Take the Cake (38 page)

“Nice, very nice.” She nodded slowly.

“Thanks.” Emily sighed with relief. “I was worried that—” She broke off. “
Shit
.”

“What?” Wren was wide-eyed at the sudden change in mood. “What’s wrong?”

“We’ve done this all wrong,” Emily said. “What’s the quote for the day?”

“Hell, I nearly forgot.” Wren put a hand to her forehead. “I’ll think of something now, and then see what you can come up with to name those.” She pointed to the waiting cupcakes. She darted out into the store to grab the chalkboard and stared out the store window to the traffic outside, her mind racing as she waited for inspiration.

“Hey, Emily,” she called. “What’s the main ingredient in those things?”

Emily appeared with one of the trays and slid them into the cabinet. “If you’re including the frosting, I’d have to say sugar or butter. Why?”

“Thanks.” Wren scribbled for a moment and then turned the board around.

Emily read it and laughed.

What whiskey or butter can’t cure,
there’s no cure for.

“Now it’s your turn,” Wren said.

“What do I do?” Emily said as she looked from the cupcakes to the chalkboard.

“Think of a cupcake name that matches the quote and you’re done,” Wren replied as she carried the chalkboard outside to hang it up. “You’ll get the hang of it in no time.”

“If you say so,” Emily muttered under her breath. She leaned against the counter and crossed her arms as she studied the cupcakes. “Whiskey and butter,” she murmured to herself.

Wren returned inside to see Emily making them another coffee, her face a mask of concentration. Wren gave her a quick pat on the back as she passed and busied herself filling up the water jugs, dropping in slices of lemon before carrying them over to a small table for customers to help themselves. Emily finished making the coffee in short order and handed Wren her cup as she returned behind the counter.

“Thanks,” Wren said as she took a sip. “So, got a name?”

“I have.” Emily smiled.

“Great.” Wren swooped on her piece of chalk and grabbed the smaller chalkboard and gave her an expectant look.

Emily took a sip of her coffee and then dictated, watching as Wren wrote down her words. When Wren held out the chalkboard, both women studied it for a moment.

Miracle Cure: Vanilla butter cupcakes with chocolate butter frosting.

“You know, I think we’re going to be just fine.”

~~~

“Here.” Michael set a steaming mug on the bedside table. “I know it’s not the standard you’re used to, but I’ll get us something later.”

“S’fine,” Kate said as she reached for the cup. Michael set down a glass of juice as well.

“You need to keep up your fluids,” he parroted and then pulled a face. “Mom called, so I’m just repeating what she told me. She’s stopping by with lunch later.”

Kate sipped at the coffee, and then slumped against the mountain of pillows that Michael had stacked up around her.

“I feel pathetic,” she admitted.

Michael leaned over and gave her a kiss. “I don’t know, you feel pretty good to me, babe. Kinda toasty.”

“I’m going to be an impatient patient,” she warned him.

“Okay.” Michael nodded. “You want to sleep some more?” he asked as he watched Kate struggle to keep her eyes open.

“I’m fine.” Kate shook her head even as she settled herself more comfortably on the pillows. She closed her eyes and sighed.

Michael stood watching her with a slight smile on his face. Her breath hitched once, twice, and then settled into a deeper rhythm. Leaving the bedroom, Michael returned to his desk and sat down in front of his laptop. He typed for a while, and then pushed back his chair so that he could glimpse the lump that was Kate’s feet beneath the covers. There were no signs of movement; Kate was sound asleep. He smiled and went back to work.

Kate slowly returned to consciousness to hear Michael talking quietly in the other room. She squinted at the bedside clock and saw that she had slept for another couple of hours. Struggling into a sitting position, she pushed her hair off her face and rubbed her eyes. She felt gritty again, so shoved the covers aside to make her way into the bathroom. She had a quick shower and changed into some fresh clothes before making her way out into the living room.

“Hey, you’re looking a little better,” Michael said, looking up when she appeared.

“I feel it,” she mumbled as she sat down on the sofa and then curled up on her side with her eyes closed. It felt good to be out of bed, but she couldn’t find the energy to do anything. She heard Michael get up from his desk but didn’t pay it any heed.

“Lift up,” Michael instructed.

Opening her eyes, she saw Michael standing in front of the sofa with a pillow he had retrieved from the bed. She propped herself up so that Michael could slide the pillow under her shoulders and then lay back down, smiling her thanks when he covered her with a light blanket.

“You want something to drink?” Michael asked as he brushed her check with the back of his fingers.

“Mm-hmm.” Kate nodded, her eyes fluttering closed again. She was still feeling light-headed. It felt as if her center of balance had somehow moved six inches away from where she lay, leaving her with the curious sensation of feeling as if she was not properly anchored within her body. Closing her eyes, she let herself drift.

Michael went into the kitchen and returned with a glass of water, which he set down on the coffee table in front of her.

“We can expect a soup delivery soon,” he said as he took a seat on the arm of the sofa.

“Your mom doesn’t have to do that,” Kate said in a drowsy tone as she blinked at him slowly. She felt guilty over the level of attention she was getting for what appeared to be a mild head cold.

“Just let us take care of you,” Michael soothed. “We want to, okay?”

“If you say so,” Kate said, “but don’t you think you’re too far away to do that?”

Michael took the hint and eased himself onto the sofa. Kate shoved the pillow aside and burrowed against his chest. In contrast to her body heat, Michael felt deliciously cool. Settling her head on his shoulder, she looked up at him with a sleepy smile. Michael bent his head and kissed her out of reflex.

“Hey,” he whispered, “love you.”

“Love you too.” She smiled.

Now that the words had been said, they wanted to say them often, as if making up for lost time. Keeping his arm around her, Michael reached for the TV remote and flicked it on, scrolling through the channels to see if there was anything worth watching.

“See anything you like?” he asked as he kept his gaze on the screen.

“Not on TV,” Kate murmured, running her hands up his chest.

“I had no idea you were such a horndog when you’re sick.” Michael smirked at her as her fingers traced idle figure eights on his shirt.

“You never know—” Kate waved a hand in an entirely vague gesture before returning to Michael’s shirt, “—it could be a great way to break a fever.”

“Mmm,” Michael mused, closing his eyes as Kate kissed his jaw and ran a hand over his thighs. “Don’t forget we’re getting a soup delivery.”

“Yeah,” Kate replied, “but I bet your mom’s soup can’t do this.” She gently bit his bottom lip before coaxing his mouth open with her tongue and dipping inside.

Michael’s hands floated up to hold her in place as they kissed and stroked each other in all the ways they liked best. By the time they broke apart, Kate’s face was flushed and her eyes dilated as she gazed heavy-lidded at him. She looked, Michael realized, almost as if she was drunk. Her movements were slow and deliberate as if she had to concentrate on what she wanted to do.

“Damn.” Michael’s soft curse sounded shaky as he looked at his watch. “And Mom’s on her way here already. It’s too late to put her off.”

Kate didn’t take her gaze away from his lips as he spoke, and she leaned in to kiss him again the moment he stopped speaking. This time the kiss was not as gentle as their mutual desire grew.

“Honey, you’re not well.” Michael’s breath was ragged now. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything,” Kate replied. She shifted her weight and threw a leg over his thighs so that she straddled him. Michael’s hands automatically shifted to cup her bottom, so that he could lift and pull her closer against him. They both gave a quiet moan as their cores came into contact through their clothes.

“Jesus.” Michael had time to mutter before Kate fisted her hands in his hair and pulled him to her for another kiss. His hips lifted slightly as she ground down on his lap, and he shifted his hands to run them up and under her T-shirt as he gave in and accepted what she was offering. “Need this
off,”
he growled as he pulled at the soft fabric.

Kate broke away from him long enough to pull the T-shirt up and over her head. As her arms lifted, he leaned forward to pull the rosy tip of one of her breasts into his mouth. The T-shirt was tossed aside as she clutched his head to her. She couldn’t sit still. Her hips rose and circled against his as she all but whimpered in her need to get him closer still.

“I need,” Kate stuttered, trying to get the words out when all she wanted to do was kiss him. “Off.” She tugged at his shirt, pushing him back against the sofa so that she could fumble it up and over his head.

Michael looked at his watch and then at Kate.

“Maybe traffic will be bad,” he bargained.

“Could be,” Kate agreed, licking and nipping at his chest before pausing to look up at him. “Now?”

“Now,” he agreed.

Somehow they made it to the bed and fell onto it in a tangle of limbs that were immediately kicking off the last of their clothes. There was no murmured sweet talk, no gentle exploration; it was all need. Michael lunged for the bedside drawer and produced a foil packet, the contents of which were fitted with shaking hands as Kate tongued and kissed his skin. Rolling her onto her back and holding his weight above her, Michael stopped and gazed at her for a long moment.

“Kate,” he began, “I …”

“I know.” She nodded and pulled his face toward hers. His hips flexed forward as her legs wrapped around him, and he sank into her warmth. They both sighed and felt their bodies adjust to each other, before he flexed his hips again, withdrawing and returning over and over.

“More,” Kate groaned as she jerked her hips to meet his thrusts. “Michael, I can’t, I—”

“What? Tell me,” Michael whispered in her ear before kissing her throat. “You’ve got to tell me.”

“I feel like I can’t get close enough to you,” she muttered. Her hands were splayed across his shoulders, pulling him closer still.

“I know.” Michael was trying to touch and kiss as much of her as he could as their bodies curled and thrust against each other. “Me too.”

Kate felt hot, the fever raging through her body as her system fought to restore her equilibrium, and all the while she surged toward Michael. She felt light-headed and could hear her ragged breathing as she struggled toward release. Something had to give; it just had to. Opening her eyes to gaze at Michael, she could barely see him; the fever was eating her up from the inside out. Michael’s body felt cool and strong, and she clutched him as she tried to keep her awareness in check.

“Close,” Michael managed as he slid a hand beneath her shoulder to give a firmer grip. Kate’s only response was to nod and mumble something incoherent as she tightened her legs around his hips, her heels digging into his thighs and urging him deeper. Michael felt the familiar tightening as his body gathered its release. He broke away from kissing Kate to look at her before his body shook with its climax. At the same time, Kate’s breathing hitched, the fever broke and sweat popped and beaded over her skin.

Michael sighed and nuzzled Kate’s neck, careful to keep his weight from crushing her diminutive frame. When he had caught his breath, he carefully withdrew from her and got up from the bed to clean up as quickly as he could. Returning to the bedroom, he saw Kate sprawled amongst the crumpled sheets with a peaceful smile on her face.

“Hey,” he said as he crawled across the bed and gathered her into his arms. “Where did you go?” he murmured as he gave her soft kiss. “I lost you somewhere.”

“Whaddya mean?” Kate slurred. “I was here the whole time.”

Michael’s chest shook with suppressed amusement. “You know what I mean.”

“Relax, lover boy.” Kate patted his thigh. “Just because you don’t hit the jackpot every time doesn’t mean I’m not having fun.” She blinked up at him and then lifted some sweaty hair off the back of her neck. “I got my release a different way, and I feel
good
.”

Michael gazed at her and then rested his hand on her forehead. “You feel cooler. Did your fever break?”

“Feels like it.” Kate’s nod was sleepier this time.

“You need more sleep,” Michael observed as Kate covered her mouth with a hand and gave a massive yawn.

“I do.” She blinked. “But I want to have a shower first.”

“I’ll have to remember this,” Michael commented. “When you get sick, you’re like a cross between a mermaid and a horndog.”

Kate tried to look stern as she regarded him despite her nudity. “Is that going to be a problem?”

“No, ma’am,” Michael replied.

“Good, now come take a shower with me.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Michael repeated as he helped her off the bed. Kate staggered slightly but made her way toward the bathroom and turned on the shower. Michael glanced at the clock as he followed her. He guessed they had five or ten minutes before Susan arrived. He stepped into the shower cubicle to see Kate standing directly beneath the spray, her hair plastered against her head and shoulders as she soaped her hands.

“Come here,” she said with a soft voice as she turned to face him.

Michael stood and let her soap his chest before returning the favor. It seemed only fair. Michael was dressed but still barefoot when his mother arrived.

“Thanks for coming over,” Michael said as he gave his mother a kiss hello and helped her off with her coat. He had only just remembered to collect his and Kate’s hastily discarded T-shirts from the living room floor and flick them into the bedroom before answering the door. “Did you drive?”

“I did. It was easier than catching a cab with what I had to carry,” Susan replied as she indicated the two bags she had arrived with. “Where’s the patient?” Susan asked as she saw the pillow on the sofa.