It was a wonderful day in her world. Once again there was peace and a feeling of tranquility that warmed her all over. Days like these made her feel good about being alive, knowing that everything was right in the world. Like that tingly feeling you get after you bite into a particularly wonderful chocolate truffle.
"Well, Mandy, just pick one already." she said, laughing into her phone. Her cat Jangles was curled up on her lap, licking happily at her hand like it was some sort of tasty treat.
She was sitting in her over stuffed Lay-Z-Boy, the television on mute as she watched the home shopping network and talked to her best friend. Mandy had just gotten finished telling her about some cute guy who had asked her out for dinner tonight. Her friend was so excited that she couldn't chose which color dress to wear, when normally it was Mandy instructing Alex on style.
"But I don't know which one looks best! I reeeally like this guy, Alex. Please, please, please, puh-lease help me!"
It was Mandy's luck that Alex couldn't think straight right now, either. What with Lucien picking on her every few seconds. She shivered at the feel of his fingers on the back of her knee, using a newspaper to swat at the area in front of her. Damn him for being a Phantom! She couldn't see him at all during the day.
"Okay, okay." Alex answered to the girl's begging, twirling the cord of the phone about her finger as she stuck her tongue out in the direction of Lucien. "Why don't you wear the red dress? Red is always pretty on you."
"But Alex!" her friend whined. "I don't want to look 'pretty'! I want to look gorgeous!"
"You will lo..." she had to bite her bottom lip so she didn't giggle, moving the phone away from her face as she squirmed in her chair. The guy was going after her feet again! Pulling her legs in, she sat on both feet and flung the newspaper at him again, mouthing for him to stop before going back to her friend. "You will look gorgeous, hon."
"How do you know that?"
A shiver ran down her spine at the tickle of fingers running along her jaw line. She sucked in a deep breath of air and scooted herself further into the chair before replying, leaving a disgruntled cat to prance off in offense of her bothering it. "You always look gorgeous, Mandy. It's what you do!"
A whimper escaped her lips as a mouth came over her ear, sucking and nibbling at it. It was very, very distracting. So distracting, in fact, that she hadn't heard what her friend had said.
"Alex? Alex, are you listening?"
She shook her head, her eyes half closed as the mouth moved lower to suck the skin beneath her ear lobe. "Yeah... Mandy, I'm listening."
Her friend seemed to hesitate before a mischievous voice took the place of nerves. "Whatcha doin'?"
Lips began moving down her arm as she blushed guiltily and coughed to cover up the sound of her voice. "Nothing."
"Oh, really?" Her friend paused as if to point out the lie. "Mmm... Okay, lovey. I'll be heading out soon. I'll call you later and tell you all the juicy details." There was a distinct sigh in her voice.
"Okay.... Remember to keep your phone on, and call the cops if things get weird." she said softly, her mind wondering to what he was doing with her hand. Whatever it was, it was definitely wonderful. She sighed in apreciation and mentally kicked herself for being so turned on.
"Don't worry, I will. Love you doll face." The dial tone sounded and she hung up the phone.
"Damn it, Lucien." she growled half heartedly, closing her eyes and laying her head back on the chair. "Must you do that while I'm trying to talk on the phone? It's distracting."
"You could always give in and let me do as I wish." a male voice whispered on the wind, fingers grabbing at the front of her shirt and tugging on it. "Come with me to the bathroom, sweetheart."
"Must I?" asked Alex, tilting her head and biting her lip. "It's so comfy here." Crossing her arms, she unfolded her legs and placed her feet on the coffee table. Maybe body language would convince him she wasn't going to move an inch.
She thought wrong.