Yes, Chef (Sizzle & Burn Book 1)

by Linda Verji

  He tried to think of cons to her moving in and could only come up with one. Asking her to move in was akin to making a long-term commitment and just a rung below proposing marriage. A year ago – hell, a month ago, the thought of making that kind of commitment would’ve sent him packing and running for the hills. Considering that he and Snow had just recently started dating, he should’ve been doubly scared. Yet he felt no fear.

  “Man, you need to get your head checked.” He shook his toothbrush at his reflection. Being sick was the only reasonable explanation for the drastic change in his behavior and thoughts. He was infected with Snow Virus and there was no cure for him. Not that he was interested in getting cured.

  Grinning, he exited the en-suite and entered the bedroom. Snow was already tucked inside his bed, lying on her stomach and scrolling through her phone. After getting rid of his t-shirt, he climbed in beside her and propped his back against the headboard. She glanced up briefly to smile at him before turning her attention to her phone. For a moment, he just watched her. What was it about this woman that had him so enthralled, so captured, so in love?

  In love?

  The realization that he was indeed in love with Snow hit him with the force of a freight train and he had to suck in a steadying breath. He’d never thought that he’d fall this fast, never planned to fall. But there was no denying that it had happened. He was down and out; deeply and irrevocably in love with Snow Harrison.

  He exhaled long and slow before calling out, “Snow?”

  “Hmm?” She turned away from her phone to look up at him. “What’s up?

  He hesitated a while before asking, “What if I said that I didn’t mind you sneak-moving-in?”

  Snow blinked, then stared at him. “I’d say you were crazy, because it’s too early for us to be moving in together.”

  Her response was expected. It was logical and sane unlike the bizarre emotions that had recently taken residence in his brain. Yet his heart still sank because of it.

  But apparently, Snow wasn’t done yet. She flashed him a slow enchanting smile as she added, “But then that would make me crazy too because I was just browsing about how to convince your boyfriend to let you move in.”

  She held up her phone, and sure enough her screen showed the results of a Google search on ‘how to convince your boyfriend to let you move in’.

  Greyson let out a bark of laughter before he slid further down into the bed to kiss her. His lips moved over hers softly, tenderly, every move designed to let her know how much she meant to him and how relieved he was to know that their thoughts were so alike.

  When he finally pulled back from the kiss, it was to say, “Birds of a feather, huh?”

  “Seems like it.” She pushed herself on one elbow to study him. “Do you really want to move in together?”

  “I do.” He nodded as he ran his index finger over her arm, loving how smooth her bare skin felt. “But it’s too soon, right?”

  “It’s soon,” she agreed but in her eyes he could see that she was seriously thinking about it. “Then again, we’ve known each other for more than three years so that should count, right?”

  “It should,” he agreed. “Technically, we’ve been moving at snail’s pace.”

  She canted her head as if mulling over the rationality of that argument before shaking her head. “Still, I was in another relationship all that time so I don’t think it counts.” Her face fell and she sighed. “Everyone will think we’re crazy to move in together after just two months of dating. It’s not like we’re in love or anything.”

  She looked at him as if waiting for him to agree that they weren’t in love.

  Greyson just stared back at her.

  His silence was answer enough for Snow and her eyes widened, the shock in them clear as daylight. He wasn’t surprised that she was shocked. Hell, he was still recovering from his own surprise. Never in a million years had he expected to be the first one to confess his love. Yet, here he was unable to deny its presence.

  But he didn’t want Snow to feel burdened by his feelings, so he said, “It’s okay if you’re not. It’s still early in our relationship and we-”

  “I love you too,” she cut him off abruptly.

  He blinked. Halted. Had she really said that or was he so desperate to have his feelings reciprocated that he’d imagined the words?

  “I love you too, Greyson,” she repeated, leaving no doubt at all that his hearing was fine. Her eyes glimmered with tenderness and something resembling uncertainty as she said, “I know it’s too soon to say the words but meh… what can we do?”

  That tender vulnerability touched him, drove him to rise to her level so they were eye-to-eye. He leaned forward for a soft kiss. “I guess we’ll just have to live with the fact that we love each other.”

  Mirth sparkling in her brown eyes, she sighed. “Poor us.”

  “Poor us,” he agreed with a grin before he leaned forward to capture her mouth and smother her laughter against his lips.

  EPILOGUE

  ~ Five Months Later ~

  Greyson was asleep. Deep asleep.

  His eyelids were closed against the dim light of dawn, his breathing deep, relaxed and slow, and all the muscles in his face and body were at rest. Not a twitch, not a spasm and barely any movement of his chest except for the slow rise and fall that came with each inhale and exhale of air.

  Snow watched him as he slept, savoring the peacefulness of his features. He looked kinder in his sleep – more like the man she’d grown to love these last couple of months. Emotion welled inside her as she thought of her life before he’d come crashing in.

  Before him, she’d merely existed – pretending to be in love yet not really knowing what it meant to love and be loved. It was a good thing that Charlie and Marlene had completely cut off contact because having them in her life would’ve been a painful reminder of what a lonely time those twelve years she’d spent on him were. Back then, she’d told herself that she was satisfied with the morsels of affection that were thrown her way. But Greyson had taught her that there was much more to being in a relationship.

  They’d moved in together four months ago and promptly gotten engaged, once more proving that they were experts at moving fast. It was too fast by most people’s standards but Snow had never regretted it, not for a single second. Every morning she got to wake up beside Greyson was a blessing. Each day she spent with him brought new discoveries of how it felt to be cherished, to be loved, to be his one and only.

  As if he could tell that she was watching him, Greyson’s brow furrowed, and he shifted fitfully in his sleep. He didn’t waken but his actions had the effect of making his hair fall across his face. She brushed it off and tucked it behind his ear, revealing his sharp beautiful face. How had such a beautiful, kind-hearted, caring man fallen in love with her? She was average at best – nothing special. Who knows? Maybe she’d saved a country in her previous life to deserve such a special man. Either way, he was a miracle that she remained thankful for every day.

  Pensively, she stroked his bottom lip with her index finger. She smiled when his tongue swept out as if to kiss the skin she’d touched. Gently, she trailed that same finger from his mouth, down his chin to his neck and lower still. His skin was warm and silky smooth beneath her touch. Her palm brushed over his gleaming chest and lingered over the firm, muscles there. Indeed, he was a fine man.

  Snow leaned forward to touch her lips to one of his nipples, to taste him. Her tongue flicked against the beaded point and rolled it before giving the same attention to the other nipple. Yet not a stir came from Greyson.

  Slowly, she took the edge of the covers and pealed them away from his waist and to his knees. Immediately, she was confronted by the vision of his morning wood thrusting arrogantly against his boxers. Her breathing quickened in budding arousal and anticipation. His, on the other hand, remained slow and steady.

  Careful not to shake the bed too much and wake him prematurely, she sat up then str
addled him, keeping her weight gingerly poised inches above his knees. She set her palms beside his waist and bent to touch her lips to the arrow of fine hairs that led into his boxers. She almost giggled when they tickled her mouth but quelled it. Grinning, she teasingly blew at those hairs.

  “Mm.” Greyson grunted and jerked slightly but he didn’t wake up. Snow set her hand on his thigh, trailed it upwards then cupped his erection. This time he moaned low in his throat and pushed his hips upwards as if to beg for more of her touch. So she squeezed, drawing another moan from him. Even shielded by cotton, he was hard and warm to touch. It felt so good to have him in her hand that she couldn’t help firming her grip on him.

  “Mmm,” he groaned. She snuck glance at him to find that a line had appeared between his brows as if he was on the verge of awakening. His body, however, was fully awake. His cock responded to her touch, twitching against her palm, growing longer, harder and thicker by the second. It was enough to make her pussy moisten and pulse in need. Aching to see more of him, she set both her hands to the waistband of his checkered boxers.

  She pulled the fabric down to reveal the steely monster beneath. An unintentional gasp pushed its way past her lips as she stared at that part of him – strong, throbbing and rock-hard. Breathing shakily, she moved off him so she could get the boxers completely off him. Once they were gone, she straddled him again, her gaze firmly glued to his shaft. She couldn’t help licking her lips before she finally touched his bare erection.

  Oh, he was so hard and so tempting. The pearl of liquid that had started on his tip made him all the more tempting. With her fingers, she collected that liquid then spread it over the rest of his smooth shaft making him slippery and slicker. Then she wrapped her fingers completely around him and stroked him.

  Up. Down. Up. Down.

  Even asleep, Greyson was no slacker. He started to move his hips in rhythm with her strokes, pushing more of his rod into her grip. When she gave it a sudden squeeze, he grunted and shoved his hips upwards as if to beg for more. He wanted more? Well, she could give him more. Snow took a deep breath then bent and took him into her mouth.

  “Aah!” Greyson came into full wakefulness with a deep growl. She would’ve welcomed him to the party if she wasn’t fully occupied with his cock. She drew him deeper in her mouth, suckled, suctioned and teased him with her tongue. And when her mouth wasn’t enough for all of him, she cupped the remaining length and stroked it to the tune of her mouth

  “Fuuu… oh, oh!” His breaths came in deep gasps as his big hands reached down and cupped the back of her head pushing her lower into his length. “Jeez…. Snow.”

  It was thrilling and flattering to see him so close to the edge all because of her. The more she pleasured him, the more her own need grew. Her body heated in a desire mirroring his, her breasts swelled and her pussy grew moist, its juices wetting her thighs.

  Intent on driving him over the edge, she sucked and stroked him, back and forth, until she had him jerking helplessly beneath her at boiling point. But before she could tip him over, his upper body lurched upwards and he pushed her forehead backwards. His rod fell out of her mouth with a pop. Before she could protest his unexpected interruption of her erotic game, he grabbed her by the underarms and yanked her upwards into his arms.

  He brought her head down to his and slammed his mouth against hers. His kisses were desperate, passionate and filled with unrestrained need. His hands roved over her body as he kissed her, stroking her thighs, lifting her nightie away, tossing the fabric over her head, before coming back to caress her body. Kiss after kiss, touch after touch he fed her, tormented her, until she was ravenous for more.

  With a moan, she rose to sitting position. Placing her hands flat on his chest, she scooted forward until her pussy was right over his cock, her lips erotically hugging that sweet, hard rod. Then she started to move her hips so that her soaking core glided along his thick length lubricating him with her juices and stimulating her clitoris.

  Oh, it felt so good. With her eyes closed and her mouth open, she did it again; ground her pussy so hard along his shaft that shards of pleasure shot through the whole of her body.

  “Snow… no more.” Greyson groaned, his grip on her hips tightening. “No more teasing.”

  She opened her eyes to find him watching her with unrestrained arousal, his lust having turned his blue eyes to a violent purple.

  “Put it in,” he commanded.

  As much as she ached to follow his command, this was her show. And she was running him. She lifted her eyebrows and ordered, “Beg me.”

  The man had no pride. His answer was swift. “Please put it in.”

  Smiling, she lifted herself slightly off him and reached down between them to grasp his thoroughly lubricated cock. She lined his length with her pussy then set her hands back on his chest and lowered herself. Her smile died the moment she felt the firm pressure of his head demanding entrance at her core. Greyson’s hands moved to her buttocks to help her push downwards. Locking her gaze with his, she shoved her hips even lower.

  “Ooh!” They both groaned as his hard shaft finally penetrated her warmth. His hands squeezed and caressed her buttocks, opening her up for an even deeper penetration. With painful slowness, she worked herself down his thick, heavy length inch by inch until her pelvis met his groin. She sighed in relief, loving the delicious feeling of having his enormous length completely inside her. She took a moment to breathe in and out shakily before she rose.

  “Aaaah!” She shuddered in ecstasy as his cock firmly massaged the thousands of clitoral nerve endings lining her vagina on its way out. Greedily, she impaled herself on him again, taking every inch he had to give then demanding more. She rose again then fell, over and over until she was riding him wildly. Up and down, up and down, up and down, she glided over his length, using her hips to stoke his and her passion. Her speed increased with each second. The faster she rode him, the closer to her climax she got.

  But she didn’t want to get there alone. She needed Greyson with her.

  Intent on bringing him as close to the edge as she was, she clenched her muscles around him.

  “Snow…. Fuck.” His eyes widened and his grip on her ass tightened. She did it again – unclenched then clenched. But this time it was too much for him. With speed she didn’t know he was capable of, he flipped her onto her back and took control.

  One second she was looking up at him startled and the next her thighs were hooked over his arms and he was shoving himself into her. Hard. In his over-stimulated excitement, he seemed to throw caution to the wind. He fucked her desperately, thrust himself into her in long, hard strokes that shook her whole body and left her trembling.

  Oh God! She thought wildly. He was as deep as he could possibly go yet he was still pushing in. She couldn’t believe how utterly stretched and full she felt.

  Deep. Hard. Long.

  He kept thrusting forcefully.

  She spread her legs and begged for more.

  Their sweat mingled, their breaths became more ragged, their moans turned into cries of pleasure.

  Faster. Faster. Faster.

  And then they tumbled.

  “Oooh – shiiiiit.” Her breathy scream exploded in the room. Pleasure, wild and intense, jolted through her as convulsive waves of passion swept her into an explosive release. Her feelings for him only made her release more intense, more precious, more incredible.

  Greyson continued to move aggressively within her until he suddenly stiffened and surged upwards in a powerful final stroke. His cock spasmed within her, ejecting stream after stream of his seed into her in an almost endless release. Finally, gradually, he released his tight grip on her and flopped onto his back beside her.

  As the feverish urgency ebbed, they lay there exhausted, boneless and panting. Greyson pulled her half over him so that her cheek rested against the sweat-dampened skin of his shoulder as they both drew in rough, shaky breaths.

  It took a while, but finally her b
reathing gentled enough for her to say, “Happy Birthday, Greyson.”

  His laughter rumbled against the side of her face. “If this was your present, then can I please have more?”

  “Maybe later. If you ask really nicely.” Smiling, she rose to her elbow and her eyes zeroed in on the clock. Immediate shock pulsed through her and she sat up with a gasp. “Oh my, is it seven already? I’m late.”

  “Late for what?” He propped his head on his palm and studied her. “You’ve got two more hours before you have to get to work.”

  “I have stuff to do,” she hedged, unwilling to let him know her plans for the day. If he found out exactly what she was up to, it would all be ruined.

  “What stuff?” he asked. When she couldn’t answer, he pulled her to lie back down. “Relax, you’re in bed with the boss. Besides, I can drive you there. I need to look at the books anyway.”

  Two months ago, he and Roman had opened the second Tellers in the city. It was a happy occasion but it also came with sadness. Roman had left to go manage that restaurant. With Roman gone, a lot more responsibility fell on Greyson; more so because Roman had carried along Vina, as his executive chef, and April, as his hostess, forcing Greyson to hire a new manager and host. Though, Snow missed her friends terribly, she was glad that she and Greyson got to stay together. Some couples felt stifled if they saw each other night and day but for Snow felt differently. She wanted to spend every single second of her day with him.

  Not today though.

  “No.” She shot down his offer to drive her to work. Sitting up, she said, “I can take a cab there. And you shouldn’t come in to the restaurant. You’ve been working too hard. Take a break. The books will still be waiting tomorrow.”