Page 29 of True Sight (Nat. 20, #4)

HENRY

I came to the studio to try and distract myself from the utter shame and embarrassment of what happened this morning.

I can’t believe I kissed him like I did.

I mean, what was I thinking? And then when he practically ran out of my flat as if it was on fire, I wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out.

I can’t believe how stupid I acted, thinking he actually likes me in the same way I like him.

Clearly I’ve read the signs all wrong which is why he isn’t taking my calls or replying to my texts.

So here I am, sitting in the upstairs room of the studio trying to plan out next week’s classes since this weekend’s classes have been canceled due to the storm.

The rain had let up enough for me to feel okay heading over here but not much has been done since I locked the front doors behind me.

My laptop is open in front of me as well as the printed schedule I left the last time I was here.

Spotify is pulled up on my computer as I attempt to make a playlist for Monday’s class.

My eyes are glazed over as I stare at the wall, lost in another replay of last night and this morning.

I thought I had read the situation right.

Apparently not.

My final text to him was my last ditch effort to get him to reply.

I can live with the fact that he may not like me in the way I like him.

But I can’t live with the thought of him being uncomfortable because of how I acted.

And while I may have made up every other sign that he was into me, I know for a fact that I didn’t make it up when I felt him lean into me when I kissed him.

I felt it—for the briefest second—how he let himself go and just lived in the moment with me.

As I stare into the abyss, lamenting to myself about how I’ll more than likely need to be searching for a new software developer, a loud knock from downstairs rings out through the empty studio.

I glance out the window and can see it is still raining cats and dogs outside when I hear another knock.

“Who in their right mind?” I sigh, pushing myself up from the floor to head downstairs to see who it is. Looking through the glass front door, I can see them both clear as day. My heart starts to pick up and my breath catches in my throat. Why is he here?

“Is this your new thing, surprising me with your presence while it’s pouring down rain?” I call out, having to speak louder so he can hear me over the sound of water pounding against the pavement.

“I’m sorry for running away.” His words stun me where I stand. He’s squinting at me through the rain and Annie, not waiting to be let in, pulls herself from Conrad’s hand and takes off inside the studio. He and I stay where we are, staring at one another.

“I’m sorry for running away,” he says again, and I can tell he is breathing heavily.

His chest is rising and falling under his jacket as he wipes some rain out of his eyes.

“And I’m sorry for what I said earlier. You were right, I am scared.

Scared of not knowing what it’s like to be with someone like you.

Scared of opening myself up. Scared that I’ll lose you like I’ve lost so many other people in my life.

” He licks his lips and takes a step closer to where I’m leaning against the door, watching him as he speaks.

“But most of all, I’m scared of never knowing what it’s like to do this again. ”

His words come out frantically as he closes the space between us and pulls me into a kiss.

His hand loops itself under the back of my head and pulls me closer, his fingers gripping my hair as if his last breath depends on it.

I press my lips against his as the rain falls, erasing everything else in the world and making it feel like we’re the only two people who exist. When I feel his tongue push against my lips, I open my mouth to let him in and groan at the feeling of it.

I wrap my arms around his shoulders and pull him back inside the doorway to cover us from the downpour.

He’s breathless as he pulls away and I can see his thoughts running around in his head.

Still holding him close, I take my finger and run it down his nose.

“I know you’re scared, but you’re allowed to be scared with me.

I’ll teach you how to be scared and brave all at the same time.

I’m not going anywhere, love, I promise.

” His eyes search mine like he’s searching for an ultimate truth but instead of saying anything, he kisses me again, this time deeper than before.

We stumble backwards a few steps and I manage to swing the door closed before we get too far out of reach.

When we hit a wall, he presses me against it and forces his tongue into my mouth again.

My body reacts wildly as he presses himself against me and I can’t stop myself from getting hard.

When I do, I press my hips against his and can tell I’m not the only one who’s excited.

He’s just as hard and long as I remember from this morning and my fingers itch to feel his cock in them.

With a hand on his waist and our lips clashing together, I slowly bring my other hand to his center.

When the tips of my fingers graze over top of him, he flinches and pulls away.

“I’m sorry, was that too much?” I ask, worried that I’ve gone too far. He blinks quickly and looks down at the space between us before looking back at me. His breath is labored and I can tell he’s searching for the right words.

“It–uhm–it’s just that, I–I’ve never done this before,” he admits, his cheeks turning the faintest shade of pink. “I’ve never been with a–a uhm?—”

“A total bombshell like me?” I tease and give him a wicked smile. He rolls his eyes and looks at me as if he’s annoyed before leaning in and kissing my neck. When he bites it, my eyes roll to the back of my head and a groan escapes from the back of my throat.

“Yes, sweets, a total bombshell like you,” he growls into my ear. I swallow hard and feel my cock grow beneath my shorts. “But also, a man,” he finally says, dropping his eyes to the floor in embarrassment.

I bring my finger to his chin and encourage him to look at me. “How about we take things slow?” I offer and he nods.

“Slow sounds good,” he agrees and I kiss him again because I can’t hold myself back.

We stay like this, pressed against the wall for several long minutes and only stop when we hear the distinct sound of paws padding against the floor heading towards us.

When she reaches us, Annie jumps up and presses her feet into our legs, vying for our attention.

We laugh in unison, looking at the dog before looking back at one another.

“You wanna get out of here?” His smile is lazy but full of desire and hope.

“My place is just down the street. ”

“My car is in the parking lot.”

“Let me go get my stuff from upstairs,” I say and turn away to sprint upstairs, pack my bag, and hurry back down before he changes his mind.

“Hey wait,” he calls out and catches my wrist in his hand.

“What’s wrong?” I ask. He pulls me back into him and kisses me again. He wraps his arm around my back and pushes into me so hard I lean backwards until he pulls me back up.

“I needed one more for the road,” he hums into my lips which pull back into a shy smile. I press a hand into his chest to create some space between us.

“You can have everything you want once we’re home. Now can I please go get my stuff?” The arm he has wrapped around my back falls and he releases me. He waves a hand towards the steps that lead upstairs.

“Go on, hurry up. I’m going to put Annie in the car, we’ll wait outside for you.”

I nod my head and hurry upstairs to collect my things.

Bag in hand, I jog down the steps again and lock the front door of the studio quickly before dipping into the rain and hustling for his car.

When he sees me coming, he jumps out and opens my door for me.

I toss my backpack into the passenger seat but before I get in myself, I bring my hands to his face and kiss him again.

“Sweets, we’re getting soaked,” he mumbles against my lips as I kiss him.

I pull away and smile at him. “Sorry, I needed one more for the road.”

He kisses me again and I finally lower myself into the car and wait for him to join me. When he does, he pulls out of the parking lot and heads for my place at last.

“You know, if you keep coming over soaking wet I’m not going to have any clothes left for myself,” I tease as I strip out of my shirt.

We’d just run inside my flat after the short drive from the studio.

Annie had fought him on letting him dry her off as she was just as soaked as we were but had finally relented long enough so she wasn’t dripping water onto the floor.

The two of us now stand in my bedroom as I search for dry clothes.

“Welcome to the Lowcountry in October. It’ll rain until the end of the year and then just be dreary and cold until spring.”

My eyes glance to where he’s standing and simultaneously freeing himself of his wet clothes.

The temperatures have dropped significantly outside because of the storm.

Between that and being sopping wet from running through the rain, I can feel a chill straight down to my bones.

That is, until I look up again and realize he is in nothing but his briefs.

I can feel myself gawking at him but I can’t help it—for a guy who claims to not like exercise, his body is something to marvel at.

He’s strong and toned but not ripped like some of the scary gym guys you see online toting unhealthy eating habits and pushing people to eat a million grams of protein a day.

I lick my lips at the way his briefs hug him and wish more than anything that I hadn’t offered the whole ‘let’s go slow’ thing back at the studio. Going slow is the last thing I wanted.

I want hard.