One month and a day after the costume party, Téa stood looking over the Iguana's cage, at Domino's Taronga Park Zoo.
She didn't regret giving in to Atem's request that she move downstairs. It would be arrogance on her part to say she did. And, to be fair, after their talk and make up that morning he'd been on his best behaviour. So much so, she begun to wonder whether miracles did happen and destiny had in fact shone its light on both of them.
But it was early days yet. Surely a leopard didn't change its spots? A man of Atem's determined and uncompromising character didn't turn over a new leaf. Each day when they said goodnight, and she curled up in her bed alone, she told herself, Wait a little longer and the bombshells will start falling again.
Everyday she waited for the former Atem to return. Whistling, Atem retuned with two bottled waters. He set one upon the waist high fence and, smiling at an Iguana and alert upright posture, opened the other bottle and handed it over. Sipping on her water, Téa wondered again at Atem's newfound restraint with regard to trying to seduce her. Was this self discipline part of a calculated game to have her crumple beneath the incessant craving and beg him to take her in his arms?
If that were indeed the case, all she could say was…it was working. Whenever he smiled that certain sexy way, or strode around in front of her in nothing more than a towel and foam upon his face, she had to call her body to heel. Unfortunately it never listened.
After quenching her thirst, she recapped her bottle, and Atem turned to her when she said, "We should be leaving now,"
He checked the time. "Then we better get a move on. They'll be closing soon."
As they walked Atem asked, "Any word from the principal this week?"
Almost everyone heard of Téa's pregnancy, and knowing the principal had a middle aged view on life especially about a woman who was single and knocked up, he would want to have a word with her.
"I must have been mistaken," She said, stopping to read a direction chart to make sure they were on the right path. "He still doesn't seem to know anything about the pregnancy."
"But he'll need to soon."
Irrespective of how well things had been going between them, her hackles quivered. They'd been though this. "I don't want to hide it. I just don't feel a need to blurt it to the world."
Changing the topic, Atem asked, "What were you looking up on the net last night? You shut down the page when I came into the study."
Téa quashed a jab of embarrassment and twisted her mouth. "Sorry. I can't remember."
He laughed. "You look as guilty now as you did then." He gave her the evil eye. "You weren't tinkering with any naughty sites, were you?"
"No." She said firmly.
Téa was looking up on pregnancy and what usually happens in the second trimester.
Atem nudged again. "Anything you want to share, Téa? I am all ears."
"It's just information on pregnancy."
"I feel as though I am pulling teeth." Atem said. "Will you tell me what you were researching, or do I get worried?"
She inhaled deeply. "Fluctuating hormones." Téa knew she ought to zip her lip now, but didn't. "Some women experience a phenomenon where their sex drive increases in the second trimester. Husbands usually complain that they can't keep up."
"You don't have to worry about that, I can keep up." Atem grinned.
Téa blushed. "Yeah right." She stopped walking. Atem stopped as well.
"If you won't say it then I will, Téa. We want each other," He told her. "We are not children. Nothing is wrong or bad with feeling strong physical attraction towards a person you care about."
Téa's heartbeat skipped, and then she smiled. He cared about her? As much as she had come to care for him?
Atem murmured against her crown. "Here is something to think about. What if we had sex two or more times and the sparks die? Shouldn't we find out whether the physical attraction is long term?" Téa asked.
"We need to check those waters out thoroughly." Atem grinned. "Very, very thoroughly."
"Atem?" Téa said.
"Yes sweetheart?"
"I get the picture." She smiled.
Her arms gradually linked around his neck, and he gathered her in for a passionate kiss. When the kiss ended, Atem's breathing was laboured, his voice thick.
"Téa, I might not believe in black cats or lucky charms, but I do believe our night together wasn't a mistake. This isn't a mistake. I want you."
He stole another penetrating kiss that melted the last of her resistance before reluctantly drawing away. His smiled was soft. "Let's go home."
Their arms looped around each other's belt as they left the zoo. Téa wanted to take her heart in Atem's confidence. But that annoying part of her which wasn't affected by the raging hormones niggled and nagged her all the way home. Whether or not she had a say in it, ultimately Atem had got his own way. As of tonight, his bed was her bed.
