Stripped Bare (19 page)

“Matty. You’re late, babe. Let me introduce you to Timmy. He’s an old friend of mine, popped by for a visit.”

Matthew nodded. “Timmy. Good to meet you.” The two men shook hands and even Matthew had to look up at the man.

Timmy grinned, showing white teeth. “I have heard a lot about you, Matthew. You must be special indeed to have Shane so in a spin. He is enamoured with you.” His glance was admiring. “I can see why he likes you so much.”

Matthew felt uncomfortable, and even Shane seemed nervous at Timmy’s side. “Tim, that’s enough. You’re going to scare Matty away. He’s rather relationship-phobic.”

Matthew frowned at these words. He was beginning to feel like everyone thought they knew him better than he did.

“Drink, Matty? What do you fancy?” Shane made his way into the open-plan kitchen.

“I’ll have a glass of red wine, please. Make it a large one.” Matthew sat down on the kitchen stool at the island and nodded his thanks to Shane as he passed him his drink. Timmy sat down with what looked a large shot of whiskey in his glass.

“So, Timmy, where do you know Shane from?” Matthew glanced at the two men. Shane sat down beside him with his glass of red wine. He looked uncomfortable; something Matthew wasn’t used to seeing in the other man.

“Actually, Matty, we were together for three months about a year ago. I was escorting at the time. We met when I took on an engagement with Timmy at a hacking conference, and we had a bit of a relationship.”

Matthew felt a surge of sheer jealousy at the fact that this man, this dark, smooth and very imposing man had been intimate with Shane.

Shane was watching his face anxiously.

Matthew nodded. “Oh. I see. “ He took a sip of his wine, feeling the turmoil in his stomach.

Shane grinned in relief. “The cool, calm and collected Mr. Matthew Langer, ladies and gentlemen. Nothing fazes him.”

Matthew scowled as Shane got off his stool and came over to run a hand through his hair and place a hard kiss on his lips. “You’re the only one for me, Matty. Timmy here has his own boyfriend now, Sifiso, a rich git from the Cameroon or something. I think he might even be a prince.”

Timmy chuckled but didn’t confirm Shane’s theory. Matthew was mollified by the kiss. “So what do you do for a living, Timmy?”

“The same as Shane. I work with software companies and sort out their security. But I’m afraid I’m nowhere in this man’s league. My man Backdoor is total legend and one of the most sought-after hackers in the industry.”

Matthew felt a swell of pride. “I know he has talents, but I don’t profess to know too much about what he does.”

Except he manages to piss people off royally and steal money from them. I need to talk to him about that later. I’m sure he’s the one who messed with Roy’s phone. Shane will be mortified when he hears it got David into trouble.
After
I tell him about what happened to David and that he’s staying with me. That might not go down too well either.

Timmy was leaning back with a wide grin on his face. “Oh, he has talents all right. My man Shane has an IQ of 145. That makes him truly gifted.”

Matthew stared at Shane in awe, noting his face turn pink at the attention. “Lover, is that right? I’m bonking a genius?”

Shane shook his head. “I’m not a bloody genius, you idiot. I just have an ability for certain things, that’s all. IQ tests aren’t a great barometer of intelligence.” He reached over and ran his hand down the stubble on Matthew’s chin. Matthew almost purred. Timmy laughed softly and shook his head.

“My God. You two are like an old married couple.” He regarded them affectionately, then frowned as he looked down and saw the ring on Matthew’s finger. He looked at Shane in sheer confusion. “Is there something you’re not telling me, Shanester?”

Matthew stiffened.

Shane stood up, uneasily glancing at Matthew, then back at Timmy, who sat there wide eyed. “No, that’s not
our
ring, Timmy. Um, it’s a long story and we don’t need to go into it now.”

His friend narrowed his eyes. “I never thought you would go out with a married man, Shane. That was always something you said you would never do.” His glance at Matthew was less friendly than it had been before.

Matthew felt the rising ire in his chest at the man’s sudden change of attitude. “I’m not married now,” he said curtly. “I was and I just haven’t taken the ring off yet.”

“That seems unfair on Shane,” said Timmy, his nostrils flaring.

Shane tried to change the subject. “I think it’s time for another drink, don’t you? Anyone for a margarita?”

Matthew regarded Timmy with a level stare. He knew the other man only had Shane’s best interests at heart, but he didn’t want to share his story with a man who was still a complete stranger.

“Like Shane said, it’s a long story. And Shane is fine with it. So I suppose you should be too. But I appreciate the concern you have for him.”

Timmy stared at him for a moment appraisingly and then nodded. “You are right. It is none of my business what your personal circumstances are. I apologise for questioning you. Shane, I will certainly have one of your famous margaritas.”

Shane gave a sigh of relief and went to sort out the drinks. The ring topic over, they settled back into more of a conversation, although Matthew could see Timmy was still wary of him. But his comments had hit home. Matthew looked down at his ring. He supposed it
was
unfair to Shane. But then Matthew had been clear that he didn’t want a relationship. As long as the ring was there it was a reminder to Matthew that he wasn’t free to give his heart. The problem was, he was starting to doubt his commitment to that as well. Seeing Shane standing there next to a man he’d had feelings for and looking so sexy had made Matthew’s hackles rise and his jealous green beast roar inside. He would have decked the man, bigger or not, if he’d found him with a hand on his lover. He squirmed at his thoughts and took a large slug of his wine.

“Did you manage to speak to David today like you said you would?”

Matthew realised Shane was speaking to him and he looked up. “Hmm? Yes, David came by the office today. That arsehole Roy beat him up again, and David’s left the house. He says he’s had enough. But Walter has frozen all the money he has, even the trust account. I need to see what I can do tomorrow to get it opened again.”

Timmy whistled. “Shane has told me this story. This young man’s father seems like a real nasty piece of work.”

Shane went still. Matthew could see the rise and fall of his chest under his shirt and see his hands clenched tightly at his sides.

His eyes were glacial. “They beat him up again and his father shut off his trust account?”

Matthew nodded. “I’m going to speak to my boss tomorrow about it. He’s an expert on this sort of thing and I’m hoping he can help.” He finished his wine and stood up to pour another glass, taking a deep breath. “David’s at my place at the moment. I gave him my key and told him to stay for a while until we can get things sorted.”

Shane moved around the side of the island. “David’s at your place? With a key? Wow, what a lucky man. As you know
I
haven’t even seen your place yet.” Shane’s voice was biting. Matthew sighed. “He had nowhere to go, and besides, David’s been there many times before. It’s no big deal, Shay. I—”

With one sweep of his hand, Shane sent his wine glass crashing across the top of the island, to fly into space and smash to the floor on the other side. Matthew stood up in sheer panic, as did Timmy.

“Hell, Shay, honey, take it easy,” exclaimed Matthew as he hurried over to Shane’s side. The man’s face was twisted in frustration. “No need to go crazy.”

“Well, no need apart from the fact he gets to be inside your bloody house and you won’t even take me there and the fact his father is a vicious, bullying wanker who thinks he can get away with anything.” Shane’s breath was deep, his face rosy. He moved over to the cupboard, pulled out a dustpan and brush and started angrily started sweeping up the glass shards.

Timmy looked uncomfortable at being caught up in the middle of this particular conversation.

“Why the hell did David get beaten this time? Did he mince too bloody much for Walter?” Shane’s angry tones echoed through the kitchen as he swept.

Matthew shook his head. “He was trying to get him to go out with a woman. David refused. And Roy was upset because of some gay porn he’d had sent from his phone. I imagine you had something to do with that, Shane?” Matthew gave a deep sigh. “Another consequence of your actions, Shane. He thought David had something to do with it and he beat the shit out of him for it.”

Shane went grey. “Roy blamed David for that? Is that why he was beaten?”

Matthew shook his head. “No. You can’t be blamed for all of that. David had the hell knocked out of him because he refused to go on a booty call with some woman his father picked out for him. He told his father to bugger off. But it didn’t help that Roy didn’t like the pretty-boy pictures you sent to all his bloody friends using his number and took it out on the only gay man he could readily get his hands on.” He couldn’t help the angry tone of his voice.

Timmy stood up suddenly. “I think I should leave now and let you two talk this over.” He picked up his coat which was slung over the back of his stool. “I shall call you tomorrow, Shanester. It was lovely meeting you, Matthew. I shall see myself out. You two carry on. You obviously have some issues to address and I think it will be better that I’m not here.”

Shane nodded and leaned in and hugged Timmy. “Yeah. I’ll speak to you tomorrow. Sorry about this.”

Timmy smiled, white teeth flashing. “No problem, my friend. Try not to kill each other.” He waved and departed.

Shane turned to Matthew and passed an unsteady hand over his eyes. “Jesus. I fucked up badly. How the hell could Roy think it was David? He doesn’t have a bloody clue about that stuff.”

Matthew regarded him in sympathy. “Shane, you can’t keep messing with people just because you can. Where the hell does it stop?” He walked over to the couch and sat down, weary to the bone. He closed his eyes and laid his head back against the couch. The couch seat dipped as Shane sat down next to him. He smelt the distinct woodsy aftershave of Shane’s cologne and felt the heat of his body as he leaned toward him.

There was warm breath in his ear as Shane whispered, “God, I’m sorry, Matty. I didn’t know David would pay the piper for that trick. I have to speak to him, tell him I’m sorry. I’ll go see him tomorrow.”

Matthew said nothing. He sat there, letting the hectic events of the day seep into the tiredness that was his body and mind. His head was stuffy, crammed with thoughts and emotions.

Shane stroked the top of his hand. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about that. But we didn’t know each other that well then.”

Matthew opened his eyes and looked at the other man. “You can’t just go in there—” he waved at Bushwhacker sitting on the lounge table, “—and do what you want. It’s pretty scary just how easy you seem to make it happen. God, I’d hate to see what you’d do if I pissed you off somehow.”

Shane stiffened beside him and he pulled back from Matthew. “I’d never do that to you, Matty, no matter what happens. How can you say something like that?” He sounded hurt, and Matthew reached up and caressed his cheek.

“You’re a one-man wrecking crew, Shay. And you’re impulsive. I appreciate you’d never intentionally do anything, but in the heat of the moment, who knows?” He grinned wryly. “I could end up being shipped off to Siberia, or suddenly be dead and not know it.” He laughed to take the seriousness out of his words. “Hell, how do I know you don’t already have your own Matthew Langer file in there, waiting for some secret code to be triggered that deletes me from the world if we ever part ways?”

Shane shifted and Matthew looked at him in dread. “You don’t have a file in there on me, do you? Please tell me you don’t.” Matthew was a very private individual and the thought of someone knowing more about him that he chose to reveal was abhorrent to him.

Shane looked at him, his eyes steady. “No, I don’t have a secret file. Why would I need a bunch of online stuff when I’ve got the real thing sitting in front of me?”

His warm lips pressed against Matthew’s and for a while there was no more talking. Finally they came up for air.

Matthew took a deep breath. “Shay, about the house. I’m sorry it’s such a thing with me. I know I’m a prick but you knew that when you took me on. I promise I’m working on my issues about that. Just be patient with me.”

Shane regarded him then shrugged. “Whatever.” But Matthew could still see the hurt in his eyes. “You made it clear when we started this…relationship…what it was all about. Sex, no strings, nothing too personal. You wear your wedding ring; you keep me away from your home. I’m just the available fuck buddy.”

“You are
not
just my fuck buddy,” Matthew growled.

Shane raised an eyebrow. “Oh? No? Then what am I, Matthew?” Shane’s voice was even.

“You’re
not
just my fuck buddy,” Matthew whispered, closing his eyes. “I don’t know what you are yet.”

The words hung in the air. He realised he might just have uttered the first words indicating Shane was more to him than he wanted him to be. The thought was both exhilarating and frightening. He didn’t want to dwell on it right now.

Shane seemed to realise this was a small breakthrough as a small smile played across his lips. He settled into Matthew, leaning into his shoulder, passing his hand across his chest as he leaned in. “You called me honey just now,” Shane murmured in his ear.

Matthew felt the slow lick of a tongue along his ear lobe. He shivered but stayed where he was. “I like the sound of it.” The lick got deeper, causing havoc in his groin despite his earlier frustration.

“Did I? Must have been a slip of the tongue.”

Shane laughed throatily, causing Matthew’s hard-on to strain at his trousers. “No Matty, I think this is what would be classed as a slip of the tongue.”

Shane’s warm, hard mouth took Matthew’s and true to promise, his wet, insistent tongue forged its way inside, teasing his lips, tasting like wine and uniquely of Shane.