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Working It Out

Chapter 3

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Aziraphale puttered around his flat anxiously, waiting for Crowley to arrive for their date - their first date. There had been a little negotiation (between stolen kisses in the sauna) about the logistics - who would be picking up whom and where to go. Despite the fact that Aziraphale had been the one to ask him out, Crowley had seemed eager to take the lead when it came to planning their date. Aziraphale was only too happy to let him do so. The fact that Crowley wanted to take the lead, wanted to pick him up and drive him and pick the location, made Aziraphale feel warm inside in ways he couldn’t describe. Perhaps it was old fashioned of him, his lizard brain at work, but Aziraphale rather liked the idea of being wooed, of being courted. The idea that a man as handsome and charming as Crowley wanted to do so was thrilling.

A knock came at the door to his flat, two minutes before seven, and Aziraphale jumped - although he’d been expecting it. He looked down at himself one last time, taking in his clothes, and worried for the thousandth time what Crowey would say to his usual kit. He knew his style was unconventional and a bit dated - Gabriel had complained of that fact frequently - but it was what made Aziraphale most comfortable. As much as he liked Crowley (and he really, really liked Crowley), he wasn’t willing to be someone he was not. Crowley would simply have to appreciate him as he was.

But that didn’t make him any less nervous about a possible rejection.

Swallowing his nerves and squaring his shoulders, he went to his door and opened it. He couldn’t help himself - as soon as he saw Crowley on the other side of the door, he smiled, feeling a happiness sweep over him from head to toe.

Crowley was dressed in all dark colors, with black, tight denims, a black shirt, black jacket, and dark grey tie. His sunglasses were perched on his nose, so Aziraphale couldn’t see his eyes, but the rest of his face was slack, as if surprised. He looked Aziraphale up and down, and, just as he had at the gym, Aziraphale could feel those eyes on him, even if he couldn’t see them. It made him flush.

“Hello,” he said, feeling suddenly shy, holding on to the door for support.

Crowley swallowed. “Angel, you look --”

Aziraphale bristled a little in spite of himself. “Stuffy? Old fashioned? Ridiculous?” he asked, calling to mind some of the descriptions Gabriel had favored.

“Fucking beautiful,” Crowley replied, his face earnest. “You’re absolutely stunning.”

Aziraphale blushed, his cheeks and ears flaming like anything. He had hoped for tolerance towards his attire, but he’d never expected anything like this. He wasn’t entirely sure how to react to it, since he’d never been exposed to open admiration. He shouldn’t have gotten defensive so quickly. Crowley was nothing like Gabriel, nothing at all, and he needed to remember that.

“Thank you. You look… rather gorgeous yourself.”

Crowley glanced down at himself, as if to check what he was wearing, then looked up at Aziraphale with a smile. “Thank you.”

The conversation faltered for a moment, and Aziraphale felt his eyes drawn to Crowley’s lips. He remembered all too well the way they’d felt on his mouth and skin in the sauna, and desperately wanted to feel that again. He wanted to taste that smile, but wondered if that would be entirely appropriate at the beginning of a date. He wasn’t even sure if it would be entirely appropriate for the end of a date - at least, a first date. So much of this was uncharted territory, and he was terrified of making a misstep and ruining everything.

Crowley pulled his hand from behind his back revealing a large bouquet. “I brought you something,” he said with that lopsided smile that made Aziraphale’s brain melt.

“Oh, Crowley,” he sighed, joy surging through him. “You shouldn’t have.”

“I wanted to. Do you like them?”

“I love them,” Aziraphale praised, then reached forward with both hands to take the colorful bouquet, bringing them to his nose and taking a deep whiff. He hummed to himself in pleasure, and felt his smile grow wider. When he opened his eyes again, he turned his smile to Crowley. “What are they? I recognize tulips, sunflowers, and - those are calla lilies, correct?”

“Yes. There’s also carmelias and a white rose or two,” Crowley explained, pointing out the flowers in question.

Aziraphale beamed. “They’re simply lovely, dear. Thank you so much. I haven’t received flowers in years! Would you care to step inside a moment while I put these in some water? I won’t be a moment.”

“Sure,” Crowley agreed, and Aziraphale stepped aside to let him in, closing the door behind them. His heart trilled in his chest: he had Crowley in his flat now, and he didn’t want to let him leave. He wanted to press Crowley against the door and kiss him until neither of them could breathe.

But he didn’t. He just told Crowley he’d be back in two shakes, then shuffled off to the kitchen, feeling Crowley’s eyes on his back the whole way. He hummed to himself happily as he dug out a dusty vase from beneath the sink, wiped it off, filled it, then arranged the flowers just so, placing them on his kitchen table. Then he flicked off the light and went back to his lounge.

He found Crowley there, looking over one of his bookshelves. Crowley didn’t look up right away, and Aziraphale took a moment just to appreciate how stunning he was - and how nice he looked amongst Aziraphale’s things. Like he belonged there.

“Please pardon the clutter,” he said, a trifle embarrassed.

Crowley turned to face him. “Clutter?”

“Yes. All my books strewn everywhere…”

“I think it’s perfect, angel. Suits you.”

Aziraphale bit his lip, pleased. “I’m glad you like it. Are you ready to get a wiggle on?”

He chuckled, then muttered, ‘get a wiggle on’. Aziraphale felt his cheeks heat, then Crowley said in a louder voice, his smile mischievous, “We can leave in just a second.”

Aziraphale was confused. “Just a second?”

Crowley stepped closer, and Aziraphale felt heat spreading through his body with every inch of distance he closed. “Yes. I need your input about something.”

“My input?”

“Yes. You see, we have reservations in thirty minutes, and I very much want to take you out on the town, show you off. But I also very much want to kiss you.”

Aziraphale fought the urge to swoon. “I think a bit of kissing would be fine. I’d certainly enjoy it.”

Crowley took another step. “I need to know, though, if I kiss you, will you promise to stop me before I get carried away? I’m afraid I don’t have any willpower when it comes to you, none at all, and once I get started, I’m not going to want to stop.”

His heart was galloping, his hands trembling. He wanted to kiss Crowley and never stop, to seek out every angle and crevice and apply his lips and tongue to it. And it seemed Crowley wanted the same thing. Heavens....

“I - I think I can do that,” he stammered. “I am rather hungry, after all.”

Crowley took one last step until they were only inches apart. Aziraphale’s entire body was thrumming with anticipation, and he couldn’t help but stare at Crowley’s lips. The red-haired man was just an inch of two taller than Aziraphale, and his lips were right at eye level. They were thin, but Aziraphale knew they were soft, and remembered all too well how they tasted. How could he not stare?

Then he felt a little tugging at his hands and quickly realized Crowley had linked their fingers loosely. Even such a light touch had Aziraphale’s pulse racing.

Crowley’s lips curved into a smile, soft and almost delicate, and Aziraphale couldn’t help but return it. The next thing he knew, those smiling lips were pressed against his, and it felt like Aziraphale’s very soul sighed in relief.

The kiss was gentle, slow, and full of something like promise. Their mouths moved softly over each other, sensual and soft, and Aziraphale whimpered a little when Crowley’s lips parted and caught his bottom lip between them. His blood fizzed in his veins like good champagne, and his head was fuzzy, too. Was this what love felt like? No, no, it was too soon for love. But whatever it was, it was very, very good.

He chased Crowley’s lips when he broke the kiss, making the ginger man smile. Aziraphale didn’t care if he smiled, so long as he kept kissing him.

After an eternity (or just a minute, Aziraphale couldn’t tell), they broke apart. Their fingers were still linked and both were breathing a little raggedly, warm breaths mingling in the small space between them. Aziraphale opened his eyes to look up at Crowley, wishing the other man weren’t wearing sunglasses. He wanted to see those topaz eyes. But he knew Crowley was looking at him because he smiled gently.

“Aziraphale?”

“Hmm?”

“I want to take you to dinner now, to wine you and dine you the way you deserve, but may I please kiss you some more at the end of our date?”

Aziraphale smiled. “I very much hope that you will.”

Crowley’s smile was brilliant, and he pressed a quick kiss to Aziraphale’s smile. “Good. Best news I’ve heard in an age. Are you ready to go?” Aziraphale nodded, and Crowley squeezed his hands. “Let’s go, angel.”

~*~O~*~

Crowley felt close to combusting, and he was having a hard time keeping himself contained.

From the moment he’d laid eyes on Aziraphale two months ago, walking on the treadmill and staring at him, he’d felt an intense, powerful attraction he couldn’t quite articulate, not even to himself. He’d spent weeks trying to work up the courage to go speak to the blond, watching him exercise from behind his sunglasses, hoping he wasn’t too obvious, lusting after the cherubic man. Thirsting for him. He’d had vivid fantasies about what it would be like to run his hands all over Aziraphale’s lush body, what he’d taste like, what his mouth would feel like, what he’d feel like surrounding Crowley’s cock. All his life, he’d been confident in pursuing men he found attractive, but for some reason, when faced with Aziraphale, his courage left him and he was stuck watching and pining. He chastised himself every night when he got home from the gym for not approaching Aziraphale. Tomorrow he would do it, he’d tell himself. Tomorrow, he’d stop being a coward and just go speak to the man. Tomorrow. Always tomorrow.

Then tomorrow would come, and Crowley would lose his nerve yet again. It went on like that for almost two months, two agonizing months.

It had been blind luck that he’d stumbled on Aziraphale in the sauna and been able to strike up a conversation with him, after weeks and weeks of wishing for just such an opportunity. He hadn’t really expected Aziraphale to agree to work out with him, but he’d been thrilled that he had. It wasn’t the date he wanted, but working out with Aziraphale was a good start. It gave them an excuse to talk to each other, and it gave Crowley carte blanche to stare at Aziraphale’s body while he worked out - which he did. He couldn’t seem to help himself. The angel was just so goddamn beautiful.

Then, after a week of working out together and hanging out in the sauna after, Crowley had started trying to steel himself to ask Aziraphale on a proper date. He’d felt confident that Aziraphale was attracted to him, too, but didn’t want to rush things. He wanted everything to be perfect for his angel. Absolutely perfect.

Aziraphale had surprised him when he’d asked Crowley out last night, but it had been the best surprise of his life. He’d surprised himself when he’d asked for a kiss, but had been delighted when Aziraphale had agreed readily enough. He’d only intended to kiss him a little, but, well, as he’d told Aziraphale just a few minutes ago, when it came to the angel, Crowley’s willpower was nil.

Now here they were, in his Bentley (which Aziraphale had admired very much, making Crowley preen), headed towards the restaurant he’d picked to take Aziraphale for their first real date. He was acutely aware of Aziraphale’s presence beside him, of his nearness, of his scent, and Crowley was having a hard time concentrating on the road. Aziraphale wasn’t even doing anything, just riding silently in the passenger seat, but Crowley was driven to distraction, just from his nearness. He was afraid to look at him at the moment, honestly, afraid he’d crash the car and utterly ruin the date.

He’d labored over the decision of where to take him, after Aziraphale had acquiesced to letting him pick last night, but had settled on the Ritz in the end. He wanted to sweep the angel off his feet, and Aziraphale seemed like the type to be impressed by a bit of flash. Crowley could do that. He’d been told more than once he was a flash bastard. If that’s what Aziraphale liked, all the better.

“May I ask you a favor, dear?” Aziraphale asked, breaking the silence.

“Anything, angel.”

“Would you mind slowing down? Just a trifle. Please.”

His voice was tight, and Crowley chanced a glance over at him. He was staring out of the windscreen, his eyes wide, and his hands were clenched tight in his lap. He looked utterly terrified, and Crowley took his foot off the gas at once.

“Yes, absolutely, Aziraphale, I’m sorry. I didn’t think --”

“It’s quite alright,” Aziraphale said, a weak smile on his face as he seemed to relax a bit, now that they’d slowed down.

Crowley was still kicking himself. Everything needed to be perfect on this date. He couldn’t afford to be an idiot.

“So where are we going?” Aziraphale asked, his voice much more calm now. “You haven’t said, you only mentioned dinner.”

Crowley flexed his hands on the steering wheel. At a lower speed, he could afford to look at Aziraphale a bit more, and looking made him want to touch. “I got us a reservation at the Ritz.”

Aziraphale looked over at him with wide eyes, his face the picture of shock. “The Ritz?”

“Yes. Is that alright? We can go somewhere else if you’d --”

“No!” Then he cleared his throat and modulated his voice. “No, I’m just surprised, is all. I’d love to dine at the Ritz. It’s long been a bucket list item of mine.”

“You’ve never been?”

Aziraphale shook his cottony head. “No, never. It’s always struck me as the type of place one goes only for very special occasions.”

“That was exactly what I thought, and why I made a reservation there. This is a very special occasion. It’s our first official date - the first of what I hope are many.”

The smile on Aziraphale’s face was beautiful. Just fucking beautiful. “I hope so, too, dear.”

They lapsed into silence for a few blocks, and Crowley debated the merits of reaching over and taking Aziraphale’s hand. He wanted to feel that soft skin again, to feel those thick fingers between his, but didn’t know how Aziraphale would feel about him taking a hand off the wheel, after a complaint about his driving. Best not to risk it, he decided. He needed Aziraphale to feel safe.

They arrived at the restaurant safe and sound, and Crowley pulled up to the valet parking. Quick as a flash, he was out of the car and dashing around to Aziraphale's side to open the door for him. Aziraphale looked a little taken aback by the gesture, but his surprise melted quickly into a smile and he took Crowley’s offered hand. Crowley felt his pulse jump at the touch. Perfect. Their hands fit together perfectly, and Crowley never wanted to let go.

He did let go, though, in favor of offering his arm to Aziraphale, who slipped his hand into Crowley’s elbow with a dazzling smile. Crowley tossed his keys to the valet with a sudden, hard look on his face, giving the lad a dire warning about what would happen if there was even a scratch on his beloved car, then quickly shifted his attention back to Aziraphale and smiled. “Ready, angel?”

Aziraphale nodded, his face fucking glowing. “Very ready.”

Crowley started up the walkway from the street to the restaurant with Aziraphale on his arm and was afraid he would combust with joy.

“Reservation for Crowley,” he said to the maitre’d when they got inside, then turned to look at Aziraphale. The blond man was looking around with wide eyes, and Crowley felt a bit chuffed to have impressed him.

He was proud as a peacock as the maitre’d led them through the restaurant, towards their table, his strut a little more pronounced than usual. More than one person looked over at them as they passed, and Crowley puffed up, sure that the people looking were jealous of him for being with someone as lovely as Aziraphale. He knew he would be jealous of anyone he saw with Aziraphale.

Once they reached the table, Crowley politely pulled out Aziraphale’s chair and waited until he sat before taking his own seat a couple of feet away. He ordered champagne for them, the nicest he could afford, and basked in Aziraphale’s adoring look.

The champagne arrived just after the waiter left with their order, and Crowley poured each of them a glass, then raised it in a toast.

“To new beginnings,” he said, smiling at the angel with a rapt expression.

Aziraphale was fucking radiant. “To new beginnings,” he echoed, then the two of them clinked their glasses and took a sip, smiling at each other from over the rim.

“Have you ever been here before?” Aziraphale asked when they sat their flutes down again.

“Once or twice. Long time ago.”

Aziraphale looked around the room. “It’s very nice. I feel a bit underdressed.”

Crowley grinned at him. “You look perfect, angel.” And he did. Not really his clothing, which Crowley didn’t give a fuck about (although they were lovely). Just… him. All of him. Fussy mannerisms and old fashioned sayings and everything. Perfect.

The flush that climbed Aziraphale’s pale cheeks was gorgeous, and Crowley wondered how low it crept beneath his collar.

Down boy.

He took a steadying sip of his champagne, trying to rein in his randy thoughts. It wasn’t easy with Aziraphale sitting there, looking so achingly stunning, but Crowley did his best.

“How long have you been running the bookshop?” he asked to distract himself from the thought of nibbling that little patch of skin behind Aziraphale’s ear.

“Oh, it feels like I’ve been running the shop for a couple of centuries,” he answered with a laugh, blue eyes sparkling. “But I only opened it a little less than twenty years ago.”

Crowley raised an eyebrow. “Twenty years? You must have been very young.”

“Not too young. I was twenty-five then. I’m forty-two now.”

“So am I,” Crowley said, pleased with this new tidbit of information. “But that was very young for someone to open a business.”

“Yes, I suppose so. But I liked the idea of working for myself. I’ve been very happy with the decision, on the whole.” He took a sip of his champagne. “How long have you been at the university?”

“Seems like forever. I started uni when I was eighteen and never really left. Got my undergrad and doctorate there, now I’m tenured, so I’ll never leave.”

“That’s wonderful,” Aziraphale said. “I had no idea you had your doctorate.”

“Yes, in botany.”

“That’s fascinating. Do you like teaching?”

“I hate lecturing, but enjoy working with the students in the lab and the greenhouses. That’s where the action is.”

Aziraphale’s eyes twinkled over the rim of his champagne flute. “You seem like the type of man who appreciates being where the action is.”

Crowley gave him a lascivious grin. “Very much so, angel.”

The blond man flushed again, looking away with a pleased smile, and Crowley smirked. Oh, how he loved this feeling. He felt a little drunk with it.

“I bet your students just adore you.”

Crowley laughed. “Maybe one or two of them. And none of them like me come exam time.”

“No, I suppose not. I wasn’t wild about my lecturers when exam time rolled around, either.”

“What did you major in?”

“Literature.”

“Ah,” Crowley said. Of course. He should have expected that.

The food arrived and Aziraphale exclaimed over how wonderful it looked before taking a deep sniff with his eyes closed, just as he had with the flowers, making Crowley smile. Seemed he was doing a lot of smiling tonight.

Aziraphale speared a bite of his risotto and brought it to his lips. Crowley watched attentively as the angel opened his pretty pink mouth and put the fork in his mouth delicately. Then - God help him - Aziraphale let out a moan unlike anything Crowley had ever heard before, and he nearly dropped his own fork. The sound was utterly pornographic and Crowley desperately wanted to hear it again and again - preferably while Crowley had his mouth attached to some part of Aziraphale’s body. He watched, his eyes wide, as Aziraphale chewed with his blue eyes closed in bliss, then swallowed and looked at a stunned Crowley with a smile.

“That’s absolutely scrummy,” he said delightedly, then speared another bite. Crowley nearly died. Was he doing this on purpose?

After a couple of minutes, he got himself back under control enough to be able to eat his own food - although his instinct was to rest his chin on his hand and just watch the fascinating, gorgeous creature across from him enjoy himself.

“So you restored your Bentley yourself?” Aziraphale asked between bites.

Crowley shook himself from his ponderings of ways to make Aziraphale moan. “Yes. I did.”

“You must be very handy with a tool kit.”

“I’m passable,” he shrugged, downplaying his skill.

“I’ll bet you’re more than passable,” Aziraphale said, and his blue eyes were twinkling again, the way they got when he flirted. Crowley wanted him to look at him that way forever. It made his stomach clench with want. Aziraphale’s look was simultaneously innocent and teasing, and Crowley felt his cock react under the table - again. He’d never wanted anyone or anything the way he wanted Aziraphale Fell, right that minute, right in the middle of the fucking Ritz. In a desperate bid to control himself, he took one hand off the table, clenching it into a fist on his thigh.

Once he thought he had some semblance of control over himself - although he was still terribly aroused - he raised his hand back to the table and cleared his throat.

“Do you do this much?” he asked, as casually as he could muster, desperate for something to say that might take his attention off of his own desire.

“Fine dining?” Aziraphale asked, his face once again the perfect blend of teasing and innocence.

Crowley chuckled, then shook his head. “No, I meant, do you date much?” Perhaps thinking of Aziraphale with other men would cool his ardor.

“Oh. No, I can’t say that I do, really. I’m not exactly the type of person that attracts a lot of attention, you see.”

Crowley gave him a crooked smile, hoping for charm. “You certainly attracted my attention.”

Aziraphale gave a pleased flush, averting his eyes shyly, and fuck it was cute. Was everything this man did attractive?

“But no,” Aziraphale said after a pause. “I don’t date much. My last boyfriend and I split nearly two years ago, and I haven’t been on a date since.”

Part of Crowley recoiled from the question he thought to ask, but the other part of him was desperately curious. Besides, maybe a little jealousy would help get his libido under control. “Why did you split, if I may ask?” He regretted the question as soon as it was out. Aziraphale looked uncomfortable, and Crowley never wanted to make him uncomfortable. “I’m sorry,” he rushed forward to say, “that was rude of me. I apologize.”

“No, no, it’s fine. Just a little embarrassing, is all.”

“You don’t have to tell me.”

“No, really, it’s fine. In all truth, you should probably be forewarned.”

His brows knitted in confusion. “Forewarned about what? Surely whatever happened was entirely the fault of your ex.”

Aziraphale smiled down at his plate. “You’re very kind to say, but that’s not the way it was told to me by Gabriel. He was terribly bored with me.”

Crowley blinked, surprised. “Bored with you?”

“Yes. He complained that I was unspeakably dull. The ‘Antithesis of Excitement’, I believe were his exact words.”

“What an arsehole,” Crowley said with feeling, blurting before he thought better of it.

Aziraphale gave a soft smile. “He could be, yes.”

“You’re not boring, though.”

That flush was back, high on his cheeks, and he picked at his food. “You’re only saying that because you don’t know me very well. I tend to be rather… sedate.”

Crowley didn’t know how to respond to that, and was still more than a little surprised that anyone, anywhere, could say or think anything negative at all about this angel. He did his best to recover.

“Sedate and boring are not the same thing, angel. Not even close. But what do you mean by ‘sedate’? What do you like to do? That’s a question I need to ask on the first date, anyway.”

“I enjoy reading more than anything else, as I’m sure you probably gathered from my vocation as well as from seeing my flat.”

“Yes, but reading isn’t boring.”

“Perhaps not, but it’s not exactly a thrilling pastime.”

“It’s thrilling for the reader, and that’s all that matters.”

Aziraphale looked surprised, then pleased, his face blooming in a genuine smile. Crowley basked in it until Aziraphale ducked his head again shyly.

“I don’t only like to read,” he said, pushing a bite of food around on his plate. “I enjoy a good play or a film. I like to dine out on occasion. I enjoy baking - although I haven’t been doing much of that in recent months, since I started on my journey to be healthier. I watch telly on occasion, if I can find a show that’s interesting. Most often documentaries. On pretty days, I like to go to the park and people watch while I feed the ducks. But mostly, I just like quiet evenings in.”

“None of that sounds boring to me, Aziraphale. In fact, all of it sounds downright… heavenly.”

Aziraphale gave him an unsure smile. “You think so?”

“Yes. Particularly the quiet evenings in. I’m forty-two now - going and doing all the time doesn’t interest me the way it used to. Not all the time. But I am interested in all the things you said. Truly.”

His smile brightened, dazzling Crowley, and he couldn’t help but smile back, besotted and foolish.

“I’m relieved you think so, dear.”

Dear. A term of endearment. Crowley’s heart leapt in his chest. Was it possible to be in love with someone on only your first date? Because Crowley very much thought he might be.

“I'm so glad you asked me for a date,” he blurted, laying his thoughts bare before he could censor them.

Aziraphale fucking glowed again, radiating light. “I’m glad, too. I kept hoping for you to do it…”

“I was waiting,” Crowley explained.

“Waiting for what?”

“The perfect moment. It seems silly now, I guess, but I wanted to make sure to ask you at the best possible time. I also wanted there to be a little bit of a buffer between introducing myself and asking you out. I didn’t want to come on too strong and scare you off.”

Aziraphale smiled warmly and covered Crowley’s hand on the table. “You wouldn’t have scared me off.”

“No?” Aziraphale’s hand was so soft, so perfect, the weight comfortable on Crowley’s.

“No. I’d have been deeply flattered. In fact, I have a bit of a confession. I spent quite a bit of time before we met in the sauna watching you covertly, daydreaming about you.”

Crowley grinned. “I could hardly take my eyes off of you, angel. Still can’t.”

They were both startled when the waiter came by to check on them, and much to Crowley’s regret, Aziraphale withdrew his hand.

Once the waiter was gone, Crowley attempted to pay attention to his meal. “What would you think about a nighttime stroll after dinner?” he asked casually as he picked a bite of food.

“Where?”

Crowley shrugged. “We could go to the park, if you like. It’s well lit at night, and the moon is full tonight. Or we could simply browse Soho. I’m not terribly familiar with the neighborhood, maybe you could show me around. Honestly, angel, I don’t care what we do, I’m just not ready for this date to end yet.”

Aziraphale’s blue eyes crinkled around the corners when he smiled. “I’m not ready, either. I think a nighttime stroll would be just the thing.”

“Perfect,” Crowley replied with a bright, happy smile of his own. “That’s perfect.”

Notes:

This fic is finished!! Just the editing left to do... so I will, in fact, be sticking to my Monday/Thursday schedule. (And thank goodness for that, my neurosis was screaming at me for even considering doing it another way.)

A question for all of you: The next chapter is about the same length, just shy of 4k. But the fifth chapter is much longer, at about 7500 words. Would y’all prefer that split into two chapters or should I just go ahead and give you one huge smutty chapter next Thursday? The choice is yours. Most votes wins. Let me know in the comments!