Prologue

Jeffrey couldn't sleep. No…he could never sleep now. Not with her in the next room. Not with her being so close. The most beautiful woman he had ever met was in the next room, all that separated them was one wall, and he was too scared to do anything about it. He couldn't even get up the courage to kiss her goodnight. That wasn’t like him at all. From the moment they met he exuded confidence even though inside he was scared to death of her. He made a point of portraying the perfect gentleman but all the while he secretly made love to her in his mind. An angry blast of thunder interrupted the beginnings of another fantasy. The storm was in full force. Trees knocked against windowpanes and broken branches scattered abandoned streets. Jeffrey looked out into the enchanting sky and smiled. He had looked forward to a night like this for a long time.

It was nights like these when Jeffrey slept in peace. Ever since he could remember, rain had the ability to soothe him like nothing else. And he loved to dream. At first his dreams were pleasantly filled with the imagination of a child. Lightning and thunder sang the sweetest of lullabies, which later changed its tune as he grew into a man. Once his passions matured and became more defined, those lullabies became slightly haunting and often erotic. The wetness. The teasing of a soft drizzle. Sounds of pleasure harmonizing with an orchestrated sky brought him many nights of intense self exploration. Although he’s been witness to a storm hundreds of times, its beauty still amazes him. The smell of rain coming. The dampness of the air. Sporadic flashes of light slashing and scarring the blackened sky. Rumbles of thunder echoing in perfect unanimity.

Then the rain would come. Hard and forceful pounding on the pavement, the windows, and the rooftops. Rain relentlessly falling as clouds rapidly cloaked the sky in darkness until they burst with sinful secrets. A theatrical performance he hardly ever missed.

Tonight, however, there was a welcomed reason for his insomnia. Tonight was different from all other nights. She was here. She was near. Very near. Only one wall separated them now. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. And although they just met a few hours earlier, Jeffrey knew his life would never be the same again. Call it a feeling, call him crazy even, but Jeffrey knew. He knew it from the moment he first saw her. Staring out into the skies eyes he recalled that magical moment when love touched his soul for the very first time.

Part One
Jeffrey & Rose