Page 91 of Love Me

‘DT’ are engraved into the cufflinks.

“I know it’s a little late, but it took a few weeks to get these especially made for you,” I tell him.

“These are beautiful, but you shouldn’t have. Whatever you spent on them could be put into your gallery.”

I wave him off. “I used some of my savings, and don’t you dare think about guilting me over buying these for you. If you would’ve told me about the new job at Townsend sooner, I could’ve gotten you something a lot nicer.”

“These are great,” he says, looking me in the eye. “They match my navy blue suit perfectly.”

“That’s the suit I was thinking of when I bought them.” Navy blue is his color. He looks phenomenal in it.

“Okay, that was the first one.” I pluck the cufflinks’ box from his hands and place it on the nightstand. “This is gift number two.” I hold out the second box.

He scrunches his face as he looks from me to the box.

“Don’t ask. Just open.”

He chuckles that deep way that makes my nipples harden as he takes the box from my hand. He opens it, and I watch as his eyes widen.

“What’s this?” He holds up one of the black mixed martial arts gloves.

I take the glove from him and undo the Velcro to slip it onto his hand. “These are the best quality gloves I could find,” I answer at the same time I secure the glove firmly around his hand, making sure it fits.

The look of confusion on his face remains.

“This way when you get into one of your underground fights, you won’t come back to me with bruised knuckles.” I meet his eyes. “Your hands are too pretty for all of that bruising.”

His shoulders slump, and he exhales slowly. “You know.”

I lift on my tiptoes and press a kiss to his lips. “You aren’t the only one in this relationship who can read the other so easily.”

He clears his throat. “I’m so—”

I press a finger to his lips. “If you’re about to apologize, save it. There’s nothing to be sorry about.” I know all about the underground fighting group or club or whatever they call it. My dad was a part of it for years.

“You know …” I draw out as I slowly start to unbutton his shirt that I’m wearing.

A smile spreads on my lips when his eyes light up. His gaze moves slowly over every inch of skin that I reveal with each release of a button.

“You don’t always have to turn to fighting to work out any intense feelings you might have.” I finish unbuttoning the shirt and let it fall to the floor.

Diego’s nostrils flare. He steps closer, his bare chest grazing mine. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying …” I take one of his hands in mine and bring it to cup my neck.

He instantly squeezes but quickly backs off. As if he’s once again working to control himself.

“You don’t have to handle me with kid gloves,” I say just above a whisper.

“I don’t.” His voice is low, as if even he knows he’s not being fully truthful.

“No?”

He shakes his head.

“Then show me.” I hold his hand to my neck, waiting for him to do something.

His body remains completely still; his breathing quickens, though.