When Love’s In Fashion

Chapter 11

Elmira woke up from the most wonderful dream. She kept her eyes closed wanting to hold on to the feeling for as long as possible. In her dream, she had been kissing Sven, feeling the heat from his body wrapping her like a blanket.

She nuzzled the pillow and breathed in Sven’s scent. Elmira’s eyes flew open, startled. The room was pitch black.She reached over to the lamp she knew was on the bedside table and turned the knob. Dim yellow light flooded the room and she looked around at what was clearly not her room.

Then, where was Sven?

She quickly got out of bed, feeling confused and a little disoriented. She opened the door and peered into the hallway. The light was streaming in through the blinds, which meant it was definitely daytime. The hallway was empty, but there only being she and Sven at his house now, that didn’t surprise her. She crossed the hall and returned to Sven’s room to gather her bathroom things and her thoughts; a shower was definitely needed to help clear the cobwebs. She grabbed her towel and bathrobe and headed down the hall for a quick shower.

When she came back, the place still had an empty feel to it. She wondered where Sven was. Back in the room, she glanced at the time on her phone while she rubbed the water out of her hair with the towel.

It was 8:00am.

Chances were that the housekeeper hadn’t arrived yet, but where did Sven go? Elmira got dressed, putting on her favorite pair of black skinny jeans, which outlined her butt so lovingly, a light blue tank top and her green and blue flannel shirt. She laced up her Docs and wandered back out into the hall towards the kitchen to get some food.

She rummaged in the fridge looking for the pancake paste she’d whipped up before bed. She made a few pancakes while coffee grounds dripped into the expensive coffee maker then headed out to her favorite chair in the breakfast nook where the sunlight warmed her back. It was the right way to start the day.

She glanced around the lounge and was disappointed to find it also empty. Part of her was hoping that Sven had just woken up early and left the room in order not to disturb her, now she was thinking he had left his house in order to repress and avoid their conversation from last night.

Wait.

That was her M.O. not his.

Elmira stood up, pacing in the sunroom as her thoughts from last night returned. She headed back to the room, changed into some sweats and a t-shirt. She had discovered the training room a few weeks after she first stayed the night at Sven’s house. At the time, it had contained a few mats, punching bag, training weapons; and tons of other equipment. Now there was a treadmill, some weights, a few mats and a new punching bag hanging to one side of the room.

Elmira headed straight for the bag. She needed to let loose some of her frustration. Letting go of her inhibitions last night had felt so good, but in light of this morning’s confusion all her uncertainties had come flooding back and made her more anxious than before. She wrapped her hands and wrists, having learned her lesson before about hitting the bag without protecting herself and started her series of jabs, hooks and cross punches. As her heart rate increased, she started throwing in some kicks, leaning into the bag as it swung back towards her.

“I pity whoever you think you’re hitting.”

Elmira straightened up surprised to hear the gravelly tones of Sven’s voice. She turned around to face him, panting and sweaty from the activity. He had a disposable coffee cup in his hand. Elmira frowned and turned back to the bag, to prepare for another volley.

“I thought you had left,” she whispered to the bag without taking her stance.

“Yeah, well I did leave. The kitchen was empty and I needed coffee. I got you some hot chocolate, left it in the library for you. I saw the book you left out, figured you’d be back,” he had slowly walked up to stand close to her, lowering his voice as he leaned close to her ear, “Then I heard the lovely noises coming from in here and decided to investigate.”

Elmira’s breath caught and she gasped, sensing his body so close to hers. She was startled and had a hard time thinking of something to say. She felt Sven take a step back and he continued in his usual voice, “Unless I misunderstood last night, sorry. I understand if you have second thoughts this morning.”

He took another step back and Elmira reacted instinctively. She turned around and closed the space between them. She threw her arms up around his neck and pressed her whole body into his. She reached up with her lips, not quite closing the gap between them. Sven leaned down and pressed his lips to hers hard. He wrapped his arms around her waist, keeping the coffee cup straight so it didn’t spill everywhere. Elmira kissed him hungrily again and again, as he kissed her back, flicking his tongue into her mouth. He tasted like coffee and he smelled like sun warmed leather mixed with his own spicy scent. The combination was intoxicating.

Sven abruptly broke the kiss and pulled back his head, still holding on to her. He looked into her eyes – a look of uncertainty on his face – as he suddenly looked vulnerable again. The look had a sobering effect; whatever he was going to say was serious.

“I meant what I said last night, Elmira. I need to know sooner rather than later; if my heart is going to break, I need it to happen while I can still stand it.”

“Sven Marcel, will you just shut up and kiss me?” she replied taking his face in her hands.

She felt him smile just before he leaned into her again and gave her a quick peck on the lips. Elmira barely had time to react to the chaste kiss before he turned away, grabbing her hand. He stopped and turned back to her just as suddenly and started pulling off her hand wraps, dropping them to the floor. “What are you doing Sven?” Elmira asked him, but he didn’t answer. When he was done, he took her hand again and pulled her out of the room, setting his coffee down on the dresser by the door.