05.03.2006, 00:34
Moments like these
Her head resting on his chest, she lies in his warm embrace, an embrace that promises safety and protection. It feels like finally being home again after a long and tiring journey, which had no destination. And next to the sensation of having him back, there is something else.
In moments like these, when there is suddenly all the calmness and silence after the passion and heat, she always feels something like equality. In these moments and what precedes them, the roles shift, she feels equal to him. He isnât the superior one then, the brilliant businessman vanishes in favour of someone else. Emily loves them both, but she loves them differently and for different reasons. The one for his admirable strength and the other one for his cosy warmth. Itâs like opening a polished safe out of steal, huge and imposing, just to find a teddy inside. By now an old one maybe, worn from all the hugs over the past years, but the little black button eyes still look the same, touching him still feels the same. Almost forgotten delight and pleasure.
Sheâs glad that he still can make her feel like that. A simple touch of him still can create those shivers running through her body, desire and warmth. Moreover, she is glad that he still longs for her and her body after all this years. Then her body probably always pleased him most.
Therefore, she sometimes has the slight fear this might change one day. A feeling the separation made worse, because the things didnât solve like they usually did after one of their fights. Usually everything dissolved into pleasure. The last time their relationship dissolved. The last time there wasnât the familiar touch on her cheek, telling her the fight is over without a word. The last time there was no passion created by fury and she was afraid she might have lost the ability to create it at all. A scary feeling, because, honestly, there arenât many other things she can offer or give. At least nothing, any other woman could give him, too.
Yes, he chose her. He chose her over brighter ones, prettier ones, funnier ones, easier ones. He chose her over Pennilyn. He says he did, because he loves her. She knows he does. She knows again. Nevertheless, she doesnât know why he came back or why he loves her at all. Especially as it wasnât love at first sight, for none of them, although â in tender and relaxed moments like these - he sometimes declares it was. Sweet lie. There wasnât love. Not in the very beginning and not for a very long time. Their bodies loved each other long before their minds did. Thatâs how it is. There were no fairies singing and turning the world into a glittering wonderland with their fairy dust, when they first met. It wasnât magical. It was physical. Passion created love, slowly and inconspicuous.
For that reason, the only logical answer she can come up with is this goddamn pleasure. This wonderful pleasure. An answer that brings those slight fears right back again. If itâs really the only reason, thereâll be the day sooner or later. The day he really doesnât find her attractive anymore and has no more reason to love her. Maybe he only came back to sweeten his waiting time. Because itâs more comfortable to spend it with her than all alone in the pool house. Maybe he did. Maybe not. Because there still was his jealousy, his eyes sparkling of anger and his under lip trembling of fury. Itâs another side of him. A side she really has forgotten about. Even steal can be melted, heated itâs a dangerous substance, hissing and bubbling.
Actually just like their relationship. Thereâve been hot phases and cold ones, ups and downs. And although thereâve been more ups than downs, it are the downs she remembers most. Brands in her brain. The separation is the biggest one, this brand probably still smokes and will leave the biggest scar. And the biggest fear. By now, she knows for sure, she doesnât like to live without him and she never wants to experience it again. If sheâd only be able to raise, to be equal to him not only in moments like these but all the time, it might strengthen the foundation of their relationship. But thereâs nothing she can do, not more than going on. Not more than playing the wife role, which seems to suit her so well, for the rest of her life, hoping itâll be enough to tie him down to her.
âRidiculousâ, she murmurs upon the absurdity of her thoughts. Sheâll never know for sure, at least not until heâll really declare one day, heâll leave her for another woman. And if some scientist hasnât invented something thatâll make her look at least thirty years younger, then itâll be too late anyhow. Besides, he just came back. He is home. She is home. They are together for heavens sake and instead of enjoying it, she is thinking the thoughts of a lovesick paranoiac. âReally ridiculousâ, she adds and Richard starts to chuckle, his body shakes lightly under hers.
âI hope this wasnât a valuation of my performanceâ, he remarks dryly. âConsidering the fact, Iâve been out of order for some months; I truly deserve more than a really ridiculous.â
âConsidering the fact, youâve been out of order for some monthsâ, she quotes him, a slight smile plays around the corner of her mouth. âYou truly deserve more than a really ridiculous.â
âI take this as a compliment.â
âIt was", she confirms.
âThatâs what I wanted to hear.â
She snores amused. âYou havenât changed at allâ, she explains. âActually, nothing has changed since weâre married, at least not as for my feelings. I still love you for the same thingsâ, she sighs about herself and the sudden feeling of melancholy in her chest. âGod, how I hate it, when a wave of sentimentality hits me. It makes me feel like an old woman sitting in her rocking chair, mourning for the good old times. Silly and useless.â
Richard pushes her to the side and leans over here. âWell, youâre an old womanâ, he teases her thereby and she slaps his arm gently. âAnd it is silly and uselessâ, he continues in a conciliatory tone, while stroking a strand from her forehead. âEspecially, as there are better times to come for that old woman.â
She raises her brows. âThere are?â, she mocks.
âPlease, Emily! Sheâs married to a hell of a guy, of course there are.â
âFor my taste this hell of a guy is too full of himself.â
âHeâs only aware of his extraordinary qualities.â
âWhat about the old womanâs qualities â is he aware of them, too?â
âHell of a guys usually arenât stupid, of course he doesâ, Richard explains with the most earnest face and Emily canât help laughing.
âYouâre talking nonsense, bookkeeperâ, she reproves him smiling. Despite its strangeness, his compliment is like honey on her soul.
âWhyâ, he says grinning surprised. âYou havenât called me that in years.â
âI told you that Iâm swimming in a sea of sentimentality.â
He caresses her cheek. âDonât get lostâ, he explains with sudden seriousness. âIâm tired of living without you.â
âThen swim with meâ, she answers succinct. âThe sea is big enough.â
âMmhâ, he makes and buries his head on her shoulder. âRight now Iâm too tired for a swimâ, he murmurs after some time. âBut if you make an effort, you might be able to talk me into some kissing.â
She laughs and shakes her head. For now the fears are forgotten.âWith thatâ, she says and lifts his chin. âYou land me.â
FIN