SCORCH (21+)

Sticky Mess

"What are you up to, baby?" a man asked, dressed only in sweatpants. He wrapped his arms around her waist, his muscular, tattooed chest pressing firmly against her back.

"Baking cupcakes, Lucas," she replied, glancing over her shoulder with a smile. Her red hair cascaded down her back, and her blue eyes met his warm brown ones. "The kids are coming back from their trip tomorrow."

"Right, those troublemakers will be back," Lucas muttered, pouting as he rested his chin on her shoulder. 

She chuckled softly. "Says the one who couldn't stop calling them every hour," she teased. 

"Don't tease me," he whined, earning another laugh from her as she replied with a light, "Okay." 

"Ava," he murmured in her ear, his grip on her waist tightening. She hummed in response, focused on whisking the buttercream.

"Let’s have some fun, baby," Lucas murmured, his voice low and teasing as he pressed his lips to her neck, sucking gently on her soft skin. 

Ava’s breath hitched, her hands faltering for a moment before she managed to regain her composure. "Mmh, Lucas, stop," she said softly, her voice a mix of protest and amusement.

She turned slightly, gently nudging him away with her elbow, though her flushed cheeks betrayed the effect he had on her.

Lucas ignored her protest, continuing his teasing, fully aware of how sensitive she was there.

"Mmhh," a soft moan escaped her lips, her grip on the whisk faltering for a moment. Determined to regain control, she gently pushed him away and spun around, placing her hands on her hips.

She fixed him with a glare, her expression a mix of irritation and flustered resolve.

"Baby," Lucas murmured, stepping closer. He planted his hands on either side of the counter, caging her in place. 

"You look so damn sexy in my sweatshirt," he said, his voice low and smooth. "How can I not be tempted?" His teasing smile deepened as his eyes locked with hers, filled with playful intensity.

"Lucas, I need to finish these cupcakes, and I have plenty of other work to do, so don’t distract me," Ava said firmly, pushing him away. Lucas pouted dramatically but trailed after her like a sulking puppy. 

When she headed to the pantry to grab the chocolate chips, she realized they were placed too high. Tiptoeing, she stretched to reach them, but just as her fingers grazed the bag, a hand brushed past hers, effortlessly grabbing the chocolate chips.

"Thank you," Ava said, reaching to take the bag from him. But before she could, Lucas smirked mischievously and placed it even higher on the shelf. 

Ava gasped, shooting him a sharp glare. "This isn’t the time to mess around. Hand it over," she warned firmly. 

"Not so fast," Lucas replied, his grin widening. "Give me a kiss first, then maybe I’ll consider it." 

"Oh, you want a kiss?" Ava asked, stepping closer. She rose onto her tiptoes, her piercing blue eyes locking onto his. Sliding her fingers into his blonde hair, she gently pulled him closer, a sly glint in her gaze.

She leaned in closer, their noses brushing as he burned with anticipation. Her lips barely grazed his cheek as she whispered, "Dream on, baby boy." 

With a sly smirk, she stepped back, her feet flat on the ground, enjoying the shocked look on his face. Spotting a chocolate bar on the lowest shelf, she grabbed it and held it up. 

"This will do," she said with a grin, turning to walk away. Lucas’s eyes followed her, lingering on the sway of her hips and the tempting sight of her toned thighs. The thought of spreading her wide, pinning her down and taking her until she was utterly spent ignited a dark fire within him.