It would be fine. Jem had practice being in the public eye, had even been on TV during a few of his college golf competitions. Anyway, it didn’t matter if people liked him. He was only there to keep River from going home with—Jem wasn’t exactly sure who, but someone River’d regret in the morning.
If River was going to regret sleeping with anyone, it should be Jem.
Hmm. No. The coffee had not kicked in yet. Jem grabbed his towel and poured himself a third cup.
He finished that and a late lunch, not knowing what sort of fare might be served at a film premiere, then compulsively vacuumed and tidied since experience had taught him that River was likely to show up at his door with a gift.
At least on Sunday it’d been a snack bouquet. Jem didn’t have room for two enormous flower arrangements. Plus, he’d had sustenance to get him through the difficult report card days.
Last week’s flowers were still full and beautiful when River’s knock came. Jem checked his reflection one last time—God he loved this stupid jacket—and opened the door.
It took him a moment after that to remember to close his mouth.
Self-consciously, Jem wet his lips. “Hi.”
Was he staring? He was totally staring. Just, River had declined to tell Jem whathe’dbe wearing, so Jem had no way to prepare himself for the way the deep red fabric of River’s—Jem had no choice but to call it a dress—clung to the angles of his body. But despite the plunging neckline—he was goingto be flashing his nipple rings off and on all night—and the uneven hem that rose halfway up his thigh, the effect was far from feminine. The smooth planes of his chest, scrawled with too many tattoos to catalog in polite company, made clear that River’s lean body held the power to keep an audience of twenty thousand fans screaming on their feet.
Then there was the collar-style necklace, a bulky gold, glittery thing studded with rubies, sitting just above River’s collar bones, and a matching bangle on his right wrist.
If Jem thought about the shoes, he would stroke out. The only way he could’ve prepared for this outfit was if he spent the whole day jerking off.
“Hi.”
River had a good voice. Jem knew that, of course; he was a professional musician. But it hit different when he was dressed likethis—for seduction, of someone’s camera if not Jem personally. It was warm. It purred.
Jem was glad he’d been forced into these particular jeans. His dick didn’t have enough room to get hard.
“You….”Breathe, Jem, you moron.“You look great.”
River grinned and held his hands out to his sides. “This old thing?”
Jem laughed. Okay. This was fine. He could handle this. Maybe River looked like a walking wet dream, but he was still River—the weird, sincere, funny rich guy with terrible taste who Jem was saving from himself. “Yeah, I’m sure you had that just gathering dust in the back of your closet.”
“My closet is a many-splendored thing.” Some deft sleight of hand and suddenly River was holding a small box, which he presented to Jem. “Since the flowers still look so nice.”
Jem had texted him a picture of them last night. His mouth went dry. “The outfit wasn’t enough?”
River tsked. “Jem, I know your feelings about accessorizing. Now hold out your hand, please.”
Helpless to do otherwise, Jem obeyed.
He expected River to put the box in his palm. Instead, he opened it and took out the heavy-looking object inside. He slid the gold metal band onto Jem’s wrist, slow but sure, his musician’s fingers callused against the suddenly sensitive skin over Jem’s pulse. For a handful of seconds, he was sure River could feel it racing.
Then the clasp latched and River released him to admire his new hardware.
The watch didn’t quite match River’s bracelet, but the styles were similar enough that they must be part of the same jeweler’s collection. The black-and-gold links of the band were the same width as the clock face, which was so conspicuously plain-looking that it must have cost a fortune.
“What do you think?” River ran his hand down Jem’s arm to his fingers, then raised his hand for his own inspection.
Jem thought he would be very lucky if he didn’t embarrass himself completely before the night was through. He swallowed. “It’s gorgeous.”
River hummed in obvious pleasure. “Good.” He tangled his fingers through Jem’s. “Ready to go?”
Jem absolutely was not, but he suspected he’d follow River anywhere anyway. He summoned all his confidence and said, “Let’s go.”
This time River had a driver. Jem got in the back of the car with him and they were whisked away toward the venue. River opened a tiny fridge. “Beverage?”
“Are you going to try to guess again?” But then Jem shook his head. “Better not. Don’t want to pass out halfway through the movie.”
