The Total Sum of Two

Chapter 12

It’s a good thing it’s Saturday as you haven’t gotten any real sleep in the last 24 hours.  Every few hours Gregory disappears into the kitchen and then returns with protein, a soda, or water.  Around 4 o’clock in the afternoon you feel and look like a slug.  You haven’t done anything productive all day, unless you count memorizing every dimple, curve, and plane of a certain mans body.  However, right now you aren’t sure if you could do anything but lay here.  An athletic night, followed by day has left you sore.  Sore in places you didn't realize you even had muscles in, sore.

When you mention how you're feeling to Gregory he has the decency to look ashamed but definitely not sorry. 

“Well then, let’s fix it.”

He leaps out of bed and runs to the bathroom.  The tiny jiggle of his relaxed bare bottom makes you giggle.  He pokes his head right back out the door, “Woman, are you laughing at me?”

You shake your head with your lips folded tightly together.  Another giggle escapes and you have to say, “Absolutely not!”  You cross your heart, holding up two fingers, "scouts honor!".

He turns, giving you a full frontal with hands on hips.  “I have done nothing but worship your body for well over the last day and you have the gall to laugh at this?”  He states, holding his holds out to show his body.

He then proceeds to do body builder poses in the bathroom doorway for you.  You reply with the necessary, “’ooh’, ‘ahh’, ‘OH’, ‘mmm’”.

Dissatisfied with your laugh filled responses he struts forward with his finger pointing at up.  Half way he remembers what he was doing.  “Hold that thought,” he states eyes squinting.

He turns and runs back into the bathroom.  Seconds later you hear the water running in the bathtub.  Bottles are being fumbled, you hear an “AHA!” to soon be followed by curses and grunts.  There’s finally a plop and he reappears in the bedroom.  Swooping you up in his arms he carries you to the bathroom and gently lowers you into the hot water.  Lowering himself down behind you, the bath bomb pops up the surface.

You laugh, “Is this what you were cursing at?”  You pick it up in your hands, finding a large gouge down one side.

“I was trying too hard, it was easier to open than I was making it.”

You eye the gouge again, fingering it. “So what did you open it with?”

He peeks over your shoulder, shrugs and then says casually, “Just a fingernail.” 

You lift his hands out of the water, staring at his nails.  “I see no pointy fingernails here.  Whatever you used, must have been seriously sharp.”

He suddenly has his own question.  “I forgot a washcloth, are they within easy reach?”  He cups water in his hands and pours it down your back.  “Wait, maybe we don’t need one.”

The sudden deluge of hot water down your back sends shivers down your spine and you drop the bomb back in the water.  

“Um, yes we do.”  You point to under the sink, “They’re in there.”

He grins at his victorious distraction and gets out to retrieve a washcloth and two towels.

“Ew.  Get a third one for the floor please.”

He looks down, “The floor?”

‘Yes.  I hate stepping on a wet floor!  I dry my feet off, only to step out onto a wet floor.”  

You shudder in disgust. “Sorry, it’s a pet peeve.  Please?”

“As you wish,” he states with a grin and retrieves another towel.  

“It looks like its about time to do laundry?  You’re running short on towels.”

“Well, that would be because I’m only one person.  I only use one towel a week.  With you here, they are running out.”

  “One towel a week?  Isn’t it smelly by end of the week?  How do you smell so good by using only one towel?”

Look at him aghast you respond. “Please don’t tell my you use a new towel every time you shower?  If you wash well enough, your towel should still be clean because your body is clean!  You’re only wiping away water!”

“I don’t feel clean if I’m using a dirty towel.”

You two stare at each other for a long moment.  You finally cave.  “Okay.  Can we agree to disagree?  You just supply your own towels when you’re over here.”

“That works,” he says and climbs back in the tub.

 ***

 Later on that evening, you’re making dinner in your shorts and tank top.  Gregory still has yet to put anything on. 

You casually mention over your shoulder as he joins you. “Perhaps the neighbors might appreciate you putting on; oh, I don’t know, at least your boxers?”

He looks over towards the windows and door.  “I closed all the blinds earlier, they’re still shut.” 

“Ahem," you say pointing at the sliding glass doors. "You missed one.”

He walks over, pretends to wave at no one, turns and shakes his butt, then closes the blinds.

You lower your head, shaking it with your eyes closed, and lips pursed.  “That's not quite what I meant.”

He grabs you from behind, pulling you back against him in a giant squeeze.  

"Bodies are natural.  I’m not sure why there are so many prudes in the world.”

“Because not everyone’s body is enjoyable to look at,” you retort.  “Like saggy old men, EW.”  

You put your knife down and half turn, “I mean I guess I’ll have to look at a saggy old man one day, if I grow old with someone.  But then,” you sigh, “that means I’ll be saggy too."  You release another shudder, "EW.”  

He laughs and kisses you on the cheek.  “You will always be beautiful.  With grey hair and wrinkles, you may plump out or you may get saggy but as long as your mine, I’ll be happy.”

You look at him like he’s a stranger.  

“What?” He laughs.

“You have a very different outlook on the human body.  Where did you say you come from?  The moon?”

He lets go of you and wanders into the bedroom to pull on a pair of boxers.  Returning, he says. “Happy?”

You shrug, “Well it wasn’t that I didn’t like the other view,” you smirk.  “I’m just not used to a naked man running around my house yet.”

He takes a deep breath in and smiles, “:Yet. What an amazing word.”

You laugh but direct the conversation back to the subject.  “I’m serious, you said you worship a Goddess.  So are you from like a nudist colony or something?”

He grabs a carrot to munch on.  “Nothing as severe as that.  It’s normal for Lycan's to be unconcerned with nudity.”

“Lycan's?  As in your bosses family or your business?  That’s a weird comment about your employees.”

He coughs, choking on the carrot, realizing what he just said.

“Um, yeah both.  Since Philip owns the company and his last name is Lycan,” he tries to think quickly on his feet.  “We have a state of the art office building with an impressive gym.  All the guys go there to help keep in shape for the job.  It’s not unusual to see naked guys just roaming around.  We even have air dryers so that towels aren’t needed.  It’s really cool.”

He walks over and gets a drink from the fridge, eyeing you over the door to see if you’ve believed his story.

“Air dryers?  As in like a giant wind tunnel?  That wouldn’t work for the women’s side.  Good Lord our hair would be a disaster!”

He slumps down onto the nearest kitchen chair, rubbing his eyes and face.  He has no idea how he’s going to tell you the truth and keep you.

***

In the dark, stillness of the forest glen comes a quiet rustling of leaves.  You turn to find Fenrir, standing just inside the tree line. 

“I did not want to scare you.”

You smile, “I heard you.”

He shakes his big head, “Not if I hadn’t wanted.”  He walks forward on silent feet until he stands before you.  “I would never hurt you or want to scare you Mate.”

You smile, rub his fur and bury your face in his neck.  “I’m not scared of you.  I know you would not harm me.”

You pull back, “But why are you still calling me Mate?  I thought we discussed this.  This is only a magical, peaceful dream.  I’m not Belle in Beauty and the Beast.”

“You are my Belle and I am not always this beast.”  He looks out to the waterfall and states quietly, “And this is not a dream.”

He turns his head back to stare directly into your eyes.  “One day you will see me in the real world; your world.  You must not be afraid of me, I would never hurt you.  You are mate.  You are mine to protect forever.”

You still at his words. “In my world.  The real world.  Am I going a trip?  Will there be other wolves around you?  How will I know which you are?”

His forehead comes forward to touch yours.  “You will always know me.  Always be able to pick me out of the pack, as I you.  We are one, the Goddess has promised it.”

You open your mouth to ask more questions but his paw comes forward and lands on your leg.  “Enough for now.  Swim.  Enjoy our time together.”

BEEP…BEEP…BEEP

You stretch and lay there a minute, your dream still vivid in your mind.  What did he mean that I’ll meet him in the real world?  Don’t we only dream about people we’ve already seen or met?  You try thinking about whether you’ve ever been to a wild life preserve or a zoo that had any actual wolves in captivity.  Maybe he’s from a documentary?  Yes, you’ve watched wildlife documentaries with wolves before but never with any that are near the size of Fenrir.  He dwarfs you, he must be at least 7 feet tall!  

Your snooze sounds and you roll over, turning it off.  The bed feels lonely, the spot next to you cold.  Gregory stayed at his own place last night.  The two of you deciding that for right now; it will be best to only spend the night on the weekends…unless otherwise distracted.