AN: Hey everyone, this chapter has mentions of sex so if you're not comfortable then i would recommend skipping it! So i finally got my groove back and i have a few more ideas. Hope you guys like it!
"It's your turn to do the dishes." I called to Dirk when he walked into his kitchen to get more water. I stared at my empty plate with satisfaction. My first real attempt at cooking had gone splendidly. Well the rice was a little overcooked and the chicken was sort of burnt but I still call it a success.
He returned and sat down across from me, "No I'm pretty sure it's your turn. I swear I did them last time."
"Well I cooked so you should probably do the dishes!" I proposed.
"Nice try. I cook all the time and you always stick me with the dishes. I'm not doing them tonight."
I pouted, "I'll make it up to you. I'll do them next time!"
He sighed and shook his head, "I'm so weak and you're hopeless." He grabbed our empty dishes and took them to his sink, "You'll never do the dishes will you?"
"I have to look after Felix and Aria." I jested. The joke about our imaginary children had become a regular joke between us. Mostly it was an excuse for me not to do my chores. Dirk chuckled and became filling the sink with water. He rolled his sleeves up to his elbows; showing off his newly tanned arms. Summer had come in full swing to Konohana. I really enjoyed the sunshine filled days and the long sunsets, but Dirk didn't like the heat. He always complained about how he spent most of the day in the heat. I loved spending everyday in the sunshine. Whenever it rained, I stayed cooped up inside. I hated the rain. Sure it watered my plants for me but it limited all the things I could possibly do. Besides trying to forage on the mountain with all the mud is impossible.
"What are you looking at?" Dirk asked me. I zoned back in and looked at his face.
"Nothing! I was just thinking."
"About?" He inquired.
"How much I dislike the rain." I replied absentmindedly.
"Really? You don't like the rain? I love it, it means I get a day off." Dirk smirked, "It's funny that you mentioned that since I've been thinking recently how much I still don't know about you."
I leaned onto my palm, "What do you mean? You know me."
Dirk took his hands out of the soapy water and dried them off, "Well yeah I know I do. I know the important things about you. But I don't know the trivial things, like that you disliked rain. But it goes both ways, you don't know the stupid little things about me either. We've never really talked about it."
"Okay, then let's talk about it. What's your least favourite food?"
Dirk shuddered "ugh simmered potato. It's revolting."
I laughed, "Really? It's just a potato!"
"I know, it's ridiculous but I hate it. What about you?"
"Milk curry for sure. I just never liked the idea of having milk with curry." I informed him.
"Interesting." Dirk sat down next to me, "Okay favourite book?"
"Pride and Prejudice."
He tsked, "cliché."
"Shut up." I pushed him lightly, "I love it. You?"
"War and Peace."
"You've actually read the whole thing?"
"A few times actually. I know it's massive and slow to start but I love it. It's the only book I brought from Zephyr. I had to sneak it out, Ivan would lose his mind if he noticed I took a book from his library." He began to laugh, "He was always so focused on books that he never noticed the attention he would get from girls. There was this one girl, before Gretel, her name was Freya and she would only be in town on the weekends since she worked in the city and she would honestly go up to Ivan as he is reading and take his book from him so they could talk. He would freak out if she held the book improperly. It took a whole year for him to realize she liked him. But by that point, he already had feelings for Gretel. Poor Freya, I wonder how she is now."
"You must miss Ivan a lot. You bring him up all the time." I noticed.
"Yeah I do. I've been here for a year now. I've never been this long away from Ivan. Our parents died when I was young so Ivan was all I had. Sometimes he drove me up the wall because he acted more like a father than a brother but I still love him. Even if I tend to drive him nuts."
"You still have no regrets not moving back to Zephyr?" I asked.
He gently grabbed my free hand, "None what so ever. Okay my turn. Favourite food?"
"Butter chicken. First kiss?"
Dirk blushed, "Her name was Antoinette and I was sixteen. She's the daughter of one of the villagers in Zephyr. How about you?"
"His name was Ethan. I was fourteen, he was seventeen. Our braces got stuck together and his mother had to help untangle us. But my story is boring. Tell me more about Antoinette!"
Dirk chuckled, "Your story sounds way more exciting than mine. Well to be honest, I'm not really sure how it happened. I was hanging out at her house then next thing I was kissing her. Well it's more likely that she kissed me first. She was known for getting what she wanted…" Dirk concluded.
"So what happened between you two?"
"Surprisingly nothing. We never even talked about it again. She was always determined to move to the city and be a fashion designer so I doubt she would have wanted someone holding her back." Dirk remarked, "Oh well. Okay your turn."
"Alright." I bit my lip, thinking of a question, "The first time you had sex?"
Dirk's blush intensified, "Oh well…" he coughed loudly, "I've never…. oh"
"Oh goddess!" I said panicked, "I didn't know! I just thought you would have. I'm so sorry!" I felt my cheeks heat up furiously.
"Don't be sorry! How would you have known! We've never talked about it! I mean we were going to have to talk about it eventually but yeah haha..." he laughed awkwardly, "So I'm guessing you have huh?"
I ran my fingers through my hair, "Yeah. When I was 18. His name was Derek. He was the only one though."
"So you and Cam never…"
I looked at Dirk, "No, never."
He breathed a sigh of relief, "Okay well that makes me feel better. I was worried I might not be able to match up to your ex-boyfriend."
"You don't have to worry about anything Dirk. I can wait if you're more comfortable about it. Not that I expected to have it soon or that I don't want to. I mean it's not like I want to have it like right now or anything." I said flustered, "Oh this is so confusing."
"Relax Lil, I know what you mean. I know it sounds completely lame but I've just been waiting for the right person." Dirk took a sip of his water.
"It's not lame, don't think that." I said comfortingly, "I think it's smart."
"Thank you Lil. I've been thinking about it for a while. I'm ready if you are." He leaned in and kissed me. I felt urgency in our kiss. As if he had to prove something to me. His hand gripped my neck tightly and his other hand was knotted into my hair. My hands brushed his collarbone and I felt the goose bumps rise on his skin. Dirk moved his lips from mine and kissed my neck. He gathered me up in his arms and lowered me onto his carpet. He kissed me fiercely, leaving me breathless. Dirk moved his hands towards my shirt buttons but hesitated.
"Dirk…" I mumbled, "Are we really ready for this?"
He raised his face above mine, "Are you not comfortable?" he said with a stressed tone. I wasn't the one who wasn't comfortable, it was he.
I placed my hand on his cheek, "Sweetie, I think it's you. Dirk, you don't have to prove anything to me by having sex with me now. I want you to be comfortable. I don't want to force you to do something you're not ready for. I love you."
He sighed and laid next to me on the carpet, "I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing? Dirk it's perfectly all right." I smiled.
"I'm just nervous. I've never felt this way before. I'm just worried I won't be to snuff for you. I just want to be good enough."
"You are more than good. You are perfect to me. When it happens, it'll happen. Till then, who cares. I'm happy where we are and I am unbelievably happy when I'm with you."
Dirk turned his face so our eyes met, "I love you Lillian." Dirk exclaimed. I held my breath for a moment. This was the first time he had ever said it. He heard me say it all the time. But he never said it back. At New Year's he acknowledged he had deep feelings for me but he never said he loved me. Dirk entwined his fingers with mine and raised them to his mouth. He kissed them, all while still holding eye contact with me.
"And I love you Dirk." I sighed, feeling the embrace of him around me.
"It's your turn to do the dishes." He smiled before kissing me again, leaving me with a silly grin on my face.
