by Downs Jana
“Amen to that,” Marcel agreed. He tilted his head back into the spray again, and the last bit of tension eased away. They were going to be all right.
Chapter Eight
They went straight from the airport to Andrew’s condo. Since there was no longer commercial air travel, the UMF and select private individuals were the only ones permitted to use air transport because of the security risk. Obtaining permits for private transports was a nightmare from what Matthew understood. It was relatively empty as they took a transport Deadzone had sent over out of the port and up onto the main road that ran the length of the city.
The wealth of the place was easy to see in the pristine, wellmanicured streets with pieces of scattered artwork on every block corner and the variety of plants to brighten up the concrete jungle. There was no graffiti anywhere to be seen, unlike his own neighborhood, and everything looked like an interior decorator had gone through the city and made everything uniform. It was very strange.
“I don’t think I’ve been to this side of sector ten before,” Matthew said as the automated transport turned down a smaller street that was lined with shops and restaurants. “It’s nice.”
Andrew gave him a small smile. “I like it here. I’m within walking distance of everything, and all my favorite places deliver.”
He still looked tired with dark circles under his eyes, but Matthew figured it would take more than one night on a pull-out sofa bed to fix that. He imagined he didn’t look much better. They’d all been woken up at one point or another during the previous night to nightmares or noises that their strung-out bodies had taken as an enemy in the darkness. Matthew had had no problem in requesting that they sleep with the closet light on, just because. After about three hours of constant rousing, they’d agreed.
“Bit of a foodie, are you?” Matthew asked, teasing. He was beginning to feel a little better.
Andrew shrugged but couldn’t hide his grin. “I would be if I didn’t have to be so careful. My body is my temple and all that.”
Marcel snorted. “Don’t let him fool you. He eats like a horse. He burns so many calories in a day, it boggles the mind. He’s just picky.”
“Aw, give away all my secrets, why don’t you?” Andrew grumped. Despite the words, his tone said he was still playing. He paused. “Hey, Matthew?”
“What is it, love?”
“Do you think your dad is going to be okay with the three of us?”
Matthew looked up in surprise. “With our relationship?” Was it a relationship? He was afraid to ask. He really wanted it to be, but he feared what would happen after a few days of civilization. It was one thing to make promises in a war zone, feel things so intensely there. It was another to try to make them work in the real world.
Andrew’s cheeks reddened. “Yeah.”
Matthew shrugged. “I think he’ll be happy for me. Well, he’ll probably tease me first, but in the end he’ll give his blessing, I think.” He frowned as he remembered the tight expression on his dad’s face from the day before. “He was acting really weird yesterday. He’s normally not like that. He’s usually really”—he searched for the appropriate words—“laid back and funny. He’s serious about work stuff, but it’s not his natural personality.”
Marcel put his hand on Matthew’s knee. “He was wound up from the situation, same as we were. You weren’t exactly normal Norman back there, either.”
“I think he was scared for me,” Matthew hypothesized. “Did I imagine the tone when he said we didn’t see anything?” There had been something in his dad’s expression that had been so real, so terrified.
“I was freaking out, so I don’t remember,” Andrew admitted, shrugging.
“I know what you’re talking about,” Marcel said. “I think we came closer to dying than even the zombie attack got us. I really don’t imagine we were supposed to see all that.”
“It had to be special ops of some kind.” Matthew tapped his fingers on his thigh, anxiety building in his chest. “I wish I knew what my dad has gotten into. Special Ops is dangerous work, and not all the danger comes from the infected.” It was pretty common knowledge, though most of it was unproven, that the S.O. kept everything hushhush by any means necessary. Like the gangs of older times, once someone was in, they were in for life, and they didn’t leave witnesses.
They pulled into the parking deck attached to a wide building with a blue glass-like exterior that was probably shatterproof and bulletproof. It was really a lovely building, just like Marcel had claimed. “We dodged a bullet back there,” Marcel said. “I wouldn’t worry too much about your dad. I mean, he’s probably a pretty highranking UMF officer right?”
“The highest. He’s an infection supervisor. Up until recently he’s been acting as a consultant in Europe, and we all know what kind of hellhole Europe is.” It was some of the most dangerous area in the world with the exception of some Southeastern Asian countries, mostly because it was hard to get to and hard to get out of. International flights were limited to military operations only. It was traditionally regarded as suicidal to go there.
Marcel nodded. “Then he probably isn’t doing a lot of field work. I imagine they have him as acting superior on a project.” What Marcel said made sense, and it also made him feel slightly better. At least his dad wasn’t going to be on the ground anymore. Even if it was Special Ops, it would be a step up, securitywise, from what he’d had before.
“I think I’m done with outdoor runs,” Andrew said as the car parked.
Matthew nodded his head in agreement. “I think I’m done with SCAB work.” He’d finally reached his limits. He’d seen enough carnage and infected to last him a lifetime. He’d always used his work as a way to define himself, just like his dad. Maybe he’d find another way. He glanced at Marcel and Andrew. Maybe I already have.
“Good,” Andrew said, opening his door and beckoning Matthew to follow. “I’m glad we’re both done with unnecessary risks.”
Marcel chuckled and followed after them. “At least I’ll have to worry less about you two now.” The fact that Marcel felt like he needed to worry about Matthew gave him pause. Marcel’s brown eyes met his as he stepped onto the concrete deck. “We can question that statement after we all get some more sleep, eh? We’ll talk details then.”
Matthew nodded. That sounded fantastic to him. They would have to talk about what it meant now they were back home. Whether or not the dating thing would actually happen was a little up in the air since they were all raw from the mission. After they rested, they’d have to deal. Matthew just hoped that when they came out the other side, they’d still want to be together.
They crossed the parking deck to an elevator that required Andrew to key in four different codes and provide his hand for verification as well as register his guests before he was allowed to even get on the damn thing. “This building has some intense security,” Matthew said as the elevator doors slid open and allowed them entrance with an automated greeting to Andrew.
Andrew stood by the back wall. “It’s why I picked it. The elevator won’t open to anyone else, either. I’ve never even met most of the people in the building.”
It was a short ride up, and when the elevator pinged and instructed them to step out, Matthew was surprised that he found himself in a short hallway with marble floors and a door at the far end.
“One way in?”
Andrew nodded. “Yep. The building is circular and split up much the same way you’d cut a pizza. The condos are wedges, and the elevator rotates to open to the correct condo from the center point.” He pressed his hand to the door. “Andrew Ainsley and two guests. Duration indefinite. Allow password use.”
“Enabled,” a computerized voice answered. “What password would you like to set?”
“Triad,” Andrew said. It warmed Matthew that he used it. He was still thinking of a “them” apparently.
He couldn’t help but be impressed. Usually in condos, the hall of doors faced inward and one would o
ccasionally see neighbors coming and going. It worked that way at his apartment, too. Whoever had built this place was both paranoid and artistic. It was a pretty interesting combination.
The door opened inward, and they stepped inside.
Matthew’s eyes widened as they came into the foyer. The cherrywood floor opened up to a larger space. At the center was a square beige carpet with a small table that was a shade darker than the floors. Beyond that was a staircase that led up to a loft that overlooked the foyer. The railing to the loft was a beautiful, twisted, black wrought iron that looked like something out of an old English garden he’d seen in pictures. He could barely see the gold frames of pictures as they hung in the upstairs corridor, though he couldn’t see the contents of the paintings. Bookshelves framed either side of the staircase, crammed full of hardbacks. Matthew would have to thoroughly explore them later.
Andrew motioned to the left archway. “There are the living and dining rooms.” A quick glance revealed another space full of plush furniture and a wall of windows overlooking the city. He motioned to the right archway. “That is the guest rooms, office, and workout room.” He pointed on either side of the staircase behind the stairs. “Through those doors are the kitchen, one bathroom, and the entrance to the garden. I’ll show you later.” He ascended the stairs, clearly expecting the pair of them to follow him.
Marcel walked beside him as they climbed upward. “He’s usually a much better host than this. He takes a lot of pride in his home. I’m sure you’ll get the grand tour after we’ve rested a bit.”
“That’s fine with me. I’m about to drop.” No truer words were ever spoken. He was past the point of exhaustion now. He barely registered the paintings or the tables as they walked by them. The bedroom door opened with a swish, and they were ensconced in a beautiful white and airy space. There was a set of sliding glass doors on one side of the room framed by white sheer curtains that matched the white canopied bed in the center of the room. The deep-blue-andsilver comforter beckoned. There was no dresser to speak of but a small white door that Matthew imagined was the closet. On the opposite wall by the large circular mirror was another, heavierlooking door.
“That’s the bathroom if anyone should need it,” Andrew said, stripping out of his black field shirt. Matthew followed suit, toeing off his shoes as he attacked his zipper. Within moments they were all naked. They crawled into the massive king bed without preamble. Matthew was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
* * * * They slept for two days. When Andrew blinked open his eyes as the sun infiltrated his bedroom on the third day, he knew two things absolutely. One, he really needed to piss, and two, he really liked waking up between Marcel and Matthew’s big hulking frames. I am a lucky guy. He managed to crawl over his lovers and stumble to the bathroom. He flicked on the light and looked at himself in the mirror. He was a bit thinner than when he’d left, but he wasn’t all that worse for the wear. It was his insides that felt like they’d been put through a meat grinder.
He did his business, washed his hands, brushed his teeth, then returned to the warm bed that was filled with the men he’d recently taken as lovers. He technically didn’t know Matthew very well and had only known Marcel as a friend before this, but once someone walked through a hell with him, he figured he knew them better than he knew anyone. In his experience, someone’s true character always came out in a stressful situation. Matthew and Marcel were golden.
He climbed back between them, and they finally stirred. “Hmm,” Marcel greeted. “Good morning.” His voice was roughened from sleep, and it was a sexy sound.
“Morning.” He pressed a kiss to Marcel’s mouth. “I almost thought I dreamed everything that had happened.”
“I had good dreams, but waking up is better,” Marcel rumbled. “Matthew? You awake?”
“I am now,” Matthew murmured. “What time is it?”
“No idea. I don’t have a clock in here,” Andrew said. He glanced at the window. “Early though. Maybe eight? I haven’t checked my phone this morning.”
Matthew groaned. “God, I’m stiff. How long we been sleeping?”
Andrew turned his head to give Matthew a good morning kiss as well. “Two days at least. I woke up once or twice and checked my phone.”
“You feeling okay?” Marcel asked, squeezing his hip from behind him.
Andrew rested his head against Matthew’s naked pectoral muscle, embarrassment swirling through his chest. He swallowed. “Yeah. I’m fine. I’m calm now that I’m home. It’s just crowds that mess me up.” They deserved the truth. He hadn’t told anyone before, had never trusted anyone with his past. “A crowd of infected surrounding me with no way to get out just compounded the emotion.” He sighed and closed his eyes. “When I was younger, there was an outbreak in my sector. My parents and I were running from them with a crowd of people, and when a Necro popped out of a side street, everyone panicked. The infected didn’t kill my parents. The crowd did. They were trampled while I ran ahead. The authorities told me afterward that they were still alive when the UMF arrived on the scene but later died of their injuries. I’ve been freaked by crowds ever since.” He trembled as he spoke, the memory threatening to swamp him again. He didn’t want to think about it. He didn’t want to relive it anymore.
Matthew’s eyes met his. “I’m sorry for your loss.” He paused. “You didn’t owe us an explanation.”
“I wanted to tell you,” Andrew said. “I wanted you both to know why I get messed up sometimes. After everything, I figured you had earned the right to know.”
“Have you ever gone to counseling about it?” Marcel asked.
He shook his head. “No. I don’t want to, either. I know what the cause is. I deal with it all right most times.”
“I get that,” Matthew said. “After my last field mission, they ordered me to have a psych evaluation, and I told them to shove it. What happened fucked with my head, but no amount of talking about it with some stranger who didn’t know me was going to fix it.”
Andrew rolled over so he was on his stomach and looked up at Matthew. “What happened?”
Matthew hesitated a second before he spoke. “It’s not a pretty story.”
“Neither was mine.” Andrew didn’t want to press, but he also didn’t want Matthew to think that he couldn’t handle it.
Matthew stared at the ceiling. “I don’t really want to talk about it yet. It’s a heavy topic to discuss before coffee.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“No way, love. It’s fine. I’m just not ready yet. Give me a little time, hmm?”
Andrew smiled. “No problem. How about I make us some coffee and I order out for breakfast?”
“I can go grab some food from the diner you like down the street really quick,” Marcel offered. “I can be back in less time than it takes to call around for a breakfast place that delivers.”
Unreasoning fear doused his insides. No. “Don’t go.” He knew it was irrational, but he felt it all the same. He didn’t want Marcel to leave him. Something could happen to him.
“Hey,” Marcel said, cupping his cheek. “Matthew will be here.”
He swallowed. “I don’t want you to go.”
“We have to try to get back to a semblance of normal. We’re in a safe zone, and we need to eat.” Marcel petted him gently. “You’re not the only one stuck in that mindset. I need to walk outside, see people.” He chuckled a little self-deprecatingly. “Even when we got back to civilization, all I saw were field agents and Deadzone employees. I need to remember what the real world is like.”
Andrew considered him. “You’re one of those ‘face your fears’ kind of guys, aren’t you?”
Marcel nodded. “Yeah.”
He admired the trait, even if he didn’t share it. “If you have to.”
Matthew squeezed his ass. “Hey, no guilt trips, run kid.”
Irritation flickered through him. “I’m not.”
“You are,” Matthe
w corrected. “However, I know you’re not trying to be manipulative. He feels guilty enough as is. Before you get your feathers further ruffled, look at him.”
Reluctantly, Andrew did as he bid. He raised his eyes to Marcel and saw the look of guilt an instant before he smoothed over his expression. He winced. Yeah. Okay. I’m acting like a brat. “Sorry, Mar.”
“It’s okay, baby,” he said, looking relieved. He rolled out of bed and stretched, his beautiful body elongating in a long, lean line. “I’ll be back before you know it.” He paused. “Er, well, I guess I’ll have to wear my field wear. Matthew, can you order us some clothes while I’m gone?”
Matthew nodded. “Of course I can. You just go on to the store, and I’ll take care of the clothes and our run kid while you’re gone.” Andrew liked the warm reassurance in his tones. They worked as a team even if they weren’t in the wilds anymore.
He smiled at Marcel as he dressed. “Thanks for going and getting some food.” He would make up for his slip into selfishness when Marcel got back. Lust sparked for the first time in days. Oh yes. Matthew winked at him. It seemed he wasn’t the only one whose mind was returning to sex now that they had rested.
“Hmm, you two are plotting something evil.” Marcel smiled. He didn’t seem all that terribly worried about it.
“You’ll love it,” Matthew promised, not missing a beat.
Marcel grinned. “I’m sure.” He gave them both a kiss before turning to collect the keys for the transport. “Do I need a password on the way in?”
“You’ll be asked to verify your identity. Just use the password and your I.D. code to access the building,” Andrew said.
“What’s the password again?”
“Triad.”
“Right.” He didn’t even glance up as he made his way across the floor, opened the door, and left. He looked like a guy on a mission. Andrew couldn’t help the way he felt like he couldn’t breathe as soon as he was out of his sight.
