Chapter 27
Abraham's POV
I can’t help but groan as I wash out my porridge bowl. Business is going to be slow as everyone goes into hiding for the next several days. You’d think a good book would be necessary to ride out a hurricane. But rarely does that appear to be the case.
My mind jumps to the only real bookworm in town.
“Rami,” I whisper reverently.
Rumors of his running away a week ago leave me fearful of his safety. Where could he be? Is he safe? Will I ever see him again? All I can hope is that he has found his happiness, even if that joy comes at my despair.
Be patient, my boy. My plans are finally coming to fruition, the voice whispers, their voice tickling the back of my neck.
“What do you mean your plans?”
Trust me, they purr, forcing a shiver down my spine.
“You mustn't hurt him!” I shout into my empty kitchen. “Please,” I add, much softer. Not wanting to anger them.
My sweet boy, I take care of my own. You know this.
“Are you the reason Rami’s life is this way?”
What is present pain when promises of a full and pleasurable future are near?
There is no argument against their logic. With a weighted sigh, I turn to open my bookstore, thankful for once not to be in physical pain. Without Rami around as temptation, my need to beg for repentance has been unnecessary.
My heart still wants Rami, but my head continuously tries to remind me how wrong it is. My father’s voice is constantly speaking from death to tell me how foul I am. No matter how much penance I beg for, my heart still wants what it wants. And it never seems to be what I should want.
Despite the fruitless endeavor of opening my shop, the routine is necessary to distract myself. Can’t pine away thinking about someone that’s gone. Especially when my companion is gonna keep talking in riddles.
Before I even make it into the shop at the front of my home, a hesitant knock from the back door of my residence causes me to step wrong, and a twinge of pain throbs from my knee.
My brows pinch in tightly as I limp my way to the door.
Opening it hesitantly, my shoulders stiffen when a familiar mess of blonde curls comes into view.
“Rami?”
He snaps around quickly, his wide blue gaze scanning everything. They settle on me and he moves his bottom lip between his teeth. “C-Can I come in?” His voice sounds unsure, scared even. Those eyes never stop looking around.
Stepping back, I open the door further and allow him into my kitchen. A deep chuckle bubbles in my right ear; they’re clearly pleased. I have to bite my cheek to prevent myself from joining them. It’s all sort of ridiculous.
His eyes still roam over everything, as if he’s waiting for the bad guys to jump out from behind the fridge.
Closing the door behind him, I jump instantly into host-mode. He doesn’t say anything while I prep him a proper cuppa and slice a bagel in half to pop into the toaster. Within a few minutes, I’m sliding him a steaming mug and a plate.
“I-I’m so sorry to barge in on you, but I didn’t know where else to go.” I squeeze the counter to keep myself from lunging around the island to pull the precious man into my arms. The way his voice steadily turned into a pain-filled whisper feels like he’s tearing my heart out.
Rami is in my home, seeking sanctuary. A grin curls up one side of my lips, and I watch raptly as he digs into my offerings. If there’s anything my father drilled into me, it was to never deny someone in need sanctuary.
“You are safe here,” I reassure him.
He sighs heavily, the released tension instantly rounding his shoulders. “Thank you, Abraham. I didn’t know where else to go. I’ll be out of your hair as soon as this hurricane passes.”
“There’s no rush,” I admit with a shrug.
We’ll take very good care of him, they purr in my ear.
Rami scratches the back of his neck sheepishly. “Would it be too much to take a shower?”
An image of Rami’s slender body, naked in my home, sends shoots of pleasure through my body. I swallow thickly, fighting back my baser urges. “Of course you can. Feel free to use any of the toiletries up there. There’s spare toothbrushes and towels in the linen closet in the bathroom.”
He bobs his head, making his messy curls spill over his forehead.
I close the space between us, fighting the urge to push those golden locks behind his ear. “Seriously, Rami. Make yourself at home. I’m gonna open the shop for a few hours and I’ll be back then.”
He steps further away from me and runs his fingers through his hair. “Thank you,” he repeats softly before grabbing his stuff and disappearing upstairs.
With a heavy sigh, I trudge through the kitchen into the shop. Part of me wants to rush upstairs and be with him. Perhaps I could just stand outside the door and listen to him. What if he sings in the shower? I bet he has a beautiful voice.
What if he jacks off in the shower? they ask, making my member engorge further.
“Thanks for that. Now I’m going to be trying to work with an erection.”
Laughter. That’s all I’m met with. No pity for my predicament, just laughter.
I go through the familiar motions of turning on all the lights, unlocking the door, and flipping the sign to show I’m open. Knowing it’s going to be a slow day with the storm rolling in—let’s be real, I’m rarely busy even on a good day—I make a mental list of stuff to do to keep me busy.
But before I get halfway across the room, the bell above the door jingles. Turning on my heel, a fake smile plastered onto my face, I watch as Sheriff McAdoms walks in. His faux larger-than-life form fills the space and I have to fight the urge to bare my teeth at him like an animal.
“Morning, Abraham,” the old man says, tipping his hat before he slips it off his head.
“Morning, Sheriff. What can I do for you?” I’m quite certain this man has never stepped foot inside my store before.
He’s up to something. I can see it in his eyes.
Rami? I question.
Aye. I’ll keep an eye on him. You get rid of our pest.
With pleasure.
“I received reports of a few people who think they spotted Rami Lawrence. As a favor to his grandmother, I’m looking into it. She’s awfully worried.”
With sheer will alone, I manage to bite back the scoff. “I’m afraid I have not seen him.”
The sheriff closes the distance, invading my space and making my several inches in height appear to be more drastic.
“Several sources have said how much Rami enjoys reading, so I assume he has visited your little…” His voice trails off as he glances around my precious bookstore with disgust. “Shop.”
My top lip begins to lift into a snarl, but I force it into a smile. “Yes, sir,” I force through clenched teeth. “He is an occasional customer.” The word customer doesn’t feel like enough, but I refuse to allude to anything further. “As is your son.”
His facade drops only briefly before he clears his throat. “Very well. If you do see him, be sure to call me. But do so discreetly; he’s a flight risk.”
“Yes, sir.” Yeah, that’s not happening.
As he sees himself out, I feel them return to me.
“Is he okay?” I ask once we’re alone again.
Wanna know what he does in the shower?
“Please don’t.”
You should get him a book.
A lascivious grin curls up my face as I know exactly which books I’m gonna grab.