The way she calls me out on my emotions, even though I've attempted to be nothing but polite, stoic, and professional, melts me just enough that I snap, turning to face her. Sarah squeals and gasps as I slowly crowd her against the island. I place my hands on either side of her body on the countertop and lean into her. Her big doe eyes go even impossibly wider in her face, and her lips part slightly as she takes a breath.
Immediately the sweet yet bold marshmallow smell of her perfume assaults my senses, and I feel myself become a little bit more lost in her. The shudders in her breathing as my lips graze her ear verifies to me that I'm not imagining the attraction between us.
This illustrious pull intricately binds us together.
“Do you really want me to show you how big of a baby I can be about things, Sarah?” I rasp into her ear, leaning into her briefly to grab two of the salad bowls, and then pulling away to bring itover to where the chicken is resting. I'll let her think about that for a while. Hopefully, it tortures her the way I'm being tortured.
She bites her lip almost nervously as I begin to roughly chop up the buffalo chicken, spreading it evenly between the two bowls that I loaded with salad, and the various accoutrements. With a side of olives just like she likes.
“Nope, not necessary,” she says, swallowing thickly. “I went ahead and ordered a swimsuit just as you requested, Dr. Richardson. You weremore than clearin your office today." She makes a little shocking pleasant noise, making me wonder if she likes someone taking control. So, we're going to start with how I want her to address me.
“Good, and it’sAlex,” I quip.
I sprinkle feta cheese on top of our bowls and hand hers to her before grabbing the dressing and taking it over to the table. She follows a few steps behind. I set everything down and then pull out her chair with a little grin, giving her a wink.
She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear shyly. "Oh you don't have to—"
"Nonsense."
The tension immediately thickens between us.
She blinks at me, and we engage in another small standoff that I'm quickly discovering is our thing. She rolls her lips before murmuring her thanks and sitting down carefully.
"You're welcome." I'm so pleased she didn't put up a fight.
I round the table, sitting down across from her in the nook at the bay window. I notice the lights illuminating the property outside in the back where the sun has almost completely set, throwing the sky into dusky hues of lavender and pink. She's also staring out the window with a rather interesting expression, and I wonder if she likes the landscaping.
"Are you hungry?" I ask her.
Taking a sip of my wine, I watch as she blinks lazily and turns her head almost as if she's in a daze to meet my eye. I give her another smile, just wanting her to be with me, engage in conversation with me. I'm starving for something from her. Anything.
“Oh, yes," she giggles. "Your koi pond looks so beautiful, though, I can't help but stare when I sit here. I hope I don't look crazy—"
"You look beautiful." I interrupt quickly. My tone is low, deeper than what I'd like for it to have been, but I couldn't help it. She does something to me.
"Oh…well…thank you," she says quietly, setting my blood on fire. "And thank you so much for making this!” Her appreciative tone strikes right through to my heart, lighting me up, and begins to cleanse that part of me that's been so defeated, defiled, and colored black with bitterness from years of being rejected and neglected by my ex-spouse.
I take a second to unroll my linen napkin, placing it over my thigh. "You're welcome! It really was my pleasure. I enjoy cooking. It's one of my love languages," I share, watching her carefully.
She grabs the blue cheese dressing and pours a small amount on her salad. “Honestly…” she starts and then cocks her head to the side and stares back out the window, concentrating for a few moments. My brows rise as she frowns slightly. “You know, I don’t think anyone’s ever made me this before, and it’s my absolutefavoritesalad!” she finishes with a smile, biting her lip and doing a little happy wiggle.
For a second she exudes pure joy, and I'm filled with joy myself at having done this for her. I wonder how she's going to like the pink roses that I put on her nightstand upstairs.
I feel the corner of my eyes crinkle as I smile at her before picking up my own fork and pouring dressing onto my salad,wishing it was her I was pouring dressing on so I could lick it off. I quickly dismiss the thought, promising myself I’ll fantasize all I want when I get to the safety of my own bedroom, alone.
“It’s the least I can do. I enjoy cooking, in case you couldn’t tell,” I joke, stirring my salad rather aggressively before putting a forkful into my mouth.
Sarah smiles so hard it throws me off balance. "Oh, I could tell alright. I can tell a lot of things about you," she teases me.
"Oh yeah?" I tease back. "Likewhat?"
My eyes drop to her mouth as she puts a forkful of salad in, preventing her from answering. A small bit of dressing stays behind on the corner of her lips, and I clear my throat softly before handing her a napkin, wishing I could lap it up with my tongue instead.
Would she freak out if she knew all the ways I’ve savored her already in my mind?I think, feeling my cock hardening again.
Sarah’s phone dings; she checks it quickly, the screen light illuminating her face and momentarily turning her eyes a light brown.
“Oh, Vanessa has invited us to a pool party! It’s the weekend we get back from Vancouver,” she says absentmindedly. "It looks like she added us all into a group chat. How fun! She said we’d have an opportunity to sing together because her brother-in-law, Colin, has a studio in his guest house. That’sneat!” she exclaims with a big grin across her face.
