I can't do any of that, though, so I whisper, “Thank you,” and reach back into the bag. I wrap my fingers around the hardcover, and the bag drops to the floor along with my jaw. My pulse skyrockets. I smack my chest roughly, coughing as I stare at the raunchiest special edition I’ve ever seen.
“Aw, surely you’ve watched enough porn to know what they’re doing, haven’t you?”
No, Adhira.I haven’t. I mostly spend my shower time thinking about what I would do toyou.
I grunt, clenching my eyes shut for a moment as I regain my bearings. “This is…” My mouth is all cotton and glue, but I manage to speak. “Really?—”
“Hot?” she asks, wiggling her brows.
I peer back down at the cover, bringing it closer to my face, pushing my glasses up my nose to inspect the level of detail. “This guy’s prick ismassive,” I remark, and Adhira cackles so loudly it pierces my eardrums.
“Surely not any bigger than yours,” she teases once she’s recovered. “And the blonde is stunning.”
I shrug. “I’m not really into blondes.”
“No?” she asks, one side of her pretty mauve lips tilted up. “More of a redhead kind of guy?”
I bite my lip, peering at her through my lashes. “Adhira, if you’re fishing for a compliment, please know you never have to…not with me,” I say, my voice soft and low.
Her body stills. “I–I wasn’t. You just?—”
A rumble of laughter shakes my chest. I settle my eyes on hers, allowing myself the simple pleasure of taking in every inch of her as she watches me do so. “I don’t think I’m much of ananyoneman.” Thin, sharp brows climb her forehead. “Until I met you, that is. I’ve never been particularly attracted to anyonebefore. And now that you’re here, I can assure you that I am, without a doubt, ayoukind of man.”
She raises a shaky hand, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze remaining on her lap. “Well,princess,” she says, her tone firmer and more confident than before as she pins me with a burnt-caramel gaze that ensnares my entire being, “I can confirm that if I were an anyone kind of woman,you’d be just my type.”
Fuck.I love the sound of that.
“Music to my ears, sweetheart,” I say, my voice hoarse as if dragged through gravel. I don’t bother squashing the butterflies that take flight in my stomach, dropping my gaze to inspect the book titledAdventurous Lovemore thoroughly. The cover has a reversible dust jacket, which I slide off to reveal the full scene. My smile grows wider as I stare down at an image of a woman holding her hands over her pregnant belly, making a heart with her fingers. A man stands behind her, mimicking her pose, his face nestled against her shoulder.
Adhira peers over my lap to take a look, jumping when her phone starts to ring. She slides her legs out from under her, fishing her phone out of the big front pocket of my jumper. Her brows furrow, but she smooths her expression quickly, plastering on a calm mask I’ve seen a hundred times now, but it never ceases to make my skin crawl with discomfort that she thinks, even for a second, that it’s necessary.
She swipes the green answer button. Two loud and excited voices battle for dominance across the line.
“Beta!” the woman shouts. “You answered your phone for once.”
Adhira rolls her eyes. “Yes, Mummy.”
“Don’t roll your eyes at your mother like that,” a deeper, male voice with the same familiar accent chides.
Adhira chuckles before apologising, glancing over at me.
“Who are you looking at?” her mum asks, voice rising.
With a huge sigh, Adhira crooks her finger at me, beckoning me to get into the frame with her. “My flatmate, Mummy.”
She pans the forward-facing camera to me, and I’m greeted by two smiling faces, each composed of different elements of Adhira’s features. “Hello, ma’am, sir,” I say, waving.
Her parents' brows climb in unison. They turn to face each other, having a silent conversation before pinning me with an unreadable expression. “Beta, you’re living with a man?!” her mother shouts.
“Mummy, I told you this already. Stop acting shocked. You’re gonna give Elijah a heart attack,” Adhira scolds, and my shoulders relax an inch.
Her parents break into laughter. “Hand the handsome young man the phone. We need to get a better look at him.”
Adhira shoves the phone in my hand, not giving me a choice, even if Icouldrefuse them.
“Are you a serial killer?” her father asks.
“No.” I steal a glance at Adhira, who isn’t paying attention as she picks at her nail polish.
