Chapter Eight -- Good News And Bad News
Adrian woke up with a yawn and stretched, blinking hard to chase away the sand from his eyes. For a moment or two, he felt the place next to him with one hand. He sighed. Somehow he doubted Edward was in the kitchen, making waffles. But there was no point in being disappointed since Adrian was not at all into that kind of domestic pleasures. He didn't eat waffles anyway.
He stood up and moved his arms, to remove some of the stiffness in his limbs, and realized that something was chafing his neck. Oh, great, he must have slept with the collar on. With a laugh, mostly addressed to himself, he proceeded to remove the leather strap when his eyes fell on the nightstand. There was a small note left, written on a square piece of paper with a pearly sheen to it.
The note, in itself, shouldn't have been that much of a surprise. It appeared to be something fitting for Edward's habits and personality. What made that simple gesture stand out was the expensive champagne gold pen placed carefully on top of the note, as a statement.
Adrian picked the pen and pushed it aside.
"I had a great time last night. Don't forget to call. P.S. I hope this note is clichΓ© enough to earn at least a small snort from you."
Adrian stopped right in time. Yeah, he would have done that. He took the beautiful pen and examined its exquisite craftsmanship for a little while. Then, as an idea came to mind, he grabbed his phone.
"Adrian, are you already up? After last night's exertions, I would have expected you to sleep well into the afternoon." Edward answered only after two rings.
"Consider it my ability to rest and recover within a short time," Adrian replied. "Hey, listen, I think you forgot a thousand-dollar pen on my nightstand."
"Is that the reason you called?" Edward questioned, his voice smooth and pleasant.
Adrian moved his phone from one ear to the other and plopped down on the bed. This call had the potential to become good. "Well, your note said that I shouldn't forget to call," he pointed out.
The instant reward for his little joke was the sound of laughter on the other end. "I am glad to see you so eager to do my bidding. It wasn't an order, though, but hope from my part that I would not be part of your usual fuck-and-forget lot of lovers."
"You have too little faith in yourself, Your Majesty. Don't worry; we can work on that. I can be so glued to you that you will have to push me away with a stick so that I leave you alone."
"Oh, so is my ass that amazing?" Edward asked, but Adrian could read the amusement in his voice.
"You're a rich, handsome man with confidence issues. I tend to think that I just found my kryptonite."
Edward laughed unrestrained. "Would that make you Superman?"
"Put me to the test. I am willing to prove myself to you."
Edward sighed. "Too bad my Sunday is filled with obligations."
"Screw those," Adrian demanded.
"I wish I could. But a rich, handsome man with confidence issues such as myself has to cultivate good relationships within the family and beyond. That is what Sundays are for."
"Boring," Adrian said and yawned. "At least, I know that you will come back for your Mont Blanc."
"Oh. That is yours," Edward said matter-of-factly.
"Really? Was I that good?" Adrian joked.
Edward laughed again. "Of course, you were. But that's not the point. When I choose someone as my partner in certain delights, I enjoy being generous."
Adrian studied the pen in his hand. It was a beautiful piece. "Don't tell me you received this on your graduation day, and it has some immense sentimental value."
"Nothing of the kind. I purchased it yesterday to offer it to you."
"Just like that? You couldn't know I would be home."
"You would have come home, eventually. I am also a patient man, in case you haven't noticed. And I can be insistent."
"You don't have to buy me stuff," Adrian replied. "That's not how I work."
Edward sighed. "I am not one of your other lovers, am I, Adrian? I know for a fact that you don't do relationships and that someone hurt you in the past."
Adrian tried to protest.
"Please, allow me to finish. I do not want your heart on a silver platter, or for you to fall madly in love with me. I know that you don't work that way, and as far as our little games of seduction go, it is my right to play my part, just as well as you play yours."
"I'm not sure I follow," Adrian replied.
"Come on, Adrian. I know you're trying your hand at seducing me. Last night is proof enough, as is my inability to sit comfortably, which may be a challenge, seeing how I am supposed to attend a long lunch and an even longer dinner today."
Adrian had a mind to contradict Edward. But then, he reconsidered. "So, you intend to shower me in gifts, in response to my trying to seduce you?"
"Yes. I suppose you may think that. But, I am usually generous with my partners. That's how I function."
"To erase the guilt for being incapable of falling in love?" Adrian aimed low.
A short silence followed. "Where has that come from? I wonder."
"You've never loved someone, right, Edward?" Adrian asked.
"I guess that is correct."
"It's all right. Maybe it's time someone came along and corrected that."
"I beg your pardon?"
"You're all cold and pretending not to care, but I think you don't know yourself that well," Adrian said. "So, here is my part of the challenge. You said that complications such as my wanting a relationship with you, a real relationship, would bring this arrangement we have to its end. But this is what I say. I will make you fall in love with me. And then, the arrangement will be over. Of course, you will need to be honest with me."
"Let me understand this," Edward said, and he appeared puzzled as he spoke, "you want me to fall in love with you so that you can dump me? You know that's highly improbable --"
"I'm not saying that." Adrian took great pleasure in drawling the words as he continued. "If you fall in love with me for real, if I manage to do that, then we'll have a real relationship."
"You are puzzling, Adrian. Why would you do that?"
"Well, maybe I'm ready to retire if I manage to get someone like you to have real feelings for me."
"Retire?"
"I will give up on my bachelor status if that happens." Adrian waited for a few seconds, and then he laughed. "Gotcha! Didn't I?"
Edward exhaled. "You are mischievous, Adrian. I can't believe that I almost thought you were telling the truth."
"Hey, it's a good dare, don't you think? I'll do my best."