Page 24 of Beastly Mountain Man

His grin widened.

Mine did too.

The dough rested beneath a cloth while we moved on to the cake.

Melted dark chocolate mixed into butter and eggs until the batter turned glossy under the kitchen lights. This process made considerably more sense to me, perhaps because nothing was sticking to my hands.

When Lucky turned to prepare the cake pan, I dragged one finger through the chocolate left along the side of the bowl.

He caught me as I brought it to my mouth.

“You could have asked.”

“I’m evaluating your materials.”

“And?”

I tasted the batter slowly.

The chocolate was darker than the dessert room service had brought the night before, barely sweet at first and rich enough that I went back for another small swipe.

“It requires further investigation.”

Lucky watched my finger disappear between my lips.

He became very still, not dramatically, but enough for me to notice.

My nipples tightened beneath the sweater.

The awareness traveled lower, a slow pulse building between my thighs.

I knew exactly what I was doing when I licked the remaining chocolate from my fingertip.

Lucky exhaled and returned his attention to the cake pan.

I smiled.

The cake went into the oven.

We opened the wine, one glass each, and started the sauce.

Roasted garlic softened into butter until the kitchen smelled warm and savory. Cream followed, then Parmesan, melting into a pale sauce that thickened slowly while the snow outside gathered against the bottom of the windows.

Lucky handed me a spoon.

“Taste this.”

I did, closing my eyes long enough to concentrate.

Garlic. Salt. Cream. The sharper nuttiness of the cheese.

“It needs pepper.”

He gave me the grinder without argument.

I added a little, stirred, tasted again, then added another turn.

“Now.”