You were standing in the kitchen, feeling an excited rush of anticipation as you awaited your boyfriend's next culinary critique.

Today was different, however, for, after spending countless days practicing and honing your skills in the kitchen, you felt confident that you had finally improved and were eager to hear a compliment from him.

You had become accustomed to the harshest and most brutal put-downs from him when it came to your cooking, so after this streak of negative reviews, you were positively giddy at the prospect of hearing a rare positive review from him this time.

Even though Vardan had often presented his negative critiques of your cooking in a joking or lighthearted manner, you were aware that his words were undoubtedly the truth; knowing that he was a harsh and brutally honest food critic, you understood that his seemingly playful insults were most likely reflective of his actual feelings.

He was seated on a stool by the kitchen counter; his chin rested on his palm as his gaze followed your every move with great interest and attention.

Like a hawk waiting to pounce on its prey, he observed you carefully.

Having added the final touches to your culinary creation, you set the platter of food in front of Vardan. He then suddenly extended his hand towards you, wiping the food stain from the corner of your lips with the pad of his thumb.

Before your eyes, he brought his thumb to his mouth and licked it clean, having tasted the residue to sample your creation.

"It is good, beyond what I expected. Though, I'm craving for something else right now." Vardan spoke with a smile of feigned innocence, his eyes lingering on you for a moment too long.

The message he conveyed with his words was clear: he was in the mood for something else, something that could not be satiated by food alone.