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I gave him a half-hearted glare. “That’s unprofessional.”

Ryan emptied the powder into the machine and turned it on. “It’s a bit late for that. I already insulted his manhood and tried to turn him into a bitch on a lead…” He looked over to me. “Which, of course, as previously established, I am very sorry about.”

I let myself smile a little. “He is a bit of a…”

“Dick? Cockwomble? Shit stain?”

“Twp,” I filled in with a nod and at his confused stare, clarified, “Idiot. But that’s just how he is. I don’t know why I dated him in the first place.”

I did know.

I was lonely and he had paid me attention and I had equated attention with genuine care, ignoring all the red flags.

Ryan took me by my hips and lifted me onto the old washing machine without much effort, sliding between my legs so we were nose to nose. “I’m glad you broke up with him.”

I faltered. “I…”

“You did break up with him, right?”

“No.” I looked down at my hands. “He accused me of sleeping with his friends.”

“Fucking prick.”

I glanced up, his face slightly blurred because my glasses had slipped down my nose. “You don’t think I did?”

“Listen, Owain. You’re probably one of the most unequivocally good-hearted people I have ever met. To the point where it’s almost hard to believe such a person even exists in this day and age of jaded fucks like me. So no, I don’t think you cheated on Seth with his friends. And he’s an idiot for thinking that.”

“He always said I was too touchy and flirty,” I said while unconsciously kneading his chest.

“I don’t know if it counts as flirting if you don’t even know you’re doing it, love,” he said, giving me a smile as he glanced down.

I quickly took my hands away, only for them to be confiscated and put right back.

“Like I said, he’s a moron. It took me less than a day to realise it was just the wonderfully weird way you work.”

“Wonderfully weird could be a new room name,” I murmured.

Ryan rolled his eyes and leaned in to kiss me.

It felt different from every other kiss we’d shared before. Not exciting like our first, or breathtaking like the one on the cliff, or mind-melting like those we’d shared in all the in-between moments of desire.

This one was simple.

It felt like warm linens and comfort, speaking a different language from any I had been used to. I didn’t know how to interpret it, but I was desperate to find the lexicon. It seemed important.

I yawned into the kiss involuntarily, feeling too comfortable and relaxed for my body not to react.

Ryan pulled back with a smile that was just as soft as the kiss had been. “Sexy.”

I blushed, covering my mouth with my hand. “Sorry. We stayed up most of the night and it’s already late…”

“No need to convince me any harder,” he said, gathering me up bridal style. “I’ll tuck you in.”

I blinked at him as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “You will?”

“Ugh, okay, twist my arm. Yes, I’ll have a sleepover with you too.”

My heart thundered. Had he read my mind? Or did he feel disappointed that we’d parted ways after the cliff too? “I didn’t—”