Can closets explode? Stella's sure did.<br/><br/>Surrounded by just about every garment she owned Stella bemoaned, in yes... stereotypical female fashion, the fact that she had nothing to wear. It was really more of a series of wails, but who wants to get pedantic about something like that.<br/><br/>'OK' how about we start at the lingerie and bathing suit, and take it from there,' said the devil and pointed a diminutive finger tipped with a perfectly painted, black lacquered nail - and was that a tiny flame painted on it ? at the mess of bras and panties at the foot of the bed.<br/><br/>'Of course you'll go for that,' scoffed angel, 'why don't we work our way in, look at those fantastic leggings over there and ...'<br/><br/>'....sure, pair them with her nice cotton granny panties. No, no noooo, this won't do, angel, she needs to be Stella, but ... well, sexier without seeming as though she's trying too hard.'<br/><br/>With a wail, Stella flopped face down onto the piles of clothes on her bed, and screamed into the piles of clothing. Then she lay still for a while, noticing how her chin and forehead had landed in the cups of one of her bras.  Dignified she was not.<br/><br/>"He's used to bombshells who are good at dressing", she moaned, "my style can best be described as frumpy?"  Of course Stella knew perfectly well that while she was fairly simple in terms of style and could definitely make more effort, she was far from frumpy.<br/><br/>'oh no darling', corrected angel, 'he's used to bombshells who are used to being handed the right kind of clothes.'<br/><br/>That was also true.<br/><br/>Stella straightened up and picked up a set of underwear  which she had once bought in a fit of misguided romantic notion, paired with a bra which was really more of a corset which went partway down the torso and was laced together. The bodice was a lovely cream fabric and the cups were lacy, letting the natural color of the skin below shine through in a most delectable way. She placed that in the carry on which so far had lain empty on the floor. Well, empty save for a large cat which gave her decidedly dark looks. "shoo, cat," said the red haired woman and upended the cat out of the carry on. Tesla hissed his displeasure and stalked off and jumped onto the dining table just to make a point, he knew fully well he wasn't allowed up there.<br/><br/>Stella's phone chirped an incoming text and she saw that it was Anton. He was asking her about anything she wanted him to get.<br/><br/><i>omyfreakinggoodnessthisisreallyhappeniiiiiiiiinnnnggggg</i><br/><br/>Stella sent a reply and went back to packing. She took her best stuff, her positively scandalous black satin underwear set, and a delightful dark peachy coral sort of thing which was cute, and playful and sexy. But yes, cotton bikinis and bras went in there as well. They had four nights, after all, and underpacking was not her MO. He did say he was taking the company van so, it stood to reason that there was plenty of space?<br/><br/>The phone chirped again and it was...<br/><br/>Peter<br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">Hey gorgeous, can I take you out for dinner?</span><br/><br/><br/><span style="font-family:Calligraffitti">Sorry, Peter, I am heading out of town. And honestly I am still trying to figure stuff out.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">Please don't make any decisions until<br/>
I have had a chance to sweep you off to Paris</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family:Calligraffitti"> We'll see. The thing with me and Anton has been going on for a long time now.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">Ah, there is hope for me after all, if it had been<br/>
meant to be, then it would have happened already</span><br/><br/>Stella had never looked at it from his point of view. Was he right?  But she knew she wouldn't miss this trip with Anton for the world. She stared at the phone though, deep in thought.  They had such a connection though. Didn't they? Well, in some ways yes, in some.... not really. She and Peter had had some very intimate conversations and yes, she could not deny that there was an attraction between them, and a connection. Forged through him though. He was skillful that way.<br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">You still there?</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family:Calligraffitti"> Uh yeah, packing.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">Keep something special for me.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family:Calligraffitti">Peter! I'll have you know that I... never mind.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">You're not that kind of girl?;)<br/>
 Stella, you owe neither me nor any man an<br/>
explanation or apology for what you do or don't do.</span><br/><br/>And there he was again. So freaking perfect.  Why hadn't she meet him a few weeks before bumping into Anton?<br/><br/>Damned cats!<br/><br/><span style="font-family:Calligraffitti">   OK, I gotta go now. I assume you'll<br/>
																									   know when I'll be back.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">You make it sound like I am stalking you.<img alt=":cool:" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite6" data-shortname=":cool:" loading="lazy" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" title="Cool    :cool:"/></span><br/><br/><span style="font-family:Calligraffitti">Aren't you?</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">Only a little....:p</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family:Calligraffitti">  Byeeeeeeee</span><br/><br/>Stella resolutely put the phone down and went to packing. Two carry ons later she was ready. She had never mastered the art of packing light, and there was after all, a van ready for her stuff. She grabbed her knitting bag and popped it on top of the two small suitcases, and then got a bag ready with food, cat treats, litter box, and looked around for Tesla. The large cat was no where to be seen.<br/><br/>"Cat, come on Mr. Wubblebutt."<br/><br/>Mr. Wubblebutt declined the invitation and did not appear.<br/><br/>"Don't you want to go to Lics?"<br/><br/>The aforementioned cat looked out from under sofa. How on earth had he fit under there? "You're going to spend five glorious days with Lics, Tesla, come on out. No cat carrier needed for you."<br/><br/>The door bell rang as if on cue.<br/><br/>"It's Anton, Tesla, Anton!"<br/><br/>Stella opened the door and blocked the view of her stuff with her body and broad smile, not sure if that was going to be enough though.<br/><br/>"Hi," she said, suddenly a little breathless, and stood on tiptoes to kiss him. "I'm ready. I think."