I caught the double entendre when I heard his drawling tone.
I glanced at him. “You’re a pervert, you know that?”
“I thought that was one of the things you loved about me.”
He gave me a smoldering once-over, lingering on my breasts and thighs, reminding me I was naked under the thin, wet, white fabric.
I swallowed. I must be the most depraved nymphomaniac in the world, because after two rounds of fantastic sex, my core still vibrated with lust. He’d wrapped a towel around his waist, but that didn’t make him less mouthwatering.
“I also love that you can cook,” I said, tugging at the hem. “What are you making?”
My question broke the spell. Sebastian dashed out the door. I followed into the kitchen just as he yanked open the oven.
“They haven’t burned.” He grabbed a mitt and pulled out the dish. “A personal favorite, Shakshuka.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a North African and Middle Eastern dish, where eggs are cooked in a spicy tomato and pepper sauce.”
“Oh, my. They look amazing.”
The second-best road to my heart—after fantastic sex—was through my stomach. I leaned over to see the incredible dish: sautéed onions, bell peppers, and four eggs nestled in homemade tomato sauce, topped with melted cheese, chives, and butter.
My mouth watered. Even Robin had smelled the feast and was hanging around the kitchen, whiskers twitching. He glanced at the counter, decided it was too high, and meticulously grabbed onto Sebastian’s bare leg, oblivious to those razor-sharp claws.
Sebastian picked him up and held him at arm’s length. “How do we train this beast before he shreds me?”
I laughed, toying with the kitten’s claws. “Maybe try wearing clothes?” I looked him up and down. “Never mind, I’ll train the cat.”
“We should probably keep him away from the aquarium.” He eyed Robin thoughtfully. “I don’t think Venus and the ladies would appreciate a furry predator staring at them all day.”
“Oh God, I didn’t even think about that.” I glanced toward the living room, where the fish tank sat peacefully. “We might need to get some kind of cover, or move it higher.”
“Or teach Robin that they’re friends, not food.”
“Good luck with that. He tried to eat a moth last night.”
Sebastian laughed and pulled me into a long, searing kiss. The kitten pushed us apart, squirming between us, annoyed at being flattened.
“I missed you,” I whispered. “Have I said that already?”
“I’ll never get tired of hearing it,” he murmured against my lips. “I missed you too. If I didn’t have to work…”
I groaned, rubbing my face. “I have to work too. I’ll go fix the shower head.”
“Thanks. I’ll plate the food and let it cool.”
“Keep the cat away from it.”
I grabbed the tape and toothpicks, leaving Sebastian scratching his head about how to fulfill my last request.
I cleaned the shower arm threads and inspected them. The arm was in decent shape once clean, so I wrapped Teflon tape over it, screwed on the head, and tested the flow. All good.
Wiping down the bathroom took longer. In my mind, I was racing the clock. I didn’t want to be here when Janine arrived. Maybe it was cowardly, but I wasn’t ready to face her yet. Sebastian and I had just made up. We were still sorting things out.
As much as Sebastian loved his sister, sometimes she felt like an overbearing presence in our relationship. I thought about skipping breakfast, but dismissed the idea. It would hurt Sebastian’s feelings, and I was starving. I’d eat quickly, then leave. I couldn’t avoid Janine forever, but I needed to organize my thoughts before the inevitable inquisition. She might be a defense attorney, but she was damn good at playing offense too.
Breakfast was divine. I forgot about eating quickly and savored every bite. Sebastian watched me feigning indifference, while his eyes betrayed his desire to please me.
