Chapter 2 - a stranger in the night

Ari sucked in her breath so quickly the stranger looked down into his hosts eyes wondering what had happened. Ari could not help herself it was true he was truly a dazzling creature. The blue black of his hair fell across his for head a heart stopping match to the cobalt blue of his eyes. His shy smile showed even white teeth and a dimple in his cheek . Ari could feel herself blush under his gaze. She could tell even with his long coat on his shoulders would be set broad and wide. He was truly stunning. She offered to take his coat. He smiled at her once again and removed his coat. It had been difficult to tell for sure before, but, as he shed his outer clothing Ari was surprised to find that although she had been right about his shoulders... she was shocked to discover that this man also had a bit of a swell to his belly. She had been sure that such a perfect looking guy with these broad shoulders would have to also have those annoying wash board abs as well. Looking quickly down at his fingers she actually checked for a ring something she had never really bothered to do before. Guiding him into her den she pointed at the phone on the table just inside and jumped a bit when the maid removed the mans coat from Ari's hands.

Ari left the man alone to make his call and to order some coffee and treats to be prepared. Living as far out as Ari did she knew even if he was able to find someone to come to his aide it would be a while until they arrived. A few minutes later she once again entered her den where the tall stranger was finishing his call.. yet it gave her a chance to drink him in again with out him noticing her stare. He stood in profile his shirt buttoned neatly but pulled a bit over his middle every time he breathed in the shirt pulled just a tiny bit tighter and Ari could feel herself getting weak in the knees at the sight. She didn't think he had noticed she had come back into the room. As he spoke on the phone she could hear the slight frustration in his voice. He held the receiver in one hand and with the other he crossed over his stomach holding his elbow in his hand. Ari couldn't help noticing the way he rested his arm across the shelf of his stomach as he spoke. She was so busy staring at him that she did no notice for a few seconds after he hung up that he had taken notice of her perusal. She slightly jumped once again when his deep voice addressed her and said, "I apologize I should have introduced myself before. My name is Robert , but, friends call me Rob." Once again Ari began to suffuse with color as she knew she had been caught. She took his hand and returned an apology, "I'm sorry as well my name is Ari." As she touched his hand the lights in the room flickered around them. She knew it had to be the storm yet it felt like so much more. She felt as if for the first time in centuries she was part of the world. Rob let go of Ari's hand and flexed his own hand next to his side he knew it was insane, but, he could have sworn he felt a surge travel over cell in his body.

Clearing her throat Ari asked Rob if he had found someone to help him out. He replied yes unfortunately it would be several hours. He thanked her for the use of her phone and he began to walk back to the door saying he didn't wish to disturb her any longer. Ari stopped him and explained that she had already ordered coffee and other treats to be served in the den when he was finished with his call. Smiling up at Rob... Ari begged with her eyes for him to stay. Rob agreed and Ari led him back into the den. They talked for a bit longer. He was a doctor, He loved sports, movies, music and of course reading. He had never been married he replied when Ari shyly asked the question. He no longer had a girlfriend. His long hours at the hospital made it difficult to maintain a perfect relationship. A servant brought in the coffee and a large plate full of dozens of different cakes, cookies and even muffins. Ari poured her guest a cup of the warm brew and handing him a small plate invited him to please eat as many as he wanted. Rob took the plate from Ari's slightly shaking finger tips and gave her another of his smiles. Ari could just feel the warmth of his hand as he took possession of the plate. Rob picked up a few cookies from the plate and running a palm down his stomach gave a bit of an ironic smile as he patted the slight swell there and said, "not that I need the extra calories of course." Ari's eyes never left that hand as it patted his belly. Rob once again caught her eye and Ari blushed that beautiful pink again. She watched him finish those cookies and reaching for the little plate that had been left for her use she loaded it with even more sugary treats. Taking a deep breath she offered the plate to Rob and in a shy voice said, " for me please." Rob was not sure what she was up to but he didn't want to insult the poor girl and besides she was such a pretty little thing what harm could it do to put a smile back on her face again. He traded her his empty plate and thanked her for the cake.

They kept up their conversation and Ari kept filling his plates as she took fugitive glances at his belly. He did not turn her down as she kept feeding him even when it was becoming obvious he was getting quite full. They were having a wonderful time as he told her about his family and some of his childhood. Why he had decided to become a doctor. She could listen to him talk for hours and never get tired of the sound of his voice she could feel it. Even more than that she could spend all night handing plate after plate filled to the brim and never get tired of watching him eat even more and to watch as the buttons on his shirt began to pull just a tiny bit more as he kept eating that next bite. Ari tried to keep him talking as much as possible in hopes that he would not notice he was about to finish every bite that remained on the large platter. Rob only had a few more bites left when it happened... There was a sudden ping! A button finally popped right off the middle of Robs shirt. Mortified Rob quickly put his plate down and tried to get up to leave the room. Ari softly touched his arm as he stood. Rob looked down but did not want to meet her eyes he was embarrassed. Rob was not in anyway a big man really. He had a bit of a sweet tooth and sometimes he indulged it. He had a hard time most of the time eating all that healthy with his schedule it seemed he never had time to do much beyond ordering in take and bolting it down before running off to his next patient. Looking down at the spot where the button had popped off he supposed he had definitely gone from the very fit man he was into the slightly chubbier version that now stood looking at the belly that had popped that button and wishing he had instead gone to a gym. Ari drew his attention back to her face. He expected to see either a disgusted look or embarrassed he was taken off guard to see instead the aroused look on her face.

There was simply no mistaking it. Her eyes had dilated and her breathing had become a bit heavier. She bit her bottom lip and he could tell she desperately wanted to touch the spot where that button had popped as her eyes traveled to the gap and he saw her fight to keep her other hand in her lap. Ari got to her feet and Rob was fascinated as Ari put her finger right inside the blank button space. She could feel the soft white t shirt he wore beneath. Rob was not sure what she planned to do until she actually began to slowly unbutton the rest of the row going down his belly. He watched as she stopped at his waist band but she now had a big space open. He watched as she placed a warm palm right against his swollen middle. He saw her hand rise and fall with each breath he took and he was not even sure she realized she had spoken aloud at all when she whispered beautiful.

Rob reacted as any man would being this close to an attractive woman that touched him with such soft reverence and he found he had become quite aroused. Taking her hand from his belly he looked down at her suddenly lost expression. She looked as if someone had given her the key to the kingdom of heaven and than swiftly closed the door in her face. He had been about to say something to soften the blow that she seemed to have somehow taken when suddenly one of the servants was showing another guest into the den. Rob turned his back and quickly re buttoned his shirt. Rob introduced his host and thanked her for her help. Turning to leave he stopped himself and whispered he had a wonderful time and he hoped to make it up to her someday soon. Ari looked up once more into those blue eyes and said in a very serious tone that she knew he would return. Rob nodded his head and walked his friend out of the door into the night.

Rob followed his friend to his car telling him about what had happened to his and about the strange house and his lovely host. Though he had decided to skip the part that had happened just before he had walked in. He did not know quite what to say about that.