When Scarlet and Ronin, two very beautiful individuals, approach Julian May, he cannot believe his luck. Having albinism and being somewhat shy, he doesn’t usually get attractive people approaching him. Julian’s attraction to Ronin is immediate, and he is very flattered by Scarlet’s interest. Being gay, he falls in love with Ronin, only to find out Ronin and Scarlett are the same person and they made a play for him as part of a honey trap, set by the very agency that employs them, the Secret Intelligence Service.
All hell breaks loose as an angry and betrayed Julian refuses to have anything more with Ronin/Scarlet. But Julian needs to rescue an old lover who is stuck in a prison in Afghanistan, and the only person willing or able to help him is Ronin. Despite Ronin’s jealousy when he sees Julian and his former boyfriend together, he does not give up on trying to win Julian’s heart. Little does he know, he already has it.
“Hello, handsome. Buy me a beer?”
Julian looked to his left to see a young man, shorter than him by perhaps four inches, but long-legged, and with the most beautiful blue eyes. He was slender, wearing tight jeans and a smart but casual white button-down shirt. His silky dark hair fell below his shoulders while the sweetest wide-eyed smile warmed his face. He looked younger than Julian, maybe eighteen or nineteen.
Julian shrugged and smiled at the invitation, which was both flirtatious and cheeky. Cute young men didn’t usually approach him. “All right. I’ll buy you a beer. What would you like?”
“What are you drinking?” the young man asked.
“Lager.”
“I like lager.”
As they wandered over to the bar, Julian downed the remains of his beer, then ordered two more. “What’s your name?”
“Ronin.” The young man stuck out his hand, which Julian shook. Ronin was prettier than his usual type, but Julian liked the way he had been so forward and friendly. Being on the shy side, it was much easier when men propositioned him.
“I’m Julian.”
Beers in hand, the two leaned against the bar. Julian wasn’t looking for a relationship. His relationships never seemed to work out, and it was all too complicated anyway, between work, family, and the church. And to hell with not having sex in public toilets. From now on it would be his modus operandi. After that last moron he’d taken home, he wasn’t going to risk that again.
“Want to dance?” Ronin asked.
“I’m not very good at it, I’m afraid. Do you want to go into the men’s?”
“That was fast,” Ronin said, looking up at him. The young man seemed disappointed, making Julian wish he’d kept his mouth shut.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to be offensive.” He shrugged and repeated, “Sorry.” He trained his gaze on the dance floor, but the flashing lights made him blink and he quickly turned away. He wasn’t enjoying himself and wanted to get out of there.
Freddie had sent a text, once again begging him to do something, claiming he was sicker than ever and that he’d been assaulted by a Norwegian prisoner.
“We could go to your place,” Ronin suggested.
“I can’t. I live with my parents. Sorry.” He hated lying -- it went against everything he’d been taught -- but everyone lied in bars.
“Stop saying sorry. Come on.” Ronin took his hand, led him around the dance floor, and into the men’s toilets.
Things were looking up.
“Where have you been?” were the words that greeted him, accompanied by a knowing grin, when he and Ronin returned to the bar. He knew he’d get that reaction from Mike, but he still disliked it.
“Performing my ablutions,” he said, slightly embarrassed. Ronin giggled and elbowed him in the side. “This is Ronin.”
“We left our beers in the loo. I’ll get us a couple more,” Ronin said.
Julian watched the sweet young man as he stood at the bar. He ordered two lagers and then pulled out his phone. His gaze caught Julian’s for a moment, and he smiled. Julian had had his fair share of sex over the years and a couple of short-term relationships since Freddie, but nothing that had amounted to much. He doubted Ronin would come back for more.
