Page 89 of Alex

“No.” He chuckles. “It’s just salt, pepper, and garlic. Try some.”

He grabs a pinch, and I open my mouth to taste it.

“Mmm. That’s good.” Smoke from the stove grabs my attention. “Uh, the oil is starting to smoke.”

Alex pulls away. “Grab the cutting board. It’s time to add the garlic, and cook it until it’s brown.”

Standing behind me, he wraps his hand around mine and teaches me how to cook the garlic.

When he places the tongs to the side, I wiggle my ass and nestle his erection in the crack of my ass.

A deep groan comes from him before he leans down and presses his face into the crook of my neck. His kisses leave my skin heated and flushed.

Pulling away, he adds the green beans to the frying pan with the olive oil and garlic and adds the steaks to the other pan.

The delicious aromas cause my stomach to growl.

He smacks my ass with a spatula, causing me to squeal. He swats my other cheek and I let out a moan.

He turns toward me, smirking. “Did I just hear you moan?”

I shake my head.

“Liar.” He takes a step toward me with a devilish grin on his face.

I try to run around the island, but he catches me.His large hands wrap around my waist and pull me back toward his chest.

Spinning me around, he pins me against the granite island as the steaks and green beans cook behind him.

His blue eyes turn dark as his gaze roams my body. “After dinner, you’re mine, Elise.”

Chapter Twenty Five

ELISE

“Shit. Shit. Shit.”I mumble to myself as I wrap the oversized towel around my body and fling open the bathroom door.

I’m so late.

After drying off my body, I wrap the towel around my hair to keep the excess water from running down my back and head into my closet.

Tonight is my first date night with Alex, so naturally, I’m running late. I should have planned everything already. That way, I wouldn’t be as stressed as I am right now.

I run my hands along the clothes hanging up, stopping when I get to one of the black dresses Alex bought me.

It’s tighter than I would normally feel comfortable wearing, but when I tried it on after his little shopping spree, his eyes widened to the size of saucers.

I lay the dress on the guest bed and grab a blacklace bra and black thong to go with the pair of strappy black heels I plan to wear tonight.

Sitting down at the vanity, I lay my makeup out and get started on applying it to my face. I keep it minimal because I rarely wear a lot and because I don’t know where Alex is taking me.

Luck is not on my side because the faster I try to get ready, the more I mess up and the longer it takes.

When I finish blow drying and straightening my hair, I get dressed.

A soft knock sounds on the bedroom door as I am slipping on my heels. “One second.”

I buckle the last strap, rush to the door, open it, and almost run into Alex. His hands wrap around my arms to keep me from falling down.

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