Hunter was curious why Arabella was gone so long. He had sat there, expecting her to come back, but nothing. After the first hour, he had put his head back and fallen asleep. He woke up a few hours later, with a weird taste in his mouth from the takeout and a horrible ache in his neck. He finally got up and rubbed the back of his neck as he walked toward her room. He knocked lightly on her door. "Ellie?" He said quietly. He was answered with silence. He gradually pushed the door open and looked inside. He found her surrounded by work and asleep. He chuckled and started to clean off her bed. After it was clear, he wanted to get her covers on top of her. He slid one hand under her back and started to pull back the covers she was currently lying on top of. As he slid the sheets down he used his hand to stop her from lying on top of a bunch of blanket. He moved along slowly and without thinking Hunter had a hand on her butt. He freaked out and set her back down on the bed. She moved slightly and rolled, conveniently, to one side.
"Not so fast, Stud muffin..." She mumbled in her sleep. Hunter turned bright red and grabbed the blanket. He draped it over her sleeping form and smiled as she seemed to unfold and pull the covers closer. Hunter bent down and kissed her gently on the forehead.
"Good night, Ellie." He said in a whisper. He stood back up and looked at her as she, more than likely, was having a lewd dream about the man standing in front of her. He blinked and thought for a second before bending down and kissing her gently on the lips.
"I love you." He said quietly, hoping that she wouldn't wake up right at that moment. He smiled and stood up again. He turned to walk away when he heard a soft moan. He turned around looked at Arabella who was squirming slightly in the bed. She turned to her other side and pulled the blankets in.
"Love you too." She mumbled quietly in her sleep. Hunter smiled and looked at her like she was more precious than diamonds. He sighed and walked out of the room. He sat on the couch and didn't feel like sleeping. Maybe this was a dream. He really hoped not. He was worried that if fell asleep now, he wouldn't wake up to the same reality. He finally laid down, right on the couch, and fell asleep.
The next few days seemed to fly by. Hunter worked on the house. He cooked dinner most days and did something that had become increasingly consistent. ALMOST get in bed with Arabella. They had even gotten to the hallway before her phone rang. For a relationship, approved by the goddess of love herself, this wasn't exactly going well. Hunter didn't mind this perpetual state of coitus interruptus, but it was getting a little nerve wracking. He had gone almost 20 years without it, he can go for a while longer. The past few days it seemed that Arabella was chomping at the bit, though, and Hunter could tell.
"What do you think of this one?" Hunter said, walking toward Arabella. Hunter was trying on tuxedos in Arabella's office. She looked up from her desk and smiled, which made Hunter smile. Her smile made his day brighter. "Since we are one and plus-one, now, does it go with your dress? I don't know if that's standard for weddings, but it feels like it is." Hunter said awkwardly. She chuckled to herself.
"Well, this isn't Prom, Hunter, so it doesn't really matter." She said with a chuckle as she stood up and walked around her desk. She sat on the front and smiled. "You have no idea how to tie a bowtie, do you?" Hunter looked down at the 'tied' bowtie around his neck.
"You don't really wear a bowtie for job interviews, Ellie." He said with a chuckle. She motioned for her to let her do it and Hunter sighed before walking over to her spot on her desk. He stood in front of her and smiled down at her as she worked against the knot he had accidentally formed. "The wedding isn't for two days. Why is it necessary that we did this tux thing today?" He asked, feeling like he was missing something. She finally got the knot undone and brought him in for a kiss on the cheek.
"It's Danny's day off." She whispered into his ear as she shifted on top of her desk slightly. Hunter found himself standing between her legs. Hunter blushed and started to look away as she turned his head toward hers. She kissed him tightly on the lips and started untucking his shirt. Hunter placed his hands on her hips and pulled her close, kissing down her neck to her shoulder. He felt her hands under his shirt and at the same time heard a door opening behind him.
"Oh, hun, again?" Hunter glanced around and saw Daniel standing in the doorway. Arabella grabbed his face and turned it forward again. She pushed his face toward her neck again, but Hunter resisted and finally backed away. He looked at her with rosy cheeks. She gritted her teeth and stood up with a sigh as she smoothed out her skirt. She gave a death glare at Daniel.
"What...are you doing here, Danny?!" She said, trying to remain calm. "It is your day off. That means, get the hell out of my office." Hunter cleared his throat and tried not to blush any harder.
"I'm just..." Hunter muttered before picking up the rest of the tux and the clothes he came in. "I'll see you at home, Ellie." He gave her a wave as he walked out of the office.
"Danny, close the door." was the last thing Hunter heard as he hurried out of the building. He was a little relieved that Danny had walked in. Not that he wasn't okay with where that was going, it just seemed like the wrong time. He walked back to the apartment and sat down on the couch.
"Wow..." was all he could say. His mouth still tingled, his cheeks were still red, and his stomach was still abuzz. "I wonder if she killed Danny." He said with a chuckle. Hunter stood up and walked back to his room. He changed out of his tux and hung it up. He slipped on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt just as the phone rang. He hurried out and picked it up. "Hello?"
"Hunter? Hunter, I need your help." Kyle's voice came through the handset. Hunter raised an eyebrow.
"Kyle? What's wrong? What do you need?" Hunter said in a worried tone. He heard Kyle mumbling something and it sounded like he was pacing.
"Hunter, I can't do this. I didn't expect her to say yes the first time. I thought it'd be one of those cases where she keeps saying now until finally she says yes. You know what I'm talking about? Hunter, I can't marry Marina. I...I don't know if I can." Kyle rambled. "This is all just too much. Two weeks! This-"
"Kyle!" Hunter shouted. "Kyle, come to the apartment. Have dinner with Ellie and me. We'll talk about it." It was odd, but Hunter could hear Kyle shaking his head.
"No, I can't. I can't. I can't. I've got wedding...everything to do." He said with audible flailing. Hunter sighed and rubbed his eyes.
"Fine. I'll come to you. Where are you?" He asked quietly.
"Hunter, I'll meet you at your house. I can't...Ugh!" He said frantically. Hunter thought for a second and nodded.
"Okay. Twenty minutes. I'll meet you there in twenty minutes, okay?" Hunter said plainly. Kyle agreed and Hunter hung up. He slipped on a pair of shoes and stepped out of the apartment.