A Man In The House
My mind went to work when I saw the man in the hall. He's turning off the breakers so that when the power comes on, it can't be tripped and alert the police, I surmised.
In that moment, I finally understood the meaning of phrase, kill or be killed. My hand tightened around the wood and I stepped quietly toward his exposed back. When I was just behind him, I was going to hit him with that wood.
I swung.
The crunch of the wood on his side was sickening. The intruder turned around quickly, and I prepared for another attack, the wood poised dangerously over my head.
Then I smelled his cologne.
"Akira?"
"Kaede..." He crouched before me, arms placed protectively around his face. I dropped the wood in horror.
"Oh no...I'm so sorry...did I hurt you?" I prayed I hadn't broken a rib.
He slid down to the floor and...laughed. Then he grabbed for his flashlight and shined it over my half-naked, shivering body. I tugged the sweater down to cover my thighs. I just in hurry before, so I forgot to put sweatpants and go out with only boxer.
"Is that wood?" He asked.
"Aaa." I said guilty. "Please tell me you're not hurt. I hit you really hard."
I kneeled down by his side and tried to see where I inflicted my injury. He had his hand over his left ribcage.
"If that was the best you got, Kaede, then you might not want to quit you day-job." He smiled at me through the shadowy darkness. "I'm fine, really. It will probably bruise a bit, but that's all."
"What are you doing here?" I uttered, still in shock. I wondered, was the whole family back? Did the wedding get called off? Was Yuki with him? Was he engaged to her? Could he tell how happy I was seeing him?
"I needed to check on some things at the hotel...and I didn't like the idea that you were here alone" he answered.
"You would have known that if you answered my phone calls or checked my emails."
"Oh." Was all I could mutter in reply. Now I was the asshole for once.
"And I had something to give you, for Christmas" he added.
I wasn't sure what to think, so I said nothing.
He got up from the floor and offered me his hand, which was warm and delicious against my frigid skin.
"Kaede, you're freezing" he commented in concern when he touched me.
"The power is out so I guess the heat is off too" I explained.
He led me into the family room by the light of his flashlight, his hand never leaving mine, which I wished I didn't enjoy so much. He shined the light over the fireplace. With a flip of a switch, the gas fireplace illuminated the room.
Gas, why didn't I think of that?
We could see each other much better now. His eyes moved over my body, his old sweater just covering my hips. I could feel the cashmere fall over my curves...and I was aware that.
He picked up a throw blanket from the couch and draped it around me, his warm breath on my hair. I wanted him to wrap his arms around me--and for a moment, I thought he would--but he moved away.
"You should sleep down here, where it's warm." He suggested, before moving the foyer.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to sleep in my room over the garage. It's late. My earlier flight was cancelled due to the ice storm. I'm sorry I scared you like this. I didn't mean to."
"But it's so cold, Akira. You'll freeze up there. There's plenty of space here...you can have the other couch."
"I don't want to make you uncomfortable, Kaede, unless you want me here." His tone seemed to be testing me, checking to see if I was truly interested in his company for the night.
I was, but I wouldn't admit to it. "No it's okay. After all, this is your house. So, I don't see any problem." It was half truth.
He smiled. "Of course. I'll stay then."
Akira took off his black, down filled jacket and sat down next to me on the couch. The heat from the fire began to do its job and I was feeling much better. He inspected his ribs where I wacked him.
"Are you sure you're okay?" I moved over to him. "Here, let me see."
I tugged at his black sweater politely, awkwardly. He saved me the trouble and pulled it off, entirely exposing his chest...his beautiful chest. He was lean and muscular. The light from the fire danced over the hills and valleys of his well-crafted pecs and solid six-pack.
I lightly touched the reddened area over the left side of his ribcage. "Does that hurt?" I looked up at him.
He seemed to exhale as I touched him, the slightest shudder of something that wasn't pain, but, perhaps, pleasure? Then he covered my hand with his and moved it up his chest to the spot where his heart pounding. "No, it feels amazing actually."
That feeling in my stomach again.
For a moment, we just stared into each other's eyes, like that time outside my bedroom door. So much communicated in one look...
He let my hand go abruptly. "I'm sorry, Kaede. We should...go to sleep. It's after two."
What could I say to him? That I wanted him to do more--much more? I could feel the sparks between us: enticing and dangerous. We had hardly said two words to each other in person while growing up, and now...and now things were so different.
I moved to the other side of the large sofa and pulled the blanket over me. He put his sweater back on and moved to other couch.
Now that I was warm and secure, I felt myself drifting off into a restful slumber.
"Akira..." I whispered, half asleep.
"Yes?"
"I'm glad you're here."
"Me too." His voice started to fade.
Before succumbing to sleep, he spoke again.
"Kaede?"
"Yes?"
"My sweater looks nice on you."
I smiled to myself. I wouldn't be alone this Christmas. I decided I would worry about Yuki tomorrow. Tonight Akira was with me and not her.
When I got up the next morning, he was gone.
The electricity seemed to be back on, so I ran upstairs and took a long shower. The hot water felt heavenly against my body and forced mebto wonder how Akira warm body would feel up against mine.
I couldn't help but recall the dream, but it seemed a poor replacement for reality. I had never felt so sensual or manly in my life, but thinking about this man--ironically, my sister best friend's jerky older brother--awakened my senses in ways I didn't know existed.
Why was he here? To see me? I wondered. Could he really be dating with a man? Would he kiss me? As I combed out my hair, I pondered the consequences of our unique situation.
Alone together.
Was I foolish to be so excited about it?
I pulled on my favorite jeans and a soft, baby blue sweater.
Then I let my imagination go crazy for a few blissful seconds. I wondered if we might get married one day. Then I would really be a part of this family. My heart swelled at the thought of being Mrs. Sendoh son-in-law. Could it be happened someday? They love me. They know me. We would find a way to make it work.
And then I remembered Yuki and I talked myself down from the ledge. I was being stupid letting my mind run like that.
Too many unanswered questions.
I heard Akira SUV pull up outside. Through my bedroom window I watched him come inside the house. I decided to meet him downstairs.
He held a bag from the bakery down the street and two steaming to-go cups. His face lit up when he saw me, I wasn't used to that. As much as we had maintained a friendly interaction via email and phone, seeing him in person behaving this way was so different.
"Merry Christmas, Kaede."
"Merry Christmas, Akira."
"I think I'm still allowed to say Merry Christmas." His smile was charming and infectious. I couldn't repress one in return.
Has he always been this handsome?
"Did you find what you were looking for at the hotel?" I asked.
His smile was quickly gone and his eyes suddenly seemed haunted, distressed.
"I did. Let's not talk about it though."
"Everything okay?" Why was that subject so touchy?
He paused before answering. "It will be. It's nothing that you need to worry about right now."
As quickly as he had gone away to some dark place, he was back, smiling.
When I followed him into the family room near the kitchen, my eyes immediately found the small Christmas tree lit up the corner. Under it sat one solitary gift in red and silver wrapping.
He did this?
"Where did the tree come from?"
"I thought it would be nice to have a proper Christmas." He winked. He offered me one his cups, the irresistible aroma of hot coffee filled my nose.
We sat kitchen table sipping coffee and devouring the pastries he had brought. I had so many questions but I didn't want to interrogate him. I eased into it.
"Thanks for breakfast." I finished off the last bite of my blueberry scone.
"Anytime" he answered.
"So you left London early?"
"I did."
"To work at the hotel?"
"That and some other things."
"Oh."
This was new for us. Talking. In person. We had gained such an easy rapport over the phone, but we were breaking new ground face to face.
He looked uneasy as he searched for his next words.
"I'm curious, Kaede. Why have you been ignoring my calls for the past two weeks? Did I say something? I thought there was...something between us." There was vulnerability in his eyes. I wasn't quite sure how to answer.
"My phone has been on the fritz lately," I lied.
"Oh. Okay then."
The silence felt suffocating. I decided to ask him what I was dying to know.
"I heard Yuki was there...at the wedding. That's too bad you missed her."
"I see her enough," he gliby replied, no hint of disappointment. Was he faking it?
"That must be nice. Your mother is so excited for you two." Was my voiced strained? I tried to act casual. He looked confused for a second and then smiled.
"Oh, my mother is excited for us, huh? She's wanted me to marry Yuki since we were babies. Our families are very close."
I wasn't sure what he was getting at. Beneath the table I clenched my paper napkin tightly so my feelings wouldn't show on my face. Just come on out and say it, Akira.
"I'm happy for you. Yuki is very pretty."
Akira shifted in his chair uneasily. Suddenly he understood.
"I'm not dating Yuki. We're just friends." He paused. "Is that why you stopped talking to me?"
What could I say now? He hit it square on the nose. To admit to it would be to show him my hand...to admit I was jealous and that I liked him. I decided to retain my poker face.
"No, of course not." I forced a smile and then started to clear the table. I brought our plates into the kitchen.
He followed me in.
While I was rinsing them, I asked him about something that had been on my mind. "What happened to Jerry? Have you seen him since Thanksgiving?" This was the first time either of us had brought up that day. I knew Akira had promised I would never have to think about him, but I still wondered.
His face tensed up, "Jerry is back at school. His father cleaned up his mess, I suppose. We don't talk anymore, for obvious reasons."
He took a long sip of coffee, that haunted look returned.
"And do you still hope to get a job with that bank...Franklin Bank?"
He thought about it for a moment before answering.
"Gerald Franklin is like a...father to me." He laughed sardonically as if at some cruel inside joke. "If I wanted a job with him, I'm sure I could get one pretty easily."
I turned around to face him.
"That's great news. I thought I messed everything up for you."
"You're joking, right? Bringing that monster here--I'll never forgive myself. If he ever tried to interact with you again, in any manner, I promise I will make him regret it."
He spoke as if he cared for me, and it made me want to fall into his arms again, my face against him. We looked at each other, the memory of that day shadowing our faces.
He walked out of kitchen in a hurry, as if suddenly remembering something. "I have something for you."
I followed him over to the family room and sat on the couch near the fire.
He brought over the red and silver wrapped box and handed it to me. "I thought you would like this."
I looked at him suspiciously and then carefully unwrapped the box. Inside, I found a book. Not just a book, but a very old hardcover of Gone with the Wind.
"It's a first edition, signed by Margaret Mitchell. Open it."
In a giddy daze, I opened the book. Written on the inside cover was Margaret Mitchell's flowery signature. It was the best gift I had ever been given. "Akira...this is amazing." I rubbed my finger delicately down the gold-rimmed spine.
"I'm pleased you like it."
He brushed my hair from my eye. It was the most sensual touch I had ever felt.
"My hair...it's always a mess," I said, my heart pounding so hard I thought he could see it through my baby blue sweater.
"It suits you."
I felt the heat rise in my body. I shifted away from him. I needed some breathing room.
"Akira, do your parents know you're here...at home, with me?"
He smiled, devilishly, and leaned back into the couch. "No, they think I'm in New York interning over the holidays. I met them in London for a day and then flew straight here."
"They must have been disappointed you didn't go to the wedding."
He laughed. "Are you kidding, Kaede? My mother heart grows a little every time I announce I have an internship...or an interview...or any business prospects."
"Is that what you really want to do?" I inquired. I always thought business was his passion, but then I didn't know what it was like to feel the parental pressure to be successful. Hell, my dad was happy enough that I graduated from junior high.
"I love business and banking...and money. It's in my blood." He laughed to himself again in that private-joke way. "And, not to brag, I'm pretty damn good at it. But sometimes I worry I'll lose myself in my ambition." He paused, weighing his next words. "I guess that's why I like talking to you, Kaede. You're so sensitive and idealistic. I feel...grounded to real things when I hear your voice. I've missed our nightly discussion."
I stroked the book like it was a precious baby. He did care for me.
"I'm sorry my phone was broken," I offered.
"Is it fixed now?" He asked, looking deeply into my eyes. I realized he wasn't talking about the phone. He was talking about us--whatever we were.
"Yes, it's fixed."
"Good."
I stood up and set the book on the mantle over the fireplace.
"Akira, you didn't always feel that way about me," I corrected him. "You really dislike me...before. I never understood why."
He moved over to me, so closely I leaned up against the white marble side of the fireplace. It was cool against my back.
"I've never disliked you. Quite the contrary."
"Then why were you so...mean? "
We both knew what I was referring to. White trash.
He stared into my eyes with uncensored intensity. "I'll be honest with you, but please understand how hard it is for me to say this." He almost looked embarrassed. "I've had a crush on you since...on the day I got here, Kanara brought me to your home. I was...cold to you because I was scared of you. I'll regret forever how I hurt you, Kaede, but I was desperate to maintain control around you. I didn't know how else to do it. I guess I deserve the Doaho of the Year Award, don't I?"
"More like the Doaho of the Decade Award...if you want to be accurate."
We smiled at each other, and then his gaze turned serious. His right hand cradled my face and his thumb delicately caressed my cheek, like assessing a fine silk. It was the touch that confirmed everything I hoped would be true.
"What changed your mind?" I asked, hardly able to breathe with his hand touching me.
He thought for a moment. "That day...when Jerry was here...it changed me. It gave me courage to reach out to you. To let you know me. The real me."
I turned my face up to him, wanting more than anything in my life to be kisses by those lips.
He gave me what I desired and leaned into me, pulling my face to his. His kiss was slow and soft, and then his lips parted and forced mine to yield to him. We tasted each other...coffee, blueberries, mint...and I drank in his scent, so clean and masculine. The rest of my body responded readily and I could feel a small fire ignite inside, growing bigger each time his lips made contact with mine.
When he pulled away slowly, it was as if I were drunk. I steadied myself against his chest. He wrapped me up in his strong embrace and I moved my arms around his neck. This time, I kissed him. I had barely kissed anyone before who worth kissing, and I thought there would be more science to it, but I soon realized that instinct was the best guide.
I tugged at his lower lip, playfully, treating it as if it belonged to me. He let me explore, perhaps realizing I was new to this activity. And when he couldn't bear my teasing touch any longer, he moved his mouth against mine, hard, penetrating...lustfully. I could feel my body responding to his, and in places I had no control over.
He pulled away from my lips and searched my eyes for confirmation that I was enjoying this as much as he. I couldn't hide my desire if I tried. He kissed my neck tenderly, his breath warm and moist against my skin. At that moment, I understood the person in stories who fell in love with vampires.
He could bite me if he wanted.
Drink my lifeblood is he desired.
I knew that every touch from him--no matter the pain--was pleasure under his spell.
"Kaede," he whispered near my ear in between tender kisses. "You haven't said anything. I'm guessing you feel the same way?" He pulled back, a smile spread across his face.
I blushed, feeling my cheek burn. I searched for my wits. "I have to say, this is much nicer than being ignored and scowled at--constantly."
He pressed his lips against my forehead, his strong arms wrapped around me, cradling me in the curve of my back.
"If you had only known what I was really thinking about, Kaede. You would have been scandalized, I promised."
"But it would have been so much nicer, Akira."
"It would have been a disaster. For reasons you may not fully grasp yet." He kissed me quickly on the lips then pulled away. "Speaking of disasters, I need to spend a few hours at the hotel office today. I hate to leave you right now...when things were just getting interesting between us." He kissed my forehead and turned to go.
"Ohh...what's wrong? Numbers still not adding up?"
He put on his heavy black jacket and a burgundy colored scarf, a weak defense against the howling wind and freezing rain outside.
"Something along those lines." He smiled, changing the subject quickly. "Let me take you out for dinner tonight. I'll make reservations. Will seven be fine?"
"Seven. I'll be here."
As I watched him leave the house I knew that every embrace and every kiss from anyone else would be pale and shallow compared to his. I wasn't just falling for him...I was ready in massive free-fall.
And it felt amazing.
P/s : Tadaa... Finally kisses. So, what's next? Hihihihi. Thanks for the readers! I love you all! As usual, reviews very much welcome. Thank you!