Saint narrows his eyes at me. He says something to Noah, who gets off his knee. I walk back out with Saint and Knox following and shutting the door. “What’s up? Because if this is to rant about me talking to Memphis, then forget it.”
“No, it’s not. I know you don’t have the same issues I have with him.”
“It didn’t look like there were any issues with him when you had your tongue in his mouth and your hands on his arse. Don’t play games with him, Royal.”
“That’s not what this is about.” I tell them what Kris told me.
The anger is visible on their faces as they listen. I’m not surprised by the snarl Saint lets out; his lifestyle is more like Rees’. And treating a sub badly is the ultimate sin. “I’ll fucking kill that bastard. I’ve never liked him.”
“We’ll sort it together. He won’t get away with hurting our brother.” Knox already looks ready to maim.
“You’ve got plenty on your plate to deal with, Royal. You need time with Memphis; you’ve got talking to do. We’ll go to Bound tonight.”
I don’t like this idea; we always stick together. It’s how it’s always been. I look towards the office and know I have to lethim do this. “Drake isn’t going to be happy with us interfering, you know that. Tell me what happens.”
“I will. I’ll call rather than come over, You’ve got a lot to work through.” Saint grins. “But be sure, brother, because that boy’s got it bad for you.”
“I not telling you anything until we’ve talked, but I’m hoping it will be okay. He’s got a lot of explaining to do.”
Saint accepts that with a nod before opening the door again. “Come on, trouble. We’ve got things to do.” Noah stands up, gluing himself to Saint’s body. Those two are total exhibitionists; it wouldn’t take long to have them fucking in here, even with us present.
I look at Memphis. “I’ll go and get showered. It won’t take long.”
Waiting in Knox’s office while Royal showers feels like I’m waiting for the headmaster to decide my punishment. I jump when the door opens, and he comes back in dressed in a pair of black jeans and T-shirt.
“Thanks for waiting, Memphis. Are you ready for some food?”
All the magnetic energy from earlier has gone, and the barrier I saw around him at Bound is back again. My stomach drops as I wonder if this is worth it. I’m obviously going to have to strip everything I’ve kept locked inside me open, baring my deepest thoughts. Is he going to give anything back to me? “I don’t know. Is this going to be an inquisition, something that lets you decide whether I’m worthy of you, of being your boy. Because I don’t have to justify every action I’ve taken for the last seven years.”
“Is that what you think is going to happen? I thought we were going to dinner and to talk, to get to know each other again. There are things I want to know, to understand… But fuck, Memphis, I can’t get you out of my head.”
We stay staring at each other for a few long seconds, until I nod. “Okay then, I like Italian.”
“Me too.” He steps up to the door and opens it for me. Okay, no hand holding, either. It’s going to be hard work gettinganything from him. I need to be open and honest with him, to show him I’m serious about this, about making us an us. A couple. A Daddy and his boy.
“I know, I remember. I remember a lot about you, Royal. You’ve always been in my mind,” I tell him softly. He pauses, and there’s pain rather anger in his eyes.
“Then why did you leave me, us? You walked away from the whole family. And it hurt.”
“I’ll tell you, Royal. I promise I’ll tell you why. Although, it shouldn’t be too difficult for you to work out.” I hope he’s not going to play the no clue card, because he must have known how interested in him I was. Robin saw it and even warned me to be careful. Stupidly, I thought Royal would just get it and swoop me up and claim me.
We head out of the gym to the car park. “Do you have your car here,” Royal asks me.
I nod and point to the dark blue BMW. “I can follow you, or it can stay here. I’ll collect it later.”
“This way then.” He walks towards the muscle car that out of all the cars parked here, I would’ve guessed was his. “Why are you smiling?”
“I knew that would be your car. It suits you.”
“Thank you. I love it.” He opens the passenger door for me. As I bend to climb in, his fingers sweep over my nape. I look over my shoulder at him, and he’s staring. “What’s wrong?”
He smiles. “I’ll tell you when we’re in the car.”
I slide into the leather seat and inhale, taking the scent of leather polish and Royal deep into my lungs. I can smell his cologne, his deodorant, the rich, manly aroma of him. I want to wrap it around me until I get the chance to explore his body and breathe him in.
The engine roars to life, the vibrations rumbling through the floor and seats as Royal revs it. A boyish grin spreads over his face, like he’s doing something naughty. “You’re still a big kid.”
“I think that’s you, little one.”
