26

They didn't throw axes, though Ilya thought it sounded fun. But remembering how he'd somehow managed to throw the stick behind him when he'd tossed it for the dog on the beach made him concerned for Julien's head, toes, shins…ack…all of him. They discussed a number of things they could go and do, but staying in bed or walking on the beach was enough. More than enough. Being together was everything, and Ilya was thrilled that Julien seemed content with that too.

They laughed and messed around and tried prolonged edging, at which Ilya was embarrassingly bad—because it fucking hurt! But it made Julien laugh. He did manage to persuade Julien to dance, despite his protests that he couldn't. He could! Though once they were wrapped in each other's arms, the result was inevitable.

As was the passage of time.

Julien was due to leave that afternoon to drive to Battersea and change cars. Tomorrow, he had to pick up the van from Lors. Ilya hadn't stopped asking Julien to take him with him, not because he expected him to change his mind, but because he didn't want Julien to suspect he was up to something. Ilya had made plans of his own.

They were lying on the couch, his head resting on Julien's chest, when Julien's phone rang. A rattlesnake readying to bite and they both tensed.

Julien grabbed it. "Signal. The police."

They disentangled and sat up. Ilya pressed against him so he could hear.

"Hello?"

"It's West. Everything okay?"

"Yes."

"We're all set for tomorrow. I'm sending you the location of a large layby on the A22 close to Caterham in Surrey, where we can load the van into a lorry without being seen. If for any reason that can't happen, we'll have a police car in position at the entrance and it will be a sign to keep going onto the M25, which is a couple of hundred metres further on. Come off at Clacket Lane services instead and go into the lorry park. Someone will direct you. Once you and the van are in our vehicle, you'll be given another phone. Don't keep a phone with you that can betray the fact that you've been in contact with us."

Ilya nudged him and rolled his eyes. Julien smiled.

"Your parents aren't being cooperative,"

West said. "They don't see any reason why the police would put a plain clothes security detail in their house. They don't really want anyone outside, but that will happen."

"When are the French going to make their move?"

Ilya asked.

"At the same time that we strike in the UK. It will be before Julien leaves with the next vehicle. He'll be arrested too, for appearances' sake."

Ilya didn't like the sound of that at all.

"The French are excited at the prospect of getting their hands on Lors. So are the Brits. It will happen either in the UK or in Lorient. Either way, it's good news. There's just one thing."

Of course there was.

"We're going to have to manufacture a reason why you can't get to Lorient tomorrow. It's a long drive. It's not a good idea for you to arrive tired but more importantly, the French need extra time to get things into position. So your van will develop a fault. You'll go into Caen instead of taking the ring road around the town. You'll be sent directions to a garage, which has a motel close by. You can tell Lors they can't fix the van until the following morning. Give them the mechanic's number. He'll be a cop. Book a room. Get some sleep and collect the van at ten the next day. Then it's another three and half hours to Lorient."

West wished him luck and Julien put down his phone.

"I don't want this to be down to luck,"

Ilya whispered. "I want everything to be tightly organised, no holes, no stray threads…"

Julien wrapped his arm around him and Ilya turned his face away. Julien caught hold of his chin and pulled his head round. Ilya brushed his hand across his cheeks.

"Don't cry, crevette."

"You calling me a shrimp?"

Julien twisted Ilya's hair in his fingers. "It's a term of endearment."

"Okay, homade."

"I'm a lobster?"

"If I'm a shrimp."

Julien pressed his face into Ilya's hair. "Everything will be fine."

"Don't take any risks."

"No."

But the whole thing was a risk. "There'll be guns,"

Ilya blurted.

"Maybe."

"I'm not happy."

"I know you're not. I'll be careful. I promise."

Ilya had a lot more to say but nothing he said would ensure things turned out the right way.

"Make me stop thinking,"

he whispered.

Julien pulled him into his arms and they lay side by side. He had one hand in Ilya's hair, holding his head back as he dropped his mouth to Ilya's neck. Ilya dissolved. Something about Julien licking and kissing and sucking at his neck made him turn to jelly.

Ilya's T-shirt was pulled over his head, tossed aside, and Julien's tongue roamed over his collarbone, then across his nipples while Ilya writhed and groaned. Julien slid both hands inside the waistband of Ilya's jeans, cupped them around his arse and pulled him in tight.

"Are we ever going to be safe out in public?"

Ilya chuckled. "We can't keep our hands off each other."

Julien's mouth was back on Ilya's neck and a long, low moan poured from Ilya's lips.

"Mark me,"

Ilya whispered. "Bite me. Make me yours."

Julien lifted his head for a moment, met Ilya's gaze, then sucked Ilya's flesh into his mouth and bit down.

Oh God. Ilya pressed the heel of his hand into his cock to stop himself coming. He was a quivering mess. Julien stripped him and Ilya just lay there, helpless.

"Let's not mess up the couch again,"

Julien said and pulled him to his feet.

Ilya wasn't sure he could even walk. He half-staggered as Julien pulled him along, not helped by Julien divesting him of his jeans as they went. They ended up in front of the bedroom mirror, Julien fully clothed, Ilya naked in front of him.

Julien's fingers rose to the dark bruise on Ilya's neck. "Merde! Sorry!"

Ilya grabbed his hand. "No, I like it. It makes me yours."

He looked into the mirror at Julien. "I am yours, just in case you're wondering."

Julien kissed the top of his head. "I know."

"Always."

A muscle twitched in Julien's cheek. "Always."

Ilya turned in his arms and unbuttoned Julien's shirt, slipping his fingers inside to rub his nipples. He went up on his toes to land kisses on Julien's lips as he unfastened his trousers, then tugging them and his boxers over his hips before gripping his backside. Ilya ran his tongue along the inside of Julien's upper lip, then along his teeth. Their cocks were trapped between their stomachs and Ilya wriggled against him, smearing precome and driving himself crazy with a need for more.

They were both hard, and Ilya knew he wasn't going to last long.

He pulled away to blurt, "I want you inside me before we come. You have three seconds."

Julien laughed and let him go. "Better get onto the bed fast then."

Ilya stumbled into the bedroom and over to the bedside table to retrieve the lube and a condom. When he dropped onto the bed, Julien was leaning against the door jamb, looking at him.

"Get over here,"

Ilya ordered.

"Now who's the master?"

But Julien stalked towards him like a lean big cat, his eyes sparkling and grabbed the lube from Ilya's fingers.

"I need that!"

Ilya protested.

"Let me."

Oh God. Julien hadn't prepped him before.

"Do we need the condom?"

Ilya whispered.

Julien's eyes widened and he swallowed hard before he shook his head.

"I want to feel you come inside me."

"You need to stop talking now or that's not going to happen."

He filled his hand with lube and Ilya came up on his knees and scooped some out of his palm.

"Let me do this then."

He drew his hand up Julien's cock and was about to drag it down when Julien caught hold of his wrist.

"Really not a good idea if you're hoping for more than three seconds."

Ilya smiled.

"Lie down, bend your knees."

Julien hesitated, then added, "Brace yourself."

Ilya laughed, and did as he was told. Julien dragged his wet fingers between the cheeks of Ilya's arse, moving so gently over his hole that Ilya had to fight not to grab his wrist and push his fingers into him. But he did arch up to try and make Julien press harder. Fail. He closed his eyes and concentrated on breathing.

Then one finger was partway inside him, Julien's thumb caressing his balls, and Ilya released a little sigh.

"More,"

Ilya whispered.

He was trying to push back, make it easier but there was still that bite of discomfort as Julien's lubed finger slid deeper, feeling around. When he touched Ilya's prostate, Ilya wailed.

"You're so good,"

Julien whispered. "So tight. Two fingers now. Okay?"

"Yes, doctor."

Julien laughed. "Stop it."

Then he pushed again.

Ilya sucked in a breath at the intrusion, then all was perfect, especially when Julien leaned over to rub his bristly cheek on Ilya's cock.

Stars exploded in Ilya's head as Julien kept stroking his prostate and kissing his cock. But much as Ilya would have liked to lie there all night and have this done to him, he was on borrowed time.

"Enough,"

he said with a groan. "It's not really, but I want to come with you inside me."

Julien came up on his knees and positioned himself, pressing the head of his cock against the entrance to Ilya's body.

"I've not… I've never been inside anyone without a condom,"

Julien said quietly.

"Nor me. Either way round. But I really want you to do this."

Julien pushed, forcing Ilya open as he inched inside.

Ilya whined and gripped the backs of his knees more tightly. Pain merged with pleasure, but he'd only had to endure the discomfort for a moment until pleasure reigned. He wrapped his legs around Julien's back trying to both pull him in and open himself even more. Julien slid forward, his weight carrying him the rest of the way until he was fully inside Ilya.

Oh God! Ilya felt as if Julien was everywhere, in his chest, in his heart, in his throat. It was perfect. Then better than perfect when Julien began to move in long and slow thrusts while Ilya did nothing but lie there, losing himself in the delight of being fucked. With every perfect stroke of his cock, Julien was sliding over Ilya's prostate.

My heart is going to burst. Oh fuck!

He couldn't even raise his arms to Julien. He was barely hanging onto the back of his legs. Time disappeared. If his life had depended on it, he couldn't have said how long this had been going on. All he knew was that Julien was taking him on a journey through the universe, into starbursts and inside fiery comet trails and luminescent nebulae and…

Ilya was coming. He could feel threads gathering from all over his body, drawing up and racing for his groin. His breathing faltered. He opened his eyes to see Julien staring at him and he was gone, his cry surging from his throat, as warmth burst between them. Julien's thrusts paused for a moment before beginning again. Harder. Faster.

It was different without a condom. Better. God! Then with one final drive, Julien came too and Ilya felt it, clutching him as he shuddered.

Julien's damp forehead settled into the junction of Ilya's neck and shoulder and Ilya held him tight, as if he could make them one person. They were one person, just for a while, joined in this most intimate of ways. Ilya's world was finally right.

It was Ilya who took charge then. Wiped them both down, then snuggled into Julien who wrapped his arms around him. This was perfect too, coming down from the high together. One height Julien had no trouble with. A thought that made Ilya smile.

"I love you,"

Ilya whispered, then closed his eyes as if that would stop him hoping Julien said it back.

But Julien's steady breathing told him he was asleep. That was okay. He was still glad he'd said it.

Ilya was not feeling so happy when he became aware of Julien creeping from the bedroom. It might have been what he'd expected but he was still hurt, and that hurt stung like acid in his stomach. He kept his breathing steady until the bedroom door was shut. Only when he heard the car start up, did he reach for his phone. After he'd ordered a taxi, he showered, dressed and packed his rucksack. Money and passports went in along with a change of clothing.

Julien had left a note next to the kettle. I'm sorry. I care for you too much to risk you coming with me. Well, Ilya cared for Julien too much to let him do this on his own. Not that Ilya was going to interfere. He didn't want Julien worrying about him when he should be concentrating on the situation he was in. Ilya just wanted to be there in case or when Julien needed him. He didn't want him to do this entirely on his own. Ilya had the address in Lorient that Julien would be heading for and he also had the address of Julien's parents, which hadn't been hard to find. Once it was all over, he'd be close. That was all he wanted.

When the cab pulled up, Ilya set the alarm, locked up and climbed into the vehicle. He had the journey planned out. Cab to the nearest large station, then a train to St Pancras. The last Eurostar train left at around eight. He needed to catch it to get to Paris that evening. Tomorrow morning, he'd travel from Gare Montparnasse to Lorient. A three-and half-hour journey. He'd arrive in the town tomorrow, well before Julien got there.

At St Pancras, he had time to buy food, bottles of water and a couple of books to read. Before he reached Paris, he managed to book a room without having to give credit card details. It had taken a while to find somewhere. No major chain would accept a booking without a credit or debit card, so he doubted this place was going to be anywhere approaching luxurious but he didn't care.

Ilya had just stepped off the train at Gare du Nord when his phone rang. Julien on WhatsApp. His heart thumped. He'd been going to call him when he was in his room. Shit.

"Hi."

Ilya kept the phone close to his mouth and covered it with his hand, hoping that would muffle any giveaway noises. Please don't let there be any announcements. Fuck! I'm in a station. I have no chance.

"Sorry,"

Julien said.

"It's okay."

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

"Why aren't you pissed off?"

Whoops. "I knew you'd sneak out. You're very good at pretending to be asleep."

And so am I. "Thank you for your note. Are you at Battersea?"

"Yes. Missing you."

"I miss you too."

"Did I wake you?"

"No."

"You're in bed?"

"Not yet."

"Where are you? Put the camera on."

Oh God. The Gare du Nord was not the place for what Julien had in mind.

"I'm in France,"

Ilya said.

Julien laughed, as he'd hoped. Ilya hadn't wanted to lie. Julien didn't believe him right up until the bing-bong of an upcoming announcement. Shit.

"Ilya, where exactly are you?"

That was definitely an annoyed voice. "Don't be pissed off."

"Tell me where you are."

"Exactly? Hmm. Gare du Nord."

For a long moment, Julien didn't say anything.

"So I can't whip my dick out,"

Ilya said. "Sorry."

Julien managed a laugh, but Ilya knew he was cross.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I'm not letting you do this on your own."

"But you can't get involved."

"I just want to be near you. In the same town. That's all."

Julien was silent.

"I know where your parents live. I could go there tomorrow. Tell them I'm a friend. I am a friend. I wouldn't say anything I shouldn't."

"I can't believe you're in France."

Julien made a choked sound.

"Nor can I. I was a bit worried when the train went under the water. Thirty-five minutes, but it felt much longer. I thought I'd be able to see fish through the windows."

Ilya sounded as indignant as he could manage.

At least Julien laughed at that.

"I'll send you my father's number. Call him when you get into Lorient. I'll ask him to collect you from the station. Stay at the house with them. At least the police will be watching so I'll know you're safe. Please be careful what you tell my parents."

"Are you really angry?"

"If I was really angry, I'd tell you to go back to the UK. Be careful."

"You too. You did remember to change back to your other car, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Good. I won't tell your parents that you and I are…together."

"We're friends."

More than friends, but that wasn't for Ilya to tell them. "Are we going to survive this?"

he whispered.

"Yes, bratkin."

If everything went to plan, there was a chance. But was there a future for them if Julien ended up in jail?

Julien ended the call. Ilya wished he'd told Julien he loved him.