“Okay, but text me if you need me. I’ve got my phone in my pocket.”
“I will,” Susan said.
Riley picked up a party tray, took a deep breath, and used his ass to push the swinging door open. When he turned around he nearly knocked Thorne down.
“I missed you,” Thorne said.
“I’m sorry.” Riley hated the thought that he’d hurt Thorne’s feelings.
“Why don’t we go find a secluded corner somewhere?” Thorne asked.
“I should take this tray around first. I haven’t been out of the kitchen yet.”
“I know.” Thorne grabbed a cupcake from the tray. He groaned when he tasted it, and Riley had to look away to keep from getting hard.
“God, that’s good,” Thorne said.
“Have another.”
Thorne chose a mini cannoli. He licked his lips dramatically when he’d finished chewing. “You have to make these for me one night.”
Riley smiled as he thought how fun that could be. “I will.”
“Go circulate and get rid of that. I need a moment with you.”
Riley was skeptical about letting Thorne get him alone, but he was also curious just how daring Thorne was feeling.
“See those doors?” Thorne gestured toward French doors that opened into a small sculpture garden.
Riley nodded.
“Meet me by them when your tray is empty.”
Riley studied Thorne. “What are you planning?”
“Nothing as nasty as you’re thinking.”
Riley didn’t believe him. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“I know I won’t have to wait long. Those pastries will be snapped up before you know it.”
Riley met his gaze, intending to thank him. Instead, he got lost staring.
“I wish I could kiss you right now,” Thorne said. “I’m so fucking proud of you.”
“Later.” The word came out breathless.
Thorne leaned close to Riley’s ear. “Are you saying you do want to get nasty after all?” Thorne asked, his voice seeming to brush over Riley’s neck.
Riley swallowed hard, and the tray shook in his hands. “N-no. That would be a terrible idea.”
“Yes, it would.” Thorne’s smile was pure sin.
Riley walked away before he got himself in trouble.
Kathryn had overseen the decorations, and the room looked fantastic. There were strands of soft lights around the trees like there had been at the holiday gala. The urns the trees were planted in were wrapped in a diaphanous pink material and were surrounded by screens with spring flowers painted on them. The room was just as crowded as it had been at the holidays. Had they really been feeding all these people?
Marc winked as he walked past Riley, his tray already half-empty. Should he go ice more cupcakes?
No. Susan would let him know him if she needed him. Despite how crowded it was in the reception hall, he felt like he could breathe properly for the first time that night. Was it stepping out of the kitchen, or was it Thorne?
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Thorne watched as Riley circulated, smiling at guests, charming them as they chose from the devil’s food cupcakes, mini cannoli, and shortbread wafers on his tray. He could tell how much they enjoyed the offerings by the ecstasy on their faces as they bit into the treats. The food was greatly in danger of upstaging the art, but Thorne didn’t mind at all. He also agreed with Kathryn’s theory that once everyone was full of Riley’s orgasmic cupcakes, they’d be extremely susceptible to suggestion. If they got off on large purchases like Thorne, they’d be aching to spend their money and keep the high going.
Riley beamed every time someone oohed or ahhed over the pastries. He looked so much happier than when he was practicing recipes or grumbling about classes. He reminded Thorne of the Riley who used to love cooking for him before he’d started school.
As Thorne had expected, Riley’s tray emptied rapidly. He handed it off to one of the other servers and headed toward Thorne. The way he moved, slow, sensuous, eyes never leaving Thorne. Fuck. It had been a while since Riley had turned on his seductive charm like that. Thorne was half-hard before Riley reached him, making him glad for the shadows where he stood. Though truthfully, if anyone saw them, Thorne didn’t care. This amazing man was his, and anyone who faulted him for wanting Riley was crazy as fuck.
Thorne grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked him through the doors into the courtyard, manhandling him into a position where no one could see them. He pushed Riley against the wall and kissed him hard.
“Fuck!” Riley whispered against Thorne’s lips when he could get a word out.
“Here?” Thorne wasn’t quite that far gone, not yet anyway, no matter how tempting it would be.
Riley looked up at him, eyes wide, lips swollen. He glanced around the column that hid them from view, studying the buzzing throng of people.
“This courtyard is like something from a nineteenth-century manor house. I feel like I’ve been whisked outside by some rake to be ravished.”