15. Fourteen - Keegan

Holy fuck.

It had been hours since Izzy passed out. He’d woken briefly when Keegan was cleaning them both up. He’d given a thumbs-up, without lifting his head from the pillow, in response to Keegan asking how he felt, then passed out again. He hadn’t so much as twitched since.

Keegan, however, was still staring at the ceiling, deep satisfaction mixed with a some trepidation keeping him from sleep. He hadn’t meant to go so hard, but as always with Izzy, he got carried away. Some of the things he’d said would probably make him squirm in the light of day, but he didn’t have any intention of taking them back. The only reason he wasn’t holding to his promise to still be inside Izzy when he woke up was because his promise not to hurt him took precedence.

There was no way Izzy wasn’t going to be sore as hell. Keegan had abused the fuck out of his ass, first by edging him long past when a sane person would have tapped out, then with what turned out to be his very first fisting.

If Izzy wanted sex again anytime in the next week, Keegan would suspect he was an incubus. Those were the insatiable sex demons, right?

The sky was starting to lighten. He wasn’t sure what time Xavier would be arriving, but he wanted to make sure Izzy was functional again before he did. Hell, he needed to make sure they both were.

He pressed a lingering kiss to Izzy’s bare shoulder, breathing in the scent of him—sweat, sex, and lube. He quirked a grin. Not the most pleasant smell, but the reminder of what they did set off something Pavlovian that made his dick twitch.

Izzy grumbled in protest. “No way,” he slurred. “My ass is closed for business.”

Keegan had to laugh, sure those words had never passed Izzy’s lips before in his life. He got a deserved pinch to the side for that.

“Asshole,” Izzy said, though amusement was clear in his tone as well. “I know what you’re thinking.”

Keegan kissed his cheek. “Is it that, if I had my way, your ass would be for private parties only?”

Izzy lifted his head and squinted at him in the brightening room. “Like orgies?”

Keegan shut his eyes for a moment, lips twitching with restrained laughter before he tugged Izzy into a closemouthed kiss. He needed several minutes with a toothbrush before anything else. “No, Izzy, not orgies. I’m thinking smaller.”

“Threesomes?”

Keegan frowned, unsure. Was that what Izzy wanted? Something open? Could Keegan handle it if he did?

Izzy chuckled and returned his kiss. “I’m fucking with you. I know I have a reputation—and it was hard-earned—but it’s never been about the number of guys.” His expression turned sheepish. “Most of the time, it wasn’t about them at all.”

Keegan nodded slowly. He’d come to that conclusion on his own. “So, if I asked you for—” He hesitated. He was going to say exclusivity, but that sounded too cold and didn’t nearly cover everything he wanted from Izzy. “I want you to be mine,” he said finally. “I want to be yours as well. Your boyfriend or your partner. Whatever you want to call it that means we’re both off the market.”

Izzy’s face lit up, happiness mixed with relief. “Yeah?” he asked.

Keegan nodded. “Yeah.”

Izzy’s cheeks flushed, and he tried to hide the reaction by kissing Keegan again. “Okay,” he said.

Keegan kissed him back, morning breath be damned, then retaliated for the pinch. “Okay, he says. After I pour my heart out.”

Izzy let out an outraged grunt and broke the kiss to smack Keegan’s shoulder. “If that was you pouring your heart out, you have some work to do.”

Keegan decided to let his actions speak for him. He rolled out of bed and dragged Izzy after him, supporting him while he remembered how his legs worked, then directing him downstairs to the shower.

He let the dogs out while the water heated. He was pretty sure they were all judging him for what he and Izzy had gotten up to the day before, but they would just have to get used to it. He wasn’t letting his brat go anytime soon.

Just after lunchtime, a familiar SUV drove up the fire road and parked next to Keegan’s truck. He was pretty sure it wasn’t Xavier’s.

“Oh,” Izzy said, glancing out the window. “Ash drove.”

Keegan gave him a questioning look.

“Asher, Xavier’s PA. I remember his SUV from when he drove me to your place that one night.”

Ah. That’s where he recognized it from. The mystery person who’d dropped Izzy off the night he’d shown up wasted to tell Keegan how much he hated him. It felt like years ago instead of weeks. It was a mindfuck how much things had changed.

Asher and Xavier got out of the front, then Xavier circled around and helped Finn down from the back seat. He kept hold of Finn’s hand as the group started for the cabin. He’d expected Xavier on his own, but he supposed it made sense. They had come straight from the airport.

Keegan hoped the extra people wouldn’t set off Izzy’s anxiety, not that he’d ever shown signs of his trouble being social. But he’d been hesitant to tell even Xavier his story, to the point that Keegan had suggested Xavier do some of his own research on Joshua Martin beforehand.

Keegan let their visitors in, directing them as to where they could hang their coats and leave their boots. While they did that, Keegan turned to check on Izzy.

Izzy was waiting in the space between the kitchen and the living room. He had his hands shoved in his pockets, and he was rocking on his heels, hiding his reaction behind an unconcerned mask. Keegan was taken aback for a moment, but of course Izzy would protect himself. The bigger surprise was Izzy’s walls being so far down that it was a shock to see them raised again.

Keegan shook Xavier’s hand and thanked him for coming. Despite Xavier’s power and money, he was a good man who took care of his friends and family. When Keegan had reached out, he hadn’t hesitated to offer his help. In fact, he’d expressed remorse that Izzy hadn’t come to him sooner.

Xavier turned to Izzy, who returned his handshake somewhat reluctantly. “Thanks for driving up,” he said, tone bored. His gaze drifted to Finn, and Keegan saw the deflection coming a mile away. Instead of letting Izzy act like an ass, he cleared his throat and gave him a pointed look.

Izzy’s eyes narrowed, and his nostrils flared like a horse that was deciding whether to lash out.

Keegan raised an eyebrow and Izzy winced, deflating.

He turned back to Finn. “Good to see you, Finny. Sorry to fuck up the end of your vacation.”

Finn’s eyes went wide. “You didn’t,” he exclaimed, then stepped forward and flung his arms around Izzy’s waist in a hug that had Izzy freezing in shock before slowly returning it. Finn was blushing when he stepped back.

Izzy ruffled his hair, then nodded to Asher. “Hey, Ash.”

Asher smiled, showing off his perfect teeth. “Good to see you again, Izzy.”

Keegan bristled at the look the two of them exchanged, then scolded himself. There was no reason for him to act like a jealous idiot. The look was nothing. Just because Asher had driven Izzy that night didn’t mean there had been anything between the two of them. In fact, it made it less likely. Keegan’s inner caveman needed to cool it with the possessiveness. It would be ridiculous to get worked up every time he encountered someone Izzy had potentially slept with. Not to mention exhausting.

Instead of stewing in his thoughts, Keegan offered everyone drinks.

They got settled in the living room. Keegan had to pull the two kitchen chairs over so they’d have enough seating. Izzy had claimed a spot on the sofa, and Riley had commandeered the space next to him, her chin on his thigh as he stroked her head. Asher took one of the chairs, while Xavier took the other and tugged a blushing Finn to sit on his knee.

When Keegan finished handing out the drinks—cider for Izzy and Finn, coffee for himself and Xavier, and tea for Asher—he took the open space next to Izzy. He stretched his arm along the back of the couch, surreptitiously giving Izzy’s neck a supportive squeeze.

They indulged in a few minutes of small talk, Keegan asking about their trip and how Asher was enjoying living in Split Rock. Izzy was quiet through most of it, fidgeting with his mug, his knee bouncing.

Once the polite part was out of the way, Xavier surprised Keegan by suggesting he and Izzy take a walk. Keegan’s first instinct was to protest. He wanted to be there to help keep Izzy calm and fill in any gaps. And he especially wanted to make sure Izzy wasn’t taking on any blame for Josh’s actions.

Except Xavier knew what he was doing, and Izzy looked relieved that he wouldn’t have to tell the story in front of the entire group. Keegan relented but insisted that Izzy take Riley with him, just in case. He kept his voice low, but Izzy still made a face and shifted uncomfortably. In the end, he agreed, and Keegan felt better about having Izzy out of his sight.

Once they were back in winter gear and out the door, Xavier promising they were only walking down the fire road and back again, Keegan tried to relax. This was good. This is what he’d hoped for and what Izzy needed. So why did it feel so wrong that Keegan wasn’t part of it? It wasn’t as if Keegan had some kind of savior complex. He didn’t need to personally fix the issues in Izzy’s life. But he did want to be there to support him, to give Izzy someone to lean on, to remind him he wasn’t alone anymore. That Keegan loved him.

Keegan should probably tell Izzy that he loved him.

Finn had abandoned his cider on the coffee table and gone to pet Lucky. Within seconds, he was on the floor with a lapful of excited German shepherd, getting his face covered in doggie kisses. After a few minutes, Chance wandered over to greet Finn as well. Finn was careful to stay calm and let Chance come to him, and he ended up with the wolf-dog stretched out next to him getting pets while Lucky did his best to become a lapdog.

Finn’s easy way with animals reminded Keegan of George. It was part of the reason Keegan was looking forward to working with him on the Fly Away Home project, as Finn had dubbed it. They were still in the early stages, but George was enthusiastic, and Finn had already identified several people with private planes who were willing to help transport rescue animals to their new homes.

“When’s your last day at the store?” Keegan asked Finn.

Finn did all the deliveries for his grandfather’s feed and general store, but with the new venture, he was stepping back so he could devote more time to it, with Xavier’s complete support—both emotional and financial. “Two weeks,” Finn said, his eyes alight with excitement. “Pops has agreed to work part time and let Grace take over the day-to-day. And Grace’s son, Jamie, has been looking for a second job when he isn’t at the café, so I’m going to train him to do the deliveries.”

Keegan’s eyebrows went up. “Jamie? I didn’t realize he could drive.”

Finn cocked his head. “He’s twenty-three.”

Keegan huffed. That wasn’t what he meant. He knew the Cabots well, and Jamie was notoriously clumsy. He’d failed his driver’s test three times, and the last Keegan heard, he was trying to convince his parents to let him borrow the car so he could attempt it a fourth time. He must have finally passed. “Well, good for him. I’m sure he’ll do his best.” He tried hard to keep that from sounding condescending, but he knew he’d failed when Asher snorted.

Moving on. Keegan changed the subject to Asher’s plans now that Xavier had relocated from Los Angeles to Split Rock.

As they spoke, Keegan found himself checking both his watch and the door repeatedly. How long had they been gone? Was the conversation going well? Was Izzy getting anxious? Keegan was grateful he’d sent Riley with them, but she could only do so much. He should have warned Xavier that Izzy could get vicious if he felt cornered.

He tried to keep in mind that Xavier was excellent at his job and had dealt with clients much more difficult than Izzy was at his worst. And Izzy wouldn’t be at his worst. Probably.

As time dragged on, Keegan’s fretting turned to other things. It was cold, and the temperature was dropping as the afternoon stretched on. Izzy’s leg would start to ache if he was out there for too long, and he would never say anything to Xavier. Was he in pain? Why didn’t Keegan suggest they talk in the car where it was warm and they’d be in eyesight.

“Man,” Ash said, the laughter in his tone catching Keegan’s attention. “Here.” He held out his cell phone to Keegan, who took it, despite his confusion. On the screen was a map with just one road on it and a steady blue dot. “I’m tracking the boss’s phone,” Ash explained. “They’re on their way back.”

Keegan grunted in acknowledgment, then cleared his throat and handed the phone back. “Thanks,” he said, a little embarrassed at being caught. “He’s had a rough few weeks. I’m sure I’m overreacting.”

“Is that why he didn’t come with us to New York? Micah said he was dealing with personal stuff.”

Keegan shot him a surprised look. “Xavier didn’t explain?”

Finn shook his head. “He said you asked for his advice and it was up to Izzy to explain more than that.” He shrugged and glanced at the door as well. “I don’t like to pry.”

Damn, he was sweet. Xavier had lucked out with that one. Not that Keegan hadn’t. Izzy, for all his prickliness and mood swings, was much more Keegan’s type.

“I don’t know what Izzy is comfortable with people knowing,” he told Finn kindly.

Finn nodded. “He’s been really anxious the last few times I’ve seen him. It seems like Riley helps with that.”

“She does,” Keegan said.

“That’s great,” Finn replied, looking relieved. “I wish I had something like that.” He tilted his head thoughtfully. “Though, I have Xavi. He’s good at helping me stay calm.”

Asher let out a bark of laughter. “Did you just compare your billionaire boyfriend to a service dog?”

Finn froze, flushed red, and hid his face in his hands. “Oh my god , Ash,” he whined.

Ash didn’t seem inclined to let the comment go. “We should get him a vest. Day-Glo orange with ‘Finn’s Emotional Support Daddy’ embroidered on the back.”

Finn was saved from more embarrassment by heavy boots on the front porch. Xavier and Izzy entered in a swirl of flurries.

Keegan was halfway to Izzy before he realized he’d stood, and by then, it was too late to stop. He continued into Izzy’s space instead, cupping his cold cheeks and searching his expression. “You okay?” he asked softly, his words obscured by Finn exclaiming about the unexpected snow.

Izzy looked tired and sad, but he wasn’t on the verge of a panic attack like Keegan had feared. Riley was getting so many treats, they would have to roll her down the mountain. “I’m okay,” Izzy replied. “Xavier says he’s gonna take care of everything. A few more days and any links between Josh and me will be buried.” Izzy didn’t sound as enthused about that as Keegan would have expected. It was probably just too much to process. Keegan wished for nothing more than to kick everyone out of his cabin and bundle Izzy back into bed.

“I’m sure Josie can cover for me for a few more days—” Keegan started, but Izzy was shaking his head.

“No,” he said. “It’s fine. I need to go home anyway. I figured I’d catch a ride with Xavier.”

Keegan went still, the heaviness that had been sitting in his stomach all afternoon forming into a solid rock. “I—” He stopped. He didn’t know what to say. “Oh. Of course.”

Izzy stepped closer and wrapped his arms around Keegan’s neck, tucking his face into the curve of his throat, keeping his voice low as he spoke close to Keegan’s ear. “I just need a couple of days, okay? I feel like we’ve been in a fantasy bubble that just burst, and I’m not sure which way is up.”

Keegan hugged him back, just as tightly. He understood. He felt the same way to an extent. “On one condition,” he told Izzy.

Izzy heaved a put-upon sigh. “Seriously? You have conditions?”

“Yep,” Keegan said. “I’m still your kidnapper, after all.”

He felt Izzy’s smile against his throat. “All right, lay it on me.”

“Take Riley with you.”

Izzy stiffened. “I can’t—”

“She’ll be devastated if you don’t,” Keegan insisted. “I have enough food and water for her here to last you a week. Which, by the way, is all you’re getting.”

Izzy lifted his head, expression incredulous. “Oh, really?”

“Really,” Keegan said, daring him to argue. “You agreed to be mine, Isaac. I’m not letting you back out so easily. Deal?”

Izzy’s smile was hesitant, but real. “Deal.”

Four days.

That was all Keegan had lasted before he found himself locking up the clinic early and driving over to the ranch in search of his wayward brat.

It wasn’t as if they had cut all communication since the cabin. Izzy had texted a picture of Riley with her head out the window of the SUV as they made their way down the mountain. Keegan had reacted, after a brief search, with a heart-eyed dog emoji that got him a string of laughing faces in return.

It had lightened some of the heaviness in his chest as he had packed, loaded the other two dogs into the truck, and closed the cabin. It wouldn’t be the last week Izzy spent there with them, Keegan was sure of it. Even if he had to talk to Ryan into letting Keegan kidnap his ranch hand again.

That first message was followed by multiple “Riley” updates a day. There was usually just enough information in the background so that he knew Izzy was also okay. Like the photo of Riley in bed, stealing Izzy’s pillow, along with the caption “I think I’m gonna need a bigger mattress.”

Keegan responded with a screenshot of a room with two king-sized mattresses pushed together.

Or the picture of Riley on the back porch up at the ranch house with Milo, both of them with tongues lolling and mud up to their bellies.

Brat

Milo is a bad influence on our sweet girl.

Keegan had set the photo, along with the text, as his lock screen. He was holding Izzy to that “our.”

That had been yesterday and, since then, radio silence.

Which was why Keegan was walking down the main aisle of the barn three days early, in search of Izzy. It was quieter than usual for a weekday afternoon, but there could be several reasons for that. Izzy’s car was outside, at least, so he was around somewhere. Hopefully he wouldn’t be too pissed off at Keegan for breaking his word about giving him a week. If he was, Keegan had half a dozen ways in mind to make it up to him.

He tried the loft first, but his knock went unanswered. He called out as well, just in case, but was met with more silence.

Back in the barn, he headed for the far end, where the rescues were still stalled. Turning the corner, he came to an abrupt halt at the sight in front of him. What the hell?

It was Alice, which was only a little surprising because the last he’d heard, she was avoiding the rescues until they were healthier and didn’t trigger so many feelings. That must have changed in the week Izzy and Keegan were gone. Alice had Sunny, the demon pony, in the crossties and was crouched in front of her, dropping loud kisses on her nose.

“Who’s the goodest girl?” she asked in a voice that Keegan often heard her use on her foals and his dogs. “You. Yes, you are,” she said, giving Sunny several more kisses before standing, grooming brush in hand.

Keegan had to admit, Sunny looked great, her coat as clean and well-groomed as he’d ever seen it, her mane and tail brushed and tangle-free. Even her fuzzy ears were up, perked in Alice’s direction and swiveling to listen to her as she moved around, cleaning up.

“Um. Alice?” Keegan called, keeping his voice low but afraid to get any closer, lest he startle Sunny and Alice got hurt in the process.

Alice turned, noticed him, and gave a little wave. “Hi. Are these guys on your schedule today?” Her gaze shifted to the side as she went through her mental calendar.

“No,” Keegan said. “I was just stopping by.” His eyes went back to Sunny. “I know you have the magic touch,” he told her. “But that pony was vicious a week ago. What happened?”

“What happened with— Oh, this sweet girl?” She leaned down and wrapped her arms around Sunny’s neck, half draped over her back in a way that made Keegan cringe internally and fear for her safety. “She just hates men,” Alice told him bluntly.

Keegan stared. “She…”

Alice stayed where she was, while Sunny stood patiently—like she hadn’t nearly taken off Keegan’s balls with her teeth a month ago. “Hates men,” Alice repeated. “Izzy couldn’t believe it either, but it’s true. It was just the ladies here while you and Izzy were doing whatever two guys do locked in a cabin in the mountains for a week. We figured it out pretty fast, and Micah tested it when they got back. He’s still limping a little.” She stood and flicked her messy braid over her shoulder. “Too bad we didn’t know sooner. I guess it could have saved you some time.”

Keegan shook his head, bemused. If it weren’t for Sunny and her apparent man-hating ways, Keegan might never have taken the time to get to know Izzy. And Izzy sure as hell wouldn’t have let Keegan in. So, really, he was grateful, even if the process had been painful for everyone involved. “It’s fine. It was time well spent, either way.”

Alice nodded. “Yeah. That’s what Izzy said too.”

“Speaking of Izzy,” Keegan said. “Is he around?”

“No,” Alice replied, unclipping Sunny to return her to her stall.

“Do you know when he’ll be back?”

“Why would I? I’m not his secretary.” Alice sounded a little exasperated, and Keegan bit back a chuckle. “After the interview, I guess.”

Keegan stilled. “Interview?”

Alice didn’t answer, and Keegan had to wait impatiently while she finished putting Sunny away and shut the stall door.

“Alice,” he tried again. “ Who’s interviewing him? And where ?”

Alice frowned at him. “I don’t know. Some reporter.” Her eyes narrowed. “Are you freaking out?”

Keegan ran a hand through his hair, trying to keep his sudden worry and frustration to himself. “I’m not freaking out,” he told her. Which might be a lie in about two minutes if someone didn’t tell him what the hell was going on. “I just need to find him.”

“Okaaay,” she said, clearly not believing him. “If Izzy isn’t telling you, why don’t you ask Xavier? He drove.”

Keegan was going to have words with Xavier for keeping this from him. But first, he needed to make sure Izzy was okay. He pulled out his phone and opened the contacts.

“Or you could ask Riley,” Alice offered.

Keegan looked at her blankly. “Last time I checked, my dog couldn’t talk.”

Alice rolled her eyes hard enough Keegan was surprised it didn’t make her dizzy. “Not like that. I mean check your app. Wherever Izzy is, Riley’s right next to him. It’s pretty cool. I think I’d like to have a service dog.”

Fuck. Keegan was stupid. He’d completely forgotten that Riley had a GPS tracker in her collar. It was supposed to keep her safe when they were out in the woods, but in this case, it could help him find his wayward boyfriend. He’d worry about the ethics of it later. “Thank you, Alice,” he called over his shoulder as he ran back to his car, already bringing up Riley’s tracker in the app.

She was in town. Keegan drove faster than was safe, but he couldn’t shake the vibrating under his skin that told him Izzy needed him, and he was going to get there too late. As he got closer, the app narrowed in on the location until Keegan could see the little dot with her photo was somewhere inside the Lookout.

Keegan parked out front—illegally, but he would pay the ticket without complaint—and hurried for the front door, eyes on his phone screen.

“Hey.”

Keegan glanced up at the familiar voice. It was Asher, leaning against the wall next to the door where Marco, the bouncer, usually stood. “Where are they?” Keegan asked, his heart pounding and a lump in his throat that made breathing a chore.

“He’s fine,” Asher said, instead of giving Keegan the answer he wanted. Then he moved to block the door. Keegan stepped toward him, body tensing, and Asher raised his hands. “I promise. He and Xavier have been prepping for this for days.”

Keegan clenched his teeth and debated shoving past Asher, consequences be damned. “I need to see him.” His voice cracked.

Asher’s typically unflappable expression went soft. “Yeah. I know. Come on.” He waved for Keegan to follow him, then made his way around the side of the building to a door that Keegan didn’t know was there. “Just stay quiet. The interview is being recorded, and we trust the reporter, but we also don’t want Izzy to get distracted and say something he doesn’t want on the record.”

Keegan jerked a nod. Quiet. Right. He could do that. Probably.

Okay. He could do it for Izzy’s sake. He was discovering that he could do a lot of things for Izzy’s sake.

They cut through the kitchen and walked down a long hallway, stopping at a curtained opening. Keegan could hear voices but not make out what they were saying.

Asher held a finger to his lips, then led Keegan through. They stepped out into the main area of the bar, over near the booths. Xavier was standing with his arms folded, watching a spotlit table that held a woman with immaculate, white-blond hair and, across from her, Keegan’s brat.

Izzy was dressed simply but casually in a gray button-down and jeans. His hair had been trimmed, the curls in perfect order the way they only were when he was just out of the shower or he’d spent a lot of time and product on them. He was pale but otherwise seemed composed. Keegan couldn’t tell from a distance how much of that was a mask.

Riley was at his side, her chin on his knee. She was freshly groomed as well, her white coat brushed until it shone. Someone had been shopping because she was wearing a very professional-looking vest labeled SERVICE DOG. DO NOT PET. Keegan wondered if that was legal, then put it out of his mind. It was something that could be dealt with later.

“Can you explain what happened after Emma and Samantha confided in you?”

Izzy let out a slow, measured breath, his fingers buried in Riley’s scruff. “After Emma told me what he’d done, and Sammy backed her up, I went to confront J-Josh.” He fumbled for the glass of water on the table in front of him and took a quick sip. Then he cleared his throat. “He was in his office. I think he was doing paperwork.” Izzy’s gaze was focused in the middle distance as he spoke. “I asked him if it was true. If he’d really done the things they were accusing him of. I’d known him for years, trained with him, I thought he was my friend. I didn’t want to believe he was capable of what they were saying.”

Keegan got stuck on the word “friend.” He hoped that was a sign that they were keeping Izzy’s real history with Josh out of the story. Izzy didn’t need that trauma dredged up for the world to see and potentially judge.

“It’s been difficult for everyone to believe,” the interviewer continued, her voice professional but kind. “He was a beloved member of the eventing community. His death was seen as a tragedy.”

Izzy nodded along, his eyes going glassy. “He laughed.” Izzy paused, letting the impact of that statement sink in. “He said it was all part of the game, and if I wanted to be a top-level competitor, I would have to learn to look the other way.”

The reporter shifted in her chair, her eyes sharpening like a hawk that had just spotted prey. Keegan stepped forward, the urge to protect Izzy stronger than his agreement to stay quiet. Xavier stopped him with a hand in the center of his chest and a shake of his head. “Was he implying others knew about his behavior and allowed it?” the reporter asked.

Izzy paused again, and Keegan realized it was practiced, calculated. “I believe he was. Yes.”

“Did he give you any names?”

Izzy glanced at Xavier, his eyes widening when he caught sight of Keegan.

“We have a list for you,” Xavier said. “But let’s remove that question. We don’t want to open the door for retaliation.”

The reporter nodded and made a note on the pad in front of her. “Of course. That’s the last thing anyone wants.” She gestured to a cameraman Keegan hadn’t spotted before. “Delete that clip from the drive, please.”

Xavier and Keegan watched the cameraman do as instructed. When he was recording again, he gave a thumbs-up, and the reporter turned back to Izzy.

She smiled, warm and motherly. “Let’s back up, okay, hun?”

“Yeah, okay,” Izzy said, taking a steadying breath.

“Did Joshua Martin threaten you?” she asked.

“He tried,” Izzy admitted. “But I had something the girls didn’t.”

“What was that?”

“My father.”

“Your father is Frank King of King Farm. He’s bred and raised horses competing at the top levels of the sport, including the horse you rode to a Young Rider Championship when you were seventeen.”

Izzy nodded. “Dad has lifelong connections to people that are very influential. Josh knew that if Frank King turned against him, there was no coming back from it. And I made it very clear that my father would learn the truth. About everything.”

“Were you able to tell your father what had happened? What did he say?”

Izzy didn’t answer immediately. Finally, he said, “I wasn’t. When I threatened to tell my dad, Josh… He proposed retirement instead. I wanted—” He stopped and took another sip of water.

Out of the corner of Keegan’s eye, Xavier was nodding his approval.

“I thought we should tell the USEO and the IOC anyway, but Emma and Sammy weren’t sure.”

“Emma and Samantha have both stated that they were still deciding whether to pursue charges when Josh died. Afterward, they agreed they would rather move on than deal with the stress of an investigation.”

Izzy took a steadying breath. “I was injured, so I don’t really know about anything that came after.”

Riley shifted closer to Izzy and poked his hand with her nose until he started to pet her again.

The reporter’s eyes were compassionate. “This was the accident that forced you to stop competing.”

Izzy shrugged, uncomfortable. “I got hurt during the cross-country portion of the US Equestrian Open Final at Oxford Park. I’d just head about Josh’s death, and I wasn’t thinking clearly. I misjudged a turn and fell. Birdie bowed a tendon, and I broke my leg.”

“That fall ended both of your careers, and you sold your horse soon after.”

Izzy’s jaw trembled. “Yeah,” he rasped before draining his water. The reporter, who Keegan kind of wanted to punch for continuing this line of questioning, refilled it from a pitcher on the table.

“I’m sure that was extremely difficult. You sound emotional.”

Izzy let out a rough laugh. “No shit.” Then he coughed. “Sorry. I mean, yes. It was difficult. She was an amazing horse, but she was better off with someone who could properly care for her.”

Keegan frowned. Was that the real reason? Something in Izzy’s voice told Keegan there was more to that decision than he was admitting.

“I just have a few more questions, Isaac,” the reporter said. Keegan bit back the desire to correct her on Izzy’s name and could see Izzy doing the same. “I know it’s impossible to say for sure since Josh didn’t leave a note, but do you believe that fear of exposure was what led to his suicide?”

Izzy glanced at Xavier and got a nod. “I can only guess,” he said, his words careful. “And make assumptions based on what I know of Josh’s character after training under him for four years.”

“I think our viewers would like to hear your thoughts as the person who knew Joshua best—and yet didn’t learn his dark secret until the end.”

“Joshua Martin cared about three things. Being the center of attention, having complete control, regardless of the situation, and winning at any cost. I believe he realized he’d lost all three of those, and taking his own life, especially so publicly, was his last-ditch effort to get them back.”

The reporter looked like she’d won the lottery and was trying to control her excitement. “And finally, if you could say something to Josh now, what would it be?”

Izzy gathered himself and turned his intense blue-gray eyes on the camera. “You lost anyway,” he said, voice steely. “We won. I hope you rot in hell.”

As soon as the camera was off, Keegan brushed Xavier aside and beelined for Izzy. He crouched next to him, careful not to get in Riley’s way. “Baby?”

Izzy’s eyes were dull with exhaustion when he looked at Keegan. “Hey,” he said softly. “What are you doing here?”

Keegan cupped his cheek, and Izzy leaned into it with a sigh. “I came as soon as I found out you were giving an interview. I know you asked for space, but I couldn’t stay away.”

“How’d you find us?”

Keegan braced himself. “I used the GPS tracker in Riley’s collar.”

Izzy’s brow furrowed, and his hand went to Riley’s neck.

Keegan cringed. “Sorry, I forgot to remind you about it. I promise I haven’t been stalking you.”

Izzy huffed and fiddled with the strip of leather until he found the tracker tag. “Good to know,” he said, then let it drop again.

“You did well, Izzy,” Xavier said as he made his way over. “They have everything they need, and in the event they have follow-up questions, they know to come to me.”

Keegan stood, keeping a hand on Izzy’s shoulder. “What happens next?” he asked Xavier.

“The interview will be part of an exclusive special on Joshua Martin’s abusive behavior and the cover-up of it, which we believe goes higher in the organization than anyone realized. The focus will be on the young women he hurt, but Izzy’s account of his confession is the final nail in the fucker’s long-buried coffin. Just from the current publicity, there are already calls for the IOC to posthumously strip him of his medals.”

Keegan wished they could do more. Destroying the man’s legacy didn’t feel like enough. “And for Izzy?” Keegan asked, squeezing Izzy’s shoulder.

“There may be a few more reporters poking around with questions, but it’s my job to handle that. We’ve made it very clear that this was an exclusive interview. Izzy has moved on. And because I’m also representing Emma and Samantha, who are both ready and willing to talk, I’ll be able to control a good chunk of the narrative moving forward to keep Izzy’s name out of it.”

Thank god for that. Hopefully that meant Izzy could stop flinching at every ringing phone and notification buzz.

Izzy covered Keegan’s hand with his own and squeezed. “Henry?”

“Yeah, baby?” Keegan caught Xavier’s eyebrow going up but ignored it. Xavier wouldn’t start any rumors, and even if he did, Keegan wasn’t bothered by it. Izzy was his now, and everyone else would learn that soon enough.

“Can we go?” Izzy asked, looking like he might put his head down on the table and take a nap if Keegan said no.

Xavier gave his approval, so Keegan wrapped an arm around Izzy, who had Riley’s leash in his other hand, and led them out to his still double-parked car. He waited for Izzy to make a quip about the ticket on his windshield but got nothing.

The drive back to his house was quiet, with Izzy staring out the window and Riley watching them from the back seat. Keegan tried not to worry when Izzy didn’t comment on their destination either. He was exhausted from the interview, and he needed time to process. Keegan couldn’t imagine what it was like to dredge up all that history for the cameras, knowing that the world was going to see it.

Izzy still wasn’t himself. He’d napped for a while when they got home and was now sprawled out on the couch under a pile of blankets with Riley curled against his chest. The herbal tea Keegan had made him was on the coffee table, cold and untouched.

Keegan didn’t know what to do, what to say, how to help. He didn’t even know if he should be doing or saying anything . The helplessness ate at him. He found himself pacing the house, cleaning things that didn’t need to be cleaned, and straightening things that didn’t need organizing.

The other two dogs had wandered through several times as well. Chance had even sidled up to Izzy, greeting him with a lick to the back of his hand, before he and Lucky vanished upstairs.

Keegan returned to the living room for the hundredth time, feigning looking for a book. He gave up the charade when Izzy continued to stare into space without acknowledging him. Keegan sighed. Everything about this felt wrong. His brat wasn’t built to be this quiet. He crossed the room and perched on the edge of the couch. “Hey,” he said, carding his fingers through Izzy’s curls.

“Hi,” Izzy said back, his tone listless.

Keegan resisted the urge to force him up, to poke him until he reacted. “You’re worrying me, brat.”

“Sorry,” Izzy said, turning his head and squinting up at Keegan. “I don’t mean to. I’m just really tired. I don’t think I’ve slept right since I left the cabin.”

“You could go back to sleep?” Keegan suggested, but Izzy shook his head.

“Not unless I want to be up all night.”

Fair enough. Keegan pulled out his phone. “Do you want something to eat? I can order in.”

Izzy shook his head again, taking Keegan’s phone and setting it aside, then tugging on his now-empty hand. “Come and hold me?”

Anything , Keegan thought, but then he paused. “I don’t know if there’s room for all three of us under there.” He reached beneath the blanket and rubbed Riley’s ears.

Izzy smiled slightly and ducked down to nuzzle her. “She’s a good cuddle buddy,” he said, his eyes averted. “Not quite the same as you, though.”

Keegan kissed Izzy’s forehead, then moved out of the way while he nudged Riley to get up.

That got him a doggie sigh, but she wiggled out from under the blankets and hopped down. Then she gave Keegan a look that seemed to say “Your turn” before trotting off to the kitchen in search of her water bowl.

Once there was space, Keegan peeled back the blankets, climbed over Izzy, and stretched out along his back, dragging him into the little spoon position. Izzy was warm from his blanket cocoon, and Keegan couldn’t help nuzzling his hair and breathing him in.

Izzy hugged Keegan’s arms to him and heaved a sigh that sounded a lot like Riley’s.

Keegan rubbed soothing circles on Izzy’s chest, wishing he were better at this. Wishing he had the right words to help Izzy with whatever was going on in his head. In the end, he gave him the only words he had. “I love you, Isaac.”

For a minute, he wondered if he had waited too long and Izzy had fallen asleep after all, but then Izzy squirmed onto his back, his blue-gray eyes on the ceiling but his gaze far away.

Keegan traced his profile with a finger, along the straight plane of his nose and over his enticing lips.

“It’s been a long time since I trusted myself,” Izzy said finally. “Josh took that from me.” He swallowed, his throat bobbing. “He didn’t hurt me like the others, but he made me question myself—my judgment. If I could fall for someone like that, someone like him, how could I trust myself not to do it again?”

“Izzy,” Keegan said, his heart breaking for the boy Izzy had been, as well as the man he was now. “It wasn’t your fault.”

Izzy shook his head. “You don’t understand. I believed him. I defended him. I was in love with him.”

Keegan traced along the arch of Izzy’s cheekbone. How could he convince Izzy that he was just as much a victim of that predator as any of the others? Josh had had Izzy under his spell since he was teenager—that boy never stood a chance. There was one thing he could clarify, though. “You weren’t in love with him.”

Izzy’s brows drew together and he met Keegan’s eyes, a denial on his lips, but Keegan didn’t let him voice it.

“You weren’t in love. You were manipulated into caring for someone who never existed. You were gaslit to believe the things he said, and he capitalized on your infatuation. He took advantage of you. You may have loved what he was pretending to be, but Isaac, you didn’t fall in love with a monster.”

Izzy pressed his trembling lips together, nostrils flaring as his eyes filled with moisture.

“You didn’t fall in love with a monster,” Keegan repeated, voice firm and final.

Izzy shut his eyes, covered his face with his hands, and wept.

Hours later, after they were both in bed and—Keegan had assumed—both asleep, the mattress shifted. Cold air hit Keegan’s bare skin as the sheets slid away. For a minute, Keegan thought one of the dogs was messing around, but he was proven wrong when he opened his eyes, ready to fight for his blankets back.

Izzy was kneeling next to him, his bare skin lit only by the glow from the cracked bathroom door.

Keegan reached out and caressed him from his shoulder down to his wrist. “Baby? What are you doing?” he asked, his voice rough with sleep.

Wordlessly, Izzy crawled on top of him and settled, straddling Keegan’s hips.

Keegan’s cock slotted into the hot crease of Izzy’s ass, waking up more quickly than his brain was. His hands went to Izzy’s hips, stroking smooth skin. “What do you need, Izzy?” Keegan tried again, blinking the sleep from his eyes, but Izzy still didn’t answer him. Instead, he bent at the waist and brought their mouths together for a slow, thorough kiss that sent Keegan’s head spinning.

Keegan let his hands wander, mapping Izzy’s skin, dragging over the firm planes and curves of muscle, and dipping between his cheeks to discover his hole already slippery and loose. “Am I dreaming?” he asked, not sure if he was more confused or turned on, but leaning toward the second.

Izzy sat up and repositioned himself with his opening almost where Keegan wanted it. He braced his hands on Keegan’s chest and rocked his hips, Keegan’s cockhead bumping against his wet hole over and over.

“Can you do something for me, Henry?” Izzy asked, his body sure but his tone hesitant.

“Without knowing what it is?” Keegan asked. “Against my better judgment, yes.”

Izzy caught his lower lip between his teeth and turned his head to hide his smile. “Five years ago, I made you drive me home, and I asked you a question.”

He’d asked Keegan to come in, what they would do once they got there heavily implied. Keegan had shot him down.

“Can we pretend it’s five years ago, and you said yes?”

Keegan’s breath caught at the yearning in Izzy’s voice, though he didn’t understand its source. “Sure,” he replied. “We can do that. Are you gonna tell me why?”

Izzy’s hands were wandering across Keegan’s chest, mapping his skin like he’d never done it before. He didn’t answer, just reached back, angled his hips, and started to work himself down onto Keegan’s cock.

Keegan rubbed up and down Izzy’s thighs, trying to stay still and focused as perfect heat engulfed him. “Fuck, baby,” he groaned. “You feel good.”

Izzy let out a shaky breath that ended on a whimper as he seated himself fully, his hole fluttering around Keegan’s girth. He stayed there, his eyes closed, head back, mouth open, his chest rising and falling as he sucked in rapid breaths.

Keegan swept his hands up Izzy’s chest and plucked at his nipples, drawing a gasp. “You’re stunning, baby,” Keegan told him, loving the way his cheeks flushed.

“You’re really big,” Izzy breathed, nearly too soft for Keegan to hear. “Feels so good. I’m so full.”

Keegan half smiled, bemused. Izzy almost sounded like— Ah, fuck . He went back over the few things Izzy had told him about his farce of a relationship with Josh. Fuck . He wrapped his arms around Izzy and flipped them, laying Izzy back against the sheets. He had his face turned away, refusing to meet Keegan’s eyes. “Baby,” Keegan started, but Izzy held his hands up, warding off the question.

“Don’t stop,” he begged. “Just fuck me, please.”

“Isaac,” Keegan said firmly, not willing to let him deflect. “The night I drove you home, you wanted to have sex with me.”

Izzy let out a groan and groped for a pillow in an attempt to drag it over his head.

Keegan stopped him. “It would have been your first time.”

Izzy hid his face with his hands as his blush spilled all the way down his chest. “It’s a stupid social construct,” he said, voice muffled by his palms. “It doesn’t matter.”

Keegan peeled Izzy’s hands away from his face and kissed him, long and lingering. “Just relax for me,” he murmured when the kiss broke. “Tell me if I’m hurting you, and I’ll stop.” He shifted his hips in small rocking motions, gradually building speed as Izzy gave in and started to meet him. “No one’s ever been inside you but me, huh?”

Izzy gasped, his wide-eyed gaze flying to Keegan’s face. Then, after a long hesitation, he bit his lip and shook his head. “Just you,” he said.

“I’m honored,” Keegan told him. He meant it too. He didn’t care where he fell on the list of Izzy’s past partners. Being with him now was all that mattered. But if a little bit of role-play gave Izzy some of his power back, Keegan would play the absolute best version of his past self he could.