by Joely Skye
“Okay, okay.” She backed up, making an exaggerated show of shielding her eyes. “I thought you’d brought that Ted guy here.”
Kir turned to look apologetically at Josh who breathed easier now that he’d seen Maddie. At least she acted more like a sister than a Minder. The last time they’d met, she’d forced him into her car so she could drink tea with him.
“Stay here, Josh.” Kir pulled on jeans and stalked out of the bedroom.
Josh lay there, hearing them argue, but could not make out the words. He chose not be scared of Maddie. No point. Either Kir’s love would keep Maddie’s fucking words out of his head, or it wouldn’t. Time to find out.
Josh dressed, took a deep breath and walked out. As he entered the living room, they stopped talking. At once, Kir came to him, standing close and slightly in front. Maddie gave Josh the once-over. “You’re looking at me as if I’m the grim reaper, Josh.”
“Well, the last time Josh saw you, Maddie, you were—”
“Yes, yes.” Maddie waved her hand in irritation, then turned her gaze back to Josh who tried not to flinch. “Don’t worry, Kir will either eat me alive or, worse, get hysterical if I mess with you. So I won’t.”
“Don’t be a bitch,” said Kir. Josh placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him. “The last time—”
“The last time you came within a hundred miles of me, you led Brad to us,” Josh finished, though he suspected Kir had planned to refer to the tea party Maddie had held for Josh.
Maddie blinked. “I’m sorry about that. Although it kinda worked out in the end. You killed Brad. I’ve decided that’s a good thing.”
“Really?” Josh wasn’t impressed. “It is a good thing. Brad liked to hurt Kir.”
She sighed.
“Josh,” protested Kir.
Maddie faced Josh’s glare. “I don’t interfere in my brother’s sex life. If I did, you wouldn’t be here.”
“Such a protective older sister. I especially like the way you abandoned him when he was twelve.”
She sneered which told Josh he’d made a direct hit.
Kir stepped between them. “Look, guys, that’s really enough.”
Because Kir was anxious, Josh held his tongue. He wanted to tell Maddie she was one shitty sister. Later, perhaps.
“It’s good to see you’re so attached to Kir,” said Maddie. “Though why you’d take off last summer—”
“Maddie, shut up,” demanded Kir.
“I’d never seen Kir so happy,” she continued blithely on, “as he had been with you and then, poof, you had vanished. No forwarding address.”
Josh pulled Kir back and wrapped him in his arms. Kir leaned into him, covering his arms with his own.
Over Kir’s shoulder, Josh stared at Maddie. “It’s just the kind of flighty guy I am. If I think I might slice open my lover’s heart with a knife, I take off. Poof.”
Maddie paled, giving Josh some satisfaction. She hadn’t known just how dangerous Brad was for Kir.
“Not that this urge strikes me often. In fact, it only happens when a fucking Minder tells me to kill Kir.” Josh’s voice had gone harsh, but he didn’t care. Kir was in his arms, Maddie looked shocked and he, Josh, only wanted Kir to be safe.
“You’re stronger than you look, Josh Mackay.” Maddie marched off to the kitchen and ran water, getting something to drink. Kir turned in Josh’s arms and kissed his neck.
“She’s really angry with me,” Kir murmured. “Because she didn’t know where I was. I should have contacted her.”
Josh shrugged. He’d rather Maddie, an unknown quantity, still didn’t know anything. But he supposed Kir and Maddie wanted some brother-sister time and Josh didn’t need to be around her.
“Don’t stay up too late,” Josh told Kir and went to bed.
Maddie stayed for a few days and Kir made it a point not to leave Josh alone with her. Just as well considering the conversations she and Josh tended to have.
“I gather you punched Kir last summer,” said Maddie, out of the blue. “He had the remnants of a shiner when he came to town. Said he walked into a door. He’s a terrible liar.”
Josh looked at Kir, remembering when he feared Kir was controlling him. When Kir had only wanted Josh’s company. “I wish I hadn’t hit you.”
Kir’s dark eyes melted and Josh’s stomach swooped low. If Maddie wasn’t sitting in their living room…
“It didn’t matter,” claimed Kir.
“It mattered,” said Josh with feeling. “I like to think my head was still foggy from my time with Brad, but I wish I’d trusted you.”
Maddie jumped up, shaking her head. “I’m going for a walk. Be done within an hour.”
“Huh?” Though Kir didn’t try to stop her.
Josh prowled over to Kir’s side of the couch and breathed in his scent before kissing him.
“Oh.” Kir smiled now and Josh wondered how he couldn’t have known why Maddie had left. But Kir’s experiences were unique and, for the most part, uniquely bad.
“Don’t say it didn’t matter.”
“Okay.”
“It really bothered me.”
“I know, I know. I just meant that I understood why.” Kir stroked Josh’s unshaved cheek. “You were frightened, Josh.”
“Yeah. I was.” He’d been terrified.
Josh gathered Kir in his arms and kissed him.
“Do you mind leading all the time?” Kir asked.
Josh pulled back and cocked his head. “Care to elaborate?”
“In sex, you’ll get tired of me just, you know, responding.”
Josh’s regarded Kir steadily. “Who told you that?”
Kir’s gaze darted away, then back. He hadn’t wanted to name Brad but Josh guessed.
“Brad was a complete asshole, you know that.” Josh kissed Kir again. “Let me tell you something. I like being in control. I’ve had boyfriends break off with me because I like it too much. But I’ll work on it with you, so that doesn’t happen with us.”
“I’m not going to leave you, Josh,” Kir said, amazed at the idea.
Josh just smiled as if he knew better and Kir felt indignant. Josh didn’t understand how much he meant to Kir. He pushed Josh’s shoulder in protest and Josh glanced down, eyebrows raised.
Kir became irritated. “You don’t want to know how unlikely it is that I would leave you. I watch what I say, so you don’t think you have a barnacle stuck to you.”
Josh grabbed Kir’s hand and dragged him to the bedroom where the condoms and lube lay. As he efficiently divested Kir of his clothing, he said, “You need to stay with me so I can fuck you whenever I want, Kir. Bend over.”
Without preamble, Josh entered Kir who grunted, trying to catch up to speed. Josh pulled out, Kir hardened and Josh plunged again, then stilled. He brought Kir up and back to lean against him, pinched Kir’s nipple and massaged Kir’s balls till Kir thought his head would explode with the sensation of Josh inside him and all around him. Just before Kir was about to come, Josh went motionless.
“Josh,” he pleaded.
“Were you trying to tell me, in your roundabout way, that you don’t want to bottom?”
“What?” Was Josh teasing?
“No?” There was a smile in Josh’s voice.
He pushed Kir forward again, so he was on hands and knees, then pulled out and slammed into Kir.
“Answer me, Kir.” Josh retreated, thrust, developing rhythm and Kir could only gasp, so close to the edge and shivering with need.
“Kir,” Josh warned.
“Christ, Josh, I want this.”
“So. Do. I.” Josh swore, coming inside Kir who just managed not to collapse. He loved the feel of Josh’s orgasm within him. Even as the last of Josh pulsed, he nipped Kir’s neck and his hand grasped Kir’s cock, urging Kir on. Kir groaned, falling forward and letting go, though Josh didn’t let go as Kir spurted through Josh’s fingers.
When Kir stopped shuddering, Josh turned him over and mock-
glared at him. “I will never get tired of you responding. I expect you to respond whenever I damned please.”
Kir grinned up, then pulled Josh down for a kiss.
Later that day, while Kir showered, Maddie announced she was leaving. She pinned her gaze on Josh. “You’ll be glad.”
“Sure,” Josh agreed. Kir didn’t expect Josh and Maddie to get along. Kir seemed to believe Maddie could care about fellow Minders, but no one else.
She ripped off a hunk of fresh bread and chewed on it. “Do you mind explaining why you loathe me? I can feel your disapproval wafting off you and coming right at me.”
Josh smiled tightly. “Where to begin?”
“You tell me.”
You’re the crappiest sister I’ve ever met, wasn’t quite specific enough. Besides, he didn’t make sweeping statements that hurt Kir. Crappy or not, Maddie had been the one person in Kir’s life to show some kind of concern for him over the years. Even if that concern was ineffective, if not downright harmful.
“Well,” offered Josh, “this visit hasn’t been quite so bad, seeing as you didn’t bring a psychopath along.”
Maddie nodded. “Yes, Brad followed me last summer. I apologized for that.”
“Oh, you apologized. Well then, everything’s okay. No harm done. But wait. Harm was done. I was given this strange idea to kill Kir.”
Maddie rolled her eyes. “It’s over. I can’t exactly fix it now. But you know, I don’t think that’s what you dislike about me.”
She was right. The real source of his anger came from that much earlier event he’d already referred to. “You left Kir at the agency when he was twelve years old.” Josh didn’t bother to hide his contempt. “He couldn’t defend himself.”
Maddie’s facade did not fail her. She looked as nonchalant as ever, but the stiffness in her shoulders hadn’t been there before. She gave him a slight smile, no humor in it.
“I was naive. Funny what a warped place that fucking agency was. I didn’t even know men fucked boys. I thought they only fucked girls. Like me.”
Crap. If Josh had thought it through, he might have wondered what they’d done to Maddie.
“And yet they did,” said Josh, though the fight was no longer in him. Maddie’s abuse didn’t exonerate her, but he found it hard to keep beating this horse. Besides, the water had stopped running. Kir had ended his shower.
Maddie’s brown gaze turned icy, in a way Kir’s never did. “You’re right, I abandoned Kir, who continued on in my stead, till I could rescue him. And then, for a number of years, he refused to stay with me. He didn’t forgive me until after he met you, in fact.”
Josh didn’t know what to make of that.
“Not such a fun conversation, is it? Though you’re not without your own sordid past now.” Her voice softened. “I’m glad you actually care about Kir. He’s very emotional.”
At that moment Kir stalked out of the bathroom, glaring at Maddie. “Do you mind? You don’t have to lecture Josh about my flaws.”
Josh reached out and pulled a wet Kir to him. “Babe, you have no flaws.”
Kir looked down, smiling.
“Well, if nothing else, you’re very cute together.” This time Maddie’s smile was real and to Josh’s surprise he saw an echo of Kir in her expression. He had thought they shared their deeply brown eyes and nothing else.
Then her face went serious. “I just told Josh a little about Horton, Kir.”
Kir nodded, then glanced at Josh who’d gone stiff beside him.
“Horton?” Josh looked at Maddie.
“He was my handler. Literally. What a fucker. Literally.” Maddie’s nonchalant pose didn’t convince anyone. A tremor passed through her.
Josh felt his mouth quiver with distaste. “Three years ago Horton hired me to bring in Kir. But I—Christ.” He shook his head. “Horton is obsessed with Minders.”
“We know,” said Maddie.
Josh, now appalled, withdrew from Kir and rubbed his temples. He and Kir had been living in a fantasyland this past week, but now all those godawful worries came flooding back. The agency wanted Kir and Josh. And perhaps Maddie.
* * *
That afternoon Maddie left and Josh prowled around the apartment, feeling caged. Only Kir went outside, because he could smudge his own existence more easily than Josh’s. People didn’t really see Kir.
When he returned, Josh jumped him and Kir fought back. He didn’t have Josh’s height, but their weight was not so different—Josh knew he was too thin. At one point Kir pinned Josh to the ground and forced a kiss upon him. Josh responded, letting Kir keep control of the kiss until Kir lost his guard. Josh took advantage and flipped Kir flat on his back while Kir hooted. As he struggled to rise, Josh turned Kir around and held him in an armlock while Josh prepped for entry.
“You want it,” he told Kir who just grunted as Josh toyed with his hole. Then he slammed inside.
“God,” said Kir who gave up the fight for fucking.
It brought relief and joy not to treat each other with kid gloves and they ended up laughing a lot afterwards while Kir explored Josh’s sated body with a curiosity Josh found endearing.
Later still, they lay and talked.
“I don’t know how long I can stay in a one-bedroom apartment. The first week was fine, a refreshing change after my winter outside. But I’m beginning to feel a little claustrophobic. And”—Josh cleared his throat—“that brings back bad memories.”
Kir pressed kisses on his face, then pulled back. “The stationary bike isn’t enough, I guess.”
Josh observed Kir’s wry expression and responded in kind. “Somehow, I know I’m not outside, or even moving.”
“I’m sorry about Maddie.”
Josh took a deep breath. “Well, I don’t dislike her quite as much, so perhaps the visit wasn’t a complete loss.”
“She’s all I’ve got, except you.” Kir stared at Josh’s shoulder. “I can’t let her go.”
Josh sank his fingers into Kir’s unruly hair. “I don’t want you to. You don’t need to choose between us, Kir, even if we don’t get along.”
After dinner, they were cleaning up the kitchen when someone knocked on the door. They both froze.
“Maddie?” Josh said in an undertone. Kir shook his head, as if her return didn’t make sense. They walked to the door and Kir peered through the peephole.
“Trey,” Kir mouthed and Trey said, “That’s right, it’s me. Open the door before I draw attention to you.”
Josh wondered if Trey’s exceptionality was super-hearing or mind-reading while Kir unlocked the door.
But Trey didn’t walk in. He stood in the doorway, looking at them with an expression Josh had never seen on Trey’s face—regret. It unnerved Josh.
He glanced at Kir who swallowed, his face tightening. “Trey, you don’t want to be here.”
Trey smiled without humor. “Your magic doesn’t work on me, buddy. Sorry. I’m a freak, too.”
“Does Horton know that?” Josh tried to figure out what had prompted this visit while hoping to engage Trey, who seemed remote despite his regret.
The agent shook his head, but whether as an answer to Josh’s question, he didn’t know. “You would have been safer at my place. I guess it was too much to expect you’d trust me on that. This way I had to find you by following Maddie and, well, the agency became too interested in my search.”
“We have to leave.”
Again, Trey shook his head. “It’s too late, Josh.”
Kir’s teeth began to chatter and Josh wrapped an arm around him, all the while looking at Trey. “You are going to help us,” said Josh.
“I will,” agreed Trey. “But first you’ll be taken into custody.”
Kir moaned.
“I’ll go public.” Josh offered Trey what he’d wanted back at the park. “I’ll talk to whoever you think I should talk to. I’ll tell them everything.”
“You’re surrounded,” Trey explained. “And not by the med
ia, I’m afraid. The agency.”
“You’re handing us over.” Josh couldn’t believe it. He hadn’t expected this blatant a betrayal when they’d run from Trey’s safe house.
“I have no choice. I couldn’t hide your location from them. My powers are quite limited.”
“What do they think you’re doing now?”
Trey’s smile was grim. “Convincing you to leave with me. It’s Kir they want to restrain.”
“No,” said Josh.
“I told them you’d be under Kir’s influence—”
“I’m not—”
Trey kept talking. “—but Horton thought I should check. Since you once worked for him.” Trey stepped back.
“Look, Trey—” began Josh.
“Get down. Cover your ears.”
Josh started towards him and Trey pulled a gun. He opened his hand, an apologetic shrug, then backed out of their apartment, shutting the door. Josh heard the warning whine and dragged Kir down, covering him. The window broke and the explosion knocked Josh out.
Chapter Six
His head pounding, Kir faded in and out of consciousness. Despite the haze of pain, he recognized the room.
The punishment room, Snow used to call it. Where Kir was banished when he didn’t cooperate, which wasn’t all that often. The windowless room, dismal and gray, had filled Kir with dread and besides, he had been eager to please Snow.
Someone—not Snow who was dead three years now—had been kind enough to bring in a cot upon which he lay. Kir tried to rise but the old memories made him shake and he had to lie down.
He passed out again and woke next with a terrible thirst. He’d been drugged he now realized. Part of the reason he felt groggy and far from alert. The explosion hadn’t helped either.
“Kiran Brunner.”
Kir jumped at the voice coming through the speaker. Though it didn’t belong to Snow, but Horton, a man who had visited frequently during Kir’s last years with the agency.
“Good morning,” added Horton.
Kir wondered which morning and how long he’d been out. Then he closed his eyes as he remembered Josh had been with him. Unlikely that Josh had escaped. He would have taken the noise bomb harder than Kir, because Josh had protected Kir with his body and covered Kir’s ears with his hands.