Whispered Curses

He swept me back until I was leaning over his arm so that he could tenderly rinse between my legs with the falling water. I began giggling, feeling almost high from his endless caresses.

He laughed while I washed his hair. I giggled while he scrubbed my back. It was so relaxed and light. Comfortable.

When he finally turn

ed all the water jets off, wrapping me in a fluffy robe, I was surprised when he led us out to the living room. "Another coffee?"

"Sure."

~ Chapter 6 ~ Eric ~

* Names & Numbers *

I’d honestly never slept with a total stranger. It was debaucherous, indulgent, and so perfect. The thing that tempered the naughtiness was knowing that it wasn’t a one time thing. There was no way we weren’t about to become a couple. I could feel that we were meant to be.

Walking Eden to the kitchen, both of us wrapped in robes, I could envision us living together someday. Being like this all the time.

I spun her into my arms, kissing the top of her damp hair. Holding her against me, I felt a prickle run up my spine. I had real feelings for Eden. Big, sloppy feelings that had nothing to do with lust. Well, a few bits, but only because it made me feel so close to her.

Closing my eyes for a moment, I tried to breathe. If I took a lie detector test at this moment and was asked if I loved her, the needle would tweak. I was already falling very hard.

Snapping my eyes open, Eden was staring at me. I reached out to caress her cheekbone with my thumb.

"I've never slept with anyone that I haven't been dating for at least a month," I confessed. "So I hope it's okay if we do things a little backward. First, we slept together, then we…" I waggled my eyebrows. "Slept together." She giggled. "May I take you out to dinner this week?" I asked.

She nodded. Then she glanced at the clock and winced. "Oh, I’ll have to skip the coffee. I'm sorry I have to go. I have to do all of that boring Sunday stuff like laundry and groceries and everything that keeps me alive through the week."

She picked up her panties and dress from the kitchen floor, then dashed to the bedroom to get dressed. I wanted to work on her shyness until we were prancing around naked all the time. Glancing across the living room, I made a mental note to consider drawing the curtains first.

Eden came back out with her purse in hand. “Hold on,” I said. I went to the hall closet and grabbed an oversized hoodie for her to wear over her thin dress.

“Thanks.” She pulled it on and zipped it up, flashing me that adorable smile. It was amusing that I thought she looked sexier in my lumpy gray hoodie than her little red dress.

“Can I get your number?” I asked.

“Sure.”

We traded phones to exchange numbers, but she looked surprised when I handed hers back. "Erlik? I thought you said Eric?"

I shrugged. "I've always gone by Eric. I just typed that in case you had any other Eric in your phone." Suddenly I felt weird. Almost nervous. “Funny – I never tell anyone my real name.” I smiled at her. “Proof that you’re special, I guess.”

Eden stared into space for a second, then shook her head. "I don't think I've heard that name before. Where is it from?"

I rolled my eyes. "Please don't judge me. My parents were weird punk-ass hippies. They thought that giving me a name that meant ‘a deity of darkness’ would make me tough or something." I chuckled. “You’ve witnessed my finesse at making omelets, so you know I have a fluffy side as well, right?”

Eden laughed, but it didn’t touch her eyes. “Deity of darkness?” She looked a bit queasy.

“Yeah. The underworld. Erlik is a demon, apparently.”

“The devil.” Her whisper sounded harsh. Strained.

“You can call me Eric,” I said quickly. She honestly looked upset. “Dammit, I’m sorry. My parents are weirdos, but they’re not Satanists or anything super dark. They meant it like a force of nature, I think.” Desperately trying to grin, I said, “Your name is the original paradise. So we balance each other. Right?”

Eden smiled and nodded, but she was stiff. “Well, thanks for taking such great care of me. I’ll see you around.”

“Hey,” I said gently, pulling her into my arms. She felt so incredible against me, as if her body was designed to mold into mine. “Send me a text so that I know you’re home safe?”

She nodded against my chest as I stroked her hair. Leaning down for a tiny kiss, she seemed to be quivering. Tipping her chin up with my finger, I tried to make her smile. “I can’t wait to have dinner with you. I bet you have some weird family stories as well.”