“I bet.”
“I was dizzy for weeks after because, you know, they’re doing a lot of work near shit that affects your balance.”
I could barely imagine what he had gone through, so I simply nodded.
“I knew that the way I processed sound would change,” he continued, weaving his fingers with mine. “I’d anticipated how awful it would be to have to get used to things sounding so different, but just yesterday, my doctor admitted that me not knowing what things were supposed to sound like made it difficult for us to realize that there was something wrong with the technology.”
“Shit, dude. That sounds miserable.”
“Pretty sure I’ve been making the people around me miserable for it, too.” He scratched his nose. “And then I saw the way my words impacted you, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt so much shame in my entire life.”
I lowered my head. “I wouldn’t want that for you.”
“No, it was necessary. The thing is, I knew I had a new processor coming in, but the manufacturer had been dawdling. I should’ve pushed the date. Or at least done something to get myself into a better attitude. My audiologist like family at this point, and when I told him that my processor ruined our date, he called up the manufacturer and screamed at someone until they promised to overnight the replacement.”
“Shit, really?”
Sev shrugged. “Yep. When we tested it out this morning, I could immediately tell the difference. To be honest, I was just so fucking relieved that it was a processor issue and not an implant issue.”
“I’m glad you have what you need now.”
“Almost everything,” he said, squeezing my hand. I brought his hand to my mouth and kissed his tattooed knuckles.
“Same.”
We sat in silence for a few moments, then he asked, “Is it too forward to say that I don’t want you to go home yet?”
I shook my head and took a deep breath. “I’m not doing a—nal after that dinner, but I’d love to have some fun with the o—ther stuff, if that’s okay?” I asked, suddenly very nervous about his answer.
“I’d love that,” he replied, his eyes bright as he kissed the back of my hand.
CHAPTER 6
SEVERIN
We madeit to my room seconds later, and I paused in the doorway.
“Wh-what?” Rhys asked, looking sheepish.
“I…” I took a moment, gathering myself. “I was worried that we only had chemistry in our DMs, but I’ve been hard as fuck since you walked in the door, even with the amazing orgasm in my kitchen. I just wanna make sure you don’t feel pressured, or whatever.”
Rhys shook his head and stepped toward me, his enormous mitt palming my jaw. “The only thing I feel right now is an intense desire to see you entirely naked.”
“I can do that.” I reached for the hem of my T-shirt, pulling it over my head.
Rhys’s eyes tracked appreciatively down my chest, so I flexed a little. The sound that came out of his mouth… I had to double check.
“Was that a giggle? From a rugby monster?”
“Maybe,” he said, running his hand through his pretty blond hair. “What of it?”
I undid the button on my jeans, then pushed them to the floor along with my underwear. I flexed, thinking I might as well give him the whole show all at once.
It must’ve worked because Rhys clutched his chest. “Fuuuuck.”
In the meantime, his gorgeous body was practically begging to be freed from his simple button-down, so I went to work. When I got his shirt off, I hummed in appreciation.
“God, I love your nipples,” I whispered reverently. They were slightly fatter and longer than average and my mouth was watering.
