Unlikely Meetings

CHAPTERR 5 - DOUBLE DATE

The days passed as they kept talking to one another near constantly. Movies were a common interest between the new couple but it didn't stop there. His love of mechanics certainly piqued her interest along with him divulging that he had set up his own self-sustaining electrical network on his property. She wanted to see it when it got warmer outside so a summer plan was already made with many more in the works. Stay in movie dates have been talked about along with concert plans and even simple dinner dates in the near future as long as it was indoors and fairly warm.

The days slipped by as more snow blanketed Jackson, forcing Eli indoors and slowly becoming more stir crazy as Saturday creeped ever closer. Saturday morning was quite eventful for the new couple as Max rang her small apartment's doorbell. It flew open and a wave of warm air washed over him as the now familiar hognose struck her target. Her bare limbs wrapped around his form in a tight constricting hug with his legs being bound by her surprisingly dexterous tail. She was cool to the touch against his skin as he relaxed from the sudden surprise. "Mmm been wanting to do this for days."

"While I'm not complaining I would like to hug you back." Eli relaxed a hair letting Max freely move his arms for a moment before they rested across her back and hips. She smelled sweet as his face rested in her chest and soon became acutely aware of where he was currently residing along with the state of her clothing. She wore very little besides a simple tank top and from what he could recall was a belt pretending to be pants. "Uhm Eli?"

"Nope. Just a bit longer." Her voice was wistful in his ear as her softly spoken words danced across his mind. I was like heroin to him, intoxicating, addicting and always seemed to put him on cloud nine. He tried to keep his mind and heart rate steady as she clung to him by breathing steady and simply trying to enjoy her embrace. "You never told me you were so waaaarm." Her moaning that last word right in his ear is what made him break. His stance failed as he crumbled in her embrace with his weight falling into her form.

She held him as he melted. His arms wrapped around her waist tighter as if he was afraid that she'd turn into vapor. It'd been years since he'd felt affection on this level, years since someone desired him. This was when he realized how lonely he had been, how empty he felt and just ignored that dull pain. He wasn't sure what to do next. The cool air of the hallway was replaced by her warmer apartment as she dragged his form past the threshold and shut the door. Her grip loosened before he spoke softly up to her. "Just a little longer?"

Her heart skipped a beat as she heard his words. The mix of emotional joy and physical warmth pouring off of him and warming her to the core. Her wide maw split into a beaming smile as she gripped him tighter and placed the front of her upturned snout on the top of his head in a chaste kiss. "Take as long as you need."

Max sighed as he began to pull back from her chilling embrace feeling revitalized and a few degrees cooler. "I may need more of those in the future." Eli gave a warm smile as she worked on getting her outdoor clothes on. Her home was simple but more decorated than his, several heating elements were spread about while taking safety into account. Being over a storefront certainly helped her with heating during business hours but she certainly seemed to be more safe than sorry after hours. The light brown walls reminded him of sand with splashes of color in the desert. A small house plant sat in the corner with posters and painting thoughtfully lined up to tie the room together. He liked it and decided that he'd rework his living space to seem more livable instead of being a spartan bunkhouse. Max had noticed from the cafe date that her clothes were just passive insulation with no additional heating elements. Several thin layers were packed on before thick puffy layers filled with down feathers. "Question for you, why haven't you gotten active heating clothing?"

"Active what?" Eli stared at him half dressed. Confusion written clearly across her face as she looked at him. "They make those?"

Now Max was confused as he stared back at Eli before taking out his phone and dialing a number. "Hey Noah it's me. Yeah I'm at her place now...what?" The sound that came from his cell was a mix of unintelligible words and toddlers screaming and laughing as they put their parents through the ringer. "Actually that works out great since I need to take Eli to the store." A pause for his friend's reply was short as he continued to try and scoop up his kids with his wife on the other end of the line. "No, nothing serious, she just doesnt have heated clothes. Yeah I know right? I'll fill you in soon but we'll meet you and Chel at the range when the gremlins are fully wrangled. See ya soon bud."