Page 71 of Safe and Sound

“I think a powerful man like you can feed himself.”

“It’s because of my power that you’ll do as I ask,” I snapped back.

Fury overwhelmed Ava’s expression. For a moment, it appeared that she was going to stab me with the fork in her hand. But then she surprised me by muttering, “Fine.”

As I ran my hand lazily up her back, I asked, “What did you bring?”

“For starters, I did a Greek salad.”

“I have had that before.”

She grinned. “I figured you had, so I thought that could be for me.”

Pointing to the soup bowl, I asked, “Is that for me?”

She nodded. “It’s called stifado.” Ava spooned out a bite before blowing across it. “It’s like a beef stew. I thought it might be similar to Irish ones.”

When she brought it to my lips, I opened my mouth. Ava’s eyes flared when I flicked my tongue against the spoon to test how hot it was. Without taking my gaze off of hers, I widened my mouth and took in the bite.

“Mm, that’s fucking delicious,” I remarked.

She smacked my thigh playfully. “Don’t talk with your mouth full.”

“How else can I rate the food?”

“By swallowing.”

I momentarily choked hearing that word from her. My actions caused Ava to huff out a frustrated breath. “That’s seriously where your mind went?”

Wagging my brows, I replied, “Always.”

Ignoring me, she spooned me a few more mouthfuls of the stew. “What’s next?” I asked.

Ava reached for a dark colored roll of some kind. “These are Dolmades.”

“Which are?”

“Stuffed olive leaves.”

I scrunched up my nose. “You’re trying to feed me leaves?”

Ava rolled her eyes. “They’re from a vine, not a tree.”

“Are you sure because it looks like you went outside and picked a few out of the yard?”

Although the corners of her lips quirked, Ava commanded, “Open your mouth.”

Fuck me if I didn’t love when she bossed me around. But I loved giving her shit even more. “You forgot the magic word.”

“Open your mouth,Asshole?” she teasingly asked.

“Nice try.” Her lips gleamed with the oil from the salad. I ran my finger over it before bringing it to my mouth and licking my finger. “Here’s a hint. I love to hear this word from you.”

To my surprise, she replied, “Please open your mouth.”

I obediently obliged her. As I chewed the roll, Ava leaned forward expectantly. “What do you think?”

As my tongue swirled around the leaf and its contents of rice and spices, I replied, “It’s kinda minty.”

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