Daily Ritual

DAILY RITUAL

By: Kyara Caledonii

Copyright October 17, 1997

He tippy-toed across the cold kitchen floor in his barefeet, rubbing his arms for warmth. In some perverse way, this was his favorite part of the morning; leaving the cozy heat of the bed for the frosty kitchen. Lighting the burner with a wooden match, it ignited with a small hiss. He filled the kettle, put it on the flame and opened only three cupboards before he found the French press coffeemaker. Scooting to the sunporch door, he opened it wide for the dog. Hazard just stood there. He gestured inside with his head. "C'mon." he whispered. "Get in." Still the dog stood there, not moving. "Okay, okay. Mon Dieu."

Wrapping his arms around his body, he ventured further out to open the outside door. The cold blast drew an involuntary gasp from him and he prodded the dog again. "Out! Now! I'm freezing!" Hazard regally and slowly padded past him to glide down the steps to the lawn. At the last minute, he couldn't resist grabbing the end of the dog's tail and giving it a playful yank.

While the water heated, he shoved a few more pieces of wood into the stove and adjusted the flue. Standing in front of the cannisters, he thought carefully about his choice of coffees. The vanilla hazelnut? The mocha java? No one really liked the raspberry creme; he didn't know why it was still there. He finally decided on Morning Mist Blend and spooned several spoonfuls into the glass carafe.

Pouring water over the grounds, he positioned the plunger over the top and while waiting for it to steep, he stole a few grapes from the fruit bowl. He watched Hazard leaping around outside, chasing something, and hoped he wouldn't find a dead mouse on the doorstep later. When enough time had passed to deepen the brew to a robust color, he slowly pushed the plunger down.

He took a few moments to choose the right mug. The blue one with the little white fleur de lys would do very nicely. He carefully poured the coffee and brought it up to his nose, sniffing the steam with a blissful smile. Tiptoeing again up the stairs, he shouldered the bedroom door open, carefully moving, gingerly cradling the cup because as usual, he filled it too full. He alternately blew across the top to cool it and sipped it noisely to lessen the spills.

I opened the one eye that wasn't buried in the pillow. I laughed at the look of concentration on his face.

"Ciel, you don't have to do this every morning. I'll come down." I struggled to sit up while trying to wrap the top of the sheet around me. I reached out one hand to relieve him of his burden and with the other, I lifted the blankets next to me so he could crawl back into the warmth.

"It's freezing down there!" he dropped a kiss on my bare shoulder with lips hot from the coffee.

"Well, try putting some clothes on next time."

I gave a squeal as he plunged his icy nose down the shadowy valley peeking just above the hastily arranged sheet.

"You're cold as ice!" I accused, and tried to gently nudge his face away.

"Careful; you're going to make me spill the coffee." He held the cup while I took a cautious sip. I murmured appreciatively and snuggled my head on his shoulder as he took a drink.

"And you used my favorite cup, too." He just took another mouthful and offered me a sip.

"Do you want me to hold it for awhile?" I asked.

He smiled and tilted the cup to my lips.

"What? The cup?" I gave him a scolding look, but couldn't contain a small smile.

"Behave." He gave me that look and deliberately placed the cup on the nightstand. Rolling over to me, he slid his arms under my shoulders and with his warm breath richly flavored with coffee whispered closely, "Oh, you wouldn't like me when I behave."

I twined my arms around his neck and smiled into those smoky hazel eyes. My fingers idly combed through the silkiness at the nape of his neck.

"I wouldn't? Why not?" I could just hear his muffled answers.

"Because then I couldn't do this......or this....." After several minutes, I could barely gasp out loud. "The coffee will get cold", I reminded him.

"What coffee?" At least this time, we managed not to spill any coffee on the sheets.


	DAILY RITUAL By: Kyara Caledonii Copyright October 17, 1997 *All Rights Reserved. Story cannot be reprinted/reproduced without Kyara's permission.* He tippy-toed across the cold kitchen floor in his barefeet, rubbing his arms for warmth. In some perverse way, this was his favorite part of the morning; leaving the cozy heat of the bed for the frosty kitchen. Lighting the burner with a wooden match, it ignited with a small hiss. He filled the kettle, put it on the flame and opened only three cupboards before he found the French press coffeemaker. Scooting to the sunporch door, he opened it wide for the dog. Hazard just stood there. He gestured inside with his head. "C'mon." he whispered. "Get in." Still the dog stood there, not moving. "Okay, okay. Mon Dieu." Wrapping his arms around his body, he ventured further out to open the outside door. The cold blast drew an involuntary gasp from him and he prodded the dog again. "Out! Now! I'm freezing!" Hazard regally and slowly padded past him to glide down the steps to the lawn. At the last minute, he couldn't resist grabbing the end of the dog's tail and giving it a playful yank. While the water heated, he shoved a few more pieces of wood into the stove and adjusted the flue. Standing in front of the cannisters, he thought carefully about his choice of coffees. The vanilla hazelnut? The mocha java? No one really liked the raspberry creme; he didn't know why it was still there. He finally decided on Morning Mist Blend and spooned several spoonfuls into the glass carafe. Pouring water over the grounds, he positioned the plunger over the top and while waiting for it to steep, he stole a few grapes from the fruit bowl. He watched Hazard leaping around outside, chasing something, and hoped he wouldn't find a dead mouse on the doorstep later. When enough time had passed to deepen the brew to a robust color, he slowly pushed the plunger down. He took a few moments to choose the right mug. The blue one with the little white fleur de lys would do very nicely. He carefully poured the coffee and brought it up to his nose, sniffing the steam with a blissful smile. Tiptoeing again up the stairs, he shouldered the bedroom door open, carefully moving, gingerly cradling the cup because as usual, he filled it too full. He alternately blew across the top to cool it and sipped it noisely to lessen the spills. I opened the one eye that wasn't buried in the pillow. I laughed at the look of concentration on his face. "Ciel, you don't have to do this every morning. I'll come down." I struggled to sit up while trying to wrap the top of the sheet around me. I reached out one hand to relieve him of his burden and with the other, I lifted the blankets next to me so he could crawl back into the warmth. "It's freezing down there!" he dropped a kiss on my bare shoulder with lips hot from the coffee. "Well, try putting some clothes on next time." I gave a squeal as he plunged his icy nose down the shadowy valley peeking just above the hastily arranged sheet. "You're cold as ice!" I accused, and tried to gently nudge his face away. "Careful; you're going to make me spill the coffee." He held the cup while I took a cautious sip. I murmured appreciatively and snuggled my head on his shoulder as he took a drink. "And you used my favorite cup, too." He just took another mouthful and offered me a sip. "Do you want me to hold it for awhile?" I asked. He smiled and tilted the cup to my lips. "What? The cup?" I gave him a scolding look, but couldn't contain a small smile. "Behave." He gave me that look and deliberately placed the cup on the nightstand. Rolling over to me, he slid his arms under my shoulders and with his warm breath richly flavored with coffee whispered closely, "Oh, you wouldn't like me when I behave." I twined my arms around his neck and smiled into those smoky hazel eyes. My fingers idly combed through the silkiness at the nape of his neck. "I wouldn't? Why not?" I could just hear his muffled answers. "Because then I couldn't do this......or this....." After several minutes, I could barely gasp out loud. "The coffee will get cold", I reminded him. "What coffee?" At least this time, we managed not to spill any coffee on the sheets.