He leaned his head near her own and caught the fragrance that was unique to Alice. “Do you still want the measuring spoon?”
“Apparently not.” She rolled her ball on the coconut and placed it in a candy cup on the first sheet. “We’re making a hundred of these?”
“Yep, each stack of candy cups is ninety-six. Once we’ve gone through those, we’ll be in the home stretch.”
“They don’t come in packages of one hundred?”
“Apparently not,” he said, mimicking her earlier statement. Her logic impressed and amused him at the same time. Never a dull moment with Alice. “They come by the dozen. Does that bother you? The fact that they don’t come in an even number?”
“If they come by the dozen, they do come in an even number,” she corrected. She’d caught on fast and was matching him rum ball for rum ball. “It seems odd until you put it into context. The standard measurement for baking is a dozen. Do a lot of people order candy by the dozen? I could see pastries or muffins, but not candy.”
“It’s ordered by the pound but we sell it by the piece since it’s easier that way.” If he couldn’t kiss her, he needed another drink. He strode to the refrigerator to get a couple of lime slices. Sugaring the rim of the shot glass, he poured two more shots of rum before he settled the lime wedge on the rim. “Here try this.”
She glanced down at the shot glass, then back at him, suspicion in her eyes. “Is that sugar?”
“Yep, and lime. Do it as you would tequila. Lime first, and then lick the sugar. Try it, you’ll like it better,” he said.
“You’re a bad influence.”
“Yep. Are you ready?” He lifted his own glass, putting the lime in his mouth. She followed his lead and drank the rum.
“You were right, that was much better.” She angled her chin and her sparkling eyes fell to his mouth.
Fuck it. He dipped his head, brushing his lips against her pliant ones. She didn’t withdraw, nor did she respond. Niko pulled back to meet her heavy-lidded gaze and read the answering yearning in their depths. He lowered his head once again, caressing more than kissing her mouth. She tasted of sugar, rum, and woman, a potent combination. He cupped the nape of her neck, drawing her softness into his body.
She flattened her hands against his chest, her fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt. “Was this your plan all along? To ply me with rum and seduce me?” she murmured against his lips, her breath mingling with his own.
He toyed with her bottom lip, taking it between his teeth before soothing it with his tongue. If it were simply that easy. “You’re the one who offered to help me, and now look what you made me do. Kiss you.”
“I’m sneaky like that.” She stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck, her mouth opening beneath his, tongue darting out to glide along his own. He slid his other hand up her back and followed the curve of her ribs to the underside of breasts that fit perfectly into his palm. Niko kneaded the firmness, yearning to touch and savor every inch of her. He lifted her up on the table and clasped her thighs, parting her legs. The coconut container went crashing to the floor. He tore his mouth from hers, breath coming fast. “Shit.”
“We should probably go upstairs.” She said, grabbing the front of his T-shirt and pushing it up to expose his belly.
“Yes, we should.” Niko couldn’t think of a single thing he wanted more. He helped her down and taking her hand, snatched the bottle of rum off the table. She laughed from behind him, keeping pace while they raced up the stairs.
Once on the landing, he opened the door and dragged her into the apartment. He considered taking her to the bedroom but detoured to the couch instead. Falling onto the sofa cushions, he tugged her down on top of him. She straddled his thighs, her hot center settling against his ever-growing need. This time, there would be no interruptions.
“I thought we were going to the bed,” she said, giggling.
He set the rum bottle down on the side table and ran a hand up her jean-clad thighs. “We have unfinished business to take care of right here in this very spot. Although the skirt was more convenient than these jeans.”
Alice grabbed the hem of her sweater and pulled it over her head. Clad in a cream lace bra, she unclasped the front, exposing her breasts. “How’s that for convenience?”
“Very convenient.” He raised his hand but she swatted it away.
“Not so fast. This is quid pro quo. I need to see some skin.”
Shit, he’d do anything she said at this moment. He was about to get his wish. Chuckling, he removed his shirt and settled back against the softness of the couch, waiting for her to make the next move. He liked seeing the passionate side of her. She was such a contradiction and with each layer he uncovered he couldn’t wait to see what lie beneath it. He allowed his hands to glide over her pert nipples that tightened to hardened buds under his questing fingers.
She teased his earlobe with her teeth, her breathy laughter soft in his ear. “Much better.”
“You know what would be even better?” He trailed a finger between her sweet cleavage and down her belly until he reached the waistband of her pants. “If we got rid of these.”
“Get rid of them then,” she said, mouth moving along his jaw, her fingers running through his hair.
Aching to oblige, he unfastened her jeans and caught her about the waist. He laid her on the couch and dropped to his knees on the carpet. Niko drew her pants over her hips, exposing a pair of lace panties. She was a sexy siren hiding under a conservative exterior. The clothing barrier gone between them, he pushed her legs apart and began to explore her inner thigh.
Hooded eyes glazed with passion met his, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. He splayed his hand across her soft belly, his pulse playing a frantic beat. Fingers seeking, he ran them down through the soft curls, damp with yearning.
