by Kate Lowell
At first the voice seemed like a hangover from the dreams. But as he floated toward reality, he came to the conclusion that it was a real voice and maybe he should wake up and answer it. After all, ignoring someone was bad manners. His dad would be disappointed. He hated disappointing his dad—it never went well.
No, wait. His dad was dead. Yeah, he was dead, and it was all because of Julian.
“Hi,” he said, or thought he said. His tongue felt glued to the roof of his mouth and about two sizes larger than normal. He opened his eyes, squinting against the blur.
The voice came back, and now he was awake enough to know it belonged to a man. “It’s okay. It’s the drugs; it’ll wear off soon. Just lie there. They left some water for you.” The sharp snap of breaking plastic echoed around the room, and then the man helped him up to half sitting and put a bottle of wonderfully wet water to his mouth.
His helper took the water away long before Julian was ready to see it go. He made a sound of protest and tried to grab for it.
“Shhh. Give it a chance to soak in. You can have more in a bit.” The guy let him lie down, and Julian dozed off again.
Waking up the next time was much easier. His eyes were okay with pointing in the same direction, and his head no longer felt like it had been poured full of cement. Julian surveyed his surroundings. The last thing he remembered was shoving Agent Cheyne in the mall and stomping off to the washroom. Everything after that was a blank, but if he was in a strange room, lying on a smelly mattress next to someone he didn’t know, then he’d obviously encountered Special Agent Gale.
God, he hoped he’d encountered Special Agent Gale.
He was halfway to sitting up when he realized he was naked. “What the fuck?”
The young man lying next to him jerked and sat up. “OMG, sorry, I got tired.” He rubbed his stomach. “How are you feeling? Are you thirsty?”
Julian hadn’t been, until the man mentioned it. “Yes!”
“Here.” A half bottle of water was placed in his hand, and he could hardly get the lid off, he shook so badly. When he finally did, he spilled a bunch of it down his chin and had to be helped to hold it steady. It was humiliating to be fed like a baby, but the shakes gradually wore off, and he was eventually able to hold the bottle on his own.
“You’re always thirsty after the drugs. I don’t know what they give us, but it’s awful.”
Julian pulled the bottle away from his mouth with maybe an inch of water left in the bottom. On closer inspection, the man with him was much younger than his voice made him sound. Younger than Julian, maybe. Good-looking, in an outdoor sportsman kind of way, scared, exhausted. Dark circles colored the skin under his eyes; dark bruises were scattered about his face and body. He seemed tense. No, not tense. Alert, like a rabbit in hunting season. Like he was waiting for something unpleasant to happen.
Shit. This is Ethan. He’d had trouble making the connection—partly the drugs, partly because there wasn’t much resemblance between this hunted-looking creature and the carefree youth from the pictures.
Unlike Julian, Ethan was wearing clothes, though it wasn’t much—a pair of boxers that had seen better days was the whole of it, but at least it was something. Julian found himself irrationally jealous of the other guy’s cheap underwear.
He pulled his legs up to his chest to cover his junk. “Who’s they? And who are you?” he asked, pretending he didn’t know who Ethan was already.
The other guy mirrored his posture. “I’m Ethan. And they kidnapped you to make you into a prostitute.”
“What?” Julian hoped he got the note of outrage right; he was still a little groggy. And starving. “You’re shitting me.” He’d debated the swearing, but Harrow had pointed out it was pretty common in teen boys, at least with their friends, and he’d stand out if he didn’t. Even with permission, the words felt wrong in his mouth. The FBI didn’t swear.
Ethan nodded, and his lips quivered. Tears welled up in his eyes, and Julian felt like garbage. “Hey, it’ll be all right. They’ll find us.” It was obvious Ethan didn’t believe him. “Stick with me. I’ve been in all sorts of situations.” Well, no, he hadn’t. But he read a lot. And, after all, he was acting on behalf of the FBI, and he had a partner in the organization.
Ethan shook his head. “No, they won’t. I’ve been here for two months. It’s horrible. I can’t—” He broke off when the door opened. Two men stood in the space it left.
One of them was of middle height, with thin blond hair and a hard look about him.
The other was tall, dark hair cropped short and a scruff of beard along an uncompromising jawline. Eyes that saw everything and a mouth meant for kissing. Julian’s partner, the FBI agent. Leo Gale.
Julian’s nerves settled ever so slightly, and his sex drive made one of those rawrr noises. Blood rushed to his cheeks, and other places too.
Awkward.
It only lasted until the two men walked into the room. The blond crooked his fingers at Ethan. “Come here, boy.” Ethan went, his face pale. The blond grabbed him around the back of the neck. “Have you done any more thinking? Last chance.” He shoved Ethan out of the room and nodded to Leo. “Don’t fuck him, just in case he is virgin territory. But see how he handles.” He followed Ethan out into the hallway and closed the door behind them.
DEGRAFF HAD GIVEN Leo a couple of sandwiches wrapped in layers of plastic wrap on their way out of the common room. “Mix of crab and shrimp and some other stuff, and peanut butter. If they have any allergies, you’ll hear about them.”
Leo had raised his eyes and said, “Do you care?”
DeGraff had shrugged. “Changes their value.” And that seemed to be enough for him.
So here Leo stood, in the doorway of something out of a third-world prison, staring at a fantasy come true. And the fantasy stared back at him, motionless as a waxwork dummy.
Bert must have pulled out all the stops. Julian was…there was no other word for it. He was stunning. More, even, than his picture had hinted at. At least, Leo thought so.
Leo hadn’t really paid attention to the other agent’s appearance when they were at the mall, intent as he’d been on pointing DeGraff toward the other man. Now he had time to really see his new partner. It was the eyes that caught him first, jade green, with a sharp intelligence peering out of them. The face too—he probably still got carded at the liquor store. Leo wasn’t sure if it was the hairstyle itself, top heavy and very high school, or the way it softened the young agent’s looks.
The stasis broke when Julian shifted, bringing Leo to a sharp awareness that the other agent was naked. And even more fascinating than the flash of inner thigh, the lively play of emotion now running across his face.
Leo took a deep breath and stepped forward. “Food.” He dropped the two sandwiches in front of Julian.
“No, thanks. Sick to my stomach.” Julian stared at him, giving nothing away. Waiting, Leo realized, for some sign that Leo was who he was supposed to be. Leo crouched in front of him, keeping in mind the baby monitor still sitting on the floor by the wall. He shook his head, mouthed, FBI, then pointed at the monitor.
Julian’s eyes narrowed briefly. He glanced at the monitor, then transferred his gaze to Leo and nodded. One corner of his mouth twitched like he was trying to hide a smile, and he scanned the room, searching the ceiling for something.
He’s looking for cameras. Made sense. Leo touched Julian’s jaw and shook his head. Julian relaxed, and a wry smile made its appearance. “Julian,” he whispered and held out a hand.
“Leo,” he whispered back and shook. Julian had nice hands, strong and warm. He was damn good-looking. Slender bodied, but he didn’t look weak. Runner? Martial artist? Leo wished he’d seen the man’s file, but he knew he’d find out eventually how he could put the other agent to good use.
Julian was the perfect solution to the chink in Leo’s armor.
Something other than just relief stirred in his belly—nascent desire. Stop that. Leo�
�d have to watch himself; more than one agent had been lost because the stress eventually blurred the line between the man and the character. And Leo had a weak spot for green eyes and a sexy mouth.
Bending his head close, he murmured in Julian’s ear. “I’m supposed to rough you up a little, see how much trouble you’re going to give me. Make me work for it, but not too much.”
Julian took a deep breath, then blew it out slowly. He smiled at Leo again and nodded.
Adrenaline flooded Leo’s system. They were in, the two of them together, and now the risk of discovery doubled, as did the potential for reward. He couldn’t stop the grin that spread across his face, and he knew a moment of fierce joy as a matching one grew on Julian’s face.
In a voice loud enough he could be sure the monitor would catch it, he snapped, “Stand up.”
Julian jumped and looked up at Leo. It took a moment before understanding grew in his face.
Definitely new to undercover. Leo would have to be careful to think ahead more than he was used to, to make sure he could control the situation. He nudged Julian’s knee.
“Where are my clothes?” Julian said it with all the frightened petulance Leo would have expected of a terrified teenager, and looked relieved at Leo’s nod of approval.
Leo grabbed him by the arm. In one motion, he picked Julian up and slammed him against the wall. He watched Julian’s eyes widen and wondered how long he’d been out of Quantico. When did they do their last class?
He was so fucking out of the loop, drowning here in this nightmare. Leo shook Julian again to get his attention. Come on, play along.
In that instant, Julian seemed to come alive. “What the hell?” He thumped one heel against the wall and twitched a smile at Leo. It sounded like Leo had slammed him around again. Leo moved in close so he could talk to Julian without being overheard. “I’ll try to keep things low-key, but I can guarantee you’ll end up bruised. They’ll expect evidence.”
Julian whispered back, “I was briefed. I’ve already figured out that Harrow is full of shit.”
Leo choked back a laugh before the monitor could catch it. Oh God, it was good to have someone here with him. He hadn’t realized how alone he was until he wasn’t anymore. Leo stepped back. “What’s your name, boy?”
“Fuck off.”
There wasn’t time to warn him. Leo stepped up and slapped him hard on the face. Julian staggered and looked up at Leo in shock. Then comprehension dawned. He put a hand up to his cheek and scowled before heaving a huge, silent sigh and grimacing in Leo’s direction.
Leo stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest, staying in character. “This is your last second chance, boy. What’s your name?”
“Julian,” he said, his tone reluctant.
“Come here, Julian.” Leo crooked a finger at him, and Julian came, eyebrows raised. Leo had a moment to admire the way he was put together, the solid way he placed his feet when he walked, and be grateful that no one even got into the FBI until they were twenty-three, so Julian was a lot older than he looked. Maybe after this was all over… Or maybe not. The age gap between him and Julian had to be at least a decade, and he had no indication that Julian was gay. It sure would be nice if he was. But would a beautiful, young man like Julian even give a man Leo’s age a second glance? Probably not.
Leo gave himself a mental shake. He was stupid lonely here, that was all.
But Bert had really picked a looker.
When Julian stood staring up at him, Leo gripped his jaw. “Do you know where you are?”
Julian tilted his head to one side and watched Leo closely. Leo nodded to him and gently shook Julian’s head. Julian returned the nod and said out loud, “Trapped in a box with a bunch of perverts? Where are my clothes?” He shoved Leo and made as if to bolt for the door. Instinct took over. Leo swung him around and took him down to the mattress, covering Julian’s body with his. Julian grunted as they hit, the air forced out of him on impact.
This was both a good and a bad idea. He was able to speak right into Julian’s ear, and the position made sense if DeGraff or anyone else decided to check on them. But he was also in close contact with an extremely attractive young man who wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing.
Leo took a deep breath—another mistake. He could smell Julian, man and salt and a faint bitter undertone of the drugs they’d used. The effort it took to quash the urge to bury his face in Julian’s neck and just breathe him in made Leo shake. It immediately became much more important that his new partner was gay, because otherwise, Leo’s obvious physical response would make things incredibly awkward between them.
“You okay?” Julian asked, his voice so low it barely carried.
Leo nodded, then remembered that Julian probably couldn’t see him. “Yeah. Sorry. Been here by myself for a while. It’s…weird.”
Julian lay still for a moment; then one hand moved to pat Leo’s arm. “You’re okay. I’d be kinda weird after all you’ve been through too.”
The tension slowly seeped out of Leo’s muscles. “I need to brief you on the situation here.” Here was his chance to find out what he had to work with. “Have you done undercover before?”
There was a pause before Julian answered him. “No. But I’m okay. I can act.”
Well, it wasn’t like he’d been expecting the pot of gold anyway. “That’s fine; we all start somewhere. If you think you can’t keep it going, let me know. We’ll call the whole thing off. There’s not much room for mistakes in this line of work.”
“Yeah, Harrow told me.” Julian wiggled beneath him, then yelled, “OW!”
What? Leo rolled off him. “You okay?” he whispered.
Julian grinned and tipped his head toward the monitor.
Leo grimaced. Too focused on your hormones, old man. “Right, thanks.”
Julian rolled over onto his back and sat up. “So now what? You put me through my paces?” His eyes danced, but the tone of his voice was serious.
“Yes.” This was going to be difficult. Leo—isolated from any normal contact, bound by the requirements of his job—was seriously aroused by Julian. And the vast majority of Leo’s job was to manhandle him as if he were nothing more than a body for sale. Luckily, Julian appeared completely unaware of Leo’s difficulty. Which meant he was probably straight, to Leo’s disappointment.
Maybe that was for the best. If Julian hadn’t noticed Leo’s interest, it would make it easier for the two of them. But Leo was going to have to let off steam somewhere, or the play-acting of the job might edge too closely into reality.
He must have been frozen in thought for longer than he realized.
Julian reached for the front of Leo’s shirt and balled his fist up in it. “Go for it,” he said, low enough that the monitor wouldn’t pick it up. Then he hauled Leo’s head up to his and kissed him.
Leo jerked as if he’d been hit, and his cock went hard as a rock. He put his hands on Julian’s shoulders, intending to push him away, but his body had other ideas. For a moment, he fought with the temptation to take this as far as he could, but only for a moment. He was here on an operation, and if he let himself get distracted by Julian, he could destroy the whole thing. Besides, DeGraff had said not to fuck him, which was where this was going if Leo let himself off the short leash.
Eventually Julian let him go. He put his mouth next to Leo’s ear. “Now that we’ve broken the ice, are you more comfortable? You don’t need to be as careful around me as you do the victims. I know why I’m here. If this means Ethan gets some revenge, have your way with me.”
That’s what that was about. Some of Leo’s doubts and anxiety drained away. Julian was smart and observant and—it appeared—as goal oriented as Leo was. Which was a relief, but sad too, as he waved the vague possibilities swimming in the back of his mind good-bye. “Thanks.”
In as few words as possible, Leo filled Julian in on what he knew about this part of the organization. Julian made appropriate noises of protest during the lec
ture. “Sound effects,” he murmured after the first one, then yelled at the top of his lungs, “You fucking pervert!”
Once Leo had briefed Julian on what he understood of this part of the operation, he started to wonder how much time he’d have before DeGraff decided to check on them. Might be a good idea to wrap this up and get ahead of the ball. He gave Julian a serious look and risked passing on one more piece of information. “DeGraff put you in my charge, which is good. Be careful when and how you buck the system. I don’t want him handing you off to someone else.”
“Gotcha.” Julian curled up against the wall, his knees pulled up to his chest. “How about those sandwiches? I could eat this mattress.”
“Sure.” Leo got to his feet and picked up the sandwiches. In a loud voice, he said, “Finish your food, boy, or you’ll get worse than that. You throw them up, I’ll make you clean it.” He passed them over and watched Julian eat both without comment. When he had finished, Leo patted him on the shoulder and forced himself to leave, despite the uneasy feeling crawling up his spine.
Prep Work
DeGraff looked up from the TV when Leo walked into the common room. “Done already?”
Leo shrugged and opened the fridge to get a beer. “He’s still tired.” He threw himself down on the couch and put his feet up on the coffee table. The couch sank beneath him, five thousand dollars’ worth of suede and dark wood. The TV was one of those new ones, thin as paper and bigger than Leo’s living-room window. The guys in procurement lived well. “Ate both sandwiches and nearly threw them back up again. Told him if he puked on the floor, he was cleaning it up.”
“I heard.” DeGraff picked up the remote and pointed it at the TV. “Next time you want something, tell Ethan to get it for you. It’s his job. He needs to do something to earn his food.” He flipped through a few channels, then put the remote down. “You were quiet down there.”
“People can’t talk when you’ve got a hand over their mouth. And it’s a lot scarier when you whisper.” Leo stared back at DeGraff coolly. “I don’t like being interrupted. I also don’t like being eavesdropped on. Makes me feel like someone doesn’t trust me.”