“One sweet bun and a pot of tea?” The voice of the waitress broke his reverie and completely ruined the moment.
Mitsuko’s eyes popped open. Yoongi sighed. So much for kissing her right now. He glanced up at the waitress as he sat up straight in his chair. He nodded his head.
The server set the sweet bun down in front of him. He reached out one slender hand and slid the plate towards Mitsuko as the waitress set a pot of tea and two cups on the table before them. As she turned and walked away, Yoongi poured them both a cup of tea. He slid a cup across the table towards Mitsuko as he looked at her with concern in his eyes.
“Are you still cold?”
She glanced up at him. “My feet are.” Then she smiled. “But the rest of me is nice and toasty, thanks to your coat.” She hugged it around herself, pushing her shoulders forward.
He scooted his chair closer to her and bent down to retrieve her left foot. As he pulled it up into his lap – thankfully, she wasn’t wearing a skirt but a sensible pair of slacks – she gasped.
“Yoongi! What are you doing?” she asked as he removed her shoe, bending to set it on the floor before folding the palm of his hand over her toes.
He began to rub her toes between his fingers, then he lowered his head to blow hot air across her toes. Slightly mortified, she nonetheless leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and tipped her head back as she groaned with pleasure. His hand was so warm. So was his breath. Her frozen toes were already feeling better. She could tell they were thawing under his benevolent care.
She opened her eyes and gazed at the dark, bent head of the most tender man she had ever met. Both of her eyes filled with tears this time. Could she keep this guy? Could she have him? Would he want her? For her part, she never wanted to let him go.
“Thank you,” she whispered suddenly as his warm hand curled around her cold toes once more.
He glanced up at her. And smiled. That adorably gummy grin. It transformed his face into something entirely novel. The landscape of that countenance smoothed out as his face seemed to grow wider. His eyes went into hiding. His nose broadened and flattened. His lips thinned out. But the overall effect of that joy was positively breathtaking.
Mitsuko found herself smiling in response to his enjoyment of her gratitude.
“Is your foot still cold?” he asked suddenly.
She nodded her head. “But it’s warmer.”
His hands were so warm, one cradling her heel while the other curled around the tips of her toes, that it felt like a heat wave was rolling out of his palms. Comforting splashes of warmth that ran from her foot all the way to her heart. She would have sworn that she could see them. Colorful beams of light flowing from his fingertips into her skin to overwhelm her own electrical system and travel along her nerves. Bursting into brilliance as they slid into her spirit. His simple touch somehow connecting her heart to his own.
