"Useless fagot-"
"Useless? I don't think you're useless. Do you think he is?" Mike's harsh voice trailed off into the shadowy recesses of a distant world, a world Rory was quickly learning he no longer belonged in as the two faces that had pulled him from it took shape. Dillon and Rin smiled back at him from a bright oasis atop the clouds. They each extended a hand to him, pulling him up from the heavily shadowed abyss Mike had kept him trapped in for the past several years.
"You're perfect... you're beautiful..." sweet words echoed through Rory's head. Words he never imagined he'd hear from Rin in such sincere tones. Rin... wait... was it all a dream... am I dreaming...?
Rory moaned as he flexed his fingers experimentally against the solid structure it rested atop. When his fingers met light restraint, he furrowed his brows but still refused to open his eyes against the pounding in his head. With another groan, he wiggled but found his body was also being held against an even tighter restraint. He froze when a soft, gentle pattern began to be traced across his back. He jerked upright, breaking the bonds, and forced his aching eyes open. His heart thudded against his chest as he took in the beautifully disheveled devil lying beside him. Sexy, sleep-clouded violet eyes studied him as a lazy smile spread across kiss-swollen lips.
"Morning, Buttercup. How did you sleep?" Rin's raspy sleep-heavy voice purred out the endearing pet name as he slid his hand under the hem of Rory's shirt and began rubbing his lower back.
Rory jerked against the feel of skin on bare skin, realizing too late that he was wearing only his dress shirt. His hands quickly flew to the front, but to his surprise, most of the buttons were already fastened back into place.
Rin couldn't help the chuckle that rumbled through his chest as he watched Rory. It had been so long since he'd seen someone react like this after a night with him... and usually that was for a completely different reason... Rin pushed up, wrapping his arm around Rory's back and tangling the other into Rory's hair, before smashing his mouth against his for a long, drawn-out kiss. When Rory shoved him away, all Rin could do was lie back down with a chuckle. He watched in lighthearted amusement as Rory made himself a makeshift dressing gown from the sheet and scampered from the bed. "I'm starved. What do you say I order room service while you shower first? Then we can work on loading up all this shit?" Rin called out, breaking the silence in the room as Rory busied himself with rummaging through his luggage for fresh clothes.
Rory jerked. Just knowing Rin was watching him sent pins and needles down his spine. "Sure..." He muttered, not risking a glance back at the bed.
Rin's smile widened as he imagined Rory as a wet, scolded cat hunkered in the corner. He shoved the blankets to the side and sauntered over to the desk, where they had left the stack of hotel info. He flipped through the room service menu. "Anything specific you'd like?"
Rory frowned as Rin's voice caused another shiver to run down his spine. "Whatever you want."
A smirk curved Rin's lips as he scooped up the menu and walked over. He crouched down behind Rory, resting his chin on Rory's shoulder. Rin wrapped his arms around his waist, holding the hand with the menu out for Rory to see. "What looks good to you, Buttercup?" He placed a kiss on the bend of Rory's neck as he whispered the question against his skin.
Rory jerked away, falling into his suitcase as the sheet tangled around his legs. His wide, horrified eyes stared up at Rin as words evaded him.
Rin arched a brow as he grabbed his hand and tugged him to his feet. "I'm not going to hurt you, you know. You don't have to act like I'm a damn snake or something."
Rory frowned as he averted his gaze. He clung to the sheet around him. "Are you not? I'm really not sure anymore..."
It was Rin's turn to frown. He caught Rory's forearm and tugged him over to the edge of the bed. Rin sat down and pulled Rory between his legs. "Rory, talk to me. What are you thinking right now? Are you worried about your job? I told you last night... I want to keep you, and I'll find a way to do so."
Rory's frown deepened. "How do I know that's not just a thing you say... A line you've used on every one of them before me." Rory tried to pull away from Rin's grip, but Rin pulled him down onto his lap.
"Look at me, Rory. If that were all I was after, I would have fucked you last night. It wouldn't have taken much convincing on my part, I don't think." When anger flared and Rory tried to pull away once again, Rin caught his face. He stroked Rory's cheek with the pad of his thumb. "But I didn't, did I? I may not be a good person, but I'm not as bad as you think I am... and I genuinely like you, Rory. I truly think your help with this current project will make it a huge success... and I'd like to see what we could do together on future projects as well. And with that being said, if we have the results, I think we will, as a team, my father will pay you double to stay rather than leave. Trust me." He brought Rory's face closer, but instead of kissing him, he pressed his forehead against Rory's. "Please, all I ask is that you trust me."
Rory pulled away slightly and stared down into Rin's pleading violet eyes. He slowly nodded. "Ok... I will... but that doesn't mean last night wasn't a mistake... or that I'll let it continue. I was drunk and made a rash decision. You are a very attractive, charming person... and I let that corrupt my logic and reasoning... let me reiterate... It will not happen again!"
Rin frowned as he tightened his hold around Rory's slim waist. "Rory-"
Rory shook his head as he pried Rin's arms loose. "No, never again."
Rin stood and wrapped his arms around Rory, once again pulling him against him. "Rory, come on, don't be like that. We've just now gotten this close... think what it could do for the story." He ran his hand along Rory's neck and into the hair at the base of Rory's scalp, giving it a light tug to force Rory's gaze up to his. "I don't want to go back to how things were, regardless of how endearing I found my little ice prince before last night... after seeing you melt under my touch, I can never go back... water can never go back to ice..."
Rory frowned as he shook his head. "That's just it... That's exactly what water does. A continued cycle of freezing, thawing, and evaporating into thin air... and here I thought foxes were smart..." He pulled away once again and made his way back to his suitcase. "Order whatever you want. I've suddenly lost my appetite."
Rin furrowed his brows. "I be damned. You forget, I saw you naked last night. Either you order something, or I'll order everything on that damn menu and force you to eat every fucking bit of it."
Rory rolled his eyes. "And now we're back to the hot and cold boss... Ok, sure..." He threw Rin a sarcastic glare from over his shoulder. "Fine, boss, and if I don't eat it? Then what?"
A wicked smirk curved Rin's lips as he stood and walked over, dropping into a crouch behind Rory once again. He tugged him into the crook of his legs. "Then I'll have to bend you over that bed and give you a thrashing like the naughty, disobedient boy you are being." He tugged the sheet free and slapped Rory's bare ass before placing a light peck on his red, burning cheek. "Decide what you want. I'll shower first. I can be finished before you even decide what to wear."
Rory rolled his eyes again. "Fine..." Just then, a ring began to echo through the room. Rory's eyes moved frantically around. "My phone! That's the ringtone I set for your dad!"
Rin pursed his lips as he searched for the clothes Rory had been wearing the night before. Plucking the suit jacket from the floor, he wiggled the phone from the inside pocket and tossed it to Rory. Rin nodded toward the bathroom. "If you need me, you know where I'll be."
"Wait! I thought-" Panic shot across Rory's face as his frantic eyes moved between the ringing phone and Rin.
Rin shrugged. "I trust you." With that, he headed to the bathroom.
Rory swallowed hard, trying to force down the lump and calm his nerves before answering. "Hello?"
"Rory... How are you this morning? I was starting to think you weren't going to answer." Rodric replied probingly.
"Sorry, Sir." What would I say? I was arguing with your son? Trying to find my phone from last night? Busy trying to find clothes right now. None of those replies would have good follow-up explanations, so Rory opted for silence.
Rory could hear a frown in Rodric's voice as he pressed on. "Well, are you still at the hotel? How was the event? Did the dinner wrap up well last night?"
Rory blew out an unsteady breath. "We are still in the room. Rin is showering right now. He wants to have breakfast before we load the car and head back. The fans sent several gifts to the room last night while we were out. As for the event, almost everything sold out. The only thing we have left is a few copies of some of Rin's older books."
"Good, good... And the dinner?"
Rory sat on the sofa. The fabric against his bare ass was not exactly an unpleasant feel, rather an uncomfortable reminder of what he had done the night before, making it even more awkward than usual to speak to Rodric. "Rin seemed well-received... however, we did leave a bit early."
Displeasure was obvious in Rodric's voice now. "And why, may I ask, did you do that?"
Rory swallowed hard. "Be-because Rin has been hyper-focused on the revisions of the new book, sir. It... It's my fault, sir." Rory rushed on. "I... I waited until this weekend to show him the notes that I'd been taking while reading through the story. So, he's only now seeing them and getting a chance to work on it."
Irritation replaced anger as Rodric asked. "And why did you wait until this weekend to show him?"
Rory hesitated as he thought over the best answer. "I... I didn't want to distract him from the current story involved in this event, sir. I thought it would be important to keep his full focus on the current story... And seeing how absorbed he has been all weekend since I showed him the notes... and he's begun making changes, I'm glad I waited, sir... Rin is a very hard worker. He avoided going to several parties, and instead stayed here working long into the night on the revisions-"
Rodric cut him off mid-sentence. "Very well. Keep it up. As long as Rin's focus is on his work and not on other salacious activities, I couldn't care less about the details."
"Thank-" Rory's words trailed off as the phone was hung up. He dropped his phone onto the couch and placed his hands in his palms. He blew out a frustrated groan.
"Got to love his manners," Rin said with a mock laugh from the bathroom door. He leaned against the frame with a towel wrapped around his shoulders and wearing a baggy T-shirt and boxers.
Rory glanced up, let his eyes roam over Rin's wet, messy hair before quickly turning red and burying his face into his hands again.
"You did great. I only caught the rear end of your conversation, but it was perfect... Probably why you were hung up on. My dad doesn't like hearing when I'm obedient. He doesn't trust it... But... He hates even more when I'm causing problems... So... It's a catch 21 really..." Rin shrugged before pushing away from the doorframe. His eyes trailed over Rory. "You didn't gather your clothes while you were on the phone or pick out anything to eat either, did you?"
Rory frowned up at him as he shook his head.
Rin chuckled as he rolled his eyes. "Go get in the shower. Leave the door unlocked." He quickly threw his hands up in surrender. "I promise, I'll behave myself. I'll pick you something to wear and order us some food." An impish smile curved Rin's face. "It's kind of exciting. It's almost like the morning after our honeymoon, no?" He waggled his brows at Rory, but Rory only glared back as he hurled a throw pillow from the sofa toward Rin. "Ok, ok... But still!" Rin clutched the pillow to his chest. "I can definitely use this in the new story... so don't be surprised when you read my take on last night and this morning in the new revisions."
Rory's face turned another three shades of red as he clutched the hem of his shirt and stood. "I... I'm going to shower then... Can you pick something comfortable... it...it's a long drive..."
Rin tossed the pillow onto the bed and came over to Rory. Rin tugged him against him, clasping a hand to the back of his head, and placed a kiss on Rory's forehead. "Of course. Anything for you, Buttercup."
Rory held his breath when he heard the bathroom door open, but true to his word, Rin simply left the clothes he'd picked out on the sink and left. Rory frowned as he emerged from the bathroom dressed in a pair of branded joggers and an oversized tee. He carried the hoodie Rin had paired with the outfit. "Are... are you sure about this? This is yours, isn't it?"
Rin glanced up from the computer he was typing away at. The desk was covered in food he'd ordered from room service, but nothing had been touched yet. A smile curved his lips. "You look cute. I like that style on you... And yes, that is my hoodie." He stood and stalked over to Rory, taking the hoodie and pulling it over Rory's head. His smile widened as the garment swallowed Rory's small frame. "You look adorable." He cupped his face between his hands and kissed the tip of his nose. "Eat. I've packed everything and have it gathered by the door. I'm sending out some emails right now, but as soon as I'm done, I'll join you."
Rory frowned. "Shouldn't that be my job?"
Rin shrugged with a grin. "You could always scoot beside me and help out."
Rory pulled away with a huff but did as he was told. He watched as Rin settled cheerfully into the seat beside him. "What are the emails for?"
"Some of the sponsors from last night want to meet up. There are also other locations not too far away this same event team does that they would like us to attend."
Rory nodded as his gaze moved from the laptop to the assortment of food, and his stomach involuntarily growled. "What here is mine?"
Rin smirked as he glanced up from the computer. "Whatever you'd like."
Rory's brows furrowed, but he didn't question it. He searched the spread until his eyes landed on a plate of pastries. Lifting one, he took a bite into the warm, soft donut-like treat. "Oh wow... it's so good..."
Rin's brows lifted. "Really? Let me try." Rin didn't wait for Rory to retrieve another one; instead, he caught his forearm and brought the pastry to his mouth. "Um... you're right, delectable. Almost as sweet tasting as you, Buttercup."
Rory blazed red as he shoved the pastry toward Rin. "Then you can have this one..." His gaze moved back to the spread. There was a bowl of fresh fruit as well. He plucked a strawberry from the bowl and took a generous bite from it, moaning with pleasure as he did.
Rin pushed the computer to the side as he pulled Rory's chair closer. "Now you're just teasing me... tempting me, because you know I'll not be able to resist the way your lips taste after you've had strawberries."
Rory froze mid-chew, his eyes widening as he read the carnal hunger reflecting in the violet depths staring back at him. "Rin, no-umph..." But it was too late. Rin's mouth was already slamming into his.
Rin forced Rory's lips apart with the probing tip of his tongue as he pinned him against the hotel chair with his own body. Rory whimpered against the assault, giving Rin the access he sought, but before things could go any further, Rin's phone rang this time. Rin licked his lips as he sat back in his seat. He stared hungrily at Rory as he answered his phone. "Rin speaking..."
"Ah, Rin... It's Amanda. Your dad wanted me to let you know about the Young Writers' benefit coming up. He said he spoke with Rory earlier this morning but completely forgot to mention it."
"Alright, whatever, just shoot me over the details."
Amanda hesitated for a minute. "Um... well, you see... the thing is... He's scheduled you to speak at this one. He wants you to do this whole big presentation and whatnot without... Um, actually revealing what it is you... um actually... um do..." Rin could hear the beads of proverbial sweat pouring from Amanda's forehead.
"Alright, Mandy, I get it... Make an encouraging speech to aspiring young writers without mentioning that I write smut, sell pornography photos, and on occasions like this weekend, even provide live performances..."
Amanda gave a nervous laugh. "Um... yeah... basically in a nutshell... You think you can do that?"
Rin chuckled. "Have you met me, Mandy? Have you found anything I haven't been able to do yet?"
Amanda's laugh was more genuine this time. "That I have not. I'll put my undying faith into you, Rin. Good luck!" With that, she hung up.
Rin set his phone down and leaned back in the chair. He rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and the side of his index finger. "Fuck..." His frown deepened when his phone rang again.
"Oh, and I also forgot. Your dad wants you and Rory to personally deliver a copy of the speech to his office no later than the end of next week... I'm sorry, Rin."
Rin blew out a sigh with a growl. "No, it's not your fault, Mandy. He's curious if things between Rory and me have changed... You can tell him we'll be there..."