Page 20 of Temptation (The Mate Games 4)

“What? It’s the truth.”

“Here I thought you’re supposed to be a godly man. A pillar of moral virtue. What’s gotten into you?”

“The Apocalypse, darling. All bets are off when the world is ending.” He winked. Fucking winked, and my insides did all sorts of things.

I shook my head but couldn’t quite keep myself from smiling. I was sort of enjoying this new side of the good priest. Caleb as a bad boy was... irresistible.

Fuck me. I was so screwed.

“Well, you made this feast. Feed me, Daddy.”

The flare of lust in his eyes made my belly flip. “Aye, I will. And then we are going for a stroll. We have months to wait out this baby, and you’ll need to know how things work around here.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll need something to occupy your days. Might as well work the farm.”

My mouth dropped open in shock.

“Close your mouth, or I’ll give you something to put in it.”

I fought the answering wave of desire that threat sent through me.

“Workthe farm? I am not a little Irish housewife. I don’t work farms.”

“You do now. The garden is wild with weeds, and the soil will need tending if we’re going to replant it.”

“Do I look like a gardener to you?”

“It’s that or chop wood, darling. Which would you prefer?”

I pressed my lips together, palms aching at the mere thought of hefting an ax.

“That’s what I thought.” He plated my dinner and set it on the table. “Some things need to be done in daylight hours, and sadly, due to my... aversion to sunlight, you’ll have to take them on.”

“This is bullshit,” I grumbled as I sat in the chair he’d pulled out for me.

“It’s not like you have anything else to do to pass the time. No phone. No computer. No TV. Might as well learn valuable new skills and expand your mind.”

“Just when I was starting to like you again...”

That fucking smirk. I was trash for that smirk. “You can’t help yourself.” He tossed a tea towel over one shoulder before slicing a piece of bread and bringing it to me. “Now eat. You need your energy.”

“For all that gardening,” I muttered.

“I think you look your best a little dirty,a stor. Especially if I get to help clean you up.”

Heat flooded my face, and it took everything in me to look away from him. Instead of saying something stupid, like asking him to get dirty with me, I shoved a steamy spoonful into my mouth. This was not going to plan. He was pushing all my buttons, acting more like Kingston than Caleb.

I wasn’t prepared for a playful Caleb. I had no immunity against him. Not when he was grumpy and definitely not when he was... this.

He twirled the tea towel, plucking at it as he pulled it through his fingers. “How are you liking your meal?”

Oh, my God, was he fucking earnest? What the hell was I supposed to do withthat?

“It’s really good,” I answered honestly, my eyes watering slightly from the temperature. It was still piping hot, but damn, it was fucking tasty.

“Good. That’s good. It’s been a while since I’ve had a reason to make something like this.” I took another bite, almost spitting it back out when he added, “Save room for dessert, darling.”

---