Mason didn’t know what’d just happened but whatever it was, he was enjoying it. Lena had seemed a little hesitant at first and he was wondering how this was going to play out but as she walked back toward him he could tell something in her had shifted, she’d decided something. She looked amazing in red, that was the decision he’d come to and when she finally reached the bar he pushed back off it and placed his hands on the top in order to stop himself from reaching out and tracing the curve of her cleavage that kept peaking out at him.

“What can I get you to drink?”

“Just a wine is good for me Langley.” she hitched herself up on the chair then placed her elbows on the bar resting her chin on one hand as she watched him reach for the bottle and uncork it. “Red good?”

She nodded, “Red’s great.”

“Oh yes it is.” he grinned then pushed a glass toward her while he picked one up himself. She lifted it and sipped slowly seeming to swirl it around in her mouth before she swallowed it down. That was an erotic act all on it’s own, he thought as she tilted her head and sniffed the air.

“Hmm, dinner smells amazing.”

Smiling over at her he couldn’t help but reach across the bar and twist a curl around his finger. Looking over at him with sparkling eyes she smiled as he answered with a slow. “Thank you.”


Lena didn’t care about any promises anymore, she’d decided that she had to kiss this man. She watched him as he let go of her curl and picked up his glass, taking a sip. The air was heavy with tension. She could feel it coming off her body as it itched to get closer to him. She picked her own drink up, not taking her eyes away from him, and took another sip. One for courage, then asked.

“Don’t you think we should just get the obvious over with?” What could she say? She’d never claimed to be subtle.

He placed his wine glass down on the bar and moved away. As disappointment mounted inside her she was shocked to see him walk around the end of the bar and come toward her. Swiveling on the stool to watch him as he approached the only way she could think to describe the way he was watching her was, hungry. He looked at her like a starved man would a meal. Stopping so close to her that she could feel the fabric from his pants brush her knees he reached out and gripped the bar’s edge with one hand and tried for a casual pose. It didn’t work. He looked as tense as she felt. “And what Lena, is the obvious?”

Swallowing and placing her hands in her lap she straightened up and answered him the way he’d told her, honestly. “The first kiss, you know? The awkward one. The one where..” she trailed off abruptly because he’d moved his hand and it was now gently squeezing her bare knee that was crossed over the other. Looking down at it then back at him she was mesmerized by his eyes which were now close to incinerating her they were burning so hot.

“You think our first kiss will be awkward?”

“Ahhh..” she stammered a little because he was now stroking circles around her knee cap. “Stop.” she said softly.

“Stop?” he questioned and stepped closer until she had to uncross her legs to sit taller. His hard thighs were now pressed to her bare knees and his fingers were resting lightly on her left one, but he had in fact stopped moving. Licking her lips she once again looked down at his big hand, then back at him. She watched as a wicked smile crept onto his face and he leaned in, a mere breath away, then licked his own lips watching her closely. She swallowed, felt her eyes widen then surprised herself when a small moan slipped free as his fingers trailed softly onto the inside of her knee a little higher on her thigh.

“Stop?” he asked again this time flicking his tongue out to lick across her bottom lip. He didn’t go any further than that, he just waited, watching her fall apart in his hands. She blinked her eyes slowly and shook her head.

“What was that?” She shook her head again then heard a loud buzzing noise. She glanced away for a moment and that seemed to break the spell.

“That would be dinner.”

Lena watched him stand up straight and felt the throb of his arousal brush her knee. He gave her a tight smile and she watched him walk around the bar then push into the kitchen and that’s when she let out a shaky breath. Okay so she’d wanted the first kiss over with but she had a feeling she’d been one second away from being devoured. Saved by the bell, anyone?


Mason walked over to the timer and switched it off. Taking a deep breath he ran his hands through his hair and tried to get himself under control, what the hell? He thought as he took the sauce from the stove then the pasta. She’d asked for a first kiss and he’d almost flattened her out on top of his bar. The woman made him crazy, absolutely crazy. One minute she was feisty and confident and the next she was melting and wide eyed. The combination was driving him insane. He plated their food and brought it out to the dining room. He noticed she’d moved over and was seated safely at the table. Grinning at that he moved to place her meal in front of her. She smiled up at him, back to the shy smile, and thanked him. He sat down opposite her and grated the cheese over her meal.

“Stop.” she said softly. Looking up at her he raised an eyebrow then she smiled and shocked him, “This time I mean it.”

Nodding slowly Mason watched her as he answered, “I’ll have to remember that.”

She took a bite of her food and groaned softly. It was such an unexpectedly erotic noise Mason stopped what he was doing for a moment to enjoy her as she ate her meal. When she noticed he was watching her she asked, “Why aren’t you eating?”

He shook his head and smiled, “I’m having too much fun watching you eat.”

“This is delicious.” she took another mouthful and licked her lips then followed it with a sip of the red wine. “Seriously, you can cook for me anytime you like.”

“Now that’s an offer I may take you up on.”

As they finished their meal they talked about where he’d studied cooking and why he’d decided to become a chef, small talk to pass the time. She talked about her job and how sometimes it was difficult but on most days there was something that reminded her why she was doing it. When they finally finished and had managed to drink a whole bottle of red and were half way into the second he asked her to come with him into the kitchen. She followed him back and stopped when he told her to wait by the large stainless steel bench where there was one large pie dish. She waited watching him the best she could when he disappeared around the corner. When he came back he was carrying over his hands a pie base. He put it down in the dish and molded it in with quick hands. Then he smiled at her and handed her a knife.

“Ahh, you want me to cook?”

He grinned and one of his dimples appeared, “Nope I want you to chop.” he turned and moved away again opening the fridge then bending over, giving her a fine view of his ass, then he straightened and turned back to her with a bowl full of ripe peaches.

She smiled at him. “Ahh I see.” she said feeling a lot more relaxed with the wine in her. “This is what the peaches were all about.”

Nodding he placed the bowl down and passed her one. Taking it she watched him as he came to stand next to her. He picked one up and started to peel it. “You have to peel it first.”


Lena set about copying him. The skin came away easy leaving a sticky mess behind and she watched as he placed his on the board then started the chop it into precise pieces. She too placed hers on the board watching him as she tried to copy his quick moves. Once it was done he reached into the bowl and pulled out another one. By the time they were finished, there were peeled and diced peaches everywhere and her hands were a mess. She looked around for the sink. Spotting it behind her she placed the knife down moving to turn toward it when she felt a warm sticky hand grab her wrist.

“And where are you going?”

Lena looked over at his smirk and smiled, “To wash my hands Langley. I’m a mess.”

Very slowly he lifted her hand to his mouth and licked the end of her ring finger. She froze as he pulled her in close and sucked the same finger deeper inside his hot mouth. She watched as her finger disappeared into the hot wet heat then reappeared. Looking up at him with her mouth slightly parted she stood frozen as he reached up and traced one of his sticky fingers across her bottom lip. She was about to lick it off when he shook his head and wrapped one arm around her. Reaching down beside them she watched as he grabbed a piece of peach and slid it across her bottom lip, then pushed it slowly inside. She let out a soft sigh as the cool wetness hit her tongue and slowly chewed it as he watched her. He groaned low in his throat and pulled her in close to him then leaned down to slowly suck her bottom lip into his mouth. Lena started to sway a little but it didn’t matter because he was holding her in his arms as he nibbled and licked his way across her bottom lip. Moving his head back, she whimpered. She did not want him to stop this time, and actually thought she just might die if he did.


Mason watched her eyes cloud over and close as he reached down again beside them and picked up another piece of peach. He lifted it up and painted the left side of her neck with it then dipped his head down to trace the sweet sticky line from shoulder to ear and whispered. “Ready for that awkward kiss Lena?”

She didn’t answer right away, as her head remained tilted to the side, so he bent down and nipped her ear. Her eyes flew open and he leaned in and sealed his mouth over hers. She was sticky and sweet and so hot she nearly singed his lips. She groaned and parted her lips for him when she felt his tongue pressing for entrance. He deepened the kiss stroking his tongue in against hers and pulling her up tight against him. He felt her hands land on his waist then burrow in under his shirt to land in a sticky mess against his stomach. She seemed to like that because she smiled against his mouth and moaned softly in the back of her throat. Mason took one hand from her waist and placed it on her neck keeping her still as he licked her bottom lip then slid his tongue right back inside to rub against hers again. She pushed her hips in closer to him and he almost lost it when she started to suck on his tongue. Finally he pulled away breathing hard and looked down at her. She smelt like vanilla and tasted like peaches and she’d been one hell of a dessert.