22. One of the Best #2
Theo’s room was smaller than Asher’s and smelled strongly of mint. The nondescript four-poster bed was made with nary a wrinkle. He opened the wardrobe and selected clothes from the hangers.
“Do you want me to stay while you shower?” Theo asked.
Asher nodded. While the spiked cider had initially calmed his nerves, alcohol on an empty stomach had left him a little dizzy, and he was afraid he might faint in the shower or fall down the stairs. Or run into Lev.
“I’ll be quick.” Asher took the stack of clothes and dashed into the bathroom.
“Take your time,” Theo called from the other side of the door.
Asher started the shower and stripped, winded and trembling by the time he peeled off the last of his wet clothes. He stepped under the steaming water and gasped as needles prickled all over his frigid skin.
“Are you okay?” Theo asked.
“The water’s hot. ”
Asher bowed his head beneath the spray, and scrubbed every inch of his skin, scouring away any trace of Lev and the ocean that had nearly drowned him.
“Do you want to talk about what happened?” Theo asked.
Asher paused. “No, thanks.”
“You’ll leave tomorrow, then?” Theo asked.
“Yeah.”
“I’m not sure I want to stay either.”
Asher paused mid-lather. “Why?”
How could anyone deny the chance to learn from Lev when they weren’t the object burning under his magnifying glass?
“Why would I stay when I’m pretty sure he hates me?”
“I’m sorry I ruined this for you.”
Theo laughed. “It’s fine. I came more for the artist than the art.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s just say I have no interest in spending the next six months celibate.”
Asher laughed politely, but inside he seethed. Even if Lev was known for his voracious appetite, an invitation to Lichenmoor wasn’t an invitation to sex. Lev would have been furious.
What about the other artists? Did they share Theo’s sentiments? Had some set their sights even higher? Why stop at sex when Lev had a fortune to harvest?
Cider curdled in his empty stomach, and jealousy crawled up his throat like heartburn. He’d been too distraught to give any thought to the fact that Lev would pick another artist to replace him.
His skin tingled icy-hot. The mint in the shower gel or the beginning of a panic attack? He rinsed off the remaining suds quickly and turned off the tap. Cold air swept in before the steam dissipated, and by the time he dried off, he was shivering again.
Theo hadn’t included underwear, sparing Asher the anxiety spiral of deciding whether to wear them or suffer the awkwardness of returning them.
He stuck his foot into the pant leg of a pair of black trousers and tipped to the side.
His arms windmilled until he caught ahold of the towel rack, but it broke off in his hand, sending him crashing into the cabinet with a yelp.
Theo knocked. “Asher?”
“I think Lichenmoor is trying to kill me.” A delirious giggle escaped his chest at the absurdity of nearly cracking his head while partially dressed in Theo’s slacks. Lev would have been furious.
“I’m coming in,” Theo said.
“No, wait.”
Asher wrenched his pants up, and scrambled to feed his arms into the shirt, but Theo walked in before he could get it over his head.
Theo’s brows nearly merged with his hairline at the sight of Asher’s upper half. “You have tattoos.”
If only the sea had swallowed him.
Theo glanced at the towel rack on the floor and back at him. “I’m sorry.” He cleared his throat. “What I should have said was, your tattoos are beautiful.”
Asher finished pulling the tee over his head. “Lev didn’t like them.”
“What an idiot.”
“I know,” Asher agreed.
“No. Not you. Him. If you had my art on your skin, I would have…” His voice took on a throatier tone. “I would have thanked you in any way you’d let me.”
Asher’s dick should have taken interest, but when he tried to imagine Theo’s art on his skin, all he saw was Lev’s.
“Lev made a mistake. He must be kicking himself.”
Mistake ricocheted through Asher’s brain.
“You still look pale.” Frowning, Theo plucked the sage green merino sweater from the counter and passed it to him. “Put this on. ”
When Asher emerged from the sweater’s neck hole, Theo reached out and touched his neck. “How did you get this?”
“What?” Asher looked in the mirror and slapped his hand over the hickey. “No. That was… It’s not a bruise.”
“I see…” Theo leaned closer to inspect it. “Did he…”
“Force me? No.”
“Okay. Good.”
“You don’t have a scarf, do you?”
“Wearing a scarf to dinner will draw more attention, no?”
Fuck. He’d forgotten dinner. Lev had commanded his attendance. Condescending dick. Theo would bring Asher a plate if he asked, but what if Lev insisted upon taking it up to him?
The idea of facing the other artists and their questions sounded even more exhausting than doing another lap on Lichenmoor’s path, but they’d provide a buffer. He’d eat quickly and go to bed.
“Then again, you look like you only narrowly avoided hypothermia…” Theo ducked out of the bathroom and returned with a velvety linen scarf. He knotted it loosely around Asher’s neck. “There.”
Asher thanked him, and Theo escorted him downstairs—down only a few steps, actually. Before they’d gotten very far, the front door opened with its characteristic metallic wail. Asher’s heartbeat ran off like a jackrabbit. He missed the next step and grabbed the rail.
“Careful, Asher.” Theo hurried to the step below and braced his hands on Asher’s shoulders. Lovely, dependable, stable Theo, whom Asher couldn’t seem to muster more than platonic feelings for.
“I’m broken.” Asher tipped his head back and blinked before he burst into tears and humiliated himself further.
Theo shushed him softly. “The only people who aren’t broken are boring.”
“Where is he?” Lev boomed like distant thunder .
Asher looked past Theo, panic mounting as Lev’s footsteps stomped up the stairs. He couldn’t face Lev. He’d take one look, and the open wound where his heart once lived would bleed anew.
“Your painting of Envy gave me an idea, but we must hurry,” Theo whispered in a rush, casting a glance over his shoulder before returning. “I think you’re handsome. Do you think I’m handsome, too?”
“Theo, I do, but…”
“I’m not Lev?” He smiled.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Right now, I need you to trust me.”
“Why?”
The question died unanswered at the rapid thunk-thud-thunk-thud of heavy footsteps on the stairs, haunting Asher for the second time that day like some horror film cliché.
“Trust me,” Theo repeated.
Lev’s thundering steps carried closer. Theo darted another glance over his shoulder, then jerked Asher toward him and kissed him with sexy confidence, sliding his tongue into Asher’s mouth when he gasped. It was one of the best kisses Asher had ever had, but it still didn’t come close to Lev’s.
He planted his palms against Theo’s chest and pushed.
“Sorry,” Theo whispered, looking not sorry at all.
“What’s this?” Lev said.
Asher jumped. He felt Lev’s eyes on him but refused to look, cowardly dropping his gaze to the creeping rose vines on the carpet runner.
“See you down there, Lev,” Theo said breezily, and dragged Asher by the hand past him.
Asher looked back before he turned the corner. Lev still stood on the same step, staring with stunned silence, ruddy cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red, lips parted with all the words he should have said.