Chapter 397: You can’t stop me
Maxwell was laughing at him. He wasn’t even hiding it. Andrew tried to keep his pouting internal, because he knew that would only make Maxwell laugh more.
"Baby, please. You can bake the bread later." Maxwell’s voice was warm, soft, but Andrew didn’t believe him. "We can just go back to bed, alright?"
They were down in the kitchen now, Andrew having let Maxwell do a quick clean up of his body before he’d rushed downstairs.
Well, ’rushed’ wasn’t exactly the word that Andrew or Maxwell would have used. Andrew had forgotten how it felt to bottom. He had also forgotten the toll it took on the body.
Andrew’s legs felt like jelly.
Walking down the stairs, holding onto the wall and railing had been a nightmare of embarrassment. Especially since Maxwell had been howling behind him. Andrew wouldn’t forget that sound for a while.
Nor would he forget the satisfaction in Maxwell’s gaze when he’d looked over Andrew. It had been distinctly predatory in nature. Andrew had only seen that kind of look on true alphas faces before, so it was a bit strange to see it on Maxwell’s face, while at the same time...
It made sense.
Maxwell wasn’t treating him like an object per se, but he was definitely feeling a certain way about Andrew. The man had always felt that way about Andrew. Possessive was the nice way to say it, but Andrew could see how it could tilt into more dangerous territories. Thankfully, he knew that Maxwell wouldn’t go that far.
Only because the man didn’t want to be like his relatives.
All of that was to say that Maxwell was looking at Andrew like he was Maxwell’s possession and wanted him to come to bed, while Andrew wiggled his way around the kitchen.
"I am baking bread. You are not going to convince me otherwise, especially since we have guests coming over for New Years, Maxwell." Maybe Andrew’s tone was to be desired, but Maxwell had been poking and prodding with his questions and Andrew was not going to back down.
Maxwell’s face went blank for a moment, before his whole face broke out in a huge, happy smile.
"Did you just snap at me because I annoyed you? Fuck. That’s hot." Andrew shot a glare at the smaller man, and that only spurred him on. He leaned forward, taking up more space at the island. "Wow. You’re really angry. I’m just trying to look after you." Maxwell shot back and Andrew huffed, turning his back to the other man as he wobbled towards the oven.
"Yeah yeah. Looking out for me, huh? Or feeling proud that you did this to me?" Andrew shot back, calling him out. When Andrew glanced at him he could tell that Maxwell was surprised that Andrew called him out as clearly as he had.
Maxwell leaned back, trying to seem like he wasn’t giddy with the condition that Andrew’s body was in. He tried to seem confused, even upset at the words that left Andrew’s lips but Andrew snorted and rolled his eyes as the oven beeped, letting him know that it was up to temp.
Andrew opened the oven and slid the first round of bread in.
"That’s not at all what I was-" Maxwell started as soon as Andrew had shut the oven after putting the bread in. Andrew rolled his eyes, his back to Maxwell as he set the timer for the bread on the stove. Then, he spun and Maxwell’s words dried up in his mouth. His lips twitched, before a smile broke across his lips. He was really trying to fight himself from showing his happiness.
Andrew shook his head.
"I’m not upset that you’re happy about my condition. I am upset that you are trying to baby me. I’m a grown man, Maxwell. Remember that. I know the limits of my body, and I’ll be damned if I don’t make sure that tomorrow is a good day for everyone." Andrew said through gritted teeth. Maxwell, who had been smiling before, stared at Andrew before his expression softened.
It wasn’t the aggressive smile of before that touched his lips, but now a quieter one. One that spoke to a gentler emotion, a kinder one. Maxwell let out a sigh before getting down from his seat at the island and coming around to wrap his arms around Andrew from behind.
"I’m sorry. I wasn’t even considering that as an issue. I was just trying to look out for you. I was...too excited that I could be the one to help you out." Maxwell admitted. Andrew didn’t need him to tell him that, but he was glad that Maxwell was aware of it. "Is there anything I can do to help you finish getting ready for tomorrow tonight so that you can relax earlier?" Maxwell asked, and Andrew finally felt his shoulders relax.
"No. I just need to bake the bread tonight, and then we can do the rest tomorrow. If I need anything, it’s for you to stop treating me like I’m a damn child, and not to laugh at me like I’m a fawn taking my first steps." Andrew told him quietly, bitterly, and Maxwell gave him a squeeze.
"I’m sorry that upset you." Maxwell said, but Andrew noticed how he didn’t agree to it. His shoulders stiffened again and Maxwell pulled back. "How about I get a nice, warm bath prepared? A bubble bath, to help relax your muscles, hmm?" Maxwell’s voice was soft, and seductive in a different way.
Andrew grumbled, putting up a good front, but he was secretly very pleased with Maxwell’s peace offer. A bath sounded lovely, and would only be made better if Maxwell joined him. He had a feeling that he would probably be able to convince the other man to do so.
Especially since he was trying to make it up to Andrew.
"I’ll allow it." Andrew told him, not letting on how much he liked the idea. Maxwell laughed, pressing a kiss against the back of Andrew’s shoulder before Anderw felt his arms give him another squeeze and he pulled away.
"Alright. Well, I’m going to head upstairs to formulate what kind of bath I want to get ready for you. Then, I’ll come back down to check on your progress and help you back upstairs when the bread is done, alright?" Maxwell asked, laying out his plan. Andrew glanced at him over his shoulder, staring down at those warm, blue eyes as he pouted.
Andrew turned, bending and pressing a chaste kiss against the other man’s lips.
"Bread doesn’t take only a few minutes to bake." He warned and Maxwell’s mouth broke out into another grin.
"I’m a rich kid, not an idiot. I know bread takes a while. I’ve seen you bake before." Maxwell defended and Andrew’s lips finally twitched.
"I bet seeing me bake was the first time you’ve seen someone do it outside of a commercial kitchen." Andrew accused and Maxwell huffed.
"Does at home cooking not count?" Maxwell asked and Andrew gave him a look.
"A hired chef is still a hired chef whether they are at home or otherwise. I’m not trained, I’m an amateur." Andrew said and Maxwell stared at him, thoughtful.
"I would never consider you that. Your food tastes better than some chefs I’ve had personally cater for me before." Maxwell told him and Andrew stared at him. He couldn’t actually mean that, could he? He was just trying to make Andrew feel better.
Suck up to his boyfriend.
But when Andrew looked down at Maxwell, his gaze was serious. Andrew would have known if he was teasing him, but...Maxwell meant it. Hearing those words from him, Andrew felt his face warm.
Andrew coughed, clearing his throat as Maxwell continued to stare up at him, his gaze unwavering. Andrew eventually had to turn away from him as Maxwell had eaten enough into his time that the first timer went off for the bread.
"I need to take care of that." Andrew mumbled, checking on the bread while he heard Maxwell chuckle behind him. It was clear that the other man was looking for this kind of reaction from Andrew. Embarrassment at the treatment, but not in a bad way. Andrew liked compliments. He just didn’t fully agree with them all the time.
When Andrew was done switching the bread around, he turned back to the smaller man. Maxwell was watching him expectantly, and Andrew cleared his throat again.
"While I appreciate your kind words, I will once again say I am not professionally trained. I just like to make food." Andrew told him and Maxwell chuckled. His eyes curled up at the corners as he leaned in, getting close to Andrew in an openly affectionate way that wasn’t common for Maxwell, but was adorable nonetheless.
"Baby, liking doing something is half the battle. Even when people do something that they are not good at, but enjoy, you can always tell. Passion plays a big part in having good results. And you, while you consider yourself average at cooking, baking, all things related to being in the kitchen, I don’t. You aren’t average, you aren’t even an amateur. I’m an amateur. I don’t know my way around a whisk or a spatula. Never needed to know, and I’m content with that." Maxwell said warmly. "I would much rather have a handsome man who looks great in an apron know that stuff for me." Maxwell was being cheeky.
Andrew narrowed his gaze at the man, even if he felt his stomach flip at his words.
"You don’t know the difference between a whisk and a spatula?" Andrew asked, purposefully being obtuse. Maxwell rolled his eyes and gave him a look.
"You know what point I’m trying to say, don’t nitpick." Maxwell’s ears burned. "And I think I know, but I’m not sure." Andrew threw his head back and laughed at that. What a cute man. He was a lot of things, but Maxwell was for one thing. He was the man that even if Andrew was annoyed at him, he was always going to be able to make his heart melt.
"Come here for a kiss before you go upstairs." Andrew muttered and watched as Maxwell brightened.
"Oh good. I was worried you were going to be too mad at me for kisses." Maxwell sounded so relieved that Andrew couldn’t help but laugh.
"I’m almost always down for kisses. You just need to ask." Andrew said seriously and Maxwell grinned.
"Good to know." Maxwell clearly was filing that away for later. Andrew wondered if he was doing so to test the limits of that later, or if he was going to save it for when he did it unintentionally. Knowing Maxwell, both were possible.