Page 16 of Troubled Skies (Blue Skies #3)
“Then let us see what you like, and it will be my present to you for keeping me so well entertained during my travels.” Something in what Ren had said clouded Adrian’s expression, and Ren quickly amended his statement.
“I promise, mon cher, the only thing I expect from you in return is your attendance at dinner tonight.” Was that a slight flicker of disappointment mixed in with the relief he saw in Adrian’s face?
Bon. Once again, Adrian’s reactions were not what Ren anticipated, and that delighted him.
With Adrian in tow, Ren moved into the heart of the store picking up various articles of clothing from shirts to pants.
He considered a display of jackets, touching the sleeve of a butter-soft black leather one, then turned to regard Adrian before dropping his hand and moving on.
“It does not compare to the one you already have. That beautiful gold one,” Ren said. “Vintage Gaultier couture, yes?”
Adrian nodded. “A friend helped me find it,” he said.
“I noticed it in LA,” Ren said. He stepped away from the clothing and moved closer to Adrian. “It was why I saw you. That and your hair. Just for a moment before I was whisked away from the common area.” Ren rolled his eyes and smiled, which made Adrian smile.
“Is all this a ruse so you can take it?” Adrian teased.
“Oh, non. Not at all. I am doing this because of you. Because I am bewitched by you and your fiery hair and your green, green eyes.”
Adrian’s cheeks bloomed with color, and he looked down at the floor, which would not do.
Ren reached out to cup Adrian’s chin. He ran his thumb over Adrian’s lips in a soft caress and smiled when Adrian shivered.
He would have pulled Adrian close to kiss him, but they were interrupted by the store clerk asking if they would like their items taken to the dressing room.
“Merci.” Ren handed her what he’d selected so far and continued to choose a number of additional pieces while Adrian watched him, his expressive eyes alternating between confusion, gratitude, and interest. Bien .
Taking advantage of Adrian’s distraction, Ren selected more clothing than he might have otherwise until there was almost a full season’s wardrobe waiting in the dressing room. But there was one more thing he wanted for Adrian.
“I will join you in a minute,” he said as he steered Adrian toward the dressing room at the back of the store.
“You’re up to something, aren’t you?” Adrian asked.
“Moi?” Ren asked. “Non. I am only looking to see if there are any additional pieces I would like to see you try.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow, but he headed off while Ren sought out the store clerk to make a couple of special requests. Then he joined Adrian in the changing room where he found the man staring at the assorted articles of clothing without having made a move to undress or try any of them.
“Were you waiting for me, poussin?” Ren asked as he made his way to the chair in the corner.
“This is a lot,” Adrian said. “I mean, it’s more than I packed for my entire trip.”
“Oui, but you will not necessarily like everything you try on, and I do not know you well enough to know your taste, so I wanted you to have options.”
“That’s very considerate of you,” Adrian said. He touched a thick sweater. “I don’t even know if any of this will fit in my suitcase.”
“Then we will get you another.”
Adrian opened his mouth to speak again. Anticipating another objection, Ren stood up and crossed the space until he stood in front of Adrian. He cupped his hand behind Adrian’s head and drew him forward until their mouths met.
“Oh, yes,” Ren murmured as he began to explore Adrian’s mouth, his hand drifting up so he could run his fingers through Adrian’s glorious hair. How did his vibrant locks even feel like fire against his skin?
He moaned as Adrian stepped closer, pressing a thigh between his own.
Ren shifted to accommodate him, reveling in the friction against his cock.
Adrian was hard as well, and Ren dropped a hand to the waistband of Adrian’s pants.
He felt the hesitancy, the tension in Adrian’s body and pulled back so he could see Adrian’s face.
There was desire in Adrian’s eyes, but also doubt, and Ren felt uncertain in a potential lover’s reaction for the first time in his life.
“Do you want me to stop?” he asked, feeling the knife’s edge between wanting and not knowing if he would be allowed to have.
“I don’t know,” Adrian said, and Ren immediately stepped back from him.
“Then let us finish our shopping.” Disappointed, Ren returned to the chair while Adrian picked out the first thing to try on.
“I’m sorry,” Adrian said, and Ren’s heart melted.
“There is nothing for you to be sorry about, poussin. Please, continue.”
The clothing Ren had chosen was all from the current lines of designers like Marcelo Burlon, Brunello Cucinelli, Alexander McQueen, and Tom Ford.
He’d also selected a beautiful black Armani suit that Ren could not wait to see Adrian try.
It was only ready-to-wear and there was no time for alterations, which meant Ren mourned the loss of seeing Adrian in bespoke clothing made to fit his body.
In such attire, Adrian would be even more devastating.
“Those do nothing for you,” Ren said as Adrian tried on a pair of high-waisted pants. “Take them off and put these on.” He swapped out the clothes, placing the ill-suited selections to one side while keeping what fit Adrian best on the other.
It was obvious when Adrian fell in love with a thickly woven, oatmeal-colored sweater that matched with a pair of slim-fitting dark trousers, and Ren made sure to put that outfit in a place all its own.
The salesclerk checked in on them a few times, and Ren handed her the pieces on which they were passing, smiling as he watched Adrian eye the size of the approved pile.
It was going to be a difficult choice since Adrian had looked good in almost everything.
Adrian balked at trying on the Armani. “There is no way I can afford that,” he said quietly.
“Then I will buy it for you.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“But why, poussin? It pleases me to see you enjoying these clothes, and it is a small matter for me to purchase them for you.”
The frown on Adrian’s face told Ren he had said something wrong. He stepped closer to Adrian who still stood in front of the mirror. Ren took a moment to admire how good they looked together with Adrian’s pale skin contrasted with his own.
“You are beautiful, Adrian,” Ren said, speaking to Adrian’s reflection. “It will make me happy to buy whatever you like.”
“I’d be happy with a T-shirt from a tourist shop.”
Ren made a face, and Adrian laughed. “Non. That I will not do. But I will compromise. You will let me buy one thing for you, d’accord? And one thing to wear for when we have dinner tonight.” Ren turned and wrapped his arms around Adrian.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know. I do not have to do this. I want to. For you.” His arms closed tighter around Adrian, and Adrian rocked back in Ren’s arms.
“All right. One outfit. But you choose.”
“It will be my pleasure to dress you,” Ren purred in Adrian’s ear. “But I want to see you in the Armani before you decide.”
Adrian sighed then disentangled himself from Ren’s arms, stripped himself of the pants and turtleneck, then got a shirt from the rack of items he’d already tried on.
“Non,” Ren said, gesturing with his index finger. “No shirt.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow but put the shirt away and went to the hanger holding the matching jacket and pants. Once he got the pants on and slipped into the jacket, Ren crossed in front of him, fastening the buttons, adjusting the clothes, then stepped back to admire him.
“It is perfect on you.” He stepped aside so Adrian could see his reflection.
“Oh.”
“Oui. Tu es magnifique.” The dark suit set off Adrian’s pale complexion without washing him out and perfectly accentuated his slim frame and flat belly.
The waist cinched in just enough to broaden out his shoulders in contrast, and he looked like he had legs for days.
Even standing in bare feet, Adrian looked ready to walk a red carpet.
Ren stepped to his side again and slid his arm around Adrian’s waist, and Adrian laughed before pushing an errant curl away from Ren’s face.
“You look like a roguish pirate ready to kidnap me and steal me away to a deserted island.”
“Oh, mon c?ur, I believe it is you who is doing the stealing.” Ren turned toward Adrian and touched his cheek, then trailed his fingers down to the base of Adrian’s throat.
“You would look ravishing with a gold chain or a string of black pearls. They would look absolument parfaits on you.” He leaned in and kissed Adrian, then smiled.
“I will wait for you outside and arrange for your purchases to be sent to the yacht. Don’t be long. We still have dessert to enjoy.”