A/N: Hello. I hope life has been treating you kindly. Many thanks to those of you who left me such sweet reviews for Chapter 10. I appreciate you all more than I can express.
Shout-out to Payton79 and Pamela for their help.
CHAPTER 11: DECADENT
"I hope you found the food to your liking, ma'am."
"Oh, yes," Bella gushed to our waitress, making me grin. "It was delicious. Please convey my compliments to the chef."
"Certainly. Is there anything else I could get you? Perhaps one of our specials for dessert. Maybe a slice of our decadent chocolate cream pie?"
Bella turned to me, her eyes narrowed in a wince and her lower lip caught between her teeth. "I really shouldn't, but God, that sounds heavenly!"
I bit the inside of my cheek to hide my smirk before looking at the waitress. "Can we have one slice to share?"
"Of course, sir. I'll bring it out right away." She scuttled away with a smile, and Bella groaned as soon as she was out of hearing range.
"I'm so going to regret this tomorrow."
"You're fine, Bella. It'll be worth it, you'll see."
"Oh, I have no doubt." She snickered. "It has been a while since I treated myself to some chocolaty goodness, so you might have to struggle to get your spoon in there."
My eyes widened. "Seriously? And what do you call that miserable excuse for a coffee you subjected yourself to on Thursday?"
"Comparing a mocha latte to chocolate pie is blasphemy! I could have you arrested, Detective Masen."
"Mocha latte with hazelnut and whipped cream," I pointed out, and she rolled her eyes. "Besides, if you're really that bothered by the calories, I'll help you burn them."
The words were out of my mouth before I could consider their numerous implications, and judging by the gasp that left her lips, she'd had no trouble landing on the most salacious one.
"I was talking about going for a run and then maybe grabbing some healthy breakfast together. But if you're so inclined, I have no problem in trying out whatever it was that has made your face go such a lovely shade of pink."
She recovered quickly and threw me a smug look. "You're the one planning out a second date even before the first one is over. If anyone's getting ahead of themselves here, it's not me." I shrugged, unrepentant, and she went on. "So you're a runner, huh?"
"Yeah, I enjoy it. I stick to my routine of five miles thrice a week, unless work throws a kink in the plans."
"Where do you even find the time?" she demanded. "You spend at least half-an-hour at The Busy Bean every day before work."
"That has only been true since I met you. But, yeah, I go for a jog first, then shower and head out for coffee. I've always been an early riser."
"Ugh." Her nose scrunched up as though my words had offended her. "I'm jealous. I'm not a morning person at all. In fact, I think I'm allergic to mornings. Good morning is the biggest oxymoron in my dictionary."
I shook my head and laughed. "Duly noted."
Our dessert arrived just then. The waitress deposited it with an unnecessary flourish, since Bella was already looking at the plate like it was a long-lost treasure. The rich aroma of chocolate hit my senses a second later, making my mouth water.
We dug in with gusto, and I had to admit—the pie did its description justice. Decadent was just the word I would've used to describe its gooey goodness. Despite Bella's prediction, we managed to have our respective shares without any major scuffle.
When there was just the last bite remaining, I speared it with the fork and held it out. Her eyes locked with mine, she leaned forward to wrap her full lips around the offering. The mere sight of her tongue swiping across the corner of her mouth as she relished the taste was enough to make up for foregoing that final piece. My pants felt a little too tight when she let out a sound that was right in between a sigh and a moan, and I distracted myself by asking for the check.
Once that was settled, we headed out of the restaurant. Bella reached out and took my hand as we walked to the car, and I wasted no time in winding our fingers together.
"I think I'll take you up on that run and breakfast," she told me while I drove. She had leaned her head back to rest against the seat. With her eyes shut, the small smile dancing on her lips gave her an air of contentment. The fact that I'd had a role to play in that sent an inexplicable warmth surging through my veins.
Bella cracked one eye open and peered at me sideways. "Maybe on one of your days off, though. I'm not quite ready to brave the sunrise just yet."
"Sounds good to me." The tone of my voice matched her casual one, though my insides danced at the idea of another date with her.
It wasn't long before we reached her building. I helped her out of the car and let my fingers rest at the small of her back as we walked upstairs. I could hear the soft strains of television floating through the door once we reached her apartment.
She turned to face me. The playfulness that'd lingered between us all evening seemed to dissipate, something deeper taking its place as we looked at each other. Bella's mouth curled up into that coy smile she didn't seem to offer too often and which was well on its way to become my favorite one on her.
"I had a great time," she told me, and it was there in her voice, too—the whispered softness of her words hitting something deep within me, stroking the embers of feelings I was just beginning to understand. The beautiful glow of the blush blooming on her cheeks drew me in like a moth to a flame. I yearned to feel it under my fingertips.
"Me too." I stepped closer, reaching out for her hand, which she didn't hesitate to place in mine. My thumb caressed her knuckles while my free arm encircled her waist.
Her breathing hitched, and her hand ghosted across my chest before coming to rest along the side of my neck. I leaned in slowly, giving her time to back away or stop me, but she didn't need it. Rising on her toes, she bridged the remaining distance between us.
Her lush lips settled on mine, soft as a whisper. In that infinite moment, my world telescoped down to nothing but the woman I held in my arms. My hold tightened around her waist as I captured the flesh of her lower lip between both of mine. The feel of her fingers threading through my hair, the gentle scrape of her nails against my scalp, the warmth of her chest flush against my own was a distant echo, adding sparks to the fire rushing through me while our mouths grew more insistent.
I was lost in her as we kissed long and hard, just barely managing not to lose sight of our surroundings and restrain myself from letting things progress any further.
As it turned out, I didn't have to worry about that.
The fire crackling between us was brutally doused when the sound of the television inside the apartment was cut off by that of a woman.
"I see you," she sang, managing to lace every syllable with amusement.
We broke apart quickly, gaping at each other—all wide eyes, parted lips and heavy breaths.
Bella blinked once before stealing a glance at the door. Her brow creased into a scowl, an exasperated huff escaping her before she faced me again.
"Rosalie," she muttered and rolled her eyes.
I stifled a chuckle, reaching out to frame her face in my palms instead, ignoring her irksome roommate. My eyes fell shut as I lowered my mouth to hers and kissed her softly. I lingered at the corner of her mouth, planting a couple of pecks there until I felt it pull up into a smile.
Nothing could bring me down in that moment, and when Bella wrapped her arms back around my neck, pulling me down for a few pecks of her own, I knew she felt the same way.
A/N: Teasers, photographs, and other details about my stories can be found in my FB group: Fanfiction by ForeverRobsessed. The link is available on my profile here.
FIC REC – Little Things by That's-so-Alex – Sometimes, it's the little things that someone really doesn't like about themselves, that make you love them all the more.
