Her Melting Point

So Healthy It Shines

"No, I'm sorry! I should be–" Another of his guttural noises made her stop in her tracks. "We're going in circles," she said meekly. "Apologising to each other."

"We are." He shook his head. "It's bloody stupid. I'm hungry and sleepy. And I've never felt so good after a fuck. I don't want to leave." He sighed. "You're different. But you're right, it's the first time. And I'm still not sure where we stand. And I don't know how you like it. Just tell me what's best for you."

Jackie gawked at him.

"I'm hungry too," she said slowly, unsure - but hopeful - that she understood him right. "And I want to take a shower. But if you don't mind, I'd rather eat first."

He frowned; but before she could come up with a dozen unrealistic explanations for it, he asked in a low voice, "If you don't have anything ready, could I please order take-away?"

"I've got all sorts of ingredients in the fridge; cold chicken, and veggies, and eggs. I can make a salad! Or a fry-up! But we can order in instead" she hurriedly added. "Either is fine by me! I understand if you don't want to risk it with your sensitivities. We've all got hang-ups when it comes to eating!"

She, for example, still unconsciously prepared a defence for her 'unhealthy' choices, her mind keeping track of the carb and salt content in her food.

"I can't stand any cream-based sauces. Butter is fine, especially in pasta. And no cooked spinach or sorrel. The texture turns me off. I'm not good with seafood, but it's less prominent," he listed levelly - but then an anxious shadow ran across his face. "Is that alright?"

"Of course!" Jackie nodded eagerly. "Or you can look at my fridge and cook it yourself if you want!"

She must have been getting better at reading him - because she caught a minuscule shifty expression that he instantly wiped off his face.

"What?" she asked and leaned in, trying to catch his gaze. "Alexander, what?"

"Shall we go?" he asked.

She assumed that that was how he got out of situations that he didn't want to deal with - by plainly ignoring a question or a statement from the other person. Some sort of mischievous rebellion woke up in her; as well as an uncharacteristic desire to test exactly how different she was. He had said so, hadn't he?

"Alexander," she drew out and placed her straight arms on his shoulders.

His eyebrows jumped up, ever so slightly. She moved nearer, her breath brushed at his lips, and his eyes widened.

"What was that just now?" she murmured. He still resisted, and she inched closer. It worked shockingly well, he was almost squirming now. "Alexander," she drawled and tickled the fuzz on his hairline on his nape.

"I want to eat your cooking," he blurted out and glowered at her. "It's daft." She was going to argue - it wasn't daft, it was adorable! - but he spoke first. "I want you to cook for me." He was as much as pouting now. "And I want to sleep in your bed. To try to sleep with you."

His gaze was fixed a few centimetres to the right from her temple - the trick they teach to neurodivergent children to mask their discomfort.

"Let's start with me making us some chicken salad. How are you with peanuts and lime?" she asked, and he gingerly turned to face her.

Jackie concluded that wasting the opportunity - as well as questioning it - would be unreasonable; and she caught his mouth in an enthusiastic kiss. She'd overanalyse and freak out about it later, she decided. He instantly gathered her in a tight hug, almost crushing her. Clearly, the man's 'engine' revved up straight away. She'd only just pushed her hands into his hair, and he was already pulling her onto his lap. She'd lost the grip on the duvet; and she was now pressing into his warm chest, his hair deliciously rubbing against her sensitive skin. He grabbed her chin and angled her head, like before, to greedily kiss and nip her neck, and then her trapezius.