“What do you mean?” Walter asked but Royce tapped his lips.
“The less you know,” he said and Walter bowed his head.
“I’ll leave it in your capable hands,” he agreed then halted Royce. “Be very careful. I see that you’ve figured out his game, just make sure that you’ve planned your next move well,” he warned as his eyes held Royce’s. “I have a feeling you know exactly where his skeletons are buried,” Walter mused then nodded when Royce tilted his head in agreement. “You do and you might have done a lot of the dirty work. Don’t forget that.” He gave Royce a jaunty wink then waved his scarf. “Grant! Come get this man and take him home, he looks like he’s had enough fun for one night.”
“I think you’re right. It was a night to remember and you exceeded my wildest expectations,” Royce told Walter as he kissed his knuckles. Grant leaned around Royce so he could kiss Walter on the cheek.
“I didn’t think you could top last year but you did it. Congratulations, Walter.”
“Thank you, my dear. I hope I’ll have reason to congratulate the two of you soon!” Walter sang as he patted both of them on the cheek. Royce winced as his face stung and throbbed then took Grant’s hand.
“I’ve got to survive tomorrow, first,” he said and Grant’s brows fell. Royce shook his head dismissively as he turned to go then held up a finger. “One thing. Where’s Fernando? I’ve never seen you with a dog but you’ve mentioned walking him.” He heard Grant cough and Walter flailed his scarf as he laughed.
“I don’t have a dog, darling! Fernando is my oldest and most faithful wig. He’s not fit for daily wear anymore but I do like to put him on and take him out now and then, for old time’s sake. The two of us used to turn heads,” he boasted and Royce clapped his hands together in delight.
“That’s fantastic!” He stated then planted a kiss on Walter’s cheek before leading Grant away. “Truly fantastic!” He said over his shoulder. Royce sighed contentedly as he took Grant’s hand. “Tonight turned out far better than I was expecting.”
“The party or your face-off with Sam?” Grant asked and Royce winced as he pulled his car keys from his pocket and got the passenger door for him.
“Both but I’m extremely sorry about the upstairs bathroom and I promise I’ll pay for the damages,” he confessed sheepishly. Grant shut his eyes and held his breath for a moment then shook his head.
“I’m not going to worry about that until tomorrow. Tonight, I’m going to be grateful that you and Sam are…” He stopped when Royce shushed loudly. Grant rolled his eyes and continued. “You’re alive, the Lees are exactly who I thought they were and our friendship is still intact. I’m going to celebrate by tending to your wounds then licking anything that isn’t broken.”
Chapter 40
Royce was hurting again. It wasn’t just the bruises already spreading over his ribs and his cheek or the large gash in his palm. Grant could sense Royce bracing against a deeper, sharper pain and wished for some way to heal him. He was charming and mischievous in Walter’s garden and at the party but Grant noticed the strain in Royce’s smile and the occasional shimmer in his eyes. It looked like betrayal and disappointment but Grant knew Royce was doing his best to hide it with laughter and teasing but he was distant as they undressed and showered.
“Are you all right?” Grant asked as he dressed the wound on Royce’s hand.
“I promise, I’ve been worse,” he said and Grant nodded. He’d noticed the scars scattered across Royce’s back, arms and ribs.
“Are you disappointed because you didn’t kill Sam?”
“Not at all,” Royce replied as he shook his head faintly. “He’s me, you know?” He said and Grant’s head pulled back.
“No way. You’re…” He started but Royce raised his brows pointedly.
“A dedicated agent who’s willing to manipulate, lie, steal and kill for my mission and my country,” he explained but Grant shook his head.
“You’re different,” he stated firmly. Royce sighed as he took the gauze and tape from Grant and tossed them in the first aid kit.
“He’s me,” he said. He pushed his fingers through Grant’s hair and kissed him tenderly. “Give him ten or fifteen years and he’ll lose it to,” Royce murmured as his lips dragged along Grant’s.
“What did you lose?” He whispered as he clung to Royce.
“My faith. I thought I knew who I was working for and what I was doing. Now, I’m questioning everything and I’m afraid of the answers. I was supposed to kill Sam but I didn’t because something told me I’d be killing myself as well,” he said softly and Grant shivered as Royce’s tongue teased the corner of his lips.
“Then you can forgive yourself, like you spared Sam because he was just doing his job,” Grant argued. Royce raised a shoulder dismissively but Grant stopped him and cupped his cheek so he could find his eyes. “I’ve seen the man you’ve become and he’s kind, patient and generous. Whatever you did was out of dedication to your country and you can forgive yourself,” he insisted. Royce’s eyes shimmered again but his lips were soft as they pecked at Grant’s.
“You’re right and I’m going to do my best to be the man you think I am,” he vowed. Grant could feel it happening again. He could feel the words churning in his chest and he ached to hear Royce say them. Grant could feel it and see it in Royce’s eyes and it was like standing on the shore and waiting for a tidal wave to slam into them.
“What happens next?” He asked as he backed into the bedroom and pulled Royce with him, away from the storm. “The Lees are innocent and Sam’s gone. What’s your next move?” Grant said and Royce pushed out a long, weary breath.
“I have to face Waites.”
“Are you afraid?” Grant asked as he searched Royce’s face but all he saw was fatigue and disappointment.
“No. I’m a little worried because I’m missing a few pieces of the puzzle but I think I’ve outmaneuvered him this time.”
“What happens if you’re wrong?”
“I don’t know,” Royce admitted as they fell onto the bed. Grant ignored the knot of dread in his core and cherished the feel of Royce’s body, naked and tangled with his. He wanted to hold Royce down and lick, suck and touch every inch of his body and make it really count, if the end was as close as Grant feared. But he was gentle and let Royce show him what he needed. “Can I make love to you?” Royce breathed in his ear as his fingers dipped into the cleft of Grant’s ass. His touch was reverent as he traced Grant’s hole.
“Yes!” Grant nodded jerkily up at him then wound his arms around Royce’s neck and kissed him urgently. Royce groaned against Grant’s tongue as his arm stretched and he swatted at the bedside table until he found the lube. He fingered Grant and made him desperate then filled him with smooth, driving thrusts as he whispered and begged his name. Royce’s fingers twisted in Grant’s hair and they gasped against each other’s tongues as they fought to get closer and deeper. It felt like love and tears slid down Grant’s temples as he shattered in Royce’s arms and their souls fused for a few miraculous seconds.