An Unlocked Mind (Secrets #2)(85)

The truth of the words surged through Rob’s mind. He’d told Vic he trusted him, but hadn’t proved that one bit. If he was going to prove to himself—and, more importantly, Vic—that he wasn’t the old Rob anymore, then it had to be a show of faith on his part. Proof that he trusted Vic.

“May I make a phone call?”

“Can it wait until the hour is up?”

Rob shook his head. “I need to do this now, if that’s okay with you.”

Vic’s gaze narrowed. “All right. Go ahead.”

Rob took out the shiny new phone Vic had given him from his pocket and brought up the contact menu. He saw the name, and a fist tightened around his heart. Doing this was irrevocable. He’d never again be able to run away and hide the truth.

He sucked in a breath and tapped the button.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Mum.”

“Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick about you.”

The words made it sound as though she cared, but for the annoyance her tone held.

“I’ve been going through some stuff.” He glanced up at Vic. “But I think I’ve finally seen the light. I was wondering if you mind if I came to see you. Not today. Maybe in a while. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”




VIC SAT there, openmouthed, until Rob hung up.

“You’re seriously going to talk to your mum?”

Rob gave him a quizzical look. “Uh, duh? You said we had to deal with this. So… this is me dealing with it.”

“But a few days ago—”

Rob sighed. “A few days ago, I was certain you’d end this sooner rather than later. Even though I should have trusted you, I had a hard time doing so.”

Vic opened his arms, delighted when Rob stepped into them without his usual snark.

“I told you that trust takes time. I’m not going anywhere.”

“The hell you aren’t!”

Vic stepped back. “Excuse me?”

“You’re coming to Manchester, with me, to talk to my parents.” His voice softened. “I can’t do this without you.”

“And you won’t have to. I’ll be by your side as long as you need me.”

Rob said nothing; he didn’t need to. The way he leaned into Vic, his arms around Vic’s waist, said plenty.





Chapter Twenty-Four


ROB DUMPED the wheelbarrow full of manure on what would eventually be a rejuvenated public garden for the residents of Russell Square. His muscles ached, but he didn’t mind at all. This job beats stocking shelves any day. It was a pleasant late-June day, sunny and not particularly cold. Passersby stopped to view their progress and chat for a few moments with the crew, or sometimes they simply waved as they walked past the iron railings that surrounded the green space. They seemed pleased with the work so far, and Rob was overjoyed to be doing something that brought a little happiness to people. When the work was finished, it would be a lovely spot to sit in the summer, maybe read under the shade of a tree, or just watch the world go by.

Rob loved the physicality of his job, especially in moments like now, when he could lose himself in a task that didn’t require any mental exertion but that allowed him time to think.

He had a lot to think about.

The last three months had been both exciting and terrifying. He and Vic had spent nearly every waking moment together during the last week of Vic’s holiday in April. Vic had driven him around London, showing him places that would be the sites for upcoming projects, and introducing him to people he’d be working with. So many names, way too many new faces, but Rob enjoyed the rush of it all.

They’d used the two weeks of April to get into a routine, ready for when Vic went back to work. Rob would get up first, start the coffee, put the cereal into bowls, and slice whatever fruit they’d picked up at the market. By the time that was done, Vic would be out of the shower and he would do the toast, add milk to the cereal, and have everything ready by the time Rob got back to the table. It worked well for them. Of course, the odd mornings that followed Rob spending the night in Vic’s bed were slightly more… off the cuff. On those occasions, routine went out the window.

Apparently, Vic was very happy to put his morning wood to good use.

His first day back to work, Vic had come out of his bedroom wearing a dark blue suit, pale blue shirt, silver-gray tie, and shiny black shoes. It was the first time Rob had seen him dressed like this, and it literally took his breath away. He’d stood there gaping like a fish, conscious of the one desire that battered his brain right then—to strip Vic down slowly, revealing the sun-kissed skin that Rob reveled in.

Some thoughts were best kept to himself.

“You clean up nice,” he managed to choke out.

Vic held his arms up and did a small twirl without any pretense at all of being graceful. “Why, thank you.” His gaze traveled up and down the length of Rob’s body. “You look good too. Well, I think you’d look better naked, spread out for me on the bed, with a blindfold, sound-reduction earplugs, hand mitts—” He leered.

“Yeah, yeah, I get the point,” Rob grumbled, trying to keep his cock from hardening. No such luck. They’d been working on his meditation lessons, interweaving them with BDSM. Each time, Vic added something new to their play, which heightened the experience. And when they were through, after Vic had brought Rob to another senses-shattering orgasm, he’d remind Rob that they were working toward a goal, though Rob still had no idea what that was. And he was going out of his mind wondering.