by Cat Mann
****
Rory and Julia didn’t waste any time moving their stuff into our home. They drove to L.A. that night, taking both my car and Ari’s, and packed up then drove straight back. They made several trips and the last one brought them back to our place really late, but both Ari and I were still up, watching some highly addictive and unbelievably trashy reality show marathon. We were both yelling at the people on the TV when I heard the front door open and then a loud crash that followed right behind it.
Ari got up to see what happened and I heard Rory yell out a few cuss words.
“What was that all about?” I asked when Ari flopped back down on the couch.
“Rory just tripped over that big box you left by the front door.”
“What big box?” I asked, having no clue about what he was talking about.
“You know that one box that came a few weeks ago? It’s been sitting there, untouched, ever since you signed for it.”
I sat there forever racking my brain, trying to remember signing for a box, and then it finally dawned on me.
“Ohh, the one François sent from Montréal.”
I just barely remembered signing for the package, back when I was in my zombie-like state.
“Yeah, that one. What’s in it, anyway?”
“Obviously, I do not know, Ari,” I said with playful attitude. “As you just saw, I left it sitting in front of the door for the last three weeks, unopened.”
He threw himself on me in a playful attack and I broke out into a fit of laughter as he tickled me and kissed me all over. Once again, I forgot about the big box.
It had grown late and Ari stood up and stretched his hand out for me to grasp. He pulled me up to my feet and we walked together to our bedroom. Ari began to unload his pockets on to the dresser; he slipped off his watch and pulled out his wallet and keys. I pulled open his dresser drawer and pulled out a tee and some boxers. I walked with the clothes in to the closet and shut the door behind me.
I can do this. They are just clothes.
I gave myself a pep talk. I shoved the borrowed tee-shirt and boxers onto a shelf in the closet and walked to the back corner where a row of very sexy, lacy teddies hung neatly together. I closed my eyes, grabbed a black strappy piece of lingerie, took a few deep breaths and for the first time slipped on the clothes.
After a bit of pacing, I cracked the closet door open; our room was lit by the soft candle-like glow of the bedside light. Ari was just walking out of the bathroom. He ran his hand through his hair and began to walk over towards the bed. I pushed the closet door open the rest of the way and did my best to walk out calmly. Ari looked up at me. He blinked, smiled slyly, cocked his head to the side and ran his tongue across his bottom lip. I blushed. Ari pounced. He was at my side in a heartbeat. Ari knotted his fingers around the back of my head and pushed me, hard, back against the wall. His lips were on mine. I moved my hands down to the hem of his shit and struggled to pull it off him. He beamed at me and pinned me to the wall with his hips while he pulled the shirt, with carnal grace, away from his lean body. Ari grabbed hold of my bottom and slid me up the wall while he dropped his boxers to the floor. He wrapped my legs around him. He pulled at the bottom part of my lacy, black attire and flexed himself up against me. I closed my eyes and let my need for Ari take control.