AllFreeNovel
Share Us
HE DID NOT just say that, Robbie thought, as he stared up at Priest, apparently rendered mute from what he’d just heard.
“Get in, Robert,” Priest said. “Before you freeze to death.”
Robbie found he had just the right amount of liquid courage in him to take hold of the oh shit bar and haul himself up into the front seat. When the door shut behind him and he found himself locked in the small confines with Priest, Robbie smoothed his hands down his jeans and tapped his thumb on his thigh.
He looked around the car, anywhere but at Priest, who just sat there watching him, until finally Robbie blew out a breath and said, “Are you going to talk or just sit there?”
“Just sit here.”
Robbie rolled his eyes and slumped back in the seat. “You’re so weird.” When silence was all that met him, Robbie turned his head on the headrest and looked at Priest. “You’re really just going to sit there?”
“I’m not just sitting here.”
“Looks like it to me.”
“Then you’re not looking close enough.”
“Okay I’ll bite,” Robbie said, and angled his body toward Priest.
“I’ll have to remember that when you’re not drunk. Julien likes a little bit of pain with his pleasure.”
When Robbie realized what he’d said, his face flamed and he saw the side of Priest’s lips twitch. “I didn’t mean that.”
“I know, but now you’re blushing, and I like that.”
Completely thrown by the compliment, Robbie touched his fingers to his cheek and said, “Really?”
But before Priest could answer, the passenger door behind him opened and Julien climbed inside.
“Merde. This cold weather? I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to it.”
As Priest buckled his seatbelt, Robbie dragged his eyes away from him and did the same, then he looked back to where Julien was rubbing his hands together and said, “You won’t. I’ve lived here my whole life and I’m still not used to it.”
“Non?”
“No. You just get really good at layering,” Robbie said as he unwound his scarf. “It’s also a great excuse to buy as many clothes as you can get your hands on. Layers, layers, and more layers, darling.”
When Priest just shook his head, Robbie slid his eyes in their driver’s direction.
“Don’t even pretend like you don’t think about what you wear, Mr. Priestley. That outfit molds to your body like it was designed with you in mind.”
“So nice of you to notice,” Priest said. “Look at us being so cordial to one another. I believe that was an actual compliment.”
Robbie scrunched up his nose and looked back to Julien. “Does he always talk like this?”
“And how’s that, princesse?”
“Like he’s from another planet.”
Julien chuckled, and Robbie saw him raise his eyes to the rearview mirror where Priest was looking. “He just might be.”
“Are you two quite done?” Priest asked. “It’s rude to talk about someone as if they’re not there.”
Robbie started laughing. “Yeah, definitely another planet. Or at least another time.” And because the alcohol was making him more comfortable than he usually would’ve been, Robbie said in his best Priest imitation, “Stop misbehaving, the both of you. Or I’ll send you to your room.”
“Close,” Priest said. “But that wouldn’t be my first choice of punishment.”
“Mine either,” Robbie said, and then he batted his lashes at Priest, the devil in him wanting to come out and play tonight. “But a firm hand can usually keep me in line.”
Julien’s laughter from the back seat had Robbie whipping around to see him shaking his head. “You’re either very brave, mon cher petit, or more drunk than I suspected.”
Robbie merely grinned and leaned his side into the soft leather of the seat, liking the smooth feel of it against his face. He was aware that Priest hadn’t responded to him. In fact, Priest’s jaw was clenched tight as he reached out and turned the stereo on, clearly ready to drown Robbie out.
“Aww, I’m sorry,” Robbie said, and put his hands together under his cheek. “I didn’t hurt your feelings, did I?”
As Priest put the car in drive, he said, “What do you think?”
“Honestly? I’m not sure you even have feelings.”
As Priest drove toward the end of the street, Julien said, “Trust me. He feels many things. And I’m pretty sure he’s feeling some of them right now.”
Robbie looked at Julien, who was back to eyeing his husband in the mirror, and the heat in his eyes made it clear that whatever feeling Julien was referring to, it was a damn good one.
It wasn’t until the car came to a stop at an intersection that Robbie heard what was playing over the speakers, and when he did, he said, “Frank Sinatra? Okay. Are you for real right now?”
Priest flicked on his indicator, and even though he wasn’t looking at him, Robbie saw one of his eyebrows arch from the reflection of the lights.
