May by Thomas Newman

18. Achilles

I groan desperately and throw my head back against the armrest of the couch. The stifling heat has a chokehold around my throat. I'm going die.

I can feel it.

That's the terrible thing about this apartment. The damned heat builds up in here, and if I don't get some relief at this moment, I'll be joining Anslo Garrick in hell. I'm desperate.

I swing my legs over the couch and press my sweaty brow against my hands.

Shit. I hate this weather.

I get up and shrug my vest off and begin to unbutton my already half buttoned shirt and throw that across the room in frustration. The pants go next as I practically tear those off as well and they go flying towards the table piled with books. I stand there in the center of the room in my boxers heaving a sigh of relief when a small breeze floats in through the open windows. The curtains stretch out towards me and then fall back against the French windows. Damn it. That was so brief.

I think I'm going lose my mind. If there's one weakness in this world that I have aside from my girl, Lizzie it's the heat.

I hate it. I don't mind the warm sun, but this is ridiculous. It's like a billion degrees out in the city; perhaps more in here.

I stride to the kitchen and feel my bare feet stick against the hardwood floor. When I get to the sink I turn the cold water on full blast and stick my head under the faucet.

The sound of the running water fills my ears, but I really don't give a damn. The cool water is bringing some sweet relief as it trails over my neck and shoulders.

"Red?"

I start and bump my head against the faucet in surprise, sending water splashing down my back. Lizzie stands there watching me with an amused, and slightly bewildered expression.

"What are you doing?" She laughs.

"Lizzie! What a pleasant surprise!" I cry as I grab a towel, run it under the water, and throw it over my neck. " I'm miserable! This heat, it's killing me!"

She laughs and places a plastic bag on the island. "Well…I brought you a treat that I thought you might like to help cool you off." Her eyes trail down my half-naked body and I can see her cheeks flush slightly. "Though I can see that you've already made an attempt to do so."

"Like what you see?" I grin at her. She rolls her eyes. I walk over and peer inside the bag and pull out some large orange popsicles.

"I know you like orange sherbet, so I brought you some orange flavored fruit pops."

I laugh and lean towards her, pressing a kiss near her lips. She smiles brightly at me.

"Thank you, Lizzie, that was very thoughtful." After pulling the wrapper off I take a large bite, relishing the coldness spreading in my mouth. I moan in pleasure.