The new year brought a change of events in the lives of Arianne and Ira.
Happiness? Maybe!
The 31st of December was one of the worst days in their lives. Especially, for Ira. Just like he had spent the day after Christmas with Arianne,  he had promised to do the same with the 31st of December and the day of the new year.  And, he knew he wouldn't regret his decision. Instead, he'd love that.
But, right when he decided to put on his kitchen apron to make the special recipes he wanted to do that day, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it," he ran out of the kitchen, "you sit and take rest. I'm in charge today." "Okay," she kept sitting, her legs stretched out on the couch, watching cartoon on TV and smothering Arira's fur. He stood for a while and watched her, drinking in her happy details through his eyes. She seemed happy. Was she really? Must be. He only realized he needed to get the door when the bell rang again. "Almost there," he shouted out as Arin turned to see why it did.
"Who is it?" she called out as she noticed it taking him a while to come back, "Ira? Who is it?"
"Hello, Arianne," she heard a woman's voice and turned immediately in shock. Just to see it was Savannah who stood there, facing her and for the first time, saw her smiling at her. Like she had come to befriend her on the last day of the year. The day when Ira had decided to be all hers.
"Hi," she smiled back, standing up to shake her hand, finding it awkward that such a situation had arrived. It was not that she didn't want to meet her, but not on the day when she and Ira were to spend time together, after such a long time. "You here?" she asked, smiling at her. "Yes," Savannah gave her a diamond white smile and said, "just wanted to spend the last day of this amazing year with my hot boyfriend. And, stay with him till the beginning of the new year."
"Oh," Arianne smiled her hugest fake smile as Ira appeared behind Savannah. His face, as always, gave him away. He looked disappointed. Like all his plans went drowned in water. Gone in vain. She smiled at him, and as Savannah took a seat, shook her head to assure him that it was okay for Savannah to be.
Savavnnah was an all-perfect girl, Arianne noticed as they sat together and chatted a while as Ira spent time cooking for the lunch. "I've been to Miami," Savannah told her, sitting with her arms crossed on her chest, "you know, for shoots. The beach is lovely for bikinis. Don't you feel like wearing a bikini all the time when you're in Miami?"
Arianne smiled, just to curb her uneasiness to some extent, and said, "I don't wear bikini." "Why not?" Savannah seemed utterly bemused, "bikinis are the best thing in the world, don't you think so?"
"Anne!" Ira's call saved her from answering the question. "On my way," she got up and left, "yes?" Ira looked up from the batter at her. "What?" she asked when he returned to his work without saying anything to her at all. "You don't have to talk to her if you don't want to," he said, "you don't have to answer all her questions." She smiled at him as he continued with his kitchenwork, realizing why he had suddenly needed to call her into the kitchen. Even from far off, he knew when to protect her.
"I've come here to spend time with you," Savannah brushed her hands up Ira's sleeve as they stood in the balcony after lunch, "but, I don't know why, I'm getting a feeling that I'm not wanted here. Why is that?"
"I don't understand," Ira replied, irritated by her touch, "what makes you feel that way?" and withdrew his hand immediately away from her.
"Ask me what doesn't," Savannah's jaws clenched and he immediately knew she was disappointed.
"Okay," he smirked, trying to settle the situation down a bit, "tell me what doesn't."
"Ira! Don't disappoint me. Don't try to act cool. You're not that." Her voice rose and she clenched Ira's arm with her fist. "Stay within your limits and don't force me to show you my colors, Ira. Just tell me what you're asked to tell me to."
"I'm not answerable to you," Ira controlled himself from shouting back at her, "I'm not your servant."
"But, you'll do exactly how you're told, do you get that?  You manwhore! Fucking me whenever you wanted and then, coming back home to another girl, the fatso! What did you think? I'll never be able to know and I'll believe every word you said? You've been so damn mistaken. You shitty motherfucker!"
"Shut the fuck up, Savannah," Ira's limit of acceptance crossed like water in an overflowing sink. His voice rose like it never had before. It reached even to Arianne who reserved herself to the kitchen, keeping busy with the work of making dessert and shedding teardrops.
She stood up straight and looked at the door as Arira ran inside, towards her, purring in a tremendous manner. "Oh, baby," she sat down, leaving the pastry mould she had her hands on, "what's the matter? Are you scared? Is it because of Daddy? Don't worry, baby," and picked her up in her arms, "Daddy loves you as much as he loves that Aunty. He can never stop loving you." She poured all her sadness out of herself by talking to the pet.
"You came to me when Arianne was not here," Savannah repeated what she had often said before, "you came to me just to satisfy your sex hunger.  You asshole!"
"I didn't go to you," it was the first time Ira had opened up and was speaking to her but against her,  "I didn't invite you to me. You were the one who approached me at the seminar."
"You could have said no," it enraged Savannah to see him talk like that, on her face, "easily. But, you didn't. Back then, you were with Arianne. But, you came to me. You know what your actual problem is Ira? You take people from granted. You've taken Arianne for granted. That poor girl! You couldn't do that to me cause I had my way. You know what's gonna happen? You'll be left alone. And, that's the day when you'll realize the importance of people in your life. Trust me, Ira, I want that to happen to you."
Ira stood befuddled as Savannah kept speaking, insulting, humiliating. Was she correct? Had he really taken Arianne for granted? Had he, all this time, all these days, hurt her so bad? And, she? She hadn't spoken even a single word. Instead, she had quietly accepted the pain she had been offered like that was what she deserved.
Would she leave him behind and walk away? No! He couldn't let that be! What if what Dawson had told him was right? What if a sorry is not enough at all? It would be a disaster to lose Anne. His Anne!  He couldn't let that happen. He needed to find a way. He needed her.
"Savannah," he called, tired of her tantrums, "could you please leave?" "What made you think I'd stay even after all this?" she made a face at him and walked out ofthe balcony. Collecting her bag, she walked past the kitchen without even looking in.
Arianne, busy setting her moulds inside the microwave oven, didn't notice Savannah walking past. Neither did she notice Ira standing in the doorway for a long time, staring at her work. Only when Arira ran from her feet to his did she look up and at him.
"Oh hey," she turned back to her cakes, "good you're here. I'm almost done. Where's Savannah?"
"She's gone," he said, and waited till she turned back to him, "I've sent her away. I don't think she'll ever come in between us again." Arianne frowned as she noticed the change in expression on Ira's face. She felt a kind of vibe that she felt shouldn't be there.
She watched him near her.  Something had definitely changed. She could feel it. Ira came close to her and put one of his huge palms on the side of her face. Her eyes watered as he kissed her forehead and said, "Anne, will you not forgive me? For the wrongs that I've done to you?"
"What's wrong, Ira?" she asked, holding back her tears with all her might.
He looked at her for a while, and as his tears fell instead of hers, he whispered, "nothing...nothing is wrong no more baby. Everything suddenly seems the right kind of right it should be," and slowly filled the gap between their lips.
A rush of blood reached her heart as his lips collided with hers. Oh! What ecstasy! Was it a dream? Was she dead and gone up to heaven already? Was it real? What was it? The touch of his hands on her back and the sound of Arira meowing just beside them made her believe it was real.
Her hand went up to his hair and her fingers knotted there. Why was he kissing her, she struggled to keep up with the thought as well as with the manger of desire he poured on to her through his kiss. His hands traveled up her spine. So did the sensation he gave her. When they parted, he took her hand in his and brought her fingers close to his lips.
"Ira?" her voice was a whisper as her tears rolled out, "why are you doing this? Why are you coming close when you're gonna go away soon?" "Oh, baby," he held her close as soon as she finished, "forgive me please. On the last day of the year, I beg to you for forgiveness for all the wrongs I've done over the year to you. Don't desert me now. Please. Haven't you too been waiting for this day?"
"Yes," she shook her head in his embrace, "yes, I was. But, you were with Savannah. I wasn't expecting this day to turn up. Then, why?"
He looked at her for a while, in dearth of an answer. How was he to make her understand how he realized it all? There was a way, though.
His face changed at the flicker of a second, she noticed. Her breathing altered at the goliath emotions radiating from him. She could see in his eyes how much he wanted her. And, she wanted him too. She had wanted him all these months. His eyes, the darkest of chocolate, reflected unconditioned desire, want, lust and...love.
"Your room or mine?" he asked, in a very sexy husky voice. She grasped the edge of his jacket in anticipation of what was to come, and closed her eyes. "Yours," she answered, looking up to meet his eyes, wondering if she could meet the expectations they held.
He zipped his jacket down on his way to the room and pulled it off as they rushed into his room. Testosterone gushed in and out of his vessels like never before. His heart filled with exaltation as he watched her strip, drop her clothes and reveal to him what he had been missing all these months because of his own fault.
"Come," he produced his hand, sitting on the edge of the bed, gloriously naked. Her eyes continually flickered from his eyes to his chiseled lips to his chiseled body to his manhood. How fucking crazy she wanted him inside her!
She shook her head and stayed where she stood, beautifully clad. "Why not?" he asked, keeping his hand held up in front of her. Hair on her arms and neck raised themselves up till an unbearable level as her eyes followed the movement of his over her body. "You've to tell me why," she said, finally taking his hand.
He pulled her to in between his legs and placed his head on her belly.
"What why? he asked, holding her body with both his hands. "Why is Savannah gone?" Arianne asked, her fingers twisting in his hair, "why are we here, holding each other like Savannah never even happened?" "I can never explain," he said, kissing the lost embonpoint of her body, "but, if you want me to, I can show you why we are here." "Okay," she said immediately as she placed herself on his legs.
Ira snuggled his head into her neck and kissed her there, his hand traveling up and down her thighs. "Why are you doing this to me, Ira?" she complained again, her eyes filling up immediately with water, "why do you break my heart all the time?" He pulled back and stared at her as her tears fell. " Please," his voice too soft, "please, don't cry. It hurts more to see you crying than crying itself. I'm sorry. I really am. Do you not believe me?"
"Make me believe you," she said, turning and grasping his lips in a tight-locked kiss, "make me believe you." It was like a command to Ira. He grabbed her sides and turned to put her to bed. Kissing and tugging at her lips, he clambered over her. His hands, as if in reflex, cupped her breasts within them and very sweetly teased them.
Leaving her lips swollen and her breathless, he went south to kiss her body. He kissed on her tattoo. "Does it still hurt?" he asked softly. "No, not anymore," she answered, wanting him badly. His hand went straight in between her thighs and he swiped in a very arousing manner. His fingers craved to crawl inside her as his thumb moved in circles over her pudenda. "Please," Anne whispered in between two deep breaths, "please. I want you. I need you." Her eyes shut tight close showed her what she wanted, deserved and was ready to take and give.
In the chilly Seattle winter, Ira put her body on fire.
When they came back from their sweet heaven, their face and body covered with sweat, Ira lay sprawled over Arianne. It was of utter satisfaction to him to lay with her. He noticed, the aftermath of sex with Savannah was nothing in comparison to the same with Arianne. This was blissful, that he didn't want to think of.
"Ira?" Arianne called him, whispered near his ear. He made a low sound at his throat, showing no signs of getting off her. She laughed out, trying to lift him up. "No," he said, "it feels nice here. With you." He looked up and stared at her for a while. "What?" she asked, blushing.
He gulped empty air in his throat, wondering how he had overlooked her beauty all these months. He mentally kicked himself, slapped himself, slanged at himself.
"You're beautiful," he meowed out and joined their lips again. Another tidal wave rose, persisted till it could, and broke at the shores again, spent, panting, sweating, sweetly yet crazily in love.
They ordered dinner that night from a nearby restaurant. They had no time to spare for cooking, and even when the food arrived, they had no time to spare for eating. They left the steak for Arira and got back to bed.
As they made out for a while, Ira's phone suddenly rang. "Your phone's ringing," Arianne shook him as he kept biting and sucking her earlobe, "Ira! Get the phone." "Let it be," he mumbled against her skin. "What if it's important?" she asked, smiling at the way he was making her feel. The only priority in his life.
"Goodness, Anne!" he got up and reached out for the phone on the bedpost. "Oh, it's Kate," he said, receiving the phone. She gathered the covers up till her chest and pulled herself closer to him. She rested her head against his shoulder as he talked to her mother.
"Hey, Kate," he said over the phone.
"Hello, Ira, how are you?"
"We're doing great."
We.
Arianne smiled at the use of that small word that meant so huge. Ira put the phone on speakers so she could hear her mother as well.
"Hey Mamma, how are you?"
"Oh, Arin, my baby girl. I'm good."
"Granny?"
"She's great too. Where's your phone? I was calling you."
"Oh," she went red, "I think it's on silent mode."
"Anyway, just called to wish you a Happy New Year. It's already past midnight here."
"Oh, of course, Happy New Year Mamma."
"Happy New Year, my love. I hope you get all the good things you deserve this year. All of them. You too, Ira. Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year, Kate."
"You guys celebrate then. Arin, do call your Daddy and Father Lewis, okay?"
"I will. Bye, Mamma."
"Bye, dear."
They called Arianne's Daddy in San Francisco and then, Father Lewis in Miami. Both wished them happiness and joy and all the 'good things'. Resting herself in Ira's arms, Arianne knew that her 'good thing' - her best thing - was holding her.
It all happened too quick, she knew. And, probably, unlike Ana, who'd be over cloud 9 when she'd hear about this, David would totally disapprove of it. He was her best friend and he always wanted the best for her. But, at some point, he didn't know that what's best for her was already with her.
"Tell me something you've never told me," Ira held her to him as she came back from her lost land of thoughts. She sighed and looked up at him. He knew almost everything about her. Yes, everything except that she loved him. Should she say it? Now?
"I'm scared of spiders," she said instead, hugging him tighter to curb the wintery chills.
He rolled his eyes. "I'm serious."
She smiled at him. As he brushed her hair off her forehead and kissed her again, she knew she could finally let her heart out.
"Tell me," he urged again.
She looked away, but even in the neon lights coming from outside the window, he could see they were filled with water. He frowned as she started to say but stopped again. But, didn't utter a word. He gave her the time she needed.
"I'm in love with you, Ira."
The entire world paused for a moment for Ira. All he could do was to stare at Arianne - his Anne - for as long as she weeped in his arms, telling him how hard she had fallen for him back in summer, and how hard it was for her to cope up with his confession about Savannah and how hurt she felt when Savannah returned, breaking up the family she had formed in less than a minute.
"Anne," he found it hard to speak. He had not known that the night could be so wonderful with her. Her proximity was so magical, heavenly. Holding her body warmed him, defended him from the cold outside. He wanted to savor every single second of the night, every inch of her skin.
"Let's call Jess and Adam," Arin said, breaking the silence that her confession and crying had created. "Okay," he said, his mind half complying her and half sketching verses about her.
He watched her as she talked to his parents, like they were her own. He knew Adam was very fond of her and Adam knew he loved her. Everything waited for his realization. "Happy New Year, both of you," Arianne said in the phone, "crazy people." "Happy New Year, Mom, Dad," Ira wished them too before hanging up.
Arianne turned away and he spooned her to himself. They lay in silent for a long while, Arianne thanking God for the amazing start to the new year and Ira stringing word to word in his mind.
Suddenly, he started whispering words to her. After a bit of mumbling, when she turned herself to him, he picked up the fragmented lines and joined them into a beautiful poem.

"A voice from Heaven told me,
'Look here, you,
I'm sending you someone you'll cherish
As I cherish her too.
She may not be the best you'll get
But she's the best you've ever had
Protect her, keep her safe,
Cause, mind you, without her you'll gad.
If you believe in existence beyond your comprehension,
You'll consider her esoteric,
If you fail to escape the labyrinth of her beautiful eyes,
You'll think it's her trick.
But, no, young man, it ain't her trick
It cannot be,
When you discover her eloquent innocence,
It'll make you believe as it made me.
She's a woman of many sides
Stark beauty with a sharp brain.
She can be your savior in times of hardship,
She'll never have you face the dearth of grain.
She'll defend you from iniquity,
Like your mother once did.
She won't refuse to take the sticks and stones,
For your and her vernal kid.
She'll walk the path of life with you,
Stay with you in the aftermath of senescence.'
When He stopped, I laughed out,
Making Him ask, 'are you lacking your sense?'
I said, 'I've found her already,
Already have I seen what you want me to.
And, yes, I adore, cherish and protect her,
But, much more than you do.'"

Arianne stared at him in the darkness as he recited the poem to her. "Wow," she said, touching his face as he smiled down at her, "it was great. Thank you." He blinked down at her, wondering how to respond to the appreciation.
"But, this isn't in your diary," she said, "is it?" He shook his head, holding her tighter. "Then?" she asked, "you made it now? Without writing?"
"Yeah," he said, scratching his head, and held her again, "when a man has an inspiration like you, he can even conquer the world. I just wrote a poem." "I was your muse?" she asked, estranged.
"Yes," he whispered and kissed her again. When he pulled back, he saw her eyes tight shut, her face lined with anguish. "Anne?" he called. She opened her eyes to respond to it and her tears fell.
As she buried her head in his chest and cried, just like she had on The Seacomber, he held her and cried himself. They were two souls, lost in each other and lost in love. Without realization, he had fallen in love with her again. Or, maybe, he never stopped.
Maybe, he had loved Anne when he first met Savannah. Maybe, he loved Anne when he first went to her apartment with her. Maybe, he loved Anne the entire summer. Maybe, he loved Anne on his birthday. Maybe, he loved Anne on her birthday. Maybe, he loved Anne when she came to stay with him. Maybe, he loved Anne when she brought Arira home. Maybe, he loved Anne when Savannah returned. Maybe, he loved Anne every single day, every single hour, every single minute, every single second, and even in between the seconds. Maybe...
No, not maybe. Yes, he did love her all this time. But, the way he loved her the last night of the passing year and the first night of the new year, he had never loved her or anyone before.
"Why are you crying?" he asked her, cupping her face in his palms. She shook her head, "I don't know. I don't know," and sobbed, "maybe, because, I love you too much. It hurts to know that I can...that I can love anyone so much." "Anne!" Ira's eyes filled with tears as she confessed again, "don't. Don't you dare cry."
The next morning, Arianne opened her eyes to a heartily prepared breakfast. Ira had put her arms through a long-sleeved, warm shirt of his when she was sleeping peacefully beside him. It kept her warm. He kept her warm and comfortable.
"Good morning, Miss Daveson," he greeted her as she appeared from his bedroom and kissed her as she slowly reached him. "Good morning," she wished him back, returning him the kiss.
She watched him as he set out the breakfast for the both of them and put Arira's bowl in front of her. "Happy New Year, Arira," she wished her pet as she came and sat near her feet, making Ira shift her bowl again. "I'll get the shower going, okay?" Ira said as he stood up from the floor, "we can go meet Ana and Mr. Grey afterwards. They called. You okay with that?" She nodded, flushing at the idea of showering together.
"Come," he held his hand in front of him as she appeared at the bathroom's doorway. The shower whizzed warm water on the tiled floor and she could see them reflecting them as steam, still unable to hide his elysian nakedness. She flushed a deep tinge as she got out of her slippers and gave him her hand. "Wait here," he said, helping her out of his shirt and led her under the water.
She let the warm water kiss her skin and hair as a favorite tune hit her memory. A Beyoncé song. Halo. Her favorite. As the water flowed through her hair and along her skin, she hummed the tune and started to sing. When Ira reappeared at the bathroom way, he stopped, basking in the beauty radiating from her as she stood with her hands on her hips, facing away from the stream of water and singing.
"You're here?" she stopped midsong and looked up to meet his eyes, filled with so many emotions she couldn't differentiate one from another. She looked away immediately, unable to hold them. "Why did you stop?" Ira asked, stepping into the water, "it was beautiful." She smiled at the ground and shook her head, "where did you go?"
He held up something in front of her eyes. As it quickly soaked water, she rubbed her eyes to make out what it was. It was a matter of a couple of seconds. "Remember this?" he asked. "Of course," she answered, taking the satin cloth in her hand - the same one that Ira used when he gifted her The Seacomber.
He took it back from her, "turn around." As she looked up at him, she could see significant changes in the way he looked at her. She didn't know what it was, but she knew it could excite all her nerves and hormones together. She complied and he sweetly put the satin around her head to cover her eyes. "Let me know how you feel," he whispered, his fingers running across her abdomen. "Mmph..." she let out urged breaths as he sat before her and put both his hands in between her legs.
How could something be so erotic!
"Yes baby," he whispered as she reached out for him and clawed his hair, "feel it. Tell me how you feel. Let me know." Arianne muffled out pleasure from the depths of her throat as he kissed on her pubic hair and his indexes prepared and moistened her insides for a short, sweet shower-sex. Her eyes, being closed, made everything seem so more arousing.
It was amazing how even blindness and dependence can elicit lust!  Was it wrong? To lust the same person you love?
They ended the same way they did back at Dawson's ranch - she held up in his arms, against the wall. The only difference being that her eyes were now of no function and she shook with the pleasure the intercourse brought. As Ira undid her blindfold, holding her up still, she struggled to find her breath back. "Baby?" he called as he saw her looking uncomfortable. "I love you," she said, opening her eyes and sweetly kissed him on his forehead.
They showered for a while, shampooing and washing each other. Talking and knowing each other again. "Why did you blindfold me?" she asked, lathering his chest with the body wash. "You didn't like it?" he asked, "we won't do it again then."
"Did I say that?" Arin rolled her eyes at him, "I just wanted to know." "I'm sorry," he apologized, holding his ears, "well, I blindfolded you because I wanted to see how you trust me."
"And?"
"I'm amazed someone could trust me so much. You never stopped me from anything, not even asked what I was doing. You just let me do whatever I wished to. You love me too much, don't you?"
She looked into his eyes and nodded. He realized she was no more afraid or ashamed of showing him her feelings. But, he? What was he afraid of? Why couldn't he tell her his feelings?
As he saw her looking at him, expecting him to return her the three words, he said, "will you wait? You know, till I get everything right? You know I'm in deep shit now, don't you, baby? Will you wait for me till I get out of it?"
She nodded as the shower concealed her tears, "I'll help you find a way."
"Happy New Year, Mr. Grey," Arianne wished him as Taylor led her and Ira through the Grey bungalow to where Christian Grey was, waiting for them. "Happy New Year, Arianne," he gave her a polite kiss on her cheek and shook Ira's hand, "Happy New Year, Armstrong." "Same to you, Mr. Grey," he wished him back.
"Ana's in the children's room," Christian informed Arin, "getting Phoebe dressed. It's the second room upstairs." "Can I go?" she asked him again. "Of course," he smirked at her, "why else would I tell you that?"
"Look who's come to see Phoebe," Arianne pushed through the second door on the second floor. The 4-year old came trotting to her, half dressed, and threw her arms up at her, "Aunt Arin! Aunt Arin!" Arianne dropped the packages in her hand and picked the child up. "How beautiful is my princess!" she pecked her cheek and carried her to Ana, who stood by the bed, looking exhausted from her trials of making her daughter listen to her.
"I don't like that dress," the little girl jumped on her bed as Ana held up the one she planned to put on her. "Okay," Arianne spoiled her, "c'mon Ana, how can our princess wear a dress she doesn't like? And, look at that! It's not that nice! Let's see what my bag has, shall we?" She put her hand in the bag she had brought and pretended to do a magic spell. As Phoebe jumped up and down again, in glee, she took out a beautiful dress from the bag. She gasped, pretending to be surprised, "it's a gown. For the princess!"
"I wanna wear that! I wanna...wear...that! Mum, that!"
"You're spoiling my daughter, Arin," Ana complained, "why did you get a dress for her?"
"You do the same if I have a daughter," she replied and blushed.
"What do you..." Ana stopped midway as she dressed her daughter in the new clothes, "wait! Don't tell me. Did Ira...?" And, the two new friends laughed out.
"Look at my doll," Christian Grey looked adoringly as Ana and Arianne appeared downstairs with Phoebe in the latter's arms, "new dress, is that?" "Aunt Arin...got this, Daddy" the baby said in the happiness of her new dress, "I wish she could...stay with us...all the time, Daddy."
"Where's Ted?" Ira asked, smiling, "we got some of his favorite comic books for him." "He's with his Aunt Kate," Ana informed,  "and Uncle Elliot. They're in town after a while. So, he wanted to go. He'll probably arrive before you have to leave."
"Did I tell you you'll make an amazing mother?" Ira put his hand around her waist as Arianne roamed around with Phoebe in her arms, making her fall asleep after lunch. They had an amazing time, with Christian Grey playing the piano for them with Arin singing. Ira recited a poem he remembered from his diary and Phoebe showed everyone a few steps of amateur ballerina she had recently learned.
The lunch, a platter of dishes, was mouthwatering and irresistible. As Arin kissed Ira, avoiding a longer one lest it wakes up Phoebe, she could still taste the delicious sweetbread on his tongue. "Yes, you did," she whispered, roaming around in the children's room, "when we went to the stream, remember?"
He smiled at the memory. He realized it's been a long time and a very long way. And, all the way, they had been together. Even when away, even when they had a third person in between them.
"Can we...?" he pulled her to him after she slowly put Phoebe to bed. "God, Ira!" she rolled her eyes, "here? You're such a pervert!"
"I am. Can we now?"
Arianne gave him a shy smile and, keeping him looking at her, politely touched his fly. "Calm down, my darling," she whispered, keeping a straight face and simultaneously fondled his hardness from over the fly, "we'll meet soon. As soon as we get back home, baby. I promise."
"You should sit down to study, you know," Ira told Arianne as she rested herself against him after an episode of their tumultuous union. It was already a week from the start of the amazing new year and all she had done was to use packets after packets of condom with him. And, when he was away at office, even if she sat down with her books, she constantly thought of him and waited for him to come back home.
"I know," she said, her voice filled with tiredness, "and, I did study when you were away."
"Yeah, right! Those horny texts prove that."
"Baby! It's more than a week for the finals. Plus, I did study when you used to be with Savannah. How can I stay away from a man with such an amazing body when I've missed him for so many days?"
"I think I should abandon you from sex for some days. You're becoming a maniac!"
She smiled and kissed his cheek. "I'll start tomorrow, I promise. After I come back from the internship. Tomorrow's the last day there, before the finals. I promise, baby."
As he watched her fall asleep, he wondered if he was the reason for her diversion from her goals. He wouldn't be able to forgive himself if, by any means, her life shattered because of him. She meant the world to him. He couldn't let his world suffer. That too, because of himself.
He had to find a way.
Next day, when Arianne went for the internship, he stayed at home and thought.
The whole day.