Elle shook her head. “I’ve always left it to the professionals. But you’re looking pretty skilled there.”
Luke smiled and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand before returning his hands to the bamboo mat. “I had this part in a pilot, they taught us there.”
“What was the role?”
“The whole show was set in a sushi bar. I played this buffoon whose dream was to be a sushi chef. I know it’s shocking the show didn’t get picked up, huh?” Luke shook his head with a laugh as he scooped a ball of rice with his hands, placing it in the center of the nori square. “Wanna try?”
“I don’t know. You seem to be doing a great job and—”
“C’mon, I’ll teach you. We’ll do it together.”
Elle lifted an eyebrow, placed her glass on the counter, and nestled herself between him and the kitchen island. Luke encircled her with his arms, his chin resting on her shoulder as he guided her hands.
“First, we have to press the rice down so it covers the nori.” Together, they pressed the rice into the thin square of seaweed. Luke hummed into her ear as they worked. Elle couldn’t make out the song, but the contented tone of the melody made her smile with satisfaction.
“Next, we need our fish. I already cut the salmon into strips. So take one of the strips and lay it horizontally.”
She placed a long piece of fish atop the rice. “Like this?”
“Yep, you’re a natural. Now add some cucumber strips, only two or three.”
“Got it.” Elle placed the vegetables next to the salmon. “Can we roll it now?”
“Okay, we’re gonna use the closer edge of the rolling mat. We have to close on the filling with the nori making a rectangular-shaped hill, then we tighten it from above.”
Luke’s already deep voice dropped an octave as he instructed Elle on how to construct the sushi. “Keep it tight, with every move.”
Elle giggled, removing her hand from the sushi and placing it against her mouth.
“What’s so funny?” Luke kept his grip on the partially rolled sushi, but tilted his head to peer into Elle’s eyes.
“Sorry, it just . . . it was starting to sound a little naughty.”
“Elle Riley has a dirty mind, huh? I can certainly use that to my advantage.”
“I’m sure you can. Seriously, though, you have this effect on me every time I’m with you . . .”
“And what’s that?”
“I can’t explain it—it’s like, when I’m with you, I’m lighthearted, almost free-spirited. I’ve never been like that before.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“It’s true, unfortunately. Not even as a kid. But you . . . you’re changing me.” Elle returned her hand to the maki, assisting Luke as they finished pulling the bamboo mat tight, rolling one last time. When the roll was secure, she lifted her hands and turned to face him. “Like right now, I have this urge to just . . .” She bit down on her lip, narrowing her eyes.
“This should be interesting.” Luke smirked, but there was more to that expression. His eyes darkened and his fingers gripped her hips, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. That thought caused a chill to run down her spine. Luke licked his lips and tipped his chin toward her. “Finish your sentence.”
“To jump up on the counter and seduce you right here, right now. Sushi be damned.”
Luke’s eyes widened and his mouth was agape. Without another word, he pushed the cutting board and fresh rolled sushi to the side. His hands gripped Elle’s ass, hoisting her up on the island. She gasped as the cool countertop caused goose bumps to rise on her thighs. Luke’s eyes darkened and his hands gripped her ponytail, pulling slightly as he took her mouth with his own.
Immediately Elle deepened the kiss, her tongue stroking his as her arms wrapped around his muscular back, pulling him closer. His woodsy scent tickled her senses and turned her on. She loved that smell. The soothing and intoxicating smell of Luke.
Luke pulled away slightly, a low growl escaping his lips as he pressed his forehead to Elle’s shoulder.
“Listen, I have an idea . . .” he said.
Elle snickered, repeating the words he used earlier. “This should be interesting.”
“Let’s enjoy our meal, and then I’ll surprise you.”
Elle removed the already-prepared sushi rolls from the fridge as Luke ran his knife under the tap and cut the final maki roll into bite-sized pieces. Together, they sat at Luke’s new dining room table, sharing the rolls and sipping wine.
“You know, as much as you’re affecting me, I think I’m doing the same to you,” Elle said.
“Why do you say that?” Luke poured Elle another glass, then ran his fingers through his hair, sitting back in his chair.
Elle tilted her head back toward the kitchen island. “You chose sushi over sex. That was a very type A personality thing to do, ya know.”
Luke brushed her insinuation off with a shrug. “That’s because I have other plans for you.”
“Oh, really? I can’t wait to hear this.”
Luke popped a piece of sushi into his mouth, and wiggled his eyebrows. “You’ll just have to wait and see. C’mon, let’s eat.”
Both grinning from ear to ear, they sat next to one another at the table, Luke’s hand affixed to Elle’s thigh while his other hand mastered the chopsticks. With each passing minute, his fingers traveled further and further up her skirt. The strokes of his fingers against her skin drove her wild, and despite the delicious fresh taste of the sushi, she wished the meal would end. She had to know what his plans were. The suspense was killing her in the most delectable way as his fingers reached the lace of her panties.
“What are you doing?” Elle whispered, arousal filling her from head to toe.
“Just giving you a taste of what’s to come.”
With determination and purpose, Elle placed her chopsticks across her porcelain plate. “I’m not hungry anymore.”
Luke chuckled, looking down at Elle’s plate. Several pieces of sushi remained, but Elle didn’t care. She was no longer hungry for sushi, no matter how delicious it was. She wanted Luke, only Luke.
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely certain.”
Luke dabbed his mouth with the end of his napkin before dropping it on the hard wood of the table. “All right. Come with me.”
Elle rose to her feet, placing her hand in his. They walked outside to the deck. The sky was dark and stars shone brightly over the crashing waves of the ocean. Luke tipped his head toward the shore.
“Care for a swim?”
“Are you kidding? We’ll freeze! Plus, isn’t it a little late for swimming?”
“Baby, we’re in California . . . it’s never too late for a swim. I’ll keep you warm. What do you say?”
Elle kissed Luke’s chiseled jaw. “Let’s do it.”
But then she remembered. Her nose wrinkled. “I didn’t bring a suit.”
Luke leaned in, his warm lips brushing against her ear. “You don’t need one.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know . . .” Elle glanced around the deck, searching for any innocent bystanders. She wasn’t sure she had the guts to walk across the beach as naked as the day she was born. She was proud of her body—she ate right and worked out several times a week. But still . . . skinny-dipping was nothing she ever considered doing, even with Luke.
Elle could feel Luke’s fingers pulling her blouse from underneath the waistline of her pencil skirt. The tips of his fingers tickled her belly as he dragged them against her bare skin.
“I can’t imagine anything more beautiful than you naked in the moonlight.”
Normally, Elle would overanalyze this situation. She’d grill Luke about the presence of his neighbors: their ages, their evening activities. She’d request a towel to cover herself while walking down to the water. But there was something about Luke that silenced her questioning, hesitant nature. Something stirred within her, and she realized she wanted nothing more than to jump in the ocean with Luke, to feel the crashing of the waves against her skin, and to feel the heat of Luke’s body against her as they immersed themselves in the brisk water.