Hello and goodbye

Your teenage guest stayed for all the evening, eating ice cream on the couch beside the pair of you. It meant that you couldn’t settle into quite so cosy a position with Ben as you usually would… but that was worth the chance to be penned in on either side by such handsome young men. You were certain your lover would make up for lost time and intimacy later.

After a while of watching one movie or another, you couldn’t help but begin idly playing with Tomi's hair. His dark, springy curls just asked to be fiddled with and the boy beneath bristled positively with every scratch of his scalp. He was very much like an alley-cat, you had decided… an independent soul that really was just looking for some place to feel at home. He nestled in against you and waves of motherly urges you never knew existed took hold. Perhaps it was just all the oestrogen pills you popped every morning… or some deeper spiritual broodiness that you could not control. All you knew was that your heart told you this young man was precious, and needed to be nurtured and protected at all costs.

"Can we keep him?" You whispered to Ben, low enough that perhaps the subject didn't hear it.

Your lover smiled and shook his head, though whether in true denial or just dismissal of your general silliness you couldn’t tell. It didn't matter anyway… if you wanted a pet, your master would get you a pet. That was just how spoiled he kept you.

A knock at the door shook all three from your trances. "Oh! That'll be Mum…" Exclaimed Tomi, glancing down at his phone. "I did text her where I was."

All three of you headed to the doorway, feeling guilty but not quite sure why. The front door opened to a face that was kind but clearly tired… not really prepared for new people and small talk. Yet she made the effort to pump out a polite smile and not seem like she was unhappy to meet you.

"Hi, I'm Sara. Thank you so much for feeding him, sorry if he just sorta turned up… He does that…"

She chuckled a little, letting her son pass by and patting him lovingly on the shoulder. Your own feelings from earlier ran into a brick wall when faced with this woman who had actually birthed the beautiful creature. You felt like a usurper trying to steal this nice lady's rightful place as loving guardian for such a jewel. Yet there was no mistrust or suspicion in the way she looked at you, nor any hint that she even recognised you were not quite as you seemed.

"No, no… He was helping me in the garden. It was lovely! I'm kinda helpless…"

You fell back on shyness and self-debasement, as you always had. But Sara seemed happy enough to take the compliment to her brood.

"Oh, well I'm sure he'll be back around before long then. I don't know where he gets his green thumb from… Coz it's not from me." She smiled again, more honestly warmly this time. "Maybe I'll get a chance to invite you both over for a glass of wine at some point… It would be nice to welcome you to the neighbourhood properly! But I really need a bath and bed right now…"

The hint was taken graciously, and you let the two of them leave with waves and blown kisses. All your nerves from moving here suddenly assuaged by such a warm welcome and set of faces to put to the building next door. It really did seem like this might be the start of a whole new world of friendships and connections, far from what you'd left behind.

Ben shut the door and led you upstairs, tugging upon the collar around your neck. The next order of business was obvious, of course… He was going to bend you over and pound your ass red until you collapsed into a drooling puddle of sleep.