Page 40 of Learn Your Limits
My eyes may wander around the cozy shop, but they never truly leave Reid for more than a second. He inspects brushes and paints that I’ve never seen nor know the name of. The warm light of the shop glitters off his eyes as he struggles to balance the small basket that’s quickly become full.
“Let me,” I demand more than ask. My fingers are already wrapped around the basket’s handle before he can reply. “Go on and shop uninhibited. I’ll be nearby if you need to add to your stash.”
“Thank you.” Reid smiles softly, almost shyly, and it reminds me of how he first came across when we were merely two random people texting each other on a dating app. He’s grown so much since then. Now I know there’s a ferocity behind the sweet smile of his.
We spend another fifteen minutes in the art shop before Reid wraps up his spree, and we walk over to the cashier. The older woman greets us kindly and begins scanning items from the full basket as soon as I set it on the counter.
From the corner of my eye, I see Reid begin to grab for his wallet, but I stop him by placing my hand on his forearm. “This is my gift to you.” In truth, not only do I have the urge to buy him anything he’d like, but there is triumph in knowing these supplies will be bought with my money, not from his family fund. They don’t deserve to patronize his art when it’s not something they appreciate.
“You don’t have to do that,” he protests, hesitantly pulling his hand away from his pocket. “I wouldn’t have gone so crazy with grabbing things if I knew you were gonna cover it.”
“Precisely why I didn’t tell you ahead of time.” My hands are already pulling free my credit card before the older woman even finishes scanning the items. Setting the blue card on the counter, I let her know she can run the card when she is done. “I wanted to make sure you’d get the things you wanted without limiting yourself because of me,” I explain, crossing my arms and turning toward Reid. My expression is one with no wiggle room, my brow furrowed and lips pursed. This is not a negotiation.
His eyes scan my face before glancing at the total displayed on the screen. “Are you sure? I can cover it, babe. You’ve already done so much for me.”
Instead of replying to Reid, I turn back toward our cashier and take note of her amusement at the situation. Her name tag readsMartha,and her twitching lips seem to be holding back a smile. “Martha dear, would you please run my card so I can buy my boyfriend these presents before he protests again?”
A small gasp escapes him as he tugs his bottom lip between his teeth, trying to contain his smile as a blush brightens his cheeks. I watch as Reid turns away and walks out of the store before I can finish paying.
“He’s shy,” I comment, turning back to Martha.
“He’s a handsome one,” she replies, letting her smile come through as she hands me my card. I tuck it into my wallet before I gather the bags in my hands.
“And taken, so don’t get any ideas, ma’am.” I wink in her direction before making my way out of the shop to see where Reid got to.
His hand is around my waist and pulling me toward him the moment I step outside, his lips crashing against mine. Startled for a moment, it takes me a second to realize I can’t reciprocate the embrace with all the bags in my hands, so I lean forward into his body and brush my lips against his.
Pulling away slowly, I look into Reid’s eyes, full of glee and hunger. “That’s quite the thank you,” I tease.
“You’re amazing,” he says softly, leaning down to capture my lips once more. His hands tighten at my waist as he pulls me impossibly closer, seemingly forgetting for a moment that we’re in a public place in broad daylight. He swipes his tongue over my lower lip before pulling back and sliding a hand down to mine, taking one of the bags from me.
“Muñeco,” I whisper, leaning toward him, my voice loud enough for only us to hear as I tighten my hold on his hand. Knowing he’s wearing the plug as we exchange this cute moment in this near idyllic tourist spot has my lips twitching into a smirk. “Let’s move on so we can get home and you can thank meproperly.”
The rest of the trip into town was filled with unique little shops and a mom-and-pop diner that served delicious burgers. While not the same as our shared meals of burgers and fries from our favorite fast food restaurant, there was a simple, homemade quality that made it comparable. On the drive back to the cabin, I wondered how much of the familiarity came from the food versus who I was sharing it with.
As night begins to fall, my find from our shopping trip is open in my lap, my eyes bouncing from the words of the French first edition to Reid’s hands as he unpackages his new art supplies, testing each one on several different mediums scattered around the dining table.
It takes him a moment to get everything organized on the table before his focus falls to his sketchpad. His brows furrow as he focuses on his art, glancing up in my direction every few minutes for his eyes to drag over my body.
Chapter thirty-one
Reid
Walking around the little mountain town and having to be cautious of how openly affectionate I was toward Milo, all while wearing a plug, was torture. All I wanted to do was hold his hand, touch him, and kiss him every chance I got. We’re far enough away from campus that being seen together wasn’t as much of a concern, but we still kept the public displays to a minimum.
When he called me his boyfriend, I lost it. There was no way I could continue standing next to him in that art store, while he insisted on paying for my stuff, and not kiss him. I thought I’d be able to calm down by walking out and getting some fresh air, but then he stepped out of the store, looking as handsome as ever and so fuckingmine,that I couldn’t help but kiss him.
Now the idea ofthanking him properlyis hanging in the air between us as he sits back on the couch, seeming unaffected as his eyes take in the well-worn book in his hands. Remembering the way his face lit up when he found it has a smile pulling at the corners of my lips.
There’s a sense of comfort in knowing that this,this right here, could be a glimpse at our future together. A day spent exploring followed by an evening where he stretches out on the couch with a book in his hands while I sit and draw or paint.
After the past few days, the only thing I find myself wanting to draw is him, but I don’t know that I’ll be able to do him justice. Not to mention my body currently feels like it’s burning, and the pressure from the plug has started to feel like too much.
I’mveryaware of its presence.
Every subtle shift I make sends a wave of heat coursing through my veins, my body clenching around the silicone. With the way he occasionally lifts his gaze from his book and meets mine, I know Milo can feel the heat of my stare each time my eyes scan over his body. My hands are itching to capture him completely, to spend as much time as needed admiring his every feature until I can draw him from memory alone.
But every moment that passes where I'm not on that couch beside him, kissing him and touching him, is driving me insane. I’ve spent the entire day fighting to keep my hands to myself, wondering what it will feel like to finally have him explore my body, touching me the way I desperately need him to.
