He did have them for Gray. “You’re an idiot,” he murmured as he slipped into his chosen room after Gray went into hers. He dropped his bags quickly and made his way back to the enormous kitchen and bar area so she would be none the wiser about who her next-door neighbor was.
Blair was there with an excited Bébhinn, who was describing how stunning Dagr’s rooms were. The grandness of American homes never ceased to amaze him. Even simple, working-class family homes had quadruple the garden area for kids to play and for get-togethers.
When Bébhinn turned to speak with Daniel, who was getting everyone drinks, Blair glared at him and signed, “Stop being a dumbass.”
He didn’t know if it was because of her deafness, but Blair saw more than most. Combine that with her big brain, and people weren’t able to get away with shit.
“I’m trying,” he grimaced. He didn’t sign, so no one would notice. She was highly adept at reading lips.
“Unsuccessfully,” was her response.
“Help me then.” Even mouthing the words sounded whiny.
“I’ll give you one thing, Ciar. Gray has mooned over you for years.” After that explosive intel, she turned back to Daniel and placed her drink order.
Ciar felt heat rip through his body and a shuddering thump in the vicinity of his heart. He hadn’t known. She never gave him more or less attention than the other guys.
If what Blair said was true, and she would never lie, he felt something akin to hope for the first time since his dinner with Daria.
Gray, Mags, Dagr, and Jonathan joined the group, and he couldn’t take his eyes off Gray. She wore a simple white button-up tucked into slim, straight-legged jeans, with simple sandals. He’d always thought her style was beautiful and classic.
She glanced his way and quickly moved on. He decided then that he wouldn’t give her space. She could like it, love it, or hate it, but he was going to be her new shadow.
Implementing his newest plan, Ciar casually moved, finding a place to lean against the bar behind Gray’s back. He watched her shoulders stiffen as Daniel handed him a drink, and Ciar let his arm graze her own as he reached.
“Thank you again for the invite, Dagr. This place is incredible.” Ciar took a sip of his vodka and was pleasantly surprised.
Dagr noticed and said, “I’m happy to have you. What do you think of the Aspen Vodka, then?”
“It’s no Absolut, but consider me impressed.” While everyone discussed their plans for the rest of the day, which included scouting around the property and ending with a cookout and relaxing in a hot tub, Ciar moved closer to Gray’s back.
He leaned in so he could speak quietly in her ear. “I’m sorry for being an idiot on the plane. I lied.” Her head swiveled enough for her to see his face before quickly turning to the front again.
“Feelings are important. The truth is, I’ve never had feelings before,” he hesitated, “you. Consider this your warning. I’m not giving up.”
Where no one could see, he slid his knuckles down her spine. He didn’t care whether their friends knew he was into Gray or not, but he wanted her ready. She needed to admit to her feelings too.
nine
GRAY
Ciar was not playing fair.His little performance earlier had wrecked Gray’s concentration for the rest of the day. She half-heartedly explored, stumbling around after her friends, all the while reliving the feeling of Ciar’s knuckles running down her back.
Dagr hired a chef for the days they were staying and made sure the evening’s dinner was finished early since they were all a bit jet lagged. Better to push through a few more hours to get on track.
She was in her room changing into a swimsuit when a knock sounded on her door. She assumed it was one of the girls and yelled, “Come in.”
She was about to put her matching red cover-up on over her tiny, red bikini when her door opened and there stood Ciar in short, tight black swim trunks showing off his gorgeous body covered head to toe in ink—literally, head to toe.
His eyes widened at her standing in the middle of her assigned bedroom wearing skimpy attire. “Ciar. What are you doing?” she asked when he stayed standing in the doorway. Shetried not to notice the slight tightening of his trunks, but inside, she was thrilled that he liked what he saw.
“Christ, Gray.” He whispered something that was definitely in Russian, though it was too low for her to catch. She’d been taking lessons on and off for two and a half years. She could speak and understand the language, but her writing was still middle-of-the-road.
There was an older Russian woman who lived above her favorite coffee shop near Trinity. They met by chance one day and struck up a friendship. Gray promised to redecorate her tiny flat over time if she taught her the language. She never told anyone because it might reveal her obsession with a certain man.
He didn’t move from the doorway, but his eyes swept her body in slow perusal, finally coming back to her face. “Sit by me in the hot tub, or I will make a point of moving by you.” He unashamedly adjusted his dick. Gray tracked each movement of his hand. “Do you understand?”
Gray swallowed thickly. “Yes.”
