A dinner that needs some spice

The two of them work together to make a simple meal, simple buttered garlic pasta and some chicken, with steamed and seasoned vegetables. If Kael is honest with himself, Gabby is mostly in the way more than being helpful, but it doesn’t bother him in the least. In fact, the two of them never stop smiling as they put together the meal, laughing when they bump into each other.

What a change from just a few short months ago. Before Evie came into his life, this would have been infuriating. The kitchen isn’t very large, and Gabby takes up quite a bit of space, amend on top of that, she’s actually rather clumsy. And yet, Kael finds himself enjoying the experience, even when Gabby nearly trips over him while carrying the pot of boiling water!

As for Gabby, it’s clear as day that she is having a good time. Between her bright smile and her sparkling eyes, her mood is very apparent on her face. And for all her clumsiness and inexperience, she’s an attentive listener, absorbing all she can about how to cook. The only time her attention seems to waver is when their eyes meet. When they do, Gabby blushes, obviously flustered.

Kael is no fool. He can read her growing attraction towards him. And it’s not like he’s not attracted to her as well. Quite the opposite, in fact. Gabby is gorgeous, in a different way than Evie’s delicate, almost ethereal beauty, or Ria’s athletic, energetic beauty. Gabby is big and strong, but also soft, and she’s outgoing and unashamed, but also easily embarrassed by displays of affection. And it’s only been a couple days since they met! Things seem to be progressing very fast between them, and Kael hopes he isn’t taking advantage of her gratitude for rescuing her.

They finish preparing the meal and bring the food to the table. Kael decides to pour them each some wine, and Gabby looks a bit surprised.

“Wine, sir? After last time?”

Kael chuckles. “Well, you handled it better than Evie did, so I think it’ll be fine. And besides, it’s not like that evening ended badly.”

Gabby looks puzzled for a moment. “Oh? Oh! Oh…I see, so you…oh.”

Kael laughs. “No, there was no drunken sex. I try to avoid that, it leads to poor decisions and regret. I just mean that, beyond a little hangover, no harm was done.”

Gabby blushes at her assumptions. “Sorry, sir, I didn’t mean to imply…”

Kael waves a hand dismissively. “No need to apologize, Gabby, I was teasing you a bit.”

Gabby laughs. “Sir! That’s not very nice!”

Kael grins and shrugs. “Ria is a bad influence on me. Better get used to a little bit of ribbing if you’re going to be around us.”

Gabby smiles. “I don’t mind at all, sir. It just caught me off guard. You’re usually so serious, if you don’t mind me saying so, sir.”

Kael nods. “Not at all. It’s true. But…recent events have been loosening me up a bit.”

Gabby nods in return. “Evie told me all about it. It’s been an exciting time for you recently, sir!”

Kael chuckles. “That’s probably underselling it a bit. But having Evie in my life has been wonderful. And now with Ria…”

“I have to say, sir, that I’m surprised by what she told me. I would think that most men would leap at the chance to have two beautiful women.”

Kael shrugs, toying with the food on his plate. “I try to be better than ‘most men’, Gabby. I am a lord’s champion, I have to be. But…Evie was right, as she usually seems to be. If everyone is happy in a relationship, what could be the harm. And so here I sit, at a table having dinner with a beautiful woman, while the two women I’m officially in a relationship with are out on a date.”

Gabby blushes. “Thank you, sir. I…it feels good to be called a beautiful woman. It’s not something a **** hears often.”

Kael’s smile fades a notch. “Well, it’s the truth, Gabby. But let’s keep it light tonight, no need to drag the mood down. After all, I’ve enjoyed that bright smile of yours.”

Giggling, Gabby blushes even more. To cover her seeming embarrassment, she begins to eat her dinner. Kael, his smile returning as well, does the same. The two of them eat in silence for a while, though the occasional shared glances keep their connection growing. Before either of them seem to notice, their plates and wine glasses are empty. Without a word, they carry the dishes into the kitchen, and Kael refills the glasses. They move to sit on the couch, and Gabby once again blushes as Kael sits close beside her.

She sips her wine, and swallows noisily before speaking. “Um. Sir? Can I ask you something?”

Kael nods. “Of course you can.”

Gabby looks into her half empty glass as she speaks. “Do you like me, sir? I know it’s a childish question but…”

Kael smiles. “I do, Gabby. You’re fun to be around, and good company, not to mention extremely good looking.”

Gabby blushes, still not looking at him. “I mean…do you think you could like me the way you do with Evie and Ria?”

Kael hesitates for a moment. “I…I could, yes. But…you’re going awfully quickly, Gabby. I don’t want to take advantage of your feelings.”

Gabby looks at him, and Kael can see a mixture of emotions in her wide eyes. Hope, at his positive response. Worry, at putting herself out there like this. Fear, that she may ruin what’s barely begun.

“Sir…it’s strange. At first, I was grateful when you rescued me. But I assumed that you were like every other human I’ve met, cruel and unpleasant. But in the short time I’ve been around you, I’ve felt welcomed, for the first time since…well, since I was with Erin.”

Kael nods, listening closely as she continues. “I can’t explain it, sir, but something changed, very quickly. This morning, in the changing room…”

She blushes fiercely. “It was…embarrassing, but the way it felt, your hands on me…it changed something for me. I almost kissed you right then, sir…”

Kael looks at her, but she stops there, waiting for his response. He sets aside his wine glass, keeping eye contact with her, and reaches out to take her hand. Gabby bites her lip as he does, and he can feel her shiver slightly.

“Gabby…if you’re sure of this, then…yes. We can pursue it. We can take things as fast or as slow as you w-“

Before he can finish his sentence, he’s cut off by Gabby practically leaping on him with a passionate kiss. Her arms wrap around him, hugging her tightly against her soft, strong body. There’s no hesitation in the kiss, their tongues dancing together as Gabby moans against his lips.

After what feels like an hour, their lips part, and both of them stare at each other, gasping a little. There’s a definite fire in Gabby’s eyes, and she doesn’t release her strong grasp on him.

“Sir…could we…?”

Kael raises an eyebrow. “Did you want to move this to the bedroom, Gabby?”

“Yes, sir…please?”

Kael simply nods, and Gabby practically leaps off the couch, dragging him down the hallway towards the bedroom.