The Make-Up Artist: Part 2

Chapter Twenty Seven: Praying for Time

When you wake the next morning, it takes you a good couple of seconds to remember where you are. Your head is a little fuzzy from the spirits you partook of the previous evening, but the remembered bliss from only hours ago overcomes any hangover you might be nursing today. You smile to yourself as you stretch your arms overhead and revel in the release of your tight muscles all the way down to your toes. Sure enough, your feet are little sore, among other areas of your body, but it was all completely worth it. You blush at the memory of Taron taking you over and over again last night, until you literally passed out from exhaustion. You turn only your head to face him to your right, and your heart skips a little at the sight of him. Will seeing this man laying next to you ever get old? You sincerely hope not as you roll over onto your side and lazily drag your hand over his bare chest. Twirling your fingers in the sparse hair you find there, you notice it rising and falling a little quicker. You peer up at him to find his bright green eyes gazing warmly at you.

You smile a little wider than intended and whisper, "Good morning." He whispers it back and wraps an arm around your back, pulling you closer to him. You lean up to plant a tight kiss onto his full pink lips, morning breath be damned. Turning your face away from him and laying your cheek against his chest you murmur, "I wish I could wake up next to you every morning." You feel Taron shift underneath you to sit up slightly and you turn your eyes to him again.

"Well why can't you?" He asks earnestly. You narrow your eyes at him slightly before responding.

"Umm, my job...your job...to name a few reasons", you say with a grin so he knows you're being light-hearted.

"Oh...well I thought maybe, now that we're...I mean now that things are ok..." He stops and you're not sure what he's getting at.

"Taron, what are you trying to say to me?" You ask, remembering the mention of the word "girlfriend" last night, and your heart stutters a little. He sighs heavily and closes his eyes briefly, presumably gathering his thoughts. He clears his throat then speaks much more eloquently this time.

"I was hoping that now that we are on good terms, you might reconsider coming to work for me. With me I mean", he clarifies, and you appreciate his attempt to play it off as an equal partnership. You smile at him, although admittedly you are little disappointed that this is where his mind is at, even as you know you can't accept.

"What about my job? I have to go back to work in a few weeks." The way his face falls makes your insides hurt.

"Right. I guess I forgot", he says as he abruptly sits up causing your head to fall away from him. He swings his legs over the other side of the bed and rubs his face vigorously, effectively turning his back on you. What the hell? You sit up as well, ignoring the fact that you are naked, and wrap your arms around his back, clasping your hands at his chest.

"Hey...", you murmur in his ear. " You knew I was going back to work. What is this really about?" He brings his hands up to grasp yours and turns his head slightly to address you.

"Yes I knew. It was just wishful thinking." He lets out a deep breath and you feel the pull of his back muscles against your bare chest. You try not to be turned on as he continues. "I can't help but worry that now we've finally found our way back to each other, it's all just going to disappear again when we're apart."

"Taron you know that's ridiculous", you retort.

"Do I?" He asks, turning suddenly and pulling you onto his lap. Feeling all of his nakedness against every inch of your exposed skin has you trying in vain to stay focused on his words and not his body. You gulp down a lump and stare into his beautiful worried eyes.

Placing your hands against his face you answer, "You should. You should know that you and I can get though pretty much anything at this point. We've been through worse than just being apart." His hands are pressed firmly against your back and you want nothing more than to be done with this conversation and show him just how much you want him and only him, forever.