Chapter 7
Maddox awoke early. It was a habit to enjoy his morning coffee while watching the sun rise. The abnormality was waking with someone beside him.
A frown creased Jake’s brow when Maddox unwrapped his arms. Once he tucked the warmed duvet tight against Jake’s body, he settled back into a peaceful slumber.
The coffee machine whirled, near black liquid running into the awaiting cup. He slotted his bread in the toaster, tapping the counter with his fingertip as he waited the four minutes it took to adequately brown his bread.
He sat on his usual seat by the window, watching as the sun brightened the dull pavements and shadowed houses. The birds called their songs, the cars grumbled their way down the streets, more noise joined the chatter of the outside world each minute that passed.
It was a normal morning, but as Maddox observed his body slumped and he propped his head up with his hand. Jake was beyond his bedroom door. The man that had broken the norm and added spice to his life.
They had orbited each other for weeks, but the previous day they finally collided, and it was more awe inspiring and beautiful than he had imagined.
But now the two worlds had brushed against each other and sparked electricity, they had to continue on their paths alone. Both would bear marks of their encounter, memories that only they shared.
Maddox knew any repeat would only spiral Jake’s life into chaos. A lot of people craved revenge, and if they knew Maddox cared about someone, even if it were a mere slither of emotion, they would set out to destroy the young man.
He crunched through his toast, sipped at his cooled coffee before moving to the bathroom. The steaming water soothed his skin. Jake’s scent was scrubbed off his body, replaced by one of the fancy bottles he had in the cubicle.
Once he was done, he ruffled his hair with a towel. Brushed the strands into position and neatened his scraggily beard. The grey hairs at his sideburns had increased in number, blending into his dark stubble. The temptation to pick them out came and went, this was life. He, aesthetically, was past his prime.
Satisfied his face had been neatened, he strolled into one of his walk-in wardrobes. His casual clothes were kept in his bedroom, but the suits, watches, shoes, and other expensive items were kept separately. Everything was folded to perfection. All items of clothing either white, grey or black. He dressed smartly and with care. He had told Tom business would be back to normal in the morning and he intended to keep that promise.
The door to the bedroom opened, and soft footfalls were heard on the tiled floor. Maddox arranged his tie, feeding it to the base of his collar before tucking his shirt in.
Jake had paused in the centre of the open-plan space. He scanned the room slowly. Maddox couldn’t see his expression with Jake’s back facing him, but he wondered whether he was impressed or horrified at the luxury.
“Like it?”
The younger man jolted, twirling around with an open mouth. He didn’t speak, the only thing that pierced the silence was the snap of Maddox’s watch.
“Hungry?”
He flicked his head, knowing full well Jake must’ve been hungry. There was a reluctant nod and Maddox strode further into the room. He ran his hand across the black countertop and up the units till he tapped the right door.
He didn’t expect a giggle to escape Jake when he opened the cupboard.
“What is it?”
Jake flapped his hand with a nervous laugh, and Maddox decided whatever made him chuckle wasn’t worth his time.
“Eat what you want.”
There was a bob to Jake’s throat. He wetted his lips but made no move to get closer. Maddox sighed and backed away with his hands held up in surrender.
“We’re done now. Whatever this was...is finished.”
Jake’s eyes darted towards the cupboard. He lurked forward, selecting a box of cereal.
Maddox sat down opposite, eyes on the spoon as it rose and fell from Jake’s mouth.
It was a relief to see him eat. Maddox raised his eyebrow at the huge mountain in the bowl. One wasn’t enough, Jake kept going. Three bowls of bland cereal Jake munched through, Maddox shoved an orange in his face to add some variety to his palate.
“That diamond.” Jake spluttered, flicking his hand around the room. Why does it mean so much when you have all this?”
“It’s valuable to me in a non-money sense.”
Jake’s face scrunched tightly. “Why, then?”
Maddox tapped the shiny black counter, imagining the surface was the keys of a piano. “It’s Beethoven’s diamond.”
“Beethoven had a diamond?”
Maddox huffed and faced away. Of course, the youthful Jake had no interest in the mastery of Beethoven or the advance in science.
“Time you leave.”
Jake’s spoon scraped the empty bowl. The scratch had Maddox grimacing.
“Now.”
Jake’s blues eyes flashed up. Maddox didn’t turn from them. He glared until Jake bowed under the weight of his.
“Okay,” he muttered, “you want me to wash up-”
“No. I want you to leave.”
His tone was harsh, snappy, but he needed to be blunt for Jake to leave without arousing any suspicion. Maddox never knew when people watched his place. If one of Richie’s men saw Jake leave with anything but annoyance, they would be intrigued by the younger man.
“Does it not mean anything?”
It meant more than Maddox could express, but his selfish cravings weren’t worth putting Jake’s life in danger.
“You wanted a reward for returning the diamond...I gave you one money can’t buy.”
Maddox smacked his lips together, studying the time intently on his wrist even though he had nowhere to be.
“Last night was a self-sacrifice then?”
Maddox attached his gaze to Jake again. “I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
“Fine, don’t...Guess we’re done then.”
A hand was thrust out to him and Maddox frowned. Never had any of his sexual encounters ended with a handshake. He grasped Jake’s hands. Squeezed back in pulses. He dropped his hand, frown deepening when Jake tugged his hand aggressively back.
The surprises Jake kept throwing him were confusing. Maddox kept his eyes on Jake until the slam of the front door took him permanently from view.
Maddox braced himself on the counter, hissing at his stern reflection. He needed to get back to work. He lifted his arm, but only previously unseen flesh looked back.
His watch, Jake’s crafty handshake had been a play to steal his watch. Maddox caressed the skin of his wrist gently before a booming laugh rose in his chest.
Jake had tricked him again.
Maddox’s next moves were impulsive, and in hindsight bloody stupid.
He sprinted out the front door, unarmed.
At first, he couldn’t see Jake, the pavement was empty of people. But an educated guess told him Jake would head up the street towards the main road.
Maddox ran with soft strides, quick and efficient on his toes even though it had been years since he had been tasked with running someone down. His heart pumped, an excited fizzle bubbled in his stomach. Exhilarated chasing down prey when that prey was Jake.
Jake’s confidence was his downfall. He trotted along the path whistling a tune to himself. The soft beats of Maddox’s feet went unnoticed, and he wrapped his arms around Jake’s middle, lifting him off the ground.
He shoved Jake into the wall behind, pinning his arms above his head. His hand circled the watch on Jake’s wrist and he decided to play the man at his own game.
It was all about distraction, and the perfect one panted mere centimetres from his lips.
Maddox pressed his mouth to Jake’s. He sucked at the sensitive skin and demanded he surrender his lips. Jake groaned and slackened his mouth. Maddox kissed him with desperation, changing the pace and urgency each time Jake tried to match him. There was a citrusy taste mixed with one that was uniquely Jake. Maddox wanted to devour him, savour him too. Maddox flattened Jake to the brick wall, groaning faintly at the delicious mouth on offer.
He had reclaimed his watch, but he kept kissing, unable to stop once he had given into that basic intimacy. He wanted to drag Jake back to the house, shove him down on the bed.
The honk of a lorry had his brain sparking into life. He backed away, holding Jake at bay with a growl. Stupid, he had been stupid. He had passionately kissed Jake in broad daylight when anyone could be watching.
He darted a look over his shoulder, suspicious of any blacked-out vehicle.
“Enough now, Jake.”
He let Jake go, expecting him to scamper up the road. Instead, he sunk dazed to the floor. Maddox prayed from a distance it looked like he had floored the young man.
“You need to leave.”
Jake shook his head, and Maddox’s heart clenched at the denial on his face. A car slowed when it passed them, and Maddox glared at it with unease. Mostly likely it was an innocent driver, but the mere thought of it being one of Richie’s men had him growling.
“You can’t be here. Go.”
The blunt words had Jake banging his head to the wall behind him. He hoped the tears in Jake’s blue eyes were pained ones from hitting the wall, but he knew deep down they weren’t.
“Fine,” Jake muttered, he staggered up and brushed past Maddox with a bowed head.
Although he ached on the inside, Maddox had to act unbothered and neutral as he strolled back to his house.
Once in the privacy of his home he rubbed aggressively at his face and rasped one word.
“Shit.”