Page 7 of Thunder Thighs
Ella's pantry was surprisingly well stocked. I pulled my ingredients out, laying them on her kitchen island. I whisked eggs, cinnamon, vanilla, milk, and a pinch of sugar together, pouring it into a flat pan. Putting aside the mix, I sliced thick pieces of sourdough, dipping them then laying them flat on a heated pan.
"That smells good," Ella entered the room. I paused mid-flip, my mouth immediately watering as I watched her move towards me. She'd dried her hair, letting it fall freely around her face in a messy tangle. She wore a printed kimono which she'd left untied at the front. Her body was encased in a black slip, lace, and satin clinging provocatively to every dip and curve. I wanted to peel it off and taste every inch of her.
"What?" she glanced down, hands hovering above her stomach. "Do I have something on here? I had to pull it out of storage. I'm not normally a lingerie sort of girl so it may have some dust-"
I pulled her into me, my mouth descending. She fell into the kiss, letting me take, willingly following me down any path I chose to lead. This level of trust, of blind innocence, it was a heady, powerful thing.
And so goddamned terrifying. I wanted this to be good for her. Wanted her to enjoy every moment. I needed to make this perfect.
I'd never believed in love at first sight. Hell, I hadn't even been convinced that love really existed. But this pull between us was undeniable. The longer I spent with her, the more I became convinced that this was more than just lust or infatuation. Ella made me consider things I hadn't ever turned my mind to before. Things like maybe these feelings between us weren't simply sexual. Maybe I'd found my soul mate. The fact was, I'd known this woman less than four hours and here I stood in her kitchen considering the possibility of settling down, of making a life here with her.
My family would be laughing themselves silly if they could see me right now. I wasn't exactly known as Mister Love. Decisive, sure. Stoic, of course. The kind to fall head-over-heels for a woman I'd just met? Definitely not.
I broke the kiss, turning back to the stove just in time to rescue the toast.
"What are you making?" Ella asked, coming up beside me.
"French toast with maple bananas."
"Can I help?"
"Sure, can you slice the banana?"
She turned away, moving to the kitchen island. We worked in companionable silence for a few minutes, me cooking the toast, her slicing and transferring the bananas to the waiting pan.
"One minute each side," I explained, flipping the slices. "Then we'll coat with a generous glug of maple and done."
"Glug huh?" She leaned on the counter beside me, grin in place. "Is that an official measurement?"
I winked, "just you wait." I held up the maple bottle tipping it over the pan. An air bubble formed in the neck and bubbled up, making a glug sound as the liquid squeezed past.
"No way!" Ella exclaimed. "I have honestly never noticed this."
"It's a Viking trade secret." I told her solemnly, holding the spatula to my chest. "We only divulge it to the most beautiful of Valkyries."
She laughed, her beautiful eyes dancing with mirth. "I swear to take it to my grave then."
I divided up the food, decorating the toast in maple and banana pieces. We took a seat at her breakfast bar, digging into the syrupy mess.
"Oh, god." Ella groaned, closing her eyes. "This is divine. I should totally add it to our menu."
I grinned, enjoying her pleasure. We ate, talking about nothing in particular.
"Columbia, I got my business degree then got the hell out." I told her. "I fucking hated college. Hated studying. I'm better with the practical. You?"
"Community college. It's about an hour from here. Hospitality and business." She grinned. "I always knew I wanted to make a go of it here. People are searching for the quaint, quiet spots they remember from their childhoods – but with all the amenities they expect as an adult. I inherited this property from my grandmother. We built the restaurant and it's doing really well." She leaned forward, her slip dipping just enough to reveal the shadows of her nipples. "And I love this town. The ocean, the people. I can't really see myself living elsewhere. Even a few years away from here would have been too many."
"I feel you," I replied, ignoring my cock that now tented the towel once more. "I'd get home every chance I got. I grew up on boats and beaches. It felt like a part of me was missing while living on campus."
"The Hudson didn't do it for you?" She teased, her hand reaching out to squeeze my knee.
I captured her fingers, entwining them with mine. "I doubt anyone would think the Hudson was a substitute for a great beach." I rested our hands on the towel. "So, what's next for you? Expansion?"
"Actually, the property is so large that this year we've been doing brunch in the yard. It's taken off enough to justify opening for lunch and breakfast next year in addition to the night hours. We've seen more competition this year with new joints opening, but we're a tried and true local with a stellar reputation and the local connections to get all the best produce." She laughed. "I'm also toying with the idea of buying a few properties. There's three along the cliff road – all outdated and needing repairs – but their owners are getting on and thinking of selling. They also have amazing views which would be a real seller. I was considering maybe snapping up a few and doing them up as holiday homes. Offer them with a package catering deal for weddings."
"Well shit. That's not a business, that's an empire you're building." I pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. "I'm loving that you're as ambitious as me."
She flushed but didn't look away. We gazed at each other, caught in the connection.
