Page 25 of Tickled Pink

He shakes his head. “Just wanted to make sure you knew it,” he says. “You’re beautiful. You’ve always been beautiful.”

I swirl the clear liquid around in my cup. “Always?” I ask.

“And getting better every day.” His eyes wander my face. “I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

“Neither can I. I mean—” I gesture between us. “Without you in mine, I mean.”

He laughs. “I know.”

I raise my glass again. “Saké works fast…”

The kitchen door opens again, and Thad glides out with a single plate on his tray. He sets it down and my stomach growls at the half-dozen dumplings lined up on it.

“Bon appetit!” he says. “Or… whatever that is in Japanese.”

I smile at him. “Thank you, Thad.”

“Yes, thank you,” Max adds.

Thad slides backward, keeping his eyes on us for as long as possible, before quickly vanishing behind the kitchen door again.

I laugh as I reach for the chopsticks next to my napkin. “Where were we?”

Max does the same. “I believe we were discussing how beautiful you are,” he says.

“Oh, right. Yes. Let’s do more of that while I shove this down.”

I pinch a dumpling and bring it to my mouth, pausing for a moment to smell it before biting down. “Mmm,” I hum. “Delicious.”

“Not quite Kitano’s,” Max says as he picks one up. “But it’s a close second.”

We sit in silence for a few minutes while we enjoy our food. My pulse spikes every time our eyes meet across the table and I start to feel that familiar quake deep inside of me. That first night together. That private corner of the restaurant.

How wet are you right now?

My core clenches involuntarily.

If I were to crawl beneath this table, reach my hand up your thighs and stick my finger inside of you, how wet would you feel?

Max sets his chopsticks down and pulls his napkin off his lap. He stands slowly and I watch as he rounds the table to stand beside me. His hand rises to my chin, and he guides my head up with a firm touch.

He leans down and kisses me on the lips. I close my eyes, relishing in the perfect moment.

“I regretted not doing that back then,” he says, hovering over me. “I won’t make that mistake again.”

I shudder beneath his touch as it slips away. He turns around, leaving me with my tingling lips and throbbing, wet…

I reach out and grab his arm before he can get too far away. Max pauses in place. Candlelight reflects from the depths of his eyes, and I swoon even more.

I stand as I pull him back to me. He steps closer, just as eager and wild as I am. We part our lips, breathing each other’s air as blood rushes through us.

“Very,” I answer.

Max furrows his brow. “What?”

“You asked me…” I grip his jacket, feeling foolish, but the saké does its job. “You asked me back then how wet I was.” I gaze into his eyes and he smiles. “Very,” I say again.

He touches my face, slowly sliding his thumb along my bottom lip. “And now?” he asks.

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