Page 28 of Total Creative Control

Aaron sighed, but he followed Lewis inside, already tapping at his phone.

“Yikes,” he said when they got into the living room. “What happened in here? Was there a murder?”

“Wine bottle,” Lewis muttered. “I kicked the fucking thing over when I jumped up to answer the door. I better quickly clean it—”

Aaron interrupted, tucking his phone into his pocket. “Go and get dressed. I’ll sort this out.”

Lewis’s gut twisted uncomfortably. “You shouldn’t have to do that.”

“I know,” Aaron said. “But honestly, I’d do it for anyone else in this situation, and you don’t get special treatment, okay?”

Lewis had strategically positioned himself so that his crotch was out of sight, but it didn’t matter. Aaron seemed to be carefully avoiding looking at him now, studying the rug with close attention.

“Okay,” Lewis said. “Kitchen’s just through there. Do you want—I don’t know, salt or something? Isn’t that meant to help?”

“That’s a myth,” Aaron said promptly. “Lots of water’s what we need.”

“You sound like you know what you’re talking about,” Lewis replied. “Did you used to have a cleaning job?”

“No, but I’ve spilt quite a few glasses of red wine in my time,” Aaron said, walking past him towards the kitchen. He made a shooing motion at Lewis. “Go and get dressed.”

Lewis obeyed, heading off to his bedroom, where he quickly dressed, efficiently packed a weekend bag, and stuck a nice suit in a garment bag in case he needed it—you never knew at Safehaven. Tonight, they might be offered a seven-course tasting menu with a flight of wines, or they might be invited to forage berries for dinner before spending the evening squashed inside Charlie’s sweat lodge talking about auras.

Neither was appealing, truth to tell.

When he returned to the living room, he was confronted with the far too provocative sight of Aaron on his hands and knees, his very nice arse in the air as he rubbed energetically at the rug—a rug which now appeared to be soaking wet but amazingly white again.

Aaron looked over his shoulder at Lewis and grinned. “Better?”

Lewis’s cock said an enthusiasticyesto that, hardening rapidly in his jeans while he swallowed against an inappropriate desire togrowl. Instead, he held the garment bag over his crotch, cleared his throat, and said, “Um—yes. You were right about the water for sure. One hundred per cent.”

Aaron got to his feet, then bent to pick up the cloth and bowl he’d been using. “You should hang it up somewhere to dry off while you’re away,” he said over his shoulder, heading for the kitchen again.

“On it,” Lewis replied, setting down his bags, hoisting up the damp rug and carrying it into the dining room, where he arranged it over the back of three chairs.

Aaron joined him a few moments later with an armful of towels which they laid down to catch the drips, working together seamlessly, no need for words.

“Thanks,” Lewis said sincerely when it was done. “What would I do without you?”

“Oh, wither away and die, I expect,” Aaron said dryly. “Come on. Let’s go and get Toni.”

* * *

An hour later, Lewis watched as Toni climbed into the Mercedes people carrier Aaron had arranged and settled herself into one of the comfortable seats opposite Lewis. The car was pretty good: spacious with big seats and collapsible tables that could be pulled out so he could easily write without having to balance his laptop on his knees.

“Sorry we’re late,” Lewis said as the car pulled away from the curb. “Needless to say, it’s my fault.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Toni said wryly. “Where’s Aaron?”

“He got the driver to drop him off at a coffee shop two minutes down the road that he says does good breakfast stuff. I’m supposed to find out what you want and text him.”

Toni smiled happily. “Ooh, lovely! That lad is a treasure. Almond croissant and a latte, please.”

Lewis fired off the text.

“It’s about two and a half hours to Charlie’s place,” Toni said. “We should be able to get a decent bit of brainstorming done on the love triangle idea before we get there.”

Lewis frowned. “Yeah, about that…”