I do not own the plot or characters, or anything, from The Fall. I just took the characters for a dark run…
Therewill be triggers (sexual content, moral ambiguity, violent content, unsettling dark quotes). It can't be helped. I do not make light of Paul Spector's actions.
XXX
Chapter Four
August 2003 ~~~ 'One of the cruelest things a person can do is awaken someone's love, without intending to truly love them.'
"What are you wearing?" One of Sally's coworkers asked.
"What?" Sally's muffled voice came through the scrub top she pulled on over a teal lace bra.
"Matching sexy underwear? Someone's having sex after she gets off work. Who's your hot breakfast date?" Kasie asked, curious if Sally had finally said yes to Declan.
"Paul," Sally tried to sound nonchalant.
"Graduation party Paul?" Kasie screeched. "How long have you been seeing Paul? When are you seeing Paul? You work sixty hours a week or more."
"Since June," Sally laced up her blue trainers which coordinated with her blue scrubs. "We both seem to have free time in the early mornings after I get off work and before he goes to classes or work."
"Eight weeks?" Another coworker queried. "Have you done the deed yet?"
"Two months and I'm not discussing Paul and my sex life. However. I love the way he washes my hair, runs hot bubble baths for me, serves me very good, cold white wine, and gives me a wicked massage." Sally winked.
"So…the underwear?" Kasie asked again.
"They are a present from Paul. He likes matching lingerie and thinks this color looks good on me." Sally blushed. She wasn't about to explain they were replacements. He destroyed the first set during an early morning round of sex where he was excessively energetic and she was almost lethargic from working a twelve-hour shift.
"Looks uncomfortable," Kasie remarked.
"Jealous much?" Another coworker remarked. "Sally, does Paul have any brothers, cousins, young uncles, available friends, single coworkers?"
"No," Sally said. "His supervisor is married. He says his single coworkers are all monosyllabic, depressed alcoholics. I wouldn't do that to a friend."
Her coworkers sighed. Their dating pool currently consisted of medical students, interns, residents and married doctors who had no qualms about playing doctor with the nurses. How the hell did Sally get her hands on such a hot, hard body man like Paul?
XXX
"No," Paul said stubbornly. "I'm not drinking with a bunch of your coworkers. I can't have lunch with you at the hospital cafeteria without a crowd sitting with us. I'm tired of being hit on by gay guys, women who want to replace you, couples who want a three-way with me, or women with procreation on their mind. If you want to go drinking with friends, I have no problem with that, as long as you call me to give you a safe ride home."
"How about drinking with Steve and Joan. They just got engaged." Sally offered.
"Let's have dinner with them at a nice place, where we can dress up. A real adult date with wine and dancing." Paul suggested. He needed Steve and Joan's approval because he was sure Sally had not told her parents about dating him. "It would not hurt my heart if Steve or Joan took lots of pictures of us slow dancing, holding hands or kissing. Those you can share with your colleagues."
Paul knew how lucky he was to have Sally in his life. He might have resisted the thought of a relationship at first. However, her night work schedule gave him the freedom to prowl. He ensured he never looked at a brunette who worked at her hospital. He ensured he never looked at a brunette who lived in his housing complex or her housing complex. He ensured he did not stare at brunette classmates either.
XXX
"You've been quite fidgety tonight," Joan commented.
"It's this damn new underwear. It's chafing me in places that are already chafed." Sally sighed.
"Go into one of the stalls, slip off your panties and run your fingers along the seams. If one of them is rough, take a fingernail file to the seam and soften it down. If there are parts sticking up, that are poking you, then use fingernail clippers to cut away the parts." Joan suggested.
Sally disappeared into a stall. Joan heard a sigh of relief; then she heard Sally rustling around in her purse. Minutes later, Sally reappeared and washed her hands.
"What did you mean by already chafed parts?" Joan asked. "Whisker burns? Overuse?"
"What is it with you and my coworkers? Do you just look at Paul and imagine what he's like in bed?" Sally shook her head.
Joan's eyes grew large. "Sally, I've gone to too many Chris Pine, Matt Bomer, and Ian Sommerhalder movies with you. I know you look at hottie men." She observed Sally's shy smile and shake of her head. "Oh god; Paul's your gold standard now, isn't he?"
Sally's enigmatic smile made Joan shake her head. "Sally, I love Steve. I'm going to marry Steve. I'm going to have his babies. When I'm too pregnant to fuck, I'm going to wake him with oral sex every morning. I want him so satisfied that he doesn't even think about the petite redhead in the paralegal pool who wears thin blouses and lacy bras. However, I'm not blind. Paul is gorgeous. You can't blame any woman for fantasizing that he kisses like Apollo, is built like David, fucks like a porn star and eats pussy like a love-starved lesbian," Joan smiled wickedly. "Of course, you didn't hear any of that from me."
"I am a lucky bitch," Sally sighed. "Let's go; the guys will wonder if we are busy making out in here."
"Talk about fantasies," Joan laughed.
Mid-August 2003 ~~~ 'Nobody knows what anticipation is anymore. Everything is so immediate.' - Joan Jett
Project ED: 24…web designer… half a dozen freckles on her button nose…grey-green eyes…hourglass figure… large natural breasts…pink puffy nipples…creamy skin. Bath has frosted window left open about three inches. Usually has fast shower in the morning. Sunday nights are bubble bath time. Always takes lunch to work; spends her lunch money on her Sunday salon days. Manicure, pedicure, body waxing, Brazilian. She is almost bare, with a tiny landing strip…
His home invasion was interrupted by her early return from a pub night with friends. He hid in darkened rooms, making his way to her back door before he heard water running and realized she was preparing to take a bath. He returned to the upper hall of her home, hiding in the dark. Flattening himself against the wall, he watched as she bathed.
Her hair was wrapped and clipped on the top of her head, with little sweaty tendrils clinging to her neck. Her creamy skin looked lovely in the candlelit bathroom. She was seductively hidden by her bubble bath and the semi-dark room. She loitered in the steaming bubble bath, sipping a glass of wine and listening to "Come Away With Me" CD by Norah Jones. When she finished her wine, she washed every inch of her creamy skin with a petal pink exfoliating net scrub which brought a rosy hue to that creamy skin. He adjusted a semi in his pants when she lifted a leg straight in the air and washed it. She tucked it back under the bubbles before she repeated the move with the other leg. It was a very Hollywood starlet gesture. Her bath was the hottest tease he had ever witnessed. When he heard her pull the plug from the tub, he left the second floor before he was discovered. He paused in the laundry room where the back door was located. He acquired primrose colored bikini panties from a basket of unfolded clean laundry.
He stopped at an all-night shop and bought a bottle of vanilla bubble bath, vanilla candles, a white exfoliating net scrub and bottle of chilled white wine. His smirk announced, "I'm getting lucky tonight," at the clerk who raised eyebrows at his purchases. Three hot bubble baths later, and with dawn fast approaching, Paul had temporarily exhausted himself physically, mentally and sexually by replaying the memory of ED's bubble bath. When he wasn't bathing, he drew erotic pictures of her in her bath and used her pretty panties to satisfy his sexual appetites.
He called Sally and begged off seeing her. He claimed he had gotten wrapped up in studies and didn't sleep well or long enough. He had just finished exams for his summer classes and needed to finish his online class. She wished him good luck with his studies and blew him a kiss.
Early September 2003 ~~~ 'The idea of waiting for something makes it more exciting.' - Andy Warhol
Sally didn't know whether to tell Paul about her pregnancy or not. She didn't plan to become pregnant, her shot failed. But would Paul abandon her if he found out she was pregnant? He was level-headed…abnormally so. She never saw him react badly from pressure, or make a hasty judgement call. She sighed. No man ever made her feel cherished like the way Paul made her feel. It would break her heart if he insisted on her getting an abortion and then walked away from her. They had not discussed children, because Paul used condoms until she proved she was on birth control.
His beautiful auburn hair and grey eyes attracted her first. Then it was his strong muscles, physique and the fact that he could fuck her for hours. He was so strong he could lift and carry her anywhere; like she was a petite little doll, and it made her knees weak. He acted with integrity and displayed exemplary manners. He never checked out another woman while he was with her. He wasn't outgoing or gregarious. He never wanted to be the center of attention. How would he react when he was the center of their baby's life?
XXX
Paul laid on his bed. Sally was pregnant…and there was no doubt he was the father. Was it a curse…or a chance to change his life? How the hell do birth control shots fail? What the fuck was he doing with Sally? Fitting in…acting like he was fitting in…hiding his true self with Sally as cover. Could he do it? Some men had two families…why couldn't he have two lives? He didn't believe in God…but the Fates seemed to have sent him a message.
two days later, Scotland
Paul enjoyed watching Sally chase waves and swim. He ran into the waves, threw Sally over his shoulder and ran deeper into the water, plunging them under the waves. She struggled against Paul until he finally let them up out of the water. She sputtered and gasped. Paul held her head and kissed her deeply, over and over until she was breathless and weakly clinging to his body.
"I'm hungry." He announced; carrying Sally back to the shore. They sat on the outdoor patio, watching the ocean while they ate. Because they couldn't swim after eating; Sally suggested they go back to their room for a rest. Their getaway allowed them time to explore one another's bodies and cement their relationship.
Sally loved when they had nothing better to do than touch and make love for hours. Paul had a way of slow, deep penetration; almost making her climax. He held himself inside her until his need and her need for release subsided and then he would begin again. His slow, complete possession of her body touched her heart and mind. He owned her, body and soul, and she would never willingly give him up. When he had finally driven her crazy with desire; he fucked her hard, fast and deep until she was breathless. Her body stilled from exhaustion before it convulsed as orgasm after orgasm ripped through her. She loved how his hard, firm body pinned her to the mattress until their breathing returned to normal.
Sally enjoyed how he held her hands while he went down on her. His strong hands holding hers, his thumbs rubbing over her knuckles. If he didn't hold her hands, he pinned her to the bed with his strong arms. She was unable to wiggle or move and it made oral sex so intense; she was almost senseless when he was done.
Paull enjoyed how she washed him in the mornings after he was sweaty from running. He enjoyed how she carefully dried his body before sucking his spine out through his cock. She didn't like him holding her head while she pleased him with her mouth, until the very end. Sally thought it was because he lost control at the last moment and couldn't restrain his enthusiasm. Paul knew it was because he needed to control her while he fucked her mouth, going hard and deep; making her gasp and choke before she swallowed on him.
When they weren't actively swimming, sleeping or having sex, they made plans. Sally refused to move in with Paul or marry him until she finished her advanced courses this semester. "This is the hardest semester I will ever have. I'm competing against three other students for the night shift assistant neonatal nurse supervisor position. It doesn't pay much more than a regular nursing position. I would attend all shift planning meetings, staffing meetings, budget meetings, etc. When the nurse supervisor is absent; I would oversee the neonatal nurses on night shift."
Paul nodded, he was listening. He was also contemplating what to do about his extra-curricular activities when he was sharing a life with Sally.
"I'm the top student. I can't be distracted. I can't allow my pregnancy to disqualify me from advancing career-wise. Plus, I'm sorry to say this…I need to use you to short circuit my classmates' brains. If they are busy plotting how to seduce you, they won't see me racing ahead in our studies." Sally said.
"How would I do that?" Paul asked.
"Have lunch with me on test days. Walk me to class. Give me a big feely kiss in front of them." Sally said.
Paul laughed. "For you…I'll do that."
After courses finished in December and before January first, Sally would move into Paul's flat. The wedding and honeymoon would occur before they started spring semester. They would turn his small home office into a nursery, finish their courses and become parents.
Paul agreed to all of Sally's plans and decisions - except he refused to have a large wedding. He explained about his mother's death, no knowledge of his real father, and his subsequent years in a foster home, and group homes. He explained he was transferred every two years or so. However, he did not tell her about his juvenile record or incarceration.
"Were you abused, Paul?" Sally asked, horrified.
"I'm not discussing that, ever." Paul stated. "I think, perhaps, losing my mother and being bounced from group home to group home is why I'm reserved."
"Reserved," Sally scoffed. "Really? Because I don't see or feel that in bed."
Paul put her over his shoulder and took her back to bed. 'Use what you know,' he thought. 'Sex distracts her questions, at least for a few hours.'
He offered to tell her parents with her; but Sally wanted to wait. She had a respectable inheritance from her maternal grandmother and paternal grandfather. While she spent part of it on her education and living expenses; she hoped to save and increase the sum for a down payment on a house. In the meantime, she insisted on paying for Paul's spring tuition, books and fees, and for the wedding, honeymoon, and moving expenses.
She wanted to honeymoon in Tenerife for five days after they married. She researched how much it would cost for airline tickets, hotels, etc. She wanted to walk the beach and swim in the ocean. Secretly, she wanted to come back to Belfast, in the middle of winter, with a tan which would make her colleagues jealous. They would apply for their passports when they returned to Belfast.
Sally intended to take many honeymoon pictures of Paul; his swim trunks hanging off his hips, his buff body on display. She intended to get one of him in bed after sex; with his right arm tucked under his head and blankets barely covering his genitals, his left hand with his wedding ring resting on his chest. It would be fun to flaunt her wedding and destination honeymoon when classes resumed. She hoped it would divert her classmates' attention long enough to give her a scholastic advantage.
They discussed working as much as possible before the baby was born. Paul insisted Sally concentrate on her studies and her internship. She did not need to exhaust herself working shifts at the hospital. Paul would work for the event center when they needed him. Over winter break; Paul would empty his flat, shampoo carpets, paint walls, etc. to prep it for Sally to move in. He agreed to her suggestions for the flat, except he demanded extra time to install closet and cupboard organizers to utilize space.
When they returned to Belfast; Sally bought a magnetic frame for her locker door. She posted a picture of Paul in his black swim trunks, walking out of the ocean. If asked, she explained it was from their vacation in Scotland. It gave her coworkers pause. A vacation together meant Sally was serious about Paul and perhaps the feeling was returned.
XXX
With Sally moving into his flat and the need to turn his small office into a nursery, Paul approached the complex manager and asked to rent a small 6x8 storage unit in the basement. One with electricity was available. He paid for it for fifteen months, so the charge would not appear on the monthly rent statement. The cement floor and the cinder block walls would deaden any noise he made in the unit. The basement storage units were available by stairs from the lobby or from an outside door which opened with a key. When he was on the prowl, he could enter and leave by the outside door. He could change in the storage unit. It would just be a matter of watching his entrances and exits. He purchased a baby monitor. He could hide the transmitter in the hallway when he entered the storage unit. With the receiver in the storage unit, he could hear if someone was in the hallway before he exited.
When Sally spent one of her free nights at her parents, Paul emptied his locked home office closet. Journals, pictures and illustrations were in one locked, large suitcase. Souvenirs were in another. His mannequin was disassembled and put in the storage box to travel to the storage unit. He bought a student desk and chair from the local charity shop. With the door closed and locked behind him; he reassembled his mannequin and placed her in her chair in the corner of the room. His prowling backpack hung off a hook on the wall. His black prowling clothes were folded and on a small set of shelves under the backpack.
Paul hid the outside door key and unit key in a magnetic key hider on the back of his water tank. Sally would never find them there. He moved his current composition book, lock of hair, and six favorite pairs of panties to the top desk drawer in the storage unit. He stored his blank composition books and extra art supplies in the bottom desk drawer. Sally would not see what he did not want her to see. The storage unit was not the most convenient hiding place; but it was the best option for now.
With his storage unit assembled, he stopped to play. He used wet wipes to give his mannequin a head-to-toe wash. He spent good money on her, buying the best mannequin he could afford. If anyone had discovered it, he would explain it was used for his art courses. It had perky breasts, defined nipples and vaginal mound, with shapely defined butt cheeks. It had long fingers, with a French manicure and shapely legs. The toes had a French manicure. Once he wiped it down, he brushed the human hair wig and put it on the mannequin. Once it was assembled; Paul thought of the mannequin as a her…female…pleasing shape and form. He enjoyed dressing and undressing his mannequin, posing her, and drawing in his composition book. When he had an erection; he enjoyed using the lingerie on the mannequin to sate his sexual desire. Then he began dressing and undressing her again, and drawing in his composition book until he was aroused. Sometimes he wished he could bind and restrain Sally like his mannequin. However, she started wearing better underwear, she performed oral sex, and she didn't demand expressions of his love every day.
XXX
Project HF: 24…graphic artist…carries herself like model. Small hands, well-manicured nails. Oval face…powder blue bedroom eyes. Never wears jeans. Always nicely dressed, even when shopping or running errands on weekends. She wanders the St. George's Market during Saturday lunch time…trolling for a date? She never engages in conversations with men her own age…but actively converses with men in their late thirties and early forties.
Her flat, in a remodeled Victorian house, was decorated in antiques, first edition books and vintage vinyl. Examination of her desk, diary and journal explained her living situation. Her mother was married to an older business man who insisted on providing a college education and decent living situation for his stepdaughter. She was a regular guest at his business dinners; acting as eye-candy for single, unattached men.
Paul acquired a pair of water lily green satin and lace French cut briefs. He also acquired three vintage vinyl blues records.
XXX
Sally bought Paul a good secondhand laptop with carry bag and a printer. She convinced him it was necessary for his classwork during this busy last year, rather than spending excessive hours at the library or campus computer labs. Truth be told; she didn't like when he was in computer lab and couldn't answer the phone. She also didn't want female students watching him. Her classmates eye-fucked him every opportunity they had.
XXX
"Test day?" Paul whispered in Sally's ear.
"Yes," she smiled at him. "Thank you for taking me to lunch and for walking me to class."
"You want more, don't you?" He teased.
"I need one of those up-against-the-wall, kiss-me-until-I'm-senseless kisses." She said breathlessly.
"You want to short circuit their brains before the test?" Paul pulled her in for a hug, closing his eyes and resting his cheek on her head. He felt her nod. "A kiss for luck then…" he pushed her against the wall by the classroom. He pinned her to the wall with his strong body, and wrapped his hands around the nape of her neck. He positioned his thumbs at her ears and tilted her face to meet his. Then he began a slow, leisurely assault of her lips and her mouth. When he felt her body go limp against him, he ended the kiss. "Are you sure I didn't short circuit your brain before the test?" He whispered in her ear.
"I can't run off to play right now, Paul," she announced to a very watchful and listening audience. "I have to go to class."
"I'll see you tonight then," he said, acting like he was adjusting his pants as he pulled away from her. He winked…and she smiled. His public display of affection almost always guaranteed Sally scored at least ten points higher than her classmates on their tests.
October 2003 ~~~ 'Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.' – Mark Twain
Project RS: 24…slender build…straight dark brown hair with red-gold highlights…Alaskan Husky blue eyes. She wore a pale blue silk shirt, charcoal grey pencil skirt, light grey raincoat with a matching umbrella and grey pumps.
She rode the bus, talking quietly on her mobile to her mother, guaranteeing she would be home this weekend for a family event. She gave her mother the address for her new flat; explaining it was only a one-bedroom flat in an older complex near the campus. She told her mom about meeting with her campus mentor. She brought her portfolio of industrial designs she created over the summer and expressed a hope her mentor could find her an internship while she completed advanced studies.
Paul followed her from a building on campus to a hotel. He wondered who she was meeting there until she climbed the stairs to an open-air restaurant and pub located on the roof. She ordered a dirty martini. The bartender seemed to know her and commiserated on the lousy day she was having. Paul sat at a table near the demi wall where he could observe her and observe the street. He ordered a sandwich and nursed a beer. He blew off his afternoon classes. She sipped her martini, waved off the offer of another, and told the bartender she was cleaning and unpacking this afternoon. He was prepared to follow her; but was surprised when she entered a building behind the pub.
The bar gave him a perfect view into her flat. She left drapes on her balcony door and bedroom window open while she unpacked. He pulled out his computer and pretended to research a paper for one of his classes. He enjoyed her tight jeans and the rock t-shirt which molded her breasts beautifully. She plaited her hair and began emptying boxes. She paused occasionally to sketch before she returned to unpacking.
The tiny flat was about 700 feet; kitchenette against the hall wall, breakfast bar separating it from the lounge. The bathroom was located on the hall wall and at the top of the bedroom. She decorated with charity shop furniture which had been painted with black or hot pink enamel paint. He enjoyed watching her unpack her clothes and put things away in the nine-drawer dresser. He really liked the pretty lemon-yellow bra and panties which had orange appliques, lace and ribbons. He would take them when the opportunity presented itself.
By the end of the day, he had to go, but he saw where RS hid a key to the balcony door and observed she didn't use any track blockers for her sliding door or windows. Noting the pub hours, he created an elaborate plan to gain access to her flat. The outdoor pub closed for the season in mid-October. One, no watchers; two, eliminate the street light; three, eliminate the balcony light; four, break and enter; five, capture the yellow and orange underwear; six, research industrial designer – what is that?
November 2003 ~~~ 'Life begins at night.' – Charlaine Harris, Dead Until Dark
Paul met his next project at the bank. Project AG: Maybe 24-25…bank teller, but takes statistical analysis courses. What are her career goals? Peach-hued blush…chocolate eyes…brandy highlights …long fingers with a natural peach and white French manicure… apricot pencil skirt…pale peach blouse…about five feet three inches…is her underwear a peach hue…does she wear stockings instead of pantyhose?
He had to follow her…learn where she lived…learn how she lived. It took a week of covert surveillance to learn her schedule. He broke in, via a wonky window on the second floor, while she was gone to night class. Sally thought he was at a mandatory study group, and would not be available to see her tonight.
He read AG's journal, which intrigued him. She was embarrassed because her last boyfriend made a sex video of them. Paul found the sex DVD in her bedside table drawer. Normally, he wouldn't care about people having ordinary sex; but he had to know why this embarrassed her so much. He accessed her DVD player.
"Do you want this?" The guy stood behind her. He was wearing black silky boxers. She was naked, facing the open window in her bedroom. She shivered a little in the night breeze.
"Yes, I want this," She said.
Paul enjoyed watching the boyfriend tie a blindfold over her eyes. He acquired the DVD, leaving a bookmark in her journal where she mentioned it. He also acquired a sexy, gossamer thin, white thong with lace applique flowers in appropriate modest places. It appeared to be new; or maybe she just saved it for special occasions. It was the tiniest thong he had ever seen. He took a picture of the set of black underwear he left laying on her bed.
He enjoyed the sex DVD. She was willing to play - light bondage and blindfolded - lots of rough, kinky, no-holds-barred sex in various positions. It must have been an all-weekend party for them. Paul didn't understand why she was so embarrassed about the DVD. After all, what someone does in their bedroom is their business. She gave her consent and eagerly participated. He kept the DVD; it excited him. He could keep it in the storage unit for a while.
XXX
While Sally wanted to 'care' for her man; Paul insisted she not fuss over him. He was capable of cleaning, cooking and doing his own laundry. She had enough to do, with classes and having a healthy pregnancy. He was folding his laundry when Sally arrived unexpectedly before going home after class. She wanted to measure the small bedroom so she could plan for the nursery.
She saw the tiny white thong in his laundry basket and almost lost her shit. He explained it was not left over from his bachelor days. He suggested it must have been left in one of the washers or dryers in the basement laundry room. She snatched it up with a pair of tongs and dropped it down the incinerator. Her jealousy fueled her passion, and he used lots of energetic, needy sex to placate her.
December 2003 ~~~ 'In the darkness before dawn' – Coldplay, Midnight
Paul knew his prowling would soon be curtailed by comingling Sally and his life. Exams were coming. Christmas break was coming and it would be non-stop merging their lives. But, until then, he found a new project. A week of surveillance meant he knew her schedule. He tried to break in three different times while she was out; but she set the alarm on her house. When frustration urged him to find a new project, she went out drinking with friends and not only did not set the alarm, she left the back door unlocked. He really enjoyed those lucky moments of his life.
Project CS: 24…3D graphic artist for an architectural firm…hazel eyes…long layered hair…lithe… decent-sized breasts… long lovely neck… excellent carriage…even stride which causes her hips to sway…3D prints as hobby…sells items on website…owns board games…reads art magazines… likes music which has deep percussive sounds…
Her home was tidy; decorated with assemble-your-own furniture and bland, cream walls. She decorated with architectural photographs in sepia tones on her walls. Her diary was busy with classes and work. Her journal was a tracking device: weight, water consumption, calories consumed, exercise routine, etc. He laughed aloud when he read her calculations that 30 minutes of reverse cowgirl position burnt off the calories in a large apple. He photographed quirky comments like that in her journal.
Her bedroom had a dark espresso laminate floor with a feminine cream and gold scrolled area rug. The queen-sized bed was located between two windows which had chocolate drapes. The crown moldings were visually interesting. The bed was covered in a cream damask comforter, with cream bed linens with a gold gilt mirror hung over it. She had a ridiculous number of throw pillows on the bed, in textured gold-colored fabrics. Unless she needed those pillows for various sexual positions, he saw no use for them. The attached ensuite was decorated in cream with gold bathroom accessories. He took several pictures of her bedroom.
CS owned matching underwear including bras, panties, slips, camisoles, suspenders and stockings in cream, beige, buff, khaki, tan, sand, taupe, rosy brown, mocha, chocolate, and coffee colors. She had silky sleep shirts, sheer baby doll nighties, spaghetti strap short nighties and teddies for sleeping. Most of the clothes in her closet were brown with some golds, yellows and dark greens. She had a soft chocolate brown cashmere jacket and a soft copper-colored silk shirt. He enjoyed feeling those and stroking them across his cheeks.
CS donated the set of rosy brown lingerie to Paul's collection: camisole, demi bra, boyshorts, suspender and rosy brown lace-topped nude stockings. He stole her chocolate brown suede peep toe shoes for his mannequin also. He enjoyed drawing pictures of CS in seductive poses wearing the lingerie ensemble. He spent his free time, while Sally was at her internship, dressing and redressing his mannequin in his favorite lingerie, posing it and drawing pictures. He finally left the mannequin dressed in the rosy brown lingerie with the chocolate brown peep toes.
He realized his composition project books needed to be condensed like his brunette brides. Odd pages would hold a picture of the project with descriptive text on the back.
While Sally was at her internship hours, Paul photographed important pictures and passages from composition books. He dropped them to a CD which he hid in the storage unit. Eventually, if he wanted, he would print them and paste them into composition books. He shredded almost two dozen composition books…putting the shreds at the bottom of his trash can. He cleaned out the refrigerator and visited the dumpster.
XXX
Paul purchased a light sea green, thin satin maternity sleep shirt with a matching robe for Sally as his personal Christmas gift to her. However, he purchased a pretty aquamarine necklace and earrings for her to open at Christmas at her parents. He settled on a pearl bracelet for her wedding gift which she could wear with her graduation pearls. Paul purchased a special peignoir and two weeks of maternity nightgowns and sleep shirts for Sally. He purchased two weeks of matching maternity bra and panty sets for Sally also.
Since Sally wanted to spend Christmas with her parents, he purchased two excellent bottles of white wine, a hand-held poker game with charger for John, and a set of clear crystal vases (bud, stem and bouquet) for CC. She could put some of the flowers from her garden in them. He stopped at a wrapping table run by a women's church auxiliary group, and paid to have his purchases wrapped. He paid extra for gift tags and completed one for each of the gifts.
While waiting for his items to be wrapped, Paul bought lunch and 'people' watched. A brunette, wearing jeans and a dark blue one-shoulder sweater, interested him...until she was joined by an off-duty police officer. The man enjoyed putting his arm around her and resting his hand on her bare shoulder. Brunette two wore a crimson red sweater dress with knee-high black boots. He enjoyed how the sweater dress clung to her curves…until she greeted a man with two toddler boys. A third brunette caught his eye when she left the lingerie store where he had shopped. He stopped wondering what was in her shopping bag when she linked arms with a man and whispered naughty things in his ear, which made him blush. A fourth brunette caught his eye before she went into a pet store with a friend. She emerged eventually with a white furry cat in a cat carrier and a stuffed bag of cat accoutrement. A fifth one intrigued him until she turned sideways to peer at something in a toy shop window. She glowed, like Sally, and spoke quietly while rubbing her swelling abdomen.
He did not notice the sixth brunette until she flipped the hood off a fleece jacket and smoothed her hair which clung to it via static. She sat sedately on a bench, checked her mobile, and folded her hands in her lap. She did not fidget. She quietly observed the crowd around her, and finally rose when she was approached by a man. He offered his arm and escorted her to the coffee court. She was petite and barely came to his shoulder. He seated her before buying coffee for them. Paul thought it might be a first date...they were obviously interested in one another. Did he and Sally act like that when they had coffee dates? He could not remember.
The church ladies did an excellent job of wrapping his gifts. He paid their fee and included a handsome tip. He explained he was a future son-in-law. They assured him; he had chosen excellent gifts for his new in-laws. He left the mall, feeling confident. He could do this…he could be a skilled lover and kind husband for Sally; a good father for his child; and a respectful son-in-law.
He researched tips on getting along with your in-laws, and how to avoid uncomfortable scenes during holiday celebrations. Then he enjoyed a hot shower which brought his blood up to his skin and played for hours with his lock of hair and some of his favorite lingerie while writing and drawing in his composition book. Before morning, when Sally might appear, he hand laundered the panties, towel dried them, taking them and his composition book and lock of hair to the storage unit.
He could do this also…keep his private life private from his future wife and the world.
December 16, 2003 ~~~ 'Waiting for darkness, doesn't anybody see?' – Ozzy Osbourne, Waiting for Darkness
Day one of winter break, Sally took Paul shopping for new furniture for the flat. She wanted a new lounge set, new bedroom suite, a dinette set, nursery furniture and of course, the washer and dryer. His things were all packed and stored in the empty washer/dryer closet where they would bother no one. Paul took a duffel bag of clothes to Sally's where he would stay until his flat was emptied and cleaned and the new furniture delivered.
Sally assumed he had women in his bed before her. She could not bear sleeping in it after they were married. They purchased a queen-sized captain's bed. He inspected the beds and selected the unit with nine drawers on each side. If she worried about being able to get into bed, there was a staircase which recessed out of the way in a storage area at the end of the bed. He agreed to let Sally have the nine-drawer dresser, and the nine drawers on her side of the bed; while he used the drawers on his side of the bed. He insisted they buy large nightstands because he wanted the bookshelf and drawers. Her matching dressing table and the dresser would be placed on her side of the bed. His side of the bed would be closest to the closet and the door. When she wanted to buy naff accessories for the bedroom, he refused to allow it. He agreed to a large plain framed mirror for above the bed to reflect light into the room. He agreed to matching lamps for the nightstands. He refused to let her clutter what little available space they had.
Once the flat was stripped bare, the carpet shampooed, the walls painted and windows washed; the furniture was delivered and set up. Paul purchased new drapes and bed and bath linens in coffee and cream. Sally had chosen everything else, including chocolate throw pillows and drapes for the lounge. The bed and bath linens were his choice. He selected high thread count bed and bath linens, because they felt good against his skin.
Sally purchased a comfortable lounge set and a large ottoman, which was also a storage center. She purchased three armories, one for a home office for Paul, one for an entertainment center and one for a sewing/crafting/home office for her. The entertainment armoire held Sally's nearly new flat screen TV, DVD player and CD player. It held Paul's stereo and vinyl blues collection, plus all their CDs, and DVDs. The lounge was not cluttered, but there was no space to spare. Against the wall by the master bedroom, Sally added three bookcases, two for Paul and one for her.
XXX
Sally teased Paul about his obsessive-compulsive ways. He installed high-end closet organizers and cupboard organizers throughout the flat. Some guys simply had baskets of clothes which never touched a hanger or a dresser drawer unless a woman put them away. Paul did his own laundry, folded his clothes and hung his clothes.
He folded bed and bath linens meticulously, and stored them in the linen closet. He kept extra bath and toiletry supplies on hand. The refrigerator was clean, and well organized. The cupboards were well organized and held thirty days of canned and dry products. Sally knew if she displaced something in the flat; it would irk Paul until it was properly put away. He reminded her about their tight living quarters which needed to stay clean and organized.
Once Sally moved her items to Paul's flat, they spent a day packing up her old flat. She filled the trunk of her car with boxes to take to her parents' farm. Once her excess furniture, household furnishings, etc. were donated to charity, Paul insisted she rest. He gladly paid flat cleaners so her last task was returning her keys and signing off paperwork.
Sally had the nursery items delivered: a crib (which morphed into a toddler bed and eventually a twin bed), dresser, lamp, changing table (which morphed into a storage unit), a rocking chair, a small bookcase and a toy chest. Paul assembled furniture and placed it where Sally wanted. Paul was adamant about decorating the nursery. Sally could decorate in creams and greens to coordinate with the rest of the flat. However, the room would not be pink for the baby girl they were expecting.
The washer and dryer arrived and were installed in the closet by the kitchen. Now they could do their laundry without having some slut's miscellaneous panties showing up.
XXX
Sally learned a few things about her man before they married. When she attempted to use sex to manipulate him; Paul shut down and Sally received no physical contact (other than chaste kisses and hugs) from Paul for days. He explained he was not a teenage boy who could be led around by his cock. She learned he could be intractable. He would not discuss his childhood or parents. He became even more taciturn when people asked intrusive questions. However, he came home one day with a framed picture of him when he was ten. Sally cherished it and put it on her dresser.