Page 34 of Kiss-Fist
His hand moves to his hair, and he pats it down, trying tolook more put together, but clearly, he doesn’t know I love this rumpled look on him. I want to be responsible for him looking like this after a nice, hot round of sex.
He must see it in my eyes because his cheeks turn red, and he glances away, glancing at the two other men he’s with. I recognize them both. The muscular one has pale skin and freckles, strawberry blond hair, and there’s a scar under his left eye. He comes in every weekend and usually works with Zev. The other is Rhett, the interpreter, and clearly the freckled man’s boyfriend. He’s a little thinner than his boyfriend, but with definition in his arms and chest now that he’s been working out more often.
Robbie waves his hand, and the two of them stop, turning to look at him and then me.
Then they continue to sign, stealing occasional glances at me while they do, and I’m left to stand there like an outsider, like a fourth wheel.
This must be what Robbie feels like when he’s around hearing people all day. That realization is jarring, and I run a hand across the back of my neck as I wait for someone to include me. Not that they need to, but fuck, I want to be part of this.
I want to know what they’re saying.
I need more than the app Leaf handed me. It’s helpful. It’s allowed Robbie and I to have more than just hello and me awkwardly misspelling words, but it’s not enough.
I’m going to have to hire a professional tutor and take a class. I mean business.
As I plan this in my head, the three of them continue to chat. And at some point in the middle of the conversation,Robbie and his freckled friend nod at Rhett, who turns and takes pity on me. “Hi,” he says aloud, shocking me slightly. I wasn’t expecting him to speak for some reason. “Thom, right? We met when I first started.”
I swallow heavily. He signs while he speaks, and I realize that he’s including them in this. As he should.
“Yes, sorry. Hi. Good to see you again.” I sign it for good measure because Robbie’s gaze is on me like a damn laser. Robbie’s friend is staring at me too, his eyes narrow and assessing.
It’s like I’m on trial, and I am not used to feeling like this.
I know I’m good-looking—I get ogled at work all the time, and I’ve had more than one client get a little too friendly with me. But this is different. I don’t think I like it.
Rhett rolls his eyes, spins, smacks Robbie’s friend on the stomach, and signs a word I do recognize: ‘Don’t.’ He turns back to me and extends his hand. “I’m Rhett,” he says like maybe I’ve forgotten. He spells his name kind of absently, like it’s a habit, then signs something I don’t recognize, but I’m about eighty percent sure it’s his name sign. “This is Mellie.” He uses another sign, so now I’m sure that’s what it was. “And you know Robbie.”
I pay close attention to that one. It’s different from the name sign Robbie showed me before. I quickly tuck this new one away to use later because Robbie makes a noise of distress and hits Rhett on the shoulder.
Rhett just turns, grins, and shrugs. “Robbie’s talked about you a lot.” Robbie makes that same noise again, a sort of whine in the back of his throat, and tugs on Rhett’s shirt.
Fuck, those noises are so hot and endearing. I really like them.
The other guy, Mellie, is openly laughing into his hand. Fuck, they know. They all know what a goddamn dipshit I was. They know the line I crossed with a client. They probably know I want to do it again.
Fuck. I own this place, but when Dex finds out, I amsogetting fired.
Elbowing Rhett out of the way, Robbie steps up. ‘Sorry,’ he signs, mouthing along. I don’t recognize what he signs next, but I can read the words off his lips with the way he exaggerates his movements. ‘Ignore them.’
Something in me relaxes, and I reach into my pocket for my phone because my lexicon is just not big enough yet, and I make sure my text audio reader app is on before I write to him on the screen. I hate that Rhett will hear this read aloud, but I’m too excited to see Robbie again to care.
Me: Are we ok?
Robbie: Yes, why? Not good I’m here today?
Me: No! Its fien, but u wrer gon last sesin
Robbie: Sorry need to switch time, this ok?
Me: * thumbs up * U want 2 wrk out w/me?
Robbie stares at the phone, then back at his friends, then at the phone again. He’s not on my schedule, and I decidethat if he does want to work out with me today, I’m not going to charge him. Today is my day to just observe and make sure no one’s doing anything ridiculous anyway. So I can do both.
Probably.
My ADHD made sure I was never good at multitasking unless it was during sex. Then I can do all the things. But that’s not helpful right now.
Robbie licks his lips, and oh hell, I want to put my mouth on his mouth.
