In Between Jokes and Love Notes

I was so excited to go home that night. Finally, all his hardwork is finally paying of. His dreams are starting to come true. I was not certain that I was saying out loud or if I am hearing my brain talk as I hurried to my car. I just brought wine and steak from Le Marais. We needed to celebrate. As I drove to our place in the Upper West Side, I could not help but remember how his face looked when he first arrived at my place. Defeated, hopeless, resigned. It was raining back the, just like today. I just arrived home and started to boil water for my coffee when I answered the call. Rhys was crying. He had nowhere to go. I had never heard or seen him cry before. So I knew this was bad. It was really bad. But as I park and turn off the engine of my car, he was already standing there at the doorway, smiling, with an umbrella on his hand waiting for me. He opened the door and grabbed the plastic from my hand. I was holding on to the wine, embracing it underneath my jacket to keep it as a surprise even though I knew that he already knew that I was up to something. “Congratulations” I said in my most celebratory voice, showing him the wine I was hiding inside my coat, wiggling it a bit in the air as I raise it above my head. Rhys hugged me tight, I can feel the heat from the part of the plastic bag of steak that was rubbing my back as he squeezed me into a hugged. “This wouldn’t be possible without you, Heather.” I smiled at him as he moved to break the embrace. “This was all you, and your talent. So, let’s get inside and celebrate.” We walked inside together, him locking the door behind us and leaving the wet umbrella where we keep it by the door. I took the take out steak from him and placed it on the kitchen island. He was already grabbing two plates and two wine glasses when I started to remove my coat. “Let me get that from you,” he said, taking my coat after he placed the plate on the island. He was walking away to hang my coat when I noticed that his back was all wet. “You might want to change first. You don’t want catching a cold right now with your tour just announced all over social media.” I reminded him as I transferred the steak from the take out box to the plate. He walked towards me while he was removing his shirt nochallantly. He was used to doing so even though I knew he was starting to see me starting to feel uneasy. And who wouldn’t feel uneasy when you regularly see a Greek God, half-naked, lunging around barefoot with his chiselled and perfect body shining gloriously in front of me. I on the other hand felt like a mortal being blessed by having the privilege to live and breathe the same air with a God. I poured the two bottles with wine and handed him one, acting like I was unbothered by his Godly presence. “Cheers to your world tour!” I said as my glass gently hit the side of his. “Cheers!” He said, all smiling, his eyes squinting as usual as his perfect teeth showed smiling. “I owe it all to you.” He added before taking a sip. “How many times do I have to tell you that you owe me nothing. It’s your talent that brough you to this success.” I said placing the wine glass on the table and grabbing the knife to start with my steak. He grabbed my hand which was holding a fork and a piece of meat, pulling it towards his mouth. “I owe everything to you, no arguments with that.” He said as he chewed on the meat that he stole from my fork. “You gave me a place to stay, no a home when I had nowhere to go. You fed me, helped me get back to my feet. Without you I wouldn’t believe in myself like how I believe in me right now.” He continued, offering me a piece of meat that he cut from his place as if to repay me instantly after stealing the one I was supposed to eat earlier. “The house is not mine, it is my parent’s home. And if they were alive, they would want you to be here. You know how they hated leaving me alone. So, if you owe something, you owe it to them.” I was saying the truth. If my parents would be alive, they would be thankful if they knew Rhys was here. “Besides, you pay the bills here.” I added. “But you still buy the groceries.” He said, offering another piece of meat to me. “Because you have no time to do so. Besides, you are always not around so you really don’t eat that much.” I said. I slightly pushed his shoulder as I was starting to get irritated. “And would just stop. We are here to celebrate so let’s stop pointing fingers on who owe someone what. Let’s just be happy with your achievement.” I said, raising him another toast. He smiled at me, that knee-melting smile that made it really hard for me to fight the urge to grab him and pull him into a kiss. Dinner was fun as usual. We talked about how our day was, and discussed about his tour dates. He’ll be around the United States for a year, a dream he never thought was possible. He even got a call in the middle of our dinner informing him about the sold out tickets on his first stop in Portland. As usual, we concluded the dinner at the pool side. I was already soaking my tired feet in the pool. It was our second bottle of wine. “You know what, I am really really happy for you. This was just a dream.” I said as I enjoy the cold water on my feet. “We dreamt about this. You were always there, pushing me, reminding me that I can do it.” He said, offering me a toast. I held my wine glass to him and smiled. “And here you are.” “Here we are finally.” “Rhys Strife American Tour. Wow, just wow.” I said, looking at him sincerely. “Yeah, who knew, right?” ‘I did” “Oh, and I got the van. Another dream. Touring the United States on my very own RV.” “And not just an RV, a fully functional, transforming one. Too bad I was looking forward in traveling in it first, but maybe someday, when your schedule allows it.” “We can head out right now if you want, the tour starts next week.” “I have work.” “Come on, we all know you can always chose to work from home. You own the company. You can work on wheels, try out the Nomad life before I leave.” He suggested. “Tempting, but we all know you need to prepare for the tour. It’s a huge thing and we can’t afford to having you sick or not your 100% when the tour begins.” I was the rational one as always. “Fine, fine. No arguments. But the offer still stands if you still decide to skip town and have some fun travelling before I go. I’ll be gone for the most part of the year, I don’t want you alone here.” “I just sleep here, nothing to worry about.” I told him, smiling. I was already a bit tipsy. “Really, I am worried about you.” “I’ll call you every night. Or send you a message or email just to let you know when I am all locked up here at home.” I assured him. “Why don’t you come with me instead?” Rhys moved closer. I can smell the wine from his mouth at this distance. “What, your drunk and being silly.” I said. I was surprised that I did not back away. “Come with me, see the rest of the country on the RV, travel with me, be with me.” He said, I can feel the heat coming from his naked body radiating to mine. This is not good, my mind was telling me. But my body was not moving to retaliate. And then it happened. I was not certain if I was the one who grabbed his face or if it was him who pulled me but all I knew was that his lips was in mine, or was it mine on his. All I could remember was he pulled me closer, in a tight embrace, my feet already out of the water. It was cold and the rain was still ravishing outside but I can feel the heat of his body, my hands were touching the curves on his chest, I could feel his heart racing. “Tell me to stop, please.” Rhys managed to whisper. As foolish as it sounds, I answered. “Don’t” And as if he was waiting for my confirmation, I felt my body swept, floating. I opened my eyes and tried to focus and saw him carrying me, my legs wrapped on his waist and both my arms locked on his neck as if I was a monkey climbing on a tree, a handsome tree to say the least. He brought me inside his room where he continued to kiss me, or I kissed him, my back leaning on the door. Next thing I knew was I was on his bed, his body above mine, his hands exploring every inch of my body. I was doing the same thing too. It has been years since I wondered how his skin felt. Was it as rough as I imagined with all those muscles showing in pure display for me to savor or was it smooth like how it glistened under the sunlight. But now, here I am, feeling those hard muscles on his back as I pulled his pants down. Why am I pulling his pants down? For a moment, I was myself, I hesitated, I tried to push him away but when we locked eyes, I felt his mandhood entering me, there was a mix of fear, and then excitement in my eyes. “You are mine now.” He whispered in my ear. I did not gave him an answer but as I pulled his body close to mine, It was as if I was already shouting a big resounding yes. I bit his shoulder as he continued to put it inside of me. It ached, but with a longing feeling finally finding a sweet conclusion. He continued kissing me with as he slowly thrusted inside me. “Rhys…” the longingness in my voice escaped. “Heather…” was there a longingness in his voice too? “Please come with me..” He said. “I can’t do this without you.” I was thinking of something else but my mind and body had no way of thinking rationally right now. All I could say was “Yes” as I pulled him closer as he continued to thrust it inside me.