“I was just trying to make breakfast.” Cas ducks her head in shame.
A startled laugh escapes my lips as I tug her toward me, needing her closeness to reassure my poor, anxious heart that she is okay.
“I think we’ll leave the cooking to Donatella in the future.”
Cas returns my embrace hesitantly, so I glance down to try and find the cause. But she’s buried her head in my chest.
Donatella grabs a towel to wrap around the still-sizzling panhandle. “You scared me half to death. You could have burned your arm off!”
When Cas cringes against me, I gently pry her arms from around my waist and examine her hands. As I suspected, a large welt seems to be forming on her left palm.
“It’s fine,” she insists.
But I’m already dragging her back over to the sink and turning on the water. I stand behind her as I hold her burned hand up to the steady stream of cool water.
“I could do this myself,” she murmurs but makes no move to shake me away.
Behind me, I hear Donatella sigh. “I have some chores to catch up on.”
I make a mental note to ensure Donatella’s bonus is doubled this month when the kitchen door bangs shut behind her.
Finally alone, I take the opportunity to pin Cas against the counter with my other hand and rest my head on her shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” Cas sighs as she leans against me seemingly content with my closeness.
“For nearly burning down my house?”
“For being a terrible cook.”
I slowly rotate her arm so that the water splashes evenly over the burn. “I don’t need you to cook for me.”
“I was just trying to do something nice.”
With a laugh, I plant a soft kiss on the side of her neck. “It’s the thought that counts,Angioletta.”
There’s a pause where we both seem to bask in the moment comfortably.
“Why do you call me that?” she asks suddenly.
“Angioletta?”
“Yes.”
I smile. “Do you know what it means?”
She cocks her head slightly. “I might have googled it.”
“The first time I saw you singing on the stage at theCandelabra,I knew you had to be some kind of angel,” I explain. “But then I realized that wasn’t true.”
She pulls away to look at me. “I’m insulted.”
My eyes dart hungrily to her mouth. “You were far too tempting for a little angel.”
Cas smirks as she leans forward and takes my bottom lip between her teeth.
I growl in response, pressing my hardening crotch against her so that she can feel my growing desire.
“See?” I breathe once she’s released me. “Practically sinful.”
