“When?”
I flip through my calendar and workload for the next few months. “It’ll take a few weeks to wrap up all the stuff on my plate. Since we’re going to need at least ten days, maybe after mid- to late September?”
She nods slowly, which isn’t the reaction I anticipated. What’s that about?
She opens her mouth, then shakes her head slightly and gestures at the plate.
“How about the pad Thai? Better in Thailand, too?” Her tone is light, but the skin around her mouth tightens.
“It’s great, and I can’t say it’s better in Thailand.”
“How come?”
I reach out and shift the flower behind her ear—although it doesn’t need to be adjusted—and stroke the soft curve of her earlobe. I just want an excuse to touch her. “Because I’ve never had any made by you. It’s the first time you’ve cooked here in the house.”
“I’ve never cookedanywherebefore.”
The implication sends sweet warmth through me. I’m glad I didn’t give in to my baser urges earlier. “Then all the better. Nobody in Thailand cooked for the first time for me.”
The bright sparkles reappear in her eyes, and I can’t look away. Her shoulders finally relax as she takes a bite of her noodles, then smiles like the happiest woman in the world.
I freeze, unable to move as the air catches in my throat. I’ve never seen this expression on her before. She looks so content—her heart at home and at ease. The sweet sensation from earlier thickens, sending shivers along my skin. I wish that we could be like this forever.
The conversation for the rest of the dinner is pleasantly mundane. At one point I ask about what she did during the day, and she excitedly tells me about a Thai cooking channel she found on YouTube. “I always thought I had to go to Thailand tolearn, but I can do it here too! The lady has so many recipes. Since you liked the pad Thai, I’ll try some others as well.”
Joy puts a rosy glow to her cheeks, and her eyes shine. Her enthusiasm is contagious. “Then I’ll be your guinea pig. Somebody’s gotta eat the food you make.”
She nods with a laugh. “But you have to be honest about it. You can’t just think,Oh it’s the first time she made this for me, so I have to flatter her.”
“I swear, I’ll be honest.” I pause for a moment. “I’ll always be honest with you.”
She smiles. “I know. I think I knew the moment I ran into you in Vegas.”
“Hmm. But back then you didn’t know anything about me.”
“I knew you were nice enough to help a strange woman who practically broke into your room. You even tried to give me money. And even though we got married accidentally and you have no recollection of it, you’ve decided to help me out anyway.”
“I had my reasons,” I mutter, somewhat reluctantly. But I don’t want to take credit for something that isn’t entirely true.
“That promotion? I’m sure you earned it. Jeremiah and Prescott don’t seem like the types to give it to you otherwise.” Suddenly Lareina frowns, eyeing our empty plates. “I didn’t make anything for dessert.”
“Why bother exerting yourself?” I get up, pulling her out of her seat.
“Do we have ice cream in the freezer?” she asks, somewhat hopefully.
“No.”
Every cell in my body seems to sigh at the sensation of her bare skin against my palms. She’s a lovely little witch—making me feel like I’m home and excited beyond measure at the same time.
I gently coil my fingers in her hair, giving her time to pull back if she wants. Instead she looks up at me, her eyes glittering with expectation. It’s all the encouragement I need. I bend down to capture her mouth.
Sweet and salty with a hint of tartness. And woman, pure and beautiful. The taste of her hits me like the most addictive of drugs, and overheated blood flows into my cock, leaving me dazed.
I hold the kiss forever, desperate to get more of her. I can never seem to get enough to satisfy this hunger for my wife. She pushes into my mouth with her tongue, boldly erotic. My heart races faster, and I trace the sweet curve along her waist, slipping my hand underneath her shirt.
The feel of her taut, warm skin sends my senses spinning, as though my coconut held wine, not water. I trace the irresistible lines of her body I adore so much. The pad of my thumb strokes along the little bumps along her arched spine, slowly gliding up, up, up—
Suddenly, she freezes and pulls back. “I don’t think… Um…” She looks away.
