I’m about to answer him when he swats me playfully, and I let out a squeal of surprise. “Don’tdothat! I’ll give myself away.”
My roomie does a wiggle dance as he walks away, and I can’t help but laugh. Dottie chitters from the counter where she’s stuffing her face again and I breathe a sigh of relief. I was worried this was going to be really fucking awkward, or I’d screw everything up completely, but so far? Salem’s made me feel almost… safe. That’s not normal for me—not at all.
“Stay cool. I won’t mess up. If X can keep their big yap closed, I can, too.” The panda demon comes back to me with a big bowl. “Now get stuff out of the fridge and throw together a salad while I season the meat. There’s plenty of stuff in the fridge, but you might need to cut some of it up.”
I can definitely make a salad unsupervised. Over the past few weeks, I’ve gotten much more familiar with the common foods, especially the ones Salem likes to stock in our fridge. I’m not saying I could identify everything on a buffet like at the Ball, but I’m getting better. Humming under my breath as I pull out ingredients, I realize I’m calmer than normal. Working on stuff with my new… kissing buddy… makes me less edgy. I’m not even worried about Jasper stomping in here to be a dick—for the moment.
“Salem?”
“Yeeeees, Firecracker?”
Ducking my head as pleasure fills me at the nickname, I have to cough to clear my throat before I answer. “I really enjoy cooking with you. It’s relaxing and seems to always lead to good things.”
“I would agree. Plus, having someone eager to hang out with me in the kitchen rather than bitching about it is pretty cool, too.” I look over right as Salem does a hefty chop on the meat slab, and the sound makes me jumpslightly. “Don’t worry, I only use giant knives for food, not attacking people in the shower.”
Oh, hilarious, dude.
“For fuck’s sake, the damn bathroom makes me jittery enough without you puttingthatimage in my head,” I mutter as I finish tearing whatever the leafy stuff is and tossing it in the big bowl. “I don’t think you understand how unnerving that is for me.”
“Because you could get discovered if Prince Prickface yanks your door off? I wouldn’t worry about that. He’s only done it to Oriel once, and he was—oh.” The panda demon coughs and looks away, making my eyes widen.
“He waswhat, Salem?!”
“Pissing him off?” he offers sheepishly. The expression is adorable and I want to comment on it, but he’s inadvertently set off my panic alarms inside. He must realize it because he stops chopping and comes over, putting his big hands over mine, so I stop violently slicing my own Hell veggies. “Hey, hey. You’ll be fine, Firecracker. Do you think X and I would let that happen? Absolutely not.”
Sighing, I put the smaller knife down and turn to face him. “Probably not, but anxiety doesn’t justpoofbecause someone throws logic at it. It’s like having a bagful of drugged up bees in your head, and they buzz around until they run out of steam. And trust me, that bathroom was already on my list of pulse pounding problems.”
Salem’s eyes crinkle as he smirks. “Because you’re scared of being discovered or because everyone’s mostly naked?”
“Pick. A. Card. Any. Card,” I grind out as I frown up at him. “I mean,yes, I worry about the secret. Then I was worried I was, like, unintentionally assaulting you guys somehow because of it. Then, that stopped because X said no one would care, but also, I still have to see you all naked. That’s an old fear, but it’s paired with… new stuff now.”
“Mmm. New stuff, huh?” His hand reaches up to brush a hair off my forehead and I bite my lip to keep from making a silly noise. “Like what new stuff?”
“Oh, no, Salem Stryker. You’re not getting me to fall for that.” I point at him, wagging my finger accusingly. “We have to finish this food, and we have noideawhen any of them are going to barge in here. That…stuff…is not for public knowledge right now.”
“Aw, KK, but we could hear them coming…”
My eyes narrow. “As if I’m naïve enough to fall for that. I know little about our… new thing… but I know guys are about as observant as Mr. Magoo when they’re focused on sexy things. That much I’ve seen in horror movies and the like, so it has to be true.”
“That’s just not fair, Firecracker.” His face pulls into an honest-to-Satan pout and my eyes widen as I feel my resolve crumble like a damn cookie.
I’m going to have to learn how to deal with that—fast.
“You promisedto call me chef if I let you finish your salad, yet I haven’t heard it once since,” Salem grouses as he stands at the stove cooking something that might be his version of mashed potatoes. “I’ve been hoodwinked… bamboozled, even.”
Rolling my eyes as I put away the last of the salad stuff, I pick up my bowl and step down to carry it over to the island. “You have not. I wanted you to finish the starches before you got distracted.”
He turns on his heels, grinning broadly. “Roast in the oven, potatoes staying warm, and the bread is rising. I’m owed my dues or you’ll be in violation of that deal.”
Dipping my chin, I ignore the heat crawling up my chest and shoulders at the slight rumble to his tone. I’m aware of how much he likes that, and though I didn’t originally mean to arouse that part of him by saying it, I’m feeling oddly giddy knowing that it does. I hop up on the stool, putting my elbows on the counter, and look over the large expanse at him shyly. “I’d never do that to you… chef.”
His eyes flutter closed, and he tips his head back as he looks up at the ceiling. His hands grip the edge as he groans softly. “You’re trouble, KK. You know that?”
The pleased sensation his words stir in me vibrates through my frame, and I have no idea how to handle it. I place my face in my hand, using the casual position to keep myself upright, as he finally opens his beautiful eyes again to pin me heatedly. “I don’t know how to be anything but me, so if that’s who I am…”
Hissmirk makes my thighs tremble a bit, and I press them together. “Oh, I’d never want you to be something you’re not. Hell, Firecracker, I didn’t even care if you were a girl or a guy—just that you’re cute, awkward, funny, and the first person I’ve paid attention to in that way.”
This dude is killing me; I’m actually considering blowing my cover because I want to kiss him again.
