Page 43 of Harvest Heat

“What if I want to take care of you?”

Rhys sighed. “Whatever. I need to get back to work. We’re never going to get even the first iteration done at this rate.”

“We’ll get there,” Caleb assured him.

It was a slow process, and even after several attempts, they couldn’t get the drink quite like they wanted it. Rhys thought they might have to abandon this one, and he hated that. Maple cinnamon was his favorite of the flavor combinations, and it had the least ridiculous additions. He wanted it to work.

“Let’s try one more time,” Caleb agreed, but like the first time, the espresso came out smelling burnt. “Maybe it’s this stupid machine. We should be doing this at Frost + Foam.”

Caleb laid a hand on his shoulder, and he jumped and whirled around, startled.

Caleb took a step back, but he was still so close, and Rhys wanted him so much. Rhys couldn’t slow his breaths, and it seemed harder and harder to pull in enough air. He couldn’t look away from Caleb; his gaze dropped to Caleb’s lips.

“Are you still sure you don’t want to kiss me again?” Caleb asked.

Rhys opened his mouth to speak, but he couldn’t make words come out. Finally, he shook his head.

“No, that’s not what you want now? Or no, you don’t want me to kiss you?”

“I don’t know.” Damn his need to answer honestly.

“I would absolutely love to kiss you, but I’m going to respect your boundaries.”

“I don’t think I want to respect my boundaries.”

Caleb smiled as he moved close once again. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”

Rhys frowned. “That’s not… I’m…”

“Gorgeous. That’s what you are.”

“You’re flirting with me.”

Caleb laughed. “Yes, I am.” Rhys started to take a step back, but Caleb laid a hand on his arm. This time, Rhys didn’t flinch or try to pull away. “I love how unaware you are of your hotness and how much I want you.”

“Yes.”

“Yes, you are aware of it?”

Rhys shook his head. “Yes. Kiss me.”

Caleb didn’t hesitate. He put one hand on Rhys’s waist as he slid the other hand into his hair, tilting his head to the right angle for the perfect kiss.

This time, Rhys relaxed into the kiss immediately. He needed this. He needed to feel Caleb against him. He needed to know that Caleb wanted him and that he felt just as out of control as Rhys did.

He pushed Caleb’s shirt up, sliding his hands up his firm back. Caleb gripped his ass and pulled the two of them together. With his other hand, he held the back of Rhys’s neck. Rhys groaned against his lips, needing more.

A loud noise outside startled them both. Rhys jumped away, frantically looking out the window while Caleb tugged his shirt down.

“It’s fine,” Caleb said. “Someone just dumped bottles in their recycling bin.”

Rhys hurried away from the window. “Oh my God. We were kissing right here. Right where anyone could have seen us.”

“I don’t think anyone’s paying attention.”

“What if someone was? What if they saw us?”

“What if they did?” Caleb asked.