“I was just about to examine Mr. Judd again,” Oliver said without turning.
“How about you examine me instead?”
Oliver froze with his hand on the latch at the familiar tap of Ansley’s heels as they echoed across the tile floor. Biting back a curse, Oliver realized Felipe must have left the door unlocked when he went to the archives. How had he been so foolish as to expect Ansley not to bother him? In an instant, Ansley was right behind him, the heat of his body radiating against Oliver’s back and his hand suggestively sliding down Oliver’s side. Bristling, he whipped around and stood eye-to-eye with his former lover. The other man tilted his head coquettishly and stepped even closer.
Oliver raised his hands and backed into the cadaver cabinet. “No.”
“Oh, come on, Oliver. Don’t be such a bore; it was just a joke. Though I wouldn’t be opposed if you are interested.”
That was the last thing he wanted to do. Ansley flashed him a sensual smile, but Oliver sneered and side-stepped him. A retort caught in his throat; maybe if he looked busy, Ansley would take the hint and leave. Storming back to the laboratory bench, Oliver pointedly glared at Ansley and went back to his work. The blonde man rolled his eyes and perched on the table, so his backside was nearly eyelevel with him. When Oliver caught Ansley covertly skimming his notes, he covered them with his arm.
“Don’t you have a job to do, Inspector Ansley?”
He scoffed. “You always were straitlaced, but I forgot how much. What my boss doesn’t know can’t hurt them. Besides, I merely came by because I wanted to ask if you would like to get a drink later and catch up. I’ll even agree to wait until after work so as to not interfere with your precious schedule. I assume it hasn’t changed in the last three years.” When Oliver scowled at him, Ansley crossed his arms and added, “Look, I know I acted less than admirably when we parted, but I’m trying to apologize and behave myself. I thought, while I was here, we could pick up where we left off for a time.”
Pick up where they left off?Pick up where they left off?“For god sakes, Ansley, it’s been three years! There’s no picking up anything nor would I want to. And get off my table.”
Pushing off with a huff, Ansley flopped spinelessly into Gwen’s usual chair. “I know how long it’s been, and I’m not looking for anything long-term, just a fling with an old friend while I’m here.”
“Pass.”
Ansley let out a high laugh, the kind he made when he was annoyed.Let him be, Oliver thought bitterly, even as he flinched. Ansley had his pick of men at the society, if what he saw in the dining room was any indication. Why not bother one of them instead?
“Do you have a better offer or are you just being difficult, as usual?”
A smug smile crossed Oliver’s lips as he set his pen down. For once, he wouldn’t be the desperate, lonely pariah Ansley was doing a favor by warming his bed, and if there was one thing he had learned in the three years since Ansley left him broken and miserable, it was that he didnotmiss that man’s presence one bit. Oliver had a partner who loved him, and that made the contrast all the more stark. Just this once, it would be nice to rub it in Ansley’s face that he couldn’t always get his way.
“As a matter of fact, I do have a better offer. Inspector Galvan and I have been togetherexclusivelysince January, so I guess you’ll have to find a new way to pass the time.”
For a long moment, Ansley merely blinked at him. Then, his green eyes narrowed on Oliver as if seeing him for the first time. “Galvan? As in, Felipe Galvan?”
“Yes.”
Ansley shook his head and released another sharp laugh. “Leave it to you to pick the most dangerous man in the society to share your bed.”
“He is not.”
“Oh, Oliver, don’t delude yourself. That man comes from a family of trained killers. There’s a whole swath of the West we avoid because it’s their territory. Galvan has been with the society for twenty years; his body count is the stuff of legends.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“He could murder you in your sleep,” Ansley replied in a stage whisper.
“You know that isn’t particularly hard to do, right?”
“Go ahead, do what you want, but personally,Iwouldn’t cross him.”
“Cross whom?” Felipe asked as he silently came down the laboratory steps. Ansley leapt to his feet and spun around to face Felipe who gave him a nod. “Inspector Ansley. It’s good to see you again.”
A tight smile strained Ansley’s lips as his gaze traveled between Oliver and Felipe. “And you, Galvan. Oliver was just telling me felicitations are in order. Five months. That’s a significant run.”
Oliver stared at Felipe with wide, pleading eyes, willing him to understand how badly he didn’t want to be in this conversation. The corner of Felipe’s mouth hitched up as he wrapped his arm around his partner’s shoulders and gave him an affectionate squeeze.
“Thank you, I’m very lucky to have Oliver in my life. He’s a good man, as you know.”
For a second, Ansley looked like he swallowed something foul, but it disappeared beneath a sardonic grin. “Yes, well, I should let you get back to your domestic bliss.”
“I’ll show you out,” Oliver said as he ushered Ansley toward the door before he could say something horrifically offensive in front of Felipe.
