Last night, Viv had a nightmare about snapdragon flowers. She couldn't explain it, just that she was unnerved and uncomfortable upon awakening. The heat wave was responsible. She'd been born, raised, and lived in a region where air conditioning was incredibly rare and incredibly expensive because there was no need for it. Cloudy and damp all year round. Even wearing a t-shirt and shorts, Viv could and did get sick in weather that was over eighty degrees. She was beyond grateful to learn about ice packs and sports drinks, and how to use them. When she bought a standing fan for her apartment, she practically felt her life expectancy extend. She'd had the same one for nearly twenty years and was possessive of it.
When Viv slept in summer, only the fan was on. She didn't sleep with ice packs. She slept in loose and covering pajamas. Her body didn't need to be on display. She swam every day in a t-shirt, and when one of her now former roommates offered to buy her a wetsuit, she considered it before realizing he was joking.
Viv had moved to this apartment a few months ago. She was slowly getting to know her neighbors, and had gone on a few dates when people tried to set her up. Hadn't worked out, but she was happy to be thought of. Viv was the assistant to an event planner who was widely beloved and worked grueling hours. Lucy needed assistance with various tasks and someone to talk to, as well as vent her frustrations. Viv had filled this role for various people for over a decade. She took them at their word when they fired her on stressful days, then came in for her final paycheck and ignored the sometimes genuine tears when they insisted she come back. "You made it clear I need to be elsewhere," she pointed out calmly. None of them ever apologized or changed their behavior. Viv didn't expect them to. Some of them yelled at her or tried to intimidate her instead. It hadn't happened with this job yet.
Lucy, though, had recognized Viv's new address right away. She knew Viv's landlord. They'd grown up together, somehow. Viv had been more focused on other documentation she needed to hand over for her first day.
"Do you like him?"
"Oh, I haven't really gotten a chance to know him," Viv said, buried in paperwork.
"Do you think he's cute?"
"Do I what?" Viv asked sharply, raising her gaze to her employer's smile. "He is my landlord!"
"I don't think you're trying to get free rent or anything. I just wondered."
"I don't approach men," Viv grumbled, irritated at being teased yet again. "I'm too shy and can be very old-fashioned. I'm content being single." Back to the paperwork.
She had been struck by how hot her landlord was hen they first met. Thankfully she'd written out questions. Otherwise she would have barely spoken a word. David's voice alone made her want to lock herself in a restroom and masturbate. He was way, way out of her league. Rather than drool over David, Viv hardly looked at him at first. She noticed his hands. And thought about him touching her. So much, that she had to ask him to repeat himself. "It's a lot of information to take in," he said politely, and repeated his last point. Paperwork signed. Phone numbers exchanged. Polite greetings when they saw each other in the halls. She paid her rent on time or sometimes early.
"You okay?" David asked Viv. He locked away the envelope.
Viv startled. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Is work getting to you? I know Lucy can be a lot sometimes."
"No. I'm fine. Lucy's fine. Just--nightmares because it's been hot."
David's gaze raked over Viv. "You're even hot wearing that?"
Viv wore loose, thin green sweatpants and a deep blue tank top. She shrugged. Her arms and collarbone were exposed. She was starting to sweat anyway. "I have ice packs and sports drinks. I'll be fine," she said, and turned to leave.
David stood up, so close behind her that she felt his chest against her back. "I have air conditioning. It's going to be nearly a hundred degrees."
Viv was too hot to really consider much. She allowed David to lead her out of the office, his hand on her elbow.
Viv sighed in relief as the cold air of David's apartment enveloped her. She could be calm now. She could think. She startled when David locked his apartment door.
"No pets, no roommates, no girlfriend. Just us." He smiled.
Viv took a step back. "I really don't do this."
David frowned. "Sit down. Just--sit. Relax. I'm not going to have you faint." He ushered her to a loveseat in his living room. It was a two bedroom apartment. Viv had a studio. David got a bottle of water, then some cold stew--Viv's favorite when it was hot out--when she couldn't remember what or when she'd eaten. Viv had given David the recipe right before summer started.
"How are you feeling?" David asked cautiously. Viv groaned. Even with air conditioning, food and water, she was lightheaded, dizzy, and needed to sit down. She was already sitting down.
"Don't panic," David instructed. He half-walked, half-carried her into his bedroom. Viv let him. "I'll get you an ice pack."
"The back of my neck," Viv tried to tell him. She was so tired, and wanted to cry. She lay down on his bed, fully dressed and on top of the covers. She rolled onto her side, then rolled around and tried to get comfortable. David placed the ice pack on her neck and wrists every fifteen minutes. Viv was less miserable, but still miserable. Somehow, she was able to doze off.
When she awoke, she didn't know where she was at first, or why someone was next to her. David stirred.
"How you feeling?"
"Better. A little out of it, but much better." She hesitated, then propped herself up on an elbow and turned to face him. "The sun has set. I think I'll be okay. It's cooler now." She moved to get out of the bed. David moved much faster, backing her into the center of the bed. The coverlet fell away. Her landlord was in his boxers. He had dozed beside her and cuddled her. He pulled her to him now, gripping her elbows.
"I should watch you for twenty-four hours."
Viv shook her head. David placed his knees on either side of Viv's hips, and was on his hands and knees above her. "You don't have to." Viv looked him in the eye. He was hot, but Viv was aware she'd be a number on the bedpost or however it went, and a story for David to tell at the pub. Viv hadn't had sex in...she counted silently. Five years ago. A drunken hookup with a stranger because she didn't get into grad school. "I will anyway." David put a hand on her chest as a way to try and keep Viv there, then trailed his hand down her body. Vivian was turned on and sighed a little to herself. A mix of relief that she could get laid, and disappointment and a little bit of fear that this was how it was turning out.
David put his hand down her panties and brushed her clitoris, then put two fingers inside her vagina. "You want this," he said softly. He ran his thumb along her clitoris as he moved his fingers. "You're tight."
"I'm narrow."
