Page 74 of Simply Yours

His eyes shot to hers instantly.

The taste exploded in his mouth, sharp and yeasty, a perfect balance of sour and rich warmth. The texture was light, almost spongy, and yet it had a satisfying chew that had him immediately going in for another bite.

Caitlin grinned. “Oooh, crumb shot.”

Jason barely had time to register her words before she did the unthinkable—picked up a stray crumb, tossed it up, and caught it on her tongue. Her throat was arched, her eyes closed, and everything stopped in the universe.

He froze.

His brain short-circuited as heat slammed into him like a freight train.

Her gaze met his, widening in horrified awareness as the realization of what she’d said—and how it sounded—hit her at the exact same time.

His own thoughts derailed entirely. The bite he’d just swallowed turned into cement in his throat, a slew of inappropriate ideas flashing through his mind faster than he could shove them down. He coughed, struggling to clear his airway, and without a word, Caitlin handed him a glass of water.

He chugged it down, staring at her in disbelief… and curiosity.

Oh gosh, was he curious. His mind was screaming all sorts of questions, wanting to know more, wanting to know if she understood just how dirty that sounded… all of it.

All. Of. It.

Everything.

“Sorry,” she mumbled, cheeks flaming. “It just, you know…”

Jason let out a strangled laugh, dragging a hand over his face, rubbing it frantically to wipe the thought and pictures out of his mind. “You’re killing me.”

Her brow furrowed. “What?”

He gestured wildly, exasperated. “The looks you give me, your hobbies, how freaking cute you are sometimes—and then you go and say the most innocent and hottest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Her mouth parted slightly. “I?—”

“Don’t apologize,” he rasped, horror dawning in his voice. “I’m fascinated. I want to do this with you, learn this with you, help you, and, heaven help me,especially if it involves crumb shots?—”

She let out a startled laugh, biting her lip, and he pointed at her.

“Don’t. Tell. Anyone. I said that.”

“I won’t.” Her lips twitched, her eyes glinting with mischief. “I promise, all those crumb shots are just for you and me.”

Jason groaned, closing his eyes, his entire body tensing. “Stop. That. Be good.” He shook his head, willing himself to get it together. “Don’t say it again for at least five minutes, wash up, and I need air—and not necessarily in that order.”

She laughed, and he turned on his heel, storming out of the house like a man on a mission, sucking in a deep breath of fresh air as he hit the porch.

And then he exhaled, slow and disbelieving, a laugh rumbling from his chest as he ran a hand through his hair.

“I’m gonna marry her.”

* * *

Home Depot wasn’t exactly the most romantic place in the world, but standing in the middle of the appliance aisle, surrounded by rows of gleaming ovens, Jason felt something close to domestic bliss. It was ridiculous, really—just another errand, a mundane task—but to him, it was the first brushstroke on the canvas of a life they were building together. A home. One she would love. One she would fill with warmth and laughter.

It was dangerous how much he enjoyed this.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, watching Caitlin as she studied the oven displays with a little furrow of concentration between her brows. She was taking this seriously—opening doors, testing the weight, checking features—but all he could focus on was the way her fingers traced over the stainless steel, the way she bit her lip in thought, the way she fit so perfectly into this moment with him.

And if he just so happened to indulge in a little bit of depravity while they were at it? Well, no one had to know.

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