Soren locked an arm around Toby’s waist when he swayed. “Christ, I find you so damn sexy.”
Toby worked his jaw open and closed a couple of times before his laughter filled the air. “Yeah? So, that was foreplay?”
“That wasn’t how it was intended, but I guess you could consider it a side effect.”
“God, we really are off our fucking rockers.”
Thewesettled somewhere inside Soren’s chest. “I thought crazy people didn’t know they were crazy?”
“That’s only partially true.”
“Well, regardless, trust me, I’ve known worse. Madi and Az damn near kill each other before they even kiss hello.” Soren cupped Toby’s chin, tilting it so he could place a kiss along the red blooming over his jaw. “No one legislates what qualifies as foreplay, Glasses.” His lips met Toby’s hungrily.
“Fuck,” Toby whispered. “I really hate that your nicknames are growing on me.”
“I know,” Soren said solemnly, then squeezed the doc’s waist. “How about you turn around and wrap your arms around that heavy bag?” He helped Toby along, smiling as Toby bit off the beginning of his question when Soren snapped the back of his waistband and then lowered his shorts to his knees.
“I’ve been sweating,” Toby protested as Soren slid his fingers between the seam of his ass until he found the spot that made the doc’s breath hitch.
“I’m a contract killer. Sweat doesn’t faze me, Doc. Besides, I think I like you sweaty.” Soren pressed open-mouthed kisses over Toby’s back and shoulders as he lowered his zipper and pulled his cock out, pressing the hard length against the doc’s ass cheek. “I think I’d like you any way.”
By the time Soren slid inside him, they were both drenched. The heavy bag Toby held onto swayed with every thrust, and after they both came and Soren slid from inside him, Toby grabbed towels from a rack and wiped them both down, then followed Soren into the kitchen.
Soren pointed to the package that had arrived, then retrieved the plate of steaks and carried them out to the grill.
“I’ll be back in a couple of days,” Soren started when he came back inside. Madigan had messaged him earlier about another job. Toby nodded absently as he sliced through the tape on the package. Soren set the plate in the sink. “I was thinking, when I get back, we could go out to eat at this place I looked up online. Brava. It gets three Michelin stars. A little upgrade from IHOP. Hopefully, they won’t kick me out on sight.” Soren’s grin faded as he glanced over at Toby. “What’s that face for? You don’t like Michelin stars?”
Toby shrugged. “Nothing.” He pushed the box aside. “That sounds good.”
Soren lifted a brow, unsure whether it was nerves flattening Toby’s affect or whatever was in the box. Giving into nosiness, he reached for the package and peeked inside when Toby didn’t stop him.
19
Tobias
Inside the plain cardboard box sat a snow globe. Well, a sand globe, really. Nestled on a bed of packing peanuts sat the water-filled glass orb. Within the glass, there was a bright pink flamingo and a tiny beach ball. When it seemed Soren wasn’t just going to let Tobias dismiss it, he pulled it free. White sand and glitter swirled within. The side of the base said Florida in bright yellow and blue script. Tobias’s gaze went to his watch. April 17th. He’d almost forgotten.
Tobias understood Soren’s furrowed brow. He’d probably never seen a snow globe stop somebody dead in their tracks before. On its face, it was nothing, just another meaningless item people attached sentimental value to before leaving it to collect dust on a shelf or in the back of a closet.
But, to Tobias, it was so much more. If he were a superstitious man, he would’ve thought he’d somehow conjured up this gift with all the talk of previous patients and kill lists. But he wasn’t. He was about facts and science, and the fact was, though the gift had meaning, it had no bite. It was another reminder. Another person looking to fuck with Tobias. Not that he’d let Soren know that. It wasn’t a big deal.
Soren had a job to do and he couldn’t spend the rest of his life babysitting Tobias. It really would be one of the least offensive things a patient had ever sent Tobias in the mail…if he didn’t understand it for what it was. Bragging. A trophy. A reminder of another time.
“Uh, you got a friend in Florida, Doc?”
Tobias sighed, placing the globe carefully back in the box. “Not to my knowledge.”
Soren stared at the box as if it contained a venomous snake. “Then what’s with the snow globe?”
Tobias shrugged. “No idea. I get strange items in the mail all the time. When you have clients like mine, this is par for the course. They think they’re being clever or that we share an inside joke.” It wasn’t a lie, exactly.
“And what does this guy think?” Soren asked, brow hooking upwards as he continued to peer into the box.
“That I need a vacation?” Tobias asked, doing his best to infuse some humor into his tone.
Soren studied Tobias in a way that made him feel warm and cold at the same time. It was strange how close they’d become. Tobias had spent his whole life keeping people at a distance, but now that Soren had scaled his defenses, he could easily see when Tobias was lying. He didn’t know what to do with that knowledge other than avoid lying by deflection or distraction, and distraction was definitely a much more satisfying endeavor.
“Are you sure that’s all this is?” Soren asked, the concern in his voice triggering a twinge behind Tobias’s ribcage.
