Have Your Cake (9 page)

Damn, the man was dangerous to her sanity. A longer breath and she righted herself enough not to fall over on wobbly legs. She dare not look at him; certain Asher would have a smug smile on his face, which always made her heart speed up. His grin was like a promise she was certain he could fulfill.

She took careful steps to the oven and opened the door. The act sent a waft of satisfying goodness into the air. She admired the perfection of her golden brown treat and placed it on the rack she’d set on the island.

She twirled to Asher, half expecting to see his smirk. No smile showed on his lips. His features were soft, focus smoldering with a new determination. The warmth radiating from his stare tugged at her chest.
Yeah. Dangerous.

A
sher made two cups of premium coffee while the crumble cooled and retrieved two small plates and silver forks, setting the island so they could sit across from each other. Every part of him hummed for ten to twelve minutes of hot foreplay, but not with this one. His little baker was a different cut of the pie. He’d let her get away for the moment, but wanted to spend the morning looking her over.

He watched her like a hawk as she carved the heel and removed the first slice. Her lips curled in a gentle smile. She nabbed the two dishes he’d set out and took them to the counter. Her hands worked with confident delicacy. Warmth spread through his gut as he thought about the touch of those careful hands. She set his plate with a thick slice and carried it over to him. He set his mug on the kitchen island and spied the cake. Her creation looked and smelled like a piece of heaven.

“Eat up.” She smiled and went back to the counter for her own slice.

The first bite melted warm and sweet on his tongue. The cinnamon sugar topping dissolved a burst of flavored texture against the roof of his mouth. A loud moan passed his throat. “Damn, Cyana, pardon my language. But, this is the best crumble ever.”

A confident smile spread her lips. “Thank you.”

“I wish I would have stocked the kitchen before you showed up. Hell, this here makes me want to run out right now to the grocer.”

She laughed. “We have no car, remember?”

He smiled. His F-450 was in the far parking lot left of the house, concealed by a five-foot tall natural fence of boxwoods. He could have volunteered to take her to her folks in his truck on day one, but something in his gut had advised against it. He was smart enough to know admitting he had transportation now would throw a dent in their time together and probably land him in the doghouse. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt. “Yeah, we don’t have a car, but we do have a boat.”

Her brow formed a frown. “A boat? Where?”

“Down at the tank out back.”

“The tank?”

He gave a half-smile. “That’s cowboy for lake, little lady.”

“Oh.” She chuckled. “I didn’t know there was a lake on the property.”

“Sure. Just off the workshop through the woods. I keep a boat out there for good rest days like today.”

She peeked out the big kitchen window providing a view of the grounds. No workers. Every Saturday he sent the world away to do whatever he felt like. Everyone was gone. It was just the two of them.

“It’s cloudy,” she said.

“Just perfect. The fish will be biting. You like fishin’?”

“Sure,” she said. “I haven’t been to a lake in a long time.”

“Well, let’s eat up. We’ll head out when you’re ready.”

A
sher made quick work of the crumble. He ate every bit of the loaf with only one cup of coffee. Satisfied he truly enjoyed it, Cyana went to the showers and dressed in a white zippered hoodie and grey shorts. Her flip-flops stuck out from the duffle bag. She slid them on.

By the time she made it downstairs, Asher was ready. She met him in the kitchen. He lowered the coffee mug from his face.
Damn.
The curve of his lips made her want to taste them again. A t-shirt took shape over his muscled neck, shoulders and chest, but the V-neck left the light brown trail of hair exposed at the top. He had the perfect amount of fur for her, thick enough to be visible, but not a dense forest requiring heavy maintenance. The cargo shorts stopped at his knees. Sandals strapped his feet. Even in his casual style, he exuded sexuality. It took sizable strength not to mount him.

He straightened off the counter, setting the mug down. “You ready?”

C
yana followed Asher along the stone path towards the shed. He moved in close, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. Yesterday was a touch of home when he walked to the house with her tucked into his side. If there was such a place where peace existed, it’d be wherever Cyana was. He kissed her forehead, silently grateful she didn’t move away. With a smile, she wrapped her arms about his waist. She’d accepted his attentions even when she seemed hesitant. He shortened his stride to match her steps, not minding the lengthening of the walk time.

She let go of him at the edge of the wood. Her sight followed the height of the pines. He took her hand, giving it a light squeeze to command her focus.

“Lions and tigers and bears,” he said.

She laughed.

“Come on, Love, it’s not far.”

She nodded. He led them through the wood and into a small clearing at the edge of the private lake. He’d found the perfect spot to build a pier and cleared enough land to bring in a load of white sand. He used the leftover sod from the lawn to patch in a trail leading to the dock. His small boat was off to the left securely tied down. It was adequate for the two of them but small enough to make close contact inevitable.

Several rods and his tackle box were in the boat where he’d arranged them yesterday morning. He climbed into the craft first and held his arms up. She bit down on her bottom lip before taking his shoulders and leaning forward. He lifted her by the waist and slid her down his front at a pace which threatened his control. Her breasts teased his sight before gliding over his chest. Her feet hit the bottom of the boat. He held her close, using his help to take advantage of the opportunity to hold her.

“Are you good?” he asked.

She shoved the curl dangling by her right eye away before flashing a heated stare up to him, then down to the boat. She nodded, but didn’t speak.

He loosened his hold on her. “Go on and have a seat so I can take us out.”

She gave a soft “Okay” before following his instructions.

He steered them to the location where he often had the most luck and took a seat.

“You want to bait your own?”

She half-smiled. “I won’t need much help, Cowboy.”

He grinned. “I like a woman who doesn’t mind getting dirty.”

“I haven’t found any mess I can’t clean up, white boy.”

He recognized the flirt and nudged her shoulder. “Some things I want to mess up only in certain ways. You up for it, sister-girl?”

She laughed. “I’ve not met someone like you, Asher.”

“You ever date a white boy?”

She shook her head. “Never. Have you dated a sister-girl?”

“I’ve had a few aliens, but I think they were still white.”

She laughed hardily, covering her stomach and heaving in air to recover. “I think I’ve met a few of their black relatives.”

He held a shoulder against hers.

“So what’s a guy, like me, have to do to get a girl, like you, to go out with him?”

“White boy, I’ve been with you since I got here,” she said.

“Yeah, but you haven’t had a chance to leave yet. I need to know if and when you’ll be back. This time I don’t want to put you to work. I just wanna take you out.”

She smiled, leaning into him. “I think I’d go for that.”

“How ‘bout tomorrow?”

“Asher, I have to work on the cake samples.”

“Okay. Monday, the bride will be in and ready to melt with your cake in her mouth. How ‘bout after?”

“If I get to a good stopping point and nothing comes up on Monday, I will call you and arrange something.”

A
sher gathered the rods and net but kept an eye on the chocolate beauty tantalizing his senses. Cyana tortured him by kicking off her shoes and spreading a sweet smelling bug repellant and sun block mixture over her long legs from foot to upper thigh. She sat up straight, rocking the boat.

“You want some?” She offered. “It’s SPF.”

He peered to the overcast skies. “I’ll be fine. What’s a girl like you doing with SPF anyway?”

“Honey, this is Georgia. If the sun is shining, then it’s burning. I’m not getting old before my time. It’s just habit. Besides, mosquitoes love brown sugar.”

He chuckled, holding out one of the rods. “Lucky mosquitoes.”

She took his offering but chose not to comment. He opened the live bait container. She was the first to reach in and set her hook. His sight caught hers. She raised a brow.

“Well, all right, little lady,” he said thoroughly impressed. “Cast away.”

The lake was calm and peaceful as he expected it to be. The crickets chirped around the shoreline. Birds tweeted in the trees. Asher sat back in the small chair enjoying the pastime. His bright bobber danced in the water before the line dove. He pulled back on the rod.

“Whoa,” Cyana said. “That was quick.”

He laughed, reeling his catch to the surface of the lake. Cyana grabbed the net and leaned out to bring the fish in. “Ah,” she cried, “it’s a catfish.” Alarm tainted her voice.

“Is that a problem?” he asked.

“Ew, ugly. Get it!” She held the net out to him. The fish flicked water in her face. She wrenched away with a cry. “Ew, yuck. Asher, get it.” She squealed with more urgency.

He burst with laughter taking the net. The fish wiggled for freedom. She wiped at the sprinkles over her face.

“You okay?” He tugged the fish from the net by its mouth.

“Get it away.” She sat with her back straight, gripping the seat.

He swung the fish towards her. “You scared of a little flathead catfish?”

“Asher, I will throw you off this boat.” Her glare meant business. The fish flicked its tail at her as if protesting her reaction to its appearance. “Asher,” she screamed.

He drew the fish back with a chuckle, disconnecting the hook from its mouth before securing it to the trotline. “I don’t get it. You reach right into the worms with no problem; then freak at a catfish.”

“I don’t like them. They’re ugly,” she said.

“And the rest of the fish world?”

“I don’t have a problem with any other fish...well, except monkfish. But, I’m not catching
any
of those.”

He baited his hook and cast the line again. “Maybe we can help you overcome your fear of ugly fish after today, huh?”

“Fat chance,” she replied.

He hooked another catfish fairly quick and reeled it from the lake. “Get the net, Cyana. Get it,” he urged and stood.

He brought the fish from the water towards her. Cyana squirmed away. “No,” she squealed.

“Get the net. I’m going to drop it.” He dipped the fish towards her, sending drips of water over her legs. She squeaked and scrambled for the net to trap the beast before it could splash her. Asher flopped in his seat while he rolled with laughter.

“Asher, you’re mean,” she said, holding the net and fish with her elbows locked straight out over the water.

Her wrist was warm in his grasp. He chuckled while he took the net from her hands. “And you’re a hero. Look how brave you were when I was in trouble.” He softened his voice, lifting her hand to his lips to kiss it. “Forgive me.”

She tilted her head to the side. “I’ll think about it, Cowboy.”

He grinned. The fish wiggled in the net, reminding him to put it on the trotline.

Cyana’s line whizzed. She hooted with joy and grabbed the reel.

“At a girl.” He commended her while she fearlessly brought the catch in.

“Asher, what do I do? I don’t want to pull it up,” she said.

He grabbed the net. “I got it. Send it my way.”

She lifted the large fish. He went forward with the net. The catfish gave a strong argumentative shake, sending Cyana back with a squeal.

C
yana nearly dropped the pole when the fish shook stronger than she’d expected. Asher reached forward. She heaved back, rocking the boat hard. He lost his footing and she dropped the rod as he fell off the boat.

“Asher.” She screamed at the lake, coming to the edge of the boat. Only ripples greeted her. “Oh my god. Ash—”

His head popped up a few feet away. She sat back on her heels taken with a sudden fit of giggles.

He gently tread the water, giving her a stern look. She covered her big smile but she couldn’t stop laughing.

“So, that’s payback, huh?” he asked, coming closer to the boat.

“No! It wasn’t.” She spoke; alarmed he would think she did it on purpose. “Really it wasn’t, Asher. I’m so sorry I dropped your reel.” She tried to stop snickering but seeing his hair slicked down and t-shirt puffed with air kept her amusement going.

“All right. All right,” he said, reaching for her. “Help me in.”

She took his grasp. He gave a sharp yank. Cyana let out a cry as she fell over the edge. The sudden swoosh of water around her was disorienting. The lake was warm. She felt the point where her body got still and started to rise. She righted herself in the water and came up to the sound of Asher’s chortle.

“Asher, you’re in big trouble.” She splashed water at him. He ducked under. She spotted his white tee headed her direction. “No.” She shrieked and tried to escape. He was a fast swimmer, catching her leg before she could grasp the boat.

They both burst to the surface with big breaths and laughter. He wrapped his arms around her, tugging her close before grabbing the edge of the boat to float next to her. She caught his gaze, sparkling with happiness before his lips graced hers.

Her body pulsed with desire at each stroke of his tongue. The taste of him fueled every passion in her blood. A rip of long rolling thunder rumbled from the clouds before he moved away.

“I think that’s our cue,” he murmured.

Cyana stepped onto the small pier. The thunder growled above. She inhaled the thick humidity from the promise of rain. The familiar fragrance always lifted her spirits. She sent a silent prayer of thanks the lightning hadn’t streaked the sky. It was good to be careful and get off the lake. She could hear her mother’s voice quoting, “If you can hear thunder then you’re close enough to the storm to be struck by lightnin’.”

The thought of her mom made her smile. She couldn’t wait to see her family today. Cyana squished her toes against the slick bottom of her flip flops, thankful she hadn’t kicked them off. Trekking back through the woods would be torture with all the fallen pinecones.

She glanced back at Asher tying off the boat. He set the tackle box and rod on the pier. He used a small bucket he’d left behind to fill with water and loaded the two ugly fish. His drenched cargos clung to his rear. The tee hugged the rippling muscles of his back. Her belly and thighs warmed. Cyana bit down on the inside of her lower lip. Her nipples already felt like they could cut glass, but she could easily blame the response on the lake water and cool breeze.

She knew better. It was Asher. Being close to him warmed areas deep and needy. She peered down at her hands, unconsciously wringing extra water from her hoodie. It splashed against her toes. Another set of legs joining hers wrenched her focus upward. Her heart seemed to skip a few beats. Asher’s stare flamed with a dark wanting. She admired his broad shoulders thick with muscle and defined chest through the wet tee before she realized he had his hands full and she was unencumbered.

“I’ll take the tackle box. You can keep the ugly fish.” She reached for it. The brush of his hand sent a jolt to her chest.
Get a grip, Cyan
a
.

“How do you like your fish?” he asked.

“Raw normally.” She pivoted toward the lush grass beyond the sand landing the pier jutted from.

“Oh, a sushi girl, huh?”

“Cowboys know about sushi? Well, glaze my donuts.”

He let out a short laugh. “Sister-girl, you sure are full of surprises.” She could tell he had a toothy grin on his face. Her feet hit the patch of turf when he asked, “How long since you’ve had it fried?”