janey_in-from-the-cold

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IN FROM THE COLD by Janey

Zara smiled at the handsome but quietly spoken guy next door when he got out of his taxi and walked to his front door. Today he was wearing eyeliner, tight black trousers, a black shirt opened almost to his stomach, his newly dyed black hair was chopped, messy and spiked, and Zara loved it. Quite simply he was the hottest guy she knew.

He opened the door, then took a step back and smiled at her. “You’ve done some work on my garden too I notice,” he grinned. “Why don’t you get cleaned up and then come and join me for a drink and maybe a baked potato with beans? Not much I know but cooking never was my strong point as you well know.”

That smile; so beautiful. He captivated Zara; he was charismatic and unlike any one else she had ever met yet she was drawn to him. “If it saves me cooking it’s a deal. Give me thirty minutes,” she said brightly. “I need to get showered and changed.”
“Just knock and walk in when you’re ready; I won’t lock the door.”
“You should be careful, I could be a mad axe murderer!”
“I’ve had to cope with all sorts of nutters in my time and I don’t think I have anything to worry about on that score, but I think you kinda know about that,” he grinned and blushed at her. “Anyway, you’ve had chances when I’ve been in your home if you wanted to do anything and you haven’t.”

His past had always been unspoken between them but he knew that she knew. If she hadn’t recognised him, he knew that Zara was certain to recognise Nicky or James when they visited him, but she never said anything and continued to call him ‘Teddy’ all the same. He had moved next door to her 18 months ago and they had soon become friends. It often made him smile when she would turn off her Manics’ c.d.’s when he returned home; diplomatic if nothing else. Today he had been out shopping in Cardiff; hence the eye make up. If he looked like he did almost 15 years ago people assume he’s a Richey fan and ignore him. On the rare occasions he had ventured into Cardiff without make up, that’s when people have done a double take and shouted ‘Richey’ at him, hoping to provoke a reaction. He hadn’t betrayed himself yet but he had been close to it a few times.

“Coming ready or not!” Zara called jovially entering his modest home and joining him in the lounge. “I brought a bottle and don’t argue!”
“I won’t,” he grinned, standing to greet her and kissing her warmly on both cheeks. For a brief moment he held her to him, allowing his gaze to wander over her; even in jeans and a check shirt she was beautiful. “Join me in the kitchen.”
“Don’t tell me you’re worried about burning baked potatoes?” she laughed her green eyes sparkling and her short, messy blonde hair dancing beautifully as it moved with her. Zara noticed that he had changed and showered as well, his hair still wet. He wore a tight burgundy t-shirt and another pair of loose black trousers; he was stunning, that’s all there was to it.
“One of my specialities I’ll have you know! I cook them to perfection.” Gently he placed a hand in the small of her back and guided her through to the other room.

Zara glanced around – no signs of cooking at all. “Are you going to microwave them or something?” she asked confused.
“NO, I’ve taken the liberty of ordering us an Indian take-out. I recalled we got talking about Indian food one day and you told me what you liked so, I thought I’d surprise you. Should be here in about 10 minutes or so.”
Zara smiled and then hugged him warmly to her, genuinely touched by his thoughtfulness. “I’m impressed.”

Whenever they got together the conversation generally flowed without problem, but even the silences were never awkward, they were comfortable and at ease.
“Next time you’ll have to come round to mine,” remarked Zara as they loaded the dishwasher. “It’s been a while since I cooked for you.”
“Sounds good.”
“I don’t get to see much of you these days Teddy, I take it that you and your friends are erm…busy.”
“I love that you still call me that even though you know full well that it isn’t my name and you know who Nick and James are; I’ve heard you playing Manics stuff often enough.” He smiled mischievously at her and Zara bowed her head coyly then glanced at him with a shy grin. “You’ve never asked me about it; any of it.”

“That’s because it’s none of my business.”
“You must be curious.”
“All I was bothered about was that it was your decision to come back, I would hope that it was because you seem happy enough.” Zara raised her wineglass as a hint for him to fill it for her, which he duly did after smirking at her. “Are you?”
“Yes I am and it was my choice, it just seemed right for me to be honest with the guys about what happened. I had sorted myself out and was ready to confront it all; ugly as it was.”
“Like I said Rich…erm Teddy, it’s none of my business, but what is my business is what we’re going to do for your 39th in a couple of months.”

“You can call me Richey, I don’t mind, but no fuss for my birthday; a card will do.”
“I don’t do joint birthday and Christmas gifts and I definitely will not just get you a card. After 18 months you should know me better than that.”
He giggled at her, topped up his own glass and then nodded towards the lounge, Zara smiled and began walking through and sat on the couch waiting for him to join her.
“All the work that you’ve done on my garden can be my present. You’ve spent hours out there and bought loads of plants for it.” Richey sat in the centre of the couch turned towards Zara and chinked his glass against hers. “So that’s that problem solved.”
“I still need to get you a Christmas present,” she winked, stroking him tenderly down his left arm, as he sipped his wine.

“You cook the dinner and I’ll blag a place at the table,” he laughed, his brown eyes glinting with fun. “I can do the washing up. Last years meal was wonderful.”
“Won’t your mum be expecting you?”
“I’m going there on Boxing Day. Actually, I’d like it very much if you went with me; they said I could take someone and you’re my closest friend, please say you will.”
“Are you sure? I’m flattered.”
“Is that a yes?” he asked and then grinned broadly and yelped in delight when Zara nodded that she would.

“No more! No more!”
“Lightweight,” Richey smirked. “One more movie. You know you want to.”
“It’s late and I don’t want to fall asleep on you, that wouldn’t be very polite would it?”
Softly he cocked his head to one side as he mumbled; “I wouldn’t object if you did that. Stay, I like having you here and you can stay over, it’s no problem.” Zara was about to protest but he didn’t give her the chance. “I’ll put on a nice girlie film for you to watch, how’s that?”
“A sleepover, wow! How cool is that? Nudge me if I fall asleep though,” she implored with her eyes and he mouthed ‘yes’ and nodded. “You’ve got yourself a deal Teddy.”

He got up, put another dvd into the machine and joined Zara back on the couch, hugging her into him, “please call me Richey.”
“I’ve got used to calling you Teddy James, although I know that sometimes I slip up, but I will try even though I may screw up and call you Richey in public if I bump into you out shopping.”
“In the New Year we’re announcing it anyway; my decision. Don’t look at me like that, I’ve got things sorted out with my family, the guys and me are getting on well so it seems like a natural progression. Anyway, let’s not worry about that now, we have a movie to watch.”

Zara lasted halfway into the movie before she fell asleep, rather than wake her, Richey continued to hold her close to him, watching her as she dozed. When the credits rolled at the end, he picked her up and carried her up the stairs to his spare room and carefully placed her on the bed, only then disturbing her to take off her shoes.
“Richey?”
“You need to get into bed, you fell asleep.”
“You should have woken me, you said you would.”
“So I lied,” he giggled. “I just couldn’t disturb you, you looked so peaceful.” Tenderly he brushed some of her silky tendrils of golden hair from her face and smiled when she sighed.

Zara giggled nervously as she watched his face, all lit up with pleasure and happiness. “You should smile more often; you’re very handsome.” She brushed the pads of her right fingertips over his lips. “And you have a pout most women would kill for.”
“If you’re trying to make me blush I think you’ve succeeded,” he smirked, lightly grabbing her wrist in his hand and holding her hand in place as he bestowed tiny kisses on each of the pads, and then began to reverently kiss her palm. “Time for you to get some sleep beautiful.”

“Richey?” she asked when he made to stand up and leave.
“What is it?” He sat down beside her once more, his eyes probing hers looking for clues as to what was expected. His brown eyes were warm and glistening like warm liquid chocolate, sensuous, vibrant and velvety in appearance, very lush.
Zara moved about on the bed and then knelt alongside him and planted a sweet kiss on his cheek. “Thanks for tonight, I had fun.”
“Maybe we could do it again; soon.”
“I’d love to, or perhaps you could come round and stay with me next time although I appreciate that it’s a long way for you to travel just for something to eat and to watch some dvd’s.”

He chuckled loudly and tapped her playfully on her backside, and then pushed her down onto the bed, his arms either side of her torso as he straddled her and stared into her green eyes: “I could always make you take the long walk home for that you know.”
“Oh but Teddy it’ll be cold and horrible out there.”
“What happened to Richey? You were doing so well,” he teased her.
“Can I blame it on my addled brain?” Zara pleaded. “I could always just say ‘oi, you’ whenever I’m talking to you, that would eliminate the need for a name completely.”

Zara shrieked out loud when his hands moved over her and started tickling her mercilessly, ignoring her pleas for him to stop. She thrashed about on the bed until she managed to grab hold of his top and pull him down; surprising him and making him stop and stare at her intently.
“Would I be totally out of order if I kissed you?”
“No,” Zara whimpered as her mouth surrendered to his.

Breathless, they said nothing when their lips parted, instead they hugged tightly, not wanting to break the spell, and that was how they fell asleep.

“Morning,” Zara smiled when Richey began to stir. Still fully dressed they were now covered by the duvet, neither recalling pulling it across their chilling bodies during the night.
“You’re still here,” he grinned warmly. “I’m pleased.”
“Good, I would hate to outstay my welcome.”
“I don’t think that you could ever do that.”
Zara sniggered; “That was sweet of you but very cheesy.”
“And how about this?”

His soft plump lips tugged at hers and it wasn’t long before she was opening her mouth for his tongue to enter and sidle against hers erotically and sensuously as his hands began to take off her clothing beneath the duvet.

The end.

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