"Sugar, you want to pass me the garlic salt?" Karen asked Mal as she licked her lips, tasting the tomato sauce for a fifth time, "It needs just a little more. Maybe with basil…"

Mal's low chuckle could be heard from behind her as he set down the final touches on her kitchen table, "You sure it's just not your imagination? The last time I tasted it, it was pretty good to me."

"Yes, you told me that," Karen huffed, strumming her nails onto the counter, "But this year, it's just not the two of us; Wendy and Conner are coming over and I don't want to seem like some kind of novice in the kitchen."

"Baby, baby, it's going to be fine," Mal reassured, standing behind her and settling his large hands onto her shoulders, massaging out the little aches in her back, "I'm already impressed and there's no doubt in my mind that Conner and Wendy will be too. I mean, Wendy appreciates your cooking when she comes over anyway and Conner? Well, if he says anything but good things, he'll know what he has to deal with."

"Oh really," a grin crept up on Karen, pressing her body closer to his touch, eyes rolling to the back of her head at the feel of his strong hands rubbing and caressing her taut muscles, "Would that be with or without the Guardian suit?"

He chuckled again, turning her towards him and moving his hands down to her waist, "Any way to prove to you my love is infinite and I'll never let it go."

"Well, looks like you're going to have fight him bare fist," Karen returned his laugh, clasping her arms around her neck and pulling him forward for –

"Hello! Karen, Mal!" a knock on the apartment door and Wendy's vibrant voice disturbed Karen from her intentions and she whisked out of Mal's arms to get the door, "We'll finish that later, kay tiger?"

"I have no doubt," Mal shrugged, crossing his arms and watching his woman do what she did best: everything.