Page 56 of Almost Love

“You okay?” she asked, worry in her expression at his silence. Her eyes dropped to the flowers and she smiled. “Those for me?”

“I know you said no dating, but I thought you’d like these.”

“I do, thank you. There’s a vase in the bottom cabinet.”

He filled the vase and stood beside her at the counter and attempted to arrange the flowers. She was still grooving and he hummed along to the unfamiliar music. He moved the flowers out of the way and before he even came up behind her she was speaking.

“Yes, you may touch me.”

Chuckling, he dragged his hands over her hips and fit her softness against his body. She leaned back, singing louder as her hips swayed. Was there anything this woman couldn’t do? She hit the high and low notes, moved through the beats effortlessly all while putting together their dinner. He dropped his head to nuzzle into her neck and heard Clementine’s voice hitch when he made contact.

“Hi,” she mumbled.

“Hi yourself.”

“How was your day?”

He smiled at this casual and yet so domestic line of conversation. “Too long. Someone distracted me all day.”

“How dare they distract you,” she said and leaned forward, ass pressing into his crotch. He gritted his teeth, hands loose at her hips resisting the urge to yank her harder against him.

“How dare they, indeed,” he growled, fingers tightening against her sides. “How was yours?”

“Really good. Got over my cooking slump and knocked it out of the park.”

He frowned. “Cooking slump?”

“Because of you,” she said simply and stepped out of his arms.

“What did I do?”

Clementine opened the fridge and returned with a bowl of something green, fitting herself between him and the counter. Hedefinitelyliked the way this felt, having her want to be close to him.

“I’ve been distracted the past few days because of your kisses and your sleepover—” her hands moved deftly over the circular things in front of her “—and kept fucking up at work because I was consumed by you, I guess? But I got over it.”

“Did you get overme?”

She bumped her ass against him gently. “You’re standing in my kitchen rubbing your crotch against my ass. What do you think?”

He laughed and turned her towards him. She refused to meet his eyes, so every time he tilted his head or moved to catch her gaze, she would look away. He decided to switch tactics and swooped in for kisses. She dodged those too. But the best part was that he could see how hard she was trying not to smile the whole time.

“Why are you resisting me, babycakes?”

“You arenotcalling me that.”

“I’m running out of names, babe,” he countered.

“My name is perfectly fine and normal, you know.”

“You can call me something cute too.”

Clementine poked him in the stomach and he chuckled as he released her. “Don’t get any funny ideas, buddy.”

“I don’t like ‘buddy’. Pick another one.”

She shook her head and turned back to the food. He stood behind her again, hands resting on the counter as she made dinner. Her shirt slid off her shoulder and he kissed the warmskin, making her sigh softly. He might have showed up with a conversation plan, but none of that mattered anymore.

“What’s for dinner?”

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