AUTHOR'S POV

Skye was seated early today.

She also didn't fall.

As usual, she sat beside her mom and opposite Lynn.

Mr Blackwood cleared his throat, “I hope you all are enjoying your meal,” he said in a crooked voice.

Catherine grinned and Skye's face softened and she gave a small nod.

Her eyes moved in a teasing pace from her plate to Lynn and she caught him staring.

She held the stare, waiting for him to break it. But he didn't.

Instead, his lips curved and he brought the glass to them.

His eyes narrowed, still fixed on her as he swallowed like he had all the time in the world.

For Mr Blackwood and Catherine, it was just a simple tasty family breakfast.

While for Lynn and Skye, the air hung with an abyss of unsaid thoughts.

He brought the spoon to his lips, slow enough that she could feel the same tickle on her skin, similar to when he slid his hand across her belly while she sat on his lap.

Skye noticed that he had cream on his lip.

Skye wavered for a moment before leaning in, pointing to his lips, “You've got cream on your lips,” she said in a soft voice, and handed him a napkin.

His eyes never left her.

“Ahh.. no,” Lynn declined. His warm fingers pushed her hand slightly, making her shiver.

His tongue intentionally ran across his bottom lip and with a blink, his green eyes went up to meet hers again.

“God, he's doing it on purpose. Why can't I stop looking,” Skye bit her lip.

Catherine smiled at them, “Skye is such a sweetheart isn't she?” She turned to Blackwood.

Mr Blackwood nodded and carried on with his meal.

“I need some cherries,” Lynn said blankly at Skye with his brows and stretching his hand to receive.

Skye didn't utter a word.

She passed him the entire bowl, her hand under it.

But still, Lynn clasped it from the bottom also—Enclosing her hand.

She gasped and slid out her hand so as not to drop the bowl, the back of her hand gently brushing against Lynn’s palm firmly.

She fired him a questioning look but his gaze was fixed on the cherry.

He took one of them and dipped it into the cream again—eyes back at Skye, he put the cream-coated piece in his mouth and bit a little amount, sucking in the juice and making sultry sounds.

For sure this wasn't normal, but Skye could only sit and watch.

He licked the remnant juice off his lips once again, opened his mouth first, while sticking out his tongue slightly before placing the cherry in it, and chewed it unhurriedly.

A few drops of the juice ran down the corner of his mouth, and he wiped them away lazily with his thumb.

He reached for the honey pot and scooped honey into a plate. His eyes were fixed on what he was doing like he was handling a baby—with care, slowness, and precaution.

He dipped his index and middle fingers into the honey, dragged them through it, and lifted them in front of his face. He didn’t rush.

His eyes darted back to Skye as she swallowed the food she hadn't properly chewed. The golden honey casually streamed down his fingers.

Still watching her, he dipped them in his mouth and licked them clean, “…” This tastes really nice, he groaned with his eyes devouring her chest.

She wore a red V-necked cotton dress which exposed her cleavage even if she tried to look casual.

“Ahh!” Catherine clasped her hands joyfully, “I'm glad you like it.”

Skye squeezed her lips together in restlessness.

Her mom was right beside her and she feared her mom would sense her discomfort.

“I hope these buns would be as… tasty,” Lynn paused, “as… it looks,” he tasted his lips again. His eyes were low with darkness.

He pressed the bread between his fingers,

“Is yours still feeling warm?" he muttered.

“Huh?” Skye froze.

Somehow, she couldn't tell if he was talking about the buns. Or her, “No,” she whispered.

Her throat went dry and she tried to look away; but the way his lips moved and his eyes darkened when he spoke to her made it hard to breathe.

He tore a small piece and held it out.

Skye shook her head, “No!” She murmured under her breath.

“Skye…” Catherine called out with a playful unturned smile. “It's just buns.”

Skye sighed and leaned forward

She tried to bite but Lynn brushed the bread on her lips first.

She froze again, if she turned to the side a little bit, she would be meeting her stepfather's gaze, and Lynn knew.

He held it near again, his gaze locked on her. It seemed so close, her heart raced as she took a bite.

At least he didn’t move his hand right away this time, but his eyes held her there.

Every nerve in her body tingled until she could feel her heartbeat in her head.

When he finally pulled back, his smile was soft with accomplishment. He knew exactly what he was doing.

Skye smirked in realization.

If he could play, she could play too.

She slid out her right foot from her comfy footwear under the table and flashed a friendly smile at Lynn.

“Just wait and see what I can do,” she said to herself.

Lynn traced his thumb along the cup’s edge, gradually. He wasn't eating anymore, wasn't drinking, wasn't even talking, just staring.

At Skye.

She forced herself to sit back, to look calm, to act as if nothing about this breakfast mattered. The bread was just bread. The honey is just honey.

But her mind was far away from listening.

He leaned back too, the faint acknowledging smile never leaving his face.

“You always eat this much cream?” Skye asked, her tone light, and her voice almost a whisper.

“It's just a period when I like things that melt slowly,” Lynn replied nonchalantly, “Sweet things.”

Catherine smiled from across the table, missing the undercurrent entirely. “It’s so good to see you two getting along,” she said, pouring more tea.

“Mm,” Mr. Blackwood grumbled, dropping his glass of water, “Less talking, more eating. Breakfast isn’t a theatre.”

Lynn beamed again with his steady calmness that made Skye's chest tighten in anticipation and curiosity. He took another piece of bread, spreading honey over it. “He’s right, Skye,” he said softly, eyes flicking to hers. “We shouldn’t! Make a scene.”

Her spoon paused halfway to her mouth. “Oh…” she gasped. “It's not my fault, you just have bad eating habits.”

Lynn paused, holding the bread with both hands, “Little Miss Atmosphere… you don't tell me how to eat. Or what to eat,” he paused. “Or where to eat…” his voice was stern.

Mr. Blackwood sighed. “What did I just say?”

Catherine chuckled.

Would this woman ever be uptight?

“Let them be, dear,” she said, “It’s nice to see some life at the table for once.”

Skye didn't reply, her head lowered slightly,

“Where to eat,” she said inaudibly.

Even with Lynn's stern voice, she could only get the second meaning of his words.

The warmth under her skin didn’t fade. Her white skin had turned bright pink as her face flushed with heat.

She smiled and bent her head, staring at her feet entwined. Then bit her lips and her stare returned to Lynn.

For the first time, Lynn didn't understand her gaze—she wasn't looking at him with curiosity or nervousness. Instead, there was this loud boldness in her eyes.

While he was still trying to figure out what she was up to, the answer came directly to him.

Him? His crotch rather.

Her toenails were coated in red nail polish and clean, placed on his crotch.

Lynn’s head shot up as he glared at Skye. His lips together, suppressing a weird smile, scream, and panic all at once holding tight to the table.

He glanced at Catherine and the Blackwoods to make sure there were no eyes on them before relaxing in his seat and letting go of the table.

But Skye didn't flinch, she acted all innocent. Like she wasn't aware of her action, she carefully cut a piece of hot dog and slid it into her mouth. Slowly. Just the way he did it before. And then a smirk tugged at the corners of her lips.

Two can only play this game.

Blackwood was done and rose to his feet,

Lynn's eyes widened but Skye didn't flinch.

Instead, she began to move her feet around his bulge from the outside of the sweatpants he had on and her toes deliberately played with the band of it, slowly grazing the skin of his torso and teasing him.

“I hope you all enjoy today,” Mr Blackwood said and began to stroll towards Lynn.