Samantha could relax because she knew Nate wouldn't have needed her. She had left her phone fully charged and in a place easy to reach, just in case.
Still, there wasn't much she could help with, in a manoeuvre like the one of that evening. She just hoped that it was the same for Rider.
Not that she had any reason to care. He was an adult and should have known how to behave in his pack.
However, knowing he worked in the security department, she could guess he had no reason to be there during an economic crisis.
She finished her bath with her conscience clear, ready for a bumpy night. She didn't dress because it seemed like a useless effort. Moreover, Rider would have no panties to steal that way.
The aroma of food had invaded the house, and she felt it as soon as she turned the water off. She wrapped herself in a big towel and, all wet and dripping, she walked to the kitchen.
«You can't eat like that,» Rider said as soon as he saw her. «You should be dressed when sitting at a table, Mine!»
He sounded like a desperate housewife. Even the way he glared at the drops of water forming a pool on the floor made her chuckle. That floor was hers, for the Moon Goddess! She would be the one to clean in the morning... Why was he reacting so fiercely?
Samantha was struggling. On one side, she wanted to drag him to the sofa and make good use of all that energy. On the other hand, she was intrigued by the food. What had he made?
She glanced behind his back and saw a pot, a pan, and two plates ready for serving. He had washed most of the dishes he had used, and there was little left to get some clues, except for the delicious scent in the air.
What was she going to eat first?
«Rider,» she said, ready to be counterattacked just like before.
She stood her ground and waited for his rude hands to spank her again and send her to wear something decent.
«Yes?» he replied, instead.
«I am naked, and you are fully clothed,» she pointed out. «Just like you like it...»
«I'm cooking,» he said. «You don't want your dinner to be burnt to ashes. Not after so much of my effort, right? It might even be edible.»
«Oh, well, you are on point. But... A quickie?»
«No. After dinner.»
He turned on his feet and left her there to observe his back. He removed the lid from the pan and glanced inside to check the food. He then turned the stove off and set the table. All under Samantha's attentive gaze.
«Sit down,» he ordered, and she just crossed her arms in front of her chest, pressing the towel on her body.
He had just told her to sit even though she had no clothes on. He was contradicting himself, and not because she was naked in front of him. He had forgotten his point, and all because the food was ready.
Food was more attractive than her!
«Hey,» she said, «are you serious?»
«I will eat it alone,» he decided.
«No, wait! Why?»
«Get dressed and come here to eat. I've done my best to make this...»
She sighed, accepting his conditions and throwing a light dress on herself. No underwear because of the usual reason.
«What have you cooked?» she asked, eyeing the plates and licking her lips. «Spaghetti?»
He was a little too easy to trigger that evening. Samantha observed his jaw, the skin hiding his clenched teeth, and his tense muscles. He was... worried?
«The aroma is mouthwatering,» she pointed out. There was nothing to worry about.
She couldn't believe that someone rude and commanding like Rider would then worry about the outcome of his culinary skills. He made something new and complicated for her: how could she not like it?
Even if it turned out overly spicy or he put sugar instead of salt, she would have smiled and praised him, eating everything to the last bite. With that yummy dish in front of her, there was nothing that could disturb her.
«Delicious,» she said after a clumsy bite.
Her words had the desired effect, and Rider's tension disappeared all of a sudden. Their place was taken by his usual, calm demeanour. He even smirked, as if he knew it from the start that something he made couldn't be less than perfect.
«Let me show you how to eat spaghetti,» he said, rolling a few around his fork with a couple of expert movements.
He offered the bite to Samantha and observed how she tried to redo the same movement but failed.
«It's easy,» he said.
«Easy my ass,» she pouted. She tried turning right, turning left... Nothing worked.
«Let me help you, then,» he chuckled.
He wrapped his hand, bigger, around hers, and he helped her roll the spaghetti around the fork. It worked out, somehow, but Samantha couldn't learn that movement because of his proximity. He was too distracting, and the way he could roll them was way sexier than she would even manage to look.
At least, she could focus on the taste even if she couldn't eat properly.
«Feed me,» she said, giving up and leaving her fork on the table. She turned to Rider, waiting patiently.
«Sure,» he sighed.
His worries had disappeared, and his little devil was calm and listening. He didn't feel anything amiss in spoiling her a little. After all, they both needed energy for the night.
«How was your day?» he asked, then.
«Nice.»
«Won't they need you today?»
«Oh, no. Won't happen,» she chuckled.
«That's good. The night is young, and I still have a lot of things to do. I hope you're done relaxing, resting, and eating, Mine.»
«It's my turn!» she reminded him.
«Yes, of course. I have my list, and you have yours. Isn't that awesome?»