“Oh!” That sounded so good. “I’ll just…” Evrain was blocking his route to the stairs and made no attempt to get out of his way. Dominic was forced to squeeze past him. Evrain twitched one dark eyebrow as Dominic’s obvious arousal brushed against his hip.
“You have remarkable powers of recuperation,” Evrain said. “No touching yourself in the shower other than to wash, and if you think I won’t know if you do, you’re wrong.”
Dominic scampered up the stairs, ignoring Evrain’s deep, throaty laugh. He gave thanks that Agatha had enjoyed small luxuries and had invested in a rain shower above her antique tub. He stripped off his work clothes, kicking them into a pile in the corner of the room, then climbed beneath the spray. Appreciative little noises came unbidden as heat penetrated his sore muscles.
To take his mind off Evrain, Dominic focused on lathering soap and shampoo into his body and hair. Aggie had made her own soaps, the thick cakes scented with petals and herbs. The slight abrasion helped clean the dirt from his skin and made him tingle. Once he was clean, Dominic reduced the temperature for a final cold blast that left him hopping from one foot to the other in his haste to find a warm towel. Other than the touch needed to wash, Dominic had been obedient to Evrain’s order and not handled his cock. The chill of the water had softened his erection but as soon as he thought about being pinned to the door, it revived once more.
Cursing, he lifted the towel away from his groin. Even that slight friction was torment. He gave up and dropped it to the floor, standing naked before the sink. He found an unopened package of disposable razors and a shaving stick in the back of the bathroom cabinet. As he hadn’t shaved that morning, he lathered up and carefully scraped the fine stubble from his chin.
He gave his reflection a critical examination. Familiar blue eyes stared back at him and he frowned, clinically assessing pale, freckled skin and lips that he had always felt were a little too feminine.
“What the hell does he see in me?” he whispered. He shook his head, a few droplets of water scattering from the ends of his hair. He had dreamed of submitting to another man ever since he’d been old enough to understand what submission was but he had never risked his feelings in this way before. Evrain was arrogant, assertive, but with just a hint of uncertainty beneath the bravado. Dominic suspected that Evrain was feeling his way just as much as he was. There wasn’t that much difference between their ages after all, and Evrain was coping with a whole new world that Dominic couldn’t hope to understand. A relationship with him was going to be a risk, but Dominic was convinced it was a risk worth taking. That didn’t make it any easier.
“And easy isn’t worth having, that’s what Aggie used to say.” He hung his damp towel on the rail and scooped up his dirty clothes before padding back to the spare room. He was going to have to pay another visit home soon, if only to do some laundry and pick up some more fresh clothes. He extracted a clean set of clothes from his overnight bag, relieved that he had remembered to pack underwear. He pulled on a pair of clean, if faded, jeans and a dark green, brushed cotton shirt. Finger-combing his hair, he padded down the stairs barefoot and silent, the wood warm under his feet. He reached the curve in the staircase and froze. He could hear voices coming from the direction of the kitchen. Evrain hadn’t mentioned expecting any visitors, but then why would he? He could easily have arranged something while Dominic had been out at work.
Dominic listened carefully through the light crackling of the fire. He could pick out Evrain’s deep tones but the other voice he didn’t recognize. He pressed close to the wall and moved quietly down a couple more steps, some instinct keeping him from introducing himself.
Evrain’s guest wore a long leather coat and a felt hat with a blood red band. One gloved hand rested on the top of a silver-capped cane. Taller than Evrain and much broader, he filled the room with an ominous air. A long, blond plait reached partway down the visitor’s back. Dominic was eager to see his face but held back.
Evrain moved into view. Briefly his eyes widened as he caught sight of Dominic then narrowed in a clear warning to stay concealed. Dominic complied with a silent step back but he didn’t go far, he was too curious to hear what the two of them were talking about.
“Symeon, get to the point. I have things to do,” Evrain snapped.
So this wasn’t a welcome guest. Dominic was even more intrigued now he had a name.
“You would benefit from the guidance I can provide, boy.” The blond-haired man’s voice had a slight rasp to it, making him sound as if he had a sore throat. Despite his size, his voice wasn’t that deep, but for some reason its timbre sent a chill the length of Dominic’s spine. The cane tapped steadily on the floor.
“My grandmother did not agree.” Evrain’s voice was smooth and calm as if he were trying to delete any emotion from it. Dominic never wanted to be on the receiving end of that blank coldness.
“Your grandmother had old-fashioned values that have no place in the modern world,” Symeon said. “You have great power, boy. You need to be schooled in how to use it and only another warlock can do that. There aren’t many of us around to help you.”
Dominic took a sharp intake of breath. Symeon was another warlock—presumably one with a lot more experience than Evrain.
“She believed we should use our abilities for the benefit of others, not just ourselves. Something I agree with.”
Symeon’s gloved fist clenched over the top of the cane, stretching the leather tight across his knuckles. “What is the point of power if you cannot use it for your own comfort? Agatha was living in the wrong century.” His annoyance was clear in his abrupt tone. “You and I are different, Evrain. Together we could be unstoppable.”
“It might make me outmoded, Symeon, but I believe in my grandmother’s philosophy. I have no desire for the kind of wealth and power you crave.” Evrain moved, placing his body between Symeon and the stairs.
“You should take care, boy, you don’t want me as an enemy.”
Evrain sighed. “Please don’t threaten me, Symeon. I have no intention of interfering in your business interests. Leave me alone and I will accord you the same consideration.”
Symeon paced up and down. “I’m not sure that will be possible. Every time you use the power, the world reverberates with your strength and you haven’t even begun to channel yet. You are a threat to my peace of mind and I don’t like being threatened.” He glanced around. “By the way, where is that gorgeous redhead of yours?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your sweet little boyfriend. Don’t be coy, I make it my business to know what you and your family are up to.”
“He’s none of your concern.”
“So you haven’t taken him yet?” That sounded like an accusation.
“That’s hardly something I’d share with you. My private life is just that—private.” Evrain’s voice was rough with anger.
“Take good care of him, Evrain. I would hate for anything bad to happen to him.”
Dominic’s stomach knotted at the barely veiled threat. He had heard enough and crept back up the stairs. It proved to be a timely move as he heard Evrain maneuver his visitor toward the front door.
“Get out, Symeon. If you go anywhere near Dominic, if you so much as touch a hair on his head, I swear you will find out exactly how powerful I am.”
Symeon laughed, a sound akin to nails scraping across a blackboard. “Goodbye, Evrain. We will meet again soon, I’m sure. Think about what I’ve said. I’m a far preferable ally than an enemy.”
The fact that Evrain shut the door gently was even more telling than if he had slammed it with force. Dominic shot down the stairs and skidded to a halt in front of Evrain who was leaning back against the closed door. All color had bleached from his skin, making the strange green of his eyes stand out even more than usual.
“Are you okay? You don’t look well.” Dominic reached out and touched Evrain’s arm. Evrain immediately clasped Dominic’s hand in a firm grip.
“I’m fine now he’s gone.”
“Who was he, Evrain? Another warlock, obviously.” Dominic allowed himself to be pulled into a hug.
“Someone I don’t want you anywhere near.” Evrain’s voice was coldly furious and the words snapped out like the crack of a whip.
“I’m a grown-up—I make my own decisions.” Dominic attempted to extract himself from Evrain’s arms with no success.
“Not in this. He’s dangerous. Stay away from him.”
Dominic began to protest but Evrain stopped him with a kiss. He kissed him hard, encircling his waist with a strong arm and holding him close. It was so different from the kiss they had shared earlier. That had been a sensual exploration—this was rough, demanding and spoke of absolute possession. Dominic found himself responding as Evrain wound his fingers through Dominic’s hair and tugged him even closer. Dominic parted his lips to allow Evrain entry, accepting the thrusts of his tongue willingly. Eventually Evrain loosened his grip and they pulled apart. Evrain slipped his hand downward from Dominic’s waist to cup the curve of his ass.
“You’re mine. Every beautiful inch of you. Symeon does not get to look at you in the wrong way, let alone touch you. Do you have a problem with that?”
“I… No, I don’t think I do.” Dominic raised his eyes timidly, his face heating. “But you have to be honest with me. I’ll do what you say, but you have to tell me who he is and why he’s dangerous.”
“I don’t want to scare you.” Evrain frowned and pulled him into a secure embrace. “You are too important to me.”
“I’m not some delicate flower that needs protecting. I can look after myself.” He might not have magical powers but he wasn’t completely useless.
“You sound offended. I admire your spirit.” Evrain led him to the table and they both sat down. “I don’t doubt your courage, Dominic, but you would have no defense against Symeon. He
is
a warlock, like me.”
“Not at all like you from what I overheard,” Dominic said. “Let me make a drink and then we can talk properly. I brought milk and fresh coffee back from home so we can have the good stuff.”
Evrain’s eyes lit up. “I love you. You are the perfect boyfriend.”
It was a throwaway comment, but it still made Dominic’s mouth go dry. He’d never been in love so he wasn’t sure what he felt for Evrain but if love was tingling senses, a stomach full of knots and a sense of elation every time Evrain touched him, then he guessed he was a lost cause.
Dominic set up the fancy coffee machine, following Evrain’s directions. He jumped a little when it began to spit and hiss.
“It’s okay,” Evrain chuckled. “That’s normal. It always makes loads of noise as if producing a sublime brew is a battle for supremacy.”
“If you say so.” Dominic stood well back from the temperamental machine. When it finally went quiet apart from the gentle hiss of steam, he poured coffee, added milk then rejoined Evrain.
They sat at the table, which was scrubbed white with age, holding mugs of aromatic liquid. Evrain breathed in deeply and gave a satisfied sigh. “Thank you, Lord, for creating the coffee bean. This is truly a religious experience.” He took a small sip then paused thoughtfully. “What I’m about to tell you my grandmother told me, so much of this I haven’t experienced first-hand yet. I’ve no reason to doubt anything she told me. Witches and warlocks have been around for thousands of years. The power we wield manifests itself in various ways that range from healing ability, foretelling and weather manipulation through to elemental magic. Healing has always been the most common—the rarest is elemental magic, which is only ever found in men.”
“Do all warlocks use elemental magic?” Dominic could hardly believe he was even asking such a question.
“There are very few warlocks alive. Even fewer linked to the elements. I know of four in this country, including me. That’s not to say there aren’t more, but if they were active, they would be felt by others with the power.”
“And Symeon?”
Evrain frowned. “Symeon Malus is also one of the four. He’s very skilled. My grandmother went to great lengths to hide my existence from him until I was old enough to be able to defend myself. If he had found me as a child, I doubt I’d be here now. It’s difficult to explain, but she tamped my ability until I came of age. There was a wall between me and the power. Cracks started to show when I reached my late teens but it wasn’t until my twenty-first birthday that the wall came down.”
“That must have been terrifying.” Dominic couldn’t imagine what it must have been like to be told such news. To discover such a terrible secret.
“It should have been, I suppose. It was a shock, but deep down I always knew there was something different about me. I never really fitted in with my family. It manifested in something of a rebellious streak.” He grinned and for a moment Dominic saw traces of the mischievous youth he must have been. “So when I found out, a few pieces of a lifelong puzzle slotted into place. My godfather, Gregory, is also a warlock. You’ve met him.”
“Only that once. We chatted for a while. He seemed kind.” Dominic groaned. “Oh my God, I’m so stupid. That meeting was deliberate, wasn’t it? Another step toward Aggie setting us up together.”
“Very likely.” Evrain frowned. “I didn’t know my grandmother as well as I thought I did. From the moment of my birth, she had plans for me. All the visits here, holidays with Gregory, you… All part of her master plan to keep me safe.” He reached across the table and covered Dominic’s hand with his own. “This isn’t the first time that Symeon has approached me, though he’s never come here before. He’s telephoned, sent letters. I don’t think he would have the balls for meeting me face to face if Grandma was still alive.”
“What does he want?”
“An alliance. At least that’s how he’s trying to sell it. He wants to use me. I’m untrained, malleable. He sees me as an easy target. He’s wrong.”
“After today, he might just realize that,” Dominic said, chewing on a fingernail.
“Don’t look so worried. The cottage is well warded and he would never try anything in public. Even Symeon isn’t so stupid as to expose our abilities to the world.”