Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
The three of them continued to eat their meals, Dariel trying to be discreet about everything he did after his little outburst. He wanted to put himself into silent mode—to stop being perceived.
But all the while he ate, head kept facing the table, he thought of Godwin living alone in this house, no one to talk to, nothing to do, and doing it willingly.
When he tried to focus on something else, his mind immediately wandered to Athens, and the image of how he sat in the bedroom pinned itself to the front of his mind.
Athens’ warm breath on your neck, what those long fingers would feel like on both your shoulders. Bare shoulders.
Athens pressing you into the wall. Skin to skin. Hands running down your bare torso to the button of your trousers.
Then Godwin appeared at the door in his mind, and the image faded a bit until his gaze focused in on Godwin’s form, then it was his firm hands on Dariel’s shoulders and he felt a tug behind him as Athens brushed back his hair and planted a delicate kiss on his neck and—
“So, Godwin, what drew you to our work?” Athens asked.
He didn’t sense my mind wandering. Good. Dariel flushed, keeping his head down. He wasn’t ready to unpack those thoughts, his body had other ideas though.
“You both have a rather unique flair, and I was wanting quite a drastic change to my entire image. Call it a mid-life crisis.” Godwin spoke with a calm manner once more, his nerves almost entirely settling.
“Were you wanting a full house redesign? I couldn’t help but notice you keep a lot of your doors shut,” Athens persisted.
Godwin scrunched his lips as if considering his answer. “Hmm, perhaps. Though some of those rooms are closed for a reason,” he finished firmly.
And the reason? Dariel looked up from his food, eyes shifting between the two men.
“You let me know what things you had in mind, I will need to take some measurements first, of course. Get the floor plans to make some sketches.” Athens didn’t push the topic for once, though it seemed to Dariel that was intentional.
Godwin nodded and ate a forkful of peas, then turned to Dariel, his eyes sunny. “And you, Mr Hale, have the task of making me look… cool.” There was a smidge of humour in his tone.
Dariel awkwardly mopped his mouth. “I will try my best.”
“Then you can start frequenting town as the most fashionable man in Oxford,” Athens added.
Oh, that was clever.
Godwin winced. “Perhaps I will have to.”
“You don’t want poor Dariel here to design you an entire new wardrobe, only for the only people to see it being the Victorian ghosts in the halls now, do you?”
Godwin looked like he’d been shot in the back. “You’ve seen ghosts?” he asked, severely panicked.
Athens looked equally shocked for a moment, then sank back, entertained. “Oh, no, that was meant to be a joke.” He mellowed. “Is this place supposed to be haunted?”
Godwin shook his head, taking another sip of wine. “No. I do not believe so. You may hire a team of investigators who will claim the place is riddled, but I’ve never experienced anything that could not be explained. Thankfully,” he added as his eyes blanked.
“I’m terrified of the concept of ghosts.” Dariel thought it helpful to inject into the moment.
“That makes two of us,” Godwin said. “The last thing I want in my home is unwanted guests.”
Overthinking was Dariel’s speciality. Does he mean he is sick of us?
“What do you enjoy doing then, in your spare time? A house this size should surely have some entertainment gems.” Athens was swift to keep the topic from wandering.
“I do read a great deal. I’m sure you already guessed that from the library room I invited you both to earlier.
That’s my favourite room to frequent. It brings me peace.
” Godwin closed his eyes briefly, reminiscing.
His mask was well and truly falling now, and the bubbly man who opened the front door hours ago had returned.
“I used to read a lot of fantasy when I was younger, a bit of horror too, which probably comes as no surprise.” Athens gestured to his own attire. “Once a goth, always a goth.”
“I loved the goth scene when I was younger, I should let you take a look through my record collection, they’re all stacked up in one of the rooms upstairs.
My record player broke a good few years back and I never had it replaced—you might find some stuff you like, and you can take whatever you want. ”
Athens’ eyes widened like a child’s on Christmas morning. “Oh, are you sure? I wouldn’t want to take anything valuable. I have a friend who is good with fixing up old stereos and vintage electronics. I could get him to take a look at your player if you want, and you can relive your youth!”
Godwin swatted a hand. “Oh, there’s not much point, it was far beyond repair even in its final days. Besides, I’m too old for that stuff now.”
“You’re not too old at all. There’s no such thing as being too old to enjoy things, anyway.
” Athens almost looked offended. “I’ll get you back into enjoying these things, just you wait.
” Athens winked at Godwin, and for a millisecond, a wave of jealousy slapped Dariel in the face.
Stop this, you hardly know either of these men.
It’s only a month-long job, you may never see them again afterwards.
Athens is free to flirt with whoever he wants.
“Oh, Mr Daněk. You flatter me, but truly, I was never made for standing out.”
Athens’ voice dropped. “I can help with that too,” he promised, sheepishly.
Godwin chuckled, his shoulders bouncing up and down. “I didn’t have the confidence then, I sure as hell do not have the confidence now. Please, take what you like, I insist.”
Athens looked defeated, slumping back into his chair.
“And you, Mr Hale, you have free rein of my clothing collection. I have no use for the majority of it anymore, you may find some antiques.” Godwin spoke as if they’d suddenly known each other for years.
Like old friends catching up. It was comforting and helped to dissolve a lot of Dariel’s initial doubts and questions, but he could not fully let his guard down yet.
The life of Godwin Peters was still a great mystery.
“I must say,” Athens finished his drink, wiping his mouth, “you are quite a gracious host. You’ve gone above and beyond this evening.”
Godwin blushed, his full cheeks beaming.
“Oh, well. It is all or nothing with me when it comes to dinner, I’m afraid.
I couldn’t expect you both to travel this far for mere mediocrity.
” He set his knife and fork on either side of his plate.
“Besides, you both turned out to be exactly who I hoped, and it has relieved me massively, I will admit. I can often be very reserved. More wine, Dariel?”
Dariel was stunned out of comfort, hiccupping.
“Oh, sorry. Yes, please.” It was his turn to clear his throat now.
As Godwin stepped towards him, heat returned to his belly, and the scent overwhelmed him.
Godwin looked into his eyes and Dariel refused to look away, fixing his gaze upwards towards his host as he poured.
“You’re a bonny fellow, aren’t you,” Godwin said as he stepped away and wandered back to his seat, causing Dariel to take a sharp breath. He felt Athens’ gaze burn him from across the room, the attention of both men wholly on him.
“Oh, thank you.” He never got used to compliments, since they were often laced with judgement, no matter how kind they seemed.
“Easy to spot in a crowd,” Athens added.
Godwin must have seen the mild discomfort wash over Dariel’s face.
His eyes drooped slightly. “I meant nothing but the utmost respect there, Mr Hale. I was drawn to your uniqueness. In fact, I quite envy you.” Their host reassured him.
“There are many things I wish I’d been brave enough to do in my youth.
I often wonder if I have perhaps wasted my life, looking back now. ”
Dariel scrunched his nose. “What do you mean?”
Godwin sat back, shuffling on his seat like he’d already said too much. “Oh, well… You know. I’m not exactly, erm…”
His shyness was endearing to Dariel. He was a man of many secrets, but now, Dariel believed he’d be learning many of them very soon, one way or another.
‘I am growing to enjoy his company, aren’t you?’ Dariel tried his hand at being the confident one this time. He watched Athens reach up to rub his top lip.
‘Not usually my type but he is growing on me. What about you?’
Dariel thought back to his past partners—both sexual and platonic. No one ever lasted that long. He spent most of his time on his own after all, but the time he spent in the beds of others were mostly happy memories. His escape from reality. When he could be himself. No strings attached.
He took a deep breath. ‘He’s very much my type.’ He was being honest.
‘Hmm. Interesting…’ Athens didn’t look up.
Godwin could have changed the subject entirely if he’d wanted.
The ball was in his court, but instead, in those few short minutes, he’d thrown away his mask and became his true self.
“Gentlemen, I… may I ask something from you both?” He had finished his meal, napkin removed, and he tousled his grey-brown hair back.
“It’s not quite what I ever thought I would ask—not how I pictured the evening going—but now that I’ve spent an hour or so with the pair of you, you’ve given me the confidence to open up a little.
That’s if you don’t mind. I understand this was meant to be professional business and this will turn rather personal but I… ”
“Go ahead,” Athens said with his hands under his chin.
“Yes… I don’t mind…” Dariel added much quieter.
Godwin breathed in deep through his nose and puffed out his chest. “Oh, grand. Okay. Well. Here goes. Now, stop me if this is too much but… How did you both, how would I put it, learn to love yourselves? Your life. Who you are?”
A dribble of wax spilled out from one of the candles onto the centre of the table.