you need to rest?”
Charli hadn’t woken up next to a man since college, and seeing Miikka sprawled across her bed on his stomach, one arm around her waist, the other tucked under the pillow, was a beautiful sight. They’d had a lot of sex last night, at least four times, and she was sore but spectacularly sated. Her body hummed with the memories of what they’d done, and watching him sleep beside her had her turned on all over again. He was so handsome, even in his sleep, and with nothing but a sheet covering his lower half, she got to enjoy a lovely view of his back.
There was a tattoo of the number forty-four, which was his jersey number, on his right shoulder blade and a small scar on his right shoulder. She wanted to lean over and lick them but she figured he needed his rest. She had a feeling there would be plenty more sex today once he was awake, and she wanted to surprise him with breakfast anyway. She’d never cooked for a man, beyond the chicken and dumplings the other night, and she slid out of bed with a little grin.
She would make blueberry pancakes and bacon, something she had a feeling Miikka didn’t eat much. While he’d undoubtedly had bacon, if he hadn’t had meatloaf, he probably hadn’t tried blueberry pancakes either.
She freshened up in the bathroom and went downstairs. She made a pot of coffee in her old-fashioned coffee maker, lamenting the fact she didn’t have one of those new ones that used pods to make one cup at a time. She would have liked to try different flavors, occasionally make a cappuccino or something, but there were always more important expenses and she really only drank coffee at home on the weekends since the school provided coffee to the teachers.
She hummed as she mixed the pancake batter and warmed up her griddle. She’d read an article about cooking bacon in the oven instead of in a pan, so she lined a rectangular pan with parchment paper and put it in the oven as she poured the batter to make the first six pancakes.
“Good morning.” Miikka came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his head on her shoulder. “I was going to take you out for breakfast.”
“More fun to eat here,” she said with a smile. “Because then I can take you back upstairs and ravage you again.”
He rumbled out a laugh. “Yes, this is excellent idea.” He paused. “What is this you make? Pancake?”
“Blueberry pancakes. You’re not allergic to blueberries, are you?”
He shook his head. “I’m allergic to nothing.”
“Good.” She handed him a coffee mug. “There’s creamer in the fridge and sugar on the table.”
“I like black.” He poured himself a cup and watched her. “I can help?”
“No. You just watch and then eat. Do you like pancakes?”
“I never have.”
She groaned. “Seriously? What do you eat?”
“Steak, chicken, fish. Eggs and bacon. Vegetables. Sometimes pasta, but mostly protein and vegetables. Is better for hockey.”
“Well, you might have to teach me to eat better because I love potatoes and pasta.”
“You aren’t professional athlete,” he said. “I have to eat a certain way for the job. You can eat what you want.”
“Well, I’ll try to be better about cooking healthy when I cook for you,” she said, flipping the first round of pancakes. She leaned over to check the bacon, decided it wasn’t ready, and went back to the griddle.
“I like watching you in the kitchen,” he said after a moment. “I imagine you on the counter…legs open, me eating you…”
Her cheeks burned with embarrassment but she was smiling. “Food first, then all your sexy fantasies.”
“I can put you on the counter?”
Their eyes locked. “After breakfast, you can put me anywhere.”
After breakfast, Miikka helped her clean up and then did just as he’d suggested. He set her on the counter, spread her legs and went down on her. He didn’t stop until she’d come twice and then he threw her over his shoulder, took her back upstairs, and fucked her until neither of them could move. He had a high libido, but this was a lot, even for him. They were out of condoms, though, so he was going to have to go out if they were going to do it again.
“I’m dead,” she announced, lying flat on her back with one arm thrown over her eyes.
“Yes?” He lifted her arm to peer into her eyes. “I think you are