Intoxicating.
My fingers sink into the soft strands of hair behind his neck as his hand latches onto the back of my head, guiding me toward his mouth. His hand cups the back of my neck as he kisses me full on the mouth.
Our lips glide, skim, and mold together, each of us willingly exploring the other like this is our first, last, and only kiss.
I should stop. I know I should. We’re moving too fast, and I promised myself not to get swept up. But God, his touch silences every rational thought.
His lips are warm, firm, and alluring. As his hands travel down my lower back to cup my bottom, butterflies take flight low in my stomach. God, this feels so good.
Still feeding on my lips, he rises, holding me easily, my legs instinctively wrapping around him.
“Bedroom?” he mumbles against my lips, waiting for my answer.
It’s more a question than for direction, as if he’s asking me if I’m okay with this. And I’m not sure about us long-term. But for right now? I’m absolutely sure about the way he makes me feel alive again. Sexy. Desired.
As much as my mind warns me to slow down, my body has taken over. My body wants this. Now.
“Yes,” I pant into his mouth.
For a fleeting moment, Drew and Paige flash in my mind. Drew’s not home from work yet, and Paige will be here later. He takes the first step, his hard abdomen rubbing pleasingly against my core, and a sound escapes me. Half gasp, half moan. The air hums between us, thick with want. Any reservations evaporate like smoke.
His lips wander my neck, peppering my tender flesh with each one of his ascending steps. I tilt my head to the side to give him better access.
And then?—
“Mom?” Paige hollers from what sounds like the front door.
We freeze at the top of the staircase. Sam’s warm forehead falls against mine as he exhales a frustrated groan that’s half laugh.
“Paige,” I whisper, horrified.
Then another voice filters up the stairs. Someone is talking to her and it sounds like Pete.
Sam sets me down and brushes his lips against my temple. “Go.”
He gifts me a grin that is somehow both understanding and unbearably sexy.
“Coming.” I pivot and descend, all the while hastily double-checking my clothes aren’t askew.
By the time I reach the front hall, I’ve smoothed my hair and my heartbeat, barely. Paige stands near the doorway with Pete. Fantastic. The universe really is out to get me.
“Hey.” I force a casual tone, praying I don’t look like I was moments away from coming undone.
Before I can say more, Paige beams, looking past me. “You’re that chef.”
Sam appears behind me, and Pete’s brows knit together.
“What?” I look from my daughter to the man I was kissing and itching to undress moments ago.
Taking a step toward them and deliberately away from Sam, I rack my brain for a plausible reason we would have been upstairs that doesn’t involve what we were actually doing.
A transient and stupid thought runs through my mind. I could introduce him as a client. My office is upstairs, so it would make sense, but just as quickly, I dismiss the absurdity of the lie because they both know I don’t have clients to my home. That’s why I rent office space on Bloor Street, so my clients can meet me there.
“You’re onThe Chef’s Network,” Paige continues. “The restaurant show…hmm, something about cabbage?Mon Petit Chou.” She grins triumphantly. “That means ‘my little cabbage,’ right?”
Sam chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. “Right.”
“You have a TV show?” I blurt, turning to him.
