Chapter 15 No Assuming #2
He's moving way too fast for my comfort, making me stiffen further as my nerves get the better of me.
Before it can consume me completely, I also see his steps hesitate as he observes my eyes widen.
I take a couple quick steps back. A look of concern settles into his features, and he ceases walking now entirely, puts a hand flat on the top of the island, and leans back giving me space.
“How’re you feeling this morning? Anything I can do?” he asks quietly, his eyes flickering over my body again as if he's searching for something.
To my horror, my eyes well up, and I furiously blink back tears as both of my arms come up to wrap around my stomach protectively. His eyes catch it, making me ashamed.
I look down at my feet. “I’m okay."
He stares at me with a rather pitying, yet disbelieving look on his face. His next words take me aback. "Can I give you a hug?"
The request makes me tear my gaze from my feet to meet his, shocked. He swims in my vision as tears well so thick in my eyes I'm not sure how they aren't spilling over. I tense, realizing I really, really need a hug. One of those big bear ones that swallow you up.
I swallow hard, nervous. Because though I've been in a relationship for four years, I'm not used to physical touch. Even before Brandon, I wasn't used to physical touch from anyone other than my momma or Jerome.
I miss it.
Biting my lip I nod, feeling my heart beat just a little faster.
"I-I'd like that." And even though I just gave him permission, I can't help my eyes from widening even more as he takes a few very slow steps into me.
The first thing that I notice is his scent.
It's so warm as it greets me first. And as his arms wrap around my body, pressing his chest and his abdomen into me, it forces me to loosen my arms to wrap around him instead of my torso.
His body heat meets mine, making me fall into it.
But when he puts a hand on the back of my head, cradling me, and the curve of my ass so as to not agitate my back, those tears I've been fighting back break free.
He hears me cry and just holds me to him. Not rocking. Just holding me gently…yet firmly.
"I am so sorry that this has happened to you, Sarah." His voice is tender, but instead of making the tears worse, it actually helps. It hits me then that that's why I like his voice so much; it's healing. There's something safe about this man I can't place.
Do I need to?
I sniff. "Thank you. Me… me too."
We stay locked in our embrace for way longer than I know should be normal, but it doesn't feel abnormal.
Hugging Alexander feels like the best thing that's ever happened to me.
And that's odd, because he's a stranger.
I clear my throat, hating I blush so visibly, and reluctantly pull away.
He's just as reluctant, it seems, because his fingers tighten briefly before falling away.
His obviously respectful demeanor shifts my sad thoughts to this morning, to how he had his arms around me.
I feel guilty.
"Uhm…" I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear self-consciously.
Really wondering if I should tell him how he was wrapped around me.
As a man though, maybe he wouldn't care as much.
Am I making this a big deal? Probably. I'll keep it to myself.
"I have an apartment showing at three, if you could take me to my car?
" I ask hesitantly. "It’s still at your office.”
Alexander tilts his head, his eyes like a blue abyss.
“It’s not at the office anymore. Your friends Frick and Frack have already driven it here, but I’m afraid I'm going to insist on you not driving today. I can take you on the apartment tour. Come on, sit at the breakfast table with me. I didn’t know what you liked, so I figured pancakes would be a safe choice.
I wasn’t sure if you were vegetarian,” he says, startling me with the admission.
I was about to comment on his nickname for my friends, but his last words take me aback, causing me to frown slightly, tilting my head to the side, mirroring him.
“Why would you think I’m vegetarian?” I enquire.
He smiles a teasing smile and takes my hand gently, pulling me next to him.
I turn my head to look up at him as I take a seat at a small buffet table tucked away in the corner of the kitchen next to a bay window that overlooks a beautiful backyard with a small koi pond tucked amongst some beautiful landscaping.
The birds fly around, catching my attention.
Alexander goes back to the island before coming back over with the food and a few plates, setting it all down efficiently.
The pancakes look fluffy with slightly crisp edges, just like I like them; albeit, I don’t let myself eat pancakes very often, having a love-hate relationship with carbs.
But it's a free breakfast and one that another person cooked for me, so I won't be complaining.
“It’s just that Indians are oftentimes vegetarian, and I didn’t want to assume. I would have made eggs too, but I ran out and didn’t realize,” he says easily as he slides in across the seat from me.
Surprised, I let out a giggle, placing my hand over my mouth.
“What is it?” Alexander says as he throws me a slight smile, placing some pancakes on my plate.
I'm so hungry I can't answer him right away. He watches me with interest as I reach forward and snag a piece of bacon and chew on it. Moaning as my hunger hits hard.
“Oh my God. Thank you so much. I didn’t get a chance to eat at all yesterday." I snag another piece of bacon, and before I know it, I've eaten four pieces before he's even put food on his plate. He’d been busy staring at me with a rather amused expression on his face.
Gosh, he's so handsome. It's almost nerve-wracking.
No, it is. It's so nerve-wracking how handsome he is. And those eyes! My God, I can barely hold his eye contact because they're so striking.
“So, not a vegetarian, then?” Alexander asks, his eyes crinkling with humor.
I shake my head. “No, and I’m not Indian either. Dot or feather,” I say absentmindedly.
He barks out a laugh. “Did you just say that?” He asks incredulously.
His laughter warms me, and I grin back, choosing to not ream him about the faux pas of him assuming my race so blatantly.
“Yeah, just like you just said what you said," I tease him with a giggle. "Which one did you think I was? It wasn’t specified.” I crack a little diagnosis joke, cutting into my dry pancakes and placing a bite into my mouth. I lean my head back, biting back a moan because it's so good.
Alexander clears his throat and pointedly glances at my plate. “You don’t like syrup?” he asks, rather accusatory.
“I don’t eat a lot of stuff. And yet, I still can’t get this fupa to go away,” I say, putting another bite of pancake into my mouth.
To my surprise Alexander chokes, beating his hand to his chest, making me throw my silverware down, prepared to do the Heimlich.
Who am I kidding? I don't know the Heimlich. I could try, though.
Again, who am I kidding? I don't think I could wrap my arms around his broad frame. Thankfully, he gets it together, and I don't have to intervene. I push his water towards him. The best I can do right now.
“What? What's that?” he asks, his brow arching.
“Yeah, I have this place on my tummy that I can’t spot reduce for anything.
I perform at a nearby lounge and there are so many pretty dresses I want to wear, but I can’t because everyone wants a super flat stomach, and I can’t seem to get it, so.
..why am I even telling you this? I’m sorry,” I whisper, horrified at my rambling.
I put the tip of a piece of bacon in my mouth and chew slowly, mortified.
Alexander’s eyes flit to my stomach, and a look I can only describe as hunger crosses his face, but I don't feel afraid. He doesn't say anything, though.
“I didn’t eat at all yesterday, so I’m just a little hungry. I’m sorry,” I continue. My chin lowers as I suddenly throw the bacon back on my plate.
I shouldn't let him see me eat like this.
“Nuh-uh,” Alexander says. He snatches up the syrup and pours a healthy amount on my plate, along with some more bacon. “Eat. You deserve sustenance.”
Slightly horrified because he just poured about five hundred extra calories on my plate, I look up before lowering my eyes down to my food again, swimming in syrup. I hesitantly pick up my fork, seeing the syrup drip off it, and swallow nervously.