Lost then Found

3 - First Morning

Ellen/Ellie’s POV

The warm sun across my face, wakes me from my first slumber in my new home. I stretch my arms above my head while rolling over in my fluffy down comforter, having had the best night’s sleep since that dreadful day two months ago. I shake that thought away, not wanting to give it space in my head.

I smile thinking about how much fun I had with Avery last night. We really seem to mesh so well together. Funny how if I had known that he was a man, I never would have even contemplated living with him. I likely would have thought he was some creepy bloke, luring young women into his home and now here I am smiling over our time last night.

I swing my legs over the edge of my full sized bed and make my way to the en-suite to have a shower and get a start for the day. After I am done taking a ridiculously long, much needed warm shower, anything to relax my stressed muscles; I make my way to the generous wardrobe and select my outfit for the day. I go with some skinny black jeans and a pale blue vest, as it is a warmer day. Might as well make the most of the weather and since I am only going to scout out some options for a studio space, I have no need to dress up.

After I am dressed, I make my way out of my room and I am immediately hit with the delicious smell of bacon. As I enter the kitchen, my mouth goes slack at the sight before me.

Avery is at the stove cooking, but that is not the part that has stopped me in my steps. Oh no, he is cooking wearing nothing but a pair of loose grey sweats pants. If I thought he was handsome before, he just went up a notch on the sexy scale. I cannot help but stand and watch the muscles in his back move as he works at the stove. His tight arse in those low slung athletic wear are doing all sorts of things to my lady parts. Holy crap, Jacob never looked this good, that’s for sure.

I shake my head before I embarrass myself, I don’t need him to change his mind about a female flatmate. “Good morning, it sure smells good in here,” I greet him.

“Good morning Ellen. Hope you slept good in your new space. There is plenty of food if you want some,” he says with a chuckle. “I have never been good at cooking for one. There is also a fresh pot of coffee, I don’t really know what you drink in the morning,” he goes on to explain.

“You can just call me Ellie, all my friends do. And thanks, definitely coffee in the morning. I honestly don’t think I have ever cooked for just myself. I can imagine that I would over cook too,” I say as I grab a mug from the open shelving and pour myself a cup. I reach for the cream and add some to my coffee. After taking a deep breath of its aroma, one of my favorite scents, I gulp down my first sip before turning my attention back to Avery. “Can I help you with anything?” I ask, avoiding looking at his chest that is now on full display from my new vantage point.

“I think I’ve got it under control. Maybe make some toast if you fancy some, the toaster is over there,” he says while pointing in the direction of the toaster with the tongs he is using to turn the bacon.

“Sure thing, do you want some too?” I ask.

“Sure, thanks.”

I grab the French loaf and put two pieces in the toaster and head to pull two plates down. I find some raspberry jam, my favorite, for the toast. “So, you cook like this every morning?” I ask. Surprised that anyone, let alone a single man, cooks so much everyday.

“Pretty much, I do a lot of physical work and need a protein packed breakfast. I tend to not have much time to grab lunch so I make the most of breakfast,” he goes on to explain. As he talks about his physical job, my eyes inadvertently scan south to his body. I quickly move my eyes back up to his face that now had a bit of a smirk on it. God, I really hope he didn’t notice. I really don’t need it to be awkward between us.

“How about I throw together lunch for both of us since you handled breakfast,” I offer, hoping to feel like less of a leach in this new relationship as flatmates.

He half turns and gives me a smile that could drop my knickers any day of the week. Damn am I in trouble. “Sandwiches okay?” I ask.

“I’ll eat pretty much anything, so sandwiches would be great,” he says with another smile as he loads my plate with eggs, bacon and some crispy potato wedges.

After he is finished cooking, he shifts his body so he is facing me, leaning back on the counter resting his hands at either side of his glorious torso. This gives me a perfect view of his chiseled chest, defined abs and, oh my, his v-line is on full display with his low slung sweatpants. “What do you have planned for today? I know you said in your email you were starting a new freelance business, but you really didn’t go into what you do, or what that entails,” he says while crossing his arms over his wide, firm chest.

I force myself to maintain eye contact so I don’t drool. “I’m a freelance photographer. I had a contract with an advertising firm that I was able to get out of to move here. I have always wanted to make a name for myself in the art world though. I have enough connections to continue to make a steady income with advertising and now I have time to explore the more creative side of myself,” I shrug as I try to explain as thoroughly as possible, the last thing I need Avery worrying about is that I won’t be able to pay my half of the monthly expenses. “How about you? What do you do?”

“I help with the restoration of historical buildings and homes, some independent jobs, some through the city. Right now my company is overseeing the restoration of Southall.” he says as he waves his hand around the room reminding me that he refurbished this home. The movement made his arm muscles flex in the most delicious way.

Maybe my friends were right; they all said I should have a fling after finding Jacob with his assistant. They said ‘the best way to get over someone, is to get under someone else’ and all sorts of rubbish. At least that’s what I thought, I’m not so sure right now. I’m just not one to have a one-night stand or an only s*x buddies type of relationship, it just isn’t me.

I mean, I have only been with two men in all my life and one I wouldn’t even consider a man as we were both so young. I’ve always been the long term committed relationship type, maybe that is my problem, I need to be more open and steer clear of relationships all together.

My first boyfriend in secondary school was my first at sixteen, I was his first too. Let’s just say, that experience was awkward and I didn’t get what all the fuss was about. Thank God we both were open to learning, as I was soon addicted and couldn’t get enough. By the time we decided to go our separate ways, since we would be attending two different universities, I was a bit of a s*x fiend, not that my boyfriend complained.

My next was Jacob when I was in college and I remained pretty insatiable throughout that relationship. What can I say, I love s*x. That is what I don’t get, Jacob and I had a very active s*x life, multiple times a day type of active s*x life. I was always willing to try anything once. If I think about it, Jacob was the more conservative one between the two of us.

So why did he cheat? Maybe it wasn’t how much s*x, maybe it was just that he didn’t like s*x with me. These self deprecating thoughts have plagued my mind ever since I caught them, not healthy at all I know, but what do you expect. My self esteem definitely took a hit that day.

Now here I am, two months of having no s*x at all and I’m drooling over my sexy, new flatmate like a silly girl with her first crush. I’m pathetic.

Avery’s deep voice brings me out of my thoughts. “If you want, I can show you around a bit. I don’t have to be on site at work until 11, I could help you see your new surroundings,” he offered.

The smart part of me knows I should say no, get on with this new life I’m building on my own, be independent. But then again, they do say use your connections and didn’t I just prove my independence by moving half way across the country? “Sure, I’d like that,” I say with a smile as I finish up assembling the ham and Swiss sandwiches.

With a sharp nod he says, “Very well then, let me just nip into the water closet for a quick rinse off and then we can be on our way.” He pushes off the counter and brushes past me on the way to his room.

I sit down at the table to eat the breakfast that Avery made for me and mentally make a list of everything I hope to accomplish today. The main one is to find a studio space I can work from. It isn’t until I bring my plate to the sink that I realize that Avery must have eaten as he cooked as I see his washed plate in the dish drainer. I never even saw him eat or wash his plate. I guess I was too distracted with how sexy he is to notice.

As I finished washing my plate and mug, I can hear Avery’s footfall in the lounge. I make my way there and smile when I see him in his dark jeans and black T-shirt that is stretched dangerously over his firm torso. His damp blonde hair is tussled about his head in a sexy mess that I want to run my fingers through.

He turns and asks, “Ready?” I just nod my head in response knowing my voice will give away my desire if I speak. I grab my purse and slid on a pair of flats that I had left next to the front door.

I cannot help but feel a sense of accomplishment as I walk over the threshold of my new home. The crisp morning air caressing my arms as if telling me everything was going to be all right.