no emotion in his voice, and Archer was burning to know how Julian had suffered that man for so damn long. His jokes all fell flat, but people laughed to be polite, and it was obvious Bryce could tell because his voice got louder, and sharper, and he started snapping at the serving staff.
“God, he’s a real charmer,” Archer said, leaning into speak to Julian after Bryce sent back his third glass of wine.
Julian snorted and sipped his water, shaking his head. “This is just the start. He’ll be more and more drunk on attention and power as the week wears on. Has he tried to talk to you yet?”
“No, thank god,” Archer muttered. He stabbed at a spear of asparagus and chewed. It was slightly under cooked and didn’t have much seasoning, but he figured maybe he and Julian could sneak away for some real food when this little farce was over. “Do you think he will?”
He followed Julian’s gaze to the head table and sure enough, Bryce was staring right at them. “Most definitely.”
Creeping his hand under the table, Archer pressed his palm to the top of Julian’s thigh. He felt as nervous then as he did outside when he spied a few of Julian’s family members watching them. He told himself to put on a show, to give this man what he desperately needed. Archer was not adept at being suave, but he could make Julian feel wanted, and he intended to.
“Kiss me,” he murmured.
Julian made a soft noise and turned to face him. “Sorry?”
“I know you hate PDA, but that’s the point. Kiss me, and look like you want it,” Archer said. “Please.”
Julian licked his lips, and to his credit, he didn’t glance around to see who was watching. Instead, he lifted his hand and placed the very tips of his fingers just under Archer’s chin. The contact made him shiver, made him want things he should not be wanting, and yet he leaned in and his eyes fluttered half shut.
“Kiss me,” he said again.
So, Julian did. It was a simple, easy press of lips, plush and half-parted so they slotted more perfectly against Archer’s. Julian’s breath was warm, a rush through his nose as his lungs sighed out a breath that might have been frustration, but it felt like contentment. Archer raised his own hand, cupping it around Julian’s neck, and he kissed back.
It was nothing like he wanted to do, the heat simmering unfulfilled under his skin like the crackling of electricity lighting him up but remaining grounded with no way out. Then Julian moaned softly, pulled back, and pressed their foreheads together.
Hidden like that, only Archer could see the turmoil on his face, the fear and worry. To the rest of the room, it was a soft, tender moment between two men falling deeper in love, and Archer’s heart twisted in his chest. “Thank you,” he murmured.
Julian hummed, nodding. “Is he looking?”
The words were like ice water, fizzling out anything real he might have convinced himself he was feeling, and he took a breath before he looked out of his periphery. Bryce was watching. He was holding his fiancé’s hand, lips pressed to Ashton’s knuckles, but his eyes were locked on Julian.
“Yes.”
Julian pulled back and deliberately didn’t look over, and Archer turned his attention back to his plate. It was only seconds before the remainder of the food was swept away by the server’s deft hands, and when the table was clear, Jacqueline fixed Archer with a look before she leaned in toward her son.
“Are you done causing a scene?”
Archer blinked and bit back a response, because it was hardly that. Bryce had made more of a fuss over the temperature of his salad dressing, and yet the woman’s sharpness had Julian folding into himself just a little.
“We didn’t…”
“It’s my fault,” Archer said, clearing his throat. He ignored her murderous look and shrugged. “I’ve never felt this way before. Julian is one of the most amazing men I’ve ever met, and sometimes I get overwhelmed with fear that it’s too good to be true. I’m sure you know what that feels like.”
Jacqueline sat back and cleared her throat, not looking over at her husband who sat to her right wearing a faint, knowing smirk. “Of course.”
There was a beat of awkward silence, then Fredric put his hand on the table. “Will, Julian, would you like to accompany me to the terrace for a cigar?”