8.
~ She brought the kids home only after she was sure Arthur had made it to the house. Feeling more comfortable with the Point Man around.
Arthur was always grumpy when it was the Forger's night. He spoke very little to anyone and went to bed early.
~ Being Eames night, Ariadne made Indian food. She was getting better at it. Her first few attempts had been disastrous. But she had become a good cook.
"Have you done any more with your designs?" Cobb asked over dinner. Arthur looked up at the change of subject.
"Haven't had much time." She admitted trying not to blush. Trying not to look at the Forger. But she knew Eames had a smug grin on his face. Arthur's own face was livid.
"Well, there really impressive." Cobb told her honestly. "Maybe tomorrow when I'm home, we can look over them."
"That would be nice." She told him.
They four lovers kept their conversations polite and general. Feeling there was a weight in the air. Something unspoken.
Arthur stayed and helped her with the dishes. Cobb was working on a project in their art room, and the kids were playing upstairs. Eames was in the family room in front of the T.V.
"He didn't hurt you today did he?" Arthur asked.
"Arthur..." Ariadne breathed. She looked up at him. Breaking more rules. Asking about her time with another man.
"I'm not mad. I'll be mad if he hurt you again." Arthur said meeting her eyes.
"He didn't hurt me." She told him honestly.
She could never tell the Point Man the sheer excitement of being with the Forger. He could never know how manic with lust Eames made her.
"He never hurts me." She told him.
"He left bruises." Arthur grumbled.
"Once, and that was my fault." She told him. "I banged into something."
"Banged into something?" Arthur repeated. "That left hand prints on your inner thighs?" His voice was dark and unflinching.
"Arthur, I'm fine." She said feeling annoyed. "If there was a problem, I would tell you."
She was feeling defensive. The Forger's sexual needs were passionate and primal. Not easily understood.
"I'll be up late." Arthur said. "You can come to me if you don't want to be with him tonight. I'll protect you." He whispered.
"I don't need you to." Ariadne whispered. Her voice feeling breathless. Her head swimming at the idea of Arthur coming to her rescue.
"Fine." Arthur said. Obviously angry. He rinsed off the last dish, setting it in the drying rack. "Whatever you want."
His tone biting and hurtful.
~ She went back to Eames. It was still his night. She gave Arthur's closed door a quick glance before knocking on the Forger's.
"Hello." He said grinning at her from the closet as she let herself in.
She couldn't help but smile back as the Forger pulled her into a comfortable bear hug. Holding her, kissing the top of her head.
"I'm glad you not mad at me. I was acting very bad today." He admitted. Brushing her hair back. She had to laugh. Her sex tingling at the memory.
"Course I'm not mad." She said. Biting her lip, realizing she was anxious to get started again.
She started to kiss him when the Forger pulled away.
"I have to talk to you about something." He said.
That charming little smile on his face. He sat down on the edge of his bed, meeting her in the eye.
"What?" She asked feeling this might turn into something playful.
The Forger took a deep breath.
"This isn't working for me anymore. I'm tired of sharing you." He said.
Memories of what Arthur had said came rushing back to her. Why were they doing this to her?
"What?" She repeated. She could think of nothing else to say.
"I've met someone." He told her sadly. "I wasn't looking for it to happen. I met her a few weeks ago. We really like each other, and I want to try and make it work with her."
"Eames, your the one who suggested this arrangement of ours." Ariadne almost barked. It was Eames who had turned their lives into something they could not go back from.
Had turned her into...
She slapped him. Harder then she had slapped Arthur.
"So what? You came home for one last call?" She shouted.
"I came to say goodbye." Eames said pleadingly.
In the hallway she could hear a door open. The inevitable loud knocking of the Point Man outside.
"Ariadne?" He called out. "Are you alright?" He heard him jiggle the door knob.
Locked.
"I'm fine!" She shouted. Her voice angry. Not frightened.
Her face flushed with rage.
"So your leaving?" She asked turning to Eames. The Forger nodded.
"In the morning." He told her. "I wanted to come home and say goodbye."
"Is this... is it because I'm not good? In bed I mean?" She asked. Feeling her face burn with shame.
"No, that's not it." Eames said standing up and holding her. Kissing her sweetly. "Your wonderful. I'm just selfish. I want you all the time. I need a woman every night. I don't like sharing, never have. You couldn't decide. So we all compromised."
"I have to go." She said pulling away.
"I was hoping you would stay tonight." Eames said sadly.
"No." She told him.
She unlocked his door. Feeling her face burn with anger. Arthur was at the door of his room. Looking concerned.
"What happened?" He asked.
"Nothing!" She shouted back at the Point Man. Tears betraying her, she sought sanctuary in her room.