“Yup, I went last year because they wanted me on the runway. It was too much.”
“On therunway?” I arched my eyebrows at him. “I’ll need pictures of that, Sinclair.”
Flustered Lewis was a beautiful sight. He couldn’t blush, but Christ!
“I have them on my laptop. I can bring that next time.”
“I insist! I didn’t know you modelled.”
He lifted a heavy shoulder. “I only did it to do Roy a favour.”
Somehow this made me see Lewis more clearly. Maybe that’s just who he was, someone who’d go to any length to help the people in his life.
I had to make sure not to exploit him.
“Okay, so we’ll do our shopping when we’re in Kirkmuir. That sounds good.” I smiled at him. “If we can manage, I’d like to go to the seaside, too.”
“Don’t you have enough beaches in Bali?” Again his voice betrayed nothing but kind curiosity. It was so unlike anything I had expected from Lewis Sinclair that it took me by surprise, even though he’d been nothing but lovely to me today.
“I usually only work. Honestly, I don’t think I’d been to the beach more than five or six times in the weeks before I left. Besides, Scottish beaches are different.”
“You’re still pushing yourself hard, then?” Lew rested his heavy head back against the cushion and looked at me.
“Sorry?”
“I remember when we were kids you were always pushing your limits. You had to be forced to slow down.”
This was such an acute assessment of my life that I was momentarily lost for words.
“Add the seaside,” he said gently, inclining his head at the notebook on my lap. “I’m going to leave in a bit. I’m just waiting for the alcohol to leave my system. Never takes long.”
“Shit.” I struggled upright. “I totally forgot you have to drive home. Want me to call you a cab? Or you could stay here. I can kip on the couch.”
“No,” he said with a finality that brooked no argument. “No fucking way are you sleeping on a couch tonight. You need to rest properly after your travels. I’ll just hang around here for a bit, unless you want me to leave right away. I only had three beers, and my metabolism deals with alcohol pretty quickly.”
“No, of course not. You can stay for as long as you like.” I yawned widely.
“By the way, Noah. One last thing. Are you going to tell Ollie, or do you want me to do it?”
Oh shit, yeah, I’d forgotten about my brother. “I’ll tell him, no worries.” I yawned again. “He doesn’t follow my accounts anyway. Says my content isn’t for him.” He was right, and God, I didn’t like the idea of Ollie seeing my lewd photos. But hearing him say that had still hurt.
Lew snarled under his breath. “I had no idea Ollie could be such a cunt.”
“Yeah, well….” I yawned again and rested my head back against the couch cushions, too. I only wanted to close my eyes for a moment.
Gentle arms lowered me onto a bed. Someone tucked me in and pressed a kiss to my forehead. Before I could react, sleep took me under again.
***
A gloomy morning dawned outside the cottage windows when I woke up. It was normal for this time of year, but I couldn’t say I’d missed it.
I rolled over in bed and groaned. My body hurt like I’d been hit by a lorry.
I would do some yoga in a bit, but I needed a wee first, and a wank to get rid of my ridiculous morning wood.
Dreams of Lewis had tormented me all night.
I’d memorised every dip and curve of his ass when I’d walked behind him at the shops. It was unreal how perfectly round his glutes were, and his plushy, thick tail had made me want to offerto bury my face between his cheeks. Which I had done in my sleep. And he’d accepted.
