“You smell so good,” I murmur, the scent of his aftershave enveloping me.
His arm tightens just slightly, and he presses a gentle kiss to the top of my head.
We sit in easy silence for a few minutes, and somehow, being with him feels more right than anything ever has.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you,” I say, tilting my head to look up at him. “I got an email fromStonewood Kitchen.Someone dropped out of next week’s class.”
He smiles, his eyes lighting up. “Yeah?”
I nod. “You’re signed up for Thursday, right?”
“Yep.”
I grin. “Looks like you’ve just gained a cooking partner.”I pause.“And you’ll never guess what’s on the menu.”
“What?”
“Burritos,” I say with a wince.
His eyes widen. “You’re joking.”
I laugh. “Afraid not.”
“Well then,” he says, trying to keep a straight face. “I’ll make sure the fire extinguisher’s packed and ready.”
“Rude!”
He chuckles. “You know I’m teasing you. Seriously, though, I can’t wait. I loved cooking with you last time.”
“I loved it too.”
“I’ll pick you up. We can go together.”
“Okay, I’d like that.”
He smiles before lowering his head and brushing his lips over mine, teasing me before biting down gently on my bottom lip. I part my lips, welcoming him in, and our tongues tangle in a kiss that leaves me breathless. Every touch, every kiss, is more intoxicating than the last, and I can’t get enough.
He guides me to lie back on the sofa, our lips still tangled together, his body settling over mine. My fingers find their way beneath his shirt, gliding over the hard planes of his stomach, his skin hot beneath my touch. His mouth drifts from mine, trailing slow, heated kisses along my jaw and down the curve of my neck. His hands slip under my shirt, his fingertips brushing lightly against my skin. Then he pauses, lifting his gaze to meet mine, his eyes searching as if making sure I’m okay.
“Is it okay if I take this off?” he asks softly, sitting up a little and motioning to my shirt.
I nod, and his lips lift in a slow smile as he begins to unfasten each button, slipping the fabric from my shoulders and easing it down my arms until it falls away completely.
My heart pounds as his gaze sweeps over me, lingering on my chest. My nipples tighten under his stare, and when he notices, his smile deepens.
My hands glide upward, tracing the lines of his chest over the soft fabric of his shirt before guiding his mouth back to mine. His lips find their way to my collarbone, leaving a trail of slow kisses as he works his way lower. My back arches as he tugs the fabric of my bra aside, pulling one hardened peak into his mouth. His tongue circles my sensitive bud, sending a wave of pleasure through me. I moan, gripping the edge of the sofa beneath me, already lost in him.
“God, Ash,” he mutters as he releases my nipple and reaches his hand behind my back, undoing my bra and pulling the lacy material from my body. His fingers go to the button on my jeans, and I lift my hips in silent permission for him to remove them. He tugs them down my legs, leaving me in just a pair of white lace panties. I should feel self-conscious lying here in only my panties, but the heat in Ben’s eyes and the impressive bulge in his jeans tell me he likes what he sees.
“You’re so beautiful, Ashlyn,” he says, his eyes moving all over me.
Within seconds, he’s back between my legs, his mouth on mine. I whimper as his kisses make their way down my body, stopping only when they reach the edge of my panties. He quickly drags them down my legs, and I can’t help but squirm. My body is on fire for him, and I’m desperate for him to touch me. When he picks up one of my legs and slowly starts to kiss and nibble the inside of my calf, I moan.
“Please, Ben.”
A smile tugs on his lips, but he ignores me and continues his sweet torture. By the time his lips reach the inside of my thigh, I’m practically coming off the sofa.
“What do you need, Ashlyn?” Ben asks, his hand sliding up my body and pinching my nipple.
