Page 19 of Asking For a Friend

“Shit, I don’t murder on a second date. I like my victims to trust me first.” I look him up and down. Damn, he looks sexy as fuck. “So sorry. I was getting a head start on dinner. Come in. And you’re right. That shirt is too nice to spoil.” The pink fitted button-down should clash with his hair, but it doesn’t; it suits him.

As he steps inside, he lifts his face and kisses me, a brief but firm kiss, one that sends tingles of joy through my body and the hope of more to come. I want to grab him and pull him into me, but the knife is getting in the way of any embrace.

I gesture to the kitchen with my other hand. “Let me put the knife down.”

Lando follows me, taking his time to look at the photographs again. “Don’t stop on my account. I’m happy to watch you cook. What are we having?”

“I picked sea bass with roasted asparagus and new potatoes. Is that okay? I noticed you don’t eat masses of meat but that you do eat fish.”

He looks stunned, then slowly gives me a shy and totally adorable smile. “Thank you. No one has ever done that for me. I’m surprised, but it’s a happy surprise.”

I lean back against the counter. “I notice a lot of things about you, Lando. You fascinate me.”

“What else have you found out?” A blush creeps up his neck and over his cheeks.

“Um, okay. You talk to yourself all the time. You have a running commentary of your thoughts. You drink tea, but herbal or fruit, never regular tea or coffee. You prefer your dressing to come separately from your salads. You love your cat and have way too many pics of him on your phone. And when I smile, you focus on my dimples.”

His eyes are wide, and the shocked look is back. Have I embarrassed him? “Wow! I’ve never realised I give so much of myself away. But you’re right about all of it. But you’re not the only one who notices things.”

“Maybe I should get us both a drink. What would you like? The options are the same as last time.”

“A glass of wine would be great, and don’t deflect. It’s all good, I promise. I’ll leave it for now.”

I pour him a glass and hand it to him and brush my lips over his. “I’ve missed you these last few days.”

“Me too. I hadn’t realised how much time we’ve spent together. My lunch times were very boring.” He kisses me softly. “How was your trip? Did the brides improve?”

We managed to have a few text messages, but I’ve been busy until late into the evenings. “Yes, they calmed down and became excited rather than exhausted.”

We separate, and I go back to prepping the food. “How hungry are you?”

“I can wait.” He sips from his glass but keeps his eyes fixed on me. All the blood in my body directs itself to my dick, which now throbs in my jeans. Lando licks the wine from his lip and sets his glass down on the counter. His eyes dart to my groin and darken. Then his mouth hits mine, and our bodies line up. He’s as turned on as I am.

But what to do about it? It’s not how I wanted the evening to start, but it’s how I want it to end. It looks like Lando is on the same page as me. Reluctantly I break the kiss and pull back a little.

“You make me feel things I don’t know what to do with,” he says breathlessly. He rests his hands on my chest, pressing his fingertips into my shirt.

“What does that mean?” I keep my hands on his waist, wanting him to feel me. To connect with me.

“I’ve stayed away from relationships. You know that. But you, you make me want it, a relationship with you.”

I grin, making sure my dimples pop. He groans and lays his head on my chest. “Dammit, Hesketh.”

“Would it make you feel better if I tell you I want to be with you? As your boyfriend, in a relationship. Exclusively.”

As he lifts his head, his eyes are sparkling, glittering with unspoken emotion. “I think I’d like that very much.”

“Good.” I kiss his forehead. “Now sit there and pretend you’re not watching my arse as I get dinner ready.”

“I can do that.” He’s so quiet I look over my shoulder at him. He’s chewing at the edge of his thumb. A nervous habit I’ve seen him do before. I wink, and he smiles, so I turn back to the food. “Your hand twitches when you want to hold mine but don’t know if you should. You talk about Ellis and his family more than you do your own. You always peel the edges of your coffee cup when you’ve finished. You’re honest and kind. And I trust you.”

My knife clatters on the chopping board. I swivel around and take the few steps to Lando. When I cup his face in my hands, he parts his lips and sighs. Our mouths collide, and I slip my tongue inside, tasting the wine as well as him. I can’t get enough of him. He tastes divine. We dip in and out of each other’s mouths. Lando’s hands have found their way under my shirt and creep up my back. Mine are tangled in his hair.

When we break apart, Lando slicks his puffy bottom lip. “Maybe we should go and fuck. I don’t think we’re going to get dinner anytime soon.”

Before Hesketh can answer, my stomach decides to shame me by gurgling loudly.

“That answers that question. Food first.” He laughs as I mutter about cockblocking stomachs.

---