Chapter Twenty-Five

Rayne

I can’t stop grinning when I look up at Lorn. He is so sweet and kind, and he’s taken so much care to look out for me. The hurt in his voice as he talks about his father’s disdain, his time being punished for that lack of love in his life behind bars, it simply makes my heart hurt. I want to wrap him in my arms and make it all OK again, though I’m not sure one person could ever perform that kind of magic.

I am only one woman, after all.

What does he have in mind for dessert? My gaze lands on some strawberries and apples.

“Are we doing healthy dessert tonight?” I ask.

He sees the direction of my gaze and reaches back behind him. In his hand is a half full bag of milk chocolate chips.

Perfect. I love chocolate. Especially on fruit.

“Have you checked the expiration date on those bad boys, before I get excited?”

Lorn’s face falls. Clearly expiration dates are not something he’s ever had to deal with. That probably makes sense for people who live on a mountain and eat the food they get as it comes in. Or super rich kids who never wonder where their food is coming from anyway.

I think I can officially say I also have fallen into both of those categories. Lucky for me, my time as a baker has provided such knowledge for these types of things. I reach over and grab the bag from his hand. When I turn it upside down, I see that we’re in luck, and I hold up the bag to him.

“Ah, see? We have four months left. Better use them now, or we may never get our chance.”

Lorn beams down at me, and his smile is radiant. I try to remember what he looked like without the beard. I’ve seen pictures of Lorn. We may have even attended the same party a time or two. My mind simply can’t picture him without that beard adorning his face.

I don’t want to picture it. I like Lorn exactly as he is now. This is who he wants to be, and it’s my job to support him in every way I can.

Wait, no, it’s not. It’s not my job to do anything except be grateful to Lorn for all his help. Otherwise, we’re trekking into girlfriend territory, and I don’t want to go there yet. Not when I have no idea how Lorn feels. Besides, he wants to hide from the limelight forever. It’s something I’ve never minded. Could I give up my whole world to stay in the back woods with this man?

Digging too deep. Stop thinking that far ahead. Focus on fruit.

Lorn’s expression is curious, and I’ve been standing there staring at him like a lovesick idiot.

God, get it together Rayne. You are not the woman who drools over a man. Not even Lorn Hart.

“Uh, let’s get this chocolate melting,” I mumble. I turn away from him, because if I keep looking at him I may go blind, like I’m looking into the sun.

I reach for a microwave-safe bowl and dump the chips in, then melt them a little at a time, stirring after each session in the microwave.

“I’m surprised someone like you uses a microwave at all. Don’t you usually heat things nice and slowly over the stove?” Lorn asks from behind me.

I shrug, but I don’t turn around.

Focusing on the chocolate here. Not thinking about spreading it on Lorn’s chest and licking it off. Definitely not thinking about that.

The mixture is ready, and I turn my attention toward the fruit. Lorn watches me from behind. I’m not sure if I’m imagining the heat from his body, or if he is standing close enough for me to feel it. Once the stems are cut from the strawberries and the apples are cored and sliced, I move the bowl over to give Lorn some space.

“OK, now we dip.”

“Skippy dip or regular dip?”

I laugh. “That question does not apply to this situation. Now stop being dirty, and dip the fruit,” I command.

“Yes, ma’am,” he says, but there is no repentance in his voice. He likes making me think about sex. Does he think about it as often as I do? If he craves me like I crave him, he does. Our fingers brush as we dip the fruit and twist it to keep the chocolate from dripping. We set each piece on a plate, then move to the next, and it’s quick work with the two of us.

“Do we have to wait to eat this?” Lorn asks.

I grab the plate and walk over to the kitchen table. “Of course not. Chocolate waits for no woman or man.”

I notice that Lorn brings the leftover chocolate bowl with him. He sets it on the table and takes the seat next to mine. We’re sitting so close I can inhale the sweet scent of his skin, and my senses tingle.

What is it about this man that is so intoxicating to me? He’s like a drug, and I can’t stop getting my fix every chance I get.

I lift a strawberry, but Lorn swipes it out of my hand.

“Hey!” I protest. When my gaze meets his, though, my protest melts away.

There is desire there. Lust. Passion. Mischief. All the things I like to see in Lorn’s eyes. There is a promise in them that I hope he keeps.

He holds the strawberry out to me, and I can’t help but grin and lick my lips as he moves it forward. When it’s within biting distance, I wrap my teeth around the succulent fruit and bite down. The combination of chocolate and strawberry teases my senses, and I am aroused instantly. I scoot my bottom along the chair as my pussy comes to life with a small pulse.

Only Lorn could get my heart beating so fast I can feel it between my legs.

As he picks up another one, an image of Larry Corker invades my hazy mind, and my shoulders tense as I sit back.

Lorn’s brows crease as he looks at me. “What is it?”

“I just…” I fumble. “I forgot for a moment how much danger we’re in. Do you think the police will be able to be here early in the morning?”

Lorn sets the strawberry down and looks sternly into my eyes as he grips the back of my hand.

“Rayne, we have done everything we can to ensure that you are safe. The police will join us as soon as they can, but until then it falls to us to not let Larry ruin our lives with every thought we give him. I will never let down my guard fully. I will always have an eye on the door. I am keeping you safe every minute you are here.”

He squeezes my hand, and the stress melts back out of my shoulders.

”You are protected. Let yourself be safe. Let yourself relax.”

He reaches back down for the strawberry and lifts it back to my lips. Lorn is the only thing that keeps me sane in this insane situation. With him, I am finally calm. I can release my fears and simply be myself.

I smile up into his eyes as I take another bite. Lorn swipes at my lip with his thumb, and when he pulls it back, there is a small bit of chocolate there. He sucks on the digit while his gaze rests on mine, and that heartbeat starts to pulse in my jeans once more.

“My turn.” I lift a chocolate-covered apple and hold it up to him. When he bites into it, he still looks into my eyes, and that connection is intoxicating. He’s making silent promises. He issues silent requests, desires easily translatable from the look in his eyes.

I am beyond happy to help fill those requests.

He finishes with his piece of apple and lifts another strawberry to my lips.

“Don’t eat this one,” he says. “I feel like doing a little painting.”

My heart flutters as he holds the tip of the strawberry to my lips and traces them with the chocolate. I want to taste them, I want to press my lips together, but Lorn’s expression tells me that is not what he wants me to do. He wants to taste them himself, and I know I’ll get the flavor much better that way.

Once he finishes tracing, he pulls the berry back and captures my chin with his finger. He draws me closer until we’re close enough to kiss, and he takes my lips hungrily with his own. He sucks the chocolate off, and when his tongue delves into my mouth, I can finally taste it for myself. I pull back as I enjoy the game we’ve initiated.

“Me next.” I dip my finger into the melted chocolate and lean close so I can trace Lorn’s mouth with it. His eyes are fire as he watches me, and I can’t stop a grin from escaping as I sit back and admire Lorn’s delicious-looking chocolate lipstick.

“You look great,” I tease. He pulls my chair out and in an instant, I am sitting on his lap, his erection pressing against my ass through our jeans.

“Lick it off,” he says.

Don’t have to tell me twice.

I tilt my face to meet his and, rather than kiss him, I stick out my tongue and lick every inch of his lips. By the time the chocolate has disappeared, Lorn pulls me to him and delves back into the reaches of my mouth, kissing me nice and deep.

The combination of chocolate and man is enough to get my panties soaked once more. I shift in Lorn’s lap until I’m able to straddle him, and my feet still don’t quite reach the floor, so I wrap them around the chair as much as I can, looking out for my hurt ankle.

Lorn breaks off the kiss and reaches back behind me for another berry. He kisses my neck, and my skin heats and tingles in anticipation. With one hand, he deftly unbuttons the front of my shirt, revealing my black lace bra in the process. He stares at my breasts. He cups them with his hands, toys with them as he explores. I watch him discover me. I enjoy the look in his eyes as he plays with my body.

It is his for the taking.

He brings the berry forward again and traces a small line of chocolate down my chest. When he reaches my bra, he tugs it down to reveal a pair of pink, hard nipples.

He circles the strawberry around one nipple, coating it in chocolate. He moves onto the next and coats it, too. When he glances back up at me, his expression is famished.

“Time for dessert,” he breathes. Then his mouth captures a nipple, and I moan.