Page 55 of A Taste of Trouble

He ran a hand through his hair and let out a hard breath. Was he a little sexually frustrated? The slight bulge in his pants confirmed her suspicions.

“Are you ready?”

He may have agreed with a nod, but his face told an entirely different story.

Together, they made the batter. Every once in a while, he would hand her a utensil or measuring cup. As they worked in tandem, she kept the area spotless, not a hint of red dye anywhere, not a grain of ingredient to be found.

Soon enough, they were breaking the cardinal baking rule and frosting warm cupcakes—they didn't have all day to wait around for them to cool. But that didn't make them any less yummy.

“Mmm…” The groan that vibrated through his closed lips was a satisfying sound.

“See? A cupcake can fix anything.” She watched him devour more. “Even help you get over the terror of making them.”

“This brings back memories.” He moaned again. “I used to have the biggest sweet tooth. I was a chubby kid.”

“I find that hard to believe.” She laughed. “And I knew you could bake.”

“I don't think it was really me, but if anyone ever asks, we'll go with that.” Chuckling, he took another bite of the cupcake. “Are cupcakes the only thing you're going to make?”

Liv smiled. “Cupcakes are my one true love, but I've always wanted to learn how to make French macaroons.”

“Macaroons?” His eyebrows shot up in question. “Those blob things?”

She laughed. “Yes, those blob things, but I'm not talking about those, I'm talking about French macaroons.” Although she found it hard to believe that cupcakes would ever go out of style, the French macaroon was quickly becoming an overnight sensation. “In Paris, they have special macaroons that are filled with cream and tinted with bright colors. They are a beautiful work of art. One day, I plan on going there to learn how to make them properly, but for now, I could probably wing it.”

“Paris,” Jake mumbled between bites. “It's nice there.”

“You've been to Paris?”

He nodded. “Just once for work.” After he took another bite, he asked, “Aren't you going to try?”

“Of course.” But she'd rather smear the icing all over his lips—no, his chest—then lick it all off.

She reached for a cupcake, but he pulled her hand to the side. Lifting her eyes to meet his, her breath caught. The oven wasn't the only thing now heating the room. His stare was hungry. And not for cupcakes. He held his treat up to her mouth. She took a bite, never breaking eye contact.

Cupcakes had always been a source of excitement and pleasure for Liv, but instead of the giddy butterflies, the excitement was now sexual, the pleasure now sending a deep tingle throughout her body. As she chewed, his eyes lowered to watch her mouth. He ran his tongue along his bottom lip while bringing the cupcake back to her mouth for another bite. Instead, she slid her finger along the top, gathering a healthy dollop of icing.

Leaning in, her hands shaking, she brought her finger to his mouth. He slowly sucked off the icing, and his tongue massaged and circled her finger.

Mimicking her idea, he swiped inside the icing bowl. He ran his finger along her skin, smoothing the icing across her collarbone and up her neck. He returned to the bowl for a second swipe and then dabbed some onto her earlobe. He lowered his mouth and kissed and licked his way up the icing trail, nipped at her chin, then cupped her face, finally capturing her lips.

The sweetness in her mouth was overwhelming. He rested his hands on the small of her back as he eased their lip lock. Jake had managed to weasel his way into her life and she liked it. He had seen her strong and vulnerable, at her best, and more importantly, at her worst that night at the bar when Burt gave her a hard time. And yet he was still here, looking at her like she was the only thing in the world worth looking at.

They stood for a minute or so, his breathing hard, his face red from the contact with her skin. At this moment, Liv couldn't read him. His thoughts were a mystery.

But she would have no regrets.

…

This entire experience confirmed for Jake once again that Liv liked to be in control. The careful way she measured her ingredients, the way she cleaned up utensils and bowls along the way, the calculated fashion in which she placed things on the table in front of her. She hated mess. And he noticed the way her hands trembled when she scooped the icing onto her finger. He knew it was hard for her to sway from her rigid habits, but appreciated her efforts. Still, there was a lot more he could do to bring her out of her shell.

He picked up a piping bag. “I think it's time for a lesson in decorating.”

The look on her face was priceless. He knew she expected to take their intimate moment to the next level, but he wasn't in a rush. He had a plan—a plan to bring her out of her shell and relinquish some of her control.

“I thought you had plans for us this evening.” She grabbed the piping bag and leaned in for another kiss, but Jake ducked out of the way and thrust the bag back into her hands.

“I think it's important to have good technique, and practice is the only way to get it right.”

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