Jinx stretched lazily, luxuriating in the tingles of utter satisfaction that ran up from the soles of her feet to her scalp and down again. She felt blessed coolness on her naked body, a counterpoint to the warm, solid arms hugging her waist and the hands cupping her breasts as she reached full consciousness.
Those hands tightened over the bounty they seemed reluctant to release, even in sleep, and she burrowed back against the very male body to which they belonged. She felt so feminine lying against this very male body. She was taller than average at 5'9" and, while that kind of height was par for the course for a model, she couldn't help feeling awkward around most Filipinos who were shorter than she was (which was a pretty common occurrence).
It's good to feel like I fit perfectly, for once.
It was dark out, a gibbous moon dominating the skyscape outside the plate-glass window Jinx was looking out of, the lights of three cities twinkling like a display of multi-colored gems set against deep black velvet.
"Hmmmmmm," Cocoy murmured sleepily against Jinx's nape, triggering pleased shivers from her. "Hold still, gorgeous, I like the way you fit against me."
"That tickles!" Jinx squealed as Cocoy woke up completely and nuzzled her nape with his nose and lips. Cocoy smiled against the juncture of Jinx's shoulder and neck and made a few lazy licks that made her writhe even more frantically in an effort to get away, her breathless laughter precluding any coherent speech.
His arms remained wrapped firmly around her waist as he thrust his revived erection against the cleft between her buttock cheeks.
"Even your laughter is sexy, Jinx," Cocoy said softly as he took mercy on her and stopped tickling her, choosing instead to rub his legs over and between hers in sinuous motions that had her libido waking up and paying attention, too. "Especially when you wiggle against me like that."
"You two can save that for later, and not leave me out, mind you both," Kidlat said as he padded into the bedroom on bare feet. "It was hard enough putting you both to bed. Since you're up, dinner's on the table."
***
Jinx and Cocoy exited the bedroom. He in his red silk boxer shorts and she in a soft black t-shirt borrowed from Kidlat. They both sniffed the good kitchen smells with appreciation and anticipation and smiled happily when they saw the beautifully-set table before them: A steaming meat and vegetable soup was wafting up a mouth-watering aroma from a smoke-gray cut crystal tureen and three place settings were laid out—woven bamboo placemants bore beautiful, black octagonal plates which set off generous cut crystal bowls that matched the tureen.
Silverware that looked to be well-loved heirloom antiques flanked the plates. Curvy clear glass pitchers held cold, freshly-squeezed kalamansi and apple juice, as well as ice water. Each of the three place settings had origami swan-folded black napkins on the side, as well as an octagonal highball glass and a long-stemmed cut crystal goblet that sparkled in the cool light of the dining room lamps. A lacquered black and red bowl by the tureen held piping hot brown upland rice.
"I hope you like pork
sinigang,
" Kidlat said as casually as he could. "Because I'm too damn hungry to cook another option. There's pineapple pie for later."
For some reason, Kidlat wanted to impress these two with his kitchen skills—but he wasn't quite that ready to explore the why of it.
But, hey, the kitchen is my turf. Not even Buhawi can outdo me here. Hell, if I didn't have to work on the family bank's internal communications, I'd have my own restaurant.
The trio ate in silence, enjoying the sour tamarind broth mildly spiced with long, green Tagalog chilies and the meltingly tender pork chunks that added richness to the broth. The swamp cabbage leaves and shoots and the perfectly thin slices of native white radish rounded out what was a beautifully done
sinigang
.
They dipped the pork chunks in little bowls of fish sauce spiced with potent little bird's eye chilies and fresh lime juice before scooping them onto steaming hot brown rice, then washing each mouthful down with spoonfuls of the soup.
"Mmmmph," Jinx said, turning worshipful eyes to Kidlat. "This is, bar none, the best
sinigang
I have ever eaten in my life."
"And I can't wait to taste that pineapple pie," Cocoy said, his eyes, too, fixed on Kidlat in something that resembled adoration. "
Sinigang
is my favorite dish and pineapple is my favorite fruit. You're about to become my favorite guy, Kid."
Kidlat couldn't keep the blush from his cheeks. The praise felt so very good indeed, but he wasn't used to this, even if he'd slaved two sweaty hours over the food he'd prepared, working his perfectly flaky, buttery pie crust dough from scratch and peeling that damned pineapple (ouch, because it was pretty well armored and he'd cut himself on the sharp leaves at some point). "Well, then you don't need to wait too long. Let me get that pie." So he just got up from the polished glass and steel dining table to do that.
The pie, still warm from the oven, did not have a chance to cool. Cocoy ate half of it, scarfing it down like it would walk off his dessert plate if he didn't. Jinx savored her fourth of the pastry, making the sexiest sounds of pleasure after each bite.
Now that's as a good reason as any to be barefoot in the kitchen,
Kidlat thought, watching his two new lovers enjoy the food he'd prepared just for them.
