Anna had been called out of town for over a week just after her little jog with Arin. They had kept in touch despite their busy schedules. Every night, she found herself glancing at her phone as she brushed her teeth, and every night he would call right on time.
Somewhere in the middle of phone sex and binge-watching Netflix as they slipped off to sleep, she had done what she promised herself she wouldn't. The flirtatious winks of other men had suddenly become less interesting, and the one date she did have while out of town seemed to be the most boring two hours of her life. Never fall for a sub, her teacher had told her, but of course when was the last time Anna ever listened to a man?
*************
The long drive back to the university seemed a perfect time to clear her head and enjoy the changing of the seasons. The chill in the air always made her feel hopeful for better things to come. Etta James crooned over the radio as Anna's mind wandered to things she'd never considered before. "Stormy Weather" seemed a perfectly fitting tune.
When she arrived at her apartment, the streets were unusually vacant and a crack of thunder rang out in the distance. Tucking a small black box into her purse, she moved quickly to retrieve her bag from the trunk before the rain could soak it. It wasn't until she had closed her car door that she saw Arin standing shyly across the street. He gave her a little wave and bounded toward the trunk, slipping the heavy suitcase out of her hand and glancing up at the dark sky.
Somehow he looked both relaxed and anxious as they made their way up the stairs and through the front door in comfortable silence. The heavy rain was courteous enough to wait until they were in the comfort of her apartment to pelt down in angry waves.
"You didn't need to meet me, I'm sure you had lots to do on a Sunday," she said, giving him a small smile and slipping off her heels at the front door.
"I didn't have to but I missed you. Besides, I wanted to tell you I got an increase in my stipend with my review. They said I've seemed more relaxed and less a bundle of nerves these last few weeks. Imagine that," he chuckled, placing the bag down just inside the door and watching her closely. He had started to step forward for a hug but seemed to have thought better of it.
"That sounds like good news. More relaxed hmm?" She couldn't help but smile.
"Mhmm, but anyway, it's enough to afford a nicer place to live," he offered, glancing at his shoes with a small smile on his lips.
"I see. You did mention you were looking for somewhere better. What else did they say?" she asked, redirecting his attention back to her by clearing her throat.
"Oh, something about my not always pushing so hard, or challenging my project supervisor. It's certainly not from cumming more often than when I was sing...I mean before we started...seeing each other," he teased, a blush of embarrassment on his cheeks.
Anna stepped forward, scanning his face with a smile. She had missed his blushes almost as much as his mouth and then there were the nagging feelings she couldn't seem to push down. She took his hand in hers, enjoying the sudden tingle his skin provided. Her eyes glanced over at her purse on the floor and she bit her bottom lip.
Worrying was a silly, useless emotion. She told herself that she could change her mind at any time and so there was no reason for the nervous butterflies in her stomach. It was only a key to her apartment but it was her way of figuring out just what it was he expected. Not every man would want to be a live-in submissive. There was always a chance he'd flee at the idea. Shaking her head of the thoughts, she tugged him closer, looking into his eyes.
"I'm proud of you for making progress at work. I know that it means a lot to make a name for yourself. Imagine how much they'd like your work if I had hold of you 24/7," she said with a tense laugh. He relaxed and laughed softly, his fingers twining with hers.
"So I'm your little improvement project, is that how it goes?" He smirked, stepping forward and reaching one hand to grip the swell of her hip.
"Something like that, of course, that's assuming you can be improved upon," she retorted, pushing him away playfully.
She scooped the bulky suitcase off the floor and headed straight to the bedroom, leaving him to stand alone or tag along. Of course, he chose the latter.
"I could have taken that for you, you know," he muttered to himself.
"What are your plans for today?" she asked, slinging the bag onto the bed and unzipping it. She took the toiletries bag out and began arranging things on the bed before he could even answer.
"I was hoping we might grab a bite to eat...or given this weather, maybe I could make you dinner. I...I've missed you, Anna,"
She dropped her heels back into the bag and turned to look at him. There was a sudden change of tone in his voice that made everything else slip away. It was a desperate, almost innocent switch that always seemed to take her by surprise. He played the confident extrovert so well. It was that softer side of him, the one he seemed only comfortable showing to her, that made her whole body grow warm.
"We've spoken almost every night since I left. How much could you have missed me?"
"I wondered that too. It seems the more we talk, the more I want you," he muttered, leaning his shoulder against the doorjamb and shrugging.
"Hmm maybe I should leave more often then," she teased, beckoning him closer with her finger and abandoning her task.
"The only good thing about your being gone is seeing you again," he mumbled under his breath.
In an instant, he was inches from her, searching her brown eyes with his baby blues. She wondered what he was thinking when he looked at her. Was the heat nearly as strong on the other end of things? Had these last few weeks really been just what he needed and if so...how long could it last?
"I don't feel like going out today. It's been a long drive, but I do have something for you. I've missed you too," she said, reaching to trace his bottom lip with her finger and making him shiver. His face brightened at her words and he kissed her fingertip.
"A gift? How...how did you know it's my birthday?" he blurted, a broad grin on his lips. "I...usually try to keep quiet about it."
"It's your birthday? Why didn't you tell me that on the phone?"
"I guess, I didn't think it was important. I don't really like having a fuss made over me," he said, glancing down at the floor.
"Arin...everything," she took a deep breath before continuing, "Everything about you is important. So...don't keep things from me."
He paused for a long moment, soaking up her words and struggling to hold her gaze. His eyes looked a bit glazed as he stared at her. Did he really not believe he could be important or was it that he didn't feel important to her? She didn't like either prospect.
"I'm sorry, Anna. I'll try. It's just that I'd sooner make a fuss over you," he confessed, biting his bottom lip. He looked so cute when he did that.
"I guess maybe we will have to go out in the rain anyway then. I don't have anything to make a cake or even dinner so I guess maybe I could call around for reservations," she said, mostly to herself as she turned to walk into the kitchen.
"A cake isn't really necessary...I don't need," he muttered, taking a step forward and resting a hand on her shoulder gently, stopping her in her tracks. She turned to argue that Birthdays were a big deal but fell silent when she was met with his face inches from hers. The hurried preoccupation suddenly fell away.
"What do YOU want for your birthday, then?"
"A birthday kiss would be nice."
"A...kiss? That's all you want? I mean you could ask for so much more," she teased, trying to ignore the anxious knot in her stomach.
He leaned forward, slowly moistening his lips and nodding. His hands reached to caress each side of her neck though he didn't pull her forward. Anna sighed softly, placing her hands on his chest. Of course, he would ask for that...it had been on both of their minds since day one.
"Look, I do like you, Arin, very much, but kisses...it's best to leave those for...I'm not looking for a boyfriend. A submissive, a pet, a friend, but not a boyfriend," she whispered, leaning in close and scanning his handsome face.
"I will understand if that's not something you want, but you should tell me now if that's the case."
"I'm not going anywhere," he said, a mixture of confusion and lust in his eyes as he furrowed his brow. "But, is there any other reason?"
"There is another reason, yes. I already told you. I don't kiss subs. It makes it so much harder when things end, and so I've made it a rule for myself to avoid it. I take rules very seriously," she muttered, clearing her throat.
"But what if it doesn't end? What if..." he began, looking into her eyes with an unspoken flood of thoughts and hopes that she shared.
"Everything ends eventually, Arin. Now, close your eyes," she said, gripping his hips and tugging him closer.
Excitement flashed over his face as he followed her direction. She hesitated for a moment, remembering the last thing her previous sub had said to her before he left. Maybe her teacher had been right after all. Keeping a submissive at arm's length is the easiest thing for everyone.
She leaned forward, bringing her lips to the side of his neck, brushing them softly against his warm skin as he fought to keep his eyes closed. Her teeth grazed his flesh as she sucked gently, bringing the blood just to the surface and easing off. Arin moaned softly and his lips turned up into a wide smile, expecting more to happen despite what she had just told him. When she pulled away, he let out a little whimper and popped his eyes open.
"You didn't say where you'd like your kiss, Birthday Boy," she said with a smile that made him chuckle and shake his head. "Figure out what take-out you'd like and then it's back to the bedroom for you. You've already wasted half of your birthday, and you have a gift to open." He started to ask a question but decided to make his way into the kitchen for the take out menus instead.
