Chapter 47 #2
Her blush deepened as she gave a slow nod.
A shy smile that was somehow infused with the perfect hint of feminine wiles on her lips, Melody moved toward the kitchen.
She’d only progressed a few feet before she stopped, looked over her shoulder, and caught his gaze.
“But we’ll pick this up again after?” she asked coquettishly.
Ben groaned. “You can bet on it.”
A bright, beatific smile bloomed on Melody’s face before she resumed her path.
His dick twitched as he watched her walk away, her hips swishing in a seductive rhythm. For such a seemingly-innocent woman, she sure knew how to ignite his passions.
He looked up at the ceiling before blinking his eyes closed. He strove to think unsexy thoughts. Mankinis. Traffic jams. Tax returns.
Ben didn’t really think there were thoughts unsexy enough to dim his ardor for Melody, but he was willing to try if it meant he didn’t come across as a sex-starved fiend.
He doubted he would ever be able to get enough of her, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t work to keep his inner barbarian in check.
She deserved a gentleman and an ardent lover, and he would do his best to give her both.
He readjusted his dick in an effort to ease his discomfort before following Melody. He found her pulling roasted potatoes out of the oven.
He walked up behind her and looked over her shoulder, the better to see what all she had cooked. He was careful not to touch her since he hadn’t yet cooled off enough to do so without fanning the flames of his discomfort. He was no masochist.
“That smells absolutely delicious,” Ben praised as Melody used a metal spatula to flip the potatoes. They looked perfectly browned and crispy on all sides.
Oven mitts still on her hands, she pulled out a tray of what looked like roasted vegetables.
“Holy cow,” Ben raved, sounding a bit like the farm boy he was as he took in the plate of herbed mushrooms, zucchini, asparagus, onions, and bell peppers. “This looks incredible.”
Ben waved his cupped hand over top of the food to better direct the smells to his nose. He groaned as the mouth-watering aromas hit his olfactory pleasure centers.
“Smells good, huh?” Melody asked with the quiet confidence of someone who knows they’re good at something.
“It doesn’t just smell good, sweetheart,” Ben praised, “it smells phenomenal.”
Pleasure lit Melody’s features. “Thank you,” she said with no small amount of obvious delight.
Melody moved over to another counter and grabbed a plate of steaks. “I just have to finish these and we’ll be good to go.”
“How do you like your steak?” she asked, placing the meat in a large cast iron pan.
“Medium-rare would be amazing. Thank you,” he said, as the steaks started to sizzle on the pre-heated pan.
Melody nodded in acknowledgment.
Ben stood back and watched as Melody tended to their steaks, humming and swaying ever so subtly to whatever soundtrack was playing in her mind. Whatever tune she was humming was beautiful but unknown to him.
There was something so special about simply being able to watch Melody as she worked. She was so fluid and graceful that just observing her made him feel practically hypnotized.
“Would you like to prepare your plate, or would you like me to?” Melody asked, glancing over at him before she gave the steaks what looked to be a final flip.
“Would it be weird if I asked you to do it?” Ben questioned. “You’ve prepared such an extraordinary feast that I’d feel like a real tool if I didn’t blend all of the flavors together properly.”
Melody smiled in a way that led him to believe she liked his answer and went about arranging both of their plates.
“Do you like chimichurri?” she asked as she twisted around to reach for a small bowl of fresh herb sauce.
“I think so,” Ben commented. “Either way, I’m game to give it a go.” He wasn’t sure exactly what was in it, but he had a feeling it might be the source of the herbaceous scent that was perfuming the air.
“Maybe just a sample drizzle then,” Melody suggested as she spooned a little bit of the vibrant green sauce over top of one of the corners of his steak. She dished out a few extra spoonfuls that she allowed to pool by the side of his steak, presumably so he had access to more if he liked it.
When she was finished plating their food, Melody stepped back to reveal two artful plates of grilled vegetables, roasted fingerling potatoes, and herb-topped steak. His mouth began to water as he looked at the finished product.
“This is true restaurant quality,” he raved. And it really was. Between the incredible scents and the glorious pops of color, the meal was a feast for the senses.
“I hope you still think so after you taste it,” Melody teased with the soft smile of someone who seemed fairly confident he would be pleased.
Melody picked up two rolls of cutlery, inspiring Ben to grab both of their plates. He followed her out of the kitchen and placed their meals on the placemats where she had just deposited their cutlery.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” Melody asked. “Water? Wine?”
“Water would be great, thank you,” he replied. “I would take a glass of wine, if you’re having one, but it really isn’t necessary. I wouldn’t open a bottle just for me.”
Melody smiled and walked back into the kitchen. She came back moments later carrying a pitcher of water and a bottle of red wine. She deposited the pitcher on the table and then passed him the wine. He was no wine connoisseur, but he didn’t recognize the label.
“How does it look to you?” Melody asked as she walked over to her dining room sideboard and pulled out the necessary glassware. “I think it might pair well with the steak.”
Ben flipped the bottle around so he could read the back label. A rich and spicy Australian Syrah. Pairs well with red meat, duck, grilled vegetables, and hard cheeses.
“It sounds perfect,” he said as he handed it back to her.
“I’m glad you think so,” Melody said with a winning smile and a hint of a laugh, “because the only other bottle I have on hand is a sparkling white that I don’t think would do well at all.”
Ben moved in behind her as she twisted open the wine bottle and placed gentle hands on her hips.
He gave her hips a gentle squeeze before bending down and laying a soft kiss at the juncture of her neck and shoulder.
“The wine sounds great.” He spoke softly since his mouth was practically brushing her ear, “But you are what brings me here tonight. You could serve me mac and cheese and Kool-Aid and I’d still be happy so long as you were here to enjoy it with me. ”
Melody put the wine bottle on the table and turned around in his arms. They were so close that her breasts brushed against his chest. He hissed in a breath, clearly still hyperaware of her proximity.
Seemingly unaware of the profound effect she was having on him, Melody lifted her arms and looped them around his neck.
“You really say the sweetest things,” she said as she stood up on her tiptoes and placed a soft kiss on his mouth.
Her lips were barely on his for more than a second, but that was enough to leave him tingling with want.
His heart beat double time as he looked down at her and took note of the affection pouring out of her eyes.
He didn’t want to hold up the incredible dinner she’d made for them, but a herd of wild horses couldn’t have stopped him from placing one more kiss on her lips.
He kept his tongue to himself lest he lose all control, but he couldn’t resist one more intimacy, however chaste, before dinner.
Ben stepped back, while he still could. He had to clear his throat before he trusted himself to speak. “Which seat would you like? Did I guess right in my placement?”
He’d assumed she would prefer the smaller portion and to be seated in the chair closest to the kitchen, should she feel the need to get up and check on anything.
“You did,” Melody confirmed with the happy countenance he was used to seeing from her.
Melody poured their wine, while Ben filled their water glasses. “Bon appétit.” She raised her glass and brought it down to clink gently against his.
“Bon appétit,” he returned.
With that, Ben allowed himself to satisfy at least one hunger. Picking up his fork and steak knife, he sliced off a generous bite of what looked to be a ribeye steak. He made sure to get a little bit of the chimichurri sauce onto his fork along with the steak.
Ben groaned as he wrapped his lips around his fork. He needed to consciously focus on not talking with his mouth full.
Once he’d finished chewing and could speak more politely, he made sure to compliment the chef. “Melody, this is absolutely phenomenal.”
She smiled broadly as though he’d given her the best compliment in the world. “I’m glad you like it,” she beamed.
“I more than like it,” he said as he sliced off another piece. He wanted to be ready to pop it into his mouth the moment he politely could.
“I don’t think I’ve had a steak this good at an actual steakhouse,” he praised without embellishment.
He couldn’t be sure, but he would bet good money she’d just danced her feet against the floor in excitement over his praise.
“Don’t let me stop you from eating it then,” she said, gesturing to his plate with her wineglass.
She didn’t have to tell him twice.
Conversation was light as they both dug into their meals.
The entire plate was delicious, but he was sure it was all the more enjoyable for the phenomenal company.
Even when they weren’t speaking, there was a silent communication that flowed between them.
The curve of her smile. The gentle crinkling of skin at the corners of her eyes.
The way she angled her head while thinking about something.
Melody was quintessentially herself and he just couldn’t get enough of it or her.
Melody finished eating before he did. Her plate wasn’t fully empty, but she’d certainly given it a solid effort.
Despite his plate having been fuller, Ben was determined to clear his plate. Not only did he burn an obscene number of calories during the season, the food was simply too good to waste.
Melody didn’t try to initiate conversation as he finished his meal. She took small sips of her wine and seemed to relax into the moment, looking just as happy to be in his company as he was to be in hers.