Finally, he could run no further and punish himself no more. He slowed to a jog and headed for home.
Tim had returned to Devon for the day to start on the depressing job of looking for somewhere new to live, so Ben was expecting the house to be empty when he returned. There was a light on in the kitchen, however. He frowned. He entered slowly and saw Nikolas still in his suit, sitting at the table with a bottle of vodka and a pack of cigarettes. Nikolas immediately rose. “What’s happened to you? You’re soaked! Why are you limping?”
“What? Did you—? What did she—? What the hell is this?” He picked up the vodka then sat heavily in the chair opposite Nikolas, clutching the bottle. He was shivering, but it was only from the cold.
Nikolas sighed deeply then flicked the cigarette pack across the table at him as well. “You’re not a very good minder, Ben. I had these hidden, too. So, take them, take the vodka. I’m done.”
“You’redone! What the fuck do you mean you’re done? Oh, God, what did she say?”
Nikolas rose swiftly and pulled Ben to his feet. “Upstairs. Shower. All is well. I’ll tell you while you shower.” Ben limped up and stripped off his soaking running clothes. Nik handed him a towel, and Ben sat on the edge of the bed.
“Tell me now.”
Nik sat next to him and rummaged in his pocket. He handed the bottles of pills he’d been given to Ben. “One of each, every twelve hours. One for the headaches and one for the hallucin—other things.” He clenched his jaw, as if even admitting that word would weaken him and concluded, “That was it. There’s nothing wrong with me.”
“What! No, that can’t be. Did you tell her everything…? I knew you—”
“I told her everything. I was totally honest. What’s the point of seeing a doctor unless you’re honest to a fault? Please give me some credit.”
“Nothing wrong? What about the seeing things?”
Nikolas gritted his teeth. “It’s all perfectly normal, apparently, and it’ll stop.” He tapped one of the little bottles. “I’ve a minor head injury from which I’ll recover fully—if I keep to my current healthy lifestyle, that is.”
Ben was speechless for a moment. “What healthy lifestyle?”
Nikolas smirked suddenly. “That’s what I thought, too.”
Ben gave him a really angry look and suddenly punched Nik on the arm. “So, what you’re saying is you brought this on yourself by drinking and smoking and—Stop it!”
Nikolas was still laughing. He seemed to find his own stupidity quite funny. Ben was shaking from rage as much as from the cold now. Suddenly, Nikolas twisted and straddled him, forcing him down on the bed. “You need to warm up.”
Ben put a hand up and cupped his cheek. “Are you telling me the truth about this?”
“Would I lie to you?”
Ben would’ve answered, but they were too busy kissing. He rolled Nikolas off him and lay alongside, slowly unbuttoning his waistcoat and shirt, sliding cold hands in on warm skin. He peeled the shirt open, exposing the beautiful bare chest then slid his hand lower and cupped Nik through the suit. He propped himself up on his elbow, working Nikolas through the cloth until he arched and stopped him. Nikolas stood and stripped out of the rest of his clothes. He climbed back on, straddling Ben once more. His skin was warm everywhere, Ben’s still cold. It was an interesting contrast and one that needed exploring and equalising. While they were still at this stage, just kissing and playing, Nikolas murmured almost too softly for Ben to hear, “I may need your assistance.” Ben rose from where he was kissing and came up to face him. “I’ll need your help, Ben—to give up. It seems I can’t do it alone.” It was possibly the biggest concession Ben had ever heard Nikolas make.
Ben quirked him a smile, trying not to make too much of it or Nikolas would back off from him again. “Cigarettes?”
“Yes.”
“Booze?”
Nikolas pouted. “Yes.”
“And the only pills you take are these? One of each, every twelve hours.”
Nikolas looked less amenable to this but finally nodded.
Ben pursed his lips for a moment, thinking. “Do you actually know how to run? I’ve never seen…”
§ § §
Nikolas would tolerate a certain amount of teasing from Ben, but basically Ben still needed to remember his position. Now that he wasn’t dying, Nikolas decided to celebrate by spending the rest of the afternoon reminding Ben who was boss. But then he was under doctor’s orders to have Ben Rider as often as he could. Who was he to argue with the medical profession?
By the time Tim returned, they were in the kitchen, examining the food to see if there was anything that didn’t need cooking. He glanced at Nikolas and nodded to Ben. Nikolas straightened. “Have you eaten?”
Tim raised an eyebrow. “Me? No. I mean—”
