Page 96 of An Inconvenient Marriage
Because this man with his stupid expiration date was stealing my heart bit by bit with everything he did, and I just knew I was never getting it back.
Knowing that filled me with so much sadness, but I couldn’t dwell on it. Not now when there were memories to be made. Memories I could look back on and know they were the ones that changed my life.
“Dessert under the stars, huh?” Lowering myself onto the blanket next to him, I bent my knees and crossed my feet at the ankles. “Is there chocolate?”
He raised an eyebrow, and the most gorgeous grin lifted his lips. “You’re not going to let that go, are you?”
“Nope.”
I could have sworn I heard him mutternaughty girl, but before I could ask, he produced a picnic basket from who knew where and opened the lid. I stared while he produced container after container and set them on the blanket in front of us.
When there were four bowls, two bottles of lemon soda, and two more bottles of water, he tossed the basket to the side and faced me.
“Close your eyes.”
It wasn’t a question or a demand. But a tender request I couldn’t deny. Tugging my lip between my teeth, I did as he’d asked. And with one of my senses gone, the others were immediately heightened.
My ears pricked when he fiddled with a container. The hairs on my arms and the back of my neck stood on end, and goose bumps littered my skin as I felt and heard him move closer. And when he pressed something cold against my mouth, a small gasp escaped me.
“Open,” he rasped.
I parted my lips far enough for him to slip a spoonful of something inside. It was soft and moist, hitting my taste buds with almond and orange flavors.
“Mmm.” I chewed the bite in my mouth and gulped it down. “Is there more?”
Zach’s chuckle rolled over my already sensitive skin, and my heart decided it was time to join the party, too.
“Don’t open your eyes, okay?” He moved again, and when he spoke, his voice was right next to my ear. “Just your pretty little mouth.”
“Okay.” The word slipped out in a soft breathy whisper.
The warmth of Zach’s breath fluttered over my skin one more time before he moved away again. All the same sounds as before filled the air, and I didn’t wait for him to tell me to open my mouth.
I kept my lips parted, waiting for whatever else he wanted to feed me. I was rewarded with another sweet treat a few moments later. More almonds assaulted my taste buds, only this time they were crunchy and chewy with hints of honey.
Like a chewy honey-almond nougat.
I was in heaven.
“So good,” I moaned. “More, please?”
Zach’s mouth was next to my ear again. And even though I’d somewhat expected it, I still sucked in a sharp, stuttering breath.
“My greedy girl can’t get enough.”
He touched his lips to the spot below my ear, and I immediately tilted my head to the side to give him better access.
He rewarded me by kissing his way down my throat and back up again. My breathing quickened when he worked his way along my jaw toward my mouth. But instead of kissing me like I desperately wanted him to, he spoke low against my lips.
“Neither can I.”
Zach’s fingers brushed over my cheek and he tucked my hair behind my ear. “Ready for another one?”
“Yes.”
I was ready all right, but for way more than food. Still, I sat and waited. The next treat to hit my tongue was a fluffy piece of pastry filled with lemon custard. It was tender and sweet and by far the yummiest fritter I’d ever tasted.
“You’re evil. You can’t just give me one bite.” I licked my lips, the remnants of the powdered sugar hitting all the sweet spots on my tongue.
