Page 51 of The Cinnamon Bun Book Store

He pushed off the counter and stalked toward her. The kitchen was small. Really only big enough for one person to cook in at a time which was normally fine. But now, with Noah prowling toward her across the worn linoleum and her back suddenly against another set of cabinets, it was frighteningly small.

He took her chin between his fingers and tilted her face up to his. ‘Stop saying that.’

‘Saying what?’

‘That you’re ruining things. You don’t ruin anything, Hazel.’

Her eyes widened at his words but she couldn’t respond before his mouth curved into a wicked smile.

‘And hell, yeah, I want to have sex with you.’

‘You do?’

He sighed like she was frustrating him and then planted a kiss on her forehead before releasing her chin. ‘I told you before. You. Are. Hot. Of course I want to have sex with you.’

‘Oh. Okay. Great... I mean right ... so...’

‘What’s the matter? You sound like you’re malfunctioning.’

‘I think I am.’ She shook her head, hardly believing the turn this night took. She just needed some dinner, she just wanted to see him. She just...

‘Show me how you do it.’

Noah’s eyes widened. ‘Show you how to ... have sex?’

Oh, God she was screwing this up so many different ways she’d completely lost count. This was why she only had sex within the safe boundaries of a long-term relationship. There was nothing to explain when you wanted to have sex with your boyfriend. You simply both worked it into your schedules. Right? Right?! Oh God, what was wrong with her?

‘No, no. Not how to have sex. I mean, I know how to do that.’ Although now she was doubting literally every sexual encounter she’d ever had.

‘I mean, I want to keep this casual.’

He looked like he might protest but Hazel plowed forward. She didn’t want to make this weird for him. She didn’t want him to think she was expecting anything to come of it. But if he wanted to undo her buttons and if she definitely wanted a repeat performance from yesterday then maybe she should go for it.

Casual sex with Noah was perfectly aligned with her goals for an adventure. And so...

‘I know you don’t date people long term and that’s totally fine because obviously it would be weird for us to get together and it would never work out and...’

Noah was staring at her again. ‘Wait, why would it be weird?’

‘Oh. Uh. Well, I don’t know. Too many overlapping friends and we have to see each other all the time in town and stuff and then when it doesn't work out it would be awkward.’

‘And why wouldn’t it work out?’

Hazel huffed and gestured between them. ‘We don’t make sense together.’

Noah blinked. ‘Right.’

Wait, did she hurt his feelings? Shit. This was officially the world’s worst seduction. ‘I just meant, you don’t do long-term and I’m not looking for that anyway and I just thought while we are having fun together anyway, we could add this ... component, but obviously I’m terrible at this so ... we can just forget it.’

‘No way.’ Noah’s words were fast and sharp and Hazel’s head snapped up from where she’d been staring at her feet to avoid his gaze.

‘No way?’

‘No way we’re forgetting it.’ His mouth tipped into a slow smile and Hazel’s breath caught. ‘I can teach you.’

‘Oh.’ Heat crept up her neck but it wasn’t just her face that was warm, it was all of her. Heat pooled in her belly and between her thighs. Just a look from Noah had her hotter than all her past relationships combined.

‘When should we start?’ he asked, taking another step toward her until she could feel the rise and fall of his chest against hers.