“Maybe your parents were vegetarians.”
Maric was staring at the blood on the wipe Phin had used and had started to breathe more heavily. Phin balled it up, put it on the floor and Maric exhaled.
“Are you going to a party or something?” Phin asked.
“Or something.”
The snow started up again and Phin flicked on the wipers before fastening his seatbelt. “So where do you want to go?”
Maric fastened his seatbelt under the bulge of his belly. “Just carry on down this road.”
Phin released the hand brake and set off. “Did you get dumped out here?”
“Yep.”
Bloody hell. “So do you actually know where you are?”
“North Yorkshire. I was just told to keep going on this road.”
Phin clenched his teeth. Apart from his cottage and a few others a mile or so further on, the road continued over the moors for several miles before the next village. The closest town was in the other direction. If he hadn’t come across him, Maric would probably have died of exposure.
“Do you know someone who lives along here?” Phin asked.
“No.”
“Where do you live?”
“Nowhere near here. I just came to do a job and… Oh, there’s blood on my fingers. Shit! I’m going to be sick. Can you stop?”
Phin braked and almost before the vehicle had come to a halt, Maric was out and throwing up at the side the of the road. Phin could feel a headache coming on. I ought to take him to hospital. He could have a brain injury. He was about to get out of the car and go round to him when Maric stood up. He grabbed a handful of snow, shoved it in his mouth, then wiped his hands and his face, spat out the snow, and climbed back into the car.
“Sorry. I had blood on my…” He gagged.
Christ! “Did you bang your head when I hit you?” Please say no.
“Yes.”
Because this night couldn’t get any worse. Shit. “I need to turn around and take you to the hospital in Harrogate.”
“No need. I’m okay.”
No, you’re not.
“It’s the b-blood that made me throw up. Even thinking the word makes me heave.” He let out a quiet whine.
Phin felt like letting out a louder one. He carried on down the lane. The first place he’d be able to safely turn was his own drive. So close to a meal, a glass of wine and his bed, and yet so far.
“You think I’m a wimp, don’t you? I’m not, but I’m really not good with…you-know-what.”
“You need checking out by a doctor.”
“You’re as good as doctor, apart from the bedside manner. You could do with a lesson or two in that. Even animals need a gentle voice when you’re telling them what’s wrong, especially if you’re going to fist them.”
Phin swallowed his gasp.
“Though I guess you wouldn’t want to let a horse know that you were gelding him or he might kick you. You do talk to the animals, don’t you? I hope you do.”
“Is this you being normal?”
Phin felt him bristle.
“I’m not badly injured. There’s no need to take me to the hospital.”
“Yes, there is.”
Maric’s fists clenched on his lap. “I won’t go in if you do take me. I’ll wander off into the night and get hypothermia or I’ll be hit by another careless driver. And that really will be your fault.”
Phin gave a heavy sigh.
“I just need to rest for a while,” Maric said quietly. “I’ve had a few difficult days.”
“So have I.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Were you knocked down by a car as well?”
Phin clenched his jaw so hard, he worried he’d break a tooth.
“If you drove me all the way to the hospital, then had to drive back to wherever you’re going, I’d worry you might have another accident, and actually kill someone. The guilt. I couldn’t live with it.” Maric gave a dramatic sigh.
Oh my God. Who have I picked up? Phin blinked as the snow started to fall so heavily, he couldn’t make out the road ahead. He slowed right down, his heart hammering against his ribs.
“Wow,” Maric whispered. “Isn’t it beautiful in the headlights? We could be in an interplanetary craft, hurtling through space. It’s as if we’re being bombarded by stars but they’re too small to do us any damage.”
Phin cursed himself for not stopping in time. Cursed Maric for being on the road in the first place. And further cursed himself for what he knew he was going to have to do. He pulled off the lane onto the short track to his cottage and a moment later, came to a halt on his drive. He pressed the remote to open the garage and pulled inside.
“Er…” Maric mumbled.
“I’ll take you to Harrogate when the snow’s stopped. Or further down the road to wherever you’re going.” He didn’t try to keep the grump out of his voice.
“When the snow stops, I’ll be gone.”
What did that mean? Phin picked up his bag from the back seat and waited until Maric got out with his sack before he lowered the garage door.
“Is this your place?” Maric asked as they tramped through the snow.
“No, I thought we could break in and ruin someone else’s New Year’s Eve.” Phin was finding it hard to suppress his irritation, even though he knew he was being a prick.
The security light had come on and showed snow piled up against the front door. Phin kicked it away before he put the key in the lock.
“Are you a murderer, cannibal, vampire, demon, werewolf or a…gargoyle?” Maric asked.
“Possibly,” Phin said. He felt murderous.
But when Maric laughed, the ice in Phin’s heart began to melt. Right until he registered it might have been a serious question. Well, parts of it at least.
He tapped in the code to deactivate the alarm, obscuring the keypad with his body. He wasn’t going to take the chance of this being some sort of set up. There were dangerous but seductive drugs in his bag and he’d need to store them in a safe place.
When he turned, Maric had shut the door, but still stood on the mat, clutching his hat and the sack. He looked… Phin swallowed hard. He looked… Oh God. He looked enticing, intriguing, exciting. Like a fallen angel. A sweet face, but trouble. I can’t know for certain that he’s gay and yet… Phin hung up his jacket and took off his boots.
“Want to take off your coat and boots?” he asked.
“Erm…” Maric bit his lip, then tugged off his black boots—no socks? —before removing his jacket.
Padded. Phin almost laughed until he registered that Maric was naked underneath.
“Not even a vest?” Phin gaped at him. He was skinny and his arms were covered in goose bumps, his nipples tight copper discs. The red jacket was just a costume, not anything that would protect him from weather like this.
“Take off your trousers.”
Maric widened his eyes. “You want me out of my clothes? But you’ve not even said anything nice to me yet. Say something nice.”
Phin gave an exasperated sigh. “They’re wet.”
“Nicer than that.”
“I’m glad you’re not dead.”