One Plus Two Equals... - 47

When the buzzer sounded around nine the next morning Julyan froze like a deer in the headlights. He dropped the spatula, then jumped when it hit the floor with a bang.

Duane was beside him seconds later, gripping his arms tightly. "It's just our contact. Relax."

"You relax," Julyan growled, angry at himself for overreacting.

After patting his ass and telling him he was relaxed, mostly, Duane went to check the security monitor. Whoever stood at the downstairs lobby door must have passed visual inspection because Duane buzzed him in.

"Time for me to vanish for the moment," he told Julyan, kissing him gently before shifting.

Auden appeared, muttering with a grin, "He always runs when it gets down to the nitty-gritty."

"He does not," Julyan protested before getting that Auden was teasing.

By then someone was rapping on the front door of the condo. From the sequences Julyan figured it had to be a code of some sort. Whoever it was must have given the correct one because Auden turned off the security and opened the door. Julyan noted however that he kept his hand behind him at the waistband of his jeans until the person was fully inside and the door closed.

"Julyan, this is Mr…Pink."

"How Reservoir Dogs," the man said with a small chuckle.

Auden shrugged. "The less he knows the safer it is for him."

That idea didn't make Julyan's day but he figured at this point nothing would, so he just nodded in greeting as he studied the man. He was Auden's height and build and had the same 'take no prisoners' look that graced Auden's face at the moment. Although they weren't carbon copies of each other, Julyan could see how from a distance, or in dim light, they might pass for one another, which was the plan.

"Julyan, if you don't mind we're going to disappear for a while." When Julyan froze, Auden quickly shook his head. "Not out of here, just into the office so we can finalize things. I wouldn't mind some of whatever it was you were fixing for breakfast, if it hasn't turned into something inedible."

"Aw shit." Julyan spun around, hurrying back into the kitchen. The omelet was a goner so he tossed it, cleaned the pan, and began again. It occurred to him Mr. Pink, or whatever his real name was, might want something too. He went to the office door, rapped, then asked if he did, getting a negative reply.

A few minutes later he was rapping on the door again, this time with a plate of food and utensils in his hands. It opened enough for Auden to take his meal and thank him then close it again.

Julyan returned to the kitchen where he choked down his own breakfast and cleaned up. At loose ends now and knowing there was no way he could concentrate on anything like a book or a TV show, he set to work making beds, dusting, and otherwise being the 'house-husband' he'd teased himself about a couple of weeks earlier. He was just finishing the bathroom in the master bedroom when he heard the front door open and close.

Auden came in a minute later, leaning on the doorframe. "Things are set to go."

"He's going to be you for the meeting?"

"The meeting we're pretty damned sure isn't going to happen. The boss agreed with us on that, thus Mr. Pink." Auden grinned. "It was a bit Reservoir Dogs, wasn't it?"

"Well, at least you didn't tag him with 'Keyser Söze' from Usual Suspects."

"Good point." Auden waited until Julyan finished and came into the bedroom. Then, smiling, he stalked toward him.

"What are you doing?"

"You're wound up tighter than a spring. You need to relax."

"What makes you think…?"

"I know you." Auden continued his stalking steps, chuckling when Julyan took a quick step away, the backs of his legs hitting the edge of the bed. "Perfect."

For a second Julyan considered resisting Auden's intentions, but only for a second. Then he fell back onto the bed, holding out his arms, enfolding his lover in them when he tumbled on top of him.