New Arrival

Darkness surrounded me as I made my way home from work. I worked the night shift at a local grocery store, which suited me fine. As I made my way home in the dark, the only light came from the moon, when the clouds weren't covering it and the few window lights as I walked passed a few houses with occupants still up at this time.

The graveyard shift was perfect for me, quiet and busy at the same time. Hardly anyone came in and that meant that I could get on with stacking the shelves and cleaning without interacting with too many people. I had taken this job specifically for that reason.

As I turned the corner into my street, I noticed all the front doors of my neighbour's houses wide open, with my neighbours standing in front of them. My street was normally empty at one o'clock at night and during the day too. Everyone kept to themselves and very rarely would I see anyone as I went to work at around seven o'clock in the evening. Which was why I moved here.

I didn't bother to stand and figure out what had them so interested as I was carrying two heavy grocery bags. However, as I neared my house I became aware of what had everyone's attention. The house next to mine, which had been empty for the five years I had lived there, was suddenly buzzing with life. There was a large truck with several people moving to and from it. There was also a larger man, directing the others, standing on the lawn.

Before I could be caught staring I quickly lowered my head and kept walking. I turned down my path and straight to my door. I intended to make it quickly inside but, the two heavy bags made that very difficult. I was trying to get the keys out of my handbag whilst still holding them. With a sense of dread, I could feel one of the bags starting to slip, but before the milk and eggs could fall all over the floor, the bag was lifted out of my hands along with the other.

I turned in surprise and my handbag fell from my hands. The man that had been directing the movers was now standing in front of me holding my bags.

"Hello, my name is Paul, Paul Lahote. I'm your new neighbour," he said with an easy smile.

I stood around five feet tall, however, he easily dwarfed me standing over six feet with muscles to spare, tanned skin, dark, short, spiky hair and dark eyes. Realising I was staring, I quickly recovered myself and picked up my handbag and fished out my keys all without saying a word to him. He looked at me expectantly, I knew what he was waiting for, either me to greet him back or open the door for him to walk in. Neither was going to happen.

Once I found the keys, I turned and opened my door, then turned back to him and held out my hands for the bags. He smirked at me before stepping around me and bumping me out of the way, so he could walk into my house. Anger surged through me as I followed him inside.

"Excuse me, just what do you think you are doing?" I asked indignantly.

Paul put my bags down on my kitchen counter and turned to me still smiling. I stood with my hands on my hips determined not to be charmed by his ridiculously gorgeous smile.

"Well?" I demanded.

He raised an eyebrow at me, which pissed me off. I mean who does this guy think he is?

"I was only being helpful, a good neighbour," he explained and I sighed.

"Look, you're new around here, so let me explain the way it works on this street. Everyone here keeps to themselves, they don't help each other or pop around for a chat. They don't invite people around and they don't just walk into someone's house uninvited!"

I think I ranted a little bit but hopefully, he got the gist. He stood there looking at me as if I had three heads which made me uncomfortable. I didn't like the feeling of being stared at so I moved towards the bags and started unpacking.

He stood and was silent for the entire time as I packed my things away. Once I was done I had no choice but to turn and face him. He still had that strange look on his face.

"What!" I demanded.

He shook his head, "Are you being serious?"

I folded my arms and nodded my head. He put his hands on his hips and then grunted out a 'huh'. For a minute, I looked at him expectantly and eventually he took the hint and left, slamming my door a little.

I sighed and rubbed my temples, yes, I was a bitch to a completely nice man who was just trying to help. With a sense of guilt, I looked around my kitchen and it now felt empty without him. As I looked around I suddenly noticed something that I haven't noticed for as long as I have lived here. There were no personal touches to my home, no one would think an actual person lived here. Why would the absence of a man I just met make me think about this?

I mean, I had all the basic things that everyone needs to cook, clean and rest. What I didn't have was anything personal. No pictures of friends or family members or paintings. The only thing I did have that was truly mine was the large bookcase that ran along one wall in my living room. Which was filled with all types of stories from mysteries to romance, from horrors to true stories. I loved to read because it's something you can do alone.

I walked into my living room and looked through one of the windows to the house next door. The moving van was gone and now there was no one moving about. With a sigh and before I could change my mind, I went to the kitchen and picked up a plate of buns I had made earlier in the day and left my house. Thankfully, all the neighbours had gone back inside, which meant no prying eyes judging me. I knocked on the door and waited nervously.

Eventually, Paul opened the door and looked shocked to see me. I couldn't think of what to say, so I walked around him and into his house as he had done to me. Quickly, I walked into his kitchen, luckily the layout was the same as mine, and placed the buns on the side. I turned to see him still standing at the door looking confused.

"Now you know how it feels to have a stranger come into your home without an invitation," I said with a smirk.

He quickly shook his head with a small smile on his face and shut the door before joining me in the kitchen.

"Look! Don't read anything into this, I meant what I said earlier but, I'm sorry for the way I was a minute ago. You were only trying to help and I was being a bitch."

His smile grew wider, "Yes, yes you were."

"Let's start over. My name is Bella Swan and, I acted like that because I like to keep to myself, I'm not a sociable person and, because of that I'm not used to being helped," I explained nervously.

He nodded seeming to accept my explanation, moved towards his fridge and pulled out two beers. He offered me one and I shook my head.

"No thanks, I should go I have only just finished work and I am beat. I just wanted to bring you a welcoming slash apology gift."

Then I turned to leave but stopped at the door. I turned back to him and he stood watching me expectantly.

"I'm not trying to be a bitch again but, I like my privacy ok. Me bringing you these buns doesn't mean that I want to be friends with you or anything."

He smiled and chuckled, "I thought as much."

With a nod, I left without responding. It felt like I could feel him watching me as I made my way home. It took everything I had not to turn back around the moment I got to my door. Instead, I walked inside, quickly made my way in and straight upstairs a bath was sorely needed.

As I soaked in the hot water my thoughts unconsciously drifted to my new neighbour. His tall physique did things to my insides, and I started imagining what could happen if he was in the bath with me. I imagined his strong body behind me, burning up from behind. His strong hands would glide over my wet skin, rubbing and squeezing me.

I could feel my own hands travelling along the path I had imagined feeling my body heat up. Just as I was about to reach in between my legs a knock interrupted my fantasy. With a sigh, I got up and wrapped a towel around my body. The knock came again as I made my way downstairs. Whoever it was better be dying or in serious trouble, if not they were gonna be. I opened the door in anger but gasped at the sight of the very man that I had just fantasised about.

He looked surprised to see me wet and in just a towel. A breeze from the open door touched my wet skin making me shiver. Which thankfully brought me out of my momentary shock.

"What!" I demanded rather harshly I know, but I was wet, half-naked and pissed off.

With wide eyes, he looked me up and down with his mouth wide open. I will admit I liked the reaction I was getting but I would die before I admit it out loud. Eventually, he looked up at my face and whatever trance he had been in broke at my pissed-off expression.

"I ... erm... I erm... just wanted to return the plate," he said whilst handing me the plate my buns had been on.

I arched my eyebrow at him, "Seriously?"

He nodded slowly whilst gulping clearly nervous. Unless I'm being tortured I'll never admit that I became a little wet between my legs at the knowledge that I could make this huge, sexy man so nervous.

"So, this couldn't wait until the morning?" I asked again.

Paul gulped again and shook his head. He seemed unable to speak. It inwardly made me smile but I made sure not to show it. With one hand holding my towel I reached for the plate and then shut the door. Ok, that was a bit rude but he interrupted my nice hot bath, which is probably lukewarm now and my fantasy. I left the plate in the kitchen and went back upstairs to get dried and dressed. I wasn't even gonna try to reclaim my bath, which made me irritable. Instead, I went to bed feeling rather grumpy hoping that when I woke up, at the start of my two-week holiday from work, I will feel much better.

Fingers crossed.