Forbidden Cravings
Chapter 155: Plan for Outing

Chapter 155: Plan for Outing

The kitchen was bathed in warm morning light, the sunlight streaming through the windows and glinting off the countertops, filling the room with a golden glow. The faint chirping of birds outside blended with the soft sizzle of chicken and vegetables in the pan, the aroma of coffee and toast drifting through the air. I stood by the stove, stirring the contents of the skillet, when Aeri appeared in the doorway, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

She was wearing nothing but one of my oversized shirts, the hem barely reaching her thighs, her smooth legs and the cleavage open visible through the open neckline making my throat tighten.

I gulped, my heart doing a quick flip as I took her in—she looked so effortlessly hot, her messy hair and half-closed eyes only adding to it.

"Ugh... I’m making breakfast for us," I said, rubbing the back of my neck, trying to keep my voice steady as I turned back to the stove, hoping she didn’t catch the flush creeping up my face.

Aeri’s eyes widened, a sleepy smile spreading across her lips as she shuffled closer, her bare feet padding softly on the tiled floor.

"Whaa—thank you so much, Ezra," she said, her voice warm and a little groggy. She leaned against the counter, peering into the pan with curiosity. "You didn’t have to do all this. You could’ve just woke me up, you know."

I shrugged, flipping the chicken with a wooden spoon, the sizzle growing louder. "Nah, you were out cold, sleeping like a little baby," I said, glancing at her with a small grin. "Figured I’d let you rest after last night. You looked like you needed it."

Aeri laughed, her cheeks turning a soft pink as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Such a husband material, huh?" she teased, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the spread on the counter—chopped veggies, a plate of golden toast, and a small pot of milk still steaming for coffee. "Look at you, cooking a whole feast."

My heart skipped at her words, a rush of heat flooding my face, but I played it cool, turning back to the stove.

"It’s nothing like that," I mumbled, my voice gruff as I focused on stirring the pan, trying to ignore the way her compliment made my chest feel tight.

Aeri tilted her head, her smile widening like she knew exactly what she was doing. "Sure, sure," she said, her tone playful. "Wait, hold on—I’m gonna freshen up real quick and be right back." She turned, darting toward the bathroom, her shirt swaying with every step, the hem riding up just enough to make my pulse jump.

"Such a cutie," I said under my breath, my eyes lingering on her retreating figure, the curve of her legs and the way the shirt hugged her making my head spin. "Sighhh," I exhaled, shaking my head to clear it, turning back to the stove to finish up.

Soon, the food was ready—plates piled with sizzling chicken and veggies, golden toast, and two mugs of coffee steaming on the table. Aeri came back, her hair neater now but still wearing my shirt, the loose fabric and a dolphin shorts below.

We sat across from each other at the small kitchen table, the sunlight streaming in, catching the steam rising from our plates. I tried to focus on the food, but the way her shirt slipped off one shoulder, the glimpse of her cleavage, was making it hard to think straight. A familiar heat stirred under my pants, but I pushed it down—she’d probably kill me if I tried anything during breakfast.

"Yummmm, this is so good," Aeri said, her eyes lighting up as she took a bite, holding her cheeks like a kid tasting candy for the first time. Her smile was wide, her face glowing with happiness.

"Ezra, you’re such a good cook," she said, leaning forward to pat my hand, her touch warm and gentle. "Such a good boy I’ve raised."

I pouted, my lips tightening as a mix of blush and irritation hit me. "Umm... thanks," I said, my voice flat, my face burning as I looked down at my plate. She always teased me like I was some kid, and it drove me nuts, even if part of me secretly liked it.

Aeri giggled, leaning back in her chair, her fork twirling in her hand. "What, you don’t like being my good boy?" she teased, her eyes glinting with mischief as she took another bite. "Come on, take the compliment."

I rolled my eyes, but a small grin tugged at my lips. "Whatever," I said, stabbing a piece of chicken with my fork. "Just eat your food before it gets cold."

She laughed, the sound bright and warm, filling the kitchen. "Fine, fine," she said, taking a sip of her coffee, her eyes still sparkling. "Sara’s wedding was so great, wasn’t it? I wonder what she’s up to right now—probably off being all lovey-dovey with Daniel."

I shrugged, my voice flat as I cut into my toast. "Yeah, the food was good," I said, keeping my tone neutral.

It was the safest thing to say—truth was, my mind was tangled up with memories of Sara, her whispered words in the dressing room, and I didn’t want to go there. Not now, not with Aeri sitting across from me, looking like everything I wanted.

Aeri raised an eyebrow, catching the shift in my tone. "Just the food, huh?" she said, her voice teasing but curious. "Come on, Ezra, you had fun, admit it. The dancing, the cake, the whole vibe—it was perfect."

I forced a smile, taking a sip of my coffee to buy time. "Yeah, sure, it was fun," I said, my eyes flicking to hers, her smile pulling me back to the moment. "But this—right here, with you—is better."

Her cheeks flushed, and she looked down at her plate, a shy smile tugging at her lips.

The sunlight glowed around us, the kitchen cozy and quiet, and for a moment, it was just us, sharing breakfast, tangled in something that felt like home.

She leaned back in her chair, her fork twirling in her hand as she took a sip of coffee.

"Sigh... I bet Sara and Daniel are off somewhere romantic right now," she said, her voice softening, a dreamy smile spreading across her face as she thought about her friend’s new life. "Probably walking hand in hand on some beach or something."

I nodded, my mind flicking back to Sara’s wedding, but I pushed the thought away, focusing on Aeri.

"Oh, yeah," I said, a sudden idea sparking in my head, my voice perking up.

Aeri’s eyes narrowed, her head tilting curiously. "What?" she asked, leaning forward, her elbows resting on the table, her coffee mug cradled in her hands. "What’s that look on your face, Ezra?"

"Let’s go somewhere together too," I said, grinning, the idea growing as I spoke. "Just you and me, out for the day."

Her eyes widened, a mix of surprise and excitement flashing across her face.

"Wait, really? But don’t you have work today?" she asked, setting her mug down with a soft clink, her voice cautious but hopeful.

I shook my head, leaning back in my chair, my hands resting behind my head.

"Nope. No calls, no clients waiting for me to build their websites. I’m free as a bird," I said, flashing a smile. "Jonathan must be giving me a break for once."

Aeri’s face lit up, her smile wide and genuine. "Oh, then let’s do it!" she said, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. "We hardly ever get to go out together, you know. It’s always work, work, work with you."

I laughed, rubbing the back of my neck, "Yeah, sorry about that," I said.

She nodded, her eyes softening as she reached for a piece of toast, nibbling on it. "I get it," she said, her voice warm. "Let’s go right after breakfast. I’m pumped."

For a moment, we ate in comfortable silence, the clink of forks and the soft hum of the fridge filling the space. Aeri’s eyes sparkled, and she grinned to herself, her cheeks puffing out as she chewed, clearly excited.

Then, out of nowhere, she clapped her hands together, the sound sharp in the quiet kitchen. "So, where are we going, though?" she asked, her voice bright, her head tilting like a curious puppy.

I snorted, nearly choking on my coffee. "Pfft, what’s so funny?" Aeri demanded, pouting as she leaned forward, her hands on her hips, the oversized shirt slipping off one shoulder. "Why’re you laughing at me?"

"You were all happy and grinning without even knowing where we’re going," I said, my voice teasing as I pointed my fork at her. "Just ready to bounce out the door, huh?"

Her pout deepened, but her cheeks flushed pink, and she crossed her arms, pretending to be mad. "Shush, you meanie," she said, her voice playful. "Just tell me already!"

I leaned back, grinning as I took a sip of coffee, letting her stew for a second. "There’s this new wonderland amusement park that just opened up in the city," I said. "Figured we could start there. Rides, games, maybe some cotton candy. What do you think?"

Aeri’s eyes lit up like fireworks, her pout vanishing instantly. "Oh, yes, that sounds awesome!" she said.

We finished breakfast quickly, the plates nearly empty as Aeri pushed her chair back and stood, grabbing her plate and mug. "I’ll clean these up," she said, heading to the sink, her bare feet padding softly on the tiles.

I watched her go, the way the shirt hugged her curves, the hem swaying just enough to make my heart skip. For a second, I just sat there, my chin resting in my hand, a smile creeping across my face. *She really wants to spend the day with me,* I thought, the realization warming me from the inside out. *Who’s the kid now?*