Erica Dawson or Dee as those close to her always called her was a promising career woman in her late twenties slowly working her way towards the top at a mid-sized law firm in Manchester. She was a pleasant person to be around and well liked by everyone, clients, co-workers as well as her superiors. In many ways she was just like any other up and coming business man or woman. One of the exceptions that separated her was that while most of her equals, focused on their careers and living life in the fast lane had homes inside the city limits. Erica herself owned a small remotely located townhouse an hour outside Manchester. Preferring the drudgery of commuting back and forth to the lack of privacy and cramped quarters the city offered. This Friday afternoon she longed for nothing more than to return home to her house knowing that Taj would have arrived and be there waiting for her. She sighed softly knowing she still had a couple of hours to go until she was done at the office and returned her focus to the document in front of her, a case she had been asked to review earlier during the day. She made a few notes on the side and continued reading.
When six a clock finally arrived she closed the file she was working on and locked it into one of her office drawers, grabbed her coat off the hanger and headed for the elevators. She was so excited and happy that the weekend had finally come. On her way out she met a small group of her co-workers, all of them in the same cheerful spirit. Though for different reasons Erica thought to herself and while they were unaware of her own source of joy she had little doubt about what was on their minds.
"Pints?" George asked the question as if on queue with Erica's thoughts. He was a big round charismatic fellow in his late thirties that always seemed to be able to spin a good story out of anything.
"Thanks but I have to get home. I've got plans this weekend." Erica answered with a smile.
"Again?! Oooh, someone's back on the wagon!" Melissa giggled, she was a petite woman with very short hair and a very cute angular face.
"Something like that!" Erica joined Melissa's mirth and laughed, confirming her friends conclusion and dispelling any mystery regarding the plans for the weekend.
"Good for you Dee." Andrea cheered. The woman was a liaison from one of the firms American partners and while Erica didn't know her all to well the she seemed very friendly and had quickly picked up on using Erica's nickname during casual encounters. "Seems I'm stuck with visiting the watering holes with these drunks!" Andrea rolled her eyes and playfully showed her elbow into George's side.
George grinned ear to ear and entered the elevator with a playful outburst. "Onward mates! To the watering holes!"
The joyful chit chatter continued while the elevator brought them down. At ground level her friends bid her farewell and exited, heading for the pubs while Erica waited for the elevator to bring her further down to the parking garage. Finally there she got into her Mini, a present her late father had grazed her with when she had graduated law school and slowly steered her way out the garage, through the city and finally out on the open roads.
The sun was slowly descending on the horizon when she pulled up on her drive way. A few minutes earlier she had left the major road and traveled on the small but well maintained trail that led up to her home. By the lights inside her windows she knew that it was now at least past 7:30, as summer drew closer she'd have to adjust the timers on the lights but for now it seemed like she had the timing down well enough. She got her purse out of the passenger seat, locked her car and walked around the house and entered through the back door that she'd left open so Taj could get in. The entrance took her into the laundry room where she found the small suitcase he had brought as well as a pile of the clothing he'd been wearing while traveling. Erica quietly discarded her purse and coat, taking care not to make any noise. She listened carefully as she sneaked further into her home, everything seemed like she had left it this morning. When she on silent feet entered the kitchen she found the first sign of that something was different, the bowl of water she had put in a corner was now empty. He had definitely been here. She continued her search and eventually she spotted him stretched out on his side in the bed. She leaned against the door frame for a moment, taking in the sight of Taj. The last of the fading sun rays played over his skin, olive colored from birth mixed with the black decorations that adorned his body. The decorations, as he had referred to them the first time they met each other, swirled up his limbs almost covering his body. His long dark brown hair falling around his neck and shoulders, partially concealing the wolfish features of his face. Up and down her eyes traveled his body, from the shoulders and lean muscular arms, down across the powerful torso and yet further down along his strong looking legs. Her Taj was not model thin nor a pretty boy but he had an aura of capability surrounding him, a powerhouse for his size. She walked over to the bed and snuggled up close behind his naked form and sighed into the back of his neck. She could feel him start to stir from his sleep, he growled softly, surprised at the interruption of his rest.
Erica only smiled and continued to snuggle him. "Grumpy boy.."
Taj seemed to try to turn towards her but she remained close, holding him down. The growl grew deeper until she decided to clamp her hand over his mouth.
