After holding a meeting with the interns at the studio and setting up for the live preview event I’m hosting this weekend, I decide to call it a day and head home. Admittedly, I’m anxious to see Vada again.

As soon as I walk in, I smell something coming from the kitchen. Once I walk down the hallway and round the corner, I hear sizzling food. Vada’s working around the kitchen, completely lost in her own world only wearing a tight tank top and skimpy shorts. Not making her aware of my presence, I lean against the door and cross my arms as I watch her shuffling carefree in front of the stove. I can’t help but think how different things might be between us if she didn’t live hundreds of miles away and if I didn’t have a closet of baggage.

She turns around and gasps when she sees I’ve been watching her.

“Jesus!” She presses a hand to her chest as she breathes heavily.

“I’m sorry,” I say with a smile. “Not too often is there a beautiful woman in my kitchen cooking me dinner.”

Vada places a hand on her hip with a spatula between her fingers. “I wasn’t cooking dinner for you.” Her cute laugh gives her away.

Crossing the room, I peek in the skillet and see several hamburger patties. “So you’re going to eat a quadruple burger?” I raise my brows, knowing she’s full of shit. “I’d actually like to watch that. Love a woman with an appetite.”

She laughs. “Yeah, a sexual appetite.”

“Obviously. Because I’m an all-you-can-eat buffet, babe.” I look her up and down, taking my time on her curves and breasts before meeting her eyes. A smile touches her lips, and her eyebrow pops up.

“Really? How much does that cost?” She chuckles.

---

“Just one night.” I’m tempted to lean her against the counter and devour her for dinner, but considering the macaroni is about to boil over, I wait. After turning off the burner, she finishes up and carefully places the food on two plates.

Before sitting down, I grab her cheeks in my palms, lean in, and brush my lips against hers. Closing my eyes, I focus on her mouth as I run my fingers through her hair noticing how much she smells like vanilla and coffee. Vada melts against my touch, and for a moment I’m lost in the sweet taste of her. Grabbing her bottom lip between my teeth, I tug and suck on it before barely inching away from her mouth. I steady her as she looks at my lips with hooded eyes.

“Sorry, I’ve been thinking about doing that all damn day.”

“All right, Casanova. Let’s eat,” she whispers. “Before it gets cold, please.”

“Only because you asked nicely. Maybe you’ll end up learning some manners after all. I have to warn ya though, those damn yankees aren’t used to it,” I tease with a wink as I add mayonnaise to my bread.

We eat while making small talk, and I realize how much I need to have her, taste her again. I’m a greedy bastard, but our time is limited.

The hamburger basically melts in my mouth. I can’t remember the last time someone, other than my mom or Aunt Millie, cooked for me. It’s a nice surprise.

“Dinner is delicious, by the way. Who knew writers were decent in the kitchen, too?”

“We are a species of many talents,” she gloats.

“Well, I appreciate it. Sure beats the PB&J sandwich I was going to make.”

She flashes me a genuine smile while taking the smallest bite of macaroni and cheese.

“So did you get a lot written today?” I ask, honestly curious.

“Actually.” She clears her throat and smiles. “I did.”

“Well, that’s why you came here, right?”

“Yeah, it must be the country livin’ or something,” she says without cracking a smile, although we both know the inside joke to that.

She grins, and I can’t deny how excited I get when I see her smile.

“Glad to hear it.” I smirk. “Mac ‘n cheese, good choice.”

“I would’ve cooked veggies or something healthy as a side, but you’ve got macaroni and cheese for days, probably months,” she says, changing the subject.

“My mama likes to make sure I’m eating. Between her and Aunt Millie, I’ve got enough to feed a football team.”

“Or an army,” she adds, which causes me to chuckle. There were several dinners missed as I worked until the sun came up. I completely engulfed myself with learning and becoming better at my craft. Work became nonstop, which is why Aunt Millie continues to randomly bring me food. She was never able to have kids of her own, so she’s always treated me like a son.

My mama and her both knew I was wasting away in this house. After I lost everything that ever meant a damn to me, what was I supposed to do? This was the home Alana and I shared and the last place we were together.

Though the smell of her has faded with the years, sometimes when I’m trying to fall asleep, I can hear her voice asking if everything is okay. Losing Alana broke me into a million different pieces that can never be put back together. Though years have passed, I’ll never be the man I used to be. Life didn’t prepare me for the day I lost my best friend, wife, and lover. Nothing could have. Where love once lived, there’s nothing but emptiness. That old saying, It’s better to have loved and lost than to not have loved at all, is total bullshit.

I’m lost in my thoughts, but Vada somehow pulls me from my mind fuck memories.

“Maybe you should give those who rent the cottage a box of mac ‘n cheese as a rental warming gift?” She laughs.

“Might need to send them all home with you, because I wouldn’t be surprised if you sit at your computer eating a jar of Nutella with your finger when you have a book due,” I say, trying to finish my burger, recalling her bad eating habits when she’s on deadline.

“Ha! That’s pretty accurate actually. One time I finished an entire jar of peanut butter in a week. Kept it by my laptop, and each time I took a break, I’d eat a few spoonfuls.”

“I didn’t realize you loved nuts so much. Should’ve though.” I chuckle, which earns me a playful, much deserved eyeroll.

After we’re finished with dinner, Vada places our plates in the sink. As I stand, she looks at me over her shoulder with a smile as if she knows I’m about to claim her as mine for the night.

“I really have to finish this one chapter.” She interrupts the dirty thoughts streaming through my head.

I run my tongue along my lower lip, and her eyes follow. She’s officially under my trance. “How long do you need?”

As she glances down at my hardness, I adjust myself. My dick wants more of what it had last night, and I’m not protesting. In fact, I’m fucking dying to be back inside her.

“An hour,” she says. “Then I think I’ll need a refill of inspiration.”

“You mean more of my cock?” I cross my arms over my chest and laugh when she squirms.

“Are you always so direct?” she asks, turning her body around to face me.

“What do you think?” I inch closer to her, my breath crawling over her skin, which causes her to shiver. Her mouth falls open when she feels my length against her leg.

“I can see the anaconda is back. Should probably get going before I get a snake bite.” She chuckles.

“Oh, Vada,” I drawl. “You’ve already been bitten, and there’s no antivenom that can save you from me now.” I hum against her ear, lightly brushing my fingers across the bare skin on her stomach.

“Holy shit…” she whispers, her eyes fluttering closed, and I can feel her melt against me.

I lean in, pinching the skin of her neck between my teeth then trace the shell of her ear with my mouth. “Go write your chapter.” I glance at my phone, then set a timer. “One hour.”

I know by the flush color of her cheeks and how her nipples stand at full attention, that she’s forcing herself to go write, which makes me smile. She may only be here for a few more days, but I’m going to try to make the most of it. I’ll give her an hour, but just one, then she’ll get exactly what she wants and needs to finish that damn book.

Once Vada rushes to the cottage, Wilma pounces down the stairs, and I place some wet food in her bowl. She stretches as if she’s playing hard to get with her food.

“Stop showing off,” I tell her and receive a sweet meow in response. Bending over, I pet her before she walks to her bowl because she can’t be bothered when she’s eating. I climb the stairs two at a time and head for the shower because I’m sweaty from working so hard at the studio today. As soon as the warm water hits my body, I allow myself to relax. I understand what Vada means when she talks about being wound up real tight. We’re more alike than she knows.

As I wash over my muscles, I think back to the conversation I had with Millie this morning.

“Didn’t think you allowed women to stay the night. It was one of your unspoken bachelor rules or something.” She pushed for confirmation as she pulled eggs and bacon from the fridge.

“Aunt Millie, please,” I begged, pulling a coffee cup out of the cabinet. It was weird talking about my sex life with my aunt, but she always liked to pry and keep up with me considering I haven’t settled down after Alana. Don’t plan on committing to anyone either and that drives her insane.

“You know why I’m here, hon. I wanted to make sure you’re doing okay.” She looked at me with concern written on her face.

“I’m fine, seriously.” Though I’m not, and she could see right through it.

---

I place my hand against the shower wall and stand there until the water runs cold, which forces me to get out and dry off. So much can happen in a short amount of time, and when my life was turned upside down, then completely destroyed, I realized that. Most people say time makes it easier, but that couldn’t be more wrong. Usually, I try to stay busy, keep my head down, my heart guarded, and my mind somewhere else. This is why I planned a big live demo for this specific weekend at the studio because being around people helps keep my thoughts away from the darkness that tends to haunt me. Another reason why Vada is a Godsend. She’s the perfect distraction and might be the only thing keeping me from self-destructing.

I try to push the thoughts out of my head and think of something else because my mood is turning sour quickly. Looking down at my phone, I notice I have thirty minutes before I can forget everything that’s swirling through my head and focus purely on Vada. And in Vada.

After I’m dressed, I make the climb up the stairs to the tower. The warm glow from the lights reflect below, and from a distance, I’m sure the tower shines like a beacon in the darkness. I try to clean up a bit, but I can’t seem to focus. The kiln is full of mugs I made earlier in the week and won’t be ready for another twenty-four hours. However, as I look around the room, I can’t help but feel a tug at my heart. So much has changed, but some things are exactly the same—this room being one of them.

Before I get too caught up, my phone vibrates in my pocket, and I know time's up. I turn it off, climb down both sets of stairs, and walk through the back door. As I cross the garden, I see Vada sitting at the desk in front of the window of the cottage. Her fingers are flying against the keys, and she barely stops. Chuckling, I wait until I see her fingers come to a halt. While she reads over what she wrote, her lips move, and when she finishes, she sits back and smiles. The look on her face is pure satisfaction. At this very moment, Vada is so happy, that it’s contagious.

Taking this as my cue, I walk down the path leading to the cottage. Sucking in a deep breath, I knock three times on the door. I hear Vada rushing around inside, and when the door swings open, I give her a knowing smile.

“It’s already been an hour?” she asks. The look on her face tells me she lost track of time.

I don’t give her an answer but take a few steps forward, until our lips collide, causing waves of want to rush through me. Vada sighs against my mouth before coming in for more as I kick the door shut with my foot. Taking no time at all, she begins unbuttoning my pants, then unzipping them.

“I want you so fucking bad.” She moans as she forces my shirt above my head.

“I’m supposed to be undressing you,” I tell her, doing exactly that.

Within moments, our clothes are on the floor, and she’s standing in front of me naked. Taking my time, I memorize her body with my hands and lips. Her head falls back on her shoulders as I place a perky nipple in my mouth. Kissing across her chest, I make sure to give the other the same attention. Threading her fingers through my hair, Vada lets out a greedy moan which only causes me to smile. She’s ravenous, and I love it, especially when she pushes me down on the bed, like a savage, taking exactly what she wants. I pull the condom out of my pocket, and she takes it from my hand and rolls it down my shaft, then slides on top of me.

“Oh my fuck,” I say, as she throws her head back, and rides me hard and long.

“Yes, yes,” she mutters, taking full control. Her breasts bounce with each time she rocks from the tip down to the bottom of my shaft. Taking some sort of control back, I thumb her clit, which only drives her wilder.

I like this side of Vada, the woman who takes control and takes exactly what she wants.

She leans over, brushing her lips against mine. “Ethan, I’m about to come.”

“Do it, babe. I love watching you.”

Tossing her head back, her mouth falls open, and she rides me slow, rocking her hips in circles.

“Yes, don’t stop,” she begs sucking in air, enjoying every second as I circle her clit.

“Never,” I whisper, secretly wishing this week wouldn’t end as I watch her lose herself on top of me.