Page 178 of Prickly Romance

“What’s gyoza?” I ask aloud.

“Don’t you know what gyoza is?” Ashanti sounds alarmed. When I shake my head, she pops a brow and speaks to me like I’m a child. “Gyoza are Japanese dumplings.”

“My grandmother makes thebestdumplings,” Niko gestures.

“I’m excited to try it out.”

“Niko,” Sazuki signs, “go and wash up. Your hands are sticky from that candy I told you not to eat.”

Niko gives me a guilty look.

I return it in a flash.

Shoot. We’ve been found out.

“I’ll take you to wash your hands,” Ashanti says, wrapping an arm around her daughter’s shoulders.

While Niko scampers away, Sazuki folds his arms over his chest and stares at me. “Did you really think you could get away with that?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I say innocently.

His eyebrows lower in disbelief.

“We were very quiet.”

“Not quiet enough.” He holds out a hand to me.

I frown at it. “What?”

“Give me your hand. I’m sure I’ll find the evidence.”

“I licked it all off.”

He shakes the hand that’s extended to me.

Rather than give in, I reach down and pretend to wipe my hands on my white skirt. “You’ll never take me alive.”

His dimples flash.

He grabs my hand and lifts it to his face before I can ruin my dress. To my surprise, Sazuki pops my index finger into his mouth and sucks it.

My heart whips around my chest.

My vision goes white.

I can’t see anything at all except the blinding-hot image of Ryotaro Sazuki with my finger in his mouth.

Have mercy.

I’m instantly addicted to the feel of his tongue flicking against my flesh and the way his eyes pinch shut as he makes a soft ‘mm’ sound.

I jolt like he’s a stack of unleashed electricity when he pulls my finger out and presses a soft kiss to it. “Too much sugar isn’t good for you.”

He’s the one who isn’t good for me.

Or my sanity.

Or my heart.

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