“I’m going out for a run!” Gemma yelled from the front door of her 2-bedroom apartment.

Garett didn’t respond, he just let her go. They had been arguing, or not arguing for two days. He wasn’t even sure what they were fighting about anymore. He just wanted her to talk to him so he could know what was going on.

Garett called their 6-month old terrier into the living room so they could have playtime on the ground. They rolled around and tugged at toys for about 45 minutes before Gemma returned bursting through the door. The force of the door opening and shutting behind her scared the puppy, with a barely audible yelp.

“Gemma! GEMMA!” Garett screamed at her to get her attention. It was clear her headphones were too loud to hear the door slamming or the scared pup. He got up from the floor and walked to the front door where Gemma was untying her shoes. She looked up from her kneel, gave Garett a look of disapproval and returned to untying her shoes.

“Did you not hear the door slam or Shadow cry?” Garett continued.

Gemma took out her headphones, “what are you saying?” She had no interest in hearing what he had to say.

Garett repeated, “Did you not hear the door slam or Shadow cry?”

“No, Sorry,” Gemma didn’t mean as she stood up, disconnected her phone from her headphones and its running case.

“Really, we’re still going at this,” Garett followed her still wanting an explanation. He threw his arms down and back in frustration, “What is going on?”

Gemma remained silent. Right now all she really wanted was water and a shower. She definitely did not want to argue about the puppy or chores. She grabbed a glass cup from the cupboard. Garett stood in front of the fridge where the water pitcher was.

“Can you please move?” Gemma attempted to ask in a calm tone. Garett moved aside for her to obtain the quarter filled water pitcher.

“Will you please talk to me? I really don’t know what’s going on. I can’t do anything about it if you don’t talk to me,” Garett pleaded with Gemma as she drank her glass of water in one large sip. In that same moment Shadow walked into the room looking for attention. Garett kneeled down to scratch his little face.

Gemma crossed her arms, cup in hand, and provided an annoyed and disapproved look to Garett.

Garett looked up with a joyous smile on his face that quickly wilted away when he saw Gemma, “What?…Oh c’mon. Really? The dog needs attention too.”

Gemma offered a sarcastic, no shit, smile and grabbed the water pitcher to refill it. Garett continued, “you’re mad because I’ve been spending time with Shadow?”

Gemma did a quick 180, “No!” she screamed as if this was an angry multiple choice questionnaire, “I’m mad because ever since we got the dog, you do literally nothing around here anymore. You haven’t cooked, you haven’t helped with laundry,” she broke for a breath, “you haven’t even been aware enough to fill the damn water pitcher!” She entered the explanation into the write-in section of the question she finally chose to answer.

Gemma put down her glass and stormed off towards the bathroom, “You haven’t even touched me,” She grumbled underneath her breath.

Garett had risen from his kneel on the floor and stammered close enough behind Gemma to hear everything down to the last hushed comment. He took three large steps to get ahead of her. He stopped her where she was, placing his hands on her shoulders so she couldn’t take another step. “Oh, so that’s how you’re feeling,” He calmly suggested, “I have wanted to take care of that.”

“Please get out of my way. I’m going to shower,” Gemma responded. She suddenly lost all energy to have this conversation or more. Her back was chilled with lingering sweat. Her hair was a knotted mess. She could feel the salty sweat drying on her face. Gemma felt like she walked through Garett, but actually stepped around. She flicked on the bathroom light, opened the glass shower door, and turned the water on to scalding hot.

Garett stood in the doorway of the bathroom with his arms crossed. He wanted to continue the fight in the shower. He wanted at the very least to make her happy again. He fumbled his words, “I…it’s…I’m trying to give the dog attention too…He, err, I’m trying to train him.”

Gemma stood in front of the full-length mirror. She noticed the red line her sports bra had imprinted on her shoulder and rubbed her index finger beneath the fabric.

“I’m sorry that I’ve neglected some things. This new addition is, well, new. And I’m sorry,” Garett continued and took a step into the bathroom.

“Can I shower now?” Gemma heard him, but she wanted her time to cool off now. The run in 85-degree heat had done the opposite.

“Uhh yes,” Garett answered in an inquisitive tone taking another step into the room.

“Can you please leave so I can shower?” Gemma turned from the now fogged mirror to the shower door and grabbed the handle.

Garett took one more step so he was mere inches from Gemma. He stood only 4 inches taller than she. He stared deep into her eyes waiting for her to glance up. Garett whispered loud enough to be heard above the running water, “I kinda want to show you how sorry I am.”

Gemma didn’t say anything or look at Garett. She simply let her shoulders relax. Her grip on the shower door tightened. Gemma wanted Garett right in this moment. Stumbling over their clothes and then slick and wet in the shower.

Garett leaned down to Gemma’s ear. He lingered for moment to build even more heat and tension between them. “I think we should get in the shower together so I can show you.” Gemma let her uncovered neck relax. Garett lingered at her ear for another moment before biting her earlobe. Gemma leaned into him; embracing his apology.

Garett’s lips moved from her earlobe to the curve of her neck. His penis began to harden inside his sweatpants. His fingers lightly touched her hips and slowly maneuvered beneath the hem of her tank top. He could feel the chill of sweat on her back and pushed her closer to him.

“Mmmm,” Gemma moaned as Garett methodically worked. Her arms, dormant by her sides, awoke to grip onto his triceps and pull him closer.

Garett groaned into her and pulled her tank top of in a split second. He tugged at the restraint of the sports bra and eventually threw that to the floor as if he had won something. The shaft inside his sweatpants rubbed against Gemma begging to be let free.

Garett cupped her breasts and kissed her collarbone down to one nipple, before nibbling. Gemma arched back in a pleasurable cry. Garett stopped to look at her now eased and flushed face. She changed her hold from Garett’s arms to slipping a few fingers beneath the band of his sweatpants. She pushed herself into his stiffness and sucked in his lips for a lengthy soft kiss.

In no words, Gemma backed away from Garett, stepped out of her leggings she’d gone pantie-less in, and opened the shower door. She placed one hand in Garett’s sweatpants to wrap her fingers around him and pulled towards the shower. Garett, awe-stuck, quickly removed his clothing and followed Gemma’s pull into the steamy, hot, rain.