for Krem

[juststopped]

It isn't the first time she's ended up somewhere she didn't necessarily intend. In private, she's done her fair share of crying over Flemming - she misses her daughter like a part of her, even after so many years - but in public, she's decided to put a brave face on it. After he'd delivered her to her apartment, Krem had told her that he'd be happy to take her for dinner, once she felt more settled. Adaline's done a little bit to make the apartment her own. She's gone back to the place that Sam bought her and put together a capsule wardrobe that's a sad shadow of her guest room back in San Francisco. She is, in short, trying. And that has to count for something.

It's the middle of the afternoon when she texts Krem.

Dinner would be nice - Adaline.

They arrange to meet at a place that Adaline's walked past a few times. It's not a particularly showy place, but she does make an effort, putting on a dress with a full skirt that reminds her of something she might have bought new in the fifties. She does her hair and make-up. She considers heels for a long time and then decides to wear them anyway. Krem strikes her as someone who doesn't lack for confidence, quiet though it seems to be.

She's a little late when she steps into the restaurant, shrugging out of her coat to let the hostess check it for her.

Comments

[krempuff]

Krem laughed softly, kissing her back gently as he pulled his fingers slowly out of her. As he broke the kiss, he brought his fingers up and licked them clean, not dissimilarly from the way he'd licked his spoon clean at dinner. In his opinion, it tasted much better than the chocolate.

"A very nice nightcap," he agreed.

[juststopped]

Adaline groans softly, burying her flushed face in his shoulder for a moment before she rolls away from him, lying there rumpled and debauched, naked except for the gold locket against her chest.

"You're going to be a problem," she says. "I can see it."

[krempuff]

Krem smiled and sat up, wondering if that was dismissal. He had never been dismissed after sex before, and Adaline certainly didn't seem displeased, but he had a feeling he was not invited--tonight at least--to share her bed until the morning.

He leaned over and smoothed her hair, mostly for the excuse to cup her cheek and kiss her.

[juststopped]

Adaline leans up into the kiss until it breaks and then she smiles up at him, a little hazy and a little sleepy.

"Are you staying?" She asks, stifling a yawn against the back of one graceful hand.

[krempuff]

"If you'd like me too," Krem said, his smile easy and gentle and happy to be invited. He nudged her gently, sprawling back down in the bed with her as well now that he knew he was welcome to the space.

"I'll make coffee or tea in the morning," he said softly, exhaustion slowly leaking in at the edges.

[juststopped]

After a moment's hesitation, she curls in against him, her head on his shoulder, one arm draped across his stomach. She brushes her nose against his skin.

"We'll see how it goes," she says.