If You Stay (Beautifully Broken, #1)(52)

I seriously hate to be late. As in, so freaking much. I’ve always been that way. So I punch in a reply, hit send and am pulling my coat on as I run out the door. “I’m late, Maddy. Gotta go, bye.”

I can hear her laughing as I slam the door closed behind me.

I pull into Pax’s drive ten minutes later, and am galloping to the door when he sticks his head out the door and laughs.

“You look like a lame horse, Red. Calm down before you fall and break something.”

I step up onto the step and kiss him, my cold lips pressing to his warm ones. He looks sexy as hell, like he does on any other day, in his jeans that fit his ass perfectly and the black t-shirt that hugs his chest. I lean into him, soaking in his warmth. He smells like musk, and the woods and everything male. I inhale him and wrap my arms around his neck.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” I tell him as I kiss him by the ear. “Trust me, there’s no place I’d rather be than here.”

“Really?” he cocks an eyebrow. “Then we agree. Because there’s no place I’d rather have you be, either.”

I roll my eyes at his corniness as we walk into his foyer. But then I push him against the wall and kiss him again, just because I want to. He drags me against him and I linger there, in the comfort of his arms. Holy cow. There really isn’t anywhere I’d rather be than here.

Finally, I sigh. “So, it was your turn to plan our date tonight. What are we doing? Want to order take-out?”

He shakes his head. “I’m hungry for fried zucchini. So I thought we’d try to make it.”

I stare at him. “You thought we’d try to make fried zucchini? Um. I should mention that my family owns a restaurant, but I don’t really cook. Much. And who in the world gets hungry for zucchini?”

Pax laughs and drags me up the stairs. “My housekeeper used to make it when I was growing up. I loved it. So I looked for the recipe online today. I went to the grocery store and everything. What’s the worst that can happen?”

“Now you’ve done it,” I grumble as I take off my coat. “You should never ask that question.”

Ten minutes later, we are both staring uncertainly at a recipe and a pan of oil on the stove. Everything in Pax’s kitchen is gleaming and new. He’s clearly never used it and doesn’t know how. And I’m no better.

“I’m not sure about this,” I tell him as the oil spits and sputters everywhere.

He watches it for a minute. “I think the oil is too hot,” he decides and he turns the flame down just a bit. We roll the sliced zucchini in the flour mixture and drop it into the pan and it sizzles.

We look at each other. “Looks fine,” he shrugs. “I think we did it right.”

He turns to me. “Now, where were we in the foyer?”

He reaches for me, pinning me against the granite counter. I smile.

“You realize, of course, that you look really out of place in the kitchen?”

I raise an eyebrow. He grins.

“I thought women wanted men who could cook?”

“If so, I’m probably out of luck,” I tell him as I press my lips to his. He laughs, which rumbles in his chest and he lifts me up, sitting me on the counter. I automatically wrap my legs around him.

“It’s where my legs belong, right?” I remind him. He nods.

“You’re learning.”

“Oh, I’m a good learner,” I tell him with a grin as an idea occurs to me. “Wanna see?

I trail my fingers down to the button on his jeans and flick it open with one deft movement.

“Impressive,” he says, cocking an eyebrow teasingly. “But now what are you going to do? I think you already know how to use that.”

“Maybe,” I answer. “But I haven’t mastered everything. And every good student needs a teacher.”

He stares at me as I slide off the counter and pull his pants off, then his underwear. And then I drop to my knees in front of him.

His eyes widen.

“You’re going to…” his voice trails off as I take him in my hand, sliding my fingers down his length. His penis lurches to life, instantly rock hard. I smile.

I look up at him. “I’m sure I have the mechanics down, but everyone has preferences, don’t you agree?” He nods wordlessly, his eyes frozen to mine as I grasp him firmly in my hand. “So I want you to tell me exactly how you like oral sex.”

He’s frozen, his hands limp on my shoulders.

“Well, you should start by repeating that question, but instead of saying oral sex, say, ‘Tell me exactly how to suck your dick’. No, wait. Say cock. Because that word coming from your lips will be f*cking hot.”

I smile at the eager look on his face. I love how he is so big and tattooed, but I can turn him on and make him speechless with just one little word. And saying that one naughty little word is turning me on, quite frankly.

“Okay, I’ll play. Tell me, Pax. How do you want me to suck your cock?”

He stiffens, in more ways than one. He just got harder in my hand, although I didn’t know that was possible.

“Cat got your tongue?” I tease, as I lower my head and run my tongue along his shaft. “It doesn’t have mine.”

He shudders as I run my tongue around the tip, then lick down the back, then back up, like I’m licking a lollipop.