Ficorpio
Chapter 1
When the man pinned him against the wall, Oliver Reed went blank.
The bar was dim, and heavy metal pounded so hard he thought he might be sick. He couldn’t make out the man’s face, but he could feel his heart hammering and smell the rich scent of liquor on his breath.
The man had drunk enough that even Oliver felt lightheaded breathing the same air. He stood a little taller than Oliver, looming over him, close enough to make escape seem impossible. The heat of him and the alcohol on his breath burned through Oliver’s better judgment.
Oliver had dated a few women, but he’d never felt much enthusiasm for this sort of thing. If anything, he’d been indifferent. Yet the moment this stranger pressed close, a shiver ran through him.
It was as though, out of everyone in the world, he’d stumbled upon the one person who fit him perfectly.
A sound slipped from Oliver’s throat. They both went still. Then the man raised a hand and pressed hard against Oliver’s lip. Pain flared.
“Shit.”
The sting brought Oliver back to himself. He was about to shove the man away when the stranger turned his head and laughed softly. Even over the music, Oliver heard him say, “You have a beautiful voice.”
That voice hit Oliver like a lightning strike.
He’d imagined meeting Adrian Ashford again a thousand times. Not once had he pictured it happening in a gay bar, with Adrian holding him against a wall.
At least it was dark, and Adrian had clearly been drinking. He didn’t seem to recognize him.
Tonight was too chaotic for a reunion. Oliver was just about to push Adrian away and leave when a harsh beam of light swept over them.
“Vice squad! Hands up! Stay where you are!”
With a flashlight shining in their faces and people all around them grumbling, Adrian got a clear look at Oliver.
Three years apart had made Adrian’s face colder, his expression harder. His lips were pressed into a sharp line. Drink had reddened his eyes, but his gaze stayed fixed on Oliver, so intent it seemed to pull him in.
Oliver felt his face grow hot. He forced himself to speak. “When did you get back?”
Adrian said nothing. His eyes traveled over Oliver from head to toe before settling on his face. The look cut through every layer of composure Oliver had built up over the years.
Then Oliver heard him swallow.
An image of Adrian’s throat moving flashed through his mind. He sprang back as if he’d been burned. “It was too dark before. You mistook me for someone else. I don’t mind, so you don’t have to—”
He’d raised his voice. The music had stopped, and everyone nearby turned to look.
Oliver didn’t get to finish. Adrian’s expression changed. In one stride, he closed the distance, caught Oliver around the waist, and pulled him in. His other hand closed around the back of Oliver’s head, and the scent of liquor swept over him again.
The kiss was heated and urgent. Oliver couldn’t keep up with it, let alone resist.
Chapter 2
Someone whistled. Others cheered and shrieked. Even without the music, the bar erupted, and Oliver’s thoughts dissolved.
At last Adrian drew back, though he still wouldn’t let go. He leaned close and murmured, “The lights are on now. I know exactly what I’m doing. Oliver, I missed you so much.”
He sounded so happy, so overwhelmed, that for a moment Oliver could almost forget Adrian was the same man who had denied any connection to him at a press conference three years ago.
“…My bail’s been paid, and I already handed over the proof. When exactly are you letting him go? The construction site is waiting to open! You people may not care about a day’s lost wages, but ordinary folks like us can’t afford to waste time!”
Jack Mercer’s booming voice echoed through the station. Despite the sweltering heat, he had rushed over wearing nothing but a tank top, shorts, and flip-flops. His sun-darkened muscles bulged beneath his skin, making him look as though he might grab a chair and start a brawl with the police at any moment.
Oliver Reed had just stepped out of the holding cell when he saw him. He hurriedly said to the officer on duty, “Sorry. My friend has a bit of a temper.”
“It’s fine. Just sign here.”
The officer good-naturedly pointed to the statement. Oliver nodded and bent over to sign it. Then the light suddenly dimmed.
He looked up and found Adrian Ashford standing in front of him, his expression calm.
“Finished?” Adrian asked. “My car’s here. I’ll take you home.”
They had both spent several hours in custody, yet Adrian’s clothes were immaculate. Not even a strand of his hair was out of place.
He wore a black shirt with gray suit trousers, the outfit lending him an air of casual elegance. His face was still cool and distant, but it did nothing to hide the mature, refined presence that time had settled into his features.
Oliver glanced at him once, then lowered his eyes and continued signing.
Jack’s gaze moved back and forth between them. He sensed something unusual and looked at Adrian.
“You know Ollie?”
“Ollie?”
Adrian repeated the nickname, a flicker of something strange passing through his eyes. He was just about to speak when Oliver set down the pen and slapped Jack on the shoulder.
“Let’s go.”
Oliver’s voice was flat. Jack had shared a place with him for three years. Even with his thick skull, he immediately sensed Oliver’s displeasure.
He followed at once, though Adrian still looked oddly familiar. Jack wanted to turn around for another look, but his shoulder suddenly tightened as someone grabbed him and shoved him aside.
“Holy shit! You trying to get yourself killed?”
Chapter 3
Jack landed hard on his backside and swore. When he looked up, he saw Adrian carrying Oliver over one shoulder and striding toward the exit.
Jack: “…”
Had people gotten so brazen that they were kidnapping others right out of a police station now?
Adrian had long legs and moved quickly. By the time Jack chased them outside, Adrian had already shoved Oliver into the back seat of the car.
The driver started the engine.
In a panic that Jack might do something reckless, Oliver pulled out his phone and sent him a text. The moment he pressed Send, Adrian snatched the phone away.
The man leaned across him, and the cramped back seat suddenly felt even tighter.
“How many people call you Ollie?”
Adrian’s question came with the lingering scent of alcohol. His dark, gleaming eyes were deep and unreadable.
“You misheard him.”
Oliver denied it and turned his head away, avoiding Adrian’s gaze. Unfortunately, the movement left his neck completely exposed.
Adrian’s eyes darkened. He reached out and squeezed the back of Oliver’s neck.
Whether it was because he was drunk or simply because he had lost control, Adrian used too much force. Oliver sucked in a sharp breath and reached out to push him away.
But Adrian suddenly went limp, as though someone had pulled the bones from his body. His strength drained away, and he rested his head softly against Oliver’s shoulder.
“Adrian! Don’t pretend to be drunk and try to take advantage of me!”
Oliver’s voice dropped into a furious growl.
Adrian stopped moving. His face remained buried against Oliver’s shoulder as he began to laugh quietly.
The vibration in his chest traveled into Oliver like an electric current, striking him in the heart before spreading through every limb in a tingling wave.
Then Oliver heard Adrian murmur hoarsely against his shoulder.
“Ollie, you should be glad I’m not drunk. Otherwise, how could I have held myself back until now?”
A low sound escaped the speeding black car before it swept through the streets and vanished into the night.
The driver had already raised the privacy partition. Streetlights washed fitfully across the cramped back seat, throwing everything into shadow. Oliver knew the windows were one-way glass. No one outside could see a thing. Still, he felt as exposed as if Adrian had stripped him naked and left him in the middle of the street.
Three years apart hadn’t changed Adrian Ashford much. The composed man Oliver had seen at the bar disappeared the moment they got into the car, leaving something ruthless in his place. It brought back a sense of danger Oliver had hoped never to feel again.
Oliver had spent a year as Adrian’s lover under contract. They’d fought often, but when it came to this, Adrian had once been gentle. In time, the ease between them had even begun to feel like affection. That was why, when Adrian held a press conference and denied they had any relationship, Oliver had felt betrayed.