Rin blew out a sigh of relief as he rounded the corner of the eighth-floor stairwell. "There you are. I've been searching everywhere." Rin bent and rested his cheek against the rail as he held Rory's red, swollen gaze. "I was afraid you'd left or something..."
Rory sniffled back a sob as he turned away and buried his face into the blanket wrapped around his knees. "Where else would I go? Where else could I go? I have nowhere..."
Rin pushed away from the rail and sat down beside him. He slowly moved his hand across his shoulders as if expecting the action to cause Rory to jump up and sprint away at any moment. When Rory only stiffened a bit, Rin began rubbing his back. "Talk to me. What's wrong? Why did you run out like that?" Rin gingerly cupped Rory's face and turned it to face him. "I thought you wanted it... with me..."
New tears flooded Rory's eyes, and his bottom lip trembled. "I did... I do... but you! I don't want to share you!"
Rin furrowed his brows, still not understanding fully. "Ok... I see... Is that why you wanted to do that with me tonight?"
Rory looked away, focusing his gaze on Rin's crumpled T-shirt instead.
Rin blew out a sigh as he shifted Rory between his legs and cradled him in his arms. "Rory, I'm pretty stupid when it comes to these things. If you want me to understand why you're upset, you have to talk to me. Otherwise, I'll never know, and there will never be any change. You get what I'm saying?" A smile curved Rin's lips when he felt a slight nod against his chest. He pressed his lips to the top of the blonde head beneath his chin. "Alright then... so, from the beginning... What prompted tonight? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it happened, but if it's going to be something you regret later..."
Rory was silent for a long while as he fiddled with a corner of the sheet and thought over his own mixed emotions from earlier that night. "I... I don't regret what you and I did... though I will admit it was done out of jealousy."
"Jealousy? You?"
Rory nodded as he shyly turned his head up to meet Rin's tender, curious gaze. "What will happen now... between you and Sabastian?"
Rin shrugged. "It's over. Anything outside of work is done. I'll be limiting work as much as I can from here on out... Though with this new project on the horizon, I don't see a way to cut him out completely just yet."
Rory nodded. Some of his anxiety lifted, but there was still one other thing. "What about Dillon?"
Rin furrowed his brows. "What about him?"
"I... I didn't..." He could feel his face heat as he turned his head and tried his best to hide his face against Rin's chest.
"You didn't like it? There's no shame either way. Dillon and I do things like that all the time." Rin snorted a laugh. "Besides, you were the one who invited him."
Rory's stunned, red face snapped up to Rin's. "I didn't!"
Rin chuckled as he bopped Rory's nose. "You did. When Dillon stopped us earlier... before he turned on the music. You insisted on continuing even after he reminded you we weren't alone in the room." Rin shrugged. "Honestly, I kind of thought you were into him more than you're into me. Is that not the case?"
Rory's eyes widened more. "No!" He sputtered out the words, but then quickly backtracked. His face heated, his ears turning red. "I mean, he is kind and has gone out of his way to help... There are several areas where he is the better person... He's attractive in his own dark, brooding kind of way... if you're into that depressed, emo artist thing... I guess..."
Rin's laugh rumbled deep within. "And you're saying you're not? It kind of sounds like the opposite, the more you talk."
Rory bit his lip as he moved his trembling hand to trace the contours of Rin's face. "Rin... You're like this untouchable, beautiful, exotic creature... From the second I saw you, it was like there was no other person in the room. I've had to fight... Ha... So hard to be around you, to act natural around you, to not throw myself at you..." He shrugged. "Had you been this Rin, the Rin I know now, when I first met you, I would have been lost. I never would have been able to refuse your advances..." His brows furrowed. "I was lucky you're such a cold asshole sometimes."
Rin blew out an awkward laugh. "I'm not sure if that was meant to be a compliment or an insult."
Rory's eyes glistened as they studied Rin with sullen wonder. "Being with you is like finding yourself shipwrecked on a beautiful, deserted, frozen island somewhere in the North Atlantic. You know you'll probably either freeze to death or starve... but as you watch the mesmerizing Aroras dance off the desolate ice..." He shook his head. "You're trapped... spellbound... You can't, don't want to leave..." He released the sheet and slid his fingers into Rin's. "Even if that means accepting a fate worse than death... Rin... I... I... think I might be... ump!"
Rin tangled his fingers in the back of Rory's hair and smashed his mouth against his lips. He nudged Rory's lips apart with the impatient tip of his tongue as he held him tightly against him. Rin didn't relent until Rory's body relaxed against him, accepting every unspoken emotion he was trying to convey. When Rory's tiny hands pressed against Rin's stomach, he finally released him. Still not prepared to face Rory, however, Rin tucked Rory's head under his chin and held him tight. Something about Rory's words had Rin's body pulsing with emotions he'd never felt and was struggling to process. He tightened his hold around Rory.
Rory pressed his head against Rin's chest and heard the heavy thudding of Rin's heart. He wasn't sure if he should be happy or nervous that his confession was affecting Rin more than the threats from earlier had. Rory wrapped his arms around Rin's waist. "Should I quote my new favorite writer? I'm new to this, so I won't know what you're thinking unless you tell me..."
Rin snorted a surprised laugh. "Not going to admit to being stupid, too?"
Rory shrugged against Rin's tight hold. "Not stupid, just new."
"Um... I see..." Rin whispered against his hair as he placed a kiss on Rory's head. "Well, let's see... What am I thinking? I'm thinking I could sit here and hold you all night... but checkout is at ten and it's probably already five. I'm thinking that no matter how I look at it... I'm completely and irrevocably, head over heels, crazy about you..."
Rory leaned back, studying Rin's eyes as they held his. "Do... you mean it?"
Rin nodded. "Yeah... I think I have been for a while now... You talk about being jealous... I was... the morning I walked in on you and Dillon making breakfast together." He shrugged. "We've always shared everything, but to think you would choose him and not want me at all... It really fucked me up..." Rin pressed a kiss to Rory's lips.
Rory dropped his gaze to where their laps met. "And now?"
Rin hooked his finger under Rory's chin and brought his gaze back up. "I'm glad it's me you want. I'm even happy you were upset when he touched you." Rin shrugged. "Though it may make things complicated later... we can cross those bridges when we get there."
Another thought crossed Rory's mind. "Rin..." His hands moved to Rin's T-shirt and slid under the hem.
Rin groaned and pulled him tightly against him. "Yes?"
"What happens now? I've officially broken my contract..."
Rin pressed Rory back so that he could look him in the eyes. "Don't worry too much about it. We still have one safeguard in place... As long as we maintain it, it will be harder, but my dad will be convincible."
Rory furrowed his brows. "What safeguard?"
Rin chuckled as he maneuvered Rory off his lap. "If I told you it wouldn't work anymore." He stood and held his hand out to Rory. "What do you say we get a few hours of sleep?" Rin tugged him to his feet and swept him into his arms before Rory could contest. "I have no idea how you got this far on that foot, but you're not about to wobble back on it."
Trees passed by in a blur as they drove back to Rin's home. Dillon and Rin chattered in the front of the car the entire drive about upcoming plans. Rory was left in the back seat with Sabastian, who was faking sleep while blasting French music in his headphones. Rory blew out a heavy sigh. It made him feel like a child stuck in the back seat with a disgruntled sibling while the parents were in their own grown-up world up front. His eyes moved to his own dim reflection in the window. There was a faint mark on his neck that Rin had left behind the night before. Other than a sore backside, it was the only reminder of what had happened. Rin and Dillon both carried on as usual the entire day. Rory sat up as the car stopped in the wide driveway.
"You guys go ahead. I'm going to take Sabastian to his place to pack some things and drop by the loft. Depending on how late it is, we'll either come back tonight or first thing in the morning. If I hear anything else from Mandy, I'll call and let you know." Dillon said as he shifted the car into park.
Rin nodded. "Same, though I may just go ahead and call her. See how the shit we sent is going over."
"Not a bad idea. If you do text me or something. Let me know what she says." Dillon said, slapping the sides of the steering wheel. "Alright. Well... You kids have fun..." He sent Rory a wink in the rearview mirror as Rin rounded the car.
Rory's entire face turned red, and he could hear Dillon's laughter as Rin opened his door and helped him out. "You really don't have to carry me..." Rory grumbled as Rin scooped him up once again. "Wouldn't it be better for us to get our bags?"
Rin shrugged. "He can toss them out, and I'll come back and get them after I get you inside."
Rory balanced on the stool beside the stove, tongs in hand, gaze trained on the sizzling meat in the pan as arms slinked around his waist. The only sound in the room aside from the searing meat and the pounding of his heart in his ears was the steady whisper of Rin's breath against his neck. In out, in out... the heat of Rin's body burned every single place it touched, more than the hot grease on the browning skin of the chicken. The silence was a steady reminder of one unambiguous fact. They were alone. His breath caught as Rin's hands slid under the hem of his shirt. His eyes fluttered shut with an uneasy moan as Rin's mouth trailed along his throat. "Rin... The food... it'll burn." He could feel Rin's lips curl into a grin against his neck even before he answered.
"Then make sure to keep an eye on it..." Rin popped the buttons of Rory's jeans free as he continued kissing and nipping his neck.
"Rin... no, please..." Rory wiggled against Rin, but Rin had him trapped in his arms against the stool.
"Shh... Just focus on the meal and enjoy." Rin gripped Rory's chest tightly as he leaned back and snagged a bottle of wine from the island behind him. He pulled the cork out with his teeth and spat it out onto the counter of the island before filling his mouth. Rin slid the bottle back onto the counter before turning and clasping Rory's jaws. He squeezed Rory's cheeks, causing his lips to pucker open. Rin cupped his mouth over Rory's before squirting the contents into his mouth.
Rory coughed and sputtered as wine overfilled his mouth and dripped down his chin. His wide eyes held Rin's, realizing quickly that Rin had no intention of moving away even after his mouth was empty. Instead, his tongue replaced the wine inside Rory's mouth before pulling away and lapping up the spilled trail running down his face and neck. Rory could feel the heat as the blush spread from his cheeks to his ears and down his neck. There was no doubt, Rin was pure seduction. He twisted on the stool and wrapped his arms around Rin's neck, careful of the tongs he still held.
Rin chuckled against his lips. "You're going to burn the food..." He turned Rory around and placed Rory's hands on the counter beside the stove. He lifted Rory from the stool and undid Rory's jeans the rest of the way before pushing them and his boxers both to the floor. He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around Rory, sliding his hands under his shirt once again. He trailed kisses along his neck and nape as he gently pressed his legs apart with his foot and tilted him forward.
"Rin..." Rory whimpered as Rin's hands began caressing his body, one hand working his nipples as the other stroked his length. "Rin... Please..." Rory didn't even know what he was begging for anymore as he released the counter and leaned back against Rin. But the second he pressed himself into Rin's groin, Rin released him.
Rin grasped both the hands that were clinging to his neck and moved them back to the counter. "Come on, Little Chef, you don't want to burn our dinner, do you?" Rin moved to his knees in front of Rory. "Burn our food, and I'll have to punish you." He teased as he gripped Rory's ass tightly in both hands and rubbed his cheek against Rory's throbbing cock.
"Pun...punish?" Rory stammered.
Rin chuckled as he slid his tongue slowly along Rory's length. "Um, yes, slow agonizing torture..." He held Rory's concerned gaze as he sucked two fingers into his mouth and coated them with saliva. Rin's eyes sparkled with mischief as he let some of the saliva drip from his fingers before returning his hand to Rory's ass. "All night long..."
Rory gasped as Rin pulled his ass cheeks apart roughly and began gently teasing his hole with the fingers he'd wetted. Rin's eyes burned into him as his mouth moved to the tip of his cock and began skillfully sucking and teasing his length. Rory bucked against his mouth when Rin slipped a finger inside him, almost instantly finding that special place. Rory quickly shoved the pan across the stove eye, nearly burning his arm as he did. He clicked off the eye and moved his hand back to the counter. He clung to it for dear life as Rin worked his fingers and mouth against him at a rapidly building speed. His toes curled inside the slippers he wore, painfully so on the injured foot. Rory cried out as his entire body curled around Rin with his release. He panted breathlessly as Rin pressed firmly against his inside walls as he gave one final suck.
Rin chuckled as he tugged Rory's boxers back into place and lifted him onto the stool. His eyes moved to the pan of chicken. His brow arched. "Is it done?" He grabbed the tongs and poked the meat a few times before shrugging. "Should we just order out?"
Legs still weak from his orgasm, Rory stood and leaned over the pan beside Rin. "It's fine. Just a little dry by now."
Rin shrugged. "That's fine. We'll just drown it in dressing or something." Rin moved toward the refrigerator. "Pick your poison."
Rory frowned down at the fork being held out in front of his mouth. He'd never felt more awkwardly embarrassed in his life... and that was saying a lot after Rin had jerked him off on stage in front of hundreds of fans, then made him sit through a live interview with them... while sitting in his lap just like he was doing right now... Rory blew out a frustrated sigh as he shifted his gaze from the fork back to Rin. "I told you... I'm finished."
"And I told you, you eat like a damn bird. Now eat this," Rin insisted, one arm wrapped tightly around Rory's waist, holding him in place on his lap while trying to force-feed him with the other.
"Find a bird that would eat that then and leave me alone!" Rory protested as he shoved Rin's hand away.
"Birds are dumb as hell. You find me any fucking chicken, and I'll find you one that will gladly eat this. Now open up!"
"Rin... Please just stop already!" His entire face and ears turned bright red as he turned his face away and muttered. "If you want to continue what you started in the kitchen earlier, is force-feeding me food really the go-to right now? You're going to give me a stomachache."
Rin's lips curled into a toothy smirk as he finally tossed the loaded-down fork back onto the plate. "Is that what you're worried about?" He turned Rory to face him and cupped his face. "Rory... baby, look at me. Please eat. I'd rather deal with a little GI issue any day than see you starve yourself more than you've already done. You are skin and bones, and you've barely touched your food tonight. I know damn good and well you have more of an appetite than this."
Rory turned another shade redder, but Rin wouldn't let him look away. "But... tops don't..."
Rin shook his head. "Rory, I have a sneaking feeling whoever you were with before coming here was a first-rate piece of shit. Granted, I'll never win any prizes of virtue, but fuck dude."
Rory nodded and slowly moved to get out of Rin's lap, but Rin stopped him.
Rin held him in place as he handed him his plate. "I'm actually enjoying having you here, so just finish up while we watch a few more episodes."
Rory bit his lip nervously. "But you have so much work to do, I'll just be in your way."
Rin shrugged. "I am working. Remember, I have to write an entirely new story about seducing my assistant, and that's exactly what I'm doing."
Rory had just gotten settled in when his phone began ringing from across the room. Rin set him aside and pushed up from the sofa. "I'll get it, just finish eating." His already pensive expression turned sour as he looked at the display. He answered it directly to the speaker. "Father, I'm sure I already know what has you calling my assistant at this hour, but I'm sure you'll tell us again anyway."
There was a brief pause before Rodric replied. "Rin? Is Rory there in the room with you?"
"Yes, why else would I answer his phone on speaker?" Rin rolled his eyes as he walked over and flopped back into the same spot on the sofa. He set the phone on the arm of the couch as he grabbed Rory and began tugging him back onto his lap. When Rory tried to fight against him, he pressed a finger to his grinning lips and pointed to the phone.
Rory gritted his teeth as he gave in and crawled onto Rin's lap. "Mr. Perish... Goo... good evening." Rory stammered as Rin ran his hands across his bare thighs.
"Good, Rory? I think not. Let me cut to the chase, since I have both of you on here. These stunts, this nonsense, better be just that and nothing more. I will find out."
"Yeah, Yeah." Rin groaned as he cupped Rory between the legs and began massaging him.
"You think this is all a game, Rin?" Rodric roared from the other end of the phone. "Ah, well, let's see how funny it is in a few minutes."
Rin's brows furrowed. "A few minutes?"
A harsh laugh sounded across the other end of the phone. "Ah, yes, did that finally get your attention. My ETA is, let's see... 15 minutes. What do you have to say now?"