“Yes.” Reno finally felt his lungs fill with air correctly and tilted forward, putting his forehead on Luka’s shoulder. “They got a photo right when you stepped out. Everyone will know you’re with us, now.”
Luka hummed and then started patting the pockets of his jacket. Reno tilted his head enough to see so he could unsnap the front pocket for him and get a cigarette out. He leaned back just enough to put it between Luka’s lips and sparked a lighter. Luka took in a long drag, and the smell was so strong it almost choked Reno.
With smoke curling around him, caressing the sharp cut of his cheekbones and clouding his typically clear eyes, Luka tiltedhis head back until it rested against the brick wall. He said, “You mean, everyone will know I’m withyou, now.”
“Yes.” Reno held his fingers up for the cigarette and Luka passed it over after a moment of hesitation.
“Thought you’d quit.”
“Thought you were quitting.” Reno took a drag and found the taste miserable. “Doesn’t matter. What will you do?”
“What do you mean?” Luka raised an eyebrow and Reno could see the reflection of the cigarette’s ember in his eyes. “This isn’t up to me.”
“Luka." Reno forgot how the cigarette burned in his lungs as something deeper choked him. “You’re in charge of your life, too. Your response to what happens is your choice.”
“I can’t exactly go back in time and stop them from getting photos of me with your hand on my chest or playing with my hair outside the pub.”
“Wait, what?” Reno blinked several times, trying to catch up. “Someone got a photo of us that night?”
“Sage took care of it.”
“Of course she did.” Reno passed the cigarette back, feeling a bit queasy. “I don’t think she’ll be able to stop this one, though.”
“Reno.”
“Yeah?”
“What will they do to you when they see us together?”
Reno didn’t want to think about that. He answered, anyway. “I’ll be lectured, I’m sure. I’ll be in trouble. I’ve been reckless, and I’ll have to take a verbal beating, then get back to work and move on.”
“So, that's it?” Luka’s voice took on a harder edge. He tapped ash to the side and followed it with his eyes until it hit the pavement. “We just, continue on like this didn’t happen? You get chewed out, nothing changes, and then what? We never go out together in public again? I stay a secret? I go home? What is it?”
“No. I’m okay with being disobedient if it’s for you.”
Luka laughed and it sounded mean. “I dunno about that one.”
“It’s not going to stop me,” Reno promised.
“Can we just go back to your place and figure this out later?” Luka stubbed the cigarette out on the brick wall behind him, even though he’d only smoked half. “I’m at capacity for trying to figure out my life.”
“Yeah.” Reno had never seen Luka like this before, and he couldn’t blame Luka for it at all. “Whatever will make you happy.”
Luka took his time looking at Reno, and whatever he was thinking was a mystery. Luka was a stone wall, the light in his eyes shuttered and his lips a thin, tight line. He put the crumpled cigarette into his front pocket and then reached out to put his fingers to Reno’s throat.
Reno’s pulse rabbited against them.
When a smile crept onto Luka’s face, it took a while for it to reach his eyes. As his hand trailed up Reno’s neck to his lips, it smelled of ash and spice, and something about it felt equal parts enticing and dangerous.
As Luka leaned forward, Reno felt pinned in place. And, when Luka whispered into his ear, he knew the chilly night wasn’t what brought the hair on his arms standing on end.
“You’ll disobey them—but what aboutme?”
Reno shook his head, trying to piece together all the facets of Luka before he lost track of them. “No, never.”
“I don’t believe you—” Luka leaned away, taking his heat with him before he placed a gentle hand against Reno’s shoulder and pushed until Reno stepped back and out of his way. “—You’re too much of abrat.”
“Oh.” Reno stood there, feeling both on edge and delighted as Luka brushed past him out of the alley and back onto the street. “Oh.”
