Page 89 of Off Camera
Avery
I think it’s perfect.
And I’m already on my way.
TWENTY-SIX
AVERY
Reid opensthe door to his apartment holding a watering can.
I glance at the metal object, then up at him. “Doing some late-night gardening?”
“I forgot to water the plants before I left for work this morning. They probably hate me,” he says. He takes a step back and looks me up and down. “You’re wearing a coat? It’s unseasonably warm out.”
“I’ve been cold today,” I say.
“Are you sick?” Reid asks.
“No. I feel fantastic.”
“Want to come in?”
“I’d love to.” I slip inside and kick off my sandals in the foyer. “How was book club?”
“Masked men. Haunted houses. Bondage.” He walks to the living room and I follow behind him, unbuttoning my coat as I do. “The usual.”
“And what are your thoughts on bondage?”
Reid glances at me over his shoulder. “Favorable, I’ve learned,” he says quietly, almost like he’s embarrassed to admit it. “On a small scale at least.”
I hum and lean against the wall, watching him busy himself with the array of plants. He leans over one in a large pot, mumbling something to himself as he waters it then touches the soil.
“Which one is your favorite?” I ask.
“Maybe this one.” He points to a plant in the corner of the living room sitting on a stand. “It’s a Philodendron Moonlight. Loves indirect light. Very easygoing, which is perfect for when I’m away for a few days for a road game. I follow this guy on social media who has a greenhouse down in Florida and takes care of all kinds of plants, and I’ve learned a lot from him. I’ve always been intrigued by botany and…” Reid trails off and looks at me over his shoulder again. “I’m boring you, aren’t I?”
I smile and push off the wall. I unfasten the last of the buttons and drop the coat away from my shoulders, revealing the purple lingerie set I bought an hour ago.
Reid sucks in a sharp breath. His eyes bounce to my chest then back to my face. His grip on the watering can slackens, and he slowly sets it down on the windowsill.
“Not at all,” I say. “I could listen to you talk about plants all night.”
“You’ve been in my apartment wearingthatfor five minutes, and I’m talking aboutplants?” he asks. “I need to be sedated, and you need to tell me to shut up.”
I laugh and stop in front of him. I take his hand and put it on my shoulder, guiding his fingers down my arm then across my chest. His touch is soft, and his eyes stay on mine as I rest his palm on my breast.
“I do love to tell you to shut up, but I’ve never seen you in your natural habitat. You can keep going, if you want. Tell me more about Philodendrons, Reid.”
He shakes his head. His gaze rakes over my outfit, from the lace to the little bows on the hips of my underwear. His attentionholds on the cut in the fabric that shows off my breasts, a deep, plunging neckline that pushes them together and gives me cleavage I dream about.
“That—” He licks his lips and hesitantly drags his thumb across the design on my chest. My nipples harden under the pad of his finger, and I arch my back, wanting more. “I like this a lot.”
“Do you like the color?” I ask around a rasp.
“Purple,” he murmurs, and he dips his head. He licks a slow swipe of his tongue over the path his thumb took, and I moan. “For me?”
“Figured I could use something new,” I say. He lifts me off my feet with surprising ease, and I wrap my legs around his waist. I’ll never get over how strong he is. “Might as well make it purple.”
