Chapter 23
Toby appreciated that Roper was usually settled in the mornings. The boy would enjoy his coffee and sit with Whiskey, sometimes watch some TV. Roper didn’t usually start to push until later in the day.
But today it started halfway through breakfast. His boy had been snarky and contrary before Toby had even finished his first cup of coffee.
He really wasn’t surprised. Charles had called last night to let him know he was back in New York and asked him to bring Roper to lunch today.
He’d almost said no, thinking his boy needed more time to warm up to the idea, but he was glad he hadn’t.
Several days of this kind of anxiety would tear them both up.
“Have you decided what you’re wearing?” Roper had been standing in front of the closet forever. There wasn’t much in there but several different pairs of jeans. “It’s time to pick something, boy.”
“It’s turning off cold. I’m going to wear jeans and a sweatshirt. I imagine Mister Perfect will be in a sweater vest and a bow tie.”
“Charles is never without a tie. It must be boring to be so perfect,” he teased, deciding he would also wear jeans and a plain sweater. Solidarity was important today.
“No shit. They deserve each other, you know?”
“Be kind, Roper. I’m sure they say the same thing about us. And they’d be right.” He went to his boy to help him dress. Roper was always calmed by touch.
“I’m way more fun than Ry. You wouldn’t like being his Dom.”
“You’re right, I probably wouldn’t. But Charles does, and that’s what matters.” Hopefully Charles had worked with Ryder on his manners. The boy needed to accept that Roper was happy.
“No, what matters is that you like being mine. Pay attention, Professor.”
“That’s my line, brat.” He blew a raspberry on the side of Roper’s neck. “Add two. Your ass is going to be sore tomorrow.”
“Good.” Roper nodded. “I think by tonight, I’ll need you.”
“You need me now. You’re going to need me all through lunch. And you’ll need me after. And I’m here for all of it, kitten. We’re a team.” He meant that. He might be a Dom, but a Dom couldn’t be who he needed to be without a sub giving him that gift.
“You know it. I need you now. Yesterday. Tomorrow. Always.” Roper turned to catch his gaze. “But tonight, I need your hand, too.”
“Quit making demands. You’re so pushy.” He grinned and let Roper go so he could get dressed too.
“Yep.” Roper wiggled his ass, laughing softly. “You going to punish me?”
“Of course. But I shouldn’t, since it makes you too damn happy.” He pulled on a black sweater. “Are you ready yet? Charles is sending a damn car for us.”
“Fancy assed people.” Roper offered him a quick grin. “I mean seriously, we have enough, just getting ready to go to school.”
“We do.” Two academics under one roof. They were going to have so much fun pretending to be dry and boring. “Come on. Get your shoes on, it’s time.”
“Okay.” Roper frowned. “I want to wear my boots, but…”
But that not only caused pain, it caused damage.
“No boots. Sneakers. You know better.” He sighed. “I want you whole tonight.”
Roper nodded, rolled his shoulders. “Me too. Still, it sucks. I may ask around, see if I can find something that looks more like a boot for going out, dancing.”
“I’m sure we can find options. There are people with all sorts of accommodations at the club.” And eventually the swelling would resolve, and Roper might be able to wear them for short periods of time. But boots weren’t important compared to his boy’s health.
“Yeah. You got you a bionic cowboy.” Roper winked at him, flexing playfully.
He snorted, hustling Roper along. “You just get cooler every minute.” His phone rang and he fished it out of his pocket. “The car is here.”
Roper rolled his eyes, but didn’t comment, just goosed him on the way down the stairs.
“That’s another one.” He swatted at Roper’s hand.
As soon as they got into the car it drove off, apparently knowing exactly where they were going, and he turned to Roper, leveling him with a serious look.
“Listen. I probably don’t need to say this, but it’s just a reminder.
I want you to keep your cool. Your brother might not be able to process as quickly as you can.
Patience. Understood? You’re with me, I’m always in your corner. ”
“Right. I’m yours. If Ry pisses me off, I’ll just squeeze your hand. I’m not his fucking enemy. He has his own life that he loves.” Roper held his gaze. “And I do too.”
He knew that was true, but it always made his heart pound to hear it.
“You’re not enemies. He might not understand who you are at first, who we are together, but he will.”
“Or he won’t. That’s on him. Not me. I’m looking forward to having this done, you know?”
He rolled his eyes. He understood, but this wasn’t a “get it over with” kind of thing. “I’m looking forward to the two of you listening to each other.”
Roper shook his head. “You don’t understand, Professor. I mean, I’m ready for this to be over, so that we can get to the being cool part.”
“You’re right. I misunderstood. I’m looking forward to that too.” Sometimes he had to interpret his boy, and he didn’t always get it right. “I really want that for you both.”
“Yeah.” Roper’s hand slipped down over his thigh. “What do you want to do after lunch? Something fun?”
“Let’s see how things go, but sure. Bryant Park maybe.” It was close to Charles’ private club, where they were meeting. “We might need to wander and remind ourselves how real people live.”
“I hear you. I mean, do you think they’ll let me steal a couple of silver spoons?”
He laughed. “I would make you return them and apologize like your mom did when you stole bubblegum from the drug store when you were five.” Didn’t every kid do that at least once?
“Would you swat my hand, too?” Roper was in fine form, that eyebrow arched.
“No. Your ass. As you well know, I believe in spanking naughty subs.”
“Every goddamn day, Professor.”
He couldn’t help his smile. “Every day, whether you need it or not.”
But Roper always needed it, and it was good for him too.
The car pulled up on a quiet side street in front of an awning over a fancy set of heavy, wooden doors. The driver opened the passenger side door for them. “All right. Let’s go.”
“Can’t wait.” Roper stole a quick kiss, popped his ball cap on, and slid out of the car.
He let Roper lead the way. Just as they approached the doors, they opened and a doorman in uniform held it for them. “Mr. Taylor and Mr. Vales?”
They both nodded.
He almost answered with “Professor Taylor” just to be funny but decided he didn’t want to test the doorman’s sense of humor. He glanced at Roper and winked.
“This way, please.”
“It’s Dr. Taylor, by the way.” Apparently Roper wasn’t going to let it slide.
Charles and Ryder were waiting for them in a small bar area with lots of dark red leather furniture and gold carpeting.
“Tobin. Roper. Welcome.” Charles—who was indeed in a suit and tie—got right up and offered his hand to each of them.
“This is very fancy.” He shook hands with Charles and held it out to Ryder, as Roper took off his hat and stuffed it in his back pocket.
Ryder shook his hand, and there was a marked difference to the twins now. Ryder was clean-cut, dressed in a button-down and a bolo tie, boots shined to within an inch of their lives.
Roper was letting his hair grow out, was looking cock-sure and confident, the tight black sweatshirt making those pretty eyes shine.
They were both gorgeous, but only one was his. The hotter one.
“Thank you both for joining us. I have a room—come with me.”
“Thanks.” He took Roper’s hand and held it tight, but he was watching Ryder, who’d been very quiet, trying to get a read on the boy. It seemed like Ryder was trying to be on his best behavior.
Roper, on the other hand, was a live wire, a wicked imp ready to play.
Heaven help him.
The room was very private; a round table sat right in the center, covered with a white tablecloth, holding place settings in silver, and crystal water glasses.
“There’s a bar over there; help yourselves if you’re interested.” Charles was not, apparently, and took a seat at the table.
“I’ll have an iced tea,” he said to Roper, and took a seat opposite Charles.
“Come on, Roper. I’ll help you. Do you want a beer?” Ryder led Roper away. “Did you wear a gimme cap in here?”
“Did you come here bare-headed?”
Toby cleared his throat loudly. “Add a couple of slices of lemon, boy.” A little reminder of who Roper belonged to couldn’t hurt.
“You got it, Professor. I’ll make sure you’re covered.”
Charles raised an eyebrow, and that left him little choice. He had to. “Manners, brat, or you’ll spend lunch facing the corner.”
“Yes, Professor!”
There was no sarcasm in his boy’s voice—a little teasing, yes, but no meanness.
Brilliant boy. He was so in love it was dangerous.
“How was London?”
“Gorgeous. We ended up heading over to Paris and spending an extra week. It was lovely.” Charles chuckled. “We’re going to be making our way home soon, and I have to admit, I’m ready for a few days with nothing to do or see, for my boy to cook for me.”
“It’s always nice to get home to your own bed.” He’d traveled a little. Not as extravagantly, but that wasn’t his taste anyway. He’d been to Paris and London and loved them both. “Ryder likes to cook?”
Charles looked a bit confused. “He does. He cooks all of our meals. Does Roper not cook?”
“Oh, I enjoy cooking. But Roper makes sure I’m well fed when I don’t feel like it.” The boy could order Uber Eats with the best of them. “I doubt we’ll need to eat at all tonight.”
“Oh, well, I’m glad you both have what you need. I apologize for Ryder when last we met. He was taken by surprise.”
“They were both surprised, for sure. I probably should have contacted you so we could have prepared them better. It didn’t even occur to me.” That was his mistake. Roper wasn’t great with surprises like that.