by P. Stormcrow
Oh dear God, the man bakes. He had already proven more than capable in the kitchen. The way he’d held his knife alone had told her that he cooked often enough, and now he was claiming he could also make sweets. In her mind, his title changed from Mr. Just-a-guy to Mr. Chef. It had taken all her willpower to not call him Mr. Dream Guy. She was not in the business of putting anyone on a pedestal like that, but he was making it mighty hard.
Her gaze returned to stare at the cake. Gorgeous. She resisted the urge to take out her phone to snap pictures to add to her food porn collection. Ted had made fun of that enough. She didn’t want to give Jacob more of a dorky impression of her than she already had.
“Luna, go fetch us some plates and forks.” Jacob’s voice remained gentle as he chided her, but the command behind it was enough to wake her from her thoughts of the cake.
Her body responded before her mind registered how fast she’d obeyed. As she moved to the cupboards, she extracted two plates and grabbed forks and a cake knife from the drawer. She kept darting her eyes back to the cake, to Jacob, then to the cake again. Relinquishing the knife to Jacob, she moved to sit once more and stared as he cut a large slice before handing it to her. “Eat.”
Heaven on a fork. She swayed a little in her seat from the first bite.
“How is it?”
She should tease him back. She should not answer. But somehow that felt wrong. “Amazing.” Her voice was hushed with reverence.
He chuckled, and she basked in the sound. “Good. I’ve done my job for the day.”
“Job?” Another tilt of her head in question.
“Well, let’s see. I made sure you were safe and happy.”
Her cheeks heated and her lips made an O shape, but no sound came out as she stared at him. His job as monitor for Eli had meant that he’d ensured everyone’s safety—but the second…
He’s flirting with me. Oh my God, he’s flirting back with me. What do I say? What do I say?
“Thank…y-you…” she stammered, still flushed. In her head, she facepalmed at her own awkwardness.
They finished the cake, Luna savoring every bite, then retired to the couch to pick a movie, finally settling on an old Hellboy rerun. They started on opposite ends of her small couch. As the evening chill of the early summer settled in, Luna began hunting for her knitted throw, finding it on the other side of Jacob. At first, she curled into it without another thought but soon, Jacob reached over to tug at the opposite end.
“Cold?”
“That looks way too comfortable. Share,” he ordered.
With a small laugh, Luna scooted closer so they could both huddle into the blanket. Once they had both resettled underneath it, Jacob took the liberty to adjust it over both of them, to ensure maximum coverage.
Somewhere toward the end of the movie, lulled by the combined warmth of Jacob and the throw, Luna came to cuddle against him, laying her head on his shoulder, her eyes half-closed in sleepiness. At some point, he had wrapped an arm around her shoulder, much like the way he had kept an arm around her during Eli’s public demonstration with Dominique. A part of her mind registered that she should blush like mad, but half asleep, she found it hard to care. It felt natural, like they had cuddled a million times before.
“Luna, sweetheart, it’s time to wake up.”
His lips brushed by her hair. When did I fall asleep? She opened her eyes to the Netflix home screen then turned to gaze up at Jacob, even as he leaned back a little, his smile tender. Her breath caught as they stared at each other, both seeming unwilling to pull away.
With slow tenderness, he leaned forward and pressed a small kiss on her forehead. “I have to get home and you have to get to bed.” She wasn’t sure if she’d imagined the regret she thought she heard.
With a small exhale, she leaned back too and, with limbs lethargic with reluctance, Luna pushed aside the throw so that they could both rise from the couch. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and followed as Jacob made his way to the door.
“Thank you for spending the day with me.” Shy once more, she managed a small smile for him but kept her gaze down a little. Luna feared that if she looked into his eyes once more, she would do something rash, like ask him to stay.
“Thank you for making me the delicious dinner.” Jacob reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. He trailed his fingers down, brushing his knuckles along her cheek until they met her chin and he could tilt her face toward him.
Despite all her misgivings, she looked into his eyes. The affection in those warm chocolate orbs threatened to break down every defense she had.
He leaned in to brush his lips against hers. They were warm, gentle—almost teasing in how light his kiss was. He tasted as delicious as the tiramisu they had shared earlier.
Her entire being melted at his touch and she closed her eyes, opening only when he withdrew, which was much too soon for her liking.
“Good night, Luna. I’ll see you soon.”
She smiled at him, her cheeks rosy once more. “Good night, Jacob.”
Her heart was still pounding when she closed the door behind him with a soft but audible click. She felt almost floaty, like the whole day had been surreal. When she began to recognize what was unfolding between them, she drew in deep breaths, working through the exercise that Jacob had taught her to ground herself. The man was making her enter subspace with just a kiss alone—and a closed-mouthed one at that. What would it be like if…?
With vicious urgency, she slammed the door shut on those speculations. She needed another sex dream like she needed a hole in her head. With a grumble to herself, she stalked to bed.
Luna was still a little floaty the next morning, all the way through work until lunch.
“Over here!”
Luna turned to glimpse a bounce of curls and an enthusiastic wave of arms, and she grinned as she spied Lani at a corner table. They had agreed to meet up for brunch, and Luna salivated at the thought of eggs and bacon. Even as she sat, her stomach rumbled with anticipation.
“Hi, hi! How are you?”
“I’m good!” And she was. In truth, she hadn’t been able to wipe the stupid grin off her face. How often had she touched her lips all day, savoring the memory of Jacob’s?
Lani arched a brow and Luna blushed at the scrutiny, but as luck would have it, a waiter coming by to take their orders saved her from having to say more. The servers obviously understood that the lunch crowd needed to get back to work quick enough.
“So, August told me that you guys were planning to model for a photoshoot for Elijah? It was yesterday, right? How did it go?”
Traitor. “It was fun—all very professional.” She knew, however, the warmth that spread across her cheeks belied her words. A distraction… She needed to distract Lani. “So, you and August talked?”
Lani sniffed and took a sip of her tea. “We talk often. I rather enjoy the lovely company. We’ll see where we go from here, but I’m unsure if I can give him what he desires.”
“What do you mean?”
A delicate shrug. “Exclusivity.” A mischievous grin spread across her lips. “I’m not ready to settle yet. There are too many pretty dollies to play with.” Lani leaned forward and peered at Luna. “That was a nice attempt at a diversion, my dear. Now tell me… If things were so professional at the shoot, why are your cheeks so red, hmm-m?”
Luna could see that Lani was trying to stifle her giggles. Busted. Distraction failed. With a sigh, she stared down at the table and mumbled. “Well, it was fine until…”
“Until?”
“Until I realized Jacob was watching.” Now she was muttering under her breath.
“Well, Luna, my dear, of course he was looking. He was doing his job.”
Luna sneaked a peek at Lani, and while her friend was keeping her expression neutral, her eyes gleamed with humor.
“Lani….”
“Okay.” The other woman laughed and shook her head. “Let me guess. Was he looking at yo
u like he wanted to eat you up?”
“Lani!” Luna squirmed in her seat. Her fantasy from the session, his face between her legs, replayed in full color in her mind. It was just a brief flash of an image but enough to make her stomach clench. Where the hell is the lust coming from? She swallowed, shoving her libido away to focus on the conversation. “How?”
“I’ve known Jacob for a very long time now.” Lani chuckled. “I saw how he looked at you at the party.”
Her lips formed a small O. She would protest, but the memory of their cuddling then his kiss resurfaced. There was no denying that Mr. Chef was interested.
“Did something else happen?”
Luna winced when she realized she was touching her lips again. There was no hiding anything from Lani. It figured, considering the woman was a counselor by trade. “We hung out after. He kissed me.” Her whisper was full of wonder and awe.
A high-pitched squeak broke through her shyness. “Oh, you’ve got his attention and the dear boy finally made a move!” Lani was almost bouncing in her seat and she squealed in delight. Luna’s eyes widened, overwhelmed by her friend’s enthusiasm. A couple from the next table shot them an annoyed look, but Lani paid them no heed.
“One coffee-crusted pork belly hash and one breakfast quesadilla. Is there anything else I can get you two?” The server came, arms laden with food, saving Luna from having to reply. She breathed a discreet sigh of relief and shook her head, even as Lani did the same.
“Excellent. Enjoy.”
The waiter stepped away.
“Luna?” A second later, Dylan appeared beside their table, a dimpled smile on his lips.
Surprise almost made Luna spit out her drink. Instead, she recovered with a small wave. “Dylan! Hi!” The greeting came out more like a squeak as her heart hammered. The last thing she’d expected was for her two very distinct and different worlds to collide.
“Hi.”
The two of them stared at each other until Lani cleared her throat with a dainty sound.
“Oh, Dylan, meet my friend Lani.” Luna turned toward the Domme, resisting from chewing her lower lip out of nervousness.
Lani extended a hand and Dylan reached across to shake it. “Nice to meet you, Dylan.” Giving him a beaming smile, she nodded. “Have you known Luna long?”
“Ah-h. Actually, Ted and Brandon just introduced me to her a few weeks back. Have you met them?”
“No, I don’t believe I have.”
“Dylan taught me how to climb a few weeks ago,” Luna interjected before the conversation delved more into her various social lives. How the hell does every superhero do it? Oh wait, Tony Stark didn’t even bother. And Batman didn’t have a social life, not as Batman.
“Oh, that sounds like fun!”
What is with that speculative gleam in Lani’s eyes?
“Well, I won’t keep you girls from your food.” Dylan gestured to the table. “Luna, are we still on for dinner and drinks tomorrow night?”
She kicked herself. Right… At Ted’s urging, she had reached out, and they had agreed on the date before things had gotten intense with Jacob. Was it even intense?
“Sure.” Maybe the word came out with more forced enthusiasm than she’d intended.
“Awesome. See you then! Nice to meet you, Lani.” He nodded once more then turned and walked away.
Luna was still watching him when Lani spoke. “So, he seems cute. And it sounds like you’ve got a big date tomorrow.”
With a hard swallow, Luna turned. “I swear that I booked the date before the kiss. I mean, I didn’t even know Jacob was going to ask me out to coffee. And—”
“Whoa! Easy, girl.” Lani shook her head and placed a hand on Luna’s arm. “You don’t have to explain anything. You’re exploring right now and haven’t committed to anything, much less anyone. What you’re doing is healthy.”
Luna released the tension building up in her shoulders and ducked her head a little. “Thanks. I’ve never been in this situation before.”
“How so?”
“Well”—Luna paused and swallowed, gazing toward where Dylan had walked off—“just having two guys interested in me at the same time. Dylan and Jacob are very different.”
“Ah-h…” Lani’s features softened with understanding, her tone sympathetic. “As long as you’re honest with everyone, including yourself, simply take your time to explore, to see what seems more right to you.”
Luna nodded. “Thanks.” The unexpected kindness made her want to give Lani a big hug, but she refrained, lest she make a scene.
“Now eat. Your food’s getting cold.”
Luna straightened and gave a small laugh. “Yes, Ma’am.”
Chapter Thirteen
It was just drinks and dinner. Luna smoothed a hand over her black drapey tank top with a deep V neck, having conceded to dress a little nicer than her usual T-shirt and jeans. With a firm nod to herself, she grasped the handle of the door, pulled it opened and let herself into the restaurant and lounge she had picked for their date. It screamed casual but chic and she had been dying to try their steak. Now she wondered if they would have both been better served going to the neighborhood diner instead.
The place was packed with multiple gorgeous hostesses in tight black dresses and glossy lipstick talking to several waiting guests. More self-conscious than ever, Luna stood in one corner until she caught sight of Dylan, waving at her from one of the two-seater tables in the lounge. Well, she’d dug her own grave—now she must lie in it.
“Hi, Luna.” Dylan rose from his seat and swung around to envelop her in a hug.
Caught by surprise, she hugged back then gave a small smile, noting with approval the simple gray short-sleeved shirt and black slacks that he wore. He cleaned up well. And he smelled good, with a hint of aftershave.
When they stepped back and took a seat, Dylan grinned. “You look amazing.”
Right on cue, Luna’s cheeks warmed. Compliments were never her strong suit. “Thank you,” she stammered, even as she picked up the drink menu. Unlike the impromptu coffee date with Jacob, she felt a lot more nervous as she racked her brain, trying to think of a topic for small talk. Instead, her inner dialogue ran a litany of curses aimed at Ted.
“How did you find climbing the other day?”
Luna schooled her face, hoping she wasn’t looking too relieved that he’d brought up a safe topic. “It was fun. I was pretty sore after, but it was worth it.”
“The soreness will happen. Climbing uses some pretty specific muscle groups that don’t get used a lot in other sports.”
“You’re telling me! I was hurting in places I didn’t know existed.”
Conversation flowed with more ease after that but stayed focused on climbing. They finished the first round of drinks and moved to the main dining area for dinner. Luna’s eyes lit up as she found the fabled steak on the menu.
“Found something you like?” Dylan had on a different smile, one that was teasing.
Luna smiled as she looked over the menu, also realizing that he was looking at her. “Guilty as charged. I heard their steaks are ridiculously good.”
Dylan chuckled and closed the menu. “Well, I’ll follow your lead. Steak sounds good to me.”
It was an odd turn of phrase. In the back of her mind, Luna wondered if Dylan was in the scene somehow as another submissive—or maybe he was a closet one. Or perhaps she’d been reading too much about the lifestyle in the last while and was seeing everything through that lens. She made a mental note to ask both August and Jacob about their opinions when she next saw them.
“Are you okay, Luna?” There was a slight knowing tug of the corners of Dylan’s lips as he leaned forward a little.
Realizing that she had been staring, Luna nodded and flushed again but was a little surprised as she checked herself. There was attraction—Dylan checked almost all her boxes—but her libido wasn’t kicking into high gear like it was in Jacob’s presence. It was something worth puzzling over lat
er.
“Hey, don’t be embarrassed. There’s no need.” Dylan’s voice had gentled.
“Ah, sorry.” Luna chewed her lower lip.
“Hey, am I making you nervous? There’s no pressure. We can take it as fast or as slow as you’d like.” Dylan straightened. Luna wasn’t sure in the dim lighting but she thought she saw his own cheeks pinken. “I like you, Luna. I mean… What’s there to not like? You’re gorgeous, smart and fun. I’d like to continue hanging out to see where it takes us, but I don’t want you to feel pressured into anything.”
Where has he been all my life? Not only was he adorable, but he was sweet and every bit a gentleman. And he was giving her the reins, to stay in control. It was safe and normal. He was someone who had the potential to be a long-term partner if he proved to be consistent in how considerate he was. Luna owed it to herself to see it through. “I’d like that. Thank you.” She smiled even as she looked up at him—though her chin remained pointing downward.
“Awesome.”
A waitress looking almost identical to the hostesses outside dropped by to take their orders, interrupting their conversation. As soon as she’d left, Luna lifted the Bellini to her lips and took another sip, savoring the cool sweetness on her tongue.
“Now that’s just wrong,” Dylan muttered under his breath.
Luna had just managed to catch his words and turned toward the direction he was looking. Two tables over, there was a couple dressed as though they were on a date, but they had a toddler in tow. She watched in fascination as the mom had all but abandoned her food, trying to cajole the toddler to be quiet while the dad ate, oblivious to the distress the rest of his family was in.
“How so?” Luna had several opinions herself but she remained curious as to where Dylan stood. Lots of people thought parents shouldn’t bring their kids to places like the one they were in. She was pretty against that point of view and was already preparing to argue her side
He shook his head and sighed. “I’ve seen too many dads expecting the mom to do everything with their kids. It’s frustrating to see. I mean, I don’t have kids, but even I can tell that’s wrong. Look… He’s eating away while her food’s getting cold.”