PAY A COMPLIMENT DAY

ADULATION

by Paula

(mild R)

The happy phrasing of a compliment is one of the rarest of human gifts,
and the happy delivery of it another.

       ~ Mark Twain

The day began as usual with sunrise, a few spoonfuls of porridge, and coffee drunk in a hurry. Traffic, car horns, the buzz of conversation. She should have accepted the tricks of fate with calm, but the prolonged interrogation and subsequent sorting of documents meant that the day was now coming to an end.

Her gaze wandered to the view outside the window; gray, gloomy skies and clouds whose shapes resembled faces mocking her plans for the day. Catherine frowned and sighed heavily, looking for another file waiting for her attention. She shook her head, but not today…

Within minutes, she had cleared her desk and said goodbye to Joe. The words of surprise, or perhaps even reproach, thrown in her direction no longer mattered. Her silence was full of happiness. Vincent – a word that meant so much. Comfort. Safety. Desire…

The elevator doors closed…the stormy ocean turned into a safe harbor, releasing a longing like water in the desert. Let me lose myself in your body, immerse myself in the delightful madness of your caresses…

* * *

Her movements were guided by certain magnetic properties, a force that could not be resisted. As she approached the basement, she felt a tingling sensation on her skin, and her mind indulged in unrestrained playfulness. Only a few steps separated her from her sun, air…life.

Behind the brick entrance, she was showered with kisses and a storm of affection. Vincent pressed his nose against the skin behind her ear. “You smell beautiful.”

“Thank you… and you smell like a crisp morning and a spring breeze.” She felt his smile on her cheek.

“I was walking in the park. I had to calm my emotions.”

Her hand moved slowly across his jaw. “I’m sorry. I tried to be patient, but something always comes up and it takes longer than I expected.”

With his finger he smoothed away the wrinkle that had appeared between her eyebrows. “Don’t apologize. You told me earlier that you wouldn’t be able to spend the whole day Below.” His lips brushed her ear. “ I missed you…and I’ll compliment you every day.”

A soft laugh enveloped him like a warm blanket. “You’ll spoil me.”

Her gaze was gentle, penetrating, stroking his skin like summer raindrops. With a heartfelt smile, he took up this verbal game. “Let me spoil you.”

She moved back a little, causing an instant feeling of emptiness. “What if I become a haughty princess?”

His eyes sparkled like a starry sky. “I’ll take the risk.”

The corners of her mouth twitched from suppressing laughter. “And what if I want you to fulfill all my desires?”

Without taking his playful glance off her, he ran his hand through her hair and let it loosely intertwine between his fingers. “I’ll do my homework.”

Her hand traced the shape of his lips; an invisible thread drew them closer together. The kiss tasted of longing, passion, and the sweetness of mutuality. Time passed, and they caught their breath between starving mouths. The wall was her support as he pressed against her with practiced caution. He stirred the fire by sliding his hand below her waist and lifting her leg by the thigh. The delightful moan that escaped her lips was the sound of reason. He reluctantly pulled away, and she noticed his tousled hair, burning eyes, and slightly reddened cheeks. Their foreheads touched, and everything around them grew silent; they only felt a gust of crisp air.

Her hand rested on his chest. “We should find a more secluded place.”

His dreamy look reached straight to her heart. “We should.”

They joined hands firmly and headed toward their little corner of the world, looking forward to sweet moments in seclusion. This vision gave them quiet pleasure as they walked together.

Silence had always been a means of communication between their souls; the air was filled with deep, effervescent emotions. His thoughtfulness was increasingly intriguing.

“Tell me, how was Compliment Day Below?”

It was a delicious treat, watching the emotions play across his face. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Amusement flashed in his eyes. “That day was…” The corners of his mouth lifted in a smile. “…unforgettable.”

“A somewhat enigmatic answer. I feel that there is quite a story behind your answer.”

His hand began to move toward her waist. “You are not mistaken.”

Her eyebrows rose and her eyes widened, reflecting rays of light from nearby lamps. “I’m listening.”

“We usually give each other cards with nice messages or say words that will make the other person happy. Some children draw pictures and give them to the person they want to compliment.”

A charming smile appeared on her face. “It’s great fun for kids.”

“Yes. The girls were delighted when someone complimented their hair, their reading, or playing an instrument.The boys talked about playing soccer, running fast, and swimming.”

Her mind drew the picture he had described to her.

“Geoffrey beat Samantha at checkers, and she said he was really getting better, and then the blush spread across his face and ears.”

“He is such a sweet boy.”

“Yes.” He sighed. “A moment later, Zach praised Samantha for her beautiful recitation of poetry… then Geoffrey pushed back his chair and left. The atmosphere became tense.”

“Oh, could he be jealous?”

“Perhaps. I explained to him that it was nice of Zach to compliment her, and that he didn’t need to react that way because his nervous behavior might not appeal to Samantha.”

“And did it help?”

“ I saved the day.”

She squeezed his hand tighter, filling the silence between words with warmth.

The tremor caused by her touch permeated him thoroughly, but he suppressed it, letting it smolder for later. “William was praised for his cooking. He was so impressed that he oversalted today’s soup, but we ate it anyway, washing it down with liters of water and tea.”

She burst out laughing, which tickled his ears and vibrated through his body. “It must have been difficult for him to come to terms with this unfortunate incident.”

“Umm, that’s why he baked a mountain of chocolate muffins to sweeten our impression after dinner.”

“That was very kind of him!” His broad smile gave her goose bumps.

“Oh yes.”

“This isn’t the end of the story, is it?”

He shook his head. “Now comes the most interesting part. Mouse, preoccupied with his new gadget, wasn’t keeping an eye on Arthur.”

“Oh.” She covered her mouth with her hand. “Don’t say that…”

He nodded  “No one tasted the muffins, even though Mouse insisted that he saved a few. William was boiling with rage, but he held back for the sake of the day. Father was barely holding back his laughter, but his face fell when he saw a wet stain on one of his books.

“Really? No!”

“His snorting could be heard throughout the library. The air crackled with tension, as if two opposing forces were about to collide.  I wanted to defuse the situation on this special day, so I touched his arm, and he reacted immediately. I saw sparks of anger in his eyes. I leaned toward him a little, and then he heard what a wonderful and understanding father he is. After a few deep breaths, his anger subsided.”

Her laughter was intoxicating, washing over him like a wave. “I can imagine all of that. I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you from the beginning.”

“I know.”

They looked at each other, and everything around them was buzzing with anticipation, a feverish gleam in their eyes, blasts of cold air that felt like summer wind of their skin.

Her fingers played with the strings on his sweater. “Were there any surprises later on?” She noticed how he frowned, recalling memories.

“There was a slight misunderstanding between James and Cullen.”

Her hand stopped on his stomach. “Yes?”

He gasped, ineptly pretending to be unmoved by her expressive gestures. “It was about Rebecca. Cullen whispered something, leaning close to her ear, and James clenched his jaw, staring at them. I stopped James as he was walking toward them, intending to interrupt this unusual scene. I gave Rebecca a meaningful look. She understood the situation; she wasn’t aware of how it looked to James, who is in love with her.”

“It must have been a difficult sight for him at that moment.”

“Surely, it could have ended in a scene of jealousy in front of the tunnel residents.”

A spark of understanding flashed in her eyes, and the corners of her mouth lifted in a subtle smile. “You’re always on guard, watchful…”

He tilted his head. “I didn’t want anything to spoil the day.”

“And you succeeded.” She took his hand again and they continued their small journey.

“Did you get a lot of compliments?”

His muscles tensed slightly. “A few cards from the children, kind words from Mary, William, and Father.” He cleared his throat, feeling a sudden dryness in his mouth.

“Alisson visited us. She used to live Below, but she finished college and moved to Arizona.” The sentence came out of his mouth in one breath.

She bit her lip, becoming an even more attentive listener. “Alisson?”

“Yes. I heard from her that I was handsome and attractive.” He shrugged. “I forgot how direct she is. She held onto my arm and told me about her life. I listened politely, without a chance to say even two full sentences.”

A fog of jealousy enveloped her heart. “Really?” she murmured. “Has she already left?” Politeness flew out the window along with the vision of the woman whispering in her beloved’s ear.

“Yes. She wanted to see her old friends.” He squinted his eyes when he sensed her relief. “I don’t think you should feel…” Pride radiated from him discreetly. He opened his mouth but didn’t dare to say those words.

Still with lingering doubts. “You are handsome.”

His eyes sparkled, emphasizing the depth of their blue and his broad smile lit up the darkness of the tunnels.  “Am I?”

A quiet flirtation was taking place between them, their bodies leaning toward each other, their gazes lingering, their breathing quickening…

A delicate blush covered her cheeks. He traced the outline of the pinkish area with his finger… her gasp was the most beautiful sound. He held her chin and lifted it up; their kiss was like flying in the sky, free and exciting.

“I’m going crazy from the sight of your lips, your slender shoulders, and your delicate neck.” It was not just a confession, but a plea.

His enthusiasm reached her in waves and carried her further into the depths of the ocean. “Then it’s fortunate that we’ve already reached our chamber.” The trembling sound revealed the intensity of her sensations.

A fascinating whirlwind lifted him to the heights when he heard such an eloquent whisper.

The touch of his hand was an invitation, dispelling worries and anxieties, extinguishing longing.

Their private room was lit by the light of several candles burning in huge jars. He looked at her face, full of life: eyes shielded by eyelashes, a delicate blush on her cheeks, lips like the sweetest fruit. “I love you deeply, I love you most.”

She plunged her hands into his storm of golden hair, ran her fingers over his tense neck, touched his shoulders, dreaming of showering him with affection. “I love you with the same intensity.”

Sensually, as if floating above the ground, they approached the bed, no longer paying attention to the outside world, immersing themselves in each other’s eyes, trembling, touching each other’s soft lips with their fingers, and then tasting the sweetness of kisses. Their hearts increased their rhythm… the touch of hands wandering over the curves of their bodies made them dizzy, and muffled sighs echoed off the rock walls…

A warm thread of understanding bound them together ever more tightly until they almost lost their breath…and then they created their own landscape, a luminous garden full of spring flowers and colors of the aurora. Blades of grass tickling their feet, the breath of the wind on their warm cheeks, and even the soothing murmur of a flowing river along with the joyful singing of birds…

They lay in a tangle of arms and legs, returning to reality. Her hand was in his hair, playing with the silky strands, his lips nibbling her earlobe. “Am I too heavy?”

His voice brought her back from the starry land. “It’s a pleasant weight,”

“Yes…”

To prove it, she ran her fingers along his spine. “I love it when you are above me, below me, and next to me.”

He sighed blissfully and propped himself up on his elbows. His radiant gaze pierced straight through to her heart. “That’s the most beautiful compliment I’ve ever heard.”

Her finger traced his reddened lower lip. “I could tell you endlessly how you delight me.”

His body moved slightly, causing her chest to immediately rise, sensitive to the stimulus sent.

A spark appeared in his eyes… and then an avalanche of words followed. “You enrich me and my life with your perseverance, generosity, kindness, wisdom, our shared world where dreams come true, and this moment of elation when we are together, when everything around us magically changes and we reach for the stars.”

A single tear left a mark on her cheek. He caught the salty drop with his lips.

“So you see all of this, too?” she asked in a secretive voice.

The answer was in his teary eyes before the words came out of his mouth. “Our sky-high world? Yes, It couldn’t be any other way.”

He reached for the blanket, which had been carelessly discarded, and covered them both with it. They found themselves in an oasis of tenderness, where a symphony of kisses and touches resounded, adding the best day of compliments to the catalog of pulse-racing memories.