Penny
What a way to wake up, to a heavenly smell that’s so familiar. Similar to cookies, but the intense chocolate aroma gives it away.
Brownies.
Stretching on a yawn, I toss back the covers and throw my legs off the side of the bed and pad my way into the kitchen on a mission to find the moist fudgy goodness.
“Good evening.” Shapiro stands there in front of me with a glass of milk in one hand and a plate of brownies in another.”
“What’s that?” I make my way over to the island to find a seat.
“For you.” He slides the milk and brownies in front of me. “Coffee?”
“Yes, please.” I glance down at the brownies and the sight of them has me wanting to dive face first into the plate.
These brownies aren’t your typical scratch brownies. Nope, these are better. Dense and moist, more like fudge.
“Is this from the box?” My eyes go wide with excitement.
“Your favorite.” He walks around the island to come to stand in front of me. Placing my coffee mug in front of me.
Turning the stool to face him. Shapiro places a hand on each side of me, caging me in.
“This is my apology.”
“Brownies for the win.” I snag one up and take a bite. Filling my mouth before I screw this up.
“I shouldn’t have gotten upset with you for not telling me everything when I basically did the same thing.”
He lowers his head, so my light eyes are meeting his dark.
“I was tired and when you told me you saw Tyler, I was scared.”
“Scared?” I repeat with a mouthful of brownie.
“There is something about you, Penny Reed, that drives me crazy.”
“There is?” I can’t help but smile and Shapiro throws his head back, laughing.
“I have brownie on my teeth, don’t I?”
“Yup.” He matches my smile. “You make me feel things I never knew I could feel and I’m not sure what to do with it all.”
“What do you want to do with it?” I should have stuffed another brownie in my mouth. It’s questions like this that I was trying to avoid. Afraid of the reality of the answer.
“This.”
Slamming his lips to mine, nearly knocking all the wind from my lungs, he presses his tongue to the seam of my lips, asking for access, I open. This kiss isn’t innocent, it is anything but.
A tease—hot, fiery, passionate and very demanding. I can’t even pull myself away if I want to.
I don’t want to.
His hand drifts to my hip, settling there he pulls me closer. My legs instantly wrap around his waist as my arms reach up and tangle around his thick, strong neck. Threading my fingers through his hair, I tug before sucking in his bottom lip, gently biting.
Feeling his breathing quicken, as does mine. Match for match, our hearts beat as one.
So perfect.
I want to pull away before I lose myself, but I can’t. In this moment of forgiveness, my senses have been seduced and I can no longer think straight.
I want him.
I forgive him.
I forgive me.
“I have wanted to do that since the last kiss,” Shapiro mumbles against my lips as he tries to break the kiss.
“You remember.” I smile, giving him a quick peck before I pull away.
“I do,” he confesses.
“I knew it!” I playfully smacked his chest. “You let me believe it didn’t mean anything.”
“It meant everything.” Shapiro pulls me up and into a hug. “Now that we cleared this up with our makeup kiss. I think we have some ground rules to set.”
“Here we go …”
“Just listen.” He bends over me, wrapping both arms around my waist and lifts, setting me on the counter. “I think you’re going to like this. I’m going to give you some freedom.”
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” I throw my arms around his strong neck and wrap my legs back around his waist peppering kisses down his neck. “Thank you!”
“Keep doing that and I’ll finish before I finish if you catch my drift.” He leans back and winks.
“Oh jeez.” I place my hand on his chest and rub lazy circles as he continues.
“I’ve had the cameras downstairs streamed to mine. This way if you want to go to the kitchen by yourself or have lunch with Nina downstairs you can.”
“So even though I’m alone, technically, I’m not,” I state. “You’re with me.”
“Watching you,” he corrects.
“Never thought you were the voyeur type.” I can’t help but joke. Being like this with him is so much more
Leaning down, he brushes my hair back from my ear and whispers, “I’m whatever you want me to be.”
Mine.