[ His eyes might have rolled but his mouth twitched into a smirk as she snorted at the thunderous growl of his stomach protesting he'd even ask such a question. Yet the embarrassing moment was short lived as she stole a kiss and nearly distracted him from the task at hand.
The kiss and swats to his ass were all signs that she seemed happy getting away. Shadow worried that she might've only agreed to make him happy. He never once thought Jess lied to him but something twisted inside, remembering his wife's betrayal. Not even the affair with his so called best friend. The betrayal of letting him believe she loved him back.
Yet the worry was fleeting. Jessica didn't just go along with everything that he picked. In fact, she had picked this place. She met him halfway. No, she hadn't told him she loved him in words but she did in actions.
He returned to cooking, a little jump in place to will down the arousal she incited with the repeated brief contact. Shadow took the cooler down that had taken up a majority of the trunk space. He opened it and began to unload the contents inside, leaving out what he planned on making that night (steaks, scallops, asparagus spears and fingerling potatoes).
Potatoes were prepared first since they took the longest. Shadow left them sizzling on a cast iron pan before going to the steaks, seasoning them then doing the same with the scallops. Randomly, he hummed The Temptations 'Ain't Too Proud to Beg' and danced a little while cooking. He'd left beer in the cooler with the ice that remained since the groceries he brought filled the small fridge.
Jessica would probably not bat an eye at the food he'd brought given his appetite. Maybe. It was a lot. A meal to go with every wine she'd brought, beers for lunch, oranges to make fresh squeezed juice for breakfast. Eggs, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, cheese, ham, bacon... ]
Steaks next, then asparagus and finally the scallops. Another ten minutes tops. Well, maybe another five to let the steaks rest. [ He paused his humming to give Jess the rundown. ] Oh, and there's french bread in the box that we can have with this or save it for breakfast. [ Shadow returned to humming and dancing as he moved. ]
[ Jess did what she stated she would, with only enough left in the car for one more trip there and back. Her bag was light, stuffed with nothing more than clothing and a handful of toiletries. She left her laptop in the city, along with her work. Her hard liquor (one bottle of whiskey, one bottle of vodka) rode in the box of dry goods and wine. Her birth control was tucked into a side pocket of her bag; she checked prior to leaving that he had condoms in his. Toss in a charging cable for their phones and that was them all taken care of.
Inside, she didn't bother to transfer her clothes to the bedroom dresser. There was a reading chair in the corner on which her bag fit just fine. Jess joined him in the kitchen, where she shrugged out of her jacket and draped it across the back of a dining chair. She leaned on the countertop, elbows to the surface, and watched him prep. Containing her amusement was no easy task, and she did an imperfect job of it. Before long, the scent had her mouth watering. ]
I like mine well done. [ A sin, she was aware. Nobody would ever accuse Jessica Jones of having a refined palate. Rounding the counter, she passed the box and instead peeked inside the freezer. ]
Jesus carpenting Christ. [ She was both impressed and taken aback. That was a lot of food. ] Is this what those extra shifts were about?
[ Admittedly, she was irrationally afraid it was to afford an engagement ring. ]
I remember. [ Was all he said, not reminding her of how she'd ruined a steak he'd made for her by shoving it in the microwave for a few minutes. Her steak was thrown on the flame now, minutes ahead of his.
He wasn't surprised that she didn't spend much time unpacking in the bedroom area. If he did buy a gift, Jessica rarely found it before being mentioned or given to her. She made it clear that she wasn't a fan of surprises so Shadow only surprised her with little things like meals or holiday and birthday presents. A smile tugged at his lips over her wearing the bracelet he'd given her.
After telling him how she wanted the cook on her steak, Jess moved to the fridge and clearly expressed her surprise. Shadow chuckled as he continued to cook. ]
Wait till you have these steaks and scallops. Everything's fresh.
[ As fresh as New York City could get things which was surprisingly fresh when traveling down to the port. Shadow also sprang on good beer and wine. ]
The juice is fresh squeezed. Florida oranges. Whatever we don't eat here, comes back with us so win-win.
[ They'd made a year together so an engagement ring wouldn't be far fetched but Shadow had his reservations that he hoped they'd talk out while away together. It wasn't just his failed marriage looming over him but that Jessica had parts of her life she hadn't felt comfortable to share with him yet.
Shadow was happy they'd made some headway not too long ago on keeping an open mind about ever having kids one day. He loved her and saw a future with her but wouldn't put himself in the same predicament he'd done before. She needed to see a future with him. He had to know that she honestly wanted that. ]
no subject
The kiss and swats to his ass were all signs that she seemed happy getting away. Shadow worried that she might've only agreed to make him happy. He never once thought Jess lied to him but something twisted inside, remembering his wife's betrayal. Not even the affair with his so called best friend. The betrayal of letting him believe she loved him back.
Yet the worry was fleeting. Jessica didn't just go along with everything that he picked. In fact, she had picked this place. She met him halfway. No, she hadn't told him she loved him in words but she did in actions.
He returned to cooking, a little jump in place to will down the arousal she incited with the repeated brief contact. Shadow took the cooler down that had taken up a majority of the trunk space. He opened it and began to unload the contents inside, leaving out what he planned on making that night (steaks, scallops, asparagus spears and fingerling potatoes).
Potatoes were prepared first since they took the longest. Shadow left them sizzling on a cast iron pan before going to the steaks, seasoning them then doing the same with the scallops. Randomly, he hummed The Temptations 'Ain't Too Proud to Beg' and danced a little while cooking. He'd left beer in the cooler with the ice that remained since the groceries he brought filled the small fridge.
Jessica would probably not bat an eye at the food he'd brought given his appetite. Maybe. It was a lot. A meal to go with every wine she'd brought, beers for lunch, oranges to make fresh squeezed juice for breakfast. Eggs, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, cheese, ham, bacon... ]
Steaks next, then asparagus and finally the scallops. Another ten minutes tops. Well, maybe another five to let the steaks rest. [ He paused his humming to give Jess the rundown. ] Oh, and there's french bread in the box that we can have with this or save it for breakfast. [ Shadow returned to humming and dancing as he moved. ]
no subject
Inside, she didn't bother to transfer her clothes to the bedroom dresser. There was a reading chair in the corner on which her bag fit just fine. Jess joined him in the kitchen, where she shrugged out of her jacket and draped it across the back of a dining chair. She leaned on the countertop, elbows to the surface, and watched him prep. Containing her amusement was no easy task, and she did an imperfect job of it. Before long, the scent had her mouth watering. ]
I like mine well done. [ A sin, she was aware. Nobody would ever accuse Jessica Jones of having a refined palate. Rounding the counter, she passed the box and instead peeked inside the freezer. ]
Jesus carpenting Christ. [ She was both impressed and taken aback. That was a lot of food. ] Is this what those extra shifts were about?
[ Admittedly, she was irrationally afraid it was to afford an engagement ring. ]
no subject
He wasn't surprised that she didn't spend much time unpacking in the bedroom area. If he did buy a gift, Jessica rarely found it before being mentioned or given to her. She made it clear that she wasn't a fan of surprises so Shadow only surprised her with little things like meals or holiday and birthday presents. A smile tugged at his lips over her wearing the bracelet he'd given her.
After telling him how she wanted the cook on her steak, Jess moved to the fridge and clearly expressed her surprise. Shadow chuckled as he continued to cook. ]
Wait till you have these steaks and scallops. Everything's fresh.
[ As fresh as New York City could get things which was surprisingly fresh when traveling down to the port. Shadow also sprang on good beer and wine. ]
The juice is fresh squeezed. Florida oranges. Whatever we don't eat here, comes back with us so win-win.
[ They'd made a year together so an engagement ring wouldn't be far fetched but Shadow had his reservations that he hoped they'd talk out while away together. It wasn't just his failed marriage looming over him but that Jessica had parts of her life she hadn't felt comfortable to share with him yet.
Shadow was happy they'd made some headway not too long ago on keeping an open mind about ever having kids one day. He loved her and saw a future with her but wouldn't put himself in the same predicament he'd done before. She needed to see a future with him. He had to know that she honestly wanted that. ]