Kai watched, his breath and heart immobile, as Ember brought the spatula to her mouth. Her pink tongue parted her lips as she licked the chocolate icing in slow, measured movements, like a pro. Like she had done it a million times.
He knew where he wanted that tongue.
On his cock. In his mouth. Just anywhere on his body would do.
There was a bit of icing at the corner of Ember’s mouth. It was an arrow to her lips, and nothing had ever looked so damn delicious. Before Kai realized what was going on, he had leaned down and licked at the icing.
It was Ember’s shocked breath that made him pause, his tongue burning where he was touching her. He pulled away, caught up in his own lust.
No, his lion roared. Why didn’t you kiss her? Didn’t you feel that? Didn’t you taste that? She tastes like ours.
“Oh.” Ember’s fingers hovered over her lips.
“Shit, I’m so sorry. That wasn’t right—” He ran a hand back through his hair.
“No,” she whispered. “It was — it was okay. I didn’t mind.”
Kai blinked at her in shock. Her eyes were hooded, her chest panting, and the scent of her desire flooded his senses. He should ask for permission. He should let Ember decide what she wanted — if she wanted.
But she took a step toward him, licking the skin he had just tasted. She shivered, and something flashed in her eyes.
It was a firecracker in his brain, setting something off. Something deep and primal and impossible to ignore.
He closed the distance between them, one hand cupping her face to angle her mouth toward him, and the other squeezing her hip, bringing her closer to him. His lips took hers in a searing kiss while she pressed herself into him. He knew she could feel his erection, but she didn’t pull away. She moaned into the kiss, letting his tongue dip into her mouth as her hands closed around his neck.
Her kiss tasted like sugar and sex, something sweet and spicy.
Everything he had ever wanted.
Her fingers dug into his scalp as she pushed herself closer to him. Kai’s hands moved over her body until he grabbed hold of her to lift her up onto the counter. He positioned himself between her legs, never stopping his burning kisses, taking gulp after gulp of her essence.
She kissed like he was her favorite treat, and it made him feel like he could do no wrong. Her tongue tangled with his, her lips as demanding as his. Her hands roamed down his back, making him shiver.
God, he wanted her. So damn much. He wanted to rip his pants off, lower hers, and fill her up with this cock right there on the counter.
Do it, his lion urged.
But he couldn’t do that. He barely knew her. The burning attraction was merely brought on by the fact that she was his mate. Reluctantly, Kai pulled away from the kiss and stepped away from Ember.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” he said, his voice raspy with unfulfilled desire.
“Why?” she asked, hopping off the counter. “Is there some rule that you’re not allowed to date anyone associated with the network?”
“That wouldn’t have been dating. It would have been a quick fuck.” He hissed out a breath as soon as the words were out of his mouth. That hadn’t been kind or even what he truly felt.
Ember flinched. “Right. Sorry. I just meant—” she shook her head, her sugary vanilla scent enveloping him. “I didn’t mind. It was nice.”
“Nice,” he growled. “It was more than nice.”
“So, why did you stop?”
“Because it’s not right.” He stepped away from her. “Not like this.”
Ember blinked at him, licking her lips. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “We should get you home. I want to check the perimeter for any signs of an intruder.”
Ember took off her apron and rolled it in a ball before throwing it on the counter, her cheeks flushed. “Kai? What did you mean, not like this?”
“Not in this studio. Not where things are fake and scripted. That is not what I want for us.”
He wanted real.
He wanted raw.
He wanted a whole bunch of things he shouldn’t take on a sound stage.
Chapter Seven
Ember
Ember was so dizzy, she had to count the cupcakes to make sure she hadn’t eaten half a dozen of the sugary confections.
Her head rush was purely brought on by Kai and his kisses.
And the way he had suddenly stepped away from her like he regretted what they had done. Oh, his words had said he wanted more, but Ember didn’t trust that half as much as she trusted his kisses.
That is not what I want for us.
His words echoed through her brain, over and over again.
“I should drive you home,” Kai said, running a hand through his hair.
“I have a car here,” she responded, confused. “Besides, why would you drive me home?”
“In case someone is after you. As I said, I need to check the perimeter of your place.”
Ember shook her head. “You would do that?”
“I’m driving you home,” he insisted. “I’m not taking any chances with your safety.”
Christ, he was so intense. Ember should have reprimanded him for going all alpha on her, but she liked his worry. It meant he cared about her. Even if it was only caring because of his job, she would take it.
Unless he cared for her because their kisses were electric.
She would definitely take that too.
“As payment for giving me your signature triple chocolate cupcake recipe,” he explained further, his voice softening and his eyes melting.
“Okay, but what about tomorrow? I need my car to get to the studio.”
“Well, obviously, I’ll pick you up.”
Her eyes opened wide. “That is a lot of time alone with me.”
“Believe me when I say, I really don’t mind.” As if to prove his point, he closed the distance between them and kissed her softly.
Ember tried to deepen the kiss, but he pulled away, slapped her ass gently with a smile. “Naughty. I told you I don’t want to do that here. Now let’s go.” He held out his hand.
She blinked at him in confusion, only understanding when he took her hand in his.
We’re holding hands now? What is happening?
Kai led them through the lot until he brought her to a golf cart parked in front of the building. “Hop in,” he instructed. “I just need to drop it off at the security office, then we’ll be off.”
Ember was stunned into speechlessness. Kai didn’t let go of her hand as he drove to the security office or as he walked her to his car. He even opened the door for her. The brief seconds between the door closing, and him settling into the driver seat, were cold. She was quickly growing accustomed to having his hands on her. No sooner had he sat beside her than he retook her hand, driving with one hand on the wheel.
Either he was taking his security job really seriously, or he was into her.
Please let it be the latter!
Ember tried to see her apartment through Kai’s eyes. She wasn’t messy, exactly. But she wasn’t a neat freak either. There were recipe books on every surface, some opened with her chicken scratch over the print, making adjustments to the recipes. Others had a sticky note sticking out from the pages. A few on the kitchen counter even had spoons as placeholders.