After their return to the estate from the emergency room in Sebastian—home of the closest hospital—Eric had dozed; Donna had cleaned. Whenever he was awake, she pampered him with food and kisses and—eventually—somewhat awkward lovemaking. When he napped, she worked. It had taken hours, but the bags were gone, the dust swept up. She'd managed, with great difficulty, to move the scaffolding to one side, so that now, the wall could be fully appreciated. The wall was not what Eric admired at the moment, however.
The final task was sealing the stone wall. A sprayer might be used, but Eric had not rented one yet. Rather than wait, he opted to use a roller. Donna found one with a handy extension in the little building that housed equipment and tools, but when Eric tried to manage it with one hand, he was quickly discouraged.
"I can do it," Donna suggested. She was on a ladder now, working quickly and efficiently. She was perhaps five feet off the ground, wearing only a large t-shirt of Eric's, so she didn't ruin any of her clothes. She hadn't exactly packed for manual labor. She backed down from the ladder to get a rag and saw him looking. Slowly and purposefully, she bent over, glancing around to grin at him.
"I'm sure I look very sexy in this getup," she said with a giggle. Her hair was a mess, she was sweaty, and the sealer had sprinkled all over her.
In answer, Eric stood up and walked slowly toward her.
"Oh no, mister. I've got work to do." Donna's back was to the ladder and she started stepping up. He caught up to her when she was a few feet above him.
"Is that right?" he said, following her up the ladder. Balancing himself, he took his good hand and reached under the shirt, finding her lace panties. He ducked his head beneath the edge of the shirt and grabbed the top of the panties with his teeth. As he backed down the ladder, the panties pulled off.
Taking them from his mouth and throwing them at her playfully, he said, "I'll leave you alone to your work now." For the next hour, he sat and watched, relishing the hint of bottom that emerged from time to time. Finally, he could stand it no longer. "Break time," he called. "You're torturing me."
Donna laughed. "I think I've done all I can do for now anyway. Tomorrow, we should try two ladders. One of us can man the sealer, the other a brush. I'm past where the roller will work, am I not?"
She turned around slightly and seductively pulled the shirt to her waist. "But what I need is a shower. I am so dirty." She winked, teasing him.
"A dirty girl sounds fine to me, but so does a shower," Eric said as he stood. "You soap me up, and I promise to hang my arm outside the door, so it doesn't get wet."
"Soap you up?" Donna cooed as she stepped off the ladder and walked into his arms. "I'll do a lot more than that."
The Steins were thrilled with the stone wall. The household was back to normal only a few days before New Year's Eve. It was arranged that Donna and Eric would fly home January second so that they could attend the party to christen the new addition. And no, the Steins had assured them, this was not a party for the naturist society, but business associates and family.
Workers and decorators were everywhere, preparing, painting, cleaning. "It's amazing what gets done when a person says, 'Money's no object'," Donna observed dryly as she perched on a stool in the kitchen.
Asahi laughed. "You are correct, Donna-san. Where is your husband?"
Donna was annoyed. After being apart, she'd expected to spend every possible moment with Eric, but today, he had gone on an errand with Roy instead. Roy! He could have at least asked her to join them.
Instead of grousing, however, she stretched her back and took a sip of tea. Asahi, at her request, was teaching her new tastes, new Japanese dishes and customs. Such a sweet person. Eric had told her of Roy's own opinion. "Roy is very good-looking, don't you think?"
Is she blushing? Donna smiled. "I mean, he's not really my type, but…"
As expected, Asahi frowned as she worked. "Hiroya is quite handsome. And he is courteous and brave also. And smart. Why he would not be a woman's type, I would not know."
Donna nodded. "I just meant he isn't Eric, that's all."
Asahi considered this. "Oh. Well." She began her work again, carefully slicing tuna for sashimi.
As Donna finished her tea, Eric and Roy came into the kitchen, each carrying something out of view. When Roy sidled up to Asahi and cleared his throat, she held her knife up to him in mock threat. "Yes, Hiroya? What can I do for you?"
Roy pulled a beautiful bouquet of flowers from behind his back. "You can accompany me to the Steins' party. I have already spoken with them and they are hiring extra servers so that you have nothing to do that night but stay by my side."
Asahi's eyes sparkled. So quietly that Donna could barely hear her speak, she said, "I will go with you to the party, Hiroya." She took the flowers and bowed. "Thank you for the flowers. They are beautiful."
Roy gave her a little bow in return. "As is the one who holds them." He winked at Eric and excused himself as Asahi searched for a vase.
Donna was glad Eric had gone with Roy—he probably needed that encouragement to make a move. That was worth missing him for a few hours.
"And for you, babe," Eric said, handing her a white box.
Donna put the box on the island and opened it. Inside, was a beautiful fuchsia sundress and matching scarf, large enough that it could serve as a wrap on a chilly night. "It's gorgeous! But how did—"
"You think I don't know my wife's size
