Page 63 of Mercury Rising

“Oh, God,” Mercury said. “The pain is real.”

“Feeling a little delicate?”

“How are you not?”

“I’ve barely moved. I’m sure that will change. In fact, I think I’m still a little drunk. What the hell does the Professor put in that punch?”

Mercury shook his head, which again set off the brass band that seemed to be marching across his brain.

“Most of the contents of his liquor cabinet, I think.”

Nick kissed Mercury’s forehead. “They’re great. I think I’m good enough to go on a quiz show about Dickens now.”

Mercury chuckled. “It is rather a hobby of the Professor’s. Sorry.”

Nick lay back and Mercury settled his head on Nick’s chest. It was solid and so bloody tempting.

Absent mindedly, playing with Nick’s nipple, Mercury made a mental note to thank Mrs Wimpole. Whatever bad feeling Bobby had created, she had obliterated.

“Mrs Wimpole was so kind to me,” Nick said. “I’m afraid I may have told her about your friend.”

With his fingertip, Mercury lightly traced the outline of Nick’s six-pack. Despite his Grade A hangover, things were stirring inside him.

“Don’t worry about it. She’ll give him a lesson he badly needs. I’m so sorry he can be such an arse.”

Mercury worked his way underneath the covers.

“He’s not your responsibility,” Nick said. “I hope you intend finishing whatever you plan on starting under there. The hangover horn is a dangerous beast once woken.”

“More than the tipsy monster I had the good fortune of experiencing last night?”

Nick grabbed Mercury’s hand and pushed it down. Once again, Nick’s impressive cock was rock solid.

“Far more difficult to tame.”

Before they could have a rematch from the previous night, a door closed on one of the floors below.

“What the fuck?” Mercury said.

“Is it a burglar?”

“Well, I don’t think it’s Mrs Wimpole popping round to share hangovers. I’m sure I put the alarm on.”

A toilet flushed.

“A burglar with the shits?” Nick asked.

“Worse than that,” Mercury said with a shudder. “I reckon it’s my mother.”

“You might have said you were coming home.”

“I’m so sorry for using a break in filming to see if my pride and joy is surviving,” Madeline replied. “I hope you aren’t this mean toyourmother, Nick.”

Mercury hated that he sounded like a child who had been busted. That was so not a good look in front of Nick.

“It’s very lovely to see you,” Mercury said.

They were in the huge drawing room that dominated the first floor. Madeline reclined on one couch. Mercury made sure Nick sat next to him on the other. He would act as a human shield when the inevitable interrogation began.