Steph's POV
A couple of weeks later
"Good Morning" Carlos kisses my cheek, my temple and nose, tickling me with his three day stubble in the process. Part of me is really glad he can't grow a beard to save his life. He is much more handsome without or only a little facial hair.
Flashback
"What the hell is that?" I look at him with disgust and scrunch my nose.
"This?" He grins and runs his hand over the Mexican moustache, which looks like a fat, black caterpillar on his upper lip.
"Yes...that" I nod. I haven't seen him in two weeks, because he went on holiday with his parents to Miami to visit his relatives.
"That is called a beard Babe" He informs me and stalks closer.
"You have to shave it off...it is awful" I shudder.
"I love it...it makes me look older" Carlos grins and comes even closer. The bastard knows how much I despise moustaches or beards. He tried to grow one a few months ago and that one was only slightly better than the moustache he is spotting right now.
"It makes you look like...I don't even know what you look like... it just looks awful" I am close to tears, that's how much it disgusts and angers me.
"Babe, you don't need to cry over this." He laughs. "You will get used to it in no time." And with that he leans in to kiss me.
"Oh noo...No no no. I am not kissing you with that thing on your face" I shake my head and step out of his reach.
"You serious?" He pouts.
"Dead serious…" I nod. "And stop pouting, it makes it look even worse."
"Ok...ok...I will shave it off" he smiles and rips the moustache off.
"You asshole!" I glare at him. Pissed that he thought that this would be funny.
"I know, but I am the asshole you love...so can I now get a kiss?" He questions with a smirk on his face. He has me there. I do love him way too much and I can't stay angry at him when he looks at me like that.
"Fine" I huff out with a mock sigh and seconds later his lips crash on mine.
When we pull apart he says "I was thinking of growing a full beard" and laughs at the face I am making.
End of Flashback
"What are you chuckling about?" Carlos probes, when I open my eyes.
"Just thought of the time you came home with that black, thick caterpillar on your upper lip" I answer, making him grin. "Is that for me?" I look at the tray in his hands, which has all my favourites on it.
"Oh that was a good one" He laughs. "Not only for you, but for me too...so don't scuff it all down."
"If you don't give it to me right this second, you won't get anything" I threaten and scoot up in bed to lean against the headboard. He places the tray on my lap with another kiss on my lips, before carefully hopping over me and settling into bed next to me.
Today is our only day off together and I am not planning on doing anything that involves leaving this flat.
Everything has gone back to normal in the past two weeks. We worked side by side at the restaurant and after work we either met up with the rest of the guys or retired to my flat. The latter usually always ended with both of us naked in multiple different positions.
"Mhhh" I snuggle my naked body up to Carlos's and put my head on his chest.
"I don't mind you thanking me for making breakfast like this every morning" Carlos draws me even closer and kisses my head.
"I wouldn't mind doing that either" I kiss his chest and close my eyes.
For a while we are silent and just enjoy each other's company, until he says out of nowhere "Is working in the Restaurant something you want to do or envisioned you would be doing for the rest of your life?"
I look up at him, surprised by the question and think about it for a moment. "Well no…" I shake my head and lie back on his chest. "Maybe...I don't know any more to be honest. I haven't really thought about it in the past few years, because I love what I do." I can feel Carlos nod his head in acknowledgement to my words, but he stays quiet again.
"I assume it is not what you want to do for the rest for your life?" I ask. As much as I like working with him, I never expected him to stick around for long. He is incredibly smart and I figured sooner or later he would move onto bigger and better things, even though it won't be easy with his record.
"No" He shakes his head and I sit up to look at him.
"So what do you want to do?" I probe.
"Well, I met this guy Shark…" He starts.
"That is his real name?" I blurt out, unable to hide my interest in this unusual name.
"Yes, it is." Carlos nods and I wince. What a name! "He has no idea why. His parents died when he was young, no other relatives to speak of either."
"That sucks" I state.
"Indeed" He nods again. "Anyways, Shark was bounced from one group home to the next and I met him in the Jersey State Prison two weeks ago. He told me that he got out three weeks prior, but had no money, no food and no job prospects. The system just spit him out and left him with nothing. Shark went out and broke into a house, which got him locked up again."
"It is a never ending circle" I comment, shake my head and my heart goes out to a man I have never met.
"It is. A lot of people get out of prison and no matter how long they have been in there, they face the same fate. They get released without any help. Unless you have upstanding citizens for a family or savings from before you went in, you won't break that circle." Carlos explains. "People will do anything to stay alive. Prison provides three square meals a day and a roof over their head, which is worth the risk of committing another crime."
With a sigh, he continues. "Since I had this talk with Shark, I have been thinking about setting up a charitable organization." Carlos informs me. "I would find jobs and homes for released or soon to be released prisoners to keep them away from the streets and give them a second chance. Vinnie's is a great example how to help ex-cons get back on their feet and I am sure I will find other companies that would consider giving these people a second chance." His eyes light up as he speaks and his excitement brings a smile to my lips.
"I love it...it is a great idea." I pull him in for a kiss. "But where are you going to get the funding? Where would you be based? What are you going to name it?"
"Slow down" Carlos laughs and I look at him sheepishly.
"I can't help it, you just got me excited." I admit. "I know it is going to be good and you will be largely successful."
"Thank you for your faith in me, but I haven't even looked into everything that is needed to set up a charity." He acknowledges. "Till now it has just been an idea...I am not even sure if it would work."
"Hey no negativity…" I exclaim. "I know that it would work. And I will help as much as I can...just tell me to butt out if I ever try to take over."
Carlos pulls me towards him and kisses my lips. "You are more than welcome to take over right now" he says and guides my hand down to his erection.
"You get easily distracted" I grin and kiss him back.
"Can't blame me" He shrugs. "Every guy would get distracted, if he saw you sitting, cross legged and with you boobs out on full display."
And for a while we forget about everything and just concentrate on driving each other crazy with multiple orgasms.
"So how are you planning on financing this charity?" I question over my bowl of spaghetti Bolognese. Carlos makes a mean sauce with a spicy twist and I can't help but stuff my face with it. After all we worked up quite an appetite earlier on.
"When we got out, Tank and I both said we wouldn't sue the state, since this can take up to three years before a verdict can be reached. Mrs O'Hara, the woman from the centre of wrongful convictions, told us that our claim may be hard to proof because we confessed. But if we'd win, it could get us up $50 000 per year that we were incarcerated."
"Ok...without taking over or anything…" I start, when an idea pops into my head.
"Go ahead" He says and shoots me an encouraging smile.
"You should sue the state. In the meantime we can find sponsors, have a charity gala or something and that way I am sure we could drum up some money to tide us over. There are probably funds from the government you can apply for or other charity's you can rely on. Maybe the Innocent Project can help you out as well."
Carlos's POV
Her enthusiasm and the way she uses 'we' instead of 'you' makes me smile. It makes me realize, that I won't be alone in this.
Shark's words did not leave me alone. They were on repeat in my head and the idea for the charity grew more every day. I just wasn't sure if it was something that could be done and I had to talk it over with someone. And Steph was that person. She wouldn't sugar coat it, if she thought it wasn't a good idea.
"I have to talk to Tank and the others." I inform her. "I can spearhead this myself, but I prefer it with support."
"I understand" She grins and then leans over to give me a kiss.
What did you guys think?