As long as you like

14

I followed Dean up the stairs. Passing paintings and pictures on the wall lining the path upward. He lead me down a hallway that had more of the country house aesthetic to it. He stopped at one of the 5 doors in the hallway.

"This is my favorite room in the house." Dean practically beamed with excitement. He turned the doorknob and swung the door open.

I stepped in and immediately found myself surrounded by paintings. I spun around the room slowly, seeing paintings covering the room from floor to ceiling. All of them were vibrant and beautiful. Some of them were down right moving at first glance. I took my time studying each painting that called for my attention. I was picking out my favorites already.

Admiring a portrait of an empty kitchen with black and white checkered linoleum floors, I felt Deans finger tips caress my neck, moving my hair to the side. He kissed my neck softly and wrapped his arms around my waist. Holding me from behind. I felt more safe than I had felt in a while. Still wrapped up in his arms, I kept my eyes locked on the painting.

"Do you like it?" He asked in a hushed voice. "I painted that after I visited Tennessee. I listened to a lot of Elvis there. In 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?' He sings about an apartment being empty and bare. I don't know why but that's what I imagined it looked like."

I loved the dining table in the portrait. It was off in the corner, cut off so you couldn't see the whole thing. The only chair in frame was pushed away from the table, as if someone left in a burst of emotion.

I turned to face him and wrapped my arms around his neck. "I love it. They're so beautiful. I didn't know you paint more than houses."

He chuckled. "I don't tell most people. I learned from my dad. He learned from his and on and on. Most of these are mine but some go back to the early 60's. That's when this house was built." By the way he spoke, I could tell he loved this house.

"Show me more." I requested. He smiled and took me by my hand and lead me back down the hall.

He showed me the 2 spare rooms and bathroom as well as the closet in the same hallway as the paint room. He lead me back down the stairs. I followed him to a hallway tucked beside the living room on the right. He showed me another bathroom, another spare room which he's been using as storage and a closet filled with hats, coats, boots, all the winter necessities.

At the very end on the hall, there was another door. He swung it open to reveal his bedroom. The walls were painted a dove grey color and lined with posters of bands and movies. A guitar sat neatly in the corner of the room on a stand. His bed was in the middle of the room against the wall with night stands on either side. A desk lay against a window covered with papers, pens, notebooks and color cards for paint. I could tell he spent a lot of time in his room, but it was still neat.

Although his bed was made, I couldn't help but sit on it. It looked so comfy and soft, and it was! Dean sat down next to me.

"I can't believe you live here." I chuckled looking around his room. "It's so lovely." I smiled at him.

"Gets lonely sometimes." Dean sighed. "Passing through empty rooms everyday gets kinda old. But, at least I have my privacy. I can paint in peace whenever I want." He rubbed the back of his neck. I could tell he wanted to comfortable with this conversation.

"Your bed is so soft!" I changed the subject. "How the hell do you stand getting out of bed in the morning?" I ran my hand across the duvet. It felt silky and warm.

Dean chuckled. "It's definitely hard. Might be even harder if I'm ever lucky enough to wake up next to you in this bed." My heart jumped.

He pulled me into his lap facing him and wrapped his arms around my waist. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer to me. His hands were warm on my back and his lap was comfortable beneath me.

I found myself staring at his lips when I felt his hands glide down to grip my ass. His voice was firm, "Eye contact." My eyes snapped to his. There was a spark in his eyes and I could tell he was smiling without taking my gaze off of his.

"Good girl!" He gripped my ass harder before giving it a light smack. I tangle my fingers in his hair and lowered my head to his. His hands moved quickly to my neck. Holding me gently on either side of my neck, Dean pulled me into a kiss. He kissed me deeply, filling my mouth with his tongue as he held me close to him.

Just as I was starting to get antsy, my phone pinged in my pocket. Dean slowly released his grip on me and slid my phone out.

"It's Minnie." He said studying the screen.

"Answer it." I dared him.

He swiped on my phone. "Arabellas phone, Dean speaking." He grinned at me. "Mhmm, yeah!"

I started delivering soft kisses to his neck as he spoke on the phone. I could feel him tense each time.

"Yeah that sounds great, actually. Let me ask her." He said and lowered the phone. "Do you want to go meet mine for pizza and drinks at Lou's?"

I blinked at him. Totally astonished at the level of intimacy filling the room. I'm on his lap, in his bed, while he's making plans with my best friend on my phone. But, I also feel something I haven't felt in a while. Something good, warm.

"Absolutely." I responded cheerfully. I hopped off his lap.

He stood, smiling at me. "We'll meet you there soon, Minnie. Bye" he hung up the phone and handed it to me.

He took my hand and we walked out to his car together. On our way to Lou's! My favorite pizza spot! Minnie's too! I wonder if she brought a date!