Page 26 of When love and Hate Collide

“I’m going to hold you to that.” He says, pulling away and walking over to the driver’s side. I wait for him to get in the car and follow suit.

“So, where are you taking me?” I ask, tugging on the seatbelt and fastening it. He smiles and slides his shades back on.

“You’ll have to wait and see, baby girl.”

“The anticipation is killing me.” I tease and he chuckles. I sink into the leather seats, smiling. When he starts the engine, the music comes tearing through the speakers. He reaches over to turn the volume down, but my hand darts out stopping him. He looks at me questioningly and I shake my head mutely expressing that the loud music doesn’t bother me. In fact, I’m the same when I drive. Also, I think the music will help settle him down a little, he seems to be more relaxed now than he was a few moments ago.

The corner of his mouth tilts into a half smile, he laces his fingers with mine and places it on his thigh while he drives.

“She is my business. You put your hands onmygirl…”

I bite my lip to keep from smiling.Don’t swoon, Jeyla.

An hour later the pair of us are standing in a kitchen in south London with a confectionary chef. “A private chocolate making and tasting masterclass?” I laugh, pulling the white apron over my head and tying the straps behind my back.

My date grins, trying his own apron on. “It’s different, no?”

I nod, grinning back. “Yes sir, you get an A for originality. Two of my favourite things, baking and eating chocolate.”

He laughs and hands me a spatula. I take it from him and set it beside the silver bowl in front of me on the workstation. “Maybe later we can combine two of my favourite things?” I eye him with an arched brow, and he smiles gorgeously, staring into my eyes.

“And what might those two things be?” I question curiously, peering up at him through my lashes when he shuffles toward me. I swallow thickly when his eyes lower to my lips before they lift to meet my gaze again.

“You and chocolate.” My eyes close when he leans in and speaks directly into my ear. “I can’t stop thinking about all the places I want to smear chocolate and take my sweet time licking it off.”

My body heats up at the thought of being laid out before him, covered in chocolate while he uses that dexterous tongue of his on parts of me that is in desperate need of his undivided attention.

I bite my lip to hold back the overwhelming urge to moan out loud when his velvet lips brush my ear while he speaks to me with that low, insanely erotic gruff tone. A quivering breathe escapes me as he presses soft kisses down the side of my neck, his hot breath on my flesh sends a mass of tingles down my spine. “Keep that up and I can promise you we won’t make it past the first five minutes of this class.”

“Baby girl, I assure you I don’t plan to behave in this class whatsoever.” I open my eyes and peer up at him when he draws back to look down into my eyes. “I’m fully intent on making a mess of you,” he affirms picking up a piece of the broken chocolate in the bowl behind me and holding it to my lips.

Opening my mouth, I don’t take my eyes off his, waiting for him to feed me the chocolate, but just as I’m about to bite into it, he pulls it back and places it between his lips.

I stare at his mouth avidly, so invitingly close I’m unable to guise the need and desire that I’m sure is burning in my eyes. The attraction and sexual tension between us is unbearable. My pulse jumps when he starts to lean in, closing the miniscule space between our mouths. I part my lips for him and using his tongue he pushes the piece of chocolate into my mouth.

“Ahem.”

Damn it!

We jump apart when someone behind us clears their throat to get our attention. “Good afternoon,” A masculine voice chirps in a thick Italian accent. I spin to face the older gentleman in chef’s attire who is walking through the kitchen toward us. “I’m Chef Russo and I’ll be teaching you love birds the many different ways we can make chocolate.” He says with a smile, clasping his hands together. “Shall we start?”

We nod and stand side by side listening to him talk us through the process and all the health and safety jargon.

“Tell me, signorina, what is your favourite flavour of chocolate?” He asks me and I purse my lips thoughtfully.

“Uhm, I suppose it would have to be mint or milk chocolate with hazelnut.” I say, looking over at my date who smiles down at me.

“And yours, signore?”

“I prefer mint too or anything with nuts really.”

“Che bello!” Chef Russo acclaims animatedly smiling warmly at us both. “You have the same taste as your beautiful wife.”

Wait what?Wife?

We turn to look at each other at the same time. Oh, bloody hell, he thinks we’re married. My date smiles and takes hold of my hand and lifts it to his lips, his eyes interlock with mine as he brushes a kiss over my knuckles. “I certainly do.”

I feel a flush creep up my neck while he continues to gaze deeply into my eyes. Chef Russo moves around the kitchen gathering supplies and waffling on about the importance of married couples cooking together.

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