Bloodlines: Currents

by Mechele Armstrong

  Nathan let out a long drawn out sigh. “She sounds as if she’s in pain. I can’t help her, Henri.” Nathan ran a hand through his tangled hair. “I can’t help her.” His voice threatened to break, but he managed to get the words out.

  “Nathan.” Henri’s voice sounded orderly and full of purpose. “Go. Take care of your own needs.”

  Nathan did have to go. The urgent need was the only reason he’d leave the room. He looked at his mother one last time. Amidst the quilts and blankets, she looked so damn small. Much smaller than the boy he’d been remembered her. “I’ll be back in a minute. If anything happens...”

  “I’ll call you back quickly.” Henri nodded. “I promise. Take your time, though.”

  Nathan ran out of the house to take care of what he needed to. Please don’t let anything happen while I’m gone. He took a moment after washing his hands to splash some water on his face, needing the freshness. Then, he hurried back to the room.

  Henri greeted him with a nod. Nathan took his place, relieved that he still saw a movement within her chest. He grasped her hand tightly, stroking it within his own.

  After a minute of sitting in silence, Henri cocked his head, watching her. Nathan focused on the quilts, eyes darting to and fro from there to his mother’s breathing.

  “Nathan.”

  “What?”

  Henri shook his head back and forth, frowning. His eyes looked so serious. “She’s gone.”

  Her chest no longer moved up and down. It lay still. “But she was breathing a second ago.”

  Henri reached over the bed to pat his shoulder. “It happens quickly. Know she’s no longer in pain. She’s at peace.”

  Nathan did know that. It was a good thing. “I’m glad she’s not hurting anymore.” He’d hated the idea that she was suffering. But the loss hit him square in the stomach as it rolled. He came close to losing the soup he’d eaten. Only sheer force of will backed it down. He took a deep breath, trying to work through his insides.

  He was alone in the world. There was no other family. His mother and father had been all he’d had. He didn’t even have any friends. Jacques had turned them all against him. The village had tolerated him only because of who his parents were.

  God, he’d miss her. She’d been his confidant as much as his mother.

  Warm arms enveloped him tightly, bringing him against a hard body. A large hand pushed his head into an ample chest. His nostrils took in the comforting scents as they soothed him as much as the arms did.

  Nathan wrapped his arm around the standing, shorter, wider man. It only worked because he was sitting. There was no give in the body against him.

  Leaning into Henri, he buried his face against him as Henri had urged him to do. Henri was warm, a contrast to the coldness that had seeped under Nathan’s skin. He wanted to lose himself in that warmth for the rest of the night.

  Henri tucked his head over Nathan’s. His hand slowly ran around Nathan’s upper back, patting him at times.

  They stayed that way a long while.

  Nathan wasn’t sure how long. He had never known a comfort embrace from anyone other than his parents. His three lovers up until now had not been into giving anything of that sort, even when his father had died, and he’d needed to draw strength from someone. They’d fucked him, quickly moving away so that no one caught them. Henri didn’t seem to care if anyone spied what they were doing. They weren’t even involved, but Henri did more for him than anyone else would have.

  Nathan was the one to pull away first. “I’m...”

  Henri’s finger made a quick journey to Nathan’s mouth. “Don’t.” The contact singed Nathan’s lips.

  Nathan sighed. He couldn’t look at the bed, couldn’t look at her. “Tomorrow...”

  “We’ll have to make arrangements.” Henri walked to the bed, hands slowly wrapping the quilt up around her body.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m wrapping her in the quilt.”

  It looked rather as if it were a shroud. Nathan moved over to look at her face one last time. He gently closed her eyes.

  Henri held the edge of the cloth in his hand, waiting for Nathan to either move away or help.

  Getting through the next few days would be the hardest of his life. And, of course, there was figuring out what he’d do with the rest of his life. “Are you leaving?” Nathan’s voice sounded hollow. Now that his friend was gone, Henri probably wouldn’t stick around.

  “Not yet.” Henri finished. His mother was completely wrapped up in the blankets. It was as if Henri had done this before, had practice at it.

  “You don’t have to stay. I know...I know my mother asked you some things. But you don’t have to. I can take care of myself.”

  “I know you can, Nathan. But I will stay a little while longer. See Maddy buried. See you settled.”

  “What did she mean... ‘don’t make him. Only to save his life.’” Somehow the words had stuck with him, as if they were important somehow. Only he didn’t know how.

  “Don’t worry about that now. We’ll talk before I leave.” Henri ushered Nathan out of the room. “We have much to discuss.”

  Nathan took one last look before Henri closed the door. Why did he have the feeling that the words she’d spoken had been about him? And what did they mean?

  Chapter Four

  Nathan went through the motions the next day. He did chores, cleaned, did everything he was expected to do despite his mother’s loss. Everything went on much as it did when his mother was alive. Somehow, it seemed as if something should have stopped, slowed down, or something. But time marched on.

  The small solitary farm they lived on, so out of touch with the industrial society, had never been more out of place to him. The farm his mother and father had settled was self-supporting with the goats and a few chickens, so he’d not had to have contact with anyone.

  He’d done some blacksmithing. Again, an activity that was becoming out of place in the larger society, though some, especially in his village, preferred the old ways of life. Regardless, it gave him an enjoyable place to vent his frustrations.

  The funeral was even worse than he’d imagined. She was buried in the cemetery at the small Catholic church in a nearby village, next to his father. Villagers came to pay their last respects. It was all a blur of people sweeping past him.

  Henri stayed with him through it all.

  Two dazed days had passed since the funeral. Nathan sat outside, looking up to the bright sunshine. His body heated with its enveloping warmth. He let out a deep sigh. He liked the outdoors as much as his mother had.

  His neck prickled, the skin wrinkling up. He lifted his head.. Someone watched him. Trying not to look as if he were doing it, he surveyed around the area, looking for signs of who it was.

  Henri cleared his throat from somewhere behind Nathan, who hadn’t even heard him approach. The man had feet like a barn cat’s. “Whoever is out there best make themselves known. Now.” His tone brooked along as if it was unaccustomed to being argued with.

  Jacques sauntered into view. “Who’s he?” He jerked a finger toward Henri. It wasn’t the most polite way to ask. But Jacques had never been much for protocols.

  “A friend of Maman’s.” Nathan didn’t bother to stand, staring up at Jacques with his eyes opened to Jacques’s true personality. Damn, how could he have ever thought the bastard was a friend, or anything more, for that matter? He might be good looking, with his black hair and bulging biceps, but he had the personality of an adder. Not that Nathan knew any of that kind of snake personally, but Maman had told him about them once.

  “I’m a friend of Nathan’s, too.” The harshness in Henri’s voice didn’t escape Nathan’s notice.

  He looked back as Henri scratched his stomach. The man needed to bathe more. He stayed itchy all the time. Or at least in the daytime. He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen him scratch at night. But all day long, his fingers plundered. For the first time since his mother’s death, N
athan eyed those long fingers. And hardened at the thought of them under his breeches. He tossed off the thought. The man was probably thinking Nathan was a sad loon and couldn’t wait to be rid of him. Somehow, the thought of Henri leaving made Nathan more miserable.

  And then, something smacked against Nathan’s mind. It didn’t come from within, but descended over him like some black cloud. Anger. Vile and slithering as if it were a worm all around him. The force of it was leveling. Had he been on his feet, it would have staggered him. It was a good thing Jacques wasn’t worth getting up for.

  It came from Henri.

  Nathan glanced back again, turning so he could see both Jacques and Henri. What the hell was that about? Henri didn’t know Jacques well enough to know what an asshole he was. Certainly, he didn’t know him well enough to conjure up this strong of an emotion. Of course, Henri had been speaking to Maman... There had been no love lost between Jacques and her.

  The emotion filtered into him, but only slightly. He didn’t know how to take it all in, nor could he. There was too much of it. A little taste, and it almost choked him. Nathan bit back the bile.

  Emotions swirled around him. Dark ones. His fists clenched, fighting against the sensations. A pickaxe gleaming in the sun caught his eye. He could use it. Sink it in Jacques’s head. No. His fingers drew up so tight they hurt. No. Slowly, he backed down the emotion. It was hard work, and his face tensed with the strain of it.

  He’d never before been able to siphon off emotion in such a large dose. Before, he’d only been able to sense it and take a drop of it. This was more of a sip. Nathan wasn’t sure how he closed the portal, but he did, stopping the flow of the negative emotion.

  “You all right, you freak?” Jacques growled. “And stranger, if I were you? I’d leave. You have no business here.”

  “On the contrary, boy. I have every business here. And I’ll stay for as long as I want.” Henri’s smile was mirthless until his eyes glanced at Nathan. “Are you all right?” He moved to take a step toward him.

  Nathan waved him back to his original spot. “I’m fine.” In truth, he wasn’t. His heart raced along.

  Henri’s eyes worriedly kept glancing back to him. God, the strong negative emotions in this man must be overwhelming for him to deal with. Nathan couldn’t imagine what it was to live day in and day out with those strong feelings churning up inside him. He’d only had a swallow. And it had almost resulted in an attack on the man standing before him.

  How did Henri keep control? Better yet, what did he do when lost control?

  Nathan shivered. He didn’t want to know.

  Jacques’s smug chuckle brought both of their attentions back to him. “Might not be good for your health to stick around.”

  Henri, without pausing an instant, said, “Haven’t you heard? There’s a spring near here that’s wonderful for health. Quite restorative. You ought to try it. It’s in Lourdes.”

  Nathan couldn’t bite back his snicker.

  Jacques growled. “Shut up, freak.”

  Henri’s now cool eyes began to cloud up with anger again. It rippled from him. Nathan couldn’t take any more. Not this soon. It passed from the man in obvious waves. Go home, Jacques.

  With considerable effort, Henri bit out through pursed lips, “Go home to your Master. Tell him he won’t get the boy.”

  Nathan’s hand fell into his lap. Master? Boy?

  Jacques backed up, keeping his eyes on Henri until he turned tail and moved as fast as he could away from Henri and Nathan.

  Henri sat down by Nathan as he glared at him. Henri didn’t say anything, so Nathan started. “Want to tell me what that was all about?”

  “Not really.”

  “Well, you’re going to.”

  “Not likely.”

  Nathan gaped at him. The nerve of the pompous bastard. “That comment was about me. I need to know what it means.”

  “When you’re ready, I’ll tell you everything, Nathan. But not right now.”

  “I’m ready now.”

  Henri shook his head. “No. You aren’t. You lost your mother. You’re grieving. We’ll talk soon. I promise.”

  “Not soon enough.” Nathan shrugged to his feet. “You’re treating me as if I am a child. Or an imbecile. You act as if you must protect me. And you don’t have to. Who is Jacques’s Master?” Henri remained silent. “I want to know, dammit.” He stepped closer to the man who was withholding information that was vital to what was going to happen.

  “Hit me if it will make you feel better.” Henri puffed out his chest, giving Nathan an ample platform to plant a fist.

  Nathan snorted, turning to step away.

  Henri grabbed his wrist. The instant Henri’s fingers made contact, a charge went up Nathan’s arm. It was as if lightning had hit, and sizzled up to his shoulder. Every nerve in Nathan’s body energized.

  Henri’s suddenly deep breathing told him that Henri had felt it, too. “I will tell you, Nathan. I neither think you are a child or an imbecile. But it’s not the right time now.” He let go of Nathan’s arm.

  “When will it be?” He rubbed the arm that still tingled from the touch. Nothing had ever affected him so much. “When will you tell me?”

  “I don’t know. When you’re ready.” Henri pushed a hand through his hair as he stood and stepped around to be in front of Nathan. “I have a proposition for you that we do need to discuss.”

  Nathan drew back his head. “What is it?”

  “Come back to Paris with me.”

  * * * * *

  Henri watched Nathan’s eyes widen with surprise. What would have startled Nathan more than what he’d said? Inviting him to the bedroom? Henri closed his eyes a second, collecting himself from the images that brought to mind. He was going to enjoy getting Nathan in bed.

  “Come again?” Nathan’s mouth drew up to purse his lips. He looked at Henri with so many questions reflected on his face and in his eyes.

  Henri wanted to lean in for a kiss, but managed to hold down the impulse. His body shuddered with the effort. Nathan had been through a lot, so Henri was trying to give him time. But damn, he wanted him. His dreams had become mainly those of the blond Adonis. Adonis had nothing on Nathan because no man or woman had ever tied Henri up in knots as Nathan did.

  Each moment he spent fighting it saw his lust grow exponentially. He needed to get Nathan under him before he lost control completely of his beast, and his beast satisfied all the longings rolling around within him. “I said, ‘Come to Paris with me.’”

  Nathan shook his head so forcefully it was a wonder his teeth didn’t rattle around. “I can’t.”

  “Why not?” He knelt down to put himself at eye level with Nathan. Why wouldn’t the man want to get away? A cow lowed from somewhere on the farm. The sound was almost haunting.

  “Uhn.” Nathan’s eyes captured Henri’s with their stormy blue depths. He’d never seen such troubled eyes. “I can’t.”

  “Nathan.”

  “What?”

  “You can.”

  Nathan’s Adam’s apple moved convulsively as he swallowed. He pushed to his feet to move away from Henri. “No.” He walked over to the fence, placing his hands on the wood to squeeze. The tension rolled his shoulders. His muscles tensed from the effort. He clutched the fence so hard, his knuckles whitened before he relaxed. “No.”

  “Why not?” Henri followed him, coming to a stop at his side. Nathan’s minty fresh scent wafted to his nostrils, which flared.

  “Maman and Papa bought this place right after they were married.”

  Henri scratched his stomach. Blasted sunlight. That was not what he’d expected Nathan to say. He didn’t offer any comment, waiting for Nathan to continue.

  “There was nothing here. It was all rock and grass. It was wild.” Nathan stroked along the top rail. “They built it. With their own hands. So you see, I can’t leave it.”

  “Again, I ask, why not?”

  “Because...this was my parent’s dre
am. To settle here.” His voice deepened and became rough. “If I leave, then, what they did means nothing.” He clenched the fence tightly again before releasing it. “It would all mean nothing.”

  “Posh.”

  Nathan’s hand stilled, and his head turned to face Henri. “What?” His voice was as stiff as his body had become.

  “That’s not true, and you know it.”

  “It is true.”

  Henri drew in a breath. “You leaving has nothing to do with your parent’s dreams. But even if it did, what’s your dream, Nathan? Do you really want to settle down here?”

  “It’s my parent’s...”

  “Ah-ah.” Henri took Nathan’s arm in his hand, ignoring how the current went from his wrist to his elbow with such a simple touch. How did Nathan affect him so much? He’d had lovers before who hadn’t made him shiver in delight. All this boy had to do was touch his arm, and it excited him beyond measure. “I didn’t say anything about your parents. I asked you what you wanted.”

  Nathan shrugged off Henri’s arm. “I like it here.”

  “That’s not what I’m asking. I’m asking what you want. What you dream about.” Henri moved a small step closer to close the gap between them. He wanted to touch this man. Being so close and not was driving him insane. “If you could go anywhere, be anything, what would it be?” Nathan remained silent, his eyes clouded with darkness. “Would you travel?”

  Nathan’s head swiveled to meet Henri’s eyes. Henri didn’t have to be psychic to see the anticipation.

  “You want to travel.”

  “I didn’t say that.” Nathan’s voice rumbled low.

  A bird twittered in the distance amid the goats bleating. “You didn’t have to. Your eyes told me.” Henri looked off to the horizon, to the clouds milling around the sunshine. “I could take you traveling.”

  Nathan said nothing.

  “Your parents wouldn’t want you to sacrifice your dreams for theirs. I could take you wherever you wanted to go. Egypt. The Americas. Asia. The world would be ours to explore.”