CHAPTER XVI

Have I bought too much? Cael wondered as he carried various supermarket bags. He got Nate to invite him by saying he would cook for him, but the truth was that he barely cooked. He lived alone, so there was no reason to cook anything fancy just for himself. And when he lived with his uncle, Finnian was the real cook of the house, although Abe helped - basically as an excuse to flirt - and he would just do the dishes. But, he didn't know why, he felt a pain on his chest when he heard Nate commend Cyrus' cooking as if it was the best thing he ever ate. Well, the food was good, indeed. If he could do better? Probably not. But he wanted to boost and say he could cook too. He could be praised by Nate too. Praised? Is that what I want? He asked himself as he rang the doorbell to enter the building. A camera was transmitting his image directly to Nate and he heard a voice in the intercom asking:

"Did it open?"

"Yeah".

"Come in".

Nate lived in the 13th floor, apartment 1313. Cael laughed when he heard it, but Nate just said that 13 was his lucky number.

"Thirteen and twenty-four".

"Twenty-four?"

"Yeah... My dad said that it was his lucky number. He met my mom on the 24th. They got married on the 24th. My little brother was born on the 24th. Even me, his step-son, was born on the 24th".

"Really? When is your birthday?"

"December 24th. One day before Christmas".

"God. It's horrible to have birthdays close to holidays".

"My parents always tried to compensate for it, but sometimes it could be really annoying. My siblings felt wronged because I got two gifts instead of one, but they didn't understand that I got an extra gift for my birthday, and they already got one on their own birthdays. But I grew over it". He shrugged. "And your birthday, when is it?"

"June 28th".

"You're a Cancer?"

"Yeah... But I don't understand anything about signs".

"Me neither. But my friend said that Cancer and Capricorn are pretty compatible. Opposites attract, or something like that". Nate laughed. Cael blushed a little, but luckily for him, Nate didn't notice.

Cael got up on the elevator, carrying all those bags with him. Two ladies walked in and looked at him and the bags. They smiled and whispered to each other.

"He must be a good husband", one of them said to the other. It was really low, but Cael heard it and blushed a lot. They went out on the 10th floor, but he still kept thinking about the husband word. He wished he had someone to call him husband, but right now he was alone.

He knocked on the door and Nate answered. He was wearing a semi-transparent and comfy long-sleeved blouse with a deep neckline and some jeans shorts. How can a person be so alluring? Cael thought, but tried to wipe the thought away not to incite certain reactions.

"Wow, you really brought a lot". Nate said and grabbed some of the bags. "Let me help you".

"Thanks".

"No need. I will eat too, so at least I can help with the bags".

Nate had an ample apartment with an open concept. Besides the kitchen, the dinner room and the living room, there were three rooms, that Cael guessed were a bedroom, an office and the bathroom.

"So what are we gonna cook?"

"Will you help?"

"It's my house, I must help". He smiled. Cael thought it was a really cute smile.

"Chicken parmigiana and parmesan risotto. I don't know if they match well, but I couldn't decide".

"Sounds appetizing". He smiled again. "Let me introduce you to my kitchen".

The kitchen was big for an apartment, although a little smaller than Antoine, but still a big one. Nate showed him where everything was and he started cooking. It was a mess. Finnian has taught him everything he could via video call, still there was a lot he couldn't teach him. Like how to pay attention to the many things. Cael felt discouraged, and thought about giving up. Nate put a hand on his back as he looked over the rice that burned.

"Is everything all right?"

"I lied. I can barely cook. I live alone, I don't need to cook any fancy dinners. I called my uncle to help me by teaching me some things, but even that I can't do right".

"Well. For a beginner, this looks pretty great. Don't demand too much from yourself. We can just scrap the burned part from the rice. And the chicken has seen some better days, but it's probably still really tasty. I just wished we had made less of a mess".

"I will clean, just give me a second", Cael said hastily.

"Don't worry. We can do that after we eat. Let's just wrap everything and serve ourselves. I'm sure that anything you cooked would be great". Nate held Cael's hand as he said that. "So, let's do it together".

They finished cooking and cleaned a little. Then, they served two plates and sat down on the table to eat. Nate brought some bottles of wine - "Everything's better with a good wine". The food wasn't great, but it was decent.

"It tastes like home", Nate said.

"Really?" Cael asked, puzzled.

"My mom wasn't a great cook, and was usually sick, and my dad never had the time. So me and my siblings took turns cooking. It wasn't always good, sometimes it was quite bad, but sometimes it was really good. My brother, Adriel, is a really great cook. Since he was a child he would do these complex dishes and all with cheap items, and we would be flabbergasted. He went to study at a prestigious culinary school in Fanney".

"So my terrible cooking reminds you of the times your siblings would cook?"

"Myself included. I was an awful cook when I started, and would do some really basic stuff and still ruin it. Everyone can be awful when they start a new activity. Few are the geniuses that begin already crushing it. My brother was one of these. Luckily, I could enjoy his cooking, instead of hating him for doing it a hundred times better than I ever could".

"That makes sense".

"I'm happy it does. Sometimes I just keep blabbering some random stuff". He laughed.

They finished dinner and cleaned the kitchen, and Nate invited him to watch a movie. Cael agreed and they watched My Neighbor Totoro while drinking wine. When the movie ended, they were still not satisfied, and watched Kiki's Delivery Service. At some point Nate brought a table of charcuterie and another bottle of wine. They had already drunk three bottles in five hours.

After the second movie ended, Cael got up to leave, but before he could say good-bye, he stumbled on his own feet and remembered that he had driven here. I'll have to call an Uber. He thought. But before he could say it out loud, Nate asked:

"Would you like to sleep here today? I have another room that my siblings use when they come. You could use it if you want. You could borrow pajamas also".

"I guess I could stay". He said, and thanked the light for being off, because even his ears have turned red.

"I'll get you some clothes to change and a new toothbrush". He went into the bedroom and came back with the things he said. "You can change in the other bedroom".

"Thank you".

While he changed, Nate organized the living room. When he came back, Nate asked if he wanted to go to sleep. He didn't answer exactly, but his body yawned. Nate laughed and said that it was better to call it a night. It was already 1 a.m. anyway.

"Good-night". Nate said.

"Good-night". Cael said leaving for bed.

Laying down, Cael couldn't stop thinking. There he was at Nate's house, in his bed, wearing his clothes. A part of him felt ecstatic and a little shy, but another felt guilty. He came to this country because of the man he loved, that he searched for four years, with whom he found he had two kids. But now, he was in his secretary house and, even he could admit that, he was flirting with him and he was flirting back. He knew that his love for Antoine wouldn't happen. Antoine already had someone by his side, someone he loved. Their relationship ended before it could even begin, all that was left was two beautiful angels. He wanted to have a connection with them, to be a father to them, and that started by having a good relationship with Antoine, but not a love one. But, was he allowed, after these four years, to move on from this lost love? Move on from this past and live his life in the present with someone knew?

Yes, you have that right. A voice in his mind said.

But Nate is Antoine's secretary and friend. Another voice said.

And? They are both free to date whoever they want. Antoine already has his own life. You have the right to build your own life too. The first voice said.

I do have the right. Cael thought, getting up. He left his room and went to knock on Nate's room. He hesitated, staying for a while in front of his door, thinking if he should do it or not. But he had already decided to give this love a shot. Even if he was to end it with a broken heart, it was better than feeling bad for never having a chance to try, again. He knocked. He heard some steps coming from inside the room. Nate opened the door. He was wearing an oversized blouse that was too big and exposing his neckline and a bit of his chest, and some extremely short pajama's shorts. Cael gulped, he didn't know what to say, he could only think how sexy Nate looked like that.

"Is everything okay?" Nate asked. Cael looked to the other side, trying not to look directly at the exposed parts of Nate's body.

"Yes", he answered blushing.

"If everything is okay, why are you looking the other way?"

"Nothing. I forgot what I came here to say". He turned to go back to his room, but Nate held his hand.

"Look at me first and tell me what happened. Are you still drunk?"

"A little".

"Yeah... We drank a lot. Are you feeling well?"

"Yes. I should just go back to my room".

"Cael, are you really okay? Just, please, look at me" Nate pleaded, and Cael looked at him and he saw his face that was all red. He understood then what was happening. "I'm sorry. I'm making you uncomfortable with these clothes?"

"No, it's not the clothes". He said, looking away again.

"Then what is it?"

"Nothing, I just need to sleep a little and get sober".

Nate felt like teasing him. That cute red face was enticing. He stepped ahead, getting closer to Cael, and poked his waist.

"Why don't you share with me what's going on in your head, ahn? I'm a great listener?"

"Don't do that, please", he said, laughing a little.

"Are you ticklish?"

"Please, stop".

"Only if you tell me what is happening".

"I should go".

"Please tell me", he poked him again. Cael, to stop him from doing that, dragged him closer into a hug. He held him closely, barely allowing Nate to breathe. Nate pushed him a little away and looked at him. "You don't need to drag me so close, otherwise I can't breathe". He smiled.

"I'm sorry". Cael blushed.

"It's okay", he laughed and touched his red cheeks. "It's just cute to see you doing these kinds of things".

"I am... cute?"

"Very". Nate said gently. "So cute that I wished I could kiss you right now".

"You...", Cael couldn't finish the phrase. He coughed to try and hide his embarrassment. "If you want to, you could kiss me". He said, containing his excitement.

Nate held Cael's head, tiptoeing like a ballerina, and gave him a lustful kiss. Cael answered it with excitement, opening his mouth and exploring Nate's with his tongue. Nate dragged Cael closer and put his hand under his shirt, caressing his muscles.

"My clothes are a little too tight on you". Nate commented.

"Yeah, a little".

"Do you want to take them off? I could help you".

"These shorts are really tight". Cael teased.

"Just how I like it".

Nate dragged Cael into his room and tossed him on the bed. He took off his shirt and nibbled his ears, kissed his neck and collarbones. He then kissed his abs and his v-line. He sat on top of Cael, his pelvis against his pelvis, and bringing his upper body down, he licked Cael's nipples, enjoying how the man reacted at every movement of his tongue. Cael's moaning was so licentious, and aroused him more at every sound. He took off Cael's shorts and commented teasingly.

"I can understand now why the shorts were so tight. How were you even able to put them on?"

"You gave me the clothes, I had to wear it".

"Well, now you have to take them off".

Cael was embarrassed in the beginning, but the more he enjoyed it the more he let himself go. And he appreciated that night, and more than that he appreciated Nate as his partner. He hasn't had sex in ages - four years to be exact. But this was the hottest night he ever had.

When he woke up the next morning, Nate was no longer there. Self-doubt struck him, and he began to ask if Nate hadn't enjoyed that night as much as him. Maybe he didn't even like him, and it was just a question of opportunity. He was just the guy who was there. But, in the middle of his spiral of self-loathe, Nate opened the door.

"Sorry for not staying. I really like morning cuddles. But I go jogging every Saturday and Sunday morning in the park, ever since I moved to Bgork. I really don't want to break it".

"I understand", Cael smiled, comprehending that his questions were just his insecurity taking over.

"It's already 8h30 a.m., but if you want, you can come with me. I have some gym clothes that I bought for my brother but he never used. They probably fit you".

"Sure", after that night, Cael wanted to spend as much time as possible with Nate. It was great to give a chance to a new love.