“Oh.” I was surprised I didn’t sway as his answer pushed an unseen weight off my shoulders. In the seven years since I’d dropped out of medical school, the responses had varied, but skewed heavily toward “apparently you couldn’t cut it” and “well done, dumbass.” No one had ever accepted from the get-go that maybe some people weren’t wired for that kind of school or career, and that maybe it was possible to be happier doing something else instead of knuckling through because someone told you to.
Goddamn. Where were these two seven years ago?
And silence had fallen, and I could feel them both watching me, so I cleared my throat and turned to Aaron. “Law school, you said? So you’re a lawyer?”
He nodded. “Got the student loans and premature gray hair to prove it.”
Will chuckled, patting Aaron’s leg. “Baby, it was premature when you were thirty-five. These days, it’s—”
Aaron rolled his eyes. “Shut up.”
Will’s eyebrow flicked up. Aaron instantly looked chastened, and he sheepishly cleared his throat. Will just laughed and gave his leg another pat.
Good God. Their relationship was this submissive’s wet dream. Their Dominant and submissive roles were obvious to anyone who knew what they were looking at, but there was nothing domineering about Will, and I doubted there was anyone alive who could make Aaron cower. The mutual adoration was even more obvious than their Dom/sub dynamic. I swear, my heart melted a little every time Will watched Aaron with that sweet smile on his lips.
How do I find a man who looks at me like that?
“Anyway,” Aaron said. “To answer your question, yes, I’m a lawyer.”
“Yeah? What kind of… What specialty, I guess?”
“Criminal defense, mostly.”
I blinked. “Really?”
“Yep.”
“Is there much demand for that in this town?”
Aaron laughed. “Oh, you’d be surprised. Every city has its underbelly, and Laurelsburg is no exception.” He shifted as if the topic was getting uncomfortable. “Less violent crime than when I practiced in Chicago. More drug-related offenses and DUIs. Those aren’t pretty either, but I’ll take them over the alternative.”
“Yeah, I bet.” I was painfully curious about his career—I’d always wondered how the hell someone could defend criminals—but maybe that could wait until we’d all gotten to know each other more. I turned to Will. “What about you? What do you do?”
“I’m an illustrator and animator.”
“Really?” Somehow that was one of the last things I’d have guessed for him. I wasn’t even sure what I would have guessed if I’d given myself a minute to think about it, but an illustrator and animator probably wouldn’t have made the top ten. Even when I was sitting in the middle of a room full of his art. First, holy shit, someone was making a living doing art. Second, everything I could see was fine art, but he also did illustrations and animation? For a living? Wow.
And Jesus, I would definitely make sure all of my art stuff was out of sight if the two of them came to my place. At least none of it was online—nothing I painted would ever see the light of day (or social media) unless it was fit for the goddamned Louvre because I didn’t need anyone else’s voice joining my dad’s and telling me all the reasons I shouldn’t bother. And I really didn’t need this gorgeous Dom, who was also a professional artist, to see some of the things I painted that looked like novice trash.
I took a quick sip of water. “That’s—wow, that’s really awesome that you make a living doing what you love.”
He smiled. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world. In fact we moved here so I could take a job teaching at the university, but…” He wrinkled his nose and shook his head. “Turned out that wasn’t for me. I’m still an adjunct professor, but I only teach one or two courses at a time now. Doing it full-time wasn’t my cup of tea. I’d rather make art than teach it.”
“You should see some of his work.” Aaron beamed with pride. “Not just”—he gestured at the paintings—“but his pro stuff. In fact, you probably have.”
“Oh yeah?”
Will actually blushed, and he nodded. “I’ve done some animated logos and commercials that have gone nationwide.”
“Yeah? Which ones?”
“Um…” His eyes lost focus, and he swirled his water like it was a glass of wine. “There was that insurance company…” He quirked his lips. “What was that place called?”
“Ataraxis Insurance,” Aaron supplied.
Will snapped his fingers. “Yes. Ataraxis. The one with the animated bat.”
“Wow, seriously?” I said. “I saw those commercials in LA!”
Will smiled. “Yeah, that one got around.”
Oh my God. Gazing at Will, Aaron looked so proud of his husband. Not in a patronizing way, or like he was just humoring him—like he was genuinely proud and maybe even a bit awestruck by Will’s artistic talent and professional success.
My kingdom for a man to look at me like that just one time.
“So, um.” I shifted a little on the sofa. “How long have you two been together?”
The way they smiled at each other. Good Lord.
Lacing his fingers between Will’s, Aaron said, “Just hit twenty years last winter.”
“Wow. Really?”
They both nodded, and Will said, “We’ve been married for four, but yeah, we’ve been together for twenty.”
“Damn,” I said.
Aaron shot me a pointed look. “And no, we don’t need to discuss how old you were when we met.”
Will snickered. So did I. Aaron eyed him, and Will tried—sort of—to look innocent. Aaron just rolled his eyes and took a drink.
Putting his glass down on a coaster, he huffed. “Anyway. I don’t think we’re here to talk about who’s older and who was taking the LSAT while the other was still high school.” He cut his eyes toward Will, who wasn’t even trying to hide his amusement now.
I loved it. They were so comfortable together. So easygoing. I had no doubt Will could put Aaron on his knees with nothing more than a look, but they still bantered playfully. Aaron could snark at him and roll his eyes when it was obviously in good fun. This was a pair who had their boundaries and power dynamic well-established, and I envied them. I wanted to sit here all night and ask them about their lives—not to mention their life together—and their jobs and everything they’d done in twenty years as a couple. I wanted to listen to them banter and joke like only a couple this comfortable with each other could do.
I couldn’t even imagine that. I’d never been able to pull off a relationship with anyone for more than a few months. These guys had spent like half their lives together. That was mind-blowing to me. What I wouldn’t have given for a Dom like Will with whom I could be as relaxed and comfortable as Aaron.
Someday.
For tonight, we were here to feel each other out and figure out if there was enough chemistry and compatibility to play together,
“So.” I cleared my throat. “Getting back to why we’re here…”