Ray of Love (Lifestyle by Design Book 3) (6 page)

She forced herself to turn away from him. "Do you cook?"

"Uh, sometimes. But it's much easier for me to eat out."

"You can just watch me. I work faster when I do it by myself."

Ray perched himself on the bar stool by the breakfast nook, leaning casually and looking irresistibly handsome.

"Did you come home late from work today?" he asked.

"No. I left the office at exactly five o'clock. But I took my sweet time selecting an outfit to wear and then I found out I didn't have all the ingredients I need so I had to go to the shops. My brother was here on Tuesday. He helped himself to my groceries and I didn't ask him what he took."

"I love your red dress, from what I can see of it. I can't wait for you to take your apron off."

Faye faltered with the chopping of the vegetables. Ray's low, seductive tone heated her up as her body clenched involuntarily.

Damn it! I want to be the seducer tonight, not the one being seduced.
 

She gave him a sultry look. "Well, you'll have to wait. If you're good while I cook, I might even let you untie it for me."

He smiled at her, his stare hot and provocative. "If that's the reward, then I better be good."

"If you're better than good," she said huskily, "you'll get something even better."

"Like what?"

"A very special dessert," she replied with a wink.

Ray's face split into a blinding grin.

Oh God. He's just so beautiful.

He stood up and sauntered towards her. "Really?" he asked as he stopped behind her. "What kind of dessert?" His breath was tantalisingly warm against her ear.

Faye went from moist to wet, her body reacting deliciously to him. "Mr. Thackery, you'll have to wait to find out." She whirled around and pushed him away playfully. "Now be a good boy and go back to your seat so I can feed you dinner. The way you're behaving, you won't get anything."

"Okay, sorry. I promise to be good while you cook
.
" His smile was unrepentant.

*******

"Let me help you with the dishes."

Ray took their plates to the sink, rinsed them and loaded them in the dishwasher as Faye transferred the leftovers to a smaller container and put them in the fridge.

"Where did you learn to cook like that?" Her food was so tasty it distracted him somewhat from his other physical hunger, which said a lot about how good their meal was.

"My mum is a wonderful cook and she taught me from when I was little. Plus, I love cooking. Even when I'm by myself, I try to experiment with new recipes."

"It was better than the food I get from my regular Thai place."

"Yes, you told me that already," she chuckled. "Thank you for the compliment."

"No. Thank
you
."

Now that dinner was finished, nothing was diverting Ray's mind from his other unfulfilled need. He was so goddamn aroused throughout dinner that it took all his willpower to refrain from grabbing and kissing her. She pushed him close to the breaking point when she lightly touched his arm to ask how he liked the curry, or when she accidentally brushed her knee against his thigh when she got up to get water from the fridge or when she innocently licked the sauce that dripped on her fingers. The only thing that stopped him from lifting her off her chair and laying her on floor was knowing she went to so much trouble to cook for him - and the fact that her dishes were absolutely mouth-watering.

He strode towards her, not taking his eyes off her lovely face. He cupped the back of her neck and devoured her mouth. She tasted sweet, spicy and delectably Faye. Heated blood rushed to his groin, making him harder than he'd ever been, as she moaned and pressed her soft body against his muscular one. He snaked his arms around her, trapping her, never wanting to let her go.

"Well, I think you've been really good all throughout dinner," she murmured as his lips moved to her earlobes. "Do you want your special dessert now?" She ground her pelvis against his and undid a button on his shirt.

Holy fuck. Faye for dessert.
"Yes, please," he rumbled and hungrily nipped the skin below her ear, her scent intoxicating him even more.

She gave a low, sexy laugh. "Okay." She got out of his embrace, took his hand and led him to the couch. She pushed him down to a sitting position and brought her face inches from his. "Why don't you turn the TV on while I plate it up? You'll like it. It's my special cherry cheesecake."

What?
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto his lap. "But I thought …"

Her grin was teasing. "You thought what?"

He narrowed his eyes at her. She was toying with him. Probably to get back at him for not taking things all the way during their last date.
Well, two can play this game.

With a liquid motion that made Faye's eyes widen with surprise, he had her lying on her couch with him on top.

"I got the impression I was having something else for dessert," he rasped as he rained butterfly kisses on her beautiful face.

She giggled breathlessly. "What did you think we were having?" she persisted.

In response, he pushed her dress off her shoulders, just far enough to reveal the creamy swell of her breasts without exposing her nipples. He ran his lips on her bared skin, licking and nipping as he went along.

"Ray," Faye gasped. She clutched his hair and arched her back, bringing her chest closer to him.

"So how good is this special cheesecake of yours?" he murmured as he thumbed a pebbled nipple through the material.

Faye tried to stifle a moan. "Mmphhh … those who've had it have sworn it's the best they've had," she panted.

He pulled her dress farther down and stared open-mouthed for a few glorious seconds at the perfect rosy peaks he uncovered.
Damn.
He captured one between his lips and moaned with pleasure as he tasted it with his eager tongue.

"Ahh, Ray!"

Faye's cry of pleasure inflamed him even further.

He had wanted to win their fun little game, had intended to tease her before stopping and saying he was now ready for a piece of her cherry cheesecake but he found himself pleading instead. "Can I have you now, Faye? Please?"

She smiled at him sweetly, her eyes hooded with desire. "Since you asked so nicely … yes. Please."

*******

Faye blinked in confusion when Ray raised himself up from the couch.
Didn't I just say yes?

"Come on up, baby," he said, extending a hand to her. "Not here. Bed."

"Oh." She scrambled to her feet as she righted her clothes and led him to her bedroom. Once there, she switched on the light and faced him.

Slowly, she shimmied off her dress, watching the play of desire on Ray's handsome face as his darkened eyes followed her every movement.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered reverently as she stood before him with just her G-string on.

Wordlessly, she took two steps towards him and reached for his shirt buttons. She could feel his heart galloping in his chest as she undressed him, her breath hitching at the sight of his muscular frame.

Whoa, he is mega-hot.

She ran her fingers on his pectorals and down towards his abs. A thrill ran through her as his muscles tightened in response to her touch. "How do you maintain these?"

"Gym. You like?"

She smiled seductively. "Oh, yeah."

Her heartbeat accelerated as her attention focused on the huge bulge inside his pants. She couldn't wait to see all of him. Her fingers made short work of his belt. When she grazed his erection as she started on his pants, he hissed and grabbed her hand.

"Sweetheart, I better do that," he said in a strangled voice.

Gingerly, he unzipped his fly. Before getting out of them, he retrieved a condom packet from his pocket.

Faye knew what she wanted to ask him next. Ray wasn't just anyone. He was a decent guy. She cupped his face. "Do you trust me?"

He stilled. "Of course."

"I'm clean and I'm on the pill. Can I trust you?"

"Yes, you can," he responded with certainty.

"Then we won't need this." She took the condom from him and slid it back in his pocket.

The guttural sound that escaped Ray was in contrast to the sheer tenderness of the kiss he bestowed on her lips, her cheeks, her eyelids, her forehead … Oh, it was so sweet. But she needed more. Much, much more. She was burning for him and needed his attention on certain parts of her body.

"Ray, please." The need in her voice was unmistakable.

He groaned. Her words seemed to snap him out of his self-control. In one swift movement, he was out of his remaining clothing and was guiding her towards the bed. She was on her back so quickly she didn't get the chance to admire his fully naked body.
Later,
she promised herself.

He reared on top of her and kissed her with such passion it took her breath away. His hand moved to cup her breast, kneading gently, as his lips trailed downwards from her mouth to her neck and her shoulders before hungrily suckling on a taut nipple.

She let out a lusty moan.

"Baby, you drive me crazy," he rasped before laving the other peak with his tongue … and heading southward.

"I need to taste you." He slid her panties down her legs and tossed them to the floor. Spreading her legs apart, he settled himself in between them.

She panted in anticipation, hungry for his touch and his kisses on her area of greatest need.

"Fuck," he croaked. "You're soaking."

"Ray," she whimpered. When his tongue flicked her clitoris, she cried out loud. Her hips moved involuntarily, swaying uncontrollably against his mouth. Ray gave her all the attention she craved, his lips and tongue knowing exactly what to do to take her over the edge.

Her mind blanked as her body clenched in an intense climax. She was still in the midst of it when Ray blanketed her with his body and drove his throbbing erection inside her.

Oh fuck, he's glorious.

The feel of his iron-hard thickness filling her like no other man had before, his loud panting as he thrust hard and fast inside her, his smooth back slippery with sweat as she held him, brought on another incredible orgasm. Stars swam in her eyes as she screamed her release. She barely heard Ray calling out her name as he reached his own peak.

Faye languidly stroked Ray's head that was buried in her neck, both of them breathing hard.

Oh my God. That was incredible.

He lifted his head up and planted a weakened kiss on her lips. "Baby, that was incredible."

She giggled. "My thoughts exactly."

He smiled, his eyes tender and affectionate as he stroked her cheek with a knuckle. "You're so beautiful," he murmured.

"You said that already. Thank you," she answered shyly.

"And you're hot. So goddamn hot."

She blushed. "So are you, Mr. Thackery. Beautiful and hot."

"And have I mentioned you're a bloody excellent cook?"

She laughed out loud. "Are you trying to flatter me? Didn't you notice you got me in bed already?"

"I'm just working towards the next round," he grinned wickedly.

"You're so prepared. But I don't think you need to work too hard. You're still inside me."

He raised his eyebrows as if that fact had escaped him. "So I am. Can I take those words back and use them later?"

"Sorry, no can do." She pulled his head down for a kiss.

After long minutes of gentle kisses, their bodies burned again. In this next round, they took their sweet time getting to know each other in the physical sense.

CHAPTER SIX

"Ahhh!" Faye cried in ecstasy as she bucked on top of Ray, her inner walls clamping his hard cock repeatedly.

"God … Faye … aarrghh!"

She kept on grinding her hips until she felt him relax, then collapsed on him.

They lay there for minutes, unmoving, apart from the laboured rise and fall of their chests as they tried to catch their breaths.

"Hmm. Have I told you how incredible you are?" Ray asked as he lightly ran his fingers on her back.

"Don't tell me you're gearing up for another round," she teased.

He chuckled. "No. Not yet. You've just zapped all of my energy. Give me a few minutes."

She giggled - again. She wasn't normally the giggly type but around Ray, giggles just bubbled out of her.

"I think we should save our energy for another day. It's late and we both have to get to work early tomorrow."

"I suppose you're right," he agreed, glancing at the clock on her bedside table.

He tilted her chin so she was looking at him. "What are you doing tomorrow night?"

She thought for a second. "I've nothing planned."

He smiled in relief. "Can I see you tomorrow?"

"Yes. I'd like that."

"You told me the other day you weren't available. Change of plans?"

"No. I forgot we're not having our usual Friday night dinner because we're meeting on Saturday for Clarise's sister's hen's party."

"Oh, good. What do you want to do? We can go out to dinner, maybe go for a walk somewhere …"

"Can we watch the other movie that I've been wanting to see? But this one's a rom-com, if that's okay with you?"

"Sure. I don't mind."

She braced herself up against his chest as she remembered something. "You never told me what was on your mind the last time we went to the movies."

He grinned salaciously. "We already did some of it."

Understanding dawned on her. "Oh." She laughed softly as she settled herself back in his embrace, feeling sated and sleepy.

"I better go so you can have your rest. It's late."

"Okay. Do you want to have a shower here first?"

"Don't tempt me," he growled as he got out of bed and proceeded to get dressed. "I'll have it at home so we can be sure there won't be another round tonight. I have a busy day tomorrow and so do you." He paused before continuing. "Can I stay over tomorrow night?"

"Yes, but Clarise is picking me up at eleven Saturday morning for the first part of Megan's hen's party. A few of us are going to a day spa with her to get a massage."

He smiled and kissed her forehead. "I'll be gone before then."