“He doesn’t flirt with me.”

“Yeah, right. Anyway, he’s probably sound asleep, dreaming of your face and wishing he could still get a hard-on.” He pats his own, all proud and cocky about it. “Why you all the way over there?”

I round the breakfast bar. As soon as I’m close enough, Lance grabs the front of my shirt—his shirt—and pulls me up against him. Dipping his head he kisses my neck, then runs his nose along the exposed skin of my shoulder.

“Your hair’s all fucked up,” he murmurs. “It’s sexy.”

“So is yours. It’s sexy, too.”

He gives me a sleepy grin.

“What are you rooting through my cupboards for?”

“I was looking for a snack.”

“What kind of snack?”

“Something sweet. Like gummy bears or something.”

“Hmm… I’m more of a savory snack girl. Let me see what I can find.”

I give Lance a little nudge so I can get to the cupboards. He doesn’t give me much room. I feel his erection bump my hip as I reach up and do some rearranging. It’s dark, though, so it’s hard to see.

I rummage around until I find a few bags that feel like they could be gummies and grab them. There’s a small bag of jelly beans, some Swedish Berries, and a bag of Jujubes. I hold out the Jujubes. “Here you go!”

Lance frowns. “Those aren’t gummy bears.”

I look at the package. “They’re almost the same thing.”

He pokes the bag and gives it a dirty look. “Not even remotely.”

“They’re both chewy and full of sugar—what more do you need.”

“The texture isn’t even close to the same.”

I hold out the bag of Swedish Berries. “Well, what about these.”

“They’re okay, but still not the same.”

“Are you always this picky with candy? When you get Skittles do you sort them by color?”

“They’re all equal opportunity Skittles.”

“I don’t know if I believe you.” I give him another nudge with my elbow so I can access the cupboard again. “Let me check one more time.” I stretch up on my toes and feel around.

“Want some help?” Lance’s hands settle on my hips.

At first I assume his version of help is going to include pressing his hard-on against my butt, but that’s not what happens. He lifts me up until I can get my knees on the counter. I grab the shelf to steady myself—also, Lance’s hands skim the outside of my thighs.

Now I can see inside the cupboard. There’s a lot of junk food in there I didn’t realize I had. I don’t really eat sugary treats, but I keep them handy because my sister and April both like sweets.

“See anything good in there?” Lance asks as he tears open the bag of Swedish Berries.

“Maybe.” I grab what could be a bag of gummy worms, or something similar.

All of a sudden I feel a draft. I look over my shoulder to see what’s going on as Lance says, “I see something I wouldn’t mind taking a bite out of.”

I shriek at the sharp sting, followed by the wet stroke of Lance’s tongue. “Oh my God! You bit my butt!”

“It’s pretty damn biteable.”

“Does it taste like gummy bears?”

Lance puts his hands on my hips before I can climb down from the counter. He turns me around so I’m sitting on the cold Formica.

He parts my knees so he can make room for himself.

I hold up the bag of gummy worms. “Tada!”

He grabs it from me, tears it open with his teeth, and dumps half the contents into his mouth. He hums as he chews. “These are kinda stale.”

“The Jujubes are probably fresher.”

He shakes his head and continues to chew. It takes him a long time before he finally swallows. The entire time he’s running his hand up and down the outside of my thigh. His erection rests against my stomach, covered only by his shirt.

“I like this,” he says.

“You like what? Eating stale gummy worms?”

“Me in your kitchen, you looking all sweet and sexy in my shirt. Us.” Under the smirk lurks that vulnerability I saw earlier, the first time we had sex.

“I think you’re missing the part where you’re naked in my kitchen.”

“If you’re worried about that you can always give me my shirt back.”

“But then I’ll be naked.”

“I don’t see the problem with that.” Lance skims along the buttons. “This is all wrong. Were you half-asleep when you put it on?”

He’s got that grin going again. God, he’s too sexy for his own good.

“Ha ha.”

“I can fix it for you.” He unfastens the first button and the second, approaching my navel. He parts the sides so my nipples appear and the fabric frames my breasts. “This is so much better.”

I laugh and then moan when he cups them, thumbs teasing the tight peaks. I check the windows behind him, darkness the only thing on the other side.

Lance looks over his shoulder. “Everyone in your neighborhood but us is doing what they’re supposed to at three in the morning: sleeping. It’s just you and me and my stale gummy worms and your subpar candy selection.” He covers my nipples with the shirt, though, and drags a single finger along the center of my chest, up my throat and under my chin. Then he touches his lips to mine. He pulls away before I can react. “I like that you’re a little shy, though. I’m not used to that.”