CHAPTER 8

Later that Evening

They had decided that Anthony would be moving into her New York apartment. Erin had the nicer place between the two of them and Anthony was happy to oblige.

Fitting Anthony's belongings into her life however, didn't come as easy as it sounded.

He was stacking boxes all over the place and Erin could feel her blood pressure rising.

Sure, she loved the guy but it was a different story when you started merging lives' together. Especially when the other was the messy one.

She wasn't exactly a "happy homemaker" either but she decided to try to cook dinner for the two of them while Anthony finished moving things in.

After the sixth box she stubbed her toe into though she snapped at him.

"Anthony! Can you please move this stuff out of the main areas we walk in? Like put them up against the wall or something?"

Anthony dropped the box he was holding with a thud and stopped to look at her.

"Ok, what exactly is the problem here, Erin? Cause you been on my case all day. It's like you don't…" he trailed off suddenly.

"What?" Erin retorted, her eyes flashing.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I dunno, it just feels like you don't even want me living here."

Erin sighed heavily. "Geez Anthony, it's not like that. I'm just a bit stressed. This is all so sudden and –"

"Yeah whatever," he grumbled and headed for the door. "I'll be back later." He stated coldly as he left and Erin watched him wondering if he was going to walk it off or come back even madder than before.

I hate it when guys close you off like that she thought irritated with him.

He arrived several hours later with another couple boxes.

Erin glared at him wishing he had given her a timeframe. She had thrown together spaghetti and meatballs and ended up eating by herself since he decided not to show his face again until 8 o'clock.

"Dinner's on the stove," she said fuming.

He glanced at her as if trying to gauge her mood and walked over to the stove.

To Erin it seemed that he was still pissed off at her.

Well go ahead and be mad. Now I'm mad at you for leaving me alone at dinner, she thought to herself.

"It was hot awhile ago," she pointed out.

He lifted an eyebrow at her. "I thought I'd stay away from the Ice Princess 'ere for a bit."

"What?! Ice Princess?" Erin felt her voice rising.

How dare he! After she made him a nice home-cooked meal to boot.

She could feel anger welling in her throat and couldn't help but walk over to him.

"Listen here Mister, I don't normally cook much but I made a nice meal for us. If you had not been so freaking pouty this afternoon you could have enjoyed it with me!"

"Yeah?" He said his eyes flashing down at her.

She had cornered him up against the stove and Erin happened to catch that his light blue linen button-up shirt was dangerously close to getting sauce all over it from the edge of the pot.

She moved towards him suddenly and he practically flinched.

"Easy," she remarked, "I was just trying to save your shirt from getting stained," she pointed at the sauce pot.

Anthony felt himself let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding.

Truth be told he was one part turned on when she cornered him and one part terrified.

Erin was a tough chick and not one to mess with.

She felt that maybe it would be best if she did reassure him that she wanted him there. Wanted him to live in her space.

"Look, I'm sorry if you felt like I didn't want you moving in here."

Anthony was quiet as he looked back at her and she could see behind his tough exterior he had actually been hurt when she snapped at him.

She put a gentle hand up to his cheek. "Just let me know if you're not going to be here when I cook dinner."

He nodded but still didn't say anything.

Erin shook her head in frustration, "Please Anthony, don't shut me out."

His eyes found hers and she saw something flickering in them.

Instead of responding verbally, Anthony was suddenly closing the space between them and wrapping his broad arms around her in a passionate kiss.

"Mmmff" Erin mumbled as he kissed her forcefully and spun her away from the stove, up against the wall.

Her mind was racing and her emotions were flying. All of a sudden she couldn't get enough of him and her hands roamed all over him.

She could barely breathe and he held her up against the wall, kissing her without abandon.

He ran his hands through her hair and Erin felt her body arching up against his.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here to eat with you," he muttered against her neck as he trailed kisses.

"Mmm…s'ok," was all Erin could get out.

And in the next moment they were grasping for each other all the way to the bedroom…

A/N: Ok next up, Sunday dinner at the Reagans! I wanted to include this little chapter as I am sure it would be a serious adjustment for these two to begin living together LOL!