Page 98 of Fe
“Playing chess?” Ripley looked at the board Fen was working on, then at the array of materials around him.
“I prefer Dinosaur Snap but only because my mum always let me win. As soon as I was old enough to play Monopoly it was every player for himself. I hold the record for being sent to jail the most times in any one game. Eight.”
“Oh dear. Been okay in here?
“I love it. Thank you for the flower.”
It was on the table in front of him.
“I…” Ripley hadn’t been able to bring himself to write a note. He’d already revealed too much yesterday.
“Mum made us dinner. It needs heating up.” Fen tidied up what he was doing, screwing lids back on jars and bottles.
“That was kind of her.”
“Enchiladas, but I suspect anyone from Mexico would throw their hands in the air in horror. They taste lovely though.”
“Would you like to come to court with me tomorrow?”
Fen turned to look at him. “Watch you work? Yes, that would be great. What should I wear? Is there a dress code?”
“You can wear what you like.”
“My sparkly unicorn onesie?”
“Why not?” He’d actually love to see his colleagues’ faces if Fen wore something like that. Though he wouldn’t be allowed into court.
“You only said yes because you don’t think I have one. I could buy one.”
Ripley pulled Fen into his arms. He hadn’t planned to kiss him quite so passionately but that’s what he was doing and Fen wrapped his arms around him, clung tight and kissed him back. Why did kissing Fen make his world turn faster, make everythingrightagain?
He was still struggling with having told Fen about Alejandro. He’dnevertalked about him to anyone.
Ripley found himself being pulled back to the house.
“Just let me put the enchiladas in the oven,” Fen told him.
Then they were stumbling upstairs, Ripley trying to stop Fen falling as they shed their clothes on the way.
Fen worked magic with his mouth and tongue, made Ripley see stars, made him forget everything but this. And when they lay on their backs on the bed, breathing heavily, Fen’s hand in his, there was nowhere else Ripley would have wanted to be.
The oven bleeped and they both groaned.
“They’ll burn,” Fen moaned. He put on his shorts and headed for the door.
“I’ll see to them,” Ripley told him. “Put something over your shorts or I’ll forget dinner and eat you.”
Fen smiled and came back to get dressed. Ripley pulled on his jeans, grabbed a T-shirt and headed downstairs. The way Fen’s shorts moulded to his tight little arse tempted Ripley beyond belief. All of him was tempting: the curve of his back, the way his waist narrowed, the place at the back of his neck that made him moan when…Fuck it.
By the time Fen was downstairs, Ripley had taken the dish of enchiladas out of the oven, set the table and poured them both a glass of red wine.
“I love melted cheese,” Fen said. “But it’s bad for me. You serve up. Please give me one at the end because there’s less cheese on it. You should have two. I’ll watch you eat and drool.”
“That sounds so attractive.”
“If it puts you off, I’ll eat what you leave.”
One mouthful and Ripley knew he wouldn’t be leaving any. There were three more in the dish if Fen wanted another.
