Chapter 7 – It Could Be Sweet Like A Long Forgotten Dream

A half-smiling Carmen leaned forward and took a forkful or fruit salad from Shane’s hand. Then, she rested her back against the pillows, again. Shane watched her and smiled, lopsidedly, like someone who’s just been busted staring at something incredibly amazing.

They were still naked in bed. Almost thirty-six hours had passed since Shane and Nikki had met, since Shane had returned to Carmen, since Carmen had opened the door, since the two of them had fallen, finally, into each other’s arms.

They had been sleeping for a few hours, then they had made love again.

And again.

And again, unable to stop, unable to be apart for more than twenty minutes. Then, they had talked, small talks to get comfortable with each other after the unexpected, awkwardly beautiful progression of their relationship. Finally, they had gotten up to prepare some meal. And now, they laid in bed, not knowing what time it was, orange juice and beer and red wine and fruit salad and French toasts on the nightstand, on the floor, on the covers all around them. A picnic under cover.

“How’re your eyes?”, Shane asked, sipping her beer. She was resting on her elbow, her naked back stretched on the mattress, her calves crossed in front of her and just her black boy shorts on.

Carmen placed her forefinger on her lips and her eyes narrowed. She hushed up Shane gently, metaphorically lending her ear to the window.

The rumble of a thunder followed, breaking the substantial silence of the apartment.

Carmen closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

“It’s raining again…”, she considered, quietly.

“Yup”, Shane sighed, nodding and averting her gaze. She was watching Carmen too dreamily and that made her feel a little too dismantled, “How’re your eyes?”.

Carmen rubbed them slowly with her fingertips.

“I had almost forgotten about them…”, she murmured, huskily, “…Being here with you had this effect on me”.

Shane sat up, reached for Carmen and pulled her in gently for a slow, deep kiss.

“…They still hurt a little, and I can’t bring you into focus…”, Carmen whispered then, pulling back, her hands still lingering on both sides of Shane’s face.