“Bang the…okay,” I say, deciding it’s probably better just to do it and get this over with. The less opportunity he has to touch me, the better.
I do it and then wait.
“We’re going to pour it in, and then just before it’s full, we’ll do the decoration.”
“I don’t need that. It’ll taste the same.”
“True. But you deserve pretty things.”
Right. Okay.
“Shall we do it together?” he asks when I fail to begin pouring.
I should say no. I need to say no. But I can’t find it in me.
Once again, his hand covers mine, his front presses against my back, and I’m forced to watch as he lifts my arm and pours the milk.
“Once we’re there, then we…” He moves it about in a way I’m never going to be able to replicate while my head is spinning and my body is burning up like this. “And there you go. A perfect heart.”
I stare down at it while my own heart races so hard I’m sure I’m about to pass out.
“Thank you.”
“You think you can recreate it?”
“Uh…”
“I can show you again. You’ll have it in no time.”
He marches back to his breakfast and picks up eating as if he never stopped—and all the while I stand there as if my entire life just tilted on its axis.
“Aren’t you hungry?” he asks a few seconds later when he finally looks up and realizes that I haven’t moved.
“Y-yeah. Starving.”
“It’s so good.”
I shuffle over and take my seat, leaving my appetite for a freshly made omelet a few feet away at the coffee machine.
I poke at my food while Cole demolishes his, cleaning the plate.
“There is not a day that goes by that I don't regret making you a part of my life sooner,” he says, patting what I can only imagine is a very muscular stomach.
“You’re sweet,” I mumble.
“Nope. Grateful is what I am. So what does the rest of the day hold for you?” he asks as he carries his plate and now-empty glass to the dishwasher.
“Meal planning. I want to get some things prepped and ready, and some things made and put in the freezer in case you ever need something and I’m not here.”
“Firstly, that means I’m potentially being allowed to use the microwave again. And secondly, you’re not going anywhere. You’re mine now.”
My eyes jump to his at that proclamation. I know he means it as his employee, but I can’t stop myself from reading into it. It’s how my brain works.
“Well, just in case of emergencies. I want to make sure you have easy access to decent food.”
“I appreciate that.”
With his ass resting back on the counter, he sips at his coffee.
