“Thanks for saying that. Yeah, I am quite proud. Although I’m still on a shoestring until I pay off my startup loans,” he adds.
I nod and pour the beer into glasses. “Loans or not, it’s impressive. By the time I’m thirty next year, I’ll have a business I can call my own, too. But it will take me years to properly establish myself after that.”
We move over to the couch, taking seats across from each other, and Nicholas clinks his glass to mine.
“Truthfully, it’s been a stressful couple of days at Blossom,” he confesses. “It’s nice to remember that I’m generally successful.”
I wrinkle my brow. “What’s up?”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “A corporate flower shop is moving in down the street and coming after my best product sources,” he says. “I’m still figuring out what it’s going to mean for the business.”
“Shit. That sucks.” I nearly reach out to touch him, but I’m not sure if that’s right, so I redirect and rub the back of my head awkwardly instead. “Your store is special. You’ve got something a corporate shop could never offer.”
“Thanks. And I’m plucky,” he jokes, the sparkle back in his eye, “so I’ve got a few things going for me. But it definitely does suck. How are your projects going?”
“These repairs are doable, but they aren’t cheap. I think I’m going to have do what you did, take out a loan. I can do it against the value of the house to make it work.”
I’ll be able to pay the loans back as soon as I sell, but I still don’t like it.
Unlike me, Nicholas doesn’t hesitate to reach out. His hand lands on my knee, and the warmth of his touch eases through me, unloosening some of my wound nerves.
“You’re doing great,” he tells me. “I can see how much you’re getting done on the building every day. Even if it takes some extra paperwork, you’ll figure this out.”
I nod. “Thanks,” I mumble, wanting to say more but not sure how to.
Nicholas smiles. “I guess we’ve both earned a good time.”
“Yeah.” I half-smile, too.
Nicholas drinks from his beer as he eyes me. “Have you thought about tonight?” he asks. “Where does your curiosity take you?”
I’ve thought about this enough that I barely hesitate before I answer.
“Your ass,” I answer, holding his eye, and Nicholas shudders. “Can’t stop thinking about that ass.”
Anal is nothing new to me. Other parts of him are way more intimidating.
But that ass...
I’m already hard as he takes a slow drag of the beer.
“It’s very hot to me that you want to touch my ass. I’m only ready for fingers, though, today.”
I growl under my breath. “Great. Perfect.”
Now that we’re talking, I’m growing impatient to get started. I want to pull him to me, get his clothes off and feel his skin. See if it’s like I remember, if his body is as hard and hot against mine.
But I’m not trying to rush this and fuck something up, either. So I put my glass down and lean forward, placing my body close to his. Steadying myself, but not taking what I want.
“What about you?” I ask, adding a hint of a demand in my voice. He seems to respond to that. “Tell me what you want.”
He bats his eyelashes. “I like this. We each get one special request.”
I want to touch his ass right fucking now.
I tighten my gaze. “Good.” I touch his side, feeling the top of his shorts. “Tell me what you want so I can give it to you.”
“Just kiss me while you touch me,” he says, panting under his breath. “Kiss me and keep kissing me.”
