Page 42 of Shielding Aubree

Ruben tried to hide a smile, but it didn't work. "I was just thinking about a song my grandparents used to listen to. They'd dance around in the kitchen and sing with each other."

"They sounded like they were a lot of fun." She stepped back and gestured for him to follow her in. "I bet you loved spending time with them."

"I did." He stepped inside and she held out her hands to help. "I've got this," he gave her a wink. "Where should I put it?"

She turned and gestured to the couch and table near her half-kitchen. "I cleared some space and took a shower."

He leaned in and while he was initially confused, he held his lips less than an inch away from hers for a moment. She smiled and leaned in, pressing her lips against his.

She leaned into it and the kiss lasted a little longer than he'd intended but he wasn't going to argue.

When she leaned back, she gave him a cheeky grin. "It was worth dragging myself into the shower to get a kiss like that."

He gave her a half shrug as he moved to the table. "I hate to break it to you, Aubree, but shower or not I was going to try for a kiss."

"Well," she brought out some plates and utensils from the cabinet, "I'm glad I showered because I wanted that kiss, too."

He let out a breath. "Careful what you say, Aubree. Words like that are going to make me want to let dinner cool first."

Her smile told him she might not be too upset by that.

“But,” he leaned in for another peck of a kiss, “you’ve got to be starving.” He untied the handles at the top of the bag and opened it up on the table. "Let's feed you first."

Aubree leaned in and breathed in the scents from the containers. "Oh, wow... That smells amazing."

Later,when they'd sampled all of the dishes he'd brought with him, Aubree leaned back against the couch cushions and looked over at him with a satisfied smile on her face.

"You know how they say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach?"

Ruben looked up at her with the last bit of his sandwich halfway to his mouth. "As a guy, I'd say they were right."

Aubree lifted a pickle that she'd peeled out of her sub sandwich and dangled it over her mouth. "It works for me, too." She dropped it into her mouth and chewed like she was in heaven. When she was finished, she looked at him and he saw the spark of humor in her gaze. "You feed me, and I might have to keep you around."

He'd wiped his hands on his napkin while she was dangling the pickle over her mouth, and he reached out to get a hold of her hips.

A moment later, he had her in his lap.

"I'm happy to feed you whenever you're hungry," he smiled at her.

Aubree rubbed her hand over her belly. "I'm stuffed right now," she sighed.

He shrugged. "Give it a little while. If you're hungry later, I could go get you something."

She yawned and groaned halfway through it. "Oh..." She covered her mouth with her hands and grumbled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

He reached out a hand and combed his fingers through her hair, watching the change in her expression. "I've been waiting to do that since the day we met."

"You have?"

He grinned at her. "Absolutely. You have amazing hair."

"It tangles up like crazy."

"I'll help you brush it if you want."

"You?" She reached out her hands and touched his chest. He could feel her fingers moving over the planes of his body and it made him feel like a live wire. It made him want.

Want to feel.

---