Chapter 287: The lunch is right in front of you

Vlad only stopped when he reached the sofa placed against the front wall.

"Oy, aren’t you supposed to cook lunch for me?" Vlad asked as he sat on the sofa, leaning against the backrest. Chloe was still clinging to him like a koala, her legs wrapped around his waist and her arms secured around his upper back from beneath his arms.

"Need energy to work," Chloe murmured, rubbing her cheeks against his warm neck.

Vlad let out a quiet breath that was almost a laugh and leaned further back into the sofa cushions, settling her more comfortably in his lap.

One of his hands rested on her waist while the other reached for her hair tie. With one smooth motion, he untied her hair, letting the lavender river cascade freely down her back.

"What are you doing?" Chloe’s low voice vibrated against his skin. Her soft lips brushed against the skin of his neck like a tease, neither kissing him properly nor leaving him alone.

"Open hair suits you more," Vlad said, gently patting the spot between her shoulder blades beneath her hair.

"Tell me these things sooner, stupid Vlad," Chloe hissed, shifting slightly so that her soft cheek could brush against his.

For a while, neither of them said anything more. The apartment was quiet except for the distant sounds of the market filtering in through the open window, vendors calling out prices and the occasional clink of goods being set down. Inside, the only sounds were the soft rustle of fabric whenever Chloe shifted and the steady rhythm of Vlad’s breathing.

Chloe eventually loosened her legs just enough to sit more upright without leaving his lap. Her pale lavender eyes met his.

"You are so warm," she said in her usual even, quiet tone, as if stating a simple fact. "I want to stay like this forever."

Vlad raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth lifting. "What about the lunch?"

Chloe’s gaze lowered, her ears turning red with a faint blush as she whispered in a barely audible voice, "It’s in front of you."

Vlad’s eyebrows shot up, a low gasp escaping his lips. His surprise was evident on his face.

"Wh-where did you learn to flirt like that?" he asked, sounding both concerned and... impressed?

She didn’t answer, already embarrassed by her shameless remark.

She was about to bury her face in his chest when she blurted out, "Only kidding. I will cook in five min—"

"Don’t mind if I eat then," Vlad interrupted, placing his hand on her cheek and stopping her mid-motion.

Chloe only understood what he meant by those words when Vlad’s lips met hers, his scent completely filling her senses.

She remained completely still, her hands frozen at the collar of his coat. Her eyes widened, and her pale cheeks slowly turned crimson.

Vlad’s lips moved slowly, shifting back and forth as he gently caressed her upper and lower lips.

Chloe didn’t understand what he was doing, but each movement sent waves of heat rushing through her body. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her grip on his collar tightened as if she were afraid of this strange new feeling.

The noise of the market outside gradually faded away, replaced by the soft smooches of Vlad’s lips against Chloe’s.

After more than a minute, Vlad parted his lips just enough to speak.

"It’s too much sugar," he whispered with a teasing smile.

Chloe’s glistening lips pressed into a thin line. "Mmnn," she whimpered, her hands flying to her face to cover her reddened cheeks.

She slowly leaned forward, resting her head against his chest, where he couldn’t see her flustered face.

Vlad’s broad arms enveloped her back as he gently patted her, only making her squirm and blush even more.

After another minute, when Chloe had finally calmed down, she pulled away from him and rose to her feet from the sofa.

Her eyes were lowered to the floor. Her serene face, framed by strands of her loose hair, made Vlad’s breath catch in his throat at the mere sight of her.

"Come with me to buy ingredients for lunch," she murmured, fidgeting with her fingers.

"Eh?" Vlad raised an eyebrow. His eyes travelled from her head to her toes as he said, "I don’t think there’s any need for ingredients."

"Shameless Vlad!" Chloe exclaimed, her face practically steaming as she clearly understood what those words meant.

Her shy figure was like candy to Vlad’s eyes. Now that he had managed to completely fluster her, he rose from the sofa and headed for the doorstep.

The duo left the apartment and made their way down to the market. They moved from one vendor to another, buying vegetables, spices, slices of meat, and all the other ingredients Chloe needed.

Half an hour later, they returned to the apartment.

Vlad pulled all the bags out of his storage ring and placed them on the kitchen counter. Meanwhile, Chloe went into the bedroom to change.

She emerged a few minutes later, wearing a loose T-shirt and sweatpants. Her hair was tied up in a high bun, and her slender hands were hidden inside her sleeves, with only her thin fingers peeking out.

She headed to the kitchen, where Vlad was washing the vegetables.

"You sit in the hall," Chloe said as she entered the kitchen. "Let me treat you today."

Vlad dried his hands before turning around. "Let’s do it together, hmm?"

That was exactly what Chloe wanted. She knew Vlad was terrible at cooking. He had tried to learn how to prepare something delicious for Chloe a few times back in the day, but he had failed miserably each time. After the incident in which he had set the entire kitchen on fire, Elaria had strictly forbidden him from ever setting foot inside it again.

Still, Chloe wanted him in the kitchen just to keep her company. Of course, she wasn’t stupid enough to let him anywhere near the stove or a knife.

Vlad’s eyes lit up with happiness. Chloe hadn’t kicked him out despite his less-than-stellar history with the kitchen.

"What should I do?" he asked, excitement evident on his face.

Chloe pointed at the apron hanging beside the utensil stand.

"Put the apron on me," she said, turning her attention to the cutting board in front of her.