“Hey, there.” Meg looks up from her laptop with a mischievous grin.
“Meg, this is Levi – Levi, Meg.”
“Hi, Meg.” Sitting on a stool across from Meg, Levi places his hand on Thessaly’s hip and says, “Navy pants and a white shirt?”
Placing her hand on top of Levi’s, she replies, “This outfit photographs well. And you’re wearing the same thing!”
Interrupting the flirtatious banter, Meg asks, “Do you want me to stage a breakfast for Wild Honey?”
“Yes, let’s do it before they do. I want a certain image, ya know?”
Closing her laptop and standing from the stool, Meg asks, “Any preference?”
“How about a basket of biscuits and some strawberries?”
“How about a few hundred peaches?” Meg teases under her breath as she walks toward the kitchen.
Laughing, Levi says, “Meg is a cool chick. So what’s Wild Honey?”
“Oh, it’s just a branding move. The saturation in the artisan market forced me to expand my vocabulary.”
“I like the name – sexy.”
Arranging the flowers in a yellow vase, Thessaly places it in the center of the island and smiles. “Oh, I don’t know how sexy The Hive can make honey, but there’s definitely a market for sexualized foods.”
Propping his arm on the counter, Levi asks, “Will the article include some wild recipes?”
“How’d you guess?” she replies, stroking the sleeve of his shirt.
“Okay, Thessaly, let’s set up on the island – love the jars by the way. I’m thinking we’ll try breakfast in bed for this segment.” Kate squeezes between Levi and Thessaly and snatches the bouquet of flowers. “Over here, Seth,” she barks.
“Coming,” Seth replies in a high-pitched voice. Carrying a tray of assorted muffins, cornbread, jars of Wild Honey, and a magenta pitcher, Seth sneaks in a tiny wink as Meg joins him with a basket of biscuits covered with a paisley dish towel.
“Toss these cheap flowers. Where are the peonies I saw earlier?” Thrusting the vase at Meg, Kate summons the photographer. “Walter! We’re losing the natural lighting.”
Barreling through the kitchen door with a blueberry scone in hand, Walter blurts, “Then what are we waiting for?” He places the scone on a plate near the register and grabs a Canon with a short lens. “Everyone, move away from the food.”
Kate grabs Thessaly and Levi’s arms and pulls them to the side. “We’ll get some shots with you two before we end. You’ll be blurred, of course.” Tilting her head as she glances from Levi to Thessaly, she adds, “Seduce me.” And then she storms off to yell at Seth. “Bring in that plate of peppered bacon.”
With wide eyes and a huge grin, Levi declares, “I’m going to be famous!”
“Yeah, right,” Thessaly replies, turning around to watch the photo shoot.
Placing his hands on Thessaly’s shoulders, Levi pulls her back into his chest with a deep sigh. He rests his chin on the top of her head, closing his eyes briefly while he inhales her fragrant shampoo. It’s an innocent gesture, full of sweetness and compassion.
But just like the honey, sweet things trapped in a glass jar tend to crave a visceral escape.
Kate snaps her head, looking past Seth and Meg and chirps, “Tess and friend.”
“Levi!” Seth interjects.
“Right. Come stand over here and pretend like you’re messing around in the kitchen.” Kate cracks open a cold biscuit and opens a jar of honey.
Cupping a hand over his mouth, Seth nudges Meg and mutters, “This could get awkward.”
As Thessaly and Levi crowd the island and pretend to prepare breakfast with pre-cooked food, Kate curses under her breath.
“You’re practically wearing the same thing! I hate it!” Kate shrieks.
Approaching them with his camera and a calm face, Walter suggests, “Let me take a few shots first, Kate.” He peers through two different cameras with varying lenses and frowns. “Nope! Too much white. One of you needs to change your shirt.”
Turning to the assistant, Kate asks, “Do we have wardrobe?”
“No,” Mia mouths sarcastically.
“Not a problem.” Without hesitating, Levi unbuttons the sleeves of his dress shirt, yanks it from the waistband of his slacks, pops open the remaining buttons, and then drops it to the floor. Revealing sculpted biceps and a tan chest, Levi shrugs his shoulders and smirks. “Most mornings, this is how I make breakfast.”
“God damn,” Kate whispers.
“Lucky bitch.” And because it’s part of her job description, Meg begins snapping photos for Instagram. “For Lois,” she says to a discerning Seth.
“Good morning, Tess. How about some stale biscuits and waxy strawberries.” Levi grabs Thessaly’s waist and presses her against the cold marble counter of the island. He pins her between his legs, leaving just enough room for Thessaly’s eyes to follow the thin trail of auburn hair along his impeccable stomach.
Placing a hand behind Thessaly’s head, Levi angles her face to look into her eyes. “Relax,” he says before wetting his lips.
Thessaly braces herself against the island as Levi kisses the tender skin of her neck. Dragging his mouth along her jaw, he then lands powerfully on her lips. Thessaly flinches, knocking over a jar of Wild Honey and flipping the plate of bacon.
As they kiss, Walter moves in closer, mindful to capture the essence of the new brand – the messy counter, the spilled honey, and the sexual explosion of two people seamlessly acting on their impulses.
Slapping her hand on the counter, Thessaly accidentally claws her fingers against the pool of honey. Parting from their kiss, she slowly glides her finger over Levi’s lips, coating them with the golden nectar. He scrapes his lips with his teeth as Thessaly continues to trail her sticky finger down his chest.
Pressing against Thessaly and smearing honey all over her white shirt, Levi wildly nips at the stretch of skin beneath her ear. In an erratic hush, he pants, “I want to taste you.”
“Then taste me,” she breathes into his hair.
“And that’s a wrap!” Kate barks.
Meg tugs on the waist of Seth’s shirt to get his attention. Breathless, she begs, “My apartment. Now.”
Chapter Eight
“I used to think those phones called Russia,” Thessaly slurs.
“Because they’re red?” asks Levi.
Melting against Levi like a wet noodle, she grabs his shoulders and props herself against the wall of the elevator. “I feel sick.”
“You’ll be fine,” he assures. Wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer, Levi asks, “What floor, Tess?”
“Floorth four,” she mutters incoherently.
Pressing the button, he says, “When I was a kid, I thought department stores were labeling jeans just for me – until my sister bought a pair.”
Laughing hysterically as the doors to the elevator open, Thessaly sputters, “I live right there!”
Levi positions her under his arm, walks her down the hall, and then digs in her clutch for a key. He pulls out a single brass key with a blue ribbon and wiggles it in the knob. Praying that she’s sober enough to know where she lives, he finally unlocks the door.
Spilling into her apartment, Levi flips on the ceiling fan and a kitchen light, and then carefully moves her toward the couch.
Falling back on the yellow, velvet sofa and grabbing Levi’s belt, Thessaly quotes, “Take me to bed or lose me forever.”
Considering the idea, Levi waggles his eyebrows and smiles. But realizing that she’ll be asleep in less than ten minutes, he politely removes her hand from his waist and steps away. Studying her elevated bed and the steep incline of the stairs, Levi makes the decision to carry her to bed.
Placing one arm under her thighs, and the other behind her back, Levi scoops Thessaly like a baby and totters toward the stairs. She giggles and shakes her clutch in the air, as Levi climbs the steps. He lowers her to the bed and then sits next to her, carefully untucking her shirt as she falls asleep.