Page 53 of Thrown

“Keep your arms braced, and focus on the clay and keep your pressure even.”

Toby nodded, following the tension in Robbie’s body as he basically let his hands be used as instruments for Robbie to do what he knew best.

Surprisingly, Toby could feel the difference in the way the clay felt once the small lump was centered in the middle of the wheel. It was almost zen how completely it all seemed to click together.

“Now cone the clay up and flatten it to complete the process,” Robbie went on, leaning so close to Toby’s neck that it was all Toby could do to concentrate on anything other than his growing erection.

All of that burst to pieces a moment later, as Robbie threaded his fingers through Toby’s to bring the lump of clay up into asmall tower, all while singing, “Oh, my love, my darling, I hunger for your touch.”

Toby snorted with laughter, going limp in Robbie’s arms as their reenactment of that scene fromGhostfell apart.

“Oy, I’m not Demi Moore,” he laughed, jerking one elbow back.

Robbie laughed along with him, and in an over the top, fey voice said, “Maybe I’m Demi Moore.”

Toby leaned back into him, laughing and feeling lighter than he had in ages. He shook his hands, then wiped them on Robbie’s jean-clad legs on either side of him. Then he pushed himself to stand.

Instead of walking away, though, he turned around and sat back down again, facing Robbie and straddling his spread thighs.

“This is more like it,” he said, resting his arms over Robbie’s shoulders. “Let’s center this way.”

He leaned in and captured Robbie’s mouth in a kiss that was designed to send his mind spinning instead of the pottery wheel. It worked, and Robbie took his foot off the wheel and slipped his arms around Toby’s waist to kiss him in return.

They were still tangled up in each other, dripping clay water where they shouldn’t, sucking each other’s faces, when Nally stepped into the studio and said, “Whoa! I didn’t realize I was interrupting something here.”

Toby and Robbie broke apart, and Robbie twisted to frown at his younger brother, face flushed.

“You are definitely interrupting,” he told him.

Nally held up his hands in apology, but stepped deeper into the room instead of backing out. “Sorry, sorry, but Dad was just wondering where you were and why you weren’t answering your phone.”

Toby glanced to the table, where both his and Robbie’s phones lay abandoned. With a sigh, he got up and moved away from Robbie, hoping Nally wouldn’t notice the bulge in his trousers.

“Dad wants to get the meeting started, because he knows you and Rhys have classes to teach this morning,” Nally went on. “So get a wiggle on.” He started out of the room, then turned back and said, “Unless that’s what you were already trying to do.”

Robbie frowned at him, and Nally left the room, laughing loudly.

“I didn’t realize how much time had passed,” Robbie said, getting up and heading for the sink.

Toby followed him, and with a minimal amount of teasing and stolen kisses, they managed to clean themselves up enough to be presentable for a family meeting. There were clay streaks on Toby’s dress trousers, though, so no matter how long or short the Hawthorne family meeting was, he would have to either spend some serious time and effort scrubbing them out or head home again before going into the London office.

The rest of the family was already assembled in the upstairs meeting room when Toby and Robbie arrived. Whether Nally had said something or rumors of last night’s sleepover had spread fast in the family, the two of them got several knowing looks from the others.

“Well aren’t you looking all dewy and fresh,” Rhys teased from where he was tipped back in his chair, eating a muffin.

“Who looks dewy and fresh?” a voice came from one of the phones in the center of the table.

There were three phones resting there, all of them showing an active call, which told Toby that Mrs. Hawthorne, Ryan, and Rafe were all listening in. It was a complete Hawthorne family meeting, which meant he needed to really shine as he told them about their options.

“Robbie’s been banging Toby Tillman, the guy who’s about to tell us about the deal with Silver Productions,” Rebecca said, completely matter of fact.

“Oh, that’s convenient,” Mrs. Hawthorne’s voice sounded from one of the other phones. “I’ve always said Robbie needs to get laid more often.”

Toby laughed, mostly because of the sheepish look Robbie wore.

“I’ll cut right to the point,” he said as he took a place near the head of the table, close to the phones. “Silver Productions is ready to sign a retainer deal to use Hawthorne House as a location for several productions it has in the works.”

“They want it for more than just the medieval show?” Nate asked.

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