Page 50 of Love Me Reckless

I open my mouth. A spoon slides in with a bite. Flavors explode on my tongue. Saffron and tomato and the bright brine of the seafood stock combine so perfectly. I groan, chewing slowly. “That is so yummy.”

“Okay, next,” Ava says.

I swallow and open my mouth again. The spoon slides in, and with it, a faint scent I know belongs to Sawyer. Fresh cedar, mixed with pepper and the spices from our cooking adventure. I lean in, wanting more.

“Mmm.” The flavors in this bite are just as tasty, but the bit of crunch from the bottom layer of rice adds a perfect texture.

“This one,” I say with certainty. “More please.”

Zach whoops in victory, and our friends get busy moving our feast to the little table and setting everything up.

Sawyer scoops another bite. “Open up.”

My belly swirls with warmth and a needy little sting. Maybe it’s the lack of being able to see his face that makes his voice sound so sexy. Or it’s the way his “open up” sends my thoughts racing.

What would it be like to hear that command in a different context?

I comply and Sawyer slips the spoon into my mouth. Flavors dance across my tastebuds, and I sigh in bliss. “God, that’s good.”

Sawyer utters a little sound, like a curse. Before I have a chance to figure out what it means, Ava calls out, “Let’s eat!” and the kitchen fills with the sound of scraping chairs and clattering silverware.

“Areyou sure you guys are up for this?” I ask my friends outside of Luxe & Lush.

Ava grins. “This is your weekend. We’re in all the way, remember?”

“Ooh, they have pink handcuffs,” Sofie says while gazing at the display in the window, then blushes. “Not that I’m…”

Zach nuzzles her from behind and whispers something we can’t hear that makes her blush even more.

Ava opens the door for me, and I slip inside. The tidy shop looks like a high-end clothing boutique, except for the items on display.

“Is that a harness?” Ava asks in a low tone, eyeing a mannequin in an intricate-looking leather strap outfit.

“Welcome to Luxe and Lush,” a young woman with dark, wavyhair and dramatic makeup says while walking our way. She smiles, and it’s so full of confidence that the flutters in my tummy soften a little. She’s wearing a black silk top, dark purple slacks, and a long drapey cardigan that reminds me of a stylish cape.

“I’m Lisette. Would you like a quick tour, I can answer any questions for you?”

“Ooh, please,” Ava says.

Lisette leads us first to the lingerie and clothing section, which is smart because it’s by far the tamest area of the store. They have my favorite brand of loungewear, so I know I have at least one spot to come back to after the tour.

“Next is our external stim section,” Lisette says, breezing into the area with at least twenty different options. She points at a shelf with a vibrator in the shape of a makeup blender, available in about ten colors. “Our most popular is the teardrop handheld, but we have a new silicone partner ring that’s been a hot seller lately.”

My face heats. Partner ring?

Lisette points to the shelves. “Tester models are available for each so feel free to hold whatever you’re curious about, play with the settings.”

I stare at the little teardrop number a moment longer. The idea that it could ride along in my makeup bag like it’s an essential part of my routine makes me giggle.

“See something you like?” Sawyer says in a low tone.

Heat crawls up my neck.

“You could take a few of them home, experiment.”

Talking about vibrators with a boy should not get me hot. And yet my face is in flames. Is it because I’m imagining things I shouldn’t? “What makes you think I don’t already know what I like?”

His soft brown eyes tense. Is he imagining things he shouldn’t also?

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