“Are you sure? I’ve had a lot of filthy fantasies this week.” I rub myself against him.
“Fuck, you drive a hard bargain. I promised you dinner, and that’s what you’re going to get.” Ryder stands up, and it takes all I have not to wrap my legs around his firm body. I don’t though; he helps me up, and I fix my top and skirt, not ashamed in the least. I see the hunger in his eyes as he watches the entire show.
“What did you make us?” I ask. Since he wants to wait, I may as well redirect this conversation.
“Steak, fingerling potatoes, and a wedge salad. It’s not something that’s ever on the menu but still something that most everyone would eat.” He goes to the sink, washes his hands, then grabs our salads out of the fridge. I take this as my cue to grab a rag, some spray, and clean off the kitchen table before grabbing a couple of wrapped utensils in linen napkins.
“Sounds good. Drinks?” I ask, not sure what he has to offer.
“Do you drink wine?”
“Do I ever. I’m not picky either. Um, also, I’m not picky when it comes to food or drinks. Well, maybe I won’t eat eggplant, mushrooms, and cauliflower, though only if it’s raw. Cooked cauliflower isn’t bad,” I tell him. I find two wine glasses as he finishes carrying over the plates.
“Challenge accepted, though not so sure on the raw cauliflower. That may even be out of my area of expertise. You’d give Si a run for her money if you eat everything. I think the only thing she doesn’t like is scallops. Even then, I can get her to eat them when they’re wrapped in bacon.” You can see the warmth in his eyes when he talks about Sienna.
“She’s awesome and so smart. I thoroughly enjoy teaching her and the other students in my class.” Ryder sits down beside me, not the standard sitting across like most dates. We sit, chat, and eat. My appetite must have really been worked up because I am absolutely starving, though I can’t help but press my legs together, sliding them back and forth every time Ryder licks his lips or I look at where I was lying only twenty minutes ago.
“What about kids? Do you want any of your own?” I ask.
“Actually, and this might sound strange, but anytime I think about having them one day down the road, something holds me back. It might be because of Sienna and the restaurant, or it could be that I just don’t feel that need that they’ll complete a part of me.”
“Shew, I think I completely get it. All my cousins want children, which hey, that’s cool. I’ll be more like their auntie than a second cousin. But teaching? Those are basically my children, and on my days off, I’d love to travel and see the world. I drove down here from Virginia. It was probably the best experience I’ve had. Of course, my dad, uncle, and male cousin pestered me every single day. Telling me to check my tires, have enough washer fluid, and not to stop in places that look deserted.” I roll my eyes thinking about all the fun sightseeing I was able to do. It was needed, like a balm to my soul to be out and about without a care in the world. Only next time, I’d love to have someone by my side. The look on Ryder’s face, the small smirk, tells me he’s thinking of something. I’m not sure what it is though.
“I just bet you listened too, didn’t you?” He cocks an eyebrow.
“Nope, I was smart and safe. That didn’t mean I listened to everyone along the way. They wanted me to stick to bigger interstates, a trip that could have taken me two days. I stretched it out to a week.” After prattling on to no end, I move my foot onto my chair, hugging my knee to my body with one hand, somehow not flashing myself. Not that it would matter. The man has seen every inch of me now, but still, we’re talking now. I take a long sip of the chilled white wine, waiting for his response.
“Yep, your ass needs to be spanked more often.” That statement he made earlier comes up again, and I’m more than interested to see just what he’ll do.
“Are you offering?”
“Hell fucking yes.” His gaze meets mine. I see the tensing in his jaw and the slow sweep of my body, lingering on my exposed thighs.
“Interesting. We’ll have to come back to that.” I wink. “I can see renting an RV and driving across the US during the summer or when vacations allow it. I know children bring joy and add to your life, but for now at least, I’m good with being a teacher and borrowing children that way.” I take my last bite of food, enjoying everything Ryder’s made us. This is ten times better than anything I could cook.