cover of a romance novel, or in an action movie. Maybe even on the pages of a men's fitness magazine.
The fact that he was cooking for me took his hotness level up several notches.
"You said earlier that you cook. Is a grilled cheese sandwich the extent of your abilities?" I teased him.
He shook his head but I saw the smile on his face. He knew I was giving him shit. "Nope. Colette made sure that I knew my way around the kitchen. Same with J.J. and Brody. But I actually like it."
"What do you cook during the week?" I asked, drinking more Dr. Pepper.
Ben flipped the sandwich over in the skillet with an adept turn of his spatula. "Mostly I grill chicken or steak and roast vegetables. Colette also drummed the concept of a healthy diet into everyone in her family, even if we don't always follow it."
I smiled. That sounded like Colette. It also made me a little sad that I hadn't met her until I was in college because I would have enjoyed having those lessons, even if I bitched about it the entire time.
"You said you can't cook. Is it because your parents didn't teach you or you hate to do it?"
I set my glass down and traced the hem of his tee where it covered my thigh. "My parents don't cook either. They have staff for that." I shrugged. "I don't hate it, but I just never got the hang of it."
I glanced up when Ben turned his head and studied me. "Sounds familiar. Let me guess, they dress for dinner and children eat in the kitchen."
A rueful smile tugged at my mouth. "Sounds like you have some experience with that."
"Definitely." He picked up the skillet and deftly flipped my sandwich onto a plate. I watched as Ben set the pan aside and brought the plate over to me. The drawer to my right opened and he pulled out a butter knife, cutting the sandwich into four symmetrical triangles.
"Do I get a juice box and cookies too?" I teased, trying to change the subject.
"I thought we'd share."
I raised my eyebrows. "I don't know what type of women you usually spend time with, but I need that entire sandwich. And some chips. And maybe that cookie I mentioned. I need a good meal after prolonged physical exertion or I get hangry."
Ben grinned and shook his head, lifting his hands in surrender. "I guess I need to make another sandwich then."
"Good plan. I'm vicious when I'm hungry."
"Like a rabid honey badger?" he asked.
"No, but I have been known to bite."
His eyes darkened at the words and I belatedly remembered that I'd sunk my teeth into his shoulder when I came in the shower. It left a small red mark, but I hadn't broken the skin, thank God. I hadn't meant to do it but I was nearly out of my mind with pleasure at the time so it just...sort of happened.
"I know."
I inhaled sharply and tried to decide if I could go another round without food but my stomach chose that moment to growl loud enough for Ben to hear it.
"Later," he said, lifting the plate between us.
"I'll hold you to that."
He moved back to the stove and set about making a sandwich for himself.
I bit into mine and moaned as the gooey cheese and buttery toasted bread filled my mouth. "Dish ish shoooo guuuud," I mumbled around the bite.
Ben laughed. "Glad you like it."
I tried to keep my moans to a minimum as I ate, devouring half my food before he finished making his sandwich.
He brought his plate over to where I sat but didn't cut his sandwich the way he had mine.
"We should do this again sometime," he commented just before he took his first bite.
"This as in eat together, or this as in sex?" I asked.
His eyes twinkled as he chewed. Unlike me, he had enough manners to swallow his food before he spoke. "Both."
I thought for a moment. "I'm only here for a month to six weeks, and I don't know when I'll be back once I return to my job."
"And that's a no?" he asked, his hazel eyes probing.
"It's not a no," I replied. "More like a warning. I don't think it would be a good idea to get involved with someone when I'm only here for a short time."
Ben nodded and took another bite. When he finished, he asked, "We can keep things casual if that's what you prefer. Who knows, you