Living life in the public eye as Henrik did, constantly playing a role, must be exhausting. Nora thought about his ex-girlfriend and how the media had gone crazy over their breakup. She realized she wasn’t comfortable with the idea of his ex. It didn’t exactly make sense since this thing between her and Henrik was nothing more than a flirtation for the show. His attractive exshouldn’tbother her. And yet she found it hard to let go of the knowledge that Bente Hammar had cheated on Henrik, and that maybe he still hadn’t gotten over the beautiful, bohemian, enchanting Bente.
They began to shape the dough into S-shaped buns and arranged them in rows on the baking trays, working methodically and settling into a good rhythm.
“I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed working with a participant as much as this,” he said after a while. Nora grabbed a handful of raisins and placed two on each bun, then moved on to the next tray. And the next. She was getting close to him, and when he didn’t step aside, she looked up at him. She was right beside him now, and he looked down at her. She wanted to kiss him, taste him, feel that rough beard against her cheek. Oh God, she really wanted to kiss him. Instead she turned and quickly brushed each finished bun with lightly beaten egg, then slid the first tray into the oven.
Henrik followed her example, and soon all the trays were in the oven.
They continued shaping buns, working methodically in silence. The heat was making Nora perspire, and she could feel how pink her cheeks were. The cold outside meant the windows steamed up, condensation trickling down the glass.
“What would you have been doing this evening if you weren’t working?” Henrik asked after a while.
Nora sighed and looked up at the ceiling, trying to think. “I guess I’d have watched a movie, maybe met up with my friends. Or stayed home with a glass of wine.”
“A glass of wine would go down pretty well right now.”
She smiled tentatively. “I have a bottle of wine up in the apartment—shall I go and get it?”
“Great idea—why not? Lucia buns with wine.”
She ran upstairs, taking the opportunity to drag a brush through her hair and freshen up her mascara. She grabbed the bottle, then at the last minute dashed into the bathroom and slipped a couple of condoms in her pocket.Please don’t jinx this now.
She went back down to the patisserie and poured the wine into two tumblers. They raised their glasses in a toast and took a sip beforecarrying on with their work. The silence between them was tense, as if each of them was waiting for the other to make the first move. After the second glass of wine and the third batch of baking, Henrik turned to her.
“Nora ...” He looked at her with those dark eyes, and she held her breath.
“Yes?” A second later she was in his arms, and they were kissing hungrily.
He pushed her up against the baking table. His hands were inside her top. She untied her apron, took it off, did the same with his. She fumbled with his T-shirt, slipped her hands inside it. His skin felt burning hot beneath her fingers. His upper body was soft and hard at the same time, and she caressed his broad shoulders before pulling off his T-shirt. They carried on kissing, his beard scratching her cheeks, his hands gentle as they moved over her body. She kissed his neck and inhaled the smell of him, which made her feel a little dizzy, and then she focused on the sensation of his touch. He stroked her breasts outside her bra, then continued downward. He took hold of her T-shirt, pulled it off. Given the heat of the room, she felt pure relief, and his kisses on her hot skin were almost cool.
The edge of the table was chafing her back and she shifted her position slightly, but then he lifted her onto the table, slipped down her jeans in a single movement, left her sitting there in nothing but her underwear. He stopped and looked at her.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he said.
She gazed at him standing in front of her, bare-chested. He was muscular and broad-shouldered but not bulky. He just looked strong.And. Absolutely. Fucking. Fantastic.She wanted to feel every inch of him. She drew him close, caressed his hairy chest, his back. His hands were inside her bra now, stroking her breasts as she undid his jeans. She pushed them down, along with his underwear. He was touching her panties now, his fingers finding their way beneath the lace. Shewhimpered, wanting more, wanting him to touch her where it was most sensitive.
She ran her hands slowly up and down the soft skin of his cock. He let out a small groan, and now he was exploring her most intimate places. She laughed when he stroked her clitoris, and soon her whole body was trembling.
He pulled her close, yanked off her panties. Then he stopped. “Shit, I haven’t ...”
Nora took a deep breath. “Pass me my jeans.” He grinned, picked them up, and handed them to her. She took a condom out of the pocket, opened it slowly. He put his lips to her ear, whispered, “So you planned this?”
She smiled. “Well, I was hoping ...”
She slid the condom over his cock with a smooth movement that made him moan.
He thrust into her, moved slowly inside her, then faster, stroking her clitoris all the time.
They both came quickly, neither waiting for the other.
He slumped over her, and she sank back against the table with her head on the bag of flour behind her. Henrik was breathing heavily, and then after a moment he kissed her gently on the neck and lifted her off the table. They sank down onto the floor. Fortunately Emil had both swept and mopped before he left.
“Is it the booze and the crap ventilation system, or is it very hot in here?” he said.
Nora laughed and kissed him. “It’s definitely not your sense of humor that makes you so sexy.”
“So you think I’m sexy?”
“Is there a woman in this country who doesn’t?” She rolled her eyes. It was a well-known fact that he was handsome, and to hear him fishing for compliments was ... kind of sweet. She kissed him again, she couldn’t get enough of those wonderful lips, the feeling of that prickly beard against her chin.
