“I’ve gotten better.” Not much, but a little.

He set the other bag down on the floor by the bar. “What’s in that one?” Thorne asked.

“Something for later.” Riley’s wicked smile made Thorne wonder if he’d brought some toys like he used to.

“Would you like coffee?”

“Sure. I’ll make some.”

Thorne held up his hand. “No. I’ll make it. You have a seat.”

“You make coffee now? You have changed.”

Thorne smiled. “Yes, I have.”

After Thorne got the coffee started, he joined Riley on the couch. A wrapped box sat on the table in front of him. Riley must have gotten it from his bag while Thorne was busy.

“This is for you,” Riley said, his voice slightly shaky.

Thorne hadn’t expected Riley to bring him anything. “You didn’t—”

“I wanted to.”

“Should I open it now?”

“Yes. If you want to.”

Thorne took the box. He caressed the shiny silver paper. He knew that no other present he received that year—or possibly any other—would mean as much as whatever was in this box.

He pulled the paper away carefully.

“I should have known you wouldn’t rip the paper.”

Thorne smiled. “No, not even as a child. You tear right into gifts, though, don’t you?”

Riley laughed. “I do. I like to get into things as fast as I can.”

Thorne’s cock responded to those words as if they were talking about far more than gifts. Thorne opened the box. A T-shirt lay on top. There was a picture of a sailboat on the front and the words Work like a captain, Play like a pirate. He lifted it and held it up to himself. “Oh my God, I love it.”

“You said you thought you’d buy a boat next spring so…”

“Riley, this is awesome. Where did you find it?”

“One of Susan’s friend’s sails, and she directed me to a shop that has sailing equipment and gifts.” He gestured toward the box. “There’s something else in there.”

Riley had really put a lot of thought into his gift. Thorne should have done more than make shitty tiramisu. He reached into the box and pulled out something wrapped in tissue paper. He unwrapped it, but he wasn’t sure what it was other than two bow shackles with a leather strips attached.

“It’s a bracelet,” Riley said. “I thought it was fun and possibly…useful.”

Thorne stared at the loop of leather and imagined the uses Riley had in mind. He swallowed and glanced up. “Useful? Yes, it could be.”

Riley beamed at him. The coffee pot gave two long beeps, signaling that it was ready.

“Coffee?” Thorne asked.

“Yes.”

“I…um…I have something for you, but you’re probably stuffed from dinner at Susan’s.” Why hadn’t he thought of that? Why hadn’t he just bought a gift? There was still the painting.