by Cat Mann
****
The back hall leading from the garage was dark aside from the glow of the new security system. The alarm beeped until I accessed the device and then spoke the code into the speaker.
“Baby? I’m home.” Ava’s music hummed and carried down from the sound system. The music quality was clear again with no static interrupting every few beats. “Babe? Ave?” My keys jingled against the glass bowl, I kicked my loafers off at the mat and removed my tie, tossing it on the countertop.
“Holy God,” I finally turned around and saw her. “I am one lucky man.”
Our home held the soft light of a hundred or more candles. Small dancing flames licked at the air and flickered elegantly, sending light through the house, bouncing off the glass from the windows and back again.
“Happy anniversary.” Ava smiled at me from across the room; her long soft waves flowed past the bend of her spine and across the front of her chest. I sauntered to her like an animal on the prowl and tugged at the girly pink and dainty strap of her lingerie. “What did I do to deserve you?” My nose nuzzled through her hair and my lips pressed to the seashell curve of her ear. “You are beautiful, you know?” Her face warmed and heat radiated from her cheeks as I trailed my lips and tongue down the smooth skin of her slender neck. “But our anniversary isn’t until Sunday.”
“I couldn’t wait any longer.”
“Mmm…” I breathed in her midnight smelling skin. “I am happy you didn’t wait. You look so sexy, I couldn’t ask for a more perfect anniversary present than you.”
Ava shrugged out of my arms and I blinked at her, confused at the quick change of her mood.
“What did I say?”
“Open your eyes. I am not your gift. This,” she smoothed the lacy fabric, “is just for a little fun after your present.”
“My eyes are open; I can’t take them off you.”
“Try.”
“It’s impossible. You are the prettiest thing in the room. You are the prettiest thing in any room. Why would I want to look at anything else?”
“If you look away, I promise you will still see me.”
My brow pulled into a knit. Tearing my gaze away from her smile and sparkling eyes, I looked around the room.
“What, Babe?”
“Really?” She stomped her foot in a cute pout.
“The house is clean. That’s nice.”
“Oh, my God!” She stomped again and crossed her hands over the top of her baby bump.
“Oh! My! God!” I breathed when I saw the photos. No more cold, bare walls. Our smiles were warm and happy again. “Oh, wow, Ava.”
“Paper. Happy anniversary.”
“Paper. The pictures. All of them. Did you replace all of them?”
“Yeah, every single one. Your mom let me loose in her studio all week. I ordered copies of every picture that was damaged during the break-in. She helped me hang the new frames this afternoon while you were in your meeting at work so you wouldn’t be able to access the security cameras and ruin the surprise and then she called you when you got back to the office to keep you from checking in on us. Lirik helped us keep track of you all day. She’s very nice. I offered her a ticket to the fundraiser, I hope you don’t mind.”
“You clever girl.”
“No one is going to tear us apart. Not ever again. You are mine, Ari. And I am yours forever.”
“Forever.” I nodded and smiled at my home and my wife. Ava had put us back together again and it felt so right. “God, I love you.” My mouth pushed firmly against hers. A breath of surprise pushed past her lips before she could kiss me back. “Thank you. You are exactly what I need.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Can I play with this now?” My finger slid between the garter belt and the warm skin of her thigh.
She giggled, “I’m all yours.”
“Yes you are.” In true caveman fashion, I lugged Ava off to the candlelit bedroom. I was rewarded with the sounds of her moans, the taste of her skin and the sight of her exquisitely curved body.
