Page 128 of This Life of Mine

I don’t argue.

Because even with everything I’m not saying—that part is still true.

Val looks at me again, eyes sharp and far too pleased.

“So,” she says, nodding toward the kitchen behind us, “back to the topic of hiscooking.”

I groan. “We already covered this.”

“No,we didn’t,“ she says. “We established that he didn’t burn anything. That’s baseline. I’m talking skill level.”

I cross my arms. “Define skill.”

“Oh, I will,” she says. “Was he good with hishands?“ She winks, then raises her eyebrows suggestively.

I choke on air. “Val!”

“In the kitchen,” she adds quickly. “Obviously.”

“Obviously,” I counter.

“Did he know how to work hisutensil,“ she continues, “or was he just throwing things around and hoping for the best?”

“We are so not talking about cooking, are we?” I ask.

“Yes, we are,” she says.

She whispers, “Did he control theheat?Timing?Pressure?”

“I know what you are really asking, Val.”

She tilts her head. “Now tell me—did you have to stretch before reaching the…top shelf?”

I press my lips together. “You are unbelievable.”

“That’s not a no,” she says, delighted. “Follow-up question—did you actuallyreachthe top shelf?”

“Val!” I giggle.

“And,” she adds, lowering her voice, “was it as amazing as you hoped it would be?”

I incline my head, laughing despite myself. “You’re impossible.”

“If you aren’t giving me details, it had to be good. You would otherwise tell me everything,” she says with her hand on her hip.

I meet her gaze. “I will say this...”

Her grin widens. “Go on...”

“He knows his way around a kitchen,” I say carefully. “Very…skilled.”

Val straightens, hand to her chest. “Oh my.”

“And,” I add before I can stop myself, “he definitely helped me reach the top shelf…like no other.” My eyes flutter closed for a moment, grinning at the memory of one of the best orgasms of my life.

She exhales dramatically. “Oh…yes!!”

“That’s all you’re getting.”