I wantedto text more but set my phone down and forced myself away from it. I had instincts, and if they really were daddy instincts they were telling me not to push too hard. Not to rush. But damn I wanted to rush.
A lot of men I’d been out with hated foreplay and edging. But the kink community had that behavior mastered. They lived to tease. It was part of the play. I wasn’t against it. Why it had never led to more permanent relationships for me, I didn’t know. Teasing, playing, edging. It could open oneself to an intimacy that complemented eager desire. Intimacy led to trust.
As for falling in love, it didn’t obey any rules. People fell for the wrong ones often. Love like that didn’t pick and choose. It was almost as if the universe did the picking for you. I’d heard of people falling in love from one glance across a crowded room. That had never happened to me.
Until now. For me, this whole thing had started when I’d looked through the littles room window. I could’ve walked right by. I could’ve followed Charles.
I was glad I didn’t.
My house smelled good.Fresh from the cleaning. Savory from the cooking smells. I was steaming up the kitchen.
I’d taken a half-day at work in order to prepare. I decided to serve spaghetti with a tossed salad and garlic bread. It was easy and the least chance I could get it wrong.
In the fridge I had all kinds of fruit. I’d bought Cheerios. In my freezer I had a box of some kind of Snickers ice cream bar treat. Plus, frozen chicken nuggets and hot dogs. I operated on a notion that my dream for this night wouldn’t be our last.
On the counter, my phone dinged.
Caught in a little traffic.Be there soon.
Drive safe.
My throat and chest tightened.I did a little hop to the stove and put on a pot of water to boil.
Nervously, I kept checking the window by my door. It was just now six o’clock but still light out. By the fifth time I checked I got lucky. His car was pulling into my long driveway.
I waited until he was about to knock and opened it. His fist bumped air.
“Hi. I just saw you drive up. Come on in.”
As he stepped in, I leaned down to give him a hug.
He walked right into me and hugged me hard, his cheek pressing my chest. I heard him sigh softly.
Check. So far so good. That instinct paid off.
I hugged him tighter before reluctantly letting go.
“Let me take your sweater.”
“Okay.” He sloughed it off and handed it to me to hang up.
As he stepped forward into the living room, his eyes were big, his mouth slightly open. “Wow, you have a really nice place.”
“Thanks.”
“It smells great.” He sniffed twice. “Spaghetti?”
“Yep.”
“I was hoping. I’ve been craving it ever since we texted about food.”
“Good. I love spaghetti, too. Want to come help?”
“Sure. Your living room is awesome.” He moved through it while I watched him.
A silly smile curved my lips. I had no control over it.
I was proud of my house. My job paid well and I enjoyed the openness of it, the big yards, and the extra space including two guest rooms, a home gym, and my den which was more like an office. But I rarely used it. My favorite place to work was my breakfast nook. I loved it. It looked out over the backyard where I had a lot of fruit trees and a patio and, of course, a pool.
