Consume Me (Master Chefs #3) Page 4

  “Merci, ma chérie.” He took the plate and tore off a large chunk. “You really think one night’s sleep will have washed away everything that frightened you so much last night?”

  She nodded as she reached for her croissant.

  He shook his head. “I don’t believe you. You're trying to be strong, and I appreciate it, but I really think you need more time away from the apartment.”

  “But I have been away, Errol… for months.”

  “Well, then maybe I’ll just have to consider selling the apartment.” He smiled and cupped her cheek. “It was growing too small anyway.”

  Touched by his words and his actions, Taryn smiled as her eyes filled with emotional tears while she kissed him. “What do you propose we do? Stay in this hotel until you sell it?”

  “Not quite. Finish up. I have something to show you.”

  An hour later they were blinded by the morning sun as they drove over rolling hills, through lush fields and past the most adorable little houses she’d ever seen. It was a postcard perfect landscape everywhere she looked.

  “Can you at least give me a hint of where you’re taking me?”

  “It’s beautiful.”

  She gazed at the charming countryside. “Well, that narrows it down.”

  “It’s peaceful.”

  Looking up at the sun, she tried to figure out what direction they were driving in, but it was nearly noon and with all the twists and turns, it was hard to determine which way they were going.

  “Okay, I’ll give you a final hint. It’s a place I love to go to when I need to lose myself, or find myself, depending on how you want to look at it. It’s a place that has everything I need, everything I want and it never fails to lift my spirits.”

  Gasping she turned to look at him. “Are you taking me to your childhood home?”

  He smiled as he turned onto a narrow winding road. “It’s just a little farmhouse I bought for Nana a while back. It’s close to the village where she raised me, so I knew she’d feel at home there and I had it equipped with every conceivable modern convenience you can think of. She loved it. Of course you can’t have a farmhouse without having acres and acres of land, and the fields that surround the house are about as fertile as they come.”

  “That’s very generous of you. Your Nana must have really appreciated it.”

  Letting out an amused snort, he slowed the car down as more and more homes lined the narrow street. Soon they passed a few businesses. “It’s nothing compared to everything she’s given me over the years.”

  He slowed down as they arrived in the heart of the small village. “It might be a good idea to stop for previsions. I called late last night to make sure the house was in livable condition, but I doubt they had time to adequately fill the refrigerator.”

  Parking the car in front of a line of small shops, he grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. “Come. I want to introduce you to my childhood.”

  Beaming, she got out of the car and followed him to the entrance of a pastry shop. “The pastry here is fabulous. Even I can’t top it.”

  “I find that hard to believe.”

  The tinkling of the bell above the door announced their entry. Immediately Taryn was assaulted by the heavenly scent of sweet pastries, buttery croissants and delectable tarts.

  “Bonjour, je peux vous aider?” a young woman called from behind the counter.

  “This is where I tasted my first cream puff,” Errol said as he approached her. “Quatre petits choux, s’il vous plait,” he ordered as he held up four fingers.

  As the woman placed the four cream puffs in a small white box and tied it with string, Errol said, “Wait until you taste these. You’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven.”

  “Voila,” the woman said.

  Errol paid for the pastries. “Merci.”

  Their next stop was the butcher shop.

  “I was barely eight years old when I came to this boucherie every week to pick up Nana’s favorite cuts of beef. By the time I was twelve I knew every cut there was; every cut of beef, pork, chicken, lamb, you name it.”

  An older man with a blood stained apron came out from the cold room in the back.

  “Eh, bien. Si ce n’est pas le beau Errol,” the old man exclaimed with a friendly smile.

  “Armand, quelle plaisir.” With his hand set delicately at the small of her back, he brought Taryn forward. “Taryn, this is Armand Descoteaux, the very man who taught me everything I know about meat.”

  Armand smiled as he reached over the counter to shake her hand. “Bonjour, mademoiselle.”

  “Je pourrais avoir un filet de porc et une demi-livre de foie gras?”

  “Bien sur. Mais tu vas faire attention au chien, n’est-ce pas?”

  Errol laughed along with Armand, a loud, boyish and almost silly laugh. Taryn had never seen him so carefree, so unabashedly happy.

  “When I was ten, Nana sent me to get a very special order,” Errol explained. “Armand had this huge roast all wrapped up and I had tied it to the rack on the back of my bike. As I drove off I felt a light tug and almost lost my balance, but I managed to get control, didn’t bother looking back and rode off. I only had time to ride a few feet away when Armand came out calling after me.” With tears of amusement in his eyes, Errol glanced at Armand before going on. “Noireau, this black mutt who lived next door, had sniffed out my roast and had managed to pull it off my bike rack before I could take off. I ran around the block twice trying to catch that damn thing.”

  “Your Nana must not have been amused,” Taryn said with a smile.

  Errol reached over the counter and affectionately patted Armand’s arm. “This man saved me from Nana’s wrath. Had I arrived without her roast and without the francs she’d given me… well, suffice it to say Armand got me out of a tight spot.”

  “And, he pay me back many times over,” the man said in stilted English.

  Moments later, with his bundles of meat wrapped up in butcher paper, Errol called, “Au revoir,” over his shoulder and they headed to their next stop.

  “You really have a special bond with the people of this village, don’t you?” Taryn remarked as they walked out.

  “A lifetime of memories with people who really had a hand in making me the man I am today.”

  Taryn nodded. “It takes a village…”

  “Yes,” Errol agreed. “And thank goodness they helped Nana raise me. I was quite a handful.”

  After a few more purchases, a baguette, a wheel of cheese and a few choice bottles of wine, they got back in the car. Only five minutes later, Errol pulled onto a gravel road.

  As the car came to a rolling stop, Taryn looked in front of them as the most beautiful home came into view. The large wooden structure was rustic and charming, but far from being the little farmhouse Errol has led her to believe. The two-story home could easily house a huge family and then some.

  “You should have seen it when I first bought it. Really run down. But I had those boards sanded down and tinted, threw on a few shutters here and there, and just enough gingerbread to give it that delicate touch.”

  “It’s breathtaking, Errol. All the flowers, all the warmth…” Every window had a flower box filled with tiny blue, pink and white flowers. Flanking the front door were two half barrels overflowing with larger flowers of the same colors.

  “Wait until you see inside.” He hopped out of the car, rummaged through his pocket and pulled out an old fashioned key.

  Tickled and eager to see the home he so obviously loved, Taryn followed close behind.

  “Ladies first,” he said as he pushed open the door.

  Taryn stepped into a house that screamed of another era. Wide planks of rough wood made up the floor and the steps leading to the second floor were roughly honed out of solid wood. The walls were littered with wrought iron sconces and the railing of the stairs was also in the same heavy black metal. It boasted charm in every corner.

  “Come on,” Errol said, be
aming from ear to ear. “I’ll show you around.”

  Enthused by his boyish good humor, Taryn tucked her arm under his and followed him to the living room. A large and colorful throw rug covered much of the hardwood floor and bushels of yellow flowers were tucked away in every corner. Fanciful paintings adorned the walls and a large ceramic cat lay on the coffee table.

  The kitchen, rustic and charming with its old world blue and white ceramic tile, large porcelain sink with retro faucets and old fashioned lighting fixtures was equipped with a double refrigerator, a cooking range with six heating elements, two regular ovens, a wide bread and pizza oven, microwave and convection oven and a thermal cooker.

  “Wow. You really didn’t hold back, did you?”

  “I told you it was well equipped. Nana loved to cook and I wanted to make sure everything she did was enjoyable.” He opened a cupboard that housed every conceivable cooking apparatus any cook could dream of. “If she wanted to make pastries, she had a mixer for the dough. If she wanted to make pasta of any kind, she had the pasta maker. If she was a milkshake or a smoothie, she had the blender. And everything in between.”

  “I’m already looking forward to cooking.”

  “Down here we have a small bathroom, and…” He turned onto the steps that led upstairs. “Up here we have…”

  Taryn came up behind him and was surprised by the immensity of the bedroom. It virtually took up the whole floor.

  “Over there,” he said, pointing to the far right, “is the master bathroom, complete with therapeutic bath, shower, bidet, and his and hers sinks… no arguing over space in the morning.”

  “But what about your Nana? Where did she sleep?”

  Errol let out a chuckle. “I only recently had the second floor redone. On the one hand I wanted the added space, on the other, it was always painful for me to pass in front of Nana’s room knowing she wasn’t here anymore. Seeing her in the kitchen, or out in the gardens was one thing, but seeing her up in her room, lying in her bed… those last few weeks as she slowly ebbed away.”

  “It certainly is an impressive room.”

  A huge, four-poster, king-sized bed took center stage. Several large paintings, abstract nudes and stylized love scenes, filled the walls.

  “It’s a complete turnaround from what it was when Nana lived here. This is the one place that doesn’t resemble her at all.” His smile was suddenly sad.

  Taryn put her hand to his shoulder. “Why don’t you bring me out to the gardens, then.”

  With a sad, reminiscing smile, he nodded.

  The gardens, though in serious need of tender loving care, were expansive and varied. Beautiful flowers bloomed in a variety of colors and sizes. Sumptuous roses, playful black-eyed Susans and gigantic sunflowers thrived despite the neglect.

  “I have workers come every once in a while to help out in the fields.” He pointed to the fields far beyond the garden. “But I guess they’ve neglected the flower garden a bit.”

  “Just a few weeds growing here and there. It wouldn’t take much work to get it looking as beautiful as when your Nana tended to it.”

  Errol shot her a sidelong glance. “I was afraid you might not like it out here.”

  “Really? What’s not to like? It’s pure heaven, Errol. Why would you think such a thing?”

  He shrugged. “You're a big city girl… from New York, the city that never sleeps, and you came to Paris, the city of lights. This is a far cry from the excitement and thrill of either.”

  “You're all the excitement and thrill I need.” She turned to him and brushed her fingers along his unshaven cheek. “I love it, Errol. I’m already looking forward to cooking in that fabulous kitchen, and look at some of these fresh vegetables.” She roamed through the rows of growing vegetables. “Even if the garden has been neglected a bit, look at these gorgeous tomatoes, and these leeks, and, oh, look at all these snow peas.”

  She snapped one off the plant and took a bite. “You can never find anything this fresh in Paris. I mean, this is literally straight off the vine.” She held out the remainder for him to taste.

  Taking a bite, Errol went on to nibble on her fingers until she giggled. “I’m so happy you like it.” He leaned in and lightly kissed her. “When I initially bought this for Nana, I had it decorated and remodeled to suit her needs, but also her personality. This is a house for a strong and beautiful woman. A woman who knows how to handle a wild boy…” He eyed her knowingly.

  “Are you referring to me?”

  “Nana managed to control the rebellious boy. You managed the impossible. You tamed the wild man… the man who definitely did not want to be tamed. But here we are. You took that wild man and turned him into a better person, a stronger man.”

  “I am flattered that you would put me up beside your Nana.”

  “And Nana would be proud to stand beside you.”

  “You think so?”

  “I have no doubt.” He kissed the tip of her nose and gave her an affectionate pat on the butt. “Stroll through the garden, or get acquainted with the kitchen, or whatever you like. I’ll go get the luggage out of the car and start our dinner.”

  The moment he returned with their dinner, Taryn joined him in the kitchen and they set to work. In addition to the pork he’d bought, Tar brought in leeks, tomatoes, red peppers and several zucchinis. Like a well-oiled machine they worked efficiently, in sync, and with a few stolen kisses here and there. While he took care of the pork and the foie gras, she chopped vegetables and stir fried them.

  When the meal was ready half an hour later, Taryn gladly sat down to the meal.

  “I hadn’t realized just how hungry I was.”

  “It has been a long day.” He speared his fork into his foie gras. “Eat up,” he urged. “I have a big night planned for you.”

  She smiled as she eyed him. “I bet it’s nothing compared to what I have planned for you.”

  Chapter 7

  An empty bottle of wine lay on the table and their dinner plates had virtually been licked clean. As Errol licked the remainder of his cream puff off his fingers of, Taryn reached for his hand and brought the sweet digit to her mouth.

  “I’m still hungry,” she groaned.

  “I apologize for not offering. How rude of me.”

  “I think I’m going to have to find a way for you to make it up to me.”

  He playfully pushed the white pastry box containing the two remaining cream puffs to her. “You can always take another entire pastry.”

  “That’s not really what I had in mind.” She stood and gazed at him with the silent demand he do the same. Still holding his finger, she led him out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

  “I don’t think there’s any food stashed up here.”

  “I’m sure we’ll find another way for you to appease my appetite.”

  In his huge room, she pushed him to the wall, unbuckled his belt and whipped it off. “I suggest you be a good boy from now on, Errol.”

  “Yes, Taryn.”

  With slow and patient motions, she unzipped his pants and let them fall to his bare feet. With a commanding tap on one calf then the other, she had him lift his foot in order to get the pants out of her way.

  With the same unhurried motions she prepared to rid him of his tight, white boxer briefs. “As beautiful as these are on you, the way they mold perfectly to you,” she said as she ran a finger over the length of his growing erection, “I think I prefer you without them.”

  “If you must,” Errol said.

  She pulled them off and flung them across the room. As if looking for something in particular, she examined his hard-on.

  “Do you think it might appease your appetite?”

  “I’m not sure.” She held his erection up to her mouth. “Let’s have a taste.”

  She lightly licked the tip of his hard-on and Errol quickly responded with a thrilled groan.

  “Taste some more.”

  She ran her tongue over the length of his shaft
and leaned back. “Hmm, I’m not sure.”

  “Try again.”

  With a skeptic glance up at him, she brought his entire length into her mouth and lightly sucked.

  “Yeah,” he whispered as he shoved his fingers through her hair and pulled her to him. “You like that?”

  For a few tantalizing moments she sucked on him, reveling in the taste of him, until she saw his toes roll up and tasted the salty result of her sucking, the precursor to his full, climactic spillage. Without warning, she let him go, stood and walked away.

  “No,” she said, hiding an amused smile. “I don’t think that will do.” When she reached the door to the bathroom, she turned back to look at him. “I’m in the mood for something else.”

  Stunned and extremely horny, Errol leaned against the wall, his eyes wide with disbelief. “You can’t just leave me like this.”

  “I just did,” she called from the bathroom. She closed the door. “I just realized I didn’t shower this morning.”

  Smiling behind the closed door, she heard Errol’s pounding footsteps quickly approach as she stripped her clothes off. She hurried to hop in the shower before he opened the door.

  “Now that you mention it, I didn’t shower this morning either.”

  “I’ll only be a minute then it’s all yours,” Taryn teased.

  He tore the door to the shower stall open. “I think it’s time I take what’s mine,” he said in a deep and highly aroused voice, before crushing her to him.

  Chapter 8

  Taryn was already aroused as she stirred to wakefulness. Her night with Errol should have completely sated her, but she found her body craving him again. Her skin still tingled with his heated touch, and her nipples were proof of the effect he had on her, even when he no longer touched her.

  Licking her lips, she remembered his hungry kisses as his hands had roamed over her wet and soapy body. He had wasted little time jumping into the shower with her. Though she’d tried to maintain control and keep the upper hand, she’d quickly succumbed to his kisses, and when he pressed the length of his body against hers, there was no turning back.