Chapter Twenty-One
Ryker
Ryker and Wes fell into a deep sleep after
their second round of lovemaking. Ryker woke up shortly after
seven, his body still wound tight around Wes, their legs and arms
tangled together as Wes snored gently. Ryker took the opportunity
to quietly study Wes’s beautiful face, taking in the long lashes
fanning out over freckled cheekbones, the swollen lips, the dark
blond stubble. He still couldn’t believe that Wes had changed his
itinerary and flown out here. For him. Ryker was so affected by
this man, he was at a loss for words. Ryker fell a little bit more
in love every minute they spent together. Was this crazy? A bad
idea, given their work partnership? Should he be worried?
Yes, yes, and yes.
But for once in his life, Ryker ignored his
rational brain and let his feelings guide him.
But the sexy morning wake-up Ryker had
anticipated with Wes was rudely interrupted by Spock pushing open
the bedroom door, jumping on the bed, and licking their faces.
“Whoa, Spock, stop it!” Ryker couldn’t help
but laugh as his excited pooch jumped between him and Wes, unable
to decide who he was more excited to see. Wes lifted his head, his
blond hair sticking up every which way and his hazel eyes sleepy.
He grinned when Spock nuzzled his face and licked his jaw.
“Oh, Spock, thank you for the morning kiss,
even though I was kind of hoping your daddy would get to me first,”
he joked as the dog wagged his tail in Ryker’s face.
“That’s life with fur babies, right? We come
in second.” Ryker winked as he grabbed Spock and hauled him into
his arms. “I put them in the spare bedroom last night, but I
must’ve forgot to push the door fully closed. He’s a bit eager for
some loving.”
“I can see that.” Wes smirked and leaned
forward, capturing Ryker’s lips in a slow, sultry morning kiss,
which was rudely interrupted by Spock’s wet nose poking between
them.
Ryker reared his head back and laughed.
“Okay, sweetheart, let’s go for a walk.”
“Have fun, Spock,” Wes murmured as he
stretched out on his back.
“I was talking to you, big dick.” Ryker
smirked at Wes, who threw back the covers and rolled out of
bed.
“Slave driver,” Wes said as he sat up again
and finally got out of bed. He made a big production of stretching
his arms over his head, providing Ryker with a close-up view of his
naked body.
Ryker’s smirk faded as he zeroed in on Wes’s
perfect ass, marred only by Ryker’s love bites. Wes turned his head
and waggled his eyebrows. “Caught ya.” He laughed, then sauntered
into the bathroom.
Ten minutes later, Ryker and Wes walked out
into the warm spring air to stroll through Central Park. Spock took
the opportunity to sniff every single post, person, and tree trunk
along the way. On their way back, they stopped by a French-style
bakery for chocolate croissants and headed back up to the
apartment. Ryker made café con leche, and they spread out in
the living room. The two cats wandered over and immediately jumped
on Wes, willfully ignoring their owner.
Ryker was afraid to ruin their limited time
together with potentially awkward relationship talk, but he knew he
couldn’t put it off forever. He’d have to find the right time. And
the right words. Ryker rubbed his bracelets absently.
“I notice you wear those bracelets all the
time. Is there any special meaning to them?” Wes asked.
“No special meaning. I count the beads or
rub them if I’m feeling anxious. I guess they’re sort of like worry
beads. And, according to Cal, they’re hipster cool, so you know, I
make a fashion statement,” Ryker rolled his eyes.
“They suit your Zen-meets-rockstar style.”
Wes gently grasped Ryker’s wrist to take a closer look. “I like the
color and texture. It’s very natural and warm, just like you.”
They kissed again.
“Hey,” Ryker whispered against Wes’s lips,
deciding that it was now or never. “So, I’d like to keep seeing
you, exclusively, and not just to write our books.” Ryker held his
breath, his gaze roving over Wes’s face, gauging his reaction.
Wes’s golden eyes glowed even brighter when
he smiled. “I want that, too. I think I made that clear when I
suggested we forego the condoms and I agreed to go away with you
for the weekend,” he teased, but then shifted his tone. “It may not
be easy, though, with you living here and me in Toronto, and our
books, and my travel. Are you sure you want to make a go of
it?”
Ryker opened his mouth to answer, but
Spock’s bark interrupted them. Ryker laughed and pointed to his
brown-eyed pooch, who was sitting directly in front of them.
“That’s a yes!”
****
Wes
I’m in a relationship. Say it again.
I’m in a relationship.
Wes was still in shock. Wait until he told
Grey. And Luca. Well, Luca already knew given Wes’s change in
travel plans, but he hadn’t talked to him since. He had a feeling
he was due for some serious razzing by his closest friends once
they found out he was trying out monogamy for the first time in
three years. Especially since he’d sworn he’d never put himself in
that vulnerable position again. But Wes didn’t give a fuck—he was
so happy, he didn’t care what they would say.
After their talk over breakfast, Wes and
Ryker showered together and made their way back to bed for two
hours, where the sex was slow and sensual. But then they had to
return to reality. Wes needed to make work calls, so Ryker showed
him the den and the sleek, modular desk where he could set up his
laptop.
“I’ve got to call my agent back anyway, so
I’ll be a while. Take all the time you need,” Ryker said.
With that, Wes settled in and used FaceTime
to call Luca.
Luca’s smiling face and green-tipped hair
popped up on the screen. “Good afternoon, Mr. Romance,” he said
with a chuckle.
“Jesus, please don’t call me that.
Ever.”
“How about Sleepless in LA? No, this
is more like When Harry Met Sally. Sorry, When Wes Met
Ryker! Was your reunion like that scene in The Notebook?
Did you sweep Ryker up into your arms and kiss him in the rain?”
Luca joked.
Wes had lifted Ryker up his arms in
the hallway at one point and carried him to bed, but he wasn’t
about to give Luca any more romantic ammunition with which to tease
him.
“Are you done?” Wes couldn’t help but laugh
at his friend’s antics. “Get it out of your system, Luca. I did
call about actual work, so maybe we could get to that? Have you
reworked my schedule? When do I fly out to Portland?”
“Wait a minute. You—Wesley Stewart, sworn
bachelor—rearranged two days in your schedule to fly back to New
York to be with Ryker, and you think I’m just gonna let that go?
Come on, Wes, you know me. Tell me everything! Was Ryker surprised?
How much sex did you have? Are you two officially a couple?”
Wes’s face heated at the mention of the word
couple.
“I’m only going to say this once, because
this conversation is really painful for me. Yes, he was very happy
to see me. I will not answer the second question, but you can take
a guess based on the permanent grin on my face. And finally, yes,
we’re a couple. And exclusive. Happy now? I haven’t even told Grey
yet.” Wes watched the screen as Luca’s face lit up.
“Oh, my God, I am so happy for you, Wesley!
Wait, I only met Ryker on that video call the other day. Please
tell me I can interrogate him to make sure he’s good enough for
you.”
Wes laughed. “You have his number. Call him
up if you’d like.”
“Already added it to my to-do list. So, you
haven’t told anyone else yet?” Wes shook his head, and Luca
continued, “Can I be the one to tell Big Mac? I really want to
witness his head exploding from this news. Do you think he’ll be
okay, or will he freak out over the implications for the book
deal?”
“I don’t know, and I honestly don’t care if
Mac is pissed. This relationship was the last thing I expected, but
it feels right. And I’m not changing my mind. That being said, he
is Ryker’s friend, so I would prefer that Ryker tells him what’s
going on.”
“You know, New York would be a fabulous
setting for a fall wedding,” Luca hinted, clearly looking for any
excuse to get his event planning business underway.
“Stop right there. We just agreed to see
each other. Save your wedding planning for someone else.”
“Speaking of planning, I re-booked your
travel. You’re on the eight forty-five flight tomorrow morning.
Hotel and all the other deets are being sent to your inbox as we
speak. Anything else I can do?”
“I’m good. Thanks, Luca. Talk to you
soon.”
Wes ended the call and headed to the living
room in search of his partner in crime. Ryker was standing in front
of his writing board, adding Post-it notes while Spock sat at his
feet. Wes noticed that Ryker was wearing his black-rimmed glasses
again, the ones that made him look like a sexy, albeit
longer-haired, version of Clark Kent. The sudden image of Ryker
naked except for his specs got Wes hot. Again. Jesus, this man
is going to be the death of me. It was at that moment that
Ryker turned and smiled knowingly at Wes.
“How’s it going, Mr. Romance?” Ryker doubled
over laughing.
“You heard that? I guess Luca is a bit loud.
Jesus. I have to call Grey next. He’s going to be just as bad.”
Ryker shrugged. “Don’t worry, Cal and Mac
will do the same to me. We’ll just annoy them all with lots and
lots of PDA.” He smirked.
“You’re an evil genius,” Wes murmured as he
wrapped his arms around Ryker from behind and pulled him in tight,
Wes’s suddenly stiff prick finding a perfect home in the crease of
Ryker’s luscious ass.
“So, when do you leave?” Ryker asked,
tilting his head to the side as Wes nuzzled his neck and nipped at
his ear.
“I have to be at the airport by seven
tomorrow morning. Which means we only have another fifteen and a
half hours together. Which means we need to get naked. Now.”
“I thought you’d never ask.”