Page 36 of Reunion
“Maybe they both have a major sweet tooth?” Cole accepted the plate I handed over to him. “I’m not complaining.”
“Commentary, not complaint,” I assured him and laughed as he debated between pecan pie and cake. “You can have both, you know. They won’t mind.”
Cole fixed me with a scrupulous stare, then waggled his brows. “We’ve never incorporated pies before.”
“Don’t get me hard in a dessert line.” It was a moot point. Cole could make a pair of socks sexy.
“Not my fault that you have weird food fetishes.”
“Actually it is. I never had the desire to smear someone in dessert until you came along,” I reminded him, then grabbed one of the ramekins of crème brûlée from the display. “Are you saying I’m alone in that fetish?”
Cole bit his lip, but the grin broke through anyway, widening as he glanced down at the ramekin on my plate, then back up at me. He licked his lips.
“Oh, it’s on,” I promised. “Tonight we’re learning how to make crème brûlée.” The idea of Cole covered in the silky sweet texture of the crème aroused me. What the two of us referred to as The Cake Incident had unlocked a whole other side of me I hadn’t been aware of. A more playful and experimental side I hadn’t cultivated during my days of domming, especially early on when I thought I had to be tough and untouchable.
Desserts in hand, we made our way toward a wall of windows that looked out onto the botanical gardens, then dug into our desserts.
We were halfway through when Chase spotted us and clapped excitedly, clutching Lance’s elbow and all but dragging him over.
“Thank you so much for coming!” he crowed. We exchanged hugs and handshakes, and Lance hung back a little, clearly happy to let Chase take the spotlight.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Thanks for inviting us.” Cole pointed the tip of his spoon at his pie. “The desserts are delicious by the way.”
“Are you kidding? You two were instrumental.”
I chuckled. “You said that before but haven’t exactly been specific.”
Chase waggled his brows. “Three words. Rejection sex throwdown.”
“Rejection sex…” I echoed contemplatively and caught a flush rising in Lance’s cheeks a second before he laughed and snagged Chase by the arm.
“You should leave it at that, darling.”
“I think I will.” Chase gave us sloppy cheek kisses and tucked himself against Lance’s side. “Let’s have dinner together sometime soon. Promise.”
Maybe it would be one of those empty promises that never came to fruition, but I did like Chase. And Lance seemed nice enough, too. “Absolutely. We can try out that new restaurant on Fifth. Or, Cole makes a mean pot roast.”
“And Dane is a fierce baker,” Cole chimed in.
“You two sound frightfully wholesome and domestic.” Chase wrinkled his nose. “I have to admit I’m a little disappointed.”
He wasn’t wrong. Cole and I easily preferred the company of each other over a sprawling social life. It was as if we were trying to make up for all the years spent apart, and even though we often made plans to go out, we usually ended up bailing and staying at home cooking together or catching a game, sometimes playing old video games he’d brought over from his parents’ house.
Cole laughed. “Trust me, if you could see what happens—”
I clapped a hand over his mouth. “We’re incredibly boring, yes.”
Cole’s eyes sparkled as his gaze locked onto mine when Chase and Lance moved on after another assurance we’d get together soon. I recognized that glimmer and set my plate aside, dropping a light caress over his bicep. Beneath the crisp lines of his shirt were bold blooms of color, fading impressions of my touch. He wasn’t a major pain slut, but we both liked some vigorous action mixed in with the sensual. We’d been experimenting more with him topping lately, and I thought we might be heading in that direction tonight. The idea sent licks of fire up my spine and made me all the more eager to leave. I’d always known I was vers but had never found someone I’d truly been comfortable sharing that aspect of myself with until Cole.
“This crème brûlée is disappointing. You know we have that cheesecake in the fridge at home,” I mused.
“Feeling the urge to get a little messy?” Cole arched a brow then sucked in a breath as I leaned in and nipped his earlobe.
“A lot messy. I’ve been inspired. Let’s go.” I guided him toward the exit, sending farewell waves to other friends and acquaintances in passing. “I also picked up something from your favorite ‘magic’ shop the other day.”
“Oh?” Cole’s brow perked in interest. Ace’s Wild had seen plenty of him since he’d moved back to Vintage Ridge, and he was now on a first-name basis with Ace and Wilder. “Tell me more.”
As soon as the door to the atrium shut, I reeled Cole in and kissed along his jaw. “Better to experience it in person.” He was hard against me, and his pulse jumped against the fingers I trailed down his throat. “Have I mentioned how much I adore you?”