There are a great number of reasons for me to look forward to Peter taking a shower, but today was different. As soon as I heard the water begin to run I had to tell myself sternly to be patient. My desk chair became unusually uncomfortable for the few long minutes I counted down to when I could be certain that Peter would not emerge, towel around his waist, water dripping from his hair down his neck, beads of moisture on his chest and shoulders, with a devilish grin on his lips asking me to join him.
As you might imagine, I can never bring myself to deny him.
Today, though, even with memories of those encounters playing through my mind, I hoped for a few moments to myself. The minutes dragged by and finally I allowed myself to push away from my desk, quickly leaving the study in favor of heading towards one of the less frequently visited rooms of the house that was used for little more than storage. As I rounded the corner in the hallway I couldn’t help but chuckle at myself and when I slid aside the closet door in the room a grin plastered onto my expression as soon as my eyes came to rest on the object inside. I’d had to leave specific instructions with the delivery personnel since I needed to wait for an opportune moment to bring it into the main part of the house because I had not wanted my lover to have any notion that it was here.
I bowed at the waist to grasp the handle, fingers closing around the modern material and inspiring a reflection on the contrast that perhaps explained some of my obsession with such things as this. A present day casing for a small piece of history.
Picking it up easily, I stood and backed out of the closet, closing the door and leaving the room in favor of returning to the bedroom. The shower was still running so it would muffle the sounds of my movement to Peter’s vampire hearing, which was a secondary concern I had taken into account to stage the surprise.
Humming to myself, smiling broadly, I set the case on the bed. I debated for a short moment over leaving it closed but an old memory surfaced and made my decision for me. I recalled vividly the first time I opened such a case. Fingers skimming over the surface as though it was the skin of a lover. Becoming impatient at the tentative touches. Seeking out the locks, hearing the distinctive clicks as they opened. Latches swiftly flipped undone. Hesitating briefly, savoring the moment, and then putting forward the small amount of effort to raise the lid…
The water shut off and startled me out of my thoughts. I snatched my hand away from the case and ducked out of the room, knowing Peter most likely heard my footfalls as I returned to the study.
A thought occurred to me and I grinned again, changing my destination.
I made my way toward the piano as though something was propelling me there. Sitting down at the bench and sliding the protective wood panel off of the keys in a coordinated movement of long habit, my hands extended and my touch ghosted lightly over the ivory before settling into position. I drew in a long breath and let the silence of the room permeate my senses.
The first chord sang out bright and clear and was quickly followed by another, and another. Nodding to myself as I played,smiling, I waited for Peter to join me and tell me what he thought of his gift.
September 24th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
[...] Not too long ago, I was presented a wonderful gift by Victor and wished to share the story with you all. To read Victor’s initial recounting of the tale, click here. [...]