Anytime he dressed in drag, I was there. Plus he looked so amazing, so much so, that one could rarely tell that he was male.
By the time they were ready to leave, my feet were killing me, and I could barely walk.
To my surprise, Colin swept me into his arms, and my arms immediately seized his neck.
We were eye level, and I could have sworn as I looked into his eyes, they darkened.
We did the round of embraces, and I frowned as Kendra told them Colin and I would be cooking Friday.
I looked at him frowning as well, and he shrugged grinning.
I sighed, he picked me up, and we left.
I sighed as I took off one shoe.
“Ooooh…my…God!” I moaned deeply as I took off the other one; and he looked at me wide-eyed for a couple of seconds, then started grinning.
I smacked him, and he laughed.
***
When we reached my apartment, I asked if he was coming up, he nodded and said for a bit.
I threw the keys on the table in the foyer, then hobbled into the living room.
“Make yourself comfortable.” I threw over my shoulder as I headed for my bedroom, and he nodded.
I came back a few minutes later in sweats and a tank top, poured myself a glass of wine, then held up the bottle to him.
He shook his head.
I nodded and sat next to him on the sofa.
“I forgot how well you Salsa.”
“Yeah, me too. So…we’re cooking tomorrow?” He smiled, and I laughed.
“I guess so, if you let Missa and Kenny tell it. But you so don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“I’m totally cool with it. What time did you want to get started?”
“Huumm…I guess like 3. How many did they even invite?” I groaned, and he laughed again.
“I think like 10? What do you need me to pick up?”
“The other half?” I chuckled, and he nodded as I sipped my wine. He picked the menu up from the table, then tore it in to.
“Colin!” I cried, and he grinned.
“I’ll bring you another copy tomorrow, this way we know what you have and what I have.”
“Fine.” I said smiling as I finished off the wine. He took the glass from me, sat it on the table, then drew me to him.
He kissed me and I sighed.
His kisses were almost unreal.
Who knew this is what I was missing all this time.
If he’d just kissed me like this once, there never would have been a Kellen!
He suddenly pulled me into his lap, then ran his fingers through my hair as he deepened the kiss. My arms went around his neck, as I ran my fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck, then felt the shudder go through his body.
He jerked my hips forward, and I gasped as I felt his rock hard erection. His lips went to my throat, and as he drew the skin into his warm mouth and sucked on it, I cried out.
“Fuck!” I hissed, got up, poured more wine in my glass, then killed it, looking at him wide-eyed over the rim of the glass.
What the hell was it that he did to me?
He got up grinning.
He kissed my forehead then.
“So 3pm?” He asked smiling, and I smiled back nodding.
I didn’t trust my voice yet.
I walked him to the door; he leaned against it, kissed me again not as intensely, then caressed my face.
“Tomorrow then.” He winked, then went out the door.
I leaned against the door for several moments, then sighed as I frowned.
Shit, he would have me sprung in a week, and he hadn’t even touched me like that yet.
“Damn!” I shouted to no one in particular, then stomped towards my bedroom.
There was no way I would be able to remove that kiss from my salacious brain tonight!
I frowned as I walked into the bathroom.
Maybe a cold shower?
***
Chapter Six…
I woke around 12, showered, dressed, then headed downtown to the open market.
Tonight’s menu called for some awesome Jamaican eats, and white ass Geltson’s wasn’t going to work for this.
I’d gone to Cardena’s for my Puerto Rican fare, but they were limited on Caribbean spices; which was so weird that it was predominately Mexican, when Cardena’s was an actual city in Cuba.
Anyway, I found parking, then headed to the open market with my bags.
An hour later, I had what I needed, had one of the merchants help me get the stuff to my car, waved and was out.
I stopped by City Wear, to find a simple dress, because I knew my friends. Even though this was only a pregame menu, they would actually put some clothes on.
I was just praying that Kendra and Missanna kept it to a minimum.
“Hey?” I said as I hit the Bluetooth to answer the phone.
“How many were you cooking for?” Kendra asked, and I thought; speak of the devil.
“Colin said ten, why?”
“Cuz that’s not right. Sandy and Barry, Victor and Montez. Rico and Elvin, me and Manny, Missa and Kevin, Ms. Kerry and Dejuan, De and Sarah, Vonnie and Melinda, Mando and Becca, and you and Colin.” She said, and I felt like screaming.
“Fuck Kenny, I’m gonna be in the kitchen all day!” I whined, and she had the nerve to laugh.
“Well, what did you expect? When I told them both you and Colin were cooking, they insisted on coming, what was I supposed to say?” She wailed back, and I sighed as I pulled into Smart & Final.
“Fine, I need to get home then.”
“Okay, we’ll bring the drinks.”
“Like that really helps.” I muttered, and she laughed.
“Well, it’s not like you don’t have a sexy ass helper.”
“Bye Felicia!” I snapped, then hung up on her.
***
When I left Smart & Final, it was 1:30.
I sighed as I pulled up to my apartment, then commenced to get my goods from the car.
This time I had to make three trips.
I saw Oliver, but he simply smiled, then waved as he left the window.
I frowned at that, then put if from my mind.
As I threw my keys on the foyer table, I sighed again.
“No sense in procrastinating.” I commented, then went to my bedroom to change my clothes.
As I placed the skull cap on my head, I was preoccupied.
It would be hell working with him, but I needed to get used to it. He’d contracted me for three months, so there was no avoiding it.
Was the relationship thing a good idea?
I asked myself as I sorted my goods, threw the sweet potatoes in the sink to scrub, then poured myself a glass of wine.
I needed my inspiration.
I left the kitchen to flip on the IPod, turned it up, then walked back into the kitchen searching for the potato peeler.
Tonight’s menu consisted of:
Akkra, a Senegalese black-eyed pea fritter, which is amazing. Spicy Curried Meat Beef Patties, which is basically like an Empanada, or what Americans call a meat pie. Red Beans & Rice with coconut milk, Jerk Chicken, Beef and Okra stew, Bammy, and finally, Baked Fish & Eggs; which is basically a fish pie.
For desert we would do Caribbean sweet Quickbread, Papya & Pineapples and Sorrel Punch.
I set to work, figuring I would do the Bammy first, because that way I could nibble. For some reason, whenever I had to cook, my brain seemed to ignore hunger pains.
For those who don’t know what Bammy is, it’s basically flatbread.
Bammy, or bammie, is a cassava bread descended from the simple flatbread. In Jamaica, bammy is usually bought from a local vendor and served for breakfast or as a side dish with fish.
And it is so delicious.
I flipped my portfolio menu open, fingered it, then looked for ingredients.
“Hummm, okay, 3 cups Cassava flour, 1-2 teaspoons Salt, 1 1/4 to 2 1/4 cups water. Great.” I said as I pull
ed down the large mixing bowl.
I bobbed my head to Justin Beiber’s Confidant, then laughed to myself.
What, I liked a lil Beiber sometimes!
Especially since he grew up.
“Sexual romancing, Mona Lisa masterpiece!” I sang as I danced around the kitchen collecting the things I needed.
I heard the doorbell, then looked up at the clock.
He was early, of course goodie two shoes.
I muttered to myself, then went for the door.
He was carrying a ton of bags, and I sighed shaking my head.
Men, of course he would refuse to do the logical thing like make two trips, instead of trying to bring every fricken bag at one time.
“Wow, two trips is certainly out of the question.” I said, and he grinned, sat the bags down, then gave me the bird. I acted as if I caught it with a gasp, then blew it back at him.
“So, where are we?”
“I just started; it’s only 2:15 priss.” I said, and he nodded.
“Yea, I figured I better get here early after Kenny called to tell me who all was coming.”
“I feel like slapping the shit out of Kenny.” I muttered, and he laughed.
“Can you blame her though, I feel like old times again.”
“Old times.” I mumbled as I turned for the living room, but he caught me and pulled me into him.
“Does that bother you?”
“No, just some things sucked.” I stated quietly, and he frowned slightly.
“Like what.”
“Just mussing out loud.” I replied waving my comment off, then stepped back from him, so he had to release me.
“So, halfsies?” I challenged as I held up the torn menu.
“Sure, if you wanna get schooled. We know you lack.” he shrugged grinning as he brushed his shoulders off.
“Since when? You got me fucked up!” I laughed, and he did too.
“Since always Nena.” Girl he said with a thick accent bobbing his head, and I couldn’t help laughing.
“Eso es lo que dijo.” That’s what he said, I laughed.
“Fine, bet?” He countered, and I grinned even wider.
“Bet, you sure you wanna do that? Remember last time?” I said referring to the closet. It was how we ended up in the closet half naked in the first place. He’d bet me that his Crème Burle was better than mine, and our janky ass friends couldn’t pick the better one, so it was a tie. Ricardo’s triffieling ass came up with the consequences of a tie.
“Fine, what?”
“If you win, you get to have those framed tickets where we went to see the Wu-Tang Clan.” he said, and I gasped.
“Oh my God! You kept those?” I cried, and he nodded grinning. “And if you win?” I asked smiling slightly.
“I get to choose whatever I want?”
“Okay fine, but yo ass is mine. You may as well trot along home and get my win.” I laughed, and he grinned.
“We’ll see. But you agree…I get…whatever… I want?” He solicited, holding his hand out.
I saw something in his eyes then, and I swear it made my entire body tingle. I looked at his hand for several moments, and something screamed; “Don’t do it,” but I nodded anyway as I took his hand.
He suddenly jerked me to him, and the kiss he gave me, I felt to the tips of my toes.
“I’m holding you to it too.” he whispered against my lips, and I looked up at him wide-eyed.
I licked my lips as I nodded slightly.
He sauntered off into the kitchen with his bags.
***
For nearly two hours straight we worked.
I would look up and see him staring at me, yell what, and he would laugh and go back to whatever it was he was making.
“Here, taste this? I’m thinking I need more milk.” I said as I dipped my finger in the caramel sauce, then put it to his lips.
He licked my finger, then drew it into his mouth to suck on it, and I swear my vajay screamed attack!
I gasped, bit my lip, and as his lips slowly released my finger, I realized that I had never wanted a man this bad in my entire life!
He suddenly bent, licked my bottom lip, then drew it into his mouth, as his fingers caressed the side of my face. I sighed, and he curled his other hand into my tee and pulled me into him, deepening the kiss.
I heard my phone ringing somewhere, and it broke the spell he’d woven. I drew back, and we both blinked.
“Caramel on your lips.” he grinned, and I nodded as I watched that grin spread over his features.
“Phone.” I whispered, and he nodded as I hurried out of the kitchen.
Colin saw that his phone was ringing as well, walked to the counter and picked it up.
“What up?”
“No, almost. We halved it, but we have a bet going, just like last time.”
“Yea, I get whatever I want?” He laughed, and Kevin did to.
“Yea, basically, you guys choose which is the best?”
“The Bammy, Baked fritters, Jerk Chicken and Papaya & Pineapple. No, the rest she did.”
“Okay.” Colin laughed into the phone, then grinned widely.
*
“No, I get the Wu-Tang tickets.”
“Whatever he wants.”
“Yea, I’m a lil nervous about that.” I said laughing.
“Okay, the Spicy Curried Meat Beef Patties, Red Beans & Rice with coconut milk, Beef and Okra, and the Qiuckbread. We both did the Fish Pie.”
“Okay, see you at 7:45. Yes, it’s killing me being here with him by myself.” I sighed, then hung up the phone to Kendra promising she would be here early.
*
“Yea it’s me.”
“So what’s going on?” Missanna asked laughing.
“They have a bet going on like last time. He did half, and she did half. If she wins, basically if we like her food better she gets his Wu-Tang tickets.” Kendra laughed.
“Omg, he still has those?” Missanna laughed.
“Yea, I was surprised too. Anyway, if he wins, he gets whatever he wants. And we all know what it will be. It’s time; he’s waited ten fucken years! So hit the rest up, tell them the deal. This game they’re playing is getting on my last nerve, I want some sparks!” Kendra cried, and Missanna laughed.
“Me too! Aight, I’m on the wire.” Missanna said, then hung up.
***
As I made the last of the sweet potato tarts, I felt him staring at me again. I looked up, and the stare was not only bold, but held a promise. I took a deep breath, turned, then busied myself with the pastry shells.
“Need some help?” He asked and was suddenly behind me, his hands covering mine on the filo.
“Umm, I think I’m good.” I said clearing my throat, as his hands began to massage mine and the dough.
“It’s fine, I’m done.” he countered, removed his hands, and I felt his warm breath on the back of my neck as he bent into me. Before I could reply, his lips began to caress the nape of my neck, and I couldn’t help the moan. He jerked me around, sat me on the opposite counter, and savagely took my lips with his.
As his hands came up to caress my face as he deepened the kiss, I realized he tasted of Sangria, and I was loving every bit of it. He drew himself closer to me, resting between my thighs, and as he drew his hands up my thighs, I would swear they scorched a path of their own, and my breath caught in my throat.
The alarm went off on his phone, and he drew away from me breathing deeply.
I hopped off the counter, went back to the tarts, and noticed he’d left the kitchen.
Shit!
I seriously needed to get control of myself, or we would be having sex right here in this fucken kitchen!
*
Colin ran his fingers through his hair, walked a complete circle, then took several deep cleansing breaths. He hadn’t meant to kiss her again, but he couldn’t help it. Something in her drew him, and he chucked all caution to the wind.
He wanted to take it slo
w, but rush things at the same time.
She was everything to him.
The years of imagining her kiss, paled in comparison to the real thing!
He needed to check his fricken hormones, or he would fuck this up and scare her off.
He sighed, ran his fingers through his hair again, then walked back into the kitchen.
She looked up with a slight smile, then nodded to the rest of the tarts. He smiled his thank you for the distraction from her lips.
***
We finished up at 6pm, and I sighed as we both stood back and surveyed the food.
“You think it’s enough?” I asked, and he frowned slightly.
“Seems, if not, oh well.” he laughed, and I nodded smiling.
“I guess I better get. I need to wash up and change.” he commented, and I nodded again.
“Okay, then I guess I’ll see ya when you get back.” I smiled, he nodded, pulled me to him, and gently kissed my lips.
“Remember, you said anything I wanted.” he reminded me softly against my lips, and I nodded slightly. His grin widened, and he went out the door.
My entire body tingled, just at the thought.
I wasn’t that naïve.
I had a pretty good idea what he would ask for.
I sighed as I went to my bedroom.
I went straight to the Vickie’s Secret drawer, rummaged through it, until I found the peach and black matching set.
I grinned, then headed to the bathroom. As I wrapped my hair in the plastic wrap, then the shower cap, I contemplated the bet.
Would it be as incredible as my brain conjured?
I had waited ten years to be here!
I immediately thought about the fact that we had to work together.
But did I really care?
I had been in love with this man for ten years! This was what I had dreamed about all through my 20s, and now here he was eight years later; and I swore there was something else behind those looks.
20minutes later, I drew my hand across the steamed mirror to look at my face.
Chef's Like it Hot! Page 8