Every day, when you come home from work, I greet you. I put down whatever I'm doing, and welcome you. Throw my arms around your neck and place my ear to your heartbeat. You brush the nape of my neck with the back of your fingers, kiss me on the forehead, and then on the lips. I give a satisfied sigh, and I melt into you. You deserve that baby. Someone who's pleased to see you. Who has time to put you first.
Some days though, like today, I don't submit to our well worn ritual. I let you wander through the house, empty, quiet, and cold. It's not one of the days I have plans, you know I'm here. But for some reason, today I've left you hanging.
You stand in the doorway of my office, that irked expression on your face. Disappointed that I failed to observe our little ceremony. And then, you notice. I'm wearing my silver necklace. Our signal.
Your expression changes. I didn't forget today, what I was supposed to do. I chose to defy you. And now I'm wearing the necklace. The Hamsa hand pendant peeps out at you, nestled in the cleft of my throat. A raised hand can mean stop, but this one points down. It wards off evil, but it doesn't protect against danger. But then you can't go through life avoiding danger.
You put your hands on my shoulders. Spin me around in my chair to face you.
Our eyes lock. Normally, if I see that critical glare, I sink and cast my gaze down, avoiding yours. But today, I'm challenging you. Not boldly, because... that's not my style, is it? But a quiet, calculated defiance. I nervously run my tongue over my upper lip. Forcing you to make the first overture.
"Too busy to greet me today?" you ask, daring me to make a wrong answer.
Such a subtle play. We know each other so intimately, we don't need to reveal all our secrets in the first act.
Everyone appreciates a little dramatic tension though, *don't they*?
I chew my lip now. The air feels dense in my lungs, but I'm not going to break character.
"No Sir" I tell you, clearly. "Not really".
That's it. "Sir". Another flag dropped, so now all bets are off.
Your eyes narrow. Your jaw is set. I'm close enough to inhale the scent of you, a deep, predatory musk rises like steam from your exposed skin. One with better survival instincts might be repelled by such a warning. But it only draws me closer, makes me weaker.
My heart skips a beat when you move towards me, and seize my arm, above the elbow. Vice-like, you grasp me, and your touch seems to sear my skin. I can already feel those fingertip shaped bruises forming.
"What's your problem?" You ask me.
What is my problem? Who knows? But I want this. I like this.