The Complete Memories Series (47 page)

My nose twitches. Why is there a food smell coming from my flat? A very nice food smell.

Bing said he was gonna cook. No. He can
’t be…

I slip my key into the lock, turn
it, and open the door. I stop, my gaze being drawn to the table. Pale pink roses sit between two place settings and two wine glasses are full.

Bing turns, wooden spoon
in hand, and grins. His brown eyes twinkle, and he flicks some hair away from his face with a shake of his head. I open my mouth, close it again, and open it again.

“What?” I ask.

“I said I’d cook.” He stirs whatever is smelling so yummy, his eyes still on me. “So I’m cooking.”

“But this…” I shut the door behind me and drop my bag. “…This is like proper date-dinner cooking.”

He shrugs a shoulder casually. “I figured if I was gonna cook, I was gonna do it properly.” His mouth curls into a half-grin “But I forgot dessert.”

I slide my coat off and hang it up. “I
’m sure you “forgot” it, Samuel.”

“I did!” he protests, putting the wooden spoon down. “But I would prefer you for dessert, I won
’t lie.”

He crosses the small kitchen and scoops an arm around my waist, pulling me against him. My hands press against his chest, and he brushes the pad of his thumb down my cheek before dipping his head and kissing me softly. I slide my hands to the back of his neck, link my fingers, and stand on my tiptoes to meet him.

I nip his bottom lip, slowly running my tongue over the same spot after. A low groan rumbles in his chest, and I smile a little against his lips. His fingers dig into the small of my back, and the hand resting on my cheek moves into my hair. He holds my lips against his and slips his tongue into my mouth, sweeping the inside of it. My body automatically pushes against his, feeling the hard muscle there, and heat sweeps through me. If it wasn’t for the-

“Something
’s burning,” I mutter.

“Fuck!” Bing releases me and turns, grabbing the wooden spoon again. He scratches at the bottom of the pan with it, scraping the stuck spaghetti off, and turns the cooker off. He turns to me with a sheepish grin, and I raise an eyebrow

“So much for being Gordon Ramsey,” I quip, sliding into my seat at the table.

“You distracted me,” he mumbles, draining the spaghetti and serving it up first. “I saved it, don
’t worry.”

I smile a little as he places meatballs on top. “Meatballs? Isn
’t that what Alec made Lexy?”

He shoots me a glance over his shoulder. “You haven
’t had any meatballs until you’ve had mine.”

I run my tongue across my teeth, grinning wickedly. “I think I
’ve had your meatballs, Samuel. Plenty of times.”

He puts a plate in front of me, his face coming level with mine. “Close your mouth, or we
’ll skip straight to dessert.”

A tantalising tomato smell reaches my nose, and I pick up my fork. “I
’m starved. Dessert will have to wait.”

A smirk graces his lips as he sits opposite me.
“Are you sure? We could always heat this up later.” His eyes tell me that something will be getting heated up later either way.

I stab my fork into a meatball and bite into it. “I
’m sure,” I say around my food. “I need energy for dessert.”

He stretches his feet out under the table until they meet mine. “Oh, so we
’ve agreed on what’s for dessert?”

“This is really nice,” I interrupt. “What did you put in that sauce?” I twirl some spaghetti.

“Jennifer…” He fights his smile, but his cheek twitches slightly.

“These are the best meatballs I
’ve ever had,” I carry on, holding in my amusement. “By far.”

His eyes darken a shade. “I told you you
’d never had meatballs till you’d had mine.”

I close my mouth around a meatball, pulling it from my fork. I chew it slowly, my eyes trained on Bing
’s. “I’d say I’m very, very fond of your meatballs.” I grin.

He swallows and sets his fork down next to his plate. “How about I show you how you should really twirl spaghetti?”

“I’m not getting the sexual innuendo, if you were attempting one.”

Bing pushes away from the table and stands, his lips curved upwards and a predator-like gleam in his eye. I know this look, and it instantly sets my body on overdrive. He stands behind me and puts his hands on my shoulders, slipping his fingers under the straps of my top.

“Twirling spaghetti straps, babe,” he mutters, his lips by my ear. He slides the strap over my shoulder and down my arm. “Twirling them right off of you.”

I breathe in, his skin red hot on mine. “I thought we were waiting for dessert.”

“We were. But I think I want dessert first.” He kisses my shoulder, his lips warm from the meal.

“It
’s rude not to eat at the table,” I mumble, turning my head into his.

My chair jerks backwards. Bing steps in front of me, his hands on the back of my chair, boxing me in. My heart flutters erratically, and my lips part as he moves closer. I tilt my face up towards his.

“Who said we had to leave the table?” he whispers huskily. I shiver a little, looking into his eyes. I raise my hands up and grip his shirt, pulling him closer to me.

I brush my lips across his, wrapping my legs around his and holding him in place.

“Who indeed?”

~

I rest my head against Bing’s chest, feeling the beating of his heart beneath my ear. His arms slip around my waist, and I snuggle in closer, basking in the warmth of him.

“I like your date nights,” I mumble.

He chuckles slightly, and his lips touch my forehead. “I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have a problem with us making them a regular thing.”

Now we
’re freaking talking.

“I might start liking you too much if that happens.” I tilt my head back and look up at him. “I
’m still too busy deciding if I like you or not.”

“Oi,” he growls, flipping me onto my back. He leans over me, and I run my hands down his sides.

“What?” I blink at him innocently.

“If you don
’t like me, I might have to start taking drastic action, Jennifer.” He kisses along my neck, grazing his teeth across my pulse slightly.

“Uh-huh?” I breathe. “Like what?”

He smiles against my skin. “Drastic action would be keeping you here, pinned beneath me in this bed while I give you a thousand reasons to like me.”

“In that case, I solemnly swear to never, ever like you. Not even for a second.”

“Is that so?” he murmurs, lowering his body on top of mine.

“Absolutely. You didn
’t give me enough reasons last night.”

“I better get started then.” His hand travels down my side to my hip, before slipping under me and cupping my ass. His fingers massage me slowly as his lips find mine-

“Who the fuck is at my door?” I growl as my doorbell rings insistently.

“Ignore them.”

The doorbell goes several more times, and I sigh. “That would be your sister,” I tell him, kissing him soundly. He mutters a curse at Lexy under his breath, rolling off of me.

I climb from my bed and cross the room to my dressing gown. Bing whistles long and low, and I glance over my shoulder with a small amused smile. I snatch my gown and wrap it around my body, pulling the door open.

“I preferred the other view!” he yells. I stick my middle finger at him and walk backwards.

I grab my keys from the side and unlock the door, yanking it open. Lexy
’s eyes travel up and down me, taking in my gown, and finally meet mine.

“I
’m sorry, I’m not exactly dressed for early morning visitors,” I say dryly. “I wasn’t expecting a dawn wake up call.”

“It
’s not dawn. It’s eight a.m.” She pushes past me.

“What are you, a freaking cockerel?” I push the door shut and pad across the kitchen to my kettle. I need coffee.

And if I’m willing to drink coffee, you know I had a damn good night. Wink wink.

“No need for me to be one,” she retorts. “Considering Bing never made it home last night, I
’d say there’s more than enough cock in the flat.”

I rest my forehead against a cupboard door, shaking slightly with laughter.

“I heard that!” Bing shouts from my room. “Watch it, baby sis!”

“Good morning, brother, dear.” Lexy grins, leaning back against the counter as a now-dressed Bing emerges from my room.

“It would have been had you not showed up,” he throws at her, winking at me.

Lexy purses her lips. “Well, Jen has to get to Uni in a few hours, so you
’re gonna have to save it for later.”

“Or you could leave and come back in a few hours, and I
’ll finish what I was just starting.”

I hand him a cup. “Shush, gobshite.” I turn to Lexy and hand her a cup. “You, shush, too.” I take my own cup and sip the coffee.

This stuff tastes like banana peel dipped in wax crayon with a hint of sugar mixed in.

“That
’s not what you were saying ten minutes ago.” Bing slides next to me on the counter, and I elbow him.

“Do you like my bed, Samuel?” I look up at him sternly.

His eyes twinkle with a mischievous spark. “Fuckin’ right I do, Jennifer.”

I put my finger against his lips. “Then I suggest you shut your piehole, or the only person sleeping in my bed for the foreseeable future will be me. And me
alone.
”

“You don
’t mean that.”

“Don
’t be so sure,” Lexy says with amusement.

“Samuel, you buffoon, Ann Summers is just down the road from me, and I have no problems paying them a little visit.” I raise my eyebrows, and he visibly swallows. “So yes, I would do that.”

Lexy snickers and walks into my front room, sitting on the sofa and turning the television on.

“If you
’re gonna do that,” Bing whispers lowly. “Then I absolutely want to be in your bed with you.”

“That
’s kinda kinky.” My lips quirk. “Who knew?”

He leans forward and drops a kiss to my lips. “Don
’t tempt me, Jennifer, or I will kick my sister out of your flat and show you the fucking definition of the word kinky.”

I lick my lips slowly. “Then it
’s a shame I like you right now, isn’t it?” I move towards the sofa and hear him grumble to himself. I grin.

I will never, ever get tired of winding him up.

“If I didn
’t know better, I’d say you were a fuckin’ girl, Mitch.” I laugh and wipe my sleeve across my forehead. “You have Saturday night planned?”

“Beer. Red. Beer.” He shrugs, hammering some nails into the wall. “I thought it was pretty simple.”

“Oh, and I wonder why we have to go to Red. Nothing to do with the fact Saph will be out.” I smirk wryly at him.

“Nope,” he snaps. “Just wanna get out, and since you won
’t be attached to Jen’s naked body this weekend, I thought we could have a night like we used to. Y’know, all boys.”

“Yeah, yeah. When you got it, mate, you got it. I most definitely have it.” I check my watch. “Talkin
’ of Jen, I gotta go meet her.” I drop my tools by the bar, giving Mitch a playful punch on the shoulder as I leave.

“Twat!” He yells after me. I laugh, practically sliding down the banister. I wink at Saph, grab my coat, and step out into the slightly warmer air. Since the snow disappeared – much to Jen
’s delight – it’s started to warm up. A little.

Since her flat is closer to Red, and that
’s where I left from this morning, I have to walk to hers. Shit. I wish I’d thought of how bloody tired I’d be after work. And hungry. I’m fucking starving.

I fumble in my pocket for my phone to text Jen as I enter the park outside her house. I shoot off a quick message, telling her to meet me here and we
’ll grab chips. I whistle under my breath – and walk straight into someone.

“Shit, sorry, love!” I grab the person
’s arms. And drop them like they’re on fire when I see Heidi looking up at me. My jaw clenches.

I
’m beginning to wonder if she has a tracking device on me, because she just pops up at the most convenient times. She just “bumps” into me every fucking time.

“Oh, Bing.” She flutters her mascara clad eyelashes at me. “What a coincidence.”

“What is?” I grind out.

“That I should just happen to bump into you.”

“Yes, Heidi. In the largest city in the country – on the side of the city you don’t live – I’m sure it’s a coincidence you just happened to bump into me,” I say dryly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go and meet my girlfriend.”

Her eyes flick over my shoulder, and she puts a hand against my chest. I knock it away.

“Heidi. I fuckin’ mean it. Enough!”

She pushes herself against me and I take a deep breath in to calm myself, tilting my head back slightly.