Page 62 of Mercury Rising

“You bet,” Mercury replied.

He drew Nick in and embraced him. Over Nick’s shoulder, he saw Bobby chattering away into his mobile.

Never mind Nick, it was Mercury who suddenly felt like a fish out of water.

He held Nick’s hand tightly as they made their way home to Queens Crescent.

“You don’t have to grip so hard,” Nick said. “The danger of my absconding has passed.”

“I like holding your hand.”

“I like the blood circulation to my fingers.”

Mercury relaxed a little. “Sorry. I panicked when I saw you storm off.”

Nick sighed. “You have to know the odds are stacked against us. Neither of our worlds are going to understand the other.”

They both reared back as Mrs Wimpole came out of the gardens like she’d been fired out of a cannon. Her poor Yorkshire terrier, Parkin, had to trot furiously to keep up.

“Mercury,” she called.

“Oh fuck,” Mercury muttered. “Why did I think it a good idea to leave the safety of my bedroom?”

“Who’s this?”

Mercury didn’t have time to answer as his neighbour was upon them.

“I haven’t seen you for a little while,” she said. “I wondered how things were coming along?”

Once more Mercury realised he had Nick’s hand in a death grip.

“Great, thank you, Mrs Wimpole.”

“That’s wonderful to hear. I knew you would be marvellous. Is the person in charge happy with your work?”

Mercury glanced at Nick. “Why don’t you ask him yourself? Mrs Wimpole, this is Nick Campbell, the manager of Bodhi House.”

Her face lit up. “I’m very pleased to meet you. Why don’t you boys come and join the Professor and I in the gardens? The Professor has made his famous fruit punch and I’d love to hear all about what you have been up to.”

She prised Mercury’s hand away from Nick’s and took hold herself, steering him toward the gate she had come from.

Poor Mercury had little choice but to follow in their wake.

This is really going to see him off.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Mercury woke and grinned. Nick was planting kisses on the back of his neck. So lightly his spine almost crackled with electricity.

“Good morning,” Mercury said.

Nick slung his muscular arm over Mercury’s hips.

Fuck that feels good.

“Good morning,” Nick replied, pulling him closer.

Mercury spun around to face Nick. Their faces inches from each other. That was when the headache kicked in.