Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
EZRA
“Wow, my kitchen has never smelled this good before.” I inhaled deeply as I savored the delectable scents wafting from Mauricio’s cooking. “If this tastes half as amazing as it smells, I’m about to have the best meal of my life.”
He chuckled as he stirred the sautéed peppers that would go in our tacos. “If you think this is great, wait until you try my Italian food.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist and snuggled against his back with a happy hum. “Something tells me I’m really going to enjoy being spoiled by you.”
“Hopefully, since I have a tendency to be overly indulgent with my partners. I love spoiling people.”
His words got my hopes up. “Does that mean you’ll do sweet things like bring me breakfast in bed?”
“Yes, especially if I’ve worn you out the night before.” He glanced at me over his shoulder with a sexy smirk. “I enjoy taking care of people in every sense of the word.”
I squeezed him tighter with a delighted noise. “How did I get so lucky?”
Turning off the burner, he began plating up our dinner. “I’m wondering the same thing myself. This almost seems too good to be true.”
“Well, I’m definitely getting the better end of the deal. I can’t cook for shit, sorry.”
He chuckled as we carried the food over to my kitchen table. “I’m sure your other talents more than make up for that.”
My stomach rumbled from how amazing everything looked and smelled. “I’m glad you feel that way.” I was brimming with excitement at getting to taste his tequila steak tacos. My first bite made me moan as the rich flavors exploded on my tongue. Whatever was in his marinade was downright magical. “Holy shit, it’s a food orgasm in my mouth!”
He chuckled at my reaction. “I take it you approve?”
My second taste was even better. I made love to my taco as I ate the whole thing before answering. When I finished, I put on a show of sucking on my fingers. I grinned as he shifted in his seat. “Mm-hmm. That was delicious .”
His pleased smile was adorable. “I’m glad you liked it.”
“I didn’t just like it. I loved it.” It was a challenge to pace myself when it was so yummy; all I wanted to do was stuff my face until I couldn’t move. Starting on my second one, I closed my eyes with a happy sigh as I relished the experience of eating something so tasty. “This is so incredible; I can’t believe it came out of my kitchen.”
I loved the sound of his laughter. “There’s nothing wrong with your kitchen that’s stopping you from making good food.”
“True, but my short attention span and limited patience for that kind of thing makes it tough.” I snickered before I enjoyed another taste. It fascinated me, watching how fastidiously Mauricio ate his own taco without making a mess. That also caused me to realize something important. “I love that you made these, and not just because they’re the best tacos I’ve ever had in my life.”
“Oh?”
“In case it isn’t blindingly obvious, I’m a down-and-dirty, no-frills kind of guy. Instead of making something that we could eat with utensils, you made messy and satisfying finger food that’s fancy without being pretentious.”
He grinned at me. “I think that pretty much sums me up: fancy but unpretentious.”
I finished my second taco with another murmur of satisfaction. “It makes me so happy. I hate hoity-toity assholes. So many foodies and artists are into that bullshit snobbery, and I’m not here for it at all .”
“Then it sounds like we’re of the same mindset. I can’t stand gatekeeping in any form. Everyone should enjoy art, and not only those with obscene amounts of money. And just because some foods are expensive, it doesn’t make them any better. I’d much rather have steak tacos any day of the week than caviar and foie gras.”
I started my third taco to stop myself from confessing that statements like those were already causing me to fall head over heels in love with Mauricio.