Page 42 of Bake You Mine
She conjured up visions of great generals of the past. Would they fold so easily? Would an Olympian give up the day before the match after years of training?
“We may have to kick everyone else out, and it will just be us in the kitchen.” Liam flicked on one of the knobs. The gas hissed as the burner flared to life.
Standing next to him had her heartbeat thumping in her throat. She reminded herself that after this competition, they were finished. She could pencil in:find a manon her New Year’s resolutions list. Scratch that: find a nice, sensible man. One who didn’t make her sensible side fly out the window.
Her brain fed these rationalities while her body begged to be close to Liam. She’d told Liam his charms were worthless on her because she was a coward when it came down to it. After all, who else would have a crush at her big age? Keeping him in his place made sense, especially as one of them would lose. According to her anxiety, at least.
Aubrey yanked open the fridge and stuck a hand in to gauge the temperature. The cool air was much needed to calm her overreacting body.
Liam left the kitchen to answer a phone call.
She rubbed nervously at her face. She had to pull her shit together, or else she would lose by default. She’d only have her white flag for company.
“Are you all right?”
She peeked from behind the fridge door. Liam’s dark hair was swept over to one side, and his tattooed forearm braced his weight against one of the metal shelves. She slammed the fridge closed and stood there awkwardly.
His beauty was so unfair. She should say goodnight and get the fuck out of Dodge. Especially as he stared at her like he wanted to take his time devouring her, eyes dark and focused, lips parted. And no, she wasn’t imagining it this time. All of this was as real as the proverbial heart attack.
Blood roared through her ears. Her limbs were a little tingly. Maybe this was a heart attack, after all?
Or maybe this was years of longing finally bubbling to the surface.
Life was too short for lessons. Or she was just too stubborn and old to learn them. As of right this second, she’d given up the fight regarding her attraction to Liam.
He tracked her progress across the small kitchen and started to duck out of the way as she approached. It was hardly an unwarranted reaction. She barreled past him at least a hundred times since this contest madness had begun.
This time, her hands betrayed her. One shot up to grab the side of his neck. Lastly, it was her mouth that did her dirty as she arched up on her tiptoes and kissed him.
twelve
This wasthe best kind of surprise. But before he could get a taste of her, he pulled away.
“Are you sure about this?” He kept his gaze on her, enjoying the sight of her cheeks flushed, eyes wild. “I mean, I thought you tolerated me like you do a rash you can’t reach?”
She smirked. “I can be an exceptional liar when I need to be.”
The words were barely out of her mouth before he grabbed her again.
What else was she lying about? He couldn’t wait to find out if the secrets were anything like this one.
The kitchen doors swung closed behind them as his hands encircled her waist. A surprised gasp tumbled out of her lips when he hefted her onto the counter.
Not that he’d spent much time thinking about what he’d do if he got to kiss her.
Lying came easily to them both.
Her legs fell open as she reached for him.
He cupped her chin. “Look at me for a minute.” Their eyes met. “Before we do this, I want you to know something.”
She leaned against his touch. “Talk fast, then.”
He rubbed his thumb against her chin. “I know I have this reputation. But if we’re doing this…it’s me and you. Got it?”
She exhaled a lengthy breath. “Got it.”
She hooked an arm around his neck. She brought their lips together again. Her kisses came one after another like firecrackers. His large frame slipped into the narrow opening of her legs, his rapidly hardening cock pressed against the tender flesh of her stomach. She shimmied her hips to the edge of the counter until there was no space between them.
