The Art of Living

[60] Garlicky Kisses

They two of them stayed on the couch, alternating between talking, playing guitar and kissing for the rest of the evening. Nothing really exciting, but neither of them really minded. Actually it was exactly that that they liked very much. That it was just them, and no one else watching them or judging them, exactly what they needed.

Eventually, however, nature caught up with them and they put away the guitars - properly this time - so they could go into the kitchen to make themselves some food. Nothing fancy, but Brian warmed the leftovers he had brought from the dinner at his parents' before. And Ellie made them some fresh salad, and they got themselves some water before they returned to the couch.

"I hope you enjoy the food, even though it's from yesterday."

Ellie nodded and smiled at him. "Of course I will, your mum's food - what I've tried so far - is delicious. I haven't met her yet, but I've eaten a lot of her food already." She chuckled and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for inviting me here and making me face my irrational fears."

"They're not irrational, Ellie.. I will always do whatever I can to make you feel comfortable. You just have to tell if you're uncomfortable and then I can help you. If I don't know it then I can't help you, you know?"

Ellie smiled and nodded. "Yes, I know. I know, I really do. And I try to do that. Because I want you to know what's going on in my mind. Even if that annoys you," she told him, slightly amused.

"And I won't mind, don't worry. You can tell me as much as you want, really. Even if it's about ... you know, how much you love daisies, followed by a hundred reasons for that."

"You are just as strange as me, aren't you?" Ellie asked, laughing softly.

Brian nodded and kissed her cheek. "I am, yes. Thank you for noticing that. Now, enjoy your food before it gets cold."

"Yes, sir." Ellie saluted jokingly and took her fork. "Thank you.."

"You are always welcome," he told her with a smile and started to eat as well. "You know," he mumbled with his mouth full before he swallowed his food and continued. "I do love my mum's cooking.."

Ellie laughed softly and leaned against him a little more. "Yes, it is pretty fantastic." She sighed happily before she also continued to eat.

They didn't talk very much while they ate, they just enjoyed the food. When they were done, however, that changed, simply because they found it so easy to talk to each other.

"Did you put garlic in the salad dressing?" Brian asked, carrying the plates back into the kitchen.

Ellie chuckled and shrugged. "Yeah.. I like garlic a lot. Don't you?"

"Oh, I do, I just thought.. you know, garlic and kissing.." Brian shrugged and smiled at her.

"Maybe, yes, but we both ate garlic, so it will be fine, don't you think?" Ellie asked and turned on the water so they could do the dishes.

Brian smirked. "Maybe we should test that hypothesis?" He pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms around her.

"Oh so that's what you're after?" Ellie laughed and wrapped her arms around him too.

Brian shrugged, a cheeky smirk on his face. "Maybe?"

"Well in that case.." She smiled widely at him before she kissed him very softly.

Immediately Brian pulled her a little closer, kissing her back eagerly. Ellie gently caressed his back through his shirt, smiling against his lips. When Brian wanted to rub her waist gently, however, Ellie flinched and pulled away, giggling a little.