Chapter 11.2: Bella - Martin

"That's not very incredible, sweetheart. I'm half German and half American," I explained as I set the bottle down and took my glass from her outstretched hand. "Instead of a baby bottle, I was practically raised with a wine bottle."

She smirked. "I'm not sure I agree with that."

"Because you're a good mother. And my mother provides me with a luxurious home so that I can enchant women. It's a unique type family."

"Oh, Martin," she said, taking my arm and shifting me so I could sit next to her and she could wrap an arm around my waist and hold me close. "You are definitely worthy of better."

"I'd like to be worthy of you."

She appeared to be on the verge of crying for a brief moment. Instead, she kissed me so tenderly that I would have done anything for her. Anything. She drew away from me long before I was ready to let her go, raising her glass to mine.

"This is for you, Martin. Because of everything you are." As she toasted, the crystal chimed, and I stopped her from drinking.

"To us," I said, not quite ready to tell her how I was feeling and I want her to know, to feel it with me.

She squinted and stared me in the eyes before nodding almost invisibly. I wouldn't let her look away while she drank.

"This wine is fantastic," she exclaimed.

"American," I said. Because, well, wine. She giggled and snuggled into my chest, her arm around mine. We watched as the sun set over the river, illuminating the clouds with pinks, oranges, and yellows. We just sat there and listened to music.

This was my intention when I invited her over. The opportunity to simply be, with her in my arms, without jobs or responsibilities weighing us down, without people waiting outside the door. We're the only ones. For the most part, we didn't even talk. We didn't need to kiss or fondle each other; we simply allowed ourselves to be together, and it felt so natural.

When the oven alarm went off and I managed to move to stand up, she grumbled and tried to keep me from leaving.

I stood up and kissed her hand. "Sweetheart, I have to get dinner out of the oven."

"Did you cook for me?"

"Yep," I said, winking. As if that were supposed to explain what I would do for her. Sunsets, food, and wine "Go sit at the dining table; we'll still get to see the sunset, and the entire apartment has a fantastic view. I had this planned."

"Martin, you weren't obligated to do all of this for me. I'd have been content with a pizza and a beer."

"We could eat pizza and drink beer any day. I wanted to do something different for her to show her how much she meant to me. How special she is to me."

I held up a finger as she reached for me. "Sit down. My timer is going off."

She ended up going to the dining table while I plated the food, which included a steak encrusted with pepper with cream sauce, roasted potatoes with parsley and butter, and French cut green beans. I brought them out to her, where she was sipping her wine, and placed her plate in front of her.

"Tada," I said, handing her a rose.

She blinked, surprised, looked at the rose, then back at me, and said, "It's pink."

She blinked, surprised, looked at the rose, then back at me, and said, "It's pink."

"Because it keeps reminding me of your blushing cheeks. I love your blush," she said, and I smiled.

"That's the one," I bent down, kissed her flushed cheek, since she did no seem to have any words and rendered speechless, and sat at the table with her.

"Wow, Martin, this is fantastic. You're a fantastic chef." I started opening my mouth to speak, but she cut me off. "I'll pinch you if you say you're American again." Simply accept the compliment."

I ducked my head and shut my mouth because I was about to dismiss it with a remark.

"Thank you," I replied instead, and she gave me a smug smile because she knew.

We ate and I decided to open another bottle of wine as the sun set below the horizon, splattering deep shades of orange, rose, and purple across the sky. The darkness grew, but it didn't feel heavy or dark; rather, it felt full of possibility.

"Did you really arrange this sunset specifically for me?" She inquired, appearing to be only half-joking.

My head shook. "I just got lucky," she said, referring to the fact that I met her that night. She was fortunate to walk back into my clinic. She was fortunate to be working at the coffee place next door. I wrapped my foot around her chair and slid it closer to me. I couldn't help but kiss her.

As I sank my fingers into her hair, her eyes widened and her lips parted. I liked how she left it loose for me, how it was wild and wavy, almost curly. It was wild, full, lush, and free. I didn't even have to bring her lips to mine because she was right there with me, and when we kissed, I felt all the colors of the sunset inside my chest. I sucked in her sweet taste, freshness, and down-to-earth sincerity. She was more a part of my heart than any other woman I'd ever met. I'd be concerned if it hadn't felt so damn right.

"Come to bed with me?" I stood up and drew her in.

With a trembling sigh, she ran her hands down my arms. "Oh, Martin, you know you don't need all of this to seduce me, right? In fact, it's a blot on your record. I didn't require any of this."

"You don't enjoy fine dining and sunsets?"

I admired her waist's curves into her hips, as well as the strong muscles and soft flesh there." I clung to her.

"No, I absolutely love them, but as long as you're there, I'd be content with beer and pizza on the stoop. I'm actually falling for you, not to this palace in the sky of yours."

"I've got it. The following date. On the stoop, there's beer and pizza. Down pillows and Egyptian cotton sheets on this date? " I cocked my brow at her.

Her hands ran up my sides, under my shirt, and throughout my stomach this time. "Oh, no, we don't need to..."

“No? " I bowed my head to the juncture of her neck and shoulder, which was revealed by her low cut, silky top with a few flashes of light here and there. She whimpered and dug her fingers into my shoulders as I sucked at her pulse point.

"It's still so complicated..."

"You're correct, we shouldn't." I thought we should, but perhaps she needed a little more convincing. I slid the strap off her shoulder and peeled down the top. Her strapless bra was lace in a pale pink color. I was smitten by her breasts. Beautiful and full. I just felt one in my hand and pinched the tips until it peaked. She leaned into me. I kissed her through the lace, my lips to her nipple.

She exhaled a sigh.

"I'll be waiting for you until you're ready, Bella. We'll go at your pace." I stood up, kissed her stiff nipple again, and pulled her shirt back up, covering her up. Continuing at her pace.