Luckily for Temi, Katz had just returned from the farmer’s market. She helped him carry in the groceries and as he put them away, she sat on a stool at the island in the kitchen patiently waiting. When he was finished, he placed the reusable grocery bags on a hook and washed his hands. “Artemisia, would you like some tea?”

            “Yes, please,” she smiled.

            “Excellent. I’ve been wanting to share this new tea with someone. It’s an oolong with orange blossom and spices. Perfect for a fall day, wouldn’t you say?

Again, she smiled as she watched him place a tea kettle on the gas stove. Slightly in a trance, she watched as the blue flames came up to lick the bottom of the kettle. The dance in which each flame commenced, was at first a jump, followed by a tuck, then a gentle and continuous rolling. Warm and hypnotic.

            “Well,” he stood leaning on the island. “hmm. You’ve lost quite a bit of weight, haven’t you?”

Breathing in deep and sitting up straight, “Umm, yes I have. Thank you for noticing. I also have a new boyfriend.” Temi smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. And Katz noticed.

            “I see.” He pulled himself up and moved to the cupboard to retrieve cups, saucers, and small plates. “Tea biscuits?”

 Confused by the fact he had no comment on her news, she frowned a little. “Yes. Sure.”

 Katz pulled out a serving tray and placed upon it an assortment of tea biscuits and set it in the middle of the island. Then he placed the teas upon their saucers next to the stove with the chains from the tea balls hanging over the edge of the cups. “So, tell me. If you now possess all you hoped for, why aren’t you happy?” He turned to look at her.

 Temi looked him square in the eyes, “I don’t know.”

 He smiled. “Well, at least you are aware there’s something missing, and that’s a start.” The kettle began to whistle, so he turned off the fire and poured the hot water into the cups. Finally, he set them on the island, pushing one toward his guest. “Sugar, cream?”  

            “No, I’m fine.”
            “Good. Then have a cookie and tell me about your new beau.”

 Temi did as she was told, and Katz was an apt listener. She told him how she and Facundo met, his profession, where he lived, how attracted she was to him. She didn’t go into their sex life, but she got the sense that he could guess it was rather robust. She also told Katz about Facundo’s jealousy of Thom and how she believed she’d calmed his fears about their relationship.

            “Hmm,” he bit into a biscuit topped with jelly, then looked at it before placing it on his plate and rubbing his fingers together to dust off the crumbs. “What does he call you?
            “Temi, mainly. Why?”
            “No reason. Allow me to ask another question.” He thought for a moment. “How do you feel when he kisses you? Do you first stir in your heart or in your loins?”

 Temi thought about the question for a moment. Facundo’s kisses set her on fire. It felt like dynamite… lit and then boom! They could go from zero to stripping one another in seconds. But, she couldn’t say she felt a stir in her heart. Even as she sat in Katz’s kitchen, thinking about him, there was nothing. She looked forward to seeing him again but there was no longing to be near him. She met Katz’s gaze with a grimace. He nodded. She didn’t have to say anything. He already knew.

            “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine. Song of Songs chapter one verse 2,” he sighed. “The kiss of the one for you, should stir in your heart, my dear. The Quran states Never will you attain the good until you spend from which you love.”

            “Umm, okay, I’m not sure I understand the second quote.”

 Katz smiled. “Your love for Thom is beautiful, and I can see he loves you too; there is a willingness between you to sacrifice for one another. In the words of Sadhu Vaswani, True love is selfless. It is prepared to sacrifice. You are not willing to sacrifice for Facundo any more than he is willing to sacrifice for you.”

 Temi was beginning to feel worse than she did before. “So, what should I do?”

            “Enjoy yourself, of course,” he threw his hands up. “Gey pavolye, vestu gikher kumen. Yiddish. It means, go slow, you’ll get there faster. Facundo may not be the love of your life, but the Lord has put you together for a reason.” He nodded decisively at her. “Perhaps you needed to be reminded that you are desirable or to discover that you are, in fact, a sexual being. Perhaps he needs to learn patience. Whatever the case, you know this isn’t forever so enjoy it for the time being.”

 Temi smiled. It was funny how simply getting permission to enjoy herself seemed to ease her mind. Thinking about it now, made sense. After all, not every guy she meets is going to be marriage material. She and Facundo have fun together, so she’ll just plan to roll with it.

Temi spent the several hours with Katz before heading home where she took a nap before heading to the gym.

At the gym, she and Thom worked out hard. Mr. Hot-Stuff was nowhere to be seen, so there were no worries on that front, and in the end, she felt more energized and ready for anything. Thom invited her to have dinner with him… and Seth, but as she told Facundo, she would be having dinner with her mother. First, however, she planned to spend thirty minutes in the infrared sauna. Smiling his approval, Thom kissed her cheek and hit the showers.

It was a quarter till eight when she arrived at her mother’s, and her stomach felt like it was eating itself, gurgling and complaining loudly.

            “Wooo, girl! I guess I don’t need to ask if you’re hungry!”

            “No, I guess not,” she rubbed her belly.

   “Well, go on and sit. I’ll make you a plate.”

Temi sat at the table looking out the window, then to her mother. “Wait. Aren’t you

eating?”

“Nah,” Jada smiled, placing a bowl of coconut cauliflower broccoli soup before her and

a sandwich to the side. “I ate an hour ago. I just couldn’t wait, baby. But I’ll have a bit of dessert with you.”

Temi nodded.

            “So, why don’t you tell me what you’ve been up to? Outside of disappearing.” Jada turned her head and looked her daughter over. “Turning into skin and bone.”

            “I am hardly skin and bone. I have twelve pounds left before I’m comfortably within my average BMI range, and I plan to be there by Christmas.”

            “Mmm… if you say so.” Her mother suddenly jumped up and brought back two glasses of water. “Sorry, I forgot your drink. Now,” she was seated once more. “Tell me more about this guy you’re seeing.”

Temi gave her mother the same rundown she had given Katz earlier, leaving out the X-rated bits.

            “Well, he seems like a dreamboat.”

Temi smiled inwardly. “He is, Mom. And so passionate.”

Her mother’s face screwed up and she tilted her head a little. “Why are you saying that with a hint of sadness? Shouldn’t you be excited?”

            “I am.” Temi had finished her soup and was looking down at her sandwich. “Mom, would you mind if I took my sandwich to go?”

Jada raised a brow and smiled a little smile; if she knew her daughter, she knew there was a certain young man she wanted to see. “Of course, honey.” She then removed the plate from the table and wrapped the sandwich to go. Then she took out a plastic container and placed two large blondies inside. “Here,” she handed her a bag containing the dessert and the sandwich. “Tell Facundo, I say hello.”

Temi smiled and kissed her on the cheek.

Not knowing why she had a deep urge to see him all of a sudden, she merely went with the impulse. As she weaved her way out of Etheridge Manor heading in Facundo’s direction, she ate her sandwich. He only lived maybe ten minutes away from her mother, and it was still fairly early, so she was sure he’d be there… until she remembered it was Friday night. Hell, he could be out with friends, visiting family, whatever. Just as doubt began to rise within her, she shot it down. “He’ll be there.”

She pulled into the driveway minutes later, grabbed the dessert and ran up the path to the front door. Then she said a little prayer for him to be home, pushed the button to the left of the door and waited. When she heard the lock click, she smiled, and her heart jumped. The look on his face when he saw her, broadened her smile.

            “Hey.”

            “Hey,” she rose on her tippy toes and kissed him.

            “These blondies are amazing,” Facundo took another bite.

            “You’re amazing,” she kissed his chest and traced his muscles with her fingers. She loved his body; the warm color, how fit he was, the weight of him.

Facundo closed his eyes, blondie held aloft. This woman drove him crazy. With the ever-boiling passion between them, they couldn’t even make it to the bedroom. So… here they lay naked on his sofa and he was loving it. “Mmm… that feels nice,” her light fingertips ran down his inner thigh. “Temi?” She smiled recognizing the rising desire in his voice. “Temi, this… what we have… was it like this between you and your ex?”

Temi nearly laughed; not because it was a funny question but because sex with Jordan was more mechanical. It was about reaching your climax and then going to sleep. She bit Facundo’s side. When he yelped, she smiled again. “Did that hurt?”

            “Yes. Not a lot… but a little.”

            “Good.” He was nearly ready for her again, so she positioned herself to accept him and when they both inhaled sharply, she closed her eyes. Moments later, while looking into his hazel eyes, she answered him. “No. Jordan and I were never like this. Not even at the beginning.” She kissed him and began to move her hips.

Temi loved waking up in Facundo’s bed and for once she was up before him. Turning onto her side, she watched him sleep for a few minutes. Gently moving his hair from his eyes and kissing him on the cheek. As she watched him, she couldn’t help but think about Katz telling her to enjoy it while it lasts. But, being here now, what if… she wanted it to last? She sighed, lay back down and stared at the ceiling. Well, she didn’t have to have all of the answers today.

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