Page 102 of Enemy
My bladder wins, but I still try not to wake him up as I slide out of his embrace, inch by inch, like a chick emerging out of its egg. He looks so serene under my comforter when I stand up. After all he’s been through, he deserves as much sleep as he wants.
When I’m relieved, I look around my house with a critical eye. It’s… pretty bare. Not something I ever minded much, but I want it to feel like a home to Clyde, so I need to step up. And if he wants a kitchen, I’ll build him one myself, but for now, I don’t even have breakfast for him.
I leave a note on my side of the bed saying I went out to get food, then get myself in order, because I know I’ll be stared at. I remember his comment from yesterday and add shampoo to the list of things I need to bring back. But before I leave him in the bedroom, I end up glancing toward the bed and stalling. He’s so damn handsome with bright light seeping through the curtains and covering his skin with a dense weave of sunshine. It’s almost as if he were sleeping under a translucent veil.
Maybe I am transforming into a mushfest, but nobody needs to know that I worship the ground under Clyde’s feet. Tempted to stroke the long blond locks spread over the white pillow, I take one step closer, but if I touch him now, he will wake up, and we’ll start making out, and he won’t get anything for breakfast, since the serving hours at the canteen are soon coming to an end.
With that on my mind, I step outside, immediately accosted by a crowd of furballs. Oncetheyreceive their food, I leap from my porch, straight onto the mossy ground, right past the steps.
I’m about to walk off but look back to assess my cabin. I have enough land around it for an extension if the place is a littletoocozy for—
“Creep?” I yell, because I swear I spotted a figure in black scrambling away on my roof.
That’s right.On my roof.
The sun’s peeking through the leafy canopy above, its light blinding, but I know what I saw and dash alongside the cabin with blood thumping in my ears. How long was he here? Had he been…creepingon us?
It would have been funny if this was any other home than mine.
He attempts to crawl out of my sight, but I grab a green pinecone that somehow ended up falling from the tree, and toss it at him.
Bullseye. Right in the back of his head.
He turns around with a growl. “What? Prophet told me to keep an eye out! If the Butchers are after him, who knows if they don’t come here. Brigid’s cards have spoken of a threat.”
Oh, so now that he can’t run anymore, he’s being confrontational.
I glare at him and call him over with a gesture, my eyes pinned to the wild bird nest on his head.
He lets out a theatrical sigh and slides off the roof, glaring at me with those black eyes, shoulders stiff. He’s so… strange, but now that I’ve found out he’s gay, I assess him anew. If he sorted out his hair, spent more time in the sunlight, and stopped biting his nails, maybe he could find a guy too. After all, he’s tall, toned, and has the angular features of a rogue. Then again, he does live in a cave, which would be a stretch even for me.
“You could have watched the house from where you wouldn’t risk overhearing every single moan and grunt,” I tell him, not even trying to avoid being accusatory, because what the actual fuck? I did suspect someone might loiter around the cabin, trying to satisfy their curiosity, but I didn’t expect it to be one of my brothers.
Since his skin is like milk, the blushing is all too easy to spot despite him positioning himself in the shade of the house like some damn vampire. I can’t help but wonder… Is he experienced? Top? Bottom? Switch? Does he have a guy? He does sometimes go away for extended periods of time, so who knows?
“It’s a good vantage point, and unexpected in case someone did come.”
“Someone didcome,” I deadpan, glaring at him. “Two someones.”
He shifts his weight and rests his entwined hands on the back of his head, as if I didn’t call him out for eavesdropping. “So… How did you get him?”
Is he asking me for dating tips?
“I didn’tget him. I told him he was hot, he said he could go with that, and that’s how it started.”
It’snotthe whole story, but I don’t owe anyone the truth about my dying regrets.
“Just like that?” He cocks his head, watching me as if his eyes were two scalpels about to open my skull and rummage inside.
I’m not sure if he’s serious, but Creep’s a weird guy, and I don’t want him to start stating his intentions to every guy whose face he likes, so I take pity on him and exhale. “I didn’t think he would be up for it, to be fair. But there’s apps, and gay clubs, where there’s men who like the same stuff, right?” I ask, as if I’ve fucked my way through half the state.
The bastard rolls his eyes at me and walks off like I don’t even deserve a nod. Annoyance simmers under my skin, and I dash after him, grabbing his shoulder. “Seriously?”
Creep frowns, and now that I see him in a new light, I have to give it to him that the sharpness of his features could definitely be attractive. “Yes, seriously. I want what you have, not Grindr. I’m not stupid.”
My shoulders drop. “I didn’t try to insult you. It’s just… go out and meet other gay guys? It’s not like I have a lot of experience with that myself,” I mutter and shove my hands into my pockets, kicking a pebble up the hill. “Listen, I’ve got to go before the canteen closes, but could you actually stay? He’s sleeping, and I don’t want anyone bothering him.”
Creep hums. “Fine. Bring me a sandwich. The sweet one, with raisins.” He turns around and climbs my drainpipe with the ease of a wild cat.
