Chapter 17

Lord Lachlan

Please join me.

That was it. Three words and another blindfold. Dread and longing swirled in Ran’s gut as he stared at it. Everything within him told him to toss it in the trash but his body burned as it demanded Icarus. A gin and tonic was sweating on the table and Ran was dressed but he felt sick as his heart begged him not to go. He was in a foul mood as he stuffed the blindfold into his pocket and headed for the lift.

“Lord Lachlan,” the driver said as he opened the door and Ran snarled as he lowered into the car.

“That used to mean something,” he muttered as the door shut. He was alone and another bottle of champagne waited in a bucket. Ran rolled his eyes as he pulled the blindfold down and crossed his arms over his chest. The driver stopped at a light and the other door opened and a body dropped into the seat next to Ran.

“Thank you,” Icarus said quietly and Ran wished his heart didn’t race or become flooded with heat as their lips brushed.

“I don’t want to do this anymore, lad. It’s breaking me. I’m done,” he insisted but Icarus was silent. “Enough with the games. Take off our masks and let us sort this mess out.” There was no way it could end well but Ran couldn’t take the weeks of torture at Gallahide or not knowing if Icarus needed his help.

“Drink this or I have to leave,” he whispered as he placed a glass in Ran’s hand.

“We don’t have to do it like this,” Ran argued. He considered throwing it and going for their masks but he knew he’d lose Icarus’ trust forever and he’d never see him again. He’d never know why or what danger Icarus faced.

“Please,” he breathed and Ran sank back in his seat as he fought every last one of his instincts. And he was so bitterly disappointed as he drank then tossed the glass at the other seat.

“The headaches are a fucker too,” he said and Icarus sighed as their fingers intertwined.

“I know,” he replied and Ran was glad he was blindfolded, for once. His eyes flared and he blinked as he struggled to hold onto the comment. It mattered. He wasn’t sure why as everything became murky and heavy and his chin slid down his chest.

“You know.” A ferry’s horn blared and it echoed until it became a chorus and it sang mournfully for hours until Ran was in the boathouse and his eyes focused. His hands were tied again and he felt betrayed. “I’ll never leave him but I can help you,” he said as he stared at the window. Icarus was naked and curled against his side. Ran couldn’t look at him but intense lust slammed into him as he silently begged Icarus to talk.

“I can’t,” he said and it was fragile and trembled as it hung in the air. Ran cursed his heart as it reached for Icarus despite the stabbing burn and the tears in his eyes. He fought the raging need as he pleaded with himself to be stronger. He didn’t know what Icarus was doing but he could feel that it was so deeply wrong and it was hurting him and Niall.

“I’ll burn in Hell for this,” Ran predicted as his heart yearned for answers and his body ached. “Go ahead then but I’m done. This is the last time I’ll put on that blindfold. You’ll come to me as you are and tell me why you’re doing this or you’ll move on and leave me alone.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t,” Icarus said. It crushed Ran but he couldn’t stop his body from turning hard and hot as Icarus tortured him with his lips and his tongue. Their kisses tasted like tears and their bodies were heavy with regret and frustration as they struggled to wring whatever pleasure and satisfaction they could out of their heartache. Ran was too bitter and the pleasure wasn’t enough as Icarus swallowed his release.

“Don’t do this again,” Ran begged as he drank from Icarus’ glass for the very last time.