By Wendy

Summary: Maria is paired up with Michael and Kyle for a cooking assignment.

Spoiler: Pre "Heatwave"

Disclaimer: Nothing related to the show is mine.

Distribution: Please. Still more to come.

***

In high school two things were certain, Health education Freshman year and Home Economics for every Senior. To prepare for their future, students covered basics like laundry, food preparation and budgets. Later in the course they would tackle parenting issues.

Mrs. Preston taught the same class four times a day and still kept it fresh. She had the highest attendance rate among her fellow teachers. Even the slackers showed up.

Michael Guerin was included in today's count. Since it was his last class of the day, he did generally include it in his rounds. The possible opportunity to snack did not escape notice either. Mrs. P loved to cook. He loved to eat. They were a perfect blend.

"We talked yesterday about the meal in courses. What I'd like to do is break off into teams. Each group will be responsible for one aspect of an ongoing dinner. I'll give you a main ingredient. The task would then be to plan a recipe, shop for the ingredients and prepare it for our little banquet. On the handout you'll find the necessary requirements and exclusions."

"There are twenty one students in this section. I subdivided the entree course into smaller parts. Each group will consist of three members. Due to time restraints, some of the work will have to be done outside of class."

Everyone groaned. "With all my other homework!" "I have softball practice." "What if my team doesn't work together?"

"These are all valid concerns. I am willing to waive the unit exam if I see genuine effort by all parties. This is a fun assignment. Now let's divide into your groups. Names can be found at each work station."

"Maria," Kyle called out a minute later. He gave her a sexy pout. "We've got chocolate, baby."

She rolled her eyes and trudged over to the dessert table. "Stay back, Stalker."

"You don't know the half of it, sweetheart," he plunked his finger down on the third name.

Her face grew pale. "What horrible crime am I being punished for?"

"Guerin."

"Valenti," Michael smiled.

Maria hung her head as they argued over the recipe. Index cards and magazine clippings were slapping down on the table in front of her. "This is hell."

"What?" Michael snapped in her direction.

"I am in hell."

Kyle shook his tawny head. "How did we get stuck with the drama queen?"

Michael even laughed at that. His mouth clamped shut when she shot him a glare. Then he busted up again. "Sorry, but it was funny."

"Quiet! Both of you jackals go feed on some unsuspecting girl's heart! I am not going to blow this assignment. They want dessert, they'll get it. If there's one thing I know it's chocolate. Our recipe is going to be chock full of melt in your mouth goodness. I didn't major in PMS for nothing."

The guys were silent during her impassioned tirade. Now Kyle pretended to dry his eyes with a tissue. Michael wrote a one and a zero on two napkins. He held them up in front of her. "A perfect ten, ladies and gentleman."

"Argh!" she growled in disgust. Maria huffed back over to her desk. She hated men!

***

"Jessica Blume told me you got partnered with Michael and Kyle in Home Ec. Is that some kind of sick joke?"

"Yes, Liz. It has to be. Mrs. Preston must be an alcoholic. She's spiraling in a deep depression and she's taking us all down with her," Maria lamented. "Save me. Please."

"The scariest rumor is that they were getting along," Alex gave her a show of support by patting her hand. "That must have been terrible."

"They were mocking me. What other common bond could they possess?"

"I can help," Liz brightened. "What about Grandma Claud's Original Sin cookies?"

Maria squealed. "The ones she claimed would rev up any tired relationship?"

"Fabled to make eyes wander, lips twitch and wars end."

"Guaranteed to heat up an otherwise cold night," Maria laughed at the comments the grown ups made when they thought tender young ears were tucked away.

"Remember when we stole some?"

"What happened?" Alex was spellbound.

The girls exchanged grins. "They were magical."

"Come on!" Alex stared.

"Do you know where the recipe is?" Maria was excited.

"Sure, Mom has a copy in our family cookbook."

"We'll have to change the name. Are there any illegal ingredients?"

"I'm not sure."

"Can I have some?" They laughed at Alex. "What?"

***

"You want to bake cookies?" Kyle repeated. "Isn't that a bit lame? What about chocolate mousse?"

"Tired," Michael interrupted. "We could do boring, sure. Why not triple chocolate cake? Layers of fudge icing, dark candy curls..."

Maria watched the sweet words drip off his tongue. She wanted to be wrapped in that creamy fantasy. "They're called Original Sin. The story goes that a plain man was very much in love with the prettiest woman at work. He summoned up the courage to talk to her one day. He put on his best shirt, combed his hair just so. She laughed in his face. He was devastated. At home that night, he started making an old family recipe. For years his relatives spoke of the power these cookies seemed to have. One bite and the object of your affection would desire you. He made up a batch and took them to work the next day. Everyone raved about how good they tasted, how unusual."

Maria glanced at her captive audience. Her voice took on a breathy quality. "Curious, she took a single bite. The flavor just exploded in her mouth. She saw the man watching her from the other side of the room. Without a second thought, she went to him. 'I want you, she said. 'I know', he replied. They kissed in front of the entire staff."

"Bullshit!" Kyle had been entranced. "One bite? The hot chick and the nerd? I don't think so."

Michael's eyes danced with amusement. "Original Sin?"

"Original Sin," she knew already that she had won.

"You buy the stuff. Where should we bake them?" his hazel eyes still sparkled.

"Not my place," Kyle accepted the plan. "We don't bake."

"Fine. My place. Tonight at...?" she raised her arms.

"Practice is over at five."

"Five thirty?" she looked at Michael. "We can order pizza."

"Yeah."

***

Maria had everything set up when Kyle arrived. He surveyed the myriad of bowls and ingredients. She pointed him in the direction of the refrigerator. "Grab a drink."

He was fresh from the shower. The strong masculine scent of deoderant and after shave spiced the air. He leaned over her shoulder. "What's all this?"

"Sugar. Flour. Eggs. The smaller bowls have the extras," she passed a hand over a tiny dish. "This is the secret potion."

"Drugs?" he turned his head sharply, coming centimeters from her cheek. Her throaty laugh startled him. "Such a cop's son! Here, silly. Taste."

She dipped her finger in the dark syrup and brought it to his lips. He sniffed it with caution, unsure of her diabolical plan. Then his tongue darted out and dragged over the extended tip. "Mmmm."

"It's supposed to have been regarded as quite the aphrodisiac."

"Can I have another sample?" his voice rumbled beside her ear.

"Sure," she put a second finger up and he sucked it into her mouth.

Michael stood frozen in the doorway. Kyle was standing flush against Maria. They were both speaking in low tones. He saw her smile, watched her finger disappear into the other boy's mouth and felt a white hot stab of rage. "Pizza's here."

They jumped apart at the sound of his voice. Maria's face was warm. "Michael! You scared me."

"I'll bet," his remark was snide. "The guy's waiting for money. I gave him a five."

"Great. You're the best!" she was cheerful.

Once she cleared the room, he glared at Kyle. "What's going on?"

Kyle had no designs on Maria DeLuca. Knowing it bothered Guerin, well, she just became his favorite new hobby. "Maria was about to explain how the secret ingredient affects libido."

"So you decided to put the moves on her?"

"Down, boy. She may seem cute and innocent. I'm telling you, man, the girl can really cook." Kyle was saved a fist to the jaw by two pizza boxes coming between them.

"Who's hungry?" she was oblivious to the exchange.

"I am," came the golden boy's wolfish reply.

Michael sat on the edge of his chair. He didn't want to stay and witness more of their mutual flirting. He also didn't trust Valenti to leave. He chewed his pizza without tasting it.

***

"Okay, here's what we need to do. Kyle, you're in charge of the eggs. Three in each bowl. No shell please. We'll make two separate batches to improve our chance at success."

She handed them each an apron. Hearing Michael's groan, she stood behind him and slipped it over his head. He looked angry. "What did I do now?"

"Nothing."

"I don't want you to get dirty. I promise no one will know you had 'Kiss the Cook' across your chest."

He tried to ignore her as her fingers grazed his back. She tied a loose bow. "Instruct me."

She blushed at the image that came to mind. He didn't miss the bright pink look of desire. "You get the sweetest part. Start chopping the chocolate into pieces."

He watched her combine the butter and sugar. Then Kyle sided over with his eggs. They laughed and joked as they stirred the two bowls. Michael took out his frustrations on the defenseless candy.

"Easy, Michael," her voice grabbed his attention. "We don't want to make cocoa."

He glanced down at the miniscule pieces. She moved in front of him and placed her hand over his. She showed him the correct size, a slow even chopping.

His skin grew warm beneath her touch. He sniffed her rose perfume. "Thanks. I've got it."

Maria felt a chill as she moved away. Michael was getting intense. She shook off the feeling and went back to the bowls. "We can add the flour."

Kyle had seen their raw attraction. How about another hit to the gut, Guerin? "Hold still, Maria. You have something by your eye."

Michael stared as Kyle brushed at some invisible smudge on her upturned face. Couldn't she see right through him? Maria was supposed to be pining away for him. He clenched his jaw.

Valenti leaned over her. "It's gone."

"Thank you, Kyle. Michael, have you tried the secret ingredient yet?"

He looked at the substance she held in her hands. Libido, Kyle had said. Object of your desire, her words haunted him. He saw a certain smug smile behind her. "I'll have some more, Maria."

"Like hell you will," Michael growled.

He pulled her close, stuck his finger in the liquid and painted it over her lips. His mouth came down hard over hers, tongue seeking the sweet delicious promise. He felt her sigh, the rich sound urging him forward. He plundered her warm recesses. Her small hand clutched his shirt for support as her knees buckled.

"Guys. I'm in the room here."

Michael broke away at the sound of Kyle's voice. He took in Maria's state of pleasant confusion. Her fingers went to her open mouth. He seared her with a look. Then his face crumpled. "I've got to go."

Maria said nothing as he hurried out the door. She stared at the floor. Wow!

"Hey, does he know that's only molasses?" Kyle grinned from the side. He was mixing the dough.

Maria gave him a blank look. She picked up the second bowl and stirred. Another casualty of Original Sin!