It's Chocolate Day -- a celebration of all things chocolate, even my favorite scenes involving truffles. In Just One Spark, Hannah and Mason's first date is heated up by a special chili spiced chocolate ::
Mason took the
silver bag and plucked out a tiny silver box. He opened it and two chocolate
truffles shone in the light from the streetlamps. “Try it. This one first.” He
pointed to the chocolate dome in front decorated with shimmering gold flecks.
Hannah balanced
the candy between her fingers and took a bite. She offered the other half to
Mason. The candy fell into his mouth, but he caught her wrist, sending shivers
up her spine as he sucked the melted chocolate from her fingertips. The truffle
melted in her mouth. The rich, sweet sensation grew as her mouth heated. Somehow,
it tasted hot without being spicy, sweet without being sugary.
“Is there chili
in that?” she asked, savoring the last effects of the treat on her tongue.
Mason nodded
and stepped closer. “I guessed from dinner you like things hot.”
Did
she ever. “What if I hadn’t offered to share?”
Mason leaned in
and licked her lips gently. Her stomach tightened in anticipation. As she
parted her lips in invitation, he went farther, sucking her bottom lip between
his before kissing her fully.
She loved the
flavor of the candy, but the feel of him melting with the taste of chocolate was
exhilarating. Something about the clean way he smelled and the taste of him
melding with the heat from the chili chocolate made her moan. He pulled away
too quickly, leaving Hannah feeling she’d somehow been short-changed.
As her eyes
fluttered open, she realized she wasn’t done with him. This man made kissing an
art form, and she wanted to learn every nuance of his technique. She reached
for him, but he stepped back.
“Try the other
one.”
She wanted him,
not chocolate. But as she came to her senses and the world widened, she
realized eating chocolate was a much more appropriate activity for a busy
sidewalk. She reached into the box and removed the plain chocolate cube. She
stared into Mason’s eyes and popped the whole thing in her mouth.
As the truffle
melted, she was overcome with the cool sensation. It wasn’t just mint. It was
peppermint. Her favorite. She eyed him as she rolled the flavors over her
tongue. He couldn’t possibly have planned it, but she’d give him credit for it
anyway. Extra credit.
“Are you going
to share?” Mason whispered, gently brushing his lips across hers. A laugh
hummed through her as the kiss began. She loved the firm feel of his lips
demanding on hers. The taste of the chocolates and him mingled with his
masculine scent and sent colors dancing across her closed eyelids.
Somewhere far
away, she heard the bag drop and felt his hands come up to cup her face. Her
knees weakened as he introduced her to his tongue, and she brought her hands to
his chest for support. Her hands reflexively squeezed the rock-hard pecs
beneath the soft sweater. She should take up sculpting. This man’s body was a
work of art. She wished she wasn’t wearing a coat so she could press her body
against his and feel every inch of him. She inhaled deeply and released her
breath in a long sigh. She drew away slightly, just enough to look into his
eyes. She touched his face, tracing her finger over the lips she’d just
savored. Pleasure propelled her forward to catch the smell of his skin and she
began swathing him with soft, gentle kisses once more.
