What?
She dashes out of my arms, then out of the bedroom entirely.
I follow her to the kitchen. “My brothers and their wives aren’t arriving until eleven thirty or later, in case you forgot.”
“I’m baking.” She reaches into one of the brown bags she brought with her last night, then pulls another from the fridge.
Perhaps I didn’t make the purpose of the lunch clear. I want my family to impressher. I’m the bird doing his best to woo a mate by displaying everything he’s got. I put my hands on her shoulders and spin her around. “Relax. I didn’t bring you here to cook.”
She breathes out. “I know that, but I want to. Having people enjoy my food makes me happy. I want to bake for your family. Nothing special. Just three pies and two cobblers.”
Of all the times to suddenly get domestic.I sigh, but respect her decision. “Let me help you then.”
“Okay.”
I set the ovens to the temperature she asks for. For once I’m glad my place has four ovens, even though until now I’ve never had an occasion to use any. She peels, cores, pits and cuts up apples, nuts, and cherries and peaches with an ease that would impress even my mother. Her comfortable expertise is a massive turn-on. I’m acutely aware that she doesn’t really need anybody—and she certainly has no need for my money or influence. She’s too capable, too smart. The people in her tightly knit social circle are ones she has a deep affection for, and relief and pride twine through me in the knowledge that she considers me worthy.
I measure sugar and butter and hand her spices as she calls for them, my forearms and fingers brushing against hers. Her breathing stills when we touch, and a pretty flush colors her sculptured cheeks. Electricity hums under my skin.
Finally, she puts the pies and cobblers into the ovens, sets the timers on each unit, then lets out a breath.
“You shouldn’t worry so much,” I say. “You’re going to be the most popular person.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because nobody can eat diamonds or dildos. Or the money GrantEm makes. Or Griffin’s academic papers…”
She chokes, then lets out a lilting laugh.
“I’m serious.” I kiss her smiling mouth. She kisses me back softly, her tongue flicks against mine in a silent gesture of apology for ignoring me earlier. I take advantage and fuse our mouths, plunder her, taste the mint from the toothpaste and the sweet honey of her.
The need for her thrums in my veins. The heat of the kiss burns through me, slowly pushing away a small bit of anxiety that’s a by-product of my overwhelming desire to have this lunch be perfect.
Her soft whimper stokes my lust, and I slip my hand underneath her top and bra and knead her soft breast. She threads her fingers into my hair and clenches, until my scalp prickles from the tight pull.
The tightness of her shoulders betrays her nerves. The fact that she wants to make a good impression on my family soothes some of my own nerves. I run my lips and tongue along the sensitive curves of her neck, then push the top out of the way and pull her nipple into my mouth.
She sobs out softly. Her breasts are so beautifully responsive, and the pleasure pinkening her skin is my greatest reward.
I maneuver her backward until her ass is at the edge of the counter. I prop her up, and she tugs at my hair. “The caterer,” she gasps.
“We’ve still got time.”
“But—”
My hand slides under her skirt, my fingers dragging over the quivering muscles of her inner thighs. I push aside the small band of fabric between her legs and run the pad of my thumb over her folds. She bites her lip as her hot juices coat my hand. “We can’t have you greeting my family like this.”
“Noah…”
“And you’re way,waytoo wound up.”
“Anybody would be when they’re meeting the family of their boyfriend for the first time.”
“I know. So let’s take the edge off.”
She looks at me, needs for physical release and reassurance mingling in her half-glazed caramel eyes.
“You’re perfect the way you are.” My thumb brushes over her clit, causing a small tremor to ripple through her. I drop to my knees, spread her legs and lay kisses on her inner thighs. “They’re going to love you, even if you don’t make a single damn thing.” I look up at her, not hiding all the love and adoration in my heart. “You’re like the sun. Nobody can resist you.”
