she
whispered.

“Oh, this isn’t your birthday present,” Matt said. “But it
does make it a lot easier for me to give you your present now,” he chuckled.

He stepped into the cabin and returned with a beautifully
wrapped box with a huge white ribbon bow on the top.

She moved back to the chair and sat as Matt handed her his
gift. He sat next to her, appearing to be incredibly anxious. Janie was
intrigued.
What could be better than an engagement ring?
she thought.
She removed the ribbon and ripped the paper to reveal a black box. Taking off
the lid, she uncovered a large black book. She turned to Matt, eyebrows raised.

“Open it,” he smiled.

She pulled the book from the box and opened the cover. In
big letters it read, ‘For Janie’. She smiled as she turned the next page and
then the next and the next. There were several pictures of Central Park. Then
there were pictures of the theater where they had seen the Lion King and an
amazing shot of Yankee Stadium.

“I had a photographer take pictures of all the places you
went on your once-in-a-lifetime trip so you would have them to remember.”

“Oh, Matt. This is amazing!” she gushed. She turned the page
to find a picture of Tiffany’s and they laughed.

“Every girl wants to open a white ribbon on a blue box,
right?” he grinned.

Janie turned some more pages and saw all the places she had
gone on her tour bus. There was a picture of the Ritz Carlton, where she had
stayed, and there was a picture of the horse and carriage they had ridden back
from the restaurant on her first night in New York.

“It seems like such a long time ago,” she whispered,
caressing the photo softly.

After a few more pages, she came to a page without a picture
and the words ‘Matt & Janie’s New Memories’ hand written on it. She turned
the page and it was blank and so was the page after that.

“They’re all blank from here,” he said. “They are for the pictures
of
our
memories. To fill in as we go. Our journey starts right now. We
will discover our future together.”

“Oh, Matt. It’s perfect! Thank you!” she cried.

“Don’t cry,” he whispered.

“These are happy tears,” she choked.

Matt wiped a tear from her nose with his thumb as his own
tear fell from his cheek. “Yes, they are very happy tears.”

*****

Matt held Janie’s hand in the backseat of the BMW on the way
back to his apartment. Actually he clung to her like she was his life vest, an
analogy he thought was totally appropriate. He lifted her hand to his lips and
kissed it, the diamond sparkling in the neon lit street. He had been all but
devastated when she didn’t immediately say yes to his proposal, but relief
flooded him the second the three letter word escaped her lips.

“I have to admit that I am deliriously happy,” he grinned.
“Does that sound corny?”

“No,” she smiled. “I am too.”

Ray pulled in front of the apartment building and Matt ran
around and helped Janie from the car. Walking in to the building, he announced
to Eddie, who was holding the door for them, that they were engaged. Eddie
clapped and offered his congratulations and Matt shook his hand. He all but
skipped to the elevator.

Janie grinned as the doors closed behind them and Matt
inserted his card into the panel and as they began moving upward, he grabbed
her and began dancing, humming in her ear.

“You might just be delirious!” she giggled, as he moved them
in a circle.

Matt chuckled and nuzzled her neck but the elevator stopped
and interrupted him. He led her to his apartment and once inside turned to her,
the levity gone as he spoke.

“I was serious when I said you should consider this your
home. I was serious when I made sure half of the closet was empty for you. I
don’t know what is going to happen in the next few months, but this is your
home while we figure it out. What’s mine is yours. Okay?”

Janie recalled his words, remembering him telling her it was
her chair in the bathroom.

“You had this planned before we got here?”

Matt grinned, making her knees go weak, and pulled her to
him, crushing her breasts to his chest and kissed her, his lips devouring her.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” she giggled when he finally came
up for air.

Matt took her hand and headed for the bedroom. Leaving the
lights off as they entered, he turned to her and whispered, “Our room.”

Janie smiled and nodded. “Our room.”

Matt stood before her and undressed, first his shoes and
socks, then his jacket and tie. Janie helped him with his shirt buttons and
cuff links. Then Matt made quick work of his pants and briefs. He stood before
her naked and he took her breath away. She stepped to him, still fully clothed,
and kissed him. Then she kissed his chin and his neck, licking his Adam’s
apple. Her hands stroked his shoulders and arms and interlocked with his. Matt
locked her arms behind her back pulling her close, the sequins on her top
rubbing against his chest. Kissing her again, his tongue entered her mouth,
savoring her sweet taste and rubbing her teeth. He couldn’t get enough of her.

“I’m feeling a little overdressed,” she grinned.

Matt eyed her like she was prey and the devilish grin
appeared again. “Let’s fix that,” he whispered in her ear.

Janie kicked off her pumps and pulled her tank top over her
head. Matt undid the button and zipper of her jeans and pushed her onto the bed
and pulled them off her body. She lay in front of him in her matching bra and
panties. Matt pulled her back up and unhooked her bra and threw it on the bed,
as Janie wiggled out if her lace panties.

As she lifted her hand to his arm, the city lights caught
the diamond on her finger and sparkled brightly. Janie smiled wide and looked
at her hand, still dazed at its brilliance and the shock and surprise of his
proposal.

“Happy birthday, my sweet Janie,” he nuzzled into her neck.
“I like saying that. My! My Janie!”

Janie giggled and threw her arms around his neck.

“Let’s make love somewhere so that we can watch that sucker
sparkle,” he chuckled.

“I liked the desk,” she blushed.

“Mmmmm,” growled Matt. “Me too,” and her picked her up and
walked over to the window. Sitting her down carefully on the desk, Janie pulled
her hand away and they both admired the ring twinkling like a star. “It looks
dazzling on you,” he beamed. “
You
are dazzling!”

Matt kissed her and Janie arched her back into him. His
hands were everywhere; on her back, her thighs, her hips, her breasts. He
twisted and pulled on her nipples and Janie gulped with pleasure. He sucked on
her neck and breathed in her ear and tingles shot down her spine and desire pooled
in between her legs. She reached for his penis and felt the bead of moisture on
its tip and took him in her hand. Matt moaned as she tightened her fingers
around him and moved up and down, up and down. Their mouths found each other
again and their tongues dances as their hands caressed and enjoyed each other.

Janie panted as the longing for him inside her built and
Matt stepped back and strode to the bedside table for a condom. Making quick
work, he stepped between her legs and pulled her hips to him, poised to enter
her.

“I love you, Janie.”

“I love you, Matt.”

And with that he plunged into her, filling her completely,
Janie throwing her head back in total ecstasy.

“Aaahh,” they exhaled at the same time.

“Perfect,” he growled, as he began the rhythm that would
bring them both to orgasm.

Janie hooked her ankles behind him and sucked him in more
and more and the intense pleasure had her holding her breath as Matt ground
into her, around and around as she exploded and cried out in pleasure as Matt
thrust into her one last time. He gripped her hips and bit his lip as his
orgasm ripped through his body, his toes curling into the carpet at his feet.

“Oh, fuck,” he panted.

Janie held him around his waist as he collapsed into her,
totally spent.

“Ditto,” she giggled. “That was, umm, absolutely fabulous!”

Matt leaned back and kissed her forehead. Pulling out of
her, he quickly entered the bathroom and discarded the condom. Janie decided
right then that when she got home she would go and see her doctor about birth
control. Maybe at some point Matt would trust her enough to realize she would
never trap him by willfully getting pregnant and going against his wishes.

Matt returned to her and helped her off the desk, and she
took her turn in the bathroom. When she came out, Matt was climbing into bed.
She carefully removed her engagement ring and placed it on the nightstand and
crawled in next to him. He pulled her close into his chest and their bodies
relaxed into each other.

“Thank you, Matt,” she whispered. “I never thought that I
would, could, that it could be like this.”

“Me either,” he nodded. “You rescued me.”

“We rescued each other,” she said and kissed his cheek.

Matt caressed her cheek and kissed her on the forehead.

“You’d better get some sleep. Tomorrow we get to deal with
my mother.”

Janie stretched in the luxurious sheets, eyes still shut,
her arm searching for Matt.
Where is he?
Janie sat up, surprised how
light it was outside.
8am!!
Throwing back the covers, she grabbed Matt’s
dress shirt from yesterday and went in search of her fiancée.
Fiancée
,
she smiled. She liked the sound of that. As she walked towards the bedroom
door, she heard a noise in the gym. Opening the door, she could see Matt beating
the crap out of a boxing bag. She crept in, not wanting to disturb his workout.

He was in navy blue gym shorts, worn low on his hips. He
wore running shoes and athletic socks. His torso was bare and Janie was
mesmerized by the muscles in his back as he punched and swung at the bag. There
was sweat dripping from his body, giving his skin a sheen that glistened under
the overhead lights. His body moved quickly, deftly, skillfully hitting its
target.

As Matt moved to his right, he glanced up to see Janie
leaning on the doorframe watching him. He grabbed the bag and stopped it
moving, untied his gloves and threw them on the bench in the corner and
sauntered to her.

“Fuck you look good in my shirt,” he growled. He grabbed a
towel off the chair and wiped his face as he stepped in front of her. “Did I
wake you?”

“No, I woke up and you weren’t there and then I was shocked
at how late it was. I guess I was exhausted last night,” she blushed.

Matt kissed her forehead and chuckled. “Wore you out, did
I?”

Janie blushed again but smiled up at Matt.

“I’d wear you out again right this second if my mother was
not expecting us,” he grinned. “But we probably shouldn’t be late,” he sighed.
“Are you ready for this?”

Janie looked up at him, confusion on her face.

“You know once she sees your ring she is going to go
ballistic and you will not get a moments peace,” he chuckled.

“I like your mom, Matt. It will be fine.”

“From your lips to God’s ears.”

*****

The cab let them off in front of St. Luke’s and Janie clung
to Matt’s hand as they entered the beautiful old church. It was close to full,
but as they stepped towards the rows of pews, Maureen stood and waved to them.

“You sure you’re ready?” Matt questioned, eyebrows raised,
genuine concern in his eyes.

Janie smiled and tried to look self-confident and took a
cleansing breath. “Of course. Let’s enjoy the service and we can tell your
parents at dinner.”

Matt squeezed her hand, amazed he had found this incredible
woman to spend the rest of his life with. Good fortune was definitely smiling
down on him.

They slid in at the end of the bench, just as Father Todd
began the service, Janie sitting next to Mark, with Matt on the end. Janie
smiled at Maureen and Maureen mouthed ‘hello’ and seemed to be immensely
pleased she was there. Mark leaned over and whispered ‘Congratulations’ and
Janie’s mouth dropped open.

“You know?” she choked out.

Mark chuckled and whispered. “He was a real pain in the ass
after you left, you know. And he’s been all but a saint since you guys got
back. So, yeah, I knew. Plus he told me.” Mark winked at her and patted her
free hand. “I am really happy for you both.”

Father Todd was speaking so Janie turned her attention to
the service, very aware of the looks she periodically got from both Matt’s
mother and his brothers. Her foot starting tapping on the floor and she chewed
on the inside of her cheek.  Matt grinned and held her hand a little tighter.

By the time the service was over, Janie was a nervous wreck,
exactly why she wasn’t sure. She knew without a doubt that she was deeply in
love with Matt, even though they had known each other for such a short amount
of time. She trusted him completely and knew that he loved her without
question. And although she really liked his family, she was uncertain of what
the reaction to their engagement would be.

People began exiting the church and Mark stood and hugged
his brother, patting him soundly on the back. Janie remained seated as each
brother moved past them, curiosity apparent. Maureen hurried to her and Janie
quickly sat on her left hand.

“Lovely, absolutely lovely to see you again Janie,” she
gushed.

“Thank you Maureen. I’m very happy you invited me.”

“Hi Mom,” Matt bent over and kissed his mother’s cheek.
“Shall we all head back to the house then?”

“Oh yes. Peter? Let’s go,” Maureen said.

Matt reached for Janie and she took his hand and in that
split second Maureen screamed.

“AARRGGHH! It’s a ring!!”

Everyone within twenty-five feet of them swung in their
direction as Maureen lunged for Janie and swept her into an embrace. Matt
rolled his eyes and his dad shook his hand.