SWNOVELS Chapter 32
Blood red love
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After her shower, Charlie dressed in a pair of comfortable jeans and an off the shoulder printed t–shirt. The clothes Vidar had got for her still blew her mind. Not only had it been the sweetest thing any of her boyfriends or potential boyfriends ever had done. He had also managed to make sure to buy things she loved and was her style. The little girl inside of her wanted to spend the day playing dress up. The woman in her wanted to spend the day curled up with Vidar. Maybe thank him for the two amazing orgasms he had given her the night before. She headed for the kitchen and her phone buzzed. It was Tyson inviting her over for family dinner tomorrow at five. She wasn’t supposed to be at work until nine, so it was doable, if she felt like it. Vidar was already in the kitchen, working on the alien coffee
machine.
“Will you let me make breakfast today?” she asked. He looked over his shoulder at her. She saw his eyes moving over her body, she saw the appreciation in his eyes, and it made her feel even better about the day.
“If you want to, you are welcome to use whatever you want in my apartment,” he told her. Charlie strolled over to the fridge and opened it. It was well stocked and after some foraging, she found what she was looking for. She made a couple of trips between the fridge and the counter. Then came the hard part, finding the equipment she needed.
“Where do you keep your knives and cutting boards?” she asked Vidar.
“Tell you what, I’ll be your assistant. You tell me what you need and I’ll get it for you,” Vidars suggested and stood behind her. He pulled her shoulder length hair to the side and kissed her
bare shoulder.
“Sound like a good deal,” she said. He handed her a knife and a cutting board. She started cutting the onion.
“Maybe I should do that,” he said, sounding nervous.
“I’m feeding you, so sit down and keep me company,” she told him. He kept a close eye on the knife as he put down a latte, looking professionally made, next to her. He took his coffee and sat down at the breakfast counter. “Thank you,” she said, pausing the chopping to take a sip. “Delicious,” she told him. “Is there anything you aren’t good at?” she asked. He smiled at her.
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“Datthing for a nuple of decades and you willllatiowilts done.Dittmarempile if humtred yours, and woubame goat it,” he toilun Charfiestoppellathumpington
m:ment and it sinkin.
“Raptorgetting how old youure,” shesuit..
“Dunes iit luther vou?”
Na. It’s a little intimidating. Youlinvescommuthlificexperience, youliavessonsso much.I muan, you have seen most of the tehnological evadition. Thuttiis…something,” she sail. Ht.
smiled at her.
It was ensier to keep up a couple off until years ago. Nowadays things are moving so fast. Computers, phones, tablets.itts alllevalvingatttthespeel offlight it feels like,” he said.
Tim impressed you are blendinginas well asynuare Charliessait..
“Thank you.” Charlie had finished with liurattuming.
“Do she askelias she washedttheaiite.
have ausmė DPH
I do,” he said,anditonikoneouttantipillittantthesstove for her.
***Thank you..anditaiowllamilawis Astheticonandvegetalles were trying imthepam she tumed the ovamonandwhistelles anticorom. She pourediit cover the vegetabliessand sprinkled cheese overandiputtittiintotheaven.Shellewwwhere the plates antiglassess warre and she set the ballfast barrasse sippedcmther latte. Willar was pulling outttheejice.Itfelt nice Churile pullialiout the ffitatoffrom the venant divieiliit into two pieces amiipiätteli
thum..
“Thank you.” “Wiilisaillassthepilacellapilateinifront oftthiemandthomshiesattnexttttolliima.
This amusing Wiiliortrollerashette.
***Tmmit you.ltsame affttie flowdishes ilmowiliow to make,” she confessed.Thingvattein
silanen..After theybath ware done, they satamilsimed their coffee. “Mylimtierslustiand inviteetime avm im tanillydimurtonwornwaittorum.” CharlieetillMitta
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“Do a thing for a couple of decades and you will learn how it’s done. Do it for a couple of hundred years, and you become good at it,” he told her. Charlie stopped chopping for a
moment and let it sink in.
“I keep forgetting how old you are,” she said.
“Does it bother you?”
“No. It’s a little intimidating. You have so much life experience, you have seen so much. I mean, you have seen most of the technological evolution. That is… something,” she said. He
smiled at her.
“It was easier to keep up a couple of hundred years ago. Now–a–days things are moving so fast. Computers, phones, tablets, it’s all evolving at the speed of light it feels like,” he said.
“I’m impressed you are blending in as well as you are,” Charlie said.
“Thank you.” Charlie had finished with her chopping.
“Do you have a sauté pan?” she asked as she washed the knife.
“I do,” he said, and took one out and placed it on the stove for her.
pan, she
“Thank you, and a bowl and a whisk.” As the bacon and vegetables were frying in the
turned the oven on and whisked eggs and cream. She poured it over the vegetables and sprinkled cheese over and put it into the oven. She knew where the plates and glasses were and she set the breakfast bar as she sipped on her latte. Vidar was pulling out the juice. It felt nice. Charlie pulled out the frittata from the oven and divided it into two pieces and plated
them.
“Thank you,” Vidar said as she placed a plate in front of them and then she sat next to him. “This is amazing,” Vidar told her as he ate.
“Thank you. It’s one of the few dishes I know how to make,” she confessed. They ate in silence. After they both were done, they sat and sipped their coffee. “My brother’s husband
invited me over for family dinner tomorrow afternoon,” Charlie told Vidar.
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“I will have Malcom take you and then he can drive you to work whem com ane dome,” he said.
“Thank you. Do you want to come with me?” she asked. She saw Vidar look at her with big
eyes.
“And eat with your family?”
“Yes, I wasn’t going to make you wait in the car,” she said. She tumed so she could look at
him more comfortable.
“I don’t know, Charlie.” She saw the hesitation he felt. It was evident in his eyes and body language.
“Is it too soon?” she asked. She would understand if he felt it was. The idea had just popped up, inspired by her conversation with Tysom.
“No. It’s just. I don’t really do the family thing,” he said, deadly normiortable.
“Never?”
“Not usually,” he said.
“So, how did you see this going in the future? We would be in a relationship, but your would never meet my family? I would go to all Family events on my own? I’m not upset. I just need
to understand.” she said
“I don’t know.. I never been in a situation like this before,” he confessed.
“Like what?“”
“I have never been with someone that would like me to meet their family.”
“Never”
“No.”
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“Vidar, you are over a thousand years old. Are you telling me you haven’t dated someone that
has introduced you to their family in all that time?” she asked. Charlie had a hard time
wrapping her mind around that fact.
“No. I never had a relationship that has been this serious before.”
“Oh.” Charlie didn’t know what to do with that information. “Where does it leave us?” she
asked. Vidar looked at her and took her hand.
“If you want me to meet your family, I would be honoured to do so,” he said.
“Really? Because you don’t have to. You know my family comes with baggage in more ways than one. I get it if you don’t want to get involved,” she told him. She didn’t want to force
him into a situation where he wasn’t comfortable.
“I don’t care. I have met your father and James, and I can face them again. I’m more worried
about your brother and his husband,” he confessed.
“Huxton and Tyson? Why? They are the only good parts of the family tree.”
“Yeah, what if they hate me? I know the reputation I have, and your brother being best friend
with James has to have heard the worst version of it.” Charlie understood where he was
coming from. She stood up and took the step that separated them. When he was sitting on the stool and she was standing, he was even taller than usual. She placed her palms on his thighs and smiled.
“I will be honest and say my brother isn’t your biggest fan. But I don’t care. You are important to me. My brother and his family are important to me. I would like all of you to at least get along. If you want to wait a while and prove my brother wrong before meeting him, I’m fine with that. I just don’t want the door to be closed and locked,” she told him. He looked down at her and cupped her face and kissed her.
“I would love to go to dinner at your brother’s house tomorrow. But I’m relying on you to protect me and to tell me how to impress them,” he said. Charlie felt her heart swell. How could she not fall for this man? She put her arms around his neck and pulled him down so
she could kiss him.
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“I will keep you safe. And the best way to win Huxton and Tyson over is to win the twins. over. I will teach you all my secrets,” she promised with a smile. Vidar insisted on cleaning the kitchen as she had cooked. Charlie sat down on the couch. She loved the view. She took. out the phone and called Tyson.
“Charlie, how are you?” Tyson answered.
“I’m good. I’m not disturbing you?” she asked.
“Never. I’m watching my husband trying to chase after the twins. They have both started walking and have the good taste of going off in different directions. Your lovely brother gets nervous and tries to herd them. It’s like
watching a border collie at work, very entertaining,” Tyson said, laughing. Charlie giggled. “So, why are you calling? Has something else happened?”
“No, everything is fine. I was calling regarding the invitation to dinner. Would it be okay if I bring a guest?” she asked.
“Of course. Who?”
“Vidar.” There was a pause.
‘Really?” her brother–in–law asked. He sounded intrigued.
“Yeah. I want you to meet him. Is that okay?”
“Of course. We would love to get to know him. Does this mean you know where the two of you stand?” he asked.
you
“We had a… talk yesterday. It cleared a lot of things. He has bought me a closet full of clothes in his apartment,” she said.
“He made sure you had clothes at his place?”
H
“Yes, including nightwear and undergarments,” she pointed out.
“Wow, that’s, wow.”
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“Yeah. I know. So will you help me make sure Huxton is on his best behaviour?”
“I will do my best, little sister. But we are protective of you. There will be questions.” he said. Vidar came walking in and sat down on the couch and lifted her feet to place them in his lap.
“I can accept that. As long as it doesn’t get out of hand. It’s important to me,” she told
Tyson.
“I understand. We will set an extra plate and I will work on that husband of mine.”
“Thank you. This is why you are my favourite brother.”
“Oh please, like it’s even competition. Do you want to speak with the lesser brother? He is down for the count on the couch and looks like he has something to say.
“Sure,” Charlie said and then she mouthed ‘Sorry” to Vidar he just smiled back at her. How
she ever felt he was grumpy, she had no idea..
“Charlie?” Huxton asked.
“You sound out of breath, is the twins getting to you?” she asked.
“Don’t ask. Ty must be feeding them rocket fuel” he said. “Dad called me yesterday. He told me what happened on Wednesday,” Hustom continued
“He did?”
“Yeah, he said some gangster caused trouble when he tried talking to you.”
“Did you believe him?” Charlie asked.
“No. I know he downplayed his own part. But was Mr Grim there?”
“Yes.”
“Charlie, why is he always showing up? Lately, I haven’t been able to talk to you without him
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being mentioned. I’m just worried about you,” her brother said.
“You can ask him about it tomorrow. I’m bringing Vidar to family dinner. Tyson has all the details. Was there anything else?” she asked.
“N–no, I don’t think so. He’s coming to dinner?”
“He is. Love you and we’ll see you tomorrow. Kiss the angels from me,” she told him.
“Love you too,” her brother said, and they hung up.