“—and I’ll find another job, I will,” said Rory, as if he was still trying to convince himself. “But Ace, you being here for me—you don’t know how much that means.”
He arched up to press their bodies together, and desire barreled through Arthur. He pressed Rory back down into the bed, their bodies aligning through the borrowed dressing gown that was suddenly far too thick a barrier.
Rory arched up again for more friction, and pleasure sparked over Arthur. “I am here,” he said, kissing Rory’s neck. “Maybe one day that won’t surprise you anymore.”
Rory shivered under him.
The dressing gown’s fasteners had come loose, falling off his shoulder. Arthur slid his hand into the half-open robe that looked so much better on Rory and found nothing but warm skin.
“Christ,” he whispered, his hand caressing Rory’s side, his hip, sliding across his stomach and feeling muscle flex and quiver. “You had nothing under this the entire time?”
“Borrowed your robe but also your shower. And your coffee, and your phone, and your bed.” Rory was breathing hard as his head tipped back. “I’m about to borrow your dick, hope that’s copacetic.”
Arthur half laughed in surprise. “Everything’s yours,” he said, a little more raw than he’d meant to. He covered the emotion with another kiss—and abruptly realized why it was so sweet.
He pulled back. “Did you by chance borrow some chocolates this morning?”
Rory went slightly pink, but he only blinked long lashes. “What chocolates?”
Arthur narrowed his eyes. “The French chocolates from Montreal that were hidden in my trunk.”
“Ohthose,” Rory said innocently. “No, I didn’t borrow those, you said those were mine.”
Arthur deliberately slid his hand lower, cupping Rory’s ass and drawing an eager shudder. “Those were supposed to be asurprise.”
“I was supposed to be surprised when you told me about them in the cab last night?” Rory shifted closer, his cheeks darker and his eyes bright.
“And I’m certain that trunk was locked.”
“With a combination lock, Ace, you might as well have made a sign that saidTeddy, help yourself.”
“You absolute shit.” Arthur bent to lightly bite at Rory’s neck. “You do realize it’s not too late for a birthday spanking.”
Rory took an audible breath as goose bumps broke out under Arthur’s teeth. “You offering?”
“I’mthreatening.”
Rory squirmed helplessly against him, sending anticipation ricocheting through Arthur. “You might as well get used to me stealing your stuff,” Rory said, his bravado only a little shaky. “I don’t have a job anymore. You’re gonna have to give me everything now.”
“Do you promise?” Arthur whispered, fitting himself between Rory’s legs and losing himself in his kiss.
Chapter Seven
It was one of the best weeks Arthur could recall having in Manhattan. They kept up the nephewfacade for the doormen and it felt safe enough, because it wasn’t as if anyone actually related to Arthur would ever venture into his neighborhood—no matter how luxurious his building, his family remained appalled that he chose to live on the Upper West Side instead of Fifth Avenue.
Rory still seemed a little shy, like he didn’t want to assume he was welcome forever. But he was there, in Arthur’s flat—and also in the Magnolia most nights, because as it turned out, a psychometric did make an excellent bootlegger, especially one who could fill in as a waiter when needed.
Jade called on Saturday, asking them to come to the Dragon House for dinner. By the time he and Rory made it to Chinatown, Jade was already there, along with Sasha and Pavel.
Zhang and Ling joined them, and instead of meeting in the library downstairs, they gathered in the private room, around the big circular table with the lazy Susan in the middle to spin platters of chicken chow mein, beef with vegetables, and roast duck around the table.
Arthur surreptitiously pulled the steamer basket full of barbecue pork buns off the lazy Susan and set it next to his own plate. He glanced at Rory, who looked happy in an oddly quiet sort of way. “All right there?” he asked curiously.
“I saw this room, last time I was here.” Rory shrugged, looking a little embarrassed. “Just never thought I’d have people to sit with at a table like this.”
Arthur’s own family would have filled three tables this size and he would have been dying to escape. He pushed the steamer basket toward Rory. “I can share.”
“You’re supposed to share with the whole table,” Rory said, but helped himself to a bun.
