“You think I’m hot, Red?” I ask casually, wondering where she’s about to take this.
Her eyes lift to meet mine. “I think you’re the hottest man I’ve ever met. I always have.”
A breath whooshes out of me.This is definitely something new.
I know I’m right when she stands and slowly walks around the counter, her eyes never leaving mine. When she stops in front of me, I’m barely breathing.
And then she leans forward to press a kiss to my chest, and I stop breathing entirely.
“Normally,” she starts with a hum, “your jeans and a black t-shirt is my favorite look.” I watch in awe as she places her finger to the place she just kissed and slowly starts to drag it down my body, over every ridge of every muscle. “But I’ll admit…this casualshirtless and barefoot in the kitchenlook is much more appealing than I anticipated.”
I swallow roughly. “Yeah? If I had known that’s all it would take to get you in my kitchen, I would’ve done it a lot sooner.”
She lets out a tinkling laugh, the sound sweeter than this moment feels. Especially considering she’s not looking at me,but following the path of her finger as it finally reaches my joggers.
“I had no idea it would,” she says. Finally, she tilts her head up to meet my eyes.
Her pupils have blown completely black.
“I think it’s the kitchen,” she says, a tinge of breathlessness in her words. “Youinthe kitchen. You making me breakfast, taking care of me…” I watch her throat flex with a swallow. “I’ve never… I mean, I neverwantedto…here.”
It takes me a second to decipher what she’s saying. But then it clicks.
She’s never had sex in a kitchen.
I wonder if she’s ever had sex—realsex, not sex with clients or shitty ex-husbands—anywhere but a bedroom.
And as I look down at her, as I take in every detail of her heated gaze—the pulse pounding in her neck, her chest moving with rapid breaths—I realize I was right about this feeling different. Shedoesseem liberated. And comfortable enough with me to ask for something new.
I brush a strand of loose hair away from her face, letting out a thoughtful hum. Because I am nothing if not willing to give Scarlett anything she asks for.
“Then we should…here.”
THIRTY-TWO
SCARLETT
I have no idea what’s gotten into me. I havenevercome onto a man this brazenly.
But something feels different. It’s Nico, yes, but it’s also something inme. After last night, I feel comfortable with him, and comfortable in my own body.
And I want to explore it.
Desire rises like a tidal wave inside me. I wanteverythingwith Nico, so much so that I can’t figure out what I want first. But he’s standing there, looking so delicious, and suddenly, all I want to do is please him. So, I move to drop to my knees.
Nico stops me.
I look up at him in surprise, but that’s the only thing I have time for because in the next second, he takes my mouth in a kiss.
And he’sferal.
He wastes no time parting my lips with his tongue, then sliding it deep inside to taste me. His hands lift to cup my face, to angle me in a way that allows him to deepen the kiss further.
Imoaninto the kiss.
My hands come up to grab onto him, to grab ontosomething, because my knees are too weak to hold me up. I’ve never been kissed like this.
But before I can slide my arms around Nico’s neck, I’m spun and bent over the kitchen counter.
