CONTAINS CONTENT:
Sensual content and talk.
{{Unedited}}
Marielle sobbed the entire way home. “Okay, done with that part,” she whispered, watching the trees move by, the buildings blur, the couples walking hand in hand. Another wave of tears came over her when she saw an old woman and her husband start to cross the street.
The woman was still mobile, but the man was hobbled over a walker, and the woman linked her arm with him, and helped him with each step with a loving affection on her face. She could almost read her mind… you were always there for me… now I’m here for you, love. And all that she could think about was Austin, and how she wanted to look up and see that fifty years had passed and that she was looking at herself, and her husband, Austin Rancor.
The couple crossed safely and disappeared into a café. “Get ahold of yourself, Marielle. You have to do the next thirty-six hours, here… and you need to enjoy it. Because it’s all either of you get,” she cried. The light had turned green, and someone behind her beeped, impatiently.
Once she was home, she went to her bedroom after a bath and pulled out a pair of jeans and a red sweater, she fell apart again, briefly laying herself over her bed and clothing as Felix sniffed at her hair, where she cried silently. Then she sat up, dabbing her eyes and shaking her head at herself as a wave of feeling foolish moved over her. “But I want him,” she breathed, holding the red sweater close. “I want to wear this for him now, but again in two years on our anniversary. I want him to smile when he sees it then because he remembers tonight.” She squeezed it more tightly. “I won’t ever see that anniversary, will I?” And for a moment she allowed herself to sob over the loss of what she desired.
Then she dabbed her eyes again, and forced herself to sink into the expectancy and the joy of the night. She knew that she was going to do a few things, and she made her mind move away from the sadness by focusing on her planning and how she’d approach those things as she put her black jeans on, and slipped the sweater over a thin tank top.
Going to her mirror, she brushed through her short hair a few times before applying a good layer of red lipstick, and a little mascara; no need to overdo it. He’d told her that he liked her more natural.
She looked herself over once before she smiled softly, “now stop crying. Laugh instead… think of how much you’re going to love holding onto him while you sit on the back of his bike again.” She smiled. She had loved that when they were in Italy.
Her phone buzzed, “I’m here.” The text said, and she quickly ran to her living room and put her boots on before a knock took her to the door.
When she opened it, she grinned at him, wildly. “Your hair!” She squealed, going into his arms. It wasn’t quite as long as it had been before, but he had hair again. Her fingers were instantly digging into it, and he held onto her like she was a life raft and he’d been drowning.
“You like it?”
“Like it? It’s you! Of course! I love it!” She squeezed him so tight that she thought she’d hurt him.
He grinned sensing these thoughts, “I don’t think you could hurt me, darling,” he breathed. Then he tipped her chin up to look at him, and leaned in, kissing her. She snaked her arms up his back and over the tops of his shoulders, and into his hair where she gently pulled. He groaned, pulling her taut against him. -I am so in love with you.
-I love you too, Austin.
Both of them ignored the clock; it was there, marching on and they both knew it. But they paid it no mind.
His kisses softened, then hardened, then softened again as he tried on different ways of teasing her until he found the one that he felt inside of himself. That one… that’s how she likes it the best, and he prolonged it, causing her to go weak for him. He smiled against her mouth…oh, if she only knew how he could please her. He could sense so deeply into her, now. Maybe she did know, and maybe that was why she wouldn’t allow it.
They finally broke contact. “You look so good,” he whispered. He wanted to make an “I could eat you,” joke, but that felt horrible after Tundra.
She heard those thoughts anyways, and actually giggled. “Thank you, you’re gorgeous, too.”
“I’m never as gorgeous as you are beautiful,” he whispered, closing his lips over hers again, and pulling her against himself once more. “It’s not close enough,” he heaved. “It’s never close enough.”
“I know…” She whispered, understanding. “I want to be inside you, too,” she admitted.
“Will you allow that sometime soon?” he asked, gently, brushing his nose over hers over and over again.
She giggled, it tickled. “Yes, I will, Austin.”
He knew not to say anything else about it. No pushing. No pleading. She’d do it at some point. That was all that mattered.
She turned, grabbed her keys, and paused for a moment, “is there anything else that I need?”
“Nope, just you, and me, and my bike,” he said reaching over and taking hold of her hand.
She grinned at him, and lifted a finger, remembering her purse. Then she followed him out to his bike, lacing their fingers and grinning at one another the whole way down. “One more kiss,” he whispered against her mouth before they got on the bike. She settled and he took off after making sure both helmets were secure.
She wrapped her arms around the front of his waist and leaned in, holding tight, and resting her cheek against his back as he went toward the freeway. -Oh, Austin.
-Don’t let go. Just hold me… touch me.
-Think you can focus if I do this? She gently kissed his back below his right shoulder blade.
He shuddered in a good way. -Better not do too much more of that.
She giggled. -How about this? She ran her fingertips achingly slowly down his thigh towards his knee and then scratched her nails into him on the way back.
-Yup, gonna crash if you keep that up. She laughed out loud, and put her hands back together in front of his stomach.
He changed lanes. -When did you know that you loved me, darling?
-I knew almost instantly, I just kept ignoring it.
-Can you think of a specific time?
-When I killed Amir… You were only person on the planet whose arms I wanted to be in. I knew that you were the only person that I could talk to. She paused, gently lifting her right hand and stroking his back as the wind whipped over their bodies. He pulled to a stop at a red light before he turned onto the freeway. -I think that I knew then. I think that I knew before that, but I think that that was when the warning bells went off in my head that it was dangerous, and my train of thought was – this is dangerous. Why is it dangerous? Because I want to sleep with you? No… because I hadn’t been with Vincent yet, so sleeping with you wouldn’t have necessarily been wrong. I think I knew somewhere deep down that it was because I loved you. I loved you before that, but it was in a different way.
-I understand.
-When did you know?
-Concretely? The announcement. He changed lanes. -It hit me so hard while I was singing that I almost couldn’t finish that damn song. And it wasn’t because of that dress, Marielle… it was because –
-Because… you knew that you were about to lose me.
-Yeah. Which was when I truly and really knew. Because I’m me… and I never care if someone was screwing around with someone else as long as they had me on the side, or whatever… the fact that this mattered and threw me into such a tailspin made me question everything that I knew about myself. She squeezed him a little, remembering the state that he was in the next day when she’d given him the Queen of hearts card. He sped up and moved around someone. -The waiter happened because I felt threatened. You know that I’m bisexual, but here’s the truth; I noticed this in myself when it really started. I do that- men I mean, when my manhood feels threatened. I don’t mean my-
She chuckled noiselessly, -I know what you meant, Austin. You mean when you feel like less of a man, or like something is threatening that which makes you feel in control. She paused. -it’s your way of taking back control for yourself. He nodded, and slowed a little with traffic. -Answer me a question. He nodded. -Hypothetically, if we stayed together. His heart instantly hurt. -Would you still want to be with men, too?
-No. His answer was instant. -Firstly, I prefer women, I always have. Secondly, you are literally…all…that I need. They stopped for a moment, and he rubbed his hands down his legs a few times before he weaved the parked cars on the freeway. – I don’t know if you understand this, have thought about it, or what you thought about it but I believe that we were always meant to have this connection. Marielle, I felt it the first moment that I touched you. There was like a … a tingling going right up my right arm when we shook hands. It was like something started on my skin, and it wasn’t my tattoo, I knew what that felt like. This was different. That was the moment that I knew that you were going to mean more to me than just another body. She realized suddenly that with the shield up, she had been planting little kisses up and down his right shoulder blade. -Oh, Marielle, I’m gonna be so distracted if you don’t let up a little.
She laughed and stopped. It was difficult with the helmet on, anyways.
Traffic picked back up and even though they hadn’t stopped for more than a moment, they were allowed to go quickly again.
-When was the first time that you thought about us? I know that you did, you told me that you did during the twenty-five questions at my house.
-Yeah, I had. Briefly… remember that at that point I was extremely stuck on Vincent. But I did think about you and I.
-When?
She reddened a little. -I thought about you the first night that I met you.
-Really?
-Yeah. I knew what you wanted. I could see it in your eyes as you toyed with me in your office. So, I indulged it a little… what about you?
-Marielle, I’d been thinking about you for probably four days before I ever met you. She shivered. He could feel it and he shuddered back. -How do I make love to you in your mind?
She bit her bottom lip, and her eyes fluttered closed. -All ways? Hard, soft, rough, gentle… like you. Except now-
-What? What, darling?
-Now it’s a lot…uh…deeper?
They slowed a bit with traffic. -What do you mean?
-What we can do- we read each other’s thoughts. I can move through you. Yeah… all of that is incorporated now.
He paused, swallowing hard. -Same. Are you sure that you don’t want to break that contract?
-What I want and what we’re going to do are two different things, darling… and I’m in love with you, Austin Rancor.
He sighed, desperately. -I love you too, Marielle Chaenes… kiss me again?
She smiled, and kissed his back. Each kiss felt like fire, melting his icy heart.
Once they were at Downtown Disney, they went through security, bag checks and entered the area.
It was dark outside, and since Halloween was soon, all the trees were laced with twinkling white lights, and red, white, and orange pumpkins made trails everywhere.
Marielle clasped her hands over her heart the moment that she was through security as she took it all in… the stores, the people, the lights, the smells of baked goods covered with cinnamon and sugar. “Oh my gosh, I want a churro!” Was the first thing out of her mouth.
He was finishing up, and he ran to her, slipping his hand into hers and turning to her with a large, goofy grin. “You want a churro?”
“Yes!” She squealed.
“What kind?” he looked to a kiosk, “Cinnamon, apple cinnamon, fruity pebble, salted caramel? Reeses?”
She was laughing. “All of them!”
“Like at once?” He asked patting his midsection. She giggled and he whirled her into him and gave her a kiss. She smiled at him when he pulled away. “Okay, where is your favorite room? You lead me,” he whispered. Then his eyes wandered to the Lego store. “Maybe we go in there for a minute?”
She laughed, throwing her head back, “Is that what you want?”
His eyes hit the Star Wars store. “Uh… there too?”
She guffawed, “that’s right, you like Star Wars,” she chuckled, a single fingertip to her lovely red mouth. “Yes, we can go anywhere that you want. We have time.”
Time was the one thing that he didn’t have. But he wouldn’t think about that right now. He turned to her, “Listen to me… You keep being so good to me and I’m gonna ruin that gorgeous lipstick,” he sighed dreamily as he put his forehead to hers and combed through her short hair.
“What if I want you to?”
“Tempt me not, fair maiden. I will ruin thy virtue,” he chuckled looking the Star Wars store over.
“Maybe I want you to do that, too…” she said seductively.
He jerked to a stop, bit his bottom lip, and whirled back around to her, grabbing her around the shoulders, and bringing her to his mouth as he dipped her and placed a loving, tender kiss on her lips. She flushed, and he brought her back up to standing, taking her hand, and leading her into the store.
“Can I be princess Leia?”
“Do you have any cinnamon rolls?”
She snickered as they went in.
After a short time playing with lightsabers, and poking around the store, they went to the Lego store, but after glancing around and staring in awe at some of the structures, Austin smiled at her and shook his head, “No, we’re here for you,” he said, taking her hand. “Lead me to where you want to go.”
And with a soft, adoring smile Marielle led him to the place where the back entrance to the hotel was. They went past a courtyard and into the hallway where a man sat near the archway that led into the space carving faces into pumpkins. Just after him- a giant room covered in ornate wood, and beams high above their heads. The strong scent of gingerbread struck her and Austin’s nostrils as they both looked around for the source.
A haunted house structure in the corner that was made entirely of gingerbread caught her eye and she took him to it. Both stared for a moment.
He reached down and laced their fingers together. She felt what was coming, and welcomed it with the softest smile, briefly closing her eyes… for a moment, both were children standing in front of this structure of brown, purple, orange, and black. Frosted windows glittered, and doors with gum drop knobs gleamed. They looked at one another with wide eyes- eight and ten, maybe? Same age as the red forest fantasy.
She thought. -I wish I could go back and meet you now.
His blue eyes, full of life and childlike wonder beamed. -So do I.
-This is the best that I can do. I’d take it all back, Marielle, and just spend all my life with you.
Her giant innocent eyes glittered with tears. -It’s enough.
They broke out of the fantasy long enough to realize a cart with cookies, tea, hot chocolate, apple cider, and spiked drinks. “Want something?” he asked.
She nodded, excitedly. “Cider.”
“You read my mind,” he purred. She did, and could.
He went to the cart and got it for her, and a sugar cookie that they split. Occasionally she passed him the cider as well and they both drank as they explored the open space, and the carpeted floor with the ornate flowers.
There was a giant vase on a round table and plumes of flowers poured out of it like a waterfall.
-We’re so good together, Marielle.
-We are. She agreed.
-Then why…
-Don’t do this… don’t waste our time asking, or begging, or questioning. Live in this moment, enjoy it.
-I’m enjoying every…single…moment of it. And dreading its end.
She swallowed hard and looked down between them. -Kiss me, Austin. Kiss me deeply. He obeyed.
Both knew that as their time together progressed that – like a dating relationship – things were going to move faster. He was waiting for more intimacy until they were alone again.
-Tell me that you’re mine.
-I’m yours. She smirked against his mouth, “and you’re mine, Ice King.”
He cocked his head at her and smiled, “Ice King?”
She nodded. “I’m your Queen of Hearts- your red queen…and you’re my Ice King, and our love is forbidden, but can’t be avoided.”
“It’s deep inside of both of us,” he agreed. “Our kingdoms won’t unite, though, will they?” He sighed and looked off spitefully. “You want us to never see each other again at the end of the year.”
“Hush… and kiss me.” He did again.
Once they walked into the center of the room, Austin immediately spotted a grand piano with a penguin suit player and just beyond, a giant fireplace with several wooden rocking chairs seated before it.
She dragged him to them, and they sat in front of the dazzling gold and orange illuminating the room.
She leered at him joyfully. “Look up,” she whispered, pointing. He did, and he saw it… the dancing fire on the ceiling above the hearth.
His heart fluttered. “Oh, Marielle… I see it,” she saw his eyes glitter. “I see the dancing flames,” he breathed staring into a space that got smaller as it went up.
They both rocked their chairs and Austin leaned over towards her and rested his head on her shoulder. “You’re not tired, are you?” she whispered.
He shook his head and smirked on the left side of his mouth, “I don’t want to sleep for the next two days. I want to drink all of this in like hot tea.” -Tell me that you’re mine again.
She smiled, softly understanding him. “I’m yours, Austin Rancor.” His chest ached, his stomach churned, and his loins responded. “What time is it?” She breathed.
He checked his phone. “Six thirty,” he whispered.
“I’m hungry. Want to go back to my place?”
His heart sped up. He knew that she meant to eat, but he also knew that that probably meant more kissing, and caressing. He moved a finger down the side of her face, caressing every curve, “I’ve never wanted to go back to your place more than right now,” he breathed.
“What should we do about food?” She whispered, their faces inching closer and closer together.
“Starve,” he breathed near her mouth.
She shuddered in a good way as his lips brushed hers. “I know what you’re getting at, but I have to have food.”
He sighed, knowingly. He did, too. “Let’s get you a churro. Then… Chinese?”
“I’ll make us dinner tomorrow. So, yeah. Let’s grab take out.”
He nodded, and stood lengthening his body with a stretch and a yawn. Then he reached down to her and lifted her up against him, holding her for just a moment before they turned, going back into the center of the room… he just couldn’t resist. He put a finger up, signaling for her to wait and went to the man at the piano, leaning in and whispering something to him. He turned, narrowed his eyes at Austin, and Austin handed him something. The penguin nodded and stood away.
Austin sat down at the bench and Marielle put her hand to her mouth as shivers ran down her spine.
A small group of people had already stopped and were watching him curiously. He was obviously not the man who was supposed to play the piano.
He put his fingertips to the keys and slowed the tempo of “Hot Tea” by the band, “Half Alive” down, and sang the lyrics as he stared at Marielle, enjoying her reddening cheeks and her squirming. The words sank into her, stirring her soul and she found that she couldn’t help but cry. The little that was left of her cider was still warm and she sipped it as he poured his heart out.
Austin gathered more of a crowd as he played and Marielle realized that if she was ever to be with this man long term, she was going to have to get used to people gawking at him.
When he finished, he came back to her. “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.” He gave her a quick kiss and they left, but slowly so Marielle could enjoy the sight of the lights dangling in the trees, and the night sky.
They road back toward home mostly in silence, with her cheek pressed against his shoulders. -What are you wanting to eat?
-Chinese. Oh… Orange chicken.
-Same.
She bit her bottom lip, hungry, and expectant. -With some fried rice?
-I was thinking just that.
-Maybe some noodles?
He smiled. -If you want them, they’re yours, darling.
It was easier to hear one another in their thoughts over the sound of the bike.
He pulled up to a local Chinese takeout place, and they went in with his arm over her shoulders, and him gently kissing her temple. He ordered, paid, and they both took off again.
Once back, they found themselves in the living room and Austin lay on the floor on his back in front of the fireplace after he turned it on so he could spend a few moments with Felix as Marielle got plates and sodas from the fridge.
-What do you like for soda, love?
Felix rubbed his face down Austin’s side, and Austin gave him all the attention that he could soak up. -Coke is fine. He put the kitty on his chest, stroking his soft ears and listening to him purr.
She came into the living room, eyeing his stretched out and lengthened body as she removed her sweater and tossed it to the end of the couch now only in her tank top and jeans. “You’re fine,” she murmured.
He sat up on his side, leaning on his elbow, “Am I?” he pressed.
She was taking the food out of the plastic bag and putting some onto their plates. “Gorgeous.”
“Yeah? What else?” His dark hair danced over his eyes.
“Desirable.”
“And?”
“Sexy,” she swallowed hard.
“Really?” His eyes fluttered closed for a moment.
She took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “So…so sexy, Austin.”
He shivered, and got up off the floor, coming to her side on the couch.
They ate a few bites in silence, hip to hip and watched the flames thinking briefly about Italy. She glanced behind her at the couch they were sitting on and her expression was odd.
“What are you thinking?” he whispered, sucking a little sweet and sour from his thumb. It was on purpose, but he was good at making it look natural. He sipped his Coke.
Color filled her cheeks. “I was thinking about the night that you tried to seduce me.”
“Yeah? What about it?”
“I uh… spent some time alone on this couch.”
He gave her a boyish smile and his tongue ran along his teeth on the right side. “Oh?”
“Yeah,” she blushed.
“Please yourself?” She nodded. “You wanted me so badly, didn’t you?” he whispered.
She nodded again, her eyes locking with his, “I did,” she admitted. “I couldn’t think straight.”
“When you left… I was so lonely.” He took in a deep breath and put his arm over the back of the couch behind her. “I stayed alone because I wanted to keep my promise to you… but I ached for you all night long.”
“And did you-”
“Yes.” He took another swig off his Coke. “Repeatedly,” he added. His voice sounded shocked. “I couldn’t get you out of my head. Your voice, your skin,” he gently rubbed there now with his left hand. “How you tasted,” his fingertips grazed the skin of her right shoulder. “The way you said my name,” he breathed.
“Austin,” she purred.
“Austin…” he repeated. “I’ve never felt so lonely.” He said. And although this was part of his list of nevers, she felt it, deeply. “I wanted to call you; I wanted to apologize. I knew that it’d do me no good.” He sighed, heavily, “And then I resented you and the pain that I blamed you for… and I decided the best thing was to make you hate me,” he explained, remembering his actions the day after, and how blunt and horrible he’d been with her on the stairs behind the Valorant building. “You taught me so much that day.”
“What did I teach you?”
He cleared his throat. “I always knew what you told me- about dying alone. But I never acknowledged it until then, and it terrified me.” He leaned in, kissing her and his mouth lingered near hers, “I don’t want to die alone, Marielle. I don’t want to regret my life and my decisions in my last breaths. I don’t want to be old and frail, and still chasing sex and still without love… Thank you for being so blunt,” he whispered, his forehead to hers. “Because it was that image that you put in my head that made me second guess every single time that I wanted to go find another hooker, or seduce someone at some bar.” He was gently fingering her cheek, and thumbing the corner of her mouth. “I love you, Marielle Chaenes, and I’m never going to love anyone the way that I love you,” he breathed.
Her eyes rimmed and she briefly closed them with a swallow. Deep down, she knew that this was true. He couldn’t. If she were honest with herself, she knew that she couldn’t, either. There was no one else on the planet with whom she could be so close, so intimate, and so connected. “What was it that you said that day?” She whispered, “We were the most intimate people on the planet?”
He smiled softly. “And the most intimate people in the entire world,” he breathed. “You do understand that, right?” He repeated himself. He pressed into her a little, “You do understand that… right?” he repeated again, actually speaking to her.
“Yes.”
His hands were moving up her back, and urging her against him, which she complied with. She wanted his closeness. He held her for a moment before letting go and eating a bit more. She did as well. “So… am I staying the night, or-”
“I’m going to send you home,” she replied with an exhale.
“You are?” He asked disappointedly.
She pursed her lips momentarily. “Yeah.”
He growled. “I want to be with you.”
She wasn’t changing her mind.
He picked up one of the fortune cookies, bit it in half, read the little note inside and laughed. Then his laughing got more intense and he fell back against the couch, holding his chest. “What?” she demanded.
“Did you ever play that game? Where you add in bed to the end of all fortune cookies?”
She shook her head. He tossed her the little white note. She looked it over… don’t hold onto things that require a tight grip. He snorted. She shoved him in the arm. “What I didn’t write it.”
She rolled her eyes and opened hers. She snorted as well. He tried to peak and she showed him. He fell back against the couch in laughter. It said do it scared.
When he quieted the outburst of chuckles, he leaned on his hand, and watched her.
She was starting to look vulnerable as the fact that he was staring began to sink in and she shrunk a little.
He came nearer and they brushed the tips of their noses together before she nuzzled against him. He breathed out and all that she could hear was his hitched breath and the pounding of his heart. Slowly, patiently, his lips moved over hers. -My kiss is yours alone, Marielle. And again he tried different pressures, and techniques until he found the one that she responded to the most. She gasped, and he continued.
He broke from her lips, and cradling her, he kissed beside her mouth, then down her cheek, then her jaw, then moved back up to her mouth.
The feel of her body against him was dizzying. He was getting drunk off it. -I’m so high.
-Same. Wasn’t this what you wanted? She asked referring to his desire to kiss in front of the fireplace in Italy.
-This wasn’t only what I wanted… he reminded. He swallowed and pulled back a little staring at her mouth. “Are you ready?” he asked.
She felt small, and vulnerable. “For?” She knew the answer.
“I’m going to give you my tongue…do with it as you will,” he murmured as he came slowly back to her mouth, and paused. Then he gently parted her lips with the tip of his tongue, and pushed it into her mouth. For a moment, they didn’t do much. Then she felt him brush around, and she groaned a bit too loud and too excitedly for what he’d just done.
He pulled back, laughing, and red in the face. He understood; he’d felt the rise in her and how intense it’d suddenly become in his own body. It was so odd to him how he could feel her sometimes… mild pain, arousal, fear.
Her face was scrunched up, embarrassed.
He laughed at her adoringly. “Okay… are we going to try that again?” he asked, his own heart thudding wildly.
She shook her fingertips out and nodded, fanning herself and trying to calm. He chuckled, she was so cute as she put her hands over her face like curtains, briefly hiding. Then she took a deep breath and dropped them. -I’m kissing him. I’m kissing Austin Rancor.
“No,” he whispered, coming in again. “You’re making out with him.” Again, he brushed his lips against hers and gently fed her his tongue. They softly brushed, then he collapsed into her, smashing himself against her as their mouths spoke in perfect unison. -Oh, I could swallow you whole. Please don’t stop.
-This feels so good.
-I know, I can feel you.
She paused, pulling back a little and looking at him, curiously. “You can feel me?”
His eyes fluttered shut and he nodded. “It’s not like being you… I’d imagine it’s like a phantom you. Like- you know when people who’ve lost limbs say that they can feel their foot still, or their hand? Like it itches even though it’s not there?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s what it feels like.”
“How weird is it that I can create this bond… but that you seem to be able to do the things like force a fantasy into me or feel my pain.”
“And your pleasure,” he whispered, trailing a finger down her bare arm.
“It’s strange to me that I can’t feel yours,” she whispered, tucking her lips in briefly.
He paused, “maybe you can,” he whispered. She cocked her head at him, “no, no, listen to me… maybe you can. Maybe the issue is that you’re still scared to fully open to me in this way. I’m not scared, Marielle; not even a little. But I can sense that you are – a bit anyway – and I know part of it is that you think that I’m going to break your heart… and even though the clock is running, and actually you’re hurting me, here, I’m not scared.” He swallowed hard, and leaned into her a little so that she had to lean back fully against the couch seat. Slowly, he came over her, but he didn’t lay down or press into her body. “I’m not…scared,” his eyes met with hers intensely. “Close your eyes,” he breathed. She obeyed. “I’m with you, darling. Don’t be afraid. You can trust me. Absolute trust.” He was gently stroking her face, and she felt her walls for the first time. They were tightly around her spirit, protecting her. “There it is,” he breathed, and she shook. He could see them too, couldn’t he? “Can I take them down?” he whispered. “Or do you still need them?”
She tried to breathe, and it came out ragged and shaky. “I-…”
“Okay,” he whispered. “If you’re not sure, then I won’t force them.” She nodded, praying that he understood, and part of her subconscious still related him to Tundra even though she did not see him as that person. “I understand,” he whispered, answering her question.
“Please don’t take this the wrong way,” she said, “but I’m going to ask you to go… I’ll call you first thing in the morning.”
He understood and got up. “I’ll clean up first,” he said, taking the trash to the kitchen, and putting the dishes in the sink.
She followed him to the front door and kissed him goodbye, internally grinning. “What?” he asked.
She shook her head, forcing her thoughts quiet. “Rest well,” she said, salaciously.
He smiled, “Right,” he sighed, desirously.
Then he turned and went down the steps. It’d only take him about ten minutes to get home…so she waited twenty-five before she picked up her phone, and dialed his number. He answered almost instantly. “What?” He chuckled.
“Come back,” she panted, excitedly, knowing that this was her plan the whole time.
“To you? I just got in my sweatpants and t-shirt for the night.”
“Yes… Come back to me, Austin.”
There was a small pause. “Wait, Marielle… did you just send me home to tell me to come back?”
She smirked, “yes?”
He laughed, heartily. “Why?”
She whispered seductively as she spoke, “because I’ve fantasized about this…” she bit her bottom lip, “and I wanted to experience what it was like to say this to you- I’ve been thinking about you all day long… and I’m alone. Come join me, Austin. Spend the night with me.”
She could hear his gulp. “I’m coming.”
“Don’t drive so fast that you crash your car.” She laughed. “I actually want to kiss my lover, not a dead body.”
“I won’t.”
“I’m so in love with you.”
She could hear him grinning, as he got his keys. “You have no idea.”