Chapter 7
Evander’s townhouse in Mayfair was a world away from the cramped tenements of the East End.
Viggo climbed through the study window—he’d stopped using the front door weeks ago, much to Evander’s exasperation and Jasper’s ire—and found the mage exactly where he’d expected him to be: bent over his desk, surrounded by books and papers, the enchanted lamp next to him casting shadows across his focused expression.
Gods, but he’s beautiful.
Viggo watched his lover for a moment, drinking in the sight of the stray dark lock falling across Evander’s forehead and the elegant lines of his profile. Even exhausted and rumpled, the man looked like something out of a painting.
“I know you’re there,” Evander said tersely, his gaze still on the documents before him. “You’re about as subtle as an elephant.”
“Elephants are majestic creatures.”
“They’re also loud, large, and tend to break things.” Evander looked up. His expression softened when their eyes met. “Hello.”
“Hello.” Viggo crossed the room and leaned a hip against the desk. “Working late again?”
Evander set down his quill and smiled tiredly. “There’s a considerable amount to prepare before we leave.”
Viggo’s pulse quickened. “Winterbourne got the Ministry’s approval?”
Evander nodded. “It came through today. Though not without conditions attached.”
Viggo sensed a dark meaning behind his words.
“How about we have a nightcap and you tell me about your day?”
He pulled Evander to his feet and led him to the damask sofa in front of the fireplace before pouring them both a brandy from the drinks cabinet.
It had become their habit as of late, sharing a drink and chatting before retiring to Evander’s bedchamber.
It was an intimate moment carved out of their busy day that both men now craved.
Evander accepted the glass gratefully and leaned his head against Viggo’s shoulder when he sank down beside him.
He told Viggo about the Parliamentary committee hearing.
Viggo frowned as he listened. “You think Beckett has it in for you?”
“Probably,” Evander murmured. “Even more so after my behaviour today.”
“You couldn’t help it,” Viggo said stiffly. “Why, I would probably have punched the man had I been in the room.”
Evander laughed.
“What? You don’t believe me?” Viggo said, annoyed.
“Oh, I do,” Evander chuckled. “In fact, the only thing that got me through that insufferable meeting was imagining you doing exactly that.”
Viggo relaxed a little. “What else?”
“We leave in three days.”
Surprise jolted Viggo at this news. “That’s quick.”
Evander made a face. “Apparently, the Ministry wants this done yesterday. I have Winterbourne’s approval to bring you and Ginny along. Shaw and Rufus will also be part of our team.” Faint lines wrinkled his brow. “I need to choose one more person.”
“Solomon.”
Evander raised his head and studied Viggo inquisitively.
“He wants to go to Europe,” Viggo said steadily. “Been insisting on it for a while.”
Evander’s expression grew thoughtful. “Because of Ginny.”
It was a statement rather than a question.
Viggo arched an eyebrow. “You knew?”
“I have eyes, Viggo,” Evander said drily. “The way they look at each other is rather obvious to anyone paying attention.”
Viggo decided not to tell the mage Solomon had almost pulled out of the mission.
“There will be a seventh member of our team.” Evander’s expression tightened. “The Ministry is sending an observer. That was the condition set for approving our mission. His name is Hector Fairbridge. His official role is to make sure we operate within international law and follow protocol.”
Viggo lowered his brows, not liking the sound of that one bit.
“And unofficially?”
“He’ll be watching my every move and reporting to the Ministry.” A sliver of dread underscored Evander’s words. “They’re looking for a reason to kick me out of the Met, Viggo.”
Viggo went cold. “What?!”
Evander blew out a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve been a thorn in their side for a long time. This is the perfect opportunity to get rid of me.”
“Are they mad?!” Viggo growled. Outrage brought a flush of heat to his face. “Why, I ought to—!”
Evander hushed him and clasped his hand.
Viggo took a shuddering breath and tried to calm his anger. He knew how much Evander had done to improve the conditions of thralls throughout London. And not just thralls.
Evander was a man of deep integrity and honour. Someone who was committed to justice for all and not just the few at the very top of society. Someone whose lifelong wish was to stop another War of Subjugation and give thralls the rights and opportunities they had long been robbed of.
“I’m surprised you didn’t turn them all to ice,” the Brute ground out.
“I got close,” Evander murmured, amusement creeping into his voice as he stroked the back of Viggo’s hand with his thumb. “Winterbourne wasn’t happy.”
“Well, Winterbourne is wrong.” Viggo lifted his lover’s hand and kissed his knuckles. “Also, you have the patience of a saint.”
Evander smiled. “Some would say otherwise.”
Viggo leaned in and took his mouth softly. “Then they are fools.”
Evander’s lips quirked. “How goes the Liverpool plan?”
“Well enough.” Viggo hesitated. “Finn and Magnus leave London tomorrow.”
Surprise flared in Evander’s eyes. “Magnus is tagging along?”
“He insisted.”
“Oh.” Evander grew pensive. “It might just be what he needs right now.”
Viggo stared. “You think so too?”
Evander nodded. “I do.” He rose and stretched. “Speaking of which, we should discuss how we’ll manage our situation whilst abroad.”
Viggo tried not to stare at the way the mage’s shirt pulled taut across his delectable chest. It took a moment to register what his lover had said.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean we’ll need to be discreet.” Evander’s voice grew firm. “Fairbridge will be watching me constantly. We can’t afford to give him more ammunition than the Ministry already has.”
“So we have to pretend there’s nothing between us?” Viggo couldn’t quite keep the bitterness from his voice.
Evander sighed. “We already do that in public, Viggo. We’ll just need to be extra careful in private too.
” The mage moved closer, close enough that Viggo could feel the warmth radiating from his body.
He nudged Viggo’s knees open and stepped inside the cradle of his thighs.
“I’m not saying we can’t be together, only that we’ll need to choose our moments wisely.
” He brushed Viggo’s cheek with light fingers, tipped his chin up, and kissed him.
Viggo’s cock twitched. He clasped Evander’s hips and attempted to pull him down on his lap.
“Oh.” Evander broke the kiss and straightened, his expression brightening. “I have something for you.”
“I have something for you right here,” Viggo muttered heatedly.
Evander glanced at his swelling erection and rolled his eyes before crossing to his desk and producing a leather-bound volume from a drawer.
Viggo was about to complain about his lover’s lack of empathy when he saw the cover. His breath caught.
“The Odyssey,” he breathed. He met Evander’s eyes dazedly. “In the original Greek.”
“It took a while for my contacts to come through. I thought you might appreciate having it for the journey.” Evander’s smile was soft as he crossed the room. “Consider it an early birthday present.”
Viggo took the book with reverent hands. He’d been teaching himself Greek for the past year, slowly working through whatever texts he could acquire. But this—this was a first edition, beautifully preserved and probably worth more than he earned in a month.
“Evander, I can’t—”
“You can. And you will.” Evander’s tone brooked no argument. “You’ve been wanting to read Homer in Greek for months. Now you’ll have something to occupy yourself with on the train rides.”
Viggo could think of a dozen other delicious ways they could occupy themselves on the train rides but decided not to voice that thought. He set the book down carefully and pulled Evander into his arms. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Evander’s voice was muffled against Viggo’s shoulder. “I’m going to miss this,” he confessed softly.
“Miss what?”
“This. Us. Being able to just be together without worrying about who’s watching.” Evander pulled back enough to meet Viggo’s eyes. “This trip is going to feel like an eternity.”
Viggo arched an eyebrow. “Then we’d better make tonight count.”
Evander’s eyes darkened. “Is that so?”
“Yes.”
A delighted gasp left Evander as Viggo flipped him onto his back on the sofa and crowded him with his body. Evander’s pupils dilated with want as Viggo nipped at his lips with his teeth.
“I’ve been thinking about you all day. About what I want to do to you.”
“Have you?” Evander’s voice had gone low and rough. “Tell me.”
Instead of answering, Viggo kissed him.
It was hungry and hot from the start, the tension of the day heightening their desire for one another.
Viggo’s hands found Evander’s waist and pulled him flush against his body as he deepened the kiss.
Evander responded with a soft sound that went straight to Viggo’s cock, fingers threading through his hair and a leg wrapping wantonly around his hip.
“Bedroom,” Evander gasped when they broke apart. “Now.”