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Teaching Ian was the only thing Alek looked forward to. It was like he was putting a part of himself inside of Ian that would stay there forever.
All the history between them faded into the background, the echoing arguments, the look on Ian’s face each time Alek betrayed him, the sharp words that shouldn’t have been said. The electric charge of tension—sexual and otherwise—was replaced with light flirtation and Ian’s honest effort to learn what Alek taught him. The pleased look in Ian’s eyes when Alek praised him for a job well done almost made up for how frustrating it was to teach someone with enormous hands and no musical talent.
By the end of the lesson, Alek’s vision blurred from staring at the sheet music and his good hand throbbed. The idea of making it upstairs to take a nap was out of the question.
“Do you feel like getting some fresh air?” Ian asked.
“Not particularly.”
Ian kept pestering Alek about spending time in sunlight each day like he was a plant. Ian had read that the vitamin D in sunlight could help ward off depression, which was apparently more common after a head injury. Alek wasn’t depressed. He was simply reacting to the situation he found himself in. Anyone would be melancholy in similar circumstances.
“Come on.” Ian pulled him to standing. “I want to work on the greenhouse.”
Ian working on the greenhouse meant Ian sans shirt, sweat glistening, muscles rippling, sounds that bore a striking resemblance to Ian during sex. “You should have led with that.”
27
IAN
Sunshine filtered through the treetops, scattering shadows and beams of light. Ian carried a rolled up blanket under his arm and held Alek’s hand as they walked around the perimeter of the house. It usually took about five minutes at Alek’s pace, maybe longer today, if the drawn look on his face was any indication.
When Alek was discharged from the hospital, Ian had kept Alek in bed or bubble wrap, until he learned that exercise could improve memory loss and recovery after brain injury.
Ian kicked aside a small branch that blocked their path. “Can I ask you today’s questions?”
“You may.”
“How did you end up here?” Ian gestured around them.
“Because of you, remember?”
“You know that’s not what I’m asking.”
“I came for school and decided to stay,” Alek said crossly. “Next question.”
Ian stopped in his tracks, inadvertently yanking Alek to a halt. “Sorry.” He patted a nearby tree stump.
Alek raised a single eyebrow, but sat on the stump as directed. Sunlight reflected off of his inky black hair, some stray strands lifting up with the gentle wind that shook the branches above them to expose the nearly healed surgical incision where the hair hadn’t yet filled in.
“I’m sitting because I’m tired, not because you summoned me like a pet.”
Ian squatted until he was just below Alek’s eye level. “You have to start giving me more.”
“I said more than yes or no.”Alek lifted his head and looked away.
Ian gripped Alek’s chin and forced him to return his gaze. “You’re not playing by the rules.”
“Those literally are the rules.” Alek turned his head, pulling his chin from Ian’s hand.
Ian scrubbed a hand over his face. “I’m trying to build trust here, Alek. That’s the whole point of this. Haven’t I held true to my word? I’ve listened to weeks of answers and I’m still here. Give me more. Please.”
Alek traced his fingertips over the heart on his cast, then clenched his hand in a fist. “It was customary in my family’s social circle to send their children to college overseas. I chose America, but not because I was interested in the finance program I was accepted into. America was big. I could easily disappear.”
Ian frowned. “Why would you?—”
“The life I would have had back home wasn’t what I wanted,” Alek explained with a flick of his hand. “While I attended classes, I invested the money my uncle left for me and established my furniture restoration business. Multiplying my inheritance wasn’t difficult. I'd learned enough by being my father’s son. And obtaining a new identity was child’s play. Back thenyou could throw a dart on a map and land on a former USSR territory with dubious government documentation. I flew to a country that no longer exists and Alek Katin was born.” Alek lifted his eyes to Ian’s. “It was too easy. I think my father knew. I think he let me go. It settled his debts.”
“Did you ever see your dad again?”
