Page 50 of Truth or Spare

“My man?” Theo asked and Dewey nodded. He was too nervous and too turned on to eat so he slid his plate out of the way. He gathered both of Theo’s hands in his and nodded, feeling like a bashful, blushing oaf.

“Why don’t we take this someplace…more comfortable?” Theo suggested as he rose, pulling Dewey with him. “I’m not that hungry and I’d much rather play with my grumpy bear of a man,” he purred, towing Dewey from the room and toward the stairs.

Warmth and joy filled Dewey as they climbed. He had accepted that he would always be a big, tired oaf, but Theo made Dewey feel desirableanddesired. There was no shame and Dewey felt safe enough to be vulnerable, to give his strong and stoic act a rest.

“I want to try the other…thing tonight—if I don’t lose my nerve—and I want to get a better look at this suit. I’d never wear anything this nice,” Dewey said as he smoothed the lapel of Theo’s coat. “But I’d really like to play with you in it and help you take it off.”

“I was hoping you’d like this.” Theo guided Dewey’s hand to one of the buttons and helped slide it free. “I wore a vest because you deserved all the dings and whistles.”

“Stop it,” Dewey chuckled, but he was flattered and mesmerized as his hand spread around Theo’s side. He felt like a gift, neatly wrapped in layers of the finest cotton, wool, and silk. The different textures and the smell of starch and Theo’s cologne combined to create an elegant, sensual Wonderland that Deweywanted to explore with his hands and mouth. In fact… “Would this be weird?” he asked, lowering his head so he could lick the crisp white collar of Theo’s shirt along his neck. Then, Dewey bit into the coat’s padded shoulder, testing the thickness of the wool blend and the layers beneath.

“Not at all,” Theo purred as he guided Dewey up the stairs. “I’ve often thought that the mark of a good suit is its lickability,” he teased. “Even though, I had better look good enough to lick in something like this. The tailors at Loro Piana are extra…etepetete,” he explained with a wrinkle of his nose.

“Etepetete?” Deweylovedwhen Theo slipped and switched to German. He could usually guess what Theo was saying, but some words sounded too special to ignore.

“It is how we say…fussy? Persnickety?” Theo nodded. “Scheduling appointments for fittings is always a headache and they poke, and pinch, and hiss at you if you wear the wrong underwear.”

“For a suit you’repayingfor?” Dewey confirmed, earning a faint hum as Theo undid the vest’s buttons and held it open, revealing a powder blue and gold paisley silk lining.

“It’s all about the details, when you’re dressing for a special occasion. The sapphire cufflinks are Cartier and used to belong to another prince.”

Dewey grabbed Theo’s wrist as they turned at the top of the stairs. He held it up for a closer look, gasping at the large sapphire. “Really?”

“Mmmhmm… Funny thing about being an aristocrat, it’s hard to hold onto the finer things without actual skills or talents unless you inherita lotof money. Lots of European lords went broke when their empires fell and there weren’t colonies and commonwealths to exploit. They left behind generations of privileged but penniless heirs. Heaven help you if you are ‘lucky’ enough to inherit a castle.”

His delighted chuckle surprised Dewey. “You and your brothers really don’t like being royals,” he said but Theo seemed more interested in where they were going, his neck stretching to see around the bedroom door.

“We were made fun of, when we went to school with them, because everyone knew that we were broke and in exile. Secretly, I feel like a pirate and it gives me a tiny bit of closure when I use the money the Foundation pays me to buy their pretty baubles at auction.”

“I’m so sorry,” Dewey said sincerely, reaching around Theo and widening the door. “But I like that you got the last laugh. See? No dolls. Just some basic oak furniture. Cassie ordered the blue comforter set from Macy’s for me. I replaced my grandparents’ old furniture about ten years ago, but I didn’t see the need to get anything special.”

“It is very basic,” Theo conceded. His soft laugh sounded relieved. He smiled over his shoulder at Dewey as he gave the top of the simple dresser an appreciative knock and went to look out the window. “But it’s very solid and tidy, like you. The bedding even reminds me of one of your flannel shirts. I like it.”

“I’m not attached to any of it,” Dewey said, stopping just short of telling Theo he could scrap it all and fill the room with classy antiques and fine linens. He pictured something more tailored and elegant like Theo and imagined it would be like waking up and falling asleep in one of his suits. “I might not mind something different.”

“You don’t have any neighbors out here,” Theo said before turning from the window. “It must be really quiet.”

Dewey nodded. “It’s nice after spending all day in a noisy bowling alley.”

“Not tonight.” Theo clicked his teeth regrettably, his eyes glowing with mischief and promise as he prowled toward Dewey. “I have a feeling it’s going to get very noisy in here.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

It turns out, there was nothing for Theo to fear. Brooks Manor was just as calm and solidly built as its owner.

The lot at the end of the street was surrounded by trees and Theo had spotted a lake in the distance when he went to check the view at the window. He hadn’t heard a honk or a car door slam since they arrived and he was looking forward to disturbing the peace and rocking Dewey’s tranquil, tidy world.

“I bought this tie the last time I was in London.” He loosened it as he advanced on Dewey, planning a thorough, yet gentle, attack. He’d allow Dewey time to explore and play, but Theo was in the mood for something spicier than sun dried tomatoes and awful pasta. “It’s a Holderson Original.”

“I love it,” Dewey said, winding it around his hand and raising it to his lips. He brushed them against the silk, inhaling loudly as he followed the thin strip to Theo's jaw. “And Ilovethe way you smell. You always smell like heaven, Theo.”

“Ford’sBeau de Jour.I…borrowed it from Teo, but I think it smells better on me.”

Dewey nodded as he kissed Theo’s neck. “It drives me nuts every time I smell it.”

“I’ll wear it every day.” Theo sifted his fingers through Dewey’s hair, encouraging him to let go and go wild. He grabbed Theo’s coat by the lapels and attempted to strip it off of him but it barely shifted. “Einen Moment.” Theo sighed at the tediousness. “This takes a bit of practice, when a coat is cut so close,” he explained and rolled his shoulders as he lifted the coat up and off so it would slide down his arms. He caught it by the collar and tossed it at the dresser.

“Wow! You even move like James Bond. Or a prince,” Dewey said with an eye roll. “If we had met a few hundred years earlier, you’d still be a prince and I’d probably be a peasant,” he said as he circled Theo, tracing seams and pleats and examining the mother-of-pearl buttons on the front of his shirt.

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