He blinks, and then his smile grows even bigger. There’s new heat in his eyes as he holds out his fists for a fistbump, and even that scant contact, knuckle to knuckle for a brief second, is enough to turn me on.
Manalive, I need to jump this man’s bones.
OK,he begins,let’s start with…how was your day?
I can do this one.I had a nice day, thank you. How was yours?
Better for seeing you,he says, and I swear he’s going a little pink again. I love it when he blushes. I’ve never made any man blush before, and it’s moreish.By the way, Ihaveseen The Office. Sorry I didn’t reply. I’m pretty sure that was the sign for ‘reply’, anyway; it would make sense, because he didn’t answer my last message.
That’s OK, I sign. Somehow, each time I see him, he gets even better looking. Today, in his black jeans and grey long sleeved t-shirt, which hangs and clings in a way that hints very strongly at the lickable body underneath, he’s just delicious.
“Heading out now, Deano,” Sadie says at the door. She smiles at me again. “You two have fun. Eli said - ”
We don’t get the chance to hear what Eli said, because a ridiculously handsome guy with long, curly hair, a beard, and an Alice in Chains t-shirt makes Sadie jump by picking her up from behind and moving her to one side so he can enter the studio. He grins at me, taking my hand and shaking it enthusiastically. “Tosser,” Sadie grumbles.
“Hey, you’re Liaden, right? I’m Leo.” His voice is bass deep, and hints at dual nationality. I’m picking up slight East London tones with a faint twang of southern USA.
“Hi, nice to meet you, Leo.”
“Congratulations, by the way, you won!” He’s still shaking my hand. This is the sort of exuberance that could get a warm reaction from anyone on the planet.
“Er…Great! Won what?” I frown a little. I didn’t enter any contest…
“Yeah, won what?” Sadie asks dryly.
“The new monthly prize draw. I put all the appointments into a random selector thingy I found online, and you won one free appointment! So your next appointment with Dean here is on me.”
Sadie snorts, for some reason.
“Oh! Great, thank you very much.” He finally lets go of my hand.
I look over at Dean, who is giving Leo a very peculiar look. It’s a strange cross between what seems to be amusement and annoyance.
“You’re so welcome,” Leo replies smoothly. “You’re in good hands with my man here.” He winks at his cousin, who doesn’t respond.
“Oh, absolutely,” I agree. “Would you like to see what he’s done so far?” I turn and lift my t-shirt enough to allow a glimpse of what was done during my first appointment.
I hear a low whistle, and turn to see Leo peering a little closer, though he’s still a respectful couple of feet away from me. “Fantastic work,” he says, turning to grin at Sadie. “Hasn’t he done a great job, Sades?”
“Yes,” she says, narrowing her eyes at him without looking at my ink, “and we’d better go so he can carry on with it.Now.”
“Right, yes.” He turns back to me. “Come out for a drink with the gang sometime.”
“Sure,” I say as Sadie pulls his arm and ushers him out the door.
His head pokes back around the door again. “But yeah, your next session is free, and - ”
“Leo, move your arse,” Sadie mutters, and he’s yanked away from the doorway quite comically.
Dean looks exasperated, but not in a bad way, as he pushes the slow-close door shut. He turns back to me.Sorry about him, he says.
That’s OK, I sign, wanting to practice more.He seems…nice.
He makes a funnyehhhhexpression, and it makes me laugh, which makes him smile. He swallows hard.Have you eaten?He asks.
Yes, thank you. I ate about an hour ago. I’m really getting into signing conversations with him. It makes things feel more intimate, somehow. Like we’re imparting secrets.
Cool. I have something in case you get hungry later. He nods towards a white plate piled with chocolate chip cookies, my all time favourite.
