Jag blinked and shied away, prompting Michael to curse under his breath before turning to take him into his arms.
“I’m sorry. I’m just—”
“Angry?” Jag cut in.
“Very.” Michael clenched and unclenched his teeth. “I thought, for a minute, that we could sit down and talk to them, like reasonable adults, and convince them to let you live your life. But it doesn’t sound as if your parents are reasonable people or even as if they belong on the same planet as everyone else.”
“That’s why I called them,” Jag whispered. “To convince them to let me live my life. But I couldn’t say a word. I heard my father’s voice, and I froze. And the more my parents talked, the more I realised I’d never be able to persuade them to let me go.”
“You’re their son, not their property,” Michael said.
“Unfortunately, I think it’s the same thing to them.” Jag turned to face Michael. “I know you want to help, but I don’t see how you can.”
“You’re going to run, aren’t you?” Michael asked, his face pale, his words shaky.
“Do I have a choice?”
“Can’t we have them arrested for abuse?” Michael asked.
“What they did isn’t illegal.”
“It should be,” Michael said angrily. He pulled Jag closer, holding him so tightly it was hard to breathe. “Who are they?” he asked. “Mac’s uncle is a cop. Maybehecould do something.”
Jag shook his head, panic rising up within him. “Please don’t ask me that, Michael. I can’t…I just can’t.”
“I know.” Michael kissed his forehead. “I’m sorry. You’re scared and protecting yourself, and some dick has already betrayed you once. But I wouldn’t. I promise. I’d never let you down like that.”
Jag desperately wanted to believe him. He thought part of him did, but his survival instincts were kicking in fiercely. Despite everything he’d managed to tell Michael, giving up his identity wasn’t something he could bring himself to do.
“I wouldneversend you back to that hell hole,” Michael breathed. “I couldneverdo that to you. And if there’s a way to get your parents off your back, I’ll find it, I promise. Just…don’t run. Not this time. Stay. We’ll figure this out together. We’ll face them together if it comes to it. I won’t let them take you back there.”
He squeezed Jag fiercely, kissing every inch of his face before his lips finally found Jag’s. Jag pressed into it. He was tired of talking and of feeling so raw. For a while at least, he wanted to believe that Michael could protect him from his parents because yes, he did need saving, and he wanted Michael to be the one to do it.
“Make love to me,” he whispered.
Michael stilled and stared at him. “I’m not sure–”
Jag silenced him with a kiss. “I am.Please.”
“No.”
Jag felt a pang of despair. “But—”
Michael put his finger to Jag’s lips. “Later,” he promised. “But right now, I’d be taking advantage of you.”
“I want you.”
“I know. But you’re upset, and I’m not going to mess with your head anymore. Let’s take a shower and get some breakfast, okay?”
Jag knew he should be grateful to Michael for taking care of him rather than fucking him whilst he was so emotionally vulnerable. It didn’t mean he had to be overly happy about it, though. “Can we at least take a shower together?”
Michael smiled and kissed his nose. “Definitely.”
24Michael
“You need a solicitor,” Michael said as he and Jag washed up after breakfast.
Beside him, Jag froze halfway through drying a plate. “A solicitor?”
