| Chapter Seventeen After only four days of touring with Howie and the guys, Kat was beginning to feel exhausted. The constant rush to meet the schedules, the demands on the guy’s time and the long hours spent on a cramped bus were all wearing on her. Honestly, she had no idea how the guys managed to keep up the pace! The fifth morning of her stay, Kat woke slowly, as the bright morning sunlight peeked through the curtains and hit her in the face. She groaned and rolled over, pulling her pillow over her head to block the light. Getting up to fix the curtains would take too much effort. She took a couple of deep breaths and felt herself slip back into sleep. It couldn't have been more than a few minutes until the sound of someone knocking insistently on the door roused her from her sleep. She pulled her head out from underneath the pillow and squinted at her travel alarm clock. "Seven a.m., Seven a.m.!" she squeaked as she crawled out of bed and stumbled to the door. "I'm coming, I'm coming! Just hold your horses," she called as she reached for the doorknob and pulled it open. "I guess I woke you, huh?" Howie asked, a sheepish smile playing about his lips. "Uh, yeah you did!" she replied, before stepping back and letting him in. "Well, maybe this will make up for my bad timing," he offered as he held a bag with an Einstein's Bagel logo printed on the front in one hand and in the other he had a drink carrier with two Styrofoam cups in it. Kat smiled appreciatively and inhaled the yummy fragrance of Cafe Caramel coffee that wafted up from one of the cups. "This more than makes up for your bad timing," she exclaimed as she reached for the coffee cup. As far as she was concerned, there was nothing better than a cup of hot Cafe Caramel first thing in the morning. Howie watched as Kat's eyes lost their sleepy look. He watched as she brought the cup to her nose, inhaling the sweet fragrance of Caramel and the pungent fragrance of the coffee. Her eyes slid closed as she took her first sip and a look of pure bliss swept across her face. He felt the tightening of his body and turned away to hide the painful hardening of his body. What he wouldn't give to put that look on her face! "Howie?" Kat called softly, drawing his attention. Howie thanked God he had the foresight to wear loose fitting clothes and turned back to face Kat. He smiled softly and began to set out their breakfast as Kat sipped her coffee. When their food was laid out, Howie sat down next to her, reaching for her bagel with cream cheese. Slowly he lifted it to her mouth and held it as she took a bite. His eyes were glued to her mouth as it closed over the mound of cream cheese and the untoasted bagel. She chewed slowly, watching his face as his expressions changed from playful flirting to full-blown desire. Kat flicked out her tongue, swiping away the dab of creamy white cheese that clung to her upper lip. She heard his breath catch and saw his eyes widen. She never knew it could be so erotic to be fed by another's hand. Their eyes met and Howie leaned in closer to her, his eyes never leaving hers. "I think you missed a spot," he whispered. "I did?" she asked as she brought her hand up. Howie stopped her hand's movement with his own and whispered huskily, "Let me." He leaned in, his lips not quite meeting hers, as his tongue flicked out and ran along the seam of her lips. Kat gasped, expecting him to wipe away the smudge with his fingers. Howie sealed their lips, his hands resting on her thighs, his thumbs drawing small figure eights. 'Oh my,' she thought as she lifted her hands and fisted them in his hair, holding him closer, feeding off of him, and returning the pressure of the kiss. Howie pulled away and looked down into her upturned face. "Did you get it?" she asked, a coy look in her eyes. "Get what?" Howie asked, still in a sensual stupor. "The spot I missed," she replied, her eyes shinning with mischief. "Oh that! I don't know, let me take a closer look," he said as he lowered his head, to inspect her closely. "I think I need to be closer," he said as he kissed her again. This kiss was more playful, less intense. When he pulled away, he said, "I got it that time!" Kat giggled and reached for his bagel, returning the favor, holding it while he took a bite. Not one to miss an opportunity, she waited for him to swallow and then kissed him, licking at his lips, even though there were no remnants of food on his lips. They continued to feed each other breakfast, sharing kisses and drinking their coffees. As the last bite was finished Howie said, "I think that was the most enjoyable meal I've ever had." Kat's smile said she agreed. "What's today's schedule like?" she asked, as she leaned back in her chair. Howie gave her a funny look and said, "Don't you remember? Today is a free day, I'm yours until tomorrow morning." "That's right, I guess I forgot," she said as she sat up straight, her eyes bright with anticipation. A whole day with Howie! No cameras, no interviews, no concerts, just a day totally alone! "So what are our plans?" she asked as she rose from her chair and settled into his lap. "I thought maybe we'd take in the museum, then have lunch, walk around downtown and then a nice romantic dinner tonight ending with a moonlit stroll," he said, kissing her neck as he announced each of his plans. "Then what are we sitting around here for? Let me up so I can get ready,” she exclaimed as she pushed against his shoulders as she stood. "Give me half an hour," she said as she disappeared through the bathroom door, her arms full of clothing. She emerged fully dressed and ready to go a half hour later. She grabbed her bag and Howie's hand and together, with Raul, his bodyguard following behind, they left the hotel. The morning was sunny and bright, the sky an intense shade of blue and not a cloud in the sky. Kat watched as buildings passed in a blur as their driver maneuvered the limo in and out of the traffic. In a few short minutes, they pulled up in front of the Art and History Museum Complex and stepped from the car. The doors were just opening and the crowds were almost non-existent. They entered the massive stone building and paid their entrance fee. The attendant told them of the different displays and with smiles on their faces they headed for the Mayan display first. The beautiful ceremonial masks that were covered in gold and inlayed with precious rubies, emeralds and sapphires were kept behind a glass case. The lights of the room spotlighted the case, casting a myriad of colors across the room. "They're beautiful," Kat whispered reverently, as if speaking louder would somehow taint the feeling of awe they both felt while looking at the priceless works of art. Howie turned his head away from the display and smiled softly at her, before taking her hand and leading her to the other displays. They worked their way through the displays on that floor, moving onto the second floor where the paintings and sculptures were housed. As they stepped into the main room, Kat's eyes rested on Water Lilies by Monet. The peaceful painting captured her imagination and she was mentally painting her own picture. In her mind, she was laying on the bank of a pond, watching the breeze blow across the tops of the Water Lilies. "Do you like it?" Howie asked. "It's one of my favorites. It's so peaceful, so relaxing. I have a book at home with a picture of this in it. When I'm tired or stressed out, I take a few minutes, open my book and gaze at the picture. In minutes, I'm calm and ready to meet the demands of my day," she said, her eyes still trained on the painting. "Do you have other favorites?" he asked, intrigued with this side of Kat. He had never known her to be into the classical side of life. "Hmm-umm! There's one of a lot of people on a riverbank. They're all decked out in their finest and the colors are so bright. I see something new in it every time I look at it," she answered as they slowly moved onto the next painting. "The sad thing is, I can't remember the name of the painting or who the artist was," she added as they came to a stop in front of another Monet. "I know which one you're talking about though," he answered. They spent the next hour walking from one room to another, looking at the paintings that hung on the walls and the sculptures that were displayed on pedestals. "Are you ready for lunch?" he asked as they made their way to the entrance/exit of the museum. "I'm famished," she admitted as her stomach chose that moment to announce just how hungry she was! She blushed prettily and ducked her head in embarrassment. Howie laughed and took her hand, leading her to the waiting limo, his bodyguard following close behind. When they were seated at a quaint Mexican restaurant, Howie whispered something to Raul and Raul nodded and left the restaurant to speak to the driver waiting outside. "What was that all about?" Kat asked as she looked up from her menu. "Oh, that! I just asked Raul to give us some privacy," Howie said as he looked down at his menu. Their waiter arrived and took their orders and returned a few minutes later with their drinks. Kat looked around the restaurant, taking in the Mexican decor. A Mexican Flag was tacked to a wall, its green, red and white colors bright against the beige wall. Handmade serapes hung from clear nylon string, along with old black and white photos of Mexican men with bandoliers crossed over their chest. The contrast between the colorful garments and the black and white photos gave the restaurant a casual air. The food arrived and they dug in. Howie, of course, had to pour on the hottest hot sauce they had and Kat wondered how his stomach stood the heat. She liked her food spicy, but not scorching hot! The conversation flowed easily between them and Kat began to relax and gain some of her energy back. The nights spent sleeping on a moving bus weren't so easy to get used to. After they ate, Howie paid the bill and stood, offering his hand to Kat. She slid her hand into his and stood. He brushed a quick kiss to her cheek and then they made their way outside and got in the car. Reunion Index Next Chapter Main Page |