"Mm." It was really the only thing he could say to a kiss like that. Aishe's fingers were tangled in his hair, her lips were warm and soft against his, and apparently his body wasn't entirely getting the message from his brain that they'd just had a good bout of excersize.
Aishe shifted in his arms so that she was pressed up against him instead of facing away. Pulling back just a little she looked at him, that smile still in place. Her entire face seemed to glow, and it didn't take a bond to know she was happy. That warmed him, and he gave a small happy sigh.
"I'm glad I stayed home tonight."
It was his night off, and he'd given serious thought to going to Meridian and being productive. There were loans to approve and two requests for appraisals on artifacts he probably had some useful information about.
It could all wait for one night.
Snuggling Aishe close, he tucked her head under his chin and closed his eyes. Letting himself slip into a lazy half-doze, he mumbled at her against her hair.
"Raccoons fed?"
Anything But Ordinary (private)
Aishe stretched, catlike, a smile on her face as she spread her fingers and wiggled them over the top of her head. She didn't have a whole lot of room to maneuver but that was fine with her. The couch was soft and the overhead fan created a cool breeze; even though it was chilly outside, the occupants of the couch were definitely in need of cooling.
She looked out over what she could see of the living room floor. It looked a little like a war zone. Shoes and clothing were scattered everywhere. The TV was on and the remote was missing, having been tossed out of the way some time ago. The carefully arranged DvDs on one of the bookcase shelves nearest the other end of the couch were in disarray. Some were on the floor.
Aishe gave a little satisfied sigh. The arm that was wrapped around her waist tightened as its owner leaned up to look at her. She smiled even wider as she saw Kem's face, somewhat sleepy-eyed, hair just as disheveled as hers.
"What are you grinning about?" he asked, but it was said with the same knowing grin.
Instead of answering, Aishe just sat up enough to touch her lips to his, her left hand tugging at his long locks of silvery hair to pull him close.
Kem`Raaisu
15 years ago
Aishe
15 years ago
Aishe chuckled and rested her head against's Kem's chest, listening to the inhumanly slow heartbeat. It was oddly familiar; a steady thump once every fifteen seconds or so. Her hands stayed around his narrow waist, gently brushing his tanned skin.
"Who knew if you actually stayed home with your girlfriend, these things could happen?" Her tone was teasing. She didn't begrudge him time spent at work; she was simply happy he'd reached the decision to take time off on his own. Seeing him at Liefde and Meridian wasn't nearly as satisfying as having him here.
"Yes, before bed," she answered his next question. They were both neat keepers, so there was very little in the way of housework to do first thing in the evening. Feeding Zoe and the raccoons was usually the first thing they both did, and Aishe had taken care of both before they'd gone to bed that morning. Slightly off-schedule perhaps, but she hadn't heard any complaints - the raccoons liked being fed whenever it happened and Zoe wouldn't give her the time of day, much less demonstrate her approval over the level of food in her bowl.
"So, you see... I have you all to myself all night. I guess the question is, what should I do with you?"
Kem's expression was one of "do tell," as he pulled back and tipped his head down at her, one silvery brow lifted in amused anticipation.
Aishe nodded her head, feigning thoughtfulness. "Well... the dishes are clean. I suppose the carpets could stand to be vaccuumed. You could sweep and mop the kitchen floor, dust the shelves. There's just so much to be ack!"
Her last word dissolved into a shriek as the throw pillows (appropriately thrown from the couch earlier in the evening) lifted themselves up and flew at her from across the room, hitting her gently in the back of the head.
"Who knew if you actually stayed home with your girlfriend, these things could happen?" Her tone was teasing. She didn't begrudge him time spent at work; she was simply happy he'd reached the decision to take time off on his own. Seeing him at Liefde and Meridian wasn't nearly as satisfying as having him here.
"Yes, before bed," she answered his next question. They were both neat keepers, so there was very little in the way of housework to do first thing in the evening. Feeding Zoe and the raccoons was usually the first thing they both did, and Aishe had taken care of both before they'd gone to bed that morning. Slightly off-schedule perhaps, but she hadn't heard any complaints - the raccoons liked being fed whenever it happened and Zoe wouldn't give her the time of day, much less demonstrate her approval over the level of food in her bowl.
"So, you see... I have you all to myself all night. I guess the question is, what should I do with you?"
Kem's expression was one of "do tell," as he pulled back and tipped his head down at her, one silvery brow lifted in amused anticipation.
Aishe nodded her head, feigning thoughtfulness. "Well... the dishes are clean. I suppose the carpets could stand to be vaccuumed. You could sweep and mop the kitchen floor, dust the shelves. There's just so much to be ack!"
Her last word dissolved into a shriek as the throw pillows (appropriately thrown from the couch earlier in the evening) lifted themselves up and flew at her from across the room, hitting her gently in the back of the head.
Kem`Raaisu
15 years ago
Pillow retaliation was all well and good, but Kem didn't stop there. He reached over Aishe, grabbed one of the fallen pillows, and proceeded to beat her soundly. After her laughter subsided she rolled off the couch, grabbed her own pillow, and gave as good as she got.
How a throw-pillow fight turned into lovemaking, Kem wasn't entirely sure, but they managed. Again.
An hour later found them completely exhausted, spread-eagled side by side on the floor of the living room amidst most of the couch cushions, pillows, and the two afghans, one of which Kem had pulled from the back of the recliner and the other Aishe had grabbed from the couch. Every few seconds or so one or the other of them would snicker, or giggle, or guffaw.
It was Aishe who finally sat up and rolled over, crawling on her hands and knees over to Kem and flopping down on her stomach between his legs, arms folded over his stomach, resting her chin on them as she looked up with a smile.
"That counts as housework, right?" he asked cheekily.
Turning his head, he noticed his jeans weren't too far away. He couldn't remember who'd shed what in what order early that morning, but he knew he had Aishe's gift in its little box in his pocket. If now wasn't a good time to give it to her, what was?
He'd been trying unsuccessfully to find "the perfect moment" over the last eight weeks or so, and he was starting to think he really was cursed, at least in this regard. There wasn't anything that could interrupt them at home though. Zoe was asleep in the study and they weren't expecting company.
Kem started to reach out and grab his jeans so he could fish the box out when the phone rang. Both he and Aishe glanced at the TV as the number displayed. As if scripted, their brows furrowed in unison as Aishe's parents' number popped up. Two minds did the math; it was 10 pm here in Nachton, so just 6 am there in Giza. Far earlier than Aishe's folks usually called.
Wordlessly, Kem lifted the phone from its cradle across the room and delivered it to Aishe's waiting hand. She smiled and dropped a kiss on his stomach before answering it.
Just hearing Aishe's end of the conversation, Kem knew it was something bad. Her voice grew solemn, her body tensed, and along their bond he felt her surprise and worry. Judging by what she said (which wasn't a lot), something had happened to her father. Kem waited patiently until she turned the phone off and looked at him in a daze.
He put his hands on her shoulders. "Aishe? What's wrong?"
She bit her lip and looked down at him. "Dad had a heart attack last night." Then she shook her head and sighed. "Apparently, not his first."
Kem didn't really need any more information. They were both up and moving, showering quickly, getting dressed. A few short calls and Kem arranged for the use of one of Meridian's planes, which he'd done before when travel was required for his job. A necessary evil.
As he quickly called Pak to see if she'd feed the raccoons and check on Zoe, Aishe tossed their clothes from the previous evening onto the couch after straightening the living room just a bit. Kem grabbed their bags as Aishe headed out the door in front of him. Stopping for a moment he moved to retrieve the box from his jeans once more lest Pak decide to move their clothes and watch TV or something. He was startled to discover it was no longer there.
The couch was still in a little bit of disarray; it must have fallen down under the cushions. There wasn't any time to worry; not right now. Kem closed and locked the door, sliding his key under the mat for Pak to find later. The box would be safe enough at home, and he certainly couldn't give it to Aishe anyway, when she was upset and worried.
((ooc: Kem and Aishe out))
How a throw-pillow fight turned into lovemaking, Kem wasn't entirely sure, but they managed. Again.
An hour later found them completely exhausted, spread-eagled side by side on the floor of the living room amidst most of the couch cushions, pillows, and the two afghans, one of which Kem had pulled from the back of the recliner and the other Aishe had grabbed from the couch. Every few seconds or so one or the other of them would snicker, or giggle, or guffaw.
It was Aishe who finally sat up and rolled over, crawling on her hands and knees over to Kem and flopping down on her stomach between his legs, arms folded over his stomach, resting her chin on them as she looked up with a smile.
"That counts as housework, right?" he asked cheekily.
Turning his head, he noticed his jeans weren't too far away. He couldn't remember who'd shed what in what order early that morning, but he knew he had Aishe's gift in its little box in his pocket. If now wasn't a good time to give it to her, what was?
He'd been trying unsuccessfully to find "the perfect moment" over the last eight weeks or so, and he was starting to think he really was cursed, at least in this regard. There wasn't anything that could interrupt them at home though. Zoe was asleep in the study and they weren't expecting company.
Kem started to reach out and grab his jeans so he could fish the box out when the phone rang. Both he and Aishe glanced at the TV as the number displayed. As if scripted, their brows furrowed in unison as Aishe's parents' number popped up. Two minds did the math; it was 10 pm here in Nachton, so just 6 am there in Giza. Far earlier than Aishe's folks usually called.
Wordlessly, Kem lifted the phone from its cradle across the room and delivered it to Aishe's waiting hand. She smiled and dropped a kiss on his stomach before answering it.
Just hearing Aishe's end of the conversation, Kem knew it was something bad. Her voice grew solemn, her body tensed, and along their bond he felt her surprise and worry. Judging by what she said (which wasn't a lot), something had happened to her father. Kem waited patiently until she turned the phone off and looked at him in a daze.
He put his hands on her shoulders. "Aishe? What's wrong?"
She bit her lip and looked down at him. "Dad had a heart attack last night." Then she shook her head and sighed. "Apparently, not his first."
Kem didn't really need any more information. They were both up and moving, showering quickly, getting dressed. A few short calls and Kem arranged for the use of one of Meridian's planes, which he'd done before when travel was required for his job. A necessary evil.
As he quickly called Pak to see if she'd feed the raccoons and check on Zoe, Aishe tossed their clothes from the previous evening onto the couch after straightening the living room just a bit. Kem grabbed their bags as Aishe headed out the door in front of him. Stopping for a moment he moved to retrieve the box from his jeans once more lest Pak decide to move their clothes and watch TV or something. He was startled to discover it was no longer there.
The couch was still in a little bit of disarray; it must have fallen down under the cushions. There wasn't any time to worry; not right now. Kem closed and locked the door, sliding his key under the mat for Pak to find later. The box would be safe enough at home, and he certainly couldn't give it to Aishe anyway, when she was upset and worried.
((ooc: Kem and Aishe out))