Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Zelda.
With Link's help and the flashlight on our phones, I went into my stash of scented candles and got at least five. I put them around the living room and soon enough, we were bathed in the yellow light.
The electricity has not come back on even though the news said this was just a check. The storm is raging outside and we sat in the couch while he's munching on chips. His bike was safely transferred to the underground parking lot and he came back drenched in the rain during the process.
I couldn't find a big enough shirt for him to wear so he settled for my bathrobe while he sits on my couch in his boxers, naked from the waist up. His clothes are hanging in the bathroom to dry.
We're taking turns asking each other questions in an attempt to get to know each other better. So far, I have discovered that he had studied martial arts—he's actually good at archery—he grew up in Germany, and that he likes football and horseback-riding. Now he's asking about the box of candles I keep in the pantry.
"I'm a sucker for scented candles. I hoard them like chocolates." I said sheepishly. "My next question is…" I try to avoid the personal ones like those concerning family—things would get awkward really fast. And I don't want him asking about mine either. But there is something I am curious about. "Why are you single?"
He pops a chip in his mouth and purses his lips thinking hard. "I actually was dating someone a few weeks back." He said.
"A model like you?"
He nods but reprimands me. "That's another question. You owe me one." He smirks but continues to answer. "But I stopped pursuing her because of… differences."
I'm thinking if I should risk asking her name but… I find that I'm not really interested. I nod in acknowledgement of his answer and he leans closer for his.
"Who is your first kiss?" But he raises a finger to stop me from answering—"and for the question you owe me, who is your best kiss?"
"This is so highschool." I comment at him scowling. But he just smiles at me mischievously. "My first kiss was my ex and…" Fuck. Do I tell him? Do I dare? Yes, I do. "My best kiss is you."
He grins at me. "Wait. Are you serious? Your first kiss is your ex?"
I nodded. "Follow-up question! And yes. We dated for seven years soooo… it's just him."
"This is not a question. I just want to confirm that you said, I am your best kiss?"
I roll my eyes at his obvious pleased reaction to my answer. I nod and sigh dramatically. "Yes."
"Thanks." He winks at me with that sexy smile and I bite my lower lip.
There's no point in asking him to stop teasing me since he'll do it anyway. "Then who is your best kiss and why?" I demand. He can't tell me it's me. He's obviously had more experience and I am not that great at kissing.
He stretches. "You won't believe me if I say it's you."
And I scoff in disbelief. "Bullshit. Of course, I don't."
But he shakes his head. "Okay." He shrugs.
"Answer the damn question." I take a chip and toss it at him. He dodges it easily.
"I am telling the truth."
"That's not true." I say but a part of me is tingly and touched. "I refuse to believe it. You have so much more dating experience than me and you've kissed actresses before."
He shakes his head. "I don't kiss every girl I date. And onscreen kisses are highly unromantic—it's actually off-putting."
"How so?"
He leans in closer and holds up his hands to demonstrate. "Imagine cameras being pointed at you from every angle and at least fifty crew members watching you do it. Not to mention you don't know each other very well. Every move is coordinated. Plus you have to do it over and over again until the director is satisfied. It loses its touch."
"Okaay…" I say slowly. I can imagine it and it does actually sound horrifying. "But I still can't believe that I am your best kiss. I have no technique whatsoever."
"But it's not just the technique that matters!" He protests as he adjusts himself on the couch. The tie around his waist has come undone due to his movements and I am treated to the sight of his lick-me abs. I try not to stare and look at his face instead.
"Then what else matters?"
He puts the empty pack of chips on the table and drinks water from the glass I set out for him. Done, he shifts closer to me and I take a deep breath as he extends a hand to me. I don't know what he wants but I put my hand in his tentatively.
With deep short strokes, he starts to massage my palm and I sigh in pleasure. "Tell me." I urge him.
He seems to be thinking about it as his fingers work my hand slowly. It was relaxing and feels nice. "Well. There's the warmth and the softness… the taste…" He seems to be ticking off items in his head. "The moment… The feelings… Your partner—"
This is flying off the handle and I cut him short. "okay so there are a lot of factors." I tell him.
He nods and smiles at me. "Yes."
"But I still think technique is important."
I feel his fingers squeeze my hand tightly. "Technique you can learn. Wanna practice?" He says, his eyes twinkling.
I pull my hand out of his grasp and hit him on the arm as he starts laughing and dodging my attacks. "You promised not to tease me anymore!"
He holds my wrist and manages to keep me at bay so I sit back on my heels and scowl at him instead. "It was an offer from your best kisser!" He smirks at me and lets me go once I stopped fighting his grip.
"If you want to kiss me that badly—just do it." I say.
It was a joke. It's supposed to be a fucking half-meant joke. I was teasing him back. But the next thing I know, he moved so fast and I can feel his lips working mine slowly.
"Mmmnhnhgg—" I whimper in shock but I feel his fingers thread through my hair at my nape, holding me closer. I am in a daze and my heart is thumping loudly. He's leaning over me and I am almost pushed back in a lying position.
"You said…" He pulls back slightly and angles his head, "I should… if I want to." He says huskily in between kisses.
"But…" I murmur against his lips. My protest died in my throat as he suckled my lips gently.
"We've done this before." He whispers against my lips.
"I—" And he takes that moment to slip his tongue inside. He moves his mouth firmly against mine and I am breathless. He's right—we've done this before. But now I'm hyperaware of my ineptitude and I am nervous—overthinking everything.
"Relax," he murmurs huskily and I involuntarily whimper, letting my jaw slack and I open my mouth to his advances. He nibbles on my lower lip and then feel his tongue circling mine. His other hand is around my waist and before I know it, he pulls and lifts me up on his lap, my legs on either side of him. He pulls back and rests his forehead against mine as I catch my breath. I was always worried about the technicalities of kissing—wondering how noses fit together. But with him, everything is perfect.
"Link…" I breathe out.
His eyes had the same intensity as before and I know what he wants. "I'm going to kiss you again." He warns. His hands are rubbing my back and travelling up my waist and the side of my chest. My vision blurs as he comes closer and I feel his lips on mine.
I am intoxicated. He's kissing me slowly and I feel desired. It's sending shivers down my spine and fuck, I am getting aroused. It doesn't help that he pulls me closer and I am flushed against his groin. I grasp at the collar of his robe and hold on.
Brazenly, I ask him as his hand travels up the column of my neck, "am I getting better?"
"You're warm. And soft. And sweet." He murmurs against my lips, capturing them again.
I literally melt in his arms. Link. I hear the low rumbling of a groan in his throat as he pulls back and kisses the side of my chin and sucks at a spot on my neck. "Link…" I cannot help but whimper at his ministrations. This is no longer a kissing lesson as I feel his growing erection directly underneath me as his hand digs deep at my hips.
"Tell me if you want to stop." He breathes at the wet spot on my neck, making me shudder in anticipation.
"I—"
He captures my lips again and I am powerless against him. I want this too. I want this. I desire him and I am fucking aroused. I am wet and ready and the images from last night keep on replaying in my head: the way he pulled me to the edge of the counter, when he pushed me against the wall and his goddamn hips ground into me deliciously—
"Give yourself to me again." He pulls back hesitantly and looks me in the eyes. His gaze is intense as he brushes the back of his hand against my cheek. "Please." He begs.
Words are dying past my throat and I feel drunk from all the emotions coursing through my body.
"I can go slow." He brushes his lips past mine then down to the junction between my shoulder and neck. He pulls the sleeve of my shirt down and exposes a shoulder. He marks me there as I hold my breath. "Please." He murmurs against my skin.
As if to prove his need, he rises his hips and I feel his erection press into my core. I gasp at the sensation—my hands flying around his neck as I hold on while he pulls me down by the hips.
I look at him and nod slowly. The sound of the rain is loud outside and candlelight is bathing us. It's so fucking romantic I can't—even. His hands come up under my breast and I feel his thumb graze my nipples over my bra.
Last night was rough and needy—fueled by alcohol. This. This is different. I didn't even know that these emotions he's invoking from me right now existed. Driven by the pleasure, I arch my back and push my breasts against him as he massages them over the fabric.
"You want this." He says in that voice so deep I could drown in it.
I nod weakly as he gathers my shirt and pulls it over my head. I am now on his lap with only my bra on. He slips out of the bathrobe and I am treated to a view of his chest. Looking at me intently, as if asking for permission—so fucking slowly—like he's waiting if I will pull away or not—he drags the cups of my bra with a finger, exposing me to him.
I am trapped under his gaze as he moves closer and puts a nipple into his mouth. The view is immensely erotic and my body bucks in response to his warm mouth as he greedily but lightly sucks on my breast. His hand massages the other and I can't help but breathe his name out.
"So responsive." He lets go with a pop and transfers to the other peak. I whimper helplessly as I quiver while he attacks me mercilessly. This is sweet delicious torture and I am not sure if I can handle anymore. The heat between my legs is getting unbearable and I can feel the moisture spreading. "Link!" I gasp.
My bra falls to the side as he unknowingly removes it—I'm not even aware of what else is happening. All I remember is that he's working that magical mouth of his and kissing me everywhere like I imagined him to. He playfully sinks his teeth into the flesh of my breast and I wince at the pain. He pulls back and kisses me again. "Did I hurt you?" He asks, worry in his voice.
I shake my head. "Why… You—" But he smiles lazily and kisses me again. I am lost. He's so tender and it's driving me crazy. "Link…"
At the sound of his name he looks at me, eyes smouldering. He waits for me to say something as his thumb and forefinger play with my nipples and I bite my lower lip in response. He tweaks it just so and I yelp. He groans and pulls me closer. He's breathing into my mouth and I wait for him to kiss me but he doesn't.
"What are you doing to me?" He whispers and kisses me lightly, soft butterfly kisses—nipping slightly. "Teasing me like this."
"I'm not a tease." I protest as he traces my collarbone with his tongue leaving a wet trail.
"Bullshit."
My nails are digging into his skin as he assaults my breasts again. "Link!" I gasp as I arch into his mouth. He makes to remove my shorts and I lift myself up momentarily to take them off. He pulls me back down on his lap, his arousal evident between my legs. I can barely see him traced against the tight microfibre of his boxers.
He thrusts experimentally upwards and at the same time pulling me downwards, and I feel him. I let out a pant as he groans my name. "Fuck." He whispers as he cups my cheek and kisses me for a passionate moment.
"Let me in." He murmurs against my lips.
Every particle of my body agrees with this as I nod my assent, "please." I whisper.
He's smiling against my lips as I feel his teeth graze my chin. He shifts underneath me as he pulls his boxers down. There he is again, his full glory: swollen and hard and bobbing agains this abdomen. I lick my lips in anticipation. Fuck. He grasps it and gives himself a few strokes.
I hold my breath as I reach out for him. He's warm and velvety and he lets go to let me stroke him instead. His reaction is immediate and gives me courage as I run my fingers up and down, stroking him from base to tip. He leans his head back against the couch and exhales noisily. I pump him faster with my hand and he thrusts his hips upward into my hands.
I feel him shudder under me—making me wetter than before but I concentrate and focus on the task. Suddenly, his hands flew to mine, grasping my wrists—effectively stopping me. I look at him alarmed—afraid that I did something wrong—but he was panting heavily. His chest was bobbing up and down in time with his breathing as he pulls me in and kisses me again.
"I won't last. Let me in." He whispers huskily—thickly in his throat—urgently.
"I want you inside me." I hear myself say. He's so fucking sexy I wouldn't want it any other way. My clit is tingling and it remembers how he touched and coaxed me to heights I've never reached before. My whole body remembers his touch like a long-lost lover.
I help him pull down my panties and throws them over the back of the couch. He settles me back on his lap, gripping himself in his hands—aligning with my center. "So wet." He whispers. And he sinks into me.
He lets out a groan akin to pain as he holds me by the waist and makes me roll my hips forward. I feel him inside me like a rod wedged inside—warm and hard and hitting all the right spots. I am lost in ecstasy as I look down at where he disappears inside me.
We are both breathless as we rock slowly—deliberately—against each other. My legs are getting tired and my thighs are starting to ache with the effort of sliding up and down his length. Still, I keep going—the look on his face making me push myself.
But his fingers find my clit and I quiver and spasm on top of him. "Link!" I gasp. I try again to move but his naughty fingers are relentless and I fall helplessly against his shoulder. I hear him chuckling lowly in his throat. "Just one. I can't wait any longer." He murmurs against my shoulder as he nibbles on my earlobe. "Come on." He coaxes me gently. He doesn't have to as I am already there.
He continues to thrust into me as I hold on to him for dear life—rendered helpless under his fingers. "Link," I moan his name as it starts—slowly. The heat in my lower belly pooling together and then—more—"I'm coming!" I gasp as white heat spread through me like wildfire and I fall apart with him murmuring my name —almost like a prayer.
He lets me ride it out in waves—going slowly so as not to hurt me. But a few more pumps and I can feel him shuddering underneath me—deliberately holding himself back. I kiss his ear and run my tongue along the column of his throat, up his jaw and I land on his mouth. He's still a bit salty from the chips and I kiss him hard as I determinedly meet his thrusts.
His eyes are hooded as he stares into my gaze. "Your turn." I whisper. The erotic sounds of our joining and obscene squelching is driving me to the edge. I am wanton and pulsing with need. With a loud groan, he stills and grips my hip steadily. I look at him—knowing what's about to come.
"Hold on to me." He says it like a warning, I hear it as an invitation. And he pounds into me—fast—hard and rough. I hold my breath and whimper as I feel him in and out of me. "Fuck—Link!" I blurt out as I hold him close—burying his face against my chest.
The raw pleasure of it all sends me over the edge again and I close my eyes tight as I fall apart once more in his hands on top of him. He's panting heavily underneath me—his tongue flicking against my nipples. "Zelda!" He grunts and with one last thrust—I feel him twitching inside me as he holds me close—so tight against him that I cannot breathe.
We stay still for a moment and he lets me go and I take a deep breath. He rests his forehead against mine.
"Is it always like this?" I ask him lazily as he kisses me again.
"Only with you." He breathes into me and I giggle.
"Bullshit."
He chuckles. He has not yet pulled out but I can feel him softening. "I don't know why yet but you drive me insane." He bites me playfully on my shoulder. "I can't get enough of you." A light sheen of sweat covers both of us as we catch our breaths.
"I came inside you again." He whispers.
"I told you I'm on the pill." I whisper back.
That slow fucking sexy smile comes back on—"Hmm… I love it." My heat pounds with the word 'love' and I cannot for the life of me—stop imagining how it would sound like if he replaced 'it' with 'you'.
He pulls out slowly and I exhale softly as he does—already missing him. He puts me back on the sofa and stretches his back. "Bathroom?" He asks. I point to the right door and he gets up. He returns with tissue in his hands. He takes my ankle and playfully lifts it up as he cleans me up.
He goes back to throw them in the trash and he picks up his boxers from the floor, putting them on. I see him staring at me. I am lounging on the couch naked and I haven't moved. Sighing dramatically, he picks up the robe and helps me into it. "If you don't cover yourself up, we won't be able to get off this couch." He growls—his eyes saying what he didn't say in words.
"I think my couch can handle it." I say as he pulls me up on my feet and smacks my ass with a soft thump. I giggle as I take a candle and make my way to the bathroom. "Shower with me?" I ask him.
He grins and follows me to the bathroom.
The candlelight was not really that helpful in the bathroom so we had to grasp at each other in the dark. I feared for my safety when he pushed me against the tiles and kissed me all over—fucking me slow and deliberately with measured strokes so we won't slip.
It would have been easier doing it in the tub but since there was no electricity—my heater was shot and there was no hot water. The cold water coming out of the shower was bearable but his mouth on mine was hot enough and I had no complaints.
I forget how many times I came. But by the end of it, my knees were so weak and I was deliciously sore. He helped me shampoo my hair and washed me all over, inhaling the scent of my bath gel.
Done with our baths, he rubbed me dry as I stood there in front of him, arms heavy and almost sleepy. "You look thoroughly fucked." He comments slyly—a hint of a smirk on his face.
"Maybe, it's because I am." I answer back cheekily.
He dries me off as best as he could and I dry off his hair too.
A fleeting image of us doing this in the future years has crept up into my imagination. But I try not to entertain it. We've had glorious sex. Fucking glorious. But we don't have a relationship. It sends a pang in my gut but I ignore it.
When we were done, I lead him to the bedroom where I collapse on my bed and he follows soon after—both of us still wrapped in towels. The candles we brought in from the living room.
"I don't have any clothes for you." I whisper.
"Doesn't your ex have any of his stuff here?" He asks absent-mindedly. His fingers are tracing patterns on my palm.
I shake my head. "He doesn't sleep over."
He sighs and smirks at me, his expression faint in the candlelight. "Then we sleep naked." He gets up and removes his towel, hanging it on the back of the door. Slowly, I follow suit and hand it to him too. Before he gets into bed, he walks around the room and blows on the candles—save for one. Which he put in the middle of the floor, safely away from any flammable materials.
I fold the weighted blanket and put it down on the floor beside the bed. It'll be stiflingly hot with it on. He comes after me, his arm slipping underneath my head as he pulls me closer. His body was cool to touch but he takes a deep breath as I am flushed against him. "How is it that you're so soft?" He murmurs against my skin, barely audible as he moves to smell my hair.
"I think it's because I'm a girl. And…" To prove my point, I arch my into his chest and squish my breasts against him. He chuckles and leaves butterfly kisses on my forehead and nose. "I got these." I trace my fingers on his forearm where his biceps are visible but overly so. "But you… You work out."
"I have to." He sighs. "It has its perks though." His fingers play with my hair—making me sleepy.
"What else do you remember from the things I told you?" I ask him.
He purses his lips and settles on his back. I throw my leg over his, careful not to touch his manhood. "A lot." He admits.
"Tell me."
"You like reading… And coffee. And you like the rain." He said. On cue, thunder rolls outside. "But not thunderstorms." He raises his head slowly and points to my stuffed animals that are scattered around the room. "You have three dogs, a shark and a bear." He looks down at me and pulls me close for a moment, "you like being hugged." He whispers into my hair, "And you sleep faster if I do this."
"You have a good memory." I tell him.
He shrugs. "It makes me a good actor." He inhales deeply. "You took a bath at my place and you smelled like me. But now you smell like you."
Curious, I looked up. I've never been concerned with the way I smelled before. "Like what?"
"Lavender and vanilla." He takes a huge whiff, sniffing my neck playfully. I giggle at his ticklish advances and push him away.
"Now, you smell like me." I imitate his movements and he chuckles lowly. "Link?"
He squeezes me in response. "Hmm?"
"Do you like what you do?"
He thinks about it. "Yes. It's so much more fun than the advertising company I worked in before. And it pays well."
"Well, as long as you enjoy it." I say. Then I remember that he has work in the morning.
I reach for my phone on my bedside table—missing it a few times. The clock says it's almost midnight. "What about work? You need to be there at 6, right?" I ask him.
He exhales. "Fuck. Oh yeah, right." I hand him his phone and he dials in a number that I can see is Sidon's. It takes a couple of rings and I can faintly hear Sidon's voice at the other end.
"Sidon." He says curtly. I don't stop tracing patterns on his chest and he doesn't stop playing with my hair. "Yeah, I didn't make it home… No, I'm here at… Yeah. Isn't that an outdoor shoot, though? Are they going to reschedule? Okay. Yes… Just tell me when and I'll be there. Okay. Sure. Bye." He clicks off and turns to me. "Cancelled. It's a shoot in the Flower Park and the rain doesn't seem to be letting up soon. What about you?"
I shrug. "If the electricity comes back on in the morning but it's still raining, I'll do my work here."
He nods. "Then… can I stay?" He asks almost hesitantly.
I pretend to think about it but he kisses me on the nose repeatedly and I giggle and move away. "Okay okay."
"I promise not to disturb you while you're working." He swears seriously but I can see the hint of mischief in his eyes.
I nod apprehensively. "Okaayy."
We lay there after a while and I stare at the flickering light on the ceiling. I feel a flutter in my heart and I sneak a look at his face again. I cannot help but feel… a certain seed has been planted in me. Not the sex kind of seed, idiot.
This man beside me… He's so perfect in so many ways. We've been together 24 hours and I know. I know. I know it's fucking stupid and such a cliche but… What am I going to do? How can I fight it?
He makes me feel… alive, desired, happy. He makes me feel… loved.
And judging from his comments earlier… how I drive him insane… If he just wants me for sex, he's already had it. He doesn't have to stay and cuddle with me or exchange stories. I like him. I like him a lot. He is not a rebound—I am sure of that now. In the past 24 hours, I've barely thought of my ex even. Nor have I even grieved about the breakup because to be honest, it was me being set free.
"Link." I whisper.
"Hmm?"
"Do you think… it's weird if I already like you?" I ask softly—hesitantly.
"No." He says softly as the arm around me tightens. I can feel his warmth where our bodies connect. "I like you too."
I look up at him and he smiles, kissing me on the forehead. "We skipped a lot of steps." He chuckles.
"Aren't we supposed to take it slow?"
"If I see something I want… I go get it. I don't 'take it slow'." He growls and hikes me higher up the pillow, kissing me softly. "Do you mind?"
I shake my head.
"I like you, Zelda." He says, looking into my eyes.
"I like you too, Link." I answer back.
He smiles and gathers me in his arms, getting comfortable. "You must be tired. Get some sleep." He whispers.
My head is pressed against his chest and just like the night before, his heartbeat lulls me to sleep.
The sound of my alarm clock broke the peace of the morning and groaning, I turn it off. Link shifts beside me and turns on his stomach, his arm searching and when it found my waist, he pulled me closer. I smile at this—he looks so peaceful and child-like when he's sleeping.
I look out the window. It was still drizzling outside but not as strong as last night. Electricity seems to be back on as I spy the light from the living room filter to the hallway.
"What time is it?" A sleepy voice catches my attention and I turn around to see him opening his eyes slowly with a soft smile. He leans and kisses me on my cheek before burying his face in my neck.
"6:30." I answer him.
He winces and protests, "do you have to go to the office?"
Teasing him, I think aloud. "Hmmm… They're probably looking for me."
A small "noooooo…" comes out from under my chin and I giggle. "Don't go, please. Stay here with me."
Goddammit. How? Tell me how I can resist?!
"I'll work from home." I say. I feel him smile against my skin. "What do you want for breakfast?"
Slowly, he lifts himself up and nuzzles my nose with his. His leg brushes against mine and I feel him. "I can show you." He whispers as he kisses me to my ear and gently starts to suck on my neck.
It's like a fucking switch has turned me on and I am instantly wet. I was wondering what's for breakfast and maybe take a quick shower to wake myself up before I work. But having an active partner has changed my mind as he poked me on my thigh. Blushing and smiling boldly to myself, I let him settle between my legs as he peppers me with kisses languidly.
He lines himself up at my centre. With a groan and a push, he inserts himself into me effortlessly and he proceeds to show me what he wants for breakfast.
I'm in the kitchen, making scrambled eggs. I still have the better part of an hour before I start work and I keep on blushing over what happened that morning but after tempting him with coffee, he finally releases me. Now he's in the bathroom getting a quick shower. I hear a ping behind me to see that the toast is already done. I pile them on a plate and go back to my eggs. Sprinkling some salt, they were soon done and I put them on a plate too. Just then, the doorbell rings and I jump slightly. I was not expecting any visitors. I put down what I'm holding and pad barefoot to the front door. I press the intercom and I see an unfamiliar person outside the door through the camera. "Hello?" I ask.
"Hi. I am here for Mr. Link to bring the items he requested."
Oh. Quickly, I open the door and stick my head out. He looks like a driver. He hands me a bag which I take and he bows. "Thank you. I'll be going now." He leaves and I close the door behind me.
"Did he come?" Link calls out for me. He's out of the bath and he appears before me wrapped in a towel. "I asked Sidon for some clothes but he said he'll send the driver."
I nod and hand him the bag.
"I hope you don't mind that I told him your address." He says apologetically as he takes my hand and we go back to the kitchen. I shake my head, "it's fine. You can't go around naked all day." I tease.
But he looks back at me on the way back to the bedroom. He smirks. "That can be arranged."
"I won't be able to get any work done if you do!" I say loudly after him.
AAA
"Okay. Then we'll do it that way." I say as I adjust the CSS code on a button. "Would you like a bigger font for it or is this alright?" I ask. I am in a call with the client and I am doing a demo for the application that I'm currently developing. I hear a click behind me and I see Link coming inside my office. He holds up a steaming mug of coffee and I smile at the sight of him.
"The font is okay. But what about the input fields? Can we show some marker to indicate that they are required?"
"Yes. Gimme a second and I'll do some adjustments." My fingers fly off the keyboard and I type in some new codes. I restart the server and show them the changes. "Better?"
"Better. Then let's go with this."
I take down some notes and look up to see Link studying the titles of the different books in my bookshelf. "Is there anything else?" I ask into the mic of my headset as I stopped sharing my screen and saved the changes that I made.
"I think that's it."
"Then, Mr. Grimm, I will update the Kanban board with the changes we've discussed today. I will provide an estimate so we can discuss when will be the end of the Sprint."
"Sounds good. Talk to you tomorrow." He says and ends the call.
With a sigh I remove my headset and Link turns to face me. "You sound so professional."
"Because I am?" I say with a smile as I take the coffee he brought and blow on it.
He approaches me slowly and stands behind me to look at the screen. "I don't understand a word of it."
I laugh. "If you did, I'd be surprised. These are the codes." I point to the left monitor. "When built, this is what its supposed to look like." I point to the right monitor where the application is being hosted locally and is shown on my browser.
"What does it do?" He asks as I feel his fingers kneading the knots on my shoulders and I lean back, sighing.
"It's an administration site where they can grant or delete accesses for their employees." I say as simply as I can. Delving further into that would be too much explanation.
A ping comes up, it's one of my team members, apologising for being unable to join the meeting. I quickly type in a response as Link watches over. "Are you bored outside?" I rushed eating breakfast and left him on the table still munching on toast.
I feel him sigh behind me like a little child. "Are you going to be working like this all day?"
I smile. "I can work on the couch with you." I lean back and look at him.
He grins. "Better."
I nod and get up as I lock my computer and take out my laptop instead. I boot it up and follow him out of the room. He sinks on the sofa and I sit down beside him, balancing my laptop on my knees.
"Do you mind if I turn the fucking tv on?" He grins at me—obviously referring to last night's comment.
I giggle and shake my head. "It's okay. Go ahead."
He switches to the news and settles back while I do my work. I feel his arm behind me on the back of the couch. I continue working but steal glances at him from time to time. He smiles at me when I do so but purses his lips as if scolding me for not working. I try, okay. I fucking try to concentrate. But when a work of art is sitting beside you while you code if's and then's, build HTML pages, screw around with CSS stuff—it's distracting.
The rain is not letting up and I get through the morning. He's now lying down on the sofa, an arm under his head as he watched an action movie. The silence between us is comfortable but he laughs from time to time with what he's watching. I manage to finish my work quickly—there's not much to do anyway since most are out of the office due to the storm. And when I finally close the laptop and put it on the coffee table, he doesn't notice as he's so engrossed with the movie he's watching. I tap his knee that was bent next to me and his eyes snap to mine. He smiles.
"Done?" He asks.
I nod as he sits up and promptly nuzzles my nose. I giggle as I let him.
"I've been holding back this whole time." He whispers but I hit him on the arm and he yelps.
"Bullshit. You've been watching movies the whole time." I call his bluff but he shakes his head seriously and kisses me on the cheek. My heart flutters at this.
"I wouldn't want someone disturbing me while I was working." He says.
"Fair enough." I smile as he pulls away and sits back, his attention back on the screen
"Catching up on shows?" I ask. He did mention that his huge tv is more of like a decoration in his living room. He slips his arm around my shoulders as I hug my knees and settle against his side. "What do you want or lunch?" He smirks at me and I prod his forehead with my finger. "Food! I meant food!"
He pouts. I swear it's one of the most fucking adorable things I have ever seen.
"We need food." I tell him.
"Fine." He grudgingly answers. "Anything is fine. Do you want me to cook?" He offers with a glint in his eye.
And I remember how good he is. I try to remember the contents of my pantry to check what we can make for lunch. "Honestly… I wasn't able to do groceries so I'm not sure."
He shrugs and stands up—going straight to the kitchen. I follow him—"Heyy."
But he stops me. "I'll take care of lunch. I'll find something. You go sit down."
Oh no, Mister! I follow him determinedly to the kitchen still. But when I come up beside him, he takes me by the waist and lifts me up on the counter. I yelp in surprise—quick images of how he took me on his counter at his apartment makes me fucking shiver. But his warmth his gone and his hand strokes my hair instead.
"You stay here." He says sternly. "You let me stay so the least I can do is cook for you, yes?" He raises an eyebrow and all I can do is nod. First, he opens the fridge and search the freezer. I watch him as he takes out some meat and he goes to the cabinet to get some flour and all the other stuff he needs.
He moves around my kitchen like he damn owns it—even though it's his first time to be here. He fits in like he belongs—like he's been here for years and years. I watch him cut up vegetables with a practiced ease. Every time he passed my spot on the counter though, he gives me a light kiss on the nose which makes me blush furiously.
I know he's showing off. And I tell him. "I know you're showing off."
He smirks at me as he pours oil in a pan. "Sexy, yes?"
"I'm not that bad of a cook, you know." I tell him. "I can feed you too."
He always—alwaaaays finds a way to fit sex into the equation because he pulls the pan off the fire and kisses me hard—leaving me breathless. "Yes, you do." He whispers huskily before going back to cooking.
My cheeks are heating up and I press my palms to them. He smiles at me but turns apologetic and approaches me again, nuzzling me with his nose. "I'm sorry." He whispers.
Confused—"What are you apologising for?"
"For teasing you. I know you don't like it." He said. "I just… can't help it. I can't get enough of you."
My heart leaps at his words. It's too fucking early—stop it, Link.
"I don't want to scare you away." He says, looking into my eyes.
But I take a deep breath and stare at him too. "I am not easily scared."
He smiles—just a little.
The sounds of his cooking has him reluctantly leaving me again and I watch him with his hands as he fries the pork cutlet he'd dipped in breading and I watch him shred some vegetables. Soon enough, he portioned out two plates and brought them to the table. He sent me a look that explicitly tells me not to get off my perch. He came back for me seconds later and carried me to my chair.
"Such a gentleman." I comment as I nod appreciatively. He winks at me as he settles down beside me.
"Enjoy." He says.
I take a moment and gape in awe at the spread in front of me. Hurriedly, I take a bite and I fucking swoon, twisting in my seat and chewing.
He watches me amusedly as he eats. "You like it that much?"
Brazenly—I clutch on to his arm and squeal, "can I keep you?"
There was a beat as I realize the effect of my words. I explode in a furious blush but he pinches my cheek and chuckles. "You'll keep me around to cook and clean for you?"
I nod sheepishly and look away. I felt awkward but… He's making a joke about it so… "Yeah. Bring me snacks while I'm working."
He thinks about it so seriously I laugh at his expression as he ponders. "Hmmm. The rate for a model like me is veeeery expensive."
I shrug. "How much?" I demand.
But he winks at me suggestively and I cannot help but laugh. "If that's the price then I think I can pay."
He nods like it was an executive decision he had to make and he leans over to kiss me on the cheek. "I can cook for you whenever you want. For free. Except for..."
I blush furiously at his words but I keep it in check. We finish lunch quickly and I offer to wash the dishes when I hear his phone ringing. He goes to the room to check it and comes out with it on his ear. I let him be as I sud up the plates and wash them. But I can hear him speaking in a different language that sounds strangely like he's angry.
"Ja. Ja. Ich weiss das. Also? Und dann? Nein, danke. Ich mag nicht. Nein. Ich sage nein!"
I know that it's German, having heard of something similar before when I was still… nevermind. His voice fades as he goes to my office to talk. A few minutes later, I hear his footsteps and his hands circle my waist as he drops his chin on my shoulder.
"Hey?" I ask him but deep inside, fuck—he's like a puppy that follows me around—in constant need of attention. He doesn't say anything and I finish rinsing the plates, putting them on the drying rack above me. I wipe my hands dry and twist in his arms to look at him, worried.
But he's smiling and I am getting lost in his eyes. "Sprichst du Deutsch?" I ask him in my broken command of the language.
His eyes widen, "Kannst du Deutsch sprechen?"
He sounds fucking sexy in German. But I giggle and shake my head. "Nein. I just know some since I've had German clients before."
He sighs in relief. "I thought that was something you didn't tell me even though I told you I grew up there."
I shake my head. "But I did get some tidbits from your conversation. You sounded angry?" I see a flash in his eyes but he shakes his head and swoops down to kiss my jaw. "It's nothing. Family stuff."
He's never mentioned his family before. I wanted to ask him but its too personal. It's certainly a sensitive topic and I don't want him to get upset. So I pat his back as he rests his forehead on my shoulder. If he wanted to talk about it, he would have said something more. We stay still for a moment but then I hear my phone ringing in the living room. He pulls away from me and lets me hurry to go get it. I glance at the screen and see the office calling. I answer it to find Link sitting back on the couch. He hands me my laptop and I take it gratefully.
A few hours later, I close the lid again, sighing in relief. There were some last-minute changes and I had to do them quickly. I look over to see him dozing off on the sofa. His phone is on his chest, lighting up but he's not waking up. I look at it to see Sidon calling. I prod him on the arm but he just shifts and turns on his other side. I take the phone and debate whether to answer it.
But it might be important. Steeling myself, I answer the call. "Sidon?"
"Zelda? Is the punk sleeping?" Sidon asks.
"Yeah." I say softly, moving away from him.
"Figures. I've been sending him messages." Sidon sounds a bit annoyed.
"Uhmm… Should I wake him up?" I ask.
"I'm on my way. He asked me to bring him clothes. Really—I told him to get an assistant but he's making me do all the damn work."
"Here?" I ask. I look out the window to see the rain still falling.
"Yeah. I'm about five minutes out. See you." In a beat, he ends the call and I stand there in the middle of the kitchen a bit stunned.
I feel like my life has turned upside down. Link is sleeping on my sofa and his manager is coming over with more clothes. My apartment has never been this full before.
I go back to the sofa and try to wake him up. He opens his eyes groggily and sits up—apologising for falling asleep. "Sidon is on his way?" He asks sleepily.
"Yeah. In about five minutes. He said he brought you clothes." More clothes? Does he intend to stay the night again? I mean… If I really think about it—I'm excited at the prospect of spending more time with him. I feel like we've been doing this for a long time. This feels like a fairy tale and I'm… afraid that I might get sucked into it.
He nods. "Yeah. I have a shoot in two hours. It's all last-minute. And it's still raining so I can't take my bike."
"Oh." I'm surprised.
So that's it then? Fairy tale is over? The disappointment must have shown on my face because he takes my cheeks in his hands and kisses me softly. I let myself get swept into it. "I don't want to leave you." He whispers.
See? See what the fuck he's doing? He's making me deliberately fall for him. How can I resist his charms?!
"But I have your number—and I will call you—and I know where you live—and I'll come back." He enunciates with a kiss and he looks into my eyes.
I smile as I memorize his face. Earlier on, I was pretending like this is normal. But reality is coming back and I remember that he is not my boyfriend. He's someone I've had sex with. He's someone that I like. But we do not have a relationship.
The doorbell rings and we both look at it.
Is he feeling the same way I am?
Is he sad too that he's leaving?
I walk towards the front door to see Sidon on the camera. I open it and he bows apologetically but enters even before I could invite him in. "Thanks, Zelda. Link!" He calls out.
I lead the way to the living room. "So you've been hiding out here the whole time?" Sidon asks as he hands Link a bag, presumably clothes.
Link takes it and peers inside. "Thanks. And yes. I got caught in the rain so I couldn't go home on my bike."
"This is why I tell you to get a car." Sidon admonishes him. I go to the kitchen to let them talk and get Sidon some water. I go back and they're bickering like brothers.
"If you get one—I don't have to pick up your sorry ass every time you get stranded somewhere." Link is changing his shirt right in the middle of the living room and I try not to look his way.
"I told you, I don't want one."
Sidon turns to me as I hand him his water. "Zelda, do you have a car?"
Flustered, I nod. "Yes… But I don't know what's—"
"See!" Sidon gestures to me as if to prove a point. I smile nervously as I come between them to get my laptop and to put it away.
But I feel an arm wrap around my waist and I am pulled by Link to his side. "She likes riding my bike too!" He says indignantly.
Sidon looks at me like he's waiting for my answer. And I feel trapped. But it's true anyway. "Yes… it's liberating." I say softly.
"Don't you dare drag her into this. We've been having this argument for a long time now." Sidon warns.
But Link is not having any of it, "And so far you're not winning."
"It's not just about winning—it's about your safety too!"
"I'm an adult, Sidon. I am not some crazy maniac who drives around fast just for the fucking heck of it." Link snaps.
It's actually amusing to see them fighting since I don't have sibling. But soon enough, Link is dressed and Sidon keeps on looking at his watch. I guess… they'd be late for the shoot.
"Where is it?" Link asks as he reties his ponytail. He's changed shirts—looking more handsome than ever.
"About an hour from here." Sidon mutters as he types something on his phone. He's tapping his foot impatiently.
"The same warehouse as yesterday?" Link shrugs into a navy jacket that screams sexy. I bite my lip.
"Naah. Farther than that."
Soon enough, he's dressed and Sidon leads the way out with the rest of Link's stuff. I bring them to the door and hand him his jackets—the one he was wearing and the one he lent me. I feel a pang in my gut—like I've reached the end of a fairy tale and I don't want to stop reading. Sidon steps out but Link stops him, "Sidon, gimme a minute."
The redhead raises his eyebrows suggestively but pointedly looks away.
Link turns to me and he brushes his fingers against my cheek. "Hey."
"Hey." I whisper back.
"Don't look so sad. You're making it hard for me to leave." He says quietly so Sidon cannot hear.
I burst into redness at his words and stutter, "I am—not… This is—"
"I'll be back so soon you won't have time to miss me." He kisses the tip of my nose.
Am I melting? I think I fucking am. My legs are shaky anyway.
"I'll call you." He kisses me slowly—it was over too fast. And then he's gone.
I step back into my apartment and it feels like the blackout is back even though the electricity is still on. The past 48 hours were wonderful.
I'll be back so soon you won't have time to miss me.
He's gone and yet... I see traces of him everywhere. The remote is on the floor. I see his mug on the coffee table. The smell of his cooking lingers faintly. The towel he used to dry his hair is hanging on the back of a chair. I can see him walking to the kitchen getting a drink of water. I half-expect him to peek from around the corner, grinning at me with a towel wrapped around his waist.
I don't know how I'm supposed to get back to my normal life now. And I feel scared—like I stepped into a world I knew there was no going back. I've opened fucking Pandora's box and... Shit. Shit. Shit.
Link… what the fuck did you do to me?
Link's POV next, yes? -Mackenziiee