I was growing up.” She went straight for the fridge when they got to the kitchen, glad her pounding heart had begun to calm. “Not sure how good it’ll go with beer, but you have to at least have a taste. I promise this is actually good. I’ve already tasted it.” Pulling out the bowl, she went on about how it took her time to perfect it, but she finally had it down.
“My mom bought us regular pudding growing up,” Orlando said, smiling when she glanced up at him. “Not even the kind in the box you make. The already made stuff that came in little cups. She’s never been much for cooking either.”
Danica laughed softly, trying not to sound as unnerved as she was still feeling. “Obviously, I don’t do a whole lot of cooking, but when it’s something I like, I tend to make it often. Believe it or not, there are a few dishes I can nail and this is one of them.”
Orlando leaned against the counter next to where Danica was standing with the bowl of rice pudding. Like earlier when he kissed the baby, he was so close she could feel the warmth of his big virile body next to hers, and it had her heart speeding up again. There’d been plenty of times she’d appreciated his vulnerability when it came to learning anything new about dealing with the baby. It made being around such a hunk of a man less intimidating. As much as she’d tried to tone it down, even in her head for the sake of not making a complete ass of herself, there was no denying it now. This close to him she could practically feel the masculinity and sensuality the man exuded.
Pulling out a spoon from the drawer next to her, she concentrated on the damn pudding instead. She took a small spoonful of the pudding, making sure it had some of the cinnamon sprinkles on it. “Here try this.” She lifted the spoon at him, but instead of taking it, he opened his mouth. Not wanting to make more of it than it was, Danica spoon-fed the pudding to him as if it were no big deal. Even with all her attempts to hide the angst she’d been feeling for weeks, it was all she could do to keep her hand from shaking. He ate it, chewing slowly as if a bit wary that he might have to spit it out. The whole time he stared at her until he closed his eyes, and a deep moan followed. Danica’s heart spiked all over again at the almost scandalous sound. “That’s damn good.” He opened his eyes and licked his lips. Danica’s eyes were immediately distracted by that until his next word. “More.”
Catching herself before he caught her staring at those lips again, she turned back to the bowl of the pudding and took a far more generous portion of the pudding for him this time. She brought it to his mouth again, since clearly, he wasn’t planning on taking the spoon for himself. The spoonful this time proved to be a bit too generous as some of it dribbled off the side of his lip. Without thought, Danica reached up to wipe it before it dribbled down onto his shirt. Her finger caught the falling dribble just in time, and to her breathless surprise, he licked it off her finger. They both froze, staring into each other’s eyes, even as he continued to lick his lips. Danica’s eyes fell to his lips again where he still had a tiny bit just off the side. Reaching up slowly, she wiped that too and his hand caught hers. Her eyes were back on his as he took her finger and licked it clean again all the while staring deep into her eyes. Without taking his eyes off her, Orlando reached for the pudding—no spoon. He brought his finger up to her mouth and touched the pudding to her lips, and she licked it softly. Feeling her body tremble, Danica’s conflicted insides were in utter turmoil. The mental chastising she’d done that afternoon was about to fly out the window. She was no saint. There’d been a few naughty one-nighters in her past but never with anyone she’d begun to have feelings for. Never with one she’d established was forbidden. And certainly, never with one who could so easily have her panties damp this quickly. How in the world was she expected