Page 11 of Chef's Kiss

I spent the whole show anticipating her arrival, thinking for sure she’d be there. But when we finished the dish and presented it to the audience and camera I only picked at it. I couldn’t eat, thinking about how I’d much rather be downing a plate of barbecue with her, sliding my sticky sweet fingers in her mouth before I slid my tongue in her sticky sweet channel.

I pull up to the restaurant supply store where she works, prepared to sit in the parking lot until they open. I don’t care if it’s hours away. I’ll wait for the sunrise, catching it reflecting off her radiant skin and watch how it shines against those baby blue eyes of hers.

But as I throw the car in park I immediately notice something is off.

I’m out of my car in a flash, seeing the brick that’s propping the door open, but not noticing a delivery truck anywhere. Nowhere.

Why would someone prop the door open like that at this hour. It’s dangerous, and something tells me my woman might be in danger right now.

It’s like a sixth sense that I’ve never felt before. I suck my lips against my teeth and crane my neck, looking inside. Nothing.

I want to call out so as not to startle her, but something’s just not right here, like a robbery in progress. And if that’s the case the element of surprise is paramount, and I’d much rather come in unannounced if that is indeed what’s going down.

My stomach tightens, feeling worry for her, and anyone that might be hurt. As I quietly pull the door open and step inside, I literally smell fear, my senses heightened like I’ve morphed into Wolverine. And in some ways I have.

She makes me feel superhuman, gives me more strength than I already have. And she’s awakened this need in me to make her mine in all ways.

As I get the door pushed open enough to accommodate my big frame I look down at the handle. There are always bells on this door announcing the customer’s arrival. I know it because I hear them go off every time I rush though this door coming and going like a tornado.

Why are they not here…for the first time ever?

I hear a man’s voice coming from what appears to be a back office.

Quietly I move towards it as quickly as I can, pulling up just short before I hear the sound of duct tape being pulled from the roll.

Oh hell fucking no!

I yank on the handle, but it’s locked from the inside. I take a step back and surge forward, throwing my shoulder and all my bodyweight into the door, splitting the flimsy wooden slap right down the middle.

I throw my shins into the busted wood, putting all that boxing aggression from last night into practice…and that’s when I see her.

I step through the busted wood and grab the bastard by the back of his collar, fear permeating his eyes. “We were role playing fantasies.”

If there’s one thing I hate it’s a man who abuses women. If there’s a second, it’s a liar. And he’s both…and he’s going to pay.

I lift him off the floor, slamming him into the wall and letting go, staring him down as he slides to a heap on the floor, pretending to be unconscious.

“You think you’re some big tough man that can overpower others. Get on your feet you little bitch, and see what it feels like now.”

His eyes are squeezed shut so tight it’s blatantly obvious he’s still alert and hearing everything I say. My first thought it to break off one of those splintered pieces of wood from the door and stab it right through his eye socket so he can never look at my woman again. But right now, I want him to see what’s coming. And I want to see the fear in his eyes.

I grab the fucker by the neck, lifting him in the air and tossing him like a ragdoll over the top of his desk. He slams into his chair, which slams into the wall. I can hear scurrying behind his desk and he jumps up, shaking the cobwebs out of his brain, as he punches at the air in front of him with a letter opener.

“You get the fuck outta here or I’ll stab you. I swear to—”

I take one step and leap onto his desk, kicking that letter opener right out of his hand and toward the wall opposite the side of my woman. On the follow through my heel catches his chin and it’s lights the fuck out for this villian.

But I’m not done.

“You okay, beautiful,” I say, quickly untying my woman, seeing the relief in her eyes and feeling more like a man than I ever have before, knowing I kept her safe…barely.

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