Page 42 of Stuffed

"Focus on the sauce, Mr. Mercer," she teases, catching my stare.

"You're making that very difficult." I move to stand between her legs, hands sliding up her thighs. "Especially in this dress."

"The dress I specifically chose because it's easy to take off?" She hooks her fingers in my belt loops, pulling me closer.

"Dangerous." I nip at her bottom lip. "Dinner first."

"If you insist." She pushes me back playfully. "What can I do to help?"

I hand her a spoon. "Taste this. Tell me if it needs more basil."

She closes her eyes as she tastes, making a small sound of pleasure that goes straight to my groin. "Perfect," she declares. "Though I might be biased since everything about tonight already feels perfect."

"Yeah?" I trace patterns on her knee, watching goosebumps rise on her skin.

"Yeah." She sets down the spoon, pulling me close again. "Being here with you, like this… it's better than I imagined."

"You imagined this?" My hands slide higher on her thighs.

"So many times." Her breath hitches as my fingers trace the lace edge of her underwear. "Usually minus the clothes, though."

I groan, dropping my forehead to her shoulder. "You're killing me, Marlow."

"Good." She tugs my hair lightly, making me look at her. "Because you've been killing me for years."

The kiss starts slow but quickly builds into something more desperate. Her legs wrap around my waist as my hands push her dress higher. When she rocks against me, I nearly lose my mind.

"Dinner," I manage to gasp between kisses.

"Can wait." She starts unbuttoning my shirt. "I'm hungry for something else."

"Fuck." I lift her off the counter, carrying her toward my bedroom. "The sauce will burn."

"Don't care." She bites my neck softly. "Need you more than pasta."

We barely make it to the bed. The dress comes off easily, just like she promised, revealing matching emerald lace underneath. I have to stop and stare, taking in the sight of her spread across my sheets.

"You're staring," she whispers, propping herself up on her elbows.

"Can't help it." I trail my fingers up her stomach, watching her shiver. "You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

Color floods her cheeks. "Zane…"

"I mean it." I lean down to kiss her softly. "You're incredible, Tessa. Every inch of you."

She pulls me closer, wrapping herself around me like she never wants to let go. And as we lose ourselves in each other, as pleasure builds and crests between us, I realize something terrifying and wonderful; I don't want her to let go. Ever.

As we lay tangled in the sheets of our post orgasmic bliss, her nails tracing circles on my chest and my fingers tangled in her hair, I look over at her.

"Still want dinner?"I ask, pressing a kiss to her shoulder.

"Mmm, in a minute." She snuggles closer. "Too comfortable to move."

I tighten my arms around her, marveling at how right this feels. How natural. Like she belongs here, in my bed, in my life.

"What are you thinking about?" she asks softly.

"You." I brush her hair back, studying her face. "Us. How different everything feels with you."

---