Page 29 of Henri (Confessions 5)

The shirt was tucked in at his trim waist, making the outfit simple yet classic, as it showed off the body that Henri wanted to feel naked against his own, and as if he could feel Henri’s attention fixed on him, Bailey looked in his direction.

With his hair still buzzcut short, it emphasized the sharp, bold angles of Bailey’s features, and the stubble that lined his jaw added depth and contrast to an already stunning face. Then their eyes locked, and it was just like it had been that first time.

Instant spark.

Instant heat.

Instant animal attraction.

Henri’s cock punched at the zipper of his jeans, and when the hostess stepped around her stand with a menu, his pulse began to race. He watched with laser focus as she weaved with Bailey around the busy tables, and when she came to his booth, she placed the menu down and stepped aside for Bailey to take his seat.

As his cop slid in opposite Henri, no words were exchanged. But when their legs brushed against one another underneath the table, Henri shifted in his seat, trying to ease the throb between his legs. The move was not lost on Bailey either, if the way he licked his lips was any indication, and that response only intensified Henri’s own.

“Okay, guys, someone will be by to take your order soon. If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to flag one of us down. If not, we hope you have a great night at Exquisite and enjoy your meal.”

As she hurried off back to her station, Henri took a moment to let his eyes slowly wander down the man sitting across from him, and when he finally dragged them back up to Bailey’s face, he noticed a slight tinge to his cop’s cheeks and smirked. “I thought for a minute there you were going to stand me up.”

Bailey eyed him closely, his silence only adding fuel to the fire already simmering between them. “It would serve you right if I had, wouldn’t it?”

Henri’s lips curved at the bite of frustration in that tone, and he couldn’t help but wonder if Bailey’s annoyance was because of him skipping out that night or from the frustration that’d been left behind.

“I suppose it would’ve. But if you’d done that, then neither of us would finally get what we want tonight, would we?”

“And what is it that you think I want?”

Henri looked around at the tables. Directly to their right were a man and woman sipping on glasses of wine as they talked politely to one another, and behind them was an equally refined group of four who were more than likely there on a double date.

This kind of environment was so foreign to Henri that he might as well have been on another planet, and he had a feeling that Bailey knew that. Henri was not the kind of guy to wine and dine someone and hope for a polite little kiss at the end of the night.

He was the guy at the bar eyeing up his prey, knowing without a doubt he’d have what he wanted back in his bed—if that was what he wanted—and he wanted Bailey.

He’d wanted him that first night, and every night since, and as he sat there trying to put on a polite version of himself for Bailey, he thought, Fuck that shit.

Bailey had been attracted to him that night. Not some guy who sweet-talked him through a meal. He’d wanted the anonymous stranger who promised him a hot fuck with no strings attached, and that was exactly what Henri was going to offer.

Henri brought his eyes back to Bailey’s and leaned across the table a fraction. “I think you want what you didn’t get the first time we met.” Bailey’s eyes zeroed in on his mouth, and Henri touched the tip of his tongue to his top lip. “You want a night where you can forget what it’s like to be good. Where you don’t have to be a cop, you don’t have to follow any rules, and you don’t even have to be you…if you don’t want to be.”

As his words lingered in the air between them, the desire swirling in Bailey’s eyes told Henri he was spot-on.

“I can still give you that,” Henri said. “If that’s what you want. All you have to do is say the words, and I’m there. So, officer, what’s it going to be?”

DINNER. THAT’S WHAT it’s going to be, Bailey reminded himself. With his dark features and daring eyes, Henri brought to mind a sinful seducer who always got what he wanted, and for some unexplainable reason, that just happened to be Bailey.

In stunning contrast to the usual black get-up Henri wore, he’d dressed in a scarlet button-down shirt tonight, and had flipped up the cuffs at his wrists and left the neck open two buttons down. He had a braided strap of black leather around his left wrist, and those silver rings and that piercing glinted in the candlelight. All of a sudden, Xander’s little bet that there was more silver beneath those clothes came to mind, which had Bailey’s eyes darting back up to Henri’s face.

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