When he finally let her up for air, her knees were literally shaking. She put her hand on his chest and sighed. “You do realize I just took twenty minutes getting myself together, and now, I look like I just crawled out of bed again.”
“Perfect,” he said, smug as he set her back on her feet, before returning to the pan sizzling on the burner. “You should always look like that. Preferably because youdidcrawl out of my bed.”
She folded her arms and arched a brow. “You’re incorrigible.”
“True. But I make a damn good omelet. That balances things out.” He slid her a glance over his shoulder, eyes glinting. “Unless you’d rather I haul you back upstairs, and we skip breakfast.”
Her laugh came out husky. “I’m starving. And not just for you.”
He growled low in his throat, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. “Careful, woman. Rook’s trying to pretend he can’t hear us.”
She danced out of reach of his hands. “Then keep your hands to yourself while you cook.”
“Not possible. These hands have a mind of their own.” He reached out, snagged her wrist, and pulled her close enough that she brushed against him. “See? Completely out of my control.”
Elise leaned against the counter when he released her, fighting a smile. “You’re dangerous in the kitchen.”
He kissed her temple. “Baby, I’m dangerous everywhere.” And that wasn’t said with a braggart’s voice; it was fact, and it made a shiver go up her spine.
A weak groan drifted from the table. “For the love of God,” Rook muttered, his voice thin but laced with snark. “Some of us are trying to stay conscious here, and all this foreplay is killing me.”
Blake shot him a look over his shoulder. “Eat your toast, old man. You’ll live longer.”
Rook smirked, though his pallor gave away his fatigue. He lifted his fork, then let it clatter back to the plate. “Empty. All gone. You know, I’d eat if someone would put food in front of me. Bullet hole, remember?”
Elise was already moving. She picked up the plate his toast had been on. “Here. Let me help before you waste away.” She walked over to Blake, who put two more pieces of toast on the plate. She carried it back to him and placed it in front of him.
Rook gave her a faint nod, a flicker of gratitude in his tired eyes. Then his smirk returned. “At least one of you has manners.”
Blake slid three perfect omelets onto plates, winked at Elise, and murmured, “Don’t encourage him. He’ll milk that wound for weeks.”
Rook’s quiet chuckle turned into a small groan, but he still managed, “Damn right, I will.”
Elise settled at the table across from Rook, watching as he pushed the toast around his plate before finally taking a bite. His color was still too pale, but at least there was strength in the set of his jaw.
She caught his smirk a second before he spoke. “So … the two of you kept me awake half the night.” He pointed at Blake, “Should I congratulate you”—then he moved his finger toward her—“or warn her?”
Heat rushed up her neck, and Elise nearly choked on her coffee. “Oh, Lord in heaven.”
He leaned back in the chair, eyes glinting despite the shadows of exhaustion. “What? A man needs a distraction when he’s in pain. You two were very … enthusiastic.”
Her jaw dropped, and she dropped her head to the table. “You’re not saying this. It isn’t happening.”
“Noise like that last night? Hard to rest,” he continued.
When Blake set a plate down beside Elise, she lifted her head and stared at him, but he just bent down and kissed her before telling Rook, “Say one more word, and I’ll take that fork and yank out every stitch I just sewed you up with.”
Rook’s grin widened, weak but stubborn. “Touchy. Must’ve been good, then.”
Elise buried her face in her hands. “Oh my God.” Would the earth please open up and swallow her whole? Could it happen? Please make it possible.
Blake dropped into the chair beside her, arm sliding possessively over the back of her chair. “Ignore him. He’s half-delirious. And jealous.”
Rook snorted, poking at his omelet. “Jealous? Yeah, you’re probably right.” He cut a bite, winced, then added, “But I’ll admit she’s prettier than the last woman you dragged into a safe house.”
Elise’s head snapped up, wide-eyed. “Excuse me?”
Blake didn’t even blink. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek, his low murmur for her alone. “Don’t listen to him. He’s trying to get a rise out of you.”
