Despite the chaos of tickets flying in and the buzz of customers out front, there was this steady calm enveloping me. Something that had started to settle in my stomach but hadn’t finished until now.
I’d always thought I needed to leave to become someone. But maybe this—back with friends and family after years apart, experimenting in the kitchen—was who I was meant to be all along.
Not lost. Not drifting.
Just here at home.
Kira
Back at Landon’s apartment, we decided to decompress for the rest of the evening. By that, Landon meant cueing up a rom-com marathon “in my honor” while we camped out on his couch with two forks and a half-eaten bourbon pecan pie between us.
The day had left me exhausted in the best way. My feet ached, my hair smelled vaguely like fryer oil, and there was a mysterious smudge on my forearm, but I didn’t care. The diner’s soft opening was officially over, and somehow, we’d pulled it off. Sure, there had been hiccups—a tough customer or two, a last-minute missing order—but Landon handled it flawlessly.
I looked at him now, his arm draped casually along the back of the couch, his eyes half-watching the movie but fully relaxed in a way I hadn’t seen in weeks. This was the version of Landon I liked best—the one who let his guard down, who let me in.
The fork in my hand hovered over another bite of pie, but honestly, dessert was the last thing on my mind. As much as I loved flaky crusts and gooey filling, what I really wanted was to be close to him. As close as physically possible.
“Do you have any other movie options?” I asked casually, knowing Landon kept rows of old DVDs on the shelf in his bedroom, in addition to whatever streaming platforms he had.
“Sure.” Landon glanced down at me. “Did you have anything in mind?”
“Not really. Just not feeling this one in particular.”
“I’ll be right back,” Landon declared as he headed into his bedroom, leaving me alone in the living room. I thought about the last time we were in this position and chuckled. Thinking about that night brought a new awareness to my body. Maybe I didn’t have to wait around for the right moment to arise to get close. Maybe I could create the moment now.
I tried not to think through my decision too much. Landon would be back any moment, so I went with my gut.
A minute later, my clothes pooled around my feet. No bra, no accessories, just my lacy black underwear and my racing heart.
Landon entered the living room, head down and focused on a handful of movies. It was very Landon to hold onto old DVDs. “As far as rom-coms, I haveWhen Harry Met Sallyor—” His voice cut off when he looked up at me, and the DVDs fell out of his hands. “Holy shit. Did I die and wake up in Heaven or something?”
My thighs involuntarily clenched at the look on his face. Surprise shifted to awe, which gave way to absolute lust. Black pupils swallowed his eyes as he stepped closer.
“You’re very much alive,” I confirmed.
My mind whirled as he looked me up and down. Not in a bad way. In fact, all my thoughts were confident and sure. I knew what I wanted. I didn’t want gentle kisses and soft touches. I wanted sweet oblivion, pure passion, and to only focus on what I could touch.
“I’ve never been gladder for it.” His fingers glided beneathmy underwear, over my hips, traveling toward my center, where my panties grew damp. “Was this your secret plan all along? Seduce me over pie?”
“The pie is just a bonus.”
“Damn straight.”
He pulled down my underwear with a tug as our mouths crashed together. One hand crawled into my hair, tugging gently, but not enough to hurt. My mind fogged with desire, so much so I hardly noticed us traveling toward the couch.
It suddenly occurred to me that I was naked while he was completely clothed. Maybe I should feel embarrassed, but instead, I felt powerful. Eager to level the playing field.
I pulled the tail of his shirt out of his jeans. “Take this off.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Leaning against the back of the couch, I watched as Landon shed his clothes, revealing broad, sculpted shoulders and the sexy V-cut of his abs that I loved so much.
Instinctively, I bit my bottom lip at the sight of his cock. Long and hard, with a bead of pre-cum at the tip. The sight disappeared when Landon stepped behind me. He pulled my hair to one side to press kisses down my neck and shoulder.
“What do you want?” he asked between kisses.
Everything.
