“I’m obsessed with your mouth,” he whispered. “I can’t get enough.”
“You haven’t even seen half the things it can do.”
He broke the kiss and drew back. “Oh, really?”
She nodded. “You should see me make balloon animals.”
He snarled playfully and toppled her to the sofa.
By the following week, her jaw was sore, and her lips were swollen, as if she’d been eating popcorn for days. She and Ryan needed to cool things down or they were going to hurt each other—literally.
She spent the day thinking of the most unsexual thing they could do for dinner and remembered that he claimed to make good ribs. Ribs were not date food, so she suggested he make them Friday night.
She could smell the grill as soon as she got home from work. Ryan smiled from the other side of the fence, a basting brush in one hand and a bowl of barbeque sauce in the other. “Wait until you taste these.”
She leaned her bike against the shed. “I’ll be over in a minute. I have to change.”
“I’ll be here.”
Working in a subzero warehouse meant wearing winter clothes year-round. She jogged up the stairs and stripped off her hooded sweatshirt, tossing it in the corner by the hamper. She was sweaty from riding her bike in heavy clothes at the end of May, so she quickly rinsed off in the shower.
Pulling her hair into a messy bun, she slipped on a pair of cargo pants and a tank top. Ryan was still at the grill when she returned outside.
“Perfect timing. These are just about ready.”
She held the door as he carried the tray of ribs into the living room. Ryan still didn’t have a kitchen table so when they ate at his place, they usually used the coffee table in the living room.
He had the round table set with plates and a large empty bowl. Setting the tray of ribs in the middle, he said, “I just have to get something.”
She sat on the floor and breathed in the savory scent of pork and barbeque. “It smells amazing.”
“Nothing goes better with ribs than coconut, so I picked up pina colada mix.”
“Ooh, momma likey.”
He tipped the frosty blender over her glass and filled her cup. “Dig in.”
The ribs were so tender the meat pulled right off the bone. She moaned as the sweet sauce mixed with savory meat and melted in her mouth. Chasing each bite with a sip of pina colada was a master call.
“Oh, my God, these are the best ribs I’ve ever had.” She tossed the naked bone into the debris bowl and pulled another rib from the rack.
“You’ve got barbeque sauce on your chin.”
“Oh.” She used a clean part of her hand to wipe her jaw. “Did I get it?”
“Now it’s on your neck.”
“Damn it.” She put down her rib and reached for a napkin. “How about now?”
He tipped his head and scooted closer. “Let me see.”
She handed him her napkin and he dabbed the corner of her mouth, then leaned in and slowly licked her lower lip. He tasted like sweet chargrilled sex.
“I missed a spot,” he whispered, reaching back to the bowl of ribs and dunking his finger in the sauce. She sucked in a breath when he dragged the finger down her throat.
“Ryan!”
“Let me clean that up before the ants carry you away.” He leaned over her, tipping her back to the floor, and trailed his tongue over the sauce.
Her eyes rolled back, and she arched beneath him. Her plan of keeping their hands occupied lasted all of five minutes.
“More,” she whispered, and he dipped his finger again, painting her throat, dragging his touch to the neckline of her tank top. She stretched her arms above her head and out to the side, giving him full access.
His mouth teased over the wing of her collar bone, and his tongue traced the soft swell of her breasts. Her breathing labored as he came dangerously close to her nipples. She couldn’t take his teasing anymore. Sitting up, she rolled him to his back and climbed over him.
He caught her hips as she straddled him and took his mouth, kissing hungrily and showing him with the rocking of her body how much she wanted him. His grip tightened, his fingers sliding under the hem of her shirt until he caged her ribs. His thumbs rested just under her breasts, and he broke the kiss.
“What are we doing?” he gasped, his head falling back to the carpet.
“I don’t know.” She didn’t want to think about it. Her mouth kissed down his throat. “Take this off.”
He stripped away his shirt and her body seemed to flare with appreciation. She trailed kisses down his front, scooting off his lap and fitting her body between his legs.
“Whoa, where you going?”
She loosened the buckle of his belt and popped the button of his jeans. “I’m kissing you.” Her tongue dragged down the slope of his hip. “Lift.”