Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
J ed stood by the kitchen counter, his arms crossed, half-listening to Rick’s rundown of the other couples in the competition. Something about the Smiths struggling with the soufflé challenge and the Garcias nearly setting their stove on fire. He nodded at the right moments, but his attention was elsewhere.
It was fixed on Jami. She was on the other side of the kitchen, intently studying his spice rack. Her brow furrowed as she read each label, her fingers lightly brushing against the small jars.
Jed had barely slept last night, knowing she was just across the hall. It had taken every ounce of his willpower not to cross the small distance between their rooms. He swore he heard every movement she made—each shift on the mattress, the soft sighs as she settled against his pillows, the rustling of her legs beneath the sheets. The house felt like it was alive with her presence, each creak of the floorboards a reminder that she was there, just a few steps away.
“Jed?” Rick’s voice cut through his thoughts, bringing him back to the present. “You listening?”
“Yeah, sure,” Jed replied.
He hadn’t heard a word. He turned his head just enough to show he was paying attention, but his gaze drifted back to Jami.
“I said the execs are loving you two. The banter, the chemistry... it’s perfect. They want you to play up the newlywed vibe. You know, that ‘we can’t keep our hands off each other’ angle.”
That wasn’t going to be a problem. “Yeah, I think I can manage that.”
Today’s challenge was a blind taste test. One person would be blindfolded while the other fed them different dishes they’d prepared. If they guessed correctly, they’d score a point. Simple enough, but the idea of having Jami feed him... of tasting her touch along with the food... his pulse quickened at the thought.
The crew finished setting up. Jed and Jami took their places at a small table. The cameras clicked on, the bright lights illuminating them, casting a spotlight on their every move. Jed sat across from Jami, his pulse picking up as he volunteered to be blindfolded first.
She approached with the blindfold. Her fingers deftly worked through his hair as she tied the fabric around his head. Jed closed his eyes beneath the fabric, letting himself feel the gentle, almost tender way Jami's fingers moved. When she was done, she lingered for a moment, her breath warm against his skin.
“There’s no fork,” she said, uncertainty lacing in her voice.
Rick's voice came from somewhere off-camera. “Just use your fingers to feed him, Jami.”
Jed felt her hesitate. He heard the slight intake of her breath, a mixture of nerves and something else. He knew that sound; he’d heard it from her before, after each of their kisses. It was desire.
Jami's fingers brushed against Jed's lips when she fed him the first bite. His tongue moved to capture the morsel. His mouth closed over her fingertips, savoring not just the taste of the food but the feel of her skin. She gasped softly, her breath hitching in her throat.
Jed chewed slowly, contemplating the taste. “Hmm,” he said, dragging out the moment. “I’m not sure. I think I need another taste.”
He could almost hear her eyes rolling, but she complied. Jami brought the next bite to his lips. Jed nipped lightly at her index finger, eliciting a small yelp from her. He grinned as he chewed, thoroughly enjoying himself, the food, and his wife.
“It’s... chicken dumplings.”
A bell sounded, signaling he was correct. He reached up to remove the blindfold, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the light. Jami was staring at him, her lips pressed together. The look she gave him said she was on to him.
Good, he wanted her to know everything he was thinking. Soon, he'd tell her his every feeling. They were all about her.
For now, he leaned in close, his voice low and intimate. “I know it was dumplings because it was the first meal we made together in Home Ec.”
His eyes locked on hers. Jami's throat worked as she tried to swallow. She hadn't yet eaten anything, so Jed knew it was desire she was trying to tamp down.
“I’ve never forgotten your taste… the taste of your dumplings, I mean.”
Jami swallowed again, pressing her lips together. She was clearly affected. The cameras, the crew, Rick—all of it disappeared. All Jed saw in her dark eyes was his own reflection. It was just the two of them, a thousand unspoken words hanging in the air between them.
Now it was Jami’s turn. He took the blindfold and slipped behind her, carefully positioning it over her eyes. His fingers lingered on the back of her neck. His thumb traced the softness of her skin. The backs of his fingers caught the quickening pulse beneath his touch. He bent down, his lips brushing her forehead.
“Is it too tight?” he whispered.
Jami shook her head, her breath hitching, and he couldn’t resist. He tilted her chin up and captured her mouth in a soft, lingering kiss. She tasted like honey and spice, sweet and warm.
“Ready?” he asked softly.
She nodded, and he moved to sit across from her, his gaze never leaving her face. She was vulnerable like this, blindfolded, relying on him. Jed carefully placed a morsel of meat against her lips. Her mouth opened slowly. He took his time, letting the food slide past her lips, letting his fingers linger just a moment too long against her lower lip. He wiped away a smudge of sauce with his thumb and, without thinking, brought his thumb to his mouth, taking in the remnants of her taste.
Jami sat there, processing the flavors, her lips parting as she let the taste fill her senses. “Beef stew.”
The bell rang, confirming her correct guess. Jed reached forward and slowly removed the blindfold, revealing her wide eyes. Her pupils were dilated with something that made his chest tighten.
They grinned at each other, a moment of silent understanding passing between them. Then, unable to help himself, Jed leaned in and kissed her again. This time, it wasn’t for the cameras. It wasn’t for the show. It was for them.
Behind them, Rick’s voice called out, but not with the usual “cut.” Instead, he directed the crew, “Keep rolling.”
Jed knew they were being watched, that every moment was being captured on film. He didn’t care. Let the world see how he felt about this woman, his wife. Let them know that she was his, and he was taken. In that kiss, there was nothing but the two of them, lost in the taste, the sensation, the realization that this was definitely more than a game.