Waiting For August

Part 54 ~ Breakfast in bed

I was lying on my stomach in bed, caught somewhere in the haze between waking and sleep, as I refused to open my eyes to the morning light. A lot had happened last night.

August had agreed to stay over. Then, in typical fashion, had tried to make a run for it; before ultimately allowing me to talk him out of it. I'd pried, and he'd opened up to me.

A bit.

But it was these tidbits that he'd let slip, that I was patiently glueing together, that was starting to give me the big picture into who he was, and more importantly, what triggered him.

Afterwards, we'd snuggled together through most of the night. No sex. That was my doing, but his punishment. I'd abruptly left him cold, and he had misunderstood. It had been the catalyst to his fleeing. Then, he had held me to it. Frustratingly so. Goddess the man was a tease. Allowing me a glimpse of his toned abs. Stripping his shirt off in front of me. Parading around in nothing more than a towel. It was maddening, the way I had wanted him. Yet I had persevered— and after a much-needed cold shower, I emerged from the bedroom refreshed and determined not to fall victim to his game. Still, with the dawn, there rose a new day, and was there anything better than a bout of morning sex to get the day started?

I reached out across the bed to touch him. Came up cold. My eyes fluttered open, as my hand searched the empty spot in the bed beside me. August was gone.

Fuck. I bolted from the bed. Threw the bedroom door open as I went running through the living room. "No, no, no, no, no!" After last night, I thought we had made headway. Why would he suddenly up and leave without even saying goodbye?

I reached the kitchen door, fumbled with the locks and froze. I could smell apple. Vanilla bean. I turned slowly towards the stove. August was standing in his own statue-like pose, a look of confusion wrinkled across his brow.

"Uh, morning," he called to me. He shrugged. "I was going to surprise you with breakfast—so, uh... surprise?"

I exhaled, as sweet relief flooded my being. August had stayed. In fact, not only had he stayed, but he was being all domestic too. He was about to cook. He had a frying pan on the stove, and the butter dish and a carton of eggs were out on the counter next to him.

I took a couple step towards him, smiling. "Is that pan hot?"

August glanced at the frying pan on the stovetop behind him. "No. Not yet. I was just about to start."

"Then, can I have my breakfast in bed?" I closed the distance between us, to reach out and brush back a curl that had fallen to his forehead.

His eyebrows darted up. He nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess so. I mean, I don't see why—Ack!"

I picked him up and tossed him over my shoulder.

"Hey, wait!" He struggled for freedom. "Put me down!"

"Nope!" Laughing like a madman, I carried him into the bedroom.

***

August left for the day around eleven, but not before I'd gotten confirmation from him that he would be returning again tonight. He was a bit of a slippery sucker and tying him down was in both of our best interests.

"You promise you're coming back after work?" I was standing in the doorway as he struggled to put on his sneakers; like a good wife, who was seeing her husband off.

"Yeah. I said I would."

"Then can you call me before you leave, so I'll know when to expect you?" I leaned in to kiss him, but he quickly blocked my lips with a face palm.