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It’s not long before I set the smooth dough ball aside, letting it rest as I jot down a list of toppings from the ingredients Darian purchased.
Pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, sausage, and olives.
I place each folded piece of paper with different variations of toppings into the large white bowl.
Darian leans forward to drop his own in with a smirk, his dimples on full display as a blush creeps across my cheeks, heightened when he moves to stand behind me.
His hands cover my eyes, and his lips brush the shell of my ear, his breath caressing my skin as he whispers, “Choose well,” his baritone voice sends a shiver down my spine.
Aware of Darian’s chest pressed against my back, I reach into the bowl, swirling my hand through the small folded pieces of paper.
My senses are alight with his proximity and my pulse rages in my ears as I draw one before placing it on the counter. Delving back into the bowl to select two more, I gather the three chosen toppings.
Darian’s hands lower on my shoulders and my pulse hikes up.
He guides me to the side, moving in my place to select his own ingredients.
I reach up to cover his eyes, having to stand on my tiptoes to comfortably cover them with more than just the tips of my fingers and Darian chuckles softly.
Once unable to see, he mirrors my earlier actions, shuffling them around before choosing one and setting it aside. Repeating the process until he has all three.
I unfold my first paper and read it out loud, “Sausage.”
Next, I open the second one, “Pepperoni.”
A chuckle escapes my lips as I flick open the final paper, “Bacon.”
Darian grins, “Meat lovers,” he says suggestively, and I punch him lightly in the shoulder, feigning outrage.
“Always so violent now, hmm?” Darian chuckles, nudging me with his elbow. I shoot him a mock glare in response.
“Oh, I was violent long before you came along,” I retort. “Remember when you left the window open? I did roam around the house with a baseball bat.”
He bursts into laughter as he unfolds his own papers, his humor turns to a groan. “Olives... Peppers,” he peers the final piece and tosses it to the counter, “And mushrooms,” he laments, and I grin widely.
“Seems like the universe is telling someone to become a vegetarian.” I tease, tossing the papers into the recycling bin.
Darian’s jaw drops, pressing a hand to his chest dramatically as if I had just insulted him and his entire lineage. “I would sooner die than give up meat.”
I blink at him before we both erupt into laughter as I fling a single mushroom in his direction. He jerks back, snatching the pack of bacon to use as a shield.
With a grin, I turn my attention to getting started on assembling my pizza.
I steal a quick glance at Darian, observing as he arranges the olives onto his pizza, preparing to place it into the oven alongside mine. As both pizzas cook, the mouthwatering scent wafts through the kitchen and my stomach growls hungrily.
Darian pours us each some red wine, raising his own glass as he hands me mine.
“Here’s to us.” He says with a soft smile and I can’t help the swell in my chest.
Our glasses clink together, the sound resonating through the air before taking a healthy sip.
I hum with satisfaction as I continue to tilt my glass until the last of it disappears.
Darian’s eyes are saucers as he stares at me.
I raise an eyebrow, “What’s with the look?” I ask innocently, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
“Note to self, stock up on Pinot,” Darian mutters under his breath, his gaze fixed on me as I refill my glass, nearly to the brim.
