Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3434

Caught completely off guard, Carson froze for a split second. Then, a slow, predatory smirk spread across his strikingly handsome face. He darted his tongue out, swiping a dollop of frosting from the corner of his mouth and licking it off.

"So sweet," he murmured, his gaze entirely too seductive.

Marina mentally screamed. She seriously couldn't handle this man!

How on earth did an elegant, almost ethereal woman like Miranda give birth to such a shameless flirt?

Carson casually pulled a paper towel from the dispenser and methodically wiped the rest of the frosting off his cheek. He even offered a critique. "Sweet but not overpowering. Melts in the mouth. Your frosting ratio is solid."

"Then you should have some more!" Marina grabbed her offset spatula and lunged, aiming to smear more icing on his face.

Carson's reflexes were lightning fast. He caught her wrist mid-air, expertly twisting her arm to redirect the frosting back toward her face. "Shouldn't you taste your own masterpiece?"

Marina stumbled backward until her hips hit the edge of the marble island. Completely overpowered by his effortless strength, she was forced to lean backward, dodging left and right. "Carson, stop it!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she turned her head and froze. The color instantly rushed to her face, turning it a deep crimson.

Miranda was standing perfectly still in the doorway. Dressed in pristine white, she watched them wrestling with a soft, highly entertained smile.

Only when she saw how mortified Marina looked did she finally turn to leave. "A gentleman shouldn't bully a lady, Carson," she called out over her shoulder.

Carson finally released Marina's wrists. Leaning in close, he deliberately took a bite of the frosting right off her spatula. His dark eyes glinted with mischief. "I wasn't bullying you. I just wanted to eat it myself."

With her back still arched over the counter, Marina lifted her leg and lightly kicked him in the shin. "Stop messing around!"

She was absolutely humiliated.

Carson stepped back and chuckled softly. "It's just family. What's there to be embarrassed about?"

Her face burned hotter. "This is your family. I'm just a guest!"

Carson raised an eyebrow. "If you wanted to, this could be your family too."

"I don't want to!" she fired back instantly.

Almost exactly at the same time, Marina pulled out a wrapped box of her own and handed it over.

Both Carson and Marina froze, staring at each other.

Miranda, brilliantly perceptive, instantly pieced it together. Her son, worried Marina hadn't prepared a gift, had secretly bought one on her behalf. What he hadn't realized was that Marina had handled it herself.

Feigning ignorance, Miranda smiled sweetly. "Oh my, Marina, you brought me two gifts?"

Marina caught on instantly. She felt a flush of embarrassment, but underneath it, a surge of genuine warmth. She shot Carson a subtle side-eye, silently scolding him for meddling.

Of course she was going to bring a gift to his mother's birthday dinner!

It was so unnecessary.

Carson just smiled back.