Milk (closed for heartofcourage)

[Baelnorn]

“Wine sounds like a wonderful idea Susie, but I’d rather go with a white wine. I’m not an expert on wines, but I never combined salmon and red wine before.” With a few taps on the surface, Dominic brought up the wine card, and browsed to the place’s selection of white wines. “Here, this one sounds good, a 2054 Yakima Valley Washington Chardonnay.”

Dom blushed a little when Susie thanked him again for taking her to this restaurant, a shy smile appearing on his lips. “Susie, you don’t have to thank me. I’m glad to have you with me, and that I’m able to provide you with a good time. And for the record: I don’t want you to thank me for every little thing I do for you. Please, just accept what little I can give you.”

After confirming their orders – Dominic was also having the grilled salmon – he leaned forward, and took Susan’s hands in his own. He loved touching her in any way, no matter whether it was holding her hands, bumping hips while walking, or trembling against each other as they gave in to their passion.

Susie did not know it yet, but she had saved him as well. He was close to losing himself in his research, close to completely forget what makes live worth living, enjoying the good things instead of only seeing the bad parts. Dominic knew that they would very likely stay together for a very long time, and he absolutely did not mind it.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I didn't grow up with luxury. My dad worked long hours to take care of all of us and give us the bare basics." Susan said as Dominic took her hands and squeezed them. "My brothers all took a lot out of him. That's why I worked so hard on med school. It wasn't glamorous being a doctor, but it made me feel like I was giving something back. Now, I'm not so sure what I'm going to do with myself."

She glanced down at the table for a moment and let out a long sigh. "When my mom died, I swore that I would never let another little girl go through that again. I know I can't stop things like cancer, but maybe I can stop another woman from having to go through the pain of his horrible drug. It's not fair to have this sprung on you. I know if I had ran into someone else out there, I might not have been treated so well."

 

[Baelnorn]

Dominic’s heart sank while he listened to Susan telling him more about her family. What happened to her felt even more unfair now that he knew she came from a poor family. She had worked her way up, and when she had almost reached the top this asshole of ex-boyfriend kicked her to the ground again to satisfy his own ego.

He held her hands as she talked, gently squeezing her fingers, and rubbing her skin with his thumbs. He swallowed when she mentioned losing her mother to cancer. In theory, cancer was no threat any more thanks to the advances of science. However, the treatment was expensive, and he could only imagine how it must have felt for her family to know the cure was available, but they could never afford it.

“Susie, you’re not a burden for me. I’m glad I could help you, and I’d do it again without hesitation,” he said while he carefully laced his fingers with hers. “To be honest, I’m glad I met you. We’ve met less than two days ago, but I already wouldn’t want to miss you. When we’re together I want you to be happy, and not worry about anything.”

Just as he finished, a waiter approached their table, carrying a tray with a bottle of wine and two glasses. The young Hispanic man with dark brown eyes and short cut black hair wore a similar dark green uniform as the receptionist, only tailored for the male form. He introduced himself as Michael, and placed the glasses in front of the couple, before filling them.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You'll find that I'm incredibly stubborn." Susan said with a smile as Dominic squeezed her hands after he laced his fingers through her own. "I'll let you coddle me up to a point but then I'm going to pull my own weight. It's the very least that I can do."

She thought about leaning across the table and kissing him, but the waiter appeared with their wine and two glasses. Reluctantly, she let go of his hands and sat back in her seat as she watched him pour equal amounts of the white wine in their glasses. When he pushed the cart away, Susan looked at Dominic and laughed softly to herself.

"Should we toast to something?" She asked him.

 

[Baelnorn]

“Fair enough. I guess I can’t object to that.” Dom smiled at Susie in return. “But I insist on paying for our combined expenses,” he added with a teasing wink, chuckling softly at Susan’s choice of words.

Dominic already had the impression that his newfound companion had a strong will, and he was sure they would clash at some point. Still, he was convinced that they could get along with each other and become more than a partnership of convenience.

Dom knew that he would hold on to Susan and give her everything she wanted. She had suffered so much from the hands of a person she trusted, and he would do anything in his power to give her a better life, and allow her to trust again.

After the waiter had delivered their wine and left again, Susan suggested a toast. Dominic nodded, and reached for his glass. “Oh absolutely! Did you have anything special in mind?” He raised his glass, waiting for Susie to do the same, and speak the toast.

 

[heartofcourage]

Susan thought about it for a moment as she took the stem of her wine glass. There were so many things that they could toast to, but only one thing seemed really appropriate at the moment.

"To new beginnings." She said with a sincere smile on her features. "And to a brighter future than what we had."

She lifted her glass towards him, her dark gaze staring into his own. She loved him, romantically and platonic. She would have done anything for Dominic if she could and it meant the world to her that he was as happy as she was.

 

[Baelnorn]

Dominic smiled and nodded happily when he heard Susan’s words. “To new beginnings, and to a brighter future,” he repeated her toast, raising his arm to clink glasses with her. Dom took a sip on the light white wine, and returned his glass to the table.

He met and held Susie’s gaze, losing himself in those beautiful dark eyes of hers and admiring the seductive smile on her lips. She was gorgeous from head to toe, and his mind started to wander, conjuring images from yesterday afternoon, when those eyes were closed tightly and his thrusts elicited sweet moans of pleasure from those full lips.

Before his imagination could completely get the better of him, Dominic cleared his throat and shifted a bit on his seat, blushing a little when he realized that Susie noticed him being distracted. “Sorry. I… I just remembered yesterday afternoon…” With a teasing grin on his lips, he quickly added, “Don’t worry, I promise to behave until we get back home.”

 

[heartofcourage]

"You were the one that suggested we leave the house, Dom." Susie teased as he mentioned that he had been thinking about what they had done yesterday afternoon. "That just tells me that you are a red blooded male with a nice, healthy sex drive. Lucky me, huh?"

It was so easy to tease him and it felt amazing to have someone in her life that loved her and allowed her to be with them in the ways that Dominic did. She smiled easily when she was with him and she found her heart filling with the love that it had gone so long without.

"I do adore you, Dom." Susan said with a grin. "I know it's so sudden, but I really do feel that I've known you forever."

 

[Baelnorn]

Dom’s cheeks instantly turned a nice shade of red when Susie teased him about his “healthy sex drive.” He nervously stole a quick glance to the tables around them, and breathed a sigh of relieve when he noticed that they were almost alone on the terrace, the next guests sitting three tables away.

He cleared his throat and reached for his glass. “Well, what can I say?” He asked between two sips on his wine. “You’re just having this effect on me. You know too well that I can’t resist you.” Still feeling the heat of his blush on his skin, he smiled at her, and softly squeezed her hands. “And I adore you, Susie. You’re a wonderful young woman. You’re strong, determined, and independent, no matter what had happened in the past.”

Only a few moments after he had finished, Dominic noticed their waiter pushing a loaded trolley towards their table. Michael lifted the plate’s covers, and revealed their deliciously smelling meals. Each plate had two grilled salmon steaks on a thin mirror of lime sauce, each decorated with delicate slices of key lime, and a trace of freshly ground black pepper. The waiter placed a plate each in front of Susie and Dom, and carefully placed bowls with the sides - boiled rice and some grilled veggies - next to them. Wishing them both an enjoyable meal, Michael retreated with the trolley, and left them alone again.

Dominic smiled at Susie while he picked up the cutlery. “Well, enjoy Susie!”

 

[heartofcourage]

Susan smiled as Dom returned her sentiment. She picked up her wine glass to take a sip as the waiter appeared with their meal. It looked and smelled delicious as he pulled the lids off the container and placed a plate in front of them. The fish was cooked perfectly and the smell made her mouth water. Dom told her to enjoy as he picked up his cutlery and dug in. She was moments behind him, bringing the fish to her mouth and chew with a long, delighted sigh.

"This is delicious, Dom." She said with her eyes bright, looking across the table at him. "Thanks for the suggestion!"

 

[Baelnorn]

Dominic smiled, happily watching Susie dig into her own portion, while he slowly and deliberately chewed on another piece of grilled salmon. Hearing his lover’s almost cheerful comment, Dom smiled and reached for his glass to take a small sip on the wine. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you like it.”

The meal was perfect in every sense. The fish was soft and light, gently caressed by the heat of the grill, and the lime sauce added a tender fruity note. The rice and grilled veggies added a flavorful contrast to the fish, while providing a solid, filling baseline for the whole meal. And, of course, the company was gorgeous, and Dominic realized more than once that his eyes kept wandering over to Susie just to watch her eat.

Dom greatly enjoyed this “date” with Susan. It was so innocent, just a man and a woman going out for lunch together. If he had any say in it, he would treat Susie to as many of these dates as his job and their research possibly allowed. For now, he was content watching his companion enjoy their shared meal, and not having to worry about anything in this moment. He hoped that they could spend more time like this in the near future.

 

[heartofcourage]

The way that Dominic looked at her while they ate told Susan just what he was thinking. To be honest, she had the same thoughts going through her mind. She liked his company. She truly did care for him. It was hard to think that after such a short amount of time the word love would come into the equation, but she most definitely did love him.

"After lunch, maybe we can pick up something for dessert. Something to take home and enjoy later while we work." Susan suggested, making plans for the future.

 

[Baelnorn]

They were halfway done with their meals, when Susie suggested getting some dessert on their way home. The idea sounded nice, and Dominic nodded his head in agreement. He finished chewing the piece of salmon in his mouth, and reached for his wine to wash it down before he answered.

“Absolutely! Did you have something particular in mind?” Dom replied, and then added, “Perhaps something with whipped cream?” He had not planned it, but his question sounded more teasing and laden with innuendo than he intended.

Once he realized what he had said, his mind began conjuring images of Susan laying on his bed naked, him licking blobs of whipped cream off her flawless dark skin, and then sharing the sweetness with her in deep, passionate kisses. Dominic blushed softly at his thoughts, but could not hide a cheeky grin when he glanced over at Susie.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Look at where your mind is going, Dom." Susan said with a grin as she took a sip from her wine glass, the innuendo hanging between them as he mentioned the whipped cream. "How about some cheesecake with cherries and some whipped cream? The can satisfy a little bit of everything."

She had to smile as she thought about how nervous Dom still was about their relationship. Sooner or later, he would realize that she wasn't going to be scared away. He loved her and he treated her well. That was all that really mattered after the disaster that her last relationship had turned into. He was helping to keep her alive and sane until a cure could be found. They were bonded together, for better or for worse.

 

[Baelnorn]

Dominic laughed softly at Susan’s reply. He loved her teasing, and her wanting him just as he wanted her. “Cheesecake with berries and some whipped cream, huh?” He asked rhetorically, before a wide grin appeared on his lips. “Okay, cheesecake with berries and some whipped cream. Sounds perfect.”

It did not take much longer until they had finished their meals. Their plates were fully cleaned; the food had tasted just too delicious to let even a single crumb of it go to waste. Dom reached for his glass, and emptied what remained of his wine, quickly licking his lips as he put the glass back on the table.

“If we take a short detour on the way home, we can stop by at a shopping plaza just a few streets away, to grab our dessert.”

 

[heartofcourage]

The glee in Dominic's eyes when he outlined his plan had her smiling. It was absolutely infectious and soon she was holding her hand out to him, waiting for him to take it.

"I'll let you drag me out of here if you promise me that kind of a good time." She teased him, laughing softly as she expressed her absolute joy. "And then I'll let you take me home for another good time if you really wanted."

 

[Baelnorn]

Dom reached out to take Susie’s hand, entwining their fingers with each other. The simple gesture of holding hands felt so good, and sent a soft tingling up his arm. Touching Susan felt wonderful, even if it was “only” her hand, and he would never tire of feeling her soft skin.

“Oh, I’m certainly up for it,” Dominic happily replied to Susan’s teasing, a wide grin on his lips. “You know how much I enjoy spending time with you… in all ways.” He took a deep breath, still holding her hand, and enjoyed the peaceful environment for a long moment, before speaking again. “So, should we leave and get some dessert?” Once they agreed on leaving, Dominic offered his arm to Susie, and they headed inside, and towards the restaurant’s entrance.

They approached the young woman at the reception, who had greeted them when they arrived. The girl smiled and asked, whether they were satisfied with their stay at the place. Dominic nodded and replied, “Oh yes, thank you! The service was great, and the meal was delicious.”

Finally, the young woman held out a thin tablet, which showed the couple’s bill. Dominic quickly adjusted the total, adding a generous tip, before authorizing payment from his account with a quick swipe over the sleeve of his pullover. The girl thanked the couple for their visit, and a minute later Dominic and Susan left the building arm in arm.

 

[heartofcourage]

Susan watched as Dominic paid for their meal, smiling as he glanced her direction as they stepped back out into the sunlight. It was bright that afternoon, warm and sunny. So completely different from a few days ago as she stood freezing on the bridge trying to decide if she were brave enough to end her own life. She had to thank Dom for all of that. He had saved her when she was down and now he was showing her why life was so good.

"So, where are we getting dessert from? You seem to be very eager to get us there and get us home." She murmured, giving him a laugh as she squeezed his arm.

 

[Baelnorn]

Once on the street again, Dominic reached for Susie’s hand. He happily took her hand in his own, softly squeezing her fingers, before giving her a gentle tug. Walking along the sidewalk, enjoying the sunny day and the warm afternoon breeze, Dom pulled her a little closer.

“Just a few minutes from here, there’s a small shopping plaza we could drop by. I think we can get everything we need there…” Dominic grinned at his companion, and with a teasing smile added, “Including cheesecake with berries and some whipped cream.”

With a playful chuckle on his lips, Dom pulled Susan closely against himself, and put his arm around her shoulders, making their hips bump together as they walked. Feeling her so close at his side, made Dominic happy and content, and expecting of whether they would actually get to their dessert first once they got home again.

 

[heartofcourage]

Susan smiled as Dom told her the shopping center wasn't far away. She thought about picking up a bottle of wine too but they would decide that when they got there. She was simply enjoying her time with Dominic. He was happy and that warmed her heart to know that she was bringing such joy to such a wonderful and delightful man.

"I expect you to put that whipped cream to good use as soon as we get home." Susan teased him, pressing herself against his side as they continued walking. "Perhaps a blindfold would add to the excitement too."

 

[Baelnorn]

Dominic blushed furiously when he heard Susie tease him, his thoughts running wild despite his best attempts to reign them in. He slowly licked his lips, and laughed softly as he teased her back. “Careful, young lady. I don’t know how much this old man can handle,” Dom laughed, and quickly added, “But I’m sure we’ll find a proper usage for the whipped cream that satisfies us both before I run out of steam…”

He playfully bumped his hip a little stronger, chuckling as they strolled down the sidewalk towards the plaza. Dom was thinking about her comment on getting a blindfold, and the mere thought started to make his pants a little uncomfortable. He had never really experimented much in that regard and he would probably never have suggested it on his own. However, since it was Susan’s suggestion, he was getting more and more curious, and excited, about the idea.

“And for the blindfold…,” he began, taking a moment to gather his thoughts and regain at least some focus and composure. “…if you really want to try it, I’m open for it, even though being with you is plenty exciting for me already. I don’t think I have something suitable at home, so we best keep an eye open for something that fits the bill.”

 

[heartofcourage]

"You're not that old, Dom." Susan said with a smile as she leaned in and kissed his cheek. "And I'd still love you even if you were older than you are right now. I have fun with you."

She laughed softly as he bumped her hip a little stronger. She certainly was in love with him. Even if things didn't work out between the two of them, she knew that she had a life long friend that she could lean on in tough times.

"I'm sure that we can come up with something." Susan said softly as she gave his hand a squeeze and leaned her head against his shoulder with a long sigh. "You know, I really enjoy spending my time with you, Dom. I'm very, very glad that we met."

 

[Baelnorn]

Dominic smiled as Susan kissed him, and hugged her in response. Her laughter when he bumped her hip was contagious, and he readily joined with a happy giggle.

“You know, you’re not the only one happy about us meeting. I’m also so glad I stumbled across your path two days ago. I know everything’s happening so fast, perhaps too fast, but I’ll never hurt you or let you down.”

He returned the squeeze, gently rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand while holding on to her as they slowly walked down the street hand in hand. After a few minutes, they turned a corner and saw the entrance to the plaza not far ahead. They could already see several small and medium sized shops and stores open, with dozens of passersby going on a lazy Sunday afternoon window-shopping.

“Regarding the blindfold… do you think a silk scarf would do? I’m sure we could find a store selling some of those.”

 

[heartofcourage]

"That might be more practical than a blindfold. I can always wear a silk scarf later when I want to remember the moment." Susan said with a grin as she leaned in and nuzzled against his cheek with a cheeky smile growing on her lips. "And you can blush like a madman every time you see me in it. It'll be our little inside joke."

 

[Baelnorn]

Dominic listened to Susie’s teasing and laughed softly. “I see you’re definitively not going easy on me. And I must admit that I like the idea…,” he commented while they slowly passed the first shops in the plaza.

“But perhaps we should buy more than just one scarf,” he teased her in return, “so that I can tie you up if you become too naughty. What do you think? Would I need to do that?”