Free Hammer & Nails by Andria Large

at the island. I open my iPad and bring up the website of the distributor that I use. They have everything from the most expensive cabinets and countertops to the dirt-cheap. I pull up some of the more expensive ones, knowing Nolan’s tastes. He leans toward me, his shoulder bumping mine. I catch a whiff of his cologne and have to stifle a moan. He smells so freaking good. The night we slept together, I went home covered in his scent. I didn’t want to take a shower and wash it off because I didn’t want to lose the smell of him. But, obviously, I had to.
    We discuss a few different options before my stomach growling loudly interrupts us. Nolan laughs then slips off his stool. He cuts two pieces of the lasagna and places each on a plate. He grabs forks and napkins then brings the plates over to the island. He sets mine down in front of me and places his at his spot.
    “Would you like something to drink? I have beer, wine, soda, water, iced tea,” he asks.
    “A beer would be great, thank you,” I murmur softly.
    I feel like this is a date or something. No guy has ever cooked me dinner and served me. My dad cooks dinner once a week for me and my brothers, but he’ll be damned if he serves it to you.
    “You got it.” Nolan smiles and goes to the fridge.
    He pulls out two beers and places them on the counter. He rummages through a drawer, pulling out a bottle opener a minute later. He cracks open the two bottles, leaving the opener and bottle caps on the counter. He places a beer in front of both of us as he sits back down next to me. I stare at him. He glances at me and I swear I see his cheeks flush.
    “What?” he asks. I can hear him falter, as if unsure of himself.
    I shake my head. “I’m just…I’m not used to such treatment from a guy.”
    Nolan shifts uncomfortably on his stool. “What do you mean?” he asks.
    “I don’t know. I guess that whenever I’ve hung out with guys, they kinda treated me like one because of the way I act. So I’ve never been served dinner or had someone else get my drink for me,” I say quietly, picking at the label of my beer, unable to look him in the eye.
    Nolan reaches over and brushes my hair over my shoulder. His hand cups the side of my face, his thumb stroking my cheek. “Hey, look at me,” he demands quietly.
    I lift my eyes to his. He looks pissed. Not at me, though.
    “You are still a lady and deserve to be treated like one. Those other guys were wrong for treating you that way,” he says firmly, giving me a pointed look. “Okay?”
    My heart swells to the point of bursting. How could someone I thought was a total stuck up douche when I first met him, turn out to be such a gentleman?
    I nod.
    Nolan’s eyes flick to my lips. My heart starts thumping in my chest. He leans forward and lightly brushes his lips against mine, sending little shocks of pleasure shooting all of the way down to my sex. I suck in a sharp breath as he presses his lips more firmly against mine. I instantly soften against him, leaning into his kiss and his touch. What is it about him that has me doing that each and every time he kisses me? So much for not giving into him again. God, I’m such a loser!
    Food forgotten, Nolan slips off his stool and stands between my legs. Our kiss turns more passionate and needy, and I feel his cock lengthen and harden against me. The next thing I know, he’s lifting me. I wrap my legs around his waist as he carries me over to the leather couch in the living room. He lays me down with his body covering mine, our kiss never broken.
    His hips rock against me, and he moans, sending flutters through my stomach. I shove my hands into his hair and yank his head back, breaking our kiss. He gasps as I nip at his scruffy chin before moving down to his neck. I run my tongue over his Adam’s apple, forcing a harsh breath from him. He grinds his hips against mine, looking for friction.
    “Get up,” I bark.
    Nolan scrambles to his knees, his expression one of