Men of London 02 - Sight and Sinners (11 page)

“Do you
want
to have proper sex?” The husky timbre of his voice went straight to Draven’s cock, which perked up even more at those words.

“Oh. Did I say that out loud?”

Taylor nodded, amusement in his eyes. “You did, yes.” His lips brushed Draven’s, causing a jolt of electricity down his spine, and once again Draven wondered who had the power in this relationship.

Taylor leaned in and whispered, “Do you want to go back to bed and fuck me?”

“Is that a trick question?” Draven growled, releasing Taylor’s wrists and then rubbing them gently. Taylor watched the slow movements of Draven’s fingers on his skin as Draven traced the path of one of the vines on his wrist.

“Much as I’d like to take you up on the kind offer, I have to be at work in an hour or so for a meeting.” Draven had never hated his job as much as he did now with a willing man in his arms and a raging boner. “So I’m afraid the proper sex thing will have to wait.”

He brought Taylor’s wrist up to his lips and kissed it lingeringly. Taylor’s eyes watched every move. “So the plan is now I get in the shower… alone,” he said decisively, even if he didn’t want it to be that way. Taylor would be too much of a distraction and he’d never make it out of the shower. “Then I can get cleaned up and get to work before my damn boss fires my arse. He’s not too happy with me at the moment anyway so I can’t chance my luck. And you… you can stay as long as you want, and just lock up when you go. Chuck the key back inside through the mailbox. Do you have to be at work?” He raised an eyebrow and Taylor shook his head.

“I called in and took a personal day. I have some things to do today and I haven’t had a day off in forever so they can do without me. My boss wasn’t too chuffed about that either but she can go to hell. I’m never sick and I’m always there.” His beautiful face contorted into a fierce tiger-cub frown and Draven thought it was adorable. “It’s been a rough week and I need some me time.”

Draven reached over and drew him in for a long, sexy kiss that made his own toes curl and the boner he was sporting even harder. He’d have a bit of work to do in the shower before he got out. Finally he pulled away, leaving Taylor with wet lips and dazed eyes.

“Right, I’m off to shower.” He turned and walked toward the stairs. He turned back, a slight fluttering in his stomach preceding his next words. He had a visit planned, as usual, to the hospital to see Jude. He hadn’t been as often lately due to work and personal commitments and he felt as guilty as hell.

“Errm, I have somewhere to be after work for an hour or two then I’ll call you later. Don’t phone me; I won’t have my phone on where I’m going.” Curiosity flitted across Taylor’s face but Draven wasn’t ready to tell him about Jude. Not yet. “And remember, nothing bad is going to happen to me.” He winked at Taylor. “Keep that thought about the proper sex bit. I’ll hold you to that later.”

He felt Taylor’s eyes on him as he walked up the stairs to the bathroom, and for once in his life, he prayed to whatever entities resided above and below that he could keep that promise.

Chapter 7

Taylor had no idea how he made it through the next few weeks without physically combusting. The spark that had ignited between him and Draven had become a raging furnace and neither of them seemed able to keep their hands off one another. He had no idea what this thing between them was. Taylor was disparaging of the whole “love at first sight” thing but he had to admit he hadn’t felt this strongly before about a man who, in truth, he barely knew.

Taylor had been relieved that whatever the vision was that he’d had that night he’d first slept with Draven hadn’t come to anything. He still heard the voice sometimes, soft yet yearning, but he’d learned to simply accept it as he did with others. It was more difficult to do, though. The
faux
Draven (because if he imagined it to be the real one he’d go bat-shit crazy) had felt helpless, and the yearning to be somewhere else had been all-encompassing.

Their days consisted of each of them at their respective jobs, keeping in touch with texts and quick phone calls. The nights—they were what held Taylor together. Long, passionate evenings into the early mornings, volatile sex and steamy shower sessions that left them both spent and exhausted. Most of the time they spent at Draven’s house, as it was more private than having Leslie coming home, sometimes with a friend of his own. Taylor was feeling a little guilty about neglecting his friend.

Now, on one of his rare days off, he got up around eleven a.m. and stumbled tiredly into the small shower. After drying himself, he put on old tracksuit pants and a tee shirt that he grabbed from the wash hamper. It was close to one p.m. when, after checking his texts and emails—Leslie had texted him earlier from work saying he was staying the night at a friend’s—and fixing himself a snack of peanut butter and jam sandwiches, he was seated comfortably in the old armchair with the remote, selecting a Netflix film called
Going Down in La-La Land
. He thought it sounded good enough to keep him occupied, and perhaps he might even engage in a little under-the-cover action later to relieve the permanent sexual tension he had.

Taylor woke up hours later, dry mouthed and needing to pee. He struggled out of the chair, wincing at the tired muscles and dried come on his stomach and took his trip to the bathroom. He rinsed his mouth out with breath freshener, cleaned himself up and loped tiredly back into the lounge. The afternoon sun shone in through grimy windows and Taylor thought not for the first time that he really needed to get around to cleaning them sometime.

After pottering around and doing some much needed housework he settled in to watch some television, glancing at his watch and wondering when Draven might call. It was close to eight-thirty p.m. when his mobile finally rang. His stomach dipped at the thought it was Draven. It wasn’t him on the phone but he smiled when he saw who it was.

“Eddie, my man. What’s up?” If he hadn’t had the caller ID he’d still know who it was from the sounds of the kitchen in the background. Men’s voices, the clutter of utensils and whir of whatever culinary machines made those sort of noises. Taylor wasn’t big on the whole cooking thing.

“I should be asking you the same question.” Eddie laughed. “How are things going with Mr. Blond and Grouchy? Are you still getting laid regularly?

Taylor smiled. “I can’t keep up with him; the man is insatiable. But I’m enjoying his company.” He wandered into the kitchen and took out a beer, uncapping it and taking a deep drink.

“Is he still being so bloody secretive about where he goes when you can’t get in touch with him?” Eddie sniffed. “Are you sure he hasn’t got another boyfriend somewhere, Tay? You know how I worry about you…”

“No, I don’t think that’s it,” Taylor muttered. “He’s hiding something, that’s for sure but I don’t think it’s another man. The guy couldn’t possibly do what he does with me and have a bit on the side, believe me. He’d have to have the stamina of Superman.”

Taylor felt a twinge of discomfort at his own words. He’d been there, been the bit on the side and who knew just how much sex Drew had been getting with his wife before coming to Taylor? He supposed he shouldn’t really make such wild assumptions.

“Have you asked him? You know, talked instead of just screwing each other’s brains out?” Eddie sounded worried.

“Yeah, we talk. A little anyway, but it’s more physical at this stage I think. He’s a tough guy to get to know, but I really like him. He’s a real softy inside; it’s one of the things I like about him.”

“Really? You mean that whole douche-bag thing he has going for him isn’t the real Draven? Wow, miracles never cease.” Eddie’s teasing lifted Taylor’s spirits a little. He also felt the need to defend his new lover.

“Oh, when you get to know him a bit better, I guess he’s not such a bad bloke.” Taylor tried to change the topic away from his sex life. “Anyway, if I recall Gideon used to be a douche bag too before you got your hands on him.”

There was a loud snort from the other side. “Oh yeah, too true.” Eddie’s tone turned wicked. “You just need to train them then they become a little more bearable.” His voice got louder and Taylor grinned as he realised Gideon had probably just walked into the kitchen. “I mean, what’s the point of having a man if they don’t toe the line and let you show them who’s boss?” There was a yowl from the phone. “Ow, baby, that hurt. Really, you need to remember we’re not in the bedroom now—you need to have some self-restraint. Ow!”

Taylor chuckled loudly as Gideon came onto the phone. “Tay? My man is having a sudden crisis this side; he says he’ll call you later. I need to take him home and make sure he knows who’s the boss.” His voice was amused and loving and Taylor felt a pang as he realised how lucky Eddie was.

Will I ever have that someone who talks about me like he really cares? Is it going to be Draven or is that just a one-time thing?

The phone was obviously grabbed away as Eddie reappeared, breathing fairly heavily. “Damn bully. I’m back. Anyway, where were we? Oh yeah, I was asking you about your love life. Don’t let the grass grow, yadda, yadda. And have fun, Tay.” His voice grew serious. “Don’t let him hurt you. He doesn’t sound like the type of guy who’s into relationships so make sure you don’t get in too deep unless you know it’s going somewhere. I did some checking on this guy and he’s a bit of a player.” Taylor had no illusions that Gideon had been Eddie’s information source.

“So was I, Eddie,” Taylor said softly. “I might not have brought a lot of guys home to the house when we stayed together but, believe me, I’ve had my fair share of casual sex.” He remembered Drew and the warm light in his eyes as they’d lain in bed together. That hadn’t really been casual to him.

“Thanks for worrying but I’ll be fine. This thing with Draven isn’t really serious. I’m not sure where it’s going. Just a bit of fun really.” He’d say anything to put Eddie’s mind out of protective mode. He was tired of having everyone see him as someone who needed babying. Leslie had said much the same thing as Eddie.

He heard a noise at the kitchen door and turned swiftly to see Draven standing there, his face blank but with a strange look in his eyes. Taylor’s heart leapt as he motioned to him to come in. Draven nodded and moved into the small space, crossing his arms across his chest and regarding Taylor evenly.

Taylor swallowed, feeling strangely guilty at his last words about Draven being a bit of fun. “Listen, Eddie, I need to go. Draven’s just arrived, so I’ll call you later in the week, okay? Maybe we can make a plan to go out for a beer, you, me and Leslie. Like old times.”

“No worries. I’ll speak to you soon. Oh, and Taylor?” Eddie’s voice lowered to a whisper. “Fuck his brains out.” The line went dead and Taylor laid his phone down on the side table and looked up to stare at Draven.

“Do you always leave your front door open?” Draven asked quietly. “Anyone could have come in. I did knock but you were occupied.” For the first time Taylor noticed the brown folder under his arm.

Taylor shrugged. “You know I don’t lock it when I’m home. It’s not a bad neighbourhood. Maybe I should start, seeing as how just anyone could walk in.” He smiled, meaning it as a tease, but Draven’s jaw tightened and he cricked his head from side to side as if loosening tight muscles.

Taylor swallowed. “I wasn’t expecting you to come over in person. I thought you were going to call first, like usual. Did you get your business sorted out, you know, the stuff you do after work?” Taylor didn’t want to be nosy but it was a habit that was hard to break.

Draven nodded, rather curtly Taylor thought. “Yes.”

He said no more but Taylor saw an expression cross his face, something sad and rather unsettling. He looked at Taylor, a wary expression in his eyes.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to walk in on your private conversation. I don’t want to interrupt if you have plans.” He uncrossed his arms and took hold of the folder in his left hand. “I should go. Maybe this was a mistake coming here unannounced.”

Taylor frowned. He didn’t want Draven to leave. “I told you that’s not a problem. I come over to yours without always calling first.”

Draven drew a breath. “I guess. Is it all right then if I stay?”

“Yeah, of course. I’ll get you a drink. Beer?”

Draven nodded and Taylor fetched a San Miguel from the small fridge.

Draven scowled slightly. “So that was Eddie? What was he doing? Checking out what my intentions were toward you? Finding out how much
fun
you were having with me?” There was a slight bite to Draven’s words and Taylor’s stomach plummeted.

“So you heard the last part of my conversation then?”

Draven didn’t reply but the way his nostrils flared told Taylor he definitely had.

“It’s the only way to keep him off my back.” Taylor explained, fairly lamely he thought. “He’s not sure you’re the right person for me to get involved with, and telling him that will make him worry less.”

“Whatever. You’re right. It’s nothing serious, anyway, I agree. Too early for that. It’s just a bit of fun.” Hearing his words repeated back at him in that flat tone made Taylor feel like a heel. He also didn’t like the fact that Draven thought “fun” was the key word for their budding relationship either.

“Draven, I…”