“An experiment,” he said with a waggle of his eyebrows. “Take your dress off.”

She moved slowly, not sure what he was going to do. She stood from the couch and let her dress drop to the floor. He spread the towel on the couch and then helped her lie back down. He had already removed his shirt and he kneeled beside the lounge in just his jeans.

“You see,” he said as he dipped two fingers into the bowl. “I’ve been having trouble with a particular flavor profile and ...