Page 43 of Orlando
“You think it’s a good idea?”
“I think it’s a great idea.Unless you’d rather I move in with you?We can do that, too.In fact, it’ll probably be easier because I’ve only lived here for a few months.I don’t have much to pack, but I can imagine how complicated it would be to move all your plants.”
It felt like it was too much to ask, but since Orlando was offering, Liam wasn’t going to say no.“You’re sure it’s not too many plants for you?Because that’s a complaint I got before.”
“You think there are too many?”
“I wouldn’t have them in my apartment if I thought that.”
“Then there aren’t.It’s the perfect number.”
Liam desperately wanted to kiss Orlando.“Go shower, and please brush your teeth.”
Orlando laughed.“As long as you’ll still be there when I come back.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”And it wasn’t because he was a prisoner this time.
Chapter Seven
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ORLANDO CROSSED HISarms under his head and stretched out on the mattress as he watched Liam move around the bedroom.He still felt slightly awkward living with Liam, but he’d get used to it.The apartment would eventually feel like his home.
Liam already did.
“I don’t know,” Liam said as he checked his reflection in the mirror.“I feel this is too bulky.”He was wearing a brown sweater over jeans, and he looked delectable.
“I like it.”
“I’m going to be sweating as soon as we step out of the apartment.”
“Then change.You look good, though.”
Liam turned toward the bed and arched a brow.“I’m pretty sure you’d think I look good in a trash bag.”
Orlando sat up, dislodging Parsley, who’d been napping on his chest.The cat glared, but Orlando ignored him and reached for Liam’s hand.“That’s because you would.You’re beautiful.”
Liam’s cheeks flushed.It highlighted the freckles on his cheeks.Orlando wanted to kiss all of them, but unfortunately, they didn’t have time.They were meeting Orlando’s friends for dinner at Seymour and Jimmy’s house, and Liam had been adamant that they couldn’t be late.Orlando had to resist the temptation to drag him back into bed, but it felt like the hardest thing he’d ever done.How was he supposed to watch Liam change several times without tumbling him back between the sheets?
Liam squeezed Orlando’s hands, but when Orlando decided to try his luck and pulled, his mate resisted.Liam rolled his eyes and pulled Orlando out of bed.Orlando went because he had to.He’d never hear the end of it if he and Liam were late.Seymour and Lewis had been chomping at the bit to get their hands on Liam.They hadn’t met yet and had been grumpy about the fact that Orlando hadn’t needed anyone’s help to move.He didn’t own that many things, and Liam’s apartment was already pretty full of stuff anyway.
But tonight, the people who had helped Orlando to keep Liam safe would meet Liam, and Orlando was a bit nervous.He hadn’t become an assassin, and he didn’t work for the council anymore, but some of his friends did.Kennedy was already training the next batch of assassins, and while he wouldn’t talk about it over dinner, Liam knew that most of the people in Orlando’s life were or had been involved with the council.Liam had said he didn’t have any problems with that, but Orlando couldn’t help but wonder if it was true.
“You need to start getting ready so we’re not late,” Liam said as he pulled off his sweater, revealing a white t-shirt that clung to his chest and waist.
Orlando’s mouth went dry.“No one would care.”
“I would.Come on, Orlando.I want to make a good first impression.”
“You don’t need to.You’re my mate.Everyone will welcome you even if you show up wearing dirty jeans and the boots you keep at the community garden.”
“I want them to like me for me, not because I’m bonded to you.”
Orlando could understand that.Liam had told him he didn’t have many people in his life, and he was both excited and nervous at the thought of meeting Orlando’s friends.Orlando considered most of the people who would be there tonight like family, and if everything went well, they’d soon become Liam’s family, too.
It didn’t take Orlando as much time to get ready as it had Liam.His friends had seen him in every state of undress and dressed in anything, from jeans and a t-shirt to a uniform to only his underwear.They wouldn’t care if his t-shirt had a hole in the hem.
Liam still made Orlando change his t-shirt before patting the cat and finally leaving the apartment.Orlando did it grumbling just because he could.
