Page 106 of Tarek

“Oh, God, Tarek, don’t tempt me.”

“I am saying if you want to use me, I am giving you full permission to.”

“Because consent matters,” she teases.

“It sure does.”

Blushing, she turns away and touches the flowers. “These are beautiful. Thank you.”

“I am happy you like them,” I begin plating the food, watching her look at the dishes and the flowers with a scrunched face.

“What’s wrong?”

Penny places her thumb between her teeth and says, “Who helped you with all of this?”

The question makes me break out in laughter.

“Oh, so you think this is funny, Tarek? Having one of your little friends touch my stuff,” Penny says with her hand on her hip.

“Pen, I called Rhet’s mom, and she helped me.” I wipe away the tears from my eyes.

All her irritation melts away. “Oh.”

I walk up to her and wrap her in my arms. Lifting her chin, I look into her eyes. “That’s all you have to say. Oh?”

She licks her lips and clears her throat. “Yes.”

“It’s nice seeing you jealous over me.” As I bend to kiss her, she pulls away.

“I am not jealous.”

Nodding, I say, “Now that I think of it, I did call Tanya for advice and?—”

She press her sharp nails into my chest “Don’t mess with me, Tarek.”

“Go sit down, treasure. Let’s eat.”

* * *

PENNY

Damn it, the man can cook. The beef stroganoff was delicious. A couple words come to mind when I ate it were creamy, earthy, warm and homey.

Now I am cuddled up on the couch, sitting between Tarek’s legs, my back is pressed to his chest watching House Hunters and eating my favorite kind of cake. I dig my fork into the chocolate cake, turning slightly, I hold the fork to Tarek.

His face goes from relaxed to disgust in seconds and he pulls away.

“You ate my pussy, but you can’t eat from my fork?”

He shakes his head. “Don’t be silly. I hate cake.”

In genuine shock, I raise off of his chest and look at him. “You, a celebrated chef, hate decadent cake.”

“Yes. Every kind of cake. None of my restaurants have it on their menu,” his eyes are fixed on the couple trying to get a house.

I am so confused, because to go to that length for cake. “What your mommy baked you a bad cake? Was it burnt?”

He shrugged casually. “Actually, I baked her a birthday cake and while she was eating it, she killed herself.”

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