Page 104 of Mercury Rising

“You’re testing my willpower,” Nick said.

“Any further activities will be held in your bed at six o’clock and not before.”

“I’m on shift until eight.”

Mercury glanced at the clock. It was coming up to five now.

“Leave that to me.”

Nick narrowed his eyes. “What are you going to do?”

“Nothing. I have a suspicion Gavin might want a few more games of ping-pong.”

“I don’t want to know what you’ve got planned,” Nick said, holding his hands up. “He did the right thing informing me about the ad campaign, you know.”

Mercury kissed the top of Nick’s head. “I know. I know. Let me have my moment.”

“Highly irregular. I suppose now you’re not officially staff, I have no jurisdiction over you.”

A thought struck Mercury. “Are we allowed to be here?”

“Yes. You’re invited, remember.”

“Phew. I’m going to have to learn all this stuff. I didn’t tell you, did I? I think I’m going to volunteer. Not sure what yet. I don’t want to go back to my shallow little life.”

Nick stood and pulled Mercury close. “Good job I didn’t erase you off the system then.”

“I didn’t mean here. It might put you in a difficult position.”

“Mercury. If you’re volunteering, you’re doing it at Bodhi House. Eddie would never let me forget it.”

They kissed again but it was as chaste as Mercury could manage. He’d just got his penis under control and wasn’t about to wake him up again.

He wriggled out of Nick’s clutches.

“One hour,” he said.

In the main room, the kids were all lolling around, watching Hassan dancing. Madeline was sitting between Anna and Olena. She beamed at him.

It appeared the Bodhi House had worked its magic once more.

He saw his prey in the kitchen, reading a magazine.

“Right, you lazy lot,” Mercury said, clapping his hands together and making them jump. “Ping-pong tournament startsin five minutes. Me and Mum versus Brooke and Eddie. Winner stays on. Hassan, you’re umpire.”

The kids scrambled to attention.

While they argued who faced the sunlight, Mercury wandered into the kitchen.

“Bringing your famous mother was a bold move,” Gavin said. “What are you up to?”

“Oh, you know, this being a young person’s project, I had an idea that we’d actually interact with them.”

Gavin rolled his eyes and closed the magazine. “I suppose you think grassing me up to Nick will get you a place here?”

Mercury sat down opposite him. “I don’t need a place. I’ve done my hours and let’s face it, money worries aren’t big on my agenda.”

“Lucky you. Back to the world of celebrity then?”