“Oh, how pleasant. A local?”

“She’s from America,” Aiden said and paused. “I met her a few days ago.”

Robert waited a beat before replying. “I see... Then I am interrupting.”

Antonia licked her thumb again. Her lush lips circled the saucy digit as her eyes fell shut. It was like watching her eat eggs all over again. Aiden forced his body to relax. “Only slightly. But I will read your email today and let you know if it’s something I could do.”

“Of course, of course. Don’t trouble yourself too much if you’re, uh.” Robert coughed. “Otherwise occupied.”

“Thank you and safe travels to you and Penny.”

“Yes, thank you. I’ll pass the sentiment along to Penny. I’ll see you at the conference, Aiden.”

“You will.”

When he hung up, he tucked his phone into his back pocket and reached out to Antonia. The back of his fingers grazed her soft cheek while she chewed her breakfast. “I could watch you eat for hours,” he whispered.

Her mouth twisted into a frown. “That turns you on?”

“Watching your mouth does,” he said, taking another step toward her. “I don’t care what it’s doing, I just imagine it doing other things.”

The crease in her brow relaxed as she gazed up at him. “What other things?”

He took what was left of her pizza and set it on the stove, all while focusing his stare at her lips. “You’re the romance writer,” he said. “I shouldn’t have to tell you.”

Antonia’s face broke into a wide grin. “Let me get back to you on that.”

His fingers traveled to her pointed chin and tilted it upward. “You do that, darling,” he said before kissing her. Her body relaxed against his as her arms wrapped around his shoulders. Aiden held her close and kissed her deeply until his erection reminded him that he had to remain responsible.

Antonia broke away from his lips to glance down. “He’s back.”

“He’s persistent,” Aiden said with a desperate laugh. “I’m sorry about that.”

She glanced up at him, their faces only an inch apart. “I don’t think apologies are necessary.”

“I’m not always a horny teenager,” he said. “I’m usually much better at—”

“Stop,” Antonia said through her laughter. “It’s not the insult you think it is. Now, are you hungry?”

“Always.”

“Let me cut you a slice of this,” she said, reaching for the knife.

He took it before she could and kissed her cheek. “My dear, I can always serve myself.”

She glanced up at him with a confused expression. “I just...”

“And I can serve you too,” he said, separating a slice for himself. “I like to do both.”

Antonia shook her head and chuckled to herself.

“What?”

She cast him another glance. “Oh nothing,” she said with a bemused grin. “I just thought of something my mother said.”

“Men should serve you pizza, in bed, when the occasion calls for it?”

“Something like that.”

He ate his slice in a couple bites and watched her expression shift from confusion to amusement. “Would you mind if I used your computer to check my school email? My boss sent me something about an anthology seeking submissions.”