He clenched his teeth even harder when he imagined Richard touching Killian and he resisted the urge to break the door in.
No, he couldn’t do it.
For some reason, Michael couldn’t get any sense of what Killian was feeling, but he could very well tell what Richard was - and that was pleasure.
Blinding anger filled his vision.
They were really together.
He knew that. Always had known it, but now it was happening on the the other side of the door and only a few feet were separating him from his mate.
His mate who was with another person right now.
Michael tried not to imagine Kilian on his knees, or naked, or anything like that.
Killian is Richard’s lover.
He repeated in his head.
And obviously Killian wasn’t resisting whatever it was they were doing.
Michael felt more pleasure coming from Richard and that was it for him.
That’s why Michael took a step back, followed by another and decided to wait downstairs.
The further he was right now, the better.
He'd never seen Richard personally, but unfortunately his first encounter with him had to be like that.
"I hate all of this."
Michael muttered as he walked away.
***
Killian didn’t say a word to him on the way to where they were going, and Michael didn’t try to ask any questions.
Not that he wanted to hear the answers to most of them, anyway. He was so mad for some reason that he couldn’t care less about where they were going.
This was his worst mission ever and if he’d had a bad feeling when he’d started it, he was now hating it. The drive wasn't that long, as it was in the very center of London in what looked like both a private house and a manor that belonged to the Royal family.
Michael wasn't driving, as there was a driver who took them there.
Someone took his coat off at the entrance of the manor they came to. No one searched him for weapons, or anything he might be carrying and Michael scanned the place quickly.
There were a hundred ways of killing someone here anyway, with all the silverware and pins, shining from the women’s hairs.
Michael didn’t need to make a mental calculation to know only the jewels cost more than some countries' entire net worth.
It was excessive.
Not in the way people- normal people- showed off their money. It was impressive in the way the Royals were rich.
The way Richard was one of the wealthiest men ever lived. The people he met- the same.
And that fortune was unmeasurable. Michael heard the approaching steps behind him, and then came the greeting.
“Killian! I haven't seen you since we met in Sicily!”
Michael turned and saw an older man greet Killian.
“Jason, how are you?”
Killian’s tone was the usual perfectly composed mixture between high-class accent, politeness and no real emotion whatsoever.
Michael wondered what Killian sounded like when he was actually feeling anything human and he had to close his eyes briefly to scatter away the image of Killian panting under him.
“Did you see the new Rembrandt in the hallway?” The man that had just come asked, still warmly.
“It’s hard to miss. “
Flat, again.
“Fantastic, isn’t it? I don’t see Richard, by the way. Is he not with you?”
The stranger asked.
“He had to attend to something else. But you can share your input and I'll let him know once you’ve decided. “
The man- Jason smiled widely and patted Killian lightly on the forearm.
It was a friendly gesture, or more like a fatherly one, but Michael noticed the sudden shift in Killian, and the way Killian froze completely in an instant.
It lasted for the shortest of moments, but Michael saw it. No one else did, however.
Killian really hadn’t joked when he said he might cut Flynn’s hand off next time he touched him. The only difference from then was that right now Killian had to comply with social norms.
A sociopath.
A real, by the books sociopath. This is what Killian was.
Michael had to admit it, despite the stupid attraction and the damned “mate” shit.
“Marvelous. “
Jason said, oblivious to what had just happened. “I suggest we proceed with discussions, unless you want to…”
“No, let’s talk now. “
Killian cut in and Jason nodded.
“Perhaps we can discuss everything in private?”
Jason’s eyes flickered to Michael and Killian was already making to walk away.
“Of course. “
The two moved towards the big door at the end of the grand hall away and Killian said, without turning.
“Wait for me wherever you see fit. “
and disappeared.
“Marvelous.”
Michael imitated Jason once he was alone and headed out.
He could search the place and sniff around more, but he doubted he would find anything, considering it was full of bodyguards and security.
And the hidden threats , the ones we didn’t see right away were always the most dangerous ones.
****
“Where’s the driver?”
Michael asked, confused once Killian and him went out to discover the car was parked where it had been left when they came, but there was no trace of the man who’d taken them here.
Killian opened the door himself and took the back seat, without saying anything.
Michael stood confused on the alley, but followed in and took the driver's seat. He couldn't get anything from Killian, but if his wolf was silent, the part of Michael that was human could see Killian wasn't in the mood.
More than usual.
Killian leaned against his seat and took a cigarette out when Michael started the car.
Killian lit it and Michael found himself watching in the rear view mirror the way the blue smoke curled around Killian's slender fingers, then at the way the man's lips curled around the cigarette bud and closed around it, at the way he took a long drag and sucked the smoke in, then slowly exhaled it. Michael looked away and sat straighter in his seat.
"Where to?"
he asked, trying to sound unfazed by the fact he'd imagined Killian sucking him the way he was doing with the cigarette in his hands.
"Where we left off."
Michael's hold around the wheel tightened so much he quickly relaxed his grip from fear of snapping the fragile piece.
Of course Killian spent the nights with Richard.
Of course.
He pressed the pedal harder, the sooner he was away from Killian the better.
And "away" meant the sooner he'd be able to think straighter.
Michael hated the way he was constantly reacting to anything that had to do with Killian.
Anything.
And he Just. Hated. It.
***
The rest of the drive was just another torture.
Killian was the dark, silent and perfectly calm figure in the back seat Michael couldn't stop being aware of.
That was all.
And it was nerve - wracking.
Once they reached the manor, Michael got off and tried to open the door but Killian stopped him and Michael didn't make another move and backed off.
Okay.
Killian was not only hating people touching him, but Michael was obviously not even allowed to approach him.
Great.
Things were getting greater with any passing second.
But staying as far away as possible from Killian was for the better, in fact.
Killian went in and Michael assumed he was dismissed.
A silent dismissal was the worst.
And Killian was one of those people who never turned back.
That much was obvious.
And for the past few hours the only thing he'd discovered was this was a bigger game he'd initially thought.
Michael headed home and very soon , he reached his appointment. He'd left the car at the headquarters because he was pretty sure if he came to this neighborhood with a vehicle like that, he'd attract way more attention than he would need to.
And if anyone tried to steal it, he'd attract twice more onlookers if he beat all four guys at once.
Michael climbed the iron stairs leading to the last floor of the apartment building he lived in when he paused.
There was someone in his apartment.
Someone whose scent he didn't know.