Page 49 of Soul of Discretion

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Simon stood in his hotel room, looking out the city below. The morning sun rose like a halo above the skyline.

“I’m on a flight out tomorrow, Peter. Tell my mother I plan to visit her as soon as I can. I have work issues to resolve once I land, but I’ll make time to come by to see her.” Simon rolled his eyes at Nick and make quacking noises with his hands. “Sure, I’ll call you when I land. See you at the airport.”

Peter had been talking nonstop since he’d called Simon, but it was time to break it off. He had only one more day to spend with Nick, and Simon didn’t want to waste a minute. They planned to go into the city for the day. His lover was getting bored out of his mind having no job to go to, and Simon felt for him.

He clicked off his phone and set it down on the bedside table. Nick sat on the edge of bed, bare-chested, clad in loose jogging trousers. The sight of him had proven quite the distraction while Simon was on his phone call.

“Everything set for the trip home?” Nick asked. He stood up and pulled on his t-shirt, then hunted around for the necklace Simon had bought for him at one of the local jewellery markets. It had snagged his attention and reminded Simon of Nick, unusual and eye-catching: a hummingbird made of argillite, with a piece of abalone set as the eye. The pendant was looped onto a black leather and stainless-steel chain. Nick had admired it and Simon had waited for an opportune moment to go back and buy it, wanting Nick to have something to remember him by.

Nick found what he was looking for and pulled it over his head. The hummingbird rested on his muscled chest and Simon reached out and took it in his fingers.

“Have I told you this looks good on you?” he murmured. “Whoever bought it for you has great taste.”

Nick chuckled. “He certainly does. His taste in men isn’t bad either.” He grinned as Simon pulled him over and cupped his face.

“I do have good taste,” Simon agreed as he found Nick’s lips and kissed the hell out of him. For a while he lost himself in the taste of the man pressing his hard, sinewed body against him. Nick’s lips tasted of coffee, and his mouth was hot and voracious, his tongue wet and slick, and he was currently trying to inhale Simon.

“God,” Simon managed to groan once they came up for air. “You drive me fucking crazy.” Not for the first time, he wondered about asking Nick to come back to England with him.

Nick smiled, lips swollen from their passion. “Ditto,” he husked out. “You do something to me that I’ve never felt before.”

They stared at each other, Nick’s eyes blazing in desire, and as Simon slid his hands under Nick’s tee shirt to find warm skin, there was a knock at the door.

They pulled apart, grinning shamefacedly at each other.

“One moment,” Simon called out, looking down to see if he was decent. He still had a boner but if he pulled his shirt out and over his groin, it would hide it.

Nick turned around to face the window and swore. “Christ, I’m in no state to be seen. I’m going to go into the bathroom ‘til this,” he waved at his impressive erection, “dies down.”

Simon bit back a chuckle as whoever it was knocked on the door impatiently. As Nick fled into the ensuite, Simon walked over and opened the door. One of the reception concierge staff stood there, hand proffering a large, white envelope. She smiled at Simon.

“Good morning, sir. I have an express delivery for you.” She handed over the documents, and Simon thanked her, reached into him pocket, tipped her, then closed the door.

Nick gazed at him quizzically. “Is that going to self-destruct in five seconds?” he joked. “I’ve seen Mission: Impossible, you know.”

Simon laughed as he placed the envelope on the side table. “I hope not. It’s got my air tickets for tomorrow, and my travel itinerary.” The atmosphere in the room grew sombre, as if each man realised that tomorrow there would be no going back. Simon was leaving, he’d possibly not see Nick for a while, if ever, and the thought pierced his chest like a soft push against his heart.

Simon didn’t think he’d misunderstood the flash of sadness on Nick’s face, but his Mountie recovered well. “You know, given you’re this hotshot e-commerce, all-important guy who uses technology in a big way, it’s a little weird seeing you use actual physical tickets to fly with. I use e-tickets, much easier.”

Simon glanced at the envelope, his cheeks flushing. “It’s one of my things, I’m afraid. I hate e-tickets of any kind. I like the feel of my ticket in my hand, the security of knowing I have it, rather than relying on something that might run out of battery or get lost.” He gestured toward his phone on the bed. “Those things are all well and good, but they aren’t foolproof.”

Silence. Simon hated the awkwardness that had grown between them with his looming departure. His inner voice of reason was busy sorting through his options.

This isn’t me. I’m not normally the one mooning over a guy, and yet, here I am. Should I say something, tell him I care for him, and I’d like to see how it goes? But how will that work, I mean the guy lives thousands of miles away. I’m too damn selfish to have a relationship like that.

Nick’s phone rang, and he answered it, walking across to the window and looking out. “Hi, Steph. You okay?” He turned his head and Simon saw Nick’s brow furrow, and he glanced quickly at Simon, then turned his attention back to his conversation. “Oh, wow, that’s cool. Yes, I’d be interested if it doesn’t pan out with my staying on as a cop.”

Simon’s curiosity got the better of him, and he sidled over to Nick, ostensibly under the pretext of picking his phone up off the bed. He wanted to see if he could hear what Steph was saying. He couldn’t, and he scowled to himself. Christ, look at me, like a damn schoolboy trying to eavesdrop on the teacher he has a crush on.

“I’d have to think about it, Steph. It’s a big decision. But tell your friend I’m grateful for reaching out, and of course, if things don’t work out at RCMP, then I’ll definitely consider the offer.” He laughed loudly. “He’s here. We’re getting to ready enjoy our last day doing silly, fun things in the city.” He stopped, and listened and then once again, glanced at Simon.

Simon cocked his head. “What’s she saying?” he whispered. “Why are you looking at me?”

Nick snorted and replied, “Now he thinks we’re talking about him. Steph, honestly, I’m fine. I don’t think—” He was cut off by squawking that Simon could hear. Nick’s jaw tensed, and he shook his head fervently. “Not gonna happen, so give up. I must get going now, anyway. So bye, and say hello to that man of yours. Send him my commiserations.”

He cut off the call with a small snigger and put in back in his jeans pocket. As he turned around, Simon crowded him against the window, pressing him against the glass. “What was that all about?” he murmured, gratified at seeing Nick’s pupils dilate and feeling the growing hardness against his body. “Someone offer you a job?”