Both of his eyebrows lifted over the rim of his wine glass when she straightened after putting the wine glasses into the fridge. “I’m not eating whatever that is that you just put into the fridge,” he warned her as she pulled out other ingredients, which were chicken and broccoli. She floured the chicken breasts, added some spices to the mix, then dunked them in an egg wash and placed them in the oven pan.
“You’re going to love chia pudding, Dimitri,” she told him and cut up the broccoli so that she could steam it in the microwave.
“It’s just a bunch of seeds, agape mou,” he said, moving behind her and kissing her neck. “I’m not eating seeds.”
Pepper paused in her chopping and smiled as he nibbled at that spot on her neck. “Oh, you think so?”
“I know it’s seeds. It says so, right there on the package.”
She laughed. “So, why did you bring me chia seeds if you didn’t think that I could make something with them?”
“Because I was running out of odd ingredients. Every night, you amaze me with your creativity, Pepper. But I’ve stumped you with the chia seeds. Admit it.”
She laughed and turned around, wrapping her arms around his lean waist. “Just you wait. That pudding will be delicious in about a half hour and perfect by the time we’re finished with dinner.” She kissed his jaw. “You’re going to love it!”
“Not gonna happen,” he replied, sliding his hands down over her bottom.
An hour later, they were sitting on her purple couch and she handed him one of the pudding filled wine glasses.
“What’s this?” he asked, looking at it with disdain. “I’m not eating it.”
He was working on his laptop and she had been sketching out some new designs. Pepper knew that he was about finished and, in only moments, he was going to take her into his arms and make love to her until they fell asleep tonight. So this was the only moment that she could get him to try her pudding.
“It’s delicious. I’ve had this before and trust me, you’re going to like it.”
He shook his head, his eyes skeptical. “No, you’re just teasing me.”
In response, she scooped out a spoonful of the white, gelatinous substance that had black spots in it. “Oh, this is really good!”
He watched her with a look of horror, but Pepper only beamed at him as she took another bite. “Try it,” she offered, extending the spoon to him. “It’s really good and surprisingly healthy.”
“No, thank you,” he said, pulling away and looking at his laptop. But when she continued to eat the “pudding”, he couldn’t resist. “Fine! If you’re going to try it, then I’m not going to let you be the only one.”
She leaned against his arm and offered him a spoonful. He accepted the gelatinous mix warily, fully prepared to hate it. But as the sweet, cinnamon tastes hit him, his eyes widened. “Wow, that is pretty good!” he said, and plucked the wine glass filled with the chia pudding out of her hands.
“Hey!” she exclaimed, and laughed when he started eating the pudding with enthusiasm. “Fine, and I will accept your apology.”
“Apology for what?” he demanded, closing his laptop and stretching out as he finished off the last of the pudding.
“Your apology for doubting me,” she teased with a smile.
He put the glass onto the coffee table in front of the sofa, then grabbed her waist, ignoring her screech of laughter as he hauled her onto his lap. “One day, I’m going to bring something here that you won’t know what to do with,” he warned, nibbling on her neck as she laughed.
“Yes,” she gasped, grabbing onto his shoulders and holding on. “Unfortunately for you, that day isn’t today,” she told him.
Dimitri froze for a long moment, looking down at her. “You’re pretty amazing, Pepper Abbot,” he said seriously.
Pepper felt as if his words were a declaration love. They weren’t, but the look in his eyes was pretty darn close. “Thank you, Dimitri Bosalis,” she quipped.
After that, there was no more talking. He took her into his arms and made love to her right there on her purple sofa, making her scream with a release so powerful, she could only hang on to his big, broad shoulders, shuddering with pleasure.
Chapter 7
Pepper stared at the plus sign on the plastic stick as a huge pit opened in her stomach. Her cell phone rang. Ignoring the sound, she bowed her head as the enormity of that plus sign sank in. Pepper was still in the bathroom and her cell phone was on the table where she’d left it when she’d rushed into the bathroom earlier today.
There was no way that she should know that the person calling her now was Dimitri, but she knew. Pepper always knew when he was about to arrive or when he called. There was just something so powerful, so amazingly vital about Dimitri, even with all of his frowns and growls and that rough voice of his. She just knew.
Pepper loved him. Yes, she was fully aware that he’d never wanted anything long term, never indicated that he desired more than just an affair. He’d never said any tender words, even after making love to her with that amazing, powerfully tender way of his that left her breathless and wanting more. Or when he made her scream his name and cling to him with trembling arms. No, he’d never said anything about emotions or long term commitment.
But despite all of that, she loved him so deeply, it scared her sometimes. She loved the way his eyes crinkled when he was amused. She loved the serious
