Free Protecting Jessyka (SEAL of Protection) (Volume 6) by Susan Stoker Page B

indication, I’m sure it will be.”
    They worked around each other in the small space. Jess would reach for a knife around Kason as he worked on layering the sauce and noodles in the pan. He would stretch over her and snatch a slice of green pepper off of the cutting board as she chopped. They laughed and joked with each other. It was just what Jess needed. She felt normal.
    “Here, taste this.”
    Jess turned to see Kason holding a wooden spoon out to her with a dollop of sauce on it. He had one hand under the spoon to catch any sauce that might drip. “Guarantee it’s the best sauce you’ve ever tasted.”
    Without thinking, Jess took hold of Kason’s wrist on the hand that was holding the spoon and leaned toward him. She opened her mouth and looked up at him just as she closed her lips around the spoon. She almost choked at the heat pouring out of his eyes. She pulled back and licked her lips, letting go of his wrist.
    “Good, isn’t it?” Benny asked, not taking his eyes off of Jess’s lips. He took his thumb and wiped the corner of her mouth where some errant sauce lingered. He suppressed his groan as her tongue came out and licked right where he’d just been touching.
    “Jesus, Kason, that is the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”
    Her innocent words made Benny’s libido sit up and take notice . . . again. She hadn’t meant anything by what she’d said, but his mind immediately went into the gutter. Her words accompanied by the visual of how she’d opened her mouth, held on to his wrist and how her eyes looked up at him with open honesty and anticipation, made him immediately harden in his jeans. He knew she’d look exactly like that kneeling at his feet as she prepared to take him into her mouth.
    “Just wait until you taste the finished product, gorgeous,” Benny managed, keeping his lower body turned away from her, swallowing hard, trying to remember the tough day she’d had. She didn’t need to deal with his obvious desire on top of everything else.
    After Benny put the lasagna into the oven to cook, he suggested they eat the salad while they were waiting for the main dish. He could hear Jess’s stomach growling and didn’t want her to have to wait another hour to eat. They sat at the bar and munched on the salad. They talked about nothing important, until Benny saw some of the sadness lift from Jess’s eyes.
    The only thing that happened while they were eating that Benny didn’t like, was when he reached across the bar for the salt shaker. Jess had startled and almost fallen off her stool trying to get away from his reaching arm.
    Benny had stopped immediately and looked at her in concern. “Just getting the salt, Jess,” he soothed.
    “Yeah, I know . . . sorry.” She blushed in embarrassment and wouldn’t meet his eyes.
    Kason put his hand on her forearm lightly and stroked her with his thumb as he spoke. “Don’t be sorry, but I hope you do know you have nothing to be afraid of with me or with any of my teammates. We might be big and mean, but you are never in danger of being hurt or hit when we’re around.”
    “I know Kason. I know . I just . . . it’s just instinctive. You can’t erase years of me being cautious in one night. Just be patient with me.”
    Slowly Benny brought his hand up to Jess’s cheek. “As long as you know you’re safe, I’ll try to be patient.”
    “I know I’m safe.”
    “Okay then, will you please pass the salt? I should’ve asked in the first place instead of being rude and reaching for it. My mom would’ve smacked the back of my head if she’d been here.” He smiled at her, lightening the mood once again.
    Jessyka laughed and shook her head. Kason never did what she thought he would. She leaned over, grabbed the salt and handed it to him.
    Later, after they’d eaten dinner, and Jess had admitted it was the best lasagna she’d ever eaten, they were sitting on the couch watching a football game on the television. Jess wasn’t really paying