My cock stirs.
“You’re staring,” he says without stopping.
“No. I’m supervising.”
“You’re definitely staring.”
“You’re holding chemicals near my head. I’m fearing for my life.”
He laughs softly. “Uh-huh.”
Our eyes meet and we both laugh.
The bathroom gradually fills with the faint scent of hair dye and cleaning solution while music plays softly from Holden’s phone on the counter—thankfullynotBlack Eyed Peas. It’s something softer, quieter. The kind of music he only listens to when he’s relaxed.
And heisrelaxed. Completely at ease here with me, trying something new.
I love it so much—even if I’m silently questioning all of this.
I haven’t figured out if him being here all the time is calming me or slowly overstimulating me. Because Iwanthim here, but… he just distracts the hell out of me.
Holden carefully paints dye onto another section near my temple. “We should go somewhere this weekend.”
My stomach tightens instinctively. “Somewhere?”
“Mm-hmm.” His fingers brush my scalp tenderly, legs bumping mine. “Maybe to dinner or something.”
I focus on the rip in the knee of his jeans instead of his face. “Like a… date?”
He glances down, smiling. “Or just to hang out,” he says softly.
I chew my lip. “My apartment has a perfectly good couch to hang out on.”
He snorts, then raises a soft, concerned eyebrow. “I’m just saying. You literally ordered toothpaste for delivery yesterday.”
“So?”
“So I’m just checking in with you, is all.”
I look away. I wish he wouldn’t pay so close attention. Even a grocery run has felt like too much lately. I don’t know why.
I don’t know if it’s him or… just everything.
Holden laughs under his breath. “You’re such a little gremlin sometimes.”
I force a playful grin. “No. I’m a panda.”
Holden’s grin widens. “Mmm. Yeah, an emotional and very cuddly panda.”
“So? You’re still obsessed with me.”
Holden pauses, then leans down to kiss me. “Very true.”
The ease of his answer makes my heart ache in the strangest way.
Holden finishes another section, then gently tilts my head back to inspect his work. “Seriously, though, Kor. You okay lately?” he asks quietly.
The question catches me off guard.
