Make Me Whole (27 page)

And to add to his unsettled irritation, his balls still ached, and no matter how much he tried to concentrate on the paperwork in front of him, his thoughts bounced between the memories of Galen with Nick’s cock in his mouth, his ass in the air as he begged for more, and writhing across his lap as Nick spanked him.

Nick had tried for too many months to block such thoughts. It had gotten even harder since they started seeing each other again, but after last night Nick didn’t think he’d ever be able to leash those memories again. It was going to be a freaking long-assed day.

How was it possible to both wish for the day to be done and fear its ending? Galen ran. That was his MO. The question that remained was how long it was going to take. Nick wasn’t sure if he could handle waiting for the moment to come.

“You are so certain, without even talking with him, without trying to listen to what is in his heart.”

Nick jumped and almost fell out of his chair as it rolled back. Dexios stood near the desk, his eyes flashing, hand on the hilt of his sword. “What the hell are you doing here? You have
got
to stop sneaking up on me like this.”

“Just because you have studied the myth does not mean you know the whole tale. You assume much.” Dexios slammed his helmet on Nick’s desk. “There is a storm coming, a whirlwind of fear and doubt, and I do not think you have the fortitude to weather it. Who is really afraid? Galen or you?”

“You’re damn right I’m afraid, and you should be too,” Nick snapped as he rose to his feet. “I’ve been reading up since I last saw you, researching the family journals. I know that Lykon needs to make it right in another lifetime. I know that Galen is his descendent just as I’m yours, but if you’re counting on Galen to be less fickle than Lykon was, I think you’re placing your trust in the wrong person. And I’m the one who gets to have his heart broken again this time. I’m the one caught in the middle of all three of you.”

“You do not know as much as you think you do,” Dexios said in a furious, low voice. “Galen is not Lykon; they may have the same soul, but they are not the same man. Their experiences are different. You said as much to Lykon. And your experiences are different from mine, yet you seem determined to repeat my mistakes. I warned you not to read the journals.”

“I love him.” Nick turned away, thinking of Galen, of his smile, his animated way of talking when he was excited. “And I don’t want to lose him, not like you lost Lykon, or how my uncle lost his lover.”

How could he fix things if Dexios refused to tell him how to do it? He and Galen had to find the answers somewhere before it was too late. Now that he thought about it, he wasn’t the only one who would get hurt from this; Galen would too, and that thought made him go cold inside. Look what happened to Galen last time his heart was broken. He had been carrying around a crushing guilt for years that had incapacitated him in some ways.

Galen had already lost his heart when he’d lost Bryan. Nick had heard it in his voice last night. Dexios shot him a disgusted look. “This is why we do not tell people how to break the curse. They think too much and forget to feel. You think you heard Galen’s heartbreak last night. Did you hear what he was trying to tell you this morning?”

“What the hell?” Nick flushed a hot red. “Were you spying on us?”

The withering expression in Dexios’s eyes cooled Nick’s anger. “Not in the way you think. I am a part of you. I know what you know. And I know what Galen was trying to tell you, and you stopped him.”

Nick looked away, his jaw clenching. “I should’ve kept my mouth shut and not told him that I loved him. It messed everything up last time. I don’t want him to feel obligated to respond in kind. I don’t want to hear him say it just to say it.”

“Your reasoning is as faulty as your wits. Ask yourself, how did Galen react the last time you told him you loved him? Did he pretend to love you too, to spare your feelings?”

Sudden doubt filled Nick’s thoughts. He wanted to believe so much, and Dexios was a persuasive bastard, but it was in his best interests to shove him and Galen together. Still, he was right. Galen had been honest with Nick in the past even though he knew Galen had not enjoyed hurting him and would have spared his feelings if he could have.

Maybe he did mean it now. The hope was almost too painful.

“I’ll think about it,” Nick finally said, and Dexios nodded, taking his hand off the sword hilt. Something about the action made Nick wonder if he’d have used it on him, curse or no curse, and a chill touched him.

“That is all I ask.” Dexios looked off to the side, as if hearing some distant call, and he began to fade until Nick could see right through him. “I must go, but I have one last thing to tell you. When you study those journals written by men who have had their hearts broken, it would do you well to know that Lykon wasn’t the only one who had broken faith.”

“Wait a minute. What the hell do you mean by that? Lykon left you.” Nick cursed under his breath as Dexios disappeared completely. “Come back and tell me what you mean.”

The corner of his office remained empty, and Nick bit back another curse. He still had some time before the meeting. Maybe he could reread the multiple versions of the myth that he had. He’d have to glean some answers from them since Dexios didn’t seem inclined to do anything other than lecture and give vague warnings.

As for Galen, all Nick could do was wait and see what happened. And in the meantime, Nick had his own trust issues to work through. Galen was dealing with his. He could do no less.

G
ALEN
breezed into work, riding on a complete high compared to how he’d left it the day before. Suzane had been released this morning and was going to be fine. He was going to be with Nick again tonight. He couldn’t stop himself from grinning. He was like a bad chick flick movie star. He hadn’t felt this good in a long time. He hadn’t felt this… normal.

He did a quick walk-through of the public part of the museum, then unlocked the doors. The morning sun looked as though it was going to hold when he set out the Open sign on the cobbled walkway, so he brought out some of the hanging baskets of spring flowers as well. They didn’t get much traffic on a midmorning weekday, though they could usually count on a few walk-throughs in an hour. Patronage had been building some as word got out about the new upcoming exhibit.

Galen took his spot behind the counter in the gallery and began checking his e-mail, though his concentration was shot. His thoughts kept returning to Nick. And it didn’t help that every time he shifted in his chair, the slight twinge reminded him keenly of the fun the night before and this morning. He grinned again. Wow, it was incredible how free he felt after he’d stopped fighting and running away from Nick.

“Galen Kanellis, you are a hypocrite.”

Galen stifled a grin at the familiar acerbic voice and looked at Suzane, who stood in the doorway, back in her pinstripes and bun. Oh boy. She was going to be on fire today. “Am I? I hope you haven’t left a trail of bodies between here and the hospital. I’m not posting bail.”

“When you fainted at work, you wouldn’t even go see a doctor! I have one little incident, and the next thing I know you’re packing me into an ambulance.” The outrage in her voice made Galen’s lips twitch, though he was careful not to smile.

“I knew what had caused my faint, and it hasn’t happened since. Plus, I didn’t knock my head going down. I didn’t call the ambulance because you fainted; I called because of the blood and the lump on your head.”

Though if Dexios hadn’t caught him, Galen might’ve been knocked silly too. Strange, he hadn’t given the statues one thought at all this morning. He’d been so wrapped up in Nick he’d forgotten about trying to break the curse. Galen looked at the bruise on Suzane’s forehead and the small bandage that covered the cut. “I don’t suppose I’d be able to talk you into taking the day off.”

“Forget about it,” Suzane said flatly. “I’m fine. They’ve given me something for the anemia, and once the chemo’s done my iron count should go back to normal. And if you sic one of those kids on me to play nursemaid, the cops are going to be trawling the Puget Sound for your body.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Don’t you ‘yes ma….’” Suzane trailed off and looked at him again. “You’re in a good mood. What’s gotten into you? No nagging, no fussing, not off in la-la land over that new exhibit.”

This time Galen wasn’t able to suppress the smile. “Nothing, just glad to see you back.” He rose and startled a squawk out of her by giving her a hug. He didn’t like the idea of her being at work today, but at least here he could keep an eye on her. “I’ll take care of any tours today if you’ll take care of the paperwork on your desk.”

Suzane shot him a suspicious look, shook her head, and relaxed. “Well, if you’re not going to be a butthead about this, I won’t bitch if you hover a bit. Just don’t take it to extremes. It makes me feel like an invalid.”

“I promise. Note of warning: when Heather comes in, I’m sure she’ll be by to check on you. She went to pieces yesterday, so go easy on her. I bet Knox will be by too, after he gets off work.”

Suzane snorted. “And I’ll send her right down here to run the shop. That should get her off my back. As for Knox, have you thought about hiring him part time? He’s here, whenever he’s off anyway, and does the work. It wouldn’t hurt to have one or two of the kids on the payroll part time. Heather’s going to be leaving us in the fall, and when it gets busier, it can’t be just the two of us up front. We should have some back up.”

“I’ve been giving it some thought. I’ll ask him when he gets here.” Galen glanced back as the door chimed and a patron he recognized came in. She’d been eyeballing this sculpture for weeks and was weakening. By the time she left with the wrapped package secure in her bag and an invitation for the opening of the exhibition, Suzane had returned with a bulging folder stuffed under her arm and her slim laptop.

“The guys are here to finish installing the security lights in the new room. I don’t know why you waited this long. It should’ve been done weeks ago.” She settled herself behind the counter. “I can work on the catering here while you deal with them.”

Galen knew he should’ve had that set up a while ago, but he loved seeing the statues at night without the harshness of artificial lighting to ruin their magic. Suzane would thwap him if he said it out loud, though. “They assured me it wouldn’t be invasive and shouldn’t take long. We have the alarms around the windows, so I think I’m only going to have them put in two lights since we already have some spilling in from the hallway.”

“Whatever you think,” Suzane said, already deep into her notes with a flush of pleasure on her cheeks. She really loved doing this part. The organizing, the media kits—she would be in heaven come opening night.

Galen made small talk with the contractor as they headed toward the new exhibit room. He slipped his phone out, intending on sending Nick a text when he saw the second statue whole. Whole. He gasped and the phone dropped from his fingers. Oh God, it was gorgeous. It was better than he’d expected.

He ran forward to look closer as the contractor said something that Galen didn’t register. Lykon knelt before Dexios, an expression of pleasured anticipation on his face as he leaned toward Dexios’s cock, his lips parting to take it in.

Nick had to see this. Galen reached for his phone, looking around when he didn’t see it. The contractor handed it to him, looking bemused. “You dropped it and broke it all to hell. Is everything okay?”

“Oh yeah, everything’s perfect. It’s better than perfect,” Galen breathed, pocketing the shattered shell of his cell phone. “We’ve marked the spots for the lighting with tape.” He vaguely gestured behind him and moved to the single third statue. Lykon lurched inside of him, and Galen pressed a hand against his heart as he touched Dexios’s hair. “Soon, my friend, we’re halfway there.”

S
UZANE
stood before his desk, hands on her hips, and fire in her eyes. “What do you mean a harpist isn’t sexy? This is an exhibit opening gala, not a toga party. You have enough sex going on in that room to set any kind of mood. What would you like instead, pounding drums?”

“Don’t tempt me.” With the mood Nick left him in this morning, pounding, tribal drums seemed to fit. Add in the anticipation from having to wait to talk to him and show him the new statue, and it was all Galen could do to sit still. “A harpist makes me think heavenly choirs or put-me-to-sleep elevator music. I don’t want people associating that with the exhibit. Maybe a sax.”

“Too loud and screechy.”

“Growly and sexy,” Galen countered and pointed to the paper with the layout of the room. “What if we set him up in this corner?”

“Can you pick any other instrument other than a sax? Please? What about a piano?” Despite Suzane’s pacing and glowers, Galen could tell she was enjoying herself by the way her mouth twitched to hide a smile. It was good to see her like this, and Galen couldn’t help adding more fuel to her fire.

“I think it would make the room seem crowded.” Galen’s thoughts went right back to the drums; as soon as Suzane said it, he knew it was just the right thing, but he wasn’t sure how to set it up. “You know, I like your drum idea.”

“Be serious.” Suzane grabbed a chair and pulled it up to his desk. “We cannot have drums and cymbals crashing. It would be too much. Steel drums would be even worse in the room. No one would be able to talk.”

“I am being serious,” Galen said as he considered it further. “Drums are more versatile than you think. I’m thinking a single person and hand drums, very organic, wood and hide. Drums are old and primal. I think it would go over very well.”

Suzane’s expression turned thoughtful. “You might be right. I’ll look into it tomorrow.” She stuffed her notebook into her oversized purse. “On that note, I’m calling it an early day. Thank you for not hovering over me too zealously. I appreciate it.”

“After two weeks of not having you here, I’m surprised this place is still standing. And boy, did I miss arguing with you.” Galen grinned at her and waved his hand toward the door. “Go, relax, I won’t be too far behind you.”