Page 30 of No Strings

He licks his bottom lip before sucking it into his mouth, and my breath catches in my throat. He leans down as I lean up. It’s one kiss.

One kiss will be fine.

The hand that was holding my own let’s go and snakes around my back, holding me in place, while his free hand cups my flushed cheek. I lean into the touch, closing my eyes for a moment. Welcoming the feeling of a hand that has never been cruel to me.

When I open my eyes, I look right into his gaze. Rhys and soft don’t go together, but there’s no other word to describe his expression. A small smile tugs at the corner of my lips. He closes the distance as my eyes softly close. His lips lightly graze against mine causing me to part my lips ever so slightly to let out a small breath.

I lean forward wanting more, wanting him. That thought should sober me, not send my heart skipping over itself.

Rhys doesn’t leave me waiting; his lips claim mine. It is everything I didn’t expect. Soft and gentle. Like he’s savouring the moment. Like if he’s any rougher I might break.

I’m so used to having a kiss forced on me or not being kissed at all. Rhys doesn’t deepen the kiss and when it ends, he doesn’t let me go. He holds me closer. I let myself be held, I let myself feel. But when we hear the approach of a car, we pull apart. I keep my head down and push away my feelings. I don’t want to risk seeing regret in his eyes.

“So, maybe you don’t hate me.”

“It’s more of a dislike.” I brave the chance to look up athim. He has a stupid crooked smirk on his face, which has me smiling at him.

Beau, of all fucking people rocks up. “Your knight in shining armour has arrived.”

I roll my eyes and walk away.

When we got back, Rhys and I go in different directions. I ended up finding Molly and we went to help Dani in the front store.

There’s Hayden, Jarrod, Nathan and Trent.

Trent is the ‘new’ one. He hasn’t worked here before. Staying mostly in the eastern states.

When the sun sets, taking its warmth with it, we all appear by the fire pit, which is quickly becoming our end of day routine. Rhys and I haven’t spoken about the kiss—at all—and honestly, I’m happy he hasn’t mentioned it. Maybe it’s best for the both of us if we don’t talk about it. Maybe we just got caught up in a moment.

Esky is at my feet, snoring away. Everyone loves her, which I like to hold over Rhys’s head. I met the guys helping out with this muster. Hayden, Jarrod, and Nathan seem like cool guys. They’ve all worked together before. Then there’s Trent. He’s attractive in a conventional way, too bad for his personality.

He hasn’t left me alone. I entertained him at the start, not wanting to be rude, but the more he spoke, the more he seemed to invade my space. He is overly touchy, and speakslouder than everyone else. It makes me flinch and shrink into myself. He can't seem to read the room.

“Oh, what happened to your arm?” Only now noticing the gauze covering the wound.

“My hand slipped while I was helping service the cars with Davis the other day, and ended up with some stitches.” I shrug, not meaning to over-share, but when you have an ex like mine, it becomes second nature.

“Shit, a girl that knows how to use her hands? I like that.” The way he says that sends a chill down my spine.

And that’s enough for me tonight. I wonder why Rhys hasn’t stepped in, but I am my own person, and I don’t need him to protect me. Not to mention if he was to step in, I’d tell him to fuck off. Normally anyway. I notice Molly nodding off next to Dani, so I use that as an excuse to leave.

“Molly, do you want me to take you to bed?”

She looks up through one and a half-opened eyes. She nods but her head is heavy with sleep, so she kind of looks like a bobble head.

Brent thanks me and tells me he’ll be there soon.

“Goodnight, everyone.” I say and clasp my hand over Molly’s, Esky is up stretching and following. Before I leave, I catch Rhys looking at me over the flames of the fire, but he doesn’t say anything. Trent on the other hand.

“Yeah, see ya around.”

I ignore him and keep walking toward the house.

I help Molly get into her pyjamas and tuck her in. She is out like a light. I think I could break every item in this house, and she’d sleep through it.

Brent walks in as I’m walking out. “Is she asleep?”

“Fuck,” I grab my chest, “You scared me.” I laugh, but desperately ask my heart to slow down.