“You’re right. I didn’t immediately google your bakery—thank you for leaving the box with all the details on it, by the way. And I didn’t check your company registration number just to find out the name of the owner. And I definitely didn’t spend the last two days looking at the only photo on the internet I could find of you. Up and coming bakery of the year, Natasha? Congratulations.” His lips are against my ear as he whispers the last thing.
I reach out and turn off the mixer. The only sound is Wolf Alice singing that he and I were meant to be in love.
But it’s just a trick.
The sex was good. Of course, he wants a repeat. That’s all. And right now, I can’t quite remember why that’s not a good idea. Just one more time… Surely it won’t hurt?
I don’t know how long we stand there, but the song changes, and the mood shifts. Hayden chuckles, then playfully licks my earlobe before dancing back to the bowl with eggs, singing something about obsession. I honestly can’t really make out the words because the whoosh in my ears is louder than Niagara Falls. I’m so off balance by his display I’m white-knuckling the counter just to keep myself upright.
I want him. I want him so badly I can barely think straight. I watch him as he whisks the eggs, moving his hips to the rhythm of the song. There’s something so infuriatingly intriguing about him I can’t quite figure out. I have this feeling, deep inside my belly, that this man in front of me is not the same one everyone else sees. It’s like this carefree moment between us is something that only I’m privy to.
And damn it. I want more.
ChapterSix
“What now?” Hayden asks once everything is mixed. “Do we roll it out and cut the shapes?”
“Nope, we wrap it in cling wrap and let it rest for half an hour,” I reply and do just that.
“Half an hour, you say? There are a lot of things we could do with that much time…”
“Right.” I deflate a little, my suspicion that he’s only here for sex confirmed.
“We could do some kitchen dancing, have a coffee, or—”
“I’m not having sex with—”
“—Play a game.”
I’m… confused. “Play a game?”
“Did you think I was here for sex, Natasha?” He walks over to me, cupping my chin between his fingers.
I say nothing. I let my defiant stare do all the talking. What else could he want from me? It doesn’t escape me how much I don’t hate him calling me by my full name. In fact, each time he saysNatashain his rich, deep voice, my body aches to go to him.
“I’m here for my cookies.” His eyes search mine.
“Okay,” I whisper, unable to look away.
“And for you.”
“Me?”
“As much as I want to have sex with you again, Natasha, I can see you’re uncertain. I’d never push you to do anything you didn’t want. But, you see, I already know that you’re mine.”
My heart picks up speed.
“And I’m playing the long game. I’m here to woo you.”
“Not very wise to give out your game plan when the game’s just begun.”
He chuckles. “I like to give my opponent the opportunity to—”
I don’t let him finish. A demon possesses my body, and I stretch on my tiptoes, pressing my mouth against his.
He moans the second my tongue breaks the seal of his lips. He pulls me into him, enveloping me in his large arms as he kisses me gently, yet with so much passion I melt for him. It takes all my resolve to break away from the kiss.
“I can only give you one more time.”