The Make-Up Artist: Part 2

Chapter Twenty Five: San Diego

You wake the next morning in Taron's arms, having refused him when he wanted to "return the favor" the night before. Before falling asleep, however, he had somehow convinced you to accompany him to San Diego for the second day of Comic Con, which you are already regretting. If there was ever a place you wouldn't fit in, that would be it. Knowing you need to leave early to get to San Diego in time, you pull yourself from his grasp and lean up on your elbows to place a light kiss on his forehead. He stirs and mumbles something incoherent, then his eyes flutter open and focus on your face.

"Good morning you", you say with a smile. He lazily turns his head to look over at the still darkened sky with only the faintest grey hue outside your window, then brushes your hair away from your face and grasps your cheeks.

"Mmm, not morning yet. Still night...still time", he murmurs, pulling your face to his and pressing his lips tenderly against yours. You melt into him and kiss him back eagerly, but then pull back swiftly.

"Uh uh, morning...see?" You say, pointing over to the clock next to your bed. "And we need to get up if we're going to this Comic whatever thing", you add, rolling your eyes. He lets his head fall back to the pillow and closes his eyes.

"Uggh. Fine. Is there coffee?" He asks, rubbing his eyes and stretching his arms overhead.

"Of course. I'll get that started while you shower if you want."

"Ok, sounds good", he replies, but then instead of getting up, he pulls you down on top of him and crashes his mouth to yours.

"Taron!" You say through muffled lips as his are still pressed firmly against yours. You decide to give into him for just a moment, and allow him entry to your lips and mouth as he threads his hands back through your hair. A moment turns into many as you hastily sit astride him, throwing caution to the wind and abandoning your time table altogether. Suddenly, he rises up to a seated position to face you, his arms going around your waist, his head dipping to your throat. You stretch your neck long to give him full access and straighten your legs out to wrap them around his waist. His hands go to your hips as he rocks you against him further and you know if one of you doesn't stop this soon, you will never get to San Diego. As Taron's fingers begin to work the knot of your robe, you realize it's going to have to be you. "Taron", you protest, pushing weakly against his chest. "Taron, we have to get up. We don't have time...", you say as his lips attach to your earlobe and your eyes flutter closed. This really isn't fair. Finally, he removes his mouth from your skin and tilts his head toward you, pressing his forehead to yours.

"Fine. We can get up if you promise me one thing", he says a bit breathless, staring into your eyes, the color of his almost black. You swallow down a lump and feel fire pool in your core.

"What?" You say, your voice cracking.

"You spend tonight with me in my hotel. In San Diego." Oh, is that all? Why are you having to promise him something when this is his event he's having to get up for? That's really neither here nor there, since you've resigned to the fact that you'll pretty much do anything for him, you already know your answer.

Grasping his face with both hands, you stare into his eyes and answer with a whispered, "Of course." He smiles then pushes you down onto your back, and you remain tangled up with him for a few more blissful moments.

A few hours later, after getting cleaned up and ingesting an appropriate amount of coffee, you are happily sitting in the passenger seat of Taron's rental car as he cruises down the highway, headed for San Diego.

"So", you ask, breaking the comfortable silence in the vehicle. "Why are you doing Comic Con?" You're not sure why it hasn't occurred to you before now to ask. "Is it for Rocketman?" That doesn't seem quite right. He smiles lazily over at you before returning his eyes to the road as he addresses you.