Page 157 of The Making of Jonty Bloom
“I know. His mum told me what the doctors said in those early days, but I checked online, read everything I could, so I knew what to look out for and what might be in his future. If I didn’t need to be near Tay, I’d follow you to the ends of the earth.”
Jonty ran his finger over Devan’s lips. “Where do you think that actually is? I don’t mind cold, but not too cold. So not Antarctica or the Arctic. Or anywhere too hot like the Sahara or Dubai, or anywhere with snakes like Australia or the Amazon, or crocodiles so Africa is a no, and not France because they eat snails. And I have a phobia about monkeys so… I forgot to add them to mydon’t likelist. Oh God, there’s loads of places I’m not going to be able to follow you to. I’ll make a list and if you go, you can send me postcards and pictures of your dick so I don’t forget it.”
Devan turned Jonty over and tucked up behind him, pulling him in close. “Why would I want to go anywhere without you? My role in life is to keep you warm and safe.”
“Youareone big hot water bottle. At least I’mfairlysure now that we’re sexually compatible. Though it’s going to take years until I’m certain. And I haven’t yet introduced you to the tenth wonder of Northumberland.”
“I’m not going to ask.”
Jonty chuckled. “You will eventually.”
“If not for Tay, would you really leave Northumberland?”
“Yes.” Jonty didn’t hesitate. “I never wanted to. I know I told you that. It wasn’t just because of the possibility of my mother looking for me that I wanted to stay, but now, if not for Tay, I’d go in a heartbeat. Northumberland will always be here and I can come back anytime and nothing much will have changed. It hasn’t over centuries. It’ll still be the most beautiful and mysterious county in England. But Tayishere, and he needs me, and no matter how much everyone might tell me I’m not responsible for what happened, I feel that I am. Even if Brad hadn’t been involved, I couldn’t desert Tay. And I don’t want you to feel that I’m choosing Tay over you. I’d hate you to think that.”
“Your loyalty to your friend is one of things I admire about you.”
Jonty squirmed round in Devan’s embrace so he was facing him. “Another thing that isn’t going to happen is you giving up your job because of me.”
When Devan opened his mouth, Jonty pressed his hand on it.
“I’ve been thinking…” Jonty said.
Devan lifted Jonty’s hand away from his mouth. “You were able to think while I’ve spent all this time blowing your mind? I’m so insulted.”
Jonty laughed. “I had to do something in between the times you were doing that, when you needed to take a rest, Grandpa. What if I found a different job up here? One with reasonable hours. Maybe part time. There must be something I can do in Alnwick. Supermarket or a shop. I could ask Mike if he has any ideas. We’d need to rent a place, and I’d have to have help with the rent if I didn’t work full time. Maybe even if I did. Ooh, I’d be your rent boy.”
Devan groaned. “We’re not going down that path.”
“Every time I knew you were coming home, I’d take my clothes off and lie on the couch waiting for you, ready to be licked all over.”
“Maybe wearegoing down that path.”
“And if you wanted to get into pony play, I could buy some reins.”
Devan whined.
“Was that a whinney?”
“No.”
“If we rent a place up here, you can do your job in London and come up whenever you can, and sometimes I can get a train to London to stay with you. As long as you promise to meet me at the station. You know how easily distracted I am. An offer of chocolate and I’m off. If you’re more involved with the renovation of McAllister’s after Christmas, then that would be great, but if you don’t really want to be dealing with the hotel and you only said it so we could be together, then don’t do it.
“As soon as Tay is making progress, I won’t need to be so close, though I don’t know how long it will take for Tay to get better. I could come up from London to see him though. We can make it work, can’t we? I mean, you spent a fortune on this place, but we only need a room with a bed and kitchen and bathroom. Could you afford to help me rent somewhere up here as well as wherever you live in London?”
“This is where I tell you that you don’t need to worry about money. I have plenty.”
“You do? How much is plenty? A few thousand?”
“A few million.”
Jonty sucked in a breath. “Wow. Are you a prince?”
“No.”
Jonty pouted and dropped his shoulders. “Oh well.”
Chapter Twenty-One
