Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother

Chapter 116: Intimacy In the Kitchen

"It’s rare for me to see a clumsy cook, so I like watching it." Justin corrected.

She gritted her teeth, a grip of her hand tightened on the knife.

’Clumsy? I am notthat bad.’ She calmed herself and spoke, "Yet I see you stuffing yourself with food made by these so-called ’clumsy skills.’"

"Despite your skills, the food is delicious. I could eat it every day."

Her anger lessened at his words, and the frown slowly disappeared from her face. But she didn’t want to admit it. "So annoying."

Justin smiled and stepped into the kitchen. She tried to ignore him and continued with her work, but then she realised he was standing behind her, every cell of her body well aware of his very presence.

Before she could ask him what he wanted, she felt his hands surround her from both sides. He leaned down slightly, his chin almost resting on her shoulder, and her back grew aware of the warmth radiating from his body.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice slightly unsteady.

"Teaching you the right way to cut this vegetable, instead of your clumsy technique," he murmured, his low, deep voice echoing so close to her ear that she gulped. His hands covered hers—one holding a vegetable and the other a knife.

Her heart began to race as the heat of his large palms spread across the backs of her hands. She wanted to free her hands from his hold, but he held them firm.

"I... I’m fine with my clumsy skills," she muttered under her breath, acutely aware of how intimate this closeness felt.

"But I’m not," he whispered, his voice low and husky, his breath brushing against her cheek. "Trust me, you can do better."

Natalie let him guide her hands as he explained, "You don’t hold the knife so straight like this. Just angle it a little, and chop like this."

Everything around her seemed to fade away, leaving only the sound of the knife touching the chopping board.

Her heart raced like a bullet train, and she found herself going almost deaf because of the rapid thumping of her own heart.

"Understand?" he asked softly.

before giving a weak

his, feeling their softness against his palms, continuing to cut the rest of the vegetable she was holding. "See?

I can do the rest..." she

he asked, his own heart beating fast. He didn’t want to pull away from her. This closeness felt

She hummed.

he agreed but didn’t release

seeming even closer

he always do this? I get seduced so

to work," she murmured softly, trying to reason

I insist on staying like this?" he whispered, his

both end up

he replied, his words carrying a different implication, his voice turning a

closed her eyes for a moment, trying not to

please." Her soft voice carried

"Hmm?"

stay this

"Why?"

"It... affects me."

"How?"

enough to understand

"It affects me too."

you better

if I want

man was more than enough to teach me not to fall for anyone, she thought helplessly, frowning. "I know you like to tease me, but that’s it. You

of her hands. Just as she thought he was finally listening to

intense gaze locking onto her puzzled one. "What made you

her hands instinctively gripped its edge as she leaned back, trying to create some distance between

moving even closer, his intense

gulped. Why does it look like he’s planning to kiss me? Nervously, she pressed her lower lip under