“Cole wanted to stop by though. I think… it’s his first time.”
“No, it’s not.” I shook my head a little too fast, and when I realized what I said, I let out a puff of air. “Erm, I mean, yeah. First time. Yes, it is.”
I managed to somehow pry my eyes away from sexy Samir and turned to Enzo, who was staring at me with an amused grin on his face.
“This is my best friend,” he said, still looking at me, “and brother-in-law, Cole. Cole is a workaholic.”
That snapped me out of it.
“I’m not,” I said, then I remembered today was the first time I’d had more than a couple of hours of being human, doing human things. I pursed my lips. “Okay, yes, I am.”
“Aren’t we all.” Samir chuckled, and the sound gave me goosebumps on the back of my neck and the small of my back. “And who is that little cuteness?” he cooed at Ella and came out from the counter to crouch down and greet my daughter, yet all I could think was how good he looked down on his knees.
Somebody save me.
“That’s my goddaughter, Ella,” Enzo said, and as Samir played with her, Enzo leaned in closer and whispered in my ear.
“Well, well. Like what you see?”
I side-eyed my friend.
“No.” I grimaced.
“Is that why you’re drooling?”
I reached up at my mouth to check. It was dry, but Enzo still chuckled.
“Whatever. Shut up.”
Enzo bunched up his shoulders and smirked. “I didn’t say anything.”
I rolled my eyes and tried to look at anything else than the gorgeous man at my feet.
“Do you have books for toddlers?” I asked before I did something stupid, like actually dribble on the man. I immediately regretted it, because he stood up, mere inches away and towered over me, making me shudder.
His cologne, a musky strong scent with sweet undertones, flooded my sense of smell, and I lost the ability to speak again. Good thing I didn’t need to. The last thing I needed was to embarrass myself further.
I think those clarity candy canes worked a little too well.
Because I was wide awake. A little too awake judging from the stiffness getting even stiffer in my pants.
“Sure thing. Follow me,” Samir said, and oh the dirty thoughts that crossed my mind were far too naughty to ever be spoken out loud.
6.Samir
Inever got tongue-tied. Never. And yet all I was in front of that sexy hunk was tongue-tied. I had no idea if I even made any sense when I spoke or if I made horny caveman sounds that would get me locked up.
Never in all my life had I been so taken by a man to render speech—heck, even coherent thought—impossible. Yes, I was attracted to men, yes, I fantasized about men, but any time I met a real-life hunk, I’d always been completely unfazed by them. Which had been half the battle of understanding my sexuality and embracing it.
So it was bizarre to be trapped under his spell, especially considering Zay’s and Alina’s prodding mere moments ago. Was this a sign that they were right? Or was fate playing dirty tricks on me?
Whichever was the case, the little toddler in the stroller was the perfect distraction to help me recompose myself.
Of course, as soon as I got down to talk to the little human, I realized my mistake.
It was strange, being at war with myself, trying to control my gaze from veering to my right, and Cole’s dominant presence beside me.
No. I wasn’t going to let my body betray me. It had never betrayed me in all my life. I wasn’t about to let it betray me now.
