h3 style="margin: 6.45pt 0in; font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center; background: #f4effc; vertical-align: baseline;" align="center"span style="font-size: 15.5pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #2a2a2a; font-weight: normal;"Course Three – Soup/span/h3
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"He walked her to a car parked in a parking garage near the campus. Most people in school didn't have a car, they walked or took the bus. They got to a black Bentley and he opened the passenger side door for her. She couldn't believe a college student owned a car like this, but she was getting used to unusual when it came to him. He drove swiftly and smoothly like he was an expert and she smiled at his seemingly endless list of skills./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""You know Nathan hasn't bothered me since you told him to leave me alone," she said as he drove./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"He stared at the traffic in front of him, "That's good."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""So, thank you," she said, putting her hand on his on the gear shift. She looked over at him and he smiled a little./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I thought instead of having dinner in public, I should cook for you, so we can enjoy a meal in private if that's alright?" he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Oh… yea," she paused, "but we already left he campus, don't you live in a dorm?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""No, I have an apartment over near the bay, I like to look out over the water, it relaxes me," he said. Once they pulled up to the building and went up to his apartment she started to wonder just how much money he had. This wasn't really an apartment; it was a luxury condo that had to have been worth few million at least. It was right on the water and the walls were almost all windows. The floor was dark grey hardwood that glistened because it was spotless. The kitchen area was huge with marble countertops and dark gray wood cabinets. The living room had a white marble fireplace that was double sided for inside and out on the balcony. He had a thick white rug in front of it and all white furniture./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Wow," she whispered looking around./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Make yourself at home, I'll get us some wine," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""White for me, I don't want to spill it and cause a stain," she said, sitting on just the edge of the couch. He stopped and looked at her curiously and then chuckled a little. He came back carrying a red wine and two glasses./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""We will drink outside on the balcony so you can be a bit more relaxed," he said. She followed him out to the balcony and the sun was behind them, making the sky in front of them brilliant colors. He sat the wine on the table in front of the fireplace and poured it for them. Then he lit the fireplace and brought her, her glass which she sipped slowly and watched him as he leaned on the railing and looked out over the water./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Not too bad of a view is it?" he asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She let out a small laugh, "I should say not, this is… breathtaking," she gestured toward the inside of his condo, "all of it." She turned and leaned against the railing facing the opposite direction and he looked over at her. The wind blew her long hair all around her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""So, were we staying in all night," she asked raising an eyebrow at him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"He smiled, "I got us tickets to the theatre, but if you'd rather stay here…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""No… well," she smiled down at her glass and he stepped forward getting close to her. He put one arm behind her and then cupped her chin with his hand and stroked her cheek lightly with his thumb. Then he ran his thumb lightly over her lips and she kissed it softly, he growled and pulled her to him and kissed her. His lips massaged hers for a moment before he softly opened them with his tongue. She moaned a little and he gripped her hair at the nape of her neck, pulling lightly. He pulled himself away just enough, so their lips were still barely touching. They were both out of breath and he whispered, "you taste amazing."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Don't stop," she said grabbing his coat with both hands and kissing him again aggressively. He back away more and put his hands on her shoulders./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Ah, ah, you must be patient my calla lily," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She pouted again and he watched her, waiting for what she would do or say, "I want you," she said, "I know it's soon but…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"He grabbed her chin in one hand and gripped almost aggressively and got close to her face, "but what?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I want you, I just do," she said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""You would beg me?" he asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I might," she teased./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Say please," he demanded. She thought about it for a second too long and he let her go, "you're not ready yet," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She smiled at him and he grinned back, this was his game and he was enjoying it, but she was surprised to find that she was enjoying it too. He sauntered into the condo and held his hand out for her to join him. He led her to his kitchen, and she sat her glass on the counter as he got an apron and put it on over this suit. She tilted her head and watched him wordlessly as he gathered a bunch of ingredients, some she didn't even recognize. This is when she learned that one of the big wooden cabinets was actually a refrigerator. She went around to the other side of the counter and sat on one of the high dark grey barstools and watched him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Do you cook?" he asked without looking up./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She scoffed lightly, "not anymore," she took a sip of wine. Hannibal peered up at her under his eyebrows, his hair falling sexily over his forehead. She knew he wanted her to explain so she swallowed, "at my old school I dated a guy…" she paused knowing he'd have a comment./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Another sad story I presume?" he grinned but there was no real humor in it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She nodded, "well he thought dating me meant owning me and when you think you own someone you automatically think they have to do what you say, like cooking and serving him and never seeing my family," her voice caught in her throat and she fought the urge to cry. Hannibal stopped chopping some vegetables and looked at her, tilting his head. She saw no sympathy or pity in his eyes but there was an understanding that passed between them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""You said you don't talk to them anymore, this is why," he said, it wasn't a question./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She nodded anyway and sighed, "ugh anyway enough of that, where did you learn to cook?" Trying to make the subject more cheerful./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I was taught by a few people, my aunt and her cook, mostly, in Paris," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Is that where you're from?" she asked, sipping her wine to hide her intense curiosity. She knew nothing at all about his past./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I spent several years in Paris, under the charge of my aunt," he answered, he paused and sighed seeming to struggle with something, then he continued, "but no that is not where I am from, I was born in Lithuania, to a Count."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Oh," she said, "that's interesting."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""It is many things but interesting is the last word I'd use for it," he said a little harshly though he didn't seem angry with her, just angry in general and a little pained./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I'm sorry," she said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Now isn't a good time to discuss it," he said, taking his frustration out on the meat he was cutting./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""You do have a very sexy accent," she said, he looked at her and winked, trying to get out of his own dark mood because he knew she was trying to lighten things up./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She watched him work in silence until he had put the dinner into the oven, he took his apron off and said, "it will be ready shortly." /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"They walked back out on the balcony together and she felt very adult and sophisticated with him, especially in this condo, she had never been in such an elegant place./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""You're not going to give me a tour of your place?" she asked as she sat on the corner red-cushioned bench knowing he would sit near her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""No," he sat down next to her and touched the tip of her nose, "have patience…in life, especially relationships, one would be wise to follow the etiquette of a meal, things should happen in courses," he leaned back and put his arm on top of the cushion behind her, he again touched her nose lightly and then her chin, "one step at a time, you start with a small step, testing to see if you want more, then if you do, you take a small bite," he touched her lips softly, "wetting the appetite."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She felt lightheaded and tingly, he moved his finger along her jawline and down her neck slowly. She felt herself breathing heavier, she had to bite her lip to keep from moaning. He traced her collarbone with his fingertip and then down her chest, just letting his finger drift off her skin right before he reached her cleavage. She looked up at him and he leaned over and whispered, "is your appetite… wet?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She wanted to yell at him for teasing her, but she couldn't, she just gripped his knee and moaned, "yeah." He kissed her ear, and then her neck and she leaned into him, turning her head to accept his kiss. They kissed for a while and eventually he stopped her and this time she didn't complain because she knew it would do no good. Instead she just leaned her head on his chest. He seemed surprised by this gesture, as though no one showed him innocent affection before./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Is this okay?" she asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"He hesitated then draped his arm around her, "yes," he said uncomfortably. After a few moments he got up, "I must check on dinner." He rushed inside and she wondered more about him, why he was so open in some ways yet also so closed off. She knew he wasn't just trying to have a sexual relationship, it was almost as though he was afraid to let someone care about him, like he didn't deserve it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"He walked her to a car parked in a parking garage near the campus. Most people in school didn't have a car, they walked or took the bus. They got to a black Bentley and he opened the passenger side door for her. She couldn't believe a college student owned a car like this, but she was getting used to unusual when it came to him. He drove swiftly and smoothly like he was an expert and she smiled at his seemingly endless list of skills./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""You know Nathan hasn't bothered me since you told him to leave me alone," she said as he drove./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"He stared at the traffic in front of him, "That's good."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""So, thank you," she said, putting her hand on his on the gear shift. She looked over at him and he smiled a little./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I thought instead of having dinner in public, I should cook for you, so we can enjoy a meal in private if that's alright?" he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Oh… yea," she paused, "but we already left he campus, don't you live in a dorm?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""No, I have an apartment over near the bay, I like to look out over the water, it relaxes me," he said. Once they pulled up to the building and went up to his apartment she started to wonder just how much money he had. This wasn't really an apartment; it was a luxury condo that had to have been worth few million at least. It was right on the water and the walls were almost all windows. The floor was dark grey hardwood that glistened because it was spotless. The kitchen area was huge with marble countertops and dark gray wood cabinets. The living room had a white marble fireplace that was double sided for inside and out on the balcony. He had a thick white rug in front of it and all white furniture./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Wow," she whispered looking around./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Make yourself at home, I'll get us some wine," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""White for me, I don't want to spill it and cause a stain," she said, sitting on just the edge of the couch. He stopped and looked at her curiously and then chuckled a little. He came back carrying a red wine and two glasses./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""We will drink outside on the balcony so you can be a bit more relaxed," he said. She followed him out to the balcony and the sun was behind them, making the sky in front of them brilliant colors. He sat the wine on the table in front of the fireplace and poured it for them. Then he lit the fireplace and brought her, her glass which she sipped slowly and watched him as he leaned on the railing and looked out over the water./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Not too bad of a view is it?" he asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She let out a small laugh, "I should say not, this is… breathtaking," she gestured toward the inside of his condo, "all of it." She turned and leaned against the railing facing the opposite direction and he looked over at her. The wind blew her long hair all around her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""So, were we staying in all night," she asked raising an eyebrow at him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"He smiled, "I got us tickets to the theatre, but if you'd rather stay here…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""No… well," she smiled down at her glass and he stepped forward getting close to her. He put one arm behind her and then cupped her chin with his hand and stroked her cheek lightly with his thumb. Then he ran his thumb lightly over her lips and she kissed it softly, he growled and pulled her to him and kissed her. His lips massaged hers for a moment before he softly opened them with his tongue. She moaned a little and he gripped her hair at the nape of her neck, pulling lightly. He pulled himself away just enough, so their lips were still barely touching. They were both out of breath and he whispered, "you taste amazing."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Don't stop," she said grabbing his coat with both hands and kissing him again aggressively. He back away more and put his hands on her shoulders./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Ah, ah, you must be patient my calla lily," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She pouted again and he watched her, waiting for what she would do or say, "I want you," she said, "I know it's soon but…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"He grabbed her chin in one hand and gripped almost aggressively and got close to her face, "but what?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I want you, I just do," she said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""You would beg me?" he asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I might," she teased./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Say please," he demanded. She thought about it for a second too long and he let her go, "you're not ready yet," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She smiled at him and he grinned back, this was his game and he was enjoying it, but she was surprised to find that she was enjoying it too. He sauntered into the condo and held his hand out for her to join him. He led her to his kitchen, and she sat her glass on the counter as he got an apron and put it on over this suit. She tilted her head and watched him wordlessly as he gathered a bunch of ingredients, some she didn't even recognize. This is when she learned that one of the big wooden cabinets was actually a refrigerator. She went around to the other side of the counter and sat on one of the high dark grey barstools and watched him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Do you cook?" he asked without looking up./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She scoffed lightly, "not anymore," she took a sip of wine. Hannibal peered up at her under his eyebrows, his hair falling sexily over his forehead. She knew he wanted her to explain so she swallowed, "at my old school I dated a guy…" she paused knowing he'd have a comment./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Another sad story I presume?" he grinned but there was no real humor in it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She nodded, "well he thought dating me meant owning me and when you think you own someone you automatically think they have to do what you say, like cooking and serving him and never seeing my family," her voice caught in her throat and she fought the urge to cry. Hannibal stopped chopping some vegetables and looked at her, tilting his head. She saw no sympathy or pity in his eyes but there was an understanding that passed between them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""You said you don't talk to them anymore, this is why," he said, it wasn't a question./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She nodded anyway and sighed, "ugh anyway enough of that, where did you learn to cook?" Trying to make the subject more cheerful./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I was taught by a few people, my aunt and her cook, mostly, in Paris," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Is that where you're from?" she asked, sipping her wine to hide her intense curiosity. She knew nothing at all about his past./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I spent several years in Paris, under the charge of my aunt," he answered, he paused and sighed seeming to struggle with something, then he continued, "but no that is not where I am from, I was born in Lithuania, to a Count."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Oh," she said, "that's interesting."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""It is many things but interesting is the last word I'd use for it," he said a little harshly though he didn't seem angry with her, just angry in general and a little pained./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I'm sorry," she said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Now isn't a good time to discuss it," he said, taking his frustration out on the meat he was cutting./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""You do have a very sexy accent," she said, he looked at her and winked, trying to get out of his own dark mood because he knew she was trying to lighten things up./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She watched him work in silence until he had put the dinner into the oven, he took his apron off and said, "it will be ready shortly." /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"They walked back out on the balcony together and she felt very adult and sophisticated with him, especially in this condo, she had never been in such an elegant place./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""You're not going to give me a tour of your place?" she asked as she sat on the corner red-cushioned bench knowing he would sit near her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""No," he sat down next to her and touched the tip of her nose, "have patience…in life, especially relationships, one would be wise to follow the etiquette of a meal, things should happen in courses," he leaned back and put his arm on top of the cushion behind her, he again touched her nose lightly and then her chin, "one step at a time, you start with a small step, testing to see if you want more, then if you do, you take a small bite," he touched her lips softly, "wetting the appetite."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She felt lightheaded and tingly, he moved his finger along her jawline and down her neck slowly. She felt herself breathing heavier, she had to bite her lip to keep from moaning. He traced her collarbone with his fingertip and then down her chest, just letting his finger drift off her skin right before he reached her cleavage. She looked up at him and he leaned over and whispered, "is your appetite… wet?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She wanted to yell at him for teasing her, but she couldn't, she just gripped his knee and moaned, "yeah." He kissed her ear, and then her neck and she leaned into him, turning her head to accept his kiss. They kissed for a while and eventually he stopped her and this time she didn't complain because she knew it would do no good. Instead she just leaned her head on his chest. He seemed surprised by this gesture, as though no one showed him innocent affection before./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Is this okay?" she asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"He hesitated then draped his arm around her, "yes," he said uncomfortably. After a few moments he got up, "I must check on dinner." He rushed inside and she wondered more about him, why he was so open in some ways yet also so closed off. She knew he wasn't just trying to have a sexual relationship, it was almost as though he was afraid to let someone care about him, like he didn't deserve it./p