“Shouldn’t we . . . um . . . cook?” she asked breathily.

“Definitely. I’m already hot,” he told her. But he backed off, almost satisfied with the glow in her eyes. He could tell how much she desired him.

They worked side by side, cooking the salmon and rice, and chopping a salad. He felt high every time she laughed. During all the prep, he continuously brushed against her, making sure she was more and more comfortable with his touch.

There was a radiant glow about her cheeks the entire evening, and the one thing Maverick knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was that he had to have a taste of her. He had to show her how great and unselfish lovemaking could be.

He just prayed he had the restraint to keep himself together while giving her this gift.

The two finished dinner, and then it was time for dessert. His favorite part of the day. Undoing the top two buttons of his shirt, he followed her back into the kitchen while she pulled out a couple of pots and several ingredients, including chocolate and strawberries.

That had him instantly hard again. But tonight wasn’t about him finding satisfaction. It was about helping Lindsey feel good about herself and helping her to feel safe, especially in her own home.

“This is a chocolate strawberry layer cake,” she told him as she took the cake portion and began frosting it. She set it in the freezer to rapidly cool.

“Looks good,” he said, trying to calm himself as he swiped a taste from the bowl she’d mixed the frosting in.

“Um . . . yeah.” Her gaze was centered on his lips as he sucked the frosting off, and the look in her eyes made his body pulse painfully.

She went back to the stove and began mixing more ingredients until she had a creamy chocolate mixture. Then she pulled the cake from the freezer, set it on the counter, and placed strawberries on top. When she grabbed the chocolate sauce and drizzled it over the top, he thought he just might have a high-school moment and embarrass himself right there in front of her.

Maverick couldn’t remember the last time his body had ached so much from wanting a woman. It was just about killing him. But when a dribble of chocolate splattered the counter and she wiped it up with her finger and then sucked on it, he knew it was over.

Taking the pan from her hands, he carefully set it aside, ignoring the slight tremble in his own fingers as he backed her against the kitchen island.

“I need to put the cake in the fridge to cool,” she huskily told him.

“You know that’s not the dessert I want, sugar,” he said as he pressed against her, making sure she had no doubt how turned on he was.

“Oh,” she replied barely above a whisper. “It’s really good.”

Her gaze was looking right at his lips again and when her tongue came out and ran across her bottom lip, he knew he had to taste her. But he couldn’t lose control. This night was about her—and her alone.

“Let me show you exactly how I like my dessert,” he said before dipping his finger in the melted chocolate and swiping it across her lips. She stuck out her tongue to lap it off, but he shook his head. “Allow me.”

Though he wanted to ravish her, he slowly leaned forward and ran his tongue along the outline of her mouth, lapping up the chocolate that was bitter compared to her sweetness.

She shuddered in his arms and he had to remind himself not to lose control. With just a touch of the chocolate left, he clasped his lips onto hers and dove inside her mouth, exploring, savoring, enjoying every moment they were connected.

The sigh escaping her sweet lips fed his soul, and he wrapped his arms around her so he could lift her to the counter, his chest pressing against hers, his hips pushing inward. He rested his hardness against her hot core.

Too many clothes were between them.

But that was good. If he lost control, she might never trust him or any other man again. He couldn’t do that to her—wouldn’t—even if it nearly killed him.

“I’m going to show you what trust is all about, Lins. I’m going to give you pleasure without taking any for myself,” he whispered as he moved his lips along her jaw and brushed them across her ear.

“Wh . . . what do you mean?” she panted.

“Your voice undoes me, sugar. I want you so bad,” he sighed before sucking on her neck and inhaling her sweet, sweet scent. He paused for a moment as he pulled strength from deep inside. “I’m going to please you, sug, and then I’m going to leave so you can think about it over and over again, and you can want me. When you’re ready, we can both be pleased, but for now, all of this is for you.”

She said nothing, but her breathing deepened as he continued sucking on her neck. He took his time, not wanting to startle her as he took off her apron and tossed it aside. He slowly undid the buttons on her blouse. Moving back to her lips, he drank from them as the last buttons were freed.

Her skin was as silky smooth as he remembered it. He ran his fingers up her quivering stomach and over the lace of her bra before reaching her shoulders and pushing the shirt down off her back.

“Mav, I want you . . .” The tremble in her voice told him she was nervous. He needed her not to be.

“I won’t hurt you, sug. I promise I won’t hurt you,” he whispered before gently kissing her. He took her shirt off her arms and pushed it away. “Remember how good it is between us. Remember that I only want to bring you pleasure.”

His hands moved up and down her back as he hungrily sipped from her lips, relearning every secret hideaway of her mouth. Only when she was squirming against him again did he undo the clasp of her bra and pull it away, sending it flying off onto the kitchen floor.