7. Forest
FOREST
Scott asked me on a date.
As I drove home, I was still in shock at how the afternoon had played out.
I figured we’d flirt a little and maybe exchange numbers, but it was so much more than that.
In just a few hours, he moved to the top spot of my favorite people in the world.
I had buddies at work and from the team, but they all knew me superficially.
We drank together and joked around, but we never went deep.
But with Scott, I could go deeper. He wanted to know details about my job. My favorite foods. The things that made me sad.
And even after opening up to him in a way I hadn’t with anyone else as an adult, he still wanted to take me to dinner.
Even as I pulled up to my building, I could still feel the warmth and weight of his arms wrapped around me, holding me to his chest. Before I’d thought it through, my forehead was buried in his neck and I had to resist the urge to lick him.
Maybe I actually did. Just a little.
Friday felt very far away.
I made it through Wednesday's practice without embarrassing myself, but Kowalski cornered me in the locker room and wanted details. I gave him the short version of how it went.
“I fucking told you!” He was so proud of himself that I almost regretted telling him.
But I totally didn’t because his little plan got me a date with the sexy laundry-preneur. “Yeah, yeah. Anyway, I’ll let you know how it goes on Friday.”
“You better! And we have a bye this week, so you’ve got all weekend to get worked by Mr. Clean.”
“Mr. Clean?” I pictured the mascot for the cleaning products my mom used when I was growing up. “He’s not bald.”
“He owns a laundromat, right? Where people clean their clothes.”
“Oh, right.” We’d need to work on that nickname, but I appreciated how supportive he was being.
By the time Friday evening rolled around, I was more than ready to see Scott.
I showered twice because I’d been working in a hot attic all day and then went for a run after work to burn off my nervous energy.
Between those two things, I had sweat dripping from every crease and crevice, and I wanted to be squeaky clean for Scott, just in case.
My closet hadn’t been refreshed in years, so I grabbed the dark gray henley that Briggs once said made me look hot and picked up my phone to text Scott. Looking forward to tonight.
He replied back. Me too. If you’re good with it, I’d like to cook for you. You can come by whenever you’re ready and we’ll have a drink before dinner.
I’d need a drink to keep my dick in check throughout dinner. Sounds good. I’ll leave here in ten.
Perfect.
It was perfect. And after a few more minutes in front of the mirror to pull my hair back and make sure my beard was tight, I grabbed my keys and headed to Scott’s place.
His building looked different now that I was more than a customer.
The laundromat was lit up from the inside and a couple machines were spinning.
Instead of walking through to the back, I went around to the side entrance and took the exterior stairs up.
After smoothing down my shirt and swallowing the mint I’d been sucking on, I knocked on the door and held my breath.
Scott opened up, and the air slowly deflated from my lungs as I took him in. He was wearing a dark pullover with the sleeves pushed up so his firm forearms were on display and some comfy jeans.
The apartment smelled incredible, with something warm and savory wafting out. "Something smells delicious."
He took a step back and then opened his arms for me. "You said you’re not picky, but I figured a home-cooked meal is always a good first date."
First date? I liked the sound of that. And when I pressed against him and wrapped my arms around his neck, he smelled even better than the amazing aromas coming from his kitchen. “I can’t wait.” I wanted him to think I was talking about tasting his food, but I was more interested in tasting him.
“I just opened a bottle of wine, if you’d like to start with a drink.” He gently stepped back and slid his hand down to the center of my back as he nudged me to the peninsula that separated his kitchen from his dining room. “I also have beer.”
“Wine’s good.” I wasn’t a big wine drinker, but it was one of the fastest methods of getting a buzz, so a glass sounded great. While Scott poured two glasses, I noticed the lighting in the apartment was low and there was music playing softly in the background. “Thank you.”
I accepted the glass and copied Scott when he held his up for a toast. “Cheers.”
We clinked our glasses and each took a drink before a timer buzzed behind us.
“Oh, that’s the bread.” He put his glass on the counter then shoved his hand into an oven mitt. “I hope you’re hungry.”
"I was born hungry." I looked over his shoulder and my stomach growled at the sight and smells coming from the oven. "What are we having?"
"Short ribs. They've been going since this afternoon." He peeked into a large pot and then put the lid back. "With roasted asparagus and mashed potatoes."
“Oh my god, that sounds so good.” And heavy. Like no chance we were having sex kind of heavy. As excited as I was for dinner, I couldn’t help the little frown that formed on my face.
Scott moved around the kitchen like he knew what he was doing, so I did my best to stay out of his way. But after a minute, he stopped right in front of me and his brow furrowed. “What’s wrong?”
“What?” I realized that little frown might not have been so little. “Nothing.”
He exhaled and wiped his hand on a tea towel before placing his hand on the side of my neck. “What are you thinking about right this second?”
Fuck. “Um… Right this second?”
“Forest.” His voice was low and deep, and his tone left no room for avoiding it. “Tell Daddy what you’re thinking about, please.”
Holy shit. He called himself Daddy. I closed my eyes and let that tone tickle my balls as I blurted out the truth. “All that food sounds amazing and I can’t wait to eat it, but it’s definitely not sex-for-dessert kinda food.”
He was silent, letting my embarrassing confession just hang there until I cracked open one eye.
The grin on his face should have made me feel even more embarrassed, but it actually made me smile too. “Who needs potatoes and asparagus? We can use the bread for a few short rib sliders and go straight to dessert.”
“Really?”
That made him laugh and pull me in for a quick kiss on the side of my mouth. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
I wasn’t sure if he was teasing me or serious, but at least he knew where my mind was, and the ball was officially in his court.
We ate at his small dining table while catching up on our day. The short ribs were the best thing I'd eaten in my life, and when he only served half the meat and the fresh bread, I started to wonder if he was being serious about the dessert option being him…
The topic of work came up, and I mentioned the project from hell I was currently working on. It was a retrofit to bring an old manufacturing plant up to code. To my surprise, Scott asked questions that no one ever asked me about my work.
He amazed me more and more with every interaction. "You actually know about this stuff. "
"Mechanical engineering degree." He shrugged and then reached for the bottle to refill our glasses. "Never used it the traditional way, but it’s useful knowledge."
I nodded. "A laundry-preneur with an engineering degree."
"Living the dream." He winked, and the playful moment between us quickly turned heavy and thick with tension. “Basically a fantasy come true, at the moment.”
Aware of every morsel I put in my mouth, I finished my last bite and leaned back from the table, ready for dessert. “That was so good, Scott. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” He stood up and grabbed both of our plates. “Would you like to take our wine to the couch?”
I wanted to take it to the bedroom, but I wasn’t going to be greedy. The evening was already the best date I’d ever been on, and anything else would be a bonus. “Sure.”
The music was still on low when I sat on one end of the couch and Scott dropped onto the cushion beside me. He put his arm along the back of the couch so he could touch along my shoulder without being overbearing.
The warmth that radiated from his body made me want to curl into him and just snuggle for the rest of my life. "Can I ask you something?" I said quietly, keeping my eyes locked on his mouth.
"Anything." He lightly scratched the back of my neck, sending shivers down my spine.
"Why'd you buy me lunch and stay with me on Saturday? Like, you could've just helped me pay and then bailed. You didn’t have to stay."
He was quiet for a second like he was choosing his words carefully. "You looked like you needed someone to be there for you…and I wanted to be that someone."
I swallowed hard before meeting his gaze. "You did?"
“I did.” He took a deep breath and leaned forward so his warm breath bounced off my lips. “And I still do.” It was such an honest answer that it took me a second to really hear it.
When I did, I licked my lips and moved my gaze up to his eyes to gauge his sincerity.
The need in his stare was equal to mine as he closed the gap between us. Scott’s hand moved to the side of my face, and then he kissed me.
For real this time.
His mouth closed over mine a few times before his tongue joined the party and slipped between my parted lips.
The first time his tongue touched mine, I gasped at the jolt of desire that radiated straight to my balls.
Fuck, he felt good. And then I quickly fell into him, eagerly kissing him back like it was the crescendo to all that we’d been building up to instead of the very first note.
The last modicum of control I’d been holding on to dissolved as I whimpered with need. “Scott…” I pulled back just far enough to yank his shirt off and then mine so I could get some skin contact. I just needed to feel him against me, even if that was as far as we went.
Scott groaned when I kissed him again, and then he gathered me in his arms and stood up. “Bedroom?”
"Yes, please." I panted against his neck and then licked his heated skin. The urge to call him Daddy was strong, but I wasn’t sure I’d be able to hold myself together if I did. "Hurry."