Page 8 of Tease

I couldn’t help the giggle bubbling up inside me. The thought of Arlo being Zayn’s dogsbody amused me. I knew his right-hand man was more than a glorified babysitter for me,Mamá, and my sisters. He did things for my cousin I didn’t dare think about.

“You’re h-h-his lackey.”

“Laugh all you want. I take my role very seriously.”

He was grinning at me.

“I-I’m s-s-sure.”

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d shared a joke with anyone but Sofia. Verona was too busy being a bitch, so I rarely spent any time with her. Being with Arlo felt good. The fact I could talk even through my stutter felt like progress. I wanted to spend the rest of the day in his presence, but I still had work to do. I was taking up his time too. He had things to do for Zayn. The thought of it made me stop laughing and look away.

“Rina?”

“I-I-I s-should get back.”

“Okay.”

I got up and started to clear away the dirty dishes. It wasn’t until he placed a hand over my arm that I realised he’d stood and come around the table.

“I’ll deal with these.”

“N-n-no, y-y-y… y-y-y…”

I let out a noise of frustration. I was flustered by his proximity and the thought of being an imposition on his time.

“Rina.”

I met his brown eyes, finding them full of concern.

“Take a breath.”

Setting the dishes back down, I sucked in a breath before releasing it. I did it again. And again. My heart had been going at a million miles an hour and my chest ached with it. Arlo kept his hand on my arm, reassuring me it was okay. That I didn’t need to worry. The urge to bury myself in his chest made my fingers twitch.

“A-A-A…”

The fact I couldn’t communicate with him made things so much worse. My throat had got all constricted. Voicing my thoughts would be impossible now.

“Should I leave you alone?”

The idea of him leaving me was too much. My hand reached out of its own accord, fisting in his t-shirt. He looked down at it with a flash of surprise crossing his features.

“No? You don’t want me to go?”

My lips parted, but no sound came out. He stepped closer as I turned to him fully. I found myself backed against the table with him towering over me and my hand still firmly clasping his t-shirt.

“Rina,” he murmured, reaching up and brushing my hair behind my shoulder, “I don’t know what you want. I understand you can’t tell me with words, but if you could show me, I can give it to you.”

My mouth dried up. His words weren’t inherently sexual, but my mind didn’t give a damn. It was flooding me with images of him giving it to me on the kitchen table. Wrapping his fingers around my throat. Biting down on my shoulder. Making me see spots when I fell over the edge from his brutality. I shuddered at the idea of it, which only made Arlo frown.

How on earth could I show him I wanted that?

“You.”

The word came out all shaky and breathy.

“Me?”

I let go of his t-shirt and launched myself at him, wrapping my arms around his back. He didn’t move for a long moment. Then he hugged me, making me feel warm and fuzzy all over. I pressed my cheek to his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat. It made mine slow down, leaving my body limber and less tense. He stroked my hair, comforting me in the exact way I needed without me having to say another word.

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