“I don’t know about you, but I’m in desperate need of a shower.” Zeke’s voice pulled me from my inappropriate thoughts. “If you let me shower first, I’ll make us some dinner.”
After how badly I treated him, he still wanted to take care of me. This was truly Ruth and Ares’s son. His parents raised him well. “You don’t need to feed me. I’m not sure I deserve your kindness.”
He walked up and got in my face. “I’m going to say this one time and then we shall never speak of it again. That stupidity earlier today? It didn’t happen. We’re a team, or we’re going home. I’m going to make us dinner. If you feel generous, you can help me clean up because I fucking hate washing pots. Then once I’ve wowed you with my stunning cooking skills, we can go over those plans of mine you wanted to assess.”
Sassy fucking kid. He was right, and I loved how he didn’t back down if someone was being stupid. “Okay, stunning man. Go shower and then wow me with your skills. As for pot washing, if you cook as well as you talk, I’ll gladly wash them all while you relax.”
“Sounds like we have a deal.” He smiled and then finished his water. “Let me go so I can get started. Do you have any dietary restrictions or things you absolutely hate?”
Images of his lean, tight body under the spray materialized, and it took me a few seconds to find my voice. “No. I’m good with whatever.”
“Are you sure?” He shot me a disbelieving look. “You hesitated for a moment.”
Fuck. What was wrong with me? It had been decades since I had trouble controlling my desires. “Totally. I was trying to think of anything you might make I wouldn’t want to eat, that’s all.”
“Sounds good.” He dipped his chin until he focused on my torso.
The look on his face was filthy, and I would know because it was how I felt when I looked at him. His mouth hung open, but nothing came out. I bent my head to the right and leaned down to catch his eye.
Zeke blinked, snapped his mouth shut, and turned bright red. Using the towel, he bought a few seconds by wiping his face. “Give me about an hour and we can eat.”
He glanced my way, and we locked gazes for a second before he turned and headed upstairs at a hurried pace. I stared at his retreating ass for too long, but Zeke couldn’t see me. Gabriel was right. I was out of practice interacting with people.
Shaking my head, I grabbed my shirt and followed Zeke up the stairs. A cold shower sounded amazing right about now.
Zeke
Imoved around the kitchen using cooking to shake off the lustful leer Orion gave me after our training or the way my body reacted to his muscular form. Getting involved with him would be incredibly unwise, even if he was objectively hot as fuck. The man had been through serious emotional trauma. The last thing he needed was me developing an ill-advised crush.
After stuffing the chicken, I slid it into the oven on the same rack as the potatoes. Once I cut the broccoli, I could put them in to roast and it was just a matter of waiting for everything to cook. The planning worked out perfectly as everything would be done at the same time. I hadn’t worked as a chef in more than fifty years, but the familiar acts of prepping a meal came back as if I’d never stopped.
Originally, I’d planned dinner to be a peace offering, but after all the back-and-forth ogling, the peace talks had concluded and we were making alliances now. The change was good and bad. We needed to work seamlessly for the mission to succeed, but if we got too close, my hormones were sure to distract me. Locating the source of the Drevlin technology had to be my priority, but now I didn’t know which route was better.
Orion’s footsteps announced him before he spoke. “I looked over the plans you left in my room for setting up detectors.”
I glanced up from my cutting to see he’d changed into black slacks and a crisp, blue, button-down shirt after his shower. The dressy attire seemed out of place for a casual dinner, making me wonder if he was trying to make an impression. I quickly diverted my gaze before my perfidious eyes lingered too long.
“You had some good ideas for blanketing the area,” Orion continued. “But I think we’ll need more widespread coverage. Maybe set a few up farther out to triangulate.”
“Good point.” I turned toward him, keeping my eyes firmly focused on his face. “Can I assume you’ve had experience with this type of operation?”
“I can go over my thoughts after we eat.” Orion leaned against the counter, seemingly oblivious to the effect his broad shoulders stretching the fabric of his shirt had on me. “Whatever you’re making smells delicious.”
A small thrill went through me at the compliment. It wasn’t my most elaborate meal, but it was quick and tasty. “Thanks. We’re having chicken stuffed with wild rice, rosemary potatoes, and roasted broccoli.”
“Sounds amazing and nutritious. Hats off to the chef.” His dark eyes roamed over me in a manner I couldn’t quite interpret before he straightened up. “Can I help with anything? Set the table, maybe?”
“Sure, that’d be great.” I tossed the broccoli florets with olive oil, salt, and pepper, keenly aware of Orion moving around behind me.
I told myself to breathe and get a grip. He was completely off-limits. Pushing aside any unprofessional thoughts, I spread the broccoli on a baking sheet and readied it for the oven. Orion opened and closed cabinets searching for what he needed. I knew the feeling. It was odd working in someone else’s kitchen.
We finished the last few tasks in not as awkward as I expected silence, seemingly in sync despite our rough start. Whatever Gabriel said or did to Orion, it was as if a switch had been thrown and he was a different angel. This was the angel Dad talked about when I was a kid. Kind, thoughtful, big hearted, and the best fighter he’d ever trained.
In many ways, it would be easier to not like him and keep him at arm’s length. He was insanely hot and sexy, and if there wasn’t any reason to dislike him, it was going to be a daily struggle not to fall for him hard.
Shaking my head, I slid the vegetables into the oven. Not fall for him? I was pretty sure I had and very sure Orion had caught me staring. He’d been kind not to say anything, but I saw the way he looked at me. I was a dumb kid who had a crush on a legend. He was probably trying to think of a way to let me down without jeopardizing things.
Christ on sparkly pink scooter, if I let my dick fuck this up, how was I ever going to face Dad or the rest of the family? I’d have to try harder because failing wasn’t an option.
