Page 70 of Own

“No?” He dropped the napkin onto the table next to his empty plate. Then he drew a light finger down the curve of my cheek to my jaw. “What did you need then, Firecracker?”

“You.”

“Is that so?” His voice dipped like he’d rolled it in thick chocolate and added a decadent richness to it. He was… comfort wrapped in passion and safety made heady with desire. The competing feelings were hard to put into words.

“Absolutely so…” Then because I wanted no misunderstandings, I added, “I was with Lunchbox last night…”

He pressed a finger to my lips. “I know. We all know.” Heat scalded my face and he grinned. A genuine, brilliant, grin. “You with my brothers is never going to be a problem for me.”

My heart did this little rebound from my ribs. Need and relief twisted me up. “You’re sure?” I didn’t need to test him, but I wanted to reassure myself.

“Always,” he murmured then pressed his lips lightly to mine.

“If that changes,” I said, tasting the wine and the sauce on his lips. More, I tastedhimand the flash fire of hunger that went through me had nothing to do with food. “Tell me?”

“You’ll be the first to know,” he promised, peeling the hoodie off me so smoothly, I marveled at the fact he’d unzipped it without me noticing.

“Thank you,” I whispered the words, savoring his nearness. “As for dates, ten out of ten, I’d totally recommend.”

He chuckled, running his hands up and down my arms. “Planning to give me a five star rating?”

“Maybe.” I made a show of thinking about it. “Wine? Excellent selection. Meal? Hot and tasty. Ambience? Delightful.”

“But?” Amusement had him smiling as he slid his fingers under my shirt, I didn’t even protest as he tugged it upward.

“But,” I added some extra emphasis to the word just for him and because it just seemed to make him happier. “What about dessert? Do I have options?”

“Now I’m intrigued, what options are you looking for, Firecracker?” He tugged my shirt upward and I raised my arms to let it go up and off. The bra I wore was demi cup and I’d mostly put it on to keep my nipples from poking through the shirt.

Course, nothing could save them from the heat stroking over me from his eyes. He ran his nose against my throat, a caress from just behind my ear to where my breasts pushed up from the bra.

Shivers raced over my skin. “Hmm… dark chocolate fondant, especially the one that comes with the raspberry coulis.”

He nuzzled a kiss to the top of one breast and his beard tickled me. “Hmm-hmm.”

“Vanilla bean crème brûlée,” I gasped out the words as he sucked my nipple right through the cup of the bra and his fingers slid beneath the waist of my yoga pants. “Panna cotta maybe… oh fuck.”

He lifted his head and my bra whisked away leaving cool air to tease me. “Is that all?”

Temptation, if it were a person, was Voodoo. I licked my lips as I went to work unbuttoning his shirt. If we were getting naked, it was important that both of us were. “Sometimes there’s a fruit tart…” I watched him from beneath my lashes. “And I can be tart.”

The corners of his mouth twitched into a slow, knowing smile. “Then I know exactly what I’m having.”

In one swift motion, he rose and swept me up, carrying me away from the table and across the room. The bedroom awaited, bathed in the soft glow of candlelight. Dozens of flames flickered—just enough to spark romance, not risk a fire—casting golden shadows that danced along the walls.

Rose petals were scattered across the bed—lush, red, impossibly perfect. When had he even found the time to get roses?

“Voodoo…” I breathed his name, my voice barely more than a whisper as I took in the room, awash in warmth and flickering candlelight.

“You like?” His voice held a note of hesitation, just enough to pull my gaze from the surroundings and back to him. Was he… nervous?

The thought only made my heart ache sweeter. I cupped his face gently, fingers brushing over the strong lines of his jaw.

“I love it,” I murmured. “I love you.”

His eyes darkened, heat flaring in their depths. “We'll talk about your dessert after I’ve had mine…”

A slow, wicked smile curved his lips.

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