It is a warm weekend in January when we finally get the chance to turn your newly bought house into a home. After three months of house hunting I was so relieved and happy that you had finally found something to make your own. Finding a wonderful job within weeks of making the move back to NZ made your spirit soar and erased from your mind forever any doubts you had about making the break from Europe. But now that you had found your house the final piece of the plan had fallen into place for you. I loved seeing your smiling eyes as we walked out of your Lawyer's office with the house keys.
I remember cupping your face gently in my hands and drawing your lips to mine in a soft loving kiss. Feeling your warm moist lips caressing mine ignited a flame deep inside me that I had tried so hard to ignore. When the kiss broke I looked up at you and we both knew we were finally free to focus on each other and this indefinable relationship of ours. It was a wonderful feeling to know that we no longer had to reign in our feelings.....we were free to explore them and experience the journey they would take us on.
Although we had been in each other's company constantly since your arrival back in NZ neither of us had acted on the feelings we both knew were bubbling beneath the surface. Within us there existed the fear that we would be moving too fast if we considered starting a relationship while you still needed time to settle back into life here.....and so we waited....and waited.
Along with the rest of your 'family' here in NZ I welcomed you back with open arms the moment you stepped off the plane....all of us so happy to have you back with us again. And so now..here we are on this beautiful January morning four months after your arrival, driving with a car full of your clothes and books and boxes and boxes of your CD's and DVD's. My brothers are behind us with a ute full of some of your other possessions and your friends Allan and Heather should at this very moment already be at the house after going to the storage place where you kept your furniture and bringing it back to your home.
As I drive past Sumner Beach I look across at you and see you deep in thought. Wanting so much to be a part of you at that moment I reach across to softly caress your cheek drawing you back to me. I trace the outline of your lips gently as you smile for me before drawing my fingertip into your mouth and sucking gently. Instantly a tender moment becomes electrified with sexual tension as you leave me in no doubt of the unfinished business we still have to take care of. I gulp down the lump in my throat as I feel a dampness spreading from between my legs. Neither of us speak as I pull into the drive of your home, but both of us know we are deeply affected by your little playful display.
I switch off the car ignition but before I can reach for the door you pull me back to you and crush your lips to mine. Your tongue invades the warm cavern of my mouth and I welcome it, my own tongue swirling around it in a wet, sensual dance. When you break our kiss and look down at me I can see the warm flush on your face that I know to be on mine also..as you plant soft butterfly kisses all over my face you whisper playfully to me 'After the sun comes up tomorrow morning I may let you close your eyes.' My pulse begins to race as you get out of the car. I sit in stunned silence watching your retreating back, powerless to do anything to hide the excited smile that makes its way to my bruised lips.
The rest of the day is spent with the men moving the furniture and boxes into the house and Heather and I unpacking the boxes in the right rooms. Although the day is very hot, the sea breezes floating in from nearby Sumner Beach do much to cool the house. There is a lot to get done but there is also a lot of laughing and even some 'arguments' between you and Allan as you disagree about where the furniture should sit. In the end you tease him by bowing at his feet and saying 'Dad knows best. ' Before walking past me and saying in a staged whisper that everyone hears 'Honey don't worry, you and I can move it when everyone goes.' That gets a good natured laugh from Allan and a promise that you will NOT set foot on his boat for the rest of summer. By mid-afternoon the house is almost as it should be but there are a lot of tired people sitting in your landscaped backyard enjoying the warm sun and a much needed drink. Some of the boxes still need to be unpacked but they along with all the heavy furniture are at least in the right rooms. And so amidst laughter and smart ass bantering between you and Allan we sit down to a light slap together dinner of Chinese takeaways.
At about 6pm my brothers get up to leave and promise to return tomorrow with some timber to help repair the back deck. They are almost embarrassed to admit that they will have to bring Mum with them tomorrow because she will want to see for herself that you are ok in your new house and more importantly that there is food in your fridge. I feel you gently squeezing my fingers in yours before releasing my hand and giving the boys a warm handshake before thanking them and seeing them out. With the boys gone the four of us clean the dinner away before finishing the last of the unpacking. An hour later we are all done...and although completely exhausted...we are nonetheless proud of our efforts.