Rory (Coded for Love 1)

Sky watched as he unlocked the door. He used two keys on two separate locks, turning both at once. He really was security conscious. Why was that? Were those guys he was mixed up with into more than computer hacking? She kept her questions to herself. This was a date and she wanted to treasure it and not ruin it by talking about stuff he got irritated about. She’d learned her lesson on that score the night before.

Inside the house, he took her jacket, hanging it up on the end of the banisters. She peered about, trying to get a feel for his home.

“Have a look around. I’ll get started on the lasagna.”

Sky nodded, but her attention remained on him and she followed him into kitchen. He quickly got busy at the chopping board. She watched, enjoying just being able to drink him in. “As I recall your cooking efforts used to center around the sandwich toaster.”

“I’ve picked up a few extra skills since then.” He chopped an onion and threw it into a pan. “Anything you don’t eat?”

“Mushrooms.”

There was a twinkle in his eyes. “Ah yes, mushrooms. I knew there was something that made you squeal in horror if you found it on your plate.”

She stuck her tongue out at him, then wandered off to look in the sitting room.

What she found was a typically all-boys house. A worn L-shaped sofa was strewn with remote controls and gadgets. Bike parts piled up in one corner of the room and game stations were stacked on the TV console. A stack of biker magazines teetered on the coffee table, next to which a coffee mug was growing mold.

She took the chance to go to the bathroom, which was filled with competing male deodorant and after shave lotions. The bedroom doors stood open but she did little more than peep in, seeing as she didn’t know which room was Rory’s. She was curious though. Perhaps he’d show her, later. A tingle of anticipation ran through her, keeping her edgy and wired. As much as she wanted to give his offered meal her full attention—he was going to a lot of effort—she also really wanted to get closer to him, physically. Her first time was behind her. Her appetite for more of Rory’s lovemaking had been growing by leaps and bounds.

By the time she’d had a good look around and got back, he was layering pasta sheets and sauce in a deep dish.

“I’m impressed.” She nodded at the food.

“You haven’t tasted it yet.”

“True.”

“Take a seat, I’ll open the wine.”

“That guy from last night, does he know where you live?”

He tensed and she thought he might not answer, but he did. “No. I only moved in here a few months back, I made sure he didn’t know.”

“Sorry,” she said quickly, “I promised myself I wouldn’t talk about it.”

“Let’s talk about you instead.” His gaze lingered on her.

“Okay.” Se wondered what she was letting herself in for.

“Something I wondered. Were you always called Sky?

She laughed. It wasn’t what she was expecting.

“I mean, is it your real name, on your birth certificate?”

“Yup, mum had become a fully-fledged pagan by the time we all came along. Rowan and Draco got off more lightly than me. Other kids didn’t call them out for their names as much as they did me.”

“You never took crap from anyone though did you?”

“No, in fact I was always far too ready to stand up for myself.”

The sound of his laughter pleased her. A deep gravely sound, genuinely amused. He flashed his eyes at her while he worked on the meal. “Isn’t that the truth.”

They held each other’s gaze, smiling. It felt comfortable for a moment. Normal even. “Why Rory? Was it a family name?”

“My Mum’s choice, it was her father’s name.”

“I never knew that.”