Chapter 8
He wakes slowly, his mind and body sluggish as he struggles out of a deep sleep. He is warm and comfortable and doesn't really want to wake up. In fact, maybe he'll just stay here and drift off again.
Ray watches in quiet amusement as Florian burrows closer, hiding his face against Ray's side to block out the morning sun shining into the bedroom.
"Unnnn" Florian mumbles as he tries to get more comfortable. Unfortunately, all of that rubbing against Ray's bare skin isn't helping either of them settle back into sleep. In fact, it's having the opposite effect.
Ray closes his eyes and does multiplication in his head to try and calm his eager reaction to Florian's presence. It isn't working. Judging by the feel of things, Florian is having the same problem; he just hasn't realized it yet.
Another murmured sound and more shifting. Ray sighs; multiplication is not working. He places his hand lightly on Florian's head and caresses the soft, messy hair until he feels the blond settle. He knows he should slip away now and avoid the awkwardness and embarrassment to come, but he just can't make himself move. This might be the only time he will have Florian to himself like this.
"Hmm?" Florian's eyes are open but unfocused as he lifts his head and looks at Ray. He blinks and smiles, still not fully awake.
"Five more minutes," he decides, dropping his head down onto Ray's chest and closing his eyes again. His hand rests on Ray's stomach adding to the younger man's discomfort.
Ray leans his head back on the pillows and thinks of every boring, unattractive or just plain grotesque thing he can. It doesn't help. When Florian's breathing starts evening out into sleep again, he finally gives up. He has to put a stop to this before it gets any more embarrassing.
"Florian," he pats the blond head. "Hey, wake up!" He keeps his voice low but increases the urgency, thankful that it cuts through Florian's lethargy.
"What? What?" Florian sits up too quickly and almost overbalances in the soft bedding. "Aaaah!" He backs away quickly, grabbing a blanket and holding it up to his chin.
"Stop that," Ray grumbles. "You're not the heroine in a melodrama." He tugs the blanket down so he can at least see all of Florian's face. "Are you really awake?"
Florian blinks, looking around slowly, taking in his surroundings. "I'm in your bed."
"Yes. You aren't awake yet, are you?"
"Why am I in your bed?" Florian looks down, under the blanket and blushes. "Where are my night clothes?"
"Do you remember going to the museum last night?" Ray keeps his voice even and tries to control his amusement.
Florian nods slowly. "With Miranda and Agnes. But Agnes didn't feel well so we left." He gives Ray a frown. "I couldn't find you."
"I went to get flowers for Miranda and Agnes."
"You didn't tell me," Florian sounds a little like Noel when the boy is denied a cookie.
"Do you remember what happened when you took Agnes back to the hotel?"
"Of course. We had some tea and she told me about the book she was reading."
"Do you remember leaving the hotel?"
"Of course I..." Florian stops, frowning. He blinks several times, rapidly and looks up at Ray with a hint of fear in his eyes. "No."
"Miranda told me you had taken Agnes back to the hotel and were intending to come home. I escorted her at the museum and then returned her to her rooms. When I got home, I stopped by your room to check on you but you weren't there. Your ladies took me on a chase, but I finally found you here, in my bed." He reaches over to the nightstand and picks up Heart's Blood. "Wearing this." He leans closer and looks into Florian's eyes. "You'd been drugged."
Florian shakes his head, desperate to deny these allegations against the ladies who he still considers friends. "No, they wouldn't..."
"They did," Ray can't resist adding, "and I want to know what they used. It makes you drool in your sleep."
"I do not drool!" Florian nervously wipes his mouth, and scowls when Ray laughs.
"Of course not," Ray teases, making a show of wiping his chest. Florian blushes even brighter and tries to bury his head under the blanket.
"Not again." Ray tugs the blanket away. "Get up and get dressed. I'll go down and tell Laila we want a big breakfast." He gives Florian a smile. "Chasing all over Paris after you gave me an appetite."
Florian mumbles something, his head bowed as he slides out of bed on the opposite side, wrapping himself in the blanket he's still holding.
"Don't be ridiculous," Ray chides, sliding out of bed and walking to his wardrobe, thanking every deity he can think of that his previous condition has lessened. He stares into the wardrobe, considering for a moment before selecting one of his older Moroccan robes. He hands it to Florian and politely turns away while the older man slips into the garment.
"Thank you," Florian says when he is dressed, letting Ray know it is okay to look. He likes what he sees.
"It suits you," he tells Florian, moving close and caressing the blond's face. "Keep it and wear it for me sometimes."
Florian looks down, blushing, the blanket still clutched in front of him. Ray has a feeling he knows why, but knows better than to tease Florian about so delicate a matter. Instead he steps back and smiles. "Go freshen up; I'll see you downstairs for breakfast in twenty minutes.
Florian nods without meeting his eyes and leaves the room, setting the blanket on the chair by the door without looking back.
XXXXX
It is a quiet morning with Ray and Florian working in the study, both concentrating on their duties and exchanging very few words. Breakfast conversation had been stilted and a bit of awkwardness lingers.
Ray sighs and sets down the list of expenses he is supposed to be reading. His attention keeps wandering to the man in the corner and the memory of his soft skin and warm body. Ray sighs again, leaning back and closing his eyes. From Florian's rigid posture and limited movement, he suspects the blond is having trouble concentrating on his work as well. Knowing that makes Ray feel a bit better. He is debating calling a halt to their useless efforts at working when there is a knock at the front door.
"Ray!" Laila bursts into the study. "There's a delivery; the man says it's for Florian."
"Must be the painting," Ray tells her calmly. He still hasn't asked Florian where he would like to hang it, but he at least has a suggestion. He'd given it a lot of thought over the last few days and decided that the little-used morning room would be just the right place to display the large work.
"Tell them to bring it around to the side door." Laila hurries off while Ray reaches out and catches Florian's arm, stopping him from following her out. "Come with me."
They exit the study and take a right, moving past a series of closed doors before they reach the back corner of the mansion. Ray pushes open the door and leads Florian into the room, smiling at the blond's confusion.
It isn't a big room and its most interesting feature is a set of heavy, full-length drapes that conceal French doors that lead out onto a small patio overlooking the herb garden. Florian had seen the room once before, soon after he'd arrived but it had been a small, dusty, uninteresting space and he promptly forgot about it.
To be fair, Ray rarely remembers it either. He prefers his large, comfortable study, surrounded by books to this little room. But...
Ray opens the drapes, revealing the little patio that is concealed on two sides by architecture and tall bushes. "I thought the painting would fit there." He points to the wall adjacent to the one leading to the patio. The wall is bare and the large painting will be magnificent there. "And since this room gets the morning sun, it will work well as your new office."
Florian stares at him, surprised and perhaps a little disappointed. "You're putting me out of the study?"
"Hardly." Ray dismisses the idea as ludicrous. "I simply thought you might prefer a view to staring at the wall, and the light will be better for reading and answering all that tedious correspondence. I'll even put a table and chairs out on the patio so you can work outside in warm weather." He moves close to his Amethyst and places a hand gently on his face. "I know you hate being cooped up inside. And," he smiles and leans closer, "you might even convince me to join you out there for lunch occasionally."
Florian's smile is as brilliant as the light in his eyes. He leans into Ray's touch, his hand settling on Ray's arm.
Which, of course, is when Laila bursts in. "Ray! Oh!" She frowns at the two startled men who jump apart looking both guilty and annoyed. "Here's the delivery." She moves aside, still frowning at the pair as they greet the deliverymen and direct them to uncrate the huge painting and hang it in the designated place.
When the men are gone with the empty crating, leaving only a small envelope addressed to Ray, the trio stand examining the portrait of Florian's parents.
"It's big, but nice," Laila decides, giving Florian a smile. She glances around the little room. "But this place is a mess. I'll get it cleaned up for you."
"Thank you, Laila. And please ask Jameson to have the car ready after lunch. Florian and I will be buying new furniture for this room and the patio."
Laila gives Ray a look but nods. "What about these chairs and the table?" she asked, referring to the only furniture currently in the room, left over from the previous owner.
"They're fine," Florian speaks quickly before Ray decides to replace them as well. Ray is a generous soul, but he also delights in adding to Florian's debt.
"For now," Ray agrees reluctantly. He'll fight this battle another day, or simply replace the old chairs when Florian is out.
Laila nods and hurries out leaving the men alone with the painting. Ray opens the envelope and scans the few lines. "Miranda and Agnes send their apologies for drugging you. Apparently they meant it as a joke." Ray's tone of voice leaves no doubt what he thinks of that. "They've included the rest of their tour schedule should we happen to be traveling in the near future." He folds the letter and hands it to Florian to read.
"Do you think we'll see them again?" Florian asks when he's put the letter back in the envelope.
"I wouldn't be surprised."
"I hope we do." Florian offers Ray a smile, reaching out to caress his face the way Ray so often touches him. "I seem to have a weakness for thieves."