CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Samantha woke up early in the morning. She moaned before opening her eyes, trying to get free from the iron grip keeping her still.

In the end, Rider managed to get into her bed, even if it had happened just for sleeping.

They had drunk wine and eaten cheese in the evening, talking about useless stuff or just cuddling in front of a movie. In the end, they had laid on the bed and fallen asleep early.

«I can't believe this,» she sighed. «What are you doing here?»

«I'm sleeping, Mine.»

His arms didn't release her, and Samantha had to snuggle out with her own wits. She freed her legs from his and rolled down.

«I'm going to take a shower,» she said before opening the wardrobe and looking for another set of comfortable clothes. Her stomach ached a little, and her muscles were all sore, but it was not as bad as she was expecting it to be. «You can sleep in the meantime,» she added, seeing how Rider showed no intention of moving from the cosy and warm bed.

She was expecting him to sneak out and abandon her in the morning, but he didn't seem to have that intention at all. He had turned on his stomach and hugged the pillow, his dark hair in contrast with the white sheets and his tanned skin wrapping his muscles as perfectly as usual.

That was the last glimpse of him Samantha got before reaching the bathroom for her shower. It accompanied her the whole time while the hot water washed away the sweat of the night. Rider's body temperature was so high that she had felt hot under the blanket, but, at the same time, she would exchange the feeling of sleeping in his arms for nothing in the world.

When she was done with her shower, fresh and changed, her nose picked up the scent of food. Her stomach growled, and her tongue licked her lips. She was hungry: it was time to get something to eat.

Which one of her neighbours was cooking at that hour in the morning, though? It was weird.

It became even odder when she saw Rider in her kitchen, making something yummy with the few ingredients he could find in her poor fridge.

In between expensive cheese and drinks, he had managed to assemble enough vegetables and eggs to make an omelette. There was no ordinary bread, unfortunately, but he could find some crackers in a drawer and a couple of slices of bread for toasts. The latter were already being toasted in the oven.

«You know... Uhm... You know how to cook?» Samantha commented, collecting her wits not to start drooling.

That view, oh that view! She found him extremely attractive, surrounded by kitchen equipment and food. The scent of the dishes made it even harder for the woman to keep her calm.

It was a surprise, a pleasant one, and she hadn't yet decided whether to play it cool or jump on him and reveal her inner thoughts.

«I'm not very good,» he said, turning the eggs with a wooden spoon. «Just enough to survive... I hope I didn't ruin your precious organic eggs from organic chicks only.»

«The aroma is mouthwatering.»

«Yes, but I'm not sure about the taste, Mine. You have a lot of weird spices but no ingredients to cook.»

«Oh, they're from a phase where I thought I could learn if only I wanted it.»

«And?»

«It lasted pretty short, so I have never learned. I have no clue about where to start cooking my organic eggs,» Samantha confessed, approaching him one step at a time.

It felt a little forbidden, disturbing him while he was making food, but she couldn't wait on the door forever.

«Why do you even buy ingredients if you don't know what to do with them?» he asked, tilting his head.

«Maybe, I was waiting for a knight in black armour to come and save my ingredients from being thrown away,» she chuckled, beaming at the delicious sight in the pan.

«You were lucky I found you,» he sighed, unaware of Samantha's gluttonous stares.

She had been focused on him for quite a while, but the presence of food had taken the lead too soon. But she could return to appraising his appearance as soon as her belly was filled.

«Are we eating?» she inquired.

Much to her surprise, she was glad he didn't leave silently during the night. She was going to eat something warm and fresh for breakfast, and she was totally up for it.

«Sit,» he ordered, and she circled around the table without a word of complaint. She sat, staring at him in silence.

Rider's lips curled up at her obedience, even though he was conscious it was not because of him. Her eyes were fixed on him, and her expression was solemn yet undoubtedly hungry.

He crossed his arms, wondering how far he could go.

«Ears,» he tried.

And it worked. Her ears appeared in between the blond locks, and her eyes followed the pan with too much attention for his tastes. How could a plate of fried eggs be more attractive than him? That woman sure was strange.

He observed her while she devoured her portion, wondering if learning how to cook more sophisticated plates would have brought him any more points.

«It's so good,» Samantha commented. «You have a talent for cooking, Rider. I would hire you as my personal cook, you know?»

He sat next to her, looking at every detail from up close, from famished expression to furry ears. She definitely was different than she looked from afar. And she had very little in common with the woman from the rumours. Knowing her bit by bit, he could find new aspects of her character every single time.

Was it her habit - to hide her true self - or was she different only with him? Oh, if only he had any hope to find out, but that stubborn little devil didn't want to allow him in her life.

«I will cook for you again, you starving pup,» he said.

Her satisfied smile made him reconsider: it didn't matter that much as long as she continued to show that cute, delicate side when they were alone.