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Marc pushed back from the table and walked to Thorne, tears shining in his eyes. Riley had given up all pretense of not crying. He wiped at his eyes as his best friend and his husband—yes, they were actually married—hugged each other.
When they were seated once more, Thorne signaled the waiter to bring the appetizers.
They talked. They ate. They ate some more. Riley knew the food was amazing, but he barely tasted it. He had too much adrenaline and wine racing through him. The world had gone fuzzy around the edges, and every time he looked at Thorne he got a little hornier and a little closer to saying it was time to go back to the hotel.
Thorne was talking with Kathryn, and Riley watched them with what was likely a very goofy grin on his face.
Enough of that.
He had all the time in the world to stare at Thorne. He made himself look away. Across the table, Marc and Darius were talking about favorite movies, but there was a lot more being said between them in the looks they gave each other. While Marc talked, Darius stared at him like he was a sparkling fountain and Darius had just made a trek across the desert. Susan shared her favorite films next, and Marc kept stealing glances at Darius, blatantly checking him out, looking like he’d do anything just for a taste. Riley wanted to lock them both in a hotel room until they got things settled between them.
Eventually, Darius looked at Marc, really looked at him. Lauren stopped speaking midsentence. She and Susan clearly saw what Riley did.
“I think maybe the happy couple would like some time alone,” Darius said, glancing over at Thorne.
Thorne nodded, and Darius pushed back from the table and held his hand out to Marc. “Are you ready to get out of here?”
Marc stood, his gaze never leaving Darius, not even to acknowledge Thorne and Riley.
“Are you kicking us out?” Kathryn asked.
“Ever direct, aren’t you, dear sister?” Thorne studied Riley so long that Riley’s cheeks heated. “I think I better. I’m not sure he can wait to be alone much longer.”
“Me?” Riley scoffed. “You’re the one who thought we might get away with it at the park.”
“That was a joke.”
“Or the bathroom here.”
Thorne put on a look of mock offense. “I never said that.”
“You thought it.”
Thorne narrowed his eyes. “Bastard.”
“Enough,” Kathryn declared. “I don’t need to think about the two of you like that any more.”
There was another round of hugging. Marc even broke away from Darius to participate. Susan, Lauren, and Kathryn made it clear just how much they’d enjoyed meeting Darius and said they hoped to see him again. Then Kathryn directed everyone’s dispersal.
Thorne took Riley’s hand, and they practically ran for the exit.
***
Back at the hotel Thorne and Riley stood gazing out at the city. Riley ran his hand up and down Thorne’s back, and Thorne turned to him and smiled. They’d slipped out of their coats, ties, and much too tight dress shoes, but as eager as they’d been to fall into bed when they left the restaurant, they both seemed ready to take things slow now.
“I haven’t been anxious like this since the first day you showed up at my apartment,” Thorne said.
“At least you’re not trying to act cool and superior to make up for it.”
Thorne leaned in for a gentle kiss. “What would be the point? You’d see through it in a second.”
“I did then too.”
Thorne rolled his eyes. “Of course you did.”
“I liked that I had you flustered, but you were trying not to show it, and that arrogance… Fuck, I think you know by now it was a hell of a turn-on for me.”
“Why am I feeling nervous now?” Thorne asked. “You married me, but—”
“This whole day has been like a dream, and now… Isn’t this supposed to be incredibly special, our first sex as a married couple?”
Thorne took Riley by the shoulder. “That’s way too much pressure. It’s supposed to be exactly what we want.”
Riley looked at Thorne, parted his lips, and then licked them. “What do you want, Thorne?”
“I want…” He slid his hands into Riley’s hair and held him still while he kissed him thoroughly, not rough, but firmly enough to let him know just how much need Thorne was holding back. “I want you to fuck me, slow and sweet until we lose our minds and go at each other like savages.”
Riley smiled. “That sounds perfect, simple, the way we started. We have two weeks for more elaborate games, and I brought a few things we might like to try.”
“If you’d rather—”
“No! I’ve been so uncertain today, and this will feel just right.”
“Come here, Riley.” Thorne pulled him close and kissed him again. “Fantasy is good,”—Thorne’s words vibrated against Riley’s lips—“but reality is better, at least when I’m with you.”
