Chocolate

Jake always came home from work late, as if from a habit he had developed over the years of walking only at night under the soft moonlight. He carefully closed the door and tried to go first into the shower, then into the bedroom, without making a single unnecessary sound. His girlfriend may no longer have phenomenal hearing, but the habit of at least trying to hide from her and, in fact, from the whole world remained. The bedroom is dark and quiet. The smell is strange... Jake leaned back against the door and sniffed. Wax, vanilla and... chocolate? Saliva filled his mouth. He had always had a weakness for chocolate. Probably, Jake thought, Evi had planned to arrange a romantic evening for them, but she never waited. It's true. There are extinguished candles, a little further a basket with chocolates and strawberries. Probably, it was worth coming to their small apartment a little earlier, but he still lingered at an unusual legal job until the time when a sleepy security guard looked into the office, beady eyes flashing from the darkness. At such moments, the imagination was probably joking, but... Jake could have sworn he heard a holy whisper from the shadows: "Go home, workaholic." And now Jake was late again, having been distracted by codes. And now he was standing in the dark of the room again, illuminating the path with the dim light of the smartphone screen, and smiling. After all the problems and quarrels during the investigation and before, Evi was still with him. She was sleeping in short pajamas, her arm hanging off the bed, her slightly grown hair and lips were scattered on the pillow... He shuddered. Traces of chocolate on her upper lip made Jake shrink, awakened a desire that went beyond all bounds to immediately remove them. Best of all, with his tongue. "What are you doing, babe..." He whispered. "I'm waiting for you to finally kiss me." Jake flinched, holding up his cell phone in an attempt to get a better look at her. Of course. Just pretending to be asleep. Look how she was squinting her emerald eyes now, boring with an infinitely cunning look, how she was reaching for one of the sweets in the basket, habitually pinching it between the pads of her fingers, touching it with the tip of her tongue... Gosh! Jake's breath caught in his throat, his heart was pounding, running straight to her! But... He had not dared to touch her. "You're not waiting... You're provoking. Again." Provoking Jake is practically Evi's hobby. She did it even before Duskwood, before the investigation. When he was just a black hacker and did all these crazy things just to survive. She continued it now, when he was trying to do everything so as not to inadvertently hurt her again. After all, he was still blushing shamefacedly, remembering his obsession and all the breakdowns at Duskwood. "Sure. God... If it weren't for the provocations and harsh conditions, you'd still be trying to convince both of us that I should date Phil, am I right?" "You are right." Jake leaned back against the door frame, looked away. "I still sometimes think that I dream about you and when I wake up..." "My beloved Hackerman," Evi open her hands, and Jake suddenly felt that even her voice warmed up a little, "go cuddle, otherwise I'll limp to you." And immediately she reached for her cane, shyly hidden from human eyes in the narrow gap between the bed and the chest of drawers. Jake didn't see it. He knew it. "No, wait." He said, and took off. He sat on the edge of the bed. Evi managed to press the switch on the small floor lamp, and Jake could safely put his mobile in his pocket. He pulled her to him, gently hugging her shoulders. "I am right here with you. Do not strain yourself once again." "You're not a right person to tell that. You just took off your medical glasses, and you don't look up from the screen for days." Evi whispered, clung to his chest and sat quietly for a few moments, only squeezing his turtleneck with her fingers. Jake touched his lips to the top of the black head. "They smell like vanilla," the thought flashed. Evi knew the smell now, and she clearly liked it. Jake too: this is her sweet-spicy, reminiscent of a thick liqueur aroma. "Please don't worry about me. I am hardy enough not to break down from a small load." Evi looked into his eyes, and Jake felt dizzy for a moment. Either because of her look, or because of these chocolate stains on her lip. The taste of chocolate and the smell of vanilla... It should be great. He closed his eyes, trying to think about the codes. Uselessly. Time after time, thoughts returned to "put her on the bed, hug and kiss her until the morning." "Our conversations are always kind of sad... Come here already, you persistent thistle." The taste of chocolate on soft lips, vanilla flavor... Delicious and sweet. Jake's fingers tangled in her hair, Evi's palms stroked his abs under his turtleneck. It threatened to go too far. He put his hands on her shoulders. Gently pushed away. "Wait, sly aster. I told." "Okay, okay. I understand you." Moving away a little, she reached for the basket with chocolate, put it between them as a very conditional barrier. "But how about this? Only here is the problem..." He can see up close: the chocolate has melted. Just pick up a piece with your fingers, and the traces will spread over the skin. How long had it been standing there in the room? How long had Evi been waiting for him? Nothing bothered her. As before, Evi held the piece between her fingers, but this time she handed it to him. "He's not a sincere lover who won't drink from nice hands," Jake smiled, "a cup of fiery poison instead of sparkling wine... What can I say about just some chocolate." Carefully lifting her hand by the wrist, he caught the candy in his mouth. The chocolate melted in his mouth, enveloping my throat with a tart sweetness. And even the soul became a little warmer and brighter. Especially now, when Evi caught his every move with her eyes, and reflected light flickered in the green of her eyes. "If it's need to have chocolate to see you so happy, I'll take it more often." "I am afraid I need more than just chocolate for such happiness." "Oh, can you say it in plain text?" "You... I need you, Evi." "And I love you, Jake." Evi's whisper made his skin crawl, but this... She didn't stop there. She leaned forward and kissed him again — without touching him with her hands and still stirring up the blood, awakening goosebumps. Making colored flies fly in front of his eyes. Another word, another move, and Jake would snap again, like in a wooden house near Duskwood. He knew. She knew too. "Evi, I'm not..." She knew and didn't move. She just sat straight and looked into his eyes. Into the same green eyes. And for a moment Jake thought he was looking in a mirror. Movement. She touched his nose with her lips. And she froze again — with a mysterious smile that made everything a little easier on her face. "You know... Your self-esteem is a very complex puzzle of thousands of details. But one day we will assemble it into a whole beautiful picture. Do you believe?" "Why "we"? I have to figure it out myself." "Nope. We were a team when we were looking for Hannah. We are the team and now. Your problems are mine. And vice versa. Isn't that all the fun, Mr. thistle?" "I... would like to believe it." The corners of his lips lifted in a smile. "Believe it. And I'll bring some chilled chocolate. Can you help me?" Jake supported her by the waist, helping her to stand up. She never allowed more. "Evi, you forgot..." "No, I did it on purpose." She walked towards the kitchen, limping noticeably, but for the first time without a cane. Jake sat quietly for half a minute. Then he followed her cautiously, on tiptoe. If his stubborn little aster stumbles, he will be there to catch her. He too.