“I just... nothing will really change, you know? You can still live in the clubhouse. And I will help you out with Fane. That’s a promise.”
Elliot nodded again and took a deep breath as if he had been drowning and was only now coming up for air. “I will never thank you enough, Knight. He scares me.” He clenched his eye, and Knight could just about imagine Fane hurling insults at the already crushed Elliot, so fragile in a world that treated him with no kindness.
“I know. It won’t take long now,” Knight said and rolled Elliot to his side, spooning him from behind. The soft texture of the dark hair tickled Knight’s mouth, but he didn’t pull away and just lay in place, happy to provide Elliot with some comfort. They were far too comfortable with each other to be bothered by nakedness, even after this disaster of a conversation, but Knight hated this new shift in his reality.
Elliot’s back fit so snugly against his chest as they lay together in silence. How would Knight live without this? How would he live when someone else took his place in Elliot’s bed?
By the time Elliot’s breathing slowed down and became shallow, Knight was done with agonizing. There were things that needed to be done, so why waste energy on others that couldn’t be changed?
He whispered Elliot’s name, slowly raising himself on one elbow, but when Elliot didn’t respond, Knight took a second to look at the pale, serene face of the only man who’d ever managed to pull on Knight’s heartstrings. It didn’t matter that Knight couldn’t be what Elliot needed—he would get over himself eventually—because that didn’t change the fact that Elliot was defenseless, vulnerable, and in need of Knight’s help. And Knight would do whatever he could to give Elliot a chance at a normal life. He wanted to see Elliot happy, even if he couldn’t be the reason for him smiling every day.
After pressing a soft kiss to Elliot’s temple he rolled away, still watching Elliot’s bare legs on the bed as he approached his jeans. The cell phone was easy enough to find, and he contemplated the boy in his bed even as he chose Beast’s number for the message he was about to write.
Chapter 30
“If anything weird happens, just call me, all right? And don’t take the straitjacket off, unless it’s absolutely necessary,” Knight said, adjusting the pillows laid out behind Elliot’s back.
Gray rubbed his chin, watching Elliot with his pale, neutral gaze. He sat on a chair close to the bed alongside Jake, who fidgeted in the seat, constantly changing position as if there were fleas in his clothes.
“It’s okay, we’ll keep him in the straitjacket,” Gray said calmly.
Elliot’s gaze followed Knight’s every move. “Will you be long?”
Knight licked his lips, so captivated by his black eye that for a moment he lost the plot. “Can’t say, really. If you need something, I’m sure the guys will help you out. You could all watch TV, or something. I have this new documentary series about the House of Bourbon. Could be up your street,” he said and opened a drawer, pulling out the DVD box set.
Jake moaned and put his face in his hands, but Elliot smiled even though his shoulders remained slouched. He’d been trying to put up a facade after what had happened between them, and it was painfully obvious.
“You didn’t tell me you got it in the end.”
Gray shrugged. “We’ll find something to do.”
Knight turned to his friends. “Part three could be interesting to all of you. There’s a lot about Louis XIV’s brother, and he was gay.”
“Oh, come on, Knight. This has no relevance to us. Not everyone dreams of living their life in the seventeenth century, wearing heels and wigs,” Gray said, pulling out an e-reader from a backpack he’d come with.
Knight took a deep breath. “Right. Just watch out for him.”
“We will keep your little kitten safe,” Jake said with a wide grin, which only reminded Knight that Elliot was no longer his. He’d barely even registered the fact that he and Elliot had been in fact together before reality slapped him in the face earlier that afternoon.
“Uh-huh.”
Elliot looked away, also unwilling to correct Jake.
Gray raised his eyebrows. “Knight, if you need to go, then go.”
“I was just about to. Isn’t this my home in the first place?” Knight growled and gave Elliot’s shoulder a gentle pat, just wanting to have one more look at him before they parted.
Elliot wouldn’t look up, but didn’t shy away from the touch either.
It was high time to go. Beast was already waiting for Knight with Laurent, and Knight didn’t want to tax their patience any further. He left, no matter how strong the pull to go back and hug Elliot again.
Galloping down the wooden staircase, he tried hard not to think about King’s eyes following him from his permanent post on the gargoyle statue. This whole ghost business was freaking him out far more than the fact that there was some kind of weird horned demon lurking around the property. And poor Elliot was forced to deal with this kind of shit every day, all the time. Not for much longer, if Knight had anything to say about it.