“Senang bisa membantu,” Intan replied with a warm smile. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. Don’t be strangers to the kitchen or each other.”
Her knowing look didn’t go unnoticed, and my cheeks heated slightly. Onno gave a short, hearty laugh, clearly unfazed by her insinuation.
“Thanks again,” I said. We waved goodbye to the other participants, who were engrossed in chatter about their newfound culinary skills.
It was only a short walk to my house, so we hadn’t bothered to take my truck. Inside, I flicked on the lights, and a warm glow spilled out from the overhead lamps, casting shadows that danced along the walls. With a few strikes of a match, I lit the candles I’d strategically placed around the living room. Their flickering flames gave a softer, more intimate illumination, the faint ocean scent slowly permeating the air.
“Nice touch with the candles.” Onno set our culinary treasures on the table.
“Thought it created the right atmosphere. Same with this.” I clicked on the sound system, and soft music began to play—a gentle acoustic melody that wrapped around us like a comforting blanket.
“Perfect.” Onno turned to me, giving me his radiant smile. The kind of smile that said everything without uttering a single word, that made my stomach do flips, that made my heartbeat stutter. I was so crazy about this man.
Porcelain clinked and napkins rustled as Onno and I set the table, our movements falling into a rhythm that felt as natural as the rise and fall of the tides. I handed him forks and knives, and he placed them beside each plate, his long fingers careful and precise.
“Feels good, doesn’t it? To create something with your hands.” Onno surveyed the spread of dishes we’d prepared.
“Definitely,” I agreed. “But with the right company, it feels even better.”
He treated me to another one of his sweet smiles.
We settled at the table. The tantalizing aroma of spices, coconut, and lemongrass made my mouth water. I’d heated thesatay for a minute. Onno carefully took a bit, closing his eyes, and savored the tender chicken in its rich, fragrant sauce.
“Oh, this turned out really, really well. So much better than store-bought.”
“You have store-bought satay back home?”
“Well, the peanut sauce. We eat that with a lot of other food. Fries, for example. It’s delicious.”
Fries with peanut sauce? I knew the Dutch ate their fries with mayo, which in itself was already interesting, but peanut sauce? I shouldn’t diss it before trying it, but that didn’t sound like an appealing combination.
“I’d love to visit sometime,” I said. “See your home country with my own eyes.”
Shit. Why had I said that? It only reminded me that time was running out on us. Every day together was a bittersweet reminder of our impending goodbye, which came closer and closer.
“I would love to show you all my favorite places.” Onno’s voice sounded hoarse.
“Sweetheart…”
He shook his head. “Don’t. Don’t say it. I can’t bear it.”
Once dinner was over and Onno had loaded the dishwasher with a precision that was true to his character, we settled on the couch with a glass of wine.
“Your place has such a warm vibe,” Onno said, letting his gaze wander over the bookshelves and framed photos of mountain landscapes. He nestled deeper into the cushions, drawing his feet up beneath him in an unconscious display of comfort.
“I was going for cozy.” I tucked a throw pillow behind me for support. “Makes coming home feel like…well, coming home.”
“I have to redecorate my house when I go back. Gerard had specific tastes, and I want it to feel like me now.”
Before, when he’d mention his ex’s name, his face would grow tight, displaying hurt and bitterness, but now he talked about him more neutrally. “I’m proud of you,” I said softly. “You’ve made big strides in your healing process.”
He slowly nodded. “You were a big part of that.”
“I’m grateful I could help, but most of it is you, sweetheart. You’re so much stronger than you give yourself credit for.”
He put down his wine glass and turned to me. “Will you take me to bed?”
I swallowed. In the last week, we’d exchanged more blowjobs but hadn’t done full anal. I was okay with that. Not that I didn’t want it, but the last thing Onno needed was to be put under pressure. “Are you sure?”
