Page 116 of Offside Rules

"You feel so fucking good."

Her answer gets lost against my mouth. I move my hand between us, and she holds me closer, her breath catching as my thumb finds her.

"Wolf, I’m—"

"I know, Bay."

I lift my head and keep touching her. Her eyes find mine before they close, her fingers pressing into my back.

She says my name as she comes, and that’s enough to undo whatever control I had left. I come next, hard inside of her, kissing her as I do.

"That was…" I start.

"This room will never be the same," she teases.

"No… it won't."

I help her clean up and then clean up next. By the time we’ve packed the basket, Baylor has checked the floor twice and found an earring beneath one of the cushions.

"Got everything?" I ask.

"I think so." She slips the earring back in, then looks at the candles. "Can I keep one?"

"Help yourself. I didn't know what else to do with them after this. My day to day doesn’t require battery operated candles but I didn’t want to burn the place down before you got into it."

"That was smart."

She picks one up and switches it off before putting it in her bag.

"For your tasting room?" I ask.

She looks at me. "I’d like to remember our first dinner here."

"I think I’ve made a fairly lasting impression."

"Christening my tasting room before I’ve even moved in is a memory I won’t soon forget."

I laugh and pick up the basket with the leftovers while she gathers the blanket and cushions. We switch off the remaining candles and the lamp, then walk back through the quiet shop.

At the front door, she stops and looks around once more.

"You’ll have to bring me back when you get the keys," I tell her.

"You’ll be carrying a mixer, remember?"

"I wouldn't miss it for anything."

She leans up to kiss me, then steps outside while I turn off the last light. I lock the door and check it before following her to the car.

When I open her door, she puts the cushions and folded blanket on the back seat, then turns toward me.

"Thank you for tonight."

"You’re welcome, Bay."

She takes my hand and squeezes it before getting in. I close her door, put the basket in the back, and walk around to my side.

On the drive home, she rests her hand on my thigh and tells me she’s changed her mind about the chairs.