Page 46 of Courting Clemson

“I will cook for you anytime,” I vowed as I served myself.

She moaned and complimented my skills throughout the entire meal and ate every single bit of food she put on her plate. My heart was so full and happy watching her eat, I was embarrassed a couple of times when she caught me just watching her gleefully shoveling food into her mouth.

“You’re a really good cook, man,” she said when she was finally finished. “That was crazy good.”

“I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I think I may have enjoyed watching you eat as much as I enjoyed eating. That beef turned out perfect tonight. I was a bit worried about it when I first took it off, but, yeah, perfection.”

“I’m so full, you may have to roll me to the elevator when it’s time to leave,” she teased.

“Well, you could just stay the night,” I offered half-jokingly.

She gave me a sideways look, and I didn’t know what to make of it.

“That’s tempting,” she finally said.

I exhaled with relief. I was getting worried I may have overstepped.

“But I have to be in the water first thing in the morning,” she continued. “So I can’t tonight.”

“We’ll plan better next time,” I said, winking. “I’ll take your practice schedule into consideration.” I motioned to all the food. “I hope this isn’t going to still weigh you down by then.”

“Oh, hell no. Are you kidding? I’m going to be a powerhouse in the morning with all this quality fuel. My coaches will think I juiced up on something else.”

“Again, I’ll cook for you anytime.”

Clemson stood from the table and started clearing the dishes. After she took our plates to the sink, I intercepted her between the table and another trip to the sink.

“Let’s leave this. I don’t want to waste my time with you cleaning up the kitchen,” I said and took a bold chance. I placed my hands on her hips to stop her movement and stared into her big blue eyes.

She didn’t pull away or bluster with an excuse to dart out of my hold, so I pushed my luck a bit more.

“Can I kiss you?”

Holding my gaze, she said, “I’d like that.”

So I went for it. First, a soft meeting of our lips while I pulled her a bit closer. I kissed her jaw, then just below her ear where I nuzzled her soft skin with my nose.

“You smell divine,” I whispered and watched her skin pebble from my breath on her ear.

“Thank you,” she whimpered and tilted her head to the side to allow me greater access.

I made a path from below her ear, down her graceful neck, to her shoulder. All that silky skin exposed by the cut of the dress she wore was so enticing. I had to sample every inch.

By the time I made my way back to her mouth, she was restlessly shifting in my hold.

“Feels so good,” she exhaled before I covered her mouth for a full kiss. I slipped my tongue past her wine-flavored lips as we kissed deeper, and I pulled her hips up against mine so she would know just how much I was enjoying it.

When we parted and she slowly opened her eyes, her lids only lifted halfway, and she looked drugged and content.

“Mmm… You’re trouble, mister,” she said through a little smile.

“What do you mean?”

“I could get lost doing that.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“I’m sure you do,” she continued in her quiet, husky tone. “But I don’t want to get carried away, you know?”

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