The food sizzled in the pan as I moved my torso to the big band music playing in the background.
Suzie had a late night at the office today, so we were having dinner at 9:00 tonight. It was too late to eat, but I could bet all the money in my bank account that she hadn't eaten lunch or dinner. I glanced at my watch quickly, making sure I was on time. The only thing left was to toss the quinoa salad and pop the garlic bread in the oven.
I uncorked a wine bottle to let it breathe and laid out the silverware and plates. Scanning everything one last time, I ran over my mental checklist. Low-fat white turkey gumbo, quinoa salad, snow peas, and garlic bread.
I twirled around and punched the air in triumph. I love my gumbo...it's healthy but delicious. It was one too many carbs for a weekday...but
fuck it...
maybe it would make us more curvy!
My brain stopped as I imagined gripping her soft hips and I had to mentally slap myself.
I looked down at my shorts and stained shirt that I'd gotten tomato juice on and panicked. My socks were fluffy and comfortable and I slid down the hallway to change before she got home.
I dug out my most comfortable pants that still looked okay and opted for a distressed black tee we bought at a concert. It carried warm fuzzies in the threads of the cloth and the memory of that day made us both smile.
I slid back into the kitchen just as I heard the door click shut and I slid down the front hallway, stopping right in front of her with a giant grin.
"Hi!"
She smiled at me as I took all her crap off her. She always carried too many bags on her and I was anxious to hold her in my arms.
"Hi, Mor! You look pleased with yourself!"
"I made my turkey gumbo!" I exclaimed while I finally enveloped myself around her body. She wore a pantsuit to work today and her dress shirt was perfectly tailored to look amazing on her. I nosed at her cheek and smelled her neck. She smelled better than our dinner.
"Ah! That's why you're excited..."
I grinned as I looked at her and shuffled us back into the door.
"I'm excited for other reasons..." I pressed my hips into hers, pinning her into the wooden door and she squeaked.
"You're terrible..." She kissed me, grazing her lips over mine slowly.
"Terribly head over heels, whipped silly, and crazy nuts for you." I held my arms around her back and she squeezed back. Her head rested on my shoulder and she held me. The oven dinged. "Oh, crap. Give me one second, sorry!"
She nodded and I zoomed back to the kitchen to pull out the bread.
"You hungry?"
"
Starving!
"
"Excellent! Everything's ready!"
She drew close and hugged me again. I twisted around and accepted her tight hug. She wasn't moving at all, just holding herself to me. I started to worry but held her, tossing off my oven mitts on the island. I caressed her back and nuzzled my head on hers, letting her take her time.
"Bad day?"
"Hm. Horrible."
I
tsked
softly and squeezed her roughly once. I leaned my head to peck the side of her face with kisses, reaching her neck where I dug my face in and tickled her, making her giggle and squirm.
I rotated us to press her into the kitchen island. Her hands relaxed around me and dropped to clasp at the small of my back. I continued my slow pecks on every surface of her face, reaching her collarbones where I mouthed softly.
"Who do I have to kill?"
She snorted.
"Everyone at work, starting with Charles."
"Done. Will you still love me if I'm wearing an orange jumpsuit for life?"
"Of course! We can write each other."
I chuckled and leaned back to look in her eyes.
"Wanna talk about it?"
"No...I'm so fed up still, I want to forget about it for now."
I rose one eyebrow at that and she smacked my arm.
"Not like that! I just mean I want to have dinner and breathe for a little while."
Kissing her slowly one last time, I stepped back and brought her with me.
"Wanna go change then? Go get into your pjs."
"Okay." She kissed me before she went to the bedroom.
I took everything off the dining room table and transferred it to the couch instead. I dimmed the lights and put on a comforting show we've watched several times over.
She padded back in her worn pjs with her hair in a high bun, her make up wiped off and I smiled at her.
She kissed my cheek before sitting down and pulled her legs up underneath her to settle in to watch the episode we already knew by memory.
We made small talk in pauses over the next couple of hours and I could see the calm seeping into her bones and eyes.
She laid her head on my lap and I reached behind me to grab at a throw blanket, covering her up.
Soon enough, she was asleep and I scrolled through my phone, alternating between work and social media.
At one o'clock, she was still knocked out and it was time to call it a night. I stretched my limbs and slipped out under her. I made my rounds around the house, securing the door, closing blinds, and doing the bare minimum in the kitchen with the leftovers since it was so late. She was deep asleep and I scooped her up in my arms. She didn't wake, she must be so exhausted.
I fell asleep with her in my arms and wished for an easier day for her tomorrow. I almost wish I could be there in her office all day and threaten bodily harm to anyone who looked at her funny.
----
She stirred on top of me, stretching her leg and I traced circles on her shoulder.
"Good morning, baby girl..." My voice was scratchy in the morning.
"Don't call me that..." She said sleepily and I chuckled.
"Why not?"
"It gets me hot and I don't think we have time for that this morning." She yawned deeply.
"No?"
She yawned again and shivered.
"No...I have an early meeting..."
"Ah, that's too bad...What time can you be free today?"
"Eh, I think my last important meeting is around noon."
"Can you skive off work early today?" It was Friday and I was done with this week too, anxious to have her in my space all weekend.
She leaned on an arm and looked in my eyes, wide awake now and eyes glittering.
"For?"
"Do you want a surprise or should I just tell you?"
She considered and pursed her lips comically.
"Surprise!"
"Okay, so get out of work and we can take off from here around 2:00ish?"
"Dress code?"
"Casual. Comfortable. Sturdy shoes. Light jacket."
She smiled widely and pressed her lips to mine, holding them there.
"I'll step out around that time and I'll pick you up for our date? Would that be okay?"
"Sounds good..." Her smile was as wide as I've ever seen.
I smiled warmly back at her, trying to convey empathy, love, desire, anything she wants...anything she needs to get through today.
"God, I wish I could fuck you..." She pouted and shoved herself off the bed, forcefully standing up and marching into the shower.
I raised an eyebrow and waggled my head, conceding that her fucking me would be a very good idea. I swallowed up my need for her and went to the kitchen to finish cleaning what I didn't pick up yesterday.
I made her disgusting green smoothie for her and she smiled, kissing me sweetly when she saw it.
"Hope you have a better day today..."
"Me too...See you later..."
"Later..." My mouth pulled to one side as I followed her with my mouth out the door. She giggled and shut the door in my face.
I was working on the kitchen still when I heard the door click again around the corner.
"
Forgot my laptop! Bye!
"
"Bye babe!"
I started to plan today. I wasn't going to get any work done today anyway so I opted to lean into it and not even attempt to write today. After all, wouldn't spending time with my divine muse also be part of my writing process? I was convincing myself that my procrastination was validated as I made the bed and put on some rock music.
I left with my things early and came back to "pick her up."
I knocked on the door and leaned against the door jamb.
She opened the door and had on a ponytail and her cargo shorts. Her peach tank top and jacket was adorable.
"Hi!"
"Hi."
I smiled at her, letting her look at me for a second, too.
"May I come in?" I asked with a smirk.