"Good morning, Doc," Rick greeted her, "I was about to come, wake you up."
'Huh?' Meanwhile Elena was busy staring at his bare back. She remembered exactly how that warm skin felt pressed flush against hers last night while he took her to cloud nine, and she could not help but feel warm in her chest.
Her usual arrogance, and strict terrifying aura, was completely gone from her face.
"Good morning," Elena replied softly. Her voice barely above a whisper, and her eyes dropped to the polished marble floor.
"Take a seat," Rick said, gesturing to the high leather bar stools with his spatula. "Give me two minutes. I will plate this up and bring it over."
"You need a lot of meat and strong coffee to kill that hangover and get back your strength."
However Elena hesitated for a moment, and instead of leaving him alone here, she found herself wanting to be closer.
She walked slowly across the kitchen, her legs still aching slightly with every step, and went and stood beside him by the stove.
She leaned against the counter, crossing her arms loosely over her silk robe, watching the sizzling bacon in the pan.
"You know how to cook?" Elena decided to break the ice.
"Why? Did you think I was only good in the bed?" Rick smiled turning off the burner. He put the spatula down on the counter and turned to face her.
He looked down at her flushed cheeks, her dark, messy hair, and then at her beautiful ice-blue eyes.
"You look a lot less terrifying without that coat and the clipboard," Rick flirted smoothly, a teasing glint in his eye, "I can get used to this morning sight."
"Stop joking!" Elena bit her bottom lip, looking away in shame, "I look like a complete mess. And I acted like... I don't even know what I acted like last night. I completely lost my mind."
"You acted exactly how you wanted to," Rick looked at her seriously, "For once you were not pretending."
He reached out as his hand brushed against her cheeks and slipped gently behind her neck. His fingers tangled softly into her dark hair, and he tilted face up to look at him.
Elena looked up into his eyes, and saw the admiration in them.
She watched as Rick leaned in and kissed her.
It was a soft, warm, incredibly tender kiss that washed over her senses. She felt the genuine affection in that kiss, providing the exact kind of sweet, loving contact she had spent the last ten years desperately waiting for.
Elena did not resist this time. she wasn't even embarrassed.
"Ummm! Rick!" She let out a soft, breathy sigh against his lips and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, pulling herself closer against his chest, as she savoured the gentle touch of his lips against hers.
Rick stroked her hair slowly as he affectionately kissed her, before finally pulling back.
"Sit down," Rick whispered warmly, kissing her forehead, as he grabbed her gently by the waist and lifted her up, setting her down on the edge of the cool granite counter.
He then stepped right between her dangling legs, standing closely in front of her, "Try this."
He handed her a plate of food and a mug of strong black coffee.
Elena did not care about the formalities and picked up the fork, taking a large bite of the bacon.
"Hmmm!" Elena nodded as she chewed on the bacon and was genuinely surprised by the mouth-watering flavours.
After that one bite she did not stop and ate hungrily, while Rick stayed standing between her legs, admiring her eating his food.
He had made breakfast, lunch and even dinner for Emily dozens of times yet he never saw this reaction from her.
While eating the food made by him, she would never be satisfied.
There would always be something that she would not like.
Sometimes the salt would be more, or sometimes it wouldn't match the exquisite taste of the chef's food at Roy's.
But she wouldn't even say a simple thank you!
As Rick was busy thinking about that, Elena finished absolutely everything on her plate in record time.
It was only after she swallowed the last bite that she finally looked up, and seeing Rick's highly amused, smiling face, she realised something.
"I am so sorry," Elena mumbled, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I was just so hungry... I forgot to even ask if you wanted some."
Rick smiled as he reached out and gently patted her dark hair, the affectionate gesture making her blush even deeper.
"I made more than enough," Rick said warmly. He turned slightly, grabbed the frying pan from the stove, and filled her plate again, "Have some more."
"So, what do you actually do, Rick?" Elena asked, her voice soft and genuinely curious as she took a small bite, "You know everything about my ruined life, but I don't even know anything about you."
"Just a patient who showed up in my ward."
Rick took a slow sip of his coffee as he heard her question.
"Honestly?! Nothing right now," Rick said, keeping his tone casual but slightly depressing, "Unlike the successful doc, I am a recently graduated unemployed guy."
"I had an interview yesterday. I might not look the part, but I had decent grades in my university, but the HR manager gave the position to his dear brother-in-law right in front of my face."
Elena frowned deeply, pausing with her fork halfway to her mouth, "That is incredibly unfair."
"It is what it is," Rick shrugged, playing the sympathy card flawlessly.
"Huh?!" Rick sighed, "My family isn't anywhere near this city, and I am practically broke."
"With the way things are going, sooner or later I am going to pack up my bags and move back to my boring hometown. There is nothing left for me here."
Elena stopped mid-way with her coffee cup in her hand.
The thought of Rick leaving the city sent a massive, terrifying spike of panic straight through her chest.
She had just found him. He had just given her the absolute best night of her entire life, made her feel completely validated as a woman, and cooked her breakfast with a smile. She wasn't going to let him just pack up a suitcase and disappear forever.
"You are not leaving," Elena stated firmly, placing her cup down on the counter. She reached out and grabbed his hand.
"Huh?!" Rick looked at her holding her hand and then at her panicked face before raising an eyebrow.
Elena realised it as well that how frantic she sounded. She quickly cleared her throat, pulling her hand back slightly, and forced a calm, professional tone.
"I mean, you don't have to go back to some boring hometown," she continued smoothly.
"As the senior attending surgeon, I can arrange an administrative job for you at the hospital. The pay is excellent, and you wouldn't have to worry about anything."
Rick looked at her for a good long second without saying anything.
He didn't look eager or greedy. He just smiled softly, looking deeply touched by her offer.
He stepped an inch closer, placing his large hand gently on her warm cheek.
"I will take care of it on my own, Elena," Rick whispered affectionately.
"But..."
"And if things don't work out for me... I know you are there for me," Rick looked at her with a smile and leaned down pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead.
Elena closed her eyes as she felt his warm touch and a smile appeared on her lips.
Suddenly, a sharp, mechanical chime echoed inside Rick's skull.
[New occupation Unlocked]