So, here we were, in his condo, after a quick visit to the grocery store.
I took off my beanie, gloves, and coat, and Myles did the same. He then hung everything on the rack before twining his fingers with mine.
“Come on,” he said with a grin, and led me further inside the condo.
I hadn’t seen his place before, so there was so much for me to take in as I continued to look around like a damn weirdo.
“That’s my office,” Myles pointed at the room to the left. “I usually do blueprints, designing, and financial stuff there. And here,” he then pointed at the room next to his office, “Is where all the dazzling happens.”
I lifted my brows at him.
“It’s my bedroom,” he clarified, and then clicked his tongue. “I don’t know why I used the word ‘dazzling’. Can you…just, can you pretend I didn’t say that? Can you, I don’t know, erase that bit from your memory?”
I laughed.You’re crazy, I signed, to which he gave me a subtle wink.
“Oh, I know, babe.”
I shook my head at him, and let him pull me towards the fireplace on the right.
There was a lovely wooden table in front of it, with some interior design magazines on it, followed by a few pencils, a couple sketchbooks, and an iPad. There was a sofa just opposite the table, and a small stand to its left, with a lovely lamp on it.
The kitchen was next to the fireplace, and despite the fact that there weren’t a lot of appliances in there, the area still looked pretty well-used.
I walked over to the fireplace, just as Myles rekindled its fire and stood to look at me.
I love your house, I signed.
He smiled. “Thanks, Rina.” He came behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. “It’s a contemporary rustic style. Roughhewn wood everywhere – my favorite.”
I leaned against him.Your house should be next to a lake, I signed.
He pressed a long kiss below my ear. “Yeah?” he whispered.
I nodded, and gasped when his lips began traveling lower.
Myles softly dug his teeth into the side of my neck, making me moan. Goosebumps pricked every inch of my skin, and my heart began beating faster.
“Rina…” He kissed his way up to my ear again. “You’re my bliss, my avalanche in the calm.” He held me a bit tighter. “God, I’m so lucky to have you here with me.” He pressed another kiss, but this time, to the back of my head, which made me smile.
I placed my hands over his, and when he bit my earlobe before nuzzling his nose against it, I chuckled.
That’s when my eyes landed on something above the fireplace. And…and that’s also when my body stiffened against Myles’s.
23. Family
Ifelt the shift in Rina’s body as soon as it happened. She straightened suddenly, and her hands over mine went slack.
I quickly let go of her and stepped to the side so that I could look at her. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
She didn’t even glance at me, and instead, walked closer to the fireplace before running her fingers over one of the framed photos that was on top of it.
It was a family photo, with a very young me, covered in mayonnaise and mud – don’t ask – a laughing Taron, and our parents. Not my best moment as a kid, but Mom loves this picture, so I got it framed for anyone and everyone to see and get their fill of amusement.
I was nothing but a vessel of entertainment, after all.
Rina swallowed, her eyes still on the photo. She then pointed a finger at me, and tapped the tip of her left thumb on her chin, followed by the center of her forehead.
“Yes,” I said. “Those are my parents.”
