Tetris in Red

33: Tetris in a Scope

I refuse to look at him. "Hmm?"

"Rhys." He cups my chin, lifting it, but my eyes remain low. "What's wrong?" he asks softly.

I finally gaze up at him. There is no anger in there, only gentleness. I hate that I'm too soft when it comes to him. "Nothing—" I begin to say but think better of it. "You understand, right? You're not mad at me?"

Alec

I study a very somber Rhys in front of me. Her eyes are soft and watery as she gazes up at me under her lashes. Her lips swollen from all my kisses, a blush tainting her freckled-cheeks.

I've never seen her this vulnerable.

Rhys on a normal day is snappy, holds her head up high and has this wall so tall and sturdy you'll never guess what she's thinking. The Rhys with me right now is exactly the opposite. Been like that all day.

Her usually frowning or one-brow-up eyebrows were relaxed, her eyes had crinkled in the corners, and her lips had never lifted in a full-blown smile as often as they did today that it has actually blown me away. And now, now Rhys is showing me her side that is eager to please and so open and so soft that my chest aches. Because I know as much as everyone who ever came across this woman that this is the Rhys she tried so hard to cover up.

I don't know what I did to deserve this, but this, right here before me, is something I'd treasure forever.

I subconsciously rub the place over my heart as I give Rhys a reassuring smile. "I'm not mad, love. Slightly frustrated, yes. But it's a knee-jerk reaction than anything. I'll never be mad at you for denying me something like that."

I had realized it was too soon before I climbed over her. But she was a tease even without trying to. Telling me she was a Go-go dancer had me thinking all the ways she could give me a show. I couldn't get it out of my head. I wanted her. After today, I wanted everything.

When I felt her suddenly tensing under me, I knew she's realizing the same thing. I had promised to woo her and wow, look at me doing the exact opposite. The thought had me mentally cringing. This woman had shaken my mind ever since she waltzed into it. I need to learn how to gain more control.

"Stop thinking," I gently scold when a very much unmistakeable sad sigh leaves her. "I don't want you to think it's all I want from you. I hope you know that. But this is not me promising it won't happen again. Because it would. At your own time."

She sniffs. I kiss her nose. "You said you're going to woo me, but you kissed my inner thighs on the first date. That doesn't sound like wooing now, does it?"

I chuckle. "I did say sorry, didn't I? I'll still woo you as promised, love. I'll try to summon more self-control next time."

I hear that laugh again. That laugh that almost always brings me to my knees every time I hear it. "Okay. Head's up, in case I haven't told you, I don't like flowers and chocolates. Allergic."

"It's beginning to sound like you're allergic to everything."

She giggles. So fucking sweet. "No, silly. I just don't like it at all. Chocolates are too sweet and flowers wither. My mom said everything you give to your date should mean something that will last. I'm not the sweetest person and I don't want us to wither as quickly as flowers, you know." Her voice had slowly lowered until it was nothing but a whisper at the end. She clears her throat. "Not that I'm expecting anything from this. I want us to have fun. But I want it to work, too." Then she adds shyly, "Though, if you feel like giving me flowers, that's okay, I guess."

It almost feels like I'm listening to a different person. My hands are so full. "Rhys," I call out quietly. "I also want us to work. Rest assured there will be no flowers." I give her a wink before placing an arm on her shoulder. "It's almost midnight. Let's get you to bed—"

Crash!

We both turn to the direction of the sound of glass breaking. Before one of us can react, the front door suddenly bursts open and an angry Holland comes into view. His hair is damp and framing his face as if he's only finished showering and came straight here. He scans the room before landing to us, zeroing on my arm on Rhys' shoulder.

I begin to ask what he's doing here, but Holland beat me to it with an edge to his tone.

"Greenlight."

There's a problem we need to sit down and deal with. Immediately.

My whole body freezes.

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oopsie hehe. are we going too slow? but there are (—) chapters left.... 👉👈🥺