"I'm getting this framed."
Becca clicked through her uploaded vacation photos. Between lush, green outdoor shots in the country and the indulgent, macro shots of downtown architecture was a single image. It was a close-up of her partner's face, smushed against a grey damask cushion as he slept.
Lex leaned over her shoulder, eyeing the computer screen. He frowned in mock-serious contemplation of the image. Upon registering what he saw, his mind instantly released a tantalizing association. He planted a kiss on Becca's cheek, his hand inching down from her shoulder to cup her breast.
"Damn fine choice," he said.
//
Becca lingered at the back of the group of tourists. The guide continued to embellish upon the details of the estate.
"...this prominent executive of the Hudson Bay Company..."
She wasn't paying the spiel much attention, instead letting her eyes wander over the details of the hallway. The wood floors that had seen so much life, been worn out from their pristine expensive condition over a century. Now they had been painstakingly restored.
There were panelled and papered walls, musty scents and the throng of out-of-place intruders. They took photos of everything, slowing down the progress of the tour. Her own camera was dead weight around her neck. Becca regretted bringing it along. In some places, it was simply better to create memories.
"...beyond the hill you can see from this window, Kingsmere is just to the..."
She felt a hand slide around her hip to her stomach, gently pressing her into the body of her travelling companion. Lex tilted his head, with his mouth close to Becca's ear he spoke softly.
"You want to ditch these tour zombies?" He asked.
"It's okay," she whispered, her hand covering his, "I like this place. We won't see it all without the guide."
"It is beautiful..." Lex murmured, "but you say the word and I'll pull the nearest fire alarm."
Becca brought her hand up to her mouth to shield the broad grin that lit her face. Her partner was reliably a chaotic element.
That morning, Lex had turned their room into a tempest searching for his wallet. He had an innate ability for losing track of his own effects. They had almost lost the chance to visit this estate. Becca had noticed Lex's attempts to compensate for his tantrum with more composed behaviour... but it was beginning to slide.
He needn't have bothered compensating to begin with. Becca wasn't holding a grudge. Still, it was sweet to see the gesture made on her behalf.
"This room contains a beautifully preserved collection of... oh," the tour guide paused, slightly embarrassed.
Having opened the door to a main lounge of the estate, it was obvious that the unnamed collection was not in the room anymore. There was no furniture left at all, but instead an enormous pile of cushions and pillows that covered most of the lush burgundy carpet.
It created a series of artificial heaths and hills of silk, satin and cottony blends. Sizes and shapes varied beyond counting. There was no uniform style to the patterns, though there seemed to be some matching sets that had been churned together in the mix. It was an inexplicable dream of comfort, begging to be taken advantage of.
Lex altered his weight from foot to foot. He smirked at the thoughts brimming in his head. With Becca before him, he subtly trailed the back of his hand between her shoulder blades. Her body rippled with a sensual shiver.
"I-I forgot," the guide babbled, "well... the HBC still shoots ads at this location from time to time and as you can see, they recently made use of this room and... yes. Anyway, we'll circle back now, take the stairs over in the entryway."
A single flash went off in the direction of the mountain of pillows before the guide shut the door and ushered them off.
Standing on the veranda of the grand house, Becca took a moment to breathe deeply, her eyes shut against the fading sunset. There were lilacs growing nearby, the hint of their perfume reaching her nose. Lex had excused himself for a moment.
He had been mercifully graceful about his exit. There were times when he was inclined to loudly declare: "Wait here, I have a mission to accomplish!" The ripple of awkwardness he could send through a public space gave him a glee that Becca didn't quite understand. Of course, her blush in these moments also gratified Lex to no end.
When the creak of the deck announced his return, Becca smiled.
"Ready to go?" It was mostly rhetorical. There was nothing else to do but head to the car and leave.
But something was going on. It was written all over Lex's face. There was a mischievous mirth in the corners of his mouth. He took hold of Becca's waist, tugging her into a gentle hug. He swayed with her for a moment while a few remaining tourists filtered past them on the veranda.
The light was fading around them. Lampposts by the parking lot blinked on to the right. Becca could hear the devious wheels turning in Lex's head. What would it be this time? He stepped back and they descended the front steps.
"This way," he said, taking her hand and leading away from the parking lot. They walked around the outside of the building, passing from the well-groomed part of the lawn to the overgrowth where no one was meant to go.
"Lex..." Becca hesitated.
"Trust me?" he said softly, looking back at her. Becca sighed.
"Damn it." She let him lead on.
They stopped at a window a few meters from the back of the house. A large pane of glass with two smaller squares beneath, one of which had been slid back, exposing the screen. It was the only one that had been left open.
"Oh good," said Lex. Becca's head turned to him from her focus on the window.
