“Should I put this in the kitchen?” Ben asks, holding up a brown paper bag as he steps past me.
The rich scent of Chinese food fills the air, and right on cue, my stomach growls loudly.
Ben chuckles. “Hungry?”
“Starving.”
I take the bag from his outstretched hand and close the apartment door behind him.
“I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I got a little bit of everything,” he says, following me into the kitchen.
I laugh. “Good call. I pretty much like everything.” Placing the bag on the counter, I turn to face him. “Do you want a drink?”
“Sure. Got any soda?”
I nod, but before I can move toward the fridge, Ben gently takes my arm and pulls me against his chest.
“Can I kiss you first?” he murmurs, wrapping his arms around my waist.
I tilt my head back, meeting his hazel eyes, which are locked intently on mine. My breath catches, and I nod with a smile. He leans down, brushing his lips softly against mine. Like before, heat flares low in my stomach, and as the kiss deepens, I press closer, my arms looping around his neck. My fingers tangle in his hair, tugging lightly as a quiet moan escapes me.
His kiss is intoxicating and all-consuming, and for a moment, the rest of the world disappears. I never want this to end.
“Fuck, Ash,” Ben murmurs against my lips, pulling back just enough to rest his forehead against mine. “Kissing you just keeps getting better.”
Heat rushes to my cheeks, relief washing over me that he feels the same intensity I do. He chuckles, his breath warm against my skin.
"We should eat," he murmurs, though desire lingers in his tone.
I nod and step out of his embrace, turning back toward the counter to compose myself. My heart pounds so hard I can feel it in my fingertips.
We settle in the living room, chatting easily as we dig into the food. When I’ve eaten way more than I should, I set my plate down on the coffee table and lean back with a groan, my hands resting on my full stomach.
“That was amazing. I’m absolutely stuffed.”
Ben chuckles. “I definitely ordered too much… and somehow, we still demolished it.”
I glance over at him. “If this is how we eat every time we’re together, I might actually have to take you up on those morning runs.”
He smirks. “Maybe that was my plan all along.”
I nudge his arm with a playful eye roll. “Sneaky. You really are trying to rope me into this, aren’t you?”
He catches my hand, threading his fingers through mine. “Is it working?”
I gaze at him, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Maybe,” I admit.
He grins. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
I laugh softly. “Yeah, I figured you might.”
“Come here,” he says, his voice low as he reaches for me. “You’re too far away.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I’m right next to you.”
“Still too far,” he says with a smile.
I slide closer until there’s no space between us, and he slips an arm around my shoulders. I tuck my legs beneath me and lean into him, melting against his side.
