Tobias lets out a belly laugh, and it’s so delightful that I swear an angel somewhere got their wings. “You’re hysterical,” he says, his voice smooth and low. It flows over me, warming my insides as the contact with his skin electrifies me. This man is seriously affecting me.
I smirk at him. “That’s top-secret information.”
He continues to trace my tattoo with his finger, and his touch feels so good I’m about ready to die and go to heaven. It’s what Christmas morning would feel like if it were able to caress my skin. I’m hyper-aware of him sitting next to me, holding the back of my hand, and every movement he’s making. It’s quite sensual. Even his breathing is sexy.
“What do I have to do to get that information?” His voice has a teasing tone, but I can sense the underlying question. The one he isn’t asking. The one tentatively probing if I would open up to him. The problem is, I can’t tell him what it means. He wouldn’t let me near Skyler again if I did.
“You don’t want to know what you’d have to do,” I tease. I pull my arm back from him, but I instantly regret it. I want more Christmas caresses, but it would be awkward to change my mind, so I hug my arms to myself and live with my poor decision.
A faint tune comes from somewhere above us, and I look up past the white lights to a bedroom light that’s shining. It sounds like someone playing a guitar. “What’s that?”
“Micah, probably.”
I nod, remembering he’d said he wanted recording equipment. A voice joins in the mix, and I gape at Tobias. “He sings?”
“Yeah. He’s pretty good.”
“Wow.” I shift in my seat trying to hear the song, but I can’t make it out. “I thought he was gaming or something. I didn’t know he was posting songs on YouTube.”
Tobias frowns.
“What?” I nudge him when he doesn’t answer right away.
He stiffens. “I just don’t like him posting stuff on the internet.”
“I’m sure you’ve taught him internet safety, right?” I eye him skeptically.
“Of course.” He sighs. “I just don’t like that he wants to become a YouTuber. That’s so…”
I laugh. “He’s a teenager. All teenagers want to grow up to be YouTubers. It’s normal.” I poke him in his side.
He grabs my hand. “Hey. Don’t do that,” he says in a serious tone, but his grin gives him away.
I admit, I’m glad for more skin contact. “Toby is ticklish. Got it,” I say, logging that away for later.
He chuckles, not letting go of my hand. “Don’t call me that.”
“But it fits you so well,” I say, laughing because that’s the opposite of true. Toby is a hipster who wears skinny jeans and a beanie. I don’t think I’ve seen Tobias wear anything but a whitebutton-up shirt and dress pants. He’s an old soul in a young man’s body.
He laughs with me, and I don’t forget to notice he’s still holding my hand. “If you call me that, I’ll call you Kat.”
“Ooh, way to bring up past mistakes, Toby.”
He finally releases my hand. His smile fades. “You’re different than I expected.”
I look up at him and the world shifts. He’s staring at me quite intently, and I could fall into this cool, grey eyes. “What did you expect?” I ask as my heart beats fast.
He shakes his head, like he doesn’t want to elaborate. “Not you.”
“You’re not what I expected either,” I say, turning it on him. “You actually know how to laugh. But I think your wardrobe needs some help.” I clamp my lips shut, shocked that I said that. We’re getting a bit chummy, but that was uncalled for.
He pushes the swing back, setting it in motion again. “And what would you dress me in, Kitty Kat?”
I groan. “Dear heavens. That was horrible. You’re banned from ever uttering those words again in reference to me.”
He chuckles. “I agree. That was bad. But the question still stands.”
“You’re what, twenty-seven?”
