Page 57 of Romancing His Heart
“Life is all about choices, Red. I made choices based on the information I had at the time. Second-guessing myself wouldn’t benefit anyone.”
“Okay, I think I got most of the pieces out. You should wash up. Then we can put some Neosporin on the cuts.”
“They’ll be fine. Can I ask you something now?”
My body tenses at his words, and I drop my gaze to the floor. Hooking his index finger under my chin, he raises my face to his.
“Why coffee cake?”
I blink slowly.
“Wh-What?” This man makes me stupid. Words escape me when he’s this close.
“Why coffee cake? You said you keep trying, so you’ve attempted to make it before?”
“Coffee cake?”
He grins but lets go of my face. I can still feel his finger on my skin, but at least the brain cells are functioning again.
“It’s, um …” I bite my lip. Do I want to share this with him? My sisters don’t even know I do this. “Well, Emory told me once that my mom used to make a coffee cake every week. She would have it ready for the girls when they got home from school. I-I was too young to remember. Honestly, I was too young to remember anything about her. I’ve tried every recipe at least twice. I’m just a disaster in the kitchen … in life, too, if I’m being honest.”
Loki moves so quickly that I don’t have time to register our movements. In one swift motion, he has stood and lifted me from the ground at the same time. Holding onto my biceps, he lowers his head, so we are nose to nose.
“First,” he growls, “I’m done listening to you talk badly about yourself.”
“Talk— What? I don’t talk badly about myself.”
“Second, I’m going to shower, and then we will make you a damn coffee cake.” He lingers so close our noses nearly touch, and I can’t breathe.
“You bake?” I breathe, barely a whisper.
“I’m a man of many talents, Red.” He leans in and rubs his nose against mine.
It isn’t a kiss, and probably not meant to be sexual, but my core aches at the touch. The mewl that escapes my throat is an unfamiliar sound.
“So fucking, dangerous,” he growls before releasing me.
I nod like a bobblehead as he stomps to the bathroom. When the door closes, I release all the air I’ve stored in my lungs in a whoosh.
What the hell just happened?
Chapter 19
Loki
After peeling off my shirt, I turn the shower on as cold as it will go. I know it’s fucking cliché, but I don’t even think a cold shower will tame the steel rod between my legs. I release my belt buckle, then let my pants fall to the floor. Thanks to asshole Preston, I don’t have any underwear. The dickhead sent lingerie for Sloane and no underwear at all for me.
I step into the spray, willing the icy waters to freeze my body and mind. Closing my eyes as the frigid temperatures do nothing to chill my body, I force my brain to make things right.She’s a job. She’s too innocent for me. She’s too young. She’s trying to find her way, and I’m still lost. You can’t go there with her, Loki. As I recite this mantra, my hand has found its way to my cock of its own accord.
Visions of Red flood my mind, overtaking all conscious effort to keep her at bay as I slide my hand up and down my shaft. I can see her black lingerie hanging on the other side of the room, and it paints a fucking vivid picture. Sloane, on her knees before me, her lips parting on an exhale.
Fuck. Picking up speed, I rub my hand down my dick and roughly over the head. Faster and rougher. Her lips wrap around me while I fuck her face. I picture her on the bed with her toys spread out, and it’s my undoing. Thick ropes of come splatter on the shower wall. I have to bite down on my cheek to keep from growling like a monster.
Goddamnit. The water goes from cold to scalding as I turn the nozzle. Placing both hands on the tile, I wait for my breathing to return to normal. Even as I clean up, I know I’m in trouble. Sloane Camden seems to be my kryptonite.
Shaking out my hands like a nervous teenager, I finally feel calm enough to face her. As I open the door, I find her standing in the kitchen with a hand on her hip.
“Hey, you look better,” she says with a fake smile plastered to her beautiful face. It’s still gorgeous, but not sincere. Her eyes aren’t smiling, and her tone is back to bubbly and placating. I fucking hate it.
