Revenge A Charlie and Will Short Story #3
“Mind on the job. Soren and Alexei, strip him to his underwear and tie him up. Izzie and I will redecorate.”
Yes, this was going to be an unforgettable visit to Paris for Jacob Tanner.
“Charlie! Charlie! Where the hell are you?”
Will’s strident calls echoed through the apartment as he crossed through the different rooms before finding Charlie seated on the small balcony, enjoying his coffee and a croissant.
Charlie looked up, adjusting his face to mild curiosity while Will glared at him, Oscar following right on his heels.
The cat abandoned him to jump into Charlie’s lap and sniff at the remains of his coffee.
“What’s up?”
As soon as Will reached him, he turned the tablet he was holding to face Charlie, nearly touching the screen to the tip of his nose. “Was this you?”
“What are you talking about?” Charlie jerked his head and grabbed Oscar to keep him off the table.
With his free hand, he plucked the tablet from Will’s hand and held it so that he could see it showing a news article lightly mocking a tourist who’d had to be rescued from his hotel room after he’d been left tied up by a dominatrix he’d hired for the night.
There wasn’t a picture of the man, but his name had been used because the silly American had caused a ruckus in the hotel and refused to leave unless the hotel handed over its security footage.
The police had been called to escort the man off the premises.
The article hinted in a very tongue-in-cheek way that Tanner claimed he was the victim of a “vicious” attack. However, it was clear the writer believed he was making such claims to hide his embarrassment at being caught in such a position.
Sadly, there was no picture of Tanner when he was discovered, but the news agency had somehow gotten its hands on a picture of the room, which had dozens of black leashes dangling from the ceiling above the rumpled bed, where the red shibari rope still lay.
“Why would you think I did this?” Charlie replied casually as he handed the tablet to Will.
“You mean other than the fact that it’s the same dick who said horrible things about Oscar and hurt my feelings?
Not to mention all the leashes hanging in the room.
This all just happened to coincide with Ed and Max coming to town and demanding that I take them sightseeing in some of the most highly visible spots in all of Paris while you had to go on some last-minute errand.
” Will narrowed his eyes at Charlie and lifted his chin.
“Who else is in town? You didn’t do this alone. ”
The jig was up. He’d always known that Will would discover the truth. He’d just hoped it would be a little later in the day.
Charlie put Oscar on the floor, gathered up his mug and plate, and rose. “Alexei, Soren, Izzie, and Kairo are also in town. We’re going to meet up with them for dinner tonight along with Ed and Max.” He then pressed a kiss to Will’s forehead while his man stood there with his mouth hanging open.
He was halfway to the kitchen when Will broke from his shock and hurried after him. “Max and Ed were my alibi.”
“Yes, I had to make sure none of this would come back on you if, by the slimmest of chances, the police actually investigated.”
“And Kairo covered your asses with the cameras and such?”
“Of course.” Charlie set his mug and plate in the sink and turned to face Will. He drew a deep breath and braced himself. He refused to regret this, because he’d done it to defend Will and the cat he adored. However, he didn’t want to hurt his love. “Are you angry?”
Will stared at him, his face stern for only a heartbeat before the cracks finally started to show.
His lips twitched and his bright ocean-blue eyes twinkled.
“I should be angry. You can’t do these things.
” His words were harsh, but by the end, he was giggling.
Will gave up the ghost, and a huge grin spread across his lips, lightening him up so that Charlie’s heart flipped.
This was why he’d done it. No other reason.
Everything he did was to make the love of his life happy.
After setting the tablet on the counter, he wagged a finger at Charlie, but he was still smiling as he closed the distance between them.
“No more revenge for stupid things.” Will laid his hand on Charlie’s chest right over his heart and lifted on his toes to steal a sweet kiss that warmed all the dark parts of Charlie’s soul.
“But I really appreciate you getting revenge for Oscar’s wounded honor. ”
“While I’m sure Oscar appreciates my efforts, I did it for you. No one is allowed to hurt you. I will always get revenge on those people.”
“You’re my personal psychopath with a wet team.”
Charlie smirked. “Love makes me a little crazy.”
Will huffed and wrapped his arms around Charlie’s neck, snuggling him. “I’ll tell Oscar to behave so we don’t keep you too busy.”
Charlie looked up into the living room where the furry genius made a grab for his tail and rolled off the sofa with a soft thud. Yeah, he was sure Oscar was going to get right on that.