Page 36 of Knot His Beast
He’s clearly out of his element with me, and I love it. I want to see his blushes, the blank stares when I surprise him, and to hear him grumble. I want it all.
“Food and an errand is a date,” I say. At his confused glance, I shrug. “I don’t make the rules, Love Bug. Pick up the pace. I have long legs.”
I will walk slower for him, but he doesn’t need to know that. I really want him to move in general so he doesn’t decide to make a break for it and return to his too clean apartment.
“You’re so much work,” he says, a smile tugging a little harder at his lips.
“I am a true drama king,” I agree as he walks with me. “I shall insist on being paid homage to with sarcasm and makeout sessions.”
“Slow your roll there, cowboy.”
“Are you saying you’ve done your research too?” I ask.
“You mean the well worn boots and the country music aren’t a dead giveaway?”
“Cute. I’m a little concerned you have my full name and you haven’t cyber stalked me yet,” I say, clutching my shirt over my heart. “What does a man have to do to be noticed?”
“I notice you,” he says softly, and that’s enough.
The walk to the repair store is companionably quiet, and Octavian watches as my guitar is fixed. He makes slight grunts as he nearly glares at the repair man, but thankfully the old man ignores him.
“You came in at a really good time, sir,” he says. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it snapped the next time you played.”
“Hmm. Hear that, Tav? You saved my life.”
The repair man chuckles under his breath before ringing me up and returning the guitar to the case.
“I hear there’s a place with really good cookies. Is that true?” I ask.
Tav’s cheeks burn with a blush, and I grin because it only enhances how sexy he is.
“You heard right,” the man says. “It’s just a block away.”
“Lead away, Tav.”
Saying goodbye, we make our way to get cookies, and I have to admit they’re really fucking good. Tav frowns at me when a crumb falls into my beard. I pretend I don’t notice as I continue to eat, and his hand reaches out to remove it.
Catching his hand, I kiss his fingertips before thanking him.
“‘My beard is a crumb catcher,” I smirk. “This won’t be the first time you have to save me from something getting stuck in it.”
“Why don’t you shave it?” Octavian says as his breath hitches.
Rather, I think it’s more of a rasp because the oxygen is disappearing from his lungs. I’m quite enjoying blowing his mind.
“Do you want me to?” I ask, nipping his fingertips before releasing him.
Tav surprises me by clearing his throat, then glancing at his fingers. At first I worry I may have gotten spit on them, but he covers the slight confusion written on his face by taking a bite of his cookie.
I got a strawberry and white chocolate chip cookie, while Tav chose a chocolate chip one. Both are clearly superior choices. There’s no such thing as a bad fucking cookie unless it’s a burned batch.
We’re sitting in a corner of the bakery, and I can actually see as Tav tries to organize his thoughts.
“Somehow, the beard suits you,” he confesses with a nod. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to save you from all of your crumb incidents, though.”
“Hmm. I’ll settle for some of them then.”
It feels as if we just took an important step, even if I don’t completely understand it.
