“You were there?”
“I was.”
“I didn’t see you.”
“No. You were the one being tor—interrogated. I think you had other things on your mind.”
“You were in the observation room?”
“Yes.”
“Fucking hell. And then you headhunted me for the department?”
“Well, you seemed eminently suitable.”
“I was good at resisting. I didn’t tell them a damn thing.”
“That is not precisely what I meant—many other of your colleagues resisted as well.”
“Then why me?”
Nikolas tried to repress a smile. “Do you really need to ask, Ben? You were naked, being—as your interrogators put it—fucked over, and I was utterly lost. I fell, as if finally falling to earth from a great distance. It was very disturbing, actually.” He was lost in thought for a moment. “Anyway, I remember that my brief to Dear Leader later that day was not one of my most coherent.”
“Why do you never tell me these things?”
“I just have. Besides, I have a mission to prevent you from becoming any more vain and annoying than you already are. With great power comes—Did you actually just hit me?” He was laughing and caught Ben’s hand, beginning to twist the wrist.
Ben took his eyes off the road. “Hey, no fair, I’m driving.”
“I could take you at any time, even if you were not driving.”
Ben gave him an incredulous look, his eyes flicking between the road and Nikolas’s smug expression. “In a fight? You’d beat me? In your dreams, mate.”
“Oh, trust me, I do sometimes dream of beating you down, and I am not even asleep.”
“Seriously. You think you could best me in a fight?”
“I am only surprised that you doubt it.”
“Bloody hell. This is ridiculous.”
“Unfortunately, we will never put it to the test. The damage would be irreversible, maybe. Come, concentrate on your driving. This is a very expensive vehicle, and you are a very erratic driver.”
Ben’s head was reeling. He never seemed to catch up. He risked a very brief glance at Nikolas to see if he was being had but, as usual, could tell nothing from the calm, neutral expression.
They arrived at the country hotel on the fringes of Dartmoor just after tea. It had a shabby elegance about it they both liked. Nikolas had booked two rooms for form’s sake, but Ben didn’t even bother finding his, he just flung himself on the bed in Nikolas’s. He watched Nikolas as he went to the window to look out over the grounds.
“Did you pack any painkillers?”
“Huh? Why?”
Nikolas gave him a look. “Because I am in pain. You bit me, Benjamin, and it hurts still.”
Ben managed to look contrite. “In the side pocket of my bag.” He lay back, outwardly contemplating the ceiling, but in reality remembering the taste and feel of Nikolas’s skin between his teeth and the intense pleasure of making Nikolas wince and, for once, not be so bloody superior.Take me? As if…He heard water running in the bathroom. Nik came out removing his suit jacket and tie. He began to unbutton his shirt, wandering back into the bathroom. Suddenly, there was an uncharacteristically outraged yell. “Kusse! Come here!”
Ben debated making a dash for his own room but sighed and went into the spacious bathroom. “Oh, Jesus.” He went up to Nikolas’s back and stroked his thumb very gently over the livid bite mark now surrounded by yellow and deep purple bruised flesh. He put his lips to the bite and kissed it gently. Nikolas jerked away, staring down at his ruined, bloody shirt. “You will pay for this.” Ben wasn’t sure if he meant literally or metaphorically. Both, probably, given his luck. “This isnotfunny anymore, Benjamin. You bite me one more time, and we will maybe find out which of us is stronger. Do you understand me?”
Ben nodded, unconcerned. “Those pills working yet?”
