Impressions Ch. 02

Aren stared mindlessly into the pot of soup he was cooking. He couldn't believe he had kissed Gin. It had been on his mind the whole weekend so he had been trying everything imaginable to occupy himself. That included gourmet cooking. Normally, he settled for preparing things like spaghetti or a toasted sandwich for meals, but he was a fantastic cook. He only enjoyed it sometimes, though the results nearly always pleased him. Today he had prepared tomato Florentine and homemade breadsticks.

He found himself unable to get his feelings together about what had happened with Gin. However, there wasn't a doubt in his mind that it was hot. He still couldn't quite believe that he had been wrong in his original opinion of her; that she was cold and difficult. But he just couldn't forget her laugh or her smile. Why does she have to be so complicated? Can't she just be normal?

He knew as soon as the thought entered his head that it was the precise reason he was unable to stop thinking about her. She was anything but normal. He also had a feeling that the reason she was so complicated was that, unlike a lot of people, she wasn't trying to be any certain thing; she was just trying to be. That left a man in his position totally lost as to what to expect from her.

As the timer for the breadsticks chimed, a crazy idea began to form in him. This just has to work. If it doesn't... well, if it doesn't I don't know what I'll do.

* * *

Gin was nestled in a pile of pillows in her living room floor reading a sci-fi novel with a romantic twist when someone started knocking at her door. I wonder who that is. I'm not expecting anyone. Gad, it's probably Travis. He left something in a voicemail about stopping by sometime. How would he even know where I live. I've never brought a guy here before. I'm sure he could find out if he asked the right people, but still... If he shows up here I'm going to make him wish he were dead.

She braced herself for the man she currently despised, but jerked open the door to see Aren; the man who had totally confused her. He looked hot, as usual, in old jeans and a black long sleeved t-shirt. He had pulled his hair back somewhat neatly, though some strands in the front had come loose. She was much happier to see him.

"Hi," he said nonchalantly, but there was a hint of hesitation.

"Hey." Her smile gave him one. "Come in?"

She noticed he was carrying plastic containers and something wrapped in foil. It appeared to be food. Now she was perplexed by more than just her feelings for him. He walked in and went directly to the kitchen.

He was so strange. Sometimes he was incredibly smooth. The next minute he was a shy kid. She laughed quietly at the thought that his suave ways were probably mostly just an act. He's as mixed up as I am. Apparently, her giggle was audible, because he turned to give her a quizzical look, but ended up grinning and said nothing of it.

"So Aren, what brings you here?"

"Dinner. And you." He said it so quietly and looked away from her so quickly she was sure he was blushing. It was unbelievably cute.

She wasn't quite sure what to say, and though she didn't know how she felt about him or how she wanted to feel about him, she walked behind him and stretched up to kiss his cheek. He was so quick as he turned and pinned her between himself and the cabinet that it seemed like it should have been rough, but it wasn't. She didn't even have a chance to squeal in surprise before he pressed his lips to hers, lightly first, then in that so-hard-it-makes-you-dizzy way.

She pulled back to catch her breath and kissed him again, quickly and lightly. This was definitely a good way to make her like him. I'm sure that was his plan. "So... the dinner part?"

"What, you'd rather have food than me?" he teased.

"When it smells that good, it's a very hard decision."

"Oh, I see." He pretended to look hurt, but she saw him grin before turning back to the food.

She handed him a pot to reheat the soup and turned on the oven to keep the breadsticks warm. Every chance he got, he brushed against her or stood with his hip against hers, or leaned around her to get something while making an obvious effort to smell her hair.

* * *

To say that he had surprised her was an understatement. Gin could not believe he had found her. Or that he had cooked dinner. He didn't exactly look like the typical chef, but the food was amazing.

She really wished she could figure out why she liked him. More specifically, she wanted to know how he was able to get her to change her opinion of him so quickly. She had finally admitted to herself that she just hadn't realized the depth of his personality. Still, she knew he could be a jackass. It concerned her that she liked him anyway.

Damn. I just had to get interested in a confusing one. So many guys out there would have me without wanting it complicated and I find him. Do I really want it simple this time? That's never made me happy in the past. He obviously wants me but he doesn't know what else he wants. He seems unsure of why he even wants me. At least we're on the same page. Still, two confused people is definitely not going to be an easy thing. Well, I've always been a trouble maker.

They had been curled up in the pile of pillows watching movies on television since after dinner. That was over six hours ago. Both of them seemed to be willing to simply accept the physical contact as a godsend and ignore the muddled emotions, at least for the time being.

* * *

When Aren had pulled Gin against him on the pillows, she had been incredibly soft and just a little bit warm. He though it felt like cuddling with a puppy, especially when she curled up tight against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her, only he wanted to take her to bed. The fact that she had on those faded, form-fitting lowrise jeans and an off-the-shoulder long sleeved t-shirt that clung to her curves didn't help in that department. He couldn't help but notice how adorable her sparkly electric pink toenails were. Or how genuinely pretty her face was. She really didn't need makeup, but the slightly smoky look she did to her eyes only made her more sexy. He was glad he finally had the opportunity to run his fingers thought that silky golden brown hair. Her waves were loose and shiny and she didn't care at all if he mussed them up.

At that moment, Aren decided to stop thinking. He knew he didn't know what he really wanted from Gin. He didn't care. He also knew that thinking about it would bring him no closer to enlightenment than he was already, so why bother. He decided to simply go with what felt right. He decided not to question his heart with the screwed up stuff in his head. Right now, nothing in the world felt more right than holding Gin.

"It's late. I should probably go..." he said. He knew leaving would be the proper thing to do, but he certainly didn't want to.

"Why? There isn't class tomorrow..." she trailed off and he thought he noticed a hint of hurt in those aquamarine eyes. He always felt like she could see all the way into him every time she looked at him.

"No, there isn't... Do you..." Not sure of what else to say he just looked at her.

"You can stay with me. I don't mean like that... just... oh, I'm rambling."

"I understand." He smiled. "Do you want me to?" He hadn't expected for her to offer to let him stay. Her body obviously liked his, but he didn't think she'd be that open. He needed to hear her say yes.

"Yeah." He couldn't read the look on her face. It looked a little put-out, but she grinned.

He forgot all about anything he might have been thinking as she, once again, relaxed against him and started running her fingers lazily through his hair. She apparently liked it to be loose because she had pulled the rubber band out before they had even started dinner, causing him to chuckle. He didn't really care what she did as long as she wanted him.

To have the reputation she had, she was a surprisingly playful little thing. She laughed, joked, and smiled almost constantly. He had no doubt she could take care of herself or that she was perfectly capable of getting along well without him. He took great joy and a bit of pride in the fact that she seemed to want him with her even though she didn't need him.

* * *

Gin felt like she was on top of the world snuggled up next to Aren. She was happy he had agreed to stay the night, which made her a bit nervous. Not that he was staying the night, but how much she wanted him to. She wanted to have sex with him, but she knew that wasn't going to happen tonight.

Letting a guy stay the night was a new thing. She had slept with them before, but not in her own house. He had earned this though, what, with the brining dinner and being such an amazing kisser. And he held her so close to him it gave her goosebumps. It also left her no doubt that he was into her. The hard place pressing into her back told her everything she needed to know. It made her smile. He was the first guy she was ever happy to have interested in her. Usually, the physical attention of guys annoyed her, but from him it was an amazing compliment.

He pulled her around to kiss him and the look in his eyes caught her off guard. It was definitely sleepy, but warm and caring, and mixed with enough desire to shake her resolve about not having sex tonight.

Apparently he though she looked sleepy too, because he rose and scooped her up in his arms, causing her to squeak in surprise. He grinned and switched off the television. She clung to him as he carried her to the bedroom. She knew he wasn't going to drop her even if she just hung limp, but she liked the way he looked at her when she wrapped her arms around him.

"What?" Aren asked. Gin was laughing, almost uncontrollably.

"Hmm? Nothing. It's just we have to be about the most immodest people ever." He had carried her into the bedroom and they had both immediately pulled back the blankets on the bed and stripped down to their underwear.

"Why? Just because we're standing here barely dressed like it's the most normal thing in the world? Surely you don't think that's strange."

"No, I definitely don't think it's strange. But you're the first person who hasn't. And your boxers are cute."

That made him blush. Then he grinned and tackled her down to the bed, causing both of them to erupt into laughter. They play-fought for a few minutes, until it magically turned into making out. They lay snuggled together under the blankets, both with sleepy smiles, until they drifted off.