Hell's Kitchen XX + X

Chapter 14

          The night air was cold as I walked back to my private dorms. I was happy that I got to stay in this position, but I wasn't prepared to feel this...sad? Stressed? I'm not entirely sure what to feel. Dinner service wasn't a walk in the park, but I enjoyed it. I guess I'm just not used to all the drama brought on by the show. Back in Spago, the restaurant I used to work for, the only drama we had was on plating the dishes. Wolfgang Puck taught us that the plate needed a story to deliver the dish with impact.

          My thoughts were so preoccupied that I did not notice the red, expensive-looking sports car in front of my porch until I was a few feet away. Gordon leaned against the side of it, with a bouquet of white calla lilies in hand.

          He noticed me as I approached him and he handed me the flowers. "I'm still not quite sure what flowers you like, but I Googled a bit and turns out, calla lilies are the flowers of regret or something so umm..." He stopped rambling when he saw me laughing at him. I found him...cute when he was flustered like that. It was so unlike him! "What I mean to say is, I'm sorry."

          "For what?"

          "For yelling at you in the kitchen."

           I laughed even harder and shook my head, "You know, you don't have to say sorry for that. I mean, that's your job! That's you! You don't have to say sorry for being you!"

           He scratched the back of his head. "It's just... everything, the chefs being bloody difficult, the producers, and Joe of all fucking people..."

          I took his hand and led him inside the dorm. "Come, I'll make you some coffee or tea."

          "Did I at least guess correctly on the flowers?"

          "Well, you did get the color correctly, but calla lilies are sadly...WRONG!" I smiled and closed the door behind him.

           He raised a brow at me. "Are you trying to imitate me?"

          "I have no idea what you are talking about, you donkey!" I went to the kitchen to get the kettle going.

           He wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, burying his face in the crook of my neck. He groaned. "I do not sound like that!"

           I blushed at the heat of his breath on my neck, his body flush against mine. With shaky hands, I reached for the mugs, "Coffee or tea?"

          "You."

           He turns me around and kisses me hard. I closed my eyes and followed his lead, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer. I gasp as he pressed me on to the counter and took advantage by slipping his tongue past my lips. I couldn't help but moan out the pleasure inside me.

          Gordon pulls his lips away from mine, trailing them down to my neck, tilting my head to the side for better access. "Delicious..."

          The kettle whistles, breaking us both from our trance. "Blasted thing..." I muttered and reached over to turn off the stove. He laughs and keeps going, his hands find the buttons of my chef's jacket and he starts to undo them. I put my hand above his. "G-gordon...wait..."

          He pauses and pulls away to look at me. "What's wrong, my darling?"

         "I...this...ummm..." I straighten up and turn away. What was I thinking? Why am I pushing it away? Why am I denying that this feels so good?

          "Darling, please..." He ran his hand through his blonde hair. I've always wanted to do that.

          "I...I don't think...I'm ready for...that..." His touch alone ignites a fire inside me. But I can only imagine his reaction once he sees my...my...

          He wraps me in his arms and holds me close. "Don't worry about it, love. There is no rush. And now I really do mean it, no rush." He laughs and cups my cheeks in his warm, rough hands. "You have the most mesmerizing eyes, you know that?"

          I felt my cheeks heat up as I looked up at him. "T-thanks...I got it from my uh...I don't know, really." I laugh heart-heartedly. He did not need to know the reason for my heterochromia.

          He leaned in and I closed my eyes. He kissed the top of my eyelids lightly, then my nose. "Beautiful."

          "W-would you like to stay the night?" I suddenly blurted out and I clamp a hand on my mouth. Damn lack of mouth filter!

          Without a word, he scoops me up in his arms and runs to the bedroom. "Too late! No backsies!"

(Gordon's POV)

          I lift her up easily and ran to her bedroom. She opened the door for me and we got in, closing it with a swift kick of my right foot. I laid her on the bed and kissed her again. Forget tea and coffee. This was so much better.

           I loved the way she reacted to my touch, the way she arched her body to mine. I caught her lips in mine as I moved on top of her. She moaned; the sweetest sound I've ever heard, "Gordon..."

           She pulled away and looked at me with those beautiful eyes of hers. I knew she wasn't ready to go far yet. What was stopping her? "Yes, love?"

          Cassandra bit her lip. "I'm sorry..."

           I couldn't contain my damn curiosity. I just had to ask her. So I sat back up, sitting on the edge of the bed. I tugged her hand gently and she got up.

          She wrapped her slender arms around me. "I'm sorry...I wish I could...I do...but..."

         "It's fine, my darling. I already told you, there's no rush..."

         "Before I met Wolfgang Puck, before I got into cooking. I was in a very bad place..." She says, barely above a whisper. I turned to look at her and she had a sad, faraway look in her eyes. "My life wasn't all rainbows and sunshine... nobody's life is."

          "Can you tell me?" I raised a hand to her cheek. She leaned in to my touch. "I want to know you. Everything about you."

         She shook her head and kissed the palm of my hand. "Not yet. I'm sorry."

         I couldn't not understand why she is being secretive, but I also didn't want to push her into something she doesn't want.

           Cassandra kisses my creased forehead. "I'm going to change into something more comfortable. I'm can still smell the kitchen on my clothes."

          "Can I watch?" I look up innocently at her.

          "No!" She laughs and goes into her walk-in closet. I myself take off my jacket and shirt, feeling relief as the cool air hits my bare chest. I kicked off my shoes and socks, making myself comfortable in her bed.

          She comes back wearing a loose white shirt that covered her till mid-thigh. Fucking hell, this is going to be one uncomfortable night. She settles in beside me, laying her head on my outstretched arm. "I've never cuddled like this before..." She admits, blushing deeply.

          I smile and pull her closer to me. "I'll do this every single chance I can. For you."

          She nods and closes her eyes. "Thank you. For everything."

          "Of course, my darling."