Smooth Like Butter

Unknown and unaware that Harvey has slid under her defenses smoother than butter after he had brought the peace offerings, Niana fell into an easy rhythm of life.

The days were spent with the man occasionally pestering her with questions or just chattering away, making her ears ache while the nights were spend watching television or more like surfing it. Television was one thing that distracted him from asking her questions This was a new experience for Niana who had never 'wasted' her time watching television. Not even as a kid.

The television, she discovered had been a treasure trove of inspiration for her! And incidentally, though she did not let Harvey in on this secret, she would watch Paw Patrol without even him forcing her to!

A grown man watching a bunch of dogs rescuing other animals, Niana had been shocked but then again, this man had opened up a whole new world for her! Niana had shaken her head in exasperation but then she felt that is was almost freeing. By the end of the cartoons, her mind was actually full of inspiration for random things! In fact, she had even ended up making a small dog jacket for the canines! And incidentally, Captain Francis also seemed to enjoy the cartoon! This small pocket of time during the evenings always ended up being so relaxing and freeing.

And tonight after watching the Paw Patrol series these last few weeks, Harvey had finally convinced her to sit for an entire movie. And that is how, she found herself today in this vexing problem!

Because the man was laidback and used to touching, in a completely non threatening way, she had thought that she was over her attraction for him. He would just grab her, touch her wrist or hold her hand for no reason at all. And so, she had convinced herself that she was not attracted to him anymore. And yet, here they were, the dogs yapping away on the screen and she on the couch with her own personal heater on her left and his 'burning' hand on her shoulder. And his other hand in the large bucket of popcorn which was in her lap. Should she push the bucket to him or move away a bit? But how was she supposed to move away without alerting him?

How the heck had she ended up in this situation anyway? Cuddling under the same blanket as they watched Paw Patrol: The Movie. She frowned and to distract herself, she decided to stuff her mouth with popcorn. Maybe concentrating on chewing and not choking will distract her about the heat spreading over her body originating from the hand on her shoulder.

Soon enough, she knew that was not going to work as well. Just as she wondered if she should just make up a bathroom break and make a run for it, she heard him carelessly munching on more of those popcorn.

Irritated that he was clueless while she was hyper aware, she narrowed her eyes and paused the movie while glaring at him," Stop being so loud!"

Harvey, who was mid chew with mouth full of popcorn, looked at Niana with a clueless face as if asking 'what did I do?"

Seeing his blaming look, she frowned and pointed out too the bucket of popcorn and complained," You are chewing too loudly! I cannot even hear what they are saying."

Harvey raised his eyebrows at that and spoke what sounded like gibberish to Niana," sits zhowswho teat popcorn!"

Niana: "Huh?"

Chewing quickly, Harvey repeated himself," It is how we eat popcorn! You are making the same crunchy sound!"

Niana crossed her arms in front of her and channeled her inner diva," Even so, it is irritating when you do it and adorable when I do it. If you want to eat so loudly, then you can go sit on the chair over there."

Harvey narrowed his eyes as he wondered what had come over her but whatever it was, he had made his life's motive to get as many reactions from her as possible. So, now was his chance to explore this new emotion...

"Are you going through pre menstrual stress? And so having mood swings?"

This earned him a glare. As expected. In fact he would never have asked such a sexist question ever if it were not for Niana. He loved pulling her strings. And he was always successful in doing it!

But once again, he had to pay for his big mouth as the half full bucket of popcorn landed on his head upside down like a rainfall as Niana said rather sweetly," I guess then we can excuse my actions and blame them on PMSing! Correct?" Harvey made a note to never say anything to provoke her if they were alone or there was anything around that might be used as a weapon.

Laughing, he caught Niana by the wrist as she would have walked away and pulled her back onto the couch. Shaking off the popcorn like a dog, he made sure to get his revenge on her as the remaining popcorn landed all over her, before they ended up in a war of popcorn.

As Niana laughed and tried to run away from pellets of popcorn coming her way, Harvey chased the woman with a handful of popcorn as he threatened," Let me have my way or I will throw some popcorn all over you when you are asleep! Niana Rivers!"

Niana shook her head and ran for her life but ultimately was caught as the two landed in a heap of limbs on the couch.

With Niana on her back and Harvey on top of her, the man smiled victoriously," Where will you run off to now? I am going to thread your hair with popcorn...I should look for a needle..."

Niana forgot all about laughter and as Harvey looked into her eyes, he too seemed to realize their position. Their legs were intertwined and he could feel her softness under him as she seemed to be holding her breath so as to avoid moving.

Her lips glistened with the butter from the popcorn and he suddenly felt the urge to taste her right away.

As his head lowered to capture her lips, however, they missed the sound of the key being twisted in the door lock.