" What's this?" I asked, putting her cup on the counter next to the plate.

"Rocky Road Bars," she supplied with a shrug.

"Is that some kind of message?" I asked, head dipped.

"Message?" she asked, her brows drawing together and proving that it wasn't.

"Never mind," I said, shaking my head, feeling a small wave of relief even if she was standing there wound like a clock for some untold reason.

Maybe that was the reason that when she shrugged at me and went to reach for her coffee, I reached over the counter, snagged her chin in my thumb and forefinger and leaned in to lick a small bit of chocolate from beside her lips from where she had smudged it. Her entire body stiffened then trembled at the contact.

It was all the encouragement I needed.

So right there, a dozen eyes no doubt on us, I framed her face in my hands and pressed my lips to hers.

There was nothing sweet or chaste about it.

I fucking devoured her mouth, my tongue moving to invade, drawing a quiet whimper from her as her hands slammed down on the counter.

The sound was enough to remind me that I couldn't take it any further right then and there and better stop before either of us got too worked up.

But as I pulled away and her eyes fluttered open and all I could see was a deep desire there, I knew she was a little bit more worked up than I intended.

There were a couple chuckles and one brave soul let out a loud whistle as we pulled apart, making my smile tip up slightly, knowing I had just, whether I truly intended it or not, staked a claim. I let the whole town know that I was messing around with one of their favorite daughters.

"I hate you right now," she said, her voice airy, her cheeks pink, her lips swollen.

"No you don't," I countered, shaking my head. "You just hate that you can't climb over this counter and let me fuck you right here and now. Don't worry, you can have me all to yourself in just a couple of hours. If you can control yourself until then..."

"Control myself," she hissed, both looking slightly outraged and equally amused. "I believe you were the one half-mauling me in public."

"And I'm pretty sure it was your tongue moving over mine and your whimper I heard, right? Or was that Old Mildred. Hey, Milly..." I started to call, making Maddy's eyes bulge comically as she slammed her hand into my shoulder hard enough to send me back a foot.

"Shut up!" she hissed, making me let out a chuckle. "Alright fine. You made your point," she said, shaking her head as she reached for her coffee.

"What was my point, exactly?" I asked, curious.

"You just like... marked your territory or whatever," she said, rolling her eyes at the very idea, but a small smile pulled at her lips.

"So, what, you're mine now?"

"Oh, I, well... I thought..." she fumbled, shaking her head at her lack of explanations.

"Relax, sweetheart," I said, saving her from her misery. "Like I said last night, I'm in. You were the one who came in all anti-social this morning."

"That had nothing to do with you," she informed me, looking almost pained.

"Alice?"

"My mom needs to find some friends to talk to about sex, Brant. I can't take it. I can't," she said, looking horrified. "I thought I was a cool, mature, experienced, metropolitan woman. But when your mom starts talking about blowjobs, it makes you really, really want to stick your fingers in your ears and scream 'I'm not hearing this, I'm not hearing this' until she shuts up."

"Traumatized for life, huh?"

"He's coming over tonight. Did I mention that part? He's coming to dinner and then, ah, staying the night. Because apparently it's... serious. Do they still sell earplugs at the pharmacy? I think I might actually die if I have to listen to them doing it.''

I laughed at that, finding myself charmed by her embarrassment. "Tell you what, why don't you come to my place for dinner. "

― Jessica Gadziala , Peace, Love, & Macarons