“Luis, I’m so sorry. I disappointed you, but I had good intentions,” muttered Ollie. “He came up with it.”
Goran licked his lips, and despite the fact that he was the one to take the blame, seeing Ollie so eagerly pushing it on him was like a stab in the gut. Ollie was the one to suggest this escapade in the first place. Did he do so on purpose?
“Did you drink as well, Ollie?”
“Of course, he did!” Cin burst out with his arms crossed. “He’s just as guilty.”
“I’m the one to judge that, Cin,” Luis hissed, and the meddler instantly shut up.
Ollie shook his head. “Of course, I didn’t. You can have me tested right now, if you need proof,” he said boldly, and this time at least he was telling the truth. He stepped closer to Luis and visibly flinched when the older man backed away from him as if he were afraid to catch something. Witnessing this scene only drove home just how stupid Goran had been believing that there was something special developing between him and Ollie. It was now clear that Luis was the only person who counted in that icicle of a heart, and Ollie would step over anyone to get to him.
“You of all people should know the rules by heart!” Luis clenched his fists.
Goran rubbed his face, unhappy with what he was about to do. But even with two strikes, he’d be fine. He just needed to watch himself in the future, forget this mirage of having something with Ollie, and be more like a cat. Get attached to places not people. At this moment, he missed home more than ever before.
“He does, he told me I shouldn’t go. It won’t happen again,” he said, not having the heart to throw Ollie under the bus regardless of how betrayed he was feeling.
Luis nodded. “I didn’t ask for this. If you don’t want to be here, you should leave.”
“No, it’s not like that!” Goran said quickly. “I just had… a moment of weakness.”
Ollie hung his head. “I’m sure that’s all it was. He’s sorry,” he offered weakly, and Luis looked away with a huff.
Cin slouched, as if he only now recognized his defeat. So Ollie wasn't the most relentless puppet master in the house. Did Cin think this was some reality show he needed to win? They were all winners as long as they stayed for the six months.
“Goran, two strikes for you, for the drinking and for going out. Ollie, one strike for you for going out. Most importantly—and you need to be honest about this, not for my sake, but for everyone’s—did you have sex with anyone outside?”
“No,” Goran uttered. All the memories of dancing with Ollie on the beach now became a blur, as if they hadn’t been real. Did Ollie not drink on purpose, wanting to avoid a strike, yet get two for Goran? Did he know they would get caught? Paranoia was slowly dribbling through Goran’s already alcohol-soaked mind
“Of course not,” said Ollie quickly. “We went to a place with Internet and then just to the beach. Nothing bad happened.”
“I mean, I know they did the wrong thing, but I’m sure it wasn’t malicious,” said Bounce slowly, trailing his gaze over both Ollie and Goran.
“This is never how I wanted my cattery to look like,” Luis said and took another step back. “I just want to have fun with all of you and give you a different experience for a few months. I’ll need some time to process this. I hope… that when I come in next time, we can get back to normal,” he muttered and turned around.
Goran had nothing he could say to that. The stakes were so high, and he was yet again failing to control his impulses. He needed to stick with something for once and see it through, not chase a shadow.
Ollie tried to follow Luis, but the way the man slammed the door behind him was so final, even the neediest guy around got the message and slumped against the glass. The silence that followed was biting into Goran’s flesh, and he was torn between the need to just disappear in the garden and to face the rat.
“That went well for you two,” said Cin.
Goran squinted at him. Facing the rat it was then. “Aren’t you Ollie’s friend, or something?”
Cin shrugged. “I’m pro-cattery. I think Ollie needed a wakeup call if he thinks it’s okay to lie to Luis and betray his trust like you two did.”
“Oh, shut the fuck up, you passive-aggressive fucker,” hissed Clove, stretching his body next to the sofa. “He wouldn’t be hurt if you hadn’t told him in the first place.”
“If you were my friend, you’d have talked to me first,” said Ollie quietly.
Cin pouted and crossed his arms. “If you were my friend, you would have told me you’re going out, and we could have settled on a plan. But if you prefer to go drinking with Smokey instead of spending time with our master…”
Goran growled and sat on the sofa, completely deflated. Clove patted his arm. “Don’t worry about those two. They both think they could have Luis to themselves if they get everyone else kicked out.”
Cin’s eyes went wide. “It’s nothing like that!”
Ollie remained silent, but as soon as his gaze met Goran’s, he rushed through the vast living room area and toward the bedrooms. So that was that for the magical night of connecting and being real with each other. Goran wanted to punch himself in the face for how naive he’d been.
Bounce sighed. “Luis won’t be interested exclusively in any of us. I thought it was obvious. Just like he said, it’s all great fun,” he said, despite clearly feeling blue.
Clove leaned back into the sofa and raised his eyes at Cin. “I really think you should go now.”
“Me?” Cin’s voice got a higher pitch. “All of you are unbelievable! I was just doing the right thing! For everyone’s safety!”
Clove rolled his eyes and urged Cin to go with a gesture.
“Whatever! I don’t need to talk about this anymore anyway!” Cin hissed and stormed out.
Goran slouched even more, replaying the night in his mind and coming to worse conclusions each time. Unexpectedly, Clove sat closer and stroked his back. Despite being smaller than Goran, he seemed like at least one rock-steady presence in the backstabbing reality of the cattery.
“It’s just two strikes. Stick to the rules, have fun, relax, and it will be all right. And keep away from the two drama queens.”
“They’re fun to play volleyball with and fuck, but they’re two-faced,” said Bounce and gave himself a nod.
“He’s not worth it,” added Clove, ruffling Goran’s hair.
Goran looked at them with a deep sigh. “I thought we had a connection,” he mumbled.
Bounce patted Goran’s thigh. “Don’t get too attached for these few months. I know it’s hard, because there’s no communication with the outside world, but the cattery is a bubble. You don’t know how anyone will be on the outside. And Ollie… I don’t think he’ll be leaving here any time soon.”
Goran couldn’t remember ever seeing Bounce so serious.
Clove shrugged. “Yes. I think he really lost himself somewhere along the way. Who knows what’s really going on in his head. He’s chasing a guy he can never have, and that’s that.”
“We could relax playing volleyball,” said Bounce all of a sudden.
Goran whined and settled his aching head in his hands. That was the last thing his drunken body needed. “I’m so fucking stupid.”
Clove massaged his back. “We’ve all been there one time or another. No need to beat yourself up about something you can’t change anymore,” he said, and it almost felt as if he wanted to say something more but decided against it.
“Right, there’s just three of us. Teams would be uneven,” said Bounce, deflated. “I can stay up with you anyway, if you need someone to talk.”
Goran sighed, slid to his knees, and then fell on top of Bounce. “I just don’t want to be alone anymore. And I need someone to bring me a bowl in case I have to puke.” He hugged Bounce’s warm firm body and closed his eyes.
Bounce’s arms were strong and thick, just what Goran needed to feel at a time like this. Drunken sleep came quickly, even though his mind
was still clouded by thoughts of Ollie, his pretty blond hair, and his soft, kissable lips.
Chapter 12
Ollie jogged. He took a shower and ate his breakfast. He lay in the sun at the private beach. It was almost as if the day had been like all the others he had spent at the cattery so far. Only it wasn’t. The whole night was a whirlwind of half-conscious tossing about in his bed while Goran lay just a few steps away, silent as he usually was. Breakfast tasted of nothing, even though Jerome made French toast for Ollie.
Ollie kept to himself for hours, not wanting to talk to anyone as he wrote letter after letter, yet each time he deemed it imperfect and crumpled the page into a ball before putting his pen to paper once more. He needed to tell Luis how deeply sorry he was. The hurt in his master’s eyes had been unbearable, and Ollie longed for nothing more than to wipe away the disappointment from that handsome face.
He needed to focus on what was important. No matter how raw and honest his time with Goran had felt, it was only an illusion. Naive as he was, Ollie for a moment had believed a virtual stranger would invite him to his own home. Who knew if Goran didn’t have a wife back in Croatia? He could be anything and anyone. All the cats fabricated their life stories, so why would Goran be any different just because he was such an amazing kisser?
Out of everyone at the cattery, Luis was the only one Ollie could trust. The only person whose story was real and who could understand Ollie. What he needed to convey in his apology was that Ollie adored Luis too much to hurt his feelings ever again. And that he could be more than a cat to Luis.
Ollie still remembered the first night the two of them spent together. How Luis did nothing but praise him, compliment him, and pet him. How for a few hours he felt like the most important person in Luis’s life. Surely, that connection was still there. The tenderness they’d shared could be brought back if Luis only listened to his heart.
In the end, Ollie finished his letter. He put all the previous attempts into a trashcan and neatly folded the paper of the one he wanted to pass to Luis as he strutted back to the house. His heart was beating furiously when he heard music and voices. He didn’t want to see anyone, but there was no way around it, as the kitty mailbox was in the kitchen. Ollie sped up and passed the pool without being spotted, running straight into the house.
“I’ve been doing PiYo lately. It’s this mix of yoga and pilates,” Cin said somewhere farther down the corridor, as if he hadn’t backstabbed Ollie and Goran just yesterday.
Just hearing his voice made Ollie freeze with his foot raised above the floor, but he continued slowly moving toward the kitchen when the cook’s tubal voice answered.
“You are very fit. Maybe I could make a special menu for you, so that it supports your fitness goals.”
Cin squeed. “You would? That would be fantastic. I love all the things you make.”
Ollie couldn’t roll his eyes fast enough. It was a wonder Cin wasn’t fucking Jerome on the side already with all the flirting that Ollie had witnessed between them so far. Then again, the interest seemed to lie mostly on Jerome’s side, as Cin was devoted to Luis. And Jerome surely didn’t want to lose his job.
He took a deep breath and entered the spacious kitchen, promptly throwing the letter into the mailbox. His cheeks burned.
Cin was sitting on the countertop in just his shorts, and he looked at Ollie with a pout. He really did seem like a nasty, spoiled cat, too pretty for its own good. “Hey, Ollie. I hope you slept off all the stress of yesterday?” he said in his fake concerned voice.
“Why are you even bothering to talk to me? You’re the most two-faced guy I’ve ever met,” hissed Ollie, slamming his hand on the counter. Jerome followed the gesture with his eyes but said nothing.
Cin crossed his arms, faking a hurt expression. “That is so not true. I look up to you, Ollie. That’s why I wanted to make sure you’re on the right track with Luis. You two are my relationship goals.”
Ollie’s brain fried. He slapped Cin across the face and grabbed his hair, yanking him off the counter. “You lying bitch!”
Cin screamed out and Jerome froze, as if not sure how to react to an outburst of violence in his kitchen.
“Let me go!” Cin yelled. “It’s not my fault Luis got bored with you!” He pushed Ollie and backed off into Jerome’s personal space. Obviously. Always looking for someone else to protect him.
Ollie wouldn’t back down now. He rushed forward, ready to strike, but thick hands grabbed his wrists and pushed him face down on the cool steel counter. He whimpered and opened his eyes wide, watching his breath vaporize on the metal. He couldn’t believe the cook stood between them like this and dared to put his hands on Ollie.
“Calm down. I’m not gonna let you do this here,” Jerome said sternly, and Ollie groaned, bumping his head against the steel.
“Exactly!” Cin added in a high-pitched voice. Ollie was already expecting him to turn on the waterworks.
“Can I let you go? Will you calm down?” Jerome asked, and the strength in his arms infuriated Ollie so much, even his gums itched to bite them.
“You really shouldn’t be helping this prick. He doesn’t deserve anyone’s friendship!” hissed Ollie, still struggling against the powerful hold, but he was already giving up. There was no way he could overpower someone so strong.
“What did you do, Cinder?”
Jerome had a pet name for Cinnamon? This was ridiculous!
Cin sighed. “He and Goran went out of the cattery. Into town. I was worried that I couldn’t find them and asked everyone else to help me search.”
“Bullshit,” hissed Ollie but stopped struggling altogether. “Let me go. I don’t want to be in the same room with this traitor.”
Jerome sighed and slowly pulled back. Cin was already there hugging him as if the cook were a big teddy bear.
Ollie just ignored him and stormed outside, hardly able to breathe through the bundle of anger that grasped his throat. What had he ever done to Cin? Nothing. He’d been a good friend and helped him out a lot, showed him the ropes when the guy first came here. Now? Clearly, they were rivals. There was only one person to trust in this nest of hornets. Luis.
He could only hope his letter was understood and his apology accepted.
Goran’s laughter made him stop mid-step. It was coming from the beach or from the garden. So he was up and didn’t care to look for Ollie. And he was having fun on top of that! Of course, he was. Goran’s only worry was probably that he wouldn’t get the opportunity to fuck Ollie now. Deep down though, Ollie felt bad for throwing him under the bus after the night that made him feel so much better, even if only for a few hours. The plan to incriminate Goran had melted away as time went on, and it was heartbreaking that, despite Ollie’s best intentions, their time outside had ended the way it had.
Ollie followed the voices, trying to ignore the cold feeling in his stomach. Goran sat at the poolside with Bounce, their backs getting a tan from the sunshine. When Bounce leaned over to Goran and gave him a kiss, Ollie stopped abruptly, feeling the firm hold of Jerome’s hands on him once again. Of course, Goran would be with Bounce of all people. Not very bright, he’d be even easier to sway to Goran’s side than Ollie was the night before. Still, Ollie moved closer, making sure his steps were heard, even though his skin was already beading with sweat.
Goran turned around, but when he noticed Ollie, he quickly looked back at the pool. Bounce gave Ollie a smile, so oblivious to the sour atmosphere Ollie couldn’t even be mad at him.
“Hey there, Ollie! You’ve recovered, I see. Don’t go into the kitchen,” Bounce said.
“Why, because a certain someone will be fucking another someone that he shouldn’t be fucking?” hissed Ollie, walking up to the two guys, his eyes continuously straying to Goran, who seemed set on ignoring him.
Bounce snorted. “I don’t think they’re fucking. Jerome needs the job. I just thought you’d want a heads-up that Cin is there.”
“I’ve seen him,” said
Ollie dryly and stopped behind Goran, hoping he’d react, but the wide shoulders only slouched more.
“Oh, my God. Did you have a fight with him?” Bounce winked at Ollie.
“Yes. And Jerome bent me over the counter to protect him, like he’d had some kind of police training.”
“He did wha—” Goran’s head snapped back, as if the reaction was automatic, but he groaned and looked back to his feet in the water as soon as his eyes met Ollie’s face.
“No offense, Ollie, but Jerome is a big guy. Oh, man…” Bounce rubbed his face with a stupid grin. “Now I’m imagining him fucking Cin, and I’m getting a boner just thinking about it.”
Ollie pressed his lips together, and the brief interest on Goran’s part was making him itch to talk to the guy. “Maybe you should suggest it to them?”
“Nah, don’t wanna tease Jerome.” Bounce seemed to be completely oblivious to the tension between Ollie and Goran. Enough was enough.
“Goran, can you come with me for a second,” whispered Ollie, pushing his hands into the pockets of his shorts.
“What’s there to talk about?” Goran groaned and moved his feet in the water, as if it were more important than serious conversation.
Ollie rubbed his face, feeling as if some kind of savage animal was chewing through his stomach. “Please.”
Goran got up, his legs dripping with water. He was tall enough to look over Ollie’s head instead of into his eyes. “Okay.”
Ollie took a deep breath and nodded, swiftly turning around and walking between the trees to the barbecue area where they sometimes partied in the evening. His skin was crawling with ants, and he was picking up the tiniest sounds coming from behind him.
Goran’s steps, right on his tracks.
Even the sand on the beach seemed grey and the sun annoying instead of energizing. On top of that, his feelings were a mess. He felt guilty over his decision not to protect Goran and take a fair share of the blame. And despite all their history, he wanted Goran to like him, even though he was in love with Luis. It was too confusing and kept messing with Ollie’s head.
The Cattery (M/M contemporary sweet kinky romance) Page 11
