Hoaley Ill-Manored by Declan Sands Read Free Book Online Page B

fists finally unclenching.
“I’ll try.” He lifted his head and turned, finding Dirk’s handsome
face mere inches from his own. “How long are you back?”
    “As long as it takes.” Dirk leaned in,
touched Adam’s lips in an emotion-drenched kiss that made Adam’s
cock jump to full attention, his nipples peaking hopefully. Despite
Adam’s best intentions he opened to the kiss, welcoming Dirk’s
questing tongue in to dance with his.
    When Dirk finally broke the kiss, Adam
sighed. He was still stressed, but Dirk’s promise not to pressure
him did make him feel better. Time was what he needed. Time to
figure out if he was strong enough to try with Dirk again.
    Adam looked toward the lake. “Where are you
staying?”
    “Here, with you.”
    Adam’s head whipped around. “Are you
kidding? Did you see the condition of that house? I think there’s a
fairly decent hotel in Ashville.”
    Dirk shook his head. “Not a chance. If you
can stay here so can I.”
    Adam was torn. After the scare he and Walter
had the previous night he would be glad for the company. But Dirk
wasn’t exactly the camping out type…and then there was the whole
enforced closeness thing. “You’ll hate it, Dirk. You’re not used to
roughing it.”
    Dirk stood and reached for Adam’s hand,
pulling him to his feet. “You let me worry about what I can stand,
okay?”
    Adam shrugged. “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t
warn you.”
    They walked around the outside of the house
and Walter came running up to greet Dirk, tail swishing in
greeting. Adam wished his life could be as uncomplicated as
Walter’s. Anybody who talked nice to him, fed him, scratched his
belly, or played with him was a friend. So simple.
    Dirk picked up a stick and threw it and
Walter went loping off, tongue lolling with unrestrained joy. “I
think Walter missed you too.”
    They shared a smile.
    The front door slammed and Bud came trotting
down the steps toward them. The big man had a plain, ruddy face and
graying brown hair that curled around his head. As usual, he was
all business as he approached them. “Pete just called, he’ll have
the crew out here in the morning. We’re going to start the easy
stuff that doesn’t need a permit.”
    “Good. I’ll head into town this afternoon
and get the paint. As soon as Maddy finishes with her design
plan.”
    The two men shared a long-suffering look.
Maddy was notoriously negligent about completing her reports.
    Bud glanced at Dirk. “Welcome back.”
    Dirk shook the big man’s hand. “It’s nice to
see you again, Bud.” And the way Dirk looked at Adam’s foreman, Bud
believed it. Adam fought a quick jolt of jealousy. Dirk was used to
dealing with the public, and he treated everyone with kindness and
gentle interest. It had made him very popular with the fans who
continually approached him. It was also one of the things that made
Adam so damn insecure.
    Bud addressed Adam. “You need to come up in
the attic with me. There’s something you have to see.” Bud’s hazel
gaze held Adam’s. It was filled with something that made Adam
uncomfortable.
    Adam glanced toward Dirk. Remembering the
sounds he’d heard the night before, Adam had a bad feeling about
what Bud had found in that attic. He held his lover’s gaze for a
moment, wanting to dissuade Dirk from accompanying them. The last
thing he wanted was for Dirk to decide it was too dangerous there
and try to drag him away.
    Dirk returned Adam’s look with a direct one
of his own and said, “Good. I haven’t seen the attic yet.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

    Thank heavens, at least there wasn’t a noose
hanging from the rafters. Adam’s gaze slid to the thick, center
beam high overhead as soon as he climbed out of the stairwell and
entered the large, unfinished attic.
    The space was stifling, despite the fact
that Bud had opened a couple of the high, small windows which Adam
had thought were purely for decorative and illumination purposes. A
warm breeze filtered across