I’m definitely not afraid of him. I’m a bit intimidated by him.

“Yes.” He says again, and as he approaches me he raises his long-fingered hand to run the backs of his fingers down my cheek. I swallow hard and hold his blue gaze.

“You don’t want to talk about your kitchen?” I whisper.

“No,” he whispers back.

“Oh.” I look down at his mouth, and back up into his blue eyes. “What do you want to talk about?”

“I don’t want to talk, Natalie.” Since when has whispering been so sexy? My thighs tighten, and I’m suddenly wet and hot and panting.

Luke grasps my face between both of his hands, still gazing intently into my eyes, as if he’s trying to convey some kind of deep message, or perhaps he’s asking my permission? I slightly tilt my head back, and he oh so slowly lowers his lips to mine. He rests them there for what feels like minutes, chastely kissing me, loosely resting his soft lips on mine.

I reach my hands up and grab his forearms and he groans as he takes the kiss deeper, persuading my lips open and tickling my tongue with his.

Oh God, he smells so good, and his expert lips are a drug that I just can’t resist. He nibbles at the sides of my mouth, nibbles my lower lip then invades my mouth again. He pulls the hair tie out of my hair, spilling my long, chestnut hair around my shoulders and plunges his hands in it.

“You. Are. So. Beautiful.” He murmurs against my mouth, each word between his sweet kisses and I am completely intoxicated. I run my hands up over his shoulders and twist his hair in my fingers and hold on for dear life.

Oh, this man can kiss!

He slows the kiss down again, gently cupping my face in his hands, and leaves sweet kisses on my jaw, cheeks, my nose, then plants his lips on my forehead and takes a deep, deep breath. I run my hands back down his shoulders – holy shit, is he toned! – over his sexy arms and hold onto his forearms, and I am more than just a little dizzy.

And I don’t want him to stop.

As my blurry sight clears, Luke leans back, still cupping my face and smiles gently down at me. “I’ve wanted to do that all day.”

Where is that music coming from? I realize my phone is ringing inside my purse, still slung across my body and I break our intimate contact to rummage through and find it. Maroon 5 is whaling on about being at a payphone, and Luke’s smile breaks into a big grin as I answer the call.

“Hi, Jules.” I mouth roommate at him at his raised eyebrow.

“Nat! You haven’t answered my texts. Are you okay?” She sounds annoyed and I roll my eyes.

“I’m fine. Sorry, I didn’t see your texts. My phone has been in my bag, I must not have heard it.” I take another step back from Luke trying to clear my head and he rests his hands on those lean hips.

“Do you have dinner plans?”

“Dinner?”

Luke leans in and whispers in my free ear, “I’m making you dinner.” He winks at me – winks! – and then walks around me toward the kitchen leaving me to my call.

“Um, yeah, I have dinner plans.” I wince, knowing that I’m about to get the Jules Third Degree.

“Oh?” I know her expertly plucked brows are raised. I so do not want to have this conversation with Luke in ear-shot. I hear Adele start to sing and turn around to see Luke has paused by a sound system, fiddling with his iPod.

“Yeah, something just came up.

Why? What’s going on?” Luke is now in the kitchen, rummaging around in his fridge, and I have a great view of his jean-clad ass. Holy crap.

“I was going to invite you along to go to dinner with some of my coworkers, but if you have plans I’ll just see you tonight.” There is a pause. “Is it the mugger?”

I gasp. Leave it to Jules! “Maybe.”

“Awesome! Have fun, be safe, take pictures if you can. Toodles!” And she’s hung up and I can’t help but laugh at her. Oh, to have my friend’s carefree attitude.

“So, that was your roommate?” Luke asks as he pours us both a glass of white wine. I take a sip and am pleasantly surprised by its fruity sweetness.

“Yeah, she was checking up on me.” I sit at the lightly colored granite breakfast bar and page through my texts. I have three, all from Jules.

Hey Nat, wanna go to dinner tonight?

Nat? Turn your phone on!

Natalie, I’m making reservations…

dinner?

Oops. I lay my iPhone on the counter top and take another swallow of wine.

Luke’s watching me.

“Sorry, that was rude.” I smile apologetically. “She was worried when I didn’t respond to her texts.

Luke shakes his head. “You are definitely not rude, Natalie. So, how do you feel about alfredo sauce?”

I grin at his flirty tone. “I have a long standing love affair with alfredo sauce.”

“Really?” He chuckles and tucks a strand of my now messy hair behind my ear. “Lucky alfredo sauce.”

He turns around again and starts pulling out pots and pans and ingredients from his pantry and fridge. He’s so…

competent in the kitchen.

When he whips back around to start making order of his chaos, he sees me watching him and gives me a half smile.

“What are you thinking?”

“You’re very competent in the kitchen.”

“Why thank you.” He bows grandly and makes me laugh.

“Who taught you to cook?”

“My mom.” He puts a pot of water on to boil and starts grating cheese.

“What can I do to help?”

“Sit there and be beautiful.”

I blush. “Really, I want to help.”

“Okay, you grate this cheese and I’ll get the chicken going.”

I happily come around the island and take over the cheese grating, watching Luke move about his kitchen with ease.

Soon the room smells of grilling chicken, making my mouth water. Luke moves up behind me and puts his arms around me, checking the cheese status, without actually touching me.

My skin is on fire. Touch me! Hold me! But he doesn’t; before I know it he’s moved away and my body is almost quivering with need.

I don’t remember ever feeling this physical pull to a man before. It’s a little scary, but it’s a lot of fun.

“Okay, I think we’re almost ready to dish up. Can you strain this pasta?” I gladly assist him as he finishes the sauce, and my stomach growls.

Mmmm… a sexy man who can cook!

Luke pulls down plates, silverware and napkins. “Let’s eat outside, enjoy the view.”