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I smirk. “Prove it.”

She steps out of my grasp, taking the bowl with her. I lean back against the counter, watching as she spoons batter into the pan. It sizzles, the edges already bubbling.

“Not bad,” I say. “For a beginner.”

She shoots me a look. “I’m a fast learner.”

“Oh, I know.” The words come out lower than I intended, laced with memories of her in my bed, my shower, my kitchen.

She keeps her eyes on the pan. “So what’s next, chef?”

I push off the counter, moving to stand behind her again. “Flip it.”

She hesitates. “Isn’t it too soon?”

“Nah. You got this.” I rest my chin on her shoulder, watching the batter bubble. “Just slide the spatula under and… flip.”

She does, the pancake flopping back into the pan, slightly lopsided but intact.

Perfectly imperfect. Like us.

“See?” I press a kiss to her shoulder. “Told you.”

She leans back into me. “Maybe you’re not a terrible teacher.”

“High praise.” I nip at her ear. “I’ll take it.”

Goosebumps rise on her skin. “Brandon…”

“Hmm?” I trail my lips down her neck, tasting the lingering dampness from the shower.

“You’re distracting me.” She places the finished pancake onto the plate beside the pan and pours more batter into it, her movements less steady. “The pancake’s going to burn.”

“Let it.” Her bare skin greets my fingers under my shirt she’s wearing. Warm. Soft. Mine.

“I thought you wanted me to eat.”

“Changed my mind.” I press closer, pinning her against the counter. “Found something better to do.”

“Brandon.” She flips the pancake. It folds in half, batter oozing everywhere. “Shit.”

I laugh. “Maybe cooking isn’t your thing after all.”

“Maybe someone should keep their hands to themselves.”

“Since when do you care about eating?”

Her shoulders tense. Wrong thing to say. Fuck.

“I mean…”

“I know what you mean.” She pokes at the pancake. “But maybe I’m trying. Like you.”

The words hang between us. Heavy. Important.

I want to grab her, kiss her. But that’s not us. Not yet.

Instead, I grab plates from the cabinet. “Good. Because these pancakes aren’t going to eat themselves.”

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