He unlocked the door. “Ready?”
“Ready.”
I shivered a little, trying to warm up my feet. The ceramic tiles in Daniel’s kitchen were cold on my bare feet, but when we had walked into his house, he had removed his shoes, so I did, as well.
He checked out my fingers, assuring himself they weren’t broken, then insisted on wrapping them up to protect them while I cooked.
Our making-out walk of shame, as Daniel called it, turned out easy, because a client had walked in to pick up food for their pet and Caitlin was busy. Steven had grinned knowingly at us, waggling his fingers, but Daniel pulled me along and we never stopped.
Once at the house, he gave me a quick tour of his large, state-of-the-art kitchen. He told me to make myself comfortable and help myself to anything I needed.
Then he left me—but not before bestowing my mouth with another one of his blistering kisses, this time with me lifted to the counter, him standing between my legs. It was a perfect height for him, and he showed his pleasure in a most generous fashion.
I sat there long after he left, trying to calm myself down. Never had I met a man like Daniel. Never had someone kissed me the way he did. It felt as though every time his lips touched mine, he stole another little piece of my heart and took it with him.
He possessed me, completely.
I shook my head at my strange thoughts and looked around his kitchen in awe. Rich, mahogany-stained maple cupboards, quartz countertops, and stainless steel appliances all shone under the recessed lights. Cool tones of taupe and cream showed off the deep satin and black surfaces. His stove made me want to weep, thinking of my small one, and I could hardly wait to use it. I was making spaghetti, hoping Daniel liked pasta, as well as salad and my garlic-cheese bread. Luckily, it had been my turn to bring baked goods to work last week, so I had cupcakes in my freezer, and I brought those along, as well. Men always liked cupcakes. They were my dad’s favorite.
After preparing the spaghetti sauce and leaving it to simmer, I was a little chilly. I had removed my shrug, to avoid a random tomato sauce accident, so with bare arms and no shoes, I was cold. I padded into the living room, taking in the sizable room and clean lines. The oversized window seat was inviting, and I sat down carefully, offering my hand to the big, gray cat sitting in the sun. Daniel had introduced us earlier.
“This is Dex.” He bent down to pick up the large cat weaving around his legs, demanding attention. The cat’s fur was short, with a few patches almost bare, part of his tail was missing, and the tips of his ears were gone. He looked like an alley cat that had lost more than his share of fights, but his golden eyes were gentle and he let me pat him.
“Hello, Dex,” I murmured, running my fingers over his back.
“I found him one night on my way home from school. There was a storm, and he was lying in the snow, obviously hurt. I took him back to the apartment I was living in at the time, and nursed him back to health,” Daniel explained. “He’s been with me ever since. He sort of owns the place.”
I laughed. “I’ll remember that.”
Daniel chuckled as Dex licked my hand and allowed me to scratch his head. “He likes you.”
“Is he not a people cat?”
“I think he was mistreated before I found him. I assume he was abandoned and left to fend for himself,
which is why he fared so poorly. He is a bit cautious of other people aside from me. Somehow, I don’t see that as an issue with you.”
The way he spoke, I knew how fond he was of the creature who lay so content in his arms.
“He’s lucky you found him.”
Daniel nodded. “He’s been a great companion.”
Dex let me stroke him as I took in the details of the room.
A huge sofa and matching chair in a deep green filled the space. I ran my hand over the curved back of the sofa, touching the lushness of the weave in the fabric. The same color palette as the kitchen, made the room feel inviting and cozy. A massive fireplace graced one wall, a large TV hung over it.
After a final pat to Dex’s head, I stood and studied the fireplace, but had no idea how to use it, or if I should be so forward. The thick rug in the center of the room offered some respite to my cold feet, yet I was still chilly. I hesitated, not wanting to snoop around Daniel’s house, then pulled out my phone and texted him.
Do you have a pair of socks I could borrow?
His reply was swift.
Top drawer in dresser. R U OK?
I could sense his concern in the short message.
Feet are chilly. I didn’t want to snoop.