Page 35 of Be Your Somebody
“You know, if you wanted a taste, you could have used a spoon.” Before I can react, he’s looking at me with a wicked grin and I slowly start to back away from him.
“Don’t. You. Da—" I’m cut off when his hand smears cookie dough all over my face and neck.
“You didn’t!” I screech.
“Oh,I did! You really should be careful when baking, Avery. You’ve got some stuff all over your face and neck.” His eyes are wild and his grin is mischievous.
“That’s because you smeared it all over me. Now I need to go wipe it off.” I start to move past him, but his hands are suddenly on my waist. Within seconds he’s placing me on the marble countertop, putting me directly in his line of sight.
“Allow me,” Cas says. It all happens so fast. One second he was sitting me down on the counter , and immediately after he’s caging me between his arms. I can feel his breath on my neck, but I don’t have time to think because he’s licking my neck. Cas is licking my neck! A moan escapes my mouth without my brain’s permission. His tongue moves slowly up my neck and to my cheek, licking the cookie dough off my face and leaving a trail of goosebumps behind.
“Mmmmmmm, you taste sweet,” he moans, his face suddenly a hair’s breadth away from mine. Surely he’s going to kiss me, but he doesn’t. He gazes down at my lips before backing away.
“You are a frustrating man, Cas,” I blurt out.
“I am?” he asks.
“You keep saying all these things to me and almost kissing me, but never do anything about it.” He pauses, and inside my head, I’m berating myself for being so bold.He’s not going to want to date you now, Avery. Way to go.
His eyes grow more intense by the second. I want to snatch the words from his brain and throw them in the trash. Damn me and my teenage fantasies and hopes. I go to open my mouth, but he blurts out a question.
“You mean that?” he asks.
“Hmm? Mean what?”Damn it’s hot in here.
“You really want me to do something about it?”
“Um, yes?” My voice raises as if asking a question.Be bold and brave, Avery.I clear my throat and try a different approach. “Do you want to do something about it?” Yeah. Turn it back onto him, see what he says.
His eyes scan my face and I see a look that hasn’t been there since we first danced together. Cas looks at me like I’m one of the most important people in his life, like I’m the answer to his prayers.
My mind was so hyper-fixated on what his look means that I missed what he said.
“Ave?”Cas cups my face, his thumbs rubbing back and forth on my cheek. “Did you hear me?”
“I-no.” I let out a breathy laugh.
“Yes, I want to do something about it.”
Cas’ words are seeping into my brain as slow as honey. He wants to try? That’s what he’s trying to say, right?
“I can hear your thoughts, freckles. Your brain has never thought very quietly. Yes, I want to try with you, if you’ll let me.”
If I let him? Okay play it cool, Avery. We don’t need you acting all Buddy the Elf on him. I look into his eyes and fight to hold in the giddiness. My teeth are digging into my bottom lip to prevent a giant smile.Chill out, Avery.Cas chuckles before using one of his thumbs to rub against my bottom lip, rubbing until I free it from its prison. It’s so tempting to take his thumb into my mouth and suck on it. I’m so stuck on this thought that my mouth forms a soft O and I glance at Cas from underneath my lashes.
Cas’ throat bobs as his thumb rests on my bottom lip. I could do it. Just open my mouth a tad wider and do it. He makes the decision for us both by stepping out of my arms and clearing his throat.
“Avery?” The hoarseness of his voice sends heat straight to my core.
I swallow a few times before answering his question. “Yes.” Short and to the point, and quite clearly the only thing I can manage to say.
“Okay. Cool. Yeah cool.” Cas is rubbing the back of his neck while looking at his feet. Are we being bashful right now? Hmm, I think I might like this side of Cas. Who knew bashful could be so sexy. “You, I, um…” He clears his throat before continuing. “Let’s finish these cookies and maybe we can watch a movie or something?”
We take separate spots in the kitchen. It’s better this way. Safer this way. We don’t need the fire department called on us because we set the house on fire from burnt cookies while we were occupied doing…other things. Once all the cookies are cooling off, we make our way to the front room to watch a movie. I move to sit down on the other side of the couch, but Cas has his hands on my hips, pulling me to him. I collapse onto his body and my face is so close to his. After a heated moment, Cas plants me right next to him and instinct has me cuddling into his side. His arm is wrapped around my waist, my head rests in the crook of his neck, breathing in his masculine scent.
It would be so easy to fall asleep, cuddling up next to him. I mean, we did it earlier. I decided to sneak a look at Cas, just wanting to stare at him for a moment. When I peek at him, he’s already staring at me. Confusion invades my mind at the look on his face. The wordfinallycomes to mind. It’s as if Cas has been waiting for this moment all his life. I can’t really explain why it feels this way. It just does.
“Why now?” I blurt out. The look on Cas’ face becomes more intense.
