#meruchan

“WHAT?!” Umeko exclaimed. “You’ve been dating for over a month and you STILL haven’t done it?! How is that even possible?!”

“Now, now, Umeko! Maybe he’s just being a gentleman…?” Matsuko interjected as she gestured for Umeko to calm down.

I could only cringe at Umeko’s outburst – not that I blamed her for her reaction, since I was starting to get concerned myself. It was already a shock to me that I was even dating THE Nobuyuki Sanada! He was the heir to an illustrious family business and I was but an apprentice cook at a small, though well-known, Japanese restaurant. He frequented the restaurant often as a customer, and, somehow, we had hit it off and eventually started dating almost two months ago.

“Yeah, he’s been nothing but a gentleman, in fact,” I responded with a sigh. “Maybe it’s because he knows I’m a virgin and doesn’t want to rush me… But, to be honest, I want him to try something with me!”

“Have you tried telling him that?” Umeko asked. “Sometimes you just have to get straight to the point!”

“Well… I’ve been too embarrassed to say anything. This is my first real relationship, and I don’t want to come off weird, you know,” I replied, feeling my face heat up with a blush. Really, I was mostly embarrassed at the amount of time I spent fantasizing about him in inappropriate ways. He really didn’t need to know that.

“Hmmmm, yeah, you don’t want to look too desperate either, I guess,” Matsuko added with a nod.

We all fell silent as we pondered my dilemma. After a few seconds, I opened my mouth to tell them to not worry about it, but was interrupted by Umeko snapping her fingers with a gasp.

“I’ve got it! I just remembered this article I read in a magazine!! I still have it in my purse – hold on!”

Umeko scrambled off my couch and dashed over to her purse, nearly colliding with the wall in her excitement. Moments later, she pulled out a popular tabloid I’d often seen at the checkouts at the grocery store and dropped it into my lap.

“Here, I’ll lend it to you. There was an article in there about natural aphrodisiacs and it lists a bunch of food that apparently makes you super horny! Why don’t you try cooking him up a dinner with some of those aphrodisiacs and get him in the mood! You know, seduce him!!Maybe that will jump start him to, well, jump you!”

“Oooh, seduction might not be a bad idea! Nowadays it’s totally normal for the girl to make the first move, you know!” Matsuko chimed in, having seemingly forgotten her previous comment about not looking desperate.

“Seriously?!” I exclaimed. It’s not that I hadn’t heard of aphrodisiacs, but I just didn’t think they were actually real. Besides that, me seduce him?! I already felt way out of my league!! He was always so calm and collected, I couldn’t even imagine him falling for any kind of seductions!

“Well, just read it first and decide! You never know!” Umeko giggled.

All I could do was sigh and reluctantly accept the magazine. Once I’d promised to give the article a read, our conversation moved on to other topics and it wasn’t long before our girls’ night ended and Umeko and Matsuko went home.

Alone now in my apartment, I settled down on my couch and started to flip through the magazine. It was aimed primarily at women and contained various articles on skin care, fashion, diets and of course… love advice. I blushed as I landed on an article about the newest sex toys. Though I’d heard about them from my friends, I’d always been too shy to buy one myself. I couldn’t help but skim the article out of curiosity. It was a review on a new product that was aimed at virgins – apparently it was designed to help ‘train’ women who were nervous about having sex for the first time.

I could feel a blush spread across my cheeks and the skin on the back of my neck prickled. I ignored the warm feeling that spread through my abdomen and quickly flipped to the next page.

“Here it is… ‘In this edition of ‘The Lover’s Guide’, we’ll introduce you to thirty natural aphrodisiacs to spice up your love life!’” I read out loud to myself, cringing at how corny it sounded.

However, despite my doubts, I started reading the article, mostly fueled by my own desperation. The article listed out various food products that would, apparently, increase one’s sex drive while explaining the ‘science’ behind it. Oysters apparently contained zinc, which is supposed to boost the male sex drive, and amino acids, which can trigger increased levels of sex hormones. Chocolate contains 'feel-good’ chemicals phenylethylamine and serotonin. Certain spices acted as sexual stimulants. The list went on and on.

As I read more of the article, I soon found myself forgetting my skepticism as the culinary side of my brain automatically started piecing together a menu using these ‘aphrodisiacs’. Soon, I was already making a mental grocery list and thinking of how I could plate and present each course…

~*~*~*~

I had just placed the plate of dessert into my fridge when I heard the doorbell ring.

“Coming!” I called as I stripped off my apron and hung it up on its hook. When I opened the door, I came face-to-face with the handsome, smiling face of my boyfriend.

“Good evening,” Nobuyuki greeted before leaning down to kiss me chastely on the cheek. Leaning back, he gently handed me a bouquet of vibrant red roses. “For you. Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“They’re beautiful! Thank you!” I exclaimed, cradling the bouquet gently as I stepped aside to let him inside.

“I also brought a bottle of champagne,” Nobuyuki added as he shut the door behind him. He slipped off his shoes and placed his work bag on the floor. I couldn’t stop myself from admiring his broad shoulders through his perfectly-tailored shirt as they shrugged off his coat.

“Is something wrong?”

I was suddenly snapped out of my ogling by Nobuyuki’s voice and I realized that I hadn’t moved since he’d come in.

“Sorry, I was just distracted! Are you hungry?” I asked, turning my back to him to hide the guilty flush on my face. Trying to distract myself, I walked into my kitchen, intending to look for a vase for the flowers.

However, a moment later, I squeaked as I suddenly felt Nobuyuki wrap his arms around me from behind.

“I’m famished,” he breathed into my ear. I shuddered as I felt his breath on the back of my neck. All too quickly, though, he let me go with a chuckle and made his way over to the dining table.

“Gr-great!” I stammered. This man was not good for my heart!! “Because I prepared a lot of food!”

Taking a deep breath, I opened my fridge and prepared myself for… the worst? The best? I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect, but, well…. here went nothing.

I reached into my fridge, pulled out a bowl and set it on the table. It contained raw oysters laid out on a bed of ice chips.

“Oysters?” Nobuyuki breathed, his slender eyebrows raising in surprise.

“Yes, they were on sale! So, I thought it might be nice to indulge!” I quipped, sitting down across from him and setting down a plate of lemon wedges and a couple of small serving plates. “Umm, you don’t dislike oysters, do you?”

I raised my eyes to study his face nervously, but he simply smiled back at me gently, his head tilting slightly to one side with the gesture.

“Not at all. I just wasn’t… expecting it. I’m happy to eat anything you make for me.”

“Well, that’s a relief! Help yourself then!”

I knew that any effects from the food wouldn’t be instantaneously, but I found myself holding my breath anyway as I watched Nobuyuki reach for an oyster. He squeezed a few drops of lemon juice on it before delicately raising it to his mouth. My mind automatically flickered back to the magazine article I had read earlier last week. Not only were oysters full of zinc and amino acids for boosting the sex drive, it was said that oysters were also sexually appealing because of the sensual way that they were eaten.

That article couldn’t have been more right. It was as if my brain was running in slow-motion. My eyes fixated on Nobuyuki’s mouth as he tipped the oyster into his mouth. I was acutely aware of every movement of his lips as the oyster moved past his lips and I could feel a hot coiling feeling ignite in my stomach as he made a slurping sound. My mouth went dry as he made an appreciative sound – moan, it was a moan, my brain screamed – and licked his lips.

God, those lips… I couldn’t even count the amount of times he’d kissed me breathless with those lips. He was an amazing kisser, and I couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel if those skillful lips kissed the rest of my body. Especially between my thighs.

Before I knew it, my brain flashed to an image of Nobuyuki’s head between my legs. He would moan, as he had just now, as his tongue languidly licked along my folds. I could hear wet, slurping sounds as his lips sucked at my pussy, drinking up the juices flowing out. I had never felt so wet before, and I couldn’t tell whether the wetness came from myself or was simply his saliva. Then, suddenly, I gasped as he teased a finger between my wet lower lips, pushing in as he continued his ministrations with his mouth.  The sensation made me groan and I could feel another gush of hot liquid flow out as he reached in deeper with his finger. I couldn’t help pressing myself against his face, pushing him in deeper—

“You’re not eating?”

“S-sorry! I was just waiting for you to try the first one!” I yelped, my mind slamming back to reality at his question.

I couldn’t believe that I had just did that!! I mentally slapped myself for suddenly drifting off to fantasyland and reached for an oyster myself. Instead, I forced myself to make small talk to distract my brain, and soon we had finished the oysters, along with some of the champagne. I then pulled out the next course from the oven.

“Baked salmon with asparagus,” I said, placing Nobuyuki’s plate before him.

According to the article, salmon contained omega 3s which are linked to serotonin boosting your happiness and mood. Meanwhile, asparagus is rich in vitamin B6 and folate, which are said to increase arousal and orgasm. Not to mention their suggestive shape…

“Oh, I also tried making it spicy – since I know you like your food on the flavourful side,” I added. Chili peppers apparently stimulated the release of endorphins and generated physiological responses in the body similar to those experienced during arousal, like sweating and increased heartrate.

“Ah, that definitely has quite a kick to it,” Nobuyuki commented as he finished several bites of his salmon. “I’m certainly feeling the heat, now, haha.”

He put down his fork and knife and loosened the collar of his dress shirt, undoing the first couple of buttons. My eyes automatically followed the sudden motion of his hands and followed the ‘v’ of his slightly open shirt. I could see a light sheen of sweat along his neck, which was slightly flushed. My gaze moved up to his face, staring at his parted lips as he fanned himself lightly with his hand. The look on his face instantly sent another shot of heat down to my privates and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

I couldn’t help but wonder if this would be the expression he’d make in bed. Perhaps he’d look like that, covered in a light layer of sweat, with locks of his soft hair sticking to his skin and lips parted in pants as my hand moved along his shaft. I imagined him groaning my name as I stroked him up and down, keeping my grip at just the right pressure for his abdomen to tense underneath me. Just when beads of pre-cum start dripping out, I dipped my head down to cover his tip with my mouth. I flick my tongue over his head, lapping up the beads of liquid, relishing in the gasp that escapes his mouth. Then, I slipped my grip lower as I took in more of him into my mouth—

Oh my GOD, STOOOOOP!!! I screamed at my mind, shaking my head as I quickly went back to my meal, attacking my salmon with a vengeance.

I thanked the magazine article for giving me the idea to use chili, as the heat from the food gave me an excuse to hide the blush on my face. I felt my face get even warmer as I realized that I could feel a slight wetness between my legs. How was it possible that I was this turned on?! Maybe there was something to this aphrodisiac business…

Though I was feeling heated, when I glanced over at Nobuyuki, he looked completely calm, the heat from the chili seasoning long gone. He had finished eating his portion already and was casually sipping at his champagne while watching me with hooded eyes and a light smile. It was a familiar expression on him, and I often caught him looking at me this way, though I never could figure out what he was thinking. One thing was for certain, though: this look always gave me butterflies.

“Do you still have room for dessert?” I asked, trying to distract myself from drowning in that smoldering gaze.

“Certainly. What’s on the menu?”

“Well, since it’s Valentine’s Day, I really wanted to do something with chocolate! And I saw this fondue set on sale at the department store the other day, so – chocolate fondue!” I responded as I cleared the dining table of our dinner plates.

I then quickly put together the fondue set and started melting the dark chocolate I had bought. I then pulled out the plate of fresh fruit that I had painstakingly prepared. The article had cited chocolate as an aphrodisiac, which made it a convenient fit for our Valentine’s dinner. I had also relied on the article to pick out many of the fruits on the platter. Those fruits apparently contained certain vitamins and minerals that were supposed to elevate energy levels and promote positive moods – which would lead to being in the mood.

“Ah, the fruits look delicious,” Nobuyuki commented, already swiping up a strawberry and popping it into his mouth.

I smiled at his boyish behaviour. He was always so put together, but, when it came to dessert, he always let his guard down just a little bit. I would have never expected him to have such a sweet tooth – and he was especially partial to fruits.

“Strawberries, bananas, cherries, mangos, pineapples… and what’s this?” Nobuyuki asked, pointing at the small round balls sitting with the fruit on the platter.

“Oh, they’re cinnamon doughnut bites. I thought it might be nice to toss in a different texture.” I responded. The real reason, though, was that cinnamon had also been listed in the article as an aphrodisiac. Apparently, the spice produced heat within the body and facilitated sexual arousal.

“Doughnuts, hmmm? Yukimura would be jealous – he loves doughnuts.”

“Oh, I made a lot – you can take some leftovers for him, if you want.”

“Thank you, I think I will. It’ll be a nice repayment since I borrowed something from him earlier this week.”

As soon as the chocolate was melted and ready, Nobuyuki immediately picked up one of the doughnuts with his fingers – completely ignoring the small fork I had put out for him – and dipped it into the chocolate. However, instead of putting it into his own mouth, I found the chocolate-covered doughnut dangling in front of my lips.

“Say, ‘ahhhh’,” Nobuyuki said, his eyes narrowing in a smile.

I couldn’t help but blush a little as I opened my mouth. Nobuyuki popped the doughnut into my mouth and I felt my lips and tongue brush against his fingers before he moved them away.

“Oh my, looks like I made a bit of a mess,” he remarked, looking at his hand. Perhaps he had dipped the doughnut into too much chocolate, or it had simply dripped down onto his hand when he had fed it to me, but bits of melted chocolate covered his fingers.

Without another thought, he brought his hand to his lips and began to languidly lick the chocolate off his fingers. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from watching the movement of his tongue lapping over his fingers – the motion was far more sensual than it had any right to be. Whether it was caused by the cinnamon on the doughnut or something completely more primitive, I immediately felt a burst of heat through my lower abdomen.

It was going to be a long night….

~*~*~*~

As I stepped out of the washroom, I saw Nobuyuki slip something – it looked like a card – into a gift bag. He then capped the pen he was holding, stowing it back into his pocket.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t stay later, dear one,” he murmured apologetically as he shrugged on his coat. He had suddenly been called back to the office to deal with an urgent work situation, so our night had been cut shorter than expected.

“Oh, please, don’t feel bad! You can’t help it if an emergency comes up. I’m just happy that we were able to finish eating dinner!” I responded, leaning into the kiss he placed on my cheek.

“I’ll make it up to you next time,” he said with a smile before handing me the gift bag. “This is for you, by the way. Please do open it after I leave. I hope you’ll enjoy it.”

“Thank you, Nobuyuki. Flowers and a present? You’re spoiling me!”

“Not at all. Giving this to you may as well be a gift for myself, my dear.”

After slipping on his shoes, he turned around and suddenly I found my face caught between his large hands. A second later, he pulled me in for a kiss. His lips hungrily moved over my own and the soft, pleasant sensation made me moan before I realized – my body still felt hot and bothered and this kiss was doing things to me. I felt his tongue push past my slightly parted lips, deepening the kiss, and I could taste the lingering flavour of chocolate. I was desperate to taste more of him, and pressed myself further into his kiss, but he suddenly pulled away.

“I have to go, now,” he said with a small smile.

Though he sounded apologetic, I could see a teasing twinkle in his eye – he knew exactly what he was doing. He chuckled as I tried to glare at him, but my scowl quickly turned into a smile when he gave me another peck on the cheek.

“Good night, Nobuyuki. Drive safe!”

“Good night. Don’t stay up too late,” he responded with another smile. Then, he left, and I was alone once more in my apartment.

I let out a sigh. Well, there went that plan. I had hoped that he would stay the night and that my aphrodisiac-laden dinner would entice him into finally making a move on me.

Feeling sorry for myself, I picked up the gift bag Nobuyuki had given me and pulled out the tissue paper. I immediately saw an envelope and pulled that out first. I opened the card that was inside and was greeted with Nobuyuki’s neat, flowing script along with a folded piece of paper.

The card itself contained a short and sweet message from Nobuyuki wishing me a happy Valentine’s Day. I then unfolded the piece of paper – it looked like it had been a page ripped out of his notepad or day planner – but, as I read the message, I felt an odd feeling of dread flood through me.

'Happy Valentine’s Day, dear one. The other day, I was reading an article in a magazine that I found in Yukimura’s room. There were some fascinating articles that were quite enlightening. One of those articles gave me the perfect idea for your Valentine’s Day gift. I’m sorry I couldn’t stay to witness you opening your gift. I would’ve loved to see you try it out. I’ve left the magazine for you to read the article yourself as it’s quite informative. I’ve bookmarked the pages for you.’

I immediately looked back into the gift bag as I felt my heart race faster. Sure enough, there was a magazine tucked against the inner siding of the bag. My hand trembled slightly as I pulled it out. It was the exact same magazine that Umeko had lent me, and there were two sticky notes sticking out of the pages.

I flipped to the first sticky note and found myself face-to-face with the article about the sex toy for virgins. I immediately felt heat rush simultaneously up my face and down my neck. Seriously?! A second glance into the gift bag revealed a discreet black box labeled with the name of the sex toy. I wasn’t sure if I should feel flattered or embarrassed.

However, as I flipped to the second bookmark, I decided that I most definitely felt embarrassed.

The second sticky note was stuck on the article about aphrodisiacs and written on said sticky note were the words: 'Thank you for dinner.’