Page 86 of Praising Haru

I stop, even though I’m drunk with need for him. “Will you send your designs to fashion houses?”

“Yes.”

“Now?”

“Tomorrow.” He flattens his palm against my chest. “It’ll take too long to do it now. Mum and Dad will think we’re up to something.”

“True. You can update me by text tomorrow. Not because I don’t trust you to do it, but because I want to cheer you on and give you confidence if you need it.”

“I’ll need it.” He stands on his tiptoes, reaches up to put his hand on my nape, and stares into my eyes. “Thank you, Sir.”

I raise my eyebrows. “What for?”

“Being amazing. I—” He smiles and tugs me down for a kiss.

I make it a long, steamy one. What was he going to say?

He touches his fingers to his damp lips as the kiss ends. He smiles and then wheels away from me, plucking a book off his bedside table. “I went book shopping today.” He hands me the Lee Child novel. “It’s one of my favourites.”

I arch an eyebrow.

“I listen to audiobooks, remember?”

“Oh yes. I didn’t mean for you to buy a book to read to me, gorgeous.”

“I wanted to. Besides, you spent a fortune on toys for us to play with, so it was the least I could do.”

“Would you read me a chapter now?”

He glances at the door. “We should go downstairs and spend more time with Mum and Dad. I think they adore you.”

“Hm, I’m not sure.”

Haru rolls his eyes. “You know they do.”

I do, and it’s a good feeling, even if this thing between us can’t last. I raise my finger. “One chapter?” I want to savour every second alone with him. I push the book into his hands.

“Okay.” He grins and sits on his bed.

I join him, lying with my head on his lap. He strokes my hair as he starts to read, his voice soft but animated as the first chapter leaps straight into the action.

CHAPTER17

HARU

I stare at my laptop screen, my hand on the mouse, the cursor hovering over the Send button. Electronic copies of my ‘just for fun’ designs are loaded into the email, along with a brief message:

A short while ago, I applied to work for your company. I thought it would help if you could see some of my designs. I look forward to hearing from you.

My phone buzzes.

Hayley

How’s it going?

Okay. You?

Still looking for work.