“Maybe.” Zane shrugged, uneasy with the mercenary’s presence. Yeah, perhaps it did make perfect sense to Dillon, but he didn’t understand. Why would one of the team stay? Why not the whole team? “But Hasim and his recovery team don’t normally work that way. They usually keep together since they function better in a group. Some of them have lonely brains. They’re mainly muscle. Hasim is the brains of the outfit.”
A waitress clomped over to them bearing a tray with cups and coffee. “Sorry about the wait.”
“No problem.” Dillon waited until she was out of earshot. “What do you want to do?”
“I guess we carry on with our plans for the day. As I said before, there’s no point hanging around home.” Home. The word had come out easily and without thought. He picked up his mug of steaming coffee and took a sip, silently surveying Dillon. It would be so easy to remain with him. His stay so far had been supremely comfortable. But he didn’t want comfort to bleed into reliance, had no intention of letting that happen.
Zane intended to be his own man. He’d never answer to another man or woman again.
Fifteen minutes later, the waitress arrived with their breakfasts. “Can I get you anything else?”
“No, this is fine, thanks, Maureen.”
With a final nod, she clomped back to the kitchen.
Dillon picked up his knife and fork and cut off a portion of crispy bacon. “I thought I’d go over to Susan’s and see how bad she is. She’s a great source of local gossip. Hopefully she’ll have more names for me and I can decide if they’re serious suspects. He paused to check his watch. “I need to be at the college at two. That’s when the class starts.”
“How will you learn who the culprit is? And what will I do while you’re teaching?”
“I thought you could come with me—sit at the back of the class and observe. A second pair of eyes would be useful, and besides, I don’t think anyone will mind.”
Zane attempted to push aside the rush of warmth he felt at the words. “It’s a good idea to watch, but if they’ve come out with the rash, will they attend their class?”
“Yeah, I know, but Susan said some people are still going out even though they have the rash. I need you to help me determine if they’re guilty or not. I can’t teach and watch closely enough, which is where you come in.”
Zane liked knowing he could help. The warmth inside increased and blood pooled low, filling and lengthening his cock. Damn, he was one needy genie, not much better than a puppy waggling his backside for praise. He forced himself to eat his breakfast and thought he managed to talk and act naturally throughout.
Once they finished eating, Dillon paid the bill and they strolled from the café without a second glance at the merc-magick sitting near the bar.
“Fuck,” Zane muttered, almost coming to a standstill. “There’s another merc-magick. What the hell is going on?”
“Keep moving,” Dillon ordered in much the same voice he used in the bedroom.
He blindly followed the demand while attempting to stuff his panic down. Maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea staying in this small rural town. Maybe he should have headed for the nearest city where there were more people to hide amongst.
“See,” Dillon murmured. “He looked but he didn’t recognize you.”
They headed back to the bike and rode to Susan’s house.
“Susan.” Dillon thumped on the door before opening it and walking inside, gesturing for him to follow. They entered the kitchen and found her washing dishes.
“Oh you’re here,” she said.
“Yeah, I thought I’d check on you. Your face is covered with pimples,” Dillon said.
She scowled. “Tell me something I don’t know. They came out late yesterday afternoon.”
He peered closely. “They don’t look very attractive.”
“Thank you very much!”
“Just kidding. It’s not that bad.” He attempted to backtrack and speared a glance at Zane, his eyebrows lifting in a silent question. “I wonder how long the rash will last.”
Zane frowned. Hell, he hadn’t factored that into the equation. “Ah…about ten days, I heard.” He couldn’t do any magic for ten days because that would help Hasim track him, but he could reverse the problem and cure everyone once he became free. His magic wouldn’t disappear immediately. According to what he’d heard, loss of magic was a gradual process, almost like aging.
“Ten days!” Susan’s words were practically a wail.
Dillon pursed his lips in a soundless whistle. “Ten days, huh? Who else has the rash?”
“Some of my friends.” Susan rattled off names, including several she hadn’t mentioned earlier. “It’s weird. Everyone seemed to come out with the rash at pretty much the same time. I’ve rung around and it seems that people who frequent the market have the rash. David doesn’t have one.”
“Stands to reason. Must be some sort of a virus. David is Susan’s husband,” he added.
Zane wondered how he could reassure Susan. “I don’t think it looks contagious.”
“How would you know? Are you a doctor?”
“That’s enough, Susan. Zane was just trying to help.”
“Didn’t you have hair when I saw you before?”
Susan had a caustic tongue. Zane was almost tempted to zap her mouth shut to halt her complaints. Almost. “I was wearing a hat.”
“I think you’d look better with hair.”
He barked a laugh of real amusement. “That must run in the family. Dillon prefers me with hair as well.”
Susan’s gaze zapped to her brother. “I thought you were just friends.”
“We are,” Zane said. “But being friends doesn’t stop your brother from having an opinion. Like I said, it runs in the family.”
“We have to go now,” Dillon said hastily. “Oh here’s the teapot.” He dragged it out of his daypack and handed it to his sister. “I thought you might like to see it. Think Mum will like it?”
Susan stroked the teapot with her fingers before studying it closely. “She’ll love it.”
“You can look after it for me until her birthday. I presume we’re still handing over presents even though we’re not having the party?” he asked. At his sister’s nod, he turned away. “Catch you later.”
“I hope you get better soon.” Zane had the desire to needle her for the crack about his hair. About to open his mouth, he jumped when Dillon pinched him sharply on the ass. It was out of sight of his sister so Zane figured he was pushing his luck a little by insulting Susan. But heck, Dillon’s sister was a bit of a shrew. She deserved a bit of stress in her life.
“See ya later, sis.” Dillon ushered him out of the house. When they were out of his sister’s hearing, he said, “Ten days, huh? I figure that’s because you can’t do any magic until ten days are up?”
“Yup.”
“Damn. I should have thought about my wish for a bit longer before I made it. Wishes come with consequences.” He shook his head. “Who knew?”
“I’m sorry.”
Dillon grinned. “Hell, it’s not your fault. Besides, it has helped narrow down my search for the culprit. I can double-check my list of names with the customer names that my friends have promised to give me tomorrow and work out my main suspects. I’ll get them. And I’m gonna make them damned sorry by the time I’m finished with them.”
They arrived in the college class only minutes before the bell sounded. The students filed into the classroom, fewer than normal, but those who attended were full of their normal laughter and hijinks. That was part of the reason why Dillon had agreed to come along and speak on a casual basis. Writing his comics was a solitary pursuit where he could go days without talking to anyone else. Teaching a class forced him to actually dress in semi-respectable clothes and interact. It was good for him, even though he’d protested long and loud at first.
“Quite a few students are away today with the strange rash going around,” Greg Maroney, the computer studi
es teacher said.
“Yeah, I wondered about that. Greg, this is my friend Zane. He’s staying with me for a couple of weeks. Is it okay if he sits in at the back of the class?”
Greg extended his hand. “Sure, no problem at all. Pleased to meet you. You a computer expert as well?”
“I know a little, enough to be dangerous,” Zane said, winking at Dillon.
Dillon felt the power of that wink skitter through his body and tensed, desiring the sensation and alternatively hating it. Why did life have to be so bloody complicated? He met a man he liked, a man he could love, and nothing was plain sailing. No guaranteed happy ever after. Instead, he gained a future of uncertainty, and a short one at that. Nine more days.
A girlish giggle snapped him from his uneasy introspection. No point worrying about something he couldn’t change. He’d just have to stick with what he’d decided already and take pleasure in the ride. Enjoy Zane’s company and fuck him so good and hard that maybe he’d consider staying.
“See you at rugby training tomorrow night.” Greg scooped up his briefcase and waved goodbye before disappearing.
“Right,” he said, striding to the front of the classroom. After unpacking his books and notes from the small backpack he’d brought with him, he scanned the faces of the students. There were fewer than normal. “Who’s missing from class and who is just late?”
One of the girls seated in the front row put up her hand.
“Yes, Rachelle?” Dillon kept his gaze on her face instead of letting his eyes wander. The girl was a terrible flirt and he tried hard not to encourage her.
She rattled off several names including Matthew’s. He nodded, having already noted Matthew’s absence. His main suspect. But, setting judgment aside, he jotted down the names of all the missing students. He’d decided to attend the monthly computer club meeting scheduled for later in the week as well. Once he compared his lists of names plus any other suspects he turned up, he’d rattle a few cages and see what dropped out.
He moved into his planned lesson, taking the students through the basics of the program he used for designing his comic books. The time passed quickly, the hour and a half flashing by in no time at all. And best of all, he had his list of suspects.
The bell rang and his students leapt to their feet, packed up books and left.
Dillon turned to see if the genie was still at the back of the class.
Zane stood and grinned at him. “You’re very sexy in professor-mode. Arousal glinted in his eyes, darkening them to a gleaming slate blue.
Immediately, Dillon’s pulse rate jumped a few notches and parts south stirred with intense interest. “I don’t have anything else to do in town. Are you ready to head home or is there something else you’d like to do?”
“Home.” The inflection in the genie’s voice made hot, sweaty sex come to mind and the smirk on his sexy lips underlined his intentions.
“Home it is then.” Dillon picked up his teaching notes, fumbling his stack of books with uncharacteristic clumsiness. He felt color stain his cheeks by the time he’d managed to cram everything into his pack. Bloody hell, he had it bad. He was normally the one in total control when it came to relationships, and to a certain extent he still was, but damn, he didn’t have full control or Zane’s full trust and that burned. “Let’s go.” At least his voice sounded strong and sure even though his gut was a mass of writhing nerves.
Chapter Six
The days fell into a routine. They spent them together, mostly at home but with the odd journey into town to check on suspects. Zane had even attended rugby practice with him. His description of rugby as an odd game where they threw an egg-shaped ball around and fell on top of each other, making big piles of bodies, had made Dillon chuckle. Zane’s puzzled question about hands in the bottom of the scrum, or pile of bodies as he called it, had made him laugh even louder before he’d attempted to explain.
As Dillon had suspected, they were able to delete a high proportion of names, but he included anyone with the rash on his master list for careful consideration. No one with the rash escaped scrutiny and anyone who suffered the severe version with pustules went straight to the top of the suspects. He wandered into the bedroom and through the open sliding doors leading outside, searching for Zane.
The loud bubble of water and a gusty sigh of appreciation directed his footsteps toward the spa pool.
“How’s the list coming?” Zane asked, pitching his voice so it was audible over the hiss and gurgle of the water.
Dillon stripped off his shorts and tossed them carelessly aside before climbing into the spa pool beside his lover. Because he could, he moved closer, trapping Zane against the wall of the pool to ravage his sexy mouth. Teeth nipped. Lips suckled. Tongues stroked and soothed. When he finally pulled away, they were both breathing hard.
“The list is coming along fine. I’m down to ten names. I think I should be able to weed out a few more after the computer club meeting tonight.”
“I look forward to watching you in action.” Lazy amusement coated the genie’s voice and it pulled a grin from him. He loved having Zane around, sharing a living space and even better, a bed.
“That merc-magick is still hanging around. Susan said he’s staying at Mrs. Marshall’s bed and breakfast on the other side of town. According to my sister, he’s charming and everyone likes him. They’ve started inviting him to local functions.”
“Charming? A merc-magick?” Zane made a rude sound. “The merc must be using a spell so everyone sees him that way. It’s the only explanation.”
“I don’t like the idea of him hanging around.”
“My disguise has worked pretty well. I told you they’re not that bright.” His grin was mocking as he tapped his temple with a forefinger. “Don’t worry. Only three days, four if you count today, to go before I’m free.”
Dillon forced a grin. He was pleased for the genie—he really was—but he didn’t have a good feeling about the merc-magick’s presence and the day was fast approaching when Zane would leave. Oh he understood why he craved freedom, but he could stay and still have the same freedom. Apart from inside the bedroom and from what he’d seen and experienced with Zane so far, he didn’t think he minded Dillon controlling the way they made love. Fear trickled down his spine like the slow drip of a leaking tap, just as it had all day. It was persistent. Annoying. And damned if it would go away. His life was running out of control and he didn’t like it.
“What happens at the meeting?” Zane asked, directing Dillon’s mind back to his other problem. Although he’d managed to rid his computer of the virus he still hadn’t caught the culprit, and he was going to get revenge if it was the last thing he did. He’d had to work late most nights trying to recreate the work he’d lost at a time when he’d prefer to concentrate on other things—namely Zane.
“They have guest speakers tonight from Weta Studios and from the college—something to do with the new operating system that’s due for release.”
Zane stretched, his biceps flexing when he raised his hands above his head. “What is a weta?”
Dillon took a moment to watch before he realized Zane was waiting for an answer. “It’s a black insect that looks a bit like a big cricket, but in this case the speaker is from the studio that does special effects for movies. Have you heard of the Lord of the Rings trilogy? Peter Jackson?”
“Yeah, on cable. Cool movies,” he said, nodding with approval. “What time do we have to be at the meeting?”
“Eight.”
“Good.” He sidled closer until his chest brushed Dillon’s, and below the waterline, Zane’s erection dragged across his groin. “I thought some rest and recreation wouldn’t go astray. What do you think?”
“Anytime,” Dillon said, swallowing to remove the lump of emotion that suddenly threatened to choke him.
Zane grinned but didn’t make another move. His smile turned quizzical, dark brows rising when Dillon didn’t react. Belatedly, he realized Zane was waiting
for him to make the first move, to take the reins and direct their lovemaking where he willed. The trust in his bright blue eyes blew him away, brought a sense of humbleness, especially since this was a fairly new occurrence.
He stood and reached over to switch off the spa bubbles. The whinny of a horse in the neighboring paddock broke the sudden and intense hush. Dillon held out his hand. “Let’s go inside.” He held his breath, waiting for Zane. His lover didn’t disappoint him. He stood instantly and accepted his hand. Together they stepped from the spa pool and with water dripping from their bodies, they made their way inside.
“Wait, I’ll grab a towel.” After stealing a quick kiss, Dillon strode rapidly to the en suite and dried himself swiftly before grabbing a dry towel for Zane. When he returned, his lover was surveying the scenery. “Let me dry you,” Dillon whispered. Taking great care, he patted the water from his broad shoulders and back, kneeling to dry the droplets of water from his tight ass and legs. When Zane was dry, he murmured, “Turn around so I can do your front.”
Slowly Zane turned to face him. Dillon sucked in a hasty breath when confronted with the genie’s hard-on then smiled. He blotted the remaining water from Zane’s muscular thighs and bypassed his groin region, standing to dry his chest.
“You forgot to dry part of me,” Zane said, his voice smoky with the stirring of desire.
“No, I haven’t forgotten anything,” Dillon drawled, flicking a glance at the genie’s groin. He whistled a few bars of a Crowded House song. Things were heating up nicely. Dropping the towel, he tugged Zane into the bedroom and onto the bed. He pushed him so Zane lay on his back before leaning over him. “I intend to give you very special attention.”
“Yeah?”
“That’s right.”
“Are you going to restrain me?” he asked, surprising Dillon with the question. Although he’d wanted to, he hadn’t brought up the subject again because it made his lover uncomfortable. Zane’s brows rose when Dillon watched him speechlessly, wondering how to act and wishing he could read his mind. “Are you?”
Last Wish Page 9