Your Favorite Actor / Reader - Part 3
”Come on” you said and extended your hand to (H/N) after you had carried the bags and other things to dry land. He took your hand, squeezed it firmly and you helped him to the pier. When he stepped on the wooden platform that was floating on pontoons your balance got a little bit off and as an involuntary reaction you grabbed (H/N) around his waist for support. The pier kept rocking for a moment and as soon as the motion stopped you realized that you were actually holding onto (H/N) like he had been the only thing keeping you from falling into the lake.
- Sorry. you mumbled with an embarrassed tone, let go of his waist but grabbed his arm instead by an accident. “Sorry again” you said with a barely audible tone and removed your hands from him. You stepped away from (H/N) with a strong blush covering your cheeks, cleared your throat and smiled awkwardly before walking along the pier to the shore.
You tried your very best not to think about what had just happened but you couldn’t actually ignore either; (H/N) was in great shape, he had clearly been working out for an upcoming role and therefore he had felt even stronger and manlier than he looked in the pictures. Sure he looked very good and muscular, however in the way that you liked, meaning that he was not too buff but nicely brawny, but now that you had gotten in the contact with the muscles of his torso as well as his arms, you couldn’t avoid imagining what he would look without a shirt. Then you realized that you would most likely see him one, keeping in mind that (H/N) most likely was going to swim and sunbathe with you… maybe even go to sauna with you where his chest would decorated with droplets of sweat that would make his physique look even more defined…
-Oh stop it! you commanded yourself half aloud as you were checking out the fridge. Your aunt had filled it with a wide variety of different ingredients and you reasoned silently that you should probably go to the shop on Sunday.
- Stop what? (H/N) asked curiously. He had sneaked behind you to follow your inspection silently. He was fascinated about the way you were so focused and precise, so deep in your thoughts that nothing could have distracted you. You gasped and jumped a little when you heard (H/N)’s voice coming behind your back and startling you.
- Nothing. you said, closed the fridge’s door and turned around to face (H/N).
- Yeah right. he chuckled and winked his eye at you. “I didn’t… I wasn’t… It was nothing” you stammered with a blush on your face and smirked at (H/N) who was smirking at you. “Clearly it wasn’t” he stated casually and winked at you again.
- Yeah, I was dreaming about you. you stated with a tone that was supposed to convince him that you were merely joking and burst into laughter which was enough to distract (H/N) and make him think that you were being sarcastic.
- Okay-okay! he said, raised his hands up as a sign of surrendering and then added “Oh, by the way, your dad is going to leave soon”. You rolled your eyes and chuckled as you walked past (H/N) because you found his theatrical gesture very amusing. “It surely seems that we will not starve” (H/N) commented and followed you to the terrace of the cottage.
You put on your ballerina-shoes and walked to the sauna-building that was located a bit further away, near the pier where the beach was. Your father had been teaching (H/N) how to make a fire to the sauna-stove while you had been inspecting the fridge and putting the things you and (H/N) had bought to the ground cellar, which was more like a hollow in the ground just behind the cottage and covered by a lid made of styrofoam. Styrofoam was widely used as the material of coolers because it isolated cold very well which made the hole perfect for storing vegetables and other things that did not need to be stored below +8 C degrees like meat and milk products.
Your dad was getting ready to leave. He had added some logs into the sauna-stove and filled the buckets with water. He had made a bath whisk from the birch branches and left it to soak into a bucket so it would get softer and make the water smell like birch as well. You walked to the pier and spoke with your dad for a moment, asked him to come on Sunday to take you and your friend shopping. Your father who was not a man of too many words nodded and stated that your friend seemed like a nice fellow and wished you and him nice Midsummer. He also told you to call if there were any problems… ANY kind of problems to which you replied by laughing a bit and reassuring your dad that you knew how to hold your ground in tricky situations. This, your capability of looking after for yourself, your father knew to be true because you were a firm and steadfast person and you had been living on your own in Helsinki for some years already. Your dad said goodbyes to (H/N) who had also joined you and him on the pier and then, after you had untied the ropes and pushed the boat further away from the pier, started the motor and drove away.
You stared at your father who got further away, sailing into the sunset and then getting out of sight when he disappeared behind the far-corner of the island. You could hear the sound of the motorboat echoing all around and breaking the silence until he got far enough and the sound faded away leaving you and (H/N) to stand on the pier in silence. The only sounds there were, were the sound of waves gently splashing to the rocks by the beach, the leaves of the birches rustling in the light breeze and the sound of loon-bird singing in the distance. It was almost nine PM but the sun was still quite high up above the horizon, however the atmosphere was now different; it was peaceful and the nature was clearly getting ready for the night.
- Your father said that the sauna will be ready soon. (H/N) stated with a soft tone after standing side by side with you silently for almost fifteen minutes, just staring at the glimmering waves and enjoying the tranquility.
- He actually taught me how to operate sauna. he added with a somewhat proud voice. He had read something about Finland and the Finnish people before coming here and he had found out that sauna played an important role in the Finnish culture; in the old days people had even been born in saunas and it even now, in the modern society, it was a place of cleansing, relaxation and slowing-down for the Finns. You smiled at the sun and then turned to face (H/N).
- Ever been? you asked curiously.
- Not in a real one, I would presume. he replied and flashed a wide, charming smile.
- Okay. I think in that case about seventy degrees should do it. you commented and walked to the sauna.
- Wait, Celsius or Fahrenheit? he asked and followed you. The question made you roll your eyes because it was currently about seventy degrees Fahrenheit outside, which meant approximately twenty one degrees Celsius.
You added a couple of logs into the stove so the fire wouldn’t burn out while you and (H/N) were unpacking your bags at the cottage. You and he went to the cottage, made the beds ready; (H/N) was going to sleep in the master bedroom and you were going to sleep in the guest bedroom. You both changed into your swimming gear, found large towels that your aunt had left for you and your friend and then moved to the sauna. You checked the temperature; it was just below seventy Celsius degrees, which was the perfect temperature for a beginner, besides you did not actually enjoy burning hot temperatures either and couldn’t understand your countrymen who heated the sauna above hundred degrees! You put a seat cover that was made of cotton on the highest bench and sat down, leaned back and closed your eyes. After a couple of minutes the door opened and (H/N) stepped in. He sat down next to you and followed your lead; lifted his feet on a railing, leaned back and closed his eyes.
After a couple of minutes of silence you and (H/N) started to chat a little. You threw water on the stove a couple of times and the sauna was filled with the scent of birch. You showed (H/N) how to use the bath whisk and assured him that it was not going to hurt when you hit yourself with it. “Wikipedia did not tell me that you Finns are into spanking” he joked and added something about the people only pretending to be shy and reserved when the truth was that they were kinky as hell.
- Well what do you expect when we live in the darkness for half of the year! you explained and burst into laughter.
- I knew it! (H/N) exclaimed and gestured you to give him the bath whisk but instead of giving it to him you hit him with it to his stomach, threw a ladle-full of water on the sauna stove and ran out before the steam took over the small room. You heard (H/N) cursing a little and then he ran out from the sauna. You turned around and were greeted with a sight that would most likely haunt your dreams for the rest of your life; (H/N) walking towards you in his black swimming speedos, his chest decorated with small droplets of sweat and a blush covered by a blush from the heat of the sauna. This combination made his physique look even more perfect, if that was any way possible.
- You will pay for that! he exclaimed and pointed at you with a determined expression on his face. The gesture made you laugh and secretly excited; to pay how exactly? He wouldn’t dare to throw you into the lake, would he?
(H/N) wrapped his arms around your waist and lifted you off the pier. You squealed and laughed almost hysterically as you struggled escape the firm embrace. “Oh I will show you who’s the boss!” he stated and dragged you closer to the end of the pier. “Wait-wait-wait!” you said with a serious tone just as (H/N) was about to throw you overboard into the lake. He stopped immediately and put you down, assuming that it was not safe or something. However at the very moment when he had let you go, you smirked at him, said “Bye-bye!” and pushed him into the lake instead. (H/N) managed to grab your hand just as he fell into the lake and pulled you down with him.
You and (H/N) sank underwater, just staying below the surface for a moment surrounded by small bubbles of air that glimmered in the sunlight. Then you both got back to the surface and continued splashing the water at each other. Your screams and laughter echoed in the air as you and (H/N) just fooled around in the water until the water started to feel too cool and it was time to return to sauna again. You swam to the shore and (H/N) followed you, walked to the sauna and added a couple of logs because the fire had almost died during your swim. You repeated this sauna-swimming –routine a couple of times and then got a couple of cold drinks to enjoy at the pier while letting the wind cool you off after the last steams.
It was almost eleven PM and the sun was about to set beyond the horizon. The nature was quiet and you felt very relaxed and… hungry. “Are you hungry for some sausage?” you asked (H/N) casually as you sat side by side on the edge of the pier, hanging your feet above the water and sometimes feeling the water with your toes. “I think it should be me who asks you that” (H/N) smirked and winked his eye at you. You burst into laughter and emptied your bottle before getting up and running to the cottage. You took a packet of four grill-sausages, a couple of grill-pitchforks and returned to the sauna. You opened the stove’s hatch and started to grill the sausages with the glowing coals.
- I will get some drinks. (H/N) said from the doorway and ran to the cottage. He found some ketchup, mustard, paper towels and fresh, cold drinks and then returned to the sauna where you were still grilling the dinner. After ten minutes the sausages were ready and you gave two to (H/N) and kept two for yourself. You left the sauna and went to the terrace of the cottage where there were less mosquitoes and comfortable chairs. You and (H/N) had already changed into sleeping-wear, you in a top and shorts and (H/N) in light pajama-pants with no shirt, and you had found for him and you blankets to have on your shoulders so you wouldn’t get cold now that the sun had finally set.
You ate and drank, shared a lively conversation and then got in after washing your teeth. It was time to say goodnight and get some sleep even though it was barely midnight. It however had been a long day and you both felt that rest was needed. You wished (H/N) sweet dreams and got into the guestroom, walked to the bed and lay down on the bed that was 120 centimeters wide. It was a very comfortable bed and the room was a very cozy one as well; there were thick curtains that blocked the light and the air was cool, the linens soft and there was no other sounds but the sound of your own breathing.
Just as you were about to fall asleep you heard the door opening, closing and soft footsteps getting closer. The mattress shifted a little when (H/N) sat on the edge and lay down beside you and tucked himself in with the blanket he had taken with him from the master bedroom. “What are you doing here?” you asked barely aloud and hugged your pillow as you were slowly yet surely drifting away into the land of sweet dreams. You felt the mattress shifting again a little as (H/N) rolled around, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in. Finally he found one and stopped moving.
- I couldn’t sleep. It is too quiet and too bright. he said and yawned. “Uh-uh?” you mumbled in return. The truth was that (H/N) was used to the never ending noise of traffic and this sudden lack of background noise was making it impossible for him to fall asleep.
- So I came here to listen to your snoring. he explained.
- I don’t snore. you mumbled.
- To listen to your breathing then. he corrected himself. “Besides, your room is much darker than mine” (H/N) added. He rolled on his side and stared at you even though he couldn’t really see you in the darkness, only the outlines of your form now that his eyes got used to the lack of light.
- Fine. I’ll go and sleep in the master bedroom. you said and tried to push yourself up even though your body felt too heavy. “No-no-no” (H/N) said and then continued
- It would ruin the purpose of escaping the total silence.
- Alright. you mumbled and then added “That is your side of the bed and this is mine.” (H/N) smiled a little and inhaled slowly.
- So no cuddling or spooning then? he asked playfully but you were only barely half-awake anymore and therefore you were unable to say anything. You just made a silent “Hm” –sound and after that you couldn’t hear (H/N)’s monologue anymore. (H/N) wished you goodnight and closed his eyes. He focused on the sound of your breathing, matched his with it and then fell asleep without any further struggles.
The sound of birds chirping woke you up after sleeping without any interruptions for almost ten hours. As you regained consciousness you realized two things; it was raining, not much, just gently, besides you loved the sound of rain and therefore you did not mind a little rain and the other thing was that (H/N)’s was wrapped around your waist and holding you quite firmly against him. There were two layers of blankets between you but you could still feel the warmth of his body radiating from him and his chest slowly rising and falling against your back as he breathed. You smiled briefly when you felt his breath on the skin of your neck and when he shifted himself a little, you felt his lips brushing your bare shoulder. Oh-no-no-no! This was not how this was supposed to go!
You froze still for a moment and then started to shift yourself further away from him slowly, one centimeter at a time so he wouldn’t wake up. You stopped every once in a while to listen if (H/N) had woken up and then continued moving when you had gotten a confirmation that he was still sound asleep. You moved again and then fell on the floor because the mattress pad had shifted over the edge during the night and was partially above thin air. You cursed half-aloud when you fell and for a moment you lay on the floor silently to make sure that (H/N) was still sleeping.
The room was silent and the only sounds you heard were the rain outside, the birds singing and (H/N) breathing calmly. You got up and sneaked out from the room, closed the door behind you and sighed relieved. Then you walked out to the terrace and filled your lungs with the warm summer air that carried a scent of rain. You sat down for a moment and decided to prepare breakfast in a while but for now you would just enjoy the sounds, the scents and the delightful breeze blowing from the lake. You checked your phone and the weather forecast for the day and chuckled silently when you found out that the skies would clear out by the end of the day.
(H/N) woke up two hours after you. He couldn’t remember when he had slept so long and so well the last time. He was greeted by the sound of soft rain and the realization that you had already woken up. He was a little disappointed not to find you by his side but he comforted himself by stating that this was just the first morning and there were many mornings to come. He did not exactly what he meant by that because he had no romantic intentions towards you… but yet he found himself subtly frowning on the fact that you had sneaked out without waking him up. (H/N) got up from the bed, walked out from the guestroom and found you preparing breakfast by the stove. You were frying thin crepes for breakfast, slicing strawberries and whisking cream. You had already sliced bread, cheese, tomatoes and cucumber, set the table on the terrace and made an omelet with small sausages to act as a lunch since it was almost lunchtime anyway.
- Good morning! you said to (H/N) when you heard him walking behind you. “Slept well?” you asked and flipped the crepe over in the frying pan.
- Yes. It has been ages since I have slept so well. he stated and asked you the same question. He however decided not to point out the fact that you had left and sneaked out from the bed. It was not like you owed him anything… you were not his girlfriend… and you were not romantically interested in him… that you had made perfectly clear.
- Yeah. This place has that effect on people. you said and put the crepe on the plate that was stacked by ten crapes already. You added some butter in the pan and slowly poured the remaining crepe-dough into the pan, spread it all around and watched the dough turning solid until it was time to flip the crepe over.
- So it is raining. (H/N) stated and took a slice of strawberry from the cup. “Hey!” you said playfully and slapped his fingers as he was about to steal another slice of strawberry. (H/N) chuckled and grabbed it anyway, dipped in the whipped cream and laughed when you groaned. You turned off the stove, put the final crepe on the pile of crepes and asked (H/N) to help you with carrying everything to the terrace. You asked (H/N) to sit down and then sat down yourself as well, made a sandwich and started to eat.
The breakfast was great and everything was delicious. You and (H/N) ate slowly and then cleaned the table together, washed the dishes together and then just sat in silence, watching the gray curtain of rain surrounding the island that was going to be your kingdom for a week. (H/N) had taken a book with him because he very rarely had time to read so he stood up, walked to his luggage and took the book out. He read the back cover and then returned to sit to the terrace where you were sitting and staring at the view.
You told (H/N) that you would take a quick swim and let him read in peace and then ran through the rain to the sauna where your swimsuit was drying after the bathing of the previous evening and changed your clothes into the swimming gear. The day was warm despite the rain and therefore you didn’t feel cold at all. You stood on the pier for a moment listening to the violin-sounding high-pitched resonance of rain hitting the surface of the lake and then dived into the water. It was late afternoon already and you could see a spot of blue sky in the horizon. This day, the twenty first of June, was actually the summer solstice; the moment when the day was the longest and the night was the shortest and therefore you were happy that you were going to enjoy some midnight sun after all.
You swam around for a moment and then got out from the water before you got cold, got dressed and headed back to the cottage where (H/N) was reading. You told him that you would take a nap because you were going to stay up all night since it was the summer solstice. (H/N) nodded, wished you sweet dreams and turned a page. He was fascinated about the book and the plot was just about to get exciting and therefore he couldn’t stop reading it, not right now at least. However soon after you had retired to your afternoon-nap (H/N) put away his book and decided to take a nap as well.
He walked into the master bedroom and instantly realized that his blanket was in the guestroom where he had slept with you last night. (H/N) knocked on your door and entered the dark room after you had said “Come in”. “My blanket is here” he commented casually and instead of taking the blanket, he lay down beside you on his back. “Just admit it, you missed me” you chuckled and made some room for (H/N) who made a sultry “Mmm”-sound and wrapped his arm around you as he turned on his side to face you. You lay on your back, stared at the ceiling and struggled to keep your breathing calm but the truth was that you were developing a serious crush on your favorite actor and having him so close felt… natural.
You turned your head to look at him and imagined what it would feel like if he kissed you now. Would he be a good kisser? Would he kiss you gently or possessively? Perhaps sweetly and modestly at first and then deepen the kiss as you both got more familiar with each other’s lips. How about tongue or no tongue? Would it be as good as you had imagined or would it be just… something awkward and plain average? In your dreams kissing (H/N) had always been perfect; he would get close very slowly, tracing your jaw with his fingertips and then sliding his hand on your neck. He would then lean closer so his nose would brush yours playfully and then draw back just as you thought that he was going to kiss you. He would tease you like this for a moment, sometimes even brush your lips with his and seduce you to want him even more with these soft brushes and feeling his hot breath upon your lips and cheeks.
In your dreams he always pinned your hand against the pillow, the wall… against anything and kept you in place, right on his mercy and then finally, after making you almost beg to be kissed, he would press his lips against yours and explore them with great care, using plenty of time and deepening the kiss gradually. He would tease you with his tongue, first brush your lower lip with it so softly that you wouldn’t even know if you were only imagining it but then… when you would moan softly against his mouth he would surprise you by slamming his mouth against yours and tangling his tongue with yours. He would nibble your lower lip, suck and bite it gently… a little roughly every once in a while, which would surely make you gasp from excitement. In your dreams (H/N) always worshiped your skin with adoring touches, modestly at first and then slowly changing his caresses more intimate and daring. He would strip you from your clothes as well as your inhibitions, doubts and worries and then show you the true meaning of passionate lovemaking. But… that was all in your head… however… he was right there… right within your reach... maybe…