Page 114 of Tell No One
“You have no need to offset your carbon emission, do you?” the Frenchman asked Norbury.
“No, but for a fee, I’ll offset that of other people.”
“Always an angle,” said Matt, who was on Norbury’s other side.
This was surreal. Delaney was sitting eating, drinking—though not much, and chatting as if this was an ordinary dinner party, with these twisted fucks who had perverted interests. They believed he was one of them.
He felt as secure as he could be with his legend. Delaney wondered if everyone’s bags were being searched. They’d find the body armour. It wouldn’t usually be what Delaney would wear. It was top-of-the-range, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene with a twist, thin and light, though its rigidity and weight still affected manoeuvrability, but it wasn’t for him. It was for Tag. Delaney would wear the camouflage outer covering and no one would realise the interior part was no longer there. They wouldn’t be able to get into his rifle case without damaging it, so he was happy enough that what he’d hidden in there would stay hidden.
Sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream were served as dessert. Delaney wondered if Tag was eating the same thing.
17
By the time Delaney was back in his room, awaiting the delivery of Tag, his normally composed heart rate was higher than he wanted it to be. Norbury had set out the details of what would happen tomorrow, that the hunt would start from the castle. The prey would be allowed to run where they liked. The hunters would all have radios to contact each other, and Norbury had promised helicopter support. That was bad news. Delaney had wondered about sabotaging the copter but it wasn’t something he knew much about and might tip off Norbury that they had a viper in the nest.
There was a sharp knock on his door. Delaney called “Yes!” and a naked Tag was shoved into his room so forcefully that he fell over. Lincoln glared at Delaney, then closed the door.
“Little shit,” Delaney snarled loud enough for Lincoln to hear, in case he’d lingered outside. “How I’ve missed you.”
Delaney had been unable to find a microphone or camera. He’d had the newly purchased electronic sweeper in his pocket since he’d arrived. He hadn’t risked that being discovered, though anyone involved in this enterprise had an excuse for being extra vigilant. The problem was that in a place like this, there might be secret passages, spy holes high in the stone walls, places where others could watch and listen.
“Come here, little shit.”
Tag pushed to his feet and walked over to him.
Delaney put his hand to his own ear to indicate that they might be being listened to. “You found very good hiding place. Wasn’t expecting you to leave house. What happened? You cost me lot of money. And steal from me.”
“I didn’t want to get fucked by other men.” Tag stopped when he was a few feet away from him. “I was scared. I knew I wasn’t going to get paid if I ran, so…”
“Still scared?”
“No. I’m having a lovely time playing at being a puppy. Chasing balls is so much fun. Might end up biting some.”
“Still have smart mouth. I fix.” Delaney pulled him into his arms.
Tag made a feeble protest, then gave in. “Did you like my tail?”
“Like my cock in your arse better. Shower. Now.”
Delaney stripped off on the way to the bathroom. Tag was already standing under the water when Delaney reached him. Tag pulled him into his arms, brushing his hand over every single part of Delaney he could reach and Delaney did the same to him. Delaney was almost afraid to kiss him because he wasn’t sure he could stop.
Tag was the most dangerous thing he’d ever encountered. His mouth tasted sweet and sticky and Delaney smiled as he recognised the toffee dessert. He kissed down Tag’s neck, biting and sucking, soothing with the flat of his tongue, then after another session at his mouth, he rested his forehead against Tag’s until he caught his breath.
“You okay?” Delaney asked quietly in his own voice. “Did anyone touch you?”
“No, not really. I mean, I’m sort of okay now you’re here because I was scared you might not come. But no one forced themselves on me.”
“Good.”
Tag clung to his arms, his fingers digging in, as if he was worried Delaney was going to back away. Delaney stared at Tag’s wide brown eyes, the way he kept swallowing, the hollow at the bottom of his neck, the curved ladder of his ribs and the tall stand of his cock.
“You’re gorgeous,” Delaney whispered. His voice wouldn’t carry above the falling water but he still needed to be careful.
“You’re only saying that because you want to put your cock where my tail was.”
Delaney brushed the water from Tag’s face. “I do, but you need to listen to what I’m going to tell you.”
Tag nodded.
