Rachel was nervous, excited but nervous. Her time with Paul wasn't about teaching anymore. This was the real deal. Checking her hair in the rear view mirror Rachel rolled her eyes.
It's Paul, for crying out loud. He's known me since I was a little kid.
Closing her eyes she gained her composure before turning off the ignition in her car. She'd been at work, which required her to take her car, as otherwise she'd have left it at home. Grabbing her bag from the passenger seat, she climbed out of the car and walked over to knock at the door. Rachel stood waiting, tucking loose strands of hair behind her ear. She was dressed in a blue pair of jeans and a plain rose coloured shirt. He'd told her that morning to dress casually. She'd decided not to bother changing from the clothes she wore to work.
The door opened, and Paul stood with a wooden spoon in hand and a towel flung over his shoulder. He wore jeans, like her, and no shirt.
Glancing down at the floor she waited for him to invite her inside. She felt shy even though she'd had his cock in her mouth less than twenty-four hours ago.
"About time you showed up." He leaned against the door frame smiling at her. She'd never seen him so happy.
"I just finished work. You didn't say I had to be fancy or anything." Tightening her hands into fists, Rachel waited for him to speak.
"You look perfect." He reached out, banded an arm around her waist, and pulled her close. "Are you ashamed to be seen on my front door, you hussy?" Rachel tapped him on the arm. She didn't get chance to refute him as his lips claimed hers, and then she didn't care what he'd said. Dropping her overnight bag to the floor, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave herself over to the pleasure of his mouth.
"Now that's what I call a kiss," Paul said, breaking away. She allowed him to lead her into his home. The scent of his famous meatballs permeated the air making her stomach rumble. She'd not had any food at lunch, and she was starving.
"Wow, I do feel special. Your secret meatball recipe for me?" she asked.
"Of course. Only the best for you." He kept hold of her hand, leading her down to his kitchen. Paul had a nicely fitted kitchen. Rachel recalled helping him redecorate the place with all up to date furniture and appliances.
"It smells delicious. It has been years since I've had some." She walked over to the stove, took the lid off the simmering pot and inhaled. The sweet onion and garlic scents met her, making her moan.
She smiled remembering the first time he'd made the recipe. Paul was a huge fan of meatballs, but he hated always having to order them in. For literally months he tested so many recipes until he found the right one. The memories of eating some of his disasters were fond memories.
Paul took her hand and led her to a candlelit table for two.
"Okay, now I feel underdressed," she said. The old nerves started to return.
"You're not. This isn't some fancy restaurant food, baby. This is just you and me, and I want us both to be comfortable."
He poured her a glass of wine. She accepted without any argument. Paul helped her into her seat and then made his way over to the stove.
"So, any home-made pasta to go with it?" she asked.
"Not today. I'm afraid it's out of a packet. Everything else is my own."
She sipped some of her red wine and winced. Over the years she'd never developed a taste for wine.
"This is strange," she said, watching his nice ass as he moved around the kitchen. His muscles rippled with each movement.
"Why?"
"I've never had a man cook for me before. Even Mitch doesn't like making his way around the kitchen. Everything is a sandwich or ordering a pizza. Let me tell you, ham and pineapple pizza can get old fast."
He chuckled. "Mitch is mean with a phone. He can order pizza faster than I can."
She watched him grab the saucepan and drain the pasta. Rachel liked being waited on, and she found it fascinating to watch.
A few minutes later he walked to the table with two plates loaded with spaghetti and meatballs. Rachel laughed at the size of the meal. "You haven't eaten either?"
"No, it's been a long day." He handed her a fork and then took the seat next to her. She was shocked when he reached for her hand.
They sat together, eating and holding hands. Her heart raced from the small intimate touch.
"Well, how does it taste?" he asked.
Scooping up a meatball and twirling her fork in some spaghetti, Rachel took a huge bite. Flavours exploded on her tongue.
"This is pure heaven," she said, scooping more food onto her fork. He laughed.
"I certainly love a woman with a healthy appetite."
"Well, you better get used to it. I love my food, and I'm more than happy to be waited on."
She burst out laughing as he held his hands up.
"Baby, I can do meatballs and pasta, but anything else and you're on your own."
He took her hand once again, and she dug in with relish.
"It's the only thing I can cook," he said, breaking into the silence.
"No, it's the only thing you've ever tried to cook. I bet you'd be one hell of a cook if you put your mind to it," she said.
"What's wrong with living on a diet of meatballs and pasta?"
Shaking her head, Rachel finished her food. She was so hungry, and he really did know how to make this dish.
"Darren knows about us," Paul said.
Pausing in her eating Rachel glanced over to him. "I thought you didn't want to say anything?"
"Erm, I didn't exactly tell him."
She frowned. "You better tell me what's going on."
"Tracy came to the garage today and was pretty much inviting me over for a booty call."
Rachel listened to him talking while trying to keep her anger in check. Tracy was a bitch and slept with anything that walked. Also, Tracy liked to gossip. Rachel listened to what the other woman had to say, but she hated listening.
"One thing led to another, and Darren figured out who you were."
"He knows before Mitch does."
"Speaking of Mitch, I was thinking I should be the one to tell him. I don't want him getting the wrong idea, and his anger can be a little harsh at times," he said.
She knew all about Mitch's temper. Her brother would never hurt her, but he wasn't known for being a smooth talker. Mitch would no doubt say stuff he would regret.
"You can tell him whatever you want, Paul. I love my brother, and I won't lie to him."
Paul tightened his hold on her hand.
They talked as they finished their meal. Rachel had never been so relaxed before. She sensed Paul was doing everything he could to make her feel at ease.
"So, erm, did you have any feelings for Tracy when you saw her?" Rachel asked.
****
Paul sensed the uncertainty inside her. He wasn't surprised. Up until a few days ago he'd kept Tracy on the short list to fuck.
Cursing inside his head, Paul finished the last of his food and pushed his plate away.
"I didn't feel anything for Tracy. I never have."
"But you slept with her. You must have felt something," she said.
He was quickly reminded of her innocent self. "Rachel, babe, you don't need to feel anything for someone for sex. I'm not going to lie to you. I got hard for Tracy. She was easy, and I was horny. That is the extent of it."
"What about us? What happens if you get horny again? Will I be pushed aside?" she asked.
"No, that would never happen, I promise you. What I have with you is something new and loving. I've never been in love with anyone else." He took her hand kissing it.
"You're in love with me?" Rachel asked. Tears shone in her eyes.
"How could you ever doubt it?"
"You've never said so before."
He took her face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers. Plundering his tongue into her mouth, Paul moaned from the touch. "For all my life you've been in here." He pressed her palm to his chest. "I've never wanted anything else in my life than you."
Tears fell onto her cheeks. He wiped them away with his thumbs. "I swear to you, Rachel, I mean what I say. I love you with my whole heart. This has nothing to do with teaching you sex or taking your virginity, both of which I haven't done. I've always felt this way. I'm in love with you."
"Oh, Paul." She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding on tight.
"I love you so much. You've made me the happiest woman tonight. I don't care about anything else. The food and your honesty is more than enough for me."
He held her tightly. Her curvy body pressed to his hard one. Paul couldn't stop the physical reaction. He got rock hard.
"We've got to tell Mitch," she said. "I'm not hiding my feelings to spare him. I don't see why he can go around town sleeping with everything that walks while I have to keep myself pure and whatnot."
"The only person you're going to have between your thighs, baby, is me."
"Of course. Why would I want anyone else?"
Looking down into her hazel eyes Paul was caught once again. She was so damn beautiful.
"Come on. Help me clean up, and then I've got a movie planned." He picked up their plates and moved toward the sink. "I don't suppose you can put the leftovers in those containers? That's my dinner for the next couple of days."
"You seriously eat this all the time?" she asked.
He kept everything neat and tidy, and the boxes where he stored his cooked food had labels on.
"What's wrong with eating the same thing?"
"Boredom. I need to teach you how to cook something else."
Paul didn't argue with her. They finished cleaning the kitchen in no time. He liked having her by his side while they worked together.
Once they were done with cleaning he took her hand and led her through to the living room. She took a seat on his sofa as he went to the DVD and inserted the movie he'd rented out.
"Paul, is there something you're not telling me?" she asked.
He took the seat next to her and frowned. "No, why?"
"I was just wondering what the meaning of all of this is?" Rachel glanced around her. He'd picked a chick flick for them to watch.
"I just wondered what was with the seduction. You know I want you."
He stopped and watched as she stumbled over her words.
"I mean, you don't need to work so hard. I'm a sure thing when it comes to you."
Anger spiked inside him. "Oh, so because you're a sure thing I shouldn't be treating you differently or be seducing you? Next time I'm fucking horny I'll just phone you up and order you to come and satisfy the need I have." Paul stood up. He needed to move away from her. She'd made him so angry.
"That's not what I meant," she said.
"No? Then what the fuck did you mean? If I just wanted a fuck, Rachel, I would have done Tracy back at the shop. I'm making an effort. I'm giving you everything you deserve." Running fingers through his hair Paul paced his living room. He'd moved the coffee table to the far side of the room the last time Rachel was at his home, which he hadn't put back yet.
Rachel got up to leave. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you angry. I'm new at this." He watched as she walked toward the doorway of his sitting room.
"Shit, Rachel, sit down." He was judging her in comparison to his other women. Paul needed to remember she was still a virgin. He needed to prove to her that she was different for him and to expect more of a seduction from him.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten angry with you. I don't want you to leave." He knelt before her, rubbing his hands on her thighs.
"No, it's my fault. I assumed you were putting in more effort than what you do for other women."
Taking her hands in his he traced the lines in the centre of her palm. "I do put the extra effort with you. The other women didn't mean anything. You do mean something, and I want to give you everything I didn't give them."
"I spoilt the moment, didn't I? Maybe I should leave." Her voice trembled as she spoke.
"You're not leaving, Rachel. I've got plans for tonight that go far beyond this movie. Stay with me, and stop worrying about what I'm doing. This is what I want to do. I want to be the type of boyfriend that gives you everything," he said.
"Boyfriend? You're my boyfriend?"
"Hell, yeah. It beats being your brother's best friend. I don't want to teach you about sex, but I want to be with you. I want you to love me the way that I love you, and being your boyfriend will suit for now." He hoped he was using the right words.
"You really know what to say to take me by surprise. All I've ever wanted is to have you and to be yours," she said.
Smiling, Paul took the seat next to her. It was a breakthrough, but he knew he had a long way to go.