Page 7 of Animal Instincts
Oliver groaned in contentment. The lunch was both generous and excellent but he expected nothing less from James and Perry. The spring sunshine was unseasonably warm, and the three of them sat around a wooden garden table James had had especially commissioned.
Seeing his two friends on a regular basis was one of the only things he missed from his London life. Sure, they came down when they could, and not as much as they’d have liked, James had confided, due to both his and Perry’s work commitments.
James’ confession about wanting to spend more time in Love’s Harbour had been a shock, a marker of how much his friend had changed since meeting and marrying Perry, a man who was not only as different in temperament as it was possible to get, but was also half James’ age. But Oliver had to admit the shift in James’ life suited his urbane friend, a man who had always declared he’d shrivel up and die if forced to venture beyond the boundaries set by the Central London tube network.
“Found any former fishermen to fuck?” James leaned back in his seat, a mischievous grin lifting his lips.
“James!” Perry admonished, but James only shrugged as his grin grew wider.
Not a fisherman…A vision, as clear and bright as the sky above, of a pair green-gold eyes and full red lips lifted in a bright and sunny smile, filled Oliver’s head. Joss, who’d woken something long dormant inside of him if only for a moment. If he gave James the smallest, scrappiest hint, his friend would be a dog with a bone.
Oliver cleared his throat.
“No, but I haven’t been looking for — entanglements. I’m still trying to find my feet. Relocating from London to a small community takes time.”
“I’m not suggesting entanglements, because who wants any of those?”
Especially one who not so long ago disentangled, and came away bloodied and bruised and, maybe, just a little broken, Oliver thought James may as well have added.
“I’m thinking more… dalliance.” James leaned forward, as he warmed to his theme.
Oliver should have expected this, he really should have, but the lighthearted chit chat and the general catching up over lunch had lulled him into a false security — always a bad move where James was concerned.
“For god’s sake, James, leave the man alone. Some people can live life without… sex… being the main thing.” Perry’s creamy skin tinged pink.
James snorted. “I’m not so sure that was your attitude this morning.”
Perry pushed his chair back and muttered about making coffee, scurrying across the patio and plunging back into the house. James’ following laughter, and gaze, were full of love and affection for his young husband. He turned back to Oliver as soon as Perry disappeared out of sight.
“Seriously.” All amusement dropped away to reveal the astute and sharply intelligent man he really was. “You’ve been here for three months. You came down to start a new life, and you should take full advantage of everything on offer — although I rather have the sense you’re not.”
James cocked his head to the side, and narrowed his eyes. Oliver stifled his groan; his friend wasn’t letting him off the hook.
“If by not taking full advantage, you mean I haven’t gone in search of a fisherman to fuck,” Oliver said, his lips twisting into a crooked, sardonic smile as he all but quoted James’ words back at him, “then I suppose, no, I’m not taking full advantage.” Oliver held James’ gaze, resisting the urge to squirm in his seat.
“What happened with that dining club you joined? A chance to meet like-minded men in convivial surroundings, according to the advert. A bit like dessert, sex was optional.”
“The club you signed me up for, you mean?” Oliver huffed. “Without my knowledge, I should add, until you told me where I was expected and when.”
“The very same. Right up your street, I’d have thought. You never went again, did you?”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I did go again. I gave it a chance, but… Look, I appreciated the sentiment, James, but I wasn’t ready to think about entanglements or dalliances, call them what you like. I’m not going to shrivel up and die, despite what you think.”
James snorted. “I beg to differ.”
They fell into silence, and Oliver was glad of the reprieve from James’ onslaught.
He’d notnotenjoyed the two evenings he’d gone along to. Smart restaurants, excellent food and wine, intelligent and interesting conversation. The men had all been like him, successful professionals in their late thirties and early forties. On paper the dining club was the perfect fit, and James had read him right. But what had been right had also been wrong. He didn’t want to meet men like him. But whatdidhe want, if he wanted anything at all?
A bright and open smile, and dark blond hair that fell forward over a pair of shining hazel eyes—
“Oliver? Earth to Oliver.”
“Sorry? What did you say?”
James sighed. “Honestly, I wouldn’t say this if I didn’t think it needed to be said, but you have to get back some of your…” James clicked his fingers, his brow scrunching as though searching for the right word. “Verve,” he said with a grin of satisfaction.
“You make it sound easy.”
