Page 145 of Burning Ember

“What exactly are you trying to do? Burn your new house down?” I can barely contain the amusement I’m holding back. “You know, that’s not really my thing . . .”

His mouth twitches and his frustration falls away. “I was tryin’ to make you breakfast in bed. Heard it was one of the top ten things you do when you fuck up with your girlfriend.”

My smile escapes and is now irrepressible. “Who told you that?”

“Google, he deadpans.

“Hmmm . . .” I quirk an eyebrow. “Girlfriend?”

His mouth twitches as he slides his hands on my hips. “Old lady then.”

Old lady?

My chest constricts, and I’m not sure if it’s excitement or nervousness that has me freaking out. I bite my lip and twist out of his hold. For a distraction, I survey the disaster that is his new kitchen. The burnt food and messy dishes. The eggs aren’t even yellow anymore—more like a blackened brown—and don’t even get me started on the hash browns.

“Wow . . . so . . . you don’t really cook much do you?”

He laughs and pulls me back into him. “I was tryin’. But no, usually I eat somethin’ premade or get take out.”

“You should stick to that.”

He growls playfully and tickles my sides.

I’m gasp and try to wiggle away from him. “Stop. Stop,” I say between laughs. “I was just kidding.”

He pushes my hair away from my neck and starts kissing me there. Nibbling on my ear, he whispers, “I wanted to do somethin’ nice for you.”

I melt a little and moan. “Hmmm . . . this is nice.”

“You look fuckin’ hot in my shirt, Doll.”

“I like it. It smells like you.”

He nuzzles my neck. “You like the way I smell?” When I nod, he says, “I like the way you smell too. Drives me crazy.” To emphasize his words he presses his long, hard body into mine. His cock is thick and ready. As ready as it was when he took me last night.

Then he says, “Teach me.”

I look over at him as he rests his chin on my shoulder. “Teach you what?”

He nods toward the stove. “Teach me how to cook you breakfast. I did my teachin’ last night,” he winks, “now it’s your turn.”

My eyes narrow on him and fall to his delicious mouth I want to kiss, then back up to his heated eyes. “Really? You want to learn how to cook?”

He grins. “Yeah. Why not.”

Scanning the kitchen one more time, I say, “Do you have more eggs? Hash browns? Bacon?”

He smiles and heads to the fridge, where he begins to pull out more food. “I got a boat load of shit this mornin’. Went out while you were sleepin’. And I was starvin’ so I grabbed enough to feed an army.”

“Wow, you don’t say.” I eye the smorgasbord of food he places on the counter. “What time did you get up?”

“Six.” He leans on his elbows over the counter and his grin turns mischievous. “Now ask me what time I got out of bed.”

I roll my lips once between my teeth and let my eyes roam over his face. He shaved this morning and he has yet another bruise. It’s on his right cheek where Dozer clocked him. He’s still sexy as hell though.

“What time did you get out of bed?”

“Seven thirty.”