Elias stormed towards the door and flung it open. He was humored by Adeline who jumped and shrank back, a sheepish smile on her face. Holding back a smile, he grabbed her hand and began tugging her down the dark staircase.

"Elias—"

"Hush."

Adeline clamped her mouth shut and glanced back. The light from Dorothy's tea room was bright. It was almost like the light at the end of the tunnel, but it grew fainter with each step. She saw the shadows move on the wall and heard the sound of Dorothy slowly closing the door.

Once they reached the bottom of the tower, Adeline tried to talk to Elias again. "I wasn't looking for trouble. Initially, I was just hungry."

Elias quirked a brow, glanced at her, and chuckled. He pulled her through the gardens, into the castle, and downstairs, where the kitchen was.

"Would you like a sandwich?" Elias mused. He was far too tired to scold her for wandering outside, by herself, in the middle of the night. Didn't she know monsters lurk in the dark and feast on little ladies like her?

"Yes please," Adeline instantly said.

Elias smirked at her eager face. He had seen it before, but rarely for food. It was always in bed. He flickered the lights on in the kitchen and heard her soft breath. He didn't blame her. The kitchen was in the latest of arts, with gleaming countertops, and shining equipment. It was clean and spacious, just how he liked it.

"Let's see…" Elias trailed off, glancing around.

Elias tugged her towards one of the enormous refrigerators and opened it. Sure enough, a large array of ingredients was in front of him. He frowned, realizing it was all vegetables. Nonetheless, he grabbed the lettuce, onion, radish, and tomato before moving onto each individual fridge.

"Elias," Adeline whispered, like a small child. Her eyes darted from left to right.

"Yes?" Elias responded, opening another fridge where he found the meat. Specifically, the wagyu beef that she enjoyed last time. He grabbed the meat and an egg before moving onto the other fridge.

"Where's the ice cream?" Adeline asked in a quiet voice, as if it was a sin for her to eat such a decadent food.

"We'll find it once you finish the sandwich. Now go and take a seat by the countertops."

Elias watched as she pouted and sulked her way to the countertop. Once she sat herself down, she glared at him like he had just shooed away a puppy before she could pet it. He simply chuckled at her disgruntled reaction and placed the ingredients in front of her.

"You'll enjoy the sandwich more than the ice cream," he chided."Why?"

"Because I made it."

Adeline was wary of his comment. Did he even know how to cook?

Adeline watched as he rolled up his sleeves, revealing his toned arms. She gulped at the veins that popped out on his arm, like chords of ropes. With his thick and long fingers, he picked up the salt and sprinkled it onto the meat. He turned the meat around and patted the salt and pepper, each movement deliberate and slow.

Adeline imagined what those fingers had done to her. She thought back to the shower, steamy and wet when his fingers had touched her clit and slid in between her folds—

"White sauce or butter?"

"Whipped cream," she blurted out.

"What?"

Adeline blinked, mortified she had said that. "W-white sauce," she stammered out, averting his gaze.

Elias held back laughter, his eyes crinkling with his arrogant smirk. He knew exactly what she was thinking about.

"Perhaps for dessert, I'll have you," he teased.

"Just get back to making my sandwich," Adeline grumbled, glancing away from him. She tried to not squirm under his intense gaze.

"White sauce?" he repeated, his voice filled with amusement.

"Just shut up and spread it."

"You first," Elias mused.

"Elias!"

"Try to not scream my name so loud," Elias teased her.

Elias washed his hands and wiped them dry with a white towel. His gaze was locked with hers as he walked around the countertops.

Adeline's heart skipped. She imagined him roughly pressing her against the countertops, bending her over, and pulling up her skirt. He'd spread her legs, settling himself in between it as heat pooled underneath her belly.

"Or the servants would think we're cooking something else in the kitchen," Elias mused.Adeline snapped back to reality. He was coming closer to her now. His eyes never left hers, heated and lustful. She nervously licked her lips, his gaze snapping to the little pink tip.

When he was a step away, she closed her eyes, preparing for his touch. She was met with a gust of his cologne, and that's it. Her eyes snapped open, and she whirled around to see he had walked past her. She wished she could wipe that arrogant smirk off of his face.

He snickered and opened the fridge on the other side of the room, where the ingredients to prepare the white sauce were.

"Do you have to be like this?" Adeline exasperated.

"Like what?"

"Like… like…" Adeline struggled to find the right words. When he turned around, revealing his ruby gaze, dripping with heat and amusement, she glared.

"Nevermind," she grumbled.

Elias laughed right in her face. He tapped her nose and stole a kiss from her. Before she could even savor his touch, he was gone.

Elias turned back to the stove and began cooking the meat. The second it touched the oiled pan, the meat sizzled, and he heard the protesting growl of her stomach. Then, he heard the quiet swivel of the counter chair and her soft tiptoe.

"Don't even think about it," Elias warned. He didn't even have to turn around to know she was seeking dessert, before having her meal.

"I wasn't—"

"Close the fridge."

Elias heard her quiet complaints. A second later, the fridge door was closed. He laughed under his breath, shaking his head in amusement. Without warning, she hugged him from behind. He raised a brow. She'd hug him after he told her no?

"Make my sandwich faster please," she mumbled into his shirt.

Elias simply smiled. He glanced down and saw her attached to him as he was to her in bed. She looked up at him, shyly smiled, and hugged him tighter. He instantly thought about turning off the fire, tossing her onto the countertops, and parting her legs.

"Don't look at me like that," Elias teased.

"Like what?"

"Like there are many things you want me to do to you, and all of it involves your pretty little mouth." Elias grabbed her chin, his thumb pulling her bottom lips down. He paused, his back stiffened as she pressed herself against him.

He clenched his jaw, his gaze fixated on her mouth. "You're playing with fire, sweet girl. And you're bound to get burned."magic

Adeline responded by pressing her mouth upon his. Immediately he turned off the fire, grabbed her, and placed her onto the countertop. His hands gripped her thighs, parting her legs and standing in between her.

It had been a while since he last kissed her. And he kissed her like a starved man, her lips the only salvation. She moaned against his mouth, her hand trailing up his chest, feeling it fall and rise in quick breaths. His finger brushed her neck, sliding up and gripping her chin.

Before she could ask for more, he pulled back. By now, her breathing was haggard, her body heated, and slightly aroused.

Elias's face was inches from her, his breath fanning her mouth. In a low, dangerous warning, he growled, "Now be a good girl and go back to your seat, before I ravish you on this table."