With a mouth full of taco I explained, “I missed lunch.”
He furrowed his eyebrows sexily and pointed to the side of my mouth. I raised my hand to my face to inspect my mouth and found a gulp of guacamole there. I tried licking the rest off.
He squinted his eyes in passion and commented, “Interesting how I forgot your tongue is so swift,” with a lecherous smirk.
Focus, Rayna...focus!
To change the subject I quickly blurted, “Where's your friend?” He looked confused.
“Oh, yes! Your new pal as well. He’s waiting in the car. I just wanted to make sure you were prepared before bringing him in.” and with that he does a beeline back out of the door.
Weird. He asked me to be prepared but he wanted to make sure I was prepared? I went back in the kitchen to fetch another taco. God...I was famished.
When I turned to go back into the living room, I see Azmir standing tall in the thruway. He startled me. But the brown fury dog he cradled in his arm caught my attention as well.
“Oh, wow! What is this?”
Azmir wore the biggest smile, “He's a Pomeranian. Eight weeks old.” He beamed with excitement.
I placed my taco back on the table, wiped my hands and walked over to him and the pooch.
“He's beautiful, Azmir. I didn't know you were fond of animals.” I went to pet the dog.
“I've been told they make great companions. I got him for you.” He gave me the deepest gaze.
Oh, this man knows how to appeal to my libido without effort. Back to the pooch, Rayna!
“For me?” I repeated in hopes of gaining understanding.
“Yeah. You’re here by yourself and I don't want you alone. I thought our pal here could serve as the man of the house.” There was that deep gaze again.
I played with the dog as I tried collecting my thoughts. Azmir was so thoughtful. It was something I hadn’t learned to get used to.
“Man of the house?” I asked before leveling with his eyes again.
I grabbed the Pomeranian and retreated to the living room placing him on the floor so that I can further inspect him. Azmir's intense stare was burning a hole in the back of my blouse. I could tell he was up to something. Seconds later, I focused in on the beautiful Gucci collar with a case on the pooch. It was conspicuously too large to be on a dog that could be no more than five lbs.
With narrowed eyebrows I asked Azmir, “May I?”
He nodded, granting permission.
I opened it and a large gold skeleton key fell out. I caught it and examined it. I didn't get it. My head shot up to Azmir who wore a stoic expression when he muttered, “Come move in with me.”
I lost my breath.
“Move in...with you?” I whispered.
I couldn't wrap my brain around the concept. It was too huge of a request. His head leaned to the side and exposed his long eyelashes. He was expressing vulnerability. Shit! I didn't want to find myself in a position of disappointing Azmir. He'd been such a rock to me over the past few days. I needed time to process this.
“Azmir” I started while looking around my humble home. “...I just bought this place. I'm just getting comfortable here. I can't just up and leave as if I were renting.”
“You don't have to up and sell it,” he said while squatting on the floor next to me and the Pom. “You can rent it out or use it as a second home to get away from me when I drive you crazy...though I don't endeavor to ever do such a thing.” He scrunched his eyebrows, nose and lips gesturing he was at a loss with the idea of him driving me crazy.
I took a deep breath. “Azmir, you can't just pop this on me with no rhyme or reason. I...” I was at a loss of words. He lifted me onto his lap after he sat flat on the floor.
“We can easily be two ships passing in the night. We work next door to each other a few days a week, but that's not enough. Now that you won't be as busy as you once were considering your former obligations to Michelle, I find myself wanting to be with you more and more. I hate the thought of you being here alone.” He paused.