Page 77 of Bound By Ink

“Ready?” I prop myself on the doorframe. I stare at him; he’s fucking beautiful. I wonder why I never saw it before.

“I just need to put my contacts in.”

“Glasses,” I whisper. His gaze flicks to mine, and I lick my lips. “Wear your glasses.”

He reaches over to the dresser and slips them on, pushing them up the bridge of his nose. I step towards him, wrapping my arms around him, and kiss him.

Fuck, that was sexy. Why the fuck have I seen him do these things a million times before, but suddenly, he’s all I can think about? He’s so fucking handsome, he smells amazing. His hazel eyes are bright, the gold flecks twinkle when he looks at me, the crinkle at the corner of his eyes when he smiles at me, it’s all so fucking hot. Then he puts his glasses on, and I can’t control my lips, my hands, they just want to be on him. I slip my tongue over his lips as my hands find his hips, and I push him back, walking him towards the bed. His arms slide over my shoulders, wrapping around my neck as he leans in, licking his tongue across mine.

Groaning, I tug him flush against me. He melts into the kiss. His body pressing into mine as his legs hit the bed, I pull back. His pupils blown, his cheeks flushed; he’s fucking perfect.

“We should go, or I’m gonna throw you down on the bed and fuck you.”

“I wouldn’t be mad about that.” He gives me a slutty smirk, and fuck me, how did I never see it before? I grab his hand.

“Nope, I’m taking you out. We need to talk.” He stills, his hand stiffens in mine, his whole body goes rigid, and he freezes. I turn and stare at him.

“Hey, what’s up?”

He shakes his head before walking towards me.

“Nothing, it’s fine, let’s go.” But his demeanour has changed. His hand is relaxed in mine now, but he isn’t holding it. When his shoulders sag, I stop, so he crashes into me.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“I’m fine, honestly. Let’s go.” I nod, but I know he’s not fine. I replay what just happened, but I can’t place what it was. Was it the way I was looking at him? The glasses thing? The way I hold him, kissed him? Navigating this relationship is a whole fucking learning curve. I’ve never done this shit, and I keep missing all these cues. This is why we need to talk.

We drive in silence to the restaurant. Scott stares out of the window, a slight smile etched on his perfect face as he watches the passing scenery, but it doesn’t look right. Something’s shifted, something’s off. After pulling up outside, I park and turn to look at him, but he’s out of the passenger seat before I get a chance. I jog around the car, snatching his hand and tugging him back.

“Hey, wait up.” He stares up at me, his eyes glassy and vacant. Almost like he’s staring through me. “Nerd, what’s wrong?”

He gives me a tight-lipped smile. “Let’s just go in, okay?”

I nod because I’m starving, and we can talk inside. I’ve booked a booth, the one at the back in the corner. The waitress leads us inside the small Chinese restaurant. It’s Scott’s favourite place to eat.

We sit down, and I order drinks. Scott just stares at the menu. It’s held higher up his face than socially acceptable, so I rest my finger on the top, pushing it down.

“Hey, let’s order, then we can talk, okay?” He nods but pulls the menu up again when the waitress comes back with our drinks. We order the food, and she takes the menus. Scott stares out into the restaurant, and I reach for his hand across the table. He flinches when I touch him before his gaze darts to mine. I snatch his hand tighter in my grip and lean forward.

I clear my throat. “I wanted to talk with you. Ya knowthetalk.” He nods but doesn’t quite meet my eyes. I need to say this. I need to get it all off my chest because after the shitshow that was Dickhead, I want to know where I stand. This is all new to me, this relationship stuff. I’m a little out of my depth. I want to make sure we’re on the same page. I know we’re together, but I want it officially stated.

“So, you know I don’t do relationships. I’m not into anything other than one-night stands. You’ve heard what they call me?” He just bobs his head, his face a mask of something I can’t quite put my finger on. He pulls his hand away from mine, but I reach for it across the table.

“Scott?”

“I get it, Killian. I understand.” I frown at him, but he rests his hands in his lap. “Let’s just have a nice meal, yeah?” The waitress comes over and places our dishes on the table. He picks up his chopsticks, and I smirk at himbecause even that’s sexy. The way he controls them with those long fingers. The way the muscles in his hand work around the chopsticks as he lifts the noodles to his lips. The way his tongue slides out and does a little lick of his lips before he sucks the chopsticks into his mouth makes my dick twitch. I groan, staring at him. After grabbing the fork from the table, I start eating, watching every move he makes with those fucking chopsticks.

“Nerd, I wanna say a few things, but firstly. I need you to listen, okay? I don’t want this to change things between us. You know I love you, right?”

He looks sad as he whispers, “I know. I love you, too, Killian.”

I exhale and smile. He eats, barely looking at me. Something shifts within him, but I need to say it. I need to know.

“I want to be official,” I blurt out.

“What?” he mumbles around a spring roll.

“I want to be exclusive. I know I’ve said you’re my boyfriend and I’m yours. But I know when you were with… him, we kinda hooked up. I want you to know that’s not me. I know I haven’t been in a proper relationship before, but I want to be honest from the start. I want to give this a real go. I want you to be my boyfriend. I don’t want there to be anyone else.”