Page 14 of Finding Alfred
“Yeah, you did help inspire it. Not going to lie.”
“Oh.” He was silent for a minute before picking the thread back up. “What else are you writing about?”
“I have a few projects going on. Uh…one thing is about growing up with Brock and swimming in the river behind the house.”
“You have a river behind your house?”
“Yeah, I’ll show you next time you’re over.” I hoped that would be soon. “We swim there all the time.”
“I’d love that. I’ll wear those hiking boots, and we can go exploring.”
“Sounds like fun.” I already imagined getting naked in the woods, and maybe skinny dipping with him when the weather got a little warmer. It still wasn’t quite summer and a bit too cold for that.
“I bet you and Brock got up to all kinds of trouble as kids.”
“Ha! We did. But what makes you say that?”
“Imagining you as a feisty kid and probably pulling Brock into your shenanigans constantly.” He drummed his fingers on the arm of the door.
I laughed, trying to relax him. “You are not wrong. I give it to Brock, though. He hardly asked questions before jumping in right beside me in whatever we were doing.”
“He’s been a great friend to you.”
“The best.”
We talked more about my childhood with Alfred asking me a lot of insightful questions until we finally pulled up at the restaurant. I parked, jumped out, and circled the car, giving him my arm as he stood. I’d made reservations, so we were seated quickly.
The thing I liked about this place, though I hadn’t been here often, was the seating along the far wall that overlooked the mountains. The view was magnificent, and I was thrilled that we were placed there. Alfred oh’d taking it in.
The fancy steakhouse was a great venue for wedding receptions and shit like that, especially in the spring and summer. The grounds around the main restaurant were panoramic, creating a sweet atmosphere with a charming lagoon and party lights. The works. There was even a structure in the far back that looked like an old saloon and functioned as a secondary bar. The main dining area was rustic with mountain charm from the chairs to the chandeliers to the huge, stacked stone fireplace, which looked like you could actually cook a meal in it. Alfred’s gaze bounced around, taking it all in.
“This is not, I mean, certainly different than…”
“Relax, Al. I wanted to take you somewhere you may never have been. I’ve only been here a few times, but it’s great. I’m definitely getting a steak.”
“Sure, that’s what they do, right?”
“It is.”
We ordered beer and salads to start, then steak and potatoes, but skipped dessert. The food did not disappoint. And we were both feeling relaxed and full by the end of the night.
I took him home without expectations. Which was good, because I got a kiss at his door, and that was all. It felt like going backwards while building more tension between us.
I went home.
He certainly left me wanting a lot more, but I wasn’t going to push him. He’d made a huge effort to go out with me and get to know me. But as I lay in bed alone, the thought of those pearls around his neck and those mother-fucking heels tortured me. Alfred was the sexiest thing to hit Foggy Basin in like…ever.
I wanted to see him beneath me wearing nothing but those pearls. Pounding into him, licking his neck, teasing his mouth. I stroked my cock, imagining it. I already knew what sounds he made, and I wanted to hear them again and again like a soundtrack to our lives.
How he had gotten so deeply ingrained under my skin, I didn’t know. But I had his name on my lips as I came, squirting out all over my fingers, wishing it had been him.
Chapter twelve
A good bit of my house had been unpacked, and I had a growing pile started in the front room to get rid of. Having Jackie here helped for many reasons, even if I wasn’t totally thrilled about it. But as I watched him drive away to get ready for our date, I wondered what the hell I had done. A date?
He’d won me over with coffee, gifts, and an orgasm.
But the date had gone well. He was a gentleman, which I totally expected, and he talked a lot about growing up in Foggy Basin, which I hadn’t expected. And whether it was because of my strand of pearls, open shirt, loose hair, or simply me, hewatched me closely all night. I wanted to invite him in when he dropped me off. I didn’t. There was something delicious about the building desires that pulled at us, and I didn’t want to give in so quickly this time.
