Page 90 of Summer Reading

“You wore the coat,” he said.

“Sure, I can roll with that kink,” I said.

He laughed. “Truthfully, I just didn’t want you to take too long to get here by changing first.”

“And here I thought it was the outfit that had you so hot and bothered,” I said.

“Not that it isn’t sexy,” he insisted.

“Please, I look like the Pillsbury Doughboy,” I said. “Which is not a bad thing in a professional kitchen where it’s best to be gender neutral but not exactly how I want to present for a hot date.”

“Hot, huh?”

“Scorching.” I unfastened the top button on my chef’s coat. Ben’s eyes locked on my fingers as I slowly undid one button after another.

I had a littleboom chicka wow wowmusic playing in my head, and I strutted past him and into the living room. I unbuttoned enough of my coat to drop it halfway down my back and reveal one shoulder. I tossed my hair, pouted my lips, and looked at him from under my lashes in what I hoped was a come-hither look.

Ben’s only response was a low growl from deep in his throat as he leaned back against the closed door and watched me. I had never stripped for a guy before, and I would have thought I’d be clumsy or inhibited but no, because it was Ben. Ben who accepted me as I was, who didn’t care about my reading issues or attention deficiencies. He’d called me his person and I realized, as I bared all in front of him, he was my person, too.

I dropped the coat off my other shoulder. I was wearing a white racerback tank top and the standard black chef pants I always wore. I twirled the chef coat over my head and tossed it in the air to land in a heap on the brown leather couch.

I toed off my sneakers and stepped out of them. I faced Ben, holding his gaze while I unfastened my pants. I was about to lower the zipper when he pushed off the door and strode across the room toward me.

The look in his eyes was fierce. It made my heart race. He caught my hands with his and pulled me close.

“Easy,” he said. “We have time, plenty of time.”

He cupped my face and lowered his mouth to mine. I didn’t know if it was the weeks of built-up desire or whether he was just that good, but when his lips met mine and he licked across my lower lip, I felt a hot flame of desire ignite my core. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and he slid his hands down my sides and grabbed me about the waist. He picked me up without breaking our kiss and I wrapped my legs around him.

He turned and carried me to the stairs. My love of food does not make me a light girl but he carried me effortlessly up to his bedroom. He kicked the door shut behind him, and I dropped my legs from around his waist and slid down the front of him until I was standing. I tugged off my tank top in one smooth motion.

Ben looked like I’d just struck his personal match, and I could feel the heat in his gaze on my skin. I reached for his shirt, and he put up no resistance.

The only thing better than professional-looking Ben was shirtless Ben. Hefting all those books had given theguy some serious definition, and I traced my fingers over his pecs and down his abs. He shuddered. It was glorious.

He caught my hand with his and tugged me close until we were skin to skin. He plundered my mouth with his tongue, and I felt a wanting surge inside of me that was all-consuming. I wanted him. All of him. And not just for tonight but for—I pushed the thought away.

I didn’t want to get caught up in thoughts about the future. I just wanted to be here now, fully present, and savoring every second with him.

I unzipped my pants, shoving them down my legs and leaving them in a puddle on the floor. Usually, I preferred to slyly slide my clothes off when I was already in bed and under the covers, but with Ben, I simply didn’t care.

He stood, flexing his fingers as if itching to touch me. His head was lowered slightly as he stared at me from under his thick black lashes. I had never felt sexier or more desired in my life.

When I reached for him, he put his hands on my bare waist and lowered his mouth to mine in a slow-moving, sensory-drugging kiss that made my ears ring. I reached for his pants and he helped, kicking off his shoes and leaving his pants on the floor next to mine.

I would have continued but he tugged the tie holding the braid in my hair. Using both hands, he siftedhis fingers through the waves until they fell about my shoulders.

“I have wanted to do that every day since we met,” he growled.

He lowered his head and slid his mouth across mine, licking at my lower lip, before he kissed his way to my ear and then down my throat.

I arched my neck, giving him full access, and he worked his way down to the tops of my breasts where they were framed by my bra. A flick of his fingers at my back, and my bra was gone. With a murmur of approval, he lowered his mouth, gently sucking one nipple and then the other between his lips.

My blood ran thick and hot, and I could hear my heartbeat in my ears. My fingers found their way back to his boxers and I managed to push them down, shoving them over his hips. He returned the favor and we were now bared in front of each other, flaws and all, but neither of us seemed to care. To me, he looked perfect, and judging by the way he was looking at me, an intoxicating mix of worship and tenderness, I knew he felt the same.

How incredibly freeing it was to be with someone who was so open. I didn’t hide anything from him. I wanted him. I wanted to experience his hands on my skin. His weight on top of me, and him inside of me.

“Are you sure?” he asked. Even now with hisimpressive erection in full participation mode, he was putting me and my feelings first. My god, I loved him.

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