Page 38 of Cruel Salvation

“Sure.”

Lotus moved around her small kitchen as Damon plated up. He was standing on the other side of the counter with the food ready, looking way too good in her kitchen.

“What do you want to drink?”

“I can get it.” She felt guilty letting him wait on her after her outburst earlier. He wasn’t her boyfriend, was he? What was going on with them now, was this a peaceful truce? Was he giving her the space he promised and why, all of a sudden, did she feel like the one who needed to clarify their relationship?

“Lemonade, please. It’s in the fridge.”

“You sure?”

“Yes, please. It will help keep the nausea at bay.”

“Okay, there you go.”

She took an enormous gulp of the lemonade and felt the cold liquid slide down her throat. It wasn’t very nice with the toothpaste but its effect on her body was almost instantaneous. She could feel her stomach contracting and thought it was a good thing. Taking a few more swigs, she watched as Damon dug into the fries, and picked up her fork.

Taking a tentative bite, the spiciness of the jalapenos on top combined with the cheesy sour cream flooded her senses with a burst of flavour.

She wanted more and dug in. “These are so good.”

“You’re not eating them with a fork, right?”

“What?”

“You’re meant to eat them like a pile of potato chips and then lick your fingers. It’s the only way to eat loaded fries.”

She took a big handful and pushed them into her mouth, allowing the delicious taste to spread over her tongue. Some of the hot cheese escaped and burnt her fingers so she sucked them.

Damon’s eyes darkened and he swallowed hard. “Is this the way you like to eat fries, then?”

“Not usually, but I want to eat as much as I can. They’re really good.”

“Thank you.”

Lotus continued to eat as if it was her last meal, and stopped when she saw Damon watching her with so much heat in his gaze it was a miracle her apartment wasn’t on fire.

She cleared her throat and glanced away, feeling suddenly self-conscious.

“I love how you don’t hold back in anything you do.”

She huffed out a laugh. “So you like the way I just wolfed that food like it was my last meal?”

“I love how passionate you are about everything, including food. It’s refreshing to be around someone real.”

“I guess the women you date are prim and proper and eat lettuce and wake up looking like a catwalk model.”

“I guess, but I haven’t dated in a year. I’ve tried but a certain deadly sex kitten, had me dangling on a hook.”

Lotus couldn’t help the smile. “I did not have you on a hook.”

“Dangling, waiting for just one glimpse of her beauty, one crumb of attention.”

Lotus threw a fry at him. “Behave.”

He grinned and then sobered as his eyes moved over her body like a silent caress.

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed but you’re showing.”