Jagger

“How's oatmeal AND sausage sound?"

She closed her eyes momentarily and I thought she'd gone back to sleep, but her little yawn made me tingle.

"Sure,” she said softly, "Can I help with anything?"

I smiled, “Only if you want to."

Her sigh told me that my charm and indecisiveness wasn't working on her.

"Get your ass over here!”

I didn't know what came over me, but when she didn't move fast enough, I stepped over and picked her up by the waist, eliciting a yelp from her as I tossed Julia gently over my shoulder.

"Jagger!”

"Yell my name like that again and the neighbors are gonna think nasty thoughts, sweetheart.”

"Put me down! Stop caressing my ass!”

I chuckled, lowering her to the floor slowly, making sure her body had to slide down mine.

Julia

Oh I loved every second of it.

If I wasn't going to be honest, I'm sure my face gave me away, and Jagger  seemed interested in teasing me for it.

“Yeah, you're just scurrying away from me,right?"

I rolled my eyes, not caring that we were both still standing in his tiny kitchen, embracing each other.

“I'll even watch your nerd marathons with you.”

“I didn't ask you to join me."

“Maybe it'll be fun."

“Jagger, you really haven't been the kindest person to be around."

Jagger looked at me as if I'd smacked his dog.

"I have been a perfect gentleman.”

"If you're gonna try to get me to grovel for you, you're sadly mistaken.”

“But you will surely be doing just that."

Jagger

Her closeness to me was better than any woman I'd ever experienced.

Perhaps she was unavailable,or maybe I'd fail the tests on purpose just to see if she'd still fuck me.

“Alright, I've got the sausage and the milk,” I said, hesitant to move away from her for some unknown reason.

What the fuck, Jagger?

“Alright well I need to get your arms off me."

“I'd rather not."

“Rather not what?"

“Can I just stay here a bit longer?"

She stared up at me, curious and confused, but when I didn't move, Julia pulled herself into me and placed her head on my shoulder.

“I know you're a tough guy, Jagger, but you don't have to be with me."

"If I'm not, people will treat me differently, Julia. It's not gonna happen.”

She didn't argue with me and I didn't care. That's the way I used to like my women until she came along.

I liked her banter and wit, but I was an asshole and she probably deserved better.

“Well, I'm starving, Jagger."

“Me too."

I was talking about eating her, but she was still hooked on oatmeal.

“Chocolate chips and whipped cream!"

She tossed the items on the counter and smiled when I took out the sausage.

“I thought you'd make another perverted quip."

I wiggled my eyebrows, “You want me to?"

“I don't know. Is it hot sausage?"

“Ooooo…it's Italian."

“I've got Italian in me."

“Want some more?"

“You're Italian?"

“My mother is a DeCarlo."

Julia

“Oh God..do I want,-" I rolled my eyes, “No,Jagger! I don't want your dick in me. Let's just make breakfast so you can watch the nerd marathons"

“So you're taking me up on my offer?"

I thought about it, confused and fucking delirious at this point. My dignity might as well have walked out the door on it's own.

“Only to eat breakfast and watch movies."

“My clothes are so big on you. Do you,-"

“I'm fine."

We worked in silence the rest of the time until Jagger opened a bottle of bourbon.

“What?"

“Do you need that?"

“I'm putting it in the batter. Trust me."

I didn't trust him.

What the hell was wrong with me?

Jagger

I loved bourbon, but I loved bourbon butter pancakes more.

She watched me closely and smiled once I started frying up the pancakes.

“See? I'm not drinking the shit this morning. Beer is my hair of the dog if you must know."

She didn't say anything. I knew she'd probably dealt with her abusive boyfriend enough and here she was with someone who had a drinking problem.

“Don't worry. I'm not drinking anything while you're here unless you drink with me."

“Oh, yeah. That makes me feel so much better."

“Smartass. Don't burn the meat."

“I'll burn your meat."

“I'm not into that."

Another eye roll, but there was a smile.

A beautiful, knowing smile that I was beginning to enjoy.

I was beginning to enjoy her, but I wasn't interested in a relationship.

Only sex.

Only her.

Why her?

Not one of the hot ass cheerleaders I was addicted to?

“Jagger, you're burning the pancakes.”

"Fuck!”

I flipped one of the hotcakes over, eliciting a giggle from her.

“Get your mind out of the gutter."

Too late for that.

I was drowning in the gutter.