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There was only one thing I could think of that would bring clarity. “Can I try your dessert?”

He blinked several times, looking like an adorably confused baby owl. “Right now?”

“Just one bite right now. We can have the rest after we clean up.”

“Uh, sure?”

I helped him hop off the counter. We washed our hands before he went over to his fridge to remove the dessert.

He had prepared thezuppa inglesein individual glasses. Creamy layers of custard the color of caramel separated the golden sponge cake soaked with Frangelico liqueur. Finely chopped toasted hazelnuts added texture, while it finished with a delicate swirl of whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder. The overall effect was the perfect cross of heartwarmingly rustic and ultimate indulgence.

He passed me one with a spoon, watching as I got a little of each layer.

The instant it touched my tongue, I was overwhelmed with nostalgia from the warm, nutty sweetness of the hazelnuts and vanilla. Frangelico added a complex depth to the dessert, complemented by the smooth custard. The toasted hazelnuts provided a crunchy contrast that had always delighted me as a child.

Memories of being in my nonna’s kitchen flooded through me—of all the hours I had spent learning to cook from her, of all her delicious meals that had inspired my journey to become a world-famous chef, of all the sweet treats she had snuck me while my parents weren’t watching, and of all the love she had given me in the years I was lucky enough to have with her.

A single bite of Adler’szuppa inglesebrought back a lifetime of fond moments and the formative experiences that had defined who I was as a person and a chef. It was powerful enough to bring tears to my eyes, and it told me so much about him. He made his dessert with genuine love, one that he knew mattered to me and that he was brave enough to make for me.

It wasn’t flashy or meant to show off his skills; it was something that fed my heart in a way I hadn’t experienced with anyone other than my family. He had managed the impossible by showing me a glimpse of home and a promise of one with him, all from one bite that moved me in ways I hadn’t thought possible.

His eyes widened in shock when a tear fell down my cheek. Before he could say anything, I pulled him into a crushing hug, burying my face against his neck. I breathed deeply, overwhelmed by the strongest sense of coming home.

It gave me visions of us cooking together, of him surprising me with desserts, of me supporting his business, and him arching under me with moans as I made love to him with my whole soul bared before him. It was a life that would have terrified me under any other circumstances, but for some inexplicable reason, it felt right with him.

That single bite had made me feel seen, heard, and loved in a way I didn’t realize I had craved. I may not have understood it, but I knew I needed more of the person responsible.

It urged me to kiss Adler, not with the lust that had fueled my fire before but with an affection I thought I was incapable of ever showing to a partner. He surrendered to me, melting in my arms as I indulged in the tenderest kiss, which conveyed things I didn’t know how to express with words.

Everything was a confusing mess in my mind, and yet I had never felt clearer and more certain. I needed to give Adler a chance I had never allowed anyone else to have.

His sweet surrender renewed my desire. I lifted him to rest against the counter again, stopping long enough to order, “Touch me.”

His earlier shyness was gone as he reached down to jerk me off. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to simplyfeelthe moment. It overstimulated me in the best way, even as I returned the favor of stroking his hardness.

“Tell me the truth,” I urged him, needing to hear him say it.

“I’m going to need you to be more specific because I can’t think of anything while your hand is on my dick,” he breathlessly said, making me laugh.

“Tell me what’s the one thing you want more than anything, even if you think you can’t have it.”

He groaned in complaint but continued thrusting into my fist working his cock.

I held his gaze. “Please. I need to hear you say it, Adler.”

It fascinated me to watch his resistance crumble. His voice was barely louder than a whisper when he confessed, “All I want is to be yours. Not just for a night but forever. It’s all I’ve ever wanted. And not because you’re famous and I’ve been obsessed with you for most of my life. I want the real you, the one who understood what I was trying to say with my dessert tonight, the one you don’t show anyone else.”

My body reacted before I could process the meaning of his words. I came hard on his stomach, experiencing a deep satisfaction at seeing him marked so thoroughly by my essence.Mine, something possessive growled inside me, something that wanted to pin Adler down and keep going despite my body being spent.

His reaction was almost instantaneous as he climaxed, giving me the beautiful sight of our cum mixing on his skin. It compelled me to run my finger through it, swirling them together, which filled me with an almost primal satisfaction.

“Mine,” I said in a voice I almost didn’t recognize.

Adler shuddered, staring at me with wide eyes. “Really?”

“All mine,” I murmured before I captured his lips in another kiss that confirmed I had made the right decision.

Adler was mine, just as much as I was his.