This is the third chapter and it really needs the first two to set up. Still no sex, but we're getting there!
Ake -
Surely I didn't hear what I thought I just heard.
"Your place?"
"Sure, unless you'd rather go hit a diner or something?"
He said it so nonchalantly and I was sure he couldn't hear my heart hammering away in my chest.
"No, no of course not. Your place would be great."
What the hell was I doing?! His place would certainly not be ok!
Calm down, he's just being friendly. It doesn't mean anything!
"Excellent. I'm not the greatest cook, but I've mostly stopped burning things, so it should be alright." he said with a smirk.
"Well you're in luck because I am a great cook. Do you have everything you need for a good breakfast, or do we need to stop somewhere?"
Dan -
"Depends what you're thinking, I guess. I've got most of the normal breakfast stuff. We'll make do, c'mon."
Without waiting for a response, I put my helmet and gloves on and started my bike. I waited for Ake to nod before pulling out and driving the rest of the way to my house. Once again I stopped on the driveway to fish out my garage door opener before pulling in and parking.
"You can park it in the driveway or in the shop, either one. I'm pretty isolated here, so your stuff won't get molested."
Ake nodded and opted to just leave his things on his bike. I shed my riding gear and, wearing just a set of long underwear of clinging wool and my wool socks, I walked into the house. Ake pulled off his riding gear as well. He was wearing a pair of tights and a tight athletic long sleeve shirt. Both showed off his fit, if petite, figure quite well.
"Bathroom's here." I said, pointing to the closed door, "There are towels if you want to grab a quick shower."
Without waiting for a response, I strode into the kitchen.
"Breads are there, next to the vegetables and such. Spices are in that cabinet, eggs over in that container since I'm fortunate enough to get them fresh from down the road, and meat proteins in the fridge. I think I have both bacon and sausage."
"This is a lovely home, Dan. And such an incredible location. If you don't mind my asking, where does your property end?"
Ake was looking out the patio door. I walked over behind him and reached over his shoulder to gesture while I spoke.
"Just along that tree line in the back and it butts up to a stream on the right. That's all state land, so I won't have neighbors there. And my other neighbors are about five or six acres that way."
Ake -
I could feel Dan's presence behind and over me, especially when he reached from behind to point out his property line. I could smell him, too. Wood smoke from the campfire, sure, but underneath a strong essence of what could only be described as 'him'. I almost felt like I was going to swoon, though he stepped away as quickly as he moved behind me.
He's just being friendly!
"Coffee? Beer? Bloody Mary?" Dan asked.
"Oh, umm, I think just water for now, thank you. Where are your pans, cutting boards and utensils?"
Dan showed me where things were, helping me get the specific items I asked for, while I considered the ingredients available, Dan grabbed a glass and filled it with ice and water before setting it on the counter in front of me. He then filled and started the coffee pot before pulling out the ingredients and whipping up the mix for what I assumed was his bloody Mary.
I pulled together some vegetables, eggs and sausage. I figured a simple scramble with toast would suit. This was, after all, just a casual breakfast and didn't mean anything, right? Simple was best.
Dan was busy with a cocktail shaker in one hand while he reached into a cupboard for a pint glass. He filled it up, put in a dash of something else before checking the shaker in his hand. He shrugged, grabbed down a smaller glass and filled it with the remaining liquid from the shaker.
After another dash of whatever it was, he set the glass down and slid it next to me. "Here you go, I made too much so you get to finish it."
"I
get
to?"
"Oh yeah. Bloody Mary's are one of the incredibly few drinks I think I've mastered. I hope you like them a bit spicy, though."
They weren't my favorite drink, but I couldn't bring myself to tell him that.
It's tomato juice with alcohol. How is that a "go to" drink in any society?
I sipped at the glass and found it much better than I'd anticipated.
"Good, right?" he said with a smile.
I coughed as the spice he mentioned found its way into the back of my throat. "Yes." I croaked. "Yes, it is, though you're right about the spice!" I said.
He winked at me and walked into another part of his house.
I know I must have blushed slightly, and was glad he'd walked away. I started cutting the vegetables and sausage in separate pans before slicing some fresh bread and dropping it in the toaster. I continued to work, sipping at the drink he'd provided while I worked.
By the time breakfast was almost done cooking, I'd finished the bloody Mary. I turned to get the bread out of the toaster and felt the room wobble. That moment told me two things. One, my low alcohol tolerance managed to get me a buzz off of one small drink, and two, Dan makes his drinks strong!
I put the glass down and focused on finishing cooking our breakfast. Everything was done soon enough, so I opened cupboards until I found the plates. I plated the food and opened drawers until I found the flatware. And then I waited for him to return.
Just a moment later, Dan walked the corner, still pulling on what must have been a clean t-shirt. He was wearing a pair of soccer shorts and that was about it.
"Smells incredible."
I just shrugged. "Pretty simple, but it'll do for breakfast."
We sat at the counter and ate, and talked. When we were done, I started gathering dishes and placing them in the sink.
"Just leave those, I'll get to them later. You cooked, I clean."
"Seems fair."
"You want anything else? Another Bloody Mary? Coffee?"
"I'm good with my water, thanks."
