“I just wanted one more morning with you before you started filming. We won't have much time after today.”
Alfie was supportive about my new project for Imani, proud even, but he would always be nervous about anything that pulled me away. I put down the frying pan and wrapped my arms over his shoulders, pressing my naked body up against him.
“You know it’s only for a month, right? I’m still going to be around, just busier than usual. I’m hardly going to forget about you.”
“I’d be harder to forget if you had my ring on your finger.”
Ownership. Alfie had a thing about ownership. About planting his flag on something and saying ‘this is mine.’ The ring he’d bought for me sat in the safe at his house, waiting until I had the guts to tell Keira and Natalie I was taking a chance on a man who had put me through hell not once, but twice. My gran would have a fit if she were alive to see this.
“Ring or no ring, I’m still yours.”
“Just not legally,” he muttered. I was hoping that my finally agreeing to move in with him would have assuaged his insecurity but apparently not. “Forget it for now. Is this breakfast salvageable? I wanted to do something nice.”
“I appreciate that.” I surveyed the ingredients he’d bought.“It looks like someone puked up a McDonald’s breakfast in here.”
“A what?” He raised his scarred brow at me.
“Never mind. Why didn’t you just order breakfast like usual?”
“Riley said I ought to make it myself. I told him it was a stupid idea. He knows I can’t cook.” This wasn’t a surprise to me. Alfie had been waited on his whole life.
“Riley said?” Riley and my sister's relationship had been going strong for a while now and they had somewhat mended fences with Alfie after finding out what he’d done to me. I was glad Riley was talking to him again.
“Yes, so I did some research.” He showed me his phone. There was a paused youtube tutorial on the screen.
“You had to look up how to make toast?” I tried not to laugh.
“Like I said, it was a stupid idea.” He tossed his phone onto the counter like he was disgusted with himself. Then he turned to me, pulling me closer. “I can be smart in other ways.” My body responded to his touch immediately, I flushed and pressed myself up against him. The soft cotton of his shirt rubbed against my nipples creating a friction that sent a tingle directly between my legs.
It didn’t please me though. “Alfie, whatever mental beating you’re giving yourself, just stop. You burnt sausages, it’s not a big deal. You aren’t a disappointment.” I stepped away. I didn’t want him to see how angry I was with his fucked up family for making him such a perfectionist that he couldn’t burn breakfast without feeling like a failure and trying to fix it with sex.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to get dressed then I’m going to show you how to make breakfast.”
Alfie curved his hand around my naked body, bending slightly to squeeze my bottom. “Not a chance, O’Connell. It’s too early for clothes.’
“You’re wearing clothes.” He looked like he was on his way to work, all he was missing was his waist coat, tie and jacket. This man was in serious need of sweatpants.
“I’ll clarify. It’s too early foryouto be wearing clothes.”
“Ah, okay. Well, lets’ see how long you stick with that when I’m frying bacon and the fat spits at me and burns my bare breasts.” I grinned in triumph as his brows knitted together in defeat.
“Fine.” He pulled his shirt over his head and handed it to me. I put it on and stuck my nose in the collar, revelling in the scent of him.
“So, what are you going to make?” His eyes roamed over me, obviously enjoying the sight of me in his shirt. I don’t know what it was about wearing your man’s shirt that felt so good. There was just something equally safe and sexy about it. It was like being wrapped up in him. A portable Alfie Tell.
“Bacon and egg sandwiches à la Lo.” I tell him with a grin. “You’ll like them.”
“What do I do?”
“Sit there and look pretty?” I joked, my smile widening as his scowl deepened. “Okay, um…” I looked at the array of ingredients. “Can you grate parmesan?” I handed him the cheese and the grater.
I placed the bacon in a fresh pan to fry and watched Alfie out of the corner of my eye as he negotiated the cheese and the grater.
I wondered if it ever occurred to him how vulnerable he was, how ill equipped for life if he ever happened to lose his money. He might be older than me and more worldly in so many ways, but I was completely self-sufficient. I knew how to cook, pay bills, wire a plug, fit a washing machine and change a lightbulb. Without Elliot and the rest of his minions to take care of his every need, Alfie would be as lost as a five year old.
“So, what exactly were you trying to make?” I gestured at the destroyed kitchen. It looked like he’d just opened everything and thrown random ingredients into bowls to see what happened.
