Page 108 of The Spellreader and the Phoenix

“There are so many other things we could be doing,” Rory assured him easily. “Remember, the penguin transformation is still on the table.”

Max couldn’t help but smile, even though the thickness in his throat was maybe another emotion trying to get out.

He blew out a breath and admitted quietly, “I feel like I’m ruining the mood—and I’ve never wanted the mood as much as I want it with you.”

“We’re not in any rush,” Rory assured him. “Brains and bodies are complex, and they don’t always agree with one another.”

“I don’t think I’m worried about being with you,” Max offered. “I think I’m remembering being worried from before.”

“That’s how we learn,” Rory agreed. “We take past experiences and map them onto future events to try to figure out what’s safe and what will make us happy. It can take time to wrap your brain around a significant change in that regard.”

Max sighed deeply. He appreciated the understanding, really he did, but he still felt like a bit of a failure. He reminded himself that Rory had been accepting from the start, and he’d been very clear about how they both needed to want this.

Bonding probably wouldn’t go well if one person was anxious. He licked his lips. “Do you think we could make out in bed for a bit and then maybe call it a night?”

Rory grinned at him, like Max had just made the best suggestion ever.

“Of course we can. Shall I put my underwear back on?”

Max didn’t say anything, but his expression apparently gave him away, because Rory stepped back to grab his briefs and tug them up. It was one scrap of fabric, really, but it somehow felt like a lot more.

And then Rory leaped onto the bed, making Max laugh again even as he climbed into it altogether more prosaically. They got settled under the covers, and then Rory slid closer, near enough to touch but not quite touching, because he was waiting for Max, of course. Max tugged him into his arms, and Rory settled on top of him. They moved at the same time, coming in for a kiss, and Max found himself relaxing into it even as it fired up his blood.

It wasn’t often that Max was faced with this much naked skin, but Rory’s warmth—literally and figurative—made an answering heat leap up in Max. He wasn’t sure how one person could embody safe, heat, arousal, comfort, and yet somehow, Rory did. It didn’t feel contradictory, either. Instead, it was everything Max had never known he wanted.

Max was soon lifting his hips up, trying to chase the friction as Rory ground down on him. Their bodies were slick with sweat, and Max could honestly say he’d never been this turned on before.

“Will you fuck me?” Max asked.

“Do you have lube?”

Max’s thoughts ground to a halt, and he froze. “Uh… maybe? Does lube expire?”

There was a second of silence, and then Rory burst into laughter. Max followed a moment later, unable to believe that he’d ruined the moment yet again, only it seemed to be okay.

Rory’s face was bright with amusement and fondness as he looked down at Max. “I think maybe we should pick up some lube we’re sure is safe before we put it in any of the places we’re planning to put it.”

Max snorted. “Yeah, the last thing this needs is a trip to the ER for an awkward rash.”

“Want to cuddle, and we can raincheck this again?” Rory asked.

Although the stubborn part of Max wanted to insist that they proceed, he recognized, reluctantly, when he was beaten. Rory would never agree to something that might make Max uncomfortable or hurt him.

“Fine,” he grumbled. “But we’re doing this! I swear.”

Laughing softly, Rory shifted off him and curled up against his side. “We’ll get there. When we’re ready.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Rory

Tuesday and Wednesday, Max worked almost exclusively in the back room, finding spells for witches that had piled up while Rory had been a phoenix and Max had spent most of his time in the front or worrying about Rory. (He’d never said that was what he’d been doing, of course, but Rory had been there, and he’d noticed the general lack of productivity.)

They had a spicy curry for dinner that made Rory hum with satisfaction with each fiery bite. And then after dinner, Max grinned at him. There was something particularly mischievous or almost… coy about this smile.

“Want to see what I learned today?” Max asked.

Rory smiled back. “Of course.”