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I turn to stare at Ryann with parted lips. “A cat cafe? Really?”

He narrows his gaze as he undoes his seat belt, shutting off the car. “Why not? Who doesn’t like cats?”

“My dad,” I murmur, bouncing a little in my seat as my hand reaches for the door. “He’s not a fan of any animal, honestly. We had a Labrador that he took everywhere when I was little, but she ran away, and we never got another one. I think it broke his heart.”

Practically jumping out, I bound up the steps, rocking on the balls of my feet excitedly as Ryann takes his sweet ass time unfolding those long ass legs before joining me. For someone so tall, he sure moves slow. His hazel eyes spark with humor when he shakes his head, opening the door where tiny meows and loud screeches hit our ears.

An older woman with gray hair greets us pleasantly from the counter, a glass case full of various pastries and sandwiches on display. Behind her, there’s a chalkboard detailing different drinks that are all cat-themed, and of course, my boss orders the most boring one on the menu. I get a fruit smoothie, declining any food, which he scoffs at and orders me a bagel anyway.

The place isn’t too busy, so she seats us in a corner where a huge orange tabby is sprawled across the table. The cat grumbles as we slide into the benches but makes no effort to move. As Ryann pulls out his laptop, a small white cat jumps into his lap, curling up as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. He surprises me by not pushing it away, instead petting its soft ears while it covers his suit in fur, the sight filling my chest with unexpected warmth.

I set my own laptop on the table, careful not to disturb the sleeping tabby as I start on my homework, trying not to get distracted by the man across from me. A skinny black kitten makes a grab for my bagel, but I scoop it up, cradling it in my sleeves. The kitten purrs and bats at my hoodie strings until it eventually falls asleep.

After a long, comfortable silence—so much better than the awkward tension in the car—I give in to temptation and sneak a glance at Ryann. He’s frowning at something on his screen, completely oblivious to the cat perched behind him, rubbing its head against his in lazy affection.

A giggle slips out before I can stop it.

He looks up, dazed, and his frown deepens when he catches me grinning. “What?”

“You just…” Another laugh bubbles out. “You look so serious in your suit, surrounded by cats. It’s like two puzzle pieces that don’t fit.”

Reaching up to pet the cat messing up his hair, he gives me a small smile. “I always wanted one growing up, but Ronin forbade it. And you can’t have pets in the dorms in college. I’d come here to study when my roommate brought back girls.”

“What were you like in college?”

“Much the same as I am now.”

“Ah,” I nod, petting the kitten in my arms. “Boring.”

He chokes on his coffee, glaring as he coughs loud enough to scare the sleeping tabby away. “I’m not boring, Shilo.”

With a shrug, I set the kitten down on the bench beside me. “You’re a workaholic. Do you have any other hobbies besides being Chief of Operations?”

“I play basketball and go to the gym, thank you very much. Do you have any hobbies besides being a pain in my ass?”

My gaze meets his, and I straighten in my seat. “Can I watch you play sometime?”

That surprises him, his head tilting. “I thought you said you don’t watch basketball.”

“I don’t, but…” Trailing off, I focus on my laptop, hesitating.

“But what?”

A flush creeps up my neck as I duck my head. “I bet you look really good…when you play.”

Jeez, that was awkward. He probably thinks I’m weird now. Probably thinks he dodged a bullet by not taking things further, because I don’t even know how to flirt. I can’t even tell a man I want to see him all sweaty and out of breath without sounding dumb. I suck. I suck so much.

Gentle fingers brush the bottom of my chin, lifting my face to catch Ryann’s devilish smirk. “Are you saying you want to eye fuck me while I shoot hoops, doll?”

Yes. God, yes. Unable to voice the words, I swallow hard and nod, tongue poking out to wet my lips.

“I think we can arrange that.” His thumb swipes at my bottom lip, pulling it down, and I suck it into my mouth on instinct. A deep noise rumbles in the back of his throat, eyes darkening when I swirl my tongue over the pad of his finger. Heat instantly shoots down my spine, tightening my balls as my dick starts to swell, and I whine slightly with a squirm of my hips.

“I haven’t touched myself,” I breathe, his thumb leaving a wet trail of spit as it falls from my mouth. “Since you told me not to. Not once.”

Ryann goes completely still, grip on my jaw tightening as a tangible energy crackles between us. “You haven’t came since Friday last week?”

Shaking my head, I clench my hole. “No. And…and I’m wearing it. The plug. Right now.”