“I’d give you my name if I could,” Arthur said quietly. “Or take yours. One of yours, maybe not all of them.”
Rory’s smile became a grin, warm and hopeful. He licked his lips again, the butterflies dancing more excitedly in his stomach at what he was about to say. “I’d take a ring.”
Arthur stilled. “You would?”
“Something I could look at on my hand and remember we’re literally part of each other now? You bet.” He shrugged. “I’ll wear the Tempest Ring on the other hand. You can just get me one that controls the sun or something.”
Arthur laughed. He stretched forward, moving closer, into Rory’s space. “Maybe rings will help usbothremember we can rely on each other for help. Or at least remind me I’ve bagged the only man alive who can solve my problems with a tornado.”
Rory huffed a laugh. “Iwillsolve your problems, if you let me,” he promised. “And I’m never gonna let anyone mess with you.”
“Now who’s being overprotective?” Arthur sounded happier and lighter as he crawled over Rory, their bodies not quite touching. “Iamgoing to get us rings. Both of us.”
“Aw geez, you wearing my ring.” Rory hadn’t even thought of that. “Ace, you can’t justsaythat kinda thing like it’s no big deal.”
“You said it first.”
“Yeah, but you’re not the one who gets stupid jealous all the time.”
Arthur hesitated.
Rory’s eyebrows went up. “Something you wanna tell me?”
“Wantto tell you? No, not really,” Arthur said weakly.
“Something yououghtatell me?”
Arthur winced. He raised his eyes toward the ceiling. “You seemed to perhaps despise Sebastian a little less than the others.”
“Sebastian?” Rory leaned back on his elbows, eyebrows still up. “After you chewed me out in that pub for thinking he had eyes for you?”
“I didn’t say I was proud of myself.”
Rory grinned. There were inches between them. His skin ached with the need to touch Arthur, but he waited, not forcing any contact because he’d meant it when he said he’d wait, that he only wanted as much as Arthur was comfortable giving. He’d wait forever, if that’s how long Arthur needed. “You never gotta be jealous, don’t you know that? I’m yours.”
Arthur dipped his head and brought their lips together.
Rory groaned loud enough that the sound probably escaped the open window. His arms ached to wrap around Arthur, but he held himself still, letting him take the lead.
Arthur kissed him, lightly at first, just lips against lips. “I’m in control,” he whispered, as if reassuring himself. “Only me.”
Then he leaned in closer, deepening the kiss and slipping his tongue into Rory’s mouth.
Rory lost his balance then, tumbling on to his back. Arthur chased him down to the bed, their mouths never leaving each other. Arthur’s leg came between Rory’s as he lowered himself on top of him. Rory fought his body’s arch, his arms coming off the bed for a moment before he forced them back down.
Arthur smiled against his mouth. “You want to touch me.”
Rory’s hands flexed uselessly at his sides. “So bad.”
“That’s a shame,” Arthur said, kissing his neck, “because I’m afraid you’re just supposed to lie there.”
Rory groaned again, thudding his head against the pillow. “Are you kidding me?”
“It was yourgreat idea.” Arthur kissed his neck again, stubble electrifying his skin just as his leg ground down.
Pleasure raced through Rory and he couldn’t stop himself from arching up. “I have the worst ideas. Who lets me come up with the ideas?”
Arthur’s hand pulled down the neck of the loose white shirt Rory still wore, revealing collarbones and the hollow of his throat for more kisses. “I enjoy your ideas,” he said raggedly, his voice barely a whisper, and Rory could hear the truth in it. “But is it working for you?”
