“Links you send me,” he pointed out.“Hello? Who reads slash on her lunch break? Just because it’swritten out in words with no accompanying pictures doesn’t make itany less pornographic. God knows it’s not literary.”
Roxie kicked his shoe with her Doc Martenboot as he unlocked her door. “Says you. I bet the most reading youdo is the TV Guide while you’re on the can. Speaking oflunch—”
“We weren’t.” Matt held the door open for herand stood aside, waiting for her to enter the office. When shedidn’t, he turned and saw the expectant look on her face. Shakinghis head, he started, “Oh, no. No. I have errands to run thisafternoon.”
“But did you bring your lunch?” Roxie wantedto know.
“I have things I need to do,” Matt told her.“I’ll just grab a bite—”
Roxie nodded as if it were settled. “So I’llcome with. We both need to eat, and in case you forgot, I don’thave a car. Where are you going anyway?”
Too late, Matt realized his mistake. “Nowherereally. Look, Roxie—”
“If it’s nowhere, then you can take me withyou when you go get lunch.” She breezed by him and clicked on thelight, illuminating the bank of halogens above her desk. “Jeez,Matt. It’s not like you’re making a condom run or anything,right?”
He groaned. “Roxie…”
Over her shoulder, she glared at him.“Right?”
“I have something to do,” he tried again.“I’m going—I have to stop by a jeweler’s, all right? Happy? I justwant to take my time and look around, without anyone hurrying mealong because we have to be back in an hour. I’ll grab somethingwhile I’m out but I really want to do this alone, you know?”
He expected a sarcastic reply, somethingbiting and bitter, but to his surprise, Roxie’s eyes had gone wideand her expression softened. Barely restrained excitement laced herwords when she spoke. “You’re getting the rings today?” sheasked in a girlish whisper. “Oh, take me, take me!”
Matt sighed. “Roxie, I don’t think…”
Clasping her hands together as if in prayer,she scrunched up her shoulders and hunched down, subservient.“Pleeeese? Pretty please? I’ll be good, I promise. I won’tsay a word. Oh, this is so exciting! I can’t believe it’sfinally going to happen!”
Matt rolled his eyes and pinched the bridgeof his nose, suddenly tired. “Roxie, really. You’re more strung outabout this than I am. I just want to look—”
“So we’ll look,” she assured him. “I’ll giveyou a woman’s perspective. Or wait—are you meeting up with Vic orsomething? Is that why you don’t want me to tag along? Because Itotally understand…”
“No,” Matt said, before thinking he couldhave lied and gotten out of having her tag along. “He hatesshopping, you know that. He’s basically told me to pick out therings. I know what he likes.”
A wicked gleam crept into Roxie’s eyes. Shegave Matt a salacious wink. “I bet you do. So what, we’ll leavearound twelve?”
For a moment, Matt didn’t answer. He wastrying to think of how to uninvite her in a way she’d have tolisten to, but he simply couldn’t see how. Once Roxie made up hermind to do something, nothing Matt might say would change her mind.She’d see him leaving at lunch time and follow right along behindhim or, worse, hang out at his car waiting. The sooner he gave intoher, the better off he’d be.
“Funny how the minute I start talking aboutVic, your attitude improves a hundred percent,” he grumbled. Hedidn’t answer her question, but he didn’t have to—she already knewas well as he did that she was going out with him at lunch.
“A hundred and ten percent,” Roxie corrected.“Don’t act like you don’t get nicer when you talk about him, too.He’s already your better half and you’re not even married yet.”
* * * *
During the week Vic didn’t need to be intowork until noon, so he usually slept until ten. At least, that’swhen his alarm went off. Most days it was Matt’s alarm clock thatwoke him up, four hours earlier. Though he’d drift back to sleep,he never really dropped into a deep slumber. Often he’d raise hishead, squint blearily at the clock, then drop back to the pillowwith an inarticulate grunt when he realized only a half hour hadpassed since the last time he looked. It was frustrating.
On days like that, he usually gave up anyhope of rest and instead climbed out of bed a half hour before hisalarm was scheduled to ring. He spent the extra time at the gym,working out before he had to be into work. If nothing else,stopping at the gym gave him a few moments with Matt, which alwaysmade Vic’s day.
Monday morning was proving to be one of thosewhere Vic knew he’d get up earlier than he wanted. He woke withMatt’s alarm and burrowed farther under the blankets while hislover took out the trash. By the time Matt returned from takingSadie out, Vic had almost managed to fall back asleep. Then Mattgot in the shower, and try as he might, Vic couldn’t block themental connection they shared. He didn’t want to, really—thesensation of water pounding down around Matt’s shouldersinvigorated Vic, and the fresh scent of Matt’s shampoo was brightin Vic’s mind. Every breath he drew seemed to inhale cleanliness.If he weren’t so damn tired, he might have risen to join Matty inthe shower.
Instead, he did the next best thing. With histelepathic ability, he massaged Matt’s shoulders and felt his lovershudder with delight beneath the weight of his thoughts. ::Thatyou, Vic?:: Matty asked, his silent words whispered into Vic’ssleeping mind.
In reply, Vic worked his way down Matt’sbody. His shadowy presence seemed to etch itself in the sudsyresidue as droplets of water coursed over Matt’s taut skin. GuidingMatt’s hands with his thoughts, Vic used them to take Matt’s cockbetween his palms. This time, Matt’s words weren’t so quiet—in thebedroom, Vic heard his lover gasp over the beating rush of runningwater. “God, yes.”
Warm, soapy, slick, Matt’s hands worked hisdick stiff, Vic only partially in control. In the other room Vicgroaned into his pillow and shifted on the bed, pressing histhudding erection
