Page 84 of Five for Silver

“No,” Romeo interrupted. “Don’t. That wasintense. You coming round like that, it was like watching you comeback to life and … how you clung to me.” He leaned back to look atChad and cupped his jaw. “How you shivered and moaned against me.”He tipped Chad’s chin up to look at him, and checked his face forany sign of regret, but Chad just smiled, and thread his fingersthrough Romeo’s hair to the back of his head. “It was amazing,Chad. Reckless, dangerous, bordering on suicidal, but amazing.”

“I trust you.”

“I know you do, but you’re asking me totrust that part of myself with you and I don’t know for certain Ican.” Romeo exhaled, “This … high we’re getting addicted to won’tbe worth it if I hurt you.”

Chad thought better than saying he knewRomeo wouldn’t. He pushed their foreheads together instead.

“You scared me downstairs. I thought…”

“I know what you thought,” Chad whispered.“You stupid man.”

“I can’t lose you.”

“You’re not going to.”

“My Juliet.” Romeo kissed the nickname intoChad’s lips, and Chad whispered back, “myRomeo,”before kissing him back even harder.

Chapter Fifteen

Chad rubbed his throat as he watched Romeofrom the kitchen window.

Romeo wore his oversized trench coat andblack boots as he filled the free-standing birdfeeders. Merc sat athis side, big grey eyes on his master and not the impatient magpieshopping closer.

A blur of black passed the window. Chadleaned forward, trying to catch sight of the bird that had passedwith Romeo’s back turned, but it had disappeared in the directionof the outhouse.

Romeo turned, and his eyes met Chad’sthrough the window. He smiled, but his smile fell when he noticedChad obsessively stroked his neck.

‘I’m fine’, he mouthed as Romeo began makinghis way back to the house, Merc waddling at his side. The magpiesattacked the birdfeeders like they were attempting to tear itapart. Romeo didn’t look back at it.

His gaze stayed fixed to Chad until he movedout of sight.

Chad opened the back door for him.

“Does it hurt?” Romeo asked.

“No.” Chad dropped his hand by his side, andstretched out his neck for Romeo to see. “Not even a bruise.”

Romeo hummed, stroking Chad’s skin. “I canfix that.”

He leaned in to suck a mark onto Chad’sneck.

Chad slapped him away lightly. “Sap. I sawit again.”

“Saw what?”

“That big bird I keep telling youabout.”

Romeo rolled his eyes. “Sure you did.”

“It flew behind you when you were fillingthe feeders.”

“How convenient. Eight letters. Theexcrement of a male cow…”

“That clue was lazy, and I’m notbullshitting you. It was there.” Chad wrapped his arms aroundRomeo’s neck.

His phone buzzed itself along the kitchentable and broke the moment. Chad sighed, backing away. He snatchedit up and tapped his thumb on the email notification.

“Lynn’s sent me the list of Vincent’svisitors. Finally.”

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