Rick went into the living room and picked up his old phone. He opened the notes app and wrote Elliot Hart at the top, then stopped and erased it, then typed it again. He added one more line under it without thinking too hard about what it meant.
Where are you working now?
He stared at the screen, then locked the phone and put it down. He stood still, breathing slowly, letting the anger simmer inside. Elliot had decided Rick was a joke.
Rick could live with a lot of things, but he couldn’t live with being laughed at.
Chapter Fourteen
They left the restaurant together, the warm air and chatter dropping away behind them as the door shut. The night was cold enough to bite, but not so bad that Allen regretted agreeing to the walk.
Rick was different. He wasn’t distracted like he’d been the last time they’d gone out. He looked at Allen when he spoke. He’d actually listened, not just waited for the right moment to respond. He’d asked questions and stayed for the answers instead of drifting off.
More importantly, Rick had touched him. Just small things like a hand sliding across the table to rest over Allen’s fingers while Allen talked. Rick’s thumb moving against Allen’s knuckle. Allen had tried to act like it didn’t affect him, but he’d failed.
Now, out on the sidewalk, Rick walked close enough that Allen could feel their arms brushing. They passed a couple heading the other way, and Rick shifted without thinking, stepping closer to keep Allen tucked on the inside of the path. His arm camearound Allen’s waist, and Allen’s breath caught. He didn’t stop himself from leaning in.
Rick glanced down at him. “Are you cold?”
“A little,” Allen said.
Rick’s hand tightened at his waist, and Allen felt himself smile in response. This was the side of Rick he liked most. The one that looked at Allen like he was the only person important to him.
They walked like that for a minute, their steps falling into rhythm. Traffic rolled past on the main road, and Rick kept his arm around him the whole way.
As they walked, Allen kept thinking about the other night and about the way Rick had taken control. The way Allen had said yes and meant it, and how his body had lit up from it. He hadn’t brought it up in the restaurant. The place had been quiet, and Allen didn’t want anyone overhearing.
They were almost at Rick’s car when Allen cleared his throat. “Can I ask you something?”
Rick glanced down at him. “Yes.”
Allen kept his voice low. “The other night.” He hesitated, then said it anyway. “You were… different.”
Rick didn’t slow down, but his hand tightened lightly at Allen’s waist. “Different how?” he asked.
Allen kept walking, his eyes on the sidewalk. He didn’t want to make it a big conversation out here, but he also didn’t want to pretend it hadn’t happened. “You were… different,” he repeated.
Rick was quiet for a moment, then asked, “Didn’t you like it?”
Allen shook his head. “No. I did.”
Rick stopped beside the car and turned to face him, his eyes fixed on Allen’s. “Tell me.”
Allen swallowed. It was embarrassing to say it out loud, but he didn’t want to dodge it either. “I liked you taking control.”
Rick stared at him. “You’re sure?”
“Yeah.”
“And you weren’t just going along with it,” Rick said. It wasn’t a question exactly. It was more like Rick was making sure Allen was telling the truth.
Allen frowned. “No. I wanted it.”
Rick’s gaze dropped to Allen’s mouth and came back. “So, you don’t mind.”
Allen shook his head. “I don’t want it like that all the time. I’m not saying I want it rough every time we’re together.”
Rick stood still, watching him. “But you did then.”
