Oh yeah, I’m definitely going to hell for this.
Timber
Luke stands behind the counter, his fingers twisting in front of him, staring at the bowl intently. I hold it between my hands, feeling the warmth radiating off it, and light steam floats under my chin. But apart from that, there doesn’t seem to be anything that could cause him to worry.
“What is it?” I ask.
His head shoots up, meeting me with a startled look before he suddenly morphs back into his easy smile.
“Oh, nothing. I just added a new ingredient because the texture of oatmeal isn’t great. I want to see what you think.”
I narrow my eyes, but his stare remains the same. He’s hiding something, but I can’t work out why he looks nervous.
“Are you sure you don’t want to join me?” I ask, nodding at the pan, but he shakes his head.
“No, I’ve got a super secret mission today, so I need to hurry. I just want to see what you think first.”
I shrug it off. The only reason I’m sitting here is because he makes me eat with him for every single meal. If it were up to me, I would have already grabbed a protein bar and raced to my car, but Luke wants to make sure I actually put food in my body.
He can’t stop me when I avoid my lunchbox, though Marilyn will probably come after me if she finds out I don’t finish it. But the fact that Kane keeps bugging me for food all the time makes me want to eat it so he can’t have a single bite. So it’s all going Luke’s way, anyway.
I sweep up my spoon, preparing for yet another lifeless meal. As I lift a spoonful of oatmeal to my mouth, I freeze. Because I swear I can smell something coming off it.
My spoon nearly slips from my fingers, trembling as I bring it closer.
There’s definitely something there. Just the faintest hint. Like a scent in the distance. It’s something sweet, maybe too sweet, but enough that my mouth is already watering.
“What did you put in this?” I croak, shock pounding through me as I hold it even closer to my nose, trying to find it again. My head spins, my heart rate skyrocketing as the sweet scent spirals into the back of my nose, and I moan.
Luke sucks in a breath, and I gulp, realizing what I’ve done. I glance at him, but apart from the light pink dusting his cheeks, there’s nothing else to say he cares.
“Wow, it’s that good, huh?” he murmurs, and I try to glare back, but I’m too wrapped up in the scent.
I’m going to force oatmeal up my nose just to smell it at this rate.
I don’t want to put it in my mouth in case I’m imagining it, but I have to try. I’m probably still half-asleep or exhausted from the non-stop run of games, and I can’t keep myself together. I’ve been getting slower over the years, and this could be the sign I’m finally losing it.
But I go for it.
And the second the oatmeal hits my tongue, my taste buds explode.
I gasp, sucking in oatmeal. It paints my throat, and I’m coughing, choking, moaning as I hungrily spoon up more, shoving it in my mouth.
A deep purr rumbles through me as I spread it over my tongue. Something snaps inside me, and I need the taste coating my mouth. I don’t care how much oatmeal I suck up, I just have to get it in me.
I start licking the spoon before scooping more oatmeal, devouring it like an animal as I pant.
My eyes roll as my next spoonful tastes even stronger, like there’s something caught in one part of the bowl. I shudder as I hold the taste in my mouth, gluing it to my tongue as need builds in my body.
I clear the bowl in a minute, and I’m left here, clutching the spoon so tightly my fingers are numb as I heave in shock.
“I’ve never seen anyone gorge like that,” Luke says as he presses white fingertips against the counter. “For a guy whocan’t taste anything, you sure like to eat.” His voice is huskier than usual, and it hits me right where it shouldn't.
Lifting my head, I’m about to ask Luke what the hell he’s put in it, but as soon as my eyes clash with his, I gulp.
Because he’s staring. Staring so hard his gaze winds through me along with that scent. He’s as captured as I am by it, and the need that beats off him trembles through me, making me hungry all over again.
“It tastes like maple syrup,” I whisper, barely able to get the words out because my heart is thumping so loudly.
