David slid closer, repositioning Mati’s legs as his thighs slipped beneath them. “Of course you do.”
He was relieved David agreed, which was stupid since the man was a virtual stranger.
“But keeping her safe doesn’t mean you can’t stroke her hair,” David added.
Reese had a sudden image of David as the naughty devil, sitting on his shoulder, whispering in his ear.
And devil or not, he wasn’twrong. Reese wanted to stroke Mati’s hair. He wanted to offer her—and himself—that comfort. He knew it wouldn’t wake her, and he had her permission. But…
“I’m not sure what’s happening,” Reese admitted, immediately embarrassed to have confessed such a thing, and to a stranger, no less.
“You’re not sure,” David repeated.
“I don’t want to get this wrong.” Reese willed David to understand. “It’s new.”
“How new?”
Reese looked at his watch, and David chuckled. The sound ran down Reese’s spine.
It took him longer than it should have to do the math. “Not quite eighteen hours.”
“Since what?” David asked. “What happened eighteen hours ago?”
Reese wanted to tell David everything, but he couldn’t. “We went through something big. And since then, it’s been…different.” He couldn’t bring himself to tell David about those kisses. The longer the night went on, the more Reese feared he’d imagined them.
David hummed thoughtfully. “But you’re still not sure.”
Reese shook his head.
David gave him a long, considering look. “What would someone need to do to make it completely clear they wanted you?” David asked, sliding as close as he could without disturbing Mati. His hand now cupped her knee. His other rested on the couch behind Reese’s neck. “Flirt with you?”
Reese sighed. “I’m never really sure about that. My friend Rupert has accused me of being oblivious.”
David smiled. “You don’t say.”
Reese shrugged helplessly. He shivered when David repositioned his hand and his thumb drew along the back of Reese’s neck. He felt the goosebumps spring to life along his skin.
“What if they touched you?” David asked.
“Maybe. It would depend on the touch, I suppose.”
“Then how about a kiss?”
Reese swallowed, his throat dry. “That’s pretty clear, right?”
David hummed again, a smile hovering on his lips. “Youcouldjust tell her you want her.”
“And if I’m wrong? If I’ve misinterpreted all this?”
David arched one eyebrow. “No risk, no reward.”
Reese stared back. “The risk, in this case, might be too great.”
David’s eyes drifted down over Reese before recapturing his gaze. “I think you underestimate yourself.”
Chapter Five
David almost felt sorry for Reese as he sat wide-eyed in the face of David’s admittedly blatant flirtation.
