“I take it you’ve been busy,” he said as he took a seat at the counter opposite her.
“Cadeon? Hi.” She pulled away from the cupcakes as if she was doing something wrong.
“Don’t worry. They smell like the ones my mom used to make,” he said, picking one up and tearing the case off underneath.
“I found a recipe for them in here.” She picked up the book. He took a bite. The rich chocolate melted in his mouth. Glancing at the book, he knew it was his mother’s recipe. “That’s my mother’s recipe book. She loved going into the kitchen to bake. There should be some of her all time favourite recipes.” He took the book from her and flicked through. “This one, macaroni cheese, took her months to get right. I remember when she brought out the pot. It smelled good. My dad gave me a hopeful look. We’d tried so many bad versions of that dish. She got it right. The pasta tasted great, and the cheese was the right amount.” He thought about the way his mother looked when his dad tasted the food. She always looked so happy when she got it right.
“Tell me more,” Violet asked, moving to sit beside him.
Flicking through the pages, he told her about some of the recipes.
“The cupcakes were a treat for me on my birthday. She forgot to order a cake and decided to make it herself, but she didn’t follow the instructions properly. The cake pretty much exploded in the oven. When it looked like I wasn’t getting a cake, I watched her working, and these came out. The best cupcakes I’ve ever tasted.” Cadeon took a bite recalling his birthday so long ago.
“Your mother sounded nice.”
“She was amazing. My dad loved her.”
“What happened to them?”
“A car accident.”
She nodded her head. “I know it’s not much, but I’ve experienced loss, too. I mean, my mum died.”
Cadeon stared at her. “How did she die?”
Silent for a moment, she shook her head. “I’m not ready to tell you that.”
He nodded his head. She’d told him something, and that was a move in the right direction. “This dish, leek and potato soup. She burnt it and tried to cover it up by putting golden croutons on top. It tasted awful that first time. She never burnt it again.”
For the next hour, Cadeon went through the recipe book explaining dishes to Violet. Some made him laugh when he remembered the struggle his mother had to concoct some of the food.
“Your mother sounds amazing.”
“She was. I think you should have this.” He passed the book back to her.
“But this is your mother’s work. I couldn’t take this.”
“No. I think she would want someone who liked to cook to use it. From the taste of the cupcakes, you’re a natural. You may come in and use the kitchen at any time. I’ll talk to Anne about giving you some lessons if you’d like.”
“That would be wonderful.”
Cadeon smiled, running his finger down her cheek. He glanced round the room. “I don’t think Anne would let you near her kitchen if you make this much mess. Come on. I’ll help you clean it up before we go upstairs.”
While Violet loaded up boxes with the iced cupcakes, Cadeon rinsed the dishes and equipment she’d used. When everything was put away, he took her by the hand and moved upstairs. “You’re filthy from baking,” he said, placing a kiss against the pulse at her throat.
“It’s Saturday tomorrow. What are we going to do?” she asked.
“I usually go to the office, but I think we’ll stay in. Have a break. Would you like to spend the weekend with me?”
She pulled back staring into his eyes. “You’re asking me?”
“Yes. I’m hoping you’ll say yes and put me out of my misery.”
“And if I say no?”
“Then I’ll have to convince you how nice I can be.” He kissed her on the lips. Cadeon cupped her ass, bringing her body against his. Violet would be the first woman he’d had in his bed for over a week and hadn’t f**ked. “So, what will it be? To stay or not to stay?”
“Where else would I go?” she asked.
“Nowhere. You can stay with me through choice and have fun, or you can stay with me and still have fun but pretend that you don’t.”
“How is that a good choice, Mr. Ashwood?”
“Because at least I asked, Miss Moore.”
Both of them chuckled. “Okay. I’ll stay with you, but you’ve got a condition.”
“Already after my blood,” he said teasingly.
“Will you give me a proper tour of the house?”
Cadeon moaned.
“Please,” she said.
“Okay. Now let’s shower before we fall asleep on the spot.” He didn’t give her time to protest before he was pulling her into the shower with him. Her clothes he pushed to the floor. The hot water cascaded down her na**d body seconds before he joined her.
He delighted in seeing her naked, her curvy body exposed to his touch. Grabbing the soap, he attended to her first, soaping her back, ass and legs before replacing the sponge he’d been using with his hands.
With care, he caressed her br**sts, bringing a moan from between her lips. Circling the dark ni**les, he moved down her body, smoothing along her stomach before he cupped her pu**y.
Most of the soap had been washed away from his hands. Sliding a finger between her silken wet folds, he touched her clit. She jumped in his hands. Her head lay on his shoulder.
“Cadeon,” she said on a moan.
“I want to give you pleasure.” He kissed her neck, licking a trail of moisture with his tongue. “I want to f**k you, Violet. I’m desperate to be inside you.”
She moaned. Her hand went between them. Cadeon closed his eyes, knowing she wasn’t ready for him. The passion he felt for her pushed to the edge. He didn’t know how much longer he could go on without being with her. The need to claim her as his own was driving him crazy. Closing his eyes, he imagined sinking inside her tight cunt, feeling her pulse around him. Instead, he worked his hands over her pu**y. She opened her legs wider to receive him, the little mouse flowering beneath his expert touch. Violet was withdrawn and shy, but when she was alone with him, something happened inside her. In the moments alone together they became each other’s world. Nothing else mattered but what they shared together. Touching her clit, Cadeon thrust his h*ps against her hand. His release was so close to the surface. Her hands were like two pleasure sensors going off inside his body. Beautiful and powerful.