“I’m about to charm you with my unparalleled cooking skills, so I need you to behave.”
It was a good thing he was behind me, because he couldn’t see the huge grin on my face. It bordered on suspicious, but I just couldn’t help myself.
Today was such an amazing day. For one, it was Saturday, which was my favorite day of the week. And the most important part: I was spending it with a delicious man. Could this get any better?
I loved his fondling, but I wasn’t lying. I was in danger of hurting myself, because his touch was messing with my focus.
“What if I do this?” He wrapped his arms around my waist tightly, kissing the side of my neck.
“Hmmm...if you promise to keep those hands right where they are,” I said, stirring the mix of cereal into oatmeal.
“You mean it’s not okay if I do this?” His voice was deceptively innocent. He slid one palm down past my navel. I swatted it away before wiggling my ass right against his hard-on.
He groaned and pulled back a few inches, just out of my reach.
I looked at him over my shoulder, wiggling my eyebrows. He stepped sideways, leaning against the counter and flashing me one of those gorgeous smiles that just made my heart—hell, my whole body—sigh.
“I’d admonish you for flashing me a panty-melting smile this early in the day, but I like it, so no harm done.”
He grinned devilishly, leaning in. “And you think that’s gonna make me keep my hands to myself?”
I giggled. “It was a mistake fessing up to that. I’m not that sharp without coffee.”
He looked at me with warm eyes. “I’ll make us some.”
“Yes, triple shot please.”
“Duly noted. I didn’t even know I had these cereal boxes,” he said, watching me sprinkle peanuts and pistachios in the pan.
“I picked them because they were nearly empty.”
“Why? I have some unopened ones too.”
“I know. I saw them, but I didn’t want these to go to waste. I bought this book when we moved to New York about how to cook cheap but nutritious meals, and it had really useful tips about how to do a week’s shopping and how to make the most out of leftovers. Mom was so happy when I showed it to her. I’ve followed those instructions for so many years that they’re honestly second nature now. I hate throwing away food.”
“You manage to surprise me every time we’re together.”
“It was such a hard time for Mom. She’s always wanted to be financially independent after that. And I think I sort of learned that from her. My family often offered to finance store-related things, but I always felt like it could get messy.”
“I don’t think it would. Not from what you’ve told me about your family.”
“I know, I know. It’s just been this weird pattern thought I’ve always been fighting. Still am fighting.”
“Everything in due time, Tess. Did your mom remarry?”
“She did, actually, but only after we’d all grown up. Her husband, Mick, is an amazing guy.” He handed me a cup of steaming coffee, and I immediately sipped from it.
I felt him move up behind me again, hand firmly on my waist. Smiling, I plunked the cup back on the counter, pretending like nothing was happening, even as he slid his hands down my hips again. He was so naughty! And I loved it so much.
“Hey, don’t distract me. I told you I need to focus on this. I’ve lost practice at cooking. I practically live on takeout nowadays.”
He parted my hair, freeing the back of my neck and planting a kiss right there. I shuddered.
“So, you’re experimenting on me?”
I giggled again. What was it about him that kept making me giggle?
“I guess you could put it like that. All right, I’ve finished. Let’s put it on plates so it cools off a bit.”