. . .

"Give me kisses before I go?"

Nichole looks up from her phone and giggles, playfully rolling her eyes at the delectable looking man sitting opposite of her at the table.

"Mari, if you're trying to be cute right now, it isn't working, sweetie. You look constipated instead. Need me to tell you where the restrooms are located again?"

"I just can't win with you, can I?" Ademar laughs as Nichole shakes her head. He scoots his chair around the table so that he's sitting next to her. He then places an arm around the back of her chair and leans in close enough to whisper in her ear. "No seas difícil. I asked you nicely, didn't I? Shall I get down on my hands and knees and beg instead? Will that get you off?"

Nichole's eyes darken at the same time as Ademar's tone does.

"It might," she says. "Care to test me and find out?"

"Point me in the direction of your office and we can spend the next couple of hours testing each other," Ademar says in all seriousness. "I'm up for it if you are."

Nichole bites down on her bottom lip at the feel of Ademar's hand on her thigh, giving it a light squeeze from underneath the table. It's a shame how gone he's able to get her in mere seconds. She's thankful the shop isn't full right now, otherwise, she'd die from embarrassment at how Ademar handles her, almost like she's putty in his hands, easy to mold and control.

Nichole doesn't mind it, though. She loves being a tease and challenging him, playing with him and pushing him to his breaking point. She loves submitting to him even more. It thrills her in ways she never expected.

"Full disclosure: I've actually never had sex in my office before."

"Neither have I," Ademar jokes. "It'll be a first for both of us, an experience I'm sure we'll never forget. Besides, if you let me stick around, it'll give me the chance to have seconds for breakfast..."

"What do you mean seconds? How are you still hungry after eating that big ass plate of food?"

"I'm not talking about food, sweetheart. I'm talking about you. I'm always hungry for you." Ademar takes a finger and starts drawing little patterns on Nichole's thigh. His touch is driving her crazy and he can tell. "There's nothing in this world that beats the taste of what's between your thighs..."

Nichole can feel her face get hot as she blushes. She breaks down and finally gives Ademar what he asked for earlier - a quick peck on the lips - before standing and dragging him towards the exit of her shop. She gently pushes him out of the door while whispering, "You need to get your ass back to work before I end up doing things with you that should only be done in the privacy of one's bedroom."

Ademar chuckles and grabs Nichole by the hand at the last second before she can turn and go back inside the shop. He pulls her in close and kisses her silly, right out on the sidewalk, not caring who sees them. Nichole, absolutely in love with Ademar's spirited personality, is panting and breathless by the time the kiss is over. He's unfortunately hard.

"Thanks for allowing me to come have breakfast with you this morning," Ademar says. "I'd love to do it again sometime... hopefully soon?"

With her eyes locked on his, Nichole can't help but melt in Ademar's protective hold. She can see it in his eyes right now, can feel it in the way that he kisses her, holds her, even when he fucks her... Nichole knows that he wants more from her, more for them to have something outside that of a physical relationship and damn it she'd be lying if she said she doesn't want the same things.

"Soon..." Nichole nods, smiling shyly. Ademar kisses her once more before reluctantly letting her go.

Nichole stays outside and watches him get into his truck and drive off. She can't get rid of the smile on her face as she turns to head back inside the bakery. It's a slow day, so she only has two other people working alongside her, Danielle and Joey; they both tease her with kissing noises as she passes them on the way to her office.

"I wouldn't make a habit out of teasing the woman who signs off on your checks!" Nichole jokes with them before stepping inside and closing the door to her office. "Oh my God, I really almost brought him back here to fuck... I must be losing my damn mind."

Nichole leans against the door for a moment, both hands resting on her chest, right on top of her rapidly beating heart. She tries to steady her breathing and compose herself before heading back out front.

"That man is driving me insane..."

And she's loving every second of the ride.

When Ademar had messaged Nichole this morning about him stopping by on his way to work (just to pop in and say hello, or so that's what he'd said), she didn't have it in her to turn him down. Not for a second time. And when he later showed up with breakfast in hand, intending to sit in and share it with her, Nichole didn't protest or complain.

Business doesn't usually pick up until after eight o'clock, so she knew she had the time to spare. Plus, she genuinely missed Ademar's presence. Missed his cheeky grin, his obnoxious laugh, the way he gets serious with her for a moment, only to turn it around and crack a dirty joke. He's on her mind more than she'd like him to be, and honestly, she's tired of forcing herself to not think about him.

Nichole wants him. She wants to be with him. She wants to try being with him. And hopefully, whenever she gathers the courage to actually ask him if he wants to be something more with her, she'll get an enthusiastic yes instead of a cold no.

. . .

HOURS LATER

"You two get home safe!" Nichole calls after Danielle and Joey as they head out into the pouring rain.

She flips the sign on the door to CLOSED and then locks it before going back into her office. She grabs her phone from off the desk and is about to text Taehyun to see if he'd like to reschedule their appointment for today, but after opening her inbox, she sees that he's already beaten her to it. Not only does he want to keep the appointment, but he claims to be arriving within the next fifteen minutes.

"Shit! I look a mess." Nichole sighs while looking down at herself. Her apron and some parts of her pants are covered in flour, powdered sugar, and smears of different colored icing. She takes the dirty apron off and tosses it aside before rushing into the restroom to try and freshen up as best as she can.

By the time she's finished and content with her overall look, she hears someone knocking on the glass door from the front of the shop. Nichole curses as she runs to answer it. She forgot to unlock the damn door after Taehyun said that he'd still be coming over, and now he's standing outside getting soaked because of her forgetfulness.

"I'm so sorry! I completely forgot that I locked the door after shutting things down for the day. Please forgive me, Mr. Lee." Nichole jumps off to the side after opening the door, allowing Taehyun to enter. He brought an umbrella with him, so he wasn't as drenched as she thought.

"No need to apologize. I'm okay." Taehyun smiles at her before pulling his eyes away to look around the shop. "Nice place you got here. Smells incredible."

Nichole chuckles. She can't recall how many times she's heard that line before. "Thanks. If you see something on the menu that you like, let me know and I'll get it for you. The first purchase is on the house."

"Is this only because I'm helping you out with the new logo design?" Taehyun asks, still smiling.

"Yup! And also because you're not breaking my bank account because of it." Nichole takes Taehyun's umbrella and coat, leaving him with his laptop carrier, and places them on a nearby hanger before showing him the way to her office.

She's composed on the outside but totally freaking out on the inside because she can't believe that she's in the presence of yet another drop-dead gorgeous man. Taehyun is sinfully stunning. An absolute work of art from head to toe; he has short flowy dark brown hair that bounces a little when he walks, his smile is bright and dazzling, his enchanting eyes are so dark they're almost black, and at last, there's the height difference.

He's a fucking giant compared to Nichole's small frame. And putting him next to Ademar, in Nichole's mind, Taehyun is at least a couple of inches taller than him, definitely 6'2 or 6'3, but he's more on the leaner side, body-wise, and not as packed with muscle like Ademar.

Taehyun looks like a dinner and a movie type of guy, the type you can bring home to meet your parents whereas Ademar comes off like a let's go to dinner and then I'll take you out to the movies and will fuck you in the back of the theater type of guy.

Nichole is attracted to both men, and the thoughts that are popping into her head involving the three of them in bed aren't just inappropriate but distracting as hell.

"So, how do we do this?" Nichole asks after taking a seat at her desk. Taehyun sits in the chair in front of the desk, his dark eyes staring at her so intently she swears she can feel him tickling around in her soul.

"First, tell me what you're wanting to change and how you want it to look..."

The two sit and talk for hours. 60% of the conversation is about the work that Nichole wants done, and the other 40% is about everything else.

As with Ademar, Nichole finds it scarily easy to talk to Taehyun. He's got a calming aura about him that she can't help but be drawn to. He's also polite, charming, smart, funny, and has great taste in film. The attraction is there, and Nichole knows it's there for Taehyun as well. Nichole knows he's feeling her because she's caught him checking her out (more than once when he thought she wasn't paying any attention). Now, it's simply a waiting game of who will make the first move...

"So what's your sign?" Taehyun asks. "I'm curious."

They're currently back out front sitting at a table, calling themselves taking a break while sharing a giant blueberry muffin. They've somehow gotten onto the topic of astrology and the signs compatibility with other signs. Nichole isn't big on the hype, but she'll occasionally seek out a reading or two when in the mood.

"How about we both say our signs at the same time?" Nichole says. "On three?" Taehyun smiles, nodding. "One... two... three..."

"Taurus!" they yell in unison.

"No way! Are you serious?" Nichole laughs. Taehyun nods again, laughing with her. "Well, shit. No wonder we get along so well."

"Yeah, I know we just met but I feel like I can sit and talk to you for hours and we'd both be on the same page about everything," Taehyun says. "I had fun with you today. This was nice."

"Very nice," Nichole adds, suddenly feeling shy along with a small pang of guilt because it isn't until this point, right at this moment, for when she remembers that Ademar still exists.

The two may not have a title yet, but what they do have with each other, whatever it is to be called, it's been growing since their first encounter. And the last thing that Nichole wants to do is lead Taehyun on. It's a shame, really. She feels tied down even though she's technically single and can mingle with whomever she damn well pleases.

"Anyway, it's getting late. I should pack up and get going," Taehyun says. "I'll keep you updated on the designs that I come up with. It shouldn't take me long to draw up something official."

"It's fine. I'm in no rush." Nichole walks back with him to her office so that he can gather his laptop. They then head back out to the front and she walks him to the door. Taehyun pauses to gather his coat and umbrella. "Looks like it finally stopped raining cats and dogs. Now I won't have to worry about whether or not you made it home in one piece."

Taehyun looks at her and smiles. "I just had the exact same thought for you."

"Well, they do say great minds think alike." Nichole giggles, wrapping her arms around herself to keep from reaching out and doing something to Taehyun that she shouldn't. "Talk soon?"

"Absolutely." Taehyun exits the shop and feels Nichole's eyes on his back during the entire walk across the street to his car.

Once inside, he pauses before putting the key into the ignition.

He pulls out his cell phone and sends Nichole a text that he prays she responds to with a yes.

. . .

say hello to Taehyun :D

the duality... *chefs kiss*