Under the Blood Moon

The morning goes on...

Scarlet

The hens were all fine Andy reports a little later while we were sitting eating reheated pasta and garlic bread from the restaurant.

“Is it normal to eat pasta for breakfast in any other home?” He muses as he swallows a large mouthful of Bolognese.

“Dude don’t talk with your mouthful, it’s super gross!” I clip him around the ear, taking full advantage of the lanky man child’s seated position. “It would be normal in every house if their mums made this Ragu!” I inhale the rich sauce’s aroma’s before scooping a huge spoonful into my own mouth.

“So Sis, what were you up to last night?” Andy smirks across the table.

“What are you talking about?” I ask, keeping my face as straight as possible.

“Huge bangs from your room at midnight, then when I stuck my head in at dawn to see if you wanted to come for a run, you weren’t there!”

“Jeez Andy, how about checking on the big bangs and maybe reporting your missing sister next time? I could’ve been kidnapped or killed for all you know!”

“Who the f’ do you think would want to kidnap you Red?” Andy laughs.

“Dude not nice!” I scowl at him.

“Chill Sis, if you hadn’t been home by breakfast, I would’ve called the police trust me” he placates “And it’s not like it’s the first time you’ve disappeared over night and come home dirty and happy in the morning, is it?”

“What?” I’m genuinely baffled. What does he mean it’s not the first time?

“Yeah, pretty much once a month you do this” he nods around another mouthful of pasta. “This is the first time you’ve been this late though you’re usually home by 4.”

Now I’m seriously confused. How long exactly has this been going on? What the hell am I doing on these excursions? Why don’t I remember?

I’m just about to start interrogating my baby brother when he flies up out of his seat. “Oh s**t, the time!” He grabs his backpack from the hooks in the corner of the room and runs towards the front door. “I’m gonna be late for school Red, see you later” the door slams after him. Leaving me alone in the quiet farmhouse.

My chores complete, with no work to go to, I find myself sat on the beaten sofa in the family room turning the note from earlier over in my fingers. Every second turn showed the scrawled phone number with the signature S.

After a few distracted minutes, I reach to the coffee table, picking up my mobile, opening the messenger app I enter the number into a new message, typing “Hi, we met last night” before freezing, how on earth do I say I was sleep walking or you are some weird kidnapper who stripped me naked and rolled me in the mud before leaving me with new clothes and a note to call you….

Tapping my thumb against the screen while I think, I hit the send button without realising. s**t, delete, cancel, recall, oh anything other than send!

The absent-minded thoughts I was lost in moments ago are gone as I search the app for anyway to stop the message from sending. No joy when moments later the app dings receiving a response from the mysterious S.

“Hey Red, loved meeting you on your travels, fancy a coffee and a chat to get to know each other properly?”

So not a weird kidnapper, at least I breathe in deeply.

Do I want to meet them to find out what the hell I was doing last night? Should I just forget all about it? But what about Andy saying I’ve done this before? Steeling myself, I reply.

“sounds good, I’m free Mondays and Wednesdays.”

Ding. He's keen!

“So you’re free today?”

Really keen, hang on. I don’t even know if S is a man or a woman right now.

“Yeah, the café on the green ok?”

So how do I go about asking for a picture of this person I’ve no recollection of meeting?

“ Give me an hour and I’ll be there.”

“Oh yeah, here’s a picture of me as I look a whole lot different to last night.”

Oh, thank god, is my first thought. What the hell is my second. Did I wander into a fancy-dress party? I hope I wasn’t naked in front of a whole party of people. The phone buzzes as the photo message downloads. I open it still distracted by the idea of me sleep walking naked into a stranger’s home. Oh wow, this guy is gorgeous. Oh no I was naked in front of this gorgeous man!

His hair is jet black, just a little too long to class as tidy falling in waves across his forehead, his eyes are ice blue framed with thick black lashes that almost look painted on. His nose is firm and straight, pointing to a blood red smiling mouth. His jawline is firm and masculine with cheekbones to match. Just looking into his eyes on my screen leaves me a little breathless, my body responds immediately with a pool of warmth building in my stomach, tension growing throughout my abdomen. I close my eyes to the vision of him striping in front of me, his abdomen firm and rippled with muscular lines, a little dark hair leading from his navel downwards, that playful smile never leaving his eyes as he walks towards me. The vision shimmers as a gasp escapes my taught throat. Holy f**k how am I going to survive meeting this guy when a picture leaves me aching to mount him.

S…

I woke this morning smiling; I doubt that the happiness I feel will ever leave me!

I met her last night. After searching for 3 years, I have finally found her. She was magnificent as well; red hair, the most startling green eyes and curves that just didn’t quit. We had spent the night romping through the woods, chatting about anything and everything that passed through our minds. She had an amazing sense of humour and, oh boy, she wasn’t afraid to be assertive.

We had curled up at the base of a tree at the end of the night when she hit me with a revelation that rocked my world.

“I won’t remember any of this when I wake up” her voice low as she nuzzles against my neck “She doesn’t know I’m here” I had fallen silent at this, thinking hard about how I could make sure that she would find me and get to know me the next day.

I had decided to leave a note with some clean clothes for her. I had to guess on sizing, but I thought she would appreciate them when she woke, especially if she was loosing time. The note was a little cryptic, I wanted to be sure I’d get her attention and intrigue her enough to reach out.

My morning had flown by so far, some paperwork from yesterday’s meeting was quickly dealt with and emailed back to my father’s secretary. I let them know I’d be staying on for an extra day or so before heading home, not commenting on why, I’d deal with the parental overshare when I got home.

After a quick breakfast, I head out into the glorious countryside for a walk to keep myself from obsessively checking my phone for messages. I don’t have to wait too long.

“Hi, we met last night” pings onto the phone screen. Thankfully, I’m alone on my walk as I yelp for joy. I reply quickly “Hey Red, loved meeting you on your travels, fancy a coffee and a chat to get to know each other properly?”

She replies that she’s free on Mondays and Wednesdays, which is today. Oh goddess you are making this so easy. Thank you!

She agrees and suggests a small coffee shop in the centre of the small town. I send her a picture of myself with a feeble excuse needing her to recognise me. Going around sniffing girls in the shop is likely to land me in an overnight cell rather than on a steamy date with my girl.

I chuckle to myself before jumping in the air like an over-excited schoolboy, before heading back to the hotel. A quick shower and a change of clothes to make sure I look my absolute best for the day. I’m almost skipping as I enter the lobby, earning a soft giggle from the receptionist. She quickly averts her eyes when I turn my head to her. She’s a very pretty young girl, exactly the type a travelling businessman like me would usually run after. But I have bigger and better things on my mind right now. My gorgeous Red is waiting for me!

Scarlet

A cold shower, a light covering of face powder and a quick up do for my unruly curls, too long staring at my wardrobe before slipping on a denim skirt and linen gypsy top with a pair of blue Converse. So tempting to dress up to make a good impression, but this guy has already seen me in the all together, so it seems a little overkill to go for coffee dressed for high tea.

I walk slowly into the coffee shop, eyes dancing over the heads of the regulars, I spot him in the corner sipping a huge cup of froth and cinnamon. I call hello to Jan behind the counter. She greets me and asks if I want my usual, I nod and point at the table with the hot S before heading over. Avoiding her questioning eyes I slink into the seat across the table from him. He is breath taking, all muscle under his tight shirt and well-fitting jeans. His hair falls over his eyes as he tilts his head a little, grinning widely at me.

My heart is bursting in my chest, a mixture of nerves and desire as I take him in, I take a deep breath to calm myself when the most delicious masculine scent washes over me. It’s clean and fresh with an undertone of musk and cedarwood, my stomach clenches as the feeling of need overwhelms me.

“Hey Red, so happy to meet you in person” he grins, wiping the coffee foam from his perfect lips. “you’re just as gorgeous as I remember”

I burn bright red in embarrassment.

“So my name is Stefan. We didn’t get a chance to talk before you fell asleep. I felt awful leaving you in the woods, but I thought bringing you home was more inappropriate”

Jan drops the coffee off at the table, turning towards me with raised eyebrows. I knew I was going to get interrogated later, but for now a frown sent her on her way. “Hey Stefan” I almost whisper into my cup, taking a gulp. I look up at him “It’s Scarlet, not Red by the way, only my mum and brother really call me Red”

He blushes, and my ovaries almost explode at how adorable he looks. “Sorry Scarlet, I had no idea, I just didn’t get your name, but your hair was just so striking. I’ve been calling you Red in my mind since we ran into each other”