Pretty Boy (Perfect Boys #1) - K.M. Neuhold Page 0,15
I could remember, but I never told nobody. I figured it didn’t matter either way since I never exactly had people lining up to take me out.”
I lift his hand to my lips, pressing a kiss to his knuckles. Sterling’s eyes go wide, and he gasps quietly, swaying toward me at the small gesture. He’s so starved for touch, it makes my heart hurt for him. I want to wrap him up in my arms and never let him go. I want to make up for every touch he’s ever missed until he can’t even remember a time when he wasn’t lighting up under my caress. My cock aches…no, my whole body aches, to take care of him the way he needs. But I’ll be patient. If I come on too strong, too fast, it’ll scare him away.
I lower his hand, but keep a grasp on it, leading him into the restaurant.
The hostess gives me a friendly smile as we step inside, the expression wavering when her eyes land on Sterling. She stares just a few seconds too long, and he starts to squirm beside me, ducking his head to hide his face. That’s all it takes for the hostess to realize she was staring, but her apologetic smile is too little too late.
Sterling keeps his head down, sticking close to me as she leads us to our table. No one else gives him a second look, but it’s obvious that the hostess’ rudeness was more than enough to make him feel like he didn’t belong here.
I give her a curt nod when we reach the table, and receive another awkward smile in return before she scurries away.
“Maybe this was a mistake,” Sterling says quietly, shuffling his feet and angling himself in the direction we just came from like he’s considering bolting back to my car.
I almost want to march back to the hostess station and let her know exactly how rude she was. But it’s obvious I’ll be much more useful to Sterling right here. Putting my hand under his chin, I gently turn his face toward me. He doesn’t resist, but the way he fidgets is a dead giveaway that he’s nervous that I’ll suddenly decide he isn’t worthy of this date.
Insecurity clouds his pretty blue eyes, his teeth sinking into his bottom lip, making it red and puffy. I tug his lip free with my thumb, holding his gaze as I slowly lean forward. He holds incredibly still, not breathing a single breath or making a sound until my lips press against his cheek where his skin is a shade of purple-ish red. The strangled gasp that he makes sounds like a near sob, and my heart breaks for him all over again. I make myself a silent vow to do everything in my power to show him exactly how he deserves to be cherished.
“If you’re uncomfortable, we can go. Pick any restaurant in the world, and I’ll take you there,” I promise.
He pulls his eyebrows together, his eyes searching mine until a half-smile forms on his lips. “You really would, wouldn’t you?” he asks. “If I told you I wanted to go to some place in Rome or New York, you’d find a way to take me there right now.”
“Say the word.”
“You are…” He bites his bottom lip again, but this time he’s still grinning, the worry in his eyes replaced with what I can only describe as disbelieving awe. “You are somethin’ else,” he concludes.
“So, what will it be? Rome?” I suggest playfully. He chuckles and shakes his head, looking at the table in front of us.
“I think this’ll do,” he decides, reaching to pull out his own chair. I tsk and stop him. He’s going to have to learn that being with me means letting me treat him like the treasure he is.
Once we’re both seated, the waiter arrives with the bottle of wine I requested ahead of time and then tells us he’ll be back shortly for our order.
Sterling opens the menu and, after a few seconds of scanning it, starts to look worried again. I can’t have that. I reach over and coax him to lower the menu.
“Do you have any allergies or foods you absolutely detest?” I ask, and he shakes his head. “Let me order for you? I’ve been here before and have a few favorites.”
I don’t miss the relief that flashes through his expression. “Thank you.”
He reaches for his wine, lifting it to his lips and taking a small