Her jaw drops at my sarcasm and she rolls her eyes.
Fine. I had that coming.
I抳e got to do some Googling and find out what the career path is for marine biologists. Damn, why couldn抰 she just take over Wired Cup? This would be much easier.
At least I manage to avoid Eliza and the impending hell-discussion about feelings or whatever the fuck for the rest of the evening as I sign off from my last meeting with finance back in Seattle.
If only I were just as happy to avoid her all night too.
By the following evening, it抯 been a day and too damn long since I saw her.
She抯 not in her lab when I go searching, so I look around outside. On the other side of the house, a few yards away, I see smoke curling up in the distance.
I think it抯 the old picnic area with its fire pit and laid stones where my grandparents would host luaus and barbecues ages ago.
Something tells me to follow it.
My nostrils tingle as I close in and see a small, familiar figure with curves that make my body knot.
She抯 sitting in front of the fire pit, brewing coffee over an open flame in a small pot balanced over it.
Out here, we抮e alone, surrounded by lush vegetation and a makeshift wall on one side. I sit down beside her.
揧ou fired up the old fire pit for brewing??I ask.
揥hy struggle with a lab grill when I can do better out here? This is a real campfire, a lot like what Wyatt used to brew the original stuff.?
揥yatt??
揟he guy who gave me the original idea back when he was homeless. The latest flavor is mine, but he was a huge help with the original technique,?she explains. 揑 tried to see if he wanted to help refine it before I started working for you, actually, but he抯 busy with his girlfriend and a real job and all…？
My jaw relaxes when I hear the word girlfriend.
Fuck. I hadn抰 even realized I抎 gone full jealous Neanderthal.
My growl is still neolithic when I reach for her, pulling her into my lap with a startled squeal. 揧ou spend too much time on your feet. I have a better idea. It抯 after nine, Eliza. Why not end your day at a decent hour??
She turns, devastating me with this moonlit smile that turns her eyes into amber gems.
揃ecause, Lump. We抮e both horrible perfectionists.?
I smile. 揑 thought it was pretty close to solid? Don抰 tell me any of the staff gave you a bad review at the tasting??I run my finger around the nape of her neck.
揘o, but some of the comments were really helpful for making tweaks. Especially from the household staff梩hey know what fresh Kona coffee should taste like when they抮e getting it every day from the farm.?She relaxes against my chest. 揂lso, I know you think my stuff is perfect, but you抮e biased.?
揃ull. You were talented long before you bewitched me,?I growl.
She giggles.
揑s your boss really such a hardass tyrant that you抮e afraid to quit working before ten at night??
揗y boss is a big softie. He doesn抰 scare me梟ot much桰 just like doing things right,?she whispers, tracing my jaw with her finger.
揂 brat like you doesn抰 startle easy. One of your best qualities. Then again, so is this.?I cup her face, relishing her softness before I bring it home.
I lean down, kissing her until her moan flutters against my mouth, all teeth and tongue and seething breath.
揙h!?She pulls away from me and gasps. 揥ait. Let me get this fire out.?
揑抣l do it. You have another fire to tend to,?I say, unbuckling my belt.
She blushes. Her eyes are already glued to the angry ridge in my pants.
Fuck, everything about this woman is damn right adorable.
Once the fire is extinguished, she gets up, ready to go to my room.
I lead her back to our spot with wonder in her eyes.
揥hy take you inside when I can have you under the stars??I whisper. 揧ou抳e brought a perfectly good blanket.?
She bites her lip and doesn抰 protest as I throw it over the grass next to the rocks.
Then, with one last lingering feral look, it抯 fucking on.
I lean over her, tearing off her dress, stamping my hungry mouth down her bare flesh until her leg curls around my waist. I trail kisses down her body until I抦 on my knees, stopping over her panties to inhale her deeply.
Her scent fucking unglues me.
My fingers barely have the patience to shove her panties aside before my mouth is on her, loving how she gasps. Her knees give instantly and I fold my arm around her ass, holding her up against my shoulder as I eat my fill.
揅ole! Holy shit棓
I抦 glad that my tongue on her clit chokes her off. There抯 nothing remotely holy about what I抦 doing to her pussy, growling as I push my face into her.
I make her ride my beard, dragging its roughness against her inner thighs each time I breathe before my tongue plunges into her again.