Stung: Winter Special by K.A. Merikan Page B

for “I’m happy to see you” instead.
    He flinched
when a door opened and they were joined by a slightly rounded man
in a chequered suit. The newcomer stopped midway, looking at them
through a pair of round glasses that seemed too small for his face.
A curly bush of white hair and a fluffy grey beard framed the face
from all sides, except for where he had a bald spot on the top of
his head.
    “Evenin’, sir.”
Crunch took yet another step away from Victor. He didn’t want to be
thrown out of this house minutes after he’d arrived. This had to be
Victor’s father, who now looked more lost than rightfully enraged
like any other father would be.
    “Good evening—”
he trailed off, shifting his glance to his son who gave him a
gleeful smile.
    “Father, this
is Mr Crunch, the one who saved me back in the camp.”
    Crunch smirked.
That was a good way to be introduced.
    A glint of
interest sparked through Mr Sheppard’s eyes, and he lunged forward,
yanking Crunch’s hand out of Victor’s and gave it a vigorous shake.
“Oh, sir, I am forever in your debt! I don’t know what I would do
if something happened to my boy. He’s all I have left.”
    Said around all
that wealth, it sounded strange, but Crunch understood what Mr
Sheppard meant.
    “I felt the
need to protect ’im, sir.” Crunch smiled and greeted him with a
shake of his hand. “Victor wasn’t like the other prisoners.”
    “Yes, my son is
a very special young man.” Mr Sheppard ruffled Victor’s hair and,
for a moment, Crunch could see the family resemblance in their
brown eyes, but that was where common traits ended. Victor must
have taken a lot after his late mother.
    “Mr Crunch, if
there is anything I could do for you, do not hesitate to ask.
Anything.”
    “He will be
staying with us during his leave in London, Father.” Victor gave
Crunch a sweet smile that turned his heart into jelly.
    “Oh, good!” Mr
Sheppard clapped his hands in excitement. “I will have a room
prepared—”
    Victor cut him
off. “There is no need for that. He will be staying with me. That
suits us best, Father.”
    Crunch looked
to his own dirty shoes, feeling his cheeks go aflame. What was
Victor thinking, putting his father in a position like that? They
could just sneak between the rooms at night. “I’ll go with whatever
my ’ost proposes,” he mumbled. “Another room’s fine.”
    “Oh no!” Mr
Sheppard waved his hand dismissively. “I want my guest to be
comfortable. If you wish to room together for old times’ sake, it
is all right by me. And besides, Victor’s friends stay over all the
time.”
    Crunch pouted,
darting a look at Victor. He wondered how many of those ‘friends’
kept staying over. It wasn’t like he had been celibate himself, but
maybe he was just feeling jealous that he didn’t have as many
opportunities. Most of his where quick romps in rush to finish
before someone else’s bunkmate came back. And because of the
weather, doing it outside wasn’t an option, unless one wanted to
freeze off their cock.
    “I’m ’appy to
’ear that, sir. We will probably talk deep into the night.”
    “Oh, yes, I’ve
missed Mr Crunch’s calming words.” Victor gave his father a grin.
“Would you please ask Snipes to send a cold buffet and tea up to my
room?”
    “I ’ope ya
don’t mind, sir.” Crunch smiled at Mr Sheppard. “I had a tiring
trip.” It was a good idea for them to eat in private. Would save a
lot of awkward dinner conversation he wasn’t good at.
    Mr Sheppard’s
eyes widened, and he gave them a nod. “Certainly. Now go and rest.
I will speak to you tomorrow.”
    Victor brushed
his father’s arm. “Goodnight.”
    Crunch smiled
at the gesture. They seemed to be close, and he was a bit envious
of that already.
    They went to
the first floor, and as soon as they disappeared from Mr Sheppard’s
sight, Victor clutched Crunch’s hand in his, leading him through
overly decorated corridors to a room at the other side of