By the time Carol stepped into her condo it was already after 12. She quickly called Alex to let him know she would still be there. They were meeting for coffee at her favourite little cafe at 3pm and then going to watch the sunset off the local pier. She expected he might ask her to dinner after, but now that she had plans with Daryl it was off the table. Luckily, being the winter months, sunset was early enough she should have plenty of time to get home and change for dinner. Her dog Cookie had greeted her eagerly at the door. After giving him some puppy love and making her phone call she decided she should take him for a walk before she got ready to leave.
The pup was full of energy, even though she had someone who came by to let him out, feed him and take him for walks when she was away. He obviously missed her too and Carol felt a pang of guilt that she was leaving him alone again for most of the afternoon and evening.
She took him to the dog park so he could run around. Carol watched him jump and play with a big yellow lab for a few minutes before she allowed her mind to drift back to the night before. The image of Daryl masturbating was burned into her brain and Carol still could not believe she had admitted she had done the same in his bed. She couldn't even believe she had actually done it to begin with. She had fallen asleep right after he left but when she almost squished the cat she couldn't get herself back to sleep. She couldn't stop thinking about their kiss and the feel of his strong hands intertwined with her own above her head. Or the way he had pressed his body so firmly against her that she could feel how ready he was. Just thinking about it had made her so crazy with desire she had slipped off her pants and slid a hand inside her underwear. Carol had imagined it was his hand touching her, feeling her slick and wet, and making her come.
The memory made her flush and she quickly remembered she was out in public. She tried to refocus on Cookie playing with his new friends but she couldn't help but think about that morning. It took every bit of acting skill she had to not let on that she remembered everything that had happened. And it took a great deal more skill to put the desire to kiss him again out of her mind. Carol wasn't sure how dinner was going to go. Perhaps some time apart for the afternoon would allow her senses to return.
It was kind of amusing that Daryl had answered the phone when Alex called. Carol was sure she had detected just a tiny hint of jealousy, which, coming from a man who could easily have any woman he wanted, was also amusing. She didn't read too much into it though. She actually figured it was more about someone interrupting the plans he had, than jealousy.
Carol whistled and Cookie obediently came trotting back to her. She hooked up his leash and they walked home. She had just enough time to get ready and head to the cafe to meet Alex.
She hadn't seen him in a long time and they had a lot of catching up to do. Carol was thankful for the distraction even though it still took a great deal of effort to give him her full attention.
Watching the sunset wasn't the big romantic moment it sounded like, though it was kinda their thing. Alex was a good friend and every time he came to town they hooked up. Their day always seemed to end with watching the sunset so they just made it part of their plan. They had only been intimate once. Unfortunately, it had been the last time he was in town and Carol hoped he wasn't expecting it to happen again.
Alex walked her up to say good night. He lingered at the doorway after she unlocked the door. "So are you seeing anyone right now?" he asked.
"Yes," she lied, not wanting to give him any hope that he was coming inside.
"Figured that. Must be the guy who answered your phone this morning," he smiled at her. "Lucky, lucky man."
Carol didn't correct him, she simply let Alex kiss her cheek and promise to let her know when he'd be back in town. When he was gone she shut the door and checked her watch. It was 8 already, which only left her an hour to get ready and be at Daryl's place by 9.
She debated whether a second shower was a good idea or waste of valuable time. Carol opted to jump in and have a fast one. The good thing about short hair was how quick it could be done. And she wore fairly subtle make up, so that was fast as well.
Carol questioned everything she put on from her bra and panties to the low cut top and long skirt she chose. The accessories at least were easy; that was her area of expertise. Several necklaces, dangly earrings, and a couple bangle bracelets later and she was ready. She reached for her car keys, she loved driving at night. But she changed her mind and set them down, opting for a cab. Chances were there would be alcohol with dinner, there always was with Daryl. They had many a night with shots of whiskey, wine like the night before, and even a memorable evening with a bottle of tequila.
With the memory of all those nights and how easy and fun they had been she couldn't figure out why she was so nervous about meeting Daryl for dinner. We're friends, she reminded herself. We've been friends for years, nothing's changed... Other than the fact that we've kissed, and he's touched my boobs, and I walked in on him jerking off, and I told him what I did in his bed, and he saw me in my underwear... Carol sighed and wondered how the hell she was going to convince herself nothing had changed.
She went downstairs to meet the cab and by 855 she was in the lobby of Daryl's building. She walked up to the security desk. "Hi, can you let Mr. Dixon know that Carol is here?" The security guard made the call and nodded to her to go ahead. She took a deep breath and stepped onto the elevator.
Daryl was waiting, leaning in the door frame. She took a minute to appreciate his beauty. He wore a simple light grey button down with a pair of jeans and bare feet. His muscular arms were crossed in front of him and he was smiling. Carol had always admired how wide his shoulders were in contrast to his narrow hips. There was something so appealing about that v-shape on a man and Daryl displayed it perfectly.
"Hey," she said, brushing past him and heading inside. She took off her boots and opted to removed her socks as well. Carol adored being barefoot and since Daryl had already set the precedence she just went with it.
He always greeted her with a kiss on the cheek and this time she was sure he lingered, much longer than usual. Carol decided the second shower was definitely a good idea. She knew she smelled great. But so did he and the scent of his light cologne stayed with her for a long time.
Carol was pleasantly surprised at the set up. He had a table set for 2 with candles flickering in the middle and a bottle of champagne on ice off to one side. She loved bubbly, and didn't get it nearly as often as she would have liked. Leaving the car at home was also a great idea.
"Hey, it's almost ready but can you go put on a CD while I finish up?" he asked.
"Sure," Carol replied, heading into the living room to scan his vast collection. She smiled at the wide variety and eclectic artists displayed before her. Many of them she had never heard of and many of them surprised her. Carol opted for Nora Jones, something she knew was soft and subtle. Good dinner music for sure.
Daryl appeared as she hit play. "It's ready," he said. Carol studied his face, she knew he liked to cook but had no idea how good he was. He seemed pretty confident in his abilities as usual.
"Oh my god, this is amazing," she exclaimed after taking a bite of the pasta dish he had prepared. After he held her chair and she sat down, Daryl had popped the cork on the champagne and then served them a small salad to start. He brought the main course out next, butternut squash ravioli in a maple brown butter sauce. "Did you really make this?" she said, trying not to hurt his feelings by sounding too shocked.
Daryl took a sip from his glass and nodded. "From scratch," he added after swallowing.
"Wow, I'm impressed. Thank god you lost the bet or we could be eating Chinese takeout from the container at my house," she joked. Carol was a fairly good cook but nothing she made compared to what he had cooked.
After the main course they weren't ready for dessert yet, so they retired to the living room to relax. She noticed that Daryl had actually sat still through most of dinner, which was unusual. He was always moving around. But it meant he had a lot of energy to burn afterwards and it started with him talking. Not just chatting, but talking in the excited, exuberant way that made him so captivating to interview.
"Ok, so true story," Daryl said, plunking down beside her. He was facing her and their knees were touching. "I was at the grocery store this afternoon and a fan comes running up. So I'm all like, here we go with the usual I love you, can I get a picture, follow me on twitter thing." He kept touching her leg as he told the story. It was typical Daryl, but for some reason she was far more aware of it than usual. "But no, she like peeks in my cart and then looks me straight in the eye and says, you cooking dinner for Carol?"
"Oh my God," Carol snorted.
"I know right?" he continued. "So once I like picked my jaw up off the floor I said bye and took off." She was laughing at the picture he was describing for her. "But there's more. I get home and I'm relaxing for a bit so I go on Tumblr and seriously, check this out..." Daryl pulled out his phone, tapped the screen a couple times and handed it to her.
Carol read the blog: Oh my God you guys, I ran into DD at the supermarket today, holy shit he's hot! Anyway, I asked if he was cooking dinner for CP and he turned beet red and pretty much ran away! Caryl2 is sooooo on! They are totally banging!
She snickered and looked at him. "Why do they all think that, when we're totally not?" Carol said, mocking the post slightly.
Daryl slid back a bit and reached for her foot. He took it in his lap and started to massage it. She relaxed immediately and sighed. He really could do some amazing things with those hands. "Could be the googlie eyes you give me when we're in public," he teased her.
"Yeah, okay," she gave him a little kick with her foot. "Maybe it's got something to do with face licking and putting my earring in your mouth," Carol shot back.
"Well those are two very good possibilities," he admitted, continuing his amazing foot rub. He motioned for the other foot and she obliged. Daryl slid her skirt up to her knee and started with her calf first, working his way down. It felt heavenly and Carol closed her eyes, quit
talking and just enjoyed his touch.
When his hands started to work their way back up her calf and stray up past her knee Carol's eyes flew open. "Um, so I noticed you have a Garth Brooks CD in your collection. Didn't take you as the country type," she stammered, trying to make conversation and distract from his magical touch, which was definitely in the thigh region now.
"Oh yeah, not really, but some girls don't respond to Marvin Gaye or Lionel Ritchie. Besides," he chuckled. "There's a song on there that's a real pantie dropper. It's called The Red Strokes."
Carol gasped, "I love that song." She wasn't much of a country fan herself but her taste was diverse and Garth was quite legendary.
Daryl finally released her leg. "Wanna hear it? We can dance?" He was already jumping up to switch CDs and Carol was pretty sure she had no choice. It wasn't that she didn't want to dance with him. But they would be dancing to a song he just referred to as a "pantie dropper" and after the night before she really didn't need any encouragement. The piano interlude was playing as he returned and reached for her hand.
Daryl pulled her tight. He held her one hand in his own, tucked in close to their bodies and the other rested low on her back. She had her other hand lightly against his chest. She was pretty sure he was one of those guys who was just good at everything and dancing was no exception. The first couple lines of the song always got to her, "Moonlight on canvas, midnight and wine, two shadow starting to softly combine." As she swayed in his arms to lyrics like those Carol felt something scary wash over her. It was like a wave of passion that she knew she couldn't control if it were challenged.
Her heart was hammering in her chest and she was screaming at herself not to look up. But she couldn't stop herself. When she met his eyes she was lost. It was game over on her end. If he acted there was no way she was stopping him. Maybe if the song ended, she would snap out of it. But she had to survive another 2 minutes first.
Daryl spoke and it helped calm her for a moment. "So how was your date?"
"It wasn't really a date," she replied. "Just coffee and a walk on the pier for sunset."
"Hmm, sounds pretty romantic," he snorted. Carol was sure she heard that tiny edge of jealousy again. "Did you..." he cut himself off. "Nevermind."
Carol stopped dancing, "were you asking if I slept with him?" She couldn't believe he would even think about asking that. "I don't think it's any of your business..." She started off snippy but one look at his face and she calmed down. He looked genuinely sorry. "But if you must know, I said goodbye at my door and immediately started primping to meet you." Jesus Christ, why did I say that? Carol thought.
"Good," he said simply, though there may have been a smugness there as well. Daryl pulled her back into his arms to finish their dance.
When the music ended they stayed there a little longer in each other's arms. Carol made the mistake of looking up again and this time there was no denying the want in his eyes. Before she had a chance to look away, or speak, his lips were on hers. Daryl kissed her tenderly, with a great deal of restraint that she certainly did not have. But she somehow found enough of her own to just let him lead. His hand slid down her back and rested on her ass, though he didn't squeeze or rub it, he simply let his hand linger there and it was far more tantalizing than she thought possible.
The kiss remained slow and gentle, even when his tongue slid into her mouth. The taste of sweet champagne lingered and she drank it in. Daryl moved from her lips to place gentle kisses along her collarbone to her neck. He nipped lightly and kissed her neck, tasting her skin with his tongue. That fucking tongue is going to be the death of me, she thought.
As quickly as it had all happened, it was over. He pulled away with a grin that left her unable to move for what felt like an hour. "Dessert?" he asked.
Carol nodded. It was the best she could do at the time. Once he left the room she regained her composure. He was teasing her and Daryl thought he had the upper hand. He had for a moment, but she was stubborn.
When he returned with dessert a grin spread across her face. Strawberries and whipped cream. This was going to work just perfectly.