Page 11 of He Likes it Spicy

He doesn’t miss a beat. “How about dinner?”

Right,dinner. I think he and I both know what our bodies are begging us to do. It’s not just the adrenaline—since themoment I saw him, I’ve wanted to know what it would feel like to have Thor’s beefy body tangled in mine...

“It’s ten thirty,” I laugh. “A little late for dinner.”

“It’s never too late to cook for someone.”

“Oh? You gonna help me acquire a taste for chili?”

“Maybe not chili…”

We allow each other stolen glances. I can’t help but try to x-ray vision his jeans to see what he’s packing…

“Fuck,” I sigh as everyone starts to funnel out of the staging area. “I can’t. We always reset and adjust after the first night. I’ll be here well after midnight rehearsing.”

“Really?”

“Yup.” I hop down. “In fact, you need to go.”

Thor jumps down, depressing the crash pad concealed by the black sheet. He lifts his foot and stomps it back down again, testing the soft floor. “Ah, that’s why you perform without a net.”

“We sneak it in between sets.” I get on my toes, place a hand on his shoulder, and whisper in his ear. “Don’t tell anyone.”

His hand finds my hip, taking it with more liberty than I imagined he would. “Under one condition.”

“Name your price.”

“Have breakfast with me tomorrow. My house.”

His fingers press into my unitard, searching for the bare skin underneath.

“I sleep in late, you know. I’m a performer.”

“Come when you can,” he says. “I don’t have to be at the cook-off until noon.”

My leg pops into the air, toes pointed. God, if we were alone, I’d kiss him right here and now… maybe more.

“I suppose I could steal the van,” I whisper. “For you.”

“Give me your phone number. Say it—I’ll memorize it.”

“Really?” I laugh.

Thor nods, pulling back and staring into my eyes. “Not a chance I’ll forget it.”

“Very smooth, but you’re showing your age.”

I slip my hand into his pocket and pull out his phone. He lets me take his hand and press his thumb to the screen to unlock it.

“There,” I say, handing it back. “I sent myself a text. Now get out of here before Charles loses it.”

“Don’t make me wait too long.”

I watch him leave, fighting against the gravity of all that delicious mass.

I'm up at dawn. I shouldn't be; Charles had us rehearsing and making adjustments until one in the morning, so I should sleep until noon. Besides, I’mnota morning person.

Today, I’m wide awake.

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