Don't... (27 page)

“Jan?” Gray beat me to it, and Jan glanced at him. “Are you all right?”

Jan went to say something, then looked at me. His eyes seemed to ask why I hadn’t said that; then he shook it off. “I have to go,” he mumbled.

“Jan, a decision on that cage,” said Gray.

“Leave it,” he snapped, pulling at the door.

I didn’t understand this shit. “Jan?”

“The—” he was lost again as he paused and looked over at me. “Ah. Test results. Not until the results are through.” He nodded. “Yeah, test results.”

What the hell was wrong with him? He left me staring at a closed door after he’d left. Gray pushed away from the cabinet and came over to stand nose-to-nose with me. What the hell was this? A threat? A...

“Something you need to tell me?”

I backed off and ran a hand through my hair. “Gray,” I looked at the door. “What the hell was all that about? I thought—”

“Okay,” said Gray, and I noticed he’d eased back onto the desk. “Ease down,” he said quietly. “Something’s going on with him at the moment. Do as he says and just wait for those results.”

My attention had wandered back to the door.

“You said you had no worries over Jan.”

I frowned at Gray. “Meaning?”

“What
has
got you worried?”

Remembering the photo I’d tossed on my desk, I went over and handed it to Gray. “I found this in my car this morning.”

He pulled it out and examined the photo. “You’re thinking Ben?”

I shrugged and sat back behind my desk, hating how dejected my voice sounded.

“That’s damage to your car twice now, and this,” Gray put the photo back in the envelope and slipped it under his arm. “There’s a childish element to it,” said Gray. “One reason I cleared Ben for a contract was the intelligence he displayed in his proposal and committal of his plans. It just didn’t carry on through when it came to his body. From our last checks, Ben had left with some friends for France. Flight details said he’d checked in and boarded the plane.”

“Feels deliberately childish, though,” I said, rubbing at my head. “Maybe too childish even for Keal and his goons.”

“What about Sam from here?”

I looked up sharply. “No. I know he gave me shit, but that was just a kick-back over personal issues.” I winced. “Ones I haven’t really helped with.”

Gray nodded, seeming satisfied, but I wasn’t stupid, I knew he’d do his background checks on Sam, if he hadn’t done so already. “And whoever it was knew how to get into my car without breaking in.”

“That’s my concern.” Gray headed for the door. “I’m going to get obs to install some CCTV in your car, see if we can catch them that way. Has Jan had any problems?”

That hadn’t occurred to me; I hadn’t even asked. Gray narrowed his eyes. “We’ll get some extra security for Jan too, just in case. Get over whatever’s stopping you talking to him, Jack, and just ask him. I’m away tonight, but you can both reach me or the MC base at any time.”

For more than a dozen reasons, I kept to my word of finishing on time. I didn’t disturb Jan at work; it wasn’t serious enough for that, but I wanted to talk to him tonight and see if he was all right, both from whatever that call had been about and seeing if he’d been targeted in any way. A few things were out of place; the odd red cushion on white leather nearly falling on the floor, dirty footprints by the front door that weren’t there this morning, towels out of place in the bathroom. A shower?

The discarded towels and cushions took priority. Then I installed the sockets in the garage and ran a check of the CCTV. The main switch panel was installed discreetly just under the alarm system by the front door, and I started going through my checks. A call ten minutes later from Mike confirmed the system was in working order, and he said he’d be around later to take care of the CCTV in my car. As contact was kept to minimum, he’d use the spare set of keys the MC base kept on standby to get into my car.

I kept it light for a meal today specifically because I wanted to eat light, talk hard. But I’d also kept it mouth-watering enough to keep up with the “feed ’em please” route to his heart. Lemon and herb baked rainbow trout with steam veggies and potatoes, followed by shop-made cheesecake. I was pissed off over the cock cage, yeah, but not that pissed off to notice Jan was hurting over something. The collar was a good reminder of just who took precedence here. The ease of the meal left me plenty of time to shower. With more than enough time to spare, I towel-dried my hair, then notched the heating up a touch. It was bloody cold being ass-naked by that door.

I smiled softly, and maybe the extra heat would be just enough encouragement for Jan to loosen his tie around that kissable throat of his. A check at my watch put Jan’s arrival for another ten minutes, and I padded naked down to the kitchen to turn the fish and veggies down to minimum. It gave me enough time to set the table and start brewing the coffee. Satisfied that everything slept in its rightful place, I gave a nod, switched the light to soft, then put on some of Jan’s favourite “mood” music. Strange as hell considering he liked rock, or a little R and B, but each to his own, I guess. I was more Bocelli than Hendrix, more headphones than letting it annoy the shit out of the neighbours. So maybe Jan was right to rib me about my age. Two years made a lot of difference. Personally I put it down to Jan’s common streak, but I wouldn’t tell him that. I kind of liked having a pair of balls between my legs.

Some nameless track playing in the background, I went and got the collar out of Jan’s coat. Twisting one end around my hand, I knelt just by the coat stand, knees cold against the white marble. A wicked wind played outside and it was enough to stir coldness around my knees and calves. At least the floor had that just washed scent to it, lemon, like the fish, and I groaned. Just when had I cleaned the floor?

My hair was tousled from the shower, and I quickly ran a hand through it to tame the black locks. It needed a decent cut to it. Strands tickled the back of my neck, and almost made a curtain to my eyes, as I was reminded with it nearly blinding me now. A few more minutes and I’d be tempted to pfft it the fuck out of the way.

From the kitchen came the chime of quarter to the hour, and I eased back onto my heels. I didn’t really pay it much notice again until the clock struck eight. The music had changed from track four to five, and from in the kitchen the coffee machine had long since switched itself off. Food had been timed, and the waning aromas had me frowning back through the lounge, over to the kitchen, then back to the front door.

Showing respect was simple, I didn’t move from the door until Jan came through it. But there was usually that return of respect that said he would notify me if he was going to be late. Or that was how it was supposed to go. I glanced back toward the kitchen. The lack of heat from the hob added to a cooling in the house, even the soft lights seemed to take on that flatter feeling. The lemon on the floor was more an irritant, the cold snaking up the small of my back, making me shiver.

Hearing the kitchen clock strike quarter past, worry crept in. Maybe it was traffic, maybe he’d just had to work late, whatever the reason, he would—should have called.

And now came the dilemma. Did I keep my place and wait, or get up off my sorry ass, clean up, maybe even think about making a few calls? If Gray was at the MC’s base, he would have been notified Jan wasn’t where he was supposed to be, and he’d be making his own calls about now. With Gray being away, it fell to another Master. They’d be a stickler for the rules, allowing the usual hour before putting out any feelers.

A fresh waft of cold air up my back made up my mind, and I stretched stiff muscles toward the kitchen. Twenty-five past eight. Shit. Had it taken me ten minutes just to debate whether I got up off my sorry ass? This was something new. Disobeying usually came damn easier. Just what the hell was this collar doing to me? A scowl, I put it back in Jan’s coat pocket, then headed on in to the kitchen.

The fish had dried and looked no better than some aging rock star demanding make-up to cover up all the wrinkles and bad skin. I binned that, and the veggies. I didn’t mind cold potatoes. Munching my way through one in one hand, I filled the dishwasher, set it on, then cleaned away the unused plates.

That took me to eight fifty by the kitchen clock, even the stereo had given up by then, and I found I was hovering in the hall by the phone.

Yeah, and if he’s in a meeting, just how fucking daft are you going to look calling him out, Jack?
He had emergencies crop up too. And it was bloody stupid thinking he’d let me freeze my ass off by the door. That wasn’t Jan. If he was late, I had to respect the fact Jan hadn’t phoned for a reason.

A tired rub at my eyes, I gave a heavy sigh, then made one last check before calling it a night. I should have stayed up, waited, but it felt odd, almost like an alien landscape without Jan here.

My bedroom door shut behind me. The meeting with Strachan had crept up on me, and tomorrow meant I was going to have to navigate my way through a lot of unprepared sales talk. I needed to sleep. If Jan came in and needed me, fair enough. But until then, I pulled the sheet back on the camp bed and got in. It was weird, I didn’t think the bed would offer much comfort, not the bloody single-sized, spring-poking frame with a mattress the thickness of a cheap piece of paper. But to be honest, most nights I came to bed exhausted and willing enough to sleep on a bed of glass, I was that tired. Which made a huge change from fucking on one. Once. Sometimes I really wondered what my body got up to when my mind decided to go headlong into ecstasy and leave all sense behind.

Giving a sigh, missing Jan, I pulled the sheets up under my chin and settled in for the night, hiding my disappointment I hadn’t earned Jan’s bed for another night.

The flutter of blinds woke me first, then that heavy feel of someone being in the room. I was on my back, raised up on my elbows, glaring at the silhouette framed by the light in my doorway, just about ready to hit anyone who had the mind to encroach on what was mine.

“Oh, Jacky boy, Jacky boy.” Jan’s voice was soft as he sang that first bit, and I relaxed. “You weren’t naked and by the door when I came in.” His hands expressed every action as he swept one in the direction of the door. “Contract digression.” A chuckle. “Somebody’s in big twubble.”

Giving a sigh, I reached for my clock and tried to focus on the number. Three in the morning. I had to be up in a few hours. A strong smell of bourbon wafted over, making me think even Jan’s clothes had decided to take a drink. I fucking hated the heavy stuff. Jesus. “Jan—”

“Jan?” He stumbled over to the bed, shirt half out, jacketless, wagging a finger at me. “’S not my name.” He did a little dance, then stopped and tried a serious face. “What’s my name, Jacky boy?”

I sat and rubbed at my eyes, mostly to push away my growing irritation. “
Sir
.” I didn’t keep the bite out of that. “With all due respect—” This wasn’t the fucking time for this.

“I’m hungry.”

I bit back a curse as he came over and jerked the covers off the bed. “Go get the door. Nope.” He looked like he was trying to figure it out. “By. Get
by
the door. Get that sweet ass by the door, call me sir, then get me food. Needs food, woman.” He did a caveman beat at his chest.

This was going to go one of two ways: I’d argue he was being a dick and breaching respect levels in so many fucking ways, or I’d shut up and put up and go make him something to eat and let him sleep it off. The second sounded so much easier.

“Fuck,” cried Jan.

I rolled my eyes. Or there was the third option Jan had gone for, tangling himself in the sheet and falling ass-first on the floor. I bit back a smile as he sat up trying to figure out just what the hell had happened. Food it was, but if he enforced the door position, he’d have more than a fight with a sheet to contend with.

“Come on.” I got off the bed, pulled him out of the tangle of sheet, arms, and legs, then pulled him to his feet.

“Wuh-hey, Jacky boy.”

I took his weight for a minute as he fell forward on me and found Jan pulling back a touch, looking down, then dancing his eyebrows at me. “Come here often dressed like that, gorgeous?”

A deep sigh, I made to pull him toward the door. “Food, right?”

“’Cause.” He pulled me back and his hands slipped around my waist to dig into my ass. “I know where I’d like to come, and often.” Those eyebrows were playing again and it was hard not to laugh.

“You get that pick-up line out of a Christmas cracker? ’Cause you know it’s nearly June, right?” I said, and he gave me puppy-dog eyes, not to mention a puppy-dog humping against my thigh, followed by puppy-dog pants
due
to puppy-dog humping of my thigh. “Yep, food,” I said, tugging his hands from my ass to give him the hint to move.

“’S mine.” Such the sweetest smile as he stopped me and grabbed my ass again. “Sez so on the tin.” A burp. “Or paper in your case.” His smile still offered all that sweetness. “You have a lot of paperwork with regard to your ass, don’t you, Jacky
boy
?”