Rin chuckled from the bed as he lay spread out, the computer propped up beside him. "You know, I'm not going to bite, right?" Rin moved his attention back to the screen. "I really do like the suggestions on this part. Why don't you come up here and better explain them?"
Rory bit his bottom lip as he continued to pick at the cuticles of his thumbs. Rin had changed into loose-fitting sweats and a T-shirt. His wet hair was brushed back with his fingers, causing the sharp curve of his jawline to show more. There was no denying Rin was a work of art, the perfect balance between masculine and feminine traits. From some angles, it was hard for Rory to believe it was a real person.
"Rory? Earth to Rory... Are you even listening?"
Rory jerked his attention back to Rin's mouth and the words coming out of it. "Sorry... what were you saying?"
Rin chuckled. "I was saying to stop huddling in a corner on the couch and get over here. I'd like to know your exact thought process as I go through these."
Rory hesitated as he uncurled his legs. "I... I don't know."
Rin leaned back on his elbow, the imprint of what seemed to be well-sculpted pecs protruding through the thick fabric of the tee. He cocked his head to the side, a wickedly charming smile curving his lips, "What, afraid you won't be able to withstand my charm while we're alone?"
Rory swallowed hard as he slowly lowered one foot and then the other to the floor. "No... It's not that I don't trust myself... It's that I don't trust you..."
Rin's grin widened. "I'm not into rape. I'll not force you to do anything you don't want... but if you end up begging... well, that can't be helped, can it?"
Rory's movements froze, and he slid back onto the sofa. "I'll just stay here..."
Rin burst out into laughter. "I'm teasing, come here while I'm still asking nicely." Rin watched as Rory cautiously made his way over to the bed. "You know, I have to admit two weeks ago I was ready to rip your head off over all this... but your ideas have really grown on me..." Rin tilted his head as he studied Rory. "You're not so bad yourself. You're a harder worker than I expected. As much as your take no shit attitude has been a pain in my ass, it's also been refreshing. I also expected you to kiss ass more than you do, but you don't seem to bother too much with my father or myself... that's also refreshing in its own way."
It was Rory's turn to cock a brow as he slid timidly onto the edge of the bed. "Are... those supposed to be compliments? I never know with you. You're always so hot and cold."
"Ha..." Rin snorted. "I deserve that... No... I guess you're not wrong." Rin turned his attention to the computer. "I thought about the changes you suggested, but I'm not quite seeing the vision you have for it." Rin's hooded eyes met Rory's. "Maybe you can demonstrate what you meant."
Rory jerked back. "Rin, I told you..." He turned away, his cheeks growing hot.
Rin pushed the computer out of the way and slid toward Rory. He cupped his cheek gently and turned his face to meet him. Rin's eyes searched his earnestly as he cradled him between his long legs. "I'm not asking you for something more than help with this book. I honestly don't understand what you're asking for. Is it something like this? Soft, gentle? Is this what would win the MC's heart?"
Rory jerked his reddening face free and turned away from Rin's probing gaze. "Yeah... like that..."
Rin slid in behind Rory and wrapped his arms around Rory's waist. "And this..." He whispered, resting his head on Rory's shoulder.
"What are you doing?" Rory muttered uncomfortably, stiff in Rin's arms.
"This was what you suggested. I'm testing it out. Does it make things more romantic?" When Rory tried to pull away, Rin tightened his hold. "I'm a writer, Rory. I write what I know... what I feel. Help me feel it. Sabastian helps me feel the raw, carnal passion I write about... teach me romance." Rin cupped Rory's face once again and turned it to face him, but Rory quickly pulled away.
Jumping from the bed, Rory wrapped his arms around himself. "I can't teach you romance, Rin... It's not something that can be taught or emulated. You have to feel it... have to want to feel it..." He walked over to the door and the small closet there.
"What are you doing?" Rin asked, alarm in his voice.
Rory blew out a huffed sigh as he tugged his jacket from the hanger. "I'm going for a walk. I can't be in this room alone with you. Not right now."
Rin ran a hand through his damp hair. "Fine... but you can't go out there alone either. It's late, and half the city is drunk by now." Rin pushed off the bed and ambled over to the closet. He hastily slipped on a pair of sneakers, not bothering to lace them up, and tossed on an oversized hoodie. "I'll go with you."
Rory rolled his eyes. "I think you're missing the point. I'm trying to get away from you... not find a new and probably more invasive way to spend time with you."
Rin ran his hand through his hair again. "I'm sorry about what I did, ok..."
Rory stopped him immediately. "Really? Are you though?"
A cheeky grin spread across Rin's face, his hand still in his hair, giving him an even more rakish vibe. "Well, not if it had worked..."
Rory spun on his heels and headed for the door. "That's what I thought." He bit out as he moved to open the door.
Rin clasped his hand over Rory's, stopping him from turning the knob. "For the book, for your job... Just for tonight, let's play the parts the way you see them. Show me what you want, how you see romance."
Rory blew out another heavy sigh. There was that word again that Rin loved hanging over his head... 'job'. God, how he'd grown to despise the word. He now envied anyone with loving parents to run to, supportive friends, significant others who weren't complete psychopaths... anyone who wasn't so reliant on a singular word 'job'. How he'd love nothing more than to tell Rin to shove this 'job' right up his ass and rotate on it, and once he was finished, to promptly remove it from his own ass and apply it sideways up his father and soon-to-be stepmother's ass with vigor.
So far, dealing with Bethany had been no better than dealing with your stereotypical mean-girl cheerleader who had peaked in high school but had yet to get the memo more than 30 years later. While Rodric was a power-hungry nut job who had to be in complete control of his money cow of a son 24/7. Rory studied Rin from over his shoulder. The beautiful androgynous face of a god currently pleaded with him, and how was he to say no? From what he could tell, most of Rin's bad moods and hot temper came from the constant scrutiny and heavy boot he was kept under by his father. It was enough to drive anyone mad... especially someone of his age...
Rory blew out another sigh. "Fine... but only for this walk... Once we're back, everything goes back to normal."
Rin shrugged. "For now, I guess..."
Rory hit his head against the door in frustration as he groaned. "You're impossible."
Rin chuckled. "I know." He wrapped an arm around Rory's waist and hauled him back as he pulled the door open. "Let's go, boyfriend."
"Don't..." But before Rory could get his full protest out, Rin had already laced his fingers into his and was dragging him out into the corridor of the hotel.
"You've read the story well enough. We can improvise where needed. If this were the dorm and I were sneaking you out, taking you from your studies, how would you react... how would you respond to my flirtations... how would you build romance?"
Rory arched an irritated brow. "Should I reiterate, romance can't be taught?" He glanced down at their interlaced fingers. "Besides... This is an event... Won't your fans recognize you? This could be risky."
With a snorted laugh, Rin stepped back into the room, not bothering to release Rory's hand. He tugged down two hats from the closet, placing one on his head before sliding one onto Rory's. He brushed the stray hairs that covered Rory's forehead back under the cap before nodding his approval. "There. This should do, right?"
Rory frowned up at Rin contemptuously. "Do you honestly think a hat is enough to hide..." His cheeks heated as he moved his gaze away. "Yourself... from people..."
Rin chuckled and lifted Rory's face back to his. "And what is that supposed to mean?"
Rory frowned. "You stick out... even with a hat and oversized hoodie... surely you know that..."
Rin flipped the hood of the hoodie over the hat and shrugged with another laugh. "What can I say? It'll only help with the character. Let's go." With a wink, he closed the door and dragged Rory toward the elevator.
To Rory's shock and horror, the elevator was filled with people. He tugged on Rin's sleeve, keeping his head low. "We should get the next one."
Rin smiled down at him, squeezing his hand tighter. "Nonsense, it's a popular event. It's going to be like this all night... and all weekend." With a tug, Rin pulled Rory onto the elevator and guided him toward the back. He turned Rory to face him and pressed their interlaced hand against his chest as he called out 'lobby' to the person closest to the controls. He lowered his head to Rory's ear. "Try matching your heart rate to mine."
Was it that obvious that I hate tight spaces? Mortified... would probably be the best word... Rory flexed his fingers against the hard upper chest where Rin had placed his hand, noting the faint swell of the top of his pecs. He'd seen Rin and Dillon both work out together in the home gym, but they didn't seem to do anything too insanely different... So why did Rin seem to have-
Ding
The doors to the elevator opened. "This is us." Rin's soft, soothing voice penetrated Rory's thoughts.
The not-so-steady pace of Rin's heart, meant to calm the claustrophobia, stirred something else in Rory instead. Rory glanced up to meet Rin's gaze. Was he nervous... or excited too? Rory nodded and turned away, jerking his hand back as he did. The urge to explore the plains of Rin's hard chest was too tempting... and too prohibited if he wanted to keep his job... 'job' there was that damnable word again. Rory frowned. His thoughts were cut short as nosy, excited people began pushing past him. A tug on his hand had him stumbling against Rin's hard body once again.
"Is this part of your romance? This cat and mouse game where you entice me with the longing in your eyes, try to get away, and I have to keep pulling you back? If so, it could be fun to write... just know it also brings out the more predatory side, and we are talking about an ML who is a fox god, after all." Rin laced both hands into Rory's as he held him against his body. "Would you like to see how Predatory a fox can be?"
Rory shook his head, keeping it low as people paused to shoot glances at them as they passed by. "No... remember you wanted romance, not sex."
"They can be one and the same, no?" Rin's grip tightened before he wrapped their intertwined hands around Rory's waist.
"Not in this case. You haven't built enough romance to allocate sex."
"Um..." Rin purred wickedly into Rory's ear. "I like the idea of having to earn sex." He loosened his hold but didn't release his hands as they stepped from the elevator, the crowd's eyes still on them. "What do I have to do to earn it?" He whispered seductively against Rory's lowered head.
Rory's eyes moved over the many faces of the lobby from beneath the cover of the cap. Phones were lifted, no doubt recording them as if this were just an extra show being performed. "People are watching."
Rin grinned. "I know. Let's test your acting skills. Who knows when you may need them as my assistant?"
Apprehension radiated through Rory's entire body. "But they are recording... what if this gets out to your father and he misunderstands?"
"This is an event. He'll see it as publicity, nothing more, nothing else... Now, if we were to be seen together in private or... well... just trust me, he would know if our relationship goes past what he approves of." Rin snaked his arm around Rory once again. "Now, my apprehensive lover, we have just snuck out of your dorm, your dorm mates are seeing you with your mysterious man for the first time. What do you do?"
Rory's eyes traveled around the waiting crowd before moving up to Rin's expectant gaze. The MC in the book was a shy nerd who also hated crowds and attention... he would probably... Rory's eyes landed on the large double doors leading to the street. With his mind made up, he spun in Rin's arms and sent him a determined glint before tightening his hold on his hand and darting for the door. Rory didn't stop running until the sound of claps and the blinding brightness of lights were far behind them. He panted as he finally came to a halt, releasing Rin and clasping his own chest. "Was... was that good enough?"
Rin chuckled, slightly winded as well. "Yeah..." He looked around. "I gotta say I wasn't sure if you were going to stop running or not." His eyes landed on the waterfront view. Lights from the city reflected off the shimmering water. Rin wrapped an arm around Rory's back and guided him over toward the railing lining the walkway. "Well... Even if you can't show me romance, this area is in itself romantic..." Rin pulled Rory closer and tugged the hat off his head. "Even if I wasn't trying to fuck you, I'd want to hold you close and tell you how beautiful you look surrounded by the lights reflecting off the waters... That's got to be a start, right?"
Rory cursed his rebellious heart as it thudded against his chest. He forced himself to look away. "I don't think that would be a good line to use."
Rin tugged Rory's face back up to meet his as he lowered his lips closer to Rory's. "Wouldn't it? I'm a fox god after all, remember? Gods aren't known for their understanding of human emotion or presentation and expression of such emotions." He moved closer, gripping Rory's face tighter. "I think if I were to kiss you right now, it would be perfect."
Rory turned his face away and pulled from Rin's grip. "Then do that... Write it like that..."
Rin frowned. "Fine... but how will I know how the MC will react if this is all you give me? You said you'd help me understand. Here's your chance."
Rory hesitated before turning back to Rin. He pressed his fisted hands against Rin's upper stomach. His gaze held signs of trepidation, but he didn't back down. "If I were the MC, I'd tell you... You can try all the cheap tricks you want to possess my body, fox... but that will never win you my heart... Kiss me if you like, but kissing a frog will only win you a prince in fairy tales."
Rin smirked as his grip tightened on Rory's arms, backing him against the railing. Once Rin had him pinned in place, he hooked a finger under Rory's chin and brought his gaze up to meet his. "Wrong story, my little prince." Rin purred. "In this story, no frogs or princesses are waiting with magical saving kisses... only wolves seeking to devour."
Struggling against the captivating pull Rin and his words had, Rory turned his head away at the last possible moment. Rin's lips brushed his cheek instead of his lips. "That's a nice line, though you got the ML's animal mixed up." He pushed against Rin's stomach and stepped out onto the walkway, ignoring the chattering of the group of people headed their way. He was nearly swept up in the bustle of the upbeat, drunken crowd when now familiar hands caught his arm. He glanced down as he drew to a stop, allowing the energetic bodies to press on by.
"Is it really so bad to be in my company? You'd rather get lost... with strangers no less?" Rin murmured as he stepped behind Rory, placing his free hand on Rory's narrow hip.
Rory pried Rin's hand away. "It's things like this that make rash actions seem like the better, safer option."
Rin spun Rory around to face him, recapturing his hip and pulling him close. "You don't feel safe with me?" His eyes sparkled with amusement as he licked his lower lip. "You really must see me as nothing more than a man-eater."
Rory searched Rin's turbulent, fiery gaze. "Are we still acting out the scene, or is this you? Because I have to admit, at this point I'm not sure if I've met the real Rin yet."
Rin shook his head. "You haven't... You may never..."
Rory pushed against Rin again. "Enough with the games, I want to go back to our room."
With a snort of amusement, Rin nodded and took his hand. "Fine. I believe you gave me enough to work with tonight."
Rory's brows furrowed. "What do you mean by 'enough to work with'?"
Rin shrugged, still not releasing Rory's hand. "As irritating as your little ice prince game has been so far, I think I can use it for the MC. Pairing your honest reactions to jabs, I think the MC would use may help make this novel the hit you promised me." A wicked grin curved Rin's lips. "Of course, any returning reader of mine will still expect the extra spice." Rin sent him a wink. "So, you may want to prepare yourself, little assistant."