Episode 30: Sizzling Desire
Sugar turned her attention to another picture, sipping her wine. It was a professional photo of a thirty-something-year-old Chef in his formal Marine uniform, his face perfecting a stony expression.
Another photo caught her eye: a younger, twenty-something Chef kissing the forehead of a gorgeous but exhausted-looking redheaded woman in a hospital bed, cradling a newborn baby.
“Alicia was in labor for forty-seven hours.”
Sugar nearly jumped out of her skin, startled by Chef’s sudden appearance behind her. “That’s a long time.”
“I almost lost them both. Alicia went into cardiac arrest right there in the room. They kicked me out, and I was scared outta my mind, but they stabilized her. Then they had to do an emergency C-section ‘cause Melina’s heartbeat was too weak from all the stress. Alicia hated my guts for a while after that. Then again, she pretty much hated me the whole pregnancy,” Chef said, rubbing the back of his neck, a thoughtful look on his face.
Sugar studied the photo again. “Why was that?”
“We were newlyweds goin’ through a rough patch. Alicia was always homesick, but we moved often. We were on the verge of splittin’ for good. She planned to go back stateside but thought she had caught a bad stomach bug at the last minute. Found out she was pregnant instead. The problem was Melina wasn’t planned. Alicia didn’t want kids and took birth control religiously, but her mother died in a terrible car accident around that time, and takin’ the pills just wasn’t a priority,” Chef explained. “We made up like most couples do ‘cause I knew we couldn’t split when she was sufferin’ through a tragedy.”
He paused, then added with a hint of amusement, “I hope I ain’t borin’ you with all my stories.”
“You’re not boring me at all,” Sugar said, turning to shoot him a warm smile over her shoulder.
She found it nice, learning more about him and his past. Mallory had been right. Chef had an air of mystery, but the more she got to know him, the more she realized he was an open book. Or at least, he trusted her enough to share his pages.
They continued to look at the photos, exchanging smiles and laughs over more of his stories. Eventually, they found their way back to the family room. This time, Chef had a cold bottle of beer in hand. He watched her from the other side of the couch, a small sea of space between them, but the tension between them was palpable.
Sugar sipped her wine, meeting his gaze.
The sexual tension in the air felt like a steady current of electricity, making the tiny hairs all over her body stand on end.
“When are you gonna let me taste you, Sugar?”
She nearly choked on her wine.
“I’m sorry?” Maybe she’d misheard him.
“I asked when you’re gonna let me taste you,” he repeated smoothly, bringing the beer bottle to his lips. The ball was in her court, and they both knew it.
Her body hummed with excitement. “You can do it right now. I’m not going to stop you.”
He chuckled, a deep, throaty sound, leaning forward to place his beer on the coffee table. Sugar took two big gulps of her wine, draining the glass before setting it down next to his bottle.
Chef closed the distance between them, resting his arm along the back of the couch. He dipped his head, and she tilted hers up to meet him halfway, her eyelids screwing shut. His lips met hers, and she sighed as his tongue slid into her parted mouth. A moan escaped her at the sudden, eager invasion, her own tongue greeting his. The kiss started soft and tender but quickly turned into something passionate, hungry.
Sugar’s hand found the side of his bearded face, cupping it as their tongues danced together in a feverish tempo.
She didn’t want the kiss to end, but Chef pulled back slightly, allowing them to breathe.
Her eyes remained half-closed, completely hypnotized by what had just transpired. She was already addicted to his kisses, and they’d only kissed once. Boldly, she straddled him, rising onto her knees to tower over him. Grabbing his chin possessively, she pressed her lips back to his, kissing him roughly. A deep groan rumbled from his chest as his hands slid up the back of her bare thighs, caressing the curve of her ass.
This wasn’t her at all.
To take charge like this.
But she needed him so badly, and knowing he felt the same way felt so good.
Finally, they broke apart to catch their breath again. Sugar glanced over her shoulder at the coffee table, pouting when she realized she’d already finished her wine. She grabbed Chef’s beer bottle, fully settling herself on his lap as she took a generous gulp.
He chuckled lightly. “I thought you weren’t a beer kinda gal.”
Sugar put the beer down where it was and turned her full attention back to where it needed to be: on him. She leaned forward, brushing her lips against his teasingly.
“Tonight, I want to be something else.”
“And what do you wanna be tonight, honey?”
She kissed him softly, savoring the closeness, the way his lips felt against hers. She longed to plunge her tongue back into his mouth, to lose herself in another frenzied kiss. His hands roved her body greedily.
She held back, just barely.
“Yours, Miles. Yours,” she whispered, her voice nearly desperate.
Sugar wanted him so badly, that her entire body throbbed and ached.
Chef let out a low growl and quickly stood from the couch, his powerful hands gripping her thighs as he lifted her. She squealed in surprise, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.
Unable to hold back any longer, she crushed her lips against his, her tongue diving into his mouth as he carried her deeper into the house.
Their final destination was clear: his bed.
