Growling in pleasure, Maris ran his hands under Ture’s shirt, over the hard muscles. “You keep this up and you’ll never have to do paperwork again.”
Ture laughed as he cupped Maris then undid his pants. His breathing ragged, he slid to the floor, between Maris’s parted thighs. Just as he bent forward to taste him, Maris’s link buzzed with the unique tone that was reserved solely for Darling so that Maris never missed his calls.
Silently, Ture cursed the man’s timing.
Maris picked it up and answered it while Ture sat back on his haunches. He braced his elbow on Maris’s thigh and propped his head on his hand.
“No, it’s okay. Did you need something?”
Ture rolled his eyes. It really wasn’t okay. At least twice a week Darling interrupted them. The only thing that kept him from cursing them both was the knowledge that Darling was the sole reason he had Maris. More than that, Darling was the reason he was alive right now.
So it allowed him to accept something that would have normally made him insane.
“Yeah, I’ll be there in a few minutes . . . okay.”
Ture sighed heavily as he closed Maris’s fly.
“I’m sorry,” Maris said sheepishly. “The League is stepping up their efforts on our heads and he wants to—”
Ture interrupted his words with a kiss. “It’s fine, Mari. I told you. I’m not jealous. Irritated, but not jealous. And I’m not irritated at you.” Darling’s was the neck he wanted to wring. “Go on. I’ll take Ana’s gift home and have some chocolate mousse waiting for you when you get back.”
Maris brushed his finger down Ture’s cheek as he stared at him in wonder. True to his word, Ture had yet to get angry over Darling’s calls or whenever Maris went to meet him. Instead, Ture bribed him to hurry back with evil things such as the delectable mousse he made that melted in Maris’s mouth and left every tastebud in his head singing. “With extra topping?”
“Absolutely.”
Maris hesitated as Ture stood back. “Are you still going to love me after you’ve made me too fat for my clothes?”
“There will just be more of you to love.”
Rising, Maris pressed his cheek to Ture’s, and closed his eyes as he savored the warm scent of Ture’s skin. For the first time in his life, he was torn between wanting to stay and needing to go.
He’d almost told Darling it could wait. Never in his life had he felt that compunction.
Tonight he did.
And honestly, that scared the hell out of him. He didn’t like change. He never had.
But things were changing fast and he wasn’t sure if it was for the better or worse. Pulling back, he cupped Ture’s cheek. “I’ll return soon.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Maris nodded, yet as he left, he wondered how much longer Ture would be willing to wait.
CHAPTER 8
“You about done?”
Maris looked up from the orders he was placing to catch Ture standing in the office doorway. “Almost... Did you really mean to order two hundred radishes?”
An evil grin spread across his gorgeous face. “I did. You have something against the mighty radish?”
Maris held his hands up in surrender. “Not the cook, but yuck. However, if anyone could possibly make something so repugnant tasty, I have all faith in your abilities.”
Smiling, Ture moved to stand behind Maris’s chair so that he could review the order Maris was finishing up for him. “I still can’t believe you do this for me without complaint. I detest this part of the business.”
Maris shrugged as he leaned back in the chair. “Paperwork doesn’t bother me in the least. And it makes me feel more useful than ruining Hauk’s night when I beat him online. Not to mention the real reason I do it...”
“And that is?”
He turned the chair around and pulled Ture into his lap. “The sooner I get you home, the sooner I can ravish you.”
Biting his lip, Ture put his arms around Maris’s neck. “I definitely like that thought.”
Maris kissed him until someone cleared their throat. They looked at the doorway to see Anachelle standing there unabashedly.
“Guys? I really hate to intrude, but my water just broke.”
With a light gasp, Ture launched himself to his feet. In a total panic, he started to Anachelle, then turned back to Maris, then circled around again. It would be comical if Ana didn’t need to get to the hospital.
Maris caught him by the arms. “Breathe, baby. It’s okay. I’ll lock up and finish...and clean the water off the floor. You get her to the hospital, and I’ll meet you there.”
“Okay.” He panicked even more.
“Ture,” Maris said calmly. “Look at me, sweetie.”
He obeyed.
“Calm down. She’s not going to have the baby on you. I promise. Drive safely. It’s only five blocks away. Let her out at the emergency room doors, park and then head inside. Okay?”
“Gods, I love you, Mari.” He gave him a quick kiss then went to Anachelle to get her out of the restaurant.