Chapter 23 Present
The doorbell rang, and Ry leaped to his feet and shook out his arms and hands. He hurriedly fixed his hair in the mirror and adjusted the shirt he was wearing.
He answered the door. Alex stood there, a lopsided grin on his face. He wore a loose-fitting button-up, open to show a tight tank and shorts that barely covered the tops of his legs. He held a shopping bag in one hand.
“Come in,” Ry said, stepping aside.
Alex followed him inside. “Wow, I can’t believe you’re selling this place.”
Ry shrugged and pulled Alex closer by the ends of his shirt and kissed him lightly on the lips. “I have to. I’ve gotta pay for the deal and my lawyer, and it makes sense to sell this monstrosity. But might as well give a proper goodbye.”
Alex took Ry’s hand, and Ry led them both to the kitchen.
The savory aroma of butter and thyme potatoes roasting in the oven filled the room.
Alex set the bag down on the counter and unloaded it.
He pulled out a chilled bottle of sparkling water, a pre-made salad, and a decadent chocolate cake, placing them in the fridge for later.
He then leaned against the countertop and watched Ry.
“Cooking is new,” he said. “But damn, it smells great.”
“Brand and I have been taking some classes together,” Ry said. “It’s been a nice change of pace. Are you impressed?”
Alex laughed. “We’ll see how dinner turns out.” But he looked happy to be there.
“Did you want something to drink? I have lemonade, iced tea, and sodas too.”
“Good for now.”
Ry brushed up against Alex. “You look good,” he said, crowding Alex’s space. He had a divine scent: vanilla with a hint of spice, clean. He ran a finger up and down Alex’s biceps and down to his hand, taking it in his own hand and leaning close. “And you smell luscious.”
Alex wrapped his arms around him and pulled him in. Ry rested his head on Alex’s chest, and he relaxed into the embrace as he had so many years ago.
“Your hair smells good,” Alex murmured, rubbing circles on his back. “You’re so fucking cute. God, it’s nice to have you in my arms again.”
Ry chuckled and looked up into those emerald eyes. He fell into the sea of him, and he stretched up to kiss him. Their lips met, soft and tender. Alex had a flavor of mint and his own. Ry melted into the other man, leaning in with his full weight.
The timer rang out. Ry sighed into Alex’s open mouth. “How hungry are you?”
“For dinner?”
Ry playfully tapped his pec. “You pick.”
“Very.” His grin would be infuriating if Ry wasn’t also desperate for his touch, and for the food.
“Well, in that case, I should get the steaks on.” He patted the thick muscles of Alex’s chest and tried to push away. Except Alex still held him.
“I’m wounded you want to escape already,” Alex whispered to him, then nibbled his ear. “Can’t they wait a couple more minutes?”
Ry moaned and turned limp, letting Alex hold him upright. “Potatoes might burn.”
Alex nuzzled down Ry’s neck to his collarbone, pushing aside the shirt for a moment. “Don’t want that.”
“No.” Ry bucked involuntarily into Alex.
After they kissed again, Alex let Ry go, his hands lingering.
The steaks rested on the counter near the oven.
Before Alex had arrived, he’d salted them and added pepper.
Two stems of rosemary and a third he’d de-leafed and pre-washed, sat on a paper towel.
He’d use the small sprigs as garnishes and the leaves of the other as seasoning.
He glanced over at Alex, then set the cast-iron skillet on the stovetop and turned the heat to high.
“Can you get me the butter, please?” Ry asked. “It’s in the door, top shelf.”
Alex rooted in the fridge for a moment and handed over half a stick. He also had pulled out a cherry-lime soda. “You want something?”
“Would you make me an Arnold Palmer?”
Alex pulled the ingredients out. Ry hovered his hand over the skillet.
He wanted it to be hot, and it would take a few minutes before it reached the right temperature.
He unwrapped the butter and set it in the pan to melt.
With a knife, he chopped the rosemary, the pungent aroma sharp and piney.
Once done, he placed it in the skillet to bloom.
“Here,” Alex said, handing him the drink. “That smells fantastic. I think I like this Ry that can cook better.”
“Is it just because it’s steak?”
“That may have something to do with it,” Alex said. “Or the potato.”
Arms wrapped around him, Alex’s chin on his head. Ry’s pulse quickened, and he savored the closeness. “Careful,” he said. “Don’t want any accidents tonight.”
“Me too,” Alex murmured in his ear.
Ry grabbed the filets and set them in the pan to sear for a few minutes, spooning butter on top. Neither spoke. Every inch where they touched sizzled in the heat of the kitchen with Alex’s body covering his back.
Alex hummed something Ry didn’t recognize, but it soothed him as he cooked.
Once the steaks were seared on both sides, Alex let him go so he could set the skillet into the oven, taking time to check the potatoes which looked perfect.
He pulled them out and placed them on the cutting board to cool. He’d give them one final roast.
Alex sipped his drink, and Ry took a long swig from his beverage and leaned on the counter next to Alex. He reached over and took his hand, giving it a squeeze.
“Thanks for coming over,” he said, leaning into the bigger man. “It seems like we have to make up for lost time again.”
“Hmm?” Alex said, kissing the top of his head.
Ry nudged him. “You don’t remember? Back in high school? That first awkward date night we had?”
Alex laughed. “Oh god, I’d tried to forget how cringe I was.”
“I should have seen it, but I was too enamored.”
“Brand may have mentioned that you liked me,” Alex said. “I thought I was being obvious.”
“Maybe, but I was oblivious.” He squeezed and rubbed his thumb across Alex’s hand. “In my mind, there was no way you would even be interested.”
Alex brought their entwined fingers to his lips and kissed them. “Well, to be clearer this time, I like you.”
Ry rolled his eyes and nudged him. “I appreciate the clarification. However, the kissing has made it clear.”
The timer went off, and Ry let go of Alex to pull the skillet from the oven and set it on the stovetop to rest, placing some foil on top. “Want to have the salad now while this sits?”
Alex rested a hand on Ry’s lower back as he moved to the fridge and got the Caesar salad ready. Ry placed the potatoes back on broil and put a baguette he’d bought to warm up. The rest of the butter that he hadn’t used for the filets, he set out on the table.
In moments, they were sitting next to each other on the corners. They devoured the leafy greens. Ry then brought the main course out, setting the food down in front of Alex.
Ry cut into his steak, the juices flowing onto the plate, and took a bite. The sting of the salt on his tongue and the bright pepper mingled with the woody pine of the rosemary and the creamy butter. He moaned. “Oh, this is amazing.”
Alex had his eyes closed. “Fuck, Ry. Can we have this all the time, please?”
“Maybe, goddamn.” Next he ate one of the potato pieces, the crunch turning into velvet with the hint of lemony mint from the thyme. “It should not taste so good for being so easy to make.”
Alex grunted in agreement. “Still can’t believe you eat veggies,” he said around a mouthful of potato.
Ry covered his mouth and laughed. “I’m a new man.”
It didn’t take long to demolish the rest of the food.
Alex said, “I’ll get the cake out to warm up.”
Ry headed to the couch and sipped the last bit of his drink, content. Alex joined him, placing an arm over his shoulders and pulling him close.
“How was that for a celebratory feast?” Ry asked.
“Delicious,” he said, rubbing Ry’s shoulder. “Sania is a genius.”
He made a pleased sound and snuggled closer. “I didn’t think I’d be sad about Ghostfire being done and over.”
“We have a future,” Alex said.
“Yes,” Ry said. “I should have acted sooner.”
Alex shrugged. “I’m glad we are here, though. Who knows what would have happened if things had gone differently?”
“True.” Ry curled up on the couch, resting his head on Alex’s torso. “Is it too early to say I love you?”
Alex’s chest rumbled with laughter. “Probably not.”
“I never stopped,” Ry whispered, letting his hands explore the bigger man’s thighs. “Even in the worst of it. It ached to be so close and so far.”
“I know,” Alex pecked and mussed his hair. “Seeing you every day hurt.”
“Did you want to walk away?”
“All the time.”
Ry sighed. “I never could. If I had, it would have been curtains for me.”
“In some ways, I knew if I left, I’d never see you again,” Alex said. “The hardest was watching you fall apart, and I could do nothing to help. I was coming undone at the seams myself.”
Ry swung his legs and sat in Alex’s lap. “But we are here now.”
Alex smiled, his green eyes soft. “I love you too.”
Ry grinned, kissing Alex gently and wrapping his arms around the other man’s shoulders, letting his weight sink into him.
He tasted like dinner, a savory feast to enjoy again.
Strong biceps held him tight, big hands drawing soothing circles, slowly descending to his lower back and ass.
The kiss heated, and Ry could not have enough.
He pressed himself down and forward, cupping Alex’s head with his fingers, trying to bring his face closer, as if they could fuse.
He needed Alex more than air. Their noses brushed as their mouths crushed together.
Ry emitted sighs and whimpers, not caring how desperate he sounded.
Alex uttered the most sensual noises, and in moments their lips parted, and Ry nuzzled Alex, nipped at his earlobe, planting kisses on his nape.
Alex sighed with pleasure, his mouth slack and eyes shut.
Ry moved from the neck, kissing Alex’s throat, sensing it bob and contract with each gasp from his partner.