Engaged

Chapter 15: Fortress

I put water into a big pot and turned on a back burner. I did the same with a slightly larger pot and put a splash of oil, and a sprinkle of salt in each. I grabbed ground chicken beef and turkey mixture, and chicken cutlets from the freezer, and began cutting the chicken into small bits. 

Afterward, I took the frozen shrimp out and placed them in a small pot, putting it on a front burner. 

I put the mixture on defrost in my new futuristic looking toaster oven. I decided not to actually mix the meat, since each kind was sectioned off. I actually love the design, because you can get them all in one pack when you also want to make meatloaf. Smartest idea ShopRite's ever had.

I grabbed a tomato and proceeded to mince it. Same with the onion. I'm so glad I've learned to master the art of speed when chopping, or my eyes would be burning. Chopping garlic is a real chore, so I buy it pre-minced. 

I set the oven to four hundred as I heard footsteps come into the kitchen. I decided to ignore them. 

I almost forgot that Eli loves to watch me cook, claiming it's really entertaining, like a Hibachi grill. Maybe it is. I wouldn't know because his presence in the kitchen always overpower all of my senses. Including my sense of reason and sense of knowing exactly what I'm doing. I put the Fettuccine noodles in pot number one, and large pasta shells in pot number two. The shrimp, slowly becoming pink.

I put some seasoned salt into the shrimp pot and Eli laughed in the background. I honestly can't help it. I need seasoned salt on my meat. I had to tell myself not to turn around, or I'l get sidetracked.

Because honestly, he's so distracting. It's great that he's used to me 'ignoring' him, while I'm in the kitchen, or he'd be demanding my attention. Then, we'd have a real problem on our hands. 

I filled a skillet halfway with water, and took the defrosted meat out of the toaster oven before it got hot, and started to brown. That's disgusting. I put it on the island and made the mistake of looking up.

Shit. 

I find his eyes steady on me, as if everything he wants to see is right there. Like he'd rather look nowhere else. Honestly, I don't want him looking anywhere else. I quickly looked away and refocused on the food. 

I put the skillet on the burner and turned it on, dumping the meat, some seasoning salt, tomatoes, onion, and two tablespoons of garlic in there too.
I also put some crushed red pepper in there for kicks. As I mixed it together over the fire,I took notice in him getting up, to explore my large kitchen. 

Why doesn't he just sit down? Does he know how distracting he is? I know he does. 

I noticed water already evaporating from the pan, and proceeded to break up the clumping meat. He's right behind me. Oh. My. Goddess. 

I don't know if he's pulling me backward, or walking into me because his warmth once again surrounds me, and soothes my erratic brain. He's so big. My fortress. 

I jumped back into action and focused on the meat. The meat. The hard meat, poking me in the back. 

Insatiable. Irresistible.

The food. I'm talking about the food. 

I may or may not have moaned. I can't even regret it, because by now, I'm already trembling, and he hasn't even touched me yet. He kissed the spot behind my ear, and I'm rendered motionless. It gets me every time. Don't. Forget. The. Food. 

"Need help?" he seductively whispered in my ear.

"With what?" I asked. And he chuckled. It snapped me out of my mood long enough to realize what I said. "Yeah, I do!" I said a little too cheerfully, in attempt to cover what I just implied.