AN1 Hey! This is a very long and powerful Chuck and Sarah chapter today. I'm going to ask early for you to please leave your thoughts after reading it. This chapter took me a long time to write and is packed with heaps of romantic, intimate emotions because I present: Chuck and Sarah's first date!
Who Dares Wins
Chapter Forty-Three: Lockdown: Part Twenty-Two: Dogs of War: Part Six
Monday, 19 November, 2007
14:30 hours
Chuck disconnected a phone call with a member of staff of the Vincenzo Trattoria, a restaurant in Manchester city centre.
Returning his mobile phone from his ear down to his thigh, he grinned.
Well, the first step to wooing Sarah and sweeping her off her feet is complete! I hope this restaurant is as romantic as the search I made before the phone call led me to believe. I should text Sarah right now to give her ample time to prepare.
Deciding to do just that, Chuck navigated through his phone until arriving at text messages, where he prepared one to send to Sarah's number: Hey, Sarah :) I made a reservation for tonight at seven. I hope that's ok?
Once Chuck hit send, he started walking towards the Arndale shopping centre that he'd assaulted this morning, passing the very same restaurant that he would almost certainly be at later tonight, which was not more than a stone's throw from the large retail complex.
He paused from walking after a few seconds because Sarah had replied to his text: Aww, I didn't get any kisses :(
Chuck suppressed laughter as he composed his reply. Sorry! I wasn't sure if you wanted any, so I didn't want to insert myself in a way you might not have wanted. But about the reservation?
She almost instantly replied: Kisses first, Chuck, and then we'll talk.
Chuck shook his head, grinning like a Cheshire cat, as he replied: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sarah's next reply came a few seconds later: That's better! :) But it's still not nearly as much as I intend to kiss you tonight, so seven it is ;)
Chuck couldn't hold in his joy as he whistled all the way to the shopping centre to shop for the date. Entering inside the now fully-open complex once more, he became lost in thought as he studied a map detailing the vast number of stores inside the mall.
Reaching a decision a minute later, he made his way to the location of a Giorgio Armani store, which was slightly a level above his ordinary clothing outlet of choice. However, he had told Sarah that she'd need her best dress, plus he wanted to romance Sarah anyway and make it a special night for the pair of them in doing so.
Once he arrived outside the store, he grinned before entering inside in the best mood he'd ever been in.
A short while later
Chuck departed the designer clothes outlet with several bags containing a shirt, jeans, shoes, and a new Eau de Toilette fragrance bottle.
The shopping expenditure all told cost him several hundred pounds. But Chuck couldn't have been any more sure:
She was worth every single penny.
Taking out his phone, he checked the display for unanswered calls or messages—but his phone had never been so quiet.
I guess the lads are really taking Big Dan's demands to give Sarah and me a wide berth until tomorrow very seriously
Chuck shook his head, suppressing laughter at the actions of Big Dan and the rest of his and Sarah's teammates for going along with it.
Though his teammates were right about a lot of what they said at the bar because Chuck knew that to overcome the barrage of grief he and Sarah were receiving for engaging in sexual intercourse with each other, they would have to give back out just as much as they got in return, but that didn't mean either that they had to discuss their love life with the team because Chuck had NEVER done that yet, even before meeting Sarah.
However, he knew Sarah wasn't ready for that, which was understandable because she was the first female in the SAS, and still a rookie on the team.
He also knew that attempting to push for more from Sarah in regards to their intimacy with each other and how openly they discussed that intimacy towards meddling teammates could easily lead to Sarah ending things entirely with him if she felt pushed into such action so early: because they'd only known each other for two months.
Sarah ending what they had with each other would not be cool.
It would not be cool in the slightest bit!
Chuck navigated through his phone until arriving at the text message screen for Cole Barker.
He soon composed a message to his best friend: "Alright, Cole? What are you up to?"
Cole promptly replied: "I can't talk to you today, Chuck!"
Chuck shook his head, suppressing immense laughter. "No, you can still talk to me. You just can't see me, and I don't want to see you either, you bastard!"
Cole replied: Then, in that case, I've just departed the gym. And before that, I spoke with Sophie, who's decided to come up and stay with me tonight. So it looks like you and Sarah won't be the only two getting some tonight, Chuck!"
Chuck held his joyful mood over his best friend's reply before he replied: Fuck off, or I'll embarrass you at the altar! But jokes aside, I'm happy for you both. It's what you both need, an excellent five-star room for the night with each other. Now, I know I'm banned from seeing any of you until tomorrow, but what about Sophie?
With his reply sent, Chuck started making his way to depart the shopping centre until he paused once Cole replied: Sorry, Chuck. You're barred from seeing Sophie, too, because I agree wholeheartedly with Dan. And because I am your best mate, I've squared it with all of the lads never to bring up what you and Sarah will be doing tonight. No promises for future events, but as for tonight, it will never be used by anyone against you, and if anyone does, then they'll be getting a good slapping from Jamie, Dan, and me.
Chuck, unable to hold in his amusement, started chuckling as he replied: I have no idea what you're talking about, Cole, 'cos I'm taking an early night, mate.
Chuck departed the Arndale but paused to read his best friend's latest reply: Then you're a brain-dead pillock, Chuck! Because Sarah is the biggest catch you will ever find in your life, and if you don't sweep her up and claim her before someone else gets their claws into her: you'll regret it, and I'll remind you that you're a fool for the rest of your life!
Chuck erupted in additional amusement for a long moment. He's right. I'd have to be missing every last brain cell to let Sarah slip out of my hands. I'm already shuddering just thinking about it!
x-x-x-x-x-x
Sarah arrived at the checkout of a dress store, holding a full-length, black plunging neckline dress with a back spaghetti strap tie she intended to purchase.
She waited a few moments until the customer ahead of her was served and cleared the checkout before she stepped towards the shop assistant behind the till and paused in place a few steps away.
The young, relatively attractive female shop assistant completed a brief task until looking up to meet Sarah's glance, where the women shared a cordial gaze.
Sarah completed the final few steps toward the till and placed the dress on the counter.
The shop assistant, changing her glance between Sarah and the dress she'd placed on the surface, said, "Wow. That's one of our most expensive dresses in the store."
Sarah smiled. "I know. But he told me I'll need my best dress, so the best one it will be."
The young shop assistant laughed in approval, returning Sarah's warm glance. "And he'll be paying for it, I assume?"
Sarah shook her head. "He wanted to," she admitted, smiling. "But I told him no."
The shop assistant's eyes narrowed. "Why not? I'd make him pay for it."
Sarah's smile developed significantly greater. "Because he's worth it."
"Wow," the shop assistant replied, doing a double-take as she took hold of Sarah's new purchase. "I don't know many men that can be said about. And especially not from someone as beautiful as you saying it. So he really must be some catch."
Sarah blushed slightly over the shop assistant's compliment before she said, "He is, and he doesn't realise it. Which makes me the luckiest girl in the world."
The shop assistant laughed softly. "Now you're making me jealous. Maybe I'd like to meet him too."
Sarah's face lit up in joy. "I'm sorry. I don't share," she said, smiling. "I'll take those earrings too," she said, nodding at a pair of black dangling beaded earrings.
A few minutes later
Sarah departed the dress store a few hundred pounds less wealthy. However, the look her lover would hopefully give her if he approved of how she intended to look this evening would be priceless.
Developing a sudden onset of butterflies in her stomach, now feeling an onslaught of fear of him not approving, she made her way to a Boots store (health and beauty retailer), soon entering inside, where she spent a short while purchasing multiple beauty items, and a bottle of perfume.
Departing the health and beauty store, she made a brief stop at a lingerie shop to purchase a matching black lace underwear set—because the underwear she'd brought with her was just not fitting enough for what would take place tonight—and with her shopping now finally complete, Sarah was about to return to the hotel, but she paused when she was alerted to a text message.
Sarah paused in place as she took out her phone. Pressing the button to light up the LCD screen, she ascertained Jamie had texted her, but his message was too long to read in the small alert window.
She clicked a few buttons and expanded the text to read it: Hey, Sarah. I don't know if you will appreciate this or not, but I'm going to say it anyway. You've been on the team for two months now, and I'm starting to consider you a good friend. Because of that, I can't help nor stop myself from being a proper nosey bastard and leaving a comment about you and Chuck. I don't know if my opinion will mean something or if it's welcome, but I hope it will. Please don't take any of our teasings to heart. As Dan said, we all want you to be happy, well, except for Bryce, and we know why that is, mate!
Sarah paused briefly to suppress laughter as she gazed fondly at her mobile phone at the message from her teammate. Like Jamie felt about her, she was starting to consider him a good friend of hers too. She soon continued to read the rest of Jamie's message to her: Anyway, I've known Chuck for three years now. As an intimate partner, you could do MUCH worse than him, and you can trust me on that, mate! I'm not just saying this because he's one of my best mates either, 'cause as I've already said, you're a friend too. So if it's what you both want, then fuck what anyone else says, and just go for it, mate, because if you don't, then someone else could get their claws into him, and you might regret it later. Oh, and by the way, none of us intends to bring up nor use against you whatever you and he might get up to tonight. But I can't make promises after tonight, although I'll personally try to ease off on the teasing moving forward anyway, as teasing about people's love lives isn't my style of ribbing, to be honest, mate :)
A massive smile of joy lit up Sarah's face over the sweet text message from somebody who considers her a friend of his, and after reading everything he'd just said, she absolutely now regards him to be a close friend of hers too.
Deciding to reply to him, she said: Thank you, Jamie.
x-x-x-x-x-x
Sarah entered her hotel room and closed the door behind her with a spring in her step.
Before Jamie's text, she was already immensely excited about going on a date with Chuck.
Because frankly, he was the best guy she'd ever met.
So far, at least, Chuck had said all of the right things to her, gone out of his way to make her feel special, he'd helped her when she was all alone in her first days in the Regiment and had nobody to turn to for support because she hadn't known anyone.
After everything she'd seen, heard and done in London, he'd given her comfort, despite not having to.
He'd helped her by taking her to her new apartment, had driven her to London to pick up her car, and then helped her move and settle into the apartment to round everything off.
Sarah found him funny, kind, compassionate, sweet, caring, and very attractive—because of his amazing eyes that she got lost looking in: his smile from out of this world.
She liked everything about him.
And then came when they were together.
Their kissing—which always had her motor running close to danger points. She'd never enjoyed kissing anyone as much as she had with him before.
The lovemaking they'd already engaged in so far: explosive.
And then, for Sarah, the best of all: after sex.
It would have been easy for Sarah to have returned to her room after having had sex with Chuck in his room on barracks on Thursday or to have returned to her room in the early hours of this morning after they'd made love.
But she didn't.
She didn't leave him because she couldn't leave him.
It wasn't an exaggeration when she'd admitted to Chuck this morning that she was addicted to him—after having had him tell her he felt the same way about her first.
Because she couldn't stop thinking about him.
Even now, her skin clammed in thought about him. His naked body pressed against hers—like two spoons made for each other.
His warm breath against the back of her neck.
His firm touches on her petite frame.
She wasn't in love with him.
But she was immensely attracted to him.
Could love become a thing between them both in the future?
Distinctly possible.
She'd heard stories that loving someone was terrifying and that people had fled in fear of it.
Her view?
Utter, complete codswallop!
To Sarah, loving something was the most natural thing in the world.
Being afraid to love somebody was nothing more than a Hollywood trope.
She'd never been in love before, but the thought of potentially falling in love with Chuck did not scare her away: she just wasn't there yet.
However, if she did fall in love with him one day, she'd just have to find a way to deal with that—because she had no intentions of letting another woman get her claws into him.
She also knew that being in love with each other would not be easy to adapt to. There were strict fraternisation rules in the Armed Forces, with severe penalties for ignoring them, too.
Plus, if they broke up, they'd have to see each other every day, which could become an unwelcome problem and a potentially dangerous one to face too.
And then there was the incessant teasing: which, in great quantity, could quickly become overbearing for Sarah.
So yes, there were many potential problems and obstacles in the way of a blossoming romance between Chuck and Sarah. However, after Jamie's text, knowing that at least one other person supported them being together eased some of those potential future concerns substantially and built her giddy excitement about going on a date with someone she felt a gigantic connection with further.
She wasn't ready for her and Chuck to go open about them yet. But she knew now, at least, that they would very likely be supported by most of their teammates if they became a thing, which went a long way to helping to ease those reservations. However, she knew that obtaining Blue Team's support and the rest of the squadron would be a different story altogether…
Not allowing any negative thoughts to take hold of her today, she placed her shopping bags onto the bed, collected the jewellery pieces she'd be wearing tonight, before she abandoned her position in the room, and headed for the bathroom.
She spent a few moments in the bathroom plugging the drainage hole before turning on the hot tap.
With the water running, Sarah started undressing until she was naked, adding salts and oils into the large bathing facility once she'd finished undressing.
After a few minutes, the water filled up enough to her level of satisfaction, and she turned off the hot tap and began to add some cold.
After a minute, the water temperature was to her level of satisfaction, and she promptly climbed into the tub.
Moving to lay back into the soapy water, she sighed pleasurably.
God, this feels so good! The only thing that could make this feel any better is if Chuck was in here with me!
She smirked at her thoughts, closing her eyes briefly to imagine such a scenario.
Opening her eyes a short moment later, she put him to the back of her mind for now and focused on relaxing herself in preparation for the date.
x-x-x-x-x-x
Sarah departed the bath feeling as relaxed as she'd ever felt.
She spent a few minutes drying her body before she set about removing every unwanted hair from her body and face.
Now hairless in every place of her body and face she desired, she brushed her teeth before applying moisturising cream body-wide.
Departing the bathroom, she made for the position of her shopping bags and took out the matching black lace underwear set.
After a short moment of discharging the packaging and labels, she climbed into the panties and soon clasped the bra to her chest.
Soon focusing on the date again, she made a quick mental checklist of everything she needed to do before departing on the date.
With the checklist complete, she made for her possessions and took out a blow dryer to dry her hair.
Once her hair was dry, she set out to lay her hair into the style she'd chosen for today: layered wavy hair with bangs.
Feeling confident she had her hair flawlessly how she wanted it sometime later, it was time for the centrepiece of her appearance: her dress.
Taking the dress into her possession, she picked up the new mascara, lipstick, blusher set, deodorant, and a perfume bottle.
Armed with everything she needed, she made for the bathroom and spent a few minutes climbing into the dress, securing it in place, and adjusting her cleavage, aiming for maximum showing to please his eye this evening.
Now dressed with only her makeup left to do, she closely surveyed herself in the mirror.
I hope he likes the effort I made. I want tonight to be perfect for us. No work, no complications, just us.
She paused in place, developing immediate pre-date jitters, suddenly feeling very nervous in case anything went wrong tonight.
In terms of romance, it was actually the first romantic date she'd been on. In previous intimate encounters, she'd gone to bars with men in casual relationships, but never a complete dating experience as she'd be imminently embarking on with Chuck, so the anxiousness was understandable.
She spent a few minutes engaging in deep breathing to calm her nerves down to the point she'd almost conquered them, convincing herself that tonight would go well and that she looked great.
I like him, and he wants me. You've got this, Sarah!
She looked at her body one final time before applying light makeup to her face.
The theme of beauty application to herself tonight was light.
Just enough.
Not more.
After a few minutes, with her makeup application now complete, she applied the deodorant and then a light dosage of perfume, before fixing her earrings, a bracelet and watch to her person.
Now almost ready for the date, and with it almost seven, she looked at herself in the mirror one final time before departing the bathroom to put on her heels.
x-x-x-x-x-x
Sarah was idle in pause in her room as it turned seven.
In perfect timekeeping, a knock on the door to the room was placed.
Swallowing a sudden onset of immediate nerves away, Sarah approached the door.
On arrival at the door, she took a final moment to compose herself before she opened the door to greet her lover.
With Chuck now in sight, she met his glance.
He grinned at her and said, "The lads have already left, so we can now leave safely. I made sure."
She nodded, relaxing further.
Chuck's gaze soon lowered down to her attire, his jaw quickly dropping as it did so.
She paused, waiting, as she gazed at his eyes and facial expressions, attempting to read if he approved of how she looked.
She was sure he did because his eyes remained caught on her for a long moment.
Unable to wait for an answer, she asked, "So, how do I look?"
His gaze returned to her eyes. "Like the most beautiful—no, stunning woman I have ever seen, and then some!" he said, puffing out a sigh to try to cool the immense attraction he felt by looking at how perfect she looked tonight. Every time he looked at her, he knew she was beautiful. But tonight… Tonight he would probably be locked up in jail if she weren't his lover and didn't allow him to harbour the thoughts racing throughout his mind.
Sarah blushed immensely and swallowed away the lumps caused by how extra-special he always made her feel. Whenever she was with him, he made her feel like she was a priceless object worth at least a billion pounds. But right now, she felt like she was worth a trillion.
With her brief shyness complete, she emitted him an adoring smile.
"What about me?" he asked, grimacing nervously, suddenly feeling that he was inadequate in the presence of her. "How do I look?"
Sarah's gaze lowered to register his appearance, and as he did so, her eyes quickly locked on his outfit too.
Now eyeing her lover up, her skin started to clam in arousal for him, and a hot flush overcame her face.
Chuck wore a tightly fitted long-sleeved plain black dress shirt which he'd unbuttoned down to his chest and had tucked in. He also wore matching jeans—equally as closely-fitted to his person—with a buckle, and completing his outfit; he wore smart ankle-high boot shoes.
Because of how well-fitted his clothing was, it showed off his flawless special forces physique to perfection, which is why Sarah felt as much arousal for him as she was feeling.
Meeting his eyes with her own again, she swallowed further lumps to stem arousal. "Chuck, you're so handsome that you always make any outfit look good. But you in that outfit," she said, puffing out a sigh to stem her thoughts as she pointed at his torso. "You're the hottest guy I've ever known."
An instant grin lit up his face.
She smiled back at him.
He then moved in to take hold of and kiss her hand, and the lovers soon departed to begin their date.
Vincenzo Trattoria
Chuck and Sarah arrived arm in arm at the Italian restaurant which would play host to their romantic first date.
The lovers entered, looking up at floating lights and a multitude of flowers dangling down from the ceiling all above them.
Looking back at each other, they shared a loving gaze as they walked to the reception to book their attendance.
On arrival at the booking in place, Chuck said to a restaurant staff member, "Good evening. We have a table reservation at 7.15, the name of Bartowski."
The staff member nodded, smiling at Chuck and Sarah. "We have been expecting you. If you would like to follow me, sir, ma'am?"
Chuck and Sarah nodded as they followed the staff member arm in arm, taking in the relaxed and very romantic atmosphere as they followed the employee closely behind.
After a brief moment, the staff member stopped at a booth. "If you would like to be seated?" the restaurant employee asked, smiling cordially at Chuck and Sarah.
The lovers returned the warm gaze to the employee as they moved to take seats facing each other inside the booth.
Once seated, they glanced back at the staff member, who stated, "A waitress will be along to serve you shortly. We hope you will enjoy your time with us this evening."
Chuck and Sarah held their warm gaze onto the employee, and each said, "Thanks."
The staff member promptly turned to depart back to the restaurant's entrance.
As the employee departed, Chuck and Sarah turned to look back at each other.
They shared a lover's gaze, staring into each other's eyes as if nothing else mattered at that moment inside the busy restaurant as a beautiful Italian song played out throughout the restaurant, which added to the immersion of sending them to another faraway place together—hand in hand.
He smiled at her again, looking into her alluring oceanic eyes that he could quickly become lost looking into.
She smiled back at him.
They held their gaze for a brief moment more until it broke for a moment as they took in their immediate surroundings.
Above them in the booth, floral decorations dangled down until a foot or two above their heads while the lights were dimmed all around them.
In the central part of the restaurant, row after row of flowers hung above the bar.
For each lover—it was perfect.
They soon returned their gaze to each other.
"Chuck, this place is beautiful," she said.
He smiled into her eyes. "I wanted somewhere romantic and perfect for us. Somewhere we can be ourselves, where nothing else matters for tonight."
"Nothing else does matter tonight," she agreed.
Desiring immediate, intimate contact, she reached out her hand for his, filling up with an immense attraction to him as she bore him an adoring smile.
They played with each other's hands for a long moment as Chuck soon declared, "You're so beautiful."
She smiled in fulfilment, her cheeks flushing as she stared into his eyes.
Sarah would never tire of hearing him tell her that. Instead, each time he did, the yearning inside of her to listen to it again from him grew more intense. Wanting, hoping, he would feel the same way about her a long time from now.
For she knew, being here with him now, in this perfect backdrop, there was a long future for them: if they pursued it.
The waitress soon arrived to take their order. They spent a few minutes ordering a starter, which they would share, and a bottle of red wine. For their main meals, Sarah ordered a vegetarian pizza with a special request of no olives, while Chuck ordered a special Sirloin steak recipe with mixed salad as an accessory.
Once their order was complete, the waitress departed to attend to the order.
The lovers promptly returned their full attention to each other as soon as she departed.
"No olives, huh?" he asked, grinning.
She looked awkwardly at him, forcing a smile which showed no teeth.
He quickly took hold of her hand. "Beautiful, don't feel awkward. You'll never see another olive around me again without having to ask."
She broke her gaze from him.
"Did I say something wrong?" he asked.
She returned her eyes to meet his, shaking her head as she did so. "No. I looked away in embarrassment because you make me feel special about myself and you in a way that nobody has before."
"I'm glad," he said, smiling. "Because, Sarah, I've never felt how I'm feeling about you about anyone before either."
She took in his words as they held their lover's gaze until Sarah soon broke it, her gaze lowering to his lips.
Looking back into his orbs, she moved in motion towards him.
He returned the action, meeting her in the middle.
The table was relatively short, so they didn't have to arch themselves very far forward, which was perfect because they each anticipated doing a lot of kissing tonight.
The lovers shared their first kiss of the night, connecting their lips as they closed their eyes and allowed themselves to drift off to an incredible place together, the soft, relaxing song playing out overheard helping to get them to that place as they kissed.
Breaking for air, Sarah drew in a considerable intake, her breath catching over the moment's intensity shared with him.
The kiss they'd shared was soft, but to her, it felt like their most intense kiss so far.
And she knew why: because they were starting to like each other too much to stay casual.
"Just so you know," he whispered against her lips, staring into her eyes, their faces less than an inch apart. "I'm staying in the SAS. My decision: it's final."
"I'm glad," she replied, holding their stare until she closed her eyes again and moved back to connect her lips with his own.
Once they stopped their second kiss, they returned to their former positions, but the lovers held their stare into each other's orbs that had barely broken since they'd arrived.
Nor would it anytime soon.
Their wine soon arrived and was served to them both.
Taking their glasses into their hands, they moved to toast.
"Cheers," he said.
"Bottoms up," she replied.
The lovers took sips of their wine, which tasted like an assortment of dark fruits.
Returning her glass onto the table, staring into his eyes, she teased, "I never thought I'd be on a date with a scouser."
He shook his head at her. "Well, when you say it like that, even though I'm not a scouser, I never thought I'd be on a date with a cockney, so the feeling is mutual."
She gasped, her mouth dropping as she did so. "Take that back, or I'll shave your hair."
As the lovers held their stare, he said, "How about you take yours back, or I'll shave yours."
She briefly mused over his comment before she looked around to ensure no one was within earshot. "Depending on where: that could be fun," she said joyfully.
He pointed at her head. "That mop of blonde hair on your head up there," he said, grinning.
Sarah gasped in horror and dread. "You wouldn't dare!"
"Oh, wouldn't I?" he asked back.
Sarah narrowed her eyes at him for a long moment in consideration. "Actually, you would," she said, shaking her head as she suppressed laughter.
Chuck nodded multiple times, sharing the warm gaze with her. "So, how about it? Are you ready to finally become one of the lads, Sarah? Because the haircut is all that's left to be done."
She shook her head at him over his teasing, but to be fair, she did start it. "You realise if you do that, then we'll have to stop sleeping together because we'll be two men?" she said, snorting.
"I'm fine with that," he joked, suppressing laughter. "There's plenty of other women," he said as his muted laughter became chuckles over the glance in disgust he was now getting from her.
"Any more of these comments and this date ends with us sleeping in two different rooms," she warned, her mouth wide open, but a smile threatened to escape.
"Why would I want to share a bed with you, Sarah?" he asked, trying not to laugh.
"Um, I don't know, because you've already cried out my name multiple times while orgasming, and you're addicted to me?" she laughed back.
"I was thinking of a different Sarah. She's brunette," he teased, suppressing laughter as she gave him her latest look of disgust.
She continued shaking her head at him, looking at him in faux disgust. "I've suddenly decided to celibate."
"Objection!" he said, grinning. "Beautiful, you don't have a religious bone in your body."
"It's too late for you to call me beautiful!" she said with a huge smile as they held their intimate stare. "And I saw the light two minutes ago!" she laughed before adding a further comment, "And I'll bloody well need god at my side having to put up with you for the rest of tonight because we've only just started."
"You started the teasing first, gorgeous girl," he said, grinning. "And you can leave if you want. Just don't forget to pay the tab first."
She shook her head at him. "To get away from you, maybe I will!"
"Yeah, but you're not gonna do that," he said.
"Why's that then?" she asked as their stare suddenly became much more intimate as they leaned their heads forward to get closer.
"Because you're already exploding with arousal and want everything and more of what's to come for the rest of this long night, both here and later back in your room," he said, not relenting their intense gaze.
"How can you be so sure?" she asked as her gaze lowered at his lips briefly.
"Because the feeling is mutual, and I'm feeling the same way," he said with a trademark grin she was already addicted to seeing.
Looking between his eyes and lips, she said, "I didn't know you were telepathic."
"I'm not," he said as he edged closer towards her, and she to him. "I can just see the look in your eye, beautiful."
She gave him her best smile as they closed the remaining distance between them and started to kiss again.
"Mmm," she softly moaned in desire as they continued to kiss.
Pulling back from each other a short moment later, she asked, "Have you been on many dates?"
He nodded. "Yeah, but only with two women. You're the third woman I've started to date," he admitted. "How about you? Have you had many dates?"
She shook her head, forcing a smile in embarrassment. "No, all of my encounters were exclusively casual romps. This is my first romantic date."
He narrowed his eyes before blowing out a sigh. "Wow," he said in shock.
"What?" she asked simply.
"Sarah, it's just a woman like you deserves to be spoiled and made to feel very special. I'm stunned that none of those previous partners attempted anything like this," he said.
"Well, I feel special tonight, Chuck. So thank you," she said.
He grinned. "I would have bought you flowers too, but if the team saw it… God, help us."
She gazed nervously at him. "You're right. I know we said nothing at the bar, but our private life is our private life, Chuck. I disagree with talking so openly about what we do inside a bedroom. God, I didn't sign up to join the army to start doing that."
Chuck took hold of her hand in reassurance. "Sarah, I completely understand. I'm desensitised to all teasing, and I can now give back just as much as I can take, if not more. But talking about my sex life with the lads so openly, I've never done that, and I don't want to start doing so now. It's not their business to know what we do together off-duty, as much as they think it is to know. If the shoe were on the other foot, I'd not meddle and demand to know how often they were having sex with each other."
"I agree, Chuck, but they're not going to stop doing it," she said.
He nodded. "So we're gonna have to find creative ways to bite back. But I don't want to talk about that tonight. I want to talk about us."
"Me too," she said as she started to play with his hand holding hers.
They were soon disturbed by their starter course arriving.
Detaching their hands from each other, they turned to share a brief conversation with the waitress until the staff member served the food, and she departed to leave the lovers in their own company again.
"That looks good," he said, grinning.
"Yeah," she nodded. "It does."
They tucked into their starter for the next minute until Chuck said, "You know, Sarah, you said a lot of things to me this morning when we were in bed after last night."
She paused from her dining activities to give him her full attention again. "I know," she admitted.
Swallowing air briefly, he said, "Was it the heat of the moment because we had to get up and go to work instead of staying like we were?"
"No, Chuck, I meant every word," she said without any hesitation.
He narrowed his eyes and became lost in thought. Looking back at her, he said, "I know we agreed to have casual fun for now, but if you're changing your stance on that, I promise to be very receptive to the situation."
This time it was Sarah who swallowed air. After a few seconds of thought, she said, "Chuck, I like you. God… That's an understatement of the highest order because I like you a lot!"
He smiled and waited silently, sensing she had a further comment to bring to the discussion.
"But the SAS is our whole lives, and I don't want to mess that up for either of us," she said, forcing a smile, and he nodded. "Did I wish I was the yoghurt girl this morning? Yes. Do I still wish I was now? God, yes, because you make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world… but I'm not the yoghurt girl."
He nodded, forcing a smile. "Sarah, you need to put your career in the SAS before me: I get it, and gosh, have I done that in my past two relationships also."
She quickly shook her head, waving her hand dismissively.
His eyes instantly narrowed.
"Chuck, I don't want to put that first before you…" she said, smiling without showing teeth. "The army has been shit to me. I've been looked down on, humiliated, and it has all been because of my gender and my gender alone…" she said, sighing, as he looked at her in deep remorse over the treatment she'd received that he didn't doubt for a second. "...but I have only just made one commitment, and turning my back on it so soon after meeting you is too soon."
He nodded, forcing a smile. "I get that, Sarah, trust me, I do. And beautiful, I'm not asking you to leave the army to be the yoghurt girl so we can be together. I would never ask you to do that. I don't want to leave either. I've only just decided to stay," he said with a full grin.
She returned the joy to him in kind, suppressing laughter.
"But I want you to know something, Sarah," he said, staring into her eyes as she matched his stare and treated him as if he were the only thing in the restaurant. "My feelings for you are stronger than I've ever felt towards anybody. I hope me admitting that won't scare you away."
"It doesn't," she said as she moved to take hold of his hand, not yielding her intense stare into his orbs. "You're the best thing in my life, not just people, I mean life, Chuck, period."
A massive, joyful grin lit up his face.
She smiled back at him.
A few seconds passed until he said, "You know, maybe we can have it all and make it work out. Because I would very much like to build a life with you outside the Regiment, Sarah, even while we're in it."
"Me too," she agreed, smiling joyfully.
He grinned back as the lovers moved to hover over the large starter plate, and they started to kiss.
Parting from her, he said, "We should eat before it goes cold."
She nodded.
x-x-x-x-x-x
Chuck and Sarah were halfway through their main course, and for the both of them, tonight had been the most romantic night of their lives, and it was far from over yet.
If they hadn't already known it, they now knew beyond all doubt that they had a perfect connection with each other that neither of them had felt towards anybody before.
They also knew that they couldn't remain casual and light after tonight with no-strings-attached because they both now wanted strings: they just hadn't outright said it yet.
Pausing from his delicious food, Chuck said, "Sarah, I want us both to imagine something now."
"Ok," she agreed, pausing from her pizza and putting her knife and fork down to give him her full attention.
"I'm doing it because I want us to see if we would have a chance with each other had we not been teammates and paired together without any choice. So what I want us to imagine is me being a normal guy, no military, maybe working at a tech store," he said, grinning.
She suppressed laughter, gazing fondly into his eyes. "So I'm a normal girl, coming in hoping for you to fix my phone?"
"Exactly," he said, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
She matched his loving gaze.
"So… You come up to me at my tech desk. I become nervous and awkward around you 'cause I'm looking at by far the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my life and a woman I could only find in my dreams," he said, staring into her eyes.
"Oh, so my best feature is how I look?" she laughed heartily.
"Sarah, while I can't lie, it is," he said, nodding. "But that's not an insult because it doesn't mean you don't have a great personality and aren't good to be around either. People can still be beautiful outside but have a personality like a slapped fish inside. And are they truly beautiful if they treat others like dirt?"
She nodded. His point was a great one. "That's true. Because I find you very attractive too, but your personality makes you by far the best person I've ever met."
He waved his finger out at her in caution. "Ah! But would I still have any chance with you without the confidence that the army has given me, plus the body it has too? I'd be a tall and lanky guy, playing way too many video games, and I wouldn't even have the confidence to look at a supermodel like you in the eye 'cause that's what you could be if you were a normal girl."
"Yes, Chuck, I think you would," she instantly said, nodding, but she continued once she sensed he disagreed. "You're smart, funny, kind, caring. Chuck, you have a lot to offer despite what the army made you into, which isn't a bad thing, by the way. But no, Chuck, yes, you would have a chance with me without the army."
"Sarah, I'm not so sure, and I can't help but doubt that," he admitted, grimacing because he saw no scenario in which a nerd like him could make a girl like her fall for him without what the army made him.
However, she became very uncomfortable in her seat, and he could see the irritation in her eye. "Chuck, that's not fair. You can't shoot down my opinion like you just did. I will give you another scenario… I'm a normal girl, working a dead-end job, unfulfilled, miserable, but instead of you being the tech guy, you use your extraordinarily gifted mind to become a billionaire. We cross paths. Would you even give me a second look? Because I'm not so sure about that either."
"Sarah, I would notice you. I can assure you I would notice you in one-hundred scenarios out of one hundred," he said instantly.
"Well then, Chuck, in that case, you can't tell me that I wouldn't notice you either. I know you might not believe that, but I don't care because I don't believe that you would notice me in my scenario either."
Chuck thought for a long moment until he said, "You really believe that?"
"Yes, Chuck," she said, nodding. "You have a lot to offer. The reason I'm out on a romantic date with you now isn't that you're my teammate in the army," she said, pausing to smile in reassurance. "I'm out with you now because of the same qualities that you'd still have if you were the tech guy. You would make me feel happy, special, beautiful, and light up my world just with one of your amazing smiles: like you're doing right now."
Chuck gave her the biggest grin of the night.
She smiled back at him.
"Beautiful; so that you know, your scenario has a happy ending for you too. You would always be the biggest catch for me regardless of where you worked or where I worked," he said, staring into her eyes.
She held his stare as immense joy lit up her face.
x-x-x-x-x-x
A short while later
The lovers finished eating their main course, were on their second bottle of wine, and were now eating mints that Chuck had handed them a few seconds ago.
As each minute passed since their date first started, their desire for each other grew, as did their connection: they'd barely detached their eyes from each other once, nor would they anytime soon, owed to the immense attraction they felt towards one another.
"Sarah, thank you for tonight. This is by far the best date I have been on," he said.
She bore him an affectionate smile, staring fondly into his eyes. "Me too."
He grinned back as he teased, "Though I'm not sure how I feel about you copying the colour of my outfit."
Her mouth dropped as she gasped in shock. "It was you who copied mine!" she protested.
He suppressed laughter, which she shared.
"Beautiful, all jokes aside, maybe it's a sign that we were just meant for each other," he said.
"Yeah. Maybe," she agreed, looking at his lips with a yearning to kiss him as her attraction towards him started to develop into sexual desire due to how successful their night had gone.
Picking up on her growing desires, he leant into her over the table.
She met him halfway as they started to kiss, this kiss being the most passionate of the night as tongues became involved.
Parting for air, she said, "You taste like mint."
"So do you," he said back, grinning.
She suppressed laughter before going back in for seconds.
Pulling back after their latest kiss, they took hold of each other's hand again, remaining locked in their trance-like state, which would continue until the conclusion of the night, which would undoubtedly conclude with them in the same bed together after having sex.
"You know, I don't normally have a habit of repeating things my best friend says to me, but I'm gonna tell you something he texted me earlier," Chuck said.
"What is it?" she asked.
Grinning at her, he said, "He told me that you're the biggest catch I will ever find in my life, and if I didn't sweep you off your feet, then I'd regret it and would be a brain-dead pillock."
Sarah snorted for a long moment in joy until she said, "And why did you need to tell me that?"
"Because, Sarah, he's right," he grinned. "You are the biggest catch I will ever find. I'm sure of it. And I want to sweep you off your feet. I've never been more sure about that."
"You already have," she admitted as she bore him a smitten smile. "I've never felt this way about anyone before. God, Chuck, I'm so head over heels for you right now… if you asked me to do anything for you at this moment, I'd do it."
Chuck suppressed laughter. "Wow," he said in amazement. "Anything?"
"Anything," she said instantly, staring into his eyes.
He grinned in immense fulfilment. "That's great. But Sarah, I don't want anything from you. I will never ask for anything from you. All I want is what you decide to give me. And if I ever ask for anything from you, I want you to kick my ass and make me remember the promise I just made to you now."
Her shoulder involuntarily started to raise for a long moment, and her breathing deepened significantly over his words. "You know, Jamie texted something to me too," she admitted.
"Oh?" he asked.
She nodded. "He told me that as an intimate partner, I could do MUCH worse than you. He was right about that. But he was also very wrong. Because Chuck… You're the best guy I'm ever going to meet. And I have no doubt about that."
He grinned at her.
She smiled back at him.
The lovers moved to kiss again, closing their eyes at their soft, delicate touch as they started to express their immense, growing attraction toward each other.
Parting for air, they stared into each other's eyes, their faces less than an inch apart.
"Let's go back to the hotel to make love," she whispered, holding her compromised stare into his eyes.
"Uh, ok," he agreed, nodding. "But don't you want dessert here first?" he asked because they still had ample time to spare.
She shook her head as she moved to kiss him again with urgency.
Parting her lips from his, she whispered with a large portion of need, "I can't wait any longer, Chuck. I need you. Right now."
He nodded in agreement, not taking the conversation any further because it would be unfair to her. And after her comments, he needed her more than he could say.
"I'll just pay our bill, and then we can go," he said, and sensing she was about to object, likely wanting to share the bill with him, he continued, "Beautiful, before you object, I have to do this tonight. You've made it the most amazing experience of my life, and I won't insult you by demanding I always pay for everything. If you want, you can pay the next one or anything else you have in mind, but please let me pay tonight: you deserve it."
Sarah took a brief moment in thought before she nodded.
"Thank you," he said, grinning at her in intense adoration.
Chuck soon paid their bill, and the lovers wasted no time as they hastily departed for Sarah's hotel room with a yearning desire to make love for the rest of the night.
AN2 And that's a wrap on the T-rated ending of their night, at least. If my readers wish to see an M-rated continuation for the rest of Charah's night together, I will expect to see expressed feedback stating as such. The next T-rated chapter will be the morning after their first date and everything else that occurred for the rest of the night in Sarah's hotel room.
As always, I would love to hear thoughts from my regular commenters. And hopefully from some new faces also? :)