“You can just wait out here for me,” I said as I stepped onto the pavement.
He nodded and just stood outside the door. I walked in and looked around; there was not a single person in sight, though I didn’t expect there to be. But I also didn’t see Dash either. I walked deeper into the restaurant, and I saw him sitting in the back under low lights, at a singular table in a room that had been cleared for just us.
When I entered, he looked up from his phone and stood.
“You’re early; I wasn’t expecting you already. I would’ve been there to meet you.” He said, smiling, and then pulled me into a hug.
“It’s fine. But you just leave the doors unlocked like that?” I questioned.
“I’m not worried.” He laughed as he kissed me on my cheek.
Dash is a handsome guy; he looked like the most wholesome guy you’d ever want to meet. He’s about 5’10, clean-cut, no tattoos, good manners, and always smiling. He even had one dimple when he smiled that I thought was adorable. But unlike Corey, his safety wasn’t boring. He was amazing in conversation and very cultured. I could make jokes that he understood, and we liked a lot of the same things.
The only downfall with him was that I had definitely friend-zoned him. He felt like a good time, but nothing more. This was our third date, and it always felt like two friends shooting the shit. I don’t know if he could be a romantic interest, and I don’t think I want to know.
“Don’t sit down. We’re going to the kitchen.” He said.
I raised my eyebrows and then looked at him. He laughed. I am not the person to be in anyone’s kitchen. I have about ten recipes that can ‘wow’ you, but after that it was downhill.
“Dash.”
“Come on…” He insisted, disregarding my hesitation and still grabbing me by my hand to go to the back of the restaurant.
When we made it back there. Everything was spotless. There were gadgets everywhere, and I didn’t know what they were used for or why.
When it all boiled down, he said that we were going to cook our own dinner. He gave me an apron and a hat and told me to put them on. Then said he was going to guide me into making a three-course meal. I wanted to give him so much pushback on it. I wanted to tell him that I don’t come on dates to do manual labor. But I thought it was a super creative, very thoughtful moment, and I like a man I could learn from. So, I bit my tongue and then let him guide me.
“Cut these for me,” he said as he pushed some bell peppers and scallions toward me.
I didn’t object; I just started cutting them.
“Don’t hold it like that; that’s how you get cut. Hold it like this.” He said while he showed me how to properly hold the knife.
“I’m a lefty; I cannot do that.” I joked.
He abandoned his task, then came up behind me and guided me. He was close, way closer than he’d ever been. My butt was pressed against his front, and there was no mistaking the reaction that he had to it.
Then he kissed my exposed shoulder and went back to his task.
“You got it?” He asked.
“No.” I teased. We both erupted into laughter.
Once the food was in the oven and cooking, he went to dessert. He moved around the kitchen with ease, giving directions and showing me how to whip the ingredients.
“For a beginner, you have to taste the batter. Once you’ve done it, it’ll just come naturally.” He coached.
I grabbed the spoon, shook a little on my fingertip, and tasted it.
“Ohhh, that’s good, but I’m not a chef. You taste it.” I offered as I extended the spoon toward him.
He declined to take it. “I want to taste it off you.” He said.
For a second, our energy was charged in a way it had never been before. Here I was saying that I didn’t want to go past the friend zone, but he was making me reconsider.
I leaned against the counter, took the batter, rubbed it on the top of my breast, then looked back at him. The ball was in his court. He placed his hands on either side of me and then leaned down and licked it clean. He didn’t stop there, though. His kiss went from the top of my breast to the center of my cleavage. His tongue slid slowly between both my breasts. Then he came back up and grabbed my hips and sucked on my neck.
I moaned and then pushed him away.
