I pulled into the bank parking lot on our way home.  I told Cathy I wouldn’t be long.  I went to the safe deposit box department.  Well, I don’t have to tell you what I had hidden there.  I put the little box into my pocket and got into the car.  Cathy was sitting to face me.

“Carl,” her voice was shaky, “we’re getting married tomorrow evening.  Are you certain, I mean dead certain, I am who you want forever?  You know what I did before we met, and I never want you to think the love share is what I did before to survive. 

It will be less than a week since we have known each other.  Are you sure, deep in your heart, you want me?  I never want you to regret any of this, never,”  Cathy stammered, her eyes were tearing up, but not from joy.

“Kitten, Catherine, I know in my deepest heart you are the woman I want in my life.  Don’t ever think that when we are making love, I think you are going back. 

Okay, yeah, it is less than a week.  Who the hell needs to know?  We know, but I don’t give a damn.  I want you, period,”  I held her face and wiped her tears with my thumbs.

She put her hands on mine and closed her eyes. I leaned toward her, and our lips met. Cathy whimpered as she exhaled—a happy sigh. Our lips parted, and Cathy opened her eyes. Her eyes twinkled, and she quietly screamed, "I love you."

Cathy ran her hand over the white box holding her wedding gown. Now, the tears that dotted it were joyful. She looked at me lovingly. I had a handkerchief that I dabbed her tears and nose.  She took it, sniffed, and started to laugh.

“I must look a fright,” she tried to laugh.

“Kitten, you have never looked prettier,” I said, giving her a quick kiss.  “I’m taking my bride-to-be home – our home.”

The car was running, so it was warm.  I pulled into the garage, the door shut, and excluded the world from ours.  Cathy held the box against her chest. She took her gown into the spare bedroom. I could hear her opening the closet to hang it up. 

When she joined me in the living room, I asked her if she wanted to go out for dinner.  You look wonderful as always.  When I suggested Montford’s, Cathy’s jaw almost hit the floor.

“Carl!  Montford’s is an expensive place.  I’ve never, I mean, am I dressed okay, or should I change?  I don’t want to look like,”  I put my finger to her lips.

“Catherine, you look wonderful, and besides.  I think we should celebrate getting your gown.  It’s a step closer to “Us,” I smiled and hugged her.

We arrived at Montford’s to a nearly vacant parking lot.  When we walked up to the door, I opened it, and a gentleman greeted us.

“Good evening.  My name is Ambrose – a table for two?”  his demeanor was cordial and proper.

“Yes, please,” I said. “And could I ask for a little romantic spot?”  Ambrose's smile widened.

“Follow me, please,”  he turned and walked toward the back of the restaurant.

In a little corner sat a table for two, with just enough room for drinks and two dinner plates.

“Would this be acceptable?”  Ambrose smiled.

“Perfect, Ambrose.  Thank you. 

“Loretta will be your server this evening.  She will be right over for your drink orders and hand you our menu.  Enjoy your evening,”  he gave a slight bow and left.

A handsome woman in her mid-fifties arrived at our table and handed us the menu.

“Good evening, folks.  My name is Loretta, and I am your server.  May I ask if you would like a drink while you look over our menu?”  She waited for our answer.

“Loretta, I would like to order an Amaretto sour for Catherine and for me, two fingers of Scotch with one cube, please,”  I smiled at her.

“Excellent.  I will tell you about our special this evening.  I think you will find it enticing,”  she gave a sly smile and left.

“I love the smile on your face, Cathy.  Your eyes twinkle, and your smile shines.  You are so beautiful,”  Loretta was already back with our drinks.

“Tonight, we have Osso Bucco with creamy garlic potatoes or saffron rice.  It is our chef’s specialty, a real treat for your taste buds,” she was quite proud of her presentation.

I looked at Cathy, and she was puzzled.  I asked Loretto for a few minutes, and she smiled and walked away.

“I’m so lost.  Help me, please, Carl.  What is Oscar whatever?”  she whimpered.

“It’s a veal shank in a sauce, an Italian dish.  The veal is a little sweet, but I think you will like it, baby.  If not, we can take it home, and you can order something else,”  I didn’t think about this before I suggested Montford’s.

“I trust you, Carl.  If you would order the same for me,”  Cathy forced a smile.

When Loretta returned, she was happy about us choosing the Osso Bucco.  She offered to refresh our drinks and headed for the server’s kiosk.

While we waited for our dinner, we talked about our wedding.  Cathy had kicked her shoe off and was playing with my leg.  She cannot stop being sexy – I like it.  She asked more about her role in the business.  Her main concern was the others being envious.

Our dinner arrived, and Cathy’s eyes were as big as her dinner plate.  She looked at me, then at Loretto.  Her face lit up.

“This looks wonderful, thank you,”  Cathy said as she placed her napkin in her lap.

I waited for her to try the veal. She cut a small piece and chewed it a couple of times, and her grin grew with each bite.  I started to cut into my dinner.

“God, Carl, this is delicious.  I have never had anything like this,”  she continued to enjoy her meal.

Loretta came by to check on us.  “How are your meals?”  she folded her hands in front of her.

“This is delicious, Loretta.  Our compliments to the chief and your suggestions were perfect,”  I patted my pocket and touched my ring finger.  Loretta responded with a nod.

We finished our divine meal, and Loretta asked to refill our drinks as she cleared our dishes.  I asked for another round, she nodded with a sly grin – the fix was in.

The only thing on our table was the candle in the middle.  I looked at Cathy, then slid out of my chair onto one knee as I reached into my pocket.  Cathy sat back in her chair, almost in shock.

“Carl, what are you doing?  People are going to stare, Carl, get back in your – Oh My God!!  Carl, What Are You Doing?  What - what –,” Cathy started crying and panting.

“Catherine Winston, will you be my wife?  To have and to hold forever?”  I held the ring out to her.

Cathy held out her shaking hand, I took it in mine and slid the ring onto her finger.  It was almost a perfect fit.  She looked at the ring, and tears were running down her face.  She looked at me, her body shaking and her voice quivering.

“Yes, oh, yes, Carl.  I want you for my husband, I want to marry you, yes, yes.  OH God yes,”  her entire body was quivering.

Loretta and Ambrose arrived with the champagne and glasses.  I got back in my chair smiling like I had won the lottery – I did win it.  Ambrose popped the champagne; the other patrons applauded as Ambrose poured the champagne.

Cathy and I clinked our glasses together, linked our arms, and had our first sip of champagne. We unlocked our arms. Cathy stared at her ring; tears of joy ran down her face. Loretta brought over a box of tissues.

We sat at our table and slowly finished the bottle.  When I asked Loretta for our check, the champagne charge was zero.  There was a little arrow pointing to a message.

“Compliments of Montford’s.  Congratulations and thank you for choosing us for your Engagement dinner.”  Loretta and Ambrose signed it.

When I got into the car, Cathy was almost sitting on my lap.  She looked at her ring.  She kissed me, looked at her ring, then kissed me again.  This went on all the way home.  I’m not complaining.

I pulled into the garage and walked around to Cathy’s side. She got out of the car and embraced me.  She inhaled deeply and let out a heavy sigh.  She snuggled her head against my chest, her ring not far from her sight.

“Carl, little girls growing up dream about things.  That’s why they play house and have tea parties with their dolls.  Without realizing it, they are planning for their future, or what they hope will be their future.

So many of them never realize even half of that dream.  I worked with them and suffered with them.  You came into my life and brought all of those little girl dreams back into my life.  And now you’re making them come true in real life.

How does a woman who was so low down, thank a man like you for what you have done for my life?” Cathy started to cry.

I opened the door to the house and got her to sit on the couch.  I held her tear-stained face in my hands.  I looked into her eyes; she was still sniffing, and her breathing was staggered.

“Would you want an answer to that question, Kitten?” She nodded her head.

“You marry me and make my life wonderful.  You stand by my side, you share your good days and bad days with me.  You not only share my bed, but my life, but now it’s our bed and our life.  That’s how you repay me,” 

Cathy completely broke down.  She was crying and sobbing.  Her staggered breath, the tears running down her face from her swollen, deep eyes. 

“Kitten, would you like a drink?”  I whispered to her.

“Oh, no, no, you are not getting my drink!!  No, I am getting yours. I am going to do everything I can to make your life wonderful.  All I have to offer, all I’ve ever had to offer to you is me.  And my wonderful, wonderful man, I want you to take all of that I can offer.  That means I will serve you and do whatever you want.”  Cathy started to get up.

“Catherine, I love you and want you for my wife and my partner.  I will not let you be a slave.  We are a team, we do everything together.  Okay, baby?”  I held her hand the entire time.

“Well,” she had a mischievous expression, “can I be your slave in your, I mean our bed?”  Cathy giggled.

“Sure, but most of the time, I wind up being your slave.  You make me so crazy,”  I kissed her hands.

“I know, and I love it,”  she giggled.  Cathy’s emotional release was beginning to settle down.

“I’ll bring our drinks, but I have to make a stop first.  I promise not to be too long,”  she smiled.

I thought about how lucky I am to have Cathy.  Wouldn’t it be great if the other girls had the same Christmas present she had given me? 

I thought about kicking off my clothes except my boxers, but I thought it would ruin our mood.  I should have gone with my thoughts.  Cathy came back with our drinks, wearing a hot-pink half-cup bra and G-string.

“Sorry I took so long, but I don’t have a thing to wear, and I wanted to surprise you,” she said, standing by the coffee table, swaying her hips back and forth.

“So, if we’re going to be partners and equals, strip to your boxers, Lover Man.  Momma wants to enjoy a little nudity too,”  Cathy grinned sensually.

When I stood up, she handed me a beer, reached into my boxers, and found my half-hard cock.

“Follow me, Lover Man.  You call me Kitten, well, your 'Little Kitty' wants her Coochie Man,”  she purred.

I followed her into the bedroom, and she had the covers pulled down and the pillow propped against the headboard.  She sat on the edge of the bed, crossed her legs, leaned back on one hand, and just smiled.

My cock was peeking out of my boxers.  I was embarrassed.  Cathy looked at him, smiled, knelt on the floor, and kissed my cock head.  She looked up at me with a sexy smile.

“If he’s going to look, he might as well come out and play,” she gently pulled the waistband over my rigid pole and slid my boxers to my ankles.

Cathy ran her hands over my legs as she put her mouth over my cock.  I wanted to shove my cock down her throat when I felt her hot breath on my cock and balls. 

Cathy closed her lips around my cock pulled on my balls, and let her tongue glide up and down my cock.

After a few minutes, Cathy stood up and sat on the bed.  She crossed her legs and leaned back on one hand again.  She licked her lips and jiggled her tits for as much as the bra would let her.

“Coochie Man.  Come here and unwrap your woman.  Little Kitty wants her Coochie Man.”

To be continued