“Very.”His grin would be infuriating if Ry wasn’t also desperate for his touch, and for the food.
“Well, in that case, I should get the steaks on.”He patted the thick muscles of Alex’s chest and tried to push away.Except Alex still held him.
“I’m wounded you want to escape already,” Alex whispered to him, then nibbled his ear.“Can’t they wait a couple more minutes?”
Ry moaned and turned limp, letting Alex hold him upright.“Potatoes might burn.”
Alex nuzzled down Ry’s neck to his collarbone, pushing aside the shirt for a moment.“Don’t want that.”
“No.”Ry bucked involuntarily into Alex.
After they kissed again, Alex let Ry go, his hands lingering.The steaks rested on the counter near the oven.Before Alex had arrived, he’d salted them and added pepper.Two stems of rosemary and a third he’d de-leafed and pre-washed, sat on a paper towel.He’d use the small sprigs as garnishes and the leaves of the other as seasoning.He glanced over at Alex, then set the cast-iron skillet on the stovetop and turned the heat to high.
“Can you get me the butter, please?”Ry asked.“It’s in the door, top shelf.”
Alex rooted in the fridge for a moment and handed over half a stick.He also had pulled out a cherry-lime soda.“You want something?”
“Would you make me an Arnold Palmer?”
Alex pulled the ingredients out.Ry hovered his hand over the skillet.He wanted it to be hot, and it would take a few minutes before it reached the right temperature.He unwrapped the butter and set it in the pan to melt.With a knife, he chopped the rosemary, the pungent aroma sharp and piney.Once done, he placed it in the skillet to bloom.
“Here,” Alex said, handing him the drink.“That smells fantastic.I think I like this Ry that can cook better.”
“Is it just because it’s steak?”
“That may have something to do with it,” Alex said.“Or the potato.”
Arms wrapped around him, Alex’s chin on his head.Ry’s pulse quickened, and he savored the closeness.“Careful,” he said.“Don’t want any accidents tonight.”
“Me too,” Alex murmured in his ear.
Ry grabbed the filets and set them in the pan to sear for a few minutes, spooning butter on top.Neither spoke.Every inch where they touched sizzled in the heat of the kitchen with Alex’s body covering his back.
Alex hummed something Ry didn’t recognize, but it soothed him as he cooked.Once the steaks were seared on both sides, Alex let him go so he could set the skillet into the oven, taking time to check the potatoes which looked perfect.He pulled them out and placed them on the cutting board to cool.He’d give them one final roast.
Alex sipped his drink, and Ry took a long swig from his beverage and leaned on the counter next to Alex.He reached over and took his hand, giving it a squeeze.
“Thanks for coming over,” he said, leaning into the bigger man.“It seems like we have to make up for lost time again.”
“Hmm?”Alex said, kissing the top of his head.
Ry nudged him.“You don’t remember?Back in high school?That first awkward date night we had?”
Alex laughed.“Oh god, I’d tried to forget how cringe I was.”
“I should have seen it, but I was too enamored.”
“Brand may have mentioned that you liked me,” Alex said.“I thought I was being obvious.”
“Maybe, but I was oblivious.”He squeezed and rubbed his thumb across Alex’s hand.“In my mind, there was no way you would even be interested.”
Alex brought their entwined fingers to his lips and kissed them.“Well, to be clearer this time, I like you.”
Ry rolled his eyes and nudged him.“I appreciate the clarification.However, the kissing has made it clear.”
The timer went off, and Ry let go of Alex to pull the skillet from the oven and set it on the stovetop to rest, placing some foil on top.“Want to have the salad now while this sits?”
Alex rested a hand on Ry’s lower back as he moved to the fridge and got the Caesar salad ready.Ry placed the potatoes back on broil and put a baguette he’d bought to warm up.The rest of the butter that he hadn’t used for the filets, he set out on the table.
