A Shadow of Wings (7 page)

“Hey,” Dylan said when Cam walked up. That sweet smile was nearly Dylan’s undoing, and the shock of black hair hanging over Cam’s eyes had Dylan’s fingers itching to brush it back. Today, Cam wore pitch-black shades that Dylan wanted to yank off. He wanted to fall into those beautiful eyes again. He took him by the hand and pulled him between the buildings, into the narrow back alley formed by the clinic and the pawn shop next door. He pushed Cam up against the bricks and threw his mouth over his.

He felt Cam’s shock in the tensing of his muscles and the sharp intake of breath. Cam gripped Dylan’s hip with the hand not holding the leash. 

“Shh, baby,” Dylan whispered against those closed lips. “Open up for me. I’ve been missing you all day.”

“Out here?”

Poor closeted idiot. “There’s nobody here but you, me and the dog, and even if Dr. Martin came out, she knows which way I swing, and I’ve told her all about you.”

Cam put his palm on Dylan’s chest, pressing him upright, and his brows drew down. “You did? What’d you tell her?”

“Not about this.” He dragged his hand up Cam’s cock through his jeans. Cam grunted. “Just that you saved me and the dog, and that you’d be stopping by tonight. And that you cook a hell of a meatball.”

That alarmed expression melted away, and one side of Cam’s mouth kicked up. Dylan kissed him there, right at the corner, soft and slow, then moved his lips over his cheek and jaw. Cam tipped his head, a ghost of a smile on his mouth, and Dylan knew he had him. He tickled Cam’s side. “So you didn’t think about me at all?”

“You know I did.” To Dylan’s delight, Cam leaned forward enough to close the small space between them and kissed him, just the tips of their tongues touching. 

The blood dropped to his dick so fast and hard Dylan felt light-headed. He held on to Cam’s arm. “Yeah, I want more of that later.”

“I…I can’t stay,” Cam stammered, straightening. “I just brought you the dog. My brother’s expecting me.”

Well, that was bad news. Dylan took the rope leash. “When? Can’t you hang out awhile?”

He looked confused or conflicted. “Maybe…for a little bit. Tash wouldn’t understand about…this.”

The hesitation in his voice spoke volumes to Dylan. He stroked his hand up and down Cam’s arm through the sleeve of his light jacket. “It’s cool. I get it. Your family doesn’t know you’re gay, huh?”

“It’s not…” Cam gave an awkward shrug. “They wouldn’t approve. They have other plans for me and don’t want me seeing anyone.”

“What, like you’re committed to some kind of prearranged marriage or something?”

“It’s hard to explain. I’ll be traveling out of the country soon, and they think it’s best I don’t form any attachments.” 

Dylan heard some sort of lie beneath the softly spoken words but couldn’t quite put his finger on what made his instincts itch. Rich boy tethered by his family’s leash? Couldn’t mingle with a kid from the other side of the tracks, maybe. Anger flared in his chest, then died into simmering embers in his belly. He hated bullies, and he hated seeing Cam pushed around. 

“You need to make your own decisions, Cam. Fuck your family. They don’t always know what’s best for you.” Speaking from his own experience there. He traced his fingers just inside the waistband of Cam’s jeans. “What do
you
want? If you didn’t have anyone telling you who you could and couldn’t see, what would you want to do?”

“Stay with you. Last night…”

“It was pretty fucking great, wasn’t it?” Dylan murmured when Cam seemed about to retreat back into his shell.

Cam nodded, his breathing getting more erratic.

“We could do that again.” He edged in closer so their bodies pressed together, and he leaned Cam into the wall behind him. “I got a lot more I can show you. Lot more we can do.”

Cam licked his lips and swallowed. “I want that so much, but…it’s not safe. I’ve been trying to talk myself out of coming here all day.”

“But you talked yourself into it.”

“Looks that way. I’m here, right?”

“Then stay. Like I said, fuck your family. They can’t hurt us. We’ll watch out for each other, right?”

He could have sworn the light around them dimmed just a little, as if someone had thrown a veil over the setting sun for an instant. And then his vision cleared, and Cam was dipping his hand just below the belt line of Dylan’s jeans at the small of his back. “I’ll stay for an hour or so.”

Progress. Dylan pressed his hips forward enough so that his stiff dick met with Cam’s stiff dick, and he buried his face into the crook of Cam’s neck and inhaled his scent. He slid his hands around Cam’s hips to lock behind his back. “Then we can go back to your place, okay?”

Cam went rigid. “Not tonight. Tash will be there.”

“Okay, okay.” Fuck, that put a crimp in his plans. He’d really been looking forward to that bed again. His back hadn’t felt this good in ages. 

Cam said, “What about your place?”

He shook his head. “When I say it’s a dump, I’m being optimistic.”

“I don’t care. As long as we’re together.”

He had to admit, the idea of fucking, or being fucked by, his beautiful rich ninja virgin in his shitty rented room had a perverse appeal. Like eating caviar in a junkyard. “I guess it’ll have to do. I just want to be with you.” 

When he took Cam’s mouth again and their tongues slid across each other, and the cinnamon spice of Dylan’s gum mingled with the hot tea and fresh-air flavor of Cam, Dylan groaned. His dick responded as if he’d been dead and resurrected and seen the light. 

He pulled back to take a neglected breath. “Jesus, man.” He rolled his hips against Cam’s and was gratified by Cam’s harsh gasp. “Sooner the better.”

Gertie, who had collapsed in her usual boneless heap by Dylan’s feet, picked up her head when the back door to the clinic opened, and Dr. Martin stuck her head out.

“I want to close up soon, Dyl,” she said, then noticed Cam. She smiled, familiar dimples puckering her dark round cheeks. “Hello, there.”

Dylan peeled himself off Cam, who reddened and shuffled himself upright. “Cameron Coburn, this is Dr. Keesha Martin.”

Despite his flaming face, Cam turned and gave a charmingly formal bow to Dr. Martin. “I’m pleased to meet you, Dr. Martin.”

Dr. M glanced at Dylan, one plucked brow arched, and said, “And I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Coburn. Please, come in out of the cold. It’s getting plenty chilly out here.”

Gertie scuffled to stand at Dylan’s side, and Dr. M said, “And that must be Gertrude. Oh boy, Dylan, you really know how to pick ’em.”

“She’s a good girl,” he insisted, stroking her head. “Just needs a little clean-up.”

“Mm-hmm,” Dr. M said skeptically and pushed the door open wider so they could come in. Dylan had taken three steps before he realized Cam wasn’t following but was still against the wall, head down. 

“C’mon, Cam,” he murmured. “It’s okay. We’re all cool here.”

He watched Cam’s chest move up and down, as if he was gulping in a few breaths for courage. Then Cam followed him in, his gaze on the floor as he peeled off his glasses and tucked them into his jeans pocket. It just about killed Dylan to see him so shut down. All the life seemed drained out of him as he shuffled into the clinic. Dylan had smiled over the formal way he’d greeted the veterinarian, but maybe it was just one more piece in the puzzle that was Cameron Coburn. He didn’t sound or act like a normal kid. He cared about his family, yet he was desperate for affection. 

Dylan didn’t even realize he’d moved protectively closer to Cam until he had his arm around his waist, not tight, just hovering at the small of Cam’s back. He and Dr. M exchanged looks. With all her years of experience with animals, she could read any living creature real good, and he knew she’d see the same things in Cam he did. Her compassion was the best thing he loved about her.

She took Gertie’s leash from Dylan. “Let’s get her in an exam room. Oh Lord, look at those ears. What happened to you girl, huh? If only they could talk, right, Cam?”

Cam startled at little at his name. Maybe he was used to being ignored. Or maybe he expected her to hate him for being gay, even though Dylan had explained she was cool. 

The exam room was cramped with the three of them in there, four counting Gertie, who’d begun to shake, even though she’d probably never seen the inside of a vet’s office in her entire miserable life. Her claws dug into the old linoleum-tiled floor. Dylan lifted her up onto the steel table for Dr. M. “I hate to say, but maybe we should muzzle her, just to be safe,” Dr. Martin suggested.

“Don’t.” Cam’s single word startled them both. He gave Dylan one of his fleeting side glances. “She’ll behave.” He turned his gaze on the dog, and she lowered her head into his outstretched palm. Dylan was impressed. Really did seem like Cam and Gert had bonded.

Dr. Martin bit her lip again, then said, “Well, okay, then.”

The exam went better than expected. There wasn’t a whole lot to be done for the ears, but the rest of Gertie’s cuts and a couple of puncture wounds were healing already. Dr. M gave her the basic shots, and the pit sat quietly for the entire routine. 

“Good job, Gerts,” Dylan praised her. He glanced at Cam, who’d remained silent and focused on the dog. “Wanna take her in the back? I got a crate ready where she can stay for the night.”

“A cage?” Cam lifted his chin but kept his alarmed gaze somewhere vaguely to the left of Dylan’s chin.

“It’s the best we can do for now,” Dr. M said, finishing putting her supplies in a drawer. “But, Dylan, you know she can’t stay here longer than a day. Maybe two.” 

“Yeah, I know. Don’t suppose you know anyone who’d take her?”

Pursing her lips, she parked a hand on her hip. “I need about a thousand people to take all the stray pits that go through this place every year.” She petted Gertie on her bony back. “Such a shame. They make great pets too.” She glanced at Cam. “No way you can keep her?”

Without looking directly at her, Cam shook his head. “My brother told me to get rid of her. I’m sorry.”

And he did whatever big brother said, apparently. Dylan had never even met the guy and already he didn’t like him.

He looped his arms around Gertie, who had to be ten pounds less than what she should be, set her on the floor, then led her into the back. The clinic was small and not up to date, and crates were in short supply. When he and Cam went through the swinging door into the back, though, the three post-op dogs staying there went nuts, like someone flipped the Bark switch. In response, Gertie starting growling and snapping, nails scrabbling on the linoleum.

“Whoa!” Dr. Martin clapped her hands. “Better take her back out,” she yelled over the barking and howling.

“It’s my fault.” Cam looked stricken, his eyes wide beneath the curtain of hair. Before Dylan could stop him, he practically ran back into the empty front half of the vet’s office, leaving Dylan and Dr. Martin alone with four panting, whining dogs. They had, in fact, stopped barking as soon as Cam exited. Gave Dylan a chill.

“Well, that was freaky.” Dr. Martin wiped the heel of her palm over her forehead. “Is that normal, for your friend to set off the dogs like that?”

Dylan reeled Gertie back toward him with the rope leash. “Not sure. I’ve only known him a day.” But of course he remembered Gertie’s reaction to him at first. Then, he’d chalked it up to the beating, but Cam had said dogs didn’t like him. “He’s a different kind of a guy.”

“I can see that.” Dr. M’s voice softened, and she put her hand on Dylan’s arm. “Dyl, you know I usually mind my business about these things, but there’s something off about that kid. The way he won’t meet your eyes, the way he speaks. I think he needs more TLC than your dog here.”

“Yeah.”

“Be careful with him. That’s all I’m saying.”

“He’s cool, really.”

She turned to fill a water bowl. “You’re back on your feet, doing better, and I worry now maybe you feel like you can rescue someone else.” She shook her head and handed him the bowl. “You’re not quite there yet, Dylan. You’re a good, strong kid, but all it’d take is another kid like you to pull you right back in to that same shit you were in before. I’ve seen it happen.”

“He’s not like that.” Feeling put on the spot, Dylan wished he could explain it to her. Plus he hated being reminded of how fucked up he’d been when he’d first met Dr. M. “He’s just real shy.”

“Mm-hmm.” She left him to go close up out front, and he knew that would be the last she’d say about it. But she’d made herself clear when he’d started working here—stay clean and sober, or you’re out of a job. 

There was no way Cam did drugs. Just knowing him for such a short time, Dylan could see he took good care of himself. Still, he got how Dr. M might reach that conclusion, what with the dark glasses that could be covering up bloodshot eyes, for all she knew, and Cam’s awkward behavior. 

He gave Gertie a good back scratching before he put her in the crate. She was none too happy to go in, but the bowl of food helped, and he’d covered the bottom with a thick plaid blanket for her. She had plenty of room to turn around and stand. More than likely it was better than what she’d had before in her sad, sorry life.

As he shut the door, he considered what Dr. Martin had said. Of course she was warning him off Cam, but he wouldn’t give up on the kid. No way. Cam was in a cage too, trapped behind bars by his family and his fears. If there was one thing Dylan couldn’t stand, one thing that would make him put everything on the line, it was seeing a living thing mistreated. 

He’d hated the way Cam had looked that morning—terrified that his brother would find the two of them together. Terrified of getting in trouble because his family didn’t approve. Well, Dylan had walked that road himself, and even though his life was still pretty shitty now, he’d do it again if he had to. 

No one should live in fear.

Through the narrow wire, he reached a finger to scratch Gertie’s muzzle. “I promise, you won’t be in here for long.” He’d find a way to help her. And fuck if he wouldn’t find a way to help Cam out of his cage too.

Chapter Six

Dylan insisted on buying them dinner. Cam noticed Dylan seemed to have a friendship with the young woman who worked at the Chinese restaurant and gave only a few dollars for a large amount of food. This concept of money, of having or not having, always seemed a little foreign to Cam. The brothers provided everything he and Tash could need when they weren’t living at the basilica. Properties were rented, cars supplied, debit cards and bank accounts kept sufficiently full to provide for clothing and other needs. Cam and Tash had few needs, of course. Since Tash had taken him under his wing when Cam was first ready to head out into the world, they’d been on the move almost constantly, traveling from country to country, learning languages and cultures. Learning the ways of humans.