Anything but red paint

I: Panting and painting

Joe’s POV

I love spending some days here at Mooney’s, working as I used to do years ago.
Also because, Bronte, your ankle is still not perfectly working and it’s better if I don’t make you walk back and forth through the several corridors of my bookstore.

What made this day even better is that I have just found a customer with a remarkable taste, something probably even rarer than some books here.

“The Book of Kells, you say, Sir? That’s very rare, indeed, but unfortunately for you, this store doesn’t focus much on religious books.”

I can clearly see the disappointment in this man’s eyes.

“But we have some tiny exceptions. May you be interested in a copy of the Gutenberg Bible of 1450?” I ask him casually.

“Uh.. wha-- what? Do you really have it?” His face lights up.

This man got so excited he could ejaculate in his pants.

Does someone here have a religious fetish?

“Sure we do. And I take it for a yes.” I smile at him. “Just wait for me here. Be right back.”

Of course, it belongs to the most precious rarities I keep inside the cage.

When I reach the basement you’re there, busy dusting a shelf.

Two minutes later, you’re clinging to me as I bang you against the glass of the still closed cage.
I really love your short skirts and the way they make it easier to pull off your panties.

“Joee.. if you think there’s so many customers above… this is so naughty… and kinky!” You pretend to reproach me, as you pant, welcoming every one of my inches in your oh so hot, oh so tight cunt.

Let’s not fool each other, Bronte, you don’t want me to stop at all, neither do I have any intentions to.

“Do you wanna add blasphemous to naughty and kinky?” I pant, as I fuck you harder.

“What do you mean?” You gasp, biting your lower lip, which brings me to kiss you savagely.

“That I went down here to pick a very old bible to show to a rather religious customer…” I reveal, tracing kisses on your throat, as you give me access and tighten around my cock even more. “If only he knew how much we are sinning right now!”

“Geez, we’re sooo going to Hell, Joe!” You giggle, before reaching the orgasm, while I suck the soft skin of your neck.

“As long as I’m with you I’m fine anywhere.” I kiss you as I come as well.

Satisfied by our nookie, you hand me a moist towelette, as we settle.

That’s when I notice something on the floor.

“My bad, probably I was too impetuous,” I chuckle as I kneel down to collect it. “But you should be more careful; otherwise you could lose it one of these days.”

“And it would be such a pity. I really love it, Joe.” You smile, taking it from my hand.

It’s an arrow shaped silver hair pin, a gift for you from me, a few days ago.
The moment I saw it in a windowshop I knew it had to belong to you.
It fits the Huntress so much.

You arrange your hair with it again and I admire the way your flaming red hair sets it off.

“However Joe, I thank you for taking me down here holding me in your arms before, but next time you must let me get out on my own, otherwise I’ll never know if my ankle is starting to improve.” You pout.

How can I say no to that lovely pout?

“Okay, but call me any time if you need some help.”  I reply as I finally enter the cage , wearing  a pair of gloves.

Reverence for books, first of all.

I go back to the man, who’s staring at the Gutenberg bible as if he was staring at the Holy Grail.
And, of course, he’s not allowed to touch, only to look.
Unless he can afford the very prohibitive value I just communicate to him.
A value with seven zeros, for the record.

And of course, this guy can only dream of owning that kind of money.

“Tha..thank you. I’ll think about it!” He politely replies, much paler now, his voice reaching an octave higher than before.

It’s not the first time such a thing has happened.
Just like I know, as I watch him leave, that I’ll never see him again in my store.

I chuckle as I go back down in the basement.

“What’s so funny?” You ask me as I put the book back.

“I’ve almost made that sanctimonious guy curse.”

“LOL. Why?” You giggle as well.

“Because of me, his dreams were shattered. Not exactly because of me; more like because of the price of this jewel.” I tenderly pat the bible, now on its shelf again, as I take off the gloves. “I guess not  everyone can have thirty millions in their pocket… or in their bank account.”

“Thirty millions.. holy shit!”

“Yeah, right, probably the same thing that man struggled not to say!” I make you laugh as I close the cage.

“Please, Joe, let me get upstairs with you. I promise I won’t move much. I can dust the shelves there, too and I can assist some of the customers. If they need a book that’s too high for me to reach I’ll call you. Please, please, please, make me feel more useful.” You plead.

“Okay, but you must be very quiet and sit on a chair every now and then.” I bargain.

“Okay. But you must me go upstairs on my own, without holding my arms, waist, anything!” You bargain as well.

I snort, then I chuckle.

“Deal, Bronte, but you must give me a kiss for every step you manage to climb on your own.”

You limp closer to me and wrap your arms around my neck.

“Mm, I guess this is a very sweet price to pay.” You giggle, kissing me.

“Wait a minute. You haven't even climbed any steps yet.” I make you notice.

You shrug, holding me closer.

“Oh c’mon, Joe, are you really complaining?”

And then you kiss me again and of course, I have nothing to complain about.

Bronte’s POV

You are sleeping beside me, but for some reason I woke up earlier than you.
Way too early, since it’s half past six in the morning.

Contrary to many other times, your arm is not wrapping me, our legs are not entwined so I’m free to move, without risking to wake you up.
I sit up on the bed, I stuck my earbuds in my phone, not to wake you up with volume and i start scrolling through the socials.
After some funny memes and some gossip news I don’t care that much, here’s something that catch my attention for real.

Someone posted the link of your whole instagram interview.

I had stopped watching it, because my heart was too broken to bear just a second more; but now that things between us improved so much and that my ankle is the only aching part of my body… why not?

Go on, interview!Joe, do your worst, I can face it…

Oh, so I missed the part when they practically forced you to show the cage.
You start talking about its usefulness, how it’s good for the books, then you move the topic to Mr. Mooney, how he was a father figure to you, how he taught you discipline in the worst way possible and…

Oh god!
You’re crying now and I’m crying with you.

I must do it louder than I imagined, because I happen to wake you up as well, present! Joe.

You jolt, switching the light on.

“Sweetheart, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” You hold me in your protective arms.

“Oh, Joe.” I bask in your embrace.

“Did you have a nightmare?” You ask me, your tone full of concern.

“Actually it’s you who lived a nightmare!” I strike back, showing you the display on my phone.

With the interview paused on the moment of your breakdown.

“Oh.” You murmur, visibly impressed. “And do you feel so bad for me?”

“Of course, just like I felt bad for you that night, in the cage. No one should ever face all the awful things you had to go through.” I hug you even tighter.

You smile and kiss my temple, then you wipe my tears with your thumb.

“At least all those awful things brought me to you. And this makes up for everything.”

You’re so sweet I could melt down.

Then you part from me.

“But if you’re watching that interview… Bronte, what I said at the beginning, I didn’t mean it… No wait, maybe I did, but only because I was so upset, so pissed off, so sure you had only played with my heart… But…”

I silence you with the only way that can work: a long, slow and sweet kiss.

“Hush, Joe, it’s nothing new, I had followed the interview that day and stopped watching right after those cold words of yours, so full of hatred… but now I decided to catch up with the rest.” I calm you down.

You nod and then you smile.

“Then I guess you should keep watching, there are high chances you could be pleased.”

I follow your advice and… oohhh, the things you said, they way you said that.

My heart feels even warmer.

Seeing that I finished watching it, you take off my earbuds.

“You know, the moment I saw your text message changed my whole perspective about you, about us. And I’m glad it did. I already had the feeling you were my true soulmate and now I know my instinct was right.” You whisper in my ear, nibbling the lobe, easing it with your tongue.

And I’m pure jelly, once more.

“ ‘True love. being held, being truly seen by someone you admire so fiercely. I think makes me the luckiest man alive. Even when it’s snatched away.’ Oh, Joe.”

My eyes are teary once more with emotions too strong to deal with.

“I know. Too soppy maybe.” You mutter sheepishly.

I just cup your face and kiss you, proving how wrong you are.

“Right now, the only thing I want to snatch away is your panties.” You grin, your eyes so lustful now.

You know what? Enough with the sweetness.

That’s why I don’t complain at all when you do what you announced and your head disappears between my legs.

Oh god, Joe!

------------------------------------------- 

You insisted I’m not ready yet to help you upstairs with the customers for a whole day, so I’m tidying things in the damn basement, again.
But at least this time you made me go here on my own and my ankle collaborated enough.

That’s when I saw something on the top of a shelf that caught my attention.

If only I could reach it.
There’s no ladder but even if there was any, I would have some serious trouble placing both of my feet on it.
But there’s the book's metal cart, resistant enough to support me.

I empty the last level placing all the books on the ground, in the attempt to prevent the wheels from moving, as well.
I sit on it and that’s the easiest step.
Then I lean on the brick arch to support me as I get up, slowly, carefully, putting all my weight to the left leg.
If I stretch a bit more I should be able to reach it.
In the attempt I made some knick-knack fall on the ground.
Some very noisy knick-knacks.

“Bronte, are you okay? I heard such a crash and it came from the basement…” You rush downstairs. “Bronte! What the hell are you doing?”

Of course, you snapped and that made me lose my balance.
I yelp, but luckily you’re there, catching me in your arms before I fall.

“So, having one aching ankle wasnìt enough and you were planning to break your left leg?” You sarcastically ask me as you let me go.

“i had no intention of self-harming. I just wanted to take that paint bucket up there.”

“Which is empty, by the way. Or, worst, full of other heavy stuff you could have hurt yourself with. Why didn’t you ask me for help?”

“Because you were busy with customers and…”

“Screw the customers. You’re way more important. However, I have cameras and an anti-theft system, I would notice if they tried something funny.” You shrug. “Now, coming back to the main question… Why did you need paint?”

“Because this place needs some restyling.” I confess.

“Okay, probably I came here too late and you already hit your head. What the hell are you babbling about?” You frown.

“I was thinking about your breakdown, when you said that Mr. Mooney kept you locked here even for days. Such a gloomy and barren place would make anyone depressed.”

“Are you really suggesting that we redecorate this basement?”

You’re chuckling, so maybe it’s a good sign.

“I mean, we can’t do anything if the cage is so cold, thanks to the 65 degrees with 40% humidity that’s so important for the books.” I reply, and you smile at me, proud that I made that knowledge mine. “But we could do something about the environment all around. Think about it. If when you were locked here you would have seen more colours around… maybe all those brick arches turned into rainbows… wouldn’t it make you feel a little better?”

“Huh. Yeah, maybe…” You shrug. “But mostly I’m thinking of showing it to Henry, once I’ll get him back.” You sigh, as I pat your shoulder. “Okay. Let's do it.”

“Alright Joe. It’s going to be so much fun! And it’s friday today; do you know what it means? A whole weekend of painting walls together.” I grin.

“Deal. Once we close today we’ll go to a DIY store to get all what we need, so we can start already tomorrow morning.”

“Sounds like a plan. I love you, my soulmate!” I cheer, kissing you.

“And I love you.” You smile at me.

“I just have a request for the colours we’ll use here: anything but red paint.” I make you laugh.

The less there’s something that can make you think of blood and violence, the better.

--------------------------------- 

It seems to live inside one of those rom-coms.
Me and you holding a paint roller together, kissing in the process, as we see this place become more vibrant, bit by bit.

We tease each other with brushes, dripping paint on our DIY jumpsuits and shirts, on our faces, too.

We’re happy. We’re playful. We are so in love.

This is the second day of painting, part of the first one was spent more on emptying the basement and covering the floors with cardboard and rugs.

The walls are covered in baby blue paint, so it seems that all the rainbows are shining in the sky.

We’re done with the second rainbow and they look pretty cool even without using red.

“I guess we’re doing a marvellous job here; that’s why we deserve a break.” You murmur, kissing me, hungrily.

You would like to make love on one on the rugs -again! - but with all this intoxicating smell of paint I find it harder and harder to breathe.

“Huh, Joe! At least first let me go outside and take some fresh air.” I plead, limping towards the stairs. “Then I guess we would make love way much better in our bedroom.”

“I guess you’re right, all this paint starts making me feel a little dizzy, too.” You nod. “Go ahead. I’ll reach you home as I’m done here. There’s the corner of the second rainbow who still has some empty spots.”

“You’re the usual perfectionist! Don’t take too long.” I counter as I climb the stairs.

Finally I reach the exit, I rest against the half closed shutter and enjoy the fresh air.

It’s even a sunny day, not too cold.
I close my eyes, taking deep breaths, feeling restored.

This is life.

“Finally. I was afraid you would never get out from that fucking store.” A grumpy voice makes me jolt, opening my eyes.

“Dane! What the hell are you doing here?” I frown, but my blood freezes in my veins when I see him draw out a gun from his opened jacket.

“Don’t you dare scream or I’ll blow your brains out.” He growls and I can’t do anything but obey. “Now follow me to my car, stupid, fucking bitch!”

Shit!

--

TBC