Page 16 of Unhinged Cravings

“Only when I want to cook something else.”

My jaw dropped again, and I snapped it closed. “You cook?”

He gave me a smirk that had my insides melting. “Why? Am I not supposed to know how to cook?”

I gave up on my pouting when my stomach growled. Lifting the fork, I replied, “It’s just not something I would expect someone like you to do.”

Did Greyson cook? Or Riley’s brother? That Tyson guy looked entirely too large and terrifying to stand behind a stove.

“Someone like me?”

I raised my eyes, seeing the curiosity in his. Swallowing, I said, “A mob boss.” I figured it was the less messy answer.

“Hmm. I didn’t realize there were limitations on our abilities.” He took a sip of his coffee and waited for my response while he placed the mug back on the table.

The coffee smelled delicious. Not thinking, I reached over and took the mug, bringing it to my lips as his brow rose.

“Mmm,” I moaned before realizing the sound had slipped from me.

One awkward moment and one flash of desire mixed with tightened jaw muscles later, he said, “If you wanted coffee, I could have gotten you a cup.”

My hands still wrapped around the mug, I lowered it, saying, “This will do, but tomorrow I’ll take my own…unless you want to share.”

He snatched the mug from my hands and mumbled, “I don’t share.”

“Is that why you hate your brother?” I asked.

That jaw clenched even more and the words, “Something like that,” came out muffled by it.

I’d hit a nerve and considering who I sat across from, I wanted that nerve soothed quickly. Rising, I walked to the edge of the deck and looked over the railing. “It’s beautiful,” I said, staring down at the private beach. Enclosed by rocky cliff sides, the shore fed into crashing waves that danced as they turned to a frothy surf.

“It is,” he said, too quietly for a man of his force.

I peered back at him, and he dropped his eyes to his coffee cup before holding it out to me. “Here.”

“No, it’s fine. I shouldn’t have?—”

“Take the fucking coffee.”

My hands went to my hips, and I scowled at him. “Don’t be so fucking rude.”

It might not have been the best response since I was standingacross from my ruthless kidnapper on the edge of a deck that was too many stories up to count.

But he chuckled and held it out further. “Take the coffee, Ava.”

Thrown off, I let my hands fall. It was almost like he was two different people. Walking over, I took it from him, my fingers touching his briefly, but long enough to set those butterflies into another frenzy.

“You’ve got a mouth on you,” he said, resting back in his chair as I took my seat again.

“I do. It gets me in trouble sometimes.”

“I bet. You’re like a damned wildcat.”

“Untamed and unhinged,” I said, grinning over the rim of the cup.

“Something like that.” He shook his head, and I looked back out at the view.

“I’ve never been to the ocean,” I admitted.