Page 67 of Laying Low

“There’s your line?”Anthony asked, eyebrows up.

“Well, Adelle wasn’twrong,” Reg told him.“I… I haven’t justreadart books and tried to recreate the styles and the mediums—I’ve consulted with artprofessors, mostly online.I, you know.I’m on their forums and their chatrooms and such.Most of them probably think Ihavea, erm….”Oh, this was embarrassing.

“A bachelor’s degree?”Anthony prodded.

“A doctorate,” Reg muttered.“At least three of them have asked me if I’d prefer they address me as doctor.I, uhm, told them that wasn’t necessary.”

He was aware that Anthony was gaping at him.

“What?”

“Oh my God, Reg, isn’t there some way you could, I don’t know,testout of having to go to school for two years?”

Reg frowned.“Well, there is an exam, but usually you need to have a BA or BS to take it.So, you know, you have a BA in English, but you take the NTE in social studies, and then you can teach history and English after you get your credential.”

Anthony frowned.“So I know there’s special programs that let you get your credential while you teach.What you need to do isn’t fake your credential.You need totweakthe degree you already have.You’ve got a junior college degree in computer science.Just change theAto aB, substitute in Adelle’s class for the rest of the semester, and see what you have to do to get fast tracked toward a credential!You can do it!”

“Just change the A to a B?”Reg stared at him.“Like, change theassociate’sdegree to abachelor’sdegree?Are youinsane?”

“No!”Anthony said.“I’mtotally lucid.You can do this, Reg.I know you can.Moreover, I think youwantto do this.I think you’re already attached to those kids in Adelle’s classes.I think you’d begreatat this.And I think you arewasteddoing quiet computer overhauls and graphic design work for astealwhen you could do thatanddo this other thing that really, really engages you.Comeon, Reg, don’t you want to be happy?”

Reg felt a shaft of hurt.“But… but you live an hour away, Anthony.How will we make this work?”

Anthony’s smile was….It was almost scary how tranquil it was.“Don’t you worry, baby.You take care of your loose ends, and I’ll take care of mine.We’ll be living on the same side of town by Christmas.”

Reg cocked his head, not sure what to make of that.“But you have an entirebusinesson your side of town.What are you—”

If anything, the smile grew wider.“Come on, Reg.Trust me!”

Reg’s eyes narrowed, but at that moment the waitress arrived with their appetizers, and the next hour was a sort of delirious mix of oysters sauteed in butter, herbs, and breadcrumbs, filet of sole crusted in macadamia nuts, and a chocolate ganache so exquisite, Reg wasn’t sure it was real.

And by the time he and Anthony were done being immersed in food (and ever so glad it wasn’t cheese, no matter how awesome), Reg realized that the one thing that was absolutely true that he had learned from their evening was that, yes.

Yes, hedidtrust Anthony McCauley.And he was willing to work to keep up his end of the bargain so Anthony could trust him.

Sealed With a Kiss

THE SUNwas low in the sky by the time they finished their meal, but they opted to walk from the restaurant to the hotel—it was only about a mile, and they’d slept a lot that day.

They found themselves half jogging to ward off the chill, but something—maybe the stateliness of the building, with its nineteenth century columns and white marble façade and green copper roof—must have called to them as they rounded the beach toward the parking lot.

The sun was hitting the water just right, sending it erupting into gold and crimson sparkles, and the hotel was a bright haven, beautiful and grand, and for a little bit of magical time, Anthony and Reg belonged there.

Life was so odd—one minute they were crouched in the cabin of an aging boat, hoping not to be thrown to the sharks, and the next minute, they were here, in this resort paradise, being swaddled and cared for.

Anthony paused and took Reg’s hand, chilled in spite of their run along the beach, and drew the back of it to his lips.

“What?”Reg asked, glancing away shyly as the breeze ruffled his hair and the sun reflected off the lenses of his glasses.Anthony was pulled forcibly back to the first time he’d wanted to kiss this man, and how Reg hadn’t believed he’d be the object of desire.

“I want you,” Anthony told him gruffly.“So very badly.”His entire body thrummed with it, ached with the need to pull Reg into his arms, and in spite of what they’d done already, of the comfort Reg seemed to feel sleeping in the same bed, or the night before, the delirious stroke of skin, it felt imperative inthis momentfor Reg to know he was… he waseverything.

“I’m so glad,” Reg whispered, turning back to meet Anthony’s eyes.“I’ve never wanted anything more.”

And Anthony absolutelyhadto kiss him then, to devour him.To take his mouth and sweep his tongue in, sliding his arms around Reg’s waist and thrusting his hands—cold, he knew—under Reg’s shirts, seeking out his heat.

Reg turned into his embrace, allowing himself to be plundered, twining his arms around Anthony’s neck and merging into Anthony’s heat, actively pursuing the kiss, the direction it was going, the touching of their bodies.

And again and again and again, until Anthony’s cock was aching in his jeans, until he pulled away, resting his heated forehead against Reg’s.