Falling For My Accidental CEO Husband
Chapter 78: Cooking Ideas

Chapter 78: Cooking Ideas

Aiden Hawk mentally slapped himself, the direction of his own thoughts making him cringe. He had narrowly avoided doing something that would have earned him a well-deserved physical slap, and yet his "victim" remained blissfully unaware. It didn’t mean he was off the hook, though—not by a long shot as his own brain continued to mock him.

He had meant to help her. Really, he had. That’s what he kept trying to convince himself as he replayed the scene in his head, but even his own conscience scoffed at the weak justification. The truth was far less noble. He hadn’t gone over to assist Serena because the food needed saving; he had gone because he couldn’t resist being close to her.

His fingers had brushed against hers as he reached for the spoon, and instead of pulling away like a normal, reasonable human being, he had wrapped his hand around hers, guiding the stirring motion in what had to be the lamest excuse for "helping" ever. Who even did that? It wasn’t like she didn’t know how to stir food on her own. The whole gesture had been so transparent, he was just grateful Serena hadn’t swatted him with the very spoon he was holding.

It had started innocently enough—or at least he liked to think it had. His mind had definitely gone in the wrong direction until... he’d been drawn by the soft scent of her hair, like some love-struck idiot in a bad rom-com and almost leaned in for a closer whiff. His body had betrayed him, and for a brief moment, he’d been dangerously close to burying his nose in her hair, letting the world melt away.

The thought alone made him flush with embarrassment. He was supposed to be composed, in control and yet, here he was behaving like a bumbling teenager. And the worst part? He had no one to blame but himself.

"You know, you can only blame yourself."

Aiden’s head jerked up from where he had been staring at the soup in his bowl, too distracted to actually eat it. His mind froze. What did she mean by that? Could she somehow hear his thoughts?

Aiden gulped," I... uh..."

"Well, now you’re not saying anything. Well good! It is your fault! You’re the one who has spoilt my appetite with such good food that I don’t feel like eating anything from anyone else."

"You’re talking about food?" Aiden asked almost incredulously to which Serena stared at him as if he’d lost his mind. And then, just as suddenly, she leaned over the table, placing her hand on his shoulder," You seem all lost and flushed and red faced. Do you have fever?"

He leaned away from her touch hurriedly, "No, I’m fine Its’ the heat here," he stammered, his voice higher than he intended. "And I was lost in thinking..."

"Thinking? Thinking about what?" Serena asked as she sat back in her chair and continued to eat her noodles. The sight distracted him as he watched her lips close around the spoon and his mind supplied the image of when she’d done this to his finger... And how he wanted it elsewhere as well.

Shaking his head, he met her expectant gaze and gulped," Lets just eat first and then we can talk."

"That sounds ominuous." Serena murmured but Aiden shook his head," Its not that bad. Just something that might ruin your appetite."

"Then don’t tell me! I am starving and want to enjoy my food first."

Aiden smiled at that and focused on eating his own meal. Halfway through, Serena jumped off the chair and hurried away while covering her mouth... He grinned this time.

"I told you that you would regret choosing those extra chillies to add in the noodles..."

Serena whirled around, eyes already watering and face flushed from the fiery burn in her mouth. She glared at Aiden as she frantically reached for the glass of water in front of her.

"You think this is funny? Bad things happen to those who say I told you so." she managed to sputter between sips, her voice muffled by the heat still coursing through her mouth. Her tone was sharp, but the effect was somewhat diminished by the fact that her lips were trembling from the spice, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears.

"But you wanted it extra spicy, right?" Aiden pointed out.

Serena shot him another glare as she gulped down the cold water, but it didn’t seem to help. The glaring or the water. The burn persisted, spreading through her mouth like wildfire. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on breathing, willing the heat to subside. Inhaling deeply through her nose, she slowly exhaled, trying to calm the tingling sensation on her tongue and lips.

It was then that she felt it—something cool and soothing pressing against her lips. Her eyes snapped open in surprise, and she found herself looking straight into Aiden’s deep, steady gaze.

He was holding a glass of cold milk against her lips, tilted slightly so that she could feel the milk against her lips. Instinctively, she parted her lips, allowing the cold liquid to slip past her tongue as she drank greedily, with him still holding the glass.

As she finished drinking, she looked at him gratefully, only to find him staring at her lips... He looked up for a moment and then murmured," I’m finding it too spicy too. Let me have some milk..."

Before she could offer to go get the milk for him, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers, licking the milk from her lips..

Serena froze, her mind trying to catch up to what just happened. The shock of Aiden’s lips against hers had momentarily short-circuited her ability to think, and the lingering burn of the chilies suddenly seemed insignificant compared to the warmth now spreading through her body.

Aiden pulled back slowly, his lips hovering just an inch from hers, his breath warm against her face. The smirk on his face was unmistakable, full of mischief and something else—as he tapped her cheek and spoke cheekily," That was much better for getting rid of the chilli effect..." But then he leaned in closer and whispered," And yet, your lips are definitely hotter than chillies..."