Clarity - Nicole Dykes Page 0,55

of them could be bothered with getting to know me or where the kids were spending their time.

Which infuriated me and sent a little relief through me at the same time because if they don’t care, then Bree can still have her best friends in her life.

It’s late when Rhys gets home, and the kids are already settled in the living room. I imagine he gave them a once-over before he came upstairs. I’m sitting on my bed, rubbing lotion over my elbows when he walks in.

“Hey.” He looks tired. I know he’s working his ass off at the shop to make sure the numbers look good for the hearing.

“Hi.” His eyes soak me in, and I crawl toward him on the bed, shamelessly dressed in a lacey black teddy so sheer I know my nipples peek through.

“You could just wait for me totally naked.” He approaches me slowly, and I wait for him to insult me or pull back, but what comes next is only his smooth, husky voice. “But this works too.”

Again, I feel the caress of his gaze over my body, and I’m on fire with the anticipation as he sits down on the edge of the bed, not undressing.

I start to pout until he pulls a black box from his jacket pocket. “It’s not much.”

I sit up next to him, tucking my legs underneath me as he hands it to me. “You really got me a ring?”

I thought he was fucking with me or that he’d forget. I open the box, and a gasp falls from my lips when I see the beautiful wedding band. It’s rose gold with small diamonds along it, with a dusty rose-colored jewel in the middle. “Rhys.”

He rubs the back of his neck nervously, his eyes cast downward. “I know it’s not a huge diamond. I guess it’s morganite or something. But I don’t know, it reminded me of a rose. And then the band was rose gold.”

I want to kiss him. I stop myself, but God I want to. A tear slides down my cheek, one I curse because I hate crying. “You bought me a rose wedding ring.”

He shrugs his large shoulders, still looking away. “I don’t know why. I can take it back. I have the receipt.”

I pull it out of the box and slip it over my ring finger. “Don’t you fucking dare. Rhys, look at me.”

He turns, his eyes meeting mine. “I love it. It’s . . .” I sigh, looking down at the ring he took time to think about, the beautiful ring that symbolizes the tattoo he gave me. “Perfect. It’s perfect, Rhys.”

He smiles slightly at that. “Yeah?”

I nod my head and pry my eyes off the ring to look up at him. “Thank you.”

He looks uncomfortable as he shrugs out of his jacket. “You’re welcome.”

I think about the band I ordered for him and smile to myself. “Yours should be here soon.”

He nods his head, peeling his shirt off, his eyes moving from the ring on my finger to my teddy. “Okay.”

I can feel his desire for me as I place the box on the bed and edge a little closer to him. “Are the kids watching a movie?”

He nods his head, standing up and popping the button of his jeans open. “Yeah. I made sure the sleeping bags were all appropriately apart.”

I laugh. “I’m surprised you didn’t measure the distance.”

He pushes his jeans down, and my eyes travel over his naked body, going straight to his dick that’s hard and standing at attention. Ready for me. “I thought about it.”

He kicks his jeans off and rejoins me on the bed. I want to climb onto his lap, kiss him, and let him sink deep inside of me, but I know that’s not what’s in store for the night. I wait for him to take the lead. Something that’s always been difficult for me.

“No question tonight?”

A stupid one comes to the forefront of my mind as I'm examining his package, and when his eyes meet mine, I know they gave me away.

“Go ahead.”

I don’t waste time asking because it’s Rhys, neither of us really back down. “Why can’t I say that you have a big dick? Most guys beg me to tell them how big they are even when it’s an obvious lie.” My eyes dart down to shamelessly ogle him. “Which with you, it’s not.”

He lets out a heavy sigh. “She used to tell me that. A lot.” My gaze lifts back