“They look perfect.”
She cheered then spun around. “I think we’ll do it; we’ll win!” she said excitedly, her eyes shining at him. She had a dab of frosting in the corner of her mouth and his eyes zeroed in on it, desperate to swipe his tongue out and taste it, tasteher. Finally.
“You’ve got something…” his voice broke off as his hormones went into overdrive. Her eyelids dipped seductively, and her breathing quickened as his eyes captured hers and refused to let go.
“Taylor…” he began, his voice rough as stone. “Ask me…” he said and her eyes flared as she realized what he wanted. Her eyes dropped to his lips then back up to his, her pupils expanding but she didn’t move. He could see a thousand thoughts flit across her face. “I won’t take it, not if you aren’t offering…”
Chapter 20
His words played across her mind. God she almost wished he would take it. That he would kiss her, take the decision away from her because it was toying with her constantly and she couldn’t take much more. Her wants, her desires were warring with her head.
They stayed locked together for what felt like an eternity, like they were alone in the room waiting for the decision to be made. With a heavy heart, she swiped her tongue out and licked up the frosting, then turned back to the cupcakes.
She thought that things would turn awkward after their moment, but they settled back into easy conversation. He chatted away like nothing had happened and it warmed her that their friendship was there, underpinning them. Like now it would always come first.
The thought was freeing in a way, so that if she wanted to give in to her desires and sleep with him again, hell even kiss him, that maybe they would be okay afterwards. Perhaps it was because they spent so long without each other in their lives that they already knew what the worst-case scenario felt like.
Cathy clapped her hands to gain everyone’s attention. “Okay couples, time’s up!”
She went around each workstation, sampling cakes and giving constructive feedback. Taylor noticed the couples who were still speaking were hugging, holding hands or touching each other in some way. She always had a natural instinct to touch Beau and had spent years fighting against it. Now she gave in, leaning back against him and smiling to herself as his arm circled her waist and he rested his chin on her head.
“There’s no way these couples have done better than us,” he whispered.
“Cocky much?”
“You know it. Me and you can do anything together.” The confidence in his tone made her smile even wider and then Cathy was at their workstation. She sampled a cupcake and the Victoria sponge, when she went back for a second helping, Beau shot Taylor a triumphant smile.
“I think we’ve found our winners!” Cathy declared. “Your sponge is light, moist and perfectly baked. Same with the cupcakes and the frosting. Absolutely delicious, the flavor has just the perfect amount of raspberry without being overbearing. Congratulations you two, I’m impressed.” They both shook Cathy’s outstretched hand and then Beau spun Taylor around, cheering. Cathy gave them the information about the next class and the other couples reluctantly congratulated them on their way out.
“That was a perfect evening,” Beau said when they got home later that night. Sincerity shining in his beautiful eyes. He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her into a tight hug. “No one’s ever done anything like that for me before,” he murmured then dropped a kiss against her hair. His sweetness made her heart ache, and she squeezed him tighter.
“Well it’s not over yet, we’ve got a couple of weeks until the next class.”
“We better get practicing,” he said, pulling away before she was ready. She reluctantly dropped her arms then scolded herself for being upset.Shewas the one who had put a stop to any more physical activity between them.
“I’m gonna head to bed,” she said, her voice a husky rasp.
His eyes flared at her and she had tried to fight it but there was no use denying how much she wanted him. If he gave her the signal, she would launch herself at him now. The domesticity of their evening had gotten her riled up like she couldn’t believe, especially with all the touching, teasing and close encounters.
“I’ve got some meal prep to do so I’ll be a while,” he said, heading into the kitchen.There’s your answer.
“Oh, okay well goodnight then,” she said, the sting of rejection pricking at her.
“Yeah, night.” He was already pulling out his containers and grabbing food from the fridge so she went into the bedroom and shut the door.
It didn’t take long to fall asleep but dreams of him plagued her. Replaying their night together but extending it and creating new scenarios. Him on his knees, worshiping her. Her on her knees worshiping him, coming together to find their release. She moaned so loudly in her sleep that she woke herself up, her skin damp, her breath panting.
“Sweetheart, you’re absolutely killing me,” came his muffled voice next to her.
“Beau?”
“You’re awake?”
She heard the covers moving as he turned towards her, she could see the outline of him in the dark, the pillow fort disbanded long ago. Then his hand was on her arm, his heat seeping into her, her skin too sensitive from her dream.
“I am now,” she breathed. Her body ached for his touch, not the gentle touch of a friend but the urgent, insistent touch of a lover.
“Bad dreams?” he croaked, stroking up and down her arm to soothe her but it had the opposite effect. He knew exactly what she was dreaming about but this time she wasn’t embarrassed. She wanted him to know, hell, she just wantedhim.
