Chapter 03 LENNIX
“I-I’m Lennix.“
It comes out rough and as jittery as I fucking feel when he straightens.
This is so nerve wracking.
I’m so far out of my comfort zone that my fingers are trembling and my face feels hot. Like burning. It has to be red as a cherry.
But he’s smiling at me with straight white teeth and sharp, kind eyes and it’s making me hotter.
There’s glitter, purple shadow on his lids and a pink to the apples of his cheeks.
But the corners of his eyes are shimmering, and the tip of his nose is too. He’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen in real life before.
“And I’m Marlo. Pleasure to make your—oh…”
His gaze drops to the hand I shove between us, an offering of a proper introduction and he drapes his hand over mine, callous fingers curling around mine.
I don’t know why but I wasn’t expecting his hands to feel rough on the underside. His skin looks so smooth.
Feeling a twinge of boldness, I tighten my grip on him lightly and lift. Bring his knuckles up close to my lips. It extends his arm completely, so I dip the rest of the way to reach him.
Brushing my lips over his skin, I force myself to keep the eye contact. It’s hard but he deserves to be seen.
It makes his cheeks flush.
“What a gentleman.”
Even his voice is something that intrigues me; baritone with a twinkling that shouldn’t sound so good but does.
“Thank you,“
I murmur and release his hand, though my eyes follow the movement to where his arm settles next to shorts that sit tight around his hips.
His shirt doesn’t meet the waistband, it’s so fucking short that I bet he’d flash nipple if he reached up for anything.
Oh, shit, I was just thinking about what his nipples look like.
My face flames even more.
“I can spin for you if you’d like.”
“W-what?“
I stutter out, blinking through the fog threatening to take over.
Why did I think this was a good idea?
I’m not even … out.
This was supposed to be—fuck I don’t even know what I was thinking.
When I saw the post online, I applied under the assumption that Sadie was never going to find a match. That it would take forever. She explained it all in her form, and it seemed so far fetched for it be that easy. That if I fill in this info, then her and her wife would just … find the right person for me.
I needed the help.
But I never expected it to actually happen.
I’ve never … touched a man before. Not like this.
Not that I expect that! I just … have accidentally almost flirted with one too many straight guys. I don’t know where to go to find people like me and it’s fucking lonely.
“I’m serious, Nix.“
Marlo’s smile ticks up, pulling my attention right back to his full, tinted lips. “I’ll spin for you.”
“I don’t know what that means,“
I admit a little breathlessly. “And my name is Lennix. L-E-N-N-I-X.”
And now I feel like a total asshole for spelling the whole thing out like that.
But Marlo just tilts his head with a smile, a strand of his light hair falling over his brow from where it’s tucked behind his ear. The other side of his head is shaved almost to the scalp, and a few shades darker than the rest.
It’s cute.
Edgy.
Hot.
“I have a thing for nicknames.“
He shrugs.
“Your smile is alluring.“
His brows arch up at my bluntness and my eyes bulge.
Did I really say that out loud? Fuuuuck.
“Thank you,“
he murmurs softly with that voice that’s settling somewhere in the base of my stomach, and I swallow hard when he steps closer. “May I?”
My gaze drops to where his hand is offered between us, just like I did, his sparkling nails pointing right at me. My heart races inside my chest but I nod.
I’m not even sure what he wants, and I’d venture to say that I’d willingly do whatever it is the second that his warm touch slides against mine.
He lifts my arm up, over his head, and while still holding onto me, he twirls.
It’s slow enough to show off the way his white shorts are painted on over his ass, his long fucking legs, and—oh fuck, he’s got dimples.
His crop top shows off the flash of skin, the divots above his waistband winking at me when he does a second pass.
When he settles back on flat feet, he winks.
“It’s hot in here,“
I murmur, dropping his grip to fan myself with the collar of my shirt. “Isn’t it hot in here?”
Dark brows slam down over his eyes, and a rush of guilt has my stomach rolling over.
“Hey, Sadie?“
he says, slowly turning away from me to where she’s standing, her lens pointing right at us.
Oh, fuck.
I swallow hard but it doesn’t stop my stomach from bubbling.
“Oh, god, I forgot she was here,“
I rush out and slap a hand over my mouth.
Now Marlo looks panicked, worried even, as he asks her for water and steps closer. His scent is intoxicating and burns my nose.
I fucking like it … so why do I feel like I might throw up?
Working my throat doesn’t seem to be helping, but neither does focusing on him. He’s so glittery and pretty. Out loud. Colorful.
And I’m … not.
I’m fucking boring.
This was a terrible mistake.