No Explanation

Rhi started looking around for her sister as soon as Paul and his date left and saw her sitting on a fountain's edge, gesturing for her to come over. Rhi arrived and Val introduced her to the man she was talking to. He had a nordic name Rhi didn't bother to memorise and he excused himself after a short while.

- Your little friend is quite famous, yeah? - Val commented with a conspirational tone when they were alone.

- Who would that be?

- The hunk you were just talking to.

- Ah, you mean my client. - Rhi corrected her. This made her sister snort.

- Do you let all your clients touch your delicate hair like that? - The younger one insisted, sounding amused. - I saw you both just now.

Rhi shook her head.

- No, I don't have an explanation for that. He had never done anything like that. Maybe he's drunk, I don't know...

Val opened her eyes wide and covered her mouth with her hands.

- Oh my God, Rhiannon you're not having an affair this close to getting married, are you?

Rhi went red in the face with anger.

- Valerie, watch your mouth. I don't know why you're asking this question, but it would offend me deeply if you even considered I need to answer it.

- Oh, don't be so anal, Rhi. He's a magnificent piece of arse and he seems to be into you. I know I would.

- Valerie...

- Alright, anyway... Paolo, the artist who created all these masterpieces went loco when he heard your... CLIENT was here and wanted to meet him immediately. That's why I said he's pretty famous... 

- He's the lead singer of a really big rock band, so yes, I guess he's fairly well known. - Rhi accepted in a tired tone.

Valerie glanced at her older sister for a moment and sighed.

- OK so I'm going to say this just once and then get off your arse: If I were you, I'd do him at least once before getting married. No one has to know. That's it, want another drink?

Rhi made a puzzled and horrified face, Val just stared at her waiting for the reply to the question she had made.

- Uh, yes please, another champagne glass would be fine... - Rhi finally answered.

Val assented and strutted away. Rhi was left alone with her thoughts and was only brought back to reality by the cold glass her sister put against her arm. As she looked up, she perceived someone looking at her. It was him again, he looked like he was leaving, hand in hand with his date. He nodded at Rhi as if to say bye and she did the same. Val grinned smugly.

-

- You've a very pretty lawyer... - Paul's date, an Icelandic model named Gia, commented when they entered Paul's apartment, back from the gallery.

- I didn't even know she was a woman when I contacted her firm. I thought it was some old man, since they told me they'd assign my case to one of the owners... - He explained, walking to the bar to serve two whiskies.

Gia assented, taking off her coat. She had a crimson dress which surrounded her impeccable body in a very suggestive way. She walked towards Paul, took the glass he offered and drank half of it at once. Then she took him by the nape and started kissing his face.

- What kind of legal problems are you having at the moment? - She asked amidst kisses.

- Problems I never looked for... - He answered evasively.

She looked at him resentfully.

- I think you like her. - She finally said, her heavy accent showing due to the grudge she pronounced the words with.

Paul let out a little laugh, eyeing her dubiously.

- Are you jealous of my laywer? - He chuckled.

Gia turned away and kept taking little sips of her whisky.

- No. - She finally murmured.

- Good. - He retorted, approaching her from behind. 

He brushed his fingers against the bare skin on her back. She shuddered. Not only because his hands were cold from holding the ice-filled glass, but also because she couldn't resist him. His moodiness, his sky blue eyes, his deep, silky voice. He was 13 years older than her, but she found his face childish and innocent, he always had an air of being in excruciating pain. He often talked in riddles, she sometimes doubted her English skills, because she couldn't quite follow what he wanted to transmit, but she usually felt an irrepressible desire to protect him, which didn't make sense at all, but it was all so real, so primeval. She thought she was lucky to be the one who was here with him now. It could've very well been that lawyer whore. The thought made her grimace.

- Then why are you wincing? - He asked softly, placing his lips on the side of her neck, right under her earlobe.

- Because you drive me crazy, obviously... - She whimpered.

He smiled, but felt bad. It had been Rhiannon's back he'd been picturing as he caressed Gia's skin. He stepped back and finished his glass. Gia turned around. She had been hoping he would rip her dress off and take her right there in the kitchen, but she was disappointed to see him sitting at the breakfast table. He had that face on again, he seemed like he was a million miles away.

She put her glass on the table and unzipped her dress slowly. Then she loosened the straps and let it fall to her ankles. She was wearing nothing underneath. Paul glanced at her with a naughty smile. Finally, she had his attention. He was here, in this kitchen again.

- You didn't think I'd come all the way to your place just to have a Scotch, did you? - She asked, stepping out of her own dress.

- I thought we'd discuss the exposition... - He sniggered.

- You tease...

- I get that a lot...

- The only thing I want to be exposed to now is you...

He raised his eyebrows and smiled, standing up and walking towards her.