He tried to keep his voice level. “Nice and slow, using the ball of your hand. Keep kneading it until the flour is mixed and the texture is smooth.” As he leaned over her, the familiar scent of her freshly shampooed hair assailed his senses, intoxicating him. He inhaled and refrained from brushing his lips along her cheekbone.
She whacked his hands away, reminding him of her stubborn streak and how she always faced a challenge straight on. Damn, he loved that about her.
“Okay, I get it. Let me try.”
Jay stepped back and watched her. It was easy to tell she was enjoying herself. With single-minded determination, her sole focus was to master pasta-making. As she took another stab at the dough, his lips twitched with amusement.
She tossed the words over her shoulder. “I think I got it now, Jay.” With innocent sensuality she rocked back and forth on her heels, rolling the dough on the counter.
From the other side of the kitchen Carlos called out to him. “Hey J-man, this song is for you.” Carlos cranked up the radio. The song “Play That Funky Music” echoed through the kitchen.
Laura began to sing and dance along. Her long hair tumbled over her shoulders as her head bounced to the music.
Despite Jay’s best attempt to direct his gaze away from her perfectly sculpted backside, he couldn’t. Instead, he stood there, transfixed, taking great pleasure in the way Laura swayed her curvy hips to the beat.
Humming to the tune, she made small sensuous moves, the same ones she’d made when she’d danced for him at her apartment after he’d won the coin toss. His gaze raked over her. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t dispel the image of the way she’d seductively stripped off her lacy lingerie, the way the candlelight glistened on her naked flesh, or the way she responded to his touch. His body tightened with the memory.
The sound of her melodic voice and the sight of her tight jeans hugging the swell of her ass as she undulated to the beat elevated his pulse. His blood pressure soared. His resolve dissolved like sugar in water.
A sudden burst of passion roared through him like a freight train as he watched her hypnotic movements. Blood rushed to his cock, taking his common sense with it. Lust settled deep in his groin. His throat clenched. Jesus Christ, it was impossible to resist her.
In that instant, all he could think about was sliding his cock into her slick heat. A growl of sexual frustration climbed up his throat. His cock strained to break free from its zippered cage. Fuck. He lived in a constant state of arousal around her.
He sucked in a tight breath and took another step back, keeping his distance before he did something he’d regret. Like spinning her around and pressing his hungry mouth over hers and devouring her until they were both delirious with the need to drop to the floor and ravage one another. He ached for her to climb over him, to ride him furiously, until her silken sex tightened and contracted around his cock and her hot creamy essence flowed over his shaft.
A violent shudder overtook him.
“Ta-da!” she said, spinning around. She offered him a smile that touched his heart. Warm familiarity curled around him. “I did…” When her gaze collided with his, her words died away. Surprise registered on her face as she instantly became aware of the passion rising in him.
God, she looked so beautiful. His nostrils flared. Swallowing, he called on every ounce of strength and fought the urge to close the gap between them.
“I…uh…I think I got it,” she whispered with effort. Her pink tongue snaked out to wet her lips.
He felt his body moisten from fever. Closing his eyes in distress, he worked to fight his traitorous libido. He took another small step back.
“Jay…” Her soft tone gained his full attention. He opened his eyes and met her glance. Color bloomed high on her cheeks.
The sexy lilt of her voice and the way his name rolled off her tongue penetrated his resolve and propelled him forward. The overwhelming need to touch her and to taste the sweetness of her mouth overshadowed rational thought.
No longer able to ignore his cravings, he drew a shaky breath, reversed his backward direction, and moved into her space. One kiss. God, his mouth begged for just one small kiss.
Green eyes widened as he crowded her. So much for keeping his physical distance. He was so fucking weak when it came to her.
Jay swallowed and worked to speak. “You have flour on your face.” His voice dropped an octave.
With slow movements, he reached out and brushed the white powder from her cheek. She shivered under his touch. Unexpectedly, her hand closed over his. She nestled against him, their eyes locked. His breath hitched when she touched him in a way no other woman had ever touched him before. Emotionally, not physically. Was it possible she saw him as something more than “Wildman” Jay Cutler?
Hope filled him.
He cleared his throat. A rush of tenderness passed through him as she tightened her fingers over his. Working to lighten the mood before all control was obliterated and he gave in to his urges, he glanced at the smooth ball of dough and pitched his voice low.
“You’re a fast learner, Laura. Maybe next time you can share your specialty with me.”
Her eyes brimmed with desire. “The only thing I can make is ice cubes.” Her warm breath tickled his flesh, fragmenting his thoughts.
He forced a quick laugh as his mind conjured up the wonderful things they could do with said ice cubes.
He tried not to concentrate on the sensations as her hips joined with his. He really did. But when she rose up on her tippy toes, the feel of her warm sex pressed against
