That Thing Between Eli and Gwen(64)

Taigi stayed by my feet, just resting, already fed and now fighting sleep.

“If you are trying to impress me, it’s working,” I said, reaching for one of the fresh sliced tomatoes he had cut.

“Did you think this kitchen was just for show?” he asked, readjusting the heat of the oven and sliding the chicken back inside.

“Honestly, yes. When do you have time to cook, anyway?”

“I have days off. Why don’t you cook?” He continued slicing the ham as thin as possible.

“I cook decently, especially if I have a set recipe to follow, but I’m not as talented as you, it seems.” I tried to grab another tomato but he beat me to it, eating it himself.

“I could teach you…for a small fee.”

“A small fee?” I opened my mouth as he fed me a small bite of the bread he had hand-seasoned. Safe to say, I moaned, it was that good.

“Yes, you have to promise to make those sounds afterward…all night.” He kissed me, quickly licking his lips.

“Are you trying to seduce me, Doctor?” I wiped the corner of my mouth.

His eyebrow went up. “Is it working?”

“I think I’ll just keep you guessing.” I grinned, reaching into my bag when my phone rang. The number looked familiar but there was no ID. “Guinevere Poe.”

“Gwen, it’s me. Please don’t hang up,” he shouted into the phone.

I did anyway and dropped it beside me, looking back to Eli, who just stared at me.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yep. It was no one important—” Before I could even finish, my phone rang again and vibrated against the counter.

“Do they know they aren’t important?” he asked softly, placing the fresh cut lettuce in a bowl.

“It’s Sebastian.”

“I figured. Want me to answer?” he questioned.

I couldn’t tell at all what he was thinking. The phone stopped, and I let out a sigh of relief, only to have it start ringing again.

“Please make him stop. He called before, and I told him I didn’t want anything to do with him. For some reason, he doesn’t believe me.” I grabbed the phone and handed it to him.

He smirked, wiping his hands before taking it. “How can I help you, Sebastian?” he questioned.

I wished I could hear him on the other side.

“I’m going to have to stop you right there, because we had this conversation already. What my girlfriend and I do is none of your business.”

I walked around the counter to Eli. He looked at me oddly as I squeezed between him and the counter, kissing up his neck. He pressed up against me.

“Eli…” I moaned, louder than necessary.

Eli placed his thumb on my bottom lip, his eyes never off of them. “Sebastian, if you’ll excuse me, my girlfriend is begging for my attention.”

“I’m begging for a lot more than that,” I said to him, and I was sure that was the last thing Sebastian heard before he hung up.

I watched Eli’s hands go on either side of me after returning my phone to my bag. “You called me your girlfriend.”

“Aren’t you?” he asked, gripping my breast. “You are only seeing me, aren’t you?”

Licking my lip, I nodded.

“Then by definition, you are mine. Just like I’m your boyfriend. Now I am tempted beyond measure to take you right here. But, I promised you dinner.” He moved his hands back down. “So you are safe until then.”

“Are you sure?” I said, reaching for him.

He bit his lip, glaring at me.

“Because what your body and mouth are telling me are two different things right now.”

“Thank God,” he muttered to himself when the timer went off.

Laughing, I backed away, allowing him to finish with his cooking. “Saved for now, but the night is still young,” I said, moving to get the wine.

“When I first kissed you, I thought my appetite for sex might put you off. Yet, you are enjoying yourself as you tempt me every step of the way,” he said, grabbing plates.

“Would you prefer me to be nervous? Pretend I don’t like the way you bend me over and—”

“You are evil.” He kissed my lips. “I like it.”

I kissed him back, and bit his bottom lip. “Good. I’m too stubborn to change now.”

“Let’s eat, we can talk about that later,” he said, moving to the dishes.

I watched as he took his time, like the perfectionist he was, putting everything together elegantly on the table. It looked better than if we had ordered it off a menu at a five-star restaurant and tasted just as good.

“Grab the salad?” he said, moving toward his dining room.

“We are eating in your dining room?”