“Do you want some privacy?” I asked, mindful we were strangers, and while I was extremely grateful for Luc’s generosity, we’d been together without a break for hours, and I knew nothing about his habits. Perhaps he was a loner, much like me, and twitching at our proximity. Although personally I’d not had a second’s inclination to remove myself from his presence, so maybe I wasn’t so much a loner as I was picky about the company I kept.
He shook his head. “You’ve got hearing like a bat, so I doubt you’d get far enough away not to listen in unless you worked hard to shut me out. Besides, this concerns you.” He paced the car park, seemingly unable to stand still. A panther came to mind again, sleek and powerful, and restless. God knows why I was so intent on comparing him to an animal; he’d been every inch a man when he’d blown me apart a few hours ago. Besides, I corrected myself, panthers were black, and Luc was so very golden.
“Hello, Tasha. Is Justin around? It’s—Oh, cool. I didn’t know you’d have my number stored. Yes, I’ll wait.
“Morning, sir. It’s Lucien Bradshaw. Ahh right, of course you know.”
I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but Luc was right, I did have amazing hearing. The man on the other end, Justin, I presumed, asked after Luc’s parents. Luc’s expression tightened. “They’re very well, as far as I know. We’re not in regular contact.”
Justin murmured something about that being a shame but that he understood.
Luc then said, “I need to know if the Welsh safe house is available. I have a…” He glanced in my direction. “…situation. I’m not even sure what it is yet, but I’m not alone, and my companion has a target on his head. I’ve not managed to confirm the severity of the risk. I’m on speaker, sir, in case that’s relevant.” The next look he shot me was apologetic. For what? His blatant lie? Perhaps he didn’t want the Justin bloke to know I had great hearing, but I couldn’t imagine why that could possibly be a problem.
I wandered away from the car, because I felt uncomfortable, and found some kind of vent which, judging by the smell, led directly from the kitchen. The electronic whine of the motor and the traffic sounds, plus the screeching of the gulls overhead, gave me plenty to focus on, and Luc was able to wrap up his conversation in peace.
As he steered the car confidently through the Bristol streets, he said, “Ever been to Cardiff?”
“No. Is that where we’re staying next?”
“’Fraid not. But we do have to make a quick stop to pick up a key. And Gethin wants to fingerprint me as I’ve not used the safe house before. Standard procedure, I think.”
“Sounds like some kind of spy ring,” I commented, before asking, “Is Justin your boss?”
Luc’s face twisted as if he didn’t want to lie, but wasn’t sure he should tell me the truth. Eventually he said, “No, but also kind of. He’s…I suppose he’s a mentor of sorts, you could say.”
“It’s fine, I didn’t mean to pry.”
“It’s a reasonable question, Charley. I just…The answer depends on your knowing certain other stuff, and we’re not at that place yet. I’d like to tell you, and I will, but not now.”
We crossed the bridge over the Severn and I felt a little thrill go through me as we arrived in Wales. Nothing changed but a few road signs which were now in two languages, but as I’d never left England before, it seemed significant. I said as much to Luc, who shot me a sympathetic look.
“Did your parents never take you away?”
I sighed. “We went to the coast sometimes, to a caravan park. It was okay. I didn’t know any better for a long time. And I was a difficult child, so perhaps they didn’t want to chance taking me on a ’plane, y’know?” I rubbed at my eyes. It wasn’t a particularly bright day but they were already sore. I slid my sunglasses on and instantly felt better. “Since I got old enough to be left, they’ve gone abroad a couple of times a year. They got their sunshine fix, and I got the house to myself.” It didn’t escape me I was already using the past tense about Nita and David. I’d eventually email them or something, to let them know I wasn’t dead — hopefully — but I was done with pretending to be the son they wished they’d had.
“How old was old enough? You’re only nineteen now.”
“I think I was twelve the first time.” At Luc’s outraged‘What!?’I hurried on. “Don’t feel sorry for me. I loved it. Free to be myself; to eat and sleep when it suited me, and it was about then I discovered boys properly. The summer I turned fourteen was a fuck fest I’ll never forget.”
There was silence for a few prolonged moments. Then Luc croaked, “Fourteen? Twelve? Christ, Charley, who the hell was abusing you? You were a child. Don’t tell me it was consensual. How can a twelve-year old consent?” He exhaled heavily. “Pass me a muffin, would you? I missed a meal yesterday and I get cranky if I don’t eat regularly.”
I handed him the cake, and bit my lip as I considered his outrage. “It didn’t feel like abuse at the time. It was mostly with guys my own age.” That was a bit of a stretch but he’d never know. “I love sex, always have. It’s always better than playing solo.”
“Huh.” Another silence. “I do agree about sex with someone else being better.” The hint of a grin teased his lips. “Except for those ‘fucking hell, I need to sleepnowbut I’m horny so I’ll crack one out quickly’ wanks. They’re pretty awesome.”
I snorted a laughed agreement. “Yeah, okay, those are good too.”
Luc directed me to find a music station I liked, and we passed the remainder of the drive into Cardiff peaceably. He pulled over once to punch some coordinates into his phone and slide the handset into a holder so he could navigate his way to our rendezvous with the mysterious Gethin. We parked in some underground place, Luc checked his phone again, and we set off towards the quayside. “We’re too early, but I want to look around first, check the place out, so I’m familiar with it,” he explained.
We passed an ice cream stand and he tugged at my elbow. “Want one?” I probably went as green as I felt. “That’s a no then. You don’t mind if I do?” He purchased some double-coned horror with two scoops and various toppings. I did enjoy his greedy moans of pleasure as we walked more slowly this time. Everything Luc did was filled with a sensuality that drew me closer to his side. I needed to get myself under control because I knew this, whatever we had, was strictly time-limited.
We ran out of road when any further steps would have landed us in the Bristol Channel. I looked around and laughed out loud in delight when I realised where we were. “Ahh, Ianto Jones, be still my heart.” One of the times I’d been home alone, I’d binge-watched so much Torchwood, I’d been in danger of a permanent wrist injury from all the self-love that had accompanied my viewing. Way too many hot actors in that show to be good for any horny teenager. I pulled my phone out. “I should take a selfie right here, as a reminder of my very first foreign trip.”
Luc’s eyes widened as I realised what I’d said. I replaced the phone. “Fuck’s sake, I’m an idiot.”
“You’re not. You’re really not. But you can’t chance it. Although…Actually, no, take it. But don’t post it anywhere. We can save it to lay a false trail later, if we need to.” He waited patiently while I faffed about, getting a decent angle. I shoved my phone back, pleased it had behaved for once.
“Where now, oh intrepid explorer?”
