A flush crept across Rory's face and neck as he watched Rin unpack all the many bags he'd brought for their weekend stay. "Isn't that too much stuff?"
Rin shrugged. "I wasn't sure what all I'd need. I don't usually do my own makeup and shit." He sent Rory a playful smirk. "And I'm sure it's going to be awkward enough for you with just the two of us. You definitely didn't need Dillon tagging along."
Rory's blush deepened as he turned his gaze away. "No, especially after our last hotel stay."
Rin couldn't contain the surprised snort of laughter that erupted from him. "Well, you did all but ask for that one." Rin turned his attention back to the outfits and accessories he had spread across the bed. "I may still have to text or video call about some of this." He muttered as he rubbed his chin.
Rory watched as Rin lifted a particularly strappy lace lingerie set Dillon had picked out. "I don't understand why all this was necessary in the first place. It's not like they're going to see your underwear." Rory murmured before moving over Rin's current outfit. "Well, not too much of it…" His parents were scheduled to arrive in a few hours, and Rin had opted to spend the entire day dressed as a woman. It has given me time to adjust. He was right about that… but regardless of how I look at it, Rin is still Rin… It's going to be hard to change how I address him, how I act around him. How am I supposed to act? Am I supposed to suddenly act manly? Could I even try to lift him if I had to?
"What are you so lost in thought about?" Rin asked as he perched on the arm of Rory's chair and brushed his fingers through Rory's hair.
Rory blew out a contemplative sigh. "About this weekend… about how I'm supposed to act around you in front of them…" His eyes studied Rin. "About how maybe it was a bad idea to invite them to stay with us here."
Rin smiled confidently down at Rory. "You trust me, yeah? I've spent my entire life acting. You've joined me on stage a few times now and did amazing. It will only be one whole day and a few hours tonight and Sunday morning. We have this. Look around us. This place is big enough. We'll have plenty of privacy to do what we want and plenty of opportunity to put on shows for them to see." Rin lifted from the chair arm and held his hand out for Rory's. "I chose this place with some ideas in mind already." He slid the sliding glass door open and guided Rory out onto a patio overlooking the ocean. "There is a hot tub out here. And three doors lead out to this deck: our room, your parents' room, and the main living room. That means there will be a good chance we could get caught messing around in it at some point." He waggled his brows. "If we leave our curtains slightly cracked before we go to bed one night, we could easily be caught in bed together. You know I don't mind getting caught in the undies Dillon chose. As for everything else, we continue like always." He bent and pressed a light kiss to Rory's lips.
Rory sighed against Rin's lips, savoring the sweet taste of the strawberry-flavored lip gloss he'd selected for the day before finally gently pushing him away. "That's all fine and well enough to say… but you know damn well we don't act like a regular couple… I don't know if I'm going to suddenly be able to treat you like my… my…"
"Girlfriend? Switch all the pronouns to she and her?" Rin asked, a knowing smirk spreading across his plump lips.
Rory nodded as embarrassment colored his cheeks.
"Would it help to call me Renee? Maybe by calling me something different, it would keep you in the act of it all."
Rory tilted his head. "Renee?"
Rin nodded as he wrapped Rory's thin arms around his waist. "Yes, that is my name after all. Renee Ingrid Nicole Perish. Though I was thinking of using my mother's maiden name with your parents to prevent them from searching my name online. Nothing would show up even if they searched Renee or Rin Banks."
"And if they searched Renee Perish?"
Rin blew out a dubious sigh. "Unfortunately, there have been leaks over the years. My dad and his teams have worked to cover them up, but it's hard to tell what can still be pulled up if you go on a deep enough dive."
Rory nodded as he pressed his head against Rin's shoulder and gazed out over the ocean. The sun setting behind the beach villa reflected on the fluffy clouds that hung low over the gentle sea. "It's so beautiful here, I've almost forgotten I should probably be uncontrollably nervous."
Rin tightened his arms around Rory and rested his head against the top of Rory's. "There's no need. I'm here beside you now. We're in our villa. The power is on your side this time. The worst that can happen is a few harsh words, and they leave. You'll never have to go through what you went through before. Keep that in mind this weekend." Rin released his tight hold and leaned back, forcing Rory to hold his gaze. "At any point, if it becomes too much for you, you have the power to tell them to leave this time. I'm here for you. I stand with whatever makes you happy. They are coming to see you, yes, but that does not grant them the right to say or treat you however they choose. Understand?"
Rory nodded, tears burning his eyes.
Rin sent him a pleased smile before lowering his mouth to his. He trailed the tip of his tongue along the curve of Rory's lip teasingly before sliding it along Rory's waiting tip. "Umm…" Rin moaned against Rory's mouth as Rory fervently responded. Rin slid a hand into Rory's hair, forcing his head back more. He was just about to scoop Rory into his arms when two throats cleared. One sounded flooded with embarrassment, while the other oozed with disapproval.
Rory quickly pushed away from Rin and nearly fainted as his eyes met with the parents who had abandoned him all those years ago. Unwanted memories and emotions flooded him all at once. He turned and clung to the back of the half-buttoned dress shirt Rin wore. "Rin… I can't…" He whispered, his voice trembling.
Rin took a step closer to Rory before turning his attention to Rory's parents. He softened his voice and forced a wide smile. "Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Armon, we weren't expecting you so soon… or without calling or knocking even." Rin rushed on without giving them time to speak, much like his father tended to do. "No matter. You're here now. Make yourselves at home."
Rory's mom had the good graces to look extra embarrassed. "I apologize. We did try calling when we were a few minutes out," Her gaze shifted to Rory, who was still half-hidden in Rin's arms. "But, um, no one answered… and… the door was open." She stumbled on.
Rin chuckled. "Ha, yes. We must have already stepped out of earshot of the phones." Rin shrugged. "No matter. You'll be staying here as well. You may as well make yourselves comfortable, I suppose." He turned a flirtatious grin at Rory. "I know we shall."
Rory gulped down his nervousness and sent Rin a reassuring nod. He kept one arm wrapped around Rin, more for his own comfort than anything else, as he turned toward his parents. "Mom, Benedict… Allow me to introduce Renee, my partner and boss…"
Benedict arched a disapproving brow as he crossed his arms over his chest, and he scanned Rin. "Your partner is also your boss?"
Rory nodded. "Yes… Well, it's a bit more complicated than just that, but essentially."
Rin didn't bother stepping forward; instead, he sent Benedict an arrogant smile and held out a hand. "Renee Banks, pleasure to meet you."
Benedict narrowed his eyes in a calculating glare before finally stepping forward and shaking Rin's hand. "You can call me Ben."
Rin's smile widened. "I'll keep that in mind, though I must say, I rather like the name Benedict. Benedict Armon… has a nice ring to it." Rin's eyes narrowed as he pressed his index finger to the center of his chin. His plump, glossy lips curved into a wicked grin. "I can't quite put my finger on it, but the name sounds so familiar… almost famous."
Rory nearly choked as he nudged Rin in the side. Benedict Arnold! He knew exactly what was going through Rin's mind, and this was no way to win the man's favor. His eyes shot to his mother. "Mom, this is Rin or Renee. I told you some about Rin in my email." He turned his attention to Rin. "Rin, this is my mom Maggie…"
Rin sent Maggie a genuine smile. "Rory has told me plenty about you as well." Maggie's blush deepened, and Rin couldn't help but wonder if it wasn't a family trait.
"I… hope not all bad…" Maggie forced a weak smile, but her gaze continued to dart to Rory.
Rin pushed away from the railing with a shrug. "Ah, come now, no one can be all bad, right?" He shot Benedict a pointed look. "Since you got here just as I was giving Rory a tour of the place, perhaps the two of you can join first, then retrieve your bags and settle in after?"
Maggie sent Rin a clenched-toothed smile as she looped her arm into Benedict's and all but dragged him along.
Rin pushed open the sliding door to his and Rory's room and stepped aside. "This will be Rory and my room." He chuckled as he ran his hand through his styled hair. "As you can tell, my bags have already vomited all over the room, but what can you do?" He bent and rubbed his nose against Rory's. He made his voice sound as girly as possible as he continued. "This is our first non-work trip. Right, buttercup?"
Rory blushed as he pushed Rin's hands away from the door and closed it. "Moving on…"
Rin chuckled. "The next set of doors will be the main living area, as you know from when you got here." He walked to the next set of sliding doors and pulled them open. "This will be your room, and right past that, if you continue around the deck here, there is a hot tub. If you follow those steps down, there is also a seating area and firepit beside the pool."
"Oh wow, this is such a nice place. It must have been terribly expensive. If you need, we can pay you back for our share." Maggie offered, causing Benedict to squirm uncomfortably beside her, though his irritated expression didn't change.
Rin's grin widened as he held his hands up. "Oh no, that won't be necessary. My father owns this place."
Rory's brows furrowed. "Really? But I thought you said you had to book it?"
Rin nodded as he wrapped his arms around Rory's waist. "I did… Dad has several properties all over the world. He rents them out to travel companies, but when we want to use them, all we have to do is book ahead. They'll block out the dates. Beth's even cancelled people's reservations the day of because she wanted to use the chateau in Paris for a spur-of-the-minute shopping trip."
Rory's brows furrowed in disapproval. "Really? That's awful, but knowing Bethany as I do, I'm not altogether surprised." Rory pursed his lips as he shook his head. When he noticed his mother was patiently looking back and forth between the two of them, he supplied. "Ah, Bethany is Rin's father's fiancé and secretary."
"I see dating employees runs in the family?" Benedict quipped.
Rin shot him a wide grin. "And I'll assume that was rhetorical. Moving on…" Rin spun on the low heels he'd worn with the tight dress pants, tucked but nearly fully unbuttoned silky women's dress shirt, lace corset-style bralette, and suspenders. "Unlike my other assistant, I'm not much of a cook, and Rory isn't back to 100 percent yet. So, we'll be eating out. I've already made reservations for 9 pm. I hope that isn't too late for you. As I said, we weren't expecting you until a bit later."
"Other assistant… Do you sleep with them, too?" Benedict muttered under his breath.
Rin cocked a brow, his lips curving into a sinister smirk. "Not anymore, but-"
"No, no, dear! That is fine." Maggie rushed to reply. "We still need to unpack and rest up a bit. It was a long drive." She tugged at her husband's arm, forcing him to nod in silent agreement.
Rin narrowed his eyes. "Yes, well, I thought it would be worth this view." His lips twisted into a wicked smile again. "Besides, shouldn't we both put forth a bit of work to make this trip work?" Satisfaction coursed through Rin as Maggie paled.
"Yes… You're right, dear… we should."
Rory blew out a heavy sigh as he watched his parents disappear into the house. "Did you really have to provoke them like that?"
Rin arched a brow as he pulled Rory into his arms. "Provoke them? Me? Never… If I wanted to provoke that grizzled old bastard, I'd buy one of those slutty nuns' costumes and an elaborate strap-on harness and bend you over the dining table. Fuck you during morning coffee."
Rory arched an irritated brow. "Is that your favorite way of provocation? Exactly how many times have you fucked people on tables while other people watch?"
Rin awkwardly chuckled and lifted his hands as he backed away slowly. "More than once, fewer than… well, I'm not sure I can give you a fewer count right now without misjudging it…"
Rory bent and snagged the house shoe from his bad foot and flung it at Rin. "I don't even know what to say right now! Oh my god! You! You're such a piece of work!"
Rin caught the house shoe as it breezed by his head. "I was a piece of something alright… but." He stepped cautiously over and lowered to the floor. He held out the shoe for Rory. "But now all I am is yours."
Rory narrowed his eyes. "Only mine?"
"Hum… For as long as you want it that way…"
**
"Hartings, party of four, right this way."
"Hartings?" Rory asked, sending Rin a confused look.
Rin leaned down to whisper into Rory's ear. "I didn't want to use my real name for obvious reasons, and it was made before we decided to use the alias." Rin guided Rory through the crowded restaurant with his hand on the small of Rory's back for balance, Rory's parents trailing behind them.
Maggie's expression continued to become more troubled as she watched Rin pull Rory's seat out and help him settle down. She began to speak, but clenched her jaw a few times as if thinking better of it before finally giving in and speaking anyway. "Rory… I couldn't help but notice… Since we arrived, you've been limping a bit, and it only seems to be getting worse as the night goes on."
Rory frowned. "Yes, I hurt my foot a few weeks back. It's still bothering me a bit, but I'd rather deal with a bit of pain than the crutches a minute longer. So…"
It was Rin's turn to frown. "He was supposed to stay on the crutches for six weeks, but we could barely keep him on them for four. I'm surprised he's let us keep it wrapped."
"Us?" Maggie stammered as her gaze shifted between the pair.
Rin's concerned eyes didn't leave Rory. "Yes, my other assistant and I have fought tooth and nail with this one, but he's as stubborn as he is adorable."
"Adorable?" Ben huffed out under his breath, but before anything else could be said, the server arrived at the table.
"Hello and welcome. My Name is Ashley, and I will be your server tonight. How may I get you started?"
Rin spoke up before anyone else could. "Yes, could we get a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc for the table and an order of the Hamachi and charred octopus?" His gaze shifted to Maggie and Benedict. "I forgot to ask if you drank wine. Don't feel forced. Order whatever you'd like."
Maggie waved her hands awkwardly. "No, no. It's… um… we drink wine, dear."
The server sent Rin a confused look before turning her attention to the pad in her hand. "Will there be anything else to get you started?"
"Maggie, Benedict?" Rin asked, a cocky grin spread across his lips.
Maggie shook her head awkwardly as she fumbled with the sleeve of her top, another habit she and her son shared. Once the waiter was gone, she lifted her menu again, but her gaze continued moving to Rin and Rory.
"What are you thinking, Buttercup?"
Rory twitched his nose in contemplation as he subconsciously leaned against Rin. "I'm not sure. I can't choose between the Truffle chicken and the Carne Asada. They both sound amazing."
"Hum. I agree. So… why don't I get one and you get the other? Then we can both try them. Win, win." Rin shot him a wink as he nudged Rory's shoulder.
"Alright…" Rory agreed, only a slight blush coloring his cheeks this time.
Rin placed his and Rory's orders with confidence, then sat back and delighted in the discomfort Maggie and dear old Ben were in. It wasn't until he noticed a group of the serving staff gathered in a corner and chattering while pointing their way that he himself began to squirm. Rin leaned toward Rory and whispered. "We may have a problem." He nodded toward the waiters.
"Do you think one of them recognized you?" Rory whispered back.
"It's likely. How do you want to handle it if so?"
Rory twisted in his seat and pressed his mouth closer to Rin's ear. "How do you want to handle it?" He cupped his hand over his mouth and Rin's ear. "These people have cut me off once; I can do the same to them now. We're talking about your career… and my job as well…"
Rin smiled as he leaned away. "Save both? If we can?"
Rory bit into his lower lip as he nodded in agreement. "But you have my answer if we can't."
"Problem you two?" Ben asked in obvious irritation as he prodded at his food.
Rory frowned as he nodded. "I believe Rin has been recognized. We may have to leave earlier than expected depending on how professionally the waiting staff handles things."
Ben arched a brow. "Are you so famous that people would cause a public display because of your presence?"
"Ha…" Rory blew out an exasperated breath as the corners of Rin's irritated smile twitched.
"You have no idea," Rin replied through clenched teeth.