Lover’s Cross Part V
By: P.G. Barnett
Tags: Henry And Sunny, Storytelling, Fiction, Fiction Series, Short Story

My name is Sunny Alexander. And I’m Henry James and we’re writers for Dark Sides of the Truth magazine.

Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Conclusion

It turned out to be a swell night for some, a not so hot night for others when Penelope Layne walked up to our table. Any possibilities of shop talk went out the window and the next chain of events pretty much guaranteed it.

We both patiently waited as our newest guest perused the wine list. When she folded it and placed it on the table she raised a slender arm and gestured at a nearby waiter.

“Yes ma’am?”

Penelope flashed a red carpet smile at the both of us, “if you don’t mind allow me to make a recommendation.”

“Whatever.”

“Sunny, she’s just trying to be polite.”

“Not like I can’t order my own damn drink James.”

As if she’d not heard the exchange, Penelope ordered a vintage Cabernet, then sat demurely in silence until the sommelier returned and poured a tasting amount into one of the glasses. He handed it her and she swirled it around in the glass, inspected the scent and then took just a sip then nodded.

“Perfect.”

As the sommelier poured a round Captain Layne picked up her menu and began to inspect it. At that, we both took a moment to inspect our own choices and after ordering we sat back to enjoy a little conversation.

“I hope you two are enjoying your stay in Rockburn. Still searching for this mysterious Daryl Hoenig of yours?”

“We are.”

“Well Sunny, I hope you find him.”

“Oh we’ll find him alright. Henry and I haven’t hit a brick wall we couldn’t figure out how to knock down. Right Henry?”

“Right Henry?”

“Sorry what?”

“I said…never mind.”

“You know I’m not trying to be forward here Penelope, but you have the most gorgeous set of eyes. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen eyes that green. Are you wearing colored contacts or something?”

“Really James?”

“No, and thank you Henry. It’s nice when someone notices attributes other than my rank and the pistol on my hip.”

“Well, I must say I noticed that too. Glock 43?”

“Very perceptive. I like a man who pays attention to details.”

“Will you two please excuse me? I think I need to powder my nose, maybe rinse out the puke I just threw up in my mouth.”

Penelope and I watched Sunny storm off to locate the restrooms. When she disappeared into a hallway, Penelope reached out and brushed the top of my hand with her fingers.

I felt minuscule charges of electricity rush up my arm. She didn’t move her hand away and dammit I wasn’t about to move mine. She gazed at me and smiled, a coy, seductive almost come hither look of innocence which had me ready to jump out of my skin.

“Henry, I like you. From the very moment you and that woman walked into the police department I could tell you were different, special, someone I wanted to get to know better.”

She gently curled her fingers around my hand.

“Would you like to get to know me better Henry?”

“Yes, Penelope I believe I would.”

When she leaned over and began to whisper in my ear, all rational thoughts left me. A slight, pleasurable flowery scent tantalized me, wrapped me up in it. The warmth of her closeness was a passionate torch against the side my face. Her breath, warm and moist against my ear, forced me to close my eyes in order to concentrate. I felt her hand resting against the back of my neck as she told me her plan, silky stands of her hair against the side of my face as she offered a suggestion then told me she would understand if I ignored it.

How in the hell could I? Why in the hell would I?

When Sunny returned I took out my keys and tossed them on the table beside her plate.

“Tell you what Sunny, me and Penelope are going to cut out. We’ll cover your meal and the drinks.”

“Do what? What the hell Henry?”

“I don’t stutter. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Henry, don’t do this. You hardly even…”

“Know her? She and I are about to change all that. See you tomorrow.”

Penelope and I were halfway to the door when Sunny grabbed me by the arm and spun me around.

“Dammit James listen to me. You…”

“No you listen to me Alexander. I’m a grown damn man and can make my own decisions on what the hell I want to do, who the hell I want to be with, what I eat and what I wear. You are not my mother, or my sister and you sure as hell ain’t my wife. So just shut the fuck up, back the fuck off and leave me the hell alone.”

For several seconds we both glared in silence at each other then Sunny turned away and muttered, “go ahead James. Your fucking funeral.”

Penelope and I left the restaurant together. As we walked along the sidewalk to the parking lot, she took my hand and leaned in against me, letting me share the warmth of her body, the wildly invigorating fragrance of her.

“She’s such a strange little woman don’t you think?”

“Yeah, she has her moments.”

When we reached her car, she pulled a set of keys from a clutch she was carrying and unlocked the doors. I held the door for her, then hurried around and slid in. I was pulling the seat belt out to buckle it when she placed a hand on my inner thigh. As tendrils of heat surged into my groin she fixed her gaze on me and smiled, saying nothing.

“You know I’m going to kiss you now right?”

“Yes Henry, I know.”

When our lips met, the world fell away. Lost in sensory, overload from a passion I hadn’t felt in years, I felt nothing but the tingle of electricity running through my body. Her lips pressed hard against me, her tongue seeking mine frantically, pressing her body against me as if she was desperate to join herself to me that very instant. When we parted, she slowly pulled away and caressed my cheek with the back of her fingers, then started the car.

I realized I was gasping. I swallowed and tried to clear my voice, barely managing to croak out a question.

“Where are we going?”

“My house. We’re going to my house and neither us are going to leave for awhile. Are you okay with that?”

“I’m more than okay with that.”

Let’s keep in touch: paul@pgbarnett.com