“Tell them they aren’t to leave their rooms, and if they comply for the next two hours, they’ll be completely reimbursed the nights they’re booked, with two extra free nights of their choosing as well as any room service on the house.”
He nods and looks at the body, not a lot of colour remaining in his face. But he says, “Yes, sir,” a second time and leaves to do my bidding. I make a mental note to give him a raise and a substantial bonus for the year.
Hunter returns to my side. “Who was that?”
“Hotel manager. Are you done looking?”
“Not a lot else to see, is there? Your hotel could use better entertainment.”
“Put it in the suggestion box.”
When we return, Xavier is behind the bar, sipping a smoky honey liquid from a crystal tumbler. He’s watching Matthew with curious eyes, a light smirk gracing his handsome face. Thoroughly enjoying himself.
Matthew, on the other hand, hasn’t moved from his seat and is tapping out of sync with his fingers on his knee. He immediately jerks into a standing position when we enter. He locks onto Hunter, and there’s something quite interesting in his gaze. A type of worship. Looks like the teacher has more than a little crush. Cute.
“Well?” Xavier asks.
“Dead staff member. There was a note for you.” I hand it over, and Xavier quickly glances over it before putting it in the inner pocket of his jacket.
“It’s so nice to have the family together for special occasions. He and Roger will have gone to ground after this.”
“It will be near impossible to find them,” I remark. Roger resembles a cockroach, and they know where to hide. Sydney is a big place, and even our arms only extend so far and into so many pockets. Less so since Xavier finished cleansing his businesses a few years ago.
Xavier grins. “Good thing that I like impossible.” Not a coincidence that he’s looking at Hunter when he says that.
Hunter sighs. “Six and Spencer are on their way.” He rubs his forehead. “Matthew, let me give you a lift home.”
“No, that’s okay. I can—I drove.”
“It’s not negotiable.”
“And I’m saying no,” Matthew says firmly. “I can drive myself. This doesn’t—I’m not—” He visibly swallows. “I don’t know what’s going on, and you’re all kind of scary, and I just want to go home. So if I’m allowed to now”—he looks at me when he says that—“then I’d just rather take myself home and try to forgetthis whole night ever happened. Uh, thank you.” He shuffles awkwardly on his feet.
I tilt my head at Xavier. It’s his call. If he wants Matthew to stay, then he will.
“I highly doubt you’re on their radar,” Xavier says mildly. “Leave if you wish.” He smiles sinfully, and Matthew sucks in a breath. “It was an absolute pleasure to meet you, Matthew Snow. Don’t be a stranger.”
“Uh—yeah, okay—thanks,” Matthew says awkwardly. He shoves a hand in his pocket. “I mean not thanks, because it feels weird to say thank you after the sex show, but it was nice. More than nice.” His face is bright red at this point, and if it were possible for someone to spontaneously combust, this is when it would happen. “I’m going to stop talking now.” He pivots and walks right into the door before fumbling with the handle and flinging it open.
“Matthew—”
“No,” Matthew says, without looking back. “I’ll see you Monday, for school drop-off.” And then he’s gone, leaving a strange stillness in the air. Almost an emptiness, like something is missing now that he isn’t in the room.
“He seems lovely,” Xavier drawls.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” Hunter says angrily, turning on him. “This is onyou. He should never have been involved in any of this, let alone the fucked-up way you forced him towatch us.Why did you come here? Why did you—”
“Why did I what? Tempt you? I merely offer the fruit, Hunter, you’re the one that chooses to take it.”
Hunter scowls, and the red on his cheeks is clearly from anger. He clenches his hands into fists at his sides, lips flat. “We’re cleaning up this mess, and then this stops. We can’t keep doing this, for both our sakes.”
“We don’t always get what we want, love,” Xavier says lightly, though I can see the hurt in his dark eyes. He absorbs every word that Hunter ever flings at him. Absorbs them, sits with them, and lets them eat him alive while still going back for more.
Hunter drags Xavier closer, landing a brutal short kiss on his lips. “What I want doesn’t matter.” He doesn’t explain what he means, sweeping from the room and slamming the door shut behind himself.
Xavier presses fingers against his lips, eyes heavy lidded. He remains like that for a long moment, the room filled with a dark silence that closes around us both. The pain that he tries so hard to hide every day is written all over his face.
“He loves you.” Not for a moment has that ever been in doubt. The rest of it is murky, but never that part.
