Page 63 of Flare

He was dressed as casual as I’d ever seen him in a pair of dark-wash skinny jeans, engineer boots, and a bright white T-shirt under an emerald-green puffer jacket with a black and white check scarf. His dark hair fell in soft folds above the buzzed undercut, product-free and fanning across his face as the wind whipped at it. I fought the craving to bury my face in its silk, feel it run across my body and down my cock... and shit, that went nuclear fast.

“Hey, you.” He smiled and leaned across to kiss me on the lips, catching me by surprise. And when I didn’t immediately respond, he sat back with a frown. “Are you okay?”

I groaned and reached for his hand. “Shit, I’m sorry. I guess I’m unsure what’s okay or not okay and I don’t want to assume.” I collapsed back on my seat. “See, I’m fucking up already. I wasn’t kidding when I said I needed a list. Can I get a redo?”

A wide grin spread over his face. “Absolutely. But this time, how about you come and get it?”

Like I was going to say no to that. I leaned over the console and slid a cautious hand around his neck to draw him to me. He came willingly and we made out for as long as I could manage until my back spasmed and I had to let him go.

“Mmm. Much better.” He said with a devilish grin. “You look hot, by the way.” His gaze raked over me, head to toe, and I’m pretty sure I squirmed. But when he reached under my leather jacket and ran a hand slowly down my torso, there was a definite creak of wood a little south. Not to mention, I just fucking knew my cheeks were flaming.

“Mmm, yes, very nice.” He grinned and patted my chest, tugging my jacket back into place. “And all mine.”

Goosebumps fanned over my skin. What the hell had been wrong with that guy Nolan? How did anyone walk away from this man?

I cleared my throat and aimed for calm. First dates and all that. “I wish I could take the credit for my clearly upgraded appearance, but I cannot lie.” I glanced down at the snug black Henley and the much-tighter-than-usual black jeans Rafe had insisted I buy in a sale years before, but which I’d never worn. “Jack took one look at me when I came downstairs and shoved me back into my room. I think he actually had to shake the dust off these.”

Rhys laughed. “You should wear them more often. Your nephew has a surprisingly good eye.”

“Surprising because we’re related?” I raised a brow and he laughed, zipping his lips. “He found the idea of me primping in front of a mirror for a first date fucking hilarious.”

“Aw, you primped for me?” Rhys’s hand flew to his chest. “That’s so sweet. I’m impressed.”

“Shut up,” I grumbled. “And youshouldbe impressed. I don’t know what came over me, and I’m not at all sure I like it.”

He snorted. “Well, I appreciate the effort, although honestly, I like any and all versions of you.”

“Well, you look stunning as always.” I ran my gaze slowly over him again, pleased to see a shy smile tug at his mouth. “I have to say I’m kind of surprised at the jeans?”

He chuckled. “Because I’m a designer?”

“I guess.”

“My guilty secret is that I love jeans,andeven sweats if I’m home mooching with no one watching. Nothing shows off a great arse better than a great pair of jeans. Look at cowboys.”

I laughed and had to agree.

“Right? You can do anything with jeans if the cut is good.”

“I’ll take your word for that.”

“And before I forget—” He reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out an envelope. “One list, as requested.”

Yes.I made a grab for it but he whipped it out of reach. “Pay the piper, baby.” He touched his pouty lips for a kiss, which, let’s face it, was hardly going to be a hardship, back spasm or no. I leaned over and took a long drink of his sweet mouth.

“Yum.” He smacked his lips and handed me the envelope. “But don’t read it now. I’ll die of embarrassment, and I don’t want you to take fright and dump me before we’ve even finished our first date. We can talk about it later. Most of the triggers are to do with being crowded or stood over or... actually, if you think of what happened outside the bar, that’s a really good example. I wrote it yesterday in my ‘have fun time’ that Hunter had insisted upon this weekend. But considering what it was about, I figured it met the brief. It was actually kind of cathartic to see it all down in black and white.”

His cheeks darkened and he looked away. I pocketed the envelope without a word and started the car.

“So where are you taking me?” Rhys secured his seatbelt, and I was suddenly struck by how damn good he looked in my car, and from there, how he might look even better in my bed.I know.I know.

“Eyes front, babe.” He smirked. “You keep looking at me like that and I might be tempted to drag you upstairs and have you watch me jerk off.”

What the...?My heart stuttered in my chest and a great deal of necessary blood shot south, leaving my head spinning. “You, um... is that... I mean... fuck, would that be something you could do... sometime, maybe?”Because damn.

He laughed and shot me a sexy-as-fuck look that said he knew exactly what his words had done to me.

“Shit.” I threw the car into reverse and started to back out of the car park. “You’re messing with me, aren’t you?”

---