“I appreciate you saying so,” Miles said, “but you’re still fired.”
“I wasn’t expecting different, you just . . . didn’t deserve this.”
When the door finally closed behind them all, the two of us were left with only Tomas, Macca, and Tina. And a very unlucky paramedic who was packing his bag and trying to appear invisible at the same time.
“God, Miles,” Tina said, breaking the silence with a shaky laugh. “You just fired a lot of people who know a lot of things.”
“Oh, you think I should have put up with that shit just to keep them quiet?” he asked, turning on her. “Clearly sniggering behind my back wasn’t cutting it anymore. Where did they even see the damn photos?”
“Don’t look at me!” she cried. “Miles, I wouldnever. I thought they were wiped. And of course I don’t think you should put up with that, I’m just aware how quickly this could get out of hand if someone goes to the press. And Mom and Dad are going to be furious.”
“Then go clean up my inconvenient gay mess like you always do!”
She looked like he’d slapped her, her jaw dropping slowly open, but before she could reply, her attention was caught by the paramedic heading for the door. “Wait,” she said, hurrying after him. “If you could give me your name before you—No, never mind, let me just walk you out.”
As Tina disappeared with the unfortunate paramedic, Miles snorted and started toward the door. “Come on,” he said as he passed me. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Hold on a sec.” Leaving him to stride out, I turned to Tomas and Macca. “Hey, uh—”
“Don’t worry about us,” Tomas said, gesturing for me to go. “He needs you. We’ll make sure all is right with the hotel.”
“And see if Tina needs any help,” Macca added with a guilty grimace. “Least I can do after I set all this shit off. Probably should have kept my mouth shut.”
“No.” Tomas’s frown grew fierce. “He needed to know.”
Scuffs on the grey, corporate carpet heralded Miles’s return, frowning around the door. “Are you coming?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
Tomas waved me away, only saying, “Just don’t forget you’re both playing tomorrow!” as I reached the hallway.
“I know!” I called back, though tomorrow’s match didn’t seem so important anymore.
I fell in beside Miles as he strode along the deserted sidepassage back toward the hotel bar, a glittering look in his eyes. “Are you all right?” I asked, setting my hand on his arm to stop him.
“Yeah.” He nodded, his jaw tense. “In fact, I’m better than all right. I thought I was going to have to wait to get rid of them, but now, I’m free. And you—” Pressing me to the wall, he kissed me fiercely without even looking around. The recklessness was unlike him, yet when he drew back, he was smiling, wicked and bright. “You are coming with me.”
Twenty-One
WE HAD SLEPT. Eventually.
First, we’d fucked. But any hope that a killer orgasm might help him relax had been misplaced, Miles soon up and restless. A very late dinner was ordered. A replay of his next opponent’s match was put on. Then he was sitting astride me on the couch, grinding against me and begging to be fucked again, his eyes bright, his needs insatiable. I’d given him what he wanted, only to fall asleep in the aftermath.
I woke to our legs tangled, to his arm draped over me and the warmth of his chest against my shoulder. It was everything I yearned for, yet it felt wrong and strange, like I’d drunk too much and ended in the wrong bed. The room was too warm, the sun too bright, and I’d slept later than usual – not late enough to be a problem, just enough to make everything feel off.
Having reached for my phone, I found it was just past nine, and the lack of messages from Tomas at least meant he wasn’t worried about me. Yet.
“Morning, you,” Miles said, his voice gravelly with sleep.
“Morning. Sorry if I woke you.”
He stretched, each long muscle in his arms tightening like a cord. “It’s probably a good thing you did, since now I don’t have anyone to wake me so I don’t miss my matches.”
“You never missed a match in London and not once did I make sure you were up on time,” I pointed out, frowning.
“Sheer luck on my part, I’m sure.”
“Hey.” I brushed a loose lock of hair back behind his ear, trying to read his face. “Are you okay?”
