Mirepoix (A Recipe Of Love Book 1) (15 page)

I go and pick out some more jewelry now that I know what diameter rings and horseshoes I need. I send a quick text to Joe letting him know I have a surprise to show him tonight. I never told him today was my birthday since I knew he would be busy and I didn’t want to make him feel guilty so I hope he doesn’t get upset with me about it. I pay for my jewelry and walk home arm in arm with Lindsay as we giggle over shit that wouldn’t make sense to most other people, like how parking meters look like a certain cartoon rodent.

As I go to let myself into my apartment, I can hear the stereo playing rock music at a quieter level than I ever would. I know I shut it off when I went upstairs this morning, Lindsay has been with me all day and I find it highly unlikely that a burglar would need tunes to steal from me so that means Joe is in my apartment for some reason. I open the door and see him standing at the stove cooking. He looks up and grins big and wide at me as I run straight at him and jump on him forcing him to put a foot back to brace so we don’t both fall. I gasp when chest bumps into his as I’m hugging him and pull back enough that my tender nipples aren’t in contact with him anymore.

“What are you doing here? Did something happen at your restaurant? Is everything okay?” I nervously fire questions at him rapidly, hoping he doesn’t notice my weird behavior and call me on it. Today’s shirt is another black thermal henley, I absently wish I were wearing skirt or dress so I could feel the material on my thighs with my legs wrapped tight around his waist. Joe looks at me suspiciously since almost every time I greet him I spend an abnormal amount of time sniffing him and subsequently lose track of time.

“It’s your birthday babe. I can’t take off on holidays but it’s a random Wednesday, and I got my Executive Sous Chef to cover the kitchen for the night so I could make you dinner. I recruited Lindsay to get you out of the building this afternoon so I could sneak in and get started. Now we have a couple of things to get out of the way before dinner is done and we can relax. Let’s start with why you didn’t tell me it was your birthday and end with why you pulled back when you hugged me.” He calmly states as he walks around the island, to the couch and sits down all while holding me and talking. His voice never wavers and his breathing never picks up which makes me fall into a mini daze remembering him using all that strength to pleasure me. “Babe, talk. Tell me why you didn’t tell me it was your birthday. Do you not celebrate it?”

“I don’t have big elaborate parties if that’s what you mean. Normally it’s just me and Lindsay, sometimes someone random will join us for dinner out so I don’t have to cook. I didn’t tell you because I knew you needed to work and I didn’t want you to feel guilty for not being able to come.” I answer sheepishly with my head down. I peek up at him from under my lashes to try to read his mood on his face. I really hope he isn’t mad at me, I didn’t want to upset him and I didn’t think it was a big deal.

“Pixie look at me, I’m not mad at you. But think how guilty I would have felt if I didn’t find out and missed your birthday without even trying to see if I could be with you. If I couldn’t get out of working you could at least come and eat dinner at my place so that I knew I had made you your birthday dinner. We have to be honest with each other so that we don’t accidentally hurt each other despite having good intentions, okay?” He slides his hands up my thighs where one hand anchors at my hip, his thumb rubbing the crease of my thigh while his fingers dig into my hip. The other hand slides up my back before tangling in my hair pulling me close for a kiss. I ruin the moment by hissing as soon as I bump into his solid chest again.

“What crazy thing did you and Lindsay go and do today that has you unable to hug me babe?” He asked in a frustrated tone of voice.

I immediately duck my head and pull into myself as much as I can while straddling Joe. I really can’t help that it’s so instinctive, it doesn’t matter how much I trust him I can still have anxious moments over weird stuff that I don’t know will set me off until it does. I close my eyes and wince as I realize what I did. I’m so stupid I can’t believe I just did that. He’s going to be so mad at me and think I don’t trust him. I hope he’s not too mad. I feel his big strong hands cup my neck with his thumbs on my face gently stroking my cheeks before making me look him in the face.

“Take a deep breath babe. You’re safe. I’m not judging you just worried.” He leans in and kisses my forehead gently making sure he keeps his back curved so his chest is held away from me. I take a deep breath like he instructed and staring into his eyes I regulate my breathing and get myself to calm down.

“Close your eyes Joe. Please?” I had a more elaborate reveal plan in mind but I could be flexible and show him now. Once his eyes are closed, I ditch my shirt and bra and gently cup my nipples hiding the piercings in my palms without actually putting any pressure on the rings. I shift so I can lean back a little more.

“Okay, you can open your eyes.” Joe’s eyes zero in on my cupped hands and darken, hopefully with desire. I pull my hands away showing him my new adornments. I’m not sure what he’s thinking or feeling as he takes a few minutes visually inspecting the rings, whatever he is feeling is slowly filling the room and making me squirm with nerves.

“Did you allow another man to see my pretty breasts and pierce my perfect little nipples?” I freeze at his words, ice water in my veins at the sound of his voice. Shit shit shit I knew I shouldn’t have let Lindsay talk me into this. I’ve never heard his voice like this even when we first met and he was ranting at me. “Answer me babe, did a man do your piercings?”

“No...it wa… was… our friend…. An...Angie” I manage to stutter out. His eyes flash to mine at the sound of my voice and the panic in it. I watch as the anger slides out and guilt moves in. I close my eyes hating myself even more. I’m broken and can’t let this beautiful perfect man react honestly. He is always having to treat me with kid gloves emotionally and watch what he says and how. It has to be a pain in the ass and exhausting. I don’t know how I’ll stand it when he finally decides he’s had enough and wants to be with someone he can be himself with. Someone stronger and more deserving of his attention.

“Look at me baby. Come on open those beautiful eyes for me. I’m not mad at you baby, I was mad at the thought of another man getting to see what’s mine. You need to open your eyes and look at me baby so I can apologize for being a dick.” He croons in my ear. I keep my eyes squeezed shut and my chin tucked. I’m too far down the self doubt spiral to accept what he’s saying as true. I feel him nibble on the hinge of my jaw before licking to the side of my neck right behind my ear, he pulls back and blows on it causing chills to break out and my nipples to stiffen painfully. The pain from my nipples goes straight to my clit making me gasp and rock against Joe’s chiseled abs.

“Oh those are going to be so much fun when they heal.” I feel him chuckle against the sensitive skin of my neck making me squirm more. My jeans are getting damp from how wet I am. I really need to look into making panties out of the material that holds twice its weight in water with Joe around. I open my eyes to look at Joe and see he is looking open honest and really really turned on.

“I’m sorry I was a dick, baby.  I don’t like
the idea of any man getting to see you like this. Every inch of you, from your funky hair to your pretty little toes, is mine and I don’t share well with others. Now quick give me the rundown on the do’s and don’ts with these pretty little rings. I’m guessing no touching or kissing for a while?” His hands leave my face and trail down my body to grab my hands and bring them together at the base of my spine. The position he has me held in has me pushing my chest up like an offering to his full lips.

“No...no touching or licking or sucking until they heal. They can take up to six months to heal but I’ve always healed faster in the past so I’ll let you know when it’s safe. I can take them out earlier and just let them heal closed if you want.” I gasp and pant my response. Joe is licking the bottom swells of my breasts driving me nuts. I legit think he may be trying to kill me with pleasure that’s the only answer. I’m held completely still while he starts nipping around and around my areola making it tighten painfully.

“I’ve heard increased blood flow is always good for helping wounds heal faster. I’m just helping out Pixie.” He chuckles darkly before I feel his leg move under me and the ottoman slide closer. Within seconds I’m on my back having my jeans and panties yanked off. Luckily I took my shoes off when I came in or I think Joe might have just yanked them off too. I try to catch my breath while I’m laying there and hear Joe dealing with his own pants and the crinkle of a condom wrapper.

I’m quickly pulled back up and Joe sits me down directly on his dick. I’m soaked and not putting up any resistance but he’s still so big I have to work myself down over him since he didn’t stretch me first. Joe leans back in a slouch so he’s more laying down than sitting on the couch to make sure he’s not rubbing my nipples with his chest.

“Ride me hard Pixie!” he orders and I plant my knees on either side of his hips and start working myself up and down, grinding hard when I’m down and so full I feel like splitting in two. He has me so worked up I can already feel the tingle low in my belly that’s building and building. Joe starts slamming up into me so I arch back and plant my hands on his knees behind me to brace. Joe grabs my hips with both hands pushing and pulling in tandem with him forcing me higher faster.

“Come on, let go baby. Give me your orgasm. Your pussy is dripping and soaking my jeans. I can feel you getting close, let go so I can too.” He growls as he shoves particularly deep. There’s a twinge of pain deep inside me, combined with the pain in my breasts from bouncing with the new piercings that combine to help shove me over the edge. I feel like I explode into a million tiny fragments of glitter before falling back to Earth. I feel Joe plant himself deep inside me and fill the condom. He pulls out and pulls me down to snuggle against him, twisting my upper body so my nipples stay safe. I snuggle in and zone out for a bit surrounded by Joe before I come to a very sad realization.

“Dammit. This means no birthday boob cuddles!”

19

Joe

I leave Frankie snuggled up on the couch while I stand and fix my pants before heading into the kitchen to finish dinner. I feel like such a dick for making her freeze up like that on her birthday, I couldn’t help myself though. I always have been possessive but never to the extent that I am with Frankie. When I shut down I was trying to save her from seeing the anger I felt directed at the mystery man I imagined touching her, I didn’t think she could handle seeing the rage I was feeling and I ended up scaring her more.

We have made such progress since we met that I refuse to be deterred. I, of course, did a ton of research online and know that anxiety isn’t something we can simply wish away, no matter how much I love her and how much I think she loves me it won’t magically cure her. There’s always the risk of something setting off her anxiety and I can’t take it personally if and when
it happens.  I hate
that she’s still afraid of me reacting negatively to it but I know that’s part of her anxiety, I wouldn’t get mad and leave her if she had a more physical illness so I hate that she thinks I would for a supposed invisible illness. I challenge anyone who witnesses an anxiety or panic attack to continue thinking of it as invisible or non physical. I mentally add a massage to the night’s agenda in my head.

I wish the tiny imp that helped me out had thought to give me a head up on what her present was, then I would have at least been prepared and had myself under control. I can’t wait until she has someone special in her life, payback is going to be a total bitch. I wish I could joke and say I pity the person but the truth is I want her to find someone special. She is such a loving person but hides behind her sharp tongue and sarcastic wit so whoever decides to scale that wall is going to need to have thick skin.

I grab the lasagna out of the oven and put it on the hot pad on the island hoping that my instincts were right and I hadn’t made a mistake with dinner. I know she said she liked lasagna when she was missing her family and I figured birthdays were a prime day for missing family. The only family I’ve ever had is my mom and even if I’m not with her physically she always lets me know she’s thinking of me on my birthday. My heart hurts knowing that Frankie doesn’t have that anymore so I want to make sure she knows how much I love her and that I do listen despite my “testosterone poisoning” I was recently accused of having.

I glance at the clock and make sure I still have time to let her nap on the couch for a bit longer. I need to finish up with the salad and bread, get the big table set and hopefully confess my love before everyone I invited over shows up. Birthdays should be spent with family, so I invited Frankie’s family over for dinner, even the bald asshole that is Andy. He must be growing on me because I don’t automatically tense and get pissed when I think of him, maybe in time I will be able to think of him without any expletives but I don’t want to push my luck.

A stray noise from the office has me tensing in readiness, I force myself to relax when I see it’s Lindsay sneaking in. She really should have learned her lesson last week when she walked in on me testing the stability of the kitchen island with Frankie. Maybe her kink is watching but even if it is she’ll have to fulfill that little need elsewhere. I raise an eyebrow at her when she looks almost disappointed to find Frankie sleeping on the couch.

“I totally get why she’s always saying she’s gonna wax that damn eyebrow off. I’m not even sure how an eyebrow can be as arrogant as yours is. Tell it to behave before it has an unfortunate accident.” She whispers as she starts grabbing placemats and silverware to set the table with.