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‘No? I was convinced. I can usually tell, because your vocabulary for a few minutes consists purely of my name, preceded by an obscenity of your choice. Shit, Ariella. Fuck, Ariella. Damn, Ariella, and so on…Then you get into the Holys. Holy shit. Holy fuck. Holy Mother…’ She counts them off on her fingers as she chuckles to herself.
‘You’re such a cheeky cow.’ I pretend to be offended but, truthfully, I love it when she takes the piss out of me.
‘Anyway, tell me, which one was it? I was pretty certain that was it. You swore the most, by far, when you were doing that.’
She isn’t wrong. That’s going to be repeated. I make a note. She enjoyed it too.
‘I think I enjoyed Sunday morning the most.’
I pull her close to breathe her in. We lie there silently, embracing each other for a few minutes. I don’t want to let her go.
‘Caleb,’ she starts. ‘I really enjoyed Sunday morning too, but it blurred a lot of lines for me. I don’t know if I can give that to you.’
I nod, even though the lines are very clear to me. Last Sunday morning was bliss. We woke up entangled in each other’s arms after a day of sexual exploration and chasing each other around the apartment. If the shelter knew how many times Ariella and I came close to burning various body parts while cooking for them, they would have had me arrested. She did look cute in nothing but an apron. We were up to greet the sun, talking and kissing all morning, then eventually got into the shower together. She washed me all over and I helped wash, condition and detangle her hair while chattering away. We needed a second shower that morning because we got a little carried away. She made me baked salmon and caviar eggs for breakfast while I prepped her grapefruit, stealing kisses with our bodies rarely disconnecting. After breakfast, we watched a couple of news shows under a blanket with wandering hands, kissing, arguing and laughing, before we got dressed and walked to the tube station holding hands. I wanted to lock our front door and never leave. I wouldn’t have cared if we never had sex again. We were so connected; it felt like we had blended into one.
‘Snippets of Saturday then?’
‘I’d like that.’ She looks away smiling, embarrassed.
It’s not what I want, but it will do for now. However, I’m going to throw everything I have at her, to get Jasper out of her system.
‘That’s such good news…’
I break our embrace and get on top of her, kissing my way down her body as she giggles. I slide her knickers back off slowly, then plant kisses up her perfect leg until my mouth finds her delicate space. I raise an eyebrow and throw her a wink before I bury myself in it. It doesn’t take long for her moans to take over.
TWENTY-FIVE
ARIELLA
I am seized by an intense panic as my eyes open. I remind myself to breathe deeply and slowly. The bedside clock flashes 05:12 at me as my ears tune in to Caleb’s breathing. I am waking up in Caleb’s bed. Naked. Again. What am I doing? I roll out of bed quietly on to my knees, then scramble through a crumpled pile of clothes on the floor, searching for my underwear. The humiliation settles in. I need to make my escape with whatever little dignity I have left.
I eventually find my underwear and tiptoe silently to the door.
It seems like for ever since I deserted my date on Friday. In reality, it has only been four days. Oh no. Piers. This is turning into a nightmare. Friday was completely unexpected. I had dismissively toyed with the idea of getting under someone, but hadn’t expected to; and I certainly hadn’t expected it to happen with Caleb. In my imagination, it was going to be awkward, embarrassing, silent and inconvenient, so I nixed the idea.
However, Saturday was hands down the best twenty-four hours I have spent with another person, ever. I had a lot of fun. We talked and laughed a lot. It was easy and comfortable. I felt seen, safe and in control. I want more. I catch myself smiling. Oh boy.
The kettle boils, so I fill my cup and watch the tea steep as I sit at the bar.
‘Morning…’ Caleb sneaks up, kissing me behind my ear. ‘We missed you in bed.’
He presses his hips against me, just in case I am wondering who ‘we’ is. Oh dear. I should do it now. End it, Ariella.
‘I needed some tea and didn’t want to wake you.’
When he swivels the stool round I’m met by shining, mischievous eyes, framed by messy dark hair and a naughty grin. I am surprised at how happy I am to see him. Stop it, Ariella.
‘I wish you had…’
He traces a finger along my chin and kisses the top of my head before he tilts my face up and kisses me on my mouth. My body immediately responds. In what seems like a flash, my legs are apart, Caleb is standing between them and his hand is right at the top of my thigh, teasing a destination we both know will end any resistance. I should end this now. I can’t help kissing him back; his hand shifts and his fingers make their way behind my underwear. I let him stroke me.
‘You feel so good,’ he sighs in my mouth.
He makes me feel desired. Caleb watches me with a sexy smirk as he brings me close to the edge.
‘Give me your hand.’
He guides my hand where he has just been, and together we bring me over.
