© Copyright – All Rights Reserved to Smile024 – L Smith

Chapter 36  (PART 1)

The Seashell House was just as lovely inside as I had imagined it would be, all those years ago. Or should I say, Ari’s Sea Shell House.

 It was compact, but all the while managed to seem perfect.

I quickly discovered that the front door lead open onto a small hallway that only allowed a coat rack and shoe rack, then Ari carried me two steps forward and the house seemed to unfurl , spreading it's wings to it's true potential. It was all white washed walls and warm honey wood varnished floors ,  flooded with evening light from the big bay window in the living room. The whole bottom floor was open plan, with a moderately large living room space on our left, mapped with a large dark grey L shape sofa that was held brightly coloured cushions that seemed to invite you to relax into them, with a small light wood coffee table in front. I grinned knowingly at the large flat screen Tv that the sofa faced. Trust Ari to want the latest big TV to fuel his film watching addiction.

 This led onto the kitchen and dining room area, taking my breath away. I hugged Ari closer as he walked across the house towards the back, “ Is this serious?” I asked in awe.

I felt Ari smile, “ I thought you might like it.”

“ Like it? I love it!” I squealed.

The Kitchen and dining room were separated from the living room by a few steps that lead onto a lower floor, made of the same smooth honey wood. The kitchen was directly behind the raised living room area, only separated by a small white washed banister you could see through. I could see from the top of the stairs that the kitchen units was made of some sort of really cool wood, that seemed to have a criss crossed pattern on the light brown polished wood, the surface tops were made of some sort of pale milky glass and the sink was the deep white porcelain, farmers type that I have always wished my mom brought when she re-did her fancy ass kitchen.

Across the back of the kitchen, along the back wall was one long window so you could see into the back garden. But the real jaw dropper was the dining room area, which led smoothly from the open end of the kitchen. On the side facing the back garden there was a built in conservatory area with floor to wall glass windows that extended to half of the dining areas ceiling. Though the truly beautiful part what was the fact that it had stain glass all over the ceiling and across the top half of the glass panels overlooking the garden, with intricate art deco designs in the metal work, curling round the top of the ceiling and at the hinges of the panels.

It was stunning. “ It’s … it’s beautiful. Was it like this when you brought it? ” I asked him, watching the blue, red, purple and orange light reflect faintly across the large widening table and the wooden stool seats that sat on either side of the table, the colours only faint in the late afternoon light. I could see across the garden, to the manicured lawn, with sweet flowers bordering the high fence and granite tepping stones that lead to what looked like an medium sized pool illuminated at the back of the garden, glowing aqua blue as the early evening light dwindled.

“ Yeah, the glass was and the kitchen. The last woman who owned it was an artist. She used this room to paint.”

“ Wow.”

“I know, right?” Ari agreed and I could hear the smile in his voice.

“ I could live in this room, just this room. What’s it like in the day time?”

“ It’s like being under a churches stain glass windows.” Ari told me.

“ Or a kaleidoscope” I added, trying to imagine the room bathed in a luminous pattern of bright light as I hung onto Ari’s shoulders, squeezing softly.

“ Or a kaleidoscope” Ari agreed. We stood there for a second, me still comfortably perched on Ari’s back, and admired the view, before he spoke again, and “So, you ready to see the rest?”

“ Seriously there’s more?” I asked.

“ What you think I brought a house without at toilet, bathroom or bedroom?” Ari teased.

I barely resisted the urge to stick my tongue out,“ Shut up. You know what I meant.”

“ Yeah I did, but it was funny.” He said, leaning backwards and loosening his hands on my legs momentarily so I felt like I might be dropped, I forced down a girly squeal, and then he re- tightened me to him again.

“ You’re a geek.” I quipped, pulling a piece of his sandy hair softly in punishment.

“ If I’m a geek, you’re a geek” Ari said softly, turning his head so I could see him. His eyes dropped to my lips momentarily and I felt my tongue lick my lips on instinct. My stomach became butterflies when he said sweet things like that with a voice that sounded the complete opposite of innocence. In reply I kissed the side dimple on his cheek and then kissed his neck, in the hollow under his jaw. I felt Ari’s jaw tense under mine and I smiled into his skin, inhaling his unique lemony scent that I’d missed so much in the last few days of torture, not knowing whether we’d be able to get back to this place.

To the place where I could just hold onto Ari like I was, and nuzzle into his neck.

I felt a smile curl my lips as I suddenly remembered something important. “ Ok, I want a tour of the garden first.” I said into his neck, my gaze wandering to the pools hypnotising blue outlined in the darkness. “Just put me down so I can text Marissa to tell her she doesn’t have to come here and rescue me.”

“ Rescue you?” Ari asked, turning to look at me and I saw a brief flicker of guilt on his face. I hated when he did that because I know I usually wear my emotions on my face and Ari can keep them at a flicker behind his eyes.

 “ I promised I’d text her to make sure that you hadn’t kidnapped me and chopped me up into little pieces.”  I said teasingly, purposefully ignoring Ari’s earlier question and I felt him sigh, as he walked me over to the head of the wooden table and moved backwards, then let my butt down onto the table, making me let out a slight “Omph” in shock as he turned swiftly round and had his arms hands on either side of my hips. His hands rested comfortably in the curves of my waist and he stood between my legs in a sweet, totally possessive way that made me want to grin like a Cheshire cat. I smiled gently up at him, loving the way his eyes ran over my face like he was memorising me. He had looked like that when he’d gotten home and I’d run to meet him in the garden. I whipped out my mobile from my jean skirt, “ I think she wanted to make sure that we hadn’t ended up ripping each others hearts out and stamping on them by mistake or something” I said quietly, trying to sound flippant when I knew that had been a real possibility for the both of us when we decided to meet this evening.

Ari closed his eyes for a second before a slow, easy smile spread across his face and he opened his piercing blue eyes, holding mine. There was no ease or smile in them; they seemed intense and scorching as they ran over the lines of my face again. Across my forehead, down my nose, along the sweep of my cheekbones, the rounded curve of my chin, up to my parted lips and finally finding my eyes again.

It couldn’t have been longer than twenty seconds but the urgency in his gaze made it feel so much longer.

I felt myself exhale; loosing a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

“ But it’s more likely about the kidnapping thing” I said, feeling myself blush traitorously under Ari’s gaze.

I quickly pulled up Marissa’s number, which she had self titled ‘ Lady M’ after Lady Macbeth when we did it English. Mainly because she thought her soliloquy lines were kick ass.

Hey M,

I’m at the Blue House with the seashells near our elementary school with Ari.

We sorted everything out so you don’t need to rescue me. :D  E x

.

I pressed send and smile down at the mobile, imaging Marissa jumoing up and down like a crazy person when she read that everything was fixed between Ari and I.

“ You want a drink?” Ari asked

“ I’m cool. I’ll just wait for her to text back so I know she got it.”

He nodded and moved across to the kitchen, taking out a glass from a cupboard and walking with a kind of comfort in his won skin that I envied.

I grinned as he leant back against the counter top, crossing his feet as he took a sip of water. It seemed so natural, like how it had when we’d hung out for years while we were just friends, but I felt an odd possessiveness over how relaxed Ari looked, how at home he was with me. He could just get lost in his thoughts, not minding letting an untouched silence settle in the room. We didn’t need to fill up the space with words like a couple that’d just met and were too nervous to allow any room to breathe.

And I liked that.

I was admiring the line of Ari’s body when my mobile buzzed.

Hola mi amiga! Happy everything is well in Ari and Ella Land.

How the heck did u get into the Blue House?

Are you staying with him tonight?

Will cover 4 u.

Mx

I looked up to find Ari looking out onto the Garden, his eyebrows slightly creased in thought. “ Are you staying here tonight?”

Ari blinked and turned to face me, still leaning on the counter, arms crossed.

“ Yeah, my place is pretty hectic at the moment and so is yours. None knows about this place because it’s under Grandpa Pete’s name”

“ Do you mind if I crash your sea shell house pad and sleep over?” I felt my cheeks heat and I didn’t know why. It felt different asking Ari to sleep in the same bed when we weren’t at either of our parent’s houses. It was like when you realise that even though you’ve been told you have to wait for the traffic lights on roads to go green, until one day your on your own and your realise you can cross the road without anyone’s permission, that the red light is there for your safety, but isn’t compulsory.

I automatically felt the similar feeling of discovering new territory, without boundaries. The heady mixture of nervousness and anticipation.

 He grinned, one eyebrow raising like Sherlock homes,“ I brought this house so we could hang out here, Ella Bear.” He said in his relaxed pose.

I grinned “ I’m goanna take that as a yes, Sherlock.”

I quickly typed:

Staying with Ari- thanks 4 cover.

Will spill later x

“ Sherlock?”

I pointed to my eyebrow and smirked, “ Sherlock homes.” For some reason I slipped into on a bad impression of Sean Connerys thick Scottish accent.

Ari erupted into laughter, nearly spraying his water on the floor. “ What was that?”

I grinned, using the deep accent again, swinging my legs on the table “ Sherlock Homes.”

“ You sound like Bond”

“ Your just jealous of my mad skills” I replied, still using the unnaturally deep voice.

Ari chuckled, placing his glass down on the counter and walked to my side by the table, standing with his hands in his pockets. He outstretched a hand as if to shake mine and I looked down questioningly before he spoke with a playful smirk and I was speechless.

 “ Have we met before? The names Bond, James Bond”

His accent was flawless, I almost thought that Sean cannery was hiding somewhere and Ari was miming. The effect was astonishing and surreal. The voice of such an older guy sounded odd coming out of Ari’s mouth but there was something kind of hot about it too. But that was probably just pure Ari.

 “Don’t do that again.. It’s so, so weird!” I gasped.

Ari laughed, nudging my shoulder with his. “ Thanks. That’s what all the ladies say.” He teased, voice back to normal now. Thank god.

“ So you ready to explore the garden?” he asked I nodded and Ari turned around motioning for me to hop onto his back again. I tried not to smile like a crazy woman as I hopped on, his hands holding my bare legs to his waist and he walked us through the conservatory doors, out onto a small wooden patio and onto the grass. I hung on tight to his shoulders, loving the mild summer evening breeze combined with the warmth of Ari’s back plastered to my front.

Even in the near darkness I could see the bright flowers that bordered the garden, interspersed with larger leafy plants, their eye popping oranges, pinks, purples and yellows made for a lovely medley of colours. They reminded me of the Frieda Kahlo paintings my mom loved and had framed copies in our house.  In the gentle breeze I noticed a small willow tree stood to one corner of the garden, partially bowing over the pool, bathing half of the willow tree’s fluttering leaves in the reflected light from the pool.

Ari walked us down the granite path, towards the pool slowly, until we were only a few steps from the water. He dropped me, rather ungracefully onto my feet and I swept my eyes over the pools still waters and the surrounding garden. Someone had planted Ivy along the high back garden walls and the whole back area was covered in green foliage that twisted and spiralled up the wall, almost covering it all.

“ I love it.” I breathed. 

“ Thought you might.”

 I looked at our vague, distorted reflection in the lit pool, Ari standing beside me with hand holding mine. I traced the shadows we created, his tall, broad outline next to my shorter one. We looked like we were always like that. I grinned, kicking off my sandals with my heels, then beginning to unbutton my jean skirt. “ wanna go for a swim?” I asked. It was pretty dark, he probably wouldn’t be able to see anything.

 Ari chuckled conspiratorially with me as he pulled his t-shirt off as I peeled off my skirt, dropping it to the floor while trying not to get distracted by Ari. He was bathed in blue light, highlighting his broad shoulders, his defined abs which led to a sinful V that ended where his jeans began.

“ Ellabear?” I heard Ari chuckle and my gaze flickered to his face to see him smirking sexily, one dimple showing and an eyebrow raised. He was I the middle of toeing off his shoes and socks.

I’d been totally caught in the act.

And it didn't really bother me that much.

I quickly stripped off my top, untying the bow on my back and shoving it over my face as I muttered, “ Oh, uh.. carrying on.” 

Once I was standing in only my bra and knickers I glanced at Ari , who was still pulling off his jeans to reveal light blue boxers that hung deliciously off his hips and made his tan look a deeper honey. Jeez, does Ari look good in everything he wears?

I could feel Ari’s eyes on mine, wandering up my body, making my skin tingle and my skin suddenly felt heated. I really needed to get in the pool before I did something stupid and jumped him…

“ Geronimo!” I called out as I dived in, slicing into the cool water.

I closed my eyes and let the warm water run over me, making my body feel weightless as I dove, my momentum pulling my hair back from my face smoothly. I loved swimming, I always felt like I was in my own underwater world, away from the constant disruptions of life. Just the muffled sound of the water.

When I surfaced in the pool I realised Ari wasn’t standing on the edge anymore, his clothes were in a pile next to mine but I couldn’t see him anywhere. I looked around the pool and it seemed untouched after my dive , only smooth ripples lapped on the surface.

“ Ari? Ari?” I called, kicking my legs to make myself float , while I ran my hands through my long hair to flatten it slick back against my head.

“ Hello?” I called again, suddenly feeling a little worried, I looked into the pool in front  of me only to see pristine baby blue tiles lining the pool , and the rustling from the willow tree to my right suddenly made me very aware of how it was evening now.

I looked back towards the house where the light was on and called out, “ Ari? Are you in the house?”

 Then I felt a strong grip on my ankle and I was being pulled under into the water, my heart thumping. I kicked against the hold on my ankle and pushed to the surface from the bottom. I broke the surface coughing and spluttering to see a mischievous looking Ari floating next to me with an annoyingly sexy smirk on his face; his eyes were brimming with amusement. I could see he was trying not to laugh. And failing.

 “ That wasn’t funny! You scared me! I thought you were a -” stopped myself from saying ‘I thought you were an axe wielding serial killer’ and instead I tried to wipe that sexy smirk off his face by splashing him in the face.

 “ Come on! That was funny!” Ari laughed, splashing me back.

“ arghhh!” I groaned and tried to directly splash his face again.

“ You know you just started splash war, right Ella Bear!” Ari warned above the loud sound of our splash waves.

“ Yeah! I don’t start what I can’t win!” I replied, trying to push both my hands together to make a bigger splash.

 The next ten minutes was spent spluttering and shouting teasing insults at each other over our continuous splash attacks, while laughing our heads off.

“ All right – I call truce!” I called and Ari paused mid splash.

“ You call truce?” he looked suspicious, and rightly so. I’d called truce twice before and surprise splash attacked him. But it was his fault really; Ari’s just way too trusting.

“ Yeah my arms are tired and I think I swallowed enough chlorine to fill a bathtub!” I put my hands up in surrender, “ I wave the splash war white flag.” I announced.

“ Hmmm…let me think about this suggestion…” He rubbed under his chin in mock thought. I couldn’t help smiling at the cute way his hair had flicked up at different angles, but the broad tanned shoulders with smooth, powerful muscles that were above water made me want to cling to him and run my hands down them and….

I was so lost in my day dreams about Ari’s shoulders that I was surprised when he wrapped a hand round my back and pulled me flush against him in the water. It was a little too deep for me in this section but I knew Ari was standing comfortably. I instinctively pulled my hands up to his shoulders, relishing the feel of his muscled skin under me. The solid muscle that made up his pecs and perfect six pack brushed tantalisingly against me under the water, making me hyper aware of our nearly naked bodies, how my bra was nearly see through and I could feel all the heated imprint of his skin against mine. “ I agree” Ari whispered in my ear, biting my lobe gently.

“ But first you have to agree to something for me, Ellabear.” He whispered, making me shiver – and not because I was cold.

 I leant in and kissed his lips, letting my hand cup his head as the kiss deepened, our tongues meeting one another gently at first, then the kiss became heated as we continued. It felt like we were both trying to make sure the other was there, as I slid my hands down his shoulder, his back, along the side of his ribs. Anywhere I could find that would hold me to him. Ari seemed to be feeling the same, as he gripped my waist in one hand, gripping me like he was making sure I wouldn’t disappear, pressing me against him firmly– not that I complained- I loved the way his hands ran up my ribcage, the way they trailed up and down my back leaving goose bumps or the incredibly distracting