Maybe it’d made Bay feel guilty, Sila wasn’t sure, but after that he’d insisted on cleaning the entire bedroom on his own when they returned. He’d mentioned as much before, but Sila had sort of figured it was for their audience’s sake. He should have realized the professor didn’t bother with masks like that.
“Come here.” He held out his free hand, not removing the arm blocking out the city lights that streamed through the large floor to ceiling windows that made up practically the entire wall behind him.
He’d chosen this location because it was located in a rich neighborhood, close enough to Main Street for them to walk to all the restaurants and stores, yet far enough not to have to worry about being recognized whenever they left the house. It was two levels, the living area on the top floor, with an entire garage/work room taking up the bottom. When he’d purchased it, he’d told himself it was so he’d have space to play if he wanted.
Since the cat was out of the bag though, Sila admitted he’d done it with Bay’s hoverbike hobby in mind.
The idea of something so important to his kitten sitting at some other man’s house pissed him off.
Bay’s palm slipped into his and he let out a startled yelp when Sila pulled him, settling the older man’s body over his. “Take it easy!”
“I’m all right,” he reassured, finally moving so he could look up at him.
Bay’s blue hair was messy and his cheeks were flushed. Those golden eyes searched Sila, the concern there potent. Real.
“Worried about me, baby?” Sila cooed, moving his hands to Bay’s hips.
“It’s your fault,” Bay said. “You’re the one who woke me up.”
“Were you sleeping?”
“Like the dead.”
Sila chuckled. “You’re so funny.”
“I’m really not. You just don’t have a strong enough grasp on humor. I suppose that works in my favor though.”
“Does it?”
“I can keep you entertained.”
It was the note in his voice, the slight tremble, and the way Sila felt Bay’s heart skip a beat from how closely their chests were pressed together, that gave the professor away. Most of the events of their last time here were a blur in Sila’s mind, due to the fever that had raged through him. He couldn’t recall much of what had happened after he’d dragged Bay through the door by the ankle, in fact.
“Did I hurt you that badly?” he asked. Eyes roaming down Bay’s bare arms. In the t-shirt the man was wearing, it was impossible to tell. He couldn’t see any obvious markings in any case. “Kelevra made it sound like I’d broken you.”
“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” Bay replied. “And nothing permeant. Well.” He seemed to rethink his words. “Nothing other than the piercings.”
Sila frowned. “Piercings?”
“You really don’t remember any of it at all?” Bay sounded disappointed.
“Berga explained that I was poisoned before I even found you on the bridge,” Sila reminded. “I must have been sick long before either of us realized, and even if I wasn’t, the fever knocked me out and has made it difficult to recall much of anything leading up to when I woke in the hospital.”
“Yeah.”
“Where are they?” Sila stroked a finger down the curve of Bay’s left ear. “Was one here?”
“It was your earring,” he said. “I took it out because everyone would recognize it.”
“Too many people know about us now. There goes my plan of possibly locking you up.” He had a vague recollection of the earring though, now that it was brought up. And…
“I pierced your nipples too, didn’t I?” He placed a hand behind Bay’s head to hold him steady and rubbed their chests together, feeling the small bumps through their clothing. “Yeah, I did.”
“I liked it,” Bay reassured.
“Of course you did, Professor,” he smirked. “You’re a freak. Did it hurt?”
He nodded.
