They say all's fair
In love and war
But I won't need to fight it
We'll get it right...
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TJ watched her stretch out her limps in a movement that reminded him of a cat's. She purred, snuggling close to her fluffy pillow, while saving her eyes from the wrath of the sunlight streaming in, despite the presence of draperies.
Her face was flushed, almost to the lightest shade of pink which was all courtesy of her new hairdo. The tiny, almost painful looking draw of her hair from it's scalp had him wincing. Each braid conspicuously neat, flashing him a glimpse of her scalp.
Her face albeit glowing, looked like it's had it's share of the pain dispensed by her hair. But above all, she looked angelic under the light's ray of sunshine. So angelic that he was almost compelled to run his hand across her flushed cheeks in a way that wouldn't be viewed as creepy.
Squinting uncomfortably under the light's invasion, she rolled to her side before wincing at the soreness of her limbs. Slowly, she welcomed the light into her eyes before blinking rapidly at it's harshness. Feeling that the light wasn't the only thing invading her privacy, her eyes snapped open in surprise.
It wasn't just a thing.
It was a being.
She fluttered her eyes rapidly, trying to block off the harsh light in her vision and same time see through the silhouette beside her.
TJ was staring back with a grin. His features looking well kept and fresh like he was just out of the shower. His calming scent filled the room once more, while his smile was enough to brighten her day. But he wasn't looking at her as he smiled, his eyes was somewhere else.
That was when she heard the click. Her eyes followed the sound that multiplied in seconds, leading her to the cellphone in his hand - taking shots of HER.
Her eyes widened in horror as she sat up, clutching the comforter close to her chest, before realizing that she was indeed modestly dressed.
"Stop!" She screamed sitting up.
He grinned, attacking her with endless clicks of the camera, which indicated that many shots had been taken. "Stop what?"
She narrowed her eyes at him. "TJ it's not funny. Stop taking pictures of me!"
"Why? I'm taking pictures of my beautiful girlfriend. Why should I stop."
She felt heat crawl up her cheeks, causing him to smile widely in return, before another click. She scrammed off the bed to her feet, snapping out of it.
"You take beautiful pictures TJ!" she snapped, lunging for the phone. "Not when I'm looking like this. Give me that phone!"
He shook his head, raising his hands up and beyond her reach. "Looking like what? You look beautiful." He grinned, having fun at her expense as she struggled to get a hold of the phone.
She might be tall, but compared to him she was a bit at the average side.
"Beautiful gini? I just woke up for christ sake!"
He looked down at her, narrowing his eyes in observation. "What's wrong with a little drool and bed prints? I love to capture rare undiluted moments."
Her eyes widened in horror as she furiously wiped at the corner of her lips.
"I don't drool, you idiot!"
He raised a brow. "You think?"
"You still look beautiful." He finished sparing her a wink that did nothing but rile her up.
"Bloody liar!"
"Okay," he contemplated for a second, while keeping the phone out of her reach. "Pretty will suffice."
She narrowed her eyes at him.
He grinned. "Presentable?"
She growled, chasing after him, while he circled the room.
"I swear if I get my hands on that phone-"
"You'll break it?" He finished.
"Damn right! I'll smash it. Hand it over and we'll avoid damages."
He shrugged. "Feel free. I'll just get a new phone. It's backed up anyway." He wiggled his brows, causing her to grit her teeth. "Which means, I get to keep the pictures and all your endeavors will be in vain."
She huffed. "You fish brained- Get over here!" She yelled, circling her bedside to get to him. But TJ was witty enough to keep a good distance away from her.
"Aren't fishes one of the smartest creatures babe?" He asked, still cautious around her.
"TJ!" She growled out in frustration. "Just wait till I get my hands on you! I'll tear you to shreds. Limb to limb!"
"Did you mean my shirt?" He quipped suggestively, watching her eyes widen in horror at the double meaning behind his words. "Trust me, I'll love every part."
She flushed, watching him send her an unsettling wink. "I swear, you're a filthy pig!"
"Now babe aren't all pigs filthy? Well except Miley Cyrus'," he mused senselessly, making her frustration multiply to folds. "But still..."
She fired up, now having the height of his teasing. But TJ who found her ranting cute, wasn't sharing in her feelings, he took the moment to take more shots, much to her horror.
Her eyes narrowed into slit as she snapped, growling in disbelief. "That's it! You did not just!"
"Damn babe! Anger makes you look, ten times hotter." He exclaimed, while looking at the screen of his cellphone. "Look at those eyes, it's like you're glaring into my soul."
"Jesus! You're -- I feel like wringing your neck off your body!"
His eyes shut for a brief second. "Kinky," he purred. "I like it." He sent her another wink, before running to the other side of the bed to avoid her wrath.
"TJ!!!" She yelled. "Give. Me. The. Phone. Right. Now."
Momentarily shocked at the high pitch of her voice, he blinked back in shock. "No can do."
Frustrated as hell, the annoyed girl inhaled in a breath. Wondering how her morning had taken another turn in the span of minutes. She decided to take to calm route, trying to get to him unoticed.
"Babe," she called softly, batting her lashes in a slow but calculated pace, causing him to raise an amused brow.
"Hmmn?" He answered, slowly circling the bed.
"I'm Chimdi Gentry." She tried to reason. "The Chimdi Gentry."
"I know that quite alright," he answered. "I'm your boyfriend."
She sucked in a breath. "If those pictures are leaked, it's going to shake alot of tables -- including mine."
"Who says the pictures are for public consumption. They're mine," he emphasized. "Mine, to keep."
She bit back an annoyed huff, almost successful in her goal to reach for the cellphone. But he saw what she was unto from the first moment and with a plan of his, his hands captured her instead. His ankle hit the foot of the bed, causing them to fall back on her bed.
Her eyes widened in surprise as a yelp flew out her parted lips. She tried to struggle out of his grip, just to slap the teasing smirk off his lips.
"Shhh. I'm waiting for you to tear me into shreds babe," he whispered, causing her to let out a soft whimper. "Or should we start with the shirt first?"
Her eyes which had shut close seconds ago flew open, aiming daggers at him. She struggled in his embrace, trying to set herself free. "Let me go you idiot!"
He grinned, turning her around in his arms which caused him to be on top. "You're not dating an idiot sunshine."
"Yeah right!" She bit back. "I thought so at first. I didn't realize it was buy one, get one free!"
He narrowed his eyes into slits, meeting her glare with another one of his playful ones. "Say it again."
Their lips were milliliters apart.
"I got..."
A muffled gasp left her lips as he sealed her lips with his.
She moaned as she kissed him back, flattening her palm on his warm chest. Her other hand went to his neck as his tongue dipped into her mouth, dancing with hers.
His hands trailed down her sides, coming to rest on her tiny hips, while he moved his lips gently over hers, savouring every flavour of her lips. He let her taste consume him and complete him. Inhaled her citrus and honey scent, as they danced around his nostrils, completely rendering him helpless, obliterating his senses. His lips worked hers, drawing soft moans from her that did no good to his sanity.
Slowly but softly, he squeezed her hips, feeling the soft flesh against his palm. He drew her close, flesh against flesh, softness against warmth -- just like it should be, making her shudder and letting out a small mewl.
She rewarded him with a moan, hands traveling to his hair, fingers running and caressing through them, causing him to groan in utter bliss. Her lips swept gently over his, skating her tongue over his as she took what he had to offer. Drank in the sweetness that was his taste and not getting enough. She felt like she'd been dehydrated long enough, taking in the only thing that could sate her, drinking in his taste.
Finally finding air a necessity, he let go of her lips before trailing his mouth down her throat, tasting the part where her pulse spiked like stalagmite, emitting a moan from her lips.
He paused, ragged breathing and all, as he took in her presence.
Wide enigmatic orbs twirling with emotions, stared back at him. Her new hairdo stood like an auburn crown atop her head, with it's laid edges, giving her a childlike - almost angelic appearance.
Dazed, he ran his thumb through her cheeks, her eyes shut close as she leaned into his touch, all the while, breathing like she ran a marathon. Her lips swollen from their morning exercise. He felt a tinge of pride in his chest as he thought that he'd been the one to leave her so free and -- sated.
"So beautiful," he whispered, his thumb caressing her cheeks.
She let out a poor excuse of a snort, while staring dazedly back at him. "Liar, I probably look bloated right now."
"I'm not just saying..." He shook his head, while grinning at her sassy attempt. "You're beautiful, breathtakingly beautiful." He ignored her raised brow. "Even when you sleep, you're so beautiful, yet so unaware of it."
She narrowed her eyes at the mention of sleep, pushing him off her to sit up. "Nice try Kodiri. A few kisses me won't save you from my wrath."
"Hmmn," he mused, hauling her flush against him in seconds, that she was straddling him. "A few kisses? You want more?"
Her hands made to his shoulders, as she sort balance. "Idiot!" She cursed. "What if I fell?"
He nuzzled her neck, inhaling her intoxicating scent. "Then I'd have caught you.
She huffed, trying to push him off. "I'm serious TJ, are you even listening?"
He looked up with hooded lids, palm cupping her face.
"Hmmn," he hummed. "I told you I'll catch you, didn't I?"
Utterly annoyed, she trailed her hands to his ears, giving them a long pull.
"Jesus!" He yelped, almost throwing her off. "Why did you pull my ears?"
"If you can't use them properly, then they're for fancy!"
He blinked back in confusion. "I heard you loud and clear."
"No you didn't," she groaned, her hands almost making it's way to her hair to pull, before retracting. "I'm serious TJ, you need to delete those pictures. No matter how harmless or cute you think they are, they're of no good."
"Why?"
She sighed, looking for a way to not make her explanation sound silly. "Let's say that the people whose opinions are highly valued at the agency think such pictures are a taint to my image."
He gave her a look that screamed of how he thought her words were completely asinine. "Okay, I know I don't have any right to interfere with your personal business- unless you want me to. But these pictures are beautiful and real, they show who you really are. It screams authenticity and innocence, why would they think of it, a taint to your image?"
"Have you ever seen such pictures on my feed before?"
He shook his no. "Babe, I didn't say I was going to post them."
"Great. Since I don't post such pictures and don't have such, I don't think any other person has the right to." She explained, sparing him a small smile to lessen the tense atmosphere.
"This doesn't make sense," he huffed.
"Not everything makes sense to everyone." She offered. "I'm not allowed to post such pictures TJ. The earlier you come to terms with it, the better." She said with finality and not in any way ready to divulge more.
Uncomfortable under his pensive gaze, she tried to get off his laps. But he held her bringing her close and rested his cheeks on her head. "Why do I feel like you're withholding so much from me?"
She felt her heart drop at his voice.
"I'll be guilty of that claim if I'm answerable to you TJ. Why is it so hard to take my words into consideration."
He ignored her tactics to rile him up. Instead he lifted her chin, resting them on his palms as he stared into her brown orbs and this time, they withheld so much from him, refusing to keep contact with his eyes. "I'm not making light your words Chimdi and neither do I want you to be answerable to me, I do not own you." He paused, waiting for her to look at him, but she didn't.
She was scared of moments like this. Moments in which she had to hide the truth and herself from him.
He'd promised that when they reached the bridge, that it'd be crossed. Albeit the situation at hand was a light one, what would happen when the real baggage comes.
"I'll delete the pictures in your presence." He finally conceded when she couldn't meet his gaze.
She felt herself exhale out, in pure relief, as she shut her eyes for a second.
He continued. "One thing still is certain. I don't see anything wrong with the pictures. They aren't provocative and neither would any of them mare your image with just a click, if that's what the highly opinionated personnel has in mind -"
At his last phrase, the happiness on her face slowly faded like a wilting flower. With the speed of a lightning, she was off his laps and this time he couldn't stop her.
"Shit! I'm sorry I didn't mean for it to sound that way." Alarmed, his hands reached out to her.
She froze at the contact, before slapping it off her body.
Her action had his face contouring in hurt.
She could feel her heartbeat begin to pick up rate, trying to jump out her ribcages. Sweat gathered in her palms while nausea rolled up her throat, threatening to spill out. She shut her eyes, feeling the dizziness creep in-- as she tried to block out the voice in her head. Willed herself to not think about them, but like an overflowing drainage, they came flooding in.
With just a click, I'll make your life a living hell.
She fought so hard to block the memories -- fought so hard to stop herself from trembling, she could feel the numbness kicking in.
Go away!
You're nothing but filth Chimdi, Filth. You deserve hell and damnation!
Go away please!
You've ruined lives Chimdi, not even God can grant you the grace of living a guilt free life.
"I didn't do it! I didn't! Go away!"
A screech tore through her lips, bringing her hard against the floor.
TJ was by her side in seconds, but she scooted away from him, causing his heart to shatter into little pieces.
"Don't hide from me," he whispered, crouching down to her level on the floor. He tried to reach for her face which was hidden between her elbows. "That's the last thing I want from you."
"Go away!" She pleaded.
But he didn't move an inch away, instead he reached for her, gathering her trembling and sweaty body into his arms.
"I'm going nowhere Chimdi." He whispered as she went slack against him.
He couldn't help but feel a sense of dejà Vu at their position. The memory taking him back to the first time he'd seen her that way. An incident he'd tried to erase from his memory.
He felt his heart constrict, like he'd been struck and was sharing in her pain. She was going through so much and he had zero idea of what was really haunting her.
"I'm scared." She whispered. His presence didn't make the hurt and pain to go away, but it did give her the strength to fight on.
And just because he didn't know the right words to say, he held her close whispering;
"No one's going to hurt you Chimdi. No one."
He didn't know that he was yet to stare real hurt straight in the face.
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