Professional Distance (Thorne and Dash 1)

The end credits rolled, and Riley turned off the TV. Thorne lifted his head from Riley’s shoulder and smiled at him. Riley shivered at the sight of the longing in Thorne’s eyes. Thorne cupped Riley’s cheek in his hand, thumb lightly stroking him.

“Umm…I guess I’ll be heading out now,” Marc said.

Thorne nodded, but he didn’t look away from Riley.

“Maybe I’ll go see a movie or something.”

Riley waved in Marc’s direction. “Bye.”

A few moments later the door shut, and Thorne kissed Riley, his touch soft, gentle. When Riley had all the gentleness he could take, he sank his teeth into Thorne’s lower lip and sucked on the plump flesh. Thorne opened for him, letting him explore, taste, revel in him. Oh, how Riley had missed the intensity of his reactions.

“Riley,” Thorne groaned. The sound of his given name buzzed through Riley, making him even more desperate for contact.

As if sensing what he wanted, Thorne shifted, straddling Riley. He didn’t seem the least bit concerned that he was rumpling his suit pants. Riley slid his hands into Thorne’s hair, holding him in place as they kissed so frantically they seemed to be trying to consume each other. Thorne ground against him, and Riley arched up, trying to get more contact. Finally Thorne pulled back and stared down at Riley, panting.

Riley’s pulse whooshed in his ears, and the room spun. “Fuck.”

“Yeah.”

“I meant to go slow,” Riley confessed.

Thorne climbed off Riley and stood. “We never were very good at that.”

Riley fought the urge to reach for him as Thorne gathered his suit jacket and long wool coat from the chair where he’d deposited them.

“I need to get back to work, and if this goes any further…I’ll be trading slow for fast and hard.”

Riley almost ordered him to get on his knees and to hell with slow, but he forced the words back down. “Okay. I can wait until next time.”

Thorne studied him for a moment, seeming to look right into him. Did he know how much Riley wanted him? “Next time? You mean—”

“I want to see you for Christmas.” The words burst from him.

“I have to go to my parents’ for lunch on Christmas Day, but I haven’t made any other plans. I’d wanted us to be together, but I didn’t dare hope.”

“I want to see you, very much.”

“I’d bring you with me to meet my parents if you wanted me to.”

Riley sucked in a breath, shocked. “You would?”

“I would. I’m not ashamed of our relationship, if that’s what this is now. I would tell the world that I…that…”

Riley smiled. Thorne might not be quite ready to say those little words, but Thorne loved him. He was certain of it now.

“But my parents wouldn’t treat you with respect, and I won’t subject you to that.”

“How much do they know about me?” Riley asked, afraid of the answer.

“Nothing. I would never tell them how I met you. They simply wouldn’t respect any man I brought to their house as my lover. My sister Kathryn knows, but she doesn’t care how we ended up together. She encouraged me to find out if you’d give me another chance. I’ll introduce you any time you’re ready. If you want to meet her that is.”

Riley smiled at Thorne’s nervousness. “I do.”

The look of pure joy on his face made Riley reconsider the whole waiting idea once again.

“Can you come over on Christmas Eve? I’d love to spend the evening with you.”

Riley nodded. “I’m having dinner with Susan, but I’ll come over right afterward. I’ll even bring leftovers.”

“Perfect.” Thorne glanced at the door and then back at Riley. “If we’re truly waiting, I should go.”

Riley wasn’t feeling very patient, but he was determined. “Christmas is only five days away.”

“And I’ll be more eager than most kids for it to get here,” Thorne said as he slipped on his coat.

Riley smiled as he closed the door behind him. If things went well, this would be a very merry Christmas indeed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Thorne had never cared about holiday presents. Lauren had done his shopping in recent years, but for Riley, he’d need a perfect gift, and it couldn’t be expensive. Nothing too lavish. Of course he had every intention of giving Riley the painting he’d bought for him, or at least having Riley help him hang it. He’d agonized about a present since the night he’d stood in front of Riley’s apartment feeling ridiculous and praying his gesture would be enough. Like many risks he’d taken in his life, it had paid off. That was a good sign, right?

But what could he get Riley that he would believe was sincere? Thorne had considered a set of Brat Pack movies, but Riley probably owned most of them already. Then Thorne had hit upon an idea. It had seemed brilliant at the time; now it seemed absurd. Riley loved food and cooking; and every Christmas when Thorne was little his grandmother had made tiramisu. Just the smell of it meant Christmas to him. His mom hadn’t been much of a baker, so she’d bought the holiday desserts after Thorne’s grandmother died. But Kathryn had their grandmother’s recipes, so he’d called her.