Rory could see a muscle twitch in Rin's jaw as he shoved away from the table.
"I'll be back," Rin muttered through clenched teeth as he spun toward the gathered waiters.
Rory's nervous gaze moved around the crowded restaurant. He swallowed down his anxiety as he snagged Rin's shirt sleeve. "Wait… I'll go with you." His eyes shot to his mother before he added. "It is my fault you were recognized like this."
Rin's gaze softened as he glanced away from the staff that were now watching them to Rory. "It's not your fault." He held his hand out to Rory. "But if you'd like to come along, I'll not stop you. Having you by my side has proven lucky thus far."
Maggie clutched her old, worn pearls as she watched her son be led away by the powerhouse of a woman he was obviously smitten with. She leaned toward her husband. "Do… do you think it's real? Could Rory have really found someone he's in love with?"
"Ha… this looks like nothing more than an elaborate show to me." Ben tossed his fork aside. "I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it's actually one of those cross-dressing men."
Maggie tightened her hold on her pearls but didn't comment as she watched the animated scene from a distance.
Rin sent the staff a charming smile as he approached. "Excuse me, I didn't mean to bother your, um, gathering here, but we would like to pay." He glanced back at the table. "And would like to keep things as casual as possible while doing so."
"I apologize. It's just that one of our staff thought you were someone else." Ashley replied as she took his card and moved to the register. Her steps froze as her eyes landed on the name on the card, and her hand slammed against her mouth. "Oh my god! It is you!"
"I told you!" The other girl cried out as the others started to mutter among themselves in excitement.
Rin gritted his teeth as he signaled for them to keep it low. "As I said, our guests have no idea who I am, and we would like to keep it that way."
Both girls clamped their hands over their mouths as they nodded.
"We're sorry. It's just, we're all huge fans! Is there really no way to get a picture or autograph?" One of the other girls asked.
Rin chuckled. "No pictures tonight, but I can sign anything you'd like. They know I'm well known. They can't know I'm 'Rin Perish'. As you can figure out by the get-up, this isn't a normal situation. I'll have to ask that you keep this a secret for us." He pressed his finger against his lips as he sent them a seductively charming smile.
"Is this why you guys had the gender swap pictures up on your Patreon?"
Rin nodded. "Sure is. You see, those people over there are my assistant's parents, and…" He paused as he turned to Rory. "Is it alright if I tell them?" When Rory nodded, Rin continued. "They disowned Rory for being gay. So, we're having a bit of fun with them." He sent them a wink. "I got the second most votes as best girl after Rory, and since it was his parent we were meeting…" He held his arms out.
All the girls giggled. "I mean, you look amazing as always."
"Yeah, super convincing… if you weren't beside sweet-faced Rory." Another giggled.
"Fair point," Ashley said as she came back with Rin's credit card and check. "I think it's the height and body build difference. Rory is so petite, but that's also why he makes such a cute Moa."
"Yes! The videos were to die for! I wish I could have seen the shows live! Will you guys be doing another soon?"
Rin sent them a grin as he filled out the information on the check. "We will. Check our socials for the next events scheduled. We may even go online when we get back and explain some of what you're seeing tonight. So, look for that as well."
"We will!"
"Alright, if you have anything you'd like signed, feel free to stop by the table before we leave." Rin wrapped an arm around Rory's back and led him toward the table. "Well, that went better than expected. I was worried they would start shouting out my name or some shit." Rin muttered under his breath. "Or start snapping pictures and videos without asking. Hopefully, none of the guests did as we were talking to them."
Rory blew out a sigh. "Rin, I'm sorry you've gone through this for me. I didn't think about this kind of thing happening."
"It's fine. I knew the risks when I pitched the idea, and I still wanted… want to do it for you." Rin pulled Rory's chair out for him once again and helped him sit. As he took his own seat, their server rushed over with two desserts in her hands. "These are on the house. I hope your weekend goes well."
**
"Do you get recognized often, Renee?" Ben's cold voice echoed through the stale silence of the car.
"When I go out… yeah, fairly often. Regardless of what I wear…" Rin muttered the last part under his breath.
Rory reached across the console and gave Rin's hand a squeeze. "Rin doesn't go out all that often unless it's work-related." Rory's phone buzzed in his lap. "Speaking of…"
Rin glanced over at the phone's display. "Ignore it."
Rory frowned. "You know I can't."
"It can wait until we get back to the villa."
"Rin…"
"Rory, I said no." Rin's voice was sterner than it had been in months.
Rory's frown deepened as he watched the phone screen go dark, then light up again. Rodric Perish… he was going to be pissed at best that his calls were being ignored. After the third call, a new name and number appeared across the screen. "And Mandy? Should I ignore her as well?"
Rin blew out a huffed sigh. "Answer it, but make it quick and to the point. We're almost there anyway."
Rory's voice trembled slightly as he answered the call. "Hello, Mandy? Is something wrong?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing. Mr. Perish said he has tried calling you multiple times now, but you've ignored his calls."
"Rin and I are in the car with my mom and stepfather. We're almost back now, if the call can wait another… How long will it take, Rin?"
"GPS says 8 minutes."
"Will ten minutes be fast enough, Mandy?" Rory asked, worry heavy in his voice.
"I'll relay your message, but Mr. Perish isn't going to be thrilled about this."
Rin snatched the phone out of Rory's hand. "What the hell is it about this time, Mandy? You're not telling me it's his usual check-in this late on a Friday night."
Mandy gulped audibly on the other end of the phone. "You're right, Rin, and I'm sorry… If you have other people in the car with you right now, maybe it's best to talk about this later."
"Or maybe if it's that bad, it can wait until Monday."
"Rin, he knows where you're at…"
Rin gritted his teeth. "Tell him Rory and I will be in his office bright and early Monday morning. Until then, we are spending the weekend with Rory's parents at the beach villa whether he likes it or not. I don't give a fuck." Rin hung up the phone and tossed it back to Rory, but realized quickly how hard he'd tossed it. He grabbed Rory's hand gently and entwined their fingers. He brought Rory's knuckles to his lips and placed a kiss against them. "Sorry, babe. I didn't mean to get so upset or to throw that. I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"I know… I'm fine…" Rory frowned, more worried about comforting Rin than concerning himself with the people in the backseat. "What does your dad want?"
"He found out I brought you on a romantic weekend getaway. What do you think he wants?" Rin glanced into the rearview mirror at the perplexed gazes staring back at them. "My dad is technically Rory's boss. He hired Rory to be my assistant. Part of Rory's contract with my dad is to not get romantically involved with me, which is why we need to keep our relationship out of the public eye."
"Oh, I see now. That was why you were so upset at the restaurant then?" Maggie supplied.
A muscle twitched in Rin's jaw. "Yes… among other things… My father can be a bit controlling and has pushed some…hum, how would I explain… I wouldn't go as far as saying unwanted, necessarily… at least any longer… but difficult at times, things on me over the years that make certain aspects of my life overly complicated."
Rin pulled up into the drive, glad to finally be finished with the car ride of awkward questions. He rounded the car and helped Rory out before turning his attention to Maggie. "I'm sure the two of you are tired. Rest up for tonight, I have some plans for us tomorrow. Nothing too overwhelming, though. Rory and I are going to have a nightcap, I think."
Rory frowned as he hooked his arm into Rin's for balance, his foot giving him more trouble than usual. "You're seriously not going to call your father back tonight?"
Rin paused, a doting smile curving his lips as he brushed the windblown blonde locks from Rory's face. "No. I'm going to snag a bottle of wine, maybe some glasses… You know how I am with them… get us both changed into swimwear and enjoy the rest of my night with my adorable boyfriend. How does that sound?"
Rory tangled his hands into the sides of Rin's shirt and pulled him into a kiss. He could feel his mom and Ben gawking at them from the front deck, but he didn't care.
Rin wrapped his arms around Rory. "I want nothing more than to scoop you up into my arms and carry you into our room right now… What do you think they would do?" He whispered against Rory's lips.
"Probably have strokes…" Rory murmured back as he placed teasing kisses on each corner of Rin's curved smirk. A slam of the front door drew Rory's attention away from Rin. He looked up in time to see his mom glance back at them in embarrassment. Ben had already vanished inside the house.
She knitted her hands together as she looked awkwardly between the door and them. "I'm… I'm sorry, kids. He's just tired, is all… Excuse me."
Rin laughed curtly as he shook his head, his arms wrapped snuggly around Rory as he began walking them both toward the house. "That man's a real piece of work. Who would have thought he'd be offended with you dating a masculine female as well? You think maybe the problem isn't that you're gay but that he is, and he's just struggling to hide it? I bet he's one of those guys whose most-used app is Grinder."
Rory's eyes widened. "No… You think?"
Rin chuckled. "You don't seem surprised, just curious."
Rory shrugged. "My ex was like that. I would guess he still is. He considered himself straight, blamed me for 'tempting' him… got his other friends to…" Rory's voice trailed off, and his eyes became trained on the sidewalk, not seeing it. "To do things... to justify him doing them and still not being gay…" Tears began to burn his eyes as the memories flooded his mind.
Rin quickly spun Rory to face him. "Look at me, baby. That asshole isn't here now. He can't hurt you anymore." Rin ran his hands over Rory's hair. "I want you to tell me… I do… but…" His gaze shifted to the house. "Let's go inside first…"
Rory nodded as he wiped his cheeks with the back of his hand. "Maybe this weekend wouldn't be the best time for that story anyway…" He forced a smile. "You said wine and hot tub?"
Rin sent him a wide grin. "I did, and your parents are probably in their room arguing right about now." With that, Rin scooped Rory into his arms and all but ran up the steps. He sat him down right outside the door with a pat on the ass. "Hurry and get changed while I find some wine."
A light knock drew Rory's attention away from the swimwear Rin and Dillon had selected for him for the trip. None of it was anything he would wear. There was a Speedo that was completely out of the question, two pairs of tight, short shorts, and a long pair of board shorts. "Come in…" He called distractedly over his shoulder.
"Rory… Is… is it alright if I talk to you alone for a bit?" Maggie peeked inside the room.
Rory jerked in surprise but quickly recovered. "Yeah, sure. Um… what brings you in?"
She frowned as she stepped inside the room and closed the door. She almost immediately began straightening the clothes Rin had strung out all over the bed when she stepped over. "It's been so long… Can't a mother simply want to catch up with her son?"
Rory shrugged, not taking his focus off his choice of swimwear.
"You've grown taller… but… um… lost some weight since the last time I saw you." She tried to sound upbeat, but her words fell flat as the memories of that night came rushing back. "You… you're ok now? Rin is good to you?" Her attention shifted to Rory's foot.
Rory sent her a skeptical look. "Are you asking if Rin is the one who hurt me?" He shrugged. "I fell… though if you were to ask, Rin would take the blame."
Maggie frowned. "This Rin… You love her? Does she make you happy? You're not just doing this…"
Rory rolled his eyes as he turned on his mother. "Not just doing it for what reason, Mom?"
Maggie's gaze shifted toward the door, then to the clothes scattered around the bed before moving back to Rory. "Well, it's just… This Rin… And we know you're…"
Rory crossed his arms in front of his chest, irritation building as he waited for his mother to continue.
"I knew the old man would have something good stashed here somewhere," Rin called out as he burst through the bedroom door. He paused as his eyes moved from the bottle of wine in his hand to Maggie. "Oh… I didn't realize you were in here… You guys want me to, um, give you some privacy."
Rory shook his head as he held out his arms for Rin. "No, my mom was just asking me how you could make me happy since I'm gay and you're you… Oh, and if you're abusing me…" He arched a brow toward his mother. "Did I cover all the questions? There may be more. I'm sure Ben would like to know whether Rin is actually a female or not, right? Hard to be a homophobic bigot if you're not sure what to hate or not."
Rin scrunched his brows as he hurried over to Rory and tossed the bottle onto the bed. "You ok, babe?" His gaze moved back to Maggie. "I'd be more than glad to answer any questions you have, if you'd like to have a seat, though I'm with Rory. I'd rather you just relay whatever information you gather from us to your husband."
Maggie frowned as she settled into an armchair near the sliding glass door. "I know no amount of apology can change Ben's actions thus far… especially what he's put Rory through in the past… but you have to understand he's a very righteous man." Her gaze shifted to Rory. "I… I assume Rory has told you…"
Rin nodded as he cleared a spot for him and Rory to sit on the edge of the bed. "Yes, in a way, it was how he ended up coming to work for me."
Maggie's frown deepened in confusion. "Then you know that he is…"
"Isn't straight?" Rin shrugged. "Neither am I, nor my other assistant, for that matter. Who gives a shit? This isn't the dark ages. I assure you, Rory and I have discussed in detail our proclivities and are, for the most part, on the same page with one another."
Her brows raised. "You're not? But then… I don't understand..."
"You don't need to understand our relationship past the fact that I love your son, and your son loves me. We plan on spending an exceptionally long time together, and that may involve getting married sometime down the road…" Rin entwined his fingers with Rory's before he added. "And if we do, biological children could be an option for us… Who fucking knows… This is all new to both of us right now, and we're simply enjoying it."
Rory tried his best to mask his own shock at hearing Rin's words, words he'd not considered until now. His wide eyes moved to Rin, unable to look away from his flat stomach.
Maggie's brows knotted. "But your father doesn't approve?"
Rin blew out a heavy sigh. "It's not that exactly. Don't worry about my father. I'll handle him when the time comes. Right now, we are still adapting to this new thing we have and working hard to build our own company without my father's name on it."
Rory's grip tightened on Rin's. So, this is what Rin is working toward, and he wants to bring me along with him? He has thought far enough ahead to think about his own company, marriage, and… and kids? Could I really? Rory could feel the heat burn his cheeks as he moved his gaze up to study Rin's face as he continued confidently talking about their future together. I've never… never put it inside someone before… What would it feel like? Rory felt a tightening in his groin and quickly crossed his legs. He rested his head against Rin's shoulder. "Rin…" He whispered.
Rin stopped mid-sentence and turned his focus down to Rory. Red ears contrasted like rubies set in gold against Rory's blonde hair. Rin's hand moved instinctively to rub Rory's ear. "What is it, Buttercup?"
Rory slid his arm around Rin's waist as his pleading gaze met Rin's. He bit into his bottom lip as he all but whimpered Rin's name again. "Rin…"
Rin's violet eyes burned into Rory as he lowered his head. He pressed his ear against Rory's lips. "What buttercup?"
"Do you mean it? What you are saying now?"
Rin pulled away only enough to meet his eyes again. "Of course I do." He clasped Rory's jaw and pressed his lips apart with his thumb. "I've already told you as much. I want you by my side from here on out. I love you…"
Rory nodded. "I love you, too." He met Rin's seeking lips as he leaned forward to capture his in a passionate kiss.
Maggie cleared her throat as she stood from the chair. When they both turned to face her, she gave them a slight nod. "I'm happy for you both, truly…" Her eyes shimmered as a sad smile curved her lips. "I just want you to know, Rory. I never stopped loving you all this time, or caring about you… worrying about you… It never mattered to me… I was shocked and… well, it doesn't matter now. Does it? You're happy… You two enjoy your night. And know, regardless, I'm happy for the two of you." She gave them another nod as she turned for the door.
Rin blew out a sigh once the door was closed behind Maggie. He turned his attention to Rory. "I thought you were going to blow everything we'd worked for there when I first walked in."
Rory shrugged. "I thought she was going to talk badly about you…"
Rin snorted out a laugh. "And you were going to throw it all away for me?"
Rory nodded as he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Rin's waist. "Yeah, I think I would…" He was silent for several minutes as Rin pulled him onto his lap and wrapped him in a tight embrace, placing light kisses on the top of his head and his ears. "Did you really mean all the things you said to her?"
"Every word… every word I said to her and you. I love you, Rory. I want a life with you for better or worse, with some little blonde-haired, angel-faced hellions running around some day." He placed a kiss on Rory's neck this time. "Is that too much too soon?"
Rory shook his head. "No… I just never imagined it would be a possibility for me, that's all."
Rin chuckled. "Never thought it would be something I'd want either…"
Rory's face heated as the thoughts from earlier returned. He leaned back on Rin's lap. "Rin… I… I have a confession…" He gulped down his apprehension as he clasped Rin's shoulders. "I… I've never…"
Rin's eyes widened, knowing exactly what Rory was about to say. "My little prince is a virgin?!"
Rory's entire face, neck, ears, and chest turned four more shades of red. "Hardly! I've just never… put it in…" He couldn't even bring himself to meet Rin's eager, sparkling eyes.
"So, you're a virgin in the front!" Rin hooked his finger under Rory's chin and forced his gaze up. "We need to remedy this tonight!"