Page 51 of Grasp The Moment

I take a seat on the kitchen island and grin, “I would’ve cooked…”

“Grilled cheese," he butts in with a knowing look as I roll my eyes.

“Fine, I would’ve ordered in.”

Derek chuckles, washing his hands.

“Want to help me? I got the stuff to make vodka pasta.”

“Could I drink vodka and watch you cook shirtless with your glasses and apron on?” I tease, hopping off the island, taking a step toward his back as he chuckles.

“Am I just a piece of meat to you, dear wife?” he jokes, turning around, letting me cage him between the stove and myself.

Even though he’s abnormally huge in stature, Derek has never made me feel small. I mean, yes, I feel short as hell whenever he’s near, but I don’t feel like a powerless person around him. He lets me take control of our situations—lets me be myself.

“You’re ahotpiece of meat, if that helps.” I grin.

Derek mimics my expression, getting everything out to make our food.

“Give our girl back when you’re done, Perez!” Cleo shouts from the living room as Derek chuckles in my ear.

Somehow, along the way of us cooking, I ended up in the space between Derek and the stove, stirring the pasta he’d forced me to make myself.

His warm breath sends a ripple of pleasure down my spine as he moves my hair to my shoulder, leaning down. My thighs clench from his sheer proximity as he chuckles. “I’m never giving you back.”

My breath catches in my throat as I turn to face him, our faces a hair away from one another as my eyes track to his lips.

You miss one hundred percent of the shots that you don’t take.

I repeat the saying in my head, psyching myself up only to not need it, because instead of me making the first move.

Derek does.

I’m frozen in place as he leans in close, sealing our fates and lips together in one long, tantalizing dance.

“You taste sweet.”

1 La gringa ni siquiera sabe ese pequeño detalle - The foreigner doesn't even know that small piece of information

2 ¡Ya, mamá! - Enough, mom

3 Es mi esposa, pórtate bien- She is my woman, behave yourself

21.Georgia

“Deli, can you…”Derek’s voice trails off, the sound of it sending a shiver up my spine as I continue to braid Delilah’s hair.

It’s been four days since Derek and I shared our firstsoberkiss in the kitchen. Since then, he’s done everything in his power to kiss me every time he’s seen me, no matter where.

We’ve grown closer than ever before and have begun to create a rhythm together. Every morning, he wakes up, gets ready for school, and cooks breakfast for us. I wake up, get Delilah and myself ready, then we drop Deli off for school as a family. He walks Agnes before we leave, and we all walk her together at night.

It’s bliss to say the least.

“¿Mande?” Delilah calls back, her voice confused as she looks up at me with furrowed brows.

Why is she saying Monday? I don’t think he asked her what today was…

Delilah’s entire body perks up as she watches me, the confusion leaving her face.