Falling With Grace

“I thought maybe you could.” A lopsided smile tugged on my lips.

“Not without exploding.” He cut off another slice and fed it to me, the rush of endorphins hitting my belly, swirling with desire for more than just the meat he presented. He sliced another. This time, he bit it off his fork, then swirled his wine and sipped.

“I think you’ll be finishing most of this, anyway. My stomach isn’t big enough for all of this.”

“It doesn’t need to be finished.”

I stared at his wine glass, leaving mine untouched, a smidgen of sadness ruining the moment.

“My mother used to grow grapes in our backyard.” I inhaled, my shoulders rising. “I’d eat so many of them in one sitting I’d get a bellyache. But it was worth it.” I gave a gentle laugh.

“She made wine?”

“No.” A numbness settled in my chest. “She’d make grape juice or just eat them. My mom was a box wine sort of girl.”

Elias scrunched his nose as he sipped his glass.

I blinked back the emotions dampening the moment, shook it from my mind, and straightened my spine with a smile. “Anyway. That just reminded me of it.”

Weate the steak one bite at a time, my wine glass untouched until nothing but the bone remained.

A waitress cleared the tray from the center. She replaced it with a decadent four-layer chocolate-on-chocolate cake adorned with nuts scattered throughout, culminating in a blackberry garnish.

“Wow. That is the most gorgeous cake I’ve ever seen.”

“They’re renowned for their steaks and cakes.” He dipped his fork in and took a bite.

His jaw muscles expanded and contracted as he chewed, his throat bobbing as he swallowed.

“Are you going to eat some?”

“Sorry.” I shook my thoughts from my head. “I was enjoying the view.”

He gave a muted chuckle, dipped his fork in the luscious cake, and took another bite.

“You’ll feed me steak but not cake?” I stuck out my lower lip.

“Your doe-eyes won’t help you this time.” He put another bite in his mouth. “This is too delicious not to be greedy.”

I rolled my lips and bit down at the coy smile forming on my face. I picked up my fork and took the smallest bite.

Sugar, rich dark chocolate burst across my tongue. Acidic fruit cut the sweetness with a delectable knife. “Oh, my God. This is better than anything I’ve ever had in my life.”

He raised a brow. “Is that so?”

I swallowed with a nod and reached for another. “My mother never cooked, not like yours.” I sunk my fork into the soft cake and ate it. “We lived on take-out or easy meals like mac and cheese or casseroles.”

“Yeah, but she made grape juice…”

I laughed.

“Tell me about your parents.”

My stomach flipped, and the cake turned to ash in my mouth.

Why was it easier to mention them in passing but not when he’s digging for information?

Javier stepped forward, and Elias waved him away with his two fingers.