by L A Moore
Chapter 32
Ari was taking her to a summer fair in town featuring rides, fried foods, contests, a craft area to buy things, and a concert on the green, featuring local artists. She wore a cream lace romper and tan strappy sandals and brought along her blue jean jacket for when it got chilly. She wore her hair down, but packed a scruncii, just in case it got too hot, in her tan leather, cross- body purse.
He pulled up and honked his horn, letting her know he was there, and waited patiently for her to lock her door and get in the truck.
“I hope we won’t have to park too far away, but these things can be a mad house with everyone coming from miles away.” Ari said, and headed toward the town center to find a spot.
They got lucky and found a spot near the pet shop Poppy had once worked for.
They ate fried foods on sticks and out of cups, rode rides, played games, meandered through the crafts, and listened to the music until the sky turned dark and they took their place by the gazebo of the town center to watch the fireworks. Ari had won a giant stuffed panda bear for Poppy and, at the craft section, he had purchased a quilt that she loved, which they used to sit on in the lush grassy expanse.
Chapter 33
Another three months passed, until one day Ari was beaming with pride and confidence the moment she pulled up to work at his home. In his hand he held the most recent copy of Nature magazine. “They did it! They used your photo in my article on bobcats!” Ari said excitedly.
“What? I mean, oh my gosh! I just never thought they would, I guess. Oh my God, I’m a published photographer! Thank you so much, Ari!” Poppy said, looking over the article and admiring her photo on the main page of the article. It was stunning, and took up the whole left page, with the article on the right running two pages. Poppy was ecstatic and kissed Ari. “Can you believe it? I can’t; it’s like a dream come true” she gushed.
“I’m so proud of you! My published girlfriend. Congratulations!” Ari replied, and spun her around and kissed her. “There’s just one thing more, they want to meet you. I told them I would drive you personally to the city this Monday” he added, hoping she would be just as excited as he was for her.
“Oh my gosh! I can’t believe they want to meet me! We need to celebrate!” Poppy said happily, and pulled Ari inside.
Instead of working that day, Poppy and Ari spent the day preparing a feast of pork tenderloin, rolls, gravy, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and a seven layer chocolate iced yellow cake with decadent Ghirardelli chocolate frosting. While Poppy set the table, Ari went next door to get Avianna to join them in the celebration. Together, they ate and laughed and drank well into the evening. Finally, it was time for Poppy to go. She had stayed late so that her head cleared from the alcohol, but she hadn’t spent a night since she left a few months ago. She was afraid to; afraid she would get so caught up in everything that she would cave in and move in, but lately she had been thinking maybe moving in wouldn’t be so bad.
Chapter 34
That Monday, Ari drove Poppy into the city to meet with his publisher. He had worn black dress slacks and a white button down shirt with a black suit jacket over it, and she had worn a white dress with red and pink poppies, and white strappy sandals, and a white suit jacket with gold jewelry. They made a fine pair and his publisher commented as such upon meeting them.
“You two look great together. I’m so happy for the both of you, but today we are here to talk about your photos, Ms. Wilde.” Olivia said, taking a seat at her desk and motioning for them to take the seats in front of her. Olivia was a force to be reckoned with; at five foot five with red hair and crystal clear green eyes. She was older in her forties Poppy surmised. She wore a dress suit and heels and had a sharp but warm smile. “Ari has been sending in some of your photos with his articles for quite some time now. We have been monitoring your progress, and according to your professor you’re one of his top students.” She began.
Poppy and Ari sat silently, listening to what Olivia had to say.
“I have spoken with the Director of Photography here, and we would like to offer you a position if you’re interested. It would be doing exactly as you are now, only for us instead of Ari. Meaning you would work alongside him in the field. The pay is more than generous, I think you will find.” Oliva said, and slid the offer towards Poppy.
Poppy was trying to contain her smile and took the papers up and examined them. They were offering her four times her current wages, because she would be exclusively working with Ari, and all her photos would be sent directly to Nature to review and edit. They offered her four weeks of vacation a year, starting out, and benefits, beginning with health, dental, 401k, retirement, and travel expenses should Ari want to travel. It was too good an offer to turn down and so she didn’t. “I’m interested in the job, and I’d like to take it.” Poppy said, smiling finally.
“Great, then let’s get you over to HR to help you get set up.” Olivia said, standing and motioning for her secretary.
“Please escort Ari and Poppy to HR.” Olivia instructed, and sat down to take a call that had just come through.
It didn’t take long for Poppy to get into the system and to get her own badge to enter the building, and then they whisked her and Ari off to meet the photography lead she would be working under, and the team that would handle her photos. By the time they were all finished, Poppy’s head was spinning. She was excited, but glad to leave the building; it was all so much and too many names to remember. It was a good thing everything she needed to know had been written down, or given to her in her welcome package.
“Congratulations!” Ari said, and spun her around once they had left the building and sat her down again.
“Thank you so much for helping me. Without your help, it might have been years before I got noticed.” She said and kissed him.
“No thanks necessary, you did the work; all I did was turn it in to the right people.” Ari stated. “How about we go to a celebratory lunch, my treat?” Ari asked, and climbed into his truck and tipped the valet.
Poppy climbed in and replied “I would like that very much.”
They dined at an upscale restaurant meant for the upper working class, with lots of wood work, marble table’s, fresh flowers, and an upscale atmosphere. It was lovely, and the food perfect.
“You know, you have almost everything you wanted in your future plans now.” Ari began.
Poppy knew what he was hinting at, but she wasn’t quite ready yet. She needed to see that they could work together professionally, in a team effort, instead of a boss and employee relationship first, and told him so.
Chapter 35
It took her an additional month to work up the nerve to try it on a trial basis. She packed enough clothes for two weeks, and all her bathroom supplies, and her computer stuff and moved in. She maintained the rental, just in case things went sour and she needed a place to go, though.
“I can’t believe you are finally moving in!” Ari exclaimed and he helped her get her bags and bring them inside. He had set up an office for her in one of the upstairs bedrooms so she had her own space, and cleared space for her things in his closet and chest of drawers and bathroom.
“Neither can I, so let’s not focus on that. Let’s just get all this put away and let me settle in. You know how nervous I have been about this.” Poppy replied.
“Ok, sounds great. Where does this bag go?” Ari asked excitedly.
“That is all bathroom stuff.” Poppy replied.
“Oh, I don’t think I made enough room for you.” Ari replied, surprised.
“It’s ok, just put it in the hallway bathroom. It’s about the same size as my bathroom, so it should all fit in there” Poppy ordered.
Ari took the bathroom bag to the hall bath and, as she directed, carried the others here and there over the house.
That evening Ari took Poppy out to celebrate at the pizza place where they first got their start. Just as they were sitting down, Poppy was attacked from behind
.
“Oh my God, it’s been ages since I saw you!” Willa said as she hugged Poppy from behind.
Poppy turned, startled and said “Hey Willa, how are you?”
“I’m doing good. I’ve missed hanging out with you, though. We should have a girl’s night soon.” Willa suggested.
“Yeah, we should. I could use one of those. I have been crazy busy with work and school.” Poppy explained. “Have you met my boyfriend, Ari?” Poppy asked to introduce the two.
“Not formally, no. Hello, I’m Willa, Poppy’s friend.” Willa said, extending her hand to Ari.
Ari shook her hand and said “It’s a pleasure to meet you Willa. I’m Aurion Mooreland, but my friends call me Ari.”
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you too, Ari.” Willa said, smiling.
“We’re here celebrating, would you like to join us?” Ari asked Willa.
“Oh gosh no, I couldn’t, but I just had to say hello to Poppy. Well I’ll see you guys later.” Will said and bounced away.
“She’s a lovely young lady.” Ari commented.
“Yes she is. She was the first friend I made here. I fear I have gotten so caught up in you that I have been rather neglectful of her lately.” Poppy said.
“Oh, I don’t think she minds so much. She looks like she has plenty of friends to me.” Ari replied, watching the bubbly Willa join a table full of other young people her age.
“I just wouldn’t want to hurt her feelings.” Poppy explained.
“Don’t sweat it sweetheart; I’m sure she understands.” Ari comforted Poppy.
They ordered then, and held hands, talking about the future and how they would meld Poppy’s love for color in with Ari’s very manly décor. It was finally decided they would simply sell their furniture and use the money to buy new furniture that both of them could live with.
Poppy wasn’t too keen on selling her stuff and combining everything with Ari, because she was still very much afraid. Taking the leap to move in was a huge move, and now he wanted her to sell all of her stuff and put her faith in them. She finally agreed when he said if things didn’t work out that he would furnish a new home for her. His mother had just lifted his ban on him taking his true form, so they had plenty to celebrate, and they ate pizza and salad and brownies for dessert and laughed as they so often did together.
“I love you so much Poppy.” Ari said as they were walking to his truck.
“I love you to Ari.” Poppy replied.
“Is it too soon to ask you to marry me?” Ari asked.
“Oh my umm yeah, it’s a bit too soon for that. I’m still reeling over the fact that I just moved in with you. Give me some time, and I’ll tell you when I’m ready for that.” Poppy replied shocked. He was moving way too fast for her. “You have to remember my childhood Ari, all this is just too fast for me. I need you to slow down and let me adjust to things as they are before you propose.” Poppy explained.
“Ok, ok I’ll slow down, but I can’t help wanting to spend the rest of my life with you.” Ari conceded.
“And I want to spend the rest of my life with you, but I just need you to go slow with me.” Poppy retorted.
In the last few months’, Poppy had finally relaxed and began staying the night again, and one night had turned into a couple, and a couple into a week until she had finally relented and moved in. Ari wanted her to know his intentions were marriage so that there was no confusion as to where they were headed in the future. He was even willing to sell everything he had to make her happy but, in truth, there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to make her happy.
“Are you ready to go home, my love?” Ari asked, grinning from ear to ear. He just couldn’t help it, he loved that she had moved in with him.
“Yes, I am ready to go home and soak in the tub and curl up with you in our bed.” Poppy replied.
“Mmm, can I help the lady into the tub?” Ari asked her, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
They drove home with Poppy rubbing and kissing on Ari, and Ari kissing and rubbing on Poppy.
By the time they got home, both of them were pretty hot and bothered.
They came together explosively, barely making it into the house before they removed each other clothes. They were naked before they hit their bedroom door, and Ari took Poppy against the door before moving over to the bed and finishing her off there. Afterwards, he drew her bath and took immense pleasure in giving her a sponge bath.
Chapter 36
The next morning, Ari went out for his usual walk about his land. He had just transformed when he heard a rustle in the woods nearby. Turning into a chipmunk, he made his way over to the noise and saw a hunter with his back to him, about to kill one of the dears that called his mountain home. He turned into his human form and redressed quickly, then acted as if he just happened upon the hunter while out walking. “This is private property, as I am sure you saw on your way up here. I’m going to have to ask you leave.” Ari said forcefully.
“Who the hell are you to tell me where I can and can’t hunt?” the drunken hunter asked.
“I’m the land owner and I say you have to go, or I’m calling the cops.” Ari threatened. He was a scraggly looking man with gray hair, and a long gray beard. Your typical mountain man, with the overalls and camo to boot. He was taller than Ari, and bigger too, but he was unaffected by the man’s obvious upper foot in the situation. He didn’t want to fight him, but he knew that if it came to it, he would win the fight, for what he lacked in girth and length, he more than made up for in speed and muscle, despite his human appearance.
“Yeah, well, maybe folks who don’t respect hunters meet accidents” he threatened back.
“Maybe hunters who come on other people’s land meet accidents too.” Ari said, not backing down; the urge to transform so strong he had to fight it.
“I’m leaving, but it isn’t because you told me to. It’s because I ran out of beer, and there isn’t anything worth shooting on this hill anyways” the drunken hunter said.
Ari watched him go and, when he was sure he had got in his truck and left, he transformed back to his true form and continued his walk. Men like that made him so angry, thinking they had the right to do what they wanted, and go where they wanted, just because they had a gun. Well, he didn’t need a gun to protect him, because he wasn’t like his Father, who never changed into dangerous creatures. He had changed into many of them, and he had no problems teaching that piece of shit a lesson. As a general rule, Ari only used gentle creatures to turn into but he had, on rare occasions, turned into a more aggressive animal. It wasn’t frowned upon per se, but it was the possibility of losing one’s temper while in those forms and hurting others that was frowned upon and, once you had transformed into one, the urge to feel its power and fierce strength was addicting. It was why he had not taken Poppy’s request to see him as a bear so lightly. Even though she didn’t know what she was asking, he did, and, since that point in time, he had wanted any reason to turn back into one. This hunter was giving him plenty of reason. He stalked about, kicking rocks and throwing downed trees until he wasn’t so angry anymore, and then transformed back into his human form, redressed, and went home.
Poppy was waiting on the back patio for him, her crocheted shawl wrapped about her. “I was wondering when you might come home.” Poppy said, smiling up at him and kissing him on the mouth.
“I ran into a hunter and had to run him off. I’m sorry I’m late, but I needed to blow off some steam.” Ari explained.
“It’s ok, I understand. I’m glad you got rid of him before he killed any of our animals or hurt you. I worry about you out in the woods.” Poppy admitted.
“I’ll be ok; I won’t make the same mistakes my Father made.” Ari said and kissed the top of her head, pulling her close to him, promising he would never end up like his Dad.
Chapter 37
They walked back into the house, and Poppy had Ari help her with her latest assignment, photographing people in their everyd
ay lives. So while he sat reading the paper, she took photos of him, and while he was eating his lunch, and working in his office, and even when he took a shower and shaved. She wanted a whole range of photos that would really show life in the day of one person, but when she set up the tripod and wanted to take pictures of them making love, he drew the line.