Thanks for the comments and votes on this story - I've had more comments for this than anything I've submitted before and I really appreciate them - it's great to know that people enjoy what you've written.
Apologies now, I meant to submit this thursday night so you'd only have to wait two days (which apparently was still too long for some of you!), but shit happened and I didn't get to the computer. I hope you don't mind the extra day wait too much.
Also, to the person who pointed out they have desserts in high class restaurants and not puddings - fair point! I could try and argue that Charlie might have used the word anyway, but the truth is I didn't notice which just goes to show I don't eat out anywhere posh!
Anyway, this is the last chapter, and I hope I've kept a bit of the romance in even though they get physical.
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5
Mark
After telling Charlie I was in love with him and him admitting the same, I was on cloud nine. I couldn't even be too upset that he'd wanted more from me and we couldn't do it. I didn't want us to have some quickie in his kitchen with people in the next room. I wanted time to ourselves to find out what we each liked and be able to pleasure each other slowly before making love. And I still couldn't quite believe that I felt this way about him, given how long I had thought my life would be about sex and not about love. But he had me wanting to do everything just right so I would never lose him.
I waited anxiously for him to turn up before work the next day. When he hadn't arrived and it wasn't long before I had to leave I started to be afraid that he wouldn't come and for some reason I had scared him off. My relief at hearing his car come up the drive was immense. Hearing why he hadn't come any sooner was music to my ears, although I thought I would have been able to control myself. On the other hand, I was the boss and I could quite easily have taken the night off and dragged him indoors there and then. I settled for a mind blowing kiss and headed to work too excited about us to think about anything else.
I decided that life was trying to screw with me when I saw Ben come in. I had everything I wanted now, so one of my old fuckbuddies choosing that night for a quiet meal was just unfair. I decided it would be easiest to serve him myself and make it clear that there was no chance of a repeat performance, now or in the future. He looked a bit disappointed, but seemed to understand.
That done, I was light headed and could only think about what Charlie would feel like and taste like. Unless I had mistaken his earlier comments, I could be pretty certain of getting him naked this evening and I thought about how I was going to pleasure him to best effect. I wanted to hear him cry out my name when I made him come for the first time. I was practically shaking with my need and desire.
Heading back into the kitchen, I was humming to myself because I was so happy, Chef managed to take the wind from my sails with just one question. It was immediately clear that the other waiters had mentioned that I had been talking to one of my old customers, and a quick glance at Charlie showed me he was tense and didn't seem keen to turn to look at me like he usually did. Shit. I hated the gossip in this place sometimes. I knew it was my own fault for my behaviour in the past, and now it was coming back to bite me on the arse.
I replied to Chef, but my answers were for Charlie.
"No, I'm not. I've just told him I'm not interested, now or ever again."
Chef looked surprised, and sadly didn't want to let it go. "Seriously? You're onto a sure thing there and you're passing it up?"
"I have something a hell of a lot better than 'a sure thing' now. I have someone I'm madly in love with, and who loves me too. No-one but him is of any interest to me."
The look on Chef's face turned to shock, and I heard so many gasps at what I had said and the certainty I said it with I couldn't be sure if any of them came from Charlie. I saw his body relax though and that was good enough for me. He didn't turn around like I hoped, but I guessed he didn't want to draw any attention to himself. It was probably just me that noticed he was the only one not staring at me like I had grown a second head. Was it really that unlikely that I could fall in love?
Chef recovered faster than any of the others, who were still open mouthed.
"Really? There's a man out there who's been able to tame you? Why haven't you told me, and when am I going to meet him?" he said with a grin. "I need to shake the hand of the guy that can convert you to a one-man man!"
I glanced around the room, noting all faces still intent on me except the one I wanted to see. I didn't want to commit him to having to 'come out' as my boyfriend there and then, but I did want to challenge the total disbelief I was seeing and hearing.
"Seriously Dan, you're making this sound like a miracle. How many times have you and I sat with a few drinks in us talking about soulmates? Well, I've found mine."
I might have continued talking if it hadn't been for the sudden clatter of a pan hitting the floor. That drew everyone's attention away from me and over to Charlie who had just dropped it. I saw him blushing bright red and wondered whether that blush had come from embarrassment at dropping something or me calling him my soulmate. I rather hoped it was the latter. Something had certainly caused him to lose his concentration. It was time to change the subject and give him time to recover.
"I hate to play the big bad boss, seeing as you are all so interested in my love life, but we have still got a restaurant full of customers. Back to work, all of you."
