Chapter 15
Malachi
It took over two weeks for Malachi's concussion to stop affecting him, and during that time, he'd received dozens of emails from Tucker, bemoaning the fact he couldn't work. He probably could've, but his mother made him promise to fully recover this time, and he listened to her. After all, he'd been living with them for the first few days.
The day he woke where he had no aftereffects was a win for him. Not only because his head didn't spin or hurt, but because it meant he could start persuading Nick to touch him again. The odd chaste kiss and handholding was nice, but he wanted—no, needed—more. He needed to feel Nick surrounding him. Above him. Inside him. His dreams were out of control, and every part of his body ached—and not because of the incident, either.
That day was his doctor's appointment, and he was hoping for an all-clear so he could begin his seduction. It might take him a few days to break down Nick's barriers, but he'd do it. Being able to get dressed without an ache anywhere was a godsent miracle. And to be dressed within ten minutes was another. He had no qualms about using his newfound confidence in their relationship to sway Nick to his side of things.
Nick had been a constant bright light in his life while he'd been suffering the aftereffects of the head injury. Daily visits, sometimes early morning, sometimes late at night, but every time, he would sit with him and talk to him about what he'd done and give titbits of information about the royal family's activities. The behind-the-scenes version. He loved it. When he had time, Nick cooked for him, too. But other than cuddles on the sofa or kisses in the kitchen, Nick had hardly touched him.
When the doctor told him he had the all-clear, he almost wept with joy. It had been a long road of thinking he was all right, and then having another headache or dizzy spell take him down. But now he was better—on the understanding that he still needed to be careful, and if he experienced any effects, he needed to go back—and he could plan his attack.
There was one unpleasant thing that came from getting better…
"Good morning," he said when he entered the office of the Windsor Chronicle. He received maybe two replies, but they had never been the sociable kind, at least not with him. He knocked on Tucker's door and entered when called.
"Fucking finally," his boss said when he saw him. "Stupid of you to knock yourself out while on assignment. You've wasted weeks now."
Tucker was a lean man, the muscles he'd grown in the Army having diminished once he finished working out regularly. His attitude, however, had only grown larger.
For once, Malachi didn't cower in his presence, though he was careful with his words, reminding himself of the lie the security team had concocted about what happened to him. "I have the opportunity to go back, which I will be doing today. You'll still have the inside scoop."
"If they haven't brought in someone else to do your job, that is." Malachi said nothing. "Get your ass back to work. I expect an article ready to go this afternoon."
If nothing else, Malachi knew what Tucker was like and had predicted this, so he already had an article he'd been writing during the past two weeks. One that made him physically ill to write, but he had known it was necessary. Nick, however, had told him to quit. He'd said he could look after any future hospital costs, or even the royal family could, but Malachi didn't want to depend on others. He was an independent, self-sufficient man, who had the ability to provide his family with private hospital care they wouldn't otherwise get by just staying in the job he hated.
He was a little concerned about what he would do once his contract was up. Then, he definitely wouldn't be able to cover the hospital costs should he need to, but he'd cross that bridge when he came to it.
"You'll have it."
Tucker said nothing further, and Malachi retreated. He rarely stayed in the office to do anything, and he didn't then either. He went straight for home, packed a bag and headed to Windsor like Nick had told him to. The guards let him in but asked him to wait in his car until he had an escort arrive to take him into the castle. He didn't mind. He loved looking at the area no public was allowed in, except in extremely specific conditions. Studying his surroundings meant he noticed when someone walked towards him. He recognised Felix immediately and climbed out of the car.
"Good afternoon, Malachi. Or do you prefer Kai?" Felix tilted his head as if studying his reactions.
Malachi smiled. "Either is fine, though I don't promote the Kai version."
"I'll stick with Kai, then. How are you feeling?" he asked as they headed inside.
"A lot better, thanks. Had the all-clear from the doc today."
Felix smiled. "That's great news."
They spoke some more, and it wasn't long before Malachi noticed they weren't heading towards the suite. "Where are we going?"
"Sec HQ."
"Why's that?"
"We have a few things we want to go through with you before you resume your visit. Is that okay?"
He wasn't truly asking, but it was fine—understandable, even—and he said so. "As long as I'm not heading for the gallows, I'm good."
Felix grinned, making him look much younger than Malachi initially thought he was. "You're good then. We don't execute people for their opinions anymore."
"Good to know. It's not my opinion, though. Just so we're clear. They're just words meant to make the royal family look bad, which I know is not a great job, but hopefully, my other articles counteract most of the damage I cause."
Felix paused by a door and faced him. "You don't have to explain yourself to us. We understand. So do the Sutcliffes."
Malachi briefly wondered if Nick had told them about the real reason he did what he did, but he didn't think the man would break a confidence like that unless he had to.
They entered the room he had never been allowed in before. Nick had probably been concerned he'd use it against them, and his mouth twitched at the thought. He'd have to ask him later.
"Nick is currently guarding the king, so you'll have a different guard for now. Me." Felix grinned.
Malachi chuckled. "Good to know. I'd hate to have to break in a new one already," he joked, and chuckles resounded around the room.
Felix snapped his fingers. "Nick will never live that down."
He wondered if he'd said the wrong thing, but the humour in Felix's gaze was contagious, and he couldn't find it in himself to worry. He doubted Nick would be upset, maybe just embarrassed.
"Brett would like to talk to you about what we've found out so far."
He nodded. "Okay, great. Not sure if I'll be much help, but I'd love to know what the heck's going on."
"You're not the only one," Brett said, heading their way. "We'd love to know, too."
Malachi's stomach churned at being so useless. He had seen nothing, and if he had, he didn't remember it.
"What can I do to help?"
"Tell us about Tarrant Milton, to begin with."
They settled into seats, and Malachi gave them everything he knew about the guy, which wasn't much. He'd hardly researched him because he hadn't thought it was necessary. He had been all talk.
"Well, we've found out he's attending the event at the end of the month. If you're in agreement, we'd like you to contact him."
"Why?"
Brett leaned back, crossing his hands over his stomach. "He's fairly benign in his messages, but there is a chance he could escalate and become a problem, if he hasn't already. We'd like to stop that from happening, so we want you to approach him, or let him approach you, and then Nick can get an opinion of him."
"So, I'll just debrief Nick when I'm done?"
Felix chuckled. "Nick will be right beside you as your date."
Malachi's jaw dropped. "He what?" He shook his head. "I don't want to push him to do that. He might not be ready."
Brett chuckled this time. "He's met your family. I think he's all in."
"How did you…?" Malachi grimaced. "The guard."
Brett smiled. "Not much we can keep from one another unless we try really hard. And besides, Nick's been obsessed with you for a long time. It wasn't a case of if he would fall, but when."
Brett moved on to other questions, but Malachi's head stuttered over his words. He'd implied Nick was in love with him. How did Malachi feel about him? Can people fall in love that quickly? He wasn't sure. All he knew was that he enjoyed being with the man, and he yearned for him whenever he wasn't with him. Was that love?
Eventually, they finished with the questioning, and Malachi slumped in his chair. "That was harder than my Spanish GCSE exam."
Felix snorted. "Brett's inquisitions usually are." He stood. "Come on. I'll take you to your man."
"He's not…" He paused at the expressions on both men's faces and swallowed. "Okay, thank you," he finished, nearly tripping over his bag as he stood. He was tired.
"Would you prefer I take you to the suite? I can tell Nick where you are?"
"Is that okay? I don't want to mess with your plans, but I'm so tired." Lethargy dragged at him.
"Of course it's okay. I'll get you settled and then find Nick. I'm sure he'll be there soon enough."
Felix led the way, and Malachi dragged his feet. He was a lot more tired than usual, but the doctor had said he would tire more easily while he was getting back to where he had been. When they entered the suite he had used before, he thanked Felix.
"There will be someone outside your door all the time. Not because we don't trust you. We want to make sure you're safe. Let them know if you need anything or anyone."
Malachi smiled. "Thanks. I think I'll just take a nap and recharge until Nick gets here."
"Sounds like a good plan. I'll see you later, I'm sure."
Felix's words sounded like a prophecy, but he chose not to think like that. When Felix disappeared, he only took the time to take off his shoes and trousers but left everything else on.
He couldn't remember falling asleep, but he knew how he woke. Cocooned, warm and surrounded by a scent that was already becoming familiar. Nick. Smiling, he nestled closer, and Nick's arms tightened around him.
"How are you feeling?"
"Much better. All the questions fried my brain." He chuckled and squirmed around until he faced him. "How was your day?"
"We're all alive, so I count that as a win." Nick's mouth curved on one side. "Are you still feeling okay? No lingering pain or dizziness?"
Malachi's heart thumped painfully at the concern in his voice. Nick always took care of those around him, and now it was time for Malachi to look after him. He pushed Nick to his back and straddled him, leaning down and rubbing their noses together with a smile.
"I'm fine. Just a little lingering tiredness, but nothing to worry about." He brushed their lips together, enjoying the way Nick opened for him without hesitation. Tongues tangling, the kiss deepened, Malachi loving how Nick let him take charge. He'd never had that before, having always chosen the wrong person to sleep with. It was hard for him to explain what else he desired from sex, so most of the time he let it lay dormant, ignoring the need like he ignored everything else he couldn't change. Maybe, in time, he could bare his soul, and Nick wouldn't throw him to the curb.
But right then, he had other plans to fulfil. Pulling away from Nick's tantalising mouth, he peppered kisses down his neck, unfastening the buttons of his shirt so his mouth could taste his skin. He dragged the ends of his shirt from his trousers and pushed the edges aside, bearing Nick's chest and stomach. Meeting his gaze, he skimmed his fingers across the slightly bronzed skin, enjoying the warmth of it, and ran a pad of one finger across each nipple.
Nick hissed, his indrawn breath long and loud in the otherwise silent room. Malachi wanted to hear more of it, so he flicked a blunt nail over the tip, and Nick rewarded him with another sound. Unable to hold himself back, he lowered to his forearms and sucked a nub into his mouth. He didn't go easy. At his constant ministration, the nipple beaded, and when he was satisfied, he took it between his teeth, peered up at Nick and bit down gently.
The widening of his eyes and the gaping of his mouth was another reward, and Malachi wondered if his needs might meet with Nick's after all, but then he pushed it aside again. Just because there were rumours of the Sutcliffes owning or attending Club Royal didn't mean it was true. And he wasn't about to ask.
Laving the nub to soothe it, he then moved to the other, giving it the same treatment. Nick's fingers clenched around a fistful of covers, and Malachi smiled, breaking his hold. He reached up and kissed Nick again, spearing his tongue inside, needing to taste him again. Grinding down on him, an answering hardness met his, and he repeated the action, dragging a moan from Nick's throat and swallowing it down his own.
Nick tore his mouth away. "Fuck," he breathed as Malachi attacked his neck again.
Malachi's finger got busy fumbling with Nick's trousers, and within seconds, he dragged them down his legs, baring him to Malachi's gaze once more. Seeing him in the shower was nothing compared to having him laid out for him, and he licked his lips, eyes on his prize. But before he delved in, he undressed Nick completely, and then himself, shucking the T-shirt, boxers and socks he'd kept on from before he fell asleep.
When he met Nick's gaze, he spread Nick's legs and rubbed his hands up his thighs to where he wanted them. Then he paused. He studied Nick's quickening breath, his tight jaw, his flaring nostrils, and waited. He would never take something that wasn't his to give, and neither would Nick, so he waited for Nick to confirm he was okay with what they were doing. Within seconds, Nick relaxed and nodded, and Malachi beamed at him. Taking it slowly, he wrapped his hand around Nick's cock, the heat seeping into his palm, and stroked. Nick hissed.
Gone was the boy whose ideals had been dashed at his first job. Gone was the reporter who wanted a story to ensure his family stayed safe. Gone was the man who was scared to take control. In their place was a man who knew what he wanted.
And he wanted Nick at his mercy.
Leaning down, he licked the head, humming at the explosion of his taste. He did it again, needing more. And when that wasn't enough, he sucked the head into his mouth.
"Fuck, fuck," Nick murmured.
Malachi closed his eyes, concentrating on his taste and ensuring he made this the best he could. He needed to give this to Nick, a small piece of himself, and though it wasn't a tit-for-tat relationship, he wanted to show him how much he meant to him. How far he had fallen in such a short time. Though had it really been short? They'd both admitted to feeling the attraction from almost the beginning. Could they have had feelings involved for a lot longer than when Nick first found out about Kai?
He pushed the thought aside for thinking about later and concentrated on sucking. Malachi sank down as far as he could, loosening his throat to get further, and Nick thrust up.
"Jesus, Kai."
If he could've smiled, he would have. Instead, he went to work, bobbing and swallowing, sending Nick as close to the edge as he could without going over. And when Nick's words turned to babbles, he pulled back.
"Holy…" Nick panted, pupils dilated and eyes unfocused.
Malachi braced himself on his hands by Nick's chest and kissed him. He waited for him to come back to earth, their cocks nudging each other as Malachi circled his hips, keeping the arousal simmering. When Nick focused on him, he smiled and whispered against his lips, "Can I fuck you, Nick?"
Nick's gaze roamed across Malachi's face, and he didn't move, allowing him to make whatever decision was best for him. They hadn't talked about who was a top or bottom, and while Malachi was vers, he preferred to top. It didn't mean he wouldn't bottom if Nick needed him to, but he loved to be the one making someone lose control. It wasn't even that he needed the control, not totally, but being the cause of someone letting go enough to fly was a high he never tired of.
As Nick stared at him, he hid nothing of what he was feeling. He let Nick see it all because what was the point of a relationship if they were going to hide who they were? Nick reached up and cupped his cheeks, brushing his thumbs over his skin and pulling him down for a kiss. When they parted, Nick smiled.
"Make love to me, Kai."
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