Page 3 of Devoted Sinner

“Good.” Bryson kept the sweater and moved along. King wondered how much of this torment he could stand.

The way King had held his stare. Fuck. Bryson needed the sweater to hide his erection. King didn’t look like the type to get fucked. He probably expected to be the one doing the fucking, and while Bryson didn’t think he would be into that, King had him questioning a lot of things. He bought King the sweater. Bryson also grabbed one in black when King was busy looking out for danger. Bryson handed the bag to King as they walked out the door.

“Here, you’ll look fantastic.”

King accepted the bag. “Thank you.” He sounded uncomfortable. Too bad. Bryson wasn’t finished. He headed inside a cosmetics store.

“I need some new cologne. What’s your favorite?”

King’s eyes moved from side to side like he might run. “I don’t know.”

Bryson sighed. “Very well. You leave me no choice.” He headed for the perfumes, pretending to be confused. “I can never find anything in this store.”

With a huff, King snagged the back of his shirt and turned him toward the unisex section. “This one,” he said gruffly, pointing toward one.

Bryson snagged it and sprayed King. He leaned in and sniffed. “You’re right. That’s perfect for you.” He handed the salesperson following them his credit card. In no time, King carried his new sweaters and scent.

Next, Bryson made his way inside the closest high-end store for handbags. “You know, I’ve never understood why men aren’t allowed to carry purses. They’re so convenient.”

“Who says men can’t carry purses?”

Bryson hid a triumphant smile at King’s bitter tone. He slowly pulled King from his shell. Bryson grabbed a brown leather crossbody bag and draped it across King’s chest. He eyed his work and nodded. “Yes. This would be perfect for that sweater.” He immediately handed off his card before King could argue. Then they were on their way. “What else do you need?”

He heard King take a breath. Bryson wondered if he should stop. He wanted King to be real with him, but he worried he might go too far too fast. Bryson quickly gave King an out just in case. “Or would you rather eat?”

King’s shoulders relaxed. “Please?”

Bryson looked away and smirked. He would do a lot to hear King beg. The restaurant turned out to be perfect. It had low lighting and intimate tables. King and Bryson were forced to sit so close, their feet kept brushing beneath the table. Since King had demanded a corner table where he could keep his back against the wall and see the entire room, they were seated in an area where they were the only customers. King kept his gaze moving. Bryson stared at King.

Occasionally, King would meet his gaze before going back to eyeing the room. The intimacy of the moment made Bryson say things he shouldn’t. “Do I make you nervous?”

King met his stare. “No. Why?”

Bryson shrugged. “I know you’re doing your job by keeping watch, but sometimes I get the feeling you’re also avoiding my gaze.”

A slow, sexy smirk touched King’s lips. “I’m not easily spooked.”

Their server appeared, interrupting their moment.

Bryson motioned for King to order. “Choose for me. It’s still your day to take decisions off my hands.”

King’s smile turned adorable, making Bryson’s heart skip a beat. “Okay. No complaints if you don’t like my choices.”

“Fair enough.”

King ordered.

Bryson didn’t hear a word of it. He was too busy watching the way King’s lips moved. Maybe he was bored. With Bryson’s money, he had tried almost everything twice. Before King, he had never wanted to give a man a whirl. But fuck, he couldn’t stop imagining King in that sweater. He wanted to smell like that cologne, but not from wearing it. He wanted to wear King.

The server walked away, and King focused on him again. “Is that okay?”

Bryson chuckled. “I wasn’t listening.”

Another heart-stopping smile snapped to King’s lips. “Your attention isn’t easily held, is it?”

That wasn’t true. Bryson hadn’t wanted to focus on anything else for two years. King had his full attention. He couldn’t say that. “Some things hold my interest more than others.”

King held his stare and Bryson knew he wasn’t oblivious, but Bryson enjoyed keeping him off balance.

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