Chapter 11: Blissful awakening
To say that Den was over the moon was an understatement.
Ever since she and Anders had kissed that night in his apartment, she'd felt light on her feet. She sang in the kitchen to the radio, not caring if Jane judged her for this. When she took out the trash, she got caught 'twirling' in place with giddiness by the garbage collectors. And when she got a message from him, she'd text him back straight away with a goofy smile on her face.
She knew this because Jane took a picture of her face to show her proof. That just made her smile more.
A week had passed by and whatever time they had available, they'd spent at Anders. Sometimes, she'd come round and make him breakfast, other times it was dinner. They'd always talk and end the night with a kiss. And he never pushed her for me. He probably couldn't because of his leg, but she thought it was sweet that he wasn't rushing her.
She wouldn't define it as 'dating' just yet, but it was getting there. And she always looked forward to spending the next evening or morning with him.
'Just wait until you get to spend the night at his!' She wasn't sure WHAT voice said that, but truthfully, she couldn't argue with it. She really looking forward to it.
She was cooking breakfast on her stove, just tucking her phone away as Jane came back in.
"Oh, is lover boy messaging you again?" Her colleague and friend came to join her, quickly slapping down the post-it for the next order of food on the wall in front of them.
"If you mean Anders...then yes, that was him," she tried not to look her friend in the face, knowing she'd have a 'cat's got the cream' look about her, "he's just wondering if we can meet again tonight. He's got in all the food and says he wants to give me a hand cooking."
"Are you going to go?"
"I was, but I can't leave-"
"YES, you can leave," Jane gently took her shoulder and made her look at her, "how many times have I told you, if it's a date, you leave me in charge."
"It's not a big deal. It's just two friends-"
"Two friends sucking face?" Jane allowed her friend to turn away to hide her blush, "But it's really ok. You know I can cope PLUS I've got new boy to help me out."
"If you're sure?" Den got a nod from her friend and she smiled, "I'll message him after I've done this. Maybe I should bring him something? Like a bottle of wine or something?"
"I could think of a thing or two you could give him," Jane did a saucy shimmy with her body and Den burst out laughing.
"Get your mind out of the gutter! It's not like that."
"Wha? ...don't tell me he's not slipped you the D-"
"JANE!" Den screeched and then hissed, "Keep your voice down, Sean's outside and that boy has ears like a bat!"
"Well?" Jane went quieter but persisted, "Has he...ya' know?"
"No. He's actually being very patient and a gentleman," Den tried to hide her smile and had to bite on the inside of her cheek, "which makes me worry I might be a little...over-eager when we kiss."
"Oh, do tell!"
"Well...I keep thinking of what I want to do to him when we kiss and then, my hands start to wander."
"Well, what do you want to do to him?"
Den just shrugged as she gazed into the pan.
"The usual."
"Suck his dick?"
"Jane! ...Yes," Den couldn't help but laugh along with her friend at her bold statement. It HAD crossed her mind that she should be the one to make the first move, but she didn't want to rush him.
"Go for it! Give him a little preview of your amazing talents."
"Shh."
She tried not to think about it. But her mind filled with thoughts of Anders in various positions. She imagined him sitting on his couch, her lap pressed against his as she rocked against him. Watching his reaction.
She shut her eyes, only for a moment to envision it, when she felt the pull. The same, dizzying pull.
"Gods...Gods, that feels amazing," he gave a shaky laugh, which quickly turned into a moan when her lips moved over him again, lower this time as she took more and more of him into her mouth.
She kept her eyes on him and watched him as he managed to keep himself propped up on one elbow to watch her. But-
"DEN!"
The scream of horror from her friend was followed by Den stumbling backward and then, searing pain as the splash of hot oil fell over her hand.
She screamed in agony and would have collapsed to the floor, alone and clutching at her hand, except Jane had her arms around her and cushioned her fall.
"SEAN! SEAN, GET IN HERE!" Jane called out to the new help before turning her attention back to Den, "Den, you need to get up. We need to get you to the sink, quickly!"
Crying out and trying desperately to fight her tears, she felt herself pulled up and along by Jane, Sean coming in and seeing what had happened.
As Jane quickly ran the cold tap and forced Den's hand under the stream, Sean carefully maneuvered his way around and turning off the stove, cleaned up where Den had spilled the food and oil from the pan.
The burning turned to a horrid stinging sensation, like ice cutting into her hand, but she forced herself to keep it under. It would help, but she could see the damage she had done to herself.
"This is going to be a long bloody day," she grunted as she turned her hand over, sore and sensitive flesh being hit by the spray, "that's what I get for not paying attention."
'Sorry about that,' that voice she identified now as 'Dru' didn't sound sorry at all. Maybe she should consider EST to help with the voices?
'Shocking.'
Den could only roll her eyes at the pun. Just what she needed...a voice with a sense of humor.
Later that day...
Den was trying not to pout as she sat at her desk, carefully typing up her accounts on her laptop and scowling every time she sped up to her normal speed, only for her pained flesh to remind her she needed to go slower.
After having her hand tended to, apologising to the customers for their wait and explaining about her hand, she'd been surprised by the number of people that still wanted to pay and wait for their food to be cooked by Jane, rather than ask for a refund and refuse to come back.
But then, most of them were regulars and were genuinely concerned for her and her hand. She's been touched by that and would have stayed to chat to them all, had Jane then not frogmarched her upstairs and told her that she was to REST.
'If you come downstairs and into the kitchen for anything other than food for yourself, I'm going to kick your arse. I promise,' Jane had told her and despite her being the superior, Den did feel a little bit intimidated. That had been part of the reason she'd hired Jane, for her fiery temper.
But, of course, the downside of 'resting' was that she was bored. Up in her apartment, she couldn't cook (knowing Jane would smell it and come and get her), couldn't write out her letters to advertisers or notes for recipes AND when she attempted to start cleaning and organising, she had to work with her other hand. Which just felt weird...and slightly wrong.
Still, the restaurant and bar would be covered for the day AND the night...but that meant she had to regretfully message Anders that she couldn't make it after all.
'Hey, sorry to cancel, but I've had a slight accident at work. Nothing to worry about, just my hand and some cooking oil wanted to make friends,' she typed out, hoping a bit of humor would appease him and not send him into a panic, 'sorry if any of the food spoils.'
She'd been hoping for his reply but was surprised by the simple message back.
'It won't spoil.'
That had been...a little confusing. No 'oh no, hope you're alright!' or 'hope you get better soon!' just 'it won't spoil.'
Maybe he was upset or in a mood? Maybe she should message him back? Or maybe he was busy and couldn't reply back?
These thoughts raced through her mind for the better part of an hour and she was still contemplating ringing him up to see if he was upset, when there was a knock on her door.
Getting up, she expected Jane or Sean to be there, but as she opened the door, she was shocked to find Anders standing there, with a tote bag in one hand and a sheepish expression on his face.
"Hey."
"What are you doing here?! Your leg-"
He held up his free hand and shut her up by interjecting.
"Is nearly healed and I got an uber. The most I've done is walk up your dangerous stairs. I just...I wanted to see if you're ok, sorry for turning up unannounced. Your colleague Jane," he pointed over his shoulder back down the hallway and stairs, "she told me to go straight through and up to see you...she was actually rather forceful."
That didn't really surprise Den.
As she looked him up and down quickly, she noticed he was still wearing his tracksuit pants and a nice shirt (which was a strange combo, but at least his torso looked nice) and the tote bag had an interesting array of smells.
"Is that...the food?" She suddenly realised what his message had meant and felt a little warmth spread through her belly.
"I thought I'd save you trying to cook for us and...give it a shot myself...with you shouting instructions at me," he gave her big eyes and a hopeful smile she couldn't say no to.
"Thank you. Come in," she stepped aside and let him hobble in and shut the door behind him. She couldn't help herself when her eyes went to his backside and whilst the tracksuit didn't really cling to him, she did get a little hot under the collar.
'Behave yourself, woman!'
'Nah, keep looking. There's no oil this time!'
"How is your hand?" Anders turned around and almost made her jump as she shook her thoughts out.
"VERY minor. First degree and I've got all the stuff for it. I only have to wear this bandage for a few days," she held up her bandaged hand and wrist for his inspection and he seemed satisfied that she didn't need to be rushed to the ER.
He turned back around, took a couple of steps into her apartment, and...stopped dead.
"Wow."
'Oh, God.'
Den was so accustomed to having only herself and Jane in her apartment, she'd gotten used to her taste in furniture and ornaments. But Anders was new and she could only imagine what he was thinking as he looked around.
"Wow...there's a lot of-"
"Green. I know," she shrugged and tried to sound as casual as possible, "I like green."
When Den had bought the place, she'd been overjoyed that she had her own space to work in, she IMMEDIATELY went in with two cans of 'Emerald Green' paint for the walls and a light shade of blue for the ceiling. It made her think of the forest and she loved it, though even Jane had made the comment it was 'very wild'.
She also had a feeling Anders was looking at her ornaments and statues. He didn't know about her little obsession.
Along the walls, she'd decided to add around her photo frames, butterflies in varying sizes and colours. Along with her desk, tables, and any space that had a flat surface with figures and statues of Fairies, dragons, knights, and unicorns and she was beginning to think that MAYBE she should have warned him.
"Lots of unicorns," he turned to her with a straight expression, though an amused glint in his eye, "and fairies-"
"Fantasy. Mam and Pa' used to tell me stories all the time and it sort of grew. Don't tell me you didn't have a strange obsession growing up?" She hoped he would admit so, but he just smirked at her.
"I did. I grew out of it," he winked at her, and Den couldn't help but blush at his teasing.
"Oh...shush," she shoved him gently with her good hand and steered him towards her kitchen, "come on, let's cook before I put a curse on ya' and turn you into a caterpillar."
Anders could only laugh.
A little while later...
Anders had been a surprisingly good pupil AND she didn't have to yell at him once.
As she guided him through how to dice and what to stir in at the right temperature, she only reached over her hand once to help him out, but he'd pointed her wooden spoon at her in a threatening manner and told her that he'd 'spoon her' to teach her a lesson.
They spent the rest of his cooking lesson laughing and telling jokes and when it was all done and cooked, they'd sat at her table and been surprised just how good everything tasted.
Anders was also surprised by the level of noise coming up from the bar below. Or lack of.
"It's actually not that busy tonight. PLUS I made sure this section of the flat has amazing soundproofing," Den had managed to say before she took another forkful of spaghetti, "they can't hear my god awful singing and I can't hear their drunken banter. Much."
Afterward, they'd moved to her sofa to chill out and let their food digest and Den had an idea.
"Have time for a movie? You're not in a rush?"
"Nah, the leg is keeping me off going to the office, so all my phone calls and emails will be at home," his lips twitched as he fought a large grin when he asked, "let me guess...fantasy?"
Den reached towards her table where she had a few laid out, ready for her for later.
"Maybe. Or maybe," she pulled out one and waggled it in front of him, "I'm full of surprises."
"Ghostbusters...hmmm," he nodded but seemed to be thinking about what to say.
"What?"
"Fantasy and ghosts? Didn't peg you for a-"
"A what?"
He waggled his brows at her and she knew he was joking when he said, "one of the weird people."
"Oh, shut up," she reached over and smacked his good leg, "do you fancy it?"
Anders gave her a large smile when she didn't realise how playful her words were.
"Definitely."
Most of the time was spent talking about the scenes and the actors and eventually, Den had shifted a little closer to Anders and he to her.
He'd caught her smiling at him before the finale and they both missed whatever was happening when they began kissing.
But unlike the other times, what started out as sweet and tender, quickly became heated.
His hand slipped to her hip and squeezed ever so slightly as his tongue danced against hers.
Den's own roamed over his clothed chest and longed to slip her hands underneath to feel his skin.
But despite their growing passion, both seemed to be trying to hold onto the logic that they didn't want to hurt the other.
"We should stop," she pulled back as he began to kiss along her jawline, her eyes shutting as his beard rasped against her skin, "before this goes any farther."
His hand tightened on her and he didn't really want to budge from kissing her, especially when her hands were still roaming and she was angling to push herself closer against him.
"You're right, we should. Your hand is bad and you need rest," he moaned as her lips skimmed over his ear and her bad hand rested against the back of his head, holding him in place so he could focus on one area of her neck.
"And your leg is bad. We should stop," she shifted ever so slightly and let her hand fall between them, inadvertently landing on his lap.
It was in that moment she felt his erection straining against his trousers and she knew he felt it too because he froze and made a deep, guttural moan against her skin.
"Sorry," he pulled back, looking a little embarrassed he'd gotten so easily aroused by some kissing.
Den didn't care. And she didn't want him to be sorry. She may have a bad hand, but what was it Jane had said earlier?
"Go for it! Give him a little preview of your amazing talents."
Jane had only been teasing and she didn't have amazing talents but...she really did want to give him something for his patience and genuine respect.
She pulled back and out of his arms and smiled. He looked so forlorn and ready to excuse himself to deal with his issue, but he arched his brow and watched as she slipped off of the sofa and onto her knees in front of him.
"It's alright," she bit her lip and rested her hands on her knees, "I can take care of that."
Anders breath caught in his throat as he watched her.
Her hands slowly moved up his thighs and when they reached the waistband of his trousers, she gave him 'can you help?' look.
He lifted his hips and let her shimmy his trousers down to his thighs. Then she hooked her fingers into the waistband of his boxers and pulled them down as well.
His cock got caught in the fabric slightly and he groaned when it sprang free and was released to the air.
Den's eyes widened slightly at the sight and she seemed to just be taking it in.
'Do NOT make a stupid comment, do NOT make a stupid comment!' He managed to stay silent and watch her, pleased he was listening to the voice more.
Finally, drinking the sight of him in, her hands moved and one wrapped around the base of his hard cock and gently pumped him once.
He gasped and shut his eyes at the sensation. It had been a while since he and Michelle had sex, but Den...Den was different. She was new and curious and he could tell she wanted to explore and it thrilled him that she wanted to please him.
He promised he'd return the favour.
She pushed herself forward and Anders parted his legs as she pressed against him, her head bowed low.
He could just see her eyes as she began to slowly pump him with rhythm and he couldn't help but gasp, "Holy shit! You're amazing."
The last thing he heard out of her mouth made him smile.
"Talking with your cock will get you everywhere."
He stopped smiling when he felt her lips suddenly surround him and her hot mouth moved up and down him.
The sounds of Anders moans and gasps filled her apartment and Den had never been so glad she'd gotten soundproofing around the place.
Jane would never have let her live it down.
She relished in the taste and the feel of his hard, pulsating member in her mouth and wanted nothing more than to stop, tear off her clothes and clamber on top of him.
But for now, she wanted to bring him to the edge of pleasure.
She sucked, licked, and moaned until his hips were gently bucking up against her and she could tell he was restraining himself.
His head had fallen back and her name became a prayer on his lips.
Soon, she could feel him approach his orgasm and moving her hand, took a breath in through her nose, and took as much of him into her mouth as she could bear without choking.
"Den!" Anders gripped the fabric of the sofa by his thighs and cried out as he came, his orgasm rocking through his body as he lost himself in the sensation.
He expected her to pull away, but she swallowed all that he gave and only pulled back when he was finished.
Slowly, coming back down from his high, he looked down at her with a smile.
She tucked him back inside his underpants with care and gave him a shy smile back.
"Did you like it?" She asked him and he let out a small, shaky laugh.
"Come here," he licked his lips and gently grabbed the back of her head. Despite the awkward positioning and the fact he had to bend himself over to reach her, he pulled her to kiss him and slipped his tongue into her mouth.
Den had never been so turned on in all her life by a simple kiss.
It was just getting good when it came again. That pull.
Den's fingers gripped Anders's arms and she held on, hoping this memory would be as good as the last one.
"Dru," he gently pulled her curls, urging her to look at his face. His eyes were half-lidded and his mouth hung open as though he were gasping for a drink, but she knew the hunger he was feeling, even when he protested, "Dru, you don't have to."
"Am I doing it wrong?" Despite his protests, she still continued to pump him.
He took deep breaths to concentrate.
"You need to stop that or I'll-I'll...you know," Fili had the decency to actually look a little embarrassed and she couldn't help but grin.
Even with his hand in her hair, she still managed to duck down again and swipe her tongue quickly over his head.
"Aye', I do. I want you to."
His eyes narrowed and she could feel his restraint as his hips almost thrust up into her hands.
"Are-are you sure?"
Dru just nodded and when his grip on her curls softened, she lowered herself back down again and slowly took him into her mouth. She noticed how his hand didn't leave the top of her head.
"Gods...Gods, that feels amazing," he gave a shaky laugh, which quickly turned into a moan when her lips moved over him again, lower this time as she took more and more of him into her mouth.
She managed to keep her eyes on him and watched him as he managed to keep himself propped up on one elbow to watch her. But he also couldn't seem to control the bursts of pleasure that went through him and kept shutting his eyes when her tongue moved over him.
With what she couldn't fit into her mouth, she held in her hands and he began to whisper her name until she felt that familiar grip at the back of her head again.
"Dru, move back," Fili groaned, his eyes still tightly shut and his hand tugging at her hair, "Dru-" He was cut off by a strangled cry and she felt the sudden throb in her mouth a moment before his warm liquid fell into her mouth. She swallowed once but finding that there was more than what she expected pulled away and let his cock leave her mouth with a 'pop!', his fluid spilling out as she did so.
It spilled onto her hands and his stomach and she watched, fascinated as the thick, white substance streaked around him. She looked back at his face as he shuddered and groaned, trying to take deep breaths as the last of his release came out.
He finally managed to get his breath back and when he looked back down at her, his hunger was replaced with a tired but sincere apology. But it was Dru who spoke first.
"Sorry. I-I couldn't-there was a lot," she wiped at the side of her face but saw that her hand was streaked from one end of her palm to the top of her forefinger.
Fili may have been flaccid, but he couldn't help but feel aroused again at the sight of her and he felt his cock twitch weakly.
"Sorry. I'll get you a towel," he couldn't move with her still straddling his knees, but as he waited for her to climb off, she just shook her head and looked back down at her hand.
"No, it's ok I-I've got this," where Fili had expected her to hop off and get a towel herself, he froze as Dru brought her hand up to her face and slowly licked the remnants of his release off of her palm.
Den pulled back with a gasp as the wave of pleasure rocked over her and she shut her eyes tight at the memory.
"Holy shit! She exclaimed and realised too late how it sounded.
Opening her eyes to look at him, she tried to think of an explanation for her odd behavior, but Anders...he was looking at her in such a strange, wild way.
He could see that look in her eyes. The blush. The desire. She had seen what he'd seen.
"Sorry, what-"
"You saw it too."
Den froze and pulled her hands away from Anders.
"Saw what?"
"You know," he whispered and looked at her in a new light, "two people. One of whom looks a little like me."
Den didn't know what to think anymore. He...he knew about them? He knew the people from her dreams?! But how-...why?!
Suddenly, she remembered something important from their first kiss.
"When you were asleep...you said, Dru. I know that name," she licked her lips nervously, hoping he'd be able to read her thoughts, "I-I also know Fi-"
"Fili. I-I'm Fili."
For the longest time, Den didn't know how to feel as she looked at him. She quickly stood up and clutched her bandaged hand to her chest.
This was all too much.
She could have put her dreams down to anything but this...she was so scared and confused.
Him knowing about Dru and Fili...confirmed they were real. They weren't figments of her imagination.
The voice she was hearing...was real.
"You should go. It's late and I'm-I'm tired," she looked around hurriedly for something to distract her and saw her phone, "I'll get you an uber."
Anders was feeling confused and slightly scared, but he also felt horribly awkward. They'd just shared one of the most intensely intimate moments of his life and now she could barely look at him.
And who could blame her?
Fili and Dru were real. And Dru...this woman whom he'd held so much affection for...so much love, was there but...she wasn't.
When he left, she only walked him to her flat door and when he reached out to touch her, she recoiled.
He'd ruined it.
It had all gone horribly wrong.
He'd left feeling so dismayed but he hoped...he hoped that tomorrow would be better. That they could talk about this and get through this together.
Den didn't do anything else that night. She left the dirty plates on the sink and the TV on.
She went to her bed and sat on the edge, holding her hand to her heart.
She'd wanted to hold onto him and kiss him goodbye but now...she didn't know what to do.
She just knew she was terrified of what was happening to her.
