“Is it possible the person was wearing another layer underneath the trousers?”
Matthew resisted the temptation to slap his forehead. “Yes, of course. I’m not sure what kind of material would stop the transference of any scent whatsoever, but it’s possible. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.”
“A fresh brain thinking about something often does wonders. You should know that by now.”
“Speaking of which, any chance of calling another meeting? Or getting the word out there about these damn trousers? Needless to say, we have to find out who they belong to, preferably without tipping him off. I’m certain we can’t use the material as evidence in a trial, so we need to catch him in the act or get a confession. But if we can track him down, we can keep a close eye on him, see if we can nail him before he does anything else.”
“Yes, of course. I reckon another meeting is best. That way everyone will get the information first hand and we’ll know they’re getting the correct information. You know how things can get unintentionally changed when people repeat them. Give me a couple of days and I’ll get something sorted. In the meantime, I’ll keep my mind on this problem and see if anything crops up. We’re almost there, mate, I can sense it. He’s slipped up now, made an error. Not a huge one, as it happens, but it proves he’s a man, not a machine. And men screw up every now and again. It’s only a matter of time before he makes another mistake. When he does, we’ll be ready.”
“I hope you’re right, Richard. I really hope you’re right.”
Chapter Thirty-one
Isaac left the doctors’ surgery, saying goodbye to his colleagues and the patients in the waiting room as he headed out the door. He was about to turn in the direction of home, dinner on his mind, when he spotted Nathaniel approaching him.
It had been a while since their paths had crossed, and Isaac was pleased to see him, his attraction not having waned even a little bit in the interim. His smile quickly disappeared when he saw the expression on the other man’s face as he crossed the road and came to a stop in front of him.
“Hello, Nathaniel,” he said tentatively, then winced inwardly, hoping his mistake of not shortening his name wouldn’t be noticed. “Everything all right?”
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. “Hello? That’s all you’ve got to say, is it?” His voice wasn’t loud, but the anger was still blatantly obvious.
“Um, I’m not sure what you mean, sorry.”
A sigh. Then, “You’ve been avoiding me. Since you towed my car home and we… you know, I haven’t seen hide nor hair of you. I thought we had something. Or were about to start something.”
Isaac suppressed a groan. This was not what he needed right now. Further complications, and a discussion in the middle of the street where anyone could hear them. “I haven’t been avoiding you at all,” he lied. “I’ve just had a lot on my plate.” That part was definitely true.
Nathaniel let out a harrumph. “You couldn’t have called? Dropped me a text?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know what was happening between us and I didn’t want to push it. How’s your car? All fixed?”
“I’m not here to talk about my bloody car. I want to talk about what’s happening between us.”
“Okay. But can we go somewhere more private? Your place? Let me just send Matthew a quick message to let him know I’m not going to be home right away, okay?”
Nathaniel folded his arms and fixed him with a sharp look.
Ignoring it, Isaac pulled his phone out and tapped a text to his brother, careful to ensure Nathaniel couldn’t see what he was writing.
Not going to be home just yet. Drama with N. Eat without me if you’re hungry. Will be back ASAP.
He sent the message, then put his phone into silent mode. “Okay, I’m all yours.”
Without a word, Nathaniel spun on his heel and stalked along the road in the direction of his house.
Isaac rolled his eyes, then followed at his own pace, not even bothering to try to catch up. He sensed that no matter what he said in this situation, he was going to get it wrong, so he was in no rush.
When he reached Nathaniel’s house, the back door stood open, so he walked right on in and found him sitting at the kitchen table, still looking pretty pissed off. He closed the door, took the seat opposite Nathaniel, and waited expectantly for the fireworks.
After several long moments of silence, Nathaniel finally lifted his gaze from the table’s surface and met Isaac’s eyes. “Let’s get this over with, shall we?”
“What? I don’t really know what this is all about.”
“I already told you. I thought there was something starting between us, then you go and disappear on me.”
“I haven’t disappeared anywhere. I’ve been here all the time.”
“Exactly. You’ve been here and haven’t made the slightest attempt to get in touch. You haven’t even been in the pub for ages. Do you see why I think you’ve been avoiding me?”
“I suppose so. But that hasn’t been it, not at all. I told you, I didn’t know what was going on between us. Whether you were expecting me to call, whether you were going to call me, whether you even wanted to see me again. Unfortunately, I don’t have the power to read minds. And, as I also said, I’ve had a lot on my plate just lately, so haven’t really had the spare time or brainpower to figure out… well, us.”
“It’s obviously not that important to you then.”
Isaac wanted to bang his head on the table. Nathaniel was clearly spoiling for a fight, and he really didn’t have the energy. Especially when he wasn’t entirely sure what they were supposed to be fighting about. “Don’t be silly.” An idea popped into his head. A trump card. He decided to play it. “Look, I have no experience whatsoever with this relationship stuff. I don’t know what the etiquette is, what’s expected, what’s not… I just have no idea. I’m very sorry if I’ve upset you or pissed you off, but I can assure you it’s not intentional.”
Nathaniel screwed his face up. “You have no experience with relationships? That’s very specific. Most people would say they don’t have much experience.”
“If I said that, I would be lying. I have no experience. None whatsoever.”
“Surely you weren’t a virgin?”
Now Isaac had to stifle a snigger. He’d had a somewhat tragic existence, but over four hundred years old and still with his cherry? It didn’t bear thinking about. “No. I wasn’t a virgin. I’ve had sex. Not a lot, granted, but you weren’t my first.”
“Okay. So why no relationships? I’m sure living and working in the same small village has limited your options somewhat, but you must have had opportunities. And if not, there’s always online dating.”
Isaac opened his mouth, then closed it again. It was obvious he couldn’t tell the absolute truth. He thought for a second. “You’re right, my options have been limited. My life pretty much centres around this village and always has. It’s a bit of a vicious circle, I suppose. I’ve never met anyone I wanted to have a relationship with, so I’ve never bothered to come out. And probably because I’ve never come out, anyone in the village who might bat for the same team has no idea that I do.” He shrugged. “You can’t miss what you’ve never had, though, right?”
“I guess not. But are you interested in pursuing anything… with me?” Nathaniel’s gaze dropped back to the tabletop and Isaac’s heart skipped a beat. He was so damn cute, and his immediate thought was, Hell yeah, I want to pursue something with you, but the sensible part of his brain pushed the reaction aside. What could he offer Nathaniel right now? He was going through a totally fucked-up period in his life. Partners would normally share their troubles with each other, but he’d have to keep his a secret from Nathaniel. And the guy was smart—he’d know there was something up.
Then there was the matter of the full moon. How could he explain where he went and what he did every full moon? At first Nathaniel probably wouldn’t realise he was busy the same night every four weeks, wouldn�
��t see the pattern. But he might work it out eventually. And even if he didn’t, what would he say if Nathaniel asked what he was up to, where he was going? Partners shared that kind of information with each other, too.
Isaac hung his head and closed his eyes. Christ, why couldn’t he have just kept his hands to himself in the first place? All this crap was the precise reason he’d only ever had one-night stands. His life had enough lies, enough omissions as it was, without complicating matters further. But it was too late now—he was having this conversation and he had to find a way to get through it, causing as little pain to either of them as possible.
“I am. But I can’t. I’m really sorry. Believe me, I’m sorry, but I’m just not in a position to get into something right now. This… thing I have going on is pretty big and is taking up a lot of my time. And it’s important. I can’t dedicate the time or energy to a relationship.” He wanted to add, Maybe when this is all over, but stopped himself. Even then, would he really be in a position to date someone, maybe get even more serious?
For fuck’s sake. He’d had this argument with himself so many times over the past few months it was driving him crazy. It was as if he was having a tug of war with himself. Can I, can’t I? Should I, shouldn’t I? Back and forth, round and round. It was a wonder his head hadn’t exploded.
“Tell me what the thing is,” Nathaniel said simply. “Maybe I can help. You know what they say—a problem shared is a problem halved. A bit naff perhaps, but it’s true. I’d like to help you. Want to help. And I’d understand too if you were busy, had stuff going on. God, I’m not expecting us to be joined at the hip. Just to give it a go and see where it leads.”
“I can’t tell you, Nathaniel. I’m truly sorry. It’s a family thing.”
Nathaniel pursed his lips and gave Isaac a pointed look. “Can’t, or won’t? I’m beginning to think this is a load of bullshit you’re feeding me just to get out of giving a real reason. Are you a commitment-phobe? Or did you just want to fuck me, use me, with no strings, until you got bored? Well, I’m sorry, but that’s an offer that’s just not on the table. I like fun as much as the next bloke, especially the kind that takes place in the bedroom. But unfortunately for me, it seems, I like you as more than just a shag. So I’m afraid it’s all or nothing. I’m not talking civil bloody partnership or moving in together, just exclusivity and some time together. But if you don’t want to give this a chance, then I think you should leave and get back to avoiding me. It’s probably best all round.”
“I’m not leaving,” Isaac snapped, pounding a fist on the table. “Not yet.”
Nathaniel’s eyes widened. “You’re not?”
“No. Not until you’ve heard me out. In the time we’ve known each other, have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?”
Nathaniel’s face took on a thoughtful expression for a couple of seconds, then he met Isaac’s gaze. “No, I suppose not.”
“Well then, I’m asking you to trust me now. There’s a very good reason I can’t tell you anything. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you that bloody reason either. I know it sounds like bullshit, know it makes me sound totally flaky, but I’m telling you the truth. In an absolutely ideal world, this thing would not be happening and I’d be taking you up on your offer of spending time together and seeing where it goes without a speck of hesitation. But I can’t expect you to be with me when I’ve got this thing hanging over me, because it takes up a lot of my time and I can’t talk about it. It’s a big part of my life that would be totally off-limits to you, and it’s not fair. It’s not fair on anyone.”
Nathaniel nodded slowly. “Well, what about if we just pretended there wasn’t a thing? We just see each other as and when we can, no pressure from either side. We’ll spend time together, have fun, and talk about everything except the thing.”
“You’d be willing to do that? Seriously?”
Nathaniel shrugged. “Everyone has their issues. I’ve got a fair few of my own. It’s just that you can’t talk about yours. I’m not saying it won’t be hard for me, because I genuinely care about you and want to help, but I’ll just have to be there for you in other ways. And there’s no reason I can’t comfort you even if I don’t know exactly what’s upsetting you.”
“I never said the thing upsets me.”
There was a pregnant pause.
“You didn’t have to. Your tone and body language speak volumes. Whatever it is, you’re not happy about it and it makes your life difficult. I’m just glad you’ve got Matthew to talk to about it, so you’re not totally alone. There’s someone to share the load.”
Isaac narrowed his eyes. “How do you know Matthew knows?”
Now Nathaniel looked utterly confused. “You said it was a family thing. You told me your parents were dead, and you’ve never mentioned any other relatives. So unless you’ve got some secret family stashed away somewhere, who else could it be?”
Isaac heaved a sigh of relief and mentally kicked himself. He was going to have to be more careful about what he said. Paranoia and snapping at Nathaniel were just going to make him suspicious and likely exacerbate the problems he was so desperate to avoid if they got into something.
Christ, am I really about to do this? Really about to go all in with this man, this gorgeous fucking man, and have some attempt at a normal relationship, despite the fact I can’t tell him my biggest secret?
He gulped as Nathaniel reached across the table and placed his hand over Isaac’s, then squeezed it.
Fuck, I really think I am.
“O-okay,” he said, working hard to get the words out before nerves choked him into silence. “Yes. On those conditions, I’d like to give it a go. Exclusive, spending time together, seeing where it goes. I’d love to.”
Nathaniel’s eyes glinted with mischief as he shot him a smile, then he slid from his chair and got to his feet in one fluid movement. He took a step around the table, helped Isaac out of his own seat, then pulled him close. “Wanna go upstairs and make it official?”
“Hell, yes. I really bloody well do.”
“Come on then.” Nathaniel led him from the room and up the stairs. It wasn’t the first time they’d been in this position, doing this exact thing, but Isaac was more nervous than he ever remembered being in his life. His heart pounded and he was sure his palm was growing increasingly slick against Nathaniel’s. Wiping his free hand down his trousers, he tried hard to get a grip.
Come on, Isaac. The sex is nothing to be worried about. You’ve done it before, and you’ve done it before with him. It’s nothing new. It’s just you’ve committed to something now. There’s officially more to this than just the physical. But, unofficially, you’ve had feelings for him for ages, so it won’t feel any different. Just go with the flow, see what happens. And for Christ’s sake, calm the fuck down!
Once they were in the bedroom, Nathaniel let go of his hand and went to clear a couple of books off the bed. He tidied them quickly away into a drawer, but Isaac made a mental note to ask about them later—they’d looked old. Leather-bound. Historical documents or something, perhaps. Cool. His hottie was also a book nerd—in Isaac’s eyes, that made him even more attractive. If such a thing were even possible.
“Ready?” Nathaniel, having closed the door and the curtains, turned to him with a wicked grin and outstretched arms.
Stepping eagerly into his embrace, Isaac replied, “More than ready.”
Chapter Thirty-two
Nathaniel cupped Isaac’s face and leaned in for a kiss. Isaac caught just a glimpse of those mischievous green eyes before he closed his own, giving himself over to the brush of Nathaniel’s lips and the tongue already questing for entry into his mouth. He wrapped his arms around the other man’s trim waist.
As their kiss deepened, turning into something both tender and passionate, Isaac was stunned by the intensity of the feelings running through him—need, lust, happiness, completion. They were still fully clothed, yet already he felt a type of satisfaction, something h
e didn’t remember ever experiencing before. It seemed to come just from being in Nathaniel’s presence, in his arms. It was more to do with the man himself than what they were actually doing. Or were about to do.
Was this love? Had the conversation they’d just had allowed him to unlock a part of himself that had been shut away for so long? Allowed him to realise the depth of his feelings for Nathaniel?
Nathaniel shifted a hand down to cup Isaac’s bottom, then squeezed it hard before yanking them closer together. Two stiff cocks battled for space, growing thicker, longer, as they ground against each other. A moan escaped Isaac’s lips and was immediately swallowed by Nathaniel as they continued to kiss, even as their hands wandered and groped.
Shoving the thoughts of love and emotion away, Isaac concentrated on the here and now. Not that it took any effort—the feel of Nathaniel’s body against his, his lips, his tongue, his hands, were distracting enough that an earthquake could have shaken the house and he probably wouldn’t have noticed.
He slid his hand up to cup the back of Nathaniel’s neck and pulled his face even harder against his own, forcing them into a bruising, almost painful kiss that still didn’t express even a portion of the horny desperation he felt. Their tongues fought and caressed, teasing and tantalising until they were breathless. Isaac was on the verge of becoming lightheaded and he pulled away with a gasp.
“Christ,” he panted, leaning his forehead against his lover’s, blinking hard to battle the blurriness of Nathaniel’s face being so close, despite knowing it was pointless, “I already feel as if I’m going to explode. I’m so hard. I want you so fucking much.”
Dimples appeared in Nathaniel’s cheeks. He grabbed Isaac’s hand and shoved it between their bodies, where he pushed it against his straining dick. “You’re not the only one. It’s been a pretty intense half an hour or so, hasn’t it? That and it’s been a while since we last fucked.”
The Persecution of the Wolves Page 24