Something New

He let out a mouthful of laughter. “I can't help it; you’re fun to mess with.”

“Stop smiling at me! That’s another thing. I can't stop messing up my sentences when you smile that stupid smile at me like that.”

“Oh, so now my smile is stupid?” He smirked.

“I swear, I can’t think around you. Either one of you.”

“Do you think about me when you look at him?” he inquired.

My eyes bulged, and my heart skipped a beat. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack right now?”

He smirked. “Aw, you're blushing like a rose. Relax, we’re cool. I don’t regret one single moment. Not tastin’ that pussy. Not breakin’ that back. Not one.”

Axel stepped over to us before I could say anything that would incriminate my ass. “I got you a drink, babe.”

I turned to face Axel with a fake smile plastered across my face. “Thank you, baby.”

“Is this the man of the hour?” Axel asked.

“Chef Elijah Stone,” Eli introduced himself when I failed to.

Axel reached out to shake his hand. “Axel McAdams, Isa’s fiancé.”

Seeing them connect and talk was like having an out-of-body experience. I could see my life imploding in front of my eyes.

“Nice to meet you. You’ll have to excuse me. They need me in the kitchen.”

Once he walked off, I took a sip of my drink and handed it to Axel. “I’m going to go make my rounds and grab some quotes. I’ll find you in a little.”

Elijah

I found Isa wandering toward the back of the restaurant and headed towards her. “You’re fuckin’ breathtaking right now; you know that?”

“Is the rooftop bar open tonight?”

“No.”

“Good. Upstairs, now,” she demanded.

I smirked. “If you wanted sex, you could've just asked.”

“That’s not what I mean, and you know it.”

“What you wanna talk to me about up there that you can’t say down here?”

"Would you like me to whisper it in your ear?”

“I just might.”

She pushed out a frustrated sigh. “Can we please go somewhere private to get the elephant out of the room?”

I shrugged and led us upstairs and outside. Isa lit into me the minute we were out on the private rooftop alone. “What shit are you trying to pull? Huh? You think you’re so fucking funny, don’t you? Are you trying to ruin my life?”

“Don’t put all the blame on me for what we did. I told you I don’t regret shit. I’d love the chance to have your ass climbing the walls again. Just say the word.”

“This is serious! I’m serious!” she whined, arms folded across her hardened nipples like a brat.

“So am I. I’m a grown-ass man that doesn’t shy away from what I want, and that’s you. I'm okay with that if you don’t feel the same way. I’m leaving for London in the morning anyway.”