Chapter 21
The next morning, Kate was awakened by the first rays of sunlight on her face. She blinked a few times and looked around, wondering where she was. A smile appeared on her face, recognising the place and remembering their first night together. She looked to her left and saw Dylan still asleep on his back. Smiling she looked at him, realising that a new part of her life had just begun. Kate slid her hand under the sheet and stroked his chest. He opened his eyes and smiled, "Hey sweety!".
"Hey darling. Did you sleep well?"
"It couldn't be better", he replied, smiling as he saw her bare chest.
"And you?"
"It was great. I don't think I've ever slept so well", Kate answered as he was playing with her locks.
"That must have been the intention, huh?", he said, smiling.
"How about a good coffee?", she asked.
"Splendid idea!", he replied, patting her on the nose.
She rolled over to her side of the bed and looked around to put something on. The day before, she put her pyjamas in the wardrobe and it was still there. Then she saw a folded T-shirt on the dresser and she smiled. Kate stood up and looked at the T-shirt. She raised an eyebrow seeing the logo of Star Trek on it. She put it on. It was like a too short and too wide dress.
"Star Trek? Seriously?", she asked.
He chuckled, "Be happy it's not Goofy", he said, which made her roll her eyes.
"Coffee and breakfast?", she asked.
"With pleasure!", he said, looking hard at her as she left the bedroom.
He crossed his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling with a happy smile, listening to the simple sounds coming from the kitchen, coupled with the humming of a song.
He pushed back the sheets, put on his boxer shorts and headed for the kitchen.
Dylan smiled again seeing her busy with the coffee tin and, realising that she was naked under the T-shirt, walked over to her, wrapped his arms around her and kissed the back of her neck.
Kate, turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck and looked up at him.
He simply lifted her, put her up on the kitchen table and she wrapped her legs around his waist. They looked into each other's eyes for a few seconds.
"Have you thought about what I asked you last night?", he asked.
"Oh yes!", Kate replied.
"And…is the answer always the same?"
"You don't think what we did last night was just a craving that we satiated, do you?", she asked with a slight concern on her face.
"No, and you?"
She shook her head fiercely, "No! Certainly not. I do want to move on with you".
Kate looked down, "Now, you're going to wonder or you're wondering why I haven't sought contact after all these years?", she asked softly.
He simply shrugged.
"I dunno. Shame, most probably. That I chose the wrong man? That you would think you were a second choice? Back then, I was so humiliated that I wanted to start all over again, to erase everything from my memory. I had a sea posting, then there was Duncan consuming every second of my free time and then I became obsessed with my job. But oddly enough, there was always one person who sprang to mind, and that was you. But, it was almost obvious to me that you had moved on and I didn't want to make a fool of myself again. Then, everything seemed to happen at once. I reunited with Becca and we became best friends. Duncan ran away and old memories have surfaced. At the same time Mike reappeared and wanted to take a go on me again. I think it's safe to say fate brought us together", she said, looking at him.
He smiled and let his forehead rest on hers. He slid his hands under her T-shirt and began to stroke her back and breasts, making her moan softly. She started to explore his chest too.
"I feel something moving that seems happy to see me", she whispered.
"And where would that come from?", he whispered back.
"Normally, I go for a run on weekends when I see an opportunity, but I wouldn't mind another sport", she whispered and he chuckled.
They kissed passionately and they made love on the kitchen table.
"Coffee?", she asked after a while.
"Please", he grinned.
Kate hopped out of the table and continued making coffee.
"It was my first time", she said.
"What?"
"On the kitchen table", she said deadpan while he was smothering her with kisses.
"If you keep it up, we'll never get coffee, you know".
"Yeah, you're right again", he said and sat down, watching her.
"What?", she asked again.
"You".
"Me? Actually, I'm not at my best. So", Kate replied, raising an eyebrow.
"No, it's wonderful seeing you here, being busy. It's so natural. Amazing in fact", he said, smiling.
She smiled back, "Well big buddy, get used to it. This is going to be daily stuff", she said, putting a mug in front of him.
He took the mug and drank a sip, "Hmm good coffee".
"So, can I stay?", she teased him.
"Oh you silly!"
They emptied their mugs.
"Good! Shower, breakfast and then Julie is waiting for you", he said.
"Julie?"
"The mare I chose for you. She's a happy, kind and patient mare", he said.
"Yeah, especially the last one. I hope she's very patient", Kate replied.
It was late in the afternoon when they returned. They brought horses back to the stabbles and they went home.
"Congratulations! You're a quick learner", he said.
"Thank you. I remember things from when I was a kid and sat on the pony. It was a good lunch by the way. Great sandwiches. How did you find that café?", Kate asked.
"Oh, by accident in fact. I was on a ride and a thunderstorm has broken out. I was just there and went in to take shelter. That's how I found out".
"A drink?", he asked as they stood in the doorway of their house.
"With pleasure, but I want to have a shower first. I'm dusty and I have the smell of the horse around me", Kate said, taking off her sneakers
"Your whish !"
"Do you prefer a restaurant or here?", he asked.
"Here's fine", she answered with a smile before heading for the bedroom.
"Nice, I'll light the barbecue and your wine will be there when you're ready".
Ten minutes later, she was back.
He wolf-whistled at her, "Wow you look gorgeous", he complimented her, seeing her in long ochre dress, barefoot in beige block-heeled mules.
"Thank you", she said, lifting up skirt, "I put this on for outside".
"Nice! I lit the barbecue and your wine is here and now I'm going to have a quick shower too", he said handing her a glass.
"You could have joined me", Kate replied with a cheeky smile.
He caressed her cheek, "Then there would have been no barbecue or wine".
He left and Kate sipped her wine, looking around the living room, thinking about where to put her stuff. She shrugged and went outside to sit in the rocking chair, her favourite one.
Shortly after, she heard a movement coming from inside and he came out wearing a T-shirt and jeans.
"Hey. The wine is excellent, again".
"Thanks!", he replied and they gave a toast.
"You like this chair, don't you?"
"Yeah, I love it", Kate replied, rocking backwards and forwards.
"Well, relax and I'll take care of dinner", he said, taking off her mules.
He went back inside to get the steaks, spices and a few big potatoes and some aluminium foil to wrap them in.
"I'm taking care of the table", she said as she hopped out of the rocking chair and walked inside, which made him shake his head and smile.
Later that night, she sat on a couch on the terrace, looking out over the garden into the night.
"Close your eyes", he said and saw her closed them.
"Open your hand", he said next.
He fished something out of his pocket, put it in her hand and closed it.
"Look now".
Kate looked at the item in her hand and held it up to the light of the few candles surrounding them.
"Is it your house key?", she asked, looking at him.
"Correction, our house", he replied.
"Oh Dylan! And shit, now I'm moved to tears. What are you doing to me?", Kate said wiping her eyes. She leaned closer to him and they kissed.
"What now? Practically? I guess you also have your stuff and want to use?
"Uh yes, but we can work things out. I can start by having our boxes brought here. I like your furniture, but I have a few that I like too. I have quite some books and a few little things, uh… But we could discuss that when you're back from patrol, right?", she asked.
He patted her knee, "Sure we can. We'll find a solution".
"Uhm, I don't want to spoil the weekend, but tomorrow, just after noon, Duncan will be back. I have to pick him up. And then I have to tell him we're together, or…", she started hesitantly.
"Or we'll tell him together?", he suggested.
Kate smiled relieved, "Yeah, we'll pick him up together and tell him".
"Good", he said and kissed the top of her head.
Kate yawned, "Oops, the morning's ride made me feel more tired than I thought. Would you mind if I went to bed?", she asked.
"No, go ahead. I'll put it all together and follow you", he said.
"Thank you", she murmured, standing up.
When he entered the bedroom, Kate was about to bed down. He raised his eyebrows, seeing her again in his Star Trek T-shirt. "Ah! It seems you like my T-shirt? Didn't you mention pyjamas?"
Kate got in bed and pulled the sheets up, "Yes, I did and I still do, especially when Duncan is around, but now there's no need for it", she replied.
"Ah, I see", he said and started to undress too.
The next morning, Kate woke up first again. She watched Dylan sleep and thought back to the day before. The riding lesson, the key to his house, now their home and their agreement to move on. She was going to talk to him about sharing the expenses of the house.
She looked at him again and caressed his chest.
Tomorrow, he's on his second patrol, a fortnight. It's long enough and Duncan will be also around. Why not?
She slid down to his abdomen and was quickly aroused, especially when she noticed that her small hands were having an effect on him too.
He woke up and smiled at her, "Hey sweetie, normally you go for a run, but now you'd like a ride, wouldn't you?"
"Is it so obvious?", she asked, biting her lip.
"You're a hot devil", he said, sliding his hands under her T-shirt.
"What do you think? Twelve years is quite a long time huh", Kate said as she straddled him.
A little later, "How about pancakes for breakfast?", she asked.
"That's the second good idea of this Sunday, sweetie", he said, smiling.
"Good! Yesterday, I saw that you had all the ingredients, so. But first, I'm going to have a quick shower. I hate having breakfast in my pyjamas or like now, almost naked", said Kate who jumped out of the bed and headed for the bathroom. He followed her and went to the kitchen to give her a hand to make coffee and set the table.
"The pancakes are delicious", he said.
"Thank you".
"How are we going to proceed? Starting tomorrow, I'm going back to sea, but I hope you won't wait till I get back to move in. You have a key and you're more than welcome", he said.
"Hmm, yeah, thank you. At first, I thought it would be rude to invade your house, but you've just cleared my doubts. I'm going to have our remaining boxes brought here and I'll start packing what's at the apartment again, although there's still a lot to unpack. When we're ready, we'll come", she said after taking a sip of her coffee.
"Well, maybe we can start getting Duncan's room ready. Now it's a storage room with a bed", he said.
"That's the third good idea of this Sunday. Otherwise, I wouldn't know what to do with what's inside", she said.
To be continued
