Chapter 12
Sookie awoke with a blissful grin plastered on her face. She found herself lying in the arms of a very warm, very sexy chef. Her entire body seemed to be intertwined with his and she found that she didn't want to open her eyes for fear that it would all have been a dream.
Last night had been magnificent and perfect and she wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of her nights in the exact same way. But as the light streamed through the tiny gap in the curtains and a bird began chirping her wakeup call, she knew that it was time to get up. But getting up meant that she had to face some harsh realities; her time with Eric was growing shorter and shorter.
She wasn't sure where Eric's head was and she prayed that last night had meant more to him than a sexual fantasy that they both played out together. She was fairly certain that that wasn't the case, but the tiniest thread of uncertainty was enough to spin her head.
Eric seemed to be completely dead to the world, and Sookie wanted to do something nice for him, so she carefully extracted herself from his warm muscular embrace. He stirred slightly, but readjusted himself at her loss and continued to sleep.
Sookie watched him for a moment as his chest rose and fell in an even pattern. His face looked so content and sated. He was magnificent.
Sookie found his shirt lying on the floor and pulled it over her head. His scent immediately surrounded her and it was almost enough to abandon her plans and crawl back into his embrace, but she really wanted to treat Eric.
Quietly, Sookie made her way to the bathroom and took care of her business, brushing her hair out. She did the best she could brushing her teeth, but she didn't want to use his toothbrush and she didn't see a spare, so she used her finger. Not the most effective means of brushing your teeth, but it worked in a pinch.
Sookie tiptoed into Eric's humble kitchen. She really wanted to make him a breakfast her grandmother would be proud of. She had lived in L.A. for most of her adult life, but she grew up in the backwoods of Northern Louisiana. She was a southern girl through and through, and as such, knew exactly how to make a good home cooked meal.
She searched through Eric's fridge and pantry, thankful to find that he had all the ingredients she needed. She began making her grans famous buttermilk biscuits. And since no self-respecting southern girl would dare make homemade biscuits without sausage gravy, she pulled a pan out of his cupboard and began making that too.
She was just pulling the biscuits out of the oven, when Eric groggily appeared in the kitchen.
"What's all this?" Eric asked in wonder as he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist placing a soft kiss on the top of her head.
She set the biscuits on the cooling rack and fell backwards into his embrace. "I wanted to surprise you with breakfast in bed." She replied.
"Mmm… I wanted to have you as my breakfast in bed." He replied with a heavy tone.
She turned into his embrace so that she was facing him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips softly. "I see how it is, you get to eat and I'm left starving."
"You're a resourceful woman, I'm sure you'd find something to eat." He replied as he thrust his morning wood into her pelvis. She involuntarily moaned, feeling just how hard he already was for her. Yes, she certainly could find something delicious to eat.
"Too bad I already made you breakfast." She replied, reluctantly pulling herself out of his embrace. Eric, however, didn't want to let this wondrous woman out of his grasp.
"Where do you think you're going Miss Stackhouse?" he said pulling her back as he palmed her behind.
"Tsk. Tsk. chef, you're being very naughty." She said saucily. "I worked hard on breakfast and I really want you to enjoy it." She said. And it was true. She wanted him to see that she actually could cook despite their playful lessons.
Eric, sensing her sincerity, released her and took his place at the table. He actually found it endearing that she wanted to cook for him. So often, women just assumed that since he was a professional chef, that he would automatically cook all their meals. The truth of the matter was that most nights he just fixed himself a simple sandwich or grilled a steak.
"So what are you making me?" He asked. Though he was thoroughly enjoying the sight of her in his T shirt slaving over a hot stove, he actually was pretty hungry.
"I'm making you a staple of Southern cuisine." She replied smiling at him over her shoulder as shebegan to fry an egg.
"Oh, so heart attack on a plate then." He said jokingly.
"Hey don't mock my Southern upbringing mister or you won't get dessert." She retorted with equal jest.
She carefully plated his biscuits and gravy, and then placed the fried eggs on top of each one. Southern food wasn't about fancy plating; it was about the heart and soul you put in the dish which more often than not ended up looking "rustic".
She set his plate in front of him along with a glass of orange juice and went to fix her own plate. When she came back to the table she eyed him carefully. She really wanted him to like what she made and carefully awaited his reaction.
"This is really good Sookie! These biscuits are…phenomenal!" he said enthusiastically. Sookie released a breath that she'd been holding in anticipation of his reaction.
"You mean it?" she asked timidly as the beginnings of a smile formed on her face.
"Absolutely. But can I ask a question?" he said.
"Go ahead."
"What's the deal with the fried egg? I mean I love it and it adds so much to the biscuits and gravy, but I've never seen it done like that." He explained.
"It's a Southern thing. I really don't know where that came from. My grandmother taught me how to make the sawmill gravy when I was nine, and she always put a fried egg on top. She used to make the best SOS too." She explained with a happy grin. She loved talking about the memories she had of her gran. Up until recently, the time she spent with her grandmother had been the best of her life.
"What's SOS?" Eric asked. He had been to culinary school and had never heard of that term before.
"Shit on a shingle, but gran would make us get a switch if we ever said called it that. It's basically the sawmill gravy, except she used to put chipped beef in it and pour it over toast. It's sooo good. I'll have to make that for you sometime." She said, and then a sad look came over her face. She hadn't been thinking about it, but she really did hope that there would be a "sometime".
"Hey." He said lifting her chin with his finger. "What's with the look?" he asked in concern.
"It's nothing… just um… thinking about my gran." She fibbed, not wanting to sound pathetic over her concerns about leaving tomorrow or tonight or whenever he asked her to.
Eric gave her a look that said he didn't believe her, but he let it go and continued to eat his breakfast. Sookie ate in silence as well. She was trying not to get too attached to him, though even if she couldn't admit to to herself, she already was.
Sookie was a librarian and she had a good job and worked hard at it. It had taken her six months after graduation to find a job in the school system and even then she was forced to take a job in a very rough section of east L.A. it took her even longer to establish herself and to be able to get a job at a higher performing school. Not to mention the fact that she had been saving her money to be able to afford a down payment on a home and had already applied for a housing grant for teachers.
She had her friends to think about as well. Though her love life had always suffered, she had a few loyal friends that she couldn't even think about not seeing on a weekly basis.
Could she give all that up for a man that she barely knew? Would he even ask that of her? Was she silly for even thinking about all of this? Yes he was by far and away the best man that she had ever met, but perhaps all of this was nothing more than just a weekend fling.
"You, beautiful girl, are thinking way too hard over there." Eric said breaking her from her inner musings.
"Sorry. I just… I'm gonna go clean up." She said moving to get up from her chair.
Eric picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, exposing her ass for all to see.
"I don't think so. Dessert first, clean second." He said playfully as he carried her back to his bedroom tossing her gently onto his bed.
Sookie yelped as the too large T shirt she was wearing bunched up around her breasts. Eric pulled it over her head completely as she lie on her back completely naked under him.
Eric kissed his way down her body until her found exactly what he was looking for… his dessert.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who continues to read and review this story. You all humble me.
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