can resist him. I’d intended to leave London at the end of the week and couldn’t take him. Now, it looks as if we’re both staying.”
“Until you’ve found out whether Dog has a chip and until the criminal record check’s done.”
Ink gave a slow smile. “There’s going to be a bit of a problem with that.”
“Yeah, when I discover you have a record for preying on guys who use crutches.”
Ink chuckled. “Exactly. When your father said what was needed, I could tell that you suspected I wasn’t going to be able to supply those things. I don’t have a driving licence or a passport. I can’t list my addresses for the last five years. There’s been too many. No way can I remember the dates. I don’t know whether hostels count, but I’m guessing squats don’t. I do have a National Insurance number, but you’re not going to be paying me enough for me to need to give it to you, so I’d rather not. I’m twenty-six, by the way.”
“Do you have a criminal record?”
“No. Well, apart from preying on guys who use crutches, obviously.”
“Okay, then.”
“Any house rules?”
“Such as?” Tay asked.
“No feeding you after midnight?”
“I’m going to expect you to be at my beck and call, and if I want egg and chips at two in the morning, you’ll get me egg and chips at two in the morning.”
Ink laughed. “Have you ever eaten egg and chips at two in the morning?”
“No, but I’ve never had a live-in slave before.”
“Hmm. Any other rules? Do I need to be in bed by nine?”
“Eight thirty at the latest.”
“Shackled?”
“Preferably.”
“I suppose more than four in a bed isn’t allowed?” Ink raised his eyebrows.
“Sounds like fun.” Tay’s mouth went dry and he swallowed hard. It looked fun online but… A lot of porn looked fun and likely wasn’t.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” Ink asked.
Tay’s heart stuttered. He was fairly sure it actually stopped for a long moment. “You’re assuming I’m gay?”
Ink tensed. “I shouldn’t have assumed. Sorry. Girlfriend, then?”
“Neither.” That was a safe answer.
“What about friends? How often do they come round? What visitors do you get? Are there times when you need me to make myself scarce? Hole up in the bedroom or leave the flat?”
“I don’t get visitors apart from delivery guys. I don’t have any friends in London. I doubt there’ll be a reason I’d want you to make yourself scarce, but I’m assuming you understand the words fuck off.”
Ink chuckled. “Ah, the universal endearment. Is that why you don’t have any friends here?”
“I moved down to London from Northumberland a couple of months ago.” He looked at his crutches. “I’m not up to going out and meeting people yet.”
“Why did you move here?”
“Because I wanted to.” Tay didn’t try to hide his snap.
“Fair enough. What are the people in the flats above like?”
“I’ve never seen them.”
Ink frowned. “I get that it’s an effort to go upstairs, but have they never knocked on your door to introduce themselves?”
“No.”
“Fuck right off to them then.”
Tay chuckled.
“What happened to you? You said it was an accident.”
“Not quite. But it’s what I tell people because it gets complicated to explain. Fourteen months ago, I was pushed off a ladder by a man who was jealous of my friendship with a guy he was going out with. I broke my arms, my legs, and damaged my brain. I was in a coma for a while, then in a minimally conscious state. It took months to fully come out of it. I had to learn to speak and walk all over again. That’s why my speech is a little slow.”
His head was throbbing. Remembering sometimes did that.
“What happened to the man who pushed you?”
“After denying his guilt for months, he finally admitted it. He’s in prison awaiting sentencing. I hope he rots there.”
“Right.”
“You don’t agree he should rot there?”
“Yeah, if he’s guilty. Course I do. If people break the law, then they should be punished. He could have killed you. He’s a dangerous guy. Are you still friends with your friend?”
“He won’t be visiting.” Tay was not going down that path.
“Why not?”
“He just won’t.”
Ink sighed. “Do you have people coming in to do physio or do you have to go to them?”
“I don’t need them anymore.”
“Just like you don’t need me.”
“What makes you say that?” Tay asked.
“You knew I wasn’t registered with Helper, yet you picked me. You guessed I’d fail a criminal record check, but you still wanted me. I think once your parents are safely on