[What was life if not to take chances with? The point of living was to experience things, and Bob had carried that contained energy of someone that wanted things. He didn't know the man's whole story, only what his body and blood told him, but there was a tale there.

And so what of it if he happened to like confidence? Lies were impossible in his kind, but there could be a twisting of the truth to make it seem like anything but. Bob was more straightforward than that, amusingly so. Rowan was locking up the office, phone tucked in at his ear as he debated that very loud, open-ended question.]

Depends on how far away you are. Time for the doors to close here, but if you're close enough, I can wait around to scribble something on a pad for you.

Let's make it a challenge. If you can make it here before my key turns in the lock, I'll do more than scribble on a pad for you. I'll do it naked, after a few hours at my place.

[Bob was young enough and on that edge enough to likely want to take him up on it, and Rowan hadn't had company in awhile. The itch to touch and be touched was starting to creep in under his skin.]

[He'd been waiting at the door, because of course he was cheating. He'd been all but ready to leave when the offer had been made. He opened it and held up his key, slipping it into the lock so Bob could see it, then locking the clinic closed.

Hitching his pack up on his shoulder, he made his way over to Bob's vehicle.]

It appears as if you've bested the challenge. I suppose that means I'm to be held to my word.

[Coming over, he saw that smile and he shot one back, a little anticipation starting to lick along his mind. The comment shot after had him detouring from where he'd been angling towards the passenger side to come over to the driver's.

He stopped there, looking at Bob and gave him a slow smile. His hand lifted to brush under the rasping edge of his jaw.]

I don't get pressured into doing things I don't want to do, Bob. I'm far too old for that. My home, then we'll see if you're up for it. Which is to say, I'm not one to put you on the hot seat if you're not up for it.

[Bob had very nice eyes, and Rowan focused on that, showing his appreciation in his own before he moved to round the front of the vehicle to get in the other side.

He also gave Bob his address, which was a bit more midtown.]

You say that now, but you just wait until you've got a few less layers on.

Two from the end of this block. There's underground parking if you want to make sure your kit doesn't get messed around with. Unless you trust the street.

[Rowan didn't often drive. All the iron in most vehicles could wear him down after awhile, but he wasn't so weak as to burn from the touch of it. He'd make a shit doctor if he did.]

The question is, how long do you plan to stay, dove? A few hours, or the night?

Oh, Bob, my dear. Fuck on, you get better results. Fuck me, you get the best.

[There's a laugh there, the trill of Ireland heavy in his voice as it usually gets when he's closer to home and not across the pond with the yanks. He moves to draw his finger up along Bob's thigh, stopping a few inches short of being too indecent.]

You might be a bit too tired to leave early.

Consider it part of the challenge. Guest parking's over that way.

[Bob really was strung tighter than a guitar string, and he could feel it like a warmth over his skin. It was tempting to give in, but he was patient. And older than he looked. And he knew that getting him past the barrier of his wards would keep them both safe and let them both relax and enjoy what the night was proffering up in the flavor of tight jeans and blue eyes.]

[He smiles, keeping himself just by the skin of his teeth from reaching over. He knew that once the touching started, once they could let go, it wasn't going to stop. And he didn't look forward to the idea of being fined for being caught shagging in the elevator. There were cameras, after all.]

Rowan. You can call me that or just Row. Or whatever other pet names come to you when you can't remember either of ours.

[He reached to open his door, winking over at Bob.]

Shall we?

[Oh, he knew the Brits and their nicknames. Most shuddered at hearing their name in full, especially from female lips of the matriarchy. Being three-named by a mother was bound to have any lad bolting one way or the other. Apparently Robert had been Bob for long enough that his given name didn't sit right. That was the funny thing with names. They grew into things, turned people into different versions of themselves. A name was part of a person's power, well, in his world anyway. He'd not slip up and call Bob by his given name, since to be fair, it didn't suit this version of the man he was with.

He reached back into his pack and pulled out his keys, the magnetic key fob making the elevator chime as he reached out to activate it.]

Depends on your perception of time. Not too long. I'm a mostly travelling doctor. Been here about two months so far. That clinic needed a placeholder doctor until they can sort out who's to stay and go on full time. Make sure it's the right place to open and bring in clients. I make a good placeholder and my salary's not too ridiculous.

[He pressed the button for the penthouse, because of course he did. He didn't make ridiculous kinds of money at the moment, but he had over the years and he'd made investments. Along with a few trinkets he sold and loaned from his birthplace that went to people with the money to appreciate it.

Rowan leaned back after pressing the button, glancing over at Bob from under his lashes.]

Praise like that and I'm likely to blush, dove.

What else do you have in that mind of yours that would look good on me, mm?

[Oh, there was definitely tension between them. And the way Bob was standing let him know that he hadn't been joking in the slightest when he'd made that complaint about driving hard. He let his eyes trace slowly down the man in front of him, then back up to meet those blue eyes that held a bit more than just blue in them. Pretty eyes. He hadn't been puffing him about that.]

[Oh, this one was smooth. Smooth and cocky, and Rowan liked the way it looked on him.]

Aye, but I don't have any of those pretty markings you do, so my canvass is a bit more bare. You have things to ruminate over, from what I gleaned earlier. Things to trace with finger and tongue. Any meaning behind any of them?