“I hung out in the kitchen with our chef from the time I turned fourteen.She taught me a lot of basics.I also learned how to do laundry.”
“No pink underwear for you,” he said with humor in his voice.
“Nope.”I couldn’t suppress a chuckle.“Did you really turn your underwear pink?”
“Not pink, but bright red.”
I laughed; I really couldn’t help myself.We continued to chat as we ate, and I found myself relaxing around Asher more and more.Maybe he wasn’t the chauvinistic Neanderthal after all.
“Dessert?”Asher asked.
I glanced at the dishes on the table.Most were still close to half full.“No, thank you.I don’t think I could eat another bite.”
“They have a killer tiramisu.”
I shook my head.“Please, have some if you want.”
The waiter arrived.“If you would box up what is left, please.I’ll have the tiramisu and…” Asher looked at me.
“Black tea, if you have it.”
“Yes, ma’am.”The waiter rushed off to box up the food.
“No coffee?”Asher asked.
“I don’t like to drink coffee at night.”Tea would help my food settle a bit; I didn’t normally eat as much as I had tonight.
The waiter brought Asher’s dessert and my tea and set the leftovers at the empty place across from me.
I stirred my tea then lifted the cup and blew across the tea to cool it enough to take a sip.I glanced at Asher just as he took a bite of the tiramisu.Almost simultaneously he closed his eyes with an expression of what looked like pure bliss, licked his lips, and moaned.
The sound went straight to my soul.
“Have a bite?”He scooped up a piece on the fork and held it out to me.
I started to shake my head, then changed my mind.Leaning forward, I put my hand over his and guided the fork into my mouth.The sweet of the ladyfingers, the sweet Marsala, the bitter of the espresso and unsweetened cocoa, and the perfect mascarpone nearly melted on my tongue.Such a contrast.
I held the fork in my mouth a bit longer than normal before I allowed Asher to pull it back.The heat in his gaze shot through my body.I sat back.“That is delicious.”
Asher cleared his throat.“Yes, it is.”
Okay, I was playing with fire, but for once in my life, I wanted to get burned.Asher might act like a caveman, at times, but he was also funny and a hard worker.
We finished our dinner, and after what my mother would have called a ‘spirited’ discussion regarding the check, Asher walked me to my car.He waited for me to unlock it, then he opened the back door and set the leftovers inside.
“Shouldn’t you take them home?”I had surrendered about the check but made it crystal clear I didn’t think it was fair for him to pay the whole thing.Just as I thought I’d made my point, his whole demeanor changed.Determination, power, I didn’t know what to call it, but the vibe, even as subtle as it was, definitely shut down any argument.There wasn’t anything scary about it.In fact, it was the hottest experience I could ever remember.Then, as soon as we stepped out of the restaurant, he gently took hold of my arm and whispered in my ear, “You’ll behave yourself or Iwillspank you.”
The heat that flowed through my veins when he said he’d spank me was molten level.Was Asher kinky?It was possible.After all, he worked for a company that screamed kink.
“I want you to have them.”He shut the door and then turned to me.
His body was close, almost too close.“Thank you,” I whispered.
I watched as he lifted his hand and followed the movement until I felt his fingers on my chin, and he gently lifted my face ever so slightly so that his gaze captured mine.“I’m going to kiss you now, Emma.If you don’t want this, say no.”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
He looked from my eyes to my lips and back to my eyes, tilted his head, and his lips touched mine.
