Hot damn, I was winning. My lips kicked up at the side. “Because you want to say yes just as badly as I want you to.”
A groan, telling me her will was crumbling, exited her lungs. “This is going to end badly.” She leaned forward and thumped her forehead against my chest.
“Maybe.” My arms swooped around her as I kissed her hair. “Maybe not.” Then I kissed her cheek. “I hope not.”
Looking up at me, she showed me all the faith she had in me. “So do I.”
Finally, I kissed her mouth. Her lips trembled under mine, so I eased up on the pressure until she was the one straining forward for more.
Her fingers settled in my hair. I walked her backward to her couch and settled her down. There was so much I wanted to do, and touch, and see. The closet had been nothing but a giant tease. I hadn’t been able to undress her completely, or taste her nipples or kiss the inside of the thigh. I planned to rectify all that right now.
But about as soon as we were both horizontal and I was slowly peeling her shirt up over her head, a buzzer went off somewhere in the back of her house.
Lifting my head in absolute confusion, I glanced around. “What the hell?”
Under me, Aspen laughed and swiped at my hair with fingers as if smoothing it back into place. “Oven timer.” She wiggled under me to let me know she wanted up.
I sat back, blinking at the concept of an oven timer going off. Nothing had ever been cooked in the oven at my apartment, and it sure as hell hadn’t back home. I’d had home-cooked meals a few times when the neighbor lady three trailer houses down had taken pity on us kids and invited us over. But to think of Aspen making a home-cooked meal was...unreal.
“Food,” I said dumbly as my stomach rumbled happily over the idea. Well, hell. She cooked too? This was too good to be true. “What’re we eating?”
“We?” Aspen arched her strict, professor eyebrow at me as she stood and smoothed her shirt back into place. “I don’t remember inviting you to supper?”
“Oh, come on.” I popped up after her and trailed her into the kitchen like a begging puppy. “I’m a poor, deprived college kid. Are you really going to deny this face?” I pointed out my puckered lip and batting eyelashes.
When she glanced over and caught sight of them, she laughed. “Oh, my God. You’re pathetic. Okay, fine. You can stay for supper. I have plenty.”
After she turned off the timer, she grabbed a set of hot pads, but I snatched them from her. “You’re injured. I’ll do it.”
She frowned. “Injured? What’re you talking about?”
“Your arm,” I reminded her as I opened the oven. “Falling box of books. Gashed shoulder. Fifteen stiches. Ring a bell?”
Her hand fluttered to her shoulder. “I don’t even notice them anymore. They’ve stopped pulling when I move.”
“Well, that’s good. But just wait until they start itching. After one of my mom’s friends put me in the hospital one time, I—oh, shit. Lasagna. You made lasagna?”
She blinked. “I...” Shaking her head, she glanced at the lasagna before turning back to me. “Yeah, I made lasagna. What were you saying about being put in a hospital? How old were you?”
I kind of liked the fierce expression on her face, as if she wanted to go defend the past me. I waved a hand. “Oh, ten or so. The point is, I ended up with stiches, and they irritated the hell out of me when they were ready to come out because they itched so much. But, seriously, how did you know lasagna was my favorite meal?”
“I just craved lasagna tonight.”
“Well, you made enough for an army.” I slid it free and set it on the hot plate she’d already set up on the countertop. “So, I’m saying your subconscious knew I was coming and your telepathy told you to make me this.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, she rested her hip against the counter as she faced me. “And I’m saying you’re completely ridiculous.” She shook her head, her eyes twinkling. “You know, when I first saw you, I had no idea you’d be quite this...playful.”
I caught her waist and pulled her up against me. Anchoring her bottom against the counter so I could press into her, I ducked my face and brushed my nose against her neck. “I had no idea about a lot of things about you, so I’d say we’re even on that score. You are nothing like I thought you’d be. You’re better. So...so much better.”
When I grasped the hem of her shirt and yanked it up over her head, she yelped out her surprise. “Noel!”
I grinned. “What? I think we should eat topless.” Her hands went to cover her plain white bra, but I caught her wrists. “Don’t.” My voice was soft. Pleading. “I want to see you.”
I heard her swallow. Her body trembled against mine. Then she lifted her bright green eyes and confessed, “Then I want to see you too.”
I breathed easier. “Done.” My own shirt was off half a second later.
Eyes widening, Aspen ran her gaze over me with a look of complete awe. “Wow.”