The Rocker and the Mechanic - Chapter 3
Rated: T
Introductions
Chapter Summary: Earlier trepidation slowly melting away, these two strangers start to get to know each other over a cup of coffee.
I'm still amazed at how much love this story has gotten already at only three chapters in. So glad y'all are liking it thus far and I hope this next chapter doesn't disappoint! ;-)
The gorilla walked back into the room; still unaware of her presence for he was too busy staring down at his hands. Massive hands that were still zipping up the mechanic's uniform and she caught a sneak peek of the gray skin of his obviously thickly muscled chest. Ash's face growing hot almost immediately and mouth slightly agape before he finally pulled it all the way closed…why did she feel disappointed…?
Suddenly, chestnut eyes were glancing over at her and she took notice of the flush accenting his cheeks.
"Oi - sorry." he said while walking back into the room and no doubt took notice of her slack-jawed, wide-eyed expression. Luckily for her, he probably just thought he'd frightened her with his sudden presence…at least she hoped so. The last thing she wanted to do was be blatantly ogling him.
Ash shrugged it off before taking another long sip of her, admittedly still too hot, coffee. It may have burned on the way down but the sugary substance felt like liquid gold filling her throat at the moment (the fact it was also distracting her from admiring this guy's banging physique was just an added bonus…)
"How's the coffee?" he asked as he sidled up next to her and began filling his own cup.
The sudden close proximity caused her to instinctively flinch back; face burning when she felt the sheer heat radiating from his massive form and damn, why was it so alluring? She buried those thoughts under her 'I'm cold and wet' excuses even if her once damp fur and quills had probably long since dried.
"Eh, it's alright I guess." Ash muttered, burying her nose back into her ceramic cup to keep her from having to continue this sparkling conversation - why was she so fucking bad at small talk?
"Good. I tend to make the coffee too strong so if ya like it, I'll take that as a compliment." he responded and Ash just grunted something nonsensical in reply.
From the stool, she couldn't help but avert her eyes to him as he poured a generous amount of creamer but scarcely a touch of sugar into the cup. Trying to focus on anything other than the bulging biceps that flexed wonderfully when he stirred the beverage - and damn, he smelt good…
Reminding herself she merely frustrated in every facet of the word and the guy was attractive (admittedly an 9…fuck, 11 out of 10 whereas the only other guy she had ever been with was a 4 at best, a negative 2 if you took his shitty personality into account). So who could blame her for getting flustered? It had been years since she was single and being the loyal girlfriend she was, she kept her eyes averted from hot guys…but now…
Ash shook her head furiously after taking another drink; needing anything to say to break up her own perturbed thoughts. She swallowed thickly; heart racing and palms starting to sweat - dammit, why did she feel like she was in middle school and getting hormones for the first fucking time?!
Icy eyes flitting over to him to think of something - anything to further keep her mind out of the gutter and they ran over his broad chest but it was for another reason when she found what she was looking for.
"So…Johnny, huh?"
The gorilla seemed a bit surprised, glancing down at her with those innocent, wide brown eyes. Seemingly befuddled and rather confused by how she knew but she quickly gestured down to his left shirt pocket where indeed was a red 'Johnny' embroidered into the suit.
"Oh. Heh. Yeah. Keep forgetting my name's on there." he laughed while running a thumb over the threadwork and Ash swore she felt the bristle of his chesty laugh against her arm. That sure as hell was not helping her condition…
"I'm 'orry! I should have introduced m'self earlier - as you know, the name's Johnny. It's very nice to meet you, Miss…" he continued, offering a large hand which she stared at for probably longer than what was strictly polite.
"Ash - better drop the Miss though if you want me to answer you." she finally was able to say but she didn't make a move to shake his hand and after a moment, he'd realized she wasn't going to shake it and dropped it back down to the countertop.
"Ash…" he said in that thick Cockney accent and dammit, why did something so simple as a gorgeous guy saying her name make her chest feel funny?! "That's a nice name - it fits ya." he finished with what she was quickly learning was his signature smile.
"Mm-hmm - and I guess ya look like a Johnny." he supposed she should say something semi-nice; the dude was fixing her car after all.
Johnny chuckled at that, finding her dry sarcastic humor a lot funnier than others did - most would think she was being a bitch, but not this guy…just what was his deal?
"Thanks." he said before taking a long swig of coffee.
Ash averted her eyes and followed his lead; feeling a bit more at ease as she took another sip of coffee. She wasn't sure if it was the caffeine or the lighter atmosphere, but she was surprised at just how good this coffee tasted. Even better than the overly-expensive ice coffees she normally got; in the back of her mind, she could sum it up to the attractive company, but she quickly squashed that down with a shake of her head. Ignoring those thoughts to thank the caffeine and the warmth of the beverage after being stuck in the cold and rain most of the night.
The porcupine swore that's all it was…
"Anyway, uh - l-let's see what's going on here." Johnny spoke after that rather short silence before he made his way to the motorcycle and Ash found herself instinctively following him.