Take - Page 54

He rolled the sleeves of his shirt up, which made me drool. I sipped my wine hurriedly and turned back to the recipe.

“There’s a creamy sauce to go on it. It looks tricky.” I frowned as I studied the instructions.

I carefully followed the directions, stirring in cream, garlic, and some other spices. I stirred the pot, watching it cautiously. It smelled good.

“Looks like you’re doing just fine.”

“Thanks.” I popped a piece of chopped pepper into my mouth. “Next up, I’ll be trying some classic New Orleans recipes.”

“I bet Lola could give you some lessons.”

“You think?” The gumbo at lunch had been amazing.

“I’ll ask her.”

“Thanks.” I stirred the sauce. “Do you want to talk about Auclair?”

“Not really.” Reath sighed. “He’s not giving up.”

“And I’m not letting him get my project.”

Reath smiled and my heart skipped a beat.

Then I smelled burning.

“Oh no.” I rescued the pot from the stove and stirred frantically. “I think it’s all right. I really, really suck at cooking.”

A hand stroked down my hair. “Take a deep breath. You’re doing fine. I think you’re trying too hard.”

I loved it when he touched me. I leaned into his palm.

“Frankie,” he murmured. His body pressed behind me, pinning me to the counter.

“You shouldn’t say my name like that,” I whispered.

He pushed my hair to the side, and then his mouth was at my ear. “Why?”

“It gives me ideas.”

His teeth scraped my neck. “What ideas?”

I shuddered. “Your mouth on me. Your hands touching me.”

“Where?”

God. I was turning to mush. I licked my lips. “On my neck. My breasts. My belly.” I dropped the wooden spoon into the pot, and gripped the counter hard. “That’s all I think about. You.”

He pressed his face to my hair. “I think about keeping you safe. Keeping you close.”

“Reath—”

“I want you making those sexy sounds you made on the couch. I want to be touching you so I can make you sigh, gasp, and cry out my name.”

I moaned.

He gripped my hips, spun me, and lifted me onto the island.

Then he started unbuttoning my shirt.