Page 50 of Thrown

He grinned with heat at Robbie over the edge of his mug as he drank his tea.

That look fired something in Robbie that felt very much like the non-drunk version of Staffordshire. Now was not the time, though, so he pushed those feelings to the back of his mind.

“Duckie was the one who told me I had to ditch my accent,” Toby went on. “He taught me a little fashion sense and the power of a suit as well.” He picked at the lapel of his suit jacket with one hand. “He wanted me to take out my lip ring, but that’s where I drew the line.”

“Why?” Robbie asked with a curious look. He took one last drink of his tea, then set the mug on the coffee table in front of the sofa.

Toby shrugged. “I wanted to get ahead in the business world. I didn’t want to lose who I was entirely.”

Robbie smiled, his insides starting to buzz. Strangely enough, the buzz started in his heart and worked its way to the rest of his body instead of starting a little lower.

“You, Toby Tillman, are the most ‘you’ person I’ve ever met,” he said.

Toby smirked, finished his tea, then set his mug on the table next to Robbie’s.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked, shifting to sit in a relaxed stance, his arm flung over the back of the sofa.

There was something decidedly inviting about the casual sprawl, and despite Toby’s wrung-out look, there was an invitation in it as well.

Robbie shrugged, partially mirroring Toby’s posture. “You have more personality in your little finger than I have in my entire body. You glow with it, with who you are. You don’t let anyone diminish it or force you to be someone you’re not.”

Toby barked a laugh. “I’ve fought my whole lifenotto be who I am,” he said. “I’ve been labeled and pigeonholed since the time I was in nursery school. It’s taken everything I have to stop all that from dragging me down.”

“That’s precisely my point,” Robbie said, reaching one hand along the back of the sofa so he could touch Toby’s fingers where they rested. “You didn’t conform to what everyone wanted of you. You were true to yourself.” He paused, lowered his head a bit, and glanced up at Toby with blatant flirtation. “I envy your ability to do that.”

Toby’s brow went up in surprise. “You do the same thing,” he said, lifting his fingers out from under Robbie’s and stroking his knuckles instead. “You’re this brilliant artist who is also an amazing teacher and great with kids.”

Robbie blinked. Of all the things he might have expected Toby to compliment him on, being great with kids wasn’t one of them. He would have thought Toby would have gone for his participation on The Ceramics Challenge, or said something about how famous his family was. But no, he’d gone for the amazing teacher thing.

“I love teaching,” he said, more conflicted emotion coloring his words and squeezing his throat than had been there than when he’d told his parents as a teenager that he was gay. Considering his family, that had been easy. Admitting this new, deeper truth about himself was so much harder. “I know I’msupposed to be ambitious and strive for fame and renown for the family, but teaching is what makes me happy.”

“I know,” Toby said.

That was it. That was all he had to say. It was everything. Two, simple words, along with the warmth and acceptance in Toby’s eyes, and Robbie felt like Toby knew him better than half the people in his life ever had.

It was the spark he needed to do something rash and borderline rebellious. Without letting himself think about it, he surged across the sofa, pressing Toby back against its other arm, and slanted his mouth over Toby’s in a passionate kiss. He didn’t hold a single thing back.

Toby responded with a moan that almost froze Robbie completely, but it was joined by Toby’s arms circling around his back. Toby not only joined in with the kiss, he took control of it, cradling the side of Robbie’s face with one hand and brushing his tongue along Robbie’s. He teased and tasted, pressing his fingertips into Robbie’s cheek like he couldn’t get enough, and molding their lips together.

It was such a relief to be accepted that Robbie relaxed and sagged over Toby. He wanted the kiss to continue forever, but he wanted more at the same time. His body throbbed with want, and his cock pressed almost painfully against his jeans.

“I’m not drunk this time,” he panted when they paused for breath.

Toby stared up at him, fire making his blue eyes deep and alive. “Neither am I,” he said.

“If you want to?—”

“I definitely want to.”

Robbie rocked back, amazed that he was steady enough in his buzzing body to stand beside the sofa and reach a hand down to help Toby up.

Toby grasped his hand and helped pull himself to standing. He immediately started unbuttoning his jacket as Robbie walked backwards until he was clear of the sofa and coffee table, tugging Toby with him by one hand, and headed for his bedroom.

Everything seemed to speed up as they stumbled into the bedroom, losing clothing and shoes along the way. Robbie toed his shoes off and undid his jeans, but a sentimental part of him wanted Toby to remove most of his clothes for him.

Toby seemed to have that same sentimental streak, and as they bumped into the side of the bed, they were all hands and grasping as they tugged off each other’s shirts and shoved trousers and pants down, all between heated kisses.

Robbie gasped when he pushed Toby’s business shirt off and found that Toby’s lip wasn’t the only thing he had pierced. Both of his nipples were pierced with small barbells as well. He stroked his hands over the soft flesh and warm metal, making Toby gasp and groan as he did.

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