Rin tapped his fingers against the opposite side of the desk in the large hotel room. Two weeks had passed since he had assigned Rory the task of reviewing the new novel, and to Rin's surprise, Rory had been very dedicated to the task. "Surely it's not so bad as to have so many notes." He watched as Rory typed out something else, rolling his eyes as he did. Giving in to his frustration, he lurched forward. "Just let me see already."
Rory tugged the computer away. After long consideration, they had opted to have Rory use a laptop as it was easier for him to make the edits and notes he felt needed to be done. "No. If I let you see what I've done before I'm finished, it may alter the results, and I want to give my honest, unaffected responses."
Rin narrowed his eyes. His attention shifted to a deck of cards Sabastian had left on the desk when they had first arrived. "Fine. How about a bet? Straight poker, best out of three. If I win, you let me read what you've written so far. If I lose... though doubtful, I'll be your personal bed buddy all weekend."
Rory pursed his lips, no longer as affected by Rin's taunts. "If that's all you're offering, you already know my answer."
A sly smile curved Rin's lips. "Well, I keep trying to offer the things I'm best at, but you keep turning me down." He narrowed his eyes. "Ok... No bed buddies... How about a few days off after this weekend's con? Is that enough of a pot sweetener?" Rin ran his tongue across the sharp upper teeth of his toothy grin.
Rory's fingers paused over the keys. "Anywhere I want to go? Anything I want to do?"
Rin shrugged. "I'd have to go with you, but yeah, sure..."
Rory narrowed his eyes as they moved back and forth between Rin and the cards. He bit his bottom lip as he considered the possibilities. "Fine..." He huffed as he pushed the laptop aside. "Three games, best two out of three."
Rin's eyes roamed over Rory as he removed the cards from the box and began to shuffle. "Why don't we make it more interesting... Hell, you might even learn something that will surprise you... Why don't we make it strip poker?"
Rory's face turned beet-red as he involuntarily exclaimed. "NO!"
Rin chuckled. "Fine, normal, boring poker it is." Rin dealt the cards and held his gaze from over the spread in his hand. "You first."
They moved in a slow succession of turns, exchanging a few words as they went, until Rory finally laid his cards on the table to declare his win of the hand.
Rin nodded, a sly twist to his lips as he scooped up the discarded cards and shuffled again. This time, the game moved quickly and quietly. Rin's devilish eyes met Rory's anytime he was brave enough to glance up from his hand. "My win." Rin finally broke the tense silence, tossing his cards down before scooping them all up for one final shuffle. "Want to raise the stakes even more? If I win this next hand, you HAVE to share my bed the whole weekend." He nodded toward the two beds and the sofa in the room. "Surely it would be better than spending two nights on that sofa anyway."
Rory bit his lip, his eyes moving from the narrow but long sofa to the two double beds. "Let's just stick to the original bet."
Rin's lips curved mischievously. "Come on, it's one to one. It's either of our games at this point. Besides, sharing a bed doesn't mean we have to fuck. It just means you won't be folded up on that tiny couch."
Rory shot Rin a glare. "Won't Sabastian want to sleep with you?"
Rin shrugged. "Who knows? Being in a city like this, I'd be surprised if he comes back at all tonight. It's why we didn't bother booking two separate rooms."
Rory narrowed his eyes. "Isn't that risky if it's a two-day event?"
Rin shrugged again. "That's why we make sure to book all the shoots later in the evening. I try to do all my signings and talks earlier during the day. You have to be here all day. Dillon and Sabastian... not so much." He cocked his head to the side with a playful grin. "Lucky you, huh?"
Rory rolled his eyes. "Super..."
"You're going..." Rin nodded to the cards. "And don't worry, I don't snore."
Rory's mouth dropped open. "I never agreed to that!"
"Then you better win." Rin chuckled, nodding toward the deck.
The nervous knot in Rory's stomach coiled tighter as he stared down at his hand. There wasn't a single match, and they were nearly a quarter of the way through the deck. Rin had already kept several cards; surely he was close to winning by now. He held his breath as Rin drew another card. Sure enough, Rin placed it into his hand and tossed another card to the pile. Rory's trembling gaze met Rin's, and he knew in that minute he was beaten.
A cat-like grin curved Rin's lips as he slowly lowered his cards to the table and spread them out for Rory to see. "I win, again." Rin leaned back in the chair and clasped his hands behind his head. "I hope you know I prefer to be the big spoon."
Rory blew out a long sigh as he tossed his cards to the table. "Were you even curious about what I've been working on, or was this all a ploy to sleep with me?"
A smirk curved Rin's lips as he sat forward. "Maybe both." He tugged the laptop around and nodded for Rory to come around to his side of the desk. Rin didn't wait for Rory as he scrolled to the first note and began reading.
Rory pulled his legs up against his chest in the small hotel office chair and watched nervously as Rin read through everything he'd written so far. To his surprise, Rin was quiet and didn't comment as he went through the remarks from the first few chapters. Once reaching the end, Rory watched as Rin simply sat back in his chair and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. When the silence became too much, he finally asked. "Well? What did you think? There wasn't much to say about the first chapter, but once the characters met and started interacting... that's when I thought things could be improved."
Rin nodded. "I see. It is an interesting take on things... but..."
Rory frowned. "But..."
Rin pursed his lips. "Well... I'll have to read more of what you've suggested, but I'm wondering how you suggest adding these changes without changing the overall context of the novel."
Rory nodded, fumbling with the cuticles of his thumbs. "I had thought of that, and though I agree it will change the context a bit, I think overall you could keep the exact same story, just give it more depth." Rory dropped his legs to the floor and leaned over Rin to scroll through the document. "See here. Read through the notes on this chapter... and then I think you'll understand what I'm talking about."
Rin glanced over at Rory, studying his profile as he focused on the task at hand. He really is beautiful... almost like a painting with his long blonde lashes framing bright aquamarine eyes. I want to touch him... Rin clenched his hands against the armrest of the chair. He's finally getting close to me without hesitation. I shouldn't fuck it up...
Just then, the door burst open, and Dillon pushed through with Sabastian hot on his heels. His brows arched as he saw Rory leaning so far over Rin's lap, he was nearly sitting in it. "You two finally kiss and make up?"
Rory's head jerked up, and he immediately flung himself away from Rin. His cheeks burned red as he stared up guiltily at Dillon.
Sabastian arched a well-sculpted brow as he sauntered into the room. "Now I'm, too, curious. What are you doing?" He asked in broken English as he made his way around the desk and wrapped his arms around Rin's neck, letting his chin rest on Rin's shoulder.
Rin nodded toward the cards. "I played Rory to let me read his notes. He was answering some questions I had." Rin's focus never left the computer screen as he continued to scan the notes. "It's not bad..." He glanced down at the time. "I'll have to finish going over it later tonight, once we get back."
Sabastian pouted. "But it's our first night here! We should have fun and party!"
Rin shook his head. "It's our first night here, yes. That's exactly why we shouldn't have fun and party. Remember what happened last time?"
Sabastian puckered out his lower lip. "I promise to know my limits."
Rin tugged Sabastian onto his lap. He brushed his thumb over Sabastian's puckered out lip before tugging on it. "Oh, Sab, you wouldn't know your limits if they fell from the sky and landed on your head." Rin smacked the side of his ass. "Now get up and get changed. Do well, and we'll talk about dinner and A DRINK. ONE, SINGULAR!"
Still pouting, Sabastian nodded and hopped up, mumbling under his breath as he went.
Rin's attention moved to Rory. "You've helped Sabastian a few times now. Do you think you can handle things on your own out here?"
Rory nodded.
Rin closed the computer as he pushed away from the desk. "Good. Dillon and I will take the bathroom then. Try having him ready in an hour, hour and a half max."
***
Rory watched in amazement as Rin and Sabastian's characters came to life in front of the growing crowd of the fantasy con they were attending. Rin's novel was one of the main highlights of the event, and at least a hundred people had already gathered around with another thirty minutes before the 'show' was scheduled to begin. It would be a two-parter, first the reenactment of one of the less graphic love scenes, then a photo op. where fans could get their pictures taken with the characters or request certain shots from them.
Rory clasped his chest as he watched the performance. Growing up as he had, he never thought he'd have a chance to see two men be so open about their relationship... let alone have so many people eagerly clapping and encouraging it. He'd become so enamored with the performance that he hadn't noticed Dillon coming up beside him.
"Enjoying it that much?" Dillon leaned in and whispered.
Rory didn't try to hide his fascination. "I would have never expected so many people to support such a thing... and not just other men..."
Dillon nodded. "It's a popular genre."
Rory shook his head with cheerful disbelief. "If you were to tell my parents, they would throw holy water in your face or worse."
Dillon arched a pierced brow. "Why do I feel like that's not a joke?"
"Because it's not... not with them." Rory didn't take his eyes off the stage as he replied. Though the memories of his parents finding out and abandoning him still left bitter aches deep in his chest, they had been covered up and pushed down by much worse traumas over the years, thanks to Mike and his friends. Rory squeezed his shirt front tighter as Rin scooped Sabastian into his arms, causing the robes to swoosh around the stage in an elegant display of flair and passion. "I would give anything to have something like that one day... Just to love out in the open..." Rory whispered wistfully.
Dillon cocked a brow. "What's stopping you?" He reached out and intertwined his fingers with Rory's, a tender smile curving his lips. "Look around, anyone who notices would only grin back at us gleefully."
Rory's smile faded as he tugged his hand free and began fumbling with them nervously. "We're not all as brave... or as untainted..." His eyes moved back to the stage as a frown curved his lips. "Does he really never get harassed for it?"
Dillon snorted out a laugh. "Rin gets harassment for so much shit; who he fucks would be the least of his worries." He shrugged. "You'll understand once you get to know the real Rin." He nodded toward the other area. "Their almost done here. I came over to see if you could help me set up for the shoot."
Rory glanced back toward the stage wistfully before nodding. "Sure, no problem."
Rory watched in silent contemplation as another two hours passed. People kept the booth busy buying prints from the shoots they had done at the house, posed with Rin and Sabastian, and requested poses from their favorite scenes. Rory was surprised to find Rin had even signed copies of the current novel and some of the older novels, along with other merchandise.
The second the last customer left the booth, Sabastian and the girl who had been helping out were already blabbering on about an afterparty the event was hosting. "We have to go! Everyone will be there. Think of the PR!" Sabastian protested as he tugged on Rin's sleeve.
Rin shook his head. "I already told you earlier, I'm looking over the rest of those chapters tonight. Go out if you want, but have your ass back at a reasonable time."
Sabastian clapped his hands as the girl beside him grasped his arm and began to squeal. "Yes!" He turned his attention to Dillon. "What about you? Are you going to be a party pooper, too?"
Dillon exchanged knowing gazes with Rin. When Rin finally rolled his eyes and waved him away. Dillon nodded. "Yeah, I'll go, but expect to come back no later than one." He turned back to Rin. "You good with getting undressed on your own?"
Rin nodded. "Yeah, it's fine. Go on, the faster you leave, the faster you can get back." Rin frowned as he watched Sabastian drag Dillon and the other girl toward the door. "He better not fuck off tonight..."
Rory frowned as he watched. "Are you ok? I mean, with them going... without you? We can always go over the chapters later, you know..."
Rin shook his head. "No, work first, play later..."
Rory glanced from Rin's stormy expression back toward the doors. "You sure you're ok with them going out... um... together... alone?"
Catching his meaning and realizing Rory had misunderstood his irritation, Rin chuckled and walked over. He threw an arm around Rory's shoulder and leaned close, pressing his forehead against Rory's. "If I say I'm sad, will you comfort me? Help me feel better?"
Recognizing Rin's patronizing tone immediately, Rory pushed him away. "I was just asking... I forgot for a minute you had to have a heart for it to ache..."
Rin pinched Rory's childishly thick cheek. "Aren't you cute when you're upset?"
"Stop!" Rory groaned as he shoved Rin's hand away. "If you're done here, why don't you go back to the room and start getting changed and whatever else is involved in all that?" Rory indicated Rin's costume before turning back to the booth. "I'll stay here and set things up for tomorrow."
Rin chuckled, hearing the pout in Rory's voice. "How about you simply close down the register and come up to the room. I'd like to go over the chapters with you as soon as possible. We can set this up in the morning." He walked behind Rory and pinned him between his arms. He bent and whispered against his neck. "Besides, we have the room to ourselves all night. Aren't you curious at all?" He pressed into Rory's tense body, but Rory quickly shot out from under his arms.
Rory clasped his arm with his trembling hand as he backed to the far end of the booth. He avoided Rin's heated gaze. "I'll be up when I'm done with this to work on chapters... and only that..."
Rin snorted with a smirk. "We'll see." He called over his shoulder as he left the booth and sauntered out of the event room.