“You’re not hard-hearted at all,” I say without thinking.
He edges closer again. “That sounds like you might have devoted some time to thinking about little old me.”
“Stop being flirtatious.”
He gasps, putting a hand to his chest. “Oh my god, you might just as well tell me to stopbreathing.”
“Would that stop you talking?” I can’t help laughing at my own joke.
His face warms. “Anyway, the present was absolutely epic.”
“You liked it?” I say unable to not ask.
He nods, and the honesty is clear in his eyes. “It’s the most thoughtful present I’ve ever had.”
“That makes me sad.”
His eyes heat and grow flirtatious once more. “I wanted to get you a present myself to say thank you.”
“Oh no, you don’t have to?—”
He folds his arms, and my eyes narrow.
“You don’t appear to be carrying a gift,” I say cautiously.
“Ah, it’s the sort of present I carry on my person.”
“Oh god, it’s your cock, isn’t it?”
This time, I laugh when he does. I can’t help it. He has such an infectious nature—warm, charming, and funny. He sobers. “Alas, it isn’t my cock, but I love that you’d think that would be a good present.”
Before I can respond, he raises his T-shirt, showing off a mouth-watering glimpse of his tight abs. “What are you doing?” I choke out, surging forward and grabbing him around the waist to stop him.
“Taking off the gift wrapping for you. You seem to be the buttoned-up sort that doesn’t like surprises.”
“Xavi, this weekend, just the word ‘surprise’ coupled with you makes me exceptionally nervous.”
“Xavi?” he says incredulously.
My cheeks heat. That slipped out unplanned. “Hmm.”
His eyes sparkle. “Have you got a… nickname for me?”
“Oh shut up.”
He pats my shoulder. “It’s fine. I already have mine ready.”
“What is it?” I ask warily.
“Roo.”
“That’s a fucking baby kangaroo.”
“Xavi and Roo. It’s really got a ring to it, don’t you think?”
“No. Please let’s never mention it again.”
He laughs and manages to wriggle free and out of his shirt, and I swallow. He’s beautiful in the lamplight. It gilds the dips and hollows of his slender torso. He’s hairless, his skin golden.
