Giving her a grateful smile, he took it and then looked over all the food spread across the counter. Food that did not look like Kirkpatrick’s breakfast ingredients.
“What’s all this?” he asked.
“Dinner for people who don’t eat like a five-year-old. I hope you worked up an appetite.”
“I mean what’s the occasion for me? I didn’t wear a superhero outfit.”
“Well I need to eat too, so I might as well make enough for two,” she said with a shrug. “And I’ve forced you to watch girly movies for weeks now, so…consider this an apology.”
He got the meaning behind her apology loud and clear, but for Kirkpatrick’s benefit, he lifted an eyebrow and said, “Why do I feel like she’s buttering us up for something?”
Kirkpatrick laughed. “Just go with it. Although after one bite of her waffles, I was tempted to say yes to whatever she wanted.”
And there it is. That doesn’t bode well for me at all, now does it…
She was smiling to herself, and when she glanced up at him, there was a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
Christ. That. That look. After what had happened between them last night, he knew being alone with her was dangerous, and he was even questioning his own self-control, something he’d never done before.
After pulling out a cutting board and rummaging in the utensil drawer, she said in a stern voice, “Could you please go shower now? I’d like to eat this meat sometime this century.”
* * *
WHEN HE WAS freshly showered, he walked back in the kitchen to see Kirkpatrick yawning while he waited to tag off.
“Sorry,” the man said, getting up. “I don’t know why I’m so tired tonight. I feel like I could sleep for a day.”
“I’ve got it from here,” Jason said, clapping him on the back. Kirkpatrick said his good nights and shuffled down the hall, barely awake on his feet.
Katherine was pulling vegetables out of the refrigerator, and she had a self-satisfied look on her face.
“What’s that look for?” he asked her, taking a seat on the barstool.
“What look?” Her eyes were innocent and wide. Too much so.
“Is your specialty narcoleptic hash browns? You planning another little escapade you need us knocked out for?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Maybe he’s just had a long day.”
He narrowed his eyes, wondering what she had up her sleeve. “I plan to stay right here and watch every little thing you put in whatever it is you’re making, so don’t try anything, please. I’d hate to detain you.”
“I’d love for you to detain me,” she said, winking at him. “But don’t think I’m letting you just sit there and look pretty. I’m putting you to work.”
Eyeing the food she’d pulled out, he said, “A porterhouse? That’s what you’re making?”
“You complaining?”
“Damn, not a bit. I might let you have a bite or two.”
“A bite or two?” She moved a bag out of the way to reveal two of the massive steaks. “I’m getting my own.”
“There is no way you can eat all that.”
Twisting her lips into a devious smile, she said, “I think you’ll be surprised how big my appetite is.”
Now that doesn’t surprise me.
Before he let his thoughts continue to wander, he walked around the bar and asked, “What’s my station?”
She pointed to the cutting board and handed him a container of mushrooms. “I figured you were good with a knife, and Lord knows I don’t need another weapons lesson this week. I just washed those, so you’ll need to slice them thin.”
“Easy enough. What’s our full menu tonight, Chef?”
Tying her hair back to keep it off her face, she announced, “Our course for the evening will consist of a juicy porterhouse steak with sautéed mushrooms, steamed veggies, and succulent loaded sweet potatoes, which I’ve already got in the oven.”
“Wow,” he said, impressed that she’d gone through all the trouble. No doubt it comes with a price. One I’ll end up likely paying.
“Mhmm. And for dessert, I cheated and bought a turtle cheesecake. I was never good at getting the right consistency, and I’d rather not eat cheesecake soup.”
He put down his knife. “I think that’s a deal breaker. Made from scratch or nothing.”
She smiled at him and set out the sauté pan and oil. “Guess I’ll eat it myself then.”
“Right. Because you’ve got such a hearty appetite.”
As she walked over to the sink, she brushed her body against him. It was a move intended to show him where the night was heading, and his best course of action at this point was to try to hold her off. But when she turned off the water and reached past him for a towel, her breasts grazed his arm, and he gave her a warning look.
“Sorry,” she said, not sorry at all, and took her time pulling away. “Can’t have my hands wet already. I’ll need a firm grip on the meat so it doesn’t slide out of my hands.”
Fucking hell, woman.
Clenching his jaw shut so he didn’t make the response he wanted to, he continued chopping, and she eventually breezed by him again to her spot at the counter.
“How do you like your steak?”
“Medium rare,” he clipped out.
“Medium rare it is.” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her watching him. “When you’re done with those, they can go in the pan.”
After slicing the last mushroom, he slid them into the pan, and then looked at her expectantly. “Next?”
“You can set the table while I get the meat ready.”
“Shouldn’t I get the meat ready?”
The steak she’d been prepping dropped onto the counter with a loud thunk, and she gaped at him.
“What?” he asked, figuring he could play at her innocent game too. “I’m a guy. I know how to handle it.”
“Oh, I’m sure you know how to handle it,” she said, her gaze dropping down to his pants.
“Katherine?” He strolled over to her and placed one hand on either side of her on the counter.
“Yes?”
“I need…” His face inched closer to hers, and her eyes dropped to his lips.
Her voice was breathy with anticipation as she asked, “You need…?” She was close to squirming beneath him, exactly where he wanted her to be.
Running his hand up her arm, he said, “You…”
Katherine’s eyes fluttered closed, and her head tilted to the side.
“…to move so I can get the plates,” he whispered.
Her eyes flew open, and when she caught sight of the grin on his face, she pushed him hard against the chest.
“You’re an asshole.”
“And you’re still in my way.”
Cheeks flushed, she moved from the counter, crossing her arms over her chest.
Too late for that. He’d already seen the evidence of her arousal through her shirt, her nipples hardened and straining against her fitted white tee. Teasing her was a turn-on of its own. Her face always flushed, and her rapid breaths made her chest rise and fall in agitation. She was a sexy fucking sight.
He’d never been tempted before. Not even once. And he sure as fuck couldn’t pinpoint what it was about Katherine Shaw that had the foolish, inappropriate thoughts running through his mind. She was dressed in a short skirt that showed off her legs that stretched on for days. He decided it could’ve been those. Or maybe the not-so-sweet green eyes looking at him with lust right now.
Whatever it was, however unwelcome, it wouldn’t be denied.
After he’d set the table, she’d had no further instructions, so he sat at the bar watching her. She moved with the ease of someone who was familiar in the kitchen, searing the steaks, sautéing the vegetables, and baking the sweet potatoes to perfection. Tendrils of hair had escaped from her hair tie and were framing her still flour-covered face.
“Katherine,” he said, leaning over the bar and mot
ioning for her to come closer.
She met him halfway, and when his hand cupped her face, her eyes widened. Stroking gently with his thumb, he wiped her cheek clean, his eyes still holding hers. She looked at him in amazement, as though she couldn’t believe he was touching her so reverently. When all traces of flour were gone, he removed his hand and sat back in the chair.
“Better,” he said.
She stared at him in a daze, until a burning smell filled his nostrils.
Nodding at the pan on the stove, he said, “You might wanna get that.”
“What?” Her gaze drifted to the stove. “Oh shit.”
After switching off the dial, she put the pan on an unlit burner and waved away the smoke with her hand, a miserable expression taking over her face.
“You weren’t dead set on mushrooms, were you?” she asked.
“I’m not a fan of them, actually.”
“You’re not? Why didn’t you say so?”
“I would’ve eaten them if you made them.”
“You ate the one I threw at you at Saucelito’s.”
“It was covered in pizza sauce.”
Her mouth opened and shut before she shook her head. “Dinner, minus the fungus, is served.”
Taking his place at the table after she’d swatted his hand away when he’d tried to help, he drooled at the feast in front of him.
“Where the hell did you learn to do this?” he asked her when she sat down across from him.
Her smile held a shadow of grief. “My mom. She was a fantastic cook. She’d make these huge, elaborate dinners for me and my dad almost every night, and I paid attention.”
“I’d say you were an excellent student.”
“You haven’t even tried it yet.”
“It’s like art. I almost don’t want to.”
Cocking her head to the side, she gazed at him with curious eyes. “My dad always said that too.”
“Smart man.” He held up his glass and said, “Thank you for dinner, Katherine. Cheers.”
She clinked her water with his, her smile reaching her eyes this time.
“Cheers. And you’re welcome,” she said.
One bite of his steak later, and he was taking back his words.
“I lied. This is not art you don’t touch. This is art you fucking devour.”
Giggling at his choice of words, she said, “So you like it?”
He pointed at her with his forkful of meat. “I think it’s pretty obvious I love it.”
“It is pretty obvious when you love something, you’re right.” A wicked glint filled her eyes, but she left it at that.
“I don’t think my tells are that evident.”
“No, you’ve got a great poker face.”
“Uh huh.”
They ate their meal in silence, stealing glances, and, true to her word, Katherine finished off almost all of her massive steak. It was an amazing feat considering the porterhouse was bigger than her waist. And still she made room for more.
“Dessert?” she asked, bringing out the cheesecake. When she’d cut them both a slice, she sat down and folded her hands in her lap.
“So,” she said, “are we gonna dance around this all night?”
He took a bite, sliding the fork between his lips, and then set it down.
“What is it you want to say?”
A heavy silence descended before she told him, “I’m not sorry for kissing you.” Her face was unabashed, her gaze unwavering, and he felt oddly…proud of the bold woman across from him.
Holding back the grin that threatened to break free from his lips, he tilted his head to study her. “So this was not an apology dinner after all?”
“In a way.”
He raised his brow in question.
“More of an apology for letting you stop,” she clarified.
“Letting me?”
“Mhmm.” She leaned forward onto her arms, her gaze on his lips, and her voice barely above a whisper. “Have you thought about it?”
“About…?”
“Kissing me again…have you thought about it?” Her tongue ran over her bottom lip, and for those frozen seconds in time, he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
And then he nodded.
Tossing her napkin on her plate, she rose from her seat, and he pushed his chair back to face her.
She moved in between his thighs, pushing them open with hers, but kept her hands by her sides. When he forced himself to keep his arms where they were, she said, “You can touch me.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Maybe not. Do it anyway.”
The fire in her eyes blazed, issuing a challenge he didn’t have the willpower to deny.
He reached for her leg, skimming her bare skin beneath her skirt, and she let out a soft sigh. Squeezing gently, he inched her forward. Her palms rested on his shoulders before sliding around to the back of his neck.
This could go way too far if she let his hand continue to rise. Would he do this…could he look himself in the eye tomorrow if he did?
Fuck it all to hell.
He reached up to grab her arms and pushed her away as he stood. Glancing back toward Kirkpatrick’s room, he told her, “Living room.”
She didn’t hesitate. As she passed, he reached out for her wrist, and she turned to face him.
“Turn the TV on,” he told her in a low voice. He met her eyes, and hers reflected understanding.
With one last look down the hall, he followed her into the room, stopping just behind her as she picked up the remote and hit the on switch.
Faint laughter filled the room at whatever was playing, but his attention was solely focused on her bare neck. He pressed himself against her, one hand flat on her stomach, holding her steady, and the other pulling down her hair tie.
After tossing it on the table, he flexed his hand through her long strands to cup her head and tilt her neck for easier access. When his breath glided across her skin, he felt her shudder, and then he kissed her across her shoulder until his lips met the warmth of her neck. Sucking lightly, he relished the taste of her on his tongue. A moan escaped her lips, and the hand on her stomach came up to cover her mouth.
“If we’re gonna do this, you have to be quiet,” he said in her ear.
When she nodded her assent, he let his hand slide from her mouth down her neck and between her breasts. Her breath hitched, and her hand reached up to grip the back of his neck, holding him close. This time, she turned her head when he leaned down, and her lips caught his in a searing kiss.
There was nothing tentative from either of them, and when she parted her lips, he didn’t waste any time. His tongue took her invitation, engaging with hers and exploring her sensuous mouth. He kissed her long and hard and with all the fervor of a man dying of thirst. When she turned to face him, her mouth left his for a moment, and he tightened the grip he had on her hair, pulling her back to his hungry lips. He couldn’t get enough of her.
Sliding a hand underneath her shirt, he relished the silky feel of her skin under his rough fingers, letting them roam over her back and keeping her steady against him. He’d noticed earlier she wasn’t wearing a bra tonight, and he was beyond fucking thankful for that fact now. Her soft breasts were pressed against his chest, teasing him, begging to be caressed and sucked.
After walking her backward until her legs hit the edge of the couch, he lowered her down onto it until she was lying flat and he hovered above her. Arching her hips up to meet his, she rubbed herself against the erection that was already hard as a fucking rock behind his jeans. He ground himself against her as he took her mouth once again, one hand holding himself up on the couch and the other sliding beneath her flimsy shirt.
He cupped her breast, and when his thumb grazed her taut nipple, she writhed beneath him.
“More,” she whispered, breathless.
Pushing her shirt up over her chest, he bent down to take one ripe tip into his mouth, sucking and nipping her gently with
his teeth before moving to the other. Her hand cupped the back of his head, holding him there and wrapping one leg around his hips.
“So good,” she said, undulating beneath him.
He lowered his hand to the hem of her skirt and pulled it up before sliding up her long, smooth thighs, going further up until he reached—
Christ.
She wasn’t wearing any goddamn panties either.
He stroked and teased her warm lips, already wet and swollen, and just as his finger dipped inside, a creak came from the back of the apartment, and they both froze.
Neither dared to move while they strained to hear any other movement, but when Kirkpatrick’s soft snores could be heard, their bodies relaxed.
Katherine’s hips bowed up, and she warned, “Don’t you dare fucking stop,” before bringing his face down to hers for a scorching kiss.
His fingers teased her again before he pushed one deep inside her and then another. Fuck, she was so damn tight that his cock ached to have her pussy clenched around him. He struggled to hold himself back, but the pounding of his erection trapped in his pants was becoming painful.
As if she’d read his mind, her hand came down to rub against him before undoing his button and pulling the zipper down to free him.
“Jesus, Jason,” she said as she gripped his long, thick length, spreading his pre-cum down to lube him. As she began to work him over, he found her sweet spot and she bowed up, panting.
He smiled and hit the spot again, her legs beginning to quiver. Their movements synced, thrusting and rubbing the other off as they explored each other, climbing higher and higher to an explosive fucking release.
“Oh God,” she moaned, and before she could say anymore, he crushed his lips against hers, absorbing her cries as her orgasm hit. As she shuddered beneath him, she moved her other hand to his cock and twisted them up in opposite directions, and that was all it took for him to go flying the fuck apart.
As they both came down from the ecstasy of the high, he pulled away to look at her. Sweat glistened off her chest, her hair was wild and fanned around her, and her eyes were bright and shining. He’d never seen or felt anything so fucking perfect in his life.
Flash Point Page 17