“Kiss me, honey,” she ordered softly.

He crouched low, wedging himself between her legs. It was a place he liked to be. She lifted her face to his. His heart nearly stopped when, whisper-fine, her lips trailed fire from his jaw to the corner of his mouth. Her teeth tugged on his lower lip, bit down, pulled and then her tongue came out to soothe, just as he’d done to her.

He curled his fingers around the nape of her neck, his thumb sliding along her high cheekbone, making that sweep of her soft skin. His mouth found hers. Gentle. Rubbing his lips along hers. Sliding his tongue just to taste her. Taste the sweetness that always undid him. There was heat. Silk. The velvet rasp of her tongue along his. Need was there instantly. Hunger. But it was love he tasted, and it tasted fucking good.

Elijah deepened the kiss, feeding the burn between them. Her hands slid up his chest, leaving a trail of milk. She gasped. Whimpered. He lifted his head alertly and caught her wrists.

“Baby,” he whispered softly. He brought her hands up to his mouth. “Let me get the aloe vera. We grow it fresh in the atrium. I’ll coat your palms with it and this is going to feel a whole lot better.”

She nodded. “Thanks, Elijah. I knew you’d know what to do. But really, finish the dinner.”

“I’ll make you something you can eat as well,” he said, and stood up reluctantly. “Stay out here where the fumes won’t get to you. I’ll be right back.”

He hurried back into the kitchen, saw that she’d blended the salsa properly and also had gotten the shrimp ready, peeling them. He caught up a frying pan, poured in a little olive oil and sautéed the twenty raw and peeled shrimp quickly with a little garlic salt and ground pepper. He added the salsa, and then turned the heat down to low to allow it to cook for the required twenty to twenty-five minutes.

Siena had already made the avocado dip and she’d used jalapeños. It was going to be way too hot for her to eat. He’d have to whip up something else for her. That wouldn’t be hard. He strode into the atrium, cut some aloe vera stalks and made his way back to her. Truthfully, the aroma in the kitchen was making him hungry.

“Forgot to tell you, baby,” he said, as he gently smeared the fresh aloe vera over her palms. “A notary is coming with the license for us to sign.”

She went still. Her gaze jumped to his face. “License? What kind of license?”

“Told you, mi vida, we have to get the license before we can get married. Seventy-two hours or something stupid like that. So we need to get this done. Jake’s lawyer knew someone who agreed to come out to the house.”