He had a very clear image of Ember hold a tiny little girl in her arms, cooing lovingly.
Yes, his lion purred, now tell her she’s our mate so we can make that happen right now.
Kai pushed the thought away, choosing instead to turn his focus toward dinner. “Dinner is ready,” he announced. He loaded a tray with their food and brought it over to the table where they tucked in.
Ember cut a piece of her salmon. He tracked the forkful going up to her mouth and disappearing between those lips he loved so much. Her moan of appreciation went straight to his dick.
“This is so good. Dill, lemon—” She took another bite. “Do I detect a hint of lime as well?”
His chest puffed up with pride for the second time this evening. “Yes, I always add lemons and a tiny bit of lime when I cook salmon.”
“It’s delicious. My compliments to the chef.” She raised her wine glass to him.
“Coming from you, I’m taking that as the highest of praises.”
“Oh, don’t. Like I said, my specialty is baking.”
“I don’t know about that. I’m going to be craving those egg bites until the day I die.”
“You don’t have to die for them, Kai. I’ll just make some more for you. Now tell me, grill master, what else do you cook up?”
“I make a mean steak. My family begs for my ribs at least once a month.”
“Boiled and marinated?” she asked.
“Yup. In my own homemade BBQ sauce.”
Her eyes widened, her mouth dropping open. “You make your own BBQ sauce?”
“Yes,” he answered, amused by her reaction.
“I think that’s the hottest thing I have ever heard anyone say.”
He guffawed a laugh, taken entirely by surprise by her candor. “Well then, the next time I make it, I’ll have you over.”
“I would love that. Fair is fair, so I’ll bake a chocolate cheesecake.”
“You’ve got yourself a deal.”
Over the rest of the meal, they fell into easy conversation. It was comfortable and exciting all at once. The more he got to know his mate, the more he wanted to know. She was funny and sweet. Her thoughtfulness knew no bounds.
How someone could want to hurt a woman as kind as her was beyond Kai. Surely, it would take quite an evil person to hate her.
By the time dessert rolled around, Kai was drunk. Not on wine. Alcohol had no effect on his shifter constitution. It was on Ember’s kisses that he was intoxicated. His dick was permanently hard, and thankfully, Ember hadn’t noticed the amounts of times he had rearranged himself to keep the damn appendage from poking her in the hip every time they kissed.
Which was a lot.
Her lips were just as swollen as his felt, but he had no intention of stopping. He would kiss Ember until he died, given the chance. Only taking breaks to breathe and, hopefully, kiss other parts of her.
Chapter Eleven
Ember
As a baker, Ember was definitely aware that food could be erotic and used as a sexy game. She had never actually experienced it for herself. Her knowledge came from her own fantasies, some romance novels, and what she had heard some of her coworkers discuss.
Well, now she could speak from experience.
Dessert had been a bowl full of fresh strawberries and a small vat of smooth, creamy, melted chocolate. It had been stupidly simple, but it had led to some serious making out on the deck of the boat.
When some chocolate had dripped down her chin, Kai had licked at it like he wanted to devour her. It had heightened the sexually charged night air, and they’d abandoned the boat to retreat to her apartment where the kissing could continue in a more private setting.
Hopefully, it would lead to more.
They barely had time to lock the door behind them, and they were kissing again. The car ride over had done nothing to dull the edges of the desire burning inside of Ember.
She was so desperate for release, she was half-terrified she would come, still fully clothed. Kai was just that good of a kisser. It helped that he looked at her like she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
Kai’s strong hand was at the back of Ember’s neck, his fingers softly caressing her hair. He kissed her temple, his lips running along her forehead, where he pressed a gentle kiss. He continued exploring her face with his lips until he reached her mouth. His tongue traced her lower lip before he sucked it gently into his mouth. Ember kissed him back as her senses were flooded by all of the reactions he was expertly pulling out of her.
Her hands roamed down his chest until she reached the hem of his sweater. She tugged at it, and he quickly slipped it off, sending it flying over his shoulder. Ember shivered with need when she saw just what Kai was hiding under his clothes.
His broad shoulders and defined pecs led to a set of abs that were calling her name. The deep V of his hips disappeared into his jeans, leading to, she knew, an impressive erection. She hadn’t seen it yet, but she had felt it pressed against her too many times now to doubt that the man was packing some serious heat.
Ember ran her fingertips down his middle, tracing each ab. As her exploration brought her closer to the waist band of his jeans, Kai’s breathing turned into puffs.
“Are you okay?” she asked, dropping a kiss over his heart.
“I’m trying to be well-behaved right now, Ember. You’re making it very difficult to keep myself under control.”
“Under control?” she asked, her eyebrows going up and her smirk widening. “Under control of what? Can’t you tell I want you?”
He swallowed hard. “I want you so fucking much right now that if I behaved how I wanted to, it would probably scare the shit out of you.”
Ember was shocked.
She was also so turned on by his words, her knees turned to jelly.
She knew, somehow, by pure instinct, that Kai would never hurt her. But he was looking at her with such passion, she was curious. She wanted to know what he meant. She wasn’t scared, and she was confident that she would never be scared of him.
“I don’t think so,” she finally whispered.
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” his growl low. “I have never wanted someone as much as I want you right now.”
Ember reached back to unclip her bra as she walked backward toward her bedroom. The straps slid down her arms before the garment fell to the floor. She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin until their eyes could meet.
“Show me,” she purred.
Kai’s entire powerful body stilled. “Ember,” he warned.
“Show me,” she repeated, cupping her breasts to tweak her nipples. Being so wanton was freeing and exhilarating. This wasn’t who she typically was during sexual encounters. She only got to behave this way because she was with Kai. She felt adored and safe. She wanted to see him lose control, as he promised.
It would be the sexiest thing she had ever witnessed, she knew it, down in the marrow of her bones. Kai was going to ruin her for any other man, but she didn’t care.
She would never want another man like she wanted Kai Mason.
“Just tell me if you want me to stop,” he growled, his eyes burning her with desire.
“Not likely.”
The words were barely out of her mouth when Kai lunged for her. His hands brushed hers out of the way as his mouth replaced her fingers. Kai bit down on her nipple as he sucked it into his mouth. The sting of the pain and the suction was all too much. Her knees buckled, and she nearly collapsed into his arms. Her core clenched as she panted, “Again.”