Vanilla Cocoa

Chapter 11

It hadn't even occurred to me that I hadn't grabbed clothes for myself until I was faced with the awkward decision of either coming out just wearing a towel or asking Nasos to rifle through my things to bring me something to wear. I'd never been the shy type, but something about the thought of Nasos seeing my naked body outside of a sexual context felt entirely too intimate.

I sighed, wrapping the towel around my waist and hoping for the best. I really needed to stop overthinking this.

Nasos was doing something on his phone when I came back into the room, but he put it down as soon as he caught sight of me. "My turn?"

"Go for it."

"Okay, but you don't get to peek either."

I snorted but turned my back to him with an eye roll. I could hear the creak of the bedframe as he got up, then the soft sound of his bare feet on the carpet. Just when I thought he must have already left the room, he surprised me with a kiss on the nape of my neck. I let out a soft moan before I could stop myself, then slapped a hand to my mouth to muffle the much louder moan I made when he placed several more soft kisses along my spine.

"Just wanted to confirm something," he whispered in my ear. "Text me when you're ready for me to come out of the shower, okay?"

I nodded, not trusting my voice right now.

He left the room, and as soon as I heard the door to the bathroom shut, I sank to the floor. What the hell was that!? He'd barely touched my back last night, so how the hell did he know? I rubbed my face and looked around to see if I still had a box of tissues somewhere. He just had to get me worked up again after I showered.

***

Once we were both clean and dressed, Nasos suggested a brunch place not too far from my apartment. The weather was good, so the walk was pleasant.

"Do you know all of the restaurant owners in this city?" I asked, only half teasing.

Nasos shrugged. "Guess you'll have to stick around a find out."

I gave him a look, and he just smirked, not meeting my gaze. "Excuse me, are you bribing me with free non-alcoholic beverages?"

"Maybe... Is it working?"

I snorted and gave him a playful shove on the shoulder. "You're lucky my second worst vice is coffee."

He bumped his shoulder against mine, far more gently than I had. "I'll have to remember that."

Our conversation lapsed for a few minutes after that, then we were walking into the restaurant Nasos had recommended. A pixie was manning the host counter, though it definitely looked like she wasn't particularly interested in her job since she didn't even bother to look up from her phone.

"How many?" she asked in a bored tone.

"Two, please," Nasos answered with a mischievous grin on his face.

The pixie jerked her head up from her phone and launched herself and Nasos with a squealed, "Uncle Nasos!"

Nasos gave her a very gentle one-handed hug, careful not to pin her wings in the process. "I missed you too, Menet. How's school going?"

Menet disengaged from the hug to flutter a few inches away and crossed her arms with a huff. "I hate summer school!"

"Maybe try studying for your tests the first time?"

"Ugh, you sound just like Mom!" Menet noticed me then and flew a little too close to my face for comfort. "Oh! Who are you? Are you dating Uncle Nasos?"