* * *
Alex Drake rang the bell promptly at seven. He stood outside, sweating under his light jacket, almost jogging in place with nervous energy. He forced himself to still when he heard the lock click.
She opened the door, standing aside to let him enter. "Where's Miss Morgan?"
"Can't make it," he said with what he prayed was a convincing smile. "Last minute photo shoot." In New York.
And I didn't invite her.
"Oh." Lila blinked, silent for a moment. "Well, I suppose we could reschedule."
"No need," he said, starting toward her kitchen. "She probably wouldn't eat the cake anyway."
"Well that's too bad," Lila said, coming up alongside him as he entered the kitchen.
"Because my cakes taste damn good."
Alex laughed. "I bet they do, cupcake. They look stunning."
Arrayed on the island before him were four small cakes, little miniatures of what he imagined the finished product would be. Two tiers, and atop each a miniscule bride and groom.
Alex swallowed and looked away, his gaze catching hers. "You've outdone yourself."
A pleased glow rosied her cheeks. "Taste them first, then compliment me."
She motioned him over to the table and he took his seat. His eyes glued themselves to her bottom as she turned away from him to slice into the cakes. What the woman did for those jeans was almost criminal.
"Try this one first," she said, setting down a slice of rich, dark cake. A light was in her eyes as she described the flavors. "It's chocolate-almond, with chocolate ganache and mocha buttercream filling." She held a fork up to his mouth and he opened it, letting her slide the cake onto his tongue.
"Mmm..." he moaned around the mouthful of rich dessert. He watched her blush, as if she'd just realized she'd fed him a bite of cake herself.
She dropped the fork and moved away, toward the island. "Next up, white cake with lemon buttercream and local raspberries." Lila set the next cake piece down and took a step away. With a smile Alex lifted a bite of cake to his mouth. It was just as good as the last, moist, and delicious.
"And now we have the coconut cake with lime buttercream."
A new plate appeared next to the others, and he reluctantly put down his fork, promising to return to the other slices when he'd finished tasting this one. He picked up the clean fork and cut into the cake.
"This one is a little on the fringe, but I thought a light cake might fit the holiday atmosphere, and the coconut and lime could be a nod toward your tropical honeymoon."
"It's good," he mumbled, then took a drink of the glass of water she handed him. "They're all good."
"And I may have saved the best for last." She set the plate down in front of him, then pulled out a chair and sat beside him. "Hazelnut sponge cake with chocolate ganache and marionberries. Both the hazelnuts and the berries are from local farms, and I think the finishing is just superb."
The slice of cake was heaven on earth. The flavors were impeccable, a subtle mixture that made him moan. "This is it. This is the best."
"Are you sure?" she teased, pointing to the other plates. "You might want to try a little more of the chocolate."
"Oh I will, but this one, this is it." He made short work of the small slice of hazelnut and berries, then gave her a smile.
"I thought it would taste great."
"You thought? You haven't tasted it?" Was she crazy?
Lila laughed. "I tasted the batter, yes, but I didn't want to waste any of the test cake."
"You have to try it."
"Okay, you twisted my arm," she laughed, making to rise and fetch herself a slice.
"Wait," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder to stop her from standing. "Here, taste this." He swiped his finger over the remaining frosting and berries on his plate and held it up to her mouth.
She eyed him, unsure. He realized what he'd done but didn't back down. She'd fed him a forkful herself earlier. Challenge shone in his eyes and she caught his look. "Come on, cupcake."
Lila's tongue swept out to lick at his finger, and he used the opening to push his finger gently into her mouth. She closed her lips around it and sucked, and he felt it in his groin.
"It's good," she said with a smile. "So good."
"I know. So is this one. Coconut and lime." He picked up a piece of the cake and held it to her lips. How far could he go? How far should he? No farther, his inner voice responded. He ignored it.
She leaned forward and opened her mouth, taking the bite from his hand. "Nice," she said. "But too light for a wedding cake, I think."
"This one's pretty good too." He held out a bite of the white cake with the lemon buttercream. Her lips brushed his fingers when she ate the bite.
"Not bad. But white cake always seems so boring."
He nodded. "Well, this one, this one's not boring."
The chocolate cake dangled at her lips and she nibbled, licking at the frosting. "Delicious."
He smiled at her. Some chocolate frosting rested in the corner of her mouth.
"You've got some frosting, here," he said, pointing to the same spot on his own mouth.
She made a pout, then wiped at her mouth. On the opposite side of where he was pointing.
"No," he chuckled. "No, here." He pointed again at his mouth.
"Here?" she said, wiping an inch away from where she'd been.
"Other side," he laughed.
"Yeah right." She frowned at him.
"You've got some frosting right here," he said, swiping his finger over the offending smudge and showing it to her. Then he popped the finger into his mouth and moaned. "Mmmm..."
"Well, you know what," she said, her hand lowering to the cake plate beside her. "You've got some frosting. Right here."
She swiped a finger full of lemon buttercream frosting across his upper lip almost to his nose.
He ran his tongue over his lip, trying to get the frosting off without resorting to wiping it away. "I was just trying to be helpful," he said, moving his hand down to the plates. "I could have pointed out the big smudge of frosting you had, here." He laid down a wide streak of chocolate frosting across her cheek."
"Bastard!" she gasped. "You know what, I don't think you've had a fair tasting. Here," she said, pushing against him until his back was touching the tabletop. "Have another slice."
She picked up the remains of a slice of cake and shoved it toward his mouth, smearing frosting all over his lips.
"Oh no you don't," he yelled, wiping away the cake mess and repositioning, pushing her down into the spot he'd occupied, then dangling a piece over her mouth."
"You wouldn't rub cake in a lady's face, would you?" she asked, her eyes innocent.
"Of course not, cupcake," he said, dangling the chocolate cake directly over her mouth. "I'm a gentleman."
"You? A gentleman?" Her eyes were bright with laughter.
"Do you doubt me? I guess you're saying a gentleman wouldn't do this?" He dropped the cake toward her, pressing it against her lips until she squealed and opened her mouth. Then she was pushing him off, standing up, giggling while wiping at her mouth.
She took a drink of water, then turned back to him. "You know," she said, biting back a giggle. "You've got some frosting, right here."
She touched a finger to his upper lip. Sudden fire shot through him. His cock was a steel rod in his pants. He grabbed her, pulling her hips into his and slamming their lips together.
He tasted cake on her, sure that she was tasting it on him, as they devoured each other. It was supremely sexy, the way her lips sucked at his. But suddenly her lips weren't enough.
"Hang on," he said, shoving the cake plates off the table.
She let out a small cry as she watched them clatter to the floor, but he soon distracted her by lifting her up and setting her onto the table. He gave her no time to respond, pressing his body over hers and fastening his mouth to hers.
Her taste was sweeter than any of the cakes he'd tried. She moaned into his mouth, and his hands moved between them, yanking off her top to reveal her bra. It was black lace, and his fingers teased her nipples through the fabric. Then his head replaced his fingers and he sucked her through the lace, loving the feel of her hardening in his mouth.
He was pulling down her jeans as she was unbuttoning his slacks. He backed off, pushing the jeans off her legs and pulling his cock from his pants after taking a condom from his back pocket. Then he was on her again, his body pressed against hers, his hardness nestled between her thighs.
"God, I've missed this," he growled into her neck, then nipped her gently.
"Me too," she whispered into his ear, making his hips thrust at her with more force. He needed to be inside her. Immediately.
Alex fit the condom to his cock and poised himself at her entrance. She looked up at him, her expression strangely shy. He gave her a reassuring smile and pressed home, then groaned at the tightness squeezing around him.