Page 95 of Through You
He turns to face me, and my heart warms. That face, with the light scruff—every detail of his appearance is so masculine and sexy. Even when he’s wearing an apron he manages to look so damn handsome. But it’s his expression that stirs so many emotions in me. His warm gaze is the opposite of the look I saw on his face this afternoon. He’s a completely different person when he’s with me.
“I’m almost done. Have a seat.” He points to the kitchen table.
I arch an eyebrow. “Are you cooking for me?”
“Why do you look surprised? Who prepared the first sandwiches you had when you first came to live with us? Who taught you how to make pancakes? Huh?”
“Okay. Yes, I get it.”
He smiles. And I feel the urge to grab his face with my hands and kiss his lips.
Calm down, Claudia.
I take a seat and watch him cook then plate the food he’s prepared.
“You look exhausted,” he comments.
“I am. It’s been a long day.” I would love to chat with him about my internship. With the exception of what his horrible mother did to me, I’m not used to hiding things from him. He puts the plates down on the table, and everything looks delicious.
“Wow.” The presentation looks incredible, just like it was done by a professional chef.
“Wait until you have a taste.”
He takes the seat next to me and grabs my hand, placing a kiss on my knuckles, which sends shivers all over my body. He looks me straight in the eyes, his hand still holding mine.
“I’m sorry I’ve been absent for the past few days. A new company project has taken up all my time. I even slept in the office a few nights.”
“Don’t worry. You don’t owe me an explanation.”
“Yes, I do. I can’t make a declaration swearing that I’m going to win you over then disappear only to come out of the wood-work as if nothing happened. You deserve better than that.”
His proximity is making it very hard to resist the urge to kiss him. This need for him has intensified over the months spent fantasizing about him. I clear my throat and pull my hand from his grasp.
“Time to taste your famous food. Let’s have a try.”
Artemis watches me expectantly as I take my first bite. My face contorts with disgust, just to bug him.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, alarmed.
I chew and smile, then speak after I’m done swallowing.
“It’s delicious, I was just teasing you.”
He rolls his eyes, and without much warning, sneaks in a quick peck on my cheek.
“Hey!”
The jerk grins at me. “I was just teasing you.”
I look away when I feel the heat rise and warm my cheeks, and get back to eating the food on my plate. I wash the dishes when we’re done with our meal, which was simply divine: fried shrimp, rice, and salad. Artemis is on the other side of the table, right across from me. We’re chatting about work. I leave out any mention of my first day interning at his company.
“It must be difficult to manage such a large company,” I tell him, while washing a glass.
“You’re one of the very few people who think that,” he replies, rubbing his face with his hand. “Most people think it’s easy being the CEO, that I spend my time sitting in a big office, enjoying the view from my window.”
“I bet you look sexy in your office.”
He bites his lower lip. “Are you flirting with me, Claudia?”
