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Valentine's day was a headache.
And more when you didn't know how to cook.
But Allura wanted to do this more than anything. She had watched over 11 videos on YouTube about how to bake a cake. She bought measuring cups so everything would fit perfectly.
However, the flour coating the floor, the cake mixture scattered on the black kitchen counter and part of the kitchen cupboards, the sticky oil on her hands, the sweet smell of sugar… too much sugar hammering on her nostrils, and the black cake ( which was supposed to be brown) as hard as the cement that she had just pulled out of the kiln was far from perfect.
She heard a whimper, soft and delicate. Allura slid her attention to the fluffy giant husky who was looking at her a few feet away, away from the mess, and she could swear she saw pity and shame in that look.
Allura groaned lightly. "It is not that bad" she protested, as if she could hear him talk or something. As if the dog understood. “Do not look at me like that.”
Kosmo tilted his head in response, lying down and covering his eyes with his front fluffy paws in a grimace.
She looked at the cake again, and compared the photo of the recipe that she had taken from the internet… with the black block that she had baked. There was no way she would try that.
But it could have been perfect this day. What did she do wrong? She added a lot of coffee? Sugar? She let out a tired sigh.
"Why are you here?"
Allura gasped, turning around in fright, hiding behind her the mess of the result. Her lips parted, tilting her head to a side. He was not supposed to be here. His blank stare on her and the scenario made her think they both shared the same confusion.
The particles and the dirty feel of cake powder beneath her feet reminded her that the floor was a disaster too. But there was no way to hide it. “You are early” was the only thing she could say, trying to focus his attention on her before he noticed the rest.
Keith's hand nestled on his head, rubbing the back of his neck, his brows knitting together. “ You are early.”
Well, yes. They were supposed to be working, she thought.
Allura took the moment to appreciate him. He surely came from work. His long uncombed hair made her think that he came running in haste, probably he was on the motorcycle. His shirt and pants were wrinkled so maybe the day at work was hard. It's not like motor racings have easy going days. He had his gloves on, so it was certain he used the motorcycle today. Her nose wrinkled, noticing that he was barefoot. Allura inwardly prayed that he wouldn't walk up to her and notice the dirt on the floor.
Something behind his back called her attention, she narrowed her eyes, noticing Keith was also hiding something. "Why are you here?"
Keith's jaw tightened. It always did when something didn't go as he planned. His shoulders dropped down, as if he had given up. “Well…” he cleared his throat, and he showed her what he was hiding: a bouquet of purple and pink flowers and a plastic bag full of things he had bought.
Allura’s hand landed on her chest, it felt warm. A soft curve peeked at her lips. “You wanted to surprise me?”
Keith looked down, and shifted on his feet. She noticed a slight blush on his cheeks and her heart jumped in response. “Is Valentines day and I know you enjoy this day” he excused himself, raising his head to face her., “so I thought maybe we could eat something here and then go out for a walk or something.”
Allura knew this was a little hard for him. Keith did not do Valentines day. The idea of having to do something, or feel obliged to buy or do things because everyone else did it… let's just say that it didn't suit him. He was way too much hotheaded. Is a commercial day, he said. Allura did not mind at all, actually. Because Keith did Valentines day very often, but simply not on Valentines day. Every time he would arrive with chocolates, or some cloth fabrics he thought she didn't have, or when he would give her massages, when he would pick a movie for the night, when he would plan a sudden trip… He was always reminding her his appreciation and love for her. The fact that they didn't celebrate this day together like other people wasn't something that bothered Allura at all.
“Is Valentines day” she reminded him.
"I know” he replied, his mouth pressed into a fine line, his eyebrows at their flattest, as if saying Don’t remind me, please.
Allura crossed her arms. "You despise this day, more than any other day."
Keith got up the courage to walk over, leaving the things he had bought on the floor next to the flowers and heading to the sink to wash his hands. “But I wanted to try something for you…” His eyes drifted to her, up and down, absorbing her figure in a low but calculating stare. “Since you love this day.”
Suddenly the cold kissed her bare thighs, a shiver running down her spine, sending a tingle down her belly. A brief reminder she was wearing only red underwear and his big white t-shirt. She arched her back softly, and cleaned her sweaty hands on it.
The first thing Allura noticed when Keith approached her was his scent, as intoxicating as the first time she smelled it. It was addictive, like Keith's touch every hour. His hard features softened, noting the disorder she couldn't hide. His cute nose wrinkled slightly, and he licked his thin pink lips, wetting them.
"Why are you here?" he asked with a gentle tone.
Allura could not help but feel so little and so numb. Keith’s head fell down barely a little, since he was taller than her, and she showed him, her cheeks burning. “I'm sorry. I just…” she inhaled, swallowing her embarrassment, “I was trying to do a coffee cake for you but is a disaster.”
“But Lura…” A soft chuckle escaped from his throat, and he tried to contain it.
He was going to say, But you are a horrible cook, she knew it. Everybody knew it. It was a mere fact. She was just good at designing and clothing and drawing, and photography. But that was it. Everyone knew the only way they have survived together this far is because Keith was an awesome cook.
Allura rolled her eyes and pursed her lips. "I am aware. And I know this is not your favorite day so I tried to do something subtle.”
The corner of his lips curved into a smile. His eyes crinkled, as the glimmer in his gaze shook the zoo in her stomach. Suddenly, she forgot how to breath. Her legs wobbled, threatening to drop her and her heart hammered against her chest so fast she was afraid he might hear it. He had the power to stop time around her. It was his gaze as deep as the universe itself, full of wonders that only she has been able to enjoy. His kindness, his gentleness, his details, his secrets, his vulnerability, his storms, his rainbows, his friendship, his love… His eyes on her could ignite that insatiable flame in her, strip her inner self, and undress her completely, body and soul. But those same eyes that consumed her held her strong, made her find peace and sleep, the security of being able to be, together with him, herself. It was a joy, a privilege, being this close to someone… experiencing this kind of connection with someone… and not just someone…
Him.
Keith snaps her back to reality as he grabbed the mixing bowl from the kitchen bar, still with that smile on his face. He doesn't say anything for a few seconds, looking at the thick mixture and the black block of cake on the tray. "Subtle, huh?"
She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “We can go out or order in, really.”
Keith did not comment on it, his calculating stare on her drifted to the cake mix again. With one of his long and amazing fingers he introduced it on it and took it to his mouth. A similar deja vu from the night before crossed her mind but she shook it away…
His face crinkled slightly, and his eyes closed for a second. He tried to act cool but failed terribly. It was too late, she saw.
“I know is a mess” she sighed tiredly, her shoulders dropping, her eyes looking at her feet.
His silence from her was not uncomfortable, rather suffocating. Keith took the fork very delicately, bowed slightly, and when he stuck it into the cake, it crackled. Allura opened her eyes wide. She was about to tell him not to eat it but it was too late.
This time, Keith's face maintained serious and dull.
“Is awful, right?”
He rose a single eyebrow. “Coffee you said?” he asked, still trying to chew the cake.
"It doesn't taste like coffee?!" Allura shrieked, unable to hide the offense in her voice.
A little tiny amused grin broke the unbreakable mask he was wearing. “Well, it does taste like it” he commented with his mouth still full. He swallowed, coughing lightly. He cleared his throat, checking her reaction with the corner of his eyes. “But you hate coffee, why coffee?”
She sometimes forgot he was a little bit dense when it comes to surprise him. She could not help but smile. “The cake was for you.”
Keith nodded, walking over to the fridge and grabbing a bottle of water. He opened it and took a sip. “I think you could try something simple next time. And I mean really simple like… something that does not involve baking perhaps?” He was cautious with his words, his tone was soft, paused and kind. She liked that side of him, when he instructed her. She bit her lip. “And then step by step as time passes by you can try baking again.”
She huffed. "Just say it's awful."
"No…" His voice cracked. She knew him too well to notice.
Her hands landed on her hips, and she arched an eyebrow. “You are lying.”
He rolled his eyes and walked over to her, holding his arms out and enveloping her in a tight hug. “Okay, Allura. It is. It's awful. If I eat this I will have a constipation or diarrhea. There's no in between.”
She laughed against his chest, and hugged him back. Her arms reached the back of his neck and her fingers treaded on his long, wavy and soft hair. She could hear his heart, a melody she wish she could hear forever. It raced with her own when his hands cupped her waist and mischievous fingers from under her shirt stroked her lower back.
Keith inhaled into her, her perfume. His nose brushed her neck in a slow and subtle caress. His mouth was not far behind and her legs finally gave in when his wet lips kissed that sensitive spot that he had already memorized. He held her there, caressing the dimples of her back, up and slowly down. She gasped softly, and a curve formed on her lips.
“I will be honest.” He murmured in her ear. Allura lowered her arms, and her hands traced down the muscles of his back. She liked his back. Very very much. "The cake is a hopeless case." His lips trailed kisses all over her side, all over her cheeks and temple. She let out a sweet silent moan. “But we can save the cake mix.”
Allura for a moment did not even know what the hell he was talking about. She had completely forgotten that she had a mess in the kitchen and that they were talking about her awful cooking skills. “Okay…” was all she could process to say when he kissed her forehead and his hands squeezed her bottom.
Then his warm body parted from hers and cold embraced her skin. Allura pouted, blinking. For a moment, she disconnected from reality.
Keith took the cake mix and with a finger, offered her to taste. Allura didn't think twice as she bent her head to suck it, staring at him. Keith's lips parted lightly and his eyes lingered on her mouth.
After a few seconds that were eternal, he finally connected his eyes with hers and spoke in a low whisper. "Is has too much sugar but we can still use it."
“Use what?” She asked, flashing her eyelashes innocently.
Keith clears his throat, shaking his head. He walked away, looking for the things in the bag. He put it in the kitchen bar, revealing chocolate ingredients.
“Still wanna go out or you prefer to bake a coffee chocolate cake with me?”
Allura bit her lip, looking at that man standing there, with a wide amused grin on his face and a shine in his eyes. He rose his eyebrows up and down, like a little kid. “And what are we going to do after this?” she purred seductively.
Keith approached her, his hands on her waist again and without warning, her ass landed on the kitchen bar, and crashed his mouth on hers. Their lips brushing with slow ferocity. She felt his tongue, stroking smoothly in her mouth and dancing with hers. The taste of mint, the achy burnt in her throat, the throbbing between her legs. His arms wrapped around her, his hands on her back, her thighs, cupping her face, the touch electrifying. That wild feeling... was going to make her lose her
sanity someday. Her hands landed on his chest, sliding up to her shoulders and then his hair, tangling it between her fingers. Her heart pounded in her chest as he gently moved his lips over hers and bit softly.
“After this, we clean this mess…” he rasped over her lips, “and then I ’m going to show you how much I love you against this bar, on the shower, on the table, on the couch, on the bed…”
A chuckle was suppressed in her throat.
"If you do not do it it will be a really bad Valentine's day" she teased back, tucking a lock of hair behind his ear.
He chuckled, closing his eyes. Their foreheads rested together. A soft tender smile on his lips. "And we don't want that..."
“No…” she sighed, “we do not want that.” She opened her eyes, not knowing when she had closed them and when she was about to kiss him again, her tummy growled. Keith opened his eyes at the sound, and Allura felt her cheek burning. “Well, I love you but—“
“You’re hungry” he concluded, stealing one more kiss from her that promised it will not stay pending. A kiss full of tenderness, a sweet bru—
A bark broke the kiss and Kosmo pounced on Keith, so big that it almost reach his chest, demanding attention.
“Oh, c’mon. You had her all day. Is my turn, big boy.”
And Allura thought maybe, this day might not be as perfect as planned, but having Keith with her, this… made it perfectly enough.