Jake spent the morning preparing for lunch with the intensity of a man facing a life-altering moment. He showered twice, the steam curling around him as he stood under the hot shower, imagining Sarah's smile and her big breasts. He changed shirts three times, each one scrutinized in the mirror for the right balance of casual confidence. Four times, he nearly canceled, his phone hovering in his hand before he forced himself out the door, his heart pounding with anticipation.
Lombardi's was an intimate Italian restaurant inbetween two towering buildings on Pike Street, its warm lighting spilling onto the sidewalk. Through the window, Jake spotted Sarah at a corner table, her presence was magnetic even from a distance. She wore a cream blouse that hugged her curves, her big breasts so beautiful with the cleavage exposed and the soft fabric highlighting the graceful line of her neck and the flow of her dark hair. Across from her sat another woman, but Jake's eyes lingered on Sarah.
She was breathtaking.
His old anxiety clawed at him, but his improved Charm stat, now at 7, gave him an unfamiliar confidence. Or perhaps it was the lingering heat from nearly dying yesterday, a reminder of how alive he felt in her presence.
The hostess guided him to the table, and Sarah's face brightened, her eyes catching the light like polished amber. "Jake! You made it. This is my friend Rachel Kim." She gestured to the woman across from her: she looked to be in her late twenties, sharp slender body curves and dark hair cut in a sleek bob that framed her face.
"Nice to meet you," Rachel said, shaking Jake's hand, her smile professional but curious. "Sarah mentioned you're in the job market."
They ordered, Jake chose the cheapest pasta, painfully aware of his thinning wallet and the conversation flowed with ease. Rachel, a tech recruiter, had leads that aligned with his skills. She took his resume, promising to pass it along, her efficiency reassuring.
But Jake's attention kept drifting to Sarah. The way her laughter danced at his self-deprecating humor, light and unguarded. The delicate way her fingers traced the rim of her wine glass drew his gaze. The faint intoxicating scent of her perfume when she leaned closer almost gave him an erection.
[Sarah Chen Favorability: Acquaintance → Friend (45/100)]
[Note: Continued positive interaction recommended]
"So, Jake," Rachel said, pulling out her phone. "I need to make a quick call to a client. Five minutes?" She excused herself, her absence shifting the air at the table.
The space between Jake and Sarah felt charged, Electrified and intimate. Her smile softened, her eyes lingering on his with a look that made his pulse quicken and his blood flow towards his groin. "I'm glad you came," she said, her voice low, almost a whisper. "I wasn't sure you'd call, honestly."
"Why wouldn't I?" Jake asked, his tone teasing but his eyes locked on hers, searching.
She swirled her wine, the motion slow, deliberate. "I don't know. You seemed… a little adrift at the coffee shop. Like you were carrying something heavy." Her gaze flickered to his lips, then back to his eyes. "I've been there. After my divorce, I felt like I was unraveling. Some days, I still do."
"You were married?" Jake asked, surprised but careful, sensing the weight of her words.
"For three years. Corporate law, like me. We were the power couple everyone envied." Her laugh was riddled with bitterness. "Turns out, power couples can be disgusting lonely. He was sleeping with his persinal assistant. So cliché, right?."
Through his Supernatural Sight, Jake saw faint threads of dark energy clinging to her, aura of emotional scars, not supernatural but deeply human.
"That's brutal," he said softly, trying to sound as sincere as possible. "I'm sorry."
"It was two years ago. I'm mostly over it." She met his gaze, her eyes searching his. "But it woke me up. I'd spent so long chasing perfection, perfect wife, perfect lawyer, perfect daughter. For what?"
Jake leaned forward,"For what it's worth, you seem extraordinary to me."
The words slipped out, raw and unguarded. Sarah's expression softened, and a spark flared between them. Her lips parted slightly, and for a moment, Jake thought she might want to close the distance between them and kiss him.
"You're sweet," she murmured, her hand gliding across the table, stopping just a inche away from his. Her fingers hovered, close enough for him to feel the warmth of her skin. "And you're handling unemployment with more grace than I handled heartbreak. Most people would be falling apart."
If only she knew. Jake was battling supernatural forces and resurrecting ancient orders. Unemployment was just a footnote now. But sitting here, caught in the warmth of her gaze, the soft curve of her smile, the sight of her breasts and the vulnerability she offered so freely, he felt something shift. Sarah didn't feel like just a recruitment target to him.
"I almost fell apart," he admitted, his voice low, matching her intimacy. "But then… things changed. I think I've found something to fight for."
Her eyes lit with curiosity, her body angling closer. "And what's that?"
He couldn't tell her about the Sisterhood, not yet. So he said.."Uhh, Becoming better. Refusing to settle for less than I'm capable of."
Then Sarah's fingers brushed his, a fleeting, electric touch that sent a shiver through him. "I like that," she said. "Too many people just accept their lot. It's good to meet someone who wants… more." Her words lingered as she gave him a look of invitation.
Under the table, her knee grazed his, deliberate and warm, an acknowledgment of the heat building between them. Jake's caught his breath, as more blood flowed to his groin, almost causing an erection as his dick kept twitching.
[Sarah Chen Favorability increased: Friend → Close Friend (62/100)]
[Note: Romantic interest detected. Proceed with caution and authenticity.]
Rachel returned, oblivious to the steamy moment she has just interrupted. The conversation shifted back to a more safer and professional ground, but Sarah's leg remained pressed lightly against Jake's under the table.
After lunch, Rachel headed to her office, leaving Jake and Sarah on the sidewalk outside Lombardi's restaurant. The afternoon sun bathed Seattle in its golden rays, and Sarah's hair caught the light, framing her face in a way that made Jake's chest tighten.
"Walk me back to my office?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with something playful, inviting. "It's only a few blocks."
They walked slowly, their steps synchronized, neither in a hurry. Sarah spoke of her firm, her cases, her quiet dream of starting her own practice. Jake listened, captivated not only by the passion in her voice but also stealing glances at her breasts Through the opening in her blouse, the way her hands gestured with each story made her breasts jiggle and the occasional brush of her arm against his sent sparks through him.
Outside her building, she turned to face him, their bodies close. Her eyes traced his face, lingering on his mouth, and Jake felt the air between them thicken with possibility.
"I don't normally do this," she said, her voice low, "but would you want to get dinner sometime? Just us?"
Jake's heart raced, his body heating up with the nearness of her. "I'd love that," he said, his voice rough as he stuttered.
"Friday? There's a sushi place in Belltown I can't stop thinking about." Her smile was teasing, her eyes holding his with an intensity that made his pulse race faster.
"Friday's perfect," he said, his voice steady despite the heat coursing through his dick.
Sarah's smile deepened, and for a fleeting moment, Jake thought she might lean in, her lips so close he could almost taste them.
Instead, she squeezed his hand. "Text me," she said, her voice a soft command. "Don't play that three-day waiting game, okay? I want to hear from you immediately we part ways"
"Okay. I will " he promised, his thumb brushing hers before she pulled away.
She walked into her building, glancing back with a smile that left him breathless. Jake stood there, the memory of her touch burning in his skin, his mind thinking about all the possible scenarios that could happen on friday.
[QUEST COMPLETED: DEEPEN CONNECTION]
[Rewards: +2 Charm, +1 Leadership, 30 XP]
[Sarah Chen marked as PRIORITY RECRUIT]
[Note: Romantic relationship will strengthen eventual Sisterhood bond]
Jake's phone buzzed, pulling him back to reality. A text from Raven: "Recovered from yesterday's stupidity yet👀? Got info you need to hear."
Sigh, The supernatural world didn't pause for butterflies or heated glances.
Jake texted back: "Where?"
"Capitol Hill. Bar called The Veil. 8pm. Don't be late."
"Alright, be there soon"
For now, he had a few hours. Time to check his updated stats and prepare for whatever awaited him.
[Level: 3 (125/300 XP)]
[Charm: 9/100]
[Vitality: 15/100]
[Spirit: 12/100]
[Wisdom: 21/100]
[Leadership: 5/100]
Nine charm. Still modest, but climbing from three in a week felt like a weird victory.
And Sarah's text buzzed through: "Had a great time. Already counting down to Friday 😊💕"
Jake saved the message, a smile forming at his lips. He was building a new life for his self, one worth fighting for.