Richard burrowed his head further into the pillows and pulled up the duvet and inhaled deeply. Still half asleep with his eyes closed, he frowned. Something felt out of place.
He tried to shift, to readjust his body but he almost fell. Jesus, he thought his eyes flying open and he paused taking in his surroundings. He was still in Farrah's house snuggling into her pillows and duvet. He wished he could sigh and exclaim in romantic prose how everything smelt like her, but they didn't. They just smelt like clean laundry, but somehow even that was a comfort in its own.
The more sleep left him, the more he registered the sounds around him. The more he could hear sounds of someone moving about in the kitchen, and the faint strains of pop music. Rubbing his eyes, he looked at his watch to find that it was already 9.00 o'clock in the morning. He threw his head back onto the pillows. Mentally running through the list of things he will need to get to tomorrow. Not to mention, he really needed to start working on the contract with his siblings before they signed anything with BBCS. He was sure Allan was going to have a coronary because of it.
Taking a deep breath, he swung his legs off the couch, stood up and groaned as he stretched the kinks out of his body. It was pretty much a miracle that her couch was big enough to fit his 6'2 frame. Walking towards the kitchen he stopped at the door, watching Farrah plate up what looked like sausages and bacon. Next to that he saw a plate stacked with pancakes and his mouth watered. He loved pancakes.
Gently knocking on the door, he said, "You seem to be feeling better."
He chuckled as Farrah visibly jumped from shock. As she turned to face him, her eyes grew wide and shrilly she almost screamed, "Where the fuck are your jeans, Richard?!"
Looking down Richard frowned. He had on a pair of cotton boxer shorts that were in his eyes, pretty decent. It skimmed his mid-thigh and it wasn't the least bit clingy. He looked at Farrah and saw that she had clenched her jaws, every line of her body rigid. Even the softness of her fuzzy pajamas had a hard edge to it. The was a slow pull to the edges of his lips, as Richard smirked.
Taking slow, purposeful steps towards her he asked lowly, "Farrah, am I making you nervous?" He couldn't help but notice how her eyes kept flicking between his legs and his waist. His flannel shirt was long enough to keep him covered up.
"Hey, hey now. Eyes up here," Richard said cheekily as he closed in on her, watching her visibly swallow. Farrah was backed to the kitchen counters with nowhere to go. The rise and fall of her chest was evident and he could only imagine the havoc her heart was creating right now. And yet, the smirk refused to leave his face.
He loved teasing her and having her speechless. Although he couldn't wait for the day when she realised the kind of power she had over him, and to wield it the way she saw it fit. To have him wrapped around her fingers, her legs, her torso...Snapping himself out of his daydream, he bent down at eye level with Farrah waiting for her reaction.
"Richard, put on your jeans," She ground out.
"You didn't answer my question, Ms. Khan. Am I making you nervous?" He asked lowly. Richard watched in awe as goosebumps broke from the dip at the base of her neck all the way up to the back of her ears. Were the goosebumps, all over her body?, he couldn't help but wonder.
"Yes. Go put them on," she ground out again.
"What's the magic word, love?"
"Please. Please for the love of Allah, put on your damn jeans," she whispered harshly.
Chuckling, Richard released the hold he had on the kitchen counter and slowly walked backwards. "You know, this is the first time that a woman has begged me to put on my jeans," he mused, eyes still sparkling with mirth.
"Well there's a first time for everything," she ground out harshly, still avoiding looking at him.
Biting his lower lip to prevent himself from smiling some more, Richard just shook his head and quickly headed to the couch. As he slipped his pants on, he heard Farrah calling to him and telling him to use the bathroom in her room. He felt the excitement akin to a two-year-old eating ice cream for the first time.
Opening her door slowly, Richard stepped in and took a deep breath. Her room had that mixture of smells that he could identify as hers. He took in the olive colored walls, the made bed, the assortment of lush pillows on it, the stacks of books by the floor...and the still wrapped box that contained the present that he had given her. With his eyebrows furrowed, Richard wondered why she hadn't opened it yet. Quickly sorting out his morning routine, he stood there admiring the soaps and shampoos neatly arrange in her shower. Hearing Farrah call for him, he quickly washed his hands again and exited the room.
Entering the kitchen Richard immediately sat next to Farrah and paused, as she started heaping pancakes onto his plates. There was a cup of black tea next to his plate, along with milk and sugar. "Sweet or savoury?" she asked still not looking at him.
"A bit of both," he answered, smiling and shaking his head. She plopped two sausages and some bacon strips on is plate, pushing the maple syrup towards him.
"Butter?"
"Yes, a little bit. Farrah, are you seriously not going to look at me?" he asked as he couldn't hold back his laughter.
"Don't laugh at me," Farrah ground out. "And I didn't know how to fix your tea, so there you go."
"Okay, okay...I'm sorry love," he said chuckling quietly to himself sipping on his plain black tea. As Richard was about to cut into his pancakes, he froze. The way Farrah reacted to seeing him in boxers, it was such an innocent and naïve reaction...could she be...No. It couldn't be. She wasn't a virgin, was she? At 26? How the hell am I going to find that out?, he wondered.
"What? What's wrong?" she asked concerned. None the wiser about what Richard was thinking. "I know the bacon is not what you're used to. It's beef bacon. The halal version," she continued oblivious.
"...No, it's fine," he said slowly taking a bite. "These are really good pancakes, Farrah!" he said as he stacked a bit of pancake, sausage and bacon on his fork.
"Farrah..."
"Mmhmmmm?"
"I really am sorry about the jeans thing."
"Shut up and eat your breakfast."
"To even things out, you can take off your pajama bottoms and catch me unawares," Richard wriggles his eyebrows.
"Seriously, Richard," Farrah deadpanned.
"Yes, but I'll probably end up having to go to bed with my grandmothers smelling salts,"
"What? Why?" she asked incredulous.
"Well, you'll be trouser-less and I am only allowed to look."
"Richard," Farrah said warningly, "Eat your pancakes."
"You know, I could get used to this. You. Me. Trou-less. Pancakes."
Sighing Farrah propped her elbows on the table and hid her face in her hands. Richard couldn't help but laugh again.
"Ok, Ok. I promise to stop right now." He said nudging her with his elbows.
"Promise?" she asked peeking at him from in between her fingers.
The sight that she made peeking through her fingers, made his heart skip a beat. "Promise." A short pause later, Richard said, "This is my favourite breakfast."
"Pancakes and sausages are your favourite?" she asked her eyes lighting up
"Yes." After another pause that had a sobering effect on Richard, "uhm...we used to have pancakes for whenever Mum felt the need to celebrate." Richard looked up and saw that Farrah had a kind smile on her face, but she still avoided looking at him.
With a lopsided smile, "I would like to say the same, but I was the one making the pancakes at home. I loved it. It felt like this special time spent with Dad; especially after my mum passed. Pancakes on the first day of the new year is kind of a tradition," she shrugged.
Bumping elbows with Farrah, "Thank you for including me in your tradition."
"You're welcome," Farrah said smiling sweetly.
"So now answer me this, it's been days since Christmas. Why haven't you opened your present?" He asked, in mock sternness.
"Urgh, I shouldn't have let you enter my room." She sighed loudly. "You're too observant for your own good."
Richard laughed as he ate. "Come on now, out with it. Why is it still unopened?"
"It's too pretty to open. All the effort you put in, to make it look beautiful. I felt bad ripping into it," she almost whined.
"Would it make you feel better if I told you that Stacey got the wrapping done?"
On reflex, she slapped him on the chest with the back of her hand exclaiming loudly, "That's a dick move! You couldn't even wrap my present by yourself? I spent time wrapping yours!"
Still laughing and enjoying her playful mood, "So will you open it now?"
"No. Now, I'm just really disappointed."
"Well, I did choose the present myself. Removed the tags and all, with these very fingers."
"I hope you got a papercut," she said sullenly.
Gasping theatrically, "You evil, vile woman. First you don't open my gift and now you wish papercuts on me!" Richard saw the corners of her lips twitching. Knowing that she was about to laugh, he continued. "Next time, I'll wrap it myself I promise. Not only will it be hideous looking, I'll use the ghastliest paper available. Perhaps some old newspaper with grease stains from the chip shop down the road."
She burst out laughing at that and slapped him lightly on the arm this time. "Stop, don't knock the chippies that use newspapers. It's paid for this flat."
"This flat? Not your internship?"
"Oh my God, how much do you think interns are paid Rich?" she was flabbergasted.
Looking around, he conceded, "Okay you're right. It can't be that much to afford this place. Not even to rent."
"No job pays well enough for a 26-year-old to purchase a 2 bed 2 bath flat of this size in London," she stated factually. "Rent perhaps, with roommates. Purchase probably not."
"Alright, so no knocking on chip shops. On to more important things, will you finally open the present I gave you?" he raised his eyebrows looking at her. She turned to face him, meeting his gaze.
"Alright, I'll open it," she made a move to get up and Richard's arm shot forward grabbing her arm to hold her back.
"Not right this minute Farrah," he said as he felt a blush creep up his neck.
"What? Why not?" she asked cocking an eyebrow.
"Well, I might feel awkward," he admitted.
"More awkward than right now?" she grinned a lopsided grin. "You're blushing."
"Yes, more awkward than right now. I might just spontaneously combust. Then you'll have absolutely nothing for your segment," he said looking down, arranging his knife and fork on the plate in the universal gesture of being done with his food.
It started with little giggles, then chuckles and finally Farrah was shaking with silent laughter. "Are you laughing at me, Ms. Khan?" Richard couldn't help the smile that was lighting up his whole face. Her body still shaking in fits of laugher, she nodded.
"Mmhmmm, Yes." She finally answered. Taking big gulps of air to calm down. "I wouldn't think you could ever feel shy, especially after your trou-less stunt earlier. But you do, and it's ridiculously adorable. And you even blush," she cooed at him.
"Alright, alright. Laugh it up, my love," Richard said getting up from the table and heading to the sink. "It's cleanup time and how can I help?" Richard turned around and his breath stilled. Farrah's gaze was burning with intensity as she looked at him. As though she was trying to solve the riddle that Richard was. Richard gripped the kitchen counter with all his strength, knuckles turning white. All he wanted to do in that moment was to scoop her out of her chair and kiss her with that same intensity she had in her yes.
And he knew that he'd be able to taste maple syrup and pancakes on her lips, as he unconsciously licked his lips. He saw her eyes flick down to his lips and he cleared his throat. "Farrah, how can I help with cleaning?" he repeated, his voice sounding husky even to his ears.
Blinking as though she was coming out of a trance; Farrah stood up averting her eyes from him, again. She silently picked up everything that needed to be washed and walked over to the sink, motioning for Richard to move. "I'll rinse. You can help me put things in the dishwasher," she said lowly.
The worked in silence, the air charged with energy. Something that Richard was afraid would get the best of him. Once again, he couldn't help wondering if she was a virgin or not. If she'd ever been kissed or not. His grip on the cup, clenched and unclenched the cup. "What's on your mind Richard?" Farrah's soft voice jarred him out of his thoughts. "Tell me," she commanded softly.
Looking at her profile he blurted the question that plaguing him; "Have you ever...been...been intimate with anyone?"
Farrah paused, turning off the tap she faced him her eyes shuttered, without the feelings it held earlier. "Are you asking me, if I'm a virgin?"
"I...I...I think, yes, that's what I mean," Richard stuttered.
"Why do you need to know?" She asked, her voice devoid of any emotion. "How will that affect our friendship?" she continued, "Be honest, with me and tell me why do you need to know?"
"Honest? I'll be honest with you; I have to physically restrain myself from kissing you. I am beyond attracted to you, and you know it." He breathed out harshly. "For all that it's worth if y-...you...you're a virgin, at least I know that I'm not the only sorry arsehole who's been in this situation with you."
"And if I'm not? If I had already slept with someone before?" she asked quietly.
"Then I'll be killing myself wondering why am I not good enough for you? Why am I not allowed the liberties that others have had before this? What is lacking in me?" he said in a harsh whisper, his voiced laced with pain.
She looked away from Richard and out the window. It was another dull day. The grey clouds had covered any bits of blue skies. She turned on the tap again and continued rinsing out the pots and pans before handing it to Richard. The worked in silence until they were done. Richard couldn't help himself as he slammed the door to the dishwasher shut. The noise made Farrah physically jump, as the tension mounted.
Wiping down the counter and the sink, Farrah answered with a clear voice as Richard was about to walk out the kitchen; "Richard," she paused, still looking out the window, "I've never been with anyone."
***
Phewwwww.......this is a long chapter guys. I just hope everyone made it safely to the end.
It went from light hearted bantering to intense conservation pretty quickly eh? And OMG, how I love these two babies of mine. They are growing up. *wipes tears*
Oh an important thing- I changed the name of the guy that Farrah was supposed to meet to Shafiq. Although I am not 100% on the name yet so it might change again.
So this whole virginity thing; completely unplanned. Wasnt even in there in the first draft but yeah, it's in there now.
You know the drill my lovelies; vote, comment and share!