To Rory's shock and horror, the elevator was filled with people. He tugged on Rin's sleeve, keeping his head low. "We should get the next one."

Rin smiled down at him, squeezing his hand tighter. "Nonsense, it's a popular event. It's going to be like this all night... and all weekend." With a tug, Rin pulled Rory onto the elevator and guided him toward the back. He turned Rory to face him and pressed their interlaced hand against his chest as he called out 'lobby' to the person closest to the controls. He lowered his head to Rory's ear. "Try matching your heart rate to mine."

Was it that obvious that I hate tight spaces? Mortified... would probably be the best word... Rory flexed his fingers against the hard upper chest where Rin had placed his hand, noting the faint swell of the top of his pecs. He'd seen Rin and Dillon both work out together in the home gym, but they didn't seem to do anything too insanely different... So why did Rin seem to have-

Ding

The doors to the elevator opened. "This is us." Rin's soft, soothing voice penetrated Rory's thoughts.

The not-so-steady pace of Rin's heart, meant to calm the claustrophobia, stirred something else in Rory instead. Rory glanced up to meet Rin's gaze. Was he nervous... or excited too? Rory nodded and turned away, jerking his hand back as he did. The urge to explore the plains of Rin's hard chest was too tempting... and too prohibited if he wanted to keep his job... 'job' there was that damnable word again. Rory frowned. His thoughts were cut short as nosy, excited people began pushing past him. A tug on his hand had him stumbling against Rin's hard body once again.

"Is this part of your romance? This cat and mouse game where you entice me with the longing in your eyes, try to get away, and I have to keep pulling you back? If so, it could be fun to write... just know it also brings out the more predatory side, and we are talking about an ML who is a fox god, after all." Rin laced both hands into Rory's as he held him against his body. "Would you like to see how Predatory a fox can be?"

Rory shook his head, keeping it low as people paused to shoot glances at them as they passed by. "No... remember you wanted romance, not sex."

"They can be one and the same, no?" Rin's grip tightened before he wrapped their intertwined hands around Rory's waist.

"Not in this case. You haven't built enough romance to allocate sex."

"Um..." Rin purred wickedly into Rory's ear. "I like the idea of having to earn sex." He loosened his hold but didn't release his hands as they stepped from the elevator, the crowd's eyes still on them. "What do I have to do to earn it?" He whispered seductively against Rory's lowered head.

Rory's eyes moved over the many faces of the lobby from beneath the cover of the cap. Phones were lifted, no doubt recording them as if this were just an extra show being performed. "People are watching."

Rin grinned. "I know. Let's test your acting skills. Who knows when you may need them as my assistant?"

Apprehension radiated through Rory's entire body. "But they are recording... what if this gets out to your father and he misunderstands?"

"This is an event. He'll see it as publicity, nothing more, nothing else... Now, if we were to be seen together in private or... well... just trust me, he would know if our relationship goes past what he approves of." Rin snaked his arm around Rory once again. "Now, my apprehensive lover, we have just snuck out of your dorm, your dorm mates are seeing you with your mysterious man for the first time. What do you do?"

Rory's eyes traveled around the waiting crowd before moving up to Rin's expectant gaze. The MC in the book was a shy nerd who also hated crowds and attention... he would probably... Rory's eyes landed on the large double doors leading to the street. With his mind made up, he spun in Rin's arms and sent him a determined glint before tightening his hold on his hand and darting for the door. Rory didn't stop running until the sound of claps and the blinding brightness of lights were far behind them. He panted as he finally came to a halt, releasing Rin and clasping his own chest. "Was... was that good enough?"

Rin chuckled, slightly winded as well. "Yeah..." He looked around. "I gotta say I wasn't sure if you were going to stop running or not." His eyes landed on the waterfront view. Lights from the city reflected off the shimmering water. Rin wrapped an arm around Rory's back and guided him over toward the railing lining the walkway. "Well... Even if you can't show me romance, this area is in itself romantic..." Rin pulled Rory closer and tugged the hat off his head. "Even if I wasn't trying to fuck you, I'd want to hold you close and tell you how beautiful you look surrounded by the lights reflecting off the waters... That's got to be a start, right?"

Rory cursed his rebellious heart as it thudded against his chest. He forced himself to look away. "I don't think that would be a good line to use."

Rin tugged Rory's face back up to meet his as he lowered his lips closer to Rory's. "Wouldn't it? I'm a fox god after all, remember? Gods aren't known for their understanding of human emotion or presentation and expression of such emotions." He moved closer, gripping Rory's face tighter. "I think if I were to kiss you right now, it would be perfect."

Rory turned his face away and pulled from Rin's grip. "Then do that... Write it like that..."

Rin frowned. "Fine... but how will I know how the MC will react if this is all you give me? You said you'd help me understand. Here's your chance."

Rory hesitated before turning back to Rin. He pressed his fisted hands against Rin's upper stomach. His gaze held signs of trepidation, but he didn't back down. "If I were the MC, I'd tell you... You can try all the cheap tricks you want to possess my body, fox... but that will never win you my heart... Kiss me if you like, but kissing a frog will only win you a prince in fairy tales."

Rin smirked as his grip tightened on Rory's arms, backing him against the railing. Once Rin had him pinned in place, he hooked a finger under Rory's chin and brought his gaze up to meet his. "Wrong story, my little prince." Rin purred. "In this story, no frogs or princesses are waiting with magical saving kisses... only wolves seeking to devour."

Struggling against the captivating pull Rin and his words had, Rory turned his head away at the last possible moment. Rin's lips brushed his cheek instead of his lips. "That's a nice line, though you got the ML's animal mixed up." He pushed against Rin's stomach and stepped out onto the walkway, ignoring the chattering of the group of people headed their way. He was nearly swept up in the bustle of the upbeat, drunken crowd when now familiar hands caught his arm. He glanced down as he drew to a stop, allowing the energetic bodies to press on by.

"Is it really so bad to be in my company? You'd rather get lost... with strangers no less?" Rin murmured as he stepped behind Rory, placing his free hand on Rory's narrow hip.

Rory pried Rin's hand away. "It's things like this that make rash actions seem like the better, safer option."

Rin spun Rory around to face him, recapturing his hip and pulling him close. "You don't feel safe with me?" His eyes sparkled with amusement as he licked his lower lip. "You really must see me as nothing more than a man-eater."

Rory searched Rin's turbulent, fiery gaze. "Are we still acting out the scene, or is this you? Because I have to admit, at this point I'm not sure if I've met the real Rin yet."

Rin shook his head. "You haven't... You may never..."

Rory pushed against Rin again. "Enough with the games, I want to go back to our room."

With a snort of amusement, Rin nodded and took his hand. "Fine. I believe you gave me enough to work with tonight."

Rory's brows furrowed. "What do you mean by 'enough to work with'?"

Rin shrugged, still not releasing Rory's hand. "As irritating as your little ice prince game has been so far, I think I can use it for the MC. Pairing your honest reactions to jabs, I think the MC would use may help make this novel the hit you promised me." A wicked grin curved Rin's lips. "Of course, any returning reader of mine will still expect the extra spice." Rin sent him a wink. "So, you may want to prepare yourself, little assistant."