by J P Sayle
Needing a walk more than ever, Joe checked for anything that alerted something could be off. He listened to his body, having unwittingly tampered down his sixth sense, he let it rise. He had been taught it was a crucial part of his survival training, something he’d learnt through Joel not to take for granted.
When his body didn’t appear to think there was anything wrong, other than what he was trying to internalise, he opened the van, letting the wind buffet him as he stepped down. Feeling revitalised by the brisk wind blowing his hair around his head. Joe pushed it away from his face twice before giving it up as a lost cause. Huddled into Aaden’s jacket, he somehow felt protected as his scent surrounded him for a few seconds before the wind whipped the smell away, instead surrounding him in salted sea air.
Joe strode down the walkway, enjoying the raw beauty and power that pulsed against him. He became lost in the mood of the day. Grey, gloomy clouds were tossed aimlessly into the sun’s watery path, not allowing it to warm the ferocious wind. Froth foamed on the waves leaving rocks coated in its turbulent wake. The sounds of the sea clashed with the caterwaul of the birds, the air never silent as it swirled around him. It was part of the charm, the constant movement, sound and even the smell of rotting seaweed all added to the experience for him.
The majestic view of the castle lifted his mood as he climbed up the steep path, getting a closer look at the fortresses walls. His muscles warmed with the exercise, increasing his pace he battled with the force of the wind as he came round the back of the castle. No longer sheltered by its high walls the wind took his breath, pushing him back. Joe wished it had the strength to push his feelings away that nagged persistently.
Was it a bad thing, his feelings for Stuart? His head battled with his heart, the internal war leaving him doubting where his heart wanted to take him. The past few weeks had shown him that Stuart was not Joel, he could be a right diva, but what he offered seemed genuine. Stuart’s devotion to his family demonstrated how deep he could love, and would love his true soul mate. He also secretly thought Stuart was as enamoured with Princess as he was.
Stopping to catch his breath, he looked out across the sea, watching the fishing vessels strain to stay up right against the insatiable wind. He shuddered in relief that he didn’t have to make a living fishing. He really couldn’t imagine a worse job. Feeling the wind’s bite increase, he ignored it pushing on back towards the harbour.
Could Stuart love him the way he needed him to? He hadn’t shared his issues about Joel, too embarrassed at his own stupidity had kept him silent, shutting Stuart out. The result had intensified his worry when Stuart gave him questioning looks while trying to hide his hurt away from Joe.
Thing was, he didn’t know if Stuart was still interested in wanting a relationship. Had he lost his chance at more by forcing his rules on to Stuart? Chomping on his nail, Joe lost himself in his doubts, losing track of time.
Joe blinked several times trying to focus past his chattering teeth. His freezing limbs brought him out of his reverie, he checked the time, oh hell. Racing back to the van how he had lost so much time? Scrambling into the van, trembling legs and arms letting him know how cold it had gotten. Pins and needles fired through his warming limbs, making him jiggle in his seat. Joe shook his hands in front of the heater hoping it would relieve some of the tingling sensations. Frozen toes curled in his boots trying to outrun the strange buzzing that fired through them as feeling returned.
Revving the engine in the hope of creating more heat, he considered his next steps. For all his thinking time he hadn’t come up with any way to explain Aaden’s visit without lying. Heaving a sigh when he appreciated that was the last thing he wanted to do. His only option was to tell Stuart everything and hope that at the end of it he would still be interested in a relationship. The other part was how was he going to let Stuart know he had changed his mind about his own stupid rules? Unsure when Stuart had started to become his everything, but, one thing for sure was he didn’t want to lose it, regardless of his past.
Driving back, Joe steadied himself for whatever would happen after they spoke. He crossed his fingers trusting that they would be okay.
Princess prowled around the house, nails clacked impatiently on the wooden floors making her feel antsy. The feeling that something was going to happen filled her with a sense of dread. She’d heard whispers about relationships, and was not quite convinced her mother was up to no good. Even messing with Stuart had not helped her mood.
They had fought like two hissing cats, it was very amusing, but he failed to see he would never win against her, so what was a cat to do? When he’d tried to lock her out she’d preened around him for hours after Joe had told him off, advising he wouldn’t tolerate that behaviour.
She had purred in satisfaction at how well things were progressing between them, though, she was still slightly miffed at Brad for putting her outside when Joe had finally explained all his issues to them. Her only saving grace, she’d already bonded with Joe once he had removed whatever he’d been hiding behind. She was able to see fully what he’d kept locked inside.
Princess had yet again struggled to understand humans, these strange notions they took were beyond her. Joe had somehow let a monster into his life, but at least that seemed to be over now. The trip to the gym and his confused thoughts seemed to have settled while Joe was spending so much time with Stuart.
The problem that nagged was Aaden, she did not understand what his role was or even if he had a purpose. The quiet conversations had worried her that maybe Joe wasn’t as interested in Stuart. So she’d hatched a plan, irritating Stuart so that Joe would be distracted from the message he’d received the previous week. She had worked extra hard to ensure they didn’t spend any time apart, hoping it would strengthen their feelings for each other. She was getting a little miffed there hadn’t been any declarations of love, but she had a feeling it was coming, even if Joe was a bit grumpy today.
She was immensely pleased with herself for the way things were going, even if she had been scolded yet again for interfering by her mother.
Thumping above her alerted to Stuart’s whereabouts. Smirking, sneaking upstairs, she headed slowly towards the bathroom door. Waiting for just the right moment, she rented the air with an almighty howl. Stuart’s loud scream pleased her a second before he spun around on his uninjured leg, his pee spraying her coat. Jumping back too late Princess shook her sodden fur in disgust, scowling she slinked back.
Stuart’s gawking expression turned to mirth, before laughter ripped stridently through the air making her hackles rise. Aiming, she launched at him only for her legs to dangle mid-jump as freezing cold hands stopped her. The scent, not someone she knew had her claws draw, ready to strike.
“What on earth is going on here?”
Crap, Joe. Looking up she caught the disbelieving glance he cast between her and Stuart, his nose twitching in disgust she was sure at the smell of urine that probably clung to her.
Going on the defensive, she snuggled in batting her eyelashes. A scent not human clung to the coat Joe wore caused her hackles to rise, but this time for an entirely different reason. Her alarm grew, jumping out of Joe’s arms she ran out of the room. What on God’s earth was that smell? It had been centuries since she had bothered with the opposite sex, yet that smell made her want to hunt down the owner and feast on him.
Lurking outside, she headed for the tree house. Distracted, she forgot that she still stunk of pee or that she hadn’t got the chance to pay Stuart back. Princess felt the worry burrow deep as she rested her head on her paws.
Maybe she shouldn’t have interfered again? Huffing, no it had all worked out in the end for Brad and Martin as it would for Stuart and Joe. She would need to put out some feelers and find out who owned that scent, and then maybe that would calm her nerves.
Her mother’s quiet chuckles filled her head, rolling her eyes in fear. Oh God, what was she up to?
He realised a little too late after Joe
had stormed out, he may have pushed too hard and laid it on a bit thick with the invalid thing. He had done everything in his power since yesterday to assist even if his leg now throbbed like a rotten tooth ache. Shifting on the soft pillows, sighing in pleasure as it they took the weight of his aching leg cushioning it.
Now that he was relaxed he could feel his lingering anxiety return, after yesterday’s run in with Joe. The fact he was distant after returning, seemingly looking as if he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Several times he appeared to gather himself up to talk about something that, if his face was anything to go by, was going to be very unpleasant. So Stuart had done the only thing he could think of, he’d avoided Joe like the plague. He knew he was being a coward but he was frightened he was going to say he was leaving.
Scratching his head he gazed out the window, the weather truly seemed suited to his Sunday mood. His melancholy thoughts filtered through the same as the rain that was currently drenching the path. He absently thought he should have swept up the dying leaves, the rain would surely make them slippy underfoot, and he couldn’t afford to fall and injure his other leg that was for sure. Joe would be well and truly be pissed off then.
Stuart no sooner thought about Joe, when he heard the slap of socked feet on the wooden floor two seconds before he came into view. Appreciating it too late to escape, Stuart slanted his gaze up, giving a tentative smile. Moving to make room for Joe, he grimaced, massaging his fingers into his aching thigh.
Avoiding eye contact, Stuart felt the cushions move next to him. Joe gently lifted his leg and placed it over his own making Stuart groan when Joe pushed his hand away, replacing them with his own. His warm fingers kneaded the bare flesh, slowly massaging around the discoloured skin. Feeling the tension rise between them, Stuart was uncertain how to broach the subject of what was wrong. His own worry about what it could mean for them had him hesitating. One quick look at Joe’s despondent face advised the game was up, Joe knew he’d been avoiding him.
The internal sigh not helping, Stuart pushed his worries aside. “Is everything okay?” The need to make it better overruled his fear. Desperately needing a drink for his parched throat, he grabbed the glass on the table, drinking deep. To hide his shaking hands he clutched the back of the sofa, feeling his uncertainty grow when the silence increased.
The urge to move, to pace had him tensing knowing that would not help his painful leg. Also, who knew you couldn’t pace with crutches? Well not unless you wanted to end up on your arse, that is. Though he tried not to think about that or that Princess had, yet again, riled him into acting stupid.
Joe’s hesitant voice had him darting his eyes up.
“Em, well… it’s just… em that my friend Aaden is coming for a visit, he should be here by the end of the week. He has just texted to say he has sorted his travel arrangements.”
Stuart felt himself choking back the jealousy, making it impossible to swallow when bile burned his throat. “Where is he planning on staying?” His growl snapped out through gritted teeth.
Joe carefully removed his hands, swivelling towards him as if bracing for a fight. Taking several deep breaths, Stuart tried to unlock his aching jaw, controlling the urge to shout and demand answers. He didn’t interrupt when Joe spoke, even though he wanted to.
“I didn’t realise but Ms Stevens’s house is up for lease and Aaden has decided to rent that for a few months.”
How could Joe’s meek words make his blood boil, Stuart was baffled. His throat burned as if he had rubbed it with sandpaper, he hardly recognised his own voice when he spoke.
“For a few months? Here? Across the road?” His eyes searched Joe’s face for what he wasn’t sure, but the heated flush had Stuart wanting to demand answers he wasn’t sure he wanted.
Questions rattled around wanting to escape but the fretful worry etched in Joe’s beautiful chocolate eyes held him in check. Wincing Stuart pulled his leg off Joe’s lap, needing a bit of space. Praying for patience when Joe’s Adam’s apple bobbed and his brow furrowed making Stuart believe Joe was carefully considering his answers.
The quiet deliberation made Stuart’s insides knot with anxiety, what the hell was he missing? He scrutinised Joe, watching him wet his lips several times and making them glisten in the firelight, teasing Stuart with images he valiantly tried not to think about. Moving his hand, Stuart attempted to conceal his obvious desire. He figured now was not the time for his libido to start kicking back in. The pain in his thigh had removed any thoughts of sex over the past couple of weeks, but it would seem the brain controlling his cock had other ideas.
Joe’s lowered stare told him he had not missed Stuart’s reaction to those delicious wet lips. Getting the distinct impression Joe would distract him in a heartbeat, Stuart shifted away from temptation.
“What’s going on Joe?”
Seeing him slump back on the sofa in defeat. Stuart watched with interest as Joe plucked at the edge of his shorts, unravelling the hem. Thinking Joe was lost in his own thoughts, Stuart jerked when he spoke, making the knots jam tighter together inside him.
“Aaden is a good friend from the army. He has been helping me with a little problem I had with my last boyfriend.” Joe’s avoidance of eye contact made his heart drop. The angry way he spat the word boyfriend out, had Stuart forming a picture that he wasn’t sure he liked.
Swallowing past the hurt of Joe wanting a boyfriend before, when all he had done since he got to the Island was put up walls, and issue rules, it was messing with his head. Feeling his hands clench with the urge to pound his miserable asshole of an ex made him push them under his legs.
The one question that nagged at Stuart was what the fuck was wrong with him that Joe didn’t want him? Building up a full head of steam he missed what Joe was saying. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he tried to be patient. “Sorry, what did you just say?”
A sudden sadness seemed to spread between them, blanketing them as Joe spoke. “It’s too long a story to go into. So this is the short version, okay?”
Stuart noted Joe didn’t seem to want a reply when he rushed on.
“I dated a man called Joel for several months. Before it became very obvious that we both wanted different things out of life.”
Joe’s lack of elaboration only made him antsier, fidgeting, he tried to get comfortable. Unsure where the conversation was going but his gut told him he wasn’t going to like it when Joe nervously carried on.
“One night he decided to take things a little too far and thought it would be good to choke me.” Joe voice trailed off, not making eye contact.
Stuart could see the embarrassment creep up his neck and face. The urge to hold him close battled with his anger. How could Joe have been so stupid to get involved with such a dickhead and put himself in danger like that? Unable to sit any longer he staggered up, grabbing his crutches, putting distance between them.
He felt Joe’s withdrawal the instant he pulled away, figuring his anger was not going to help the situation, but fuck he needed to move. He limped across the room, making sure to avoid the rugs, he considered whatever had happened was clearly the root of Joe’s issues with having relationships, trusting him. He’d known Joe was holding a lot back from him before, but he wanted answers, now. Anything to release the tension that made him want to unleash his anger on Joe. He knew he’d be sorry if he did so instead he demanded an explanation. “I need you to tell me everything, now.”
His demand had Joe’s head shooting up, his eyes smoldered with fire, clashing with Stuart’s angry gaze. Not backing down he towered over him, careful not to scare him but he wanted him to open up desperately. Holding his breath he waited to see if Joe would trust him enough to share his story.
Joe’s defeated expression did nothing to relieve the tension between them. “Okay, you asked for it.”
Thumping back to the sofa as his legs shuddered under him with each horror Joe revealed from the past several months. His earlier anger di
ssolved so fast it left his nerves raw, Joe’s story ripping and tearing at his heart and soul. The vileness of his story scraped at Stuart’s control. Never a violent man, he felt the rage at the injustice Joe had endured fight to be let out.
His comprehension of Joe’s past letting him finally see why his trust issues were so big, so hard to overcome. The unease caused when Joe spoke reverently about Aaden sat like a greasy ball inside, the slide of jealousy rolling over him making it difficult to escape it. Stuart accepted Aaden had helped Joe to escape, but was there more between them? Why was Aaden coming now? Was it really to help or was he after something from Joe? His hands clenched at the thought of Aaden touching what belonged to him.
Joe continued to talk, pulling him from his jumbled thoughts. “The thing is, Aaden only found out last week that Joel had been given a dishonourable discharge from the army. Only problem is it happened several weeks earlier. I thought I was safe, so I had informed the army I had temporarily moved to the Island. I haven’t given them your address. They only have my number, but it wouldn’t take Joel long to find out where I live, if he really wanted to know.” Joe’s own panicky movements had him jumping up. He paced in front of Stuart, letting him feel the waves of Joe’s nervous energy combine with his own.
Out of all that had been said, Stuart couldn’t get past Aaden’s ‘temporary move’, hell the rest was just some asshole flexing his muscles, being a total knob.
“Aaden is coming to help and support me, just in case Joel decides to show up again.”
The urge to grind his teeth at Joe’s simple explanation had Stuart’s jaw ache. What the fuck was he, Scotch mist? Stuart looked at his injured leg, okay maybe he wasn’t quite up to kicking ass at the moment but he could help protect Joe, he desperately wanted to. No he needed to show him that he could help protect him. The problem was that he wasn’t sure how he could, if Joe didn’t see that he could or would, given half the chance.
