Dirty Chef

by Cara Dee

Baby.

  I drew a shaky breath and accepted the treat. Biting down on it, I knew instantly it was Elise’s triple-layer chocolate truffle. Within three thin shells of amazing dark chocolate was a rich, chocolaty ganache filling that Adam had made creamier with alcohol. And at the very center of the truffle was a maraschino cherry.

  “Oh God.” I was about to wipe a drop of liquid from the corner of my mouth when Adam’s finger brushed over it. I felt his heat again, calling to me. It took everything not to lean in. “Um. Fuck, it’s so good. I taste…elderberry, so…St. Germain?”

  “Good. What else?” He took another swig of his whiskey before both his hands were on my exposed thighs, drawing slow patterns across my skin.

  I twisted my tongue around the chocolate in my mouth. “There’s something with pear—it’s subtle. Poire Williams brandy?”

  He hummed. “No, but I can try it if you want. It might work better. This one’s pear-flavored vodka.”

  I shook my head. It was perfect the way it was. Not too sweet. Vodka was lighter than brandy.

  In the end, the cherry flavor dominated the lingering chocolate, and I wondered if that was it. If he’d added a cherry liqueur to the center of the cherry. It had a warm kick to it.

  “There’s more to it, isn’t there?” I asked to make sure.

  There was a smile in his voice when he replied. “One more.” He bit into something, presumably one of the treats. “Yeah, you should be able to guess it.”

  I did a mental search in our inventory of the bar downstairs to remember what we had that was cherry-flavored. We had brandy, but that was sweeter than this. Oh!

  “Kirsch?” I guessed hopefully.

  He laughed softly and pressed a lingering kiss to my cheek. “Good girl.”

  I died. “I like being good for you,” I heard myself whisper. Dio, I couldn’t believe I’d just said that. My breathing hitched, and my cheeks caught on fire.

  Adam swallowed audibly and stayed close. I felt him. His hands on my thighs, shifting higher with each ministration, his chocolaty whiskey breath, his body heat.

  He didn’t say anything at first. He merely slid his hands over my shoulders, past my neck, and gathered my hair behind my back. For a brief second, my hair was in his fist in a firm hold, before he let go.

  “One more test.” His voice came out rougher.

  Desire zinged and zapped its way through me, and a rush of wetness dampened my pajama bottoms. Bad day not to wear panties. Or maybe the best? Fucking hell.

  While he prepared the next one, Lee Brice’s southern drawl filtered through my Adam-induced haze with lyrics that were impossible to ignore. A slow, seductive song. He sang to a woman. Rumors were flying in their little town about the two of them, and he wanted to make them true. He asked, pleaded, wondering why they were trying to deny the feelings.

  My heart started pounding.

  Not once, though, did I want to remove the sleep mask. The sensations surging through me were too powerful. I wanted to feel. I was on a path I’d only seen on the distant horizon before, and I wanted to be swallowed whole by the hope, by the charge in the air, and by the uncertain excitement.

  When Adam came back, the first thing he did was to hook his hands under my knees and swiftly pull me closer to the edge. A gasp got lodged in my throat, and I steadied myself with my hands on his body—one on his bicep, one on his chest, more accurately.

  “Keep your hands there,” he ordered quietly when I’d begun reluctantly moving away.

  I sucked in a breath, elated, terrified, turned on, hopeful beyond belief. And I kept my hands on him.

  “Open,” he whispered.

  I parted my lips, and he slipped a small square into my mouth. It was another explosion of flavors, and the tip of his finger was still between my lips when I swept my tongue around the treat. Adam whispered a low curse and gripped my hip.

  My chest heaved with rapid, shallow breaths.

  Dark chocolate mousse, creamy strawberry filling, tequila, and a slightly crispy shell of white chocolate. This was a finalist. It was amazing.

  “You’re missing one ingredient.” His words barely registered, because he chose that moment to step closer and slide his nose along my throat.

  I bit down on my lip to stifle a whimper.

  “You can do it, Alessia,” he murmured in my ear, but I fucking couldn’t. He was everywhere, and I was finally touching him. I slipped my hands up his broad chest as he stroked my thighs sensually. I wasn’t mistaking things; it was impossible.

  “I don’t know,” I croaked.

  “Yes, you do.” His teeth scraped against my jaw. “Think, baby.”

  I trembled and pressed my tongue against the roof of my mouth. At the same time, my head grew too heavy. I buried my face in the crook of his neck and inhaled deeply.

  He shivered.

  The taste was so light, and it was—it was floral. A contrast to Adam’s masculine scent.

  “Rose wat—no. Combier Rose, we have a bottle of it downstairs.”

  “I knew you’d figure it out.” He cupped the back of my neck and inched away, only to come at me again and cover my mouth with his in a fiery kiss.

  The sensations and everything that’d transpired tonight swirled up inside me and caused me to implode right then and there.

  I locked my arms around his neck and pressed my body as close to his as I could, and I threw myself into the kiss.

  Ten

  Adam Grady

  She drove me fucking crazy.

  I let my hands travel her stunning body, at goddamn last, and I deepened the kiss. I tasted her; I tasted the chocolate, the alcohol, everything—her sweetness and her urgency. Jesus fuck, one kiss with Alessia and I was done for. I swept my tongue into her mouth, swirling it around hers, and I legit got dizzy.

  My pulse had gone through the roof ages ago, and my heart threatened to pound its way out of my chest.

  Slipping my hands underneath her knees, I yanked her closer and wrapped her legs around my hips. Then I ripped off the dumb blindfold and kissed her again. Screw air. She was all I needed.

  The passion she poured into each kiss pushed at my mind-set. The way she touched me, the way her hands roamed my chest, her shallow little panting noises—if she didn’t watch it, she’d turn me into a savage in no time.

  Wrapping her hair around my fist, I eased her back with a tug and kissed my way down her neck. I heard her sharp intake of air and her subsequent moan as I sucked on her skin. With my free hand, I finally got up close and personal with her spectacular tits. I cupped the underside of one breast and brushed my thumb over her nipple, feeling it constrict under my touch.

  It wasn’t enough. We hadn’t exchanged a damn word since I’d kissed her, and I was already wondering how long I’d have to wait until I could bury myself inside her.

  I wanted to consume her.

  The heat radiating from her spurred me on. It taunted me. Same with her touches. When she raked her fingernails over my scalp and tugged at my hair to meet her in a kiss again, I nearly lost it. She bit my bottom lip before sucking it into her mouth. I shuddered and pressed my cock between her thighs. Fuck, we had to lose our clothes ASAP.

  I kissed her hungrily and kneaded her breasts, pushing them together and pinching her nipples, and she arched into me and gasped. The sound was so fucking sexy that I couldn’t take it anymore.

  Maybe she couldn’t either. A beat later, I felt one of her hands slip up under my tee.

  Instinct took over. I inched back, breathing heavily, only to yank my shirt over my head and drop it to the floor. The wildfire in her eyes settled shit for me. I grabbed ahold of her delectable ass and lifted her off the counter, then dropped to my knees and pulled her down on the floor with me. I covered her in an instant, and she cried out hoarsely as I pushed my cock against her pussy.

  Fuck yeah, she slipped her hands between us to unzip my jeans.

  I pushed up her skimpy top and got my first visual of those bad boys. Holy
fucking hell. I bent down and sucked a nipple into my mouth, and then I was spiraling. I groaned at the feel of her fingers teasing the length of my cock. First outside of my boxer briefs, then they dipped underneath.

  Alessia whimpered.

  No more waiting.

  I’d take my time and explore every inch of her body later, but right now, I needed to be balls deep inside the only woman who’d ever owned me.

  I sat back on my heels and got to work on my jeans.

  “Lose the shorts,” I rasped. “I gotta have you.”

  I felt an insurmountable amount of relief when I noticed her shyness had taken a hike. I knew she was self-conscious about her body, which was fucking stupid. But her mind wasn’t on that now. It was on me, and it made me feel ten feet tall.

  She squirmed her way out of her tiny shorts and lost the top, and I whispered a ragged curse. Good Christ, I had no words for how beautiful she was. I slid a hand up the inside of her silky thigh, my gaze glued to her soft-looking pussy. My thumb brushed over the smooth lips, and my mouth watered. She was so goddamn wet. I couldn’t resist—

  “Don’t even think about it.” She pushed herself up on her elbows and eyed me seductively. “Fuck me, Adam.”

  I sucked my teeth and rubbed a hand over my mouth, wondering how many times I’d fantasized about hearing her say those words. Too many to count. I didn’t even bother pushing the jeans past my thighs. I didn’t have the time. Instead, I lowered myself over Alessia again, and I kissed her slowly, coaxing her tongue out with mine.

  “You’re so fucking beautiful,” I murmured.

  She shivered violently and eased back again, her hands sliding up my biceps. Forehead to forehead, I closed my eyes, gave myself a couple unhurried strokes, and dragged the head of my cock between her wet lips. I felt the heat, smelled her mouthwatering arousal, and groaned under my breath.

  Her pleading sounds went straight to my heart.

  She writhed underneath me and tried to pull me closer. I couldn’t shake the soft grin when she pressed her heels into my ass.

  “Patience, baby,” I whispered.

  “I don’t know what that is.”

  I chuckled huskily, then caught her off guard by forcing myself deep into her pussy in one single thrust.

  Motherfucking God.

  Alessia gasped and dug her fingernails into my back.

  The feeling was indescribable, and now I couldn’t agree with her earlier assessment. She’d said my food was better than sex…? Not anymore. She was all soft, wet, hot, and tight.

  As if my addiction to Alessia wasn’t severe already.

  I cupped her cheek and waited for her expression to be less pinched.

  “You okay?” I kissed the corner of her mouth.

  “Understatement,” she breathed. “I’m not gonna stroke your ego.”

  I grinned and kissed her hard.

  She exhaled a shaky laugh, and that only felt glorious. She contracted around me as I drew out slowly and pushed in again.

  She hissed.

  I set an unhurried pace—until she was spurring me on. Then all bets were off. The second she whimpered a soft “More,” I drove into her hard and let my brain check out. I fucked her into the floor in firm, deep strokes and used my free hand to explore every dip and curve I could reach.

  Goddamn, for the first time in my life, I wanted to be anything but safe. She hadn’t asked for a condom, and I wasn’t gonna remind her. I knew she’d been responsible, just like I had. But we were different. This was different. This was fucking sacred. And there was one risk I was suddenly willing to take.

  After what she’d said, the images she’d painted, it wasn’t even a risk anymore.

  That’s what Alessia did. She turned risks into chances.

  I had to make her mine.

  Gathering her hands in one of mine above her head, I slammed into her pussy and swallowed her moan in a deep kiss.

  “Oh cazzo,” she mewled. Whenever I ground my pelvis against her, she lifted from the floor in the sexiest arch. “Adam, please.”

  Goose bumps rose across my back.

  With a hand between us, I pressed the pad of my thumb down on her clit and began rubbing tight little circles around it. Soft strokes over, up and down, hard circles around, over and over.

  Her chest heaved with shallow breaths, and I felt her inner muscles flutter around me. The sensations shot through me and cut my chase short. She was gonna get me off too fast if she kept that up.

  I groaned as she grazed her teeth along my neck.

  She murmured some sexy Italian in my ear, and I almost lost my shit.

  “Jesus fuck.” That was hot. “I’m not gonna pretend to know what you just said, but say it again.”

  She smiled against my skin. “Vieni dentro di mi,” she whispered. “Please come in me.”

  I sucked in a breath and stared down at her. I grabbed her jaw, my firm hold a contrast to the soft kiss I brushed against her lips. My God, I felt ridiculous. The look in her eye, all dark and sensual yet vulnerable and desperate, could bring me to my knees.

  We stopped talking after that and came at each other like animals. I fucked her brutally, and she clawed at me. I sucked on her neck, and she sank her teeth into my shoulder.

  If I’d had the energy, I would’ve ushered her into my bed so we could roll around and go nuts, but I couldn’t stop. I was too close, and so was she.

  Watching tiny little beads of perspiration forming across her chest had to be the sexiest thing I’d ever seen. I fucked her faster and tasted her skin. I kissed, licked, and nipped at her. Was it possible for teeth to itch? ’Cause I wanted to bite her. Mark her.

  “Now,” she cried out. “Harder—oh God—right there.”

  I growled and pushed her over the edge, and I thought I had a few more seconds to drill into her, but literally feeling her orgasming around my cock was too much. I succumbed with a low groan. My thrusts became irregular and lazy, and I rocked into her a few more times as I came in her.

  Sweet Jesus.

  I panted and swallowed dryly. I had to lock my arm into place to keep my elbow from giving out. Okay, now I really wanted to be in my bed.

  I released a breath and forced myself to pull out. Then I tucked myself back into my boxer briefs and zipped up before I rose from the floor. I didn’t wait for Alessia to recover; I hauled her up and brought her close.

  “My bed or yours—choose.”

  “I-I…um.” She stammered a bit, flushed and breathing heavily. “Mine doesn’t smell like your dirty socks.”

  I grinned quickly. Valid point.

  “Does that mean we’re spending the night together?” Oh, so now she was getting shy?

  Too fucking cute.

  “If you think I’m letting you go, you’re out of your mind, woman.” I dipped down and gave her a swift kiss. “Besides, if we don’t share a bed, I can’t wake up with my head between your thighs.” I spun her around and ushered her toward—

  “Wait!” she squeaked. “The candles.”

  Right. Blowing out the candles could be a good idea.

  We started our night of cuddling with Alessia spending twenty minutes in the bathroom. While I got comfortable in her bed, I heard her brush her teeth. I heard the toilet flush. Then I heard the fucking shower running. What the hell?

  My arm was already tucked under a pillow, so I tilted my head and gave my armpit a sniff. Still good. And I knew she smelled amazing. Women were weird.

  “Alessia, get that sweet ass out here already,” I hollered.

  There was a sense of freedom riding the waves of elation within me. I’d finally hooked up with the love of my life, my best friend, my partner—I had no intention of stopping now.

  She reappeared, at long last, but she’d covered up her body. Evidently, she had clothes in her bathroom, because she was wearing—wait, was that my T-shirt?

  “Isn’t that mine?” I stifled my smile and watched her put her hair up in a high, messy bun.


  “I may have borrowed it.” She crawled onto the mattress and lifted the sheet. The purple, soft-as-fuck, lavender-smelling sheet, though she dropped it quickly. “You’re naked.”

  “You’re not,” I pointed out. “I say you return my shirt right now.”

  She huffed and plopped down on her side, tucking her hands underneath her cheek. “Why are you so shameless?”

  “Why aren’t you?” It was baffling. She’d been so uninhibited in the kitchen.

  She grinned sheepishly, her gaze flickering as if she was too shy to maintain eye contact for too long. “You boozed me up pretty good, okay? The shower was sobering.”

  That made my forehead crease, and a rock of unease dropped into my stomach.

  I dragged myself up a bit and supported my weight on my elbows. “If you regret what happened—”

  “No!” She widened her eyes and scooted closer, and the relief knocked me back against the mattress again. “No, I swear. It’s just new. And strange.” She mustered an uncertain little smile and tentatively pressed her lips to mine.

  That was better. Not great, but we’d get there.

  “Keep going,” I murmured.

  I cupped the back of her neck and deepened the kiss, inhaling her softness from a whole new angle that I couldn’t get enough of. I wanted her on top of me. I wanted her to sit on my cock and let my hands touch her all over.

  “Sit on me,” I said and nipped at her bottom lip.

  It was too dark to detect any blush, but I knew my girl.

  I also knew I had to tread carefully about the damn shirt. She wasn’t likely gonna lose it anytime soon.

  She carefully hitched a leg over my middle and straddled my hips.

  I cursed at the vision.

  “I can’t get enough of you.” I sat up and brushed my hands up her thighs. “You’re out of this world, Alessia.”

  She buried her face against my neck. “So are you.”

  She didn’t get it.

  “Look at me, baby.” I palmed her cheek, and she reluctantly left her hiding spot and rested her forehead against mine instead. That worked. “Good girl. Keep looking at me.” I slipped a hand between her thighs and stroked two fingers over her pussy. Those panties had to go, at least. “I’m not gonna ask you to take the shirt off until you’re comfortable. Just know that your body drives me fucking wild.”