Page 17 of Ride the Whirlwind
“Yes, I did,” Graeme replied, lowering his gaze. “Next time when the two of you meet and talk about this, tell the kid he has nothing to be afraid of, I believe him and...”
“No,” Ardan cut the other man short in a soft but determination-filled voice, “you tell him. It's time for you and Doc to lift that immense weight off his fragile shoulders and keep him out of the harm's way.”
“I'll do that,” Graeme said, looking straight into Ardan's eyes. “I'm not a coward who hides behind children and lets the innocent take the fall. What is going to be next, because I imagine you already have a plan, don't you?”
“Yes, I have, and you are not going to like it. However, it's the only way to protect everyone and find out who's behind this mess.”
“I'll do everything I have to without complaining. You have my word.” Graeme's reply came right away.
Ardan nodded, then started to talk, and indeed, the other man's first impulse was to protest, but instead, he kept listening. As the plan gradually unfolded, the leader of all San Francisco Scottish gangs became more convinced of its success. On the other hand, Graeme's heart broke at the thought of the suffering he'd provoke.
It only took a second, though, and then his heart turned to stone. It wasn't the moment to become sentimental, not when the future of the organization three generations of men in his family built was at stake. As Ardan pointed out, those toxic influences in his life that prevented him from progressing, always whining and complaining, had to be completely, ruthlessly eliminated.
He would deal with them the very next day, Graeme decided, thanking Ardan for support and leaving the room. Right then, he needed Keith like never before, realizing how much he missed the young man's shy, warm smile; his low, melodious voice; and comforting presence, a soothing balm on his troubled mind and tensed nerves.
Graeme's eyes widened in surprise as he saw Keith coming from the opposite end of the corridor, accompanied by Fadyen. The guard was one step ahead of the other young man, partially covering him with his body, fully alert, carefully sweeping the perimeter with his chocolate eyes, looking for any potential threat.
Fadyen was fiercely loyal, and Graeme was sure he would choose Keith over anyone else, him included, and that made him let out a long sigh of relief. The two young men seemed lost in their own thoughts, and they almost bumped into Graeme, who offered them a benevolent smile. A light blush colored Keith's cheeks as he lowered his gaze.
“I… I’m sorry, Master. I don't know what I was thinking about. It won't happen again, I promise,” he whispered in a sweet, low voice.
“Don't worry, my angel, I'm not angry at you or Fadyen. Are you boys going somewhere?” Graeme gently put a finger under Keith's chin, making him raise his head.
“No, I felt the need to clear my mind and intended to go outside for a breath of fresh air. Fadyen here insisted on accompany me, so...” A smile ghosted on Keith's sensual lips as the blush became deeper.
“I... go on, enjoy your walk.” Graeme's voice dropped to a whisper as he caressed the younger man's cheek. “I'll be here whenever you'll need me, remember that.”
“And what if...” Keith hesitated as his turquoise eyes pierced into the very core of Graeme's soul, “I need you right now? My soul is troubled and heavy, and you are the only one who can lift that weight on it.”
“With your permission, Master”—Fadyen took a deep bow—“I'll be waiting in my room until I'm needed again.” The guard's voice had a tinge of sadness and loneliness Graeme didn't fail to notice.
“Go in my room and get ready.” Graeme softly spoke, running his flat palm up and down Keith's back. “I'll have a word with Fadyen, then I'll join you.
“Master, you can always count on me. I'll protect him at the cost of my own life,” the guard respectfully said, looking straight into Graeme's dark-blue eyes.
“I know, and I thank you. Sooner than you think, Keith is going to need you like never before. Dark times are coming, and you will have to be his guiding light, the source of his strength. Can you do that?”
Fadyen solemnly nodded, then, getting down on his knee, took Graeme's hand and kissed it. The older man rewarded the gesture by crouching down and running his fingers through the guard's long, thick, honey-brown hair. After a while, he helped the young man to his feet, hugging him tightly. Surprised at first, Fadyen ended up reciprocating, but disentangled from the embrace shortly after, his heart beating erratically.
Graeme didn't notice, or he pretended not to, and continued his way to his room in the opposite wing of the mansion. There, Keith sat on the edge of the bed, naked, waiting for him, a pleading look on his face. The older man didn't need any words; he knew what his lover needed, so, after getting rid of all his clothes, took his hand, gesturing to the bathroom door.
They got into the shower, hands sliding on one another's bodies, thrilled to discover and worship new spots. After all that time, Keith's body still surprised him, always fresh and full of sweet delights, Graeme thought as he lathered his partner's sculpted torso and supple back with lavender-scented soap.
Usually, Keith stood under the shower, letting the droplets of hot water cascade over his slender form while the other man soaped, shampooed, massaged, and rinsed him. This time, however, he reciprocated, cleaning and worshipping Graeme's body, setting him on fire and making his heart beat faster.
About fifteen minutes later, thoroughly dried, the two men lay on the bed, face to face, lost in each other's eyes. After a while, Keith rolled on his back, legs widespread, an offering on the altar of love. Graeme initiated the kissing and caressing ritual, to which the younger man responded by gently touching his broad chest and tracing fine lines on it with his elegant fingers.
After properly preparing him, Graeme slowly entered Keith, words of praise and love pouring from his lips as he did. Soon, he turned the young man's body into a fine-tuned instrument, playing it in sync with his slow, sweet thrusts. Greedy for more, wanting to be as close as possible to Graeme, Keith arched from the bed, meeting the older man's gentle thrusts.
The men climaxed almost at the same time, the post-orgasm haze wrapping them in a cocoon of serenity and comfort. Rolling on one side, Graeme cupped his lover's face with both hands and kissed his temples, forehead, and cheeks, his eyes shining with affection. It was the other kind of affection, the one that made their relationship impossible, a sin in the eyes of mortals and gods alike.
His sweet sin, the one he was never going to repent for. I'm so sorry, my sweet, innocent lover, so very sorry, Graeme thought as he cradled Keith's sleeping form.
CHAPTER 14
Fabian checked the clock on the nightstand, letting out a long huff when he saw it was only five in the morning. Since Ardan got arrested, or whatever happened there, he and Lance spent more than twelve hours a day at The Base and were dead tired when they got home, going to bed around nine in the evening.
There was no wonder he was wide awake at that early hour, Fabian thought, envying Lance, who slept like a log all night long. “Fat chance to get back to sleep,” the man said to himself, getting out of bed, careful to not wake up his husband. He walked out of the bedroom, intending to go downstairs and make some coffee, but changed his mind.