Page 3 of Cheeky Trifle
Poppy
Dinner is torture.I can feel the heat radiating from him, and all the while his scent fills my nose, making my mouth water for a taste. I was looking forward to my Thanksgiving dinner, but sitting here with every muscle in my body tense and Aaron glancing over at me out of the corner of his eye every few seconds, my appetite has vanished.
“Are you sure you’ve had enough, sweetheart?” Kathy asks. My plate is almost as full as when she dished it up for me.
“I’m good, thank you. It was delicious.” I fight to keep the quiver out of my voice but I don’t think I’m successful.
“You’re welcome. Who’s ready for dessert? I made it especially for our guest—English trifle.”
“No pie?” Jack complains with his brows together.
Rolling her eyes at her husband, Kathy disappears with a spring in her step, a hum of approval sounding out from around the table. Everyone around me starts up a new conversation about the football match later this afternoon, but none of their words register in my brain.
“I could think of something much tastier I’d like for dessert,” is whispered in my ear.
Chills run down my spine as memories of how his touch used to ignite my body slam into me.
“I…uh…” I stutter.
“Tell me you’re single, please,” he begs. “If you’re seeing someone, I don’t—”
“I am. I’m single,” I say in a rush, cutting off whatever it was he was about to say.
“Thank fuck for that.”
My eyes fly to his in surprise, but instead of the anger I thought I’d see reflected back at me, the only thing I see is desire.
Red hot desire.
Heat floods my core and I squeeze my thighs together to try to dull the ache.
“Here we go,” Kathy sings as she carries in a tray full of individual trifles. Everyone around the table wastes no time in grabbing their spoons and diving in.
Everyone apart from Aaron and me, that is. We’re still too lost in each other.
With his eyes still locked on mine, he speaks up. “Kathy, have you got any extras of these?”
“Of course. Would you like to take one home?”
“I would. I think I would really enjoy savouring it later.” His eyes darken, kick-starting that dull ache starts up between my legs once again.
“No problem, sweetheart.”
Everyone’s either enjoying their dessert too much or plainly ignoring us because from the way he’s looking at me, there’s no way Aaron’s comment was innocent. Indecent images fill my mind involving the two of us and a trifle and I have to look away, convinced he can see every one of my thoughts.
Scooping up a spoonful of cream, I moan softly as its creaminess hits my tongue. The heat of Aaron’s fingertip at the side of my mouth makes me flinch, and the tiny bit of skin he touches burns.
“You had a little bit…” He pulls his finger back and sucks the small blob of cream into his mouth. “Just as sweet as ever.”
I smile at him and it feels like my entire world rights itself. I haven’t been happy since getting back to London. I went to university and graduated with an English Literature degree because it was expected of me.
But I’m not stupid. I know the reason I’ve been floundering to find a job since graduating a few months ago is because my heart’s not there. It’s here, with the man who’s staring at me like I’m the most important person on the planet.
“Let’s get out of here,”Aaron says, crowding me against the wall the second I step foot out of the bathroom. His forearms cage my head in and he drops his head so our lips are almost touching. His breath fans my face as his eyes urge me to say yes. “I need to get you alone. Come on, Pop Pop,” he encourages, using a nickname I haven’t heard in four years that makes warmth blossom in my belly.
“Oh…okay,” I stutter, feeling him nudge his nose against mine.
He steps away and disappointment floods me. But as he turns to walk, his hand finds mine and he intertwines our fingers, pulling me back towards the living area.
