Page 22 of Oz (Finding Home #1)

Chapter

Nine

David was the penis wrangler

Silas

I turn with a sense of utter resignation to find David standing in the doorway.

Of course he would be here just when everything is going okay.

He’s dressed in beige chinos and a white polo shirt, his blond hair looking perfect as usual.

I look at those blue eyes of his that I’ve stared into so many times as I’ve moved inside him.

I thought if I met him again I’d be angry.

He left in a fit of petulant rage because I wouldn’t go up to London for a party.

Never mind that I’d worked a straight fourteen hours.

When he’d gone I started to look around and I could hardly comprehend the mess he’d left me in.

Builders doing whatever they wanted, staff on the brink of leaving, and nothing arranged.

I’d been so furious I could have spat feathers.

Whatever that actually means. Why would anyone spit feathers?

It doesn’t make sense unless they were interrupted while eating a chicken.

I become aware that I’m starting to think like Oz and shake myself.

At one time I’d wondered whether I’d found in David someone I could actually settle down with, but now when I look at him I feel nothing.

Absolutely zero. Not even anger. Apart from the strongest desire to shove him out of the room and lock the door because he’s disturbed a moment I was having with Oz.

At the thought of him, I turn to find him examining David with a very intent look on his face that I’ve learnt doesn’t bode well.

At that moment he looks at me and grins.

When he’s in a certain mood those smiles of his have a very wicked curl to them.

It always makes me want to touch the arch of his lip with a finger, feel the softness and then slick it with my tongue.

His stare intensifies and his eyes darken. Then David’s voice breaks the moment. “Why are you here?”

I turn back to him and sigh. “I’m juggling and driving a clown car. What does it look like I’m doing, David?”

Oz snorts, making me smile, but David frowns. “How did you find out where I was working? Are you stalking me?”

“You’re working here?” I shake my head. “I hope it’s not the same work you did for me. It figures you’d have something set up before you left. You’re a bit like a cat in that respect. You always land on your feet.”

He huffs. “Don’t try to tell me you didn’t know. If this is some attempt to get me back–”

My laughter breaks into his sentence. “I’m sorry, what? Have you fallen and hurt your head today? Why would I want you back?”

He folds his arms. “Oh, please. I’d bet money you’ve needed me.”

“For what?” Oz’s voice breaks into the conversation like a shot even if it was spoken softly.

David turns to him. “I’m sorry. Do I know you?”

“I’d be sorry if you did.” Oz looks hard at him. “Why would Silas miss you?”

“Well, we had a long relationship.”

“We were together for six weeks,” I break in, but he huffs indignantly.

“Time doesn’t matter.” Oz raises his eyebrow but David’s on a roll.

“All the work I put into your place, Silas. All the backbreaking hours and did you care? Did you, buggery. We never went anywhere. You were always fucking working. I was left in that fucking crumbling monstrosity on my own trying to do everything with no help.”

I open my mouth but Oz steps forward. “Weren’t you employed as the house manager? Didn’t you have an assistant and staff?”

“That’s not the point.” David looks at him in irritation. “Do I know you?”

“Oz Gallagher. But don’t bother remembering the name.

We won’t talk again.” David opens and shuts his mouth like a fish, but Oz carries on remorselessly.

“I’ve seen the work you actually did, and it just seems like you were being paid a wage to lie on your back.

” He shrugs. “Or your front. Whatever floats your boat. Whichever way you did it, there’s another job description for that and it’s not house manager. ”

“Penis manager?” I enquire and Oz laughs.

“That’s it. David was the penis wrangler.”

“He wasn’t very good at it,” I say coolly.

“Who are you?” David asks in a frigid voice.

“I’m your replacement,” Oz says sweetly, moving closer to me. David doesn’t miss the movement and his eyes sharpen.

“Oh, my God, Silas. Why don’t you just go on Grindr, for fuck’s sake.

Life would be a lot easier if you didn’t keep getting your bed partners from the job pages.

” He smiles condescendingly at Oz. “Don’t worry.

You’re just the latest in a long line. Silas here can’t keep a man or a woman to save his life, not that he’d want to keep you. ”

“I really don’t think you should smile,” I mutter, massaging my temples with my fingers. Oz steps forward and I turn to David. “Don’t say I didn’t try to warn you.” I move back and look at Oz and wave my hand. “Go ahead.”

Oz smiles at David and it’s a smile with a lot of teeth.

“It’s a shame Grindr doesn’t do a profile for your work as well as your sex life.

What would yours say? Profile name would be Whinging Little Bitch.

A chronic fuckwit who will spread his legs quicker than margarine.

Likes lying in bed and being serviced. Dislikes any form of work at all.

” He shakes his head. “It’s taken me two months to try and clear up your mess.

You should be fucking ashamed of yourself. ”

David looks a little pale, which is normal when Oz is on a rampage, but to his credit he rallies.

“You couldn’t hope to understand what you’re doing.

Listen to you speak.” He laughs. “Someone with your accent couldn’t hope to understand the demands and needs of a house like that.

” He turns to me. “Where did you pick this one up? Did you abandon The Lady this time and just cruise King’s Cross? ”

I step forward with my fists curled but Oz, incredibly, laughs.

“Mate, a hooker could do better than you at your job.” He shakes his head.

“Even Chewwy could do it better.” I grin, and he smiles at me before turning to David.

“You had a good bloke here and just because he wanted you to get out of bed and do the job he was paying you for, you fucked off.” He shakes his head.

“If you ask me, you could teach the girls and boys at King’s Cross a thing or two about prostitution.

” He looks searchingly at David. “I may not have your upbringing and it may make me very common, but if I care for someone I make them happy. I don’t take money from them and fuck them over when an easier job comes along.

I cling on in the rough seas as well as the calm waters because I’m loyal.

You should look that word up in a dictionary.

They obviously didn’t teach you it at public school. ”

David flushes. “And where did you go to school, Oz, or did you even bother?”

Oz nods and smirks. “You’re so right. I never went to school. My first in a Fine Art and History of Art degree is an example of skiving at its best.”

“What did you get, David?” I ask. It’s unbecoming to be spiteful but I can’t help it. “Wasn’t it a third?”

David glares at me. “Good luck with this one,” he says with a smirk. “Just count the silver before he goes.”

“You’d be better employed doing that,” Oz says sharply. “The cutlery on the dining table is fake. It’s proper tat.”

“It is not.”

“It is. You couldn’t give that shit away in a cracker.”

“And on that note, we’re going to complete our tour,” I say smoothly, becoming fed up of this. I hold my hand out to Oz and see David’s brow furrow as Oz smiles and complies.

“You’re really with him?” he says in a tone of disbelief. “Your father would turn over in his bloody grave.”

“I look on my father as an arbiter of taste,” I say coldly. “If he liked someone I instantly knew that person was a total cunt.” I pause and look him up and down. “He’d have really loved you, David.”

We sweep out of the room and Oz starts to laugh. He bounces up and down on his feet and does a quick dip and feint with his fists. “Did you see his face? Pop, pop, you told him.”

I shake my head and look around quickly. Spotting a door whose opening is barred by a red rope, I hop over and open the door and then reach back and grab Oz. He comes easily like he’s my partner in crime, his eyes wide and his smile wicked.

“We’re not supposed to do this. I bet David put this rope up himself specially. Whatever are you doing, Lord Ashworth?”

I pull us through and we find ourselves in what I’m sure is Alexander’s private drawing room.

I cast a cursory glance around to check for observers, and when I don’t find anyone I slam the door and push Oz up against it.

“This,” I say gutturally and take his mouth.

He tastes of mint and seems to melt into me like butter, his whole body moving sleekly as he falls into me.

I kiss him hard, rubbing my tongue over his and mauling his mouth. His breaths puff against my cheek and he moans deep in his throat.

I pull away, ignoring his grunted protest, and frame his face in my hands. I look at his swollen lips and pretty eyes that are lazy with heat and lust. “You annihilated him,” I gasp. “So hot!”

He stares up at me and grins widely. “My being sharp-tongued turns you on.” He laughs.

“Oh my God, this is epic. You’re going to be hard most of the day and night.

” He looks upward to the ceiling as if searching for inspiration before grinning wickedly at me.

“Well, I’ve created this problem. Never let it be said that Oz Gallagher doesn’t clear up his own messes. ”

“What–” I start to say but it dies away to a groan as he lowers himself gracefully to his knees in front of me and reaches for my belt. “What is–” I stop and clear my throat. “Oz, I’m not sure this is the right place for this.”

He looks up, and he would appear angelic if he didn’t have such an evil expression. “On the contrary, this is the perfect place for it.”