Page 22 of Liberated By the Logger

“Yes, please.”

He pushes away from the island, taking my bowl to the stove. He returns, placing it in front of me before taking his seat again. I swear I catch him adjusting himself in his sweats, but I must be imagining things. How could my eating be alluring?

We eat in silence with him watching me and me pretending not to notice. If the food wasn’t a tasty distraction, I probably couldn’t eat.

When I finish my second helping, he asks again if I want more.

“As delicious as your cooking is, I will pop if I have another bite.”

His shoulders slump in disappointment. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“Damn.” He shakes his head. “I could have listened to you moan around your food all night.”

My hands fly up to cup my burning cheeks. “What? I was not moaning.”

“You sure as hell were, and it was the hottest damn sound I’ve ever heard.”

Wow. I’m really making a great impression of myself today. Between needing Brose to free me from my chains, peeping on him while he jerked off in the shower, and face-fucking my food in front of him, the guy must think I’m a weirdo.

What’s next? Spontaneous orgasm in his presence?

I drop my hands from my cheeks, composing myself. “My apologies. I hope I didn’t make you feel uncomfortable again.”

“Don’t apologize. I should apologize.”

I grab my water glass, asking, “Why?” before taking a drink.

“If you sound this good while enjoying a meal, I can only imagine what you’d sound like in bed.”

Water shoots right out of my nose and all over him.

I sputter and choke apologies while Brose gently pats my back, handing me a napkin to clean my face. I take the napkin from him, quickly wiping my face off before blot-drying his chest where I nailed him.

“Geez. I’m making a mess of everything,” I say, dabbing him dry.

Brose takes my hands, clutching them against his warm chest. “Aspen, it’s okay.”

Tentatively, I meet his gaze. “I’m sorry. I know it’s all in good fun, but you sure know how to deliver the shock factor.”

One of his eyebrow arches. “Shock factor? That would imply I said something negative when I’ve said nothing of the sort. What did I say to make you think this?”

I cock my head, giving him what I assume is a come on look. “Take your pick. Telling me I deserve a real man to burn the world for me like I’m some great catch. Teasing me about how our first encounter will be the story we tell our kids one day. Or saying you want to hear me moan in bed with you. They’re all jokes.”

Brose looks at me like I’m a puzzle he’s trying to solve, his head cocked and red brows furrowed.

My throat suddenly feels very thick. “You were joking, right?”

He smirks, shaking his head. “No, Aspen. I wasn’t joking.”

“What?” I croak, baffled. “You were serious?”

“Dead serious. Why would I lie?”

I gawk. “Because we’ve known each other for less than a handful of hours, and most of that time, I was delirious, sleeping, or attacking you.”

He shrugs like it’s no biggie. “Don’t care how short the time has been. I know what I want and I want what I see.”