#furniture market forecast

[bishtmeenakshi]

E-commerce: Friend or Foe in the Furniture Industry?

Explore the impact of E-commerce on the Furniture Industry, analyzing the Second Hand Furniture Market Size, Furniture Rental Market Size, and Online Furniture Market Size.

[marketresreasrch]

Customized Furniture Market Driving Innovation in Home and Commercial Spaces, Forecasts USD 87.70 Billion by 2032

The latest report on the global Customized Furniture Market market offers an extensive analysis of market size, share, growth trends, and competitive dynamics across key regions. Segmented by type, end-use, and application, the report provides invaluable insights into the driving factors behind market growth, as well as potential obstacles and opportunities within the sector.The global customized furniture market size was valued at USD 31.50 billion in 2023. It is estimated to reach USD 87.70 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 12.05% during the forecast period (2024–2032).The report combines both primary and secondary research methodologies, ensuring a thorough and accurate evaluation of the market. It also explores the impact of regulatory frameworks and investment trends, providing a holistic view of the evolving industry landscape.Request For Free Sample Report : @https://straitsresearch.com/report/customized-furniture-market/request-sampleRegional Insights and Market DynamicsRegional analysis of the Customized Furniture Market market examines key territories, including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Each region’s market status is assessed in terms of growth rate, market size, and trade activities, offering a comprehensive understanding of global market dynamics.Key Findings Include:Largest Market: The North America region remains the dominant player in the Customized Furniture Market industry, holding a substantial share of the global market.Fastest Growing Market: Despite the dominance of the North America, Asia Pacific is emerging as the region with the highest growth potential in the Customized Furniture Market sector.Inquiry Before Purchase Report @https://straitsresearch.com/buy-now/customized-furniture-marketDetailed Market SegmentationBy Product TypeSofasTablesChairsBedsDesksMattressesDressersOthersBy ApplicationsResidentialCommercialCustomized Furniture Market Market Key PlayersEthan AllenRestoration HardwareCrate & BarrelPottery BarnJoybirdBurrowMaiden HomeInside WeatherSawkill FurnitureVondomPoltrona FrauMolteni&CCassinaBauhaus Usona Fab LabCustomizable Insights for StakeholdersDesigned to meet the needs of businesses, investors, policymakers, and other stakeholders, this report offers fully customizable research to help companies navigate the Customized Furniture Market market's complexities. For those interested in further details or specific market insights, the report can be tailored to meet unique research requirements.Inquire About a Custom Report or More Information: https://straitsresearch.com/report/customized-furniture-market/toc For media inquiries, please contact:U.S. Contact: +1 646 905 0080U.K. Contact: +44 203 695 0070This comprehensive report serves as an essential resource for stakeholders looking to make informed decisions in the fast-evolving Customized Furniture Market market.Get Related Reports : https://www.reddit.com/r/manufacturing/comments/1gq73ju/hand_sanitizer_spray_market_growth_driven_by/ https://www.wowonder.xyz/read-blog/118201 

[safaaaas]

Global Wood Furniture Market Dynamics and Strategies for Success 2024-2034

The Wood Furniture market report offered by Reports Intellect is meant to serve as a helpful means to evaluate the market together with an exhaustive scrutiny and crystal-clear statistics linked to this market. The report consists of the drivers and restraints of the Wood Furniture Market accompanied by their impact on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes the study of prospects available in the market on a global level.

With tables and figures helping evaluate the Global Wood Furniture market, this research offers key statistics on the state of the industry and is a beneficial source of guidance and direction for companies and entities interested in the market. This report comes along with an additional Excel data-sheet suite taking quantitative data from all numeric forecasts offered in the study.

Get Sample PDF Brochure @ https://www.reportsintellect.com/sample-request/2911539

Key players offered in the market: IKEA Ashley Furniture Industries NITORI Yihua Timber Huafeng Furniture Dorel Industries Nobilia Sauder Woodworking Suofeiya

Additionally, it takes account of the prominent players of the Wood Furniture market with insights including market share, product specifications, key strategies, contact details, and company profiles. Similarly, the report involves the market computed CAGR of the market created on previous records regarding the market and existing market trends accompanied by future developments. It also divulges the future impact of enforcing regulations and policies on the expansion of the Wood Furniture Market.

Scope and Segmentation of the Wood Furniture Market

The estimates for all segments including type and application/end-user have been provided on a regional basis for the forecast period from 2024 to 2034. We have applied a mix of bottom-up and top-down methods for market estimation, analyzing the crucial regional markets, dynamics, and trends for numerous applications. Moreover, the fastest & slowest growing market segments are pointed out in the study to give out significant insights into each core element of the market.

Wood Furniture Market Type Coverage: - Solid Wood Furniture Wood-Based Panels Furniture Miscellaneous Furniture

Wood Furniture Market Application Coverage: - Home Furniture Office Furniture Others

Regional Analysis:

North America Country (United States, Canada) South America Asia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea) Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy) Other Countries (Middle East, Africa, GCC)

Discount PDF Brochure @ https://www.reportsintellect.com/discount-request/2911539

The comprehensive report provides:

Complete assessment of all opportunities and threats in the global market.

Wood Furniture Market recent advancements and major events.

A thorough study of business policies for the growth of the Wood Furniture Market leading players.

Concluding study about the growth plot of Wood Furniture Market for upcoming years.

Detailed understanding of Wood Furniture Market particular drivers, restraints, and major micro markets.

Favorable impression inside vital technological and market latest trends hitting the Wood Furniture Market.

Reasons to Purchase Wood Furniture Market Research Report

Develop a competitive approach based on the competitive landscape

Build business strategy by identifying the high growth and attractive Wood Furniture market classifications

Identify potential business partners, gaining targets and business buyers

Design financial investment policies based on estimated high potential segments

Prepare management and tactical presentations using the Wood Furniture market data

Plan for new product promotion and portfolio in advance

Contact Us: sales@reportsintellect.com Phone No: + 1-706-996-2486 US Address: 225 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30303

[amr-jayprakash]

North America Luxury Furniture Market is expected to garner CAGR of 3.1% during the forecast period, 2016–2022. Luxury furniture enhances the aesthetic value of establishments, such as homes, hotels, offices, and other indoor or outdoor areas. The North American luxury furniture market significantly benefits from the economic growth of the countries in this region, which include U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

[cmipooja]

Global Sanding Block Market Is Estimated To Witness High Growth Owing To Increasing Demand for DIY Home Improvement Projects

The global Sanding Block Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 363.11 million in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 3.50% over the forecast period (2023-2030), as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. Market Overview: Sanding blocks are essential tools used for smoothing and polishing surfaces such as wood, metal, and other materials. These blocks provide better control and even pressure distribution while sanding, resulting in a smooth and polished finish. Sanding blocks are widely used in various industries, including woodworking, automotive, construction, and DIY projects. They offer several advantages such as improved grip, durability, easy handling, and versatility. With the growing trend of DIY home improvement projects and increasing demand for quality finishes, the market for sanding blocks is expected to witness significant growth. Market key trends: One key trend in the sanding block market is the rise in DIY home improvement projects. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of homeowners opting for DIY projects to enhance the aesthetics of their homes. Sanding blocks play a crucial role in sanding and polishing surfaces before applying paint or varnish. The DIY trend has created a demand for user-friendly tools that provide professional-quality results. Sanding blocks with ergonomic designs and easy-to-use features are gaining popularity among DIY enthusiasts. For example, Festool GmbH, one of the key players in the sanding block market, offers a range of sanding blocks with innovative features such as dust extraction systems and interchangeable sanding pads. These blocks are designed to provide comfort and precision during sanding, making them ideal for DIY projects. PEST Analysis: 1. Political: The sanding block market is not significantly affected by political factors. However, government regulations related to worker safety and environmental concerns may impact the manufacturing and distribution of sanding blocks. 2. Economic: The economic stability and growth of a region directly affect the demand for sanding blocks. A robust economy with increased construction activities and infrastructure development drives the market growth. 3. Social: The growing awareness among consumers about the importance of maintaining and improving the aesthetics of their homes has fueled the demand for sanding blocks. Additionally, the popularity of DIY projects among millennials and Generation Z has created a lucrative market for sanding blocks. 4. Technological: Technological advancements in sanding block manufacturing have resulted in the development of advanced features such as ergonomic designs, dust extraction systems, and interchangeable sanding pads. These technological innovations enhance the efficiency and performance of sanding blocks. Key Takeaways: 1. The Global Sanding Block Market Demand is expected to witness high growth, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.50% over the forecast period, due to increasing demand for DIY home improvement projects. Sanding blocks provide users with professional-quality results and ease of use, making them essential tools for DIY enthusiasts. 2. North America dominates the sanding block market due to the rising trend of DIY projects and increasing renovation activities. The region is expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period.

[bishtmeenakshi]

India Online Furniture and Home Décor Market Outlook

The Indian online furniture and home decor market is a dynamic and rapidly evolving sector within the e-commerce industry. It encompasses a wide range of products and services related to furnishing homes and enhancing interior spaces.

[expertmarketresearchreport]

Brazil Furniture Market Report 2023-2028

In addition to this, the robust supply chain of wooden furniture, surging investments to enhance wood production, and the increasing attempts to develop innovative pieces of wood furniture are expected to aid the overall Brazil furniture market growth in the coming years.

Site Visit: Brazil Furniture Market

[uzumaki-rebellion]

A Daughter's Plan

Pairing: Terry Richmond x Black Female OC

Warning(s): Pure Fluff. Single Dad. Girl Dad energy. Terry's POV. Low angst.

Summary: Terry Richmond is a lonely single dad caring for his ten-year-old daughter, Pilar. When Pilar's mother re-marries and moves overseas to start a new job and family, the pre-teen thinks her dad needs to find someone for himself, too. Unbeknownst to Terry, his clever daughter has her sights set on the new neighbor, Allegra, who might be the perfect match.

Word count: 7,481

"Isn't she pretty

Truly the angel's best

Boy, I'm so happy

We have been heaven blessed"

Stevie Wonder—"Isn't She Lovely?"

Terry Richmond heard the familiar rolling sound of his ten-year-old daughter's skateboard crossing over into the cul-de-sac of their gated townhome neighborhood. He could always pick out the unique sound of her board's ka-kump, ka-kump, ka-kump rhythm compared to her school buddies as they raced each other home.

Pilar always did a few kick flip tricks by Mr. Rhea's property before she jumped the curb and circled past a speed bump near Mrs. Purdue's home. While hand sanding a rocking chair, that he made for his pregnant sister, Terry paused.

He didn't hear Pilar's skateboard anymore.

Her crew of three friends whizzed past his open garage door toward their homes, but Terry didn't see his only child roll up to greet him with her angelic smile and chaotic energy. He lifted his protective goggles and wiped his hands on his work apron. Still no sign of her.

He strode out of the garage to take a peek and he noticed her lingering by their mailbox, still wearing her protective helmet and staring across the wide street. A furniture van blocked the driveway of the townhome facing across their property. A Black woman in her late twenties or early thirties directed two burly movers to carry a brand new sofa covered in plastic through her front door. The cute bob and conservative pastel colors of her sweater and pencil skirt had him guessing she was a teacher, or worked in corporate.

He glanced at Pilar who kept her dark brown eyes laser-focused on the recent addition to their quiet corner of the world. She chewed on her lip and rolled her board back and forth with her left foot. The new neighbor bought the house of Pilar's best friend since kindergarten. Little Leslie Gardner left Ville Broussard, Louisiana a year ago, and her old house stood empty for nine months until the For Sale sign finally came down three months ago. Terry knew that Mr. Gardner put a pretty penny into renovating the place before putting it on the market, and the expense of the renovation drove the price up.

The woman across the street probably spent over two-hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the two-bedroom property. Pilar pretended to dig in the mailbox, knowing he had already gotten the mail, and stared at the woman. From that distance, he couldn't tell if Pilar was still upset about Leslie moving or if she was upset that a stranger was moving into her bestie's old home.

"Pilar," he called out.

His daughter looked his way, and so did the woman across the street.

Whoa.

Terry never got a full view of the neighbor before. He always caught sideways glances or the back of her head. But the full frontal turned out to be something else. She looked like a gorgeous Black Barbie doll. He peeped her figure a few days ago when she first showed up in form-fitting pale green sweatpants and a matching hoodie. The fall weather brought out the layers, but she must've ignored the forecast because she walked around double-cheeked up in sportswear not designed for cooler temperatures.

Miss Neighbor turned her attention back to the interior of her home and Pilar ambled over, carrying her skateboard. She pulled off her skateboard helmet.

"Hey munchkin," he said, ruffling her thick two-toned curls pulled back with a light blue scrunchie. From the roots to just above the tips, Pilar's hair was dark brown. The ends had turned their annual summer-in-the-sun reddish brown that matched her skin tone. She looked exactly like his oldest sister Brianna and had her spirited personality, too.

Pilar's down-turned lips reflected a little 'tude.

"I don't see any kids," Pilar said.

She sounded bummed.

"Checking out the neighbor, huh?"

"She's pretty. Do you think she's pretty, Dad?"

"She is very attractive."

"Very?" Pilar said with a smug grin.

"Don't read anything into that."

"We should go say hi."

"She's busy with furniture. Let her get settled in."

He guided Pilar into their home through the garage, and she dumped her board and helmet by the dinette table. She washed her hands in the kitchen sink and he pulled a PB&J sandwich on a plate and a Capri Sun from the fridge, placing them on the table for her after-school snack.

The landline rang, and he answered it.

"Hi Terry, is Pilar in yet?"

His ex wife's voice sounded perky and happy.

"Yeah, hold on.'"

He carried the cordless from the living room into the kitchen and handed it to Pilar.

"It's your mom."

Pilar's face brightened, and she chatted away on the overseas call. Terry returned to the garage and began sanding the armrest of the rocking chair. He swept sawdust on the ground and closed the garage door after he finished.

Back in the kitchen, he rinsed his hands. An uneaten sandwich remained on the kitchen table without Pilar in sight. He looked in their living room and didn't find her there.

"Pilar?"

Terry climbed the stairs to the second floor and found his daughter weeping on her bed, her face buried in a yellow Big Bird pillow.

"What's wrong?"

He sat his big body on her twin bed, and she shook her head on the pillow. He laid a hand on her back.

"Babygirl, what is it?"

"Mom isn't coming back for Christmas. She eloped with that man in Italy and they plan on flying me out there for a boat cruise instead of coming to the lake like she promised. They'll have a big party in place of a wedding in Rome next July."

Pilar never addressed her new step-father by his name, Bryson. It was always "that man" despite her mother dating him for two years. Bryson was east coast respectability. A Black Archon Boulé with a prestigious prep school background and long family money. The complete opposite of Terry's country boy/military roots. He drove a 2015 F-250 truck and drank beer. Bryson drove a 2025 Jaguar and sipped Chardonnay.

Yolanda leveled up to the Black bougie life she always wanted. Terry knew in his heart that Yolanda would never be happy building a life with him. They were both twenty and naïve, getting married the moment they found out Pilar was conceived. He quit college and joined the marines to support them. Yolanda worked as a flight attendant after their daughter was born, so Terry stayed the primary caretaker, training other marines and not deploying out of the country.

Yolanda wanted more out of life than he could provide financially and asked for a divorce when Pilar turned six. Both their families had been shocked when she granted Terry primary custody of their only child. Yolanda wanted to travel the world and her career let her do that. She eventually settled in Atlanta, working for Delta. Pilar adjusted to being shuttled back and forth for holidays and summers.

Then Bryson popped up, freeing Yolanda from the working class. He was older, established, and child-free. Also very generous with his money.

Terry had made arrangements to send Pilar abroad for a lavish wedding the following summer as her mother's flower girl. She and Bryson had planned to spend the Christmas holiday with the entire Richmond family so that they could all meet the new man who would be connected to them through Pilar. Christmas was going to be the rare treat of being with both her parents for a holiday. The Richmond clan had reserved fancy cabins by a lake for a week and planned on turning it into a family reunion of sorts. Yolanda offered to arrange her Christmas plans for the reunion so Pilar wouldn't miss out on seeing all of her cousins from all over the states. Now she eloped and switched up on their child three months in advance.

Terry kept his anger in check in front of Pilar. He'd call Yolanda when his daughter was back in school and give her a smooth cuss out. He offered to switch Thanksgiving for Christmas because it was important for Pilar to experience a big reunion for the first time on his side of the family.

Pilar turned her head from the pillow. Big, wet eyes stared at him. Her bottom lip trembled and his heart squeezed in his chest. His daughter was the light of his life. Watching her expectations crumble hurt his soul. Pilar came first before anything, and that was the difference between him and Yolanda. Their daughter became a secondary consideration with her. His ex wasn't a terrible person. He loved her once a long time ago. She was ambitious, energetic, pretty, and gave him a perfect child. Yolanda just wasn't cut out to be a mother saddled with the responsibility of putting her daughter's emotional needs first. To Yolanda, whisking Pilar off to Rome probably sounded like giving her child the best in life. Bryson was an American Express Exec for their Italian branch and lived in a lavish home with staff and chauffeurs. Yolanda shopped, dined, and played tennis every day in luxury. She wanted Pilar to experience that lifestyle. In his own way, Terry wanted their daughter to have that chance, too. But without pulling the rug from under Pilar. She set her heart on having them all together for once since their divorce.

"Tell you what…I'll talk to her and try to convince them to come for Christmas."

"She said the cruise is their early honeymoon and they want me to go so we can bond as a new family. I already have a family!"

Pilar buried her face in his chest, and he stroked her hair.

"How about we go to Cholly's Burgers for dinner and you can mope over a double cheeseburger and a big chocolate malt?"

Pilar sniffled and wiped her nose.

"Okay, I'll go…but I can't guarantee that I'll feel better."

"Deal," he said.

He left her alone in her room and went down to the kitchen and put her sandwich and juice away. Checking emails on his smartphone, he spent the next couple of hours watching TV and then ironed Pilar's clothes for school. He showered and called his daughter down for their dinner trip. Outside, their new neighbor carried some things from her cream-colored Mercedes S-Class in the driveway.

"Excuse me," the woman called as Pilar jumped into his truck's passenger side.

"Yeah?" he called back.

"Hi, I'm Allegra…new neighbor…um, can you tell me what day the trash and recycling go out?"

"Thursdays!" Pilar called out.

His daughter had her head stuck out of the window with a big grin on her face.

"Yeah, Thursdays. They normally roll through around eleven a.m.," he said.

"Great, thanks."

"I'm Terry, and this is my daughter, Pilar—"

"Are you married? Have kids?" Pilar asked.

Allegra smiled politely, holding a small box. Her eyes bounced from Pilar's to his, then back to Pilar.

"I'm not married. No kids."

Pilar whipped her head around to look at Terry. He ignored her.

"Have a good evening," he said.

He climbed into his truck and started it up.

"You're really not good at finding a date, Dad."

"What are you talking about, little girl?"

He backed out of their driveway and headed toward the main road that led to the highway.

"A single, beautiful woman with a fancy car asked you about trash day. She could've called her realtor or looked it up online."

"We were right there in front of her. It's quicker to ask a neighbor. That woman is not looking to date people she lives around. Besides, she saw me with you, so she'll think I'm married with a family already."

"She'll know pretty soon that it's just you and me."

"I don't think most upwardly mobile Black women are interested in men that already have children nowadays."

It took them twenty minutes to arrive at the burger joint, and Pilar's mood lifted considerably. They talked about her upcoming soccer game and she slurped down her chocolate malt content with life once again.

Back home, he washed and braided her hair in two cornrows, tying it down with a black satin hair scarf so he wouldn't have to do her hair in the morning. Their evening bedtime routine went off without a hitch and he allowed her to watch a cartoon before she went to sleep in her room.

The next couple of weeks were normal in the Richmond household. He'd ride his bike in the morning to take Pilar to school, following behind her as she skateboarded ahead of him with her classmates. Later, he'd ride his bike over to check on the restaurant he invested in. He spent a few days with his financial advisor and moved some money around that he received from a police settlement. His current financial status allowed him to enjoy not having the worries of steady employment until he found something he wanted to do. He put funds in stocks that did well, paid off the townhouse, and Yolanda's monthly child support covered the rest for Pilar. His woodworking kept him busy during the afternoon while Pilar was in school. But once she was home, he went straight into daddy mode. Soccer Dad duty, carpooling to games, checking homework, cooking and cleaning, fixing things at his parent's house and running their errands…they all filled his time.

Once a week he went bowling with friends and drank at bars, chasing a little tail, but not really trying to catch much. His three older sisters rotated keeping Pilar with their kids so he could have some adult time. The last few "dates" he had were with single moms who complained about their ex-husbands or ex boyfriends. He thought one woman named Michaela would be a long-term situation, but she reconciled with her boyfriend and moved to Dallas.

After a Saturday soccer practice, Pilar came to him and asked if she could bake some cookies for a school party. It was nearing Halloween. He pulled out some easy to bake pre-made Tollhouse cookie dough from the freezer. All Pilar had to do was place the small chocolate chip cookie dough squares onto a baking sheet and use the stove timer to keep them from burning.

He kicked up his feet to watch the news and when the stove buzzer went off, he trotted into the kitchen to make sure Pilar didn't burn herself by taking them out of the oven with the oven mits. She only baked a dozen.

"Shouldn't you bake more for your class?" he asked.

"It's a potluck, so people are just bringing whatever to share."

After they cooled, she used a spatula to scoop them onto a decorative plate of pumpkins and fall leaves. He covered them with plastic wrap.

"Maybe you should put them in some Tupperware," he suggested.

"No, this is good."

He left her to handle her party business.

Terry didn't think anything about the cookies until three days later when Allegra showed up at his open garage door. His electric sander and earplugs prevented him from hearing her approach. He turned toward the street and almost jumped, not expecting someone to be standing near his truck watching him. Shutting off the sander, he pulled out the earplugs and stared at her with his goggles on.

"Sorry to startle you…Terry…right?"

He nodded.

"I came over to bring you back your cookie plate. That was such a thoughtful housewarming gift. I ate every single chocolate chip cookie. Perfectly gooey in the center the way I like! The note you wrote was really sweet, too. Thank you so much."

"I'm sorry?" he said in confusion.

Terry pushed up his goggles. Allegra handed him the plate that wasn't empty. On it were slices of banana bread. He looked at the baked goods, then back at her.

"To show my appreciation for the cookies…I just made it last night. I didn't put nuts in it because I don't know if anyone in your family is allergic to nuts."

"No, we aren't."

"I'll remember that."

Allegra's pretty eyelashes curled over naturally, and her lips had just enough red lipstick to give her plump lips a rosy tint. She was dream girl material, and the cut and style of her bob reminded him of something the old Black starlets wore in the sixties, but it looked contemporary too with a soft flip on the ends. Terry became lost in her face and she seemed equally lost in his, her gaze never leaving his eyes. That was one of the physical traits that women always said they loved about him. The green, lion-like eyes. She looked up at him and their size difference was quite obvious. She was petite-chic, the cut and color of her clothes making her seem taller far away. Allegra was shorter than his ex wife. He felt like a big giant standing next to her. She smelled so good. Her perfume hinted at jasmine in the summer.

"My daughter and I will enjoy this. Thanks for bringing it over with the plate," he said.

Allegra smiled and his chest caved in. Was it possible for her to be even more attractive with a smile on her face?

She glanced around his makeshift workshop.

"Woodworking? You do this for a living?" she asked.

He stepped aside to let her see the dining cabinet he built for another neighbor.

"Actually, it's a hobby of mine."

"Hobby? This is true craftsmanship."

He touched the side of the cabinet.

"I learned it from my dad and kept at it in highschool."

"If I paid you, could you make me a couple of custom bookshelves?"

"What type of wood?"

"Not too expensive."

"I can make some maple wood shelves and stain them to look expensive.'

"I like your way of thinking. When I get the time, I'll measure my walls and let you know what I need."

"Still settling in?"

"My god, I haven't unpacked all of my boxes. I'm still eating takeout because I dread unpacking everything in my kitchen. My new job keeps me busy and I'm usually too tired by the end of the day. I should be unpacking right now, but I have to leave for an event soon."

She sighed and pushed back a flipped curl on her forehead.

"I better let you get back to work. Again…thank you for the sweet welcoming gesture."

Allegra left him alone in the garage and he watched her walk back across the street to her place. She had a little sway in her hips as she walked in her well-fitted navy blue dress pants and structured white button-down shirt. The light pink cardigan sweater tied around her shoulders was such a classy touch, along with her chunky blocked-heeled pumps.

He looked down at his dust-laden ripped jeans and brown work apron. Not too shabby, but he almost wanted to spruce up. He took the plate into the kitchen and checked the time. Pilar would be there in half an hour. He wanted to know what she wrote in that note to Allegra.

Running a hot shower, he cleaned his body and stared at his reflection in the mirror afterward. Time for a fresh line-up. His facial hair looked a little ungroomed. He took time to shave and then changed into better jeans and a fitted long sleeve shirt. He waited at the front door, peeking out of the screen.

Allegra stepped into her Mercedes wearing a pastel coral cocktail dress with an upswept hairdo, looking like Diahann Carroll with a smidgen of Grace Kelly. She drove off to wherever she needed to go and he imagined how breathtaking she'd look, stepping into a crowded room with all eyes on her beauty.

Ka-kump. Ka-kump. Ka-kump.

Pilar glided onto the sidewalk near their house and headed for the garage.

"I'm right here," he said.

She looked at him through the screen. He opened it and stepped outside. Folding his arms over his wide chest, he gave his daughter a questioning look.

"Am I in trouble?" she asked.

Her friends Caleb, Trudy, and Aisha waved at her and kick-pushed their skateboards toward their houses while yelling hello to him.

"You baked those cookies for Miss Allegra. Not a school party."

Pilar gave him a sheepish grin.

"What did you write in the note?"

"I just said something like…welcome to the neighborhood. Enjoy these homemade cookies. Then I put your name on it."

"Just my name?"

"Yes."

"She brought the plate back and made us some banana bread."

"Ooh!" Pilar said, rubbing her hands together. "My plan is set in motion."

"What plan?"

"Dad…c'mon. Miss Allegra is the best-looking woman around here. I think you should ask her out on a date."

"I don't need my ten-year-old setting us up."

Pilar put a hand on her hip.

"Well, Auntie Brianna and Auntie Sloane said she's gorgeous and they think you should get to know her. She might be your perfect fit."

"How would they know? They've never seen her."

"I snuck a picture of her on my phone and sent it to them."

"Why the sudden interest in getting me to date?"

Pilar's gaze dropped to the ground.

"No reason. She's new and you don't go out as much anymore."

"That's because I have to take care of you. You're my priority. Dating can always come later."

He stepped aside and let her come in with her skateboard.

"It was a nice thing you did…giving her the cookies," he said.

Pilar grinned.

Terry was an adept father and took pride in keeping a meticulous home, and his child put together well when she exited the front door. Two weeks before Thanksgiving, Pilar started coming home from school with wildly disheveled hair. Even if he put protective styles in with twists or high buns with little curls framing her face with cute tendrils, his daughter returned looking like her head went through a blender.

She'd claim it was the weather. Bad rainfall, or the wind messing it up, but for ten school days, she rolled back home with her hair every which-way, rubber bands busted, barrettes missing, and knocker ball hair bobbles vanished into thin air. She'd roll through, and each time, their neighbor Allegra would be outside collecting her mail. Pilar would wave and say "Hi!" really loud and Allegra responded in kind before stepping back into her house.

He assumed she wanted her hair out, craving to wear hairstyles like her older girl cousins. Rather than make a big deal about it, he started putting a headband on her.

One Saturday afternoon, Pilar played outside on the curved part of the cul-de-sac with her friends, kicking a soccer ball into Caleb's two netted goal posts. A typical loud day of children freely running around screaming and playing in the street. Pilar rocked a bushy 'fro and had the loudest voice out of the bunch.

He kept an eye out for them while watching a football game by leaving his livingroom shades open. Snacking on some chips, he turned his head to check on the action outside.

He quickly ducked his head down low.

Allegra played outside with the children.

Terry hid behind the couch and secretly watched Allegra interact with the neighborhood kids doing soccer ball tricks with her knees and sneaker'd feet. She kicked the ball to Pilar and his daughter charged her, heading for a goal post. Allegra wasn't shy about her defensive moves and easily swiped the ball away from his daughter, kicking it with a curved arc into the opposite goal post. All the children squealed in delight and high-fived her. She stepped aside to let the children continue their boisterous match up.

Terry's back ached from being hunched over spying. Pilar spoke to Allegra for a long time, ignoring her friends, and her bouncy energy kept a smile on the woman's face. Allegra glanced toward his open window and Terry dropped to the floor, hiding his body.

He waited five minutes.

"Why are you on the floor, Daddy?"

Pilar stood above him with a quizzical expression. She'd come in the house through the garage door.

"Stretching my back out," he said.

"But you're on your stomach."

"Can I help you with something?" he said, standing up.

Outside, Allegra stood watching him through the window.

"I asked Miss Allegra how she kept her hair so pretty and she told me her hair care routine. I'm coming to get a pen and paper for her to write it down so you can take care of my hair."

"What? I know how to take care of your hair! I've been doing it since you were born."

Pilar grabbed a Bic pen and tore a piece off some junk mail envelope sitting on the coffee table.

"Daddy, please. Work with me here. I've been looking raggedy for two weeks to get her attention. She finally asked about my curls and I asked about her hair."

Pilar dashed out the front door before he could stop her. She handed Allegra the pen and paper. Terry became flustered. His daughter pretended to be unkempt to fool a grown woman into having sympathy for him.

Allegra scribbled on the paper outside and he felt exposed for something that wasn't true. Pilar ran back into the house through the front door and handed him the half envelope. Most of what Allegra listed, Terry already had in his bathroom for his daughter.

However…she wrote her phone number down, too.

"Boo-ya!" Pilar said, flinging her fingers open like an explosion going off.

"Come into the kitchen with me," he said.

Pilar followed him.

"Sit," he commanded.

He stuffed the half envelope in his back pocket.

"Pilar…babygirl…I know you mean well, but please…stop the antics."

"But Daddy—"

"I mean it."

His voice went down an octave, his baritone sounding harsh. Pilar ran from the kitchen table and stomped loudly up the stairs. He closed his eyes in frustration and waited fifteen minutes before going upstairs.

Pilar cried on her bed. Her loud bawling startled him.

"Munchkin…I'm not mad…I just…you don't have to do this."

"I do!" she wailed.

He sat in his usual spot and let her get her emotions out. She eventually calmed down to gaspy shudders and sad moans of pain. He brushed her hair back, and she threw her arms around his neck.

"I don't want you being alone. Mom married somebody and now she gets to be happy. I want you to be happy, too, Daddy."

"Munchkin, I am happy. I have you…grampy and grandma, your aunts, my friends—"

She shook her head against his neck.

"It's not the same as having someone for yourself. I'll grow up and go to college and you'll be here by yourself. Everyone in our family has someone. Grampy has Grandma, Auntie Brianna has Uncle Mitch…Auntie Sloane has Uncle Kenny. Even Auntie Monique has her boyfriend Gordon. I'm scared for you, Daddy. You're such a good, kind person and you deserve what Mommy has."

Pilar burst into more tears and his eyes grew blurry. He wiped them and pulled back from his daughter.

"It's not your responsibility to worry about me. My job is to worry about you, hear me?"

Pilar kept crying. Her nose ran, but she nodded at his words.

"When the time comes for me to find my special someone…it'll happen. Naturally. Understand?"

"Y-Y-Yessss," she blubbered.

He kissed her forehead and used his thumbs to wipe away warm tears.

"Can I tell you something that will make you happy?"

"O-O-Okayyyy," she choked out.

"Your Mom and 'that man' agreed to change their plans back to coming out for Christmas. And, I don't have to trade Thanksgiving."

"For real?"

"For real. In fact, Bryson urged your mother to reconsider, and he rescheduled the cruise for next year. He's not so bad, huh?"

Pilar sniffled, and her swollen red eyes pained him.

"I guess not."

"Let's make a deal, okay? You don't worry about hooking me up and just enjoy being a little girl with a happy father."

"Are you happy?"

"I am. I have you and a very full life. Promise. Go wash your face and get back outside with your friends."

"Okay, Daddy."

She jumped off the bed and ran to the hall bathroom. He went to her bedroom window and peeked out from the blinds. Allegra went back into her home. He pulled the scrap of envelope from his back pocket and stared at her phone number.

Saturday afternoons were usually Terry and Pilar's time to decompress and watch movies together. Sometimes there was a slumber party with her cousins at their house or one of his sister's. But on this particular Saturday, it was football fever on the flatscreen TV with his buddies while Pilar was at her grandparents' house.

Terry had plenty of pizzas and beer, and his sound system blasted the play-by-play of the game. He enjoyed the company of his buddies, all Black men with families, and very little free time except for the small moments of respite at Terry's place. The Steelers beat the Commanders and the guys talked shit, then they played his AuxGod Hip Hop Edition game. He rapped his ass off while playing Nas's "One Mic" on his smartphone and got his friends hyped to share R&B music. They all howled when someone messed up playing the wrong songs based on cards they pulled, thinking they had the perfect jam. Good clean fun.

The afternoon wound down into late evening and he cleaned up pizza boxes and empty beer cans. His friends bumped fists and gave each other dap as they left out the front door. Rain started falling, and he noticed Allegra pulling into her driveway. The late hour had him guessing she had a night out again. Her job didn't keep her from a busy social life. He often caught sight of her coming and going on the weekends. One time, another car brought her home and stayed overnight in her driveway.

He waved his friends away and pulled out his cell to call his father.

"Hey Junior," his father said.

"Hey, Pops. How's it going over there?"

"Good. The girls are playing and your mama is letting them stay up late to watch some Godzilla movie on Amazon Prime."

"I wanted to say goodnight to Pilar."

"No problem, hold on…Pilar! Your Dad is on the phone!"

Terry waited for his daughter, and soon enough, her voice rang in his ear.

"Hey, Dad."

"Being good?"

"Of course. What time are you picking me up tomorrow?"

"After you get back from church."

"Aw man. You can't get me early, so I don't have to go?"

"I had to suffer through it. It's your turn now."

"But they take forever. Even God goes to sleep by the time that preacher gets done."

"Hey, don't blaspheme, and don't you two keep Grampy and Grandma up too late, okay?"

"We won't. Night, Dad!"

Terry swiped his smartphone and noticed Allegra's car lights were still on. She hadn't left her driveway. He guessed she was talking on her cell phone.

His house smelled of cigars, pepperoni, and Budweiser. He finished cleaning up and sprayed the dining room with air freshener. Rolling his neck muscles, he climbed up to his bedroom. His blinds were open, and he checked the street again.

Allegra stood near her car in the rain looking up at the sky. She stuck her tongue out, tasting the droplets, and spun around in a circle with her arms outstretched. He smiled. She looked like a big kid having fun.

The rain drenched her hair, and she swiped it back, her tresses turning into slick ringlets. The playfulness she exuded cracked something open inside of him. Maybe Pilar was right. Maybe he did want someone to share his life with. He and Allegra barely exchanged enough words in passing for him to sense that she would be open to going out for a coffee or dinner. She never got back to him about the bookshelves, and he never called her phone number to ask about the hair care products she suggested for Pilar.

His confidence in asking women out had waned that year. Each time he thought he might want to spend time with a woman, schedules didn't match up, or he didn't feel that pull to pursue a relationship. The spark wasn't there. Part of him was afraid to put his heart back out there. His ex, Yolanda, had been a heartbreak he finally let go of two years ago. It frightened him into not wanting to be vulnerable with another woman again. Romantic love was for the brave, and Terry was not feeling brave anymore.

But Allegra?

After shaking her arms, she finally went inside her house, not caring that her snazzy outfit was soaked clear through to her skin. He looked at his dresser. The envelope with her number sat next to his hairbrush.

He texted her number.

Hi, Allegra. This is your neighbor, Terry. I was going to pick up some lumber at Home Depot tomorrow and wanted to know if you were still interested in getting bookshelves made? No rush to answer. I'm always going there every other week. If you changed your mind, that's cool, too.

He sent it off, and seconds later, she rang him up.

"Hello?"

He sounded breathless.

"Hi…Terry? It's Allegra…from across the street. Got your message."

"Oh, great. Sorry for texting so late. I was about to turn in and wanted to ask you before I forgot and left tomorrow."

He winced. His words came out in a rush of nervous energy.

"I do want the bookshelves made. I've been so busy I just never got around to measuring anything. Could you come by tomorrow before you leave and take a look at my floor space? You'd have a better idea of measurements than I would."

Terry stared at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes turned into saucers.

"I can do that. I've got to pick up my daughter from church tomorrow at one. I can drop by with my digital tape measure before then and then go to Home Depot."

"Can I go with you? I'd like to see the wood you're considering besides the maple you told me about."

"Uh…sure."

"What time should I expect you over here?"

"Let's say ten?"

"Great, see ya then."

"Goodnight."

He hung up, stunned.

She wanted to go with him to the Depot?

"So, what do you think? Two shelves here and then two more in my office room?"

Allegra watched him make final calculations on his phone. He surveyed her living room set-up one more time to ensure efficient use of her space. They'd spent a good twenty minutes upstairs in her stylish office and he made a quick sketch on his notepad of the shelving unit he could make for her in there. She would pay for the wood and any extra supplies he needed, and he insisted on doing the work for free.

The layout in her house was roomy and leaned toward a mid-century modern styled interior. She liked rich and luxurious wood furniture with mustard yellow and avocado-colored accents. Her home fit her personal style the way he imagined it would. It had a timeless quality. He told her a little about the family that lived there before she bought the place, and the conversation meandered into her own hobbies of painting and gardening. She showed him her patio space in the back and he offered to build her plant containers to grow her favorite flowers. Those were easy to put together and would be cheaper than her buying them pre-made online.

He learned that she had been a highschool soccer star, and that talent landed her a full-ride scholarship to Brown University where she almost landed a spot on the Olympic team. But a skiing accident ruined her shot. She still liked to watch the game and play occasionally.

Allegra worked from home mostly as an In-House attorney for a legal firm with document heavy cases, thus the need for bookshelves to hold all her law books. She did contract reviews, legal research, and dealt with a lot of intellectual property research for her clients.

Terry listened to her talk about herself, and her warm personality gave him the courage to open up about himself. Of course, he bragged about Pilar, and on their way to Home Depot, he pointed out places of interest to her.

"I always wanted to live in a small town," she said. "I grew up in New England, but my grandparents were from here, so I had annual trips for holidays and always liked it. Now that I can work remotely from home, I put stakes in the ground and live here full time. Getting away from the east coast has been a relief. This place makes me happy."

"We love it here. Excellent schools, nice people who look out for each other."

"It's just you and Pilar?"

"Yep. My ex remarried and moved to Europe."

"Co-parenting overseas must be rough."

"Yolanda…my ex…she recently moved there. It's going to be a change for sure. I'm used to Pilar flying a quick hop to Atlanta. Now, she'll have partial summers there and I don't know if I can handle her flying so far away where I can't get to her fast, y'know?"

"I had to do it when I was young. My parents divorced when I was twelve. I hopped from Boston to England to stay with my dad and his new wife on my school breaks. My mother was a nervous wreck at first, but you adjust."

"I hope so. I try to be stoic for Pilar, but I know I'll be in shambles when she flies out there next year."

Allegra laughed and the sound of her voice so close comforted him.

"I'll help talk you down when those nerves kick up," she said.

They walked up and down aisles at the Home Depot, and since he was a regular, the workers there were quick to help him because he didn't waste time. Terry explained the different type of wood options and they compared prices. He did his best to keep costs down for her, and she went along with whatever he thought was best. She'd seen his work output and trusted his skills.

He loaded up the truck bed, and they swooped over to his grandparents' church to pick up Pilar. His daughter's eyes widened when she noticed Allegra sitting in the truck. She ran past Terry and chatted with Allegra. He soon introduced his parents to her, and they invited her to attend a church service in the future.

Pilar hopped in the seat behind Allegra, and he drove them back to their home.

"I'll unload this and start working on your shelving units tomorrow," he said.

"Great."

Pilar watched them interact. She wore the goofiest grin on her face.

Allegra took off across the street and he watched her leave along with Pilar. When she was outside of earshot, Pilar grabbed his arm.

"You hung out with her?" she enthused.

"We talked about her bookshelves."

"So you went inside her house and spent time with her, right?"

"I did."

"Isn't she cool? She plays soccer, and she likes monster movies…"

Pilar stopped gushing about Allegra.

"I forgot. You told me not to interfere."

"I might've been wrong about that," he said.

Pilar's face lit up.

"Oh, yeah?"

"I like her. She's really nice and smart."

"My work here is done," Pilar said.

She skipped into the house, and he unloaded the truck.

Making bookshelves and planter boxes was the beginning.

Next came inviting Allegra over for football game gatherings with his family.

He introduced her to his oldest sister who gave birth to a baby boy, her first, and he watched Allegra nervously hold the newborn with trepidation in her eyes.

"You got it…just hold his head like this and keep him close to you…yeah, see, you got it," he said.

Terry's new nephew was a little chocolate drop.

"He's so tiny and adorable," Allegra said.

All of his sisters liked her, and his mother took the grand gesture of inviting her to join them on their family Christmas trip. Allegra looked genuinely receptive to the idea, but she already had plans to fly out to Boston to spend the winter holiday with her family. Terry felt bummed about it and realized that he was catching feelings for her.

He kept their budding friendship platonic, but by the following spring, it was clear to everyone around them that something was blooming past friendship. They hadn't been physical with each other yet, not even kissing. He liked the slow, easy pace. It gave him time to know her before jumping into anything serious, especially since he had Pilar to think of.

His daughter was crazy about Allegra.

He was too.

As time ticked on and it grew closer to the time that Pilar would have to fly overseas, his anxiety spiked. He was not planning on attending the celebration. His former sister-in-law, Zarah, was going to fly the long distance with Pilar to Rome.

The day his daughter was to leave, he paced in his living room, going over Pilar's packing list several times. Allegra hung out with him, reassuring him that all would be well. Zarah was on her way in a Lyft to pick up Pilar. They all thought it best that he say his goodbyes from home and not go to the airport.

"Go to the restroom one more time before you leave," he told his daughter.

Pilar ran upstairs to her bathroom.

"I'm going to put the roast in the oven for our dinner tonight," Allegra said. "Be right back."

He walked her outside of his home. When Allegra reached the sidewalk, she turned around to face him. For the first time, she slid her arms around his waist and looked up at him.

"You're a great Dad, Terry. Pilar is so lucky to have you…and so am I."

Terry locked eyes with her, and any fears he had about taking a chance on finding love melted away.

"May I kiss you?" he asked.

Her eyes twinkled like she'd been waiting her whole life to hear him say those four words.

"Yes, you may, Mr. Richmond."

He placed his forehead against hers first and savored the moment before the moment. Yes, he deserved someone for himself. His wily daughter had been so correct in her assessment of him. Forever grateful for Pilar's push to get him out into the world with the special woman in his arms, Terry lowered his head and kissed Allegra.

His full, lush lips were nothing compared to the soft place of comfort he found pressed against her mouth. Her lips coaxed a passion out of him he hadn't felt in years. He kept the kiss a little below chaste…she gave him a little teasing of her tongue to entice him for more later, when they would be alone. His grin broke their physical contact and the butterflies in his stomach told him she was the one to take a chance with.

He pushed a fluffy bang away from her left eye and Allegra glanced up toward his second floor. Terry followed her gaze, and they both glimpsed Pilar looking down at them from her bedroom window. She fist-pumped her right hand, and the expression she gave them was pure joy.

Her little plan worked.

Author's Note:

I wanted to write something fast and fluffy to put out the day after the horror of that anti-Black orange menace being put back in office by racist white people and their non-Black PoC racist minions. Black women need soft, joyful things to get us through. We all we got. Remember that.

[kristannafever]

She Ain't Gotta Do Much - 8

Kristanna Modern AU Rated: M WC: 2886

Chapter Index

-----------------

The rest of the week went just as smoothly as Kristoff had hoped.  Not only that, Tony wanted a week to prep for closure, and then he and Sven were going to get to work on the renovation.  Apparently, there was indeed a new deli going in a block over, and Tony didn’t want to waste much more time bringing his place up to date.

By quitting time on Thursday, Kristoff and Sven had meandered around finishing the install of all the doors and helping staff by moving heavy furniture here and there.  Everyone only had the best things to say about the two of them.

Both of them beamed all afternoon.

Anna joined them for a celebratory beer after work which turned into celebratory shots, which turned into Anna catching a cab home at midnight – she did have to work the next day after all – and Kristoff and Sven having a very inebriated and deep conversation about how they both felt they’d found the women they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with. 

Apparently, Sven was just as smitten as Kristoff was, and it was refreshing to him to hear his friend talk about a woman in a future sense.  Perhaps it was the same for Sven when he talked about Anna.

They both agreed that the direction of their love lives, and the direction of their business, were looking better that they ever had.  Sharing a cab back to Kristoff’s because it was closer, Sven admitted the truly dark fears he’d had before they landed Anna’s job, and how relieved he was that things were turning around.  Both men got emotional to the point where they looked out their respective windows and blinked back tears that formed in their eyes.

Back at Kristoff’s, they each had a night cap neither of them needed, and Sven collapsed on the couch face first.  Kristoff threw a blanket over his friend then stripped to his boxers and crawled into his own bed.  His only thoughts were of Anna, and how he could not wait until he saw what she had in mind for his spa day on Saturday. 

~   ~   ~   ~   ~

He arrived at noon, as Anna had requested.  He buzzed her apartment, and to his surprise, she said she’d be right down.  He stood there on the sidewalk in the fall sunshine, waiting to see what was going to happen.

She appeared out of the building doors in a Led Zeppelin t-shirt and jeans, and he loved it when she wore stuff like that.  Then she pulled him into a deep kiss and he forgot time and space until she pulled her lips away from his. 

“Can you throw your bag in your truck for a minute?  I just had an idea before we start your spa day.”  She said the last two words with a raised eyebrow and devilish look.

He was helpless to comply.

They walked north, chatting about how their Friday’s had been.   Kristoff’s had been fine.  He’d woken early, despite the hangover, and worked on the other quotes in his room until he heard Sven stir.  They’d taken themselves out for a greasy breakfast, and caught a cab back to the Pub to grab their vehicles.   Sven announced as he was about to get into his car that he didn’t want to see or hear from Kristoff until their work meeting on Monday morning, which Kristoff was more than happy to oblige.  

Anna told him she was hungover as well, but since it was the office placement day, she was able to spend the majority of if setting up her brand-new space.  Which hungover or not, she took great delight in. 

Five minutes later they were at an intersection with a strip mall.  Anna mentioned that she had planned for them to take a walk in the evening, but since there was rain in the forecast, she changed her plans for them to go have a nice lunch at the new Italian market that had gone in a month prior. 

They ended up splitting a caprese salad and a porchetta sandwich on Italian ciabatta.   Afterward they each had a Cannoli, and Kristoff had never had one that had tasted so fresh.  Apparently, it was made with mascarpone and not ricotta.  The entire meal was actually quite light, considering.

Afterward they walked back to Anna’s and Kristoff retrieved his bag from his truck, his body tingling again with the thoughts of what was to come.  Once inside her place, he noticed that the sky was indeed starting to darken to the west.

The next thing on his spa day apparently, was an actual spa thing.  Anna wanted to give him a facial.  She said she’d taken a few courses in various things here and there in the year before she committed to college, and she had every intention of doing it to him.

He relented, with mild chagrin.  He really didn’t want one, but he was not going to hurt Anna’s feelings.

Then five minutes into it, he nearly fell asleep.  She had started with a warm washcloth, gently cleaning then exfoliating his skin with something that smelled kind of nice.  It was wonderful.  He hadn’t realized how much stress he’d been carrying until all of the sudden she was massaging it out of him.  Then she put some moisturizer on her hands and worked it into his skin and he’d never felt more relaxed to have someone touching him like that. 

He was sitting with is head laying on the back of the couch, Anna standing over him from behind for lack of an actual masseuse table to do it on, and he hadn’t even realized she’d stopped until her lips met his.

Upside down.  Like that stupid spider-man movie.

And fuck if it didn’t feel as good as they made it seem in the films. 

That was the end of his facial. 

As much as he wanted that kissing to continue, Anna changed direction by turning off all the lights in the living room off except a floor lamp in the corner that offered soft, dim lighting, bringing him a nice cold bottle of beer, and turning on the TV to the one show he’d mentioned in passing on their first date that he’d wanted to catch up on sometime.   She snuggled into him with a glass of wine and they watched in perfect and comfortable silence as the sky grew darker outside.

After the first episode, Anna refreshed their drinks and brought in some popcorn and snacks.  It had started to rain, making the ambiance even more cozy than it already was.  Kristoff was enjoying the hell out of himself, and yet in the back of his mind, he could only think about kissing her again and not stopping. 

At the end of the second episode, Anna asked him how he was liking the show and he told her that he was very much enjoying it, and yet something about her demeanor suggested she was just as distracted by their proximity as he was.

He knew this was not what she had planned, but his lips went to hers anyways, and the kisses became a frenzied passionate need for each other in the blink of an eye.  She tasted like Twizzlers and white wine and he could not get enough of her.  Every fibre of his being was crying out with euphoria as they made their way to her bedroom, stumbling and kissing and undressing each other the entire way.

By the time they reached her bed, they were both in their underwear and physically unable of pulling apart.  They remained kissing passionately until Anna whimpered in the back of her throat and Kristoff stopped only long enough to lay her on the bed, crawl over her, and kiss her again.

It took some more time before they were both naked under the sheets, their mouths almost constantly pressed together through the entire endeavor.  Then the passion really started, when Kristoff moved his caress to her thighs while he kissed her, working inward until he could touch her the way he’d imagined since he’d met her. 

She gasped as his fingers worked.  He listened to her wordless cues and knew exactly what she wanted.  The way her body writhed under him made him harder than he thought possible.  And then she pulled in a shocked breath and came undone in his arms, gripping him to her as though her life depended on it. 

By then his mind was wild with desire, and he asked gruffly where she wanted him.  Understanding, Anna forced him onto his back, straddled him, and kissed him again.  After that his thoughts went blank except for the deep intensity he felt for her.  The attraction.  The devotion.  The love.

All the time he’d imagined them coming together didn’t include this level of pleasure he was feeling.  When Anna seemed to be on the cusp a short time later, Kristoff knew he was almost spent too, intending to join her.  And as they both climaxed, the room went bright with light and thunder cracked a split second later, killing the power and leaving them in complete darkness while they rode out their gratification together. 

*****

Anna woke from their nap first, the feeling of absolute contentment washing over her all over again to find herself snuggled against Kristoff’s side.  They’d laid in bed in the dark, listening to the storm move off before they both fell asleep, and neither of them had moved an inch.

Her mind whirled lazily with happy thoughts.  Anna caressed her hand gently against his bare chest, needing to simply touch him but not wanting to wake him.  He remained breathing deeply as Anna enjoying this moment to herself.

She had no idea what time it was.  The power was still off and her phone was somewhere in the living room.  Not that she cared.  So, okay, her rest and relaxation day for Kristoff hadn’t quite gone as she’d planned, but one could hardly argue about having mind-blowing sex instead.   And although she didn’t know the time, she knew by the light behind the dark curtains that there was certainly enough left in the day to find themselves joined together again.

Kristoff stirred a few moments later and let out a deeply satisfied exhale when he woke and found Anna snuggled against him.  He moved his head to the side and pressed a kiss onto her forehead.

“Well, so far, this has been the best spa day of my life,” he said slowly.

Anna chuckled.  “Yeah, things kind of got off the rails there.”

“Hmmm.  So what was the plan anyway?”

“Well, I wanted to the facial first.  I knew you’d be apprehensive, but it wasn’t like a full facial where I start digging out your blackheads or anything.”

“Gross.  Thanks for not doing that.”

Anna laughed.  “You don’t have many.  I probably have more.  But anyway, I wanted to massage your face because I remembered that it activated your sympathetic nerve system which relieves anxiety and stress.”

“It certainly felt relaxing.  I could have fallen asleep if you didn’t kiss me.”

Anna smiled in the dark.  “I couldn’t help myself.”

“I’m glad.”

“After we watched the show, I was going to order whatever food you wanted, then after dinner I was going to give you a full body massage which was supposed to lead where we already went, so I guess things are just a bit out of order.”

“Ah, order is overrated.”

“It certainly is.” 

“Then what?”

“Well, there’s a hockey game on tonight, so I thought we could watch that here, or if you were up for it, we could walk down the block and catch it in the Pub.”  Anna shrugged against him.  “I had kind of just planned for you to be as relaxed and comfortable as possible.”

“I am very much that.”

“Good.”

Kristoff was silent a moment before he spoke.  “You know, you don’t have to pamper me.  I would be just as relaxed and comfortable whatever you wanted to do.  You just… you don’t have to do much.  At all.  I’m just in.  You know?”

Anna grinned to herself.  What the hell had she ever done to deserve this man?  “I feel the same when I’m with you, Kristoff.  And I look forward to when we do the date thing you’d planned for today.”

“It’s probably better we postponed it anyway, with the rain and all,” he said, slipping out from her grasp and sitting up.  “It was an outside activity.”

“Ooh.  You going to give me a hint?”  Anna sat up as well.

He laughed.  “Nope.”

Kristoff stood and Anna could just barely make out his naked form as he moved through the room.   He found his shirt discarded by the door and slipped it over his head. 

“Any idea where my pants ended up?” he asked. 

“Um, the hallway, I think.”

Kristoff opened the partially closed bedroom door and left the room.  “Oh yeah, here’s my underwear too,” he called from the hall.

Anna chuckled and started to find her own clothing.  It was brighter in the hall with the dim light coming in from the kitchen windows, and she dressed quickly to find Kristoff dressed and standing in her living room, staring out the sliding glass windows to her little balcony.

“Looks like it’s pretty socked in,” he commented.  “What do you want to do?”

Anna walked over to him and spied her phone on the end table.  She tapped the screen and was a little surprised it was already just about seven.  The hockey game was set to start at eight.  And since they still didn’t have any power, she had a suggestion.

“How about we walk to the Pub anyway.  Maybe they have power on that block, then we can eat there and catch the game.”

Kristoff turned towards her and pulled her into an embrace.  “Sounds amazing,” he said, and leaned over to kiss her. 

-----

Their team was winning by three goals when neither of them seemed to be able to ignore what was building up between them again.  They paid their tab hastily and started to walk back to Anna’s.  The sky opened up again about half way there.

Apparently, they forgot all about the umbrella they’d walked to the Pub with.

As soon as the door was shut behind them, Anna plunged her hands into his damp hair, pulling his lips tighter against hers.  Her need for him was immense. 

They undressed each other in a mindless fervor when some sense came into Anna’s head that they were naked, going at it in full view from her living room window.  She mentioned something between his kisses and then all of the sudden she was airborne in his arms as he carried her quickly down the hall and threw her on the bed.  He stood there looking at her for a moment with adoration, then he was on her an instant later, and Anna eagerly awaited what was to come.

“You do have tattoos,” he muttered as he kissed down her neck.

“Huh?” she asked, not understanding why he’d said that.

He pulled his head up and stared at her a second.  “What did I say?”

“You stated… that I had tattoos.”

He smirked.  “Well, you do.”

“You didn’t see them the first time?”

He chuckled low.  “No, actually, I missed them.  Too distracted by other things.”

“So, it was something you were wondering?”

He grinned.  “That, and other things.”

“What kind of other things?”

He hummed as he started kissing her shoulder.  “If you had any piercings.”

“You must have at least noticed that I don’t.  Except my ears.”

He laughed and spoke against her shoulder.  “That I did notice.”

“What else?”

“How many freckles were on your body.”  He shifted and kissed his way down between, then onto her breasts.

“Quite a few,” she sighed, as he took his time.

“I know,” he mumbled.  “I intend to kiss them all.”

Jesus Christ the things this man could do to her.  “I wondered things about you too.” 

“Such as?” he asked, taking a break to look up at her.

“Well, pretty similar things.  I didn’t really wonder about any piercings per se.  You don’t seem like the type.”

“Yeah, I’m definitely not.”  He kissed her body again.

“I was a little surprised you don’t have any tattoos.”

His head came up.  “Not yet.”

“You’re not opposed to them?”

He shook his head.  “Not at all.  Just haven’t found anything I felt warranted inking on my skin.”  His head went down to kiss her and he brought it back up quickly and smiled.  “Yet.” 

Anna hummed happily and curled her fingers up into his hair as he resumed kissing past her belly button towards the part of her that was throbbing. “I did picture you naked about a hundred times as well,” she admitted. 

“I hope I didn’t disappoint,” me muttered against the skin right above her aching desire. 

“Oh definitely not!  I was quite delighted actually, and… sat… satis…. Oh God.”

He put his mouth exactly where she wanted it and words left her mind as her body lit up with pleasure.

---

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

[supernova5321]

Bright future for Taurus

Venus infuses beauty into your chart. You must shine. Literally. Swarovski stones and all sorts of glitter on clothes, bags and hats. All sorts of cool rings. Through all this, the most important energy seeps into your life.

When you spend money on beautiful things, you stimulate the work of Venus, and she, in turn, attracts new resources. Cash can circulate easily and quickly in your pockets. To get good luck in love and work, you need to pump up Venus. Dress up (specifically). Go to master classes in drawing or clay modeling, for example... Draw. Venus will really like slow, unhurried and pleasant actions aimed at achieving an excellent result.

Secondly, she loves to enjoy the tastes. Go to a nice restaurant or cook dinner with your favorite dishes. Try to feel the full depth of taste of food. Another Venusian principle is relaxation and unhurriedness. Think about how you can revise your schedule to leave more time for ordinary idleness.

Choose clothes, think over your own image. Make your workplace beautiful By nature, you can manifest yourself as a practitioner. You have every opportunity to avoid poverty even in the most difficult times. Learn to appreciate and enjoy everyday comfort, coziness and luxury - strive for exquisite furniture, expensive accessories, beautiful interiors. Only in such conditions will you feel calm and stable. You have simple financial prudence, don't let it turn into greed. You have many opportunities and ways to get money, and just as many temptations to waste it.

And of course you need to be able to communicate with the highest strata of society, because you understand their motives. Success awaits you in public affairs. Improve your surroundings. Make influential friends. Try to benefit from everywhere: useful contacts, patrons, commercial transactions... Studying art, marketing, financial investments, dancing, clothing and jewelry design is useful. Innate sales skills can be the key to developing the sphere of love. Namely, to bring acquaintances and meetings with potentially wonderful partners, and then it’s up to you: whether you accept the gift of fate or not...

Never allow anyone to impose someone else’s way of behavior and thinking on you; it will never correspond to your own views. Do everything your own way and to the fullest. You have every right to do this. At the moment of your birth, a “warm place” was prepared for you. But you, like all of us, will have to go through the school of life and learn self-control before the fanfare sounds in your honor. You will certainly be accompanied by material and social success, and possibly a very high position.

Start with self-discipline. You may really miss her sometimes. You shouldn't be lazy and lower your goals. It can suck you in and make your goals impossible. Of course, this can be said to every person. But you have a real weak point, because of which everything will go down the drain. This means that, in principle, it’s generally impossible for you to do anything, despite the fact that you are always able to. Always be sure that the world will appreciate you what you deserve. This will allow you to save your personal energy and not waste it. If you truly love what you do, you will become an expert at your craft. And an excellent professional.

You must have many well-deserved awards. And you will always have something to be proud of.

*The article was published based on an individual natal chart.

💌 order a natal chart: Olgamoiseeva25102006@gmail.com

👉synastry (compatibility with partner) 👉forecasts for the year. 👉forecasts for the day 👉monthly forecasts 👉children's horoscope. 👉analysis of a difficult situation Thank you all for your comments!🖐️

[amr-jayprakash]

Home office furniture is used for seating, installing computer systems, and storing files and documents. It is commonly used by the employees, students, professionals, and entrepreneurs for the purpose of reading, writing, operating desktops/laptops, attending online meetings and lectures, and storing files. Furthermore, the home office furniture has witnessed rapid growth in recent years, in line with the growth in the global economy and subsequent demand for work from home. Demand for versatile and multi-functional products further offers portability and can easily be accommodated in small spaces, which drives the growth of the home office furniture market. Rise in number of nuclear families fuels the demand for portable and space-saving products. This factor is anticipated to drive the demand for the market growth in the forthcoming years.