Chapter 11
Tobias
If she carries on staring at me like that, then the only thing she’ll be eating is my cock again.
“You’re trouble, you know that, right?”
She smiles and slowly sips her wine while I cook the stir-fry.
“So, how is your new job?” I ask, curious to know if she’s enjoying it. She’s always wanted to work in fashion photography.
Her face lights up at my question. “It’s brilliant. Long days, but I love it.”
She continues to tell me a little about her new job, and I soak up every word. There’s something truly endearing about listening to how passionate she is about it, too.
I reach into the cabinet above her head for some bowls.
“Here, shall I go set the table?” she asks.
I move back, and she hops down off the counter, her tits wobbling under the fabric of my t-shirt, sticking to her slightly where it’s so damn hot in here.
I swear she’s a silent killer because she really will be the death of me.
Everything about her lures me in, and she’s not even aware.
Maybe she’s a siren, but whatever she is, I know without a doubt Rainbow is meant to be mine.
“Yeah, the cutlery is in the drawer.”
I keep stealing glances as she moves to set the cutlery down and comes back.
“What do you want to drink?” she asks as she picks up her glass and takes it over to the table.
“I’ll have a small glass of your wine if you’re willing to share.”
She smiles and walks back towards me. “Of course, sharing is caring,” she says as she stops in front of the cabinet and goes up on tiptoes to retrieve another wine glass from the cabinet and fuck me does she look right at home.
It’s impossible not to be positively infatuated by this woman.
“Ice?” she asks over her shoulder.
“Please,” I reply, clearing my throat and wiping my brow with the back of my hand.
Okay, so cooking in this heat when she’s here, tempting me, may not have been one of my finest ideas. But she’s here, and I don’t intend to waste it.
Carrying the bowls over to the table, I place them down as she brings me over my wine and places it on one of the coasters.
I pull out one of the chairs for her to sit, and she covers her heart with her hand and flutters her eyelashes.
“Why, thank you. What a gentleman.”
Scoffing at that, I sit opposite. “I don’t think you’d be saying that if you knew all the filthy things I plan to do to you.”
She sweeps her tongue over her lips, and I love the way her heartbeat pulses in her neck, a sheen of sweat coating her skin.
I hold up my glass to hers, and we clink them together.
“Cheers.”
“Cheers,” she replies. We watch each other as we both take a sip.
“Bon appétit.”
I pick up my fork and watch until she begins eating and moans around the mouthful of food.
“Good?” I ask.
She nods, covering her mouth with her hand as she swallows. “It’s delicious.”
“As are you,” I reply, unable to stop myself. What can I say? I literally have no shame when it comes to evoking those kinds of reactions from her, the ones that can’t deny this attraction between us.
“Is it just me, or is it hot in here?” she asks, fanning her face before reaching for her wine and taking a huge sip.
“It’s hot. Let me go turn up the portable air conditioning unit.” That’s the thing about these residential apartments; they may cost a small fortune, but due to planning restrictions and the age of the building, permanent air conditioning isn’t an option.
She reaches over and covers my hand with hers. “No, let’s eat first. It’s fine, honestly.”
And like the obedient puppy I am when it comes to her, I do as she asks. The music hums softly in the background as we eat the rest of our food in comfortable silence.
“That really was lovely, thank you.”
“You’re more than welcome,” I reply, reaching over to stack the bowls and push to my feet.
Rainbow follows me over to the sink with our empty glasses, and I start washing up.
“Do you have a tea towel? I’ll dry.”
I nod to the drawer in front of her.
“So tell me, why is it you didn’t have plans tonight?”
She raises a brow and glances at me as she picks up a bowl and starts to dry.
“Why didn’t you?”
I laugh and shake my head. “Touché. Okay, I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”
She nods in agreement. “You go first.”
“Ric isn’t here, therefore I can be my usual boring self, avoiding people and staying at home.”
Much like Rainbow, he’s an extrovert and a people person. Whereas, I’m not so much.
“I was invited out with the girls from work, but I just wasn’t feeling it.”
I study her because there’s something more to it than that. I don’t know how I know— I just do.
“And?” I prompt.
She looks heavenward and then back to me. “I sometimes feel like I don’t quite fit. I mean, look at me. Plus, I know I’m a bit much, and honestly, it’s easier to stay in than force myself to retreat into myself when I’m out.”
I frown, hating how defeated she sounds. I know everyone has insecurities, but seeing them first-hand from her, of all people, is like a kick to the chest. I stop what I’m doing and lean my hip on the edge of the sink.
“Rainbow, look at me.”
She stops drying the bowl, her eyes rising to meet mine.
“There’s fuck all wrong with you. You’re not too much, you have substance.
You’re kind, friendly, outgoing, and you should be unapologetically you—always.
You’re not a follower, you’re a trendsetter.
And as for how you look, you are fucking stunning. ”
Her lips rise in a genuine smile at my little speech, but it’s bloody true.
“And whoever these people are who are making you feel less than are not your people. Do you hear me?”
She smiles. “Yes, I hear you. And to be fair, I’ve made some friends since being here. Abi and Ari are lovely.”
“Oh yeah. Ari, as in Harrison and Hunter’s girlfriend?”
The guys run in the same circles as we do and are both head over heels for their step-sister Ari. Well, soon to be ex-step-sister. Abi is her best friend and where you’ll find one, you’ll usually find the other.
She nods. “Yeah, I forgot that you and Ric know the twins.”
“They’re good guys,” I say with a shrug.
“Yeah, unlike some of the people I work with who are questionable at best.”
I hate the way her shoulders pull in on themselves, and that anyone makes her feel less than how she deserves. “Well, don’t and never let anyone else dim your light, Rainbow. Your radiance is one of the things I love about you.”
Her lips part on a gasp. Okay, so that wasn’t what I was meant to say, or was it? Fuck if I know.
The air grows thick, and I clear my throat as I turn back to finish washing the last of the cutlery, as she continues to dry in silence. For the first time since she’s been here, I’m worried I might have fucked up.
But when I look over at her and see she’s smiling, the tightness in my chest eases.
“Now, how about some dessert?” I suggest, taking the last piece of cutlery from her, dropping it into the drawer, pushing it closed, and backing her up against the counter.