Ex's and O's

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Ex’s and O’s ISBN # 978-0-85715-702-7 ©Copyright Bailey Bradford 2011 Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright September 2011 Edited by Claire Siemaszkiewicz Total-E-Bound Publishing This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing. Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution. The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork. Published in 2011 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom.

Warning: This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Total-e-melting and a sexometer of 2.

Love in Xxchange

EX’S AND O’S Bailey Bradford

Dedication To my friends who make each day brighter—y’all know who y’all are. Thank you.

Trademarks Acknowledgement The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: Dodge: Chrysler Group LLC Coke: The Coca-Cola Company Visa: Visa Inc. Goodwill: Goodwill Industries International: Rev. Edgar Helms Captain America: Marvel Characters, Inc. Honda: American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Viagra: Pfizer, Inc. Mag-Lite: Mag Instrument, Inc. Vicodin: Abbott Laboratories McDonald’s: McDonald’s Tupperware: Tupperware Brands Levi’s: Levi Strauss & Co. Excedrin: Novartis Consumer Health, Inc.

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Chapter One

The jail cell door clanged as the dour looking cop slammed it shut. Adam ignored the way the guy leered at him through the bars. “Have fun, boy. This ought to be just your thing.” Adam stifled a groan and sat down on the floor, the only space available in the crowded cell. It’d figure the stupid fucking cop would just have to say something like that. He might as well have painted a target on Adam’s ass. Adam glared at the other men, most of them sneering but more than a few of them looking at him like he was going to be their next meal. Yeah, not happening. Adam had grown up having to fight, his smaller stature deceiving many a bully into thinking he was easy prey. They’d learnt different, quickly. These skeezes would, too. He clasped his hands together, extending his arms out and cracking his bloody knuckles. “Try me,” Adam growled. “I may be little but I will beat the shit out of any one of you who even thinks about touching me.” It was all about attitude, except when it wasn’t. As a big burly bear of a man snickered and stood up, Adam resigned himself to this being an even longer, more violent night.

Earlier that evening… Shit! Why do I always manage to find the weird ones? The only exception had been Nick, but he’d been pining away for someone else so he didn’t count. Adam backed up, one hand slapping the mattress in a—so far—vain attempt to find his clothes. Mitch, his intended hook-up for tonight scowled and stalked towards him. What a freaking waste! Again! From the waist up, Mitch was one of the sexiest men Adam had ever seen, his hair black as a raven’s wing, glossy and thick with luscious curls, his body ripped, muscles stacked just right, the perfect smattering of chest hair, dark, hard

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little nipples, cut—so nicely cut—abs. The bottom half, or more specifically, his dick, left a lot to be desired, but Adam could have made do. He’d had smaller. Barely. But he absolutely wouldn’t do what Mitch was demanding. Adam didn’t bareback for anyone, and while Mitch’s cock left a lot to be desired, namely length and girth, it was still potentially a deadly weapon. And Adam had been very clear up front that there’d be no fucking without condoms, which he’d tried to point out. Again. “We agreed, no sex without rubbers,” Adam’s fingers ghosted over soft material which he quickly grabbed. Hopefully it was his shorts, the denim worn smooth from frequent washing. He was kind of too scared to look away from Mitch long enough to check. Mitch glowered and matched Adam’s retreat step for step. “I didn’t agree to anything other than fucking!” Obviously reasoning wasn’t going to work. Adam resorted to the emotion that usually took over when he got scared. Anger. “Look, you swizzle-stick dicked moron”—actually, a swizzle stick was longer—“I was very clear up front and I gave you a chance to get your head out of your ass—and that is the only thing going up your ass tonight—so stop with the stalking shit before I make you stop!” Mitch laughed and lunged, both of which only pissed Adam off more. “Right, and what are you going to do? Run out of here with your shirt in your hand?” Adam’s stomach plummeted. Of course he’d grabbed his shirt, a skimpy sleeveless denim number that wouldn’t do much to cover his ass much less his dangly bits. Mitch stopped and grinned, which made Adam want to shiver. The man looked unhinged or high—or both. Adam really had to start being more selective in his choice of sexual partners. Mitch continued flapping his lips. “I’d just call my dad—you’ve probably heard of him, Mitchell Rollins the second? I’m the third, of course.” Okay, Adam was every bit as much an idiot as this guy. Why hadn’t he at least asked Mitch’s last name? Or, you know, noticed how much the man resembled the aforementioned Mitchell Rollins the second, the wealthiest man in Billings? Probably because he was so horny he couldn’t see straight, and he was flat out sick of beating off—although if he got out of this without being raped or sent to jail, he’d never reject his hand again. Adam switched back to logic, desperate to bring this god-awful drama to a quick and painless end. “I’m sure your father wouldn’t approve—”

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Another maniacal laugh from Mitch had Adam skittering around the foot of the bed. “He doesn’t give a shit what I do. If you tried to make a fuss, he’d either pay you off or run your scrawny ass out of town, so give it up already. You’re lucky I even want to fuck you.” Adam stopped with the logic and let the stupid take over. “I’m lucky you want to fuck me? With that?” Then he compounded all of his prior mistakes so far tonight by laughing as he sputtered, “What part of me saying you have a teeny weenie didn’t you understand? I was still going to have sex with you regardless if you’d just bagged it with one of those rubber thumb things!” Mitch roared as he leapt forward. Adam dropped the shirt and swung, thinking he really needed to learn when to shut up. The impact of his knuckles to Mitch’s jaw threatened to knock Adam on his not so scrawny ass but he locked his knees and grunted as pain shot up from his hand to his shoulder. He swung his left fist in a rapid follow up strike, burying it hard into Mitch’s stomach, which hurt worse than hitting the idiot’s jaw. The guy really must have abs of steel. Springing back quickly as Mitch yelped and hit the floor with a thud that sounded painful, Adam hoped the man was down for a while. Long enough for Adam to get his shorts on and get out of there, at least. As far as he could tell, his shirt was now somewhere under the big lug’s body. Spotting his shorts on the floor beside the bed, Adam picked them up and put them on, keeping an eye on Mitch’s prone form. He found his shoes, a battered pair of flip flops that he loved too much to throw away, then Adam was out the door and running. He got as far as the parking lot before it dawned on him he hadn’t thought to grab his keys, and it was that bit of panicked stupidity that had him standing there stunned like a spotlighted deer when the first cop car pulled into the parking lot a few seconds later.

**** Hours later, Adam was still cursing himself for not having grabbed his keys. Usually he was so much more level-headed than to panic like that— “Masterson, let’s go.”

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Adam lifted his head up and opened his eyes, blinking until he could see more than blurry splotches of colour. A uniformed cop stood on the other side of the bars, looking at Adam impassively. “Yeah, just give me a sec.” Ignoring the tingling sensation that began in his feet and quickly spread up his legs, Adam pushed himself up from his spot on the floor. His first step was a little shaky but at least he didn’t fall on his face. The cop unlocked the cell door and opened it just enough for Adam to slip through. “Bye, Adam—call me!” Adam peered over his shoulder at Ed, the burly guy who’d decided Adam was his new best friend. “Yeah, I’ll do that.” Not. Ed wanted to be a little friendlier than Adam was willing to be. “Looks like you have an admirer.” Adam snorted as he trailed after the police officer. “Yeah. So what now? Am I being charged or…” “No charges,” the cop said, which was the answer Adam had expected. “But there’s an attorney here who wants to speak to you.” That didn’t surprise him either. Mitchell Rollins the second would want to hush this little disaster up as soon as possible. Well, the man could just shove it. “Then I’m out of here.” “I would advise you to spare me a few minutes first.” Adam looked the half dozen feet to his left where the owner of that deep voice stood. An attractive red haired man, his pale skin dotted with freckles, and a briefcase in his hand— the lawyer was kind of hot. Not that he cared. Adam wasn’t the sort to be bullied or bribed. He was exhausted, his hands ached, and God only knew what kind of nasty germs he’d picked up sitting on the floor of that cell all night. All he wanted was to go home and shower, then sleep for as long as he could. He shook his head at the lawyer. “There’s nothing you’ve got to say that I want to hear.” Adam ignored the man’s arguments and headed for the doors, just managing to step outside before a pale freckled hand landed on his shoulder. “Mr Masterson, please, I just need five minutes.”

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Adam plucked the hand from his shoulder and kept walking. He made it almost a whole block before the constant verbal spewage from the lawyer finally got to him. Adam stopped suddenly and spun around, one finger aimed at the man’s face. “What part of I don’t want to hear do you not understand? Go chase an ambulance or something and leave me alone!” The man’s pale skin flushed as he glared down at Adam. “Do you have to be such an ass? I’m trying to help you out here.” “You mean, trying to buy me off for Rollins the second,” Adam muttered, jabbing his finger at the lawyer. “I don’t want anything from—” “No! That’s not what I’m trying to do!” The man sighed and shook his head before giving Adam a pleading look. “Please, will you just—can we sit down and get a cup of coffee?” He glanced at Adam’s bare chest and flinched. “Or maybe we could go to your place and talk—” The guy sounded so desperate Adam knew he was going to cave. “Fine. You can give me a ride to my apartment.” At least that way he wouldn’t have to walk. “It’s about ten minutes away on Waltom Avenue.” “Good, okay.” He looked so relieved Adam was almost glad to have agreed. “I’m James Stratton.” Adam glanced at the man’s proffered hand then held his own battered ones up where Stratton could see the bloody bruised knuckles. “I don’t think you really want to shake my hand.” Stratton dropped his hand back to his side. “Is that from the altercation with Mitch?” “Right, if you want to call me trying to avoid getting raped by an idiot with an aversion to condoms an altercation, then sure.” Adam inspected his hands closely then added, “Some of it’s from knocking Ed on his ass, too, but that’s okay because he likes me now?” “Ed?” Adam smirked at Stratton. “Yeah. Big guy in the cell with me. Once I let him know his advances weren’t welcome he was a lot nicer. Still creepy, but nicer.” Stratton’s pale skin had turned almost translucent. “Oh. I don’t…but you’re okay? Neither of them, uh, hurt you?”

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“Only when their faces slammed into my fists. Where are you parked?” “In front of the station,” Stratton gestured over his shoulder before cupping Adam’s shoulder and turning back towards the police station. Adam pulled his arm free and walked with Stratton, stopping when the lawyer did beside a jacked up Dodge Dually. “Here we are, let me just…” He fished in his pocket and pulled out a key fob. Adam eyed the truck and wanted to groan. The damn thing was huge, and he…wasn’t. He’d have to climb in, literally. Stratton pressed a button then opened the passenger door. He turned to Adam. “It’s kind of high. I keep meaning to get the running boards but… Do you need me to help you in?” “No.” Adam glared at Stratton. “You do know there’s a popular theory that guys buy big trucks like this because they’re overcompensating?” Stratton looked shocked for a minute then he laughed as he stepped away from the door. “People can say what they want. I’ve dated guys with small cars that, the argument could be made, were perfect representations of their dick size. I’m a big guy—” Stratton snapped his mouth shut and blushed from his neck to the roots of his red hair. “I mean, I’m tall, and my shoulders—” For a lawyer, Stratton sure could get tongue-tied. Adam laughed and reached for the oh shit bar, just managing to grip it. He glanced over his shoulder and grinned when he caught Stratton eyeing his butt. “Stop tripping over your tongue and get in the truck. I want to go home and shower.” “I wasn’t—” Stratton shut up and Adam turned his attention back to getting himself into the passenger seat. By the time he managed it Stratton was already buckled in and had the truck started. Adam buckled his seatbelt and rested his head against the seat. “So what is so important you had to chase me down the street?” Stratton cleared his throat as he steered the truck into the busy street. “I do work for Mitchell Rollins the second, but I’m a real estate attorney. Apparently whoever he uses to handle things like this wasn’t available.” “Probably busy paying off other people Mitch—” Adam sat up and gaped at Stratton’s profile. “Fuck! Has he raped other men? I didn’t think—I mean, I did think abstractedly that his daddy probably had to clean up his messes, but I didn’t think think!”

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“I’ve heard things, rumours,” Stratton admitted, “but I didn’t believe them really, until Rollins the second called me demanding I go to the police station and clean up Mitch’s latest ‘mess’. Now I can’t help but wonder… Did you hear about the guy who raped men and women for years, decades, before he got caught? It was here in Montana.” Adam rubbed his queasy stomach and nodded. “Yeah, I did.” Stratton stopped the truck at a red light and glanced at him. “That’s what I thought about. I guess what I really wanted to find out was if you would be willing to press charges against Mitch.” “I wish I could, but he didn’t touch me. He didn’t mention rape, he didn’t threaten to kill me—and I went to his place willingly.” Adam sighed and leaned his head back, this time closing his eyes and replaying last night’s event in his mind. “Unless he can be charged for having a little dick and being terminally stupid—and I mean that literally, since, despite what we’d agreed to before I left the bar with him, he demanded to fuck me bare, which wasn’t going to happen. He got mad and threw a fit, I made fun of his little pecker, twice, and the second time was the last straw, I guess. He came at me and I hit him. And spent the night in jail.” Stratton was silent for several moments until they were almost to Waltom. “Right or left?” “Left, Waterwood Apartments, third building on the right past the pool,” Adam muttered. “So that’s what you wanted, to see if I would press charges?” Stratton nodded then cast him an embarrassed glance. “Well, I’m supposed to pay you off, and I don’t know what Rollins will do if he thinks he can’t buy your silence.” Adam didn’t either, but he’d be damned if he’d take Rollins’ money, especially now that it had occurred to him that Mitch likely had hurt other men before—and would continue doing so. It made Adam sick but he didn’t know what he could do to put a stop to it.

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Chapter Two

Friday nights at the Turtle were all about one thing—getting laid. Everyone from the staff to the last man who walked through the doors into a sea of writhing grinding bodies knew it. The DJ kept the songs spinning, one fuck me now song after another, nothing sweet and sappy in the mix. Fridays weren’t about love and forever here—and that made it perfect in Adam’s mind as he paid the cover charge and slipped through the club’s door. Adam grinned as he inhaled deeply, letting the scent of sweat and sex fill his nostrils. For tonight, he couldn’t think of a better scent in the world. It teased at him, warming him inside as if seeping from his lungs into his bloodstream and shooting straight to his cock. Adam blinked until his eyes were adjusted to the darkened interior. His skin prickled with anticipation as a tight ball of need burned in his belly. It’d been a bitch of a week what with the whole Mitch shit last weekend, then coming in to work on Monday to find out his and most of his co-worker’s hours at the restaurant were going to be cut back. Paigianos had weathered through much of the economic slump, limped along really, but the past several months had seen a catastrophic drop in diners. Adam and his co-workers weren’t stupid, they’d gossiped and shared their fears of unemployment on more than one occasion and all agreed it was coming. They just hadn’t expected it so soon—and despite the cutting of hours as a stopgap to save money, closure of Paigianos was looming over the heads of everyone. Short of a miracle, Adam didn’t see how the place could be saved. Billings would soon be losing one of its oldest fine dining establishments. And I came here to forget heavy real world shit, not roll in it. I can worry about being unemployed and moving back in with Mom later. A slight shudder slithered down his back. Thinking about his mom when he was about to find a man to fuck him senseless was kind of…wrong. Ick. Adam shoved aside his worries with a slow roll of his shoulders. He surveyed the crowd of people on the dance floor. Men in various states of undress were only feet away. Why was he standing there like an idiot? It was time to go on the hunt for tonight’s entertainment.

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The music shifted into a wordless rhythm that seeped into Adam. He undulated his way towards the dance floor in a series of slow, sensuous moves. A glance at the men seated at the tables didn’t turn up anyone promising—but there, at the bar—oh yes! Adam sent a sultry smile at the blond, getting one back in return. There was definitely a wicked gleam in the man’s eyes, and Adam knew he could have those full lips wrapped around his cock soon. But a little anticipation was always a good thing. Adam turned from the man and joined the sweat-slicked bodies on the dance floor, letting the wave and roll of the crowd’s gyrations pull him in. He closed his eyes and moaned as hands stroked over his chest, his ass, and, maddeningly briefly, his thick erection where it pressed against the zip of his skintight leather pants. Someone tugged at his shirt and Adam raised his arms, not caring that he’d likely never see the shirt again. A hard warm body pressed against him, the slide of silk against his bare back pebbling his skin with chill bumps. Arms slipped around him, pulling him back. At the same time fingers plucked at his nipples. Adam arched into the touches, pushing his ass out in a slow grind when he felt the hard lump of another man’s denim covered dick prodding at it. “You are one sexy little fucker,” a low voice growled in his ear. Adam grinned and lifted his arms, reaching up and back to loop them around the man’s neck. He opened his eyes and tipped his head back, unsurprised to find the blond from the bar behind him. The blond’s eyes were dark, the heavy lids low as he gave Adam a heated look. Adam closed his eyes on a moan as one of the man’s hands left his nipple and slid down to cup his erection. “Nice, baby.” The man growled and squeezed Adam’s package. Adam thrust into the touch, his body tingling from his toes to the top of his head. “Let’s get out of here—unless you want me to fuck you right here.” Adam opened his eyes and looked around. They wouldn’t be the only ones, that was certain, but as adventurous as he was, this was a little more of an audience than he was comfortable with. But he’d learned a hard lesson last week, and going home with a stranger wasn’t something he was ready to do again. Being alone with one wasn’t, either, which meant Adam was limited in his options—limited, but determined. Adam turned in the man’s arms and stood on his toes, stretching to place his mouth by his soon-to-be conquest’s ear.

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“Bathroom would be a little more private.” Not much, and they’d have to be quick, but they wouldn’t be the only guys fucking in one of the grungy stalls. And Adam wouldn’t be alone with a man he didn’t know he could trust. The blond grabbed Adam’s hand and stepped back, nodding as he smiled. “That will work,” Adam thought the other man said, but with the music so loud that it vibrated in his stomach, he couldn’t hear any actual words. The man spun on his heels, shoulder slamming against another’s back. No one noticed or cared, not with the scent of sex surrounding them, feeding the roiling need that swelled in the crowd. Adam planted his feet and tugged against the man’s grip when they cleared the dance floor. The blond turned a questioning glance on him. “Condoms, or we don’t fuck,” he half shouted, plucking a foil package from his front pocket. The blond grinned and nodded. “Of course. I’m horny, not an idiot.” “You’d be surprised…” Adam let himself be led towards the restroom, his eyes practically glued to the lean ass in front of him. He wasn’t prepared for the man to stop and splatted against the broad back like a bug on a windshield, grunting and cursing as his nose was mashed against the hard planes of the blond’s body. “Could have warned me,” Adam muttered, rubbing his nose as he looked at the man. But the blond didn’t pay any attention, staring instead at something to his left. Adam turned to look as well and his stomach plummeted to his ankles, smashing through the desire hardening his cock and deflating it like a popped balloon. The blond looped his arm around Adam’s shoulders and pulled him roughly against him. “How long do you think we were on the dance floor?” Adam swallowed down the bile and fear that were tangled with a ball of anger as he craned his neck so he could glare at Mitch. The bastard was huddled in a booth with a giggling young man who didn’t look old enough to be in the Turtle. If the kid was a day over sixteen Adam would eat his shorts. “Maybe fifteen minutes, max,” Adam muttered as he watched Mitch slide from the booth, pulling the kid out with him. The little thing was nearly boneless, stumbling and glassy eyed… “How long has the kid been in here?”

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“Came in right before you,” the blond said. He stiffened against Adam, his chest vibrating as a growl passed his lips. “And he sure as fuck wasn’t drinking anything stronger than a Coke before I followed you. I was watching because he looks underage, no matter the fucking orange band on his wrist.” Yeah. Either the bouncer was blind or a fucking idiot. There was no way the kid was eighteen. As Adam watched, Mitch scowled and began dragging the kid towards the door. Dragging, because it seemed the young man’s legs weren’t capable of holding him up. “Fucking asshole.” Adam wasn’t the heroic type, not really, but he wasn’t going to stand here and do nothing while Mitch lugged some innocent, dumb kid off to be raped. He’d been an innocent dumb horny kid once, too, but he’d been lucky enough to be caught out by a man who’d lectured Adam until his ears burned. This young guy wouldn’t be so lucky. Adam jerked out of the blond’s hold only to snarl and turn on the man when he was grabbed and held in a steely grip. “What the fuck? Do you know who that son of a bitch is? What he’s gonna do to the kid?” The blond nodded, his gaze locked on the scene unfolding before them. “I do, and I know who you are, Adam, and what Mitch tried to do to you. Good job flattening his perverted ass, by the way,” he added, cutting an amused glance at Adam. The amusement vanished when he turned his attention back to Mitch while Adam gaped and sputtered. “What? How do you—who the fuck are you?” And how the hell had his simple plan to get laid turned into something so friggin’ bizarre? “Chase Murphy, private investigator. James called me and asked if I could do some investigating for him.” Chase nodded towards Mitch. “He knows I have a…a thing for sexual predators. I’d see every one of the fuckers shot if I could.” Adam reeled back as much as he could and wondered how he’d managed to find another psycho. Something in Chase’s voice leant a measure of truth to his words that sent a shiver of fear through Adam. He could understand wanting justice, but this man spoke with a fury that was palpable. Chase wasn’t speaking of justice, he was talking about vengeance, plain and simple. “These fucking rich pricks are the worst,” Chase continued, as Mitch neared the door with his prey. “They think they can do whatever they want, hurt whoever, just because they

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have a rich daddy who’ll buy their kids’ way out of trouble. It’s bullshit and it needs to stop.” He let go of Adam and pushed him aside, not sparing Adam a glance as he headed after Mitch. This was not good; Adam decided as he flung out an arm and caught himself on the edge of a table. He wanted Mitch stopped as much as anyone else, but this Chase guy was a little…unhinged, and Adam wasn’t anywhere near sure Chase would give a shit about the kid Mitch took off with. He seemed focused on Mitch and that whole vengeance crap. Adam ran after Chase, catching him by the wrist before the blond cleared the door. Chase shot him a furious look but didn’t stop moving. “You can either let go or—” “Oh shut the fuck up!” Adam snapped. “You’re a goddamned psycho and I am not staying here and trusting that you’ll keep that kid safe! I’ll call the police—” “Call them, call James, I don’t give a shit, but I am not letting that bastard hurt that kid.” Adam didn’t believe him, not when Chase was ploughing along with Adam latched on like a hundred and thirty pound anchor. And not slowing down at all. And who— “Who the hell is James? What are you going to do? You can’t just kill someone, you know!” Chase snorted as he stopped at a sleek black sports car, his gaze trained on the Hummer Mitch was trying to pour the kid into. “You’re one of those babblers. Figures. James Stratton, and I’m going to follow Mitch Rollins and call the police, believe it or not, once he’s had a few minutes alone with the boy—and I’m aware of the fact I can’t kill the fucker, as much as I’d like to.” Chase clicked a button and unlocked the car. “Are you coming or not?” Stratton knew this nutcase? Adam scrambled around to the passenger door, his heart racing while his head swirled with chaotic thoughts. He fumbled with the door then dived in when Chase leaned over and opened it for him. “Do you think you could manage to hurry?” Chase snarled, “I’d like to get there before Mitch rapes the kid.” “Asshole.” Adam buckled his seatbelt as Chase peeled out of the parking lot after Mitch’s Hummer. Adam grabbed the dashboard and glared at Chase. It was a shame such an attractive man was so mentally unbalanced. “You can’t stay on Mitch’s ass the whole way to his place.”

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Chase rolled his eyes—well, Adam assumed it was both eyes, he could really only see part of the right. “No shit. Believe it or not, I do know what I’m doing, and I am not going to go off half-cocked and murder anyone—although, it is tempting.” The way he cut his eye at Adam made it clear Chase wasn’t talking about Mitch, either. The slight curve of a smile ghosted over Chase’s lips, but Adam didn’t find the joke amusing at all. He sat back and crossed his arms over his chest as Chase slowed the car down to a speed less likely to end in their deaths if they wrecked. “How long are you leaving them alone?” Whatever he was, Chase obviously wasn’t stupid, at least not entirely. “How long was it once you got to his place before you got naked?” Adam silently cursed the embarrassment that caused his cheeks to flush. He couldn’t stop blaming himself for being so stupid for getting himself in that mess with Mitch in the first place. “Maybe five minutes before I decked him. I was…uh.” Chase snickered. “Horny? Hot and ready for a big cock like you were a few minutes ago?” “Jesus, you’re a dick!” The fact that he was also right just made Adam madder. “It didn’t have to be big”—he gave Chase a scathing look—“obviously I’m not picky enough. I’ve got to work on that.” Chase ignored the jibe as he turned onto Mitch’s street. “Yeah I heard about Rollins’ little dick from some of the men I talked to.” “Some of the men you talked to?” Hearing his suspicions confirmed made his gut burn. “Surely you didn’t think you were the only one,” Chase said as he parked his car a block from where Mitch was getting out of the Hummer. “You’re cute and all, and that ass just begs to be fucked, but don’t think that’s what drove Rollins to come after you. He’d have found someone else that night. You’re just one of many.” Adam’s jaws tingled as he struggled to control his temper. The urge to punch something was almost overwhelming. He uncrossed his arms and gripped his thighs, clenching tight enough to send jolts of pain up his fingers and legs. “I didn’t think I was the only one, but hearing you confirm that I wasn’t, it just makes me wish I’d put an end to

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Mitch.” Adam had to swallow twice before he could get the question out that was wedged in his throat. “How many?” “Three so far, but there’ll be more willing to come forward once Rollins is arrested.” Chase unbuckled and pushed a button on the dash. “So the overhead light won’t come on. Stay here.” “Oh I don’t think so, you insane bag of rage,” Adam muttered as Chase got out. Adam unsnapped his seatbelt and clambered out of the car. Chase opened his mouth and Adam shook his head. “Unless you are going to shoot me—and I didn’t feel a gun anywhere on you when we were dancing—I’m going with you. I don’t trust you.” “I didn’t have a gun on me in the club. It was under my seat.” Chase reached in his jacket and tapped the butt of a gun secured in a holster. “Still want to come?” “Jesus.” Crazy man was armed. This could not get any worse. Adam thought of the boy, stumbling and almost certainly drugged. Things could get a lot worse. “Wait up.” Adam caught up to Chase and tried to keep himself from breaking out in nervous shudders. “What are we doing?” “You’re going to put this on.” Chase shrugged out of his jacket, the moonlight gleaming on the gun as he tossed the jacket to Adam. “We aren’t doing anything,” Chase said succinctly. “I am going to make sure Rollins doesn’t tuck the kid in and leave him alone. It’d be best if Rollins were caught with his pants down, so to speak.” Adam was poleaxed. He stumbled over a crack in the sidewalk as images of Mitch touching the kid slammed into his brain. “You’re going to wait until he’s…he’s…” Adam shoved his arms in the warm jacket. He would kill Chase first! Okay, maybe not kill him, but I can probably get his gun and—God I’m a fucking idiot! “No, I won’t let it go that far,” Chase said as Adam began working his cell phone from the front pocket of his jeans. He’d forgotten about it in his panic. “Don’t.” Adam’s finger hovered over the keypad, the cold tone in Chase’s voice spiking his fear. “I won’t let the kid be hurt.” Chase nodded and continued walking. “I said I wouldn’t either, but if you call and the cops arrive to find Rollins on his ass watching TV while letting the boy he ‘rescued’ sleep it off, then what?”

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“Fuck fuck fuck!” Adam tucked the phone in the jacket pocket and hurried after Chase. “Fine. But if I think you’re doing anything—” “Whatever.” Chase slowed down and touched Adam’s wrist. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.” Adam wanted to protest but Chase had gone, leaving him in the shadows beside the building. He caught glimpses of the man moving through the darkness, then the door to the apartments opened and Chase slipped inside leaving Adam to wonder how the man had got through a secured door. Though it felt like hours, it was only minutes later Adam saw the flashing blue and red lights as several police cars rounded the corner, their sirens off he guessed so as not to alert Mitch. Chase appeared out of the darkness beside him, his face grim. “I hope they hurry.” Adam sank to the ground and watched as the cars screeched to a stop and a small army of uniformed officers approached the building. The officers entered as more engines rumbled. Adam tore his gaze from the building, chills creeping over his skin as two ambulances pulled in behind the police cars. He didn’t want to know—did he? A surprisingly gentle brush against his shoulder drew Adam’s attention to Chase. Stark lines were etched into the man’s face, pulling at the corners of his mouth. Chase lifted his hand and hesitated before he gently settled it on Adam’s shoulder. He felt the fine trembling of Chase’s hand, saw the bleakness in the man’s expression. No, he didn’t want to know. Better to go home, tell himself he’d done the best he could and take what comfort that thought gave him. Let Chase deal with the reality on his own, whatever memories from tonight haunted him… “Tell me.” The words slipped out, shoved, Adam was sure, up from his diaphragm by his tensing muscles and the ball of guilt that seemed to be growing exponentially in his belly. Chase’s expression shuttered as he jerked his hand back. Adam thought he might be insulted-- the man would rather stroke the butt of his gun than keep touching him. “I don’t know,” Chase muttered, his voice flat, “I just kept hearing the kid scream.” God! Adam surged up on trembling legs and held his hand out to Chase. “Come on.” Adam wiggled his fingers as Chase stared at him blankly. “We’re going to see if someone

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will tell us anything when they come out, and I’m sure the police will want to talk to both of us.” Grumbling, Chase took his hand and stood, tipping his chin towards the building. Adam peered over and caught a glimpse of the first cop leading a cuffed Mitch Rollins from the building. Releasing Chase’s hand, Adam turned and watched the procession as Rollins, clothed in the same jeans he’d been wearing at the club, was escorted—yelling curses and threats of his daddy’s retribution—down the sidewalk and towards one of the police cars. “He still has his boots on, laced up, too,” Chase murmured. Adam gave the man a startled look then squinted at Rollins. How the hell could Chase tell the perverted bastard’s boots were laced from so far away? Chase sighed heavily and nudged Adam hard enough in the ribs that he stumbled to the side. “What the hell’d you—oh.” Adam sighed as well, as a new set of yells reached his ears. These ones made him smile with the beginning of hope as the EMTs rolled a figure on the stretcher out onto the sidewalk. The kid was shirtless, the harsh lights from the apartment building gleaming off skin so pale as to appear white as snow. But the kid was arguing with the EMTs, waving a hand in the air. Adam felt a surge of relief and he thought the kid would be okay. “Doesn’t mean he’s not hurt,” Chase muttered. Adam didn’t waste his energy glaring at Chase or acknowledging his statement. Fuck Chase. He could be a downer if he wanted to, but Adam was going to count this as a win. A double win, he told himself, since he hadn’t ended up screwing an unhinged man in the bathroom at the Turtle. Chase mumbled something, distracting Adam from his musing, pulling him off his little cloud of elation at having kept the kid from being more of a victim than he’d already been. “What are you mumbling about?” “I said, Detective Bishop is waiting to talk to us.” Chase gestured and Adam visually followed the movement, spotting a shortish, heavy set man with a thinning thatch of white hair standing by one of the cars. “He’s not real patient.” Adam wasn’t dense. “Okay,” he said, already heading for Detective Bishop. The man turned a dark look on them that made Adam feel like a criminal himself. What was up with that? They’d done something good—

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Or foolish, according to Bishop, who proceeded to rip them both new asses for the next couple of minutes. Adam was too busy being utterly shocked by Chase’s silence, and, even more, the droop of the guy’s shoulders as the detective lit into him for bringing Adam along. When Adam would have intervened Bishop pointed one meaty finger at him and Adam snapped his mouth shut, his own shoulders slouching before he realised it. Once the detective wound down, Adam dared to ask about the young man. Detective Bishop grunted—or maybe he was huffing, trying to catch his breath after that rapid-fire ass chewing, Adam thought—and the corners of his mouth actually turned up. “Kid’s going to be fine. Rollins had him pinned down on the bed but the boy was giving him hell, let me tell you. It’s a damn good thing Rollins didn’t think to tie him up first—good for the victim, that is.” Everything else was gravy in Adam’s opinion. The kid hadn’t been raped, Mitch was in jail, and Chase was getting another bawling out over something or another, Adam didn’t bother listening in, and when Detective Bishop called an officer over to take Adam home, he went without a backward glance.

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Chapter Three

Adam floated on that energising sensation one got from doing something you know is good for three days. He hadn’t always done the right thing in his life—who had?—but playing a part in keeping the boy from the Turtle safe and putting Mitch Rollins away, even if Rollins the second had quickly got his son moved to a psychiatric facility, kept Adam humming a happy song under his breath until Tuesday. Calls from James Stratton had kept Adam somewhat in the loop, and while he couldn’t fully believe Mitch would end up in prison, everyone in Billings now knew what a pervert the guy was. It’d been on the front page of the paper and the news had been blaring more and more accounts of the man’s crimes every night. Which was why Adam was, naïvely he thought, so shocked when everything came crashing down so suddenly. First, he’d shown up for an emergency meeting called by Mr Lazano, the owner of Paigianos, where everyone had been informed by his teary eyed boss that the restaurant had been sold. Paigianos was closing immediately. The new owners were going to revamp the place from top to bottom, which included finding all new staff. Adam hadn’t been the only shocked employee. They’d seen it coming, sure, but everyone had expected a little more time, or at least the offer of employment if the place was sold. He’d taken his last cheque, his fingers numb, and somehow managed to drive to the bank to make the deposit. By the time he’d got back to his dingy little apartment the numbness had spread, but not so much that the eviction notice giving him three days to get out didn’t send him into heart stuttering panic. Adam plucked the note off his door and read the supposed violations of his lease—complaints from neighbours about loud parties? Late payments?— a chill slithered down his spine. “You fucking bastard,” Adam seethed, his vision blurring as his eyes burned. He’d been warned, albeit by Mitch, about Rollins the second, hadn’t he? But Adam was still stunned, unable to take in the magnitude of what was happening. Had Rollins bought Paigianos just to ensure Adam lost his job? Surely that was a coincidence—but no. Adam crumpled the paper in his hand. It wasn’t coincidence, he’d bet what little he had on that.

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And the accusations in the manager’s eviction notice, how could he disprove them if he chose to fight this? If Rollins was exerting his power, paying people off, he could very well bribe Adam’s neighbours—may have already done. Adam wasn’t close to any of them, he kept to himself. He wasn’t rude, but being a gay man in Billings could be dangerous and he’d thought it best to keep the other renters at a distance. Adam also didn’t bring men back to his place for that same reason. It was one thing to have his neighbours suspect he was gay, another entirely to confirm it and risk being bashed in the parking lot or even in his own home. As for the rent, Adam always paid on time—cash, of course. After bouncing a few cheques a few years ago, Adam had stuck to a savings account and a Visa debit card. Apparently he should have spent the extra dollar or two for a money order. But he should have the receipts. The thought gave Adam a flicker of hope as he unlocked his door. He knew immediately someone else had been in his apartment. The air just felt…wrong—thick with a creepy vibe, as if someone was watching. “Fuck!” Adam bit his lip, mentally cursing himself for making any noise. He left the door open several inches and studied the tiny apartment. He didn’t even have a bedroom— well, he did. That would also be his living room/dining area where his yellow flower print Goodwill sofa served as his bed. The only room he couldn’t see was the bathroom. But there was nothing out of place, just that sense of his space having been invaded. Adam fingered his cell phone in his pocket, pushing it up until he could pluck it out. He took several breaths trying to work up his nerve, then quietly made his way to the bathroom. The door was open slightly and he peered in and saw nothing out of place—and more importantly to him, no one. Pushing the door the rest of the way open, he almost expected someone to magically appear, he felt another’s presence so strongly. When nothing happened, he stepped into the bathroom and looked around the space. A bit of paper floated in the toilet bowl and Adam knew he was past screwed. The corner of the paper was white, with a blue line framing and a bit of pale pink visible. Adam ran from the bathroom and grabbed the metal lunchbox he kept his important papers in. Popping the clasp on the Captain America box, Adam shoved the lid up and screamed in frustration when he found the box empty. Even his birth certificate was gone.

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“Damn it damn it damn it!” Adam stomped one foot hard enough he knew the downstairs renter would complain. “Well let them!” Fuck it, he was already being accused of being too noisy, so why not vent? What would the manager do, evict him even earlier? “This is fucking illegal,” Adam fumed. “And I know a real estate lawyer!” Adam dialled James’ office, so angry his head was pounding. “I need to speak to Mr Stratton,” he bit out as soon as the phone was answered. “I’m sorry but Mr Stratton isn’t available,” a cold female voice said. “God.” Damn it. Adam shoved his fingers in his hair and pulled, hard. “Then can you give him a message?” The cold voice turned frigid. “I’m sorry sir. Mr Stratton will be unavailable for quite some time, at least until the Bar Association is through with their investigation.” The woman hung up without another word. “No fucking way,” Adam snarled, glaring as the cell phone screen went dark. “Who does Rollins think he is? God? How can he—” Money and power, plain and simple. Adam knew it but still… His phone beeped, the screen flickering back on to show a voicemail icon. “It’s not like it can get any worse.” Everything felt surreal at this point. How could one man destroy his life so thoroughly? With a sense of dread, Adam pressed the button to play the voicemail and realised as he listened that yes, things could indeed get worse.

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Chapter Four

He was not going to get sick. Leslie Stanton held back the coughing fit he felt building in his chest until it exploded from his lips like a nuclear blast. He cringed as he clutched at his chest, his lungs aching with each heave as he drooped against the wall in the ER where he was on duty as security tonight. He could have called in sick since this was his second job. If his boss here had decided to fire him, it wouldn’t have been a great loss—except, Les liked being able to pad his savings account. He felt better knowing he had some extra money in case of an emergency, or to supplement his retirement. He didn’t want to have to work at a big box store just to survive when he was an old man. This is not happening to me. Les refused, absolutely refused to be ill. He was a big strong guy, took care of himself and was as healthy as a horse—another round of coughing shook him, setting his chest to burning as he slapped a hand over his mouth. So, he was as healthy as a horse—if the horse had the equine version of whatever the fuck this virus tearing through town was. God damn it, I don’t feel so hot. And it pissed Les off so much, he was surprised his anger didn’t burn out whatever nasty crap was making him ill. It infuriated Les that, no matter how hard he worked to keep himself healthy, something was still managing to take him down. After too many years spent as a sickly child. Les had sworn to himself to do everything he could to be strong and never be vulnerable and weak or sick again. It didn’t matter that he knew logically he couldn’t control fate or whatever cooties other people passed along, it still felt like a betrayal, as if his body was giving him the finger and snickering about it even as this virus racked his body. Or maybe it was life flipping him off, or destiny, Les gave up figuring it out when he started coughing so bad his head spun. A touch to his arm, then a squeeze hard enough to help him find his equilibrium had the fuzzy dots clearing from Les’ vision. Josh looked up at him, concern in his pretty green eyes. “You sound like shit, look like it, too.” Les’ cheeks stung, humiliated at anyone seeing him so weak. “Just a cold,” he rasped, shocked at how brittle his voice sounded.

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Josh narrowed his eyes and frowned, his full lips thinning into a pale line as he studied Les. “Hmm. I don’t think so. I can feel how hot you are,” he squeezed Les’ arm. “You’re burning up, buddy. Your eyes are bloodshot—well, there’s a broken blood vessel in one, really creepy looking, let me tell you. What with the way you’re snarling at me, I’m almost afraid. If I didn’t think I could probably push you over with my pinky I might actually be worried you’d hurt me.” Les immediately blanked his expression and tried to shrink down to something less than his mammoth size. There was always such a fine line between trying to be strong and being a bully, and he didn’t ever care to cross it. “I wouldn’t,” he muttered, slumping a little further down the wall as another wave of coughing threatened. “I know.” Josh patted his arm then looked away and waved another nurse over. “Misty, give me a hand?” The pretty little nurse glanced at Les and her big blue eyes widened so much Les wondered how they didn’t pop right out of her head. She hurried over and stood on her toes as she pressed her palm to Les’ forehead. “Oh wow,” she muttered, “not that this is the most accurate method, but you are burning up, Officer Stanton. Let’s get him to a room.” Les’ heart thudded in his chest as he realised that yes, he was indeed ill no matter how healthy he tried to be. Misty stepped back and gave him a narrow eyed look as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t tell me, you’re one of those.” “What…” Les frowned down at the little nurse, trying not to glare since he knew that made him look scary, but God, he wished she wasn’t speaking gibberish. “One of what?” Misty raked him with a glance that let him know she found him lacking, barely a step above a pile of cold shit. “You know, one of those macho men who can’t get sick because they’re so strong and can’t be conquered by something as trite as a little old virus. A vain moron, in other words.” Josh murmured something Les didn’t hear and jabbed Misty in the ribs. She yelped and batted at his hand then glared at Les. He hadn’t exactly thought of himself as vain, but whether it was because he was sick or because he wasn’t a big stupid guy, Les understood what Misty meant. And he even kind of agreed, but she didn’t know the why behind his desperate attempts to keep himself healthy, so he thought that kind of made her a vain moron for being so judgmental. And they could go back and forth with that accusation for a month of Sundays.

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“Do I need to get the wheelchair?” Misty asked, her eyes lighting up at either the threat or the anticipation. “No.” Les forced himself to speak that one little word calmly when all he really wanted to do was snap. Giving in to his impulse would only give Misty reason to think he was as bad as she accused. “ I’m supposed to be working security…” Josh muttered under his breath and manoeuvred to Les’ side, hooking his arm around Les’ waist. The little guy felt kind of good there. Les dismissed the thought as one brought on by the fever. He liked Josh just fine, felt protective of the smaller man, and definitely didn’t think Nick deserved him. Didn’t mean Les wanted him, though. It was just hard not to like Josh. “Come on, the ER is slow, and you can call in someone else to keep an eye on things here,” Josh said as he led Les through the nearly empty room towards the locked orange doors leading to the exam rooms. “Can’t call someone else, everyone’s sick or sleeping off a double shift.” Les had to work a twelve hour shift as soon as his four hour one ended here at the hospital. The sheriff’s department was extremely short handed and unless you were too sick to stand, you had to show up for your shift. Josh huffed and opened the orange doors, keying in the code on the pad to the right of them. “Well, you need to be taken care of. If no one else can finish your shift here, we’ll just hope everything stays calm. It isn’t like there’s usually any need for security.” He grunted as Josh nudged him to sit on the exam bed. Josh had a point, the last time there’d been any excitement in the ER had been when Misty had wheeled Josh in after the poor guy had tripped and banged himself up all to hell. Everyone had thought Josh had been beat up at the time and there’d been some seriously short fuses between the staff here at the hospital and Justin and Nick, the men who’d brought Josh in for treatment. Les figured it was a good thing he’d stayed calm and hadn’t jumped to the wrong conclusion. Josh would have been pissed if Les had decked Nick or Justin. “I have to work this evening,” Les said as he sat on the bed, grimacing at the sound the sterile paper covering made as he slid his butt back. “No one else is available.” Instead of lecturing, Josh nodded and waved Misty, who’d trailed in behind them, back out of the room. “I’ve got this. See if Doctor Velez is available, would you?”

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Les blanched at hearing the doctor’s name. Velez was old enough to be Les’ father, and Les had been treated by the man before—many times. He was one of the few doctors still on staff here who’d know about Les’ childhood, how fucked up it’d been for years. “He the only doc on hand?” Josh cut him a glance but didn’t ask any questions, for which Les was grateful. “No, but he’s the best, and he will load you up with a bunch of good drugs and release you unless you have pneumonia, so I figure he’s who needs to see you.” Les grunted again and gave in to the lethargy pulling at him. He laid back and dragged his legs up onto the bed, disgusted at how weak he felt. “Velez is fine, then.” Les closed his eyes and tried to relax at least a little as Josh began examining him, slapping a blood pressure cuff around his arm. “Very nice,” Josh purred. Les cracked an eye open to find Josh giving him a teasing leer as he stroked Les’ biceps. “You must work out a lot.” “When I can.” Les closed his eye again and promptly began coughing, which was a workout in itself. At this rate his abs were going to hurt like hell. “So how’s things going for you and…” that asshole, “Nick?” Les asked to distract himself from his misery. “Oh, well, we…it’s…ah.” Les opened both eyes this time to peer at Josh. The man sounded unhappy. If Nick had done anything to hurt the little guy, Les would have a nice long chat with Nick. And he’d try not to knock the man’s teeth out. Maybe. “You need me to—” “No!” Josh shook his head so hard Les thought he could hear the wind whipping through Josh’s hair. “No, it isn’t like that. We’re good, it’s just…well, he had this friend in Montana, see, and…” By the time Josh was done complaining about Nick’s friend Adam, Les was almost sorry he’d asked how things were going for Josh in the first place. He scrubbed at his sweaty brow and wished Doc Velez would hurry the fuck up. Trying to organise the info dump from Josh, Les peeked under his palm at the nurse. “So this guy, Adam, was a friend of Nick’s, nothing more, and he—Adam—beat up a would be rapist, then helped put the pervert in jail, and now the perv’s rich daddy has pretty much run this Adam out of town and he needs a place to stay—”

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“And his mother,” Josh interrupted, shaking his head, “don’t forget his mother, too. Both of them were evicted from their apartments.” That alone made Les shudder. He couldn’t imagine having to live with his mother. “And Nick asked you if they could stay in your old apartment until the lease is up?” Josh nodded. “Yeah, which, I mean, we’re living at the ranch now, just moved last weekend, but…I don’t know about having the guy down here.” Les could see Josh’s point, but he also thought Josh was missing a very important one himself. “Josh, Adam sounds like he was a good friend to Nick, nothing more. Unless you think Nick lied about them never fucking.” Josh blushed adorably as he wrote something down on Les’ chart. “No, I trust Nick, and I know he didn’t have sex with Adam. I was his first man and I’ll be the last, too.” Josh winked and Les wished vehemently that he were somewhere else. “Anyway, it’s just that Adam’s so… Well, he’s really hot, all blond and petite and smart and strong enough to take on a rapist—” Les was caught on the petite part, trying to figure out what that meant coming from Josh, who wasn’t exactly a burly giant. Josh was petite, at least to Les, so he couldn’t imagine this Adam guy except as some prepubescent angelic little boy, which was, frankly, disturbing. Still, he realised Josh was bouncing through a bout of insecurity which just seemed wrong. Josh was always happy and laughing and just…just Josh. Les had no idea how to reassure Josh that he wasn’t any less attractive than Adam was. Playing the part of the shrink wasn’t Les’ thing; he preferred to deal with tangible things not emotions and feelings and all the crap that went on in a person’s head. Give him action and deeds any time over this stuff. Luckily for him, Dr. Velez came into the room before Les had time to figure out what to say to Josh. He tried to keep his sigh of relief silent but Josh cut him an amused glance and mouthed, “You wuss.” Les gave a nod of agreement. He’d rather tackle an armed assailant than delve into the potential mess brewing in Josh’s life. “Teach you to ask how things are going for me,” Josh muttered teasingly several minutes later as he drew up a shot. “Now turn over and drop trou so I can make you feel all better.” Josh’s cheeks turned dark and his eyes shot wide open as he slapped a hand to his

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mouth. “I swear, I didn’t mean…” he muttered between his fingers, the blush spreading to the roots of his hair and down onto his neck. Les figured his own flush was buried under that of the fever’s, and even if it wasn’t, surely Josh wouldn’t have been able to know the truth for it. Les was shocked to the tips of his toes and didn’t know if it was him hallucinating because he was sick or if he really did feel a tidal wave of desire rise and crash in him at the idea of rolling over for another man. Either way, his dick was trying its best to firm up as Les shifted onto his side, turning his back to Josh. Angry at his body betraying him—again—Les shoved away the threatening arousal and unfastened his uniform pants, shoving them and his underwear down enough to bare his hip. Maybe he’d be lucky and the shot would hurt like hell and stun some sense into him.

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Chapter Five

Ideally, Les wouldn’t be sick at all, but since he was and there were already other officers out sick before he became ill, Les couldn’t get time off work unless he was pretty much dying. Because he had felt so miserable, he’d taken the medicines he’d been prescribed instead of trying to tough it out. Now he was kind of thinking he should have read the information pamphlets that came with each prescribed drug. He was feeling a little fuzzyheaded. Maybe he should call Chief Ewers and see if he thought it might be best for Les to stay right here, parked where he often waited to catch speeders, at least until whichever drug it was that was making him feel weird wore off. Les rubbed his temple. He should have been more careful. He just hated being sick and—the flashing numbers on the radar readout caught his attention. Maybe he was in worse shape than he thought, because he was afraid he might just be hallucinating. Les glanced at the readout again. Yep, the beat up Honda was rocketing down the highway at a good twenty miles over the speed limit. And it had Montana plates. No matter how medicinally high he was, the cop in him was still as astute as ever. This could be interesting. Les couldn’t deny he was anticipating pulling the car over, or, more to the point, putting the fear of God—or at least himself—into the man who was the cause of Josh’s bout of insecurity. It was petty and kind of bullyish, and normally Les wouldn’t give in to such impulses, but it seemed that whatever medicine was making him feel kind of off was also sending some of his baser impulses floating all too closely to the surface. Les grinned as he gassed the Charger—he loved the new cruisers the department had sprung for—and hit the switches for the lights and sirens. The car jetted from the thatch of shrubs that hid it so well in the darkness. He knew the second he was spotted, or his sirens were heard, because the Honda’s brake lights glowed and the car jerked slightly to the left as if the driver were startled before the vehicle was eased to the shoulder of the road. “Treasure State, my ass,” Les snorted, reading the motto on the licence plate as he pulled the cruiser up behind the Honda. He entered the plate numbers into the DMV

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database and snickered when the name Adam Edwin Masterson came up. Edwin. Well, Leslie sure didn’t have anything to laugh about there, and his amusement died under a shocking swell of heat that seemed to burst from Les’ insides when Adam’s licence popped up on the screen. Les’ first thought was, Well, holy fuck, no wonder Josh was feeling a little insecure. His second was that the drugs must have really fried his brain or something because he could not be getting a goddamn woody from looking at Adam’s spectacularly hot licence picture. And who even had a licence picture like that? Christ, Les looked like a pissed off psycho in his. He’d barely got to step on the red tape before the lady behind the DMV counter had snapped his picture. After having stood in line for two hours, Les had been irritated to put it mildly, and the scowl on his face had been captured before he had a chance to think about trying to look like something less than an axe murderer in mid rampage. And now he was irritated all over again by his body’s weird reaction to Adam’s picture. The guy looked like a blond god, his face all big eyes and sharp angles. Small, full lips were stretched into a grin that promised they’d feel like heaven wrapped around Les’ dick and— “God damn it!” Les snarled, wondering just what was in the shots Josh had given him. Did they make Viagra in a liquid form? His cock was so hard he ached to the tops of his thighs. His guts felt tight, hot, knotted with need. It had to be a side effect from the medicine, it had to. Nothing else made any sense. Les shoved open his door and barrelled out of the cruiser, his heavy boots slapping against the loose rocks at the side of the road. He pulled his Maglite off his hip and turned it on as he approached the vehicle, aiming the beam at the driver’s window. The window was lowered slowly, the driver jostling a bit in a manner that told Les the guy didn’t have automatic windows. An odd ripple skimmed over him as he stared at one Adam Edwin Masterson. Les’ throat went dry as big blue eyes squinted against the strong beam of the flashlight. He wanted to growl when one pale elegant hand came up to shadow those sky coloured orbs. “Licence, registration, proof of insurance,” Les barked, completely pissed at the way his body was betraying him again. First getting sick, then this freaky ass reaction to the blond

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man cowering in the car. Shit, Les couldn’t even lower the flashlight. If he did, Adam would get an eyeful of erect dick once he finished digging out the documents Les had demanded. “Officer, could you point that thing away?” a female voice snapped. Les blushed fiercely until he realised the woman—hadn’t Josh said something about Adam’s mother?—wasn’t talking about his dick but the flashlight instead. As irritated as he was about his reaction to Adam, Les couldn’t bring himself to ignore a mama’s command. And even though it had been posed as a question, it wasn’t. Sweat beaded on his brow and trickled down his back. Moms made him nervous as hell—irrational, he knew, but there it was. Les lowered the flashlight so that it didn’t shine fully into the vehicle but didn’t lower it entirely. He propped his forearm on the roof of the car and dipped his head down, peering past Adam to the small older woman in the passenger seat. “Sorry, ma’am.” The tangy scent of sweat and musky male tickled his nose. It was a tantalising odour, one that zinged straight to Les’ balls, making him inhale sharply in a quest for more. “Sorry, I probably stink,” Adam said, his light tenor almost musical despite the slight tremor to it. The sound of that voice, along with the citrus and smoke tinged sweat scent seeped under Les’ skin and wrapped around his spine in a warm caress. Les tipped his head and found himself caught by eyes so light a blue he thought Adam must surely be wearing coloured contacts. There hadn’t been anything on his licence denoting the need for corrective vision, but that colour simply couldn’t be natural. He supposed the guy could be wearing those non-prescription contacts that were sold just about everywhere. “I’ve driven straight through from Montana,” Adam continued, “well, me and my mother.” Adam waved a hand at the woman beside him. “We couldn’t afford to stop and I know I was speeding but I’m so tired and was afraid—” Les zoned out as the man babbled. He dropped his gaze to those lips he’d thought would look so good around his dick and frowned when he realised the bottom one was a lot plumper than it had been in Adam’s picture. He leaned in closer, lifting his flashlight enough to illuminate the lower half of the man’s face. Adam’s bottom lip was swollen, a crusted split bisecting it. A pale bruise streaked his jaw, fresh enough that it hadn’t yet reached the purple stage. Les forgot about Adam’s mother and brought the flashlight up further, skating the beam over Adam’s features. His stomach clenched and burned as more bruises appeared on the man’s pale skin. One blade sharp cheek bone sported a fist sized bruise that made Les

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wince in sympathy. Butterfly bandages held together a cut over Adam’s left eyebrow. Dried blood etched a gash beside his temple. The unreasonable anger had to be another side effect of the drugs. Nothing else would explain the surge of protectiveness that coursed through Les, making his hands shake. He locked his grip around the handle of the flashlight and took a step back, ignoring the documents Adam was holding out. “Step out of the car.”

**** Fuck fuck fuck! Adam’s heart was slamming against his ribs hard enough to leave impressions. He set the documents on his lap as he fumbled for his seatbelt. This was the last thing he needed after getting jumped by a group of thugs he knew had to have been sent by Rollins. Even though Adam had been leaving town like the asshole had wanted, Rollins still hadn’t been satisfied. It made Adam doubt that anything short of his death would satisfy Mitch’s father. “Now wait just a minute,” his mother said, catching his hand as he released the seatbelt. Adam winced, even her soft touch making his bruised knuckles throb. Her blue eyes, so like his own, flashed with the fury only a mother protecting her child could feel as she darted a look past him. “Don’t you get out of this car. He can’t make you—” “Actually, ma’am, I can,” the freakishly huge cop said. “He can get out on his own or I can get him out.” Adam felt more than a twinge of fear; he’d heard enough jokes about Texas—and made more than a few himself—to be convinced this was a backward state where inbreeding was rampant. Maybe if he wasn’t so exhausted and sore he wouldn’t be so quick to be judgmental, but— “That’d be a shame though, ma’am, since I only want to make sure he’s fit to drive,” the cop rumbled, “it’s obvious he’s been hurt.” Adam groaned and closed his eyes as his mom leaned over him. He just knew she was pointing at the cop, and—“Well, he’s managed to get us this far, so I don’t see any reason you need to be concerned about him now—or any other time, for that matter.” Adam felt her arm moving against his chest. Yep, she was shaking her finger at the big snarly cop. He almost giggled as he realised he wouldn’t have to worry about Rollins sending someone to

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kill him. His own mother was going to get him killed instead if she kept provoking pissed off looking cops who had big scary guns. “You know what I think?” his mother continued, not giving anyone time to answer. “I think you got one look at my son and that tiny brain of yours thought,” oh God, no, shut up Mom! Shut up! Adam sank down in the seat as much as he could as she charged on. “Well, look here, here’s a pretty girly boy to screw with. Does it make you feel like a real man to harass someone else just because they’re smaller? Or is it because we’re from out of state? Is this a common problem in Texas? Are we going to have cops harassing Adam just because he’s—” “Mom! Stop!” Adam finally shouted, his tongue unsticking from the roof of his mouth as humiliation and fear vied for the lead in him. God, he loved his mom to death but she could be such a…such a mom! “I was speeding,” he pointed out, “you were nagging me to slow down. I got pulled over for speeding, not because we’re from out of state or…” Adam darted a glance at the cop and wished to hell he could see the man better, “because of anything else.” All Adam had seen of the man’s face was shadowed planes and a firm jaw, but when the cop had leant down, he’d smelt so frigging good Adam had wanted to lick him. Okay, he might end up getting himself killed if he gave in to impulses like that. The police officer looked like he could break Adam in half with one hand. “I still don’t think you should get out,” his mom muttered. “I don’t trust that cop, he seems like a di—” “Mom!” Adam snapped, horrified at the word he was pretty sure his mother had been about to utter. There were just some things he never wanted to hear her say! She grinned at him even as she narrowed her eyes and glanced out the window. “What? You think I’ve never said di—” “That’s it!” Adam shoved the door open and stumbled out of the car, his legs stiff from more than just hours of driving. He grabbed at the door, trying to keep himself upright even as pain shot up from his legs to his shoulders. “Shit!” The cop was probably going to think he was drunk, the way Adam was flailing. Adam hooked an arm over the top of the door and cracked the back of his neck on the car but he managed to stay upright. He wasn’t surprised when the question came. “Have you been drinking or using drugs?”

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Adam thought about his mom’s prescription pain pills. No way was he admitting he’d taken some of them hours ago. “No sir, I haven’t. Just drove too long without stopping and my legs are—what are you doing?” Adam shrank back as the cop approached. “Do you want me to do a breathalyser? I can, if I can get a deep breath, I—” “Why can’t you get a deep breath?” the cop asked in a soft snarl. “Want to tell me who beat the hell out of you?” Adam could answer that truthfully. “I don’t know.” He just knew who’d sent the men. He held himself still while the other man stared at him as if judging the truth of Adam’s words. Adam just tried not to drool. The guy was just huge, there was nothing else for it. His shoulders were probably twice as broad as Adam’s, and his thighs each as big as Adam’s waist and…he looked up…and up when the man stopped only inches away from him. Heat spiked in Adam’s belly, fear and desire combined. The cop wasn’t classically handsome, far from it, but he appealed to Adam like no one else had before. Adam had always picked men who were gorgeous in that model perfect way. The only exception had been Nick, and they had only been friends. Adam had been willing to be more, but Nick only wanted Josh and Adam got that. Of course, Chase hadn’t been model pretty either, but…Adam shut down that train of thought. He didn’t know what Chase looked like now, or if the man would even survive after what Rollins’ men had done to him. Instead Adam concentrated on the roughly handsome face in front of—or above, practically—him. A square jaw and jutting chin that promised a stubborn disposition in the man, thin lips that stretched over a sensually wide mouth, a nose that looked to have been broken more than once, and large grey eyes framed in lashes so thick Adam would have thought they’d been glued on if he didn’t know better. The idea of a cop in Texas wearing false lashes was ridiculous enough to make him giggle. Adam slapped a hand over his mouth and knew his eyes were near to bugging out. “Sorry,” he said around his hand, hoping he was pulling off the puppy dog eye begging thing. He really didn’t want to be tossed in jail on suspicion of driving under the influence. “I think you need to come with me.” Adam stiffened at the words and his mother let out a curse word that singed Adam’s ears. It sounded so much more vulgar when his mom said it! He risked falling over long

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enough to let go of the door and cross his arms over his chest, hissing as the movement pulled at his ribs. “I really don’t want to go to jail. I haven’t done anything other than speed—” “Twenty miles over the speed limit,” the cop pointed out. “That’s reason enough if I wanted to throw you in jail, but that wasn’t what I had in mind.” Adam arched an eyebrow and cursed, stealing his mother’s word as pain sparked around his brow. Of course he had to get punched over the eyebrow he preferred to arch— okay, the only one he could arch. The other one refused to cooperate on its own. He heard the car door slam and forgot about trying to give the cop a haughty look. “Mom, get back in the car please.” This was worse than when he was a kid. His mom had always been overprotective, never knew when to step back and let him fight his own battles. As a result, his childhood had been hell. Being a mama’s boy, whether he’d wanted to or not, had set him up as a target for bullies. “I won’t say anything,” she murmured as she stepped to his side. Adam didn’t believe her but he nodded. Hopefully she at least wouldn’t say anything to provoke the cop. Who was, Adam noticed with not a small amount of amusement, staring at Adam’s mother with something akin to fear on his rough features. The big man moved back a foot or two and turned the flashlight off before slipping it back in a loop on his belt. “If he wants to drive anywhere else, he needs to get checked out by a doctor,” the cop said firmly. “He can’t stand without wavering and he’s giggling.” Adam couldn’t miss the unspoken judgement there—real men do not giggle. Whatever. Adam wasn’t insecure in his masculinity at all. Adam saw his mother’s jaw working. He touched her hand and shook his head slightly before addressing the officer. Swallowing his pride, Adam tried to dissuade him. “I don’t have health insurance, or money, so going to the doctor is out.” After several moments of silence the cop grinned so suddenly Adam’s breath stuttered in his lungs before gushing from his lips. Holy shit! And he’d thought the man wasn’t exactly attractive? That smile right there, it did all sorts of things to Adam’s insides and his outsides. His cock shot to fully erect so fast Adam’s vision dimmed from the head rush.

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“Lucky for you I have a friend who’s a nurse,” the cop said, then snickered in a way that made Adam want to fuck him or hit him or maybe both at the same time. Shit, he must have been hit in the head harder than he’d thought.

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Chapter Six

Okay, maybe it did make him an asshole, springing Adam on Josh like this, but Les really didn’t think he deserved the evil glare Josh gave him when Les escorted Adam and his mother—she’d introduced herself as Charlene once she’d been convinced Les wasn’t going to haul her precious baby off to jail—into the ER. Les had given Adam directions to the hospital then followed behind to make sure Adam actually went to the hospital, and, okay, because he wanted to see Josh’s expression when Adam walked in. Josh had, after all, shot Les full of whatever crap it was that was making his dick hard enough to pound nails. The state of that particular unruly part had nothing to do with Adam’s nicely rounded ass. Les closed his eyes and wondered how feverish he was to be thinking such things, especially when the look Josh was levelling on him should have killed Les on the spot. Adam hadn’t noticed Josh yet, too busy being cosseted by Charlene as she tried to lead him to a chair in the ER. Josh pointed at Les and mouthed ‘now’, flipping his finger towards the orange doors and tacking on what looked like ‘you asshole’ to his silent demand. Les opened his eyes and glanced at Adam, hunched down and by all appearances miserable as hell. The fluorescent lights in the ER made the bruises and scrapes stand out in stark relief against Adam’s pale skin. Adam’s hand trembled where it rested on the arm of the chair. The knuckles on that slender hand were torn and bruised, blood crusted in the swollen folds of skin. And despite all the damage to the man, Les’ dick was still painfully hard. Thank God he’d grabbed his jacket and put it on before getting out of his cruiser this time. Adam shifted in his seat and winced, his breath hitching. A cold knot of fear spread from Les’ stomach. Was Adam just beaten, or had he been… Les’ mind spun out, running as desperately as he suddenly wanted to. Stop it, he chided himself. It wouldn’t do him or Adam any good to hide from the fact if the man had been raped. The very idea made Les want to kill someone—a frightening feeling for a man who took pride in his self-control. Then Adam turned those powder blue eyes on him and Les’ heart flopped like a fish out of water. Oh shit oh shit! What. The. Fuck! Les spun on his heel and headed after Josh. The furious

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look in his green eyes was less terrifying than that open, pain filled one in Adam’s eyes and Les’ reaction to it. Josh snatched Les by the arm the second he got close to the doors leading to the exam rooms. Les was kind of impressed by how strong the little guy was; Josh always looked so sweet and happy—but he didn’t now, so maybe his added strength was due to temper? Josh squeezed hard, the tips of his fingers digging into the muscles of Les’ forearm. It smarted, just a bit. Les gave Josh a blank look as Josh’s scowl darkened comically. Les wanted to laugh at the smaller man’s pique—Josh reminded him of a sexy, little, evil imp—God damn it, what the fuck?! Les jerked his arm away, his amusement at Josh’s expense vanishing. “What kind of shots did you give me?” Les snapped just as Josh opened his mouth to speak. “I don’t feel…right. What are the side effects?” Josh frowned and stared at Les as if he could see inside him. Les tugged the edges of his jacket together. No way did he want Josh to notice his semi-erect dick. Josh felt Les’ forehead. “You feel a little warm, and you aren’t coughing like you were. The prednisone can cause you to sweat and affect your mood, make you nervous and kind of high strung, is that what you mean?” “Yeah, that’s probably it then.” Les wasn’t going to mention the whole being hornier than a bull in rut thing. He’d just make sure he never got another shot of the stuff again. Josh nodded then crossed his arms over his chest. He glared up at Les. “Okay. So why did you bring that…that man here? It’s bad enough that Nick wants to help the guy out, but—” Les scowled, crossing his own arms over his chest. “Did you even look at him?” “Well…” Josh glanced at the doors then down in the vicinity of his feet. “Not exactly. I just—” Oh good Lord. “Just what? Thought I brought him in here for shits and giggles?” He sort of had, but only as a side benefit, although as miserable as Josh was looking, Les was regretting poking at a man he hoped could be his friend. Les sighed and shoved the fingers of one hand through his short black hair. “Look, I’m sorry but I didn’t know what else to do, okay? I caught him speeding and noticed the bruises and cuts—and he keeps wriggling

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around in his chair out there and doesn’t have insurance and—” and maybe the prednisone made him babble, too. Les shut his mouth, biting his cheek to keep from blathering on. “Bruises and cuts?” Josh’s anger drained away in the blink of an eye. “What do you mean, he’s wriggling around? Like…like…” Josh’s green eyes rounded as he sucked in a breath. Les grunted as he glanced towards the waiting room, as if he could see Adam through the heavy doors. “I don’t know, just, he’s hurt, and if I had to guess, I’d say it happened right before he left Montana. There’s dried blood on a few of the cuts and…maybe his back hurts, but I just don’t know!” And he needed to, for some strange mind-boggling reason, make sure Adam was going to be all right. “Oh.” Josh paled as his mouth pinched into a thin line. “You do realise I might be the last person he wants to check him over?” “But you will?” Les asked, his heart doing that heavy thudding thing in his chest again. “You can examine him without, you know, billing him a couple thousand bucks for it?” “I can try, but if there’s any need for x-rays or…other tests, I can’t really do anything about the cost of those. All I can do is look at him.” Les thought about his retirement account and mentally kissed it goodbye. “Do what you have to and send me the bill,” he said, cheeks burning with more than fever as Josh arched a brow at him. “What? I just think it’s bullshit that the guy helped put a rapist away and he gets beaten to hell and ran out of town for it, okay?” Adam was a hero, really, wasn’t he? Not that anyone else seemed to care about what he’d done. It would have been different if the rapist’s victims were women. Les knew if that had been the case, Adam’s picture would have been on every news channel as he was hailed a hero. It was a sickening truth, one that made him doubt his own career choice. Sometimes there wasn’t any justice in the world and it made Les want to scream and punch something. “You’re right,” Josh murmured, his defensive stance shifting into that of a chastised child’s. “You’re right, I’m a dick. Let’s bring him back here.” They stepped back through the doors, Josh in front of Les, striding straight towards Adam. Les was quite a bit taller than his friend so he had no problem seeing Adam’s stunned expression when he spotted Josh. Les took in everything about the blond, the tensing of his

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shoulders, the wince that turned to a pained gasp, the way Adam’s fingers tightened on the arms of the chair. Les stopped far enough behind Josh not to be hovering, but close enough to grab the man if he lost his head and did something stupid. After all, Les really didn’t know Josh that well, only from work, and people could act so very different… Josh tipped his head down and when he spoke, his voice was soft and tinged with compassion. “Hello Adam, I’m Josh—” was all he managed to get out before Charlene squealed and lunged at Josh, knocking them both back into Les. “You’re Josh! Thank you thank you thank you,” Charlene emphasised every other word with a smacking kiss to Josh’s cheek. “I didn’t know how we were going to get out of Billings or where we could go and they beat my baby! Look at him!” She unglued herself from Josh and grabbed his hand, jerking him forward. Les glanced at Adam and almost laughed at the man’s mortified expression. At least his humiliation had brought colour to his pale cheeks…and every other part of his face. “Who—” Josh stopped and shook his head, obviously rethinking the need to question Adam, at least in the ER. “Come on, you look like shit.” He held out his hand and though Les was proud of Josh for getting past his jealousy, he also wanted to rip Josh’s arm off when Adam tentatively reached out to place his hand in Josh’s. “It’s the prednisone,” Les muttered, stiffening his arms to keep from snatching Adam away from Josh. Charlene snorted beside him. “Oh no it isn’t. I know that look you’re giving my baby, and it has nothing to do with steroids.” Les gaped at the woman as he felt the other two men staring at him. The silence in the ER was like a quiet confirmation of Charlene’s unspoken accusation. Josh’s giggle slipped into the air, his words falling with the impact of an anvil dropping on an egg. “Oh man, this night just got a hell of a lot more interesting.” Splat! Les’ composure shattered as he stumbled back towards the entrance doors. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He turned to flee and slammed into someone. Gasping for the breath that had been knocked out of him, he glared at the cursing man in front of him and realised he was totally screwed.

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Nick’s glower hitched into a grin as he peered over Les’ shoulder. “Well now, Officer Stanton, what’s got your knickers in a knot? Or do I even have to ask?”

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Chapter Seven

Jesus. If he had any luck at all, he’d drop dead immediately from internal bleeding or something. Adam hunched over in his seat, one arm wrapped around his middle. Unfortunately, he was pretty sure the pain searing his insides was from the punches he’d taken to his kidneys. Fiery tendrils spread from his lower back around to his stomach. Now that his mom’s Vicodin were wearing off, he was in agony—and yet, that wasn’t nearly as bad as his mother calling Officer Stanton out on his lascivious looks. Adam hadn’t been sure he’d been reading the man’s expression right; he’d thought Stanton was glowering and kind of scary for it—until Adam had sat in the crappy chair. That’d put him on eye level with proof of Stanton’s desire. Adam couldn’t miss the thick erection Stanton was sporting then, and neither had his mother, who’d pointed it out with a glance and a chuckle. At least she hadn’t said anything to Stanton. If he’d put that jacket on with the hopes of hiding his hard on, it’d been a total fail, especially since Stanton hadn’t zipped it up. If anything, the way the dark blue material ended a few inches past his hips, the jacket only served to frame the length of the fat cock pressed between the khaki coloured pants and his thigh. Very impressive, Adam thought as Stanton fled, and obviously a closeted case—definitely not Adam’s kind of man even if everything else about the big bruiser did flip switches Adam hadn’t realised he had. Adam shifted in his seat, an unreasonable impulse to go after Stanton flitting through him and pissing him off. He had no interest in being someone’s hidden secret or the punching bag for a man who couldn’t deal with his sexuality. Adam had been both before and would never put himself in such a situation again. And with the way Stanton was bolting, he wouldn’t have to. Except the cop didn’t get out the door, spinning and colliding with another man so hard Adam heard both of their breaths whoosh out. Adam blinked, his vision a little fuzzy with a wave of pain, then grinned as he caught Nick’s eye for a second. He had a feeling Nick

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wasn’t particularly fond of Stanton and Adam wondered if he were the same cop who’d tossed Nick in jail. Probably, he decided as Nick’s expression morphed into something akin to sadistic delight. Josh squeezed his hand and Adam tore his gaze away from the two men at the doorway. Josh’s green eyes were lit with an amusement that tinged the man’s voice when he spoke. “Come on, you need to be examined. Hopefully those two chest thumpers won’t do anything stupid.” Josh darted a glance over his shoulder before turning back to Adam and frowning. “Uh. Or maybe we should wait a few minutes…” Adam’s mom patted Josh’s shoulder. “They’ll be okay, honey. You take care of my baby and I’ll make sure these two don’t beat each other to death.” She grinned and bent over, giving Adam a kiss before straightening up and pecking Josh on the cheek. “Go on, shoo!” “Yes ma’am,” Josh muttered but he smiled as he helped Adam up. After Adam stumbled, Josh placed a hand on Adam’s chest and frowned. “Maybe I should get a wheelchair.” “I don’t—” Adam swayed, his vision turning blurred. “I think—” he slurred, then the blackness swept in and carried him away from the pain bubbling over in his body.

**** He woke to the sound of two men arguing, one with a soft tenor and the other with a low snarling voice that sent all kinds of warm fuzzy feelings through Adam. Prying an eye open, he groaned and immediately shut it again against the bright light in the room. Hospital. That’s right… The arguing stopped as footsteps shuffled towards him. Adam felt a warm hand press to his forearm then the waft of mint tinged breath over his face. “Hey, can you do that again, except open both your eyes this time?” Why would he want to do that? The light had been like bright shards of glass spearing his eye. Why would he want to hurt more—Adam did a quick inventory of his body. Considering the agony he’d been in while driving and in the waiting room at the ER, he wasn’t hurting much at all now. There were still small twinges at his back and something jabbing his arm, but all in all, he felt warm and light, as if he had helium mixed into his

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bloodstream. That realisation had Adam’s eyes popping open. He grunted in surprise because Josh was right in his face, peering intently into Adam’s eyes. At least his dark head was blocking the light. “You’re a lucky man,” Josh said, one side of his mouth tipping up in a grin. “Battered and bruised, a few gashes, and dehydrated—next time you borrow your mom’s drugs you might want to increase your water intake.” Even in his drugged—legally, this time—state, Adam caught the condescension in Josh’s voice. Adam narrowed his eyes at the man. “What was I supposed to do? Go to a hospital in Billings, maybe the same one where Chase is—” Adam stopped, his chest tight. For all he knew, Chase was dead. James had said the PI had been brutalised, stabbed and— Josh’s cheeks went pink as he moved back. “You’re right, I’m being a jerk. Nick told me what happened to your friend, Chase, and I…” Josh looked down as he swallowed noisily. “I think taking whatever you could to make it possible for you and Charlene to leave was your best option.” Adam was about to point out that Chase wasn’t his friend, but the pettiness of the denial stopped him, as did a snort from behind Josh. “See there, was that so hard, babe? I told you it wouldn’t kill you to be nice to Adam.” Adam smiled at Nick as the man moved to Josh’s side, dropping a smacking kiss on top of his head before coming to stand at the side of the hospital bed. Nick swept Adam with an intense gaze before pinning Adam with his dark eyes. “Only thing Josh didn’t do was a rape kit. Does he need to?” “No,” Adam mumbled after a moment of silence. “They didn’t do anything other than beat the shit out of me.” Neither Nick nor Josh looked like they believed him, and Adam was plain out of patience. He wanted to be home, wherever that might be now, somewhere hopefully safe where he could curl up and sleep and try to put his life back in some semblance of order. Everything had been taken from him—his job, his home even, Adam acknowledged since he was lying in a hospital bed—his ability to take care of and defend himself. He felt pathetic and angry, and Nick and Josh were dangerously close to becoming recipients for those emotions. Adam reined in his temper, barely restraining himself from asking if both men really wanted to see his ass so badly. He knew that wasn’t the case, that Nick was just worried, and

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Josh was…well, whatever. Adam actually found Josh’s jealousy cute, but he wished the man would realise there was no need for it. Nick looked at Josh like he was his salvation. “I wouldn’t lie about it,” Adam said tiredly, his anger draining as quickly as it’d spiked. “I wouldn’t fuck around with my health. You don’t believe me, ask my mom. They beat the shit out of me in the parking lot of her apartment. She came running down the stairs screeching like a banshee. She can tell you I wasn’t raped.” Rescued by my mother, and thank God for it. Adam tried to look around the two men. “Where is my mom?” His stomach fluttered when Nick snickered. “You didn’t hear the argument between Josh and Stanton a few minutes ago?” Adam shook his head. “Not really, just…voices.” Nick laughed and tipped his head at Josh. “He pretty much bullied Stanton into taking Charlene over to the apartment where y’all will be staying. What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall…” “God,” Adam groaned, closing his eyes and trying to sink into the bed. He didn’t even want to know what embarrassing things his mother would tell the big cop.

**** Les didn’t often have nightmares, but if he did, this would certainly be one of them, he thought as he shut the passenger door of his cruiser. He didn’t want to be anywhere near Charlene. The woman was entirely too perceptive, seeing things Les didn’t even want to acknowledge himself. Taking a deep breath, he debated flipping on the lights and sirens. He could haul ass to the apartment, let the racket drown out any conversation Charlene might attempt to start… But that’d make his unease obvious, and he just knew the woman would smirk at him the entire drive. At least his erection had finally wilted. Seeing Adam pass out in the waiting room had jerked all the blood back from Les’ dick and sent his pulse pounding in a rampage of fear for the little blond. And Les didn’t want to think about that reaction, either. “No sirens,” he muttered as he opened his door. Les slid into his seat and fumbled the keys into the ignition. He could feel Charlene watching him, and damned if he didn’t have to

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repress a shudder or two. Les started the Charger then put it in reverse, carefully keeping from looking at Charlene as he craned his neck around to back out. He knew better than to hope the woman would be quiet. “So”—Charlene began, proving Les right immediately—“I take it you’re not out?” Les scrunched his brow in confusion as he shifted into drive. “Out? Out where? Right now we’re—” Charlene snorted and slapped his arm, startling Les with the force of the blow. “Quit being a smart ass! You know I meant out as in, people don’t know you’re gay!” No, Les didn’t know that. As far as he knew, he wasn’t gay, he just…had a low sex drive when it came to women, and who could blame him? His mother was one fucked up woman, and Les had never been able to shake his residual fear of them. Freud would have had a field day with Les, that’s for sure, but the fact was, Les had learned how deadly women could be at an early age. Did wanting one man make him gay? And why the hell was he even wondering? Les glared at Charlene from the corner of his eye. “I’m not gay. I haven’t ever—” Les grunted as a wave of embarrassment flooded him. He’d damn near blurted out that he hadn’t ever had sex, period, much less been attracted to another man. That was information he definitely didn’t want Charlene to have. Except he caught the glint in her blue eyes and the twitch to her full lips. “Really? Not ever? That’s got to suck, a man being your age and as attractive as you are.” “Christ,” Les muttered as he missed his turn. He couldn’t concentrate on how to get out of this verbal mess and drive at the same time, not when his heart was banging in his chest and his mind was spinning. Had he buried his sexuality all these years under the weight of his fears? Les hadn’t questioned his lack of desire for the opposite sex, he’d just resigned himself to being alone. In his mind, sex had always only been an option with a woman, and he hadn’t been interested for several reasons. Les hadn’t bothered with introspection, just taking the surface answers and leaving the whys and other options alone. But now he wondered, and his blood heated with images of Adam’s lithe form under his bigger, bulkier body. How would Adam’s lips feel against his, or, God, even better, wrapped around Les’ dick?

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Just the thought had Les hard again, his cock pinched painfully between his pants and thigh. He started to shift in his seat then thought better of it as Charlene smacked his arm again. “Well?” she demanded. “Well, what?” Les snapped, so confused by his own thoughts that he didn’t remember what Charlene had asked—at first. Then his whole face burned as her questions slammed back into his head. “Not with a man,” Les mumbled after several minutes of sweating under Charlene’s stare. It wasn’t a complete lie, he just hadn’t added the rest—not with a woman, either. Charlene tittered and even snorted a bit, which for some strange reason made Les want to laugh. “So this is one of those gay-for-you type of things.” Les was so goddamned lost in this conversation. The sirens seemed like a better idea every second, fuck his pride. Charlene had already trampled it anyway. He reached for the switch only to have his hand batted away hard enough to make his knuckles sting. “Hey!” Les yelped, shaking out his hand as he glared at the woman. “That’s assaulting an officer! So is hitting me like you keep doing!” Charlene did another laugh-snort combo that sapped some of Les’ irritation away. “Oh please, you gonna tell someone a big ol’ guy like yourself got smacked around by a tiny thing like myself? Seriously?” No, he wasn’t, damn it. Les turned onto the street the apartments were on and bit his lip against the question threatening to spill out. It didn’t work, he had to ask. “What do you mean, gay-for-you?” “Oh boy, you really are clueless,” Charlene snickered as Les pulled the car into the parking lot. He bristled at the amusement in her voice but, wisely in his opinion, kept his mouth shut. “It means, you weren’t interested in a man, only women, until you saw my beautiful baby boy.” He was not going to admit he hadn’t been interested in anyone until he’d seen Adam. And he wasn’t sure he was interested, exactly, but he did want to fuck the man something fierce. And there was absolutely zero chance of him spilling that bit of news to Charlene. Instead he gave the woman an arch look as he put the car in park. “I bet Adam just loves it

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when you call him your baby boy. He’s, what?” Les struggled to remember the birth date on the man’s licence. “Twenty-three? Wouldn’t that make him a man?” Charlene scoffed at him as she unbuckled. “Close on the age, and it doesn’t matter, he will always be my baby boy, just like your mama would say you’re always going to be her baby boy.” The declaration sent icy chills down Les’ spine. His mother would never say anything so trite, not when she’d spent the last thirty years in prison for killing his brother and nearly killing him. He got out of the car and wrapped himself in the cold weight of that knowledge, cloaking himself in the armour of pain and fear and, though he hated to admit it, hate, that had kept him from letting anyone get close to him for the past three decades. Even Charlene couldn’t penetrate that shield.

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Chapter Eight

“I’m telling you, that man just ain’t right.” Adam glared at his mother as she set the last cup in the drain. He took the cup and dried it quickly with the towel, irritated by her constant comments about Stanton. Since Adam had got out of the hospital, it seemed all his mom did was rant about the cop—he was obviously unstable, so deep in the closet he couldn’t find his way out, a robot, dangerous, a walking, talking mess. Holy crap, she couldn’t go a single day without saying something negative about the man. And yet… Adam caught that brief flicker on her face, the one that caused her eyes to narrow and her lips to purse even as the edges canted up. Wasn’t that her plotting look? The ‘tell’ that she was up to something? He’d seen that look before, hadn’t he? It smacked of manipulation coated in a mother’s love. Not good. Adam turned and stretched his arm out, placing the cup in the cabinet and only hissing a little at the pull of muscles in his lower back. Out of everything Rollins’ thugs had done to him, it’d been those damned kidney punches that had made him suffer most. A little over a week later and he was still sore, although nothing like he had been—certainly not enough to distract him from catching on to his mother’s scheming. Like a switch flipped in his head, sudden certainty of what Charlene was trying to do bloomed bright. Adam risked a glance up, the backs of his eyeballs aching as he tried to see directly above his head. There really should be one of those cartoon light bulbs there. Charlene wiped down the sink with the sponge, scrubbing vigorously at a spot Adam was pretty sure was a scratch in the cheap aluminium. “I just think you should stay away from him, that’s all I’m saying. He’s so big and—” “Oh, you do not,” Adam said, tossing the towel onto the dish drainer in exasperation. It really shouldn’t have taken him so long to catch onto his mother’s game. He leant back against the cabinet and crossed his arms over his chest. “Did you really think this would work? Don’t tell me you’re not trying that reverse psychology sh—stuff, Mom.”

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Charlene shook a sudsy finger at him, splattering his cheek with the stuff. “Adam Masterson, you best watch your mouth!” Then she ruined her scolding by grinning unrepentantly. “And I figured it couldn’t hurt. You haven’t said a word about that man, so I thought reminding you he existed might be a good idea—although I really do think he’s a closeted mess.” Adam hadn’t said anything about Stanton because of this very thing. He hadn’t wanted his mother to get it in her head that he and the cop were going to have some fairy tale happily-ever-after. Not that Adam didn’t want one, mind, he just figured it wasn’t going to happen, and certainly not with Stanton, who’d yet to approach him. The best Adam could hope for was some fantastic fucking, and for that he’d needed to be healed up. Hard to be flexible when it hurt to even draw a deep breath—but he was doing a lot better now, wasn’t he? Still a little sore, but— “I think he needs some TLC,” Charlene continued as she turned the faucet back on to rinse her hands. “And not just from you, the other kind as well. You know, like a…like a mom, sort of.” Adam blinked, then blinked again but the blush creeping up his mom’s neck to her cheeks wasn’t a hallucination. He didn’t know whether to be astounded or jealous. Fuck. I’m both, which makes me one of those petty assholes! And he could rationalise it however he wanted—he was an only child, he’d had his mother to himself since his father had split when Adam was eight, etc. etc.—but the truth was, he was an adult and maybe… Adam ran through the past week. Maybe giving the woman someone else to nag and manipulate would be a good thing. He loved his mom, he really did, but how many times had he bitched about her needing a project other than him? She meant well, and her manipulations were never done with ill intent, but there was a reason he’d had his own place back in Billings. But, no sense in making it easy on her. If Adam didn’t put up some resistance, she’d become suspicious and start poking and prodding at him some more. And he still couldn’t get over the little knot of jealousy that his mother wanted to mother someone else. It stung just a bit, like he wasn’t enough of a son for her, or a good enough one, anyway. “Oh, now get that look off your face.” Adam brought his vision back into focus just in time to open his arms up for his mother’s hug. “You will always be my baby boy, always,” she said as she slipped her arms

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around his torso, carefully keeping her hands higher up on his back. “But I’m telling you, there was something about that man that made me hurt just looking at him, especially when he went all stone cold like he did. I’m not sure, but I bet he clams up like that when he gets scared.” He couldn’t help it, Adam laughed, ignoring the twinge of pain it caused all the way to his ribs. “I don’t think Stanton is scared of anything,” Adam began, then shut up when the memory of the cop trying to run out of the hospital flitted through his mind. The man hadn’t gone all stoic then. If Adam remembered right, Stanton had looked terrified. Or pissed, hard to tell—it wasn’t like he knew the man. Charlene patted his shoulder before releasing him. “Everyone’s scared of something. He’s no exception, and neither are you.” Yeah, that point had been hammered into Adam, literally, with fists and kicks, but somehow he doubted his mother was talking about him being afraid for their lives. “I know,” seemed like the best answer. Adam was glad his mother let him get away with just that admission. He didn’t have the time to dwell on or debate what she really meant.

**** Josh sniffed like he was offended and tipped his nose up in the air. Maybe he was offended, how the hell would Les know? “Well, I just thought you might like to know, so excuse the hell out of me.” Les wanted to glare, yes he did, but he managed not to, barely. The idea of Adam working at the Xxchange didn’t sit well with him at all, but he had no grounds for his anger over it. The man had to make a living, and jobs were scarce. Wouldn’t be right to take it out on Josh, either. Instead he kept his attention on the ER doors as a small child darted back and forth in front of them, making them open, halt, start to close, halt—where the hell was this kid’s mother, anyway? Les spotted the woman sitting in the waiting room, one leg crossed over the other, her top foot bouncing as she flipped the pages of a ratty magazine. “He starts tonight, eight until the club closes,” Josh muttered. He nodded at the kid. “Does he look sick to you?”

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Les watched the boy run back and forth, giggling as the doors whooshed. His stomach tensed and felt jittery at the same time as he batted back thoughts of his own childhood. He darted a glance to the mother, still more interested in the magazine than her kid. There was none of the dramatic tears and fussing like his own mother would have kicked up. What did that mean? Josh huffed, his breath causing the fringe on his brow to flutter up. “Oh well, it’s better to bring him in even if it’s a false alarm. You can never tell with the little ones how sick they really are.” Or aren’t. Les bit the words back as he checked the time on his wristwatch. Another hour and a half to go. He watched Josh round up the boy and lead him over to his mother before taking both of them back to the exam rooms. Without Josh or the kid to distract him, Les’ thoughts went right back to where they usually ended up—Adam Masterson. Les tugged the hem of his jacket down and sighed. He should be used to that, getting a hard on when he thought about Adam. Seemed to be a near constant state since seeing the man. And he really didn’t like the idea of Adam working at the Xxchange. If Rollins wanted to get to Adam, it’d be easy to do in a place like that. Les couldn’t watch over the blond there, not like he’d been trying to do since Adam had got out of the hospital. Telling himself he wasn’t being creepy, Les had spent most of his nights off camped out in the convenience store parking lot across from Adam’s apartment complex. He could see the windows of the second floor apartment from there. Maybe he should have actually knocked on the door, talked to Adam, but Charlene was there, and she scared the beegeezus out of Les, or at least made him really uncomfortable. He didn’t quite know how to act around her, and she probably thought he was a nut anyway. Besides, what would he say to Adam? Hey, guess what? I’ve been watching your place—well, really, watching for you. Don’t mind the erection tenting my pants, I swear I’m just working a hunch Rollins will try to finish what he started. Yeah, that’d go over well. There’d be a harassment charge filed against him so fast his head would spin. And now Adam would be working at the Xxchange—Les might see the guy a lot. The police department had received numerous calls about disturbances at the place, especially on weekends. Usually the calls were lover’s quarrels that had got out of hand, but sometimes, the calls were worse. A lot worse.

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“God damn it,” Les mumbled, checking his watch again. Why did Adam have to work there anyway? Surely he could have got a job at McDonalds or something. Anything other than a club where Les responded to calls about drugged drinks and sexual assaults. Not that the straight clubs didn’t have their share of calls like that, too, but… But Adam wasn’t going to be working at one of them, and the blond was, well, he was just tasty looking. Les cringed at the thought, slapping one hand to his forehead and rubbing as if to shove it out of his head. He’d had enough time to come around to the fact that he was attracted to Adam—hard to deny it when Les couldn’t beat off without picturing those tempting lips stretched wide around his dick—but did he have to think such…such sappy, corny thoughts? Shit. And now Les’ skin was warming, tingling as arousal coursed through him. He wanted to see Adam, find out if the blond was the least bit interested in…something. Les wasn’t sure what, exactly, but he burned to find out. Definitely that mouth, but he couldn’t just walk up to Adam and ask him to suck him off—but if he could… Les groaned and scrubbed his brow harder. He’d kind of worked through the tangled emotions that had slammed into him when he’d first met Adam. Kind of. He wanted the man, and had even started checking out other guys. How he’d been so oblivious for so long… But he wasn’t any more, and though there’d been a few guys who’d made Les’ prick sit up and take notice, Adam was the only one who’d made him ache like this. All want and need, that’s what Les was, and he didn’t necessarily understand why, but he knew it was true and that was all that mattered. Okay, he liked that even less than Adam working at the Xxchange. But what could he do about it?

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Chapter Nine

“Hey!” Adam yelped, bobbling the tray of mixed drinks. He glared at the man to his right. Sprawled in the booth, the guy was the picture of sex, his dark eyes lit with dirty promises. “What?” The man drawled, reaching out and pinching Adam’s ass again. Adam bit his lip to keep from yelping again as pained heat spread from his butt all the way down to the back of his thighs. “You don’t want me to touch, you shouldn’t dress like a slut.” Adam thought if this was the crap women put up with, it was a miracle there were any men left alive. He stepped aside and calmly set the drinks on the table as he tried, again, to explain that the leather shorts and ankle boots were his required work uniform. Not that it shouldn’t be obvious; all the cocktail waiters wore the same damn thing. “I didn’t dress like this for you. All the drink servers have to wear this stuff. That doesn’t give you the right to touch me at all.” The man leered and shrugged, leaning out of the booth as his big fingers made a beeline for Adam’s ass. Adam narrowed his eyes in warning and the jerk chuckled as he grabbed a handful. I need this job, I need—Adam dropped the tray and spun around, catching the man’s hand and bending it back hard enough to make it hurt. When the customer tried to stand Adam exerted more pressure, only letting up when he was dangerously close to snapping bones. He bent forward and squeezed, a silent threat he followed up with words. “I will break your fucking wrist, asshole.” Adam held the man’s stare until the anger leeched from those dark eyes and fear crept in to replace it. Once he got a nod, Adam dropped the man’s wrist and stepped back. The other two customers at the table looked every bit as shocked as the big dumbass now clutching his wrist to his chest. Keeping one eye on the men, Adam squatted, wincing at the pain in his backside as he did so, then picked up the tray. He stood and hustled back to the bar, unsuccessfully trying to avoid more hands on his ass as other customers placed orders.

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Geesh, and I thought the Turtle was bad! At this rate my butt will be one solid bruise by the end of the night. He sidled up to the bar, keeping as far away from any of the customers as he possibly could and set the tray down as he waited for the bartender to head over. Another server—Adam thought his name was Billy—stepped up beside him and gave him a wink. “Rough night?” “You could say that,” Adam mumbled. Billy giggled and bounced on his toes. “I saw you put Randy in his place! That was awesome, man!” “Randy? Seriously?” Adam glanced back at the perv, who had gone back to glaring at him. Adam gave the man a hard look, wishing it would annihilate him on the spot. Randy turned his head away so fast Adam was surprised it didn’t snap right off his neck. Billy bounced some more, his head bobbing up and down so that it looked as if the thing was on a spring. “Well, his parents were right to name him Randy ‘cause he is. Pervert. It was great to see someone finally put him in his place. Of course, since he’s the owner’s brother, you’ll probably get fired but—” Adam’s heart tried to pound right up his throat and out his mouth as he goggled at Billy. “What? What? Why didn’t someone say something? I wouldn’t have—” Well okay, he probably still would have, damn it. He was not cut out to be a play thing for all these grabby fuckers. Adam groaned, his eyes closing as he dropped his head into his hands. “I am so screwed!” “Yup,” Billy agreed. Adam’s eyes might be closed, but he could hear the bounce in Billy’s voice. He risked a peek through his fingers and sure enough, the guy was bobbing like a buoy in the ocean during a storm. That kind of brainless happiness was just unnatural. Billy grinned, his cheeks plumping up in a way that made him look way too young to be in a place like this. “Randy’s a jerk, but you usually don’t have to actually let him fuck you. A blow job will get him off your case. . Everyone usually gives in, ‘cause once he gets off from someone he loses interest. It’s about the only way to keep your ass from being black and blue.” Billy shrugged as if to say, ‘that’s life’. “You might just want to get it over with.”

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“Oh hell no,” Adam snapped. What kind of screwed up logic was that? Put out or get groped? And why did the other servers put up with it? The tips weren’t that great, and there had to be other jobs somewhere. Maybe. “Okay,” Bouncing Billy said as the bartender finally headed their way. “But you’ll probably regret it. I don’t think Randy likes being told no, and he looks really mad.” Too fucking bad for him. Adam didn’t bother looking at Randy again, instead he caught the bartender’s eye. He opened his mouth to speak but the bartender shook his head and gestured to the hallway leading to the back office. “Boss wants to talk to you,” the bartender informed him. Adam wondered if he imagined the amusement in the guy’s eyes. “Apparently he’s gotten some complaints about you roughing up the customers.” Okay, now Adam was pretty sure that was amusement and…approval gleaming in the man’s eyes. The bartender shrugged before saying, “Randy is an asshole.” He walked off as Bouncing Billy giggled again. Adam cut a glance at the other server. What the hell was the kid on? Watching him was kind of making Adam seasick. “Lowry—he’s another one of the servers, you’ll meet him eventually. Anyway, Lowry told me that Troy—he’s the bartender—and Randy hate each other so much ‘cause they really want to fuck each other but they both think they’re tops. I think Troy is the real top and Randy just isn’t comfortable enough to accept that he wants it—” “God, enough already,” Adam sniped. If he’d known working at the Xxchange was going to be like living in a damned soap opera he might not have been so quick to accept the job. “Gotta go.” “Good luck,” Billy called out as Adam turned and strode towards the office. He was more than a little nervous about meeting with Mr Talbot again. The man had interviewed him, and he’d been dour and stern and obviously wealthy. Dark haired and big, Talbot didn’t speak much, only asking a few questions about what hours Adam could work and his experience in the food services industry. Really, the guy hadn’t even seemed to look at Adam, or maybe it was that Talbot gave the impression he didn’t think Adam was worth a look?

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Well, he’s going to see me now. Adam would not apologise for trying to protect his poor abused butt. Even now every step he took caused his shorts to rub uncomfortably over what Adam bet were welts on his bottom. Taking a deep breath, Adam tapped on the doorframe of Talbot’s office. The door was open but he didn’t feel right just walking in. “Come in and shut the door behind you,” a deep voice snapped. Hearing it, Adam figured he was as good as fired, and that being the case, he didn’t see the need to censor himself. He stepped into the office and reached for the door handle blindly while he locked gazes with Talbot. “Is it safe to close the door?” Talbot’s glower morphed to surprise, his dark brows winging up his forehead. “Why wouldn’t it be?” Adam found the doorknob and pulled the door partway shut. “Why would I think it was safe? You growled like a pissed off grizzly. That’s not conducive to me thinking it a good idea to close the door.” Talbot’s brows rose impossibly higher as he stared intently at Adam. Now he’s seeing me, not some brainless employee. Although, if most of the servers were like Billy, it was no wonder Talbot thought them to be vapid. Then again, Talbot did the hiring, so what did that say about him? Talbot finally lowered his eyebrows as he leant back in his chair, steepling his fingers together on the desktop. “I assure you, it is perfectly safe to close the door. I’m not my brother.” “Well, your brother’s a pervert,” Adam muttered under his breath. He pulled the door almost all the way shut, leaving a couple of inches of space between it and the frame. If Talbot didn’t like it, he could get up and shut the door himself—right after Adam left. “Have a seat,” Talbot said, nodding at the chair in front of his desk. Adam crossed his arms over his chest. “I’d rather not.” Talbot’s bland expression shifted to annoyed. “I said it’s safe—” “Feels like someone took a whip to my ass,” Adam groused then promptly blushed. Talbot blinked. “And you’d know that…how?” Mortified by the slip, Adam started to leave. He didn’t need this crap. Surely he could find somewhere else to work— “Stop.”

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Adam did, so suddenly he nearly stumbled. He glared over his shoulder at Talbot. “That was inappropriate,” Talbot admitted, looking almost as embarrassed as he sounded. “I’m sorry. Was that from Randy?” Obviously Talbot knew of his brother’s reputation. Adam nodded sharply then turned back to Talbot. “You even have to ask?” Ruddy stripes appeared on Talbot’s cheeks as he glanced away. “The other servers don’t seem to mind. No one’s ever complained.” Was the man dense? Adam thought he must be. He took a few steps until he could slap his hands down on the desk. Leaning forward, he waited until Talbot met his gaze to speak. “Maybe because he’s your brother and people need their jobs? Do you think that might have anything to do with why no one’s complained? Or maybe it’s because your employees figure they have no recourse—they’re gay men, working in a skuzzy club. They must deserve whatever they get.” “The Xxchange isn’t skuzzy,” Talbot argued, but he didn’t sound so sure of himself. “It’s a place where the GLBT crowd can hang out and be themselves.” Adam figured his eyes rolled so far back he would soon be ogling his brain. “Right. Because all the ‘GLBT crowd’ are a bunch of horny people who want to screw on the dance floor.” Not that he hadn’t pretty much done that himself a time or two, but Adam also knew plenty of gay men who didn’t—like Nick, and probably Josh. Adam had just been a bit of a slut for a while, although he was trying to reform. He wanted something more, and it’d taken knowing Nick to realise it. “This place is nothing more than a pick-up joint, except the customers don’t even have to leave. They just do what they want wherever they want to, and your brother thinks your employees are his personal playthings. Except for your brother, that’s all well and good, but don’t try to make it sound like the Xxchange is some GLBT community service centre.” “It’s a business,” Talbot said. “I give the people what they want.” Adam snorted and stood up so he could glare down at the bigger man. “Well, your employees don’t want to be mauled by your brother. They just figure if they bend over for him or blow him he’ll leave them alone.” “I thought…”

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“You thought what you wanted to because it was easier,” Adam sniped. He was running out of patience with stupid people. “Look at this!” He pivoted around and jerked his shorts down, giving his boss—probably former boss, he thought—a look at his damaged butt. “Do you think I asked for this?” And if Talbot mentioned the whip slip, Adam was likely going to throttle the man. He heard a hissed breath…from the wrong direction. Adam’s head snapped up like it was on a marionette’s string. His eyes bugged as he stared at the scowling cop in the doorway. Fuck. The man looked mad enough to rip someone to pieces. Adam, his shorts halfway down his thighs and his ass up in the air, just hoped it wasn’t him.

**** In the end, Les decided to forgo the shower and change of clothes. As it was, he didn’t get off until after ten. Adam had been at his new job for a couple of hours by then, and Les just couldn’t risk waiting any longer. He didn’t quite think of it that way, rationalising that if he walked into the Xxchange in his uniform, people would think he was there on police business, and therefore if anyone recognised him, they wouldn’t think much of it. However, if he changed and went in street clothes, someone might think he was there looking for exactly what he was looking for—a man he couldn’t get out of his mind, wanted to touch, taste, do all sorts of things with that scared him and made him burn at the same time. While he might have come around to the fact that he wanted Adam, he didn’t particularly want anyone else to know that—besides Adam, of course. So when Les strode into the Xxchange, his expression locked into that ‘don’t fuck with me or I will rip you apart and shove your bloody appendages in your orifices’ look, the only glances he got were curious and fearful ones, but there were some men who were too…busy, to even notice him. Les was never so grateful for his ingrained stoicism as he was when he entered the club. Every single time he’d gone on a call there, he’d been exposed to things that had shocked the shit out of him. It disturbed him that this time he was more than a little turned on when he caught glimpses of heaving bodies and flushed skin. Even with the music blaring, he could make out grunts and moans, and the scent of sex was strong enough that

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his legs quivered as need coiled in his gut. It took every ounce of his considerable self-control not to pop wood. Then he saw one of the servers, dressed in shorts so tiny they made a Speedo look Puritan. It wasn’t that he hadn’t seen the ‘uniforms’ before, but it was only at that moment it occurred to him Adam might very well be wearing that scrap of leather himself. Les froze as he stared at a blond bouncing on his toes, grinning down at a man who was caressing his ass. Was Adam dressed like this? Or undressed, rather, Les fumed, his vision narrowing down to the small bit of leather the server was wearing. Les tried to remember what Josh had told him, but all he could recall was Josh saying Adam worked here. Les hadn’t really thought about what Adam’s job might be. Les glanced at the bar, spotting the bartender who was definitely not Adam. He forced his feet to move steadily instead of pounding his way over to the bar. Les was less than a dozen feet away when there was a blur of movement and he heard an ear-splitting squeal. Stopping to look down at the man in front of him, Les realised it was the server who’d been grinning a few moments earlier. Blond and cute, and too damned bubbly, as evidenced by his wide grin and the way the little guy came up on his toes and squealed again as he patted Les’ chest with both hands. “Ohhh, such a sexy man,” the blond purred, leaning almost fully against Les. “I love big, angry looking men! Wanna spank me?” The question was accompanied by a wink but Les wasn’t sure if the guy was joking or not. He seemed really…friendly, and…Les’ eyes widened as his heart ramped up to triple time. Was that—he grabbed the blond’s biceps and looked down to where the smaller man was rubbing his groin against Les’ thigh. Oh. That was indeed his dick. The little server giggled and humped harder. Les’ mind went blank as blood rushed from it to his cock. It didn’t matter that he didn’t want this bouncing ball of hyperactivity, it still felt damned good to have another man pressed up against him. The blond moaned and the sound went straight to Les’ balls then ricocheted up to his brain, exploding in a ball of panic. Les tightened his grip and lifted the little guy up and away, letting his small boot-clad feet dangle above the ground. “Cut it out,” Les ordered, shaking the blond as hard as he dared. He was really kind of afraid he’d break the man. “I am not here for your humping pleasure.” Les’ cheeks burned

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but he kept his eyes narrowed and his fiercest expression in place. “And I would think you’d have more sense than to act like this to a police officer.” The blond’s eyes widened and his plump lips parted as the tip of a pink tongue darted out to moisten them. “B-but I t-thought you w-w-ere the s-stripper—” Les dropped the stuttering server so fast he had to reach out and grab his arm again to keep the blond from falling. “Does this look like a stripper costume?” The blond bobbed his head as he stared in the vicinity of Les’ groin. “W-well, yeah, some of t-them are r-really accurate. And you have a hard—” Les shook the blond before he could finish that sentence. He glared down at the smirking man who no longer looked the least bit intimidated. “It isn’t because of you,” Les sniped, knowing encouraging the server would be a mistake. He might very well want Adam, but his body was burning with new wants and needs and didn’t seem to be as picky as his mind. Les was used to controlling his body, but as he’d been forced to admit when he’d got sick, he couldn’t always do so and, well, he had years of want that had built up inside him. All of it seemed dangerously close to bursting free and if and when it did, it wasn’t Bouncing Boy, Les wanted it to flow over. On that note, he set the server further away from him then barked out, “Where’s Adam Masterson?” The server looked confused for a second before…Les frowned down at the guy. The little blond was actually quivering, an excited look on his face—then Les found out why. “Did Adam call the cops because of Randy?” Bounce bounce. “Is that it? Or did Randy call the cops ‘cause Adam nearly broke the horny shit’s hand? Or wrist?” Bounce bounce bounce. “‘Cause, ohmygod! That was just too cool! Unless—” the blond stilled so suddenly Les’ mind couldn’t figure it and still had him seeing the man bouncing on his toes. “Talbot didn’t call the cops, did he? I mean, Randy’s his brother, but he really was giving Adam a hard time tonight and Adam’s ass is probably covered in bruises and—” Les squinted against the red edging his vision. A vein throbbed at the side of his head as he ground his teeth together. “Where. Is. Adam.” Les gritted out, fisting his hands to keep from shaking the answer out of the server, whose eyes and mouth rounded before he giggled.

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“Ohhhh, he’s your boyfriend!” The blond bounced and took Les’ hand before he could stop him. “Well, that’s too bad, ‘cause I really would have loved for you to fuck me, but no way would I risk pissing Adam off, not after the way he went after Randy.” Les didn’t know whether to be offended or amused that the guy wasn’t worried about making him mad. He wondered what Adam had done to put the fear of a whooping into the bubbly blond. It didn’t take him long to find out as the server, who finally introduced himself as Billy, chattered steadily as he led Les to the office. By the time Billy grinned and tipped his chin at the door, Les was back to being furious and a little afraid that he might not have the control he’d foolishly prided himself on. He purely wanted to kick the Talbot brothers’ asses. Les started to shove the door open but stopped when Billy touched his forearm with one hand while pressing a slender finger to his own lips with the other. Being hushed didn’t sit well with Les at all, but Adam’s angry voice had him following Billy’s silent order. “You thought what you wanted to because it was easier.” A moment later, “Look at this!” Les couldn’t tell what the rustling sound was for sure but his gut clenched as he peeked through the narrow opening then quietly eased the door open wider. His mouth watered even as his anger spiked. Adam’s dick was long and thin, and Les wished to hell he’d got a longer look before the man had bent over and snapped, “Do you think I asked for this?” He sounded almost as angry as Les felt. Les wasn’t going to hide on the other side of the door any longer. He couldn’t help but make a low noise as he spotted Talbot staring at Adam’s ass. Les didn’t like that at all. Stepping into the room as he shoved the door open, Les glared at Talbot, thinking the asshole was looking all too appreciative of the view Adam was giving him. Something inside Les snarled mine! and he had to bite his tongue to keep from shouting it. Adam’s head snapped up. The man looked borderline terrified. “Pull your shorts up!” Les shouted, stunned by the force of his anger. Talbot rose from his seat behind the desk, one hand held out as if to stop Les. Adam jerked upright and tugged his shorts up, but not before Les got a good look at his hairless groin and hardening cock. He was vaguely aware of Billy squealing behind him and doing something that sounded a whole lot like clapping his hands as he said, “This is so hot!” “Get back to work!” Talbot snarled. Les presumed it was at Billy since there was another squeak followed by the sound of rapidly retreating footsteps. He dragged his gaze

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up from Adam’s covered cock, over the smooth planes of the man’s stomach up to his chest, lingering for a moment over the tight tiny coral coloured nipples. Everything in Les’ body tightened as those nipples grew pointed. Les swallowed noisily, the moisture in his mouth threatening to spill over. Damn it, he was not going to drool! “Now, Officer Stanton, this wasn’t what it might have looked like,” Talbot began, distracting Les from his visual feast. Les finally managed to look at Adam’s face, and the fear and longing there both calmed Les and set his nerves to pinging with a need that made him shudder. Adam’s eyes grew darker, the pupils dilating as he drew in a shaky breath. “It seems there was a problem with one of the customers,” Talbot rattled on. “Shut up,” Les ordered, gaze locked with Adam’s. “I’ll deal with your idiot brother later.” Talbot moved out from behind the desk. Les lost track of the man as he was still caught in Adam’s dark stare. “I’ll deal with my brother, I swear. I didn’t know—” “Get out.” Les didn’t have the patience to deal with Talbot right now. The man was interfering with Les’ need to touch Adam, to make sure he was really okay. “Now.” “You could have told me Stanton’s your boyfriend,” Talbot snarked as he passed them. “And no fucking in my office!” Les didn’t waste his breath on the owner, instead holding out a hand to the still scared looking Adam. “Come here.” The air gusted from Adam’s lungs as he took a tentative step forward. “I didn’t…we weren’t—” his cheeks pinked as he dropped his gaze. “I know,” Les said gruffly, his arms aching to hold the man. Adam looked so unsure, and so scared, and it just seemed wrong, Les had to fix it. “Billy told me and I heard from outside the office.” Adam darted a glance back up at him and his full lips trembled as he smiled shyly. “Oh. Okay. So you’re not mad?” Les shook his head once, hard enough his neck panged from it. “Not at you. The Talbot brothers, though—I’m definitely gonna have a talk with both of them.” And beat some manners into Randy. Adam’s smile faltered for a moment. “I don’t need you to stand up for me. I’m not a helpless wimp.”

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Les took a step closer since Adam had stopped moving. He reached for Adam’s hand and breathed a silent sigh of relief when the smaller man didn’t pull away. “I never thought you were,” but Les wasn’t going to let the Talbots get away with this kind of crap. “Now come here, please,” Les whispered, holding Adam’s hand in his while extending his other arm out in a blatant plea for a hug. Adam hesitated for a heartbeat then Les grunted as the man launched himself at Les, wrapping around his bigger form like a warm, sexy cloak. Les let go of Adam’s hand so the smaller man could wind his arms around Les’ neck, then he reached below Adam’s ass, conscious of the fact that area was sore, and gripped the backs of Adam’s lean thighs. It didn’t take much to lift Adam, who wound his legs around Les’ waist. “God,” Les rasped, hooking one arm under Adam’s bottom and shifting the other up to hold him across his lean back. Adam looked at him with such longing Les felt a pulse of pre-cum spurt from his dick. “Les,” Adam said, making his name a plea as Adam parted his lips and slicked the lower one with his tongue. How could Les resist that? Why would he? Fuck it, I’m already sunk. And if he’d had any doubt at all, the feel of Adam’s soft lips pressed to his shattered it in an instant.

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Chapter Ten

Yes! Adam would have shouted it if doing so hadn’t meant lifting his lips from Les’. There wasn’t a chance of that happening now that he’d finally managed to plaster himself to the big cop. Les’ lips parted on a moan and Adam swept in, his tongue staking his claim on the man. Les’ grip on him tightened, making it a struggle for him to breathe, but Adam didn’t care. He wanted closer, deeper, he wanted to come so hard his eyes crossed. To that end he undulated against Les. Les whimpered, a shockingly sexy sound from such a big tough man, and it only stoked Adam’s need higher. He worked one hand down Les’ back then bit Les’ lip in mild rebuke when he couldn’t shove his hand beneath the waistband of Les’ pants. The man would have to cinch his damned belt as tight as he possibly could. Les jerked his head aside, panting heavily. He shook, literally quaking in his boots as he tongued the spot on his bottom lip where Adam had nipped him. “What—” He looked so confused and it turned Adam on unbearably. But Les also looked scared, and that would not do. Adam would get that firm ass in his hands, but not tonight. He soothed Les with soft murmurs as he smoothed his hand up to the back of Les’ neck. Les’ skin there was slick with sweat, a temptation that had Adam’s mouth watering for a taste—if he could just freaking reach it! Les was so much bigger, Adam would have to climb up a bit higher on the man, or— Letting his legs drop back down, Adam wriggled in Les’ embrace. That got him another confused look until he moved, rubbing his belly over the firm swell of Les’ cock. “Ohhh,” Les sighed, hands clamped to Adam’s shoulders. “God, Adam!” Adam’s smirk was hidden as he pressed his cheek to Les’ chest. Les was at least as close to the edge as he was, and Adam was going to go ahead and shove the man right off the cliff. Without warning, he grabbed at Les’ belt, unbuckling it while keeping plenty of friction on Les’ dick. Les’ hands clenched and unclenched on Adam’s shoulders as rough moans spilled from the big man’s lips. Adam risked a look up and saw Les’ eyes glazed, unfocused, his mouth slack. He’d done that to the man, driven him into a state where his

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mind shut down and his needs took over. How was Adam not supposed to feel like a god for that, when Les was the most controlled man he’d ever met? “You deserve a reward,” Adam muttered to himself as he unfastened Les’ pants, then, oh sweet heaven, he felt the wet tip of Les’ dick poking out the top of the man’s boxers. Adam rubbed the glistening slit with his thumb, thinking of all the things he’d like to do with that cock. All his plans came to an abrupt halt when Les shouted and thin white ropes of cum shot out, splattering Adam’s hand and Les’ shirt.

**** Les felt like he’d exploded, something inside him bursting into a thousand pieces as his climax roared through him. He couldn’t even be embarrassed about going off like that, with just a swipe of a thumb over his cockhead, not when ecstasy was such a sweet, allencompassing sensation sinking into every cell in his body. He gasped and jerked, clutching Adam’s shoulders tightly, trying to stay upright when all he wanted to do was collapse into a satiated heap and sleep. “That was fucking hot.” Les blinked his way through the haze of white dots dancing in front of his eyes and finally managed to focus on Adam’s upturned face. The man looked smugger than any human had a right to, his eyes sparkling and his grin wide. “I’ve never made anyone come that fast, just from a touch,” Adam continued, “you’re amazing, you know that? Although we will have to work on control if you want to fuck me.” Adam’s words were kind of jumbled in Les’ head, but once he got them straightened out, the humiliation hit with the force of a hurricane. Les shoved Adam back and stumbled without the man’s support. Heat scorched Les’ cheeks. He just knew they had to be bright red as he fumbled with the zipper of his pants, trying to hide his over-eager cock. Damn thing just had to blow as soon as Adam touched it! And that’s why I should never lose control! Because when he did lose it, he lost it big time, apparently. But what else could he do the first time he felt another man’s hand touching him?

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Adam’s smile had dimmed somewhat, the smugness replaced by a soft look of concern as he cautiously approached Les. “Hey, don’t be embarrassed. Wouldn’t you feel like the greatest man on Earth if our situations were reversed? I think it’s amazing, you’re amazing, and you make me feel amazing.” “That’s a lot of amazings,” Les muttered, trying not to be flattered by Adam’s declarations. The guy was probably only saying that because he hadn’t come yet—oh. Les darted a glance at the impressive bulge in Adam’s shorts. That looks like it hurts…and it’s got to be bad manners to leave your… Les stalled in his musing. What was Adam to him? Lover? Friend? Fuck buddy? He looked at the man’s package again. Did it matter that Adam was beyond hard and horny? “It is”—Adam agreed—“too many to let you run off scared or embarrassed. Do you always come like that when someone touches you, or was it just me?” Damned if the man didn’t look hopeful, and if Les thought he was embarrassed before, it was nothing compared to what he felt when he forced out, “No one else ever has.” He couldn’t even look at Adam when he said it, afraid Adam would laugh at him. Adam didn’t, but he did inhale with enough force Les was surprised he didn’t suck in half the office furnishings. “Never? No one?” Adam asked? The suddenly deep timbre of Adam’s voice combined with the sand paper rough quality of it had Les braving a peek at the man. To say Adam looked flabbergasted would have been an understatement. “No,” Les forced out. How could he explain about his childhood, the way it’d left him scared of any sort of intimacy with a woman, his fears of giving anyone else control over his body? Sex seemed the ultimate submission, in whatever form, giving another person power over you—just like he’d given Adam moments ago. It’d just seemed so much safer to keep everyone at a distance, to not dwell on that aspect of himself. If he got horny enough, he beat off, that was that. At least then, he was in control of his body and his climax. Adam had stripped that from him with one kiss. “Why not?” Les startled at the question, surprised to find Adam so close to him. One delicate hand came to rest on Les’ forearm as he buckled his belt. Adam’s touch felt heated, sending electric

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tingles through the nerves in Les’ arm. “You’re so gorgeous, why hasn’t anyone taken you to bed?” Maybe that was part of it, Les realised. No one had ever just…just latched on and had at him the way Adam had. Les had turned down offers before, getting downright rude if he had to, but Adam had just plastered himself to Les then…was that it then? Did Les need someone to take control, rip it from him with a kiss that scorched him to the soles of his feet? Did he want that? Maybe he did, because Adam’s next words had Les’ dick trying its best to firm right back up. “Come home with me. Let me make love to you.” Adam looked at him steadily, confidently. It calmed the swell of panic that started in Les’ chest. He could only think of one objection just then. “Your mother wouldn’t care?” Adam jolted as if jabbed with a cattle prod. “Oh. Ick. Take me home, to your place, then.” It wasn’t a request, not at all, and Les liked that, at least from Adam. Coming from anyone else, he thought he might have punched them for being so forward. But there was just something about Adam—and he really needed to think about that—later. Les finished buckling his belt then slipped his hand into Adam’s, looking down at the face he’d seen in his dreams night after night. “Okay.” And as hard as it was for him to believe it, it was as simple as that, one little word and his worries and lifetime of fears eased enough for him to let Adam lead him out of the club.

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Chapter Eleven

Les started to walk towards the door that lead into the heart of the club only to find himself pulled in the opposite direction. He looked at Adam even as he followed the man to another door off to the left. “Where are we going?” Adam laughed and gestured to his shorts. “I can’t leave like this. I need to change, and I have to get my stuff out of the locker. I’ll follow you to your place, but to do that, I need my keys, my wallet,” he stopped at the door and waggled his finely eyebrows. “It wouldn’t do for me to get pulled over by some cop and not have my licence on me, you know.” Les grunted, darting a glance back at the other door. He really wanted to find Randy— “Come on,” Adam said as he opened a door with a nappy little sign on it that read ‘Employees Only’. “Quit glaring at that door. If you have any brilliant ideas about confronting Randy, you need to forget them for three reasons.” When it became clear Adam was waiting for him to ask, Les did. “And what would those reasons be?” Adam pulled him into the room then closed the door. Les took a couple of steps then turned to keep an eye on the door as Adam spoke. “One: You’re still in your uniform. I’m pretty sure you’d get in some deep shit for beating Randy’s ass anyway, but in uniform? You’d probably get fired at the very least. Two:”—Adam grinned and patted Les’ groin—“You came in your pants. Got a nice wet spot right here.” Yeah, and it was cold and icky. “And three:”—Adam gave him a sultry look as he pressed up against Les’ body, his hard cock poking Les’ thigh—“I don’t want any more delays until I can get you naked.” Les snaked his hands down Adam’s back and lightly teased his fingers over Adam’s pert butt. God, he wanted nothing more just then than to cup that ass, to squeeze and test the firm cheeks, to pull them apart and…

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“Mmm,” Adam purred, rubbing his cheek against Les’ chest, his hands clenching on Les’ waist. “You’re hard again—very impressive.” He opened one hand and began sliding it down. “Don’t,” Les warned as he caught Adam’s wrist. He’d surely die of embarrassment if he came again just from a simple touch. Adam tipped his head up, looking at him through thickly lashed lids, and Les realised there was nothing simple about Adam. The man had breached all the walls Les had built and kept carefully in place, and he’d done it before Les had even known what had happened. Adam licked his lips, parting them in silent offering. Les couldn’t take his eyes off that glistening mouth, licking his own lips in anticipation as he bent down for the promised kiss—only to nearly snap his head off his neck jerking back when the door to the room swung open. Jesus Christ, I’m gonna beat the crap out of both the Talbots’, Les seethed as he glared at Adam’s boss. The other man didn’t even have the decency to look sorry for interrupting. Instead he grinned as he looked at the two of them before focusing his attention on Adam. “I was coming to ask if you wanted to take the rest of the night off,” Talbot said with only a hint of sarcasm. “Looks like you do. Or are you quitting?” Les knew what he hoped the answer was to that, but he found himself disappointed. “I dunno,” Adam said as he took a step back, letting his hands drop to his sides. “I figured I was probably fired.” Talbot snorted as he shook his head. “Why would I fire you? My brother was the one—” he glanced at Les, who was sure he was bristling like a possessive lover. He was possessive, and he’d soon be Adam’s lover, although not soon enough to suit him. “Anyway, you didn’t do anything wrong, but I did want to talk to you for just a minute before you leave.” “God damn it,” Les muttered. Talbot shrugged as if to say ‘sorry’. Adam nodded and positioned himself in front of Les. At first Les thought it was some manoeuvre to keep him from going after Talbot—which, tempting as it was, Les did have more restraint than that. Then he realised Talbot’s gaze had dipped down to his groin, no doubt noting the wet spot in his pants. Les’ cheeks burned as he glared at Talbot, whose lips twitched. If the man laughed, Les would—

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“Make it quick,” Adam snapped, and Les wondered if Adam wasn’t a little possessive himself. He sounded irritated, and from what Les could tell, Adam was glaring daggers at Talbot. He propped both hands on his hips and looked so adorably pissed off Les wanted nothing more than to toss Adam over his shoulder and run off with him. When was the last time anyone had cared enough about him to get all pissy like Adam was doing? Had anyone ever cared that much? “I thought maybe you could take a different position on staff,” Talbot said, distracting Les from his thoughts. He looked at Adam’s boss, who nodded at him. “I don’t think your boyfriend’s going to be happy if someone else gropes you, and I’d rather not have him beating the shit out of customers.” “What’d you have in mind?” Adam asked, sounding suspicious along with pissy now. “Well,” Talbot drew the word out until Les growled, then the fucker grinned. “I thought if you can sling drinks I’d put you behind the bar with Troy.” “I can do that,” Adam assured him. After promising to call tomorrow with Adam’s new schedule, Talbot left, and Adam turned and looked at Les. “I maybe should have told him I only know how to make like three mixed drinks.” He shrugged, his eyes sparkling with delight. Les had waited long enough. He reached for Adam and crushed his mouth to the smaller man’s.

**** Guhhh… Adam couldn’t think when he was being devoured, both by Les and by a need so strong he was sure it was imprinting on his DNA. He whimpered as he clung to the bigger man, trembling with each plunge of Les’ tongue. When those big hands ghosted over his ass then gripped firmly below his cheeks, Adam nearly lost his mind. He’d been good, held back from coming in Talbot’s office, but now he had to come, soon, and he knew how he wanted to do it, and it wasn’t humping away on Les’ thigh. Pushing on Les’ chest, Adam managed to end the soul-melting kiss. “Want you to fuck me,” Adam whispered against Les’ lips. “Please,” he added when Les grew still, even

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his breathing seeming to have stopped. “Please,” Adam begged. “There’s a lock on the door if that’s what you’re worried about, I can—” “No,” Les said harshly, crushing Adam’s hopes. He tried to push away from the bigger man, squirming and wiggling, trying to figure out how he’d got everything so wrong. Les’ arms tightened around him and Adam struggled harder, resisting the urge to hit and kick. He didn’t want to hurt Les, he just needed…he needed to get away before he started bawling like a baby. His disappointment and hurt were like a boulder crushing his chest, and Adam knew he couldn’t keep it together much longer. “Adam, stop.” Les grunted as Adam accidentally elbowed him in the ribs. “Stop, will you?” Les shifted his arms until he had one around Adam’s back and his other up so he cupped the back of Adam’s head. “How many people do you think have fucked here in this room?” The question was so weird Adam stopped trying to free himself long enough to blink up at the man. “What?” What did that have to do with anything? Les’ smile was so tender it made Adam ache. “I said, how many people do you think have fucked in this room, just got their rocks off then went about the rest of their business like it didn’t mean anything?” Oh. Adam’s heart skipped as he tried to keep from hoping he knew what Les meant. “A lot, I’d bet.” Les nodded and dropped a chaste kiss on his forehead. “Yeah, and while what happened in Talbot’s office was hot, it wasn’t what I wanted. I don’t…” Les sighed, his gaze darting off over Adam’s head before locking with his. “I don’t want whatever this is between us to be some cheap fling. I don’t want to fuck you here like we’re both a couple of strangers looking to get off with whoever’s handy. Do you know how many people have fucked in my home?” Adam’s stomach felt warm and fizzy, as if he’d chugged a two-litre of ginger ale. “No,” he said softly, that hope he’d tried to squash bursting free and filling him. “None,” Les admitted, that sweet smile still in place. “Bought it new, and never cared to bring anyone home, not that I’ve ever…you know.” “Oh,” Adam sighed, refusing to wonder why his eyes were stinging. That’s so… sweet. And it made him feel treasured, special, not like a cheap fuck, which he’d been often

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enough. Too often. He cleared his suddenly tight throat as he glanced down, afraid to see Les’ reaction if his answer wasn’t what Adam wanted it to be. “So you’re saying this is something special?” Les tucked two fingers under his chin and lifted Adam’s head, forcing him to meet the bigger man’s gaze. “I’m saying you’re special,” Les rumbled, “and you deserve better than this. We deserve something better than this, at least the first time.” First time? Adam was pretty sure his heart was doing cartwheels at that. Les wants more…of me. The realisation was overwhelming, and Adam didn’t know why or what made him so appealing to the other man, but it didn’t matter, he’d take it and hold on as tight as he could—and if he was lucky, maybe Les wouldn’t want him to let go.

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Chapter Twelve

As much as Les hated to, he agreed to let Adam follow him home. He’d rather have had them ride together, but maybe it was best this way. Les didn’t want to smother Adam with his neediness, something Les wasn’t sure he liked about himself at all. But he did need the gorgeous little blond, and not just physically, although right now that was the primary focus. His cock was trying its best to burst out of his pants even though he was kind of terrified of what was going to happen once they got to his house. Every time the fear tried to rise up, though, a wave of lust battered it right back down. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what it was going to feel like to bury his cock in Adam’s sweet little ass, but God, did he want to find out, quick! Then he thought of how close he’d come to freaking out in the office, when he’d thought Adam was going to touch his ass. He’d been as scared as the uptight virgin he was, that’s for sure. What’d he thought, that Adam was going to rip off his pants and just plunge right in? Maybe, he conceded. God knows that’s exactly what Les felt like doing to Adam. Hopefully he’d have more control than that. How did men get used to that, being touched there? And what about the fact that Les had been working all day, he had to… Well, surely he should shower first or something before letting anyone poke around his butt? Not that he was filthy or anything, but… Damn it, how was he supposed to figure any of this stuff out? It wasn’t like he could ask anyone, he was embarrassing the hell out of himself just thinking about it! Maybe, he reasoned, he was one of those men who just liked to be on top? Les snorted as he turned onto his street, checking to make sure Adam was still behind him. How could he know if he preferred fucking over being fucked if he never got up the nerve to try both? The fissure of fear he felt at the idea of being penetrated even softened the hard on he’d had for the past half hour. But was it all fear, or was his body trying to tell him something? Les suspected, as he pulled down the long drive leading to his place, that it was fear. The idea of giving his body over to someone else had always terrified him, and letting

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someone else—no, not someone else, Les corrected, Adam—literally into his body was unimaginable. How much trust would it take to be able to do that? And yet…and yet Adam had asked him to do that very thing, hadn’t he? Asked Les to push into his body, enter him and claim him in the most personal way possible. Les didn’t deceive himself into thinking he’d be the first to do so, although he certainly didn’t dwell on that. It just kind of pissed him off, thinking of anyone else having Adam like that. Okay, more than kind of, Les admitted when he realised he was growling like some angry bear. But the fact was, most people had sex, and they didn’t get all bent about it, either. That was his hang up, and though he knew the cause, he didn’t know if he could ever get past his fears and let Adam fuck him. Even the idea of the man pushing a finger into him made Les break out in a sweat. It wasn’t that he was afraid of it hurting. It all came back down to being able to trust both himself and Adam enough to ever even try something like that. A tap on his window startled him, making Les yelp and promptly blush so hard he felt a bit dizzy from the rush of blood. He put the vehicle in park then shut it off before looking at Adam. Dressed in tight jeans and an even tighter T-shirt, the dark blue colour setting off his blond good looks, Adam was a walking wet dream. Just the sight of him shut off the part of Les’ brain that was trying to panic. He smiled through the window at the man then motioned for Adam to back up. Les unbuckled, opened the door then got out in one easy motion. He was utterly sure of one thing as he locked gazes with the scrumptious man—he wanted Adam with every fibre of his being. Everything else, all the fears and unanswered questions, those could wait for another time.

**** When he’d seen Les sitting there looking more than half-terrified, Adam had been certain the man had changed his mind. So to say he was surprised when Les got out after giving him a hungry look would have been an understatement. Then when the bigger man had got out and reached for him, lifting Adam plumb off his feet in a show of strength that

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made Adam whimper, he’d ceased trying to figure Les out, quit trying to think and opened instead for the brutal press of lips. Les growled into the kiss, his teeth catching Adam’s lips as Les all but devoured him. Adam’s veins filled with liquid fire, his groin lava hot with need. He more than half expected Les to drag him inside and fuck him up against the front door, and so he was more than a little confused to find himself released, his lips throbbing from the kiss. The only reason he didn’t fall flat on his ass was because Les had a hand on each of his shoulders. Before he could ask what had just happened, Les was plucking the backpack off Adam’s shoulder and muttering something about a shower as he turned and started walking towards the front door. “Well, okay,” Adam huffed, only now even bothering to look at the house. It was a small brick home with an even smaller front porch barely enough room for the plastic lawn chair setting on it. Two round white posts ran up to the tiny porch roof. The front door was white, it’s smooth surface marred only by a peephole. Adam glanced around the yard. It was dark out, sure, but there was enough light from the porch that he could see that Les didn’t bother with flowers or shrubs. From the outside, it was just a house, one that gave no clue as to the nature of the mysterious man who lived there. And Les was, to Adam, a mystery. He couldn’t imagine not ever having sex and wondered what the reasons were for Les’ need for such rigid control. “Are you coming in?” Adam dragged his gaze away from the yard and found Les frowning at him from the now open doorway. “Yeah, I was just…” trying to figure you out. He shrugged and trotted up the sidewalk and onto the porch. Once inside, Les didn’t grab him and kiss him senseless again. Instead the man took his hand and, leaving the lights off, led him through the dark interior until they reached a door. “This is my bedroom,” Les said, his nervousness evident in the way his voice deepened. He opened the door then stepped inside and turned the light on. Adam followed him in and blinked at the sudden brightness. It wasn’t just the light; the bedroom was a rainbow of colours. The walls were a bright, sunny yellow, adorned with several colourful paintings he assumed were abstracts. The dresser, night stand, desk and armoire as well as

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the head and footboard, those were all lovely golden pine. A bright blue and green blanket, dotted with splashes of purple and yellow, matched the numerous pillows piled against the headboard. The only thing white in the room was the ceiling, Adam noted as he looked up. He looked down at the floor and couldn’t help it. The surprising burst of turquoise beneath his feet made Adam grin. He didn’t know what he’d expected to find in regards to Les’ decorating skills, but this brilliant display of colours certainly wasn’t it, and it tickled him to know Les trusted him enough to share this bit of himself with Adam. “What do you think? Too much?” Les sounded so worried, so insecure that it pinched at Adam’s heart. He walked up to the man and cradled his stubbled cheeks in his hands. “I think it’s the most beautiful room I’ve ever seen,” Adam said huskily, “thank you for bringing me here.” Les swallowed twice, Adam watching with fascination the way his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I was…I spent a lot of time in the hospital when I was a kid.” When nothing else was forthcoming, Adam nodded. As much as he wanted to ask, he couldn’t pry, not when Les had offered up something that was obviously important from his past. And Adam understood the bright room better now, though it also made him sad. How much time had Les spent in a hospital as a kid, so that all he’d wanted was to sleep somewhere as different from a bland, cold room as possible? It had to have been a lot, but Les seemed so healthy and strong now— “I was gonna shower,” Les mumbled then grinned wryly. “Probably have to get in with my pants and underwear on. Think the cum cemented them to my skin.” No wonder the man wanted to shower. Adam smiled sweetly and stroked his thumbs over the sharp edges of Les’ cheekbones. “Can I shower with you? I promise to be a good boy.” He’d seen that flicker of fear in Les’ eyes and had needed to reassure the man.

**** Why the hell did I make such a stupid promise? I could have at least tried to negotiate! But how could he have known how delicious Les would look all naked and wet? The man was all hard muscle and dense hair and Adam loved it! The planes of Les’ chest were covered in a

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thick pelt that served to emphasise his little pink nipples—Adam had been surprised to find those little buds to be such a rosy shade; he’d expected them to be dark, a coppery brown or maybe coral, but they were so pink! And that wasn’t a treasure trail leading down to Les’ fat cock, that was a whole damn field or something, and it led to an even bushier nest of dark curls that Adam yearned to bury his face in. He’d seen so many ‘manscaped’ men—he was one himself—that finding one au natural was damn near a life altering experience. Les grumbled and turned around, dunking his head under the shower spray—giving Adam a priceless view of his fuzzy ass. Adam looked at that bubble butt hungrily, imagining prying those taut globes apart and finding the little pucker nestled there. What he wouldn’t give to be able to touch it, to push into Les’ body with his tongue, his fingers, and ohmygodpleasesomeday, his aching dick. As Adam stood panting like some exhausted marathon runner, Les was busy trying, Adam thought, to ignore him. He was ninety-nine per cent sure it was because the man was shy, and washing one’s body could be an intimate thing. Adam’s lips curled into a smile. Oh yes, very intimate! Stepping closer to Les, Adam reached around him and plucked the soap and washcloth out of the dish. No fancy body scrubs or loofahs for Les, nope, and that was going to work in both of their favours. “What are you—?” Les’ eyes rounded as Adam rubbed the soap all over the washcloth. “What does it look like I’m going to do?” Adam held out the cloth. “I’m going to let you wash me—everywhere.” Might as well jump in with both feet. “Let me get wet first.” Instead of waiting for Les to move, Adam edged closer. Les got the message and stepped aside, taking the washcloth from Adam. “You’re not afraid to do that, are you?” he teased since Les still looked shell shocked. “No,” Les snapped, just like Adam had hoped he would. The male ego could be such a wonderful tool. “Good.” Adam stepped under the water and closed his eyes, running his hands over his chest and belly, then further down to his cock and balls. He could hear Les’ breathing coming out in harsh pants, and managed not to grin triumphantly until he turned around and presented the man with his back.

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He slicked his hands down his sides then over his butt cheeks, forgetting about the abuse his behind had taken until he pulled the globes apart. He almost let go of his ass when the first bite of pain speared out from where he was holding on. He did let go when Les cursed loud enough to make him jump. “It’s just a few bruises,” Adam said as he peered over his shoulder at Les. The man’s thunderous expression was actually kind of scary…and so sexy it made Adam’s cock weep. “I don’t fucking care!” Les practically shouted, “I am going to kick Randy Talbot’s ass until it’s black and blue!” Normally, Adam wasn’t a fan of growly and possessive, but then again, he’d never been on the receiving end of it like this. Usually he was the one catching the attitude for hitting on a man who wasn’t single like he’d thought. So to have someone—no, Les—get that way over him was… Well, it was a novel experience, and one he was unashamedly thrilled about. He knew he had to be grinning like a loon, and Les’ deepening scowl proved it. “What’re you looking so happy about? You’ve got bruises all over your ass!” “Yeah, so maybe when you fuck me you can hang on really tight and leave some of your own to cover them up.” Adam liked that idea a lot, wearing Les’ marks, and judging by the way the man’s eyes went dark and hot, Les liked it plenty, too. “You gonna wash them away?” “I wish I could,” Les growled, making Adam’s belly quiver and his cock bounce. “I don’t ever want to see someone else’s marks on you, don’t want anyone else to touch…” Then Les dropped down, his knees thudding heavy on the bottom of the tub. “Fucking bastard. I am going to…” Adam couldn’t hear the rest of what Les muttered, not when his pulse was singing through his veins as Les began to gently wash his backside. Adam pressed his palms to the wall and, slutty or not, he didn’t care, pushed his ass out as he spread his legs as wide as he could. Les worked the cloth over his haunches slowly, thoroughly, then something soft pressed against first one sore spot, then another. Adam raised his head and squirmed, trying to see behind himself. “What are you—” “Shhh, stop it. Be still,” Les ordered, his warm breath gusting over Adam’s wet skin. “Oh fuck,” Adam muttered, closing his eyes and letting his head hang down. Those were Les’ lips on his ass, his tongue lapping at the bruises… That was nearly enough to make

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Adam come right there. He knew better than to expect Les to rim him, Adam wasn’t thinking for one second that would happen, but it didn’t matter. This tender treatment was as sensual in its own way, or maybe not sensual, but so sweet, so loving— Stop that! Don’t even go there! That was just asking for a heartache. Adam shut his mind off and revelled in Les’ touches until he heard the rumble of Les’ voice. Opening his eyes, Adam blinked at the shower wall. “What?” Les had asked something, said something. Hadn’t he? “I want to touch you,” and oh, didn’t Les sound like he needed to? “But I…I don’t know how.” And now the man sounded downright miserable. Adam pushed up from the wall and turned around on shaky legs, stumbling as he blinked the water out of his eyes. Les was sitting on his haunches, one big hand squeezing the base of his cock. The whole rod was darker now, the thick veins bulging in the most tantalising way. Adam reached behind himself, slapping at the knobs, somehow managing to turn the water, not off, but at least adjusting it so the water poured from the spigot instead of the showerhead. Then Adam looked away from Les’ tempting length and into his gorgeous face, currently plastered with an expression of confusion and desire—and a tinge of embarrassment, as evidenced by the ruddy stripes on his cheeks. “Oh man,” Adam muttered as he sank slowly to his knees. “You have no idea how fucking gorgeous you are!” Les’ eyes widened as Adam continued lowering himself down until his lips hovered right above Les’ glistening crown. “Adam?” he asked shakily, his voice quivering as much as his thighs. “Mmm.” Really, this counted as being good, didn’t it, when Les was gripping that big dig and holding it out like an offering? It does! Adam opened his mouth and, looking up at Les, licked the smooth wet tip. “Fuck! Adam!” Les jerked like he’d been hit with a taser, toppling back on his ass. Adam crawled up his bent legs and sucked in half of Les’ cock, moaning at the flavour and feel of that silky steely length in his mouth. He tightened his lips and swirled his tongue around a particularly fat vein and Les yelled, one hand burrowing in Adam’s hair and tugging urgently. “Stop stop stop! Oh my God, Adam! I can’t—”

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Adam sucked his way up to the tip and delved his tongue into Les’ slit, digging out as much of the seeping liquid as he could. He came off with a loud pop and nodded at Les. “You’re ready to come. You think you’ll be able to hold off long enough to fuck me?” Les shook his head frantically, gasping. “No, but I want—” “You can”— Adam said with a grin—“next time.” Adam dived back down on Les’ cock while prying the man’s hand from the base. He didn’t know if he could take it all, but he was damn sure going to try. “Fucking hell, Adam!” Les babbled, a mix of curse words and Adam’s name as Adam swallowed more of the hard shaft. The hand in Adam’s hair tightened, pulling until Adam’s eyes watered, but he knew Les was trying to pull him off, he was just hanging on for the ride. Adam grinned around his mouthful and relaxed his throat muscles, allowing a few more inches of Les’ cock to sink deep, breaching his throat. He swallowed immediately, relishing the strangled shout, the thrashing of Les’ hips as the first hot jet of cum shot free. Backing off, Adam caught the next spurt on his tongue. He brought a hand to Les’ furry balls and pushed carefully, milking the man for every drop of salty nectar he could get. The taste of Les combined with the way he shivered and moaned, gasped and panted, was too much for Adam’s poor neglected dick. He made a grab for it, trying to stave off the orgasm boiling in his balls. He’d no sooner managed to grip his cock than he came, bucking his hips and painting Les’ thighs with spunk. The relief of finally climaxing made Adam so weak he barely had the strength to turn his head and let Les’ softened dick slip from his lips before collapsing in a boneless heap.

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Chapter Thirteen

Once Les was able to think somewhat logically, he eased Adam up. Les dried Adam off then took his hand and led him into the bedroom, where he nudged the sexy blond onto the bed. Adam had looked a little disappointed when Les had said he needed to go back and finish getting clean, but he did, and he was just too self-conscious to scrub everywhere with someone else watching. And besides, Les was…curious. Maybe he couldn’t let anyone else poke around at his ass, but one thing was for sure, he’d never know whether or not he’d like it if someone didn’t try it. Should he lock the bathroom door first? Les looked at the little button. It’d click if he locked it, and sure as shit Adam would hear it and wonder what he was up to. Les didn’t like that scenario at all, and decided to leave the door unlocked. He’d make this quick anyway, and it wasn’t like there’d be any signs that he’d been messing with himself. It was a sad fact, one he really didn’t want to acknowledge and truly didn’t want to tell Adam, but coming twice in one night was probably about it for him. Hell, that was once more than Les came in a week usually. After restarting the shower, Les got in, his nerves jangling with a mix of fear and, he was surprised to note, anticipation. Obviously there was something to the whole anal sex thing. He was pretty sure it had to feel great for the guy doing the fucking, but being on the receiving end? That just seemed uncomfortable, maybe even painful. Yet people did it, so there had to be something about getting fucked that felt good. “Okay,” Les muttered, soaping up the washcloth. What exactly was ‘okay’ he wasn’t sure, but he felt a little less scared for saying it. As much as he just wanted to get started and figure out what it’d feel like to be penetrated, he forced himself to wash his body, grimacing when his tired cock tried to rise as he cleaned his groin. “Not gonna happen,” he told that particular part, giving it a pat, “but you get an A for effort.” Les soaped up his buttocks then frowned as he tried to figure out the best way to do this. Finally decided on a plan, he hitched one leg up and propped his foot on the side of the

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tub, pushing the shower curtain there over the edge. Water streamed down onto the floor but he ignored it for now as he looked at the three items on the shower caddy. Soap—that shit burned when he got it in his eyes, so maybe not that, then. Same went for the shampoo. That left the conditioner, and whether or not that burned, he hadn’t a clue, but he grabbed the bottle and popped the top before pouring a puddle of it into his left hand. Maybe that was too much? Looked like he’d dumped half the bottle. Les shrugged and closed the lid with his chin then set it back on the caddy. He dipped a finger into the viscous stuff, coating it as thoroughly as he could. The shower promptly rinsed most of it off and Les cursed before smacking the showerhead aside. He felt strange, tingly and warm, much like he had when he’d been so turned on earlier. That must mean he wanted to do this more than he didn’t, Les reasoned as he slicked up his finger again. He took a deep breath and reached around himself, zeroing in on his hole easier than he’d thought he would. The first touch of his slippery finger to his anus sent a ripple of heat up his balls and cock, and when he slowly inserted the tip, Les knew he was in trouble. Because, damn, that little bit felt good! Weird, sure, but good. He worked his finger in deeper, careful not to get carried away and just shove, and the deeper he got his digit, the more he was certain he liked it. His ass felt empty and aching, though, as if the bit he’d pushed in wasn’t enough. Les tried to fit some more in, but in this position it just wasn’t happening. This time he didn’t have to think about it for long, he simply brought his hand around front, slicked some more goop on it, then hunched over and slid his finger in his ass. And shuddered, when the tip of the crooked digit brushed over something inside him. He moaned when he brushed over it again. Les wasn’t stupid, he knew what that was. As health conscious as he’d been since… well, since, he knew all about his prostate. He just hadn’t thought it’d feel like a zillion bolts of pleasure were spearing from that little hot button through his ass and into every cell in his body. There seemed to be a direct line of pleasure from his gland to his cock and balls, of course, but the two that zipped up his belly and over his chest, turning his nipples into hard pebbles that ached to be touched—that surprised him. All these years he’d thought those things on his chest were just for decoration! Now he wanted to pinch them, touch them, but

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he just didn’t have enough hands. Then his cock stirred, and Les looked down at it in surprise. “Again? Really?” Maybe he would get to fuck Adam tonight after all! Les pulled his finger almost all the way out then started pressing in with two. It didn’t feel quite as good at first, burning and stretching his ring like it did, but very soon he was pumping those digits in and out slowly, making sure to brush over his gland every third stroke or so. Sure enough, his cock was hard, the slit wet with a bead of pre-cum. Oh man! That feels good! Maybe he wouldn’t get to fuck Adam after all, because this— this new discovery was something he knew he could get addicted to. If he fisted his cock, gave it a couple of hard tugs, it would go off like a geyser. Then he thought of Adam, waiting for him in bed. Did he really want to be a selfish prick and get himself off when he’d already come twice and Adam had only come once? Les’ dick was good and hard now, and he wasn’t so close to the edge he couldn’t pull back, but if he kept this up for much longer… Nah, he wouldn’t be a jerk, couldn’t be when visions of Adam’s sweet ass kept dancing behind his lids. Of course, that did little to help him stave off his climax, so Les slipped his fingers out and quickly washed away the traces of his experiment. At least he knew now he liked having something in there. Maybe with time, he could learn to trust Adam enough to let the sexy little blond fuck him? Well, it’s a goal, and a good one. But for now… Les turned off the shower then did a half-assed job towelling off. He brushed his teeth and rinsed his mouth. Flossing was just going to have to wait. Opening the bathroom door, he expected Adam to be waiting for him, looking nice and sweet under the bright covers, or, he’d been afraid, possibly even asleep. But he should have known better, because nice and sweet weren’t really personality traits of Adam’s. Yeah, the man was nice, and sure he could be sweet, Les guessed, but really, the man was sex packaged up in smooth pale skin and big, hungry eyes. So he shouldn’t have felt like he’d been broadsided by a damned bus when he stepped into the bedroom and found Adam kneeling on the bed, legs spread wide and his ass in the air as he worked several fingers in and out of his pucker. Several things rushed through Les’ mind as he watched the glorious sight of Adam stretching himself. Among them was that Les was one lucky son of a bitch, and he was

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impressed with how flexible Adam was. Les didn’t think he could bend like that and get his fingers so far up his ass. Then he wondered why he was standing there when he could be on the bed, fucking Adam senseless. Adam rolled his head and looked at Les with lust-dazed eyes. “Come on and get in,” Les thought he said, but it was hard to be sure with half of Adam’s face mashed into a pillow and his voice all slurred like he was drunk. But Les was sure enough to hurry over to the bed, his cock pointing the way as if to lead him to the very spot he wanted to bury it. He climbed onto the bed then got back off and grabbed hold of Adam’s hips. “Just a sec,” Adam mumbled then he withdrew his fingers from his body. “‘kay.” Les hooked his hands around Adam’s hips, careful at first to avoid his bruised ass until he remembered Adam’s suggestion for how to cover them up. He let his thumbs rest over a mark on each side and pressed gently, judging Adam’s reaction. By the way the man moaned and arched his back, shoving his butt up, Les thought Adam liked it. He was sure when he did it again and Adam rasped, “Yesssss!” Secure that he wasn’t going to actually hurt the man, at least not in a way Adam didn’t like, Les gripped tighter and heaved, lifting and dragging Adam to the edge of the bed. Their height difference made this perfect, Adam kneeling on the edge put his sweet little hole level with Les’ dick. It was already slick, shiny even, and stretched so that it gaped slightly. The wrinkled skin was rosy and puffy, and Les thumbed Adam’s crack, spreading his plump cheeks wider so Les could get a better look at the tiny ring he was fixing to push his dick into. What possessed him to lean in and blow over Adam’s opening, Les didn’t know, but he sure liked the way Adam reacted, shivering and whimpering, and that little hole clenched and winked at Les in a tease or promise or maybe both. Then Les’ mouth watered with a desire to taste, which freaked him out enough that he straightened up and decided to fill that tempting pucker up. He started to line up his dick, chill bumps skittering over his body as he tried to keep from just shoving all the way in. No matter that Adam had stretched his hole, it was still tiny, and Les’ dick wasn’t. “Wait!” Adam shouted, scaring the beejeezus out of Les. “What?! What?!” Holy shit, his heart was about to pound out of his chest! “Gotta use a rubber,” Adam said, though he didn’t sound happy about it.

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Les felt like an idiot, but he also had to wonder. He knew he didn’t have anything, and surely when Adam had been put under the microscope in the hospital, he’d been tested? “I’m clean,” Adam said, as if he could tell what Les was thinking. Maybe he could, Les had been frowning hard enough to make his temples ache. “They tested me in the hospital.” “Okay,” Les said slowly, “and so am I, so why—” “Because,” Adam said as he pushed his torso up apparently just so he could glare over his shoulder at Les. “You don’t really know me, and you shouldn’t just take my word for it. Be careful, be smart. And,” Adam’s glare softened into an expression of hope and longing. “I won’t ever bareback unless I’ve found the man I want to spend my life with.” “Well, ain’t that a kick in the balls,” Les muttered before he could censor himself. Now he felt like a cheap fuck or something. “Hey, Les.” He didn’t want to look at Adam, but Les couldn’t resist the pleading in his voice. “I’m not saying you aren’t that man,” Adam said softly, “like I said, you don’t really know me and I don’t really know you. We’ve really barely even talked.” “Okay.” He could accept that, for now. “So maybe we can talk, after.” Les was still hard, although for a second or two there he’d thought that was about to change. Adam smiled at him beautifully and dropped his shoulders back down onto the mattress. “Tomorrow, ‘cause I plan on crashing into a brainless heap after you fuck me. Condom’s on the night stand.” Obviously Adam had brought a condom, because Les sure didn’t have any. He tried not to think about why Adam would be carrying rubbers around as he tore open the package and carefully rolled the latex down his length. Adam sat up and turned around, scooting a few inches away from the edge of the bed. “Come here for a sec.” Les did, then he bit back a moan as Adam did something to the tip of the condom. Whatever it was, it involved Adam fisting one hand around his dick and that felt fricking wonderful. “Ready to go,” Adam said, stroking down Les’ cock to tickle at his balls. “Might take it slow until you have that monster all the way in. Then I’ll tell you when to fuck me into unconsciousness.” Adam winked then resumed his previous position, presenting his upturned ass to Les.

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“Sounds a little creepy,” Les said as he moved back into place and nudged Adam’s hole. Adam’s laughter was cut off as Les canted his hips and began pressing into him. “Gahhh,” Adam croaked, his mouth—the part Les could see—going slack as he rocked his hips. “More!” Mindful of Adam’s previous suggestion to take it slow, Les gripped the man’s ass cheeks to keep him from rocking back and impaling himself. Les groaned as silky hot muscles clamped around his glans, pulling his length in deeper in a series of rippling constrictions. “Fucking hell,” he muttered, his balls already climbing high. He’d thought Adam’s mouth had been unfuckingbelievable, but this—he glanced down and watched his dick sink further into Adam’s ass—Oh fuck! This was ecstasy multiplied to infinity! Adam’s inner muscles clamped and massaged Les’ cock, squeezing so tight he gasped a couple of times. His hands clenched harder on Adam’s cheeks as Les struggled to go slow. All he wanted was to slam home, feel all that heat and velvet surrounding his whole length. He was shaking with the effort of holding back, and just when he thought he’d go insane from the restraint, he slid his cock in the last few inches, much to Adam’s very loudly expressed delight. “Fuck me now, NOW!” Who knew Adam was such a bossy little thing? When Adam yelled it a second time, Les figured the man meant it. “Not gonna last long,” he warned, because already his spine was tingling from the sensation of Adam’s sweet little ass engulfing his cock. “Don’t have to,” Adam grunted, working an arm underneath himself. “Fuck me now, Les!” Les did, drawing back slowly, because it felt so damned good, not just on his dick but inside him every time Adam whimpered or whined for more. To know he’d driven the man to this needy desperation, well, Les felt like he could soar off into the night sky. He also felt like he had to fuck Adam hard, and Adam seemed to agree, rocking back despite Les’ hold on his butt cheeks. Les rammed back in, slamming his hips against Adam’s ass, jostling the man forward on the bed. He reached up and gripped one of Adam’s shoulders, then proceeded to plough the man’s tight hole. Adam’s moans were growing louder with each surging plunge of Les’ cock. Les couldn’t look away from the sight of his dick spearing Adam’s pucker again and

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again. The sight of that slick ring, stretched until the skin was nearly white with Les’ girth, was the most beautiful sight Les had ever seen—or so he thought until Adam keened. Les looked at Adam, the rangy muscles tensed all over his body, his back arched as he cried out. The man was sensual perfection, his climax ripping through him. Then Adam’s ass clamped down and contracted around Les’ dick so hard he saw stars. Les grunted as he fucked in deeper, trying to bury his shaft so deep inside Adam he’d never be free. Ecstasy surged through him, heating his skin with a thousand tiny sparks of tingling heat, and Les thought the top of his head was going to blow off as he came, spurting his load into the condom. “Adam,” Les thought he mumbled as one last shot of cum jetted from his dick. As scrambled as his brain was, Les’ heart still sent it a very clear message—Adam was his, and somehow, he’d find a way to make the man see that.

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Chapter Fourteen

Adam moaned as he rolled over, his sleepy brain not registering anything other than the hot zing of pain as he flopped onto his back. Before he could figure out that it was his ass hurting, a thickly muscled arm draped over his stomach and he was hauled up against a broad hairy chest. Crinkly soft hairs tickled his nose, forcing him to drag his eyes open as a heavy weight settled over his legs. Something hard and wet jabbed at his belly, stirring his cock to a lazy semi-erection. A low rumbling growl vibrated from another source into him, and as Adam blinked gritty eyes, the awareness of where he was and who he was with slammed into him, slapping the lethargy right out of him. Les. He was in bed with Les, being held in Les’ arms, his face almost squashed against the man’s hard chest, his legs pinned under one of Les’ heavy thighs. Other little things penetrated Adam’s senses. The musky scent of the man combined with a dark mix of sweat and sex that mingled so perfectly together. Whisper-soft brushes of hair and fingertips. The long, slow breaths that made Les’ chest swell to press Adam closer for all too brief seconds. The steady beating of Les’ heart seemed to guide Adam’s own, lulling him into a light doze until he became aware of that monster cock stabbing at his belly. All in all, definitely not a bad way to wake up. Quite possibly, the best way to wake up ever, Adam thought as he revelled in being enveloped in Les’ heat. The man kept the AC setting in his house on ‘frigid’, but even if he didn’t and they were both drenched in sweat, this would still be pretty awesome. Adam flattened his hands, one on Les’ chest and the other on the small of his back, and spread his fingers, touching as much warm skin as he could. He scooted just a little closer, his mind already providing numerous options for waking Les, then grimaced at the pain in his backside. Well, another round of fucking’s out. As much as Adam loved it, he wasn’t a pain slut. He grinned. Who’d have known Les was such a horny bastard? They probably hadn’t got more than a few hours sleep, and that had been around the bouts of sex.

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Les hadn’t seemed able to get enough, and he’d certainly been intent on exploring Adam’s ass very thoroughly. Between the man’s thick fingers and big dick, there hadn’t been but a few minutes throughout the night when Adam’s hole had been empty. He’d loved every bit of it, but this morning he was definitely paying the price for pleasure. Adam nuzzled into the dense hair making his nose twitch. He inhaled deeply, the scent of the man making his balls tingle and his cock leak. That scent, that big body—those were promises of ecstasy Adam’s body had already learned, and he had no intention of being denied now. It’d be a shame to break the conditioning last night had instilled in him. Adam rubbed his lips over the crinkly hair then opened and caught several strands between his teeth. When he gave it a good tug, Les’ hips jerked and a morning-rough moan rumbled from him. Warm breath gusted over the top of Adam’s hair as Les’ arms tightened around him. “Mmm.” Adam wasn’t sure what that meant, but it was a very content sound and he wholeheartedly agreed. He smoothed his hand over Les’ hip around to his belly, humming his approval of the soft fuzz covering the planes and ridges of Les’ abs. His fingertip grazed Les’ belly button and the big man shuddered. “Oh yeah,” Adam murmured, smiling as he dipped his finger into that warm little hole. Of course his mind rocketed straight to the gutter; there was a much tighter, hotter hole he’d rather be fingering. He didn’t think that would happen any time soon. Les had stiffened up any time Adam so much as ghosted a hand over the man’s crack. Les’ hand gripped Adam’s butt cheek and he did some tensing up of his own. Best to derail that particular train of thought right now, Adam mused. He tipped his head up and lapped at one rosy pink nipple, loving the way the hard bud contrasted on his tongue against the crisp hair that tickled his lips. Adam scraped his teeth over the little nub and was rewarded by a deep moan from his lover. Adam snorted a breath out his nose as he worked Les’ nipple, sucking and biting it the way he’d discovered Les liked it. Loved it, he corrected, as Les thrust his cock against Adam’s. He could probably make Les come just from this, he thought not without a healthy dose of smugness. He bit at the little peak again as he reached down and fondled Les’ balls, rolling them in his palm.

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“Guhh… God!” Les grunted out. He hooked his other arm around Adam’s shoulders and rolled onto his back, settling Adam on top of him. Delighted to find himself with such an unspoken offering, Adam wiggled, wallowing in all that warm furry skin under him. Their heights were too different for him to be able to line up their dicks and get some good friction going with Les stretched out like this, but that was okay. He brought a hand up to blindly feel for Les’ lips. Lifting his mouth from the tempting little nipple he’d been torturing, Adam ordered, “Lick it.” The feel of Les’ wet, slick tongue lapping at his palm was sensuous enough to have Adam’s balls pulling tight. Fuck, the things this man does to me! “More, get it good and wet so I can jack you off. I want you to cover me with your cum.” It was a fetish Adam rarely indulged in because, to him, it was intensely personal, but he loved having a lover come on him, spurting on his face, his chest, his ass—anywhere, really. It was the marking or possessiveness of the act that fired all of Adam’s cylinders, though he didn’t know why. He was just engineered that way, he supposed. “I want…” Les licked then bit the pad of Adam’s thumb, “that, too.” Then Adam’s world spun as Les rolled them again, pinning Adam’s smaller body under his. Adam looked up into Les’ fierce expression, sucked into the burning need in his grey eyes. Les’ face was all sharp planes and angles, his lips thin and stretched in a grimace with the force of his arousal, or maybe, Adam hoped, the same need to claim Adam felt. Les moved so quickly Adam barely had time to part his lips on a gasp before his mouth was being plundered, the breath stolen from him as Les claimed the moist cavern for his own. Adam’s eyes crossed as pleasure swamped him, physically and emotionally. This is what it felt like to belong to someone, really belong. It wasn’t anything like using someone’s body or being used, nothing as simple as fucking. The complexities were too much to dwell on right now, when Les was kissing him with such bruising perfection—Adam knew his ass wasn’t going to be the only part of him that was sore, and that was fine with him. He opened wider as he humped against Les’ stomach, growling when the man arched his belly up and away. “I’ll take care of you,” Les said upon ending the kiss. Adam didn’t doubt it. The sultry look the man gave him was almost enough to do it. Les’ lips tipped up in a wicked smile that let Adam know the man was well aware of the effect he was having on him. “Now…”

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**** Les felt like he was on fire, burning from the inside out. He wanted to devour Adam, to bite and taste every inch of his smooth skin, to lick every spot of it and learn each hidden flavour. He nipped a line of kisses down Adam’s jaw and neck, then sucked hard on the dip at the base there. Adam whimpered and shuddered beneath him, and Les felt like the most powerful man in the fucking world. He found one of Adam’s tight little brown nipples and laved it thoroughly as his fingers brushed over the other. Adam’s back arched, a keening sound tearing from his throat. Oh yeah, Les fucking loved that sound, loved all of Adam’s sounds, the way he tasted, the way those sinewy muscles rippled and contracted, but, even more, he loved the way Adam trusted him enough to come apart for him. Adam didn’t hold back anything when Les was touching him, and Les thought that was likely the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. “Les, please,” Adam panted out, so needy and desperate that Les’ cock leaked in sympathy. “I have to come, make me come,” Adam begged, and Les had no desire to refuse. He left off Adam’s nipples with a final sharp tug that made the man almost sing out with pleasure, then Les licked his way down the smooth, hairless body, bisecting Adam’s firm belly with a slick trail of saliva. Adam’s naval was too tempting to resist’ Les lapped at it while Adam’s cock bobbed and wetted his neck. Adam had a long thin cock that was pink and pretty and right now, so hard it felt like a jackhammer tapping at Les’ throat. Adam whimpered so piteously that Les couldn’t stand it. He left off teasing the man’s belly button and scooted down until he knelt between Adam’s lean legs. Hooking his hands behind Adam’s knees, he pushed until Adam got the message and pulled his legs up, holding them so that Les had the most erotic playground in the world spread beneath him. A glance at Adam’s little pucker made Les flinch; the wrinkled skin was puffy and red. Had he been too rough last night? Or too hungry for that tight ass? It’d been heaven, feeling those silky walls clenching around his dick, his fingers—Les had even wondered what they’d feel like around his tongue, what Adam would taste like there, in what was surely the most intimate of all spots.

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“Les, Les please,” Adam said with a hint of a whine. “Why are you torturing me like this? I need you!” Les looked away from Adam’s hole, dragging his gaze past the tightly drawn balls and the long dripping dick, up until he stared into those lovely blue eyes. “Me? Or to come?” Where he found the nerve to ask, Les didn’t have a clue, but he needed to know more than he needed his pride. Adam’s expression shifted from lusty and tense to something softer, sweeter. “You,” he whispered, then louder, “you. I can come on my own, but I need you.” That confession filled Les with a cacophony of emotions, two of which he refused to acknowledge. It was too soon for the first, and as for the second… Les wasn’t going to let fear keep him from this man, so he shoved down everything but the need boiling in him. Eyes locked with Adam’s, Les lowered himself down and grabbed the base of Adam’s dick. The way Adam’s plump lips parted as Les’ head dipped, as he sucked the wet crown into his mouth, would forever be scorched into Les’ memory. He’d played around some earlier, licking at Adam’s cock, getting used to the taste and feel of a man’s rod in his mouth, but Les wasn’t playing now. He sucked Adam’s pretty dick in as deep as he could, keeping the suction strong. Adam didn’t react quite like Les expected. He’d thought there’d be moaning, whimpering and pants, but no. Adam shouted, his hips jutting up as his bent legs jerked, his heels bobbing, catching Les on his shoulders. Les’ heart swelled with pride and his dick swelled with arousal, puddling pre-cum on the sheets. He clenched his muscles against coming as he sucked up Adam’s length then plunged back down. Adam had said he wanted Les to come on him, and Les would be damned before he let Adam down. Just the thought of doing so was enough to stave off Les’ climax as Adam shouted again, bucking beneath him. Les swirled his tongue around Adam’s cock and dared to let him feel a bit of teeth. This time Adam’s shout was strangled as his dick swelled in Les’ mouth. Les backed off enough to catch the spurts of spunk on his tongue. He swished the salty bitter seed around then swallowed quickly as more seed poured into his mouth. Once the last trickle was swallowed, he released Adam’s dick with a noisy slurp. “Spread your legs wider,” Les rasped as he knelt between Adam’s ankles. “Gonna spray my cum all over you.”

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“Please,” Adam moaned as he did what Les asked. Les licked his hand then fisted his dick. He used his other hand to tug at his balls then decided he didn’t want to push back his climax. He was eager to come, to see and smell his seed on Adam’s skin. Licking his other hand, Les then used a two fisted grip on his cock, pumping hard and fast as Adam watched hungrily. Les tried to imagine coming on that beautiful face, and that right there sent spiralling heat up his spine, down his balls and spearing his cock. His eyes widened at the sheer intensity of the impending orgasm. Les felt like he was being turned inside out by the pleasure. “Adam!” Hot cum shot up his dick and burst out, splattering Adam’s cheek and chin. Adam’s moan and encouraging “More, more more!” couldn’t be ignored. Les grunted and shuddered as he shot his next load onto Adam’s smooth chest. The last smaller jets of cum hit Adam’s cock and balls as the smaller man writhed and repeated Les’ name over and over. Les gasped, sucking air into his deprived lungs as he stared down at Adam’s cumsplattered body. He’s mine. There was no doubt, Les wouldn’t let the man go unless Adam asked him to, and only then if he couldn’t change the sexy blond’s mind. Adam opened those wide blue eyes and smiled up at him, looking so sated and sleepy and yeah, kind of smug— but it was cute—that Les couldn’t do anything other than smile back. Or so he thought, until Adam spoke. “Wanna rub it in?” he offered, dabbing at a puddle of spunk on his chest. Oh yeah, he was definitely keeping this sexy little treasure.

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Chapter Fifteen

It was absolutely ridiculous, feeling like some teenager caught sneaking in after breaking curfew. Yet the second Adam unlocked the door and stepped inside the apartment, his mama’s eyes had drilled into him just like they had when he’d been seventeen and he’d been thinking he was pretty damned slick creeping back from a night of clumsy fucking with Shane Barlow. Just like back then, Adam’s skin crawled with embarrassment and guilt. It wasn’t like he hadn’t told Charlene he’d be out all night. He just hadn’t felt she needed to know the specifics. Charlene’s sharp blue eyes narrowed and seemed to burn a patch of skin on his neck. Before he could think better of it, Adam reached up to rub at the area then froze, pretty fucking sure he had that deer in the headlights look. Charlene’s lips curled up at the edges in devilish delight. “Is that a hickey you got there, son?” Adam sputtered for a second then straightened his shoulders and dropped his hand back to his side—and reminded himself he was a man, not a boy, for shit’s sake. Cocking a hip out and propping one hand on it, Adam arched a brow at his mom. “Actually, no. It’s a bite mark.” All the sucking happened further down south. Those were actual teeth marks. When Les lost his shit, he really lost it in the most amazingly animalistic way that time. And there was no way he’d ever say as much to his mom. Charlene, however, had that Mother Radar, the one that seemed to pull all the secrets right out of their kids’ heads. She arched her brow, calling Adam’s bit of attitude, then raised Adam another one. Pointing one red tipped finger at him, she jabbed it towards Adam with each word she spoke. “Boy, you better rethink that attitude, and you better not let that big ol’ cop see you running around with that, he’ll be so jealous that—” Charlene’s eyes popped wide open and she giggled as Adam waited for the heat scorching his skin to just do him in. “Oh ho! You spent the night with that big handsome man, didn’t you?” She laughed and slapped her thigh, for all the world looking like a giddy kid… Well, almost. Charlene looked good for being almost fifty, but not quite that good.

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“I want to know everything,” Charlene said, bouncing much like Billy. Adam’s stomach clenched over the sheer squick factor of telling his mom everything. He said as much, too. “Mom, that’s…that’s just wrong, okay?” Adam took a step back as Charlene sprang forward, grasping his hand. “There’s a definite line parents and kids shouldn’t cross, you know!” He took another step back and smacked into the door. Charlene rolled her eyes just like Adam used to do years ago. She snorted and tugged him forward even as she used her other hand to pull his back pack off his shoulder. “Please, I don’t want those details! I want the romantic ones! That man is going to be my son-in-law, and I want—” “Whoa whoa whoa!” Panic made Adam’s vision swim with squiggly grey lines, or maybe it was the lack of oxygen as his lungs seized up. “What are you talking about? We just had s—” Adam squeaked when Charlene thumped the end of his nose. Eyes watering, he gaped at his mom. “I was going to say, we just had some time alone! Jesus!” That got him another flick on the nose that had him trying to escape his mom’s grasp. Charlene glared at him even as she tightened her grip and dragged him into the kitchen. “Sure you were, and you watch your mouth! My son thinks I’m dumber than a turnip,” she grumbled as she shoved him towards a chair. “Now, sit down while I fix you breakfast and tell me how Officer Stanton swept you away.” Adam rubbed at his nose as he stared at his mom and wondered what aliens had taken over her body. She wasn’t the flower and romance type—or she hadn’t been before. Then again, he hadn’t ever brought a man around, and while technically, he hadn’t brought Les around, either, his mom did know who the man was. And she obviously knew Les had the hots for Adam’s ass, among other parts of his anatomy. Gingerly taking a seat, which sent his mother into a whole ‘nother fit of giggles— which in turn made Adam wish he could just spontaneously combust—he tried to figure out what to tell her. Finally deciding on a G-Rated version of the truth, Adam filled her in on his first night at work—which handily provided an excuse for his sore ass. By the time he was to the part where he left with Les, Adam was seriously thinking he was going to have to tie his mom up to keep her from going to the Xxchange and kicking the Talbot brothers’ asses. She set a plate of blueberry pancakes beside the glass of milk she’d

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poured for him. Adam looked up from the plateful of heaven. Charlene looked back at him with tear-filled eyes. “Mom, don’t,” Adam said as he pushed his chair back and stood. His heart ached as he reached for her and clutched her to his chest. “It’ll be fine.” Charlene sniffed and, he suspected, rubbed her nose against his shirt. “It’s just not right,” she mumbled, hugging him in return. “You did a good thing, a great thing, and this is what you get? Stuck in a town in the middle of nowhere, living with your mama again,” Charlene snuffled and Adam’s eyes burned. His mom didn’t deserve this, either. She’d raised him alone after his dad took off, and made sure Adam had everything he needed, and some of the stuff he wanted. She’d put him first all his life, something he knew made her a very special woman. “And now you have to work at that…that place,” Charlene continued, her voice high and strained. “All because that jerk has more money than morals! Hmph!” She patted at him and took a half step back, looking surprisingly happy considering her cheeks were still wet from tears. “But, there’s good things that have come from all this, too. You have some good friends, and then there’s Les.” Her blues eyes sparkled as she nudged him to sit back down. “Yeah,” Adam murmured as he sat, wondering who the friends were since she’d categorised them separately from Les. Nick was his friend, he was pretty sure about that, but Josh… Well, he could understand why Josh wouldn’t really want much to do with him. Adam and Nick had become close friends and almost more a while back when Nick and Josh weren’t together. Because he was aware of how uncomfortable knowing that must make Josh, Adam tried not to be too needy and bother Nick much. It was hard, having had his life turned upside down in a couple of short weeks and having no one to confide in—except he might just have Les. Whatever was happening between them, it didn’t feel casual and that was good. He’d had more than enough of casual. Besides, there was something about Les, a combination of strength and vulnerability, that had just sucked Adam right in from the first moment he’d laid eyes on the man. The closest he’d ever come to feeling anything like it before was with Nick, and that paled in comparison to the myriad emotions Les stirred in him. It was simple, really. He wanted Les, in every way he could have him, and wanted to belong to him in return. The greatest barrier he saw, the one that seemed the most imposing,

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would be getting Les to trust him. They may have—okay, they’d definitely had—scorching hot sex, but other than the comment about spending time in the hospital as a kid, Les hadn’t really opened up to him about anything. But they’d been otherwise occupied, Adam rationalised, which was very true. God, he was getting all warm and tingly just thinking about that, which was kind of creepy since his mom was sitting right across the table from him. And she was being abnormally quiet, too. Adam looked up as he shovelled in the last bite of pancakes. His mom smiled at him and steepled her fingers under her chin. The pose sent a thrill of alarm through him, nearly making him choke on his food. He sputtered and hacked as Charlene jumped up and scurried over to slap him on the back. “What are you plotting?” he gasped out once he figured the risk of aspiration had passed. Charlene patted his shoulder then walked back to her chair and sat, her eyes sparkling. “Nothing,” she said as she tucked those fingers back under her chin. “I was just thinking about making some double chocolate chip cookies. A double batch.” Charlene grinned, setting the fine hairs on the back of Adam’s neck to quivering. Adam slumped back in his chair. Oh man, Les ain’t gonna know what hit him!

**** Another slow night in the ER, and Les was grateful for it. His mind kept wandering to Adam, naked and spread out for him, or kneeling with those luscious lips wrapped around his dick, or— Les stifled a groan as he shifted his feet and slumped against the wall. He had to quit thinking about last night…and this morning. He’d had a near-constant erection all day, and Les found himself both amused and annoyed at his lack of control—and maybe, if he was honest, a little scared by it. After so many years of being able to ignore his body’s sexual needs, he now couldn’t seem to think of anything else. Maybe, he mused, the lack of blood flow to his brain had something to do with that. As he turned and tried to unobtrusively reposition his dick so that it wasn’t quite so

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painfully trapped by his clothes, he heard a soft chuckle behind him. Les’ cheeks burned as he jerked his hand away from his erection and peered over his shoulder. Josh looked up at him with amusement dancing in his vibrant green eyes. “Got a problem there?” Les turned away and closed his eyes, wishing he’d asked someone else to take his shift. “Don’t be like that,” Josh said from much closer, “it’s not like you’re the only guy to get a woody.” Les groaned, his skin warming so much he half expected it to burn right off his flesh. He couldn’t possibly be more embarrassed. “Les?” Josh’s hand lighted on his back, rubbing gently. “Really, why don’t you take a break with me? It’s slow and Misty can keep an eye on things. We can go to the break room or sit outside on one of the benches for a few minutes and talk.” Les was torn for all of a second. He was normally a very private man, but something in Josh’s warm voice combined with that gentle touch on Les’ back made him feel uncharacteristically loose-tongued. “Okay,” Les croaked, unsure if he was more shocked by his acquiescence or the fact that Josh cared enough to offer to lend an ear. “‘kay, I’ll go tell her. You want to hit up the break room or go outside?” Josh sounded so happy Les risked turning half way around to look at him. Who knew agreeing to confide in the smaller man would make him almost glow like that? “Outside,” Les mumbled, thinking that was he could at least keep an eye out for new arrivals. Josh’s grin brought up dimples as he winked at Les. “All right, go on and I’ll meet you outside.” Les nodded and edged around Josh, a kernel of eagerness spurring him to walk faster. He wasn’t the only one, apparently, because he’d barely managed to sit on the bench, and was in the process of adjusting a certain unruly part of his anatomy again, when Josh sprinted over and plopped down beside him. Josh chuckled as he patted Les’ knee. “Sometimes those things just refuse to behave, don’t they?” He eyed Les’ groin and waggled his brows before looking him in the eyes. “So what—or should I say who—has your dick in a twist?”

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Les hesitated, so out of his element now he couldn’t think of what to say. Wasn’t it tacky to talk about what went on between lovers? Les had heard plenty of guys going on about one night stands and such, but what were the rules when the person was more than that? “Hey,” Josh leaned over and bumped his shoulder against Les’ arm, distracting him from his thoughts. “It’s okay, you know. Whatever it is, or whoever it is, you can talk to me.” Remembering Josh’s insecurities about Adam, Les realised he might actually be doing the man a favour by sharing. That kind of made it okay, didn’t it? He didn’t know, but the pleading look in those green eyes was irresistible. Sighing quietly, Les rested his back against the rough brick of the hospital wall and haltingly began talking. He didn’t go into too much detail—he couldn’t, he’d just die if he had to tell Josh how sweet and tight Adam’s ass was, or how Adam had nearly sucked Les’ brain right out his dick. But even that would have been easier than talking about the urge to keep Adam and make him Les’ own. Actually, Les thought as he enjoyed the view of Josh completely stunned and speechless, it wasn’t an urge to tie Adam to him, it was a plan. Les just had to convince Adam they were perfect for each other, and that meant Les had to let go of his tightly held emotions enough to trust the man. Josh made a disgruntled sound that drew Les’ attention back to him. He frowned at the smaller man as Josh levelled a serious look at him. “Why do I get the distinct impression this is more than just sex?” “Uh.” Les tried to look away but those sharp eyes seemed to have a lock on his own, and Les couldn’t lie to Josh right now even if he’d had a gun to his head. “B-because it is?” Instead of looking relieved, Josh’s brow furrowed and his lips curled down at the corners. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Les was too confused by Josh’s expression to be offended—for about half a second. He sat up straight and glowered at Josh. “Are you saying it isn’t?” How he kept from snarling it, Les didn’t have a clue. It seemed like that was the only bit of control he managed to hang onto today. Instead of being intimidated or backing down, Josh tipped his chin up, presenting a perfect picture of stubbornness. “Well, from what Nick’s said, Adam’s kind of a—” Josh bit

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his bottom lip and swallowed down the word he’d been fixing to say, but Les bristled anyway. “A player,” the smaller man finished weakly, finally dropping his gaze. Les was torn between calling the man out on what he’d really wanted to say. The only reason he didn’t was because, as shaky as his control was at this point, Les didn’t trust himself not to say something he might regret. Instead he pinned Josh with an angry glare and waited. Josh’s shoulders slumped and he finally glanced up at Les. “I just don’t want you to be hurt, that’s all. I can tell by the way you talk about him Adam means more to you than just a one-off,” Josh’s eyes lit with a spark of humour as he grinned slightly, “or a several-offs. I doubt either of you only came once last night, not with the way you had to stop every few seconds and rethink what you were willing to share.” Les grunted even as his chest swelled with pride. “A lot,” he admitted, unable to keep from sounding smug. “So much that I don’t see how I can possibly be hard again.” Josh snorted. “Our dicks are amazing things, especially when our hearts are involved.” Les’ own heart fluttered in acknowledgement of that truth. “Listen,” Josh said as he put his hand on Les’ knee and leaned closer. The amusement gone from his eyes as he looked at Les. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said—or almost said, what I did about Adam. I know I’m still insecure about him, which is stupid. Nick loves me.” Josh seemed to swell up with the proclamation. “He really does, and Adam hasn’t done anything to make me think he wants my man. The problem is me, and I’ll work on it. But—” Josh paused then nodded as if confirming something in his head. “Don’t get pissed at me again, okay?” Les merely looked at Josh, unwilling to make a promise he wasn’t sure he could keep. “Okay,” Josh sighed, patting Les’ knee softly. “So maybe you’re going to get mad. I still have to tell you, be careful. That’s all. I just don’t want you to end up hurt.” “You don’t know Adam,” Les muttered when he really wanted to snap. He stared Josh down until the smaller man finally looked away. “You just know what you’ve heard. So he screwed around. Most people have,” except me, and that doesn’t make me special, it makes me a damned freak. “That doesn’t mean he doesn’t want more, doesn’t deserve more.” It was less than he wanted to say, but Les wasn’t feeling particularly talkative now that Josh had pissed him off. Good intentions or no, he had still maligned Adam and Les didn’t like it.

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Josh removed his hand from Les’ knee and seemed to droop down on himself. “I can see I’m just fucking up more each time I open my mouth.” “Pretty much,” Les agreed, although with Josh looking so miserable he was finding it hard to hang on to his anger. Josh annihilated the last of it when he glanced at Les with those big eyes glistening with moisture. “I’m sorry. He seems like a decent guy, a good guy, even,” Josh admitted, “and you’re right. A lot of people mess around. Sex is a natural desire, and there’s no reason anyone should judge people for it as long as they aren’t hurting anyone else.” Josh’s grin was borderline evil when he added, “Unless, of course, someone wants to be hurt. Then that’s a whole different thing.” And one Les wasn’t even going to delve into. “So,” Josh said, slapping Les’ knee, “I’m betting you didn’t want to talk about the hot sex you had with Adam. What did you want to talk about? Or need to,” he added quickly when Les would have answered ‘nothing’. He wasn’t so sure now that talking to Josh about Adam was wise, not when Josh still seemed to be looking for the worst in Adam. Still, Josh’s open, earnest expression was hard to resist, and who else did Les have to turn to? If he asked Adam, he might well scare the man back to Montana. Taking a deep breath, then another, Les tried to put his thoughts into words. It didn’t work so well, and he ended up blurting out, “How did you know you loved Nick?” His cheeks stung as Josh’s eyes bugged, then a soft look swept over the man’s face and he just seemed to warm with the strength of his emotions. “Oh, well, I just…did,” Josh answered dreamily. “I wanted to be with him constantly, ached to touch him, feel him touch me. Even the idea of not having him made me hurt, like a ball of lava or something burned in my stomach and chest. I just, I knew he was the one and I had to do anything and everything to be with him, even when he was being a stubborn ass.” Josh blinked several times. Les imagined he was clearing away the swirling hearts and cupids dancing in his vision. The guy was well past love-struck. “Anyway, it wasn’t just the sex, which is unbelievably fantastic,” Josh grinned even as dots of colour stroked his cheeks, “it was more than that. Nick appealed to everything in me, and I knew that he felt the same way even though it scared him. One of us had to keep fighting for the relationship, so I went after him.” He looked at Les so intently Les was sure the man was peering into his head. “Is

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that how you feel about Adam? Or is it just—and don’t get pissed, okay?” Josh held up his hands as if to stave off Les’ anger. “It’s not just that you and Adam had really good sex?” Any anger Les felt over the question was quashed by sheer happiness. He knew he had to be wearing a shit eating grin as memories of Adam’s supple body writhing under him played out in his head. “Really good doesn’t begin to cover it, but no, it’s more than just how great sex is with Adam. It’s—” Les broke off when he heard a shuffle beside him. Josh’s eyes shot wide open and even under the crappy lighting of the hospital parking lot, he could see the colour drain from Josh’s face. Every hair on Les’ body stood up and vibrated a warning—one that was too late, he realised as he slowly and with so much trepidation he didn’t know how it kept from crushing him, craned his neck around to peer up into Charlene’s shrewd gaze. He froze, his mind blanking with a wave of humiliation, except for one single thought— Oh God, I’m so screwed!

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Chapter Sixteen

Les whipped his head back around just in time to see Josh jump up from the bench. Josh darted him an apologetic and panicked look as he started scooting away, no doubt heading for one of the other entrances. As much as Les would have liked to snarl at Josh, he just couldn’t—not when, if there was any way he thought he could get away with it, Les would be jumping up and hauling ass himself. “I brought you some homemade double chocolate chip cookies.” Fear bubbled up and over in him. Les stumbled as he got up, backing away as if the woman before him was holding an assault rifle rather than a Tupperware dish filled with cookies. Charlene frowned at him, then just looked at him like he was crazy as hell—which, Les knew even in his panicked state, he probably was. “Les, they’re just cookies. Or are you worried I’m going to castrate you for having sex with my son?” Well, he hadn’t been until she said it! Les backed away until he smacked up against the side of the hospital. “Leslie Stanton! You stop that right now!” Charlene snapped. Les froze, as much in horror at hearing his hated first name in its entirety as at the force in Charlene’s voice. At least she hadn’t shouted out his middle name. Fuck, he hoped she didn’t know it! “That is your name, Leslie, isn’t it? Your mama didn’t just name you Les?” Jesus God, he wished! Les nodded and tried to get his heartbeat down below supersonic before he keeled over. It was ridiculous to be so scared of this woman—and her damned cookies. “Yes ma’am, but I just go by Les,” he finally got out, glad his voice was almost stable. He sure as hell wasn’t. “What’s wrong with Leslie? It’s a perfectly fine name for a man. My favourite actor was Leslie Nielson, God rest his soul.” Charlene approached him slowly, like he was a cornered wild thing. It made Les feel even more like an idiot, so he straightened his

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shoulders and took a tentative step forward. Maybe if he hurried up and apologised she’d leave. “I’m sorry if you heard anything I said to Josh, I just—” Charlene snorted and waved her free hand at him. “Please. People talk, and from what I overheard”—she smiled sweetly and Les had the distinct impression she’d been lurking a lot longer than he’d first suspected—“you sure weren’t anywhere near as bad as us women can be, let me tell you. Me and my friends always went over everything in great detail, from the size of a man’s—” “No no no no!” Les shouted, flapping his hands and darting over to Charlene. He’d have clamped a hand over her mouth if he didn’t think it’d get him a knee in his balls. “I don’t want to know! Please!” He was pretty sure she was laughing at him, because she damned sure wasn’t laughing with him. There was nothing amusing about nearly hearing details he thought might well result in him never having an erection again. And now that he’d discovered just how much fun he could have with his dick and Adam’s ass, that was a risk he wasn’t willing to take. “Well, then, if you don’t want me talking about my long-deceased sex life, I suggest you have a seat.” Charlene pointed at the bench, giving him a stern look. “This won’t take long.” Fuck! Les scrambled for an excuse. He really did need to get back to work, but that look Charlene was giving him strangled his protest before it could pass his lips. He sat down on the very edge, half his ass hanging off as he sighed. Screwed, that’s what he was, sure enough. Charlene sat down and put the cookies between them. She tapped the lid and smiled. If she meant to be reassuring, she failed, because Les was barely keeping himself from running. “I made these for you. They’re Adam’s favourite, double chocolate chip. They’re still warm, even.” Les dragged his gaze to the container, his heart nearly tripping over his arteries as his stomach lurched. “Uh, thank you,” he mumbled, because he knew he had to say something. He sure wasn’t going to tell her he wasn’t going to eat the things.

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“So, Les,” Charlene said, sounding for all the world like she was worried about him. He looked up at her and wondered why her expression matched her tone. “I just wanted to tell you you’re welcome to come over for dinner any time.” Sweat beaded and rolled down Les’ brow and spine. “I like you, and I thought before I heard what you said to Josh, that you’d be good for Adam, good to Adam. I don’t think other men have been, you know. He’s never said anything, but my son has always been beautiful, and I think there’ve been people who took advantage of him because of it. Maybe even made him feel like he wasn’t good for anything other than that, being something pretty to show off or say you’ve had.” If Les had felt queasy before, it was nothing compared to the way he felt now. Charlene’s words made perfect sense to him, and she knew her son better than most parents knew their kids. It was obvious she loved Adam something fierce, but why—Les just couldn’t figure it—why did she think Les deserved Adam? He didn’t think anyone was good enough for Adam, least of all someone fucked up like himself. Although, when Charlene spoke again, she proved she also knew Les, and in some ways, better than he did. “You aren’t like that, I can tell. You’ve had your eye on Adam since the second you saw him, but you didn’t take advantage when you could have. And I know you paid his hospital bills,” Charlene said, her eyes twinkling. Les figured his own were on the verge of popping right out of his head. “How did you—” Charlene tapped the side of her head. “I’m not stupid. Who else would have done it? Nick? I don’t think Josh would have stood for that. Besides, I might have overheard you saying something about it at the hospital. Or maybe it was when Josh told Nick…” “I didn’t do it just so I could f—ouch!” Jesus Christ, the woman was fast! Les rubbed the tip of his nose where Charlene had just flicked him with a fingertip. How could something so light—it wasn’t like she’d punched him, for shit’s sake!—make his eyes water like a damned fountain? “That’s assault,” he muttered before he could think better of it, then flinched when Charlene pointed that dangerous weapon at him. “You watch your mouth, same as I told Adam this morning! I’ll flick the tip of your nose plumb off if that’s what it takes to teach you manners!”

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He had manners…just apparently not the one that would keep him from getting thumped. “Yes ma’am. I’m sorry, ma’am,” Les grunted out. He should have been more careful. He was lucky all he got was a flick and a short lecture. Charlene quit glaring and smiled at him like a queen bestowing a favour. “Apology accepted. You young people need to realise you can say something without saying it crudely. But”—she waved her hand in the air as if shooing off a fly—“that’s neither here or there. I know what you meant. You didn’t pay the hospital bills just to get in Adam’s pants. I never thought you did. If you had, wouldn’t you have told him about it? Tried to use it to get what you wanted?” “Uh.” Les scrunched his eyebrows together, feeling dumber than a box of rocks. “I guess? I don’t really think that way so it’s hard to say.” “Exactly!” Charlene crowed, clapping her hands together. Les was beginning to think she was a bit batty. “That’s what I mean! You did it because you’re a good man—with a potty mouth, but Adam has that, too—and anyway, you know my son is a wonderful man, too. You saw that right away, whether you realised it or not. Those cop instincts, I bet!” While Les sat there stunned stupid, Charlene jumped up and patted his shoulder. “Now, Adam gets off work tonight at two. I have his car—and that was an argument that ended up with his nose getting flicked a couple of times, let me tell you. Anyway, he didn’t want me to have to pick him up that late so he said he’d get a ride home.” Charlene pinned him with a look as she propped her hands on her hips. “I think that should be you. In fact, after what he told me about that place, I can’t stand the idea of him being up there without someone to look after him. That Randy guy…” Les wasn’t entirely stupid yet. He knew he was being manipulated, but since it was in a direction he wanted to go, he almost didn’t mind. And he was a little irritated that Adam hadn’t called to let him know he’d be working tonight after all, but they hadn’t really agreed to anything like that. Les just wanted Adam to call him, tell him where he’d be. He realised Charlene was on the verge of scowling at him and quickly assured her he’d pick Adam up, and even go over to the Xxchange when he got off his hospital shift. His cheeks damn near caught fire when Charlene informed him he didn’t have to have Adam back until both he and Les got plenty of sleep. The wink she’d given him let Les know she doubted they’d sleep much. God, he wasn’t going to survive another round of this!

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After she left, refusing to let him walk her to the car—all she had to do was brandish that finger and Les flinched—Les stood and took the lid off the cookies. They smelt so good, chocolate, cinnamon and vanilla teasing at his olfactory senses. But no, he couldn’t eat them, not when his hands trembled just looking at the cookies. There were too many memories that tried to swamp him, too many days and nights of living in sheer terror. Les walked over to the trash can and dumped the cookies in it. He was contemplating how much trouble he’d get in with Charlene if he tossed her container, too, when Josh spoke up and took a decade off Les’ life. “What’d you do that for? Oh my God, I’ve heard about Charlene’s cookies from Nick!” Josh shoved Les aside and bent over the trash can, inhaling deeply. Les decided everyone was fucking nuts tonight. “Oh, man! They smell so good! You…you…ugh! Why’d you do that?” Josh demanded again, standing up and turning a glare on Les he’d never have expected from the normally happy man. “I don’t eat homemade food from…” it sounded stupid, too stupid to finish, and Josh’s look said Les shouldn’t even bother. “Why eat anything at all then! Unless you grow it yourself, everything you eat’s been handled by someone else—made by someone else! What’s the difference?” Les shook his head, unable to understand why Josh seemed so pissed off. “I don’t like cookies, okay?” “But other people do,” Josh pointed out, and Les shifted uncomfortably when he realised Josh wasn’t looking at him angrily now. No, those green eyes were damn near probing in his head, trying to figure out why Les had thrown out some stupid cookies! “I wonder why you would just assume it’s better to throw them all away than see if anyone else wanted any?” And that was a direction Les didn’t want Josh’s mind going off in. It’d be too easy for Josh to get the answer to that question. “Because I’m a dumbass,” Les grumbled. He was. He should have ‘accidentally’ spilled the stupid cookies or something, but he hadn’t wanted to even touch them. Hadn’t trusted himself not to eat one or puke if he did. Hadn’t, as much as it shamed him, been able to trust Charlene. “I have to get back to work.” Les walked off and left Josh by the trash can.

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At least he hadn’t been so stupid as to toss Charlene’s dish, which was still in his hands. He’d give it to Adam, later.

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Chapter Seventeen

Adam was only a little bit humiliated to have to ask Troy, “How do I make a ‘Cum in a Hot Tub’?” Troy laughed and set down the bottle of top shelf tequila he’d been twirling around. “Wouldn’t you like to have been there when whoever it was thought up that name?” Adam grinned as he shook his head. “No, I’d much rather have been making someone cum in an actual hot tub, not mixing up some stupid drink.” “I bet,” Troy said, snickering as he waved Adam closer. “Probably a certain someone, like that big snarly cop you were banging in the employee’s room, right?” He grabbed a bottle of vodka and another of white rum. “Get the Bailey’s, will you?” Adam took the bottle down from the shelf and glared at Troy. “We were not banging in the freaking employee’s room, all right? That’s just so…skeezy!” “Bet you wanted to.” Troy uncapped the vodka and poured what Adam guessed was a couple of ounces into a glass. He put the lid back on the liquor then uncapped the white rum. It looked like half the amount of the vodka was added. “I don’t want to talk about what happened last night,” Adam said, because damn it, Troy was right. “It isn’t anyone’s business.” “Oh ho! So it’s serious, then!” “Troy,” Adam growled as he tried to pay attention to how many drops of Bailey’s went into the drink. Troy held the drink up and winked. “Look, ‘Cum in a Hot Tub’. Easy. And stop growling, you’re gonna make my alpha tendencies kick in and that could get nasty what with your big bad cop here.” “What?” Adam whipped around, looking for Les. Damn it, his dick was already stiffening right up and he hadn’t even seen the man. When he did, there wasn’t any bit of softness left to Adam’s shaft. It was every bit as rigid as the scowl on Les’ face as he spotted Randy. Randy. Oh shit!

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“Leave him.” Troy clamped a hand around Adam’s wrist when Adam would have bolted from behind the bar. “Give your customer his drink, and don’t watch your man. Mr Talbot said if your cop came in and Randy was dumb enough to get caught, he deserved what he got.” “What? But why—” Adam took the drink and tore his gaze away from Les, who now had Randy cornered in a booth. Randy’s ragtag group of friends had been smart enough to run. Adam set the glass on the bar in front of the green haired freckled guy. It wasn’t a good look for the dude, made him resemble a cracked out leprechaun for some reason. “What time do you get a break?” the man asked. Adam frowned at him. He hadn’t done anything to make the idiot think he was interested, but he guessed maybe the man figured it never hurt to try. Except—he darted a glance at that booth, saw Les’ big fist slam into Randy’s stomach—in the case of Mr Green Hair, it very well could hurt. Something Adam decided to point out. Leaning an elbow on the bar, he pointed at Les, who now had Randy pinned to the wall with one hand. If Troy thought Adam was staying behind the bar, he was an idiot. “See that man beating the shit out of the other guy? That’s my boyfriend—the beater, not the beatee. The guy who’s crying now,” and Randy was, pussy, “all he did last night was pinch my ass. Now leave me alone so I can go rescue the dipshit before my boyfriend seriously hurts him.” All kinds of happy tingles shot through him when he called Les his boyfriend. It was silly, he thought, but…but he liked it, a lot. And before Adam had cleared the bar, Les had given Randy a good shake then let him go. Randy slid down the wall and curled up on the floor. Adam looked over a few feet and then further back and was surprised to see Mr Talbot standing there, arms crossed and a grim smile on his face. He noticed Adam and gave a tight nod. Adam wasn’t sure what that nod meant, but he thought it might be, as bizarre as it was, that Les wasn’t going to be in any trouble for kicking Randy’s ass. Or maybe Adam wasn’t going to be in trouble. Hell, he didn’t know and didn’t care at this point, he just wanted Les, and he would have headed over to him except— “Fuck, he’s a stud! I’d bottom for him if you don’t mind sharing!” Green Hair was the other damned side of dumb, Adam thought as he curled his hands into fists. No wonder other guys had got so mad at him when he’d accidentally hit on their

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boyfriends. It was taking every bit of Adam’s will power not to plough a fist into Green Hair’s fat mouth. “I’m pretty sure that’s a no,” Troy said from behind Adam. Adam hadn’t even realised the other bartender was there, or that Troy once again had a hand clamped around his wrist. “Now, shut up before I let Adam take his break now. I’m so tired tonight I doubt I’d see him clock your freckled ass.” Troy then pulled Adam back and down to the far end of the bar. “I know you think what you two have going is too special for some hard and nasty fucking, but listen to me. The two of you are so wound up y’all are practically sending off waves of testosterone. So take a goddamned lunch break and go expend some of that energy.” And with that bit of advice, Troy slapped a couple of condoms into Adam’s hand and gave him a shove. “I’ll keep everyone out of the store room for thirty.” As discombobulated as Adam was at being told to take a fuck break, he wasn’t going to turn it down. And he wasn’t against hard and nasty fucking, not at all, and he hoped Les wouldn’t be either. They’d had their first time in a nice comfortable bed…as well as their second and third and…no, wait, the third was— Oh damn. Just damn! He’d seen Les in uniform, and he’d seen him bare assed, but there was just something about a man in tight faded Levi’s and a well-fitted plain T-shirt that just flipped every one of Adam’s switches. Les didn’t try to dress up the outfit, either, wearing only a simple leather belt and scuffed boots to finish it off. He was, Adam thought, fucking perfect. And he defended me, which shouldn’t make me so horny I’m ready to cream, but it does! Fuck, it does! “He swung first, I sw—” Adam launched himself, forward, up, sure that Les would catch him. He did, with only a slight grunt, then Adam’s mouth was tipped up in an offering Les didn’t refuse. A few brave souls let loose with catcalls and even a couple of suggestions, but Adam ignored them as he clung to Les and gave the man control of the kiss. Les moaned into it, his tongue sweeping over the roof of Adam’s mouth. His fingers bit deeply into Adam’s ass cheeks, which were still a bit tender, but the pain only fuelled his need. Adam unwound himself from Les and started to drag the bigger man towards the

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storeroom when it dawned on him that everyone would know exactly where they were going and what they were doing—including Mr Talbot, who was still watching them. The bastard looked plumb smug as he walked over. Adam darted a glance at Randy, now slumped back in the booth. Guess brotherly love and concern only went so far. “Stanton, Adam,” Mr Talbot said from behind Les. Les turned only enough to snarl what sure didn’t sound like a greeting at Adam’s boss. Talbot just shook his head and looked like he wanted to roll his eyes but thought better of it. “Adam, I keep trying to give you hours to make up for last night, but maybe you should just go home—or wherever—tonight. Certainly somewhere other than the storage room after getting everyone’s attention like that.” “Storage room?” Les asked, looking confused and pissy and so sexy Adam could barely stand it. “Why would we go into the stor—” Talbot glanced at Les’ groin, then Adam’s, then raised both eyebrows as he returned his gaze to Les. “Oh.” Les turned back to Adam, who figured he was definitely fired this time around. “Were we going to the storage room?” He sounded so hopeful Adam couldn’t lie. “That was the plan, yeah, but then I jumped you and put on a show and—” “And probably you should just clock out and try again tomorrow night.” Talbot shrugged when Adam looked at him. “I feel bad about my brother being a dick twice now. He really did swing at Stanton first, which is why I just stepped back and let your man here try to teach him some manners. Doubt it worked, though he probably won’t mess with either of you again. So anyway, go on. I’ll clock you out myself. Looks like you two are very… uncomfortable.” Talbot leered, which kind of creeped Adam out even as it made the guy, strangely enough, kind of hot. Only kind of, though. And Adam was done contemplating that as soon as the thought hit his head. Instead he nodded at his boss, who he was pretty sure was teasing with the whole leering crap, then Adam was keeping a quick pace beside Les as they made for the front door. “What about your stuff?” Les asked just before they stepped outside. “Don’t have anything but my wallet,” Adam answered. “No need to change clothes here, so all I brought is what I have on me.”

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“What about the condoms in your hand?” “What?” Adam pulled his hand from Les’ and looked at the crinkled packages. Lubed, thank God! “Ah. Troy tossed these to me when he told me to take you in the storage room so we could work off some of our ‘energy’.” Les stopped to consider that for a second then nodded. “I think I like that Troy guy.” Then he grinned, which stunned Adam as effectively as a stun gun would have, and the next thing Adam knew he was ass over teakettle, draped over Les’ broad shoulder. What the hell?! “Hey—hey!” Oh god damn it, that smack to his butt had Adam gasping, but not for long. “Ohhh, someone looks like they’re having fuuu-uunn!” A voice sang out. “Go away,” Adam snapped when he craned his head around and saw Billy, who evidently had no qualms about driving to work in his little leather shorts. “Be nice,” Les warned, then followed it with another swat. Adam squirmed on his shoulder, trying desperately not to come. Normally he preferred to be the one delivering a spanking, although it wasn’t really his thing, so to find himself so stimulated by Les’ swats was fucking confusing as all get out. “Good to see you, Billy,” Les said. Adam grunted out something similar and was rewarded with a caress from the top of his ass to his knees. Then he was jostled, shifted, planted on his unsteady feet and pinned against the side of Les’ vehicle as Les cupped Adam’s jaw and tipped his head up and back. Adam parted his lips and lunged forward what little bit he could, attacking Les’ mouth in a kiss that let it be known he was done going easy on the man.

**** Les didn’t know what had happened to turn Adam from a compliant and horny lover into this aggressive, demanding, challenging one—but he liked it. A lot. Adam didn’t give him an inch of control, Les had to battle for it, nip with teeth and lips, take it when Adam did the same, and hold onto the man to keep him from getting free. Not that Adam wanted free, Les knew this instinctively. He wanted to be taken, to have a man stronger than himself seize control, and be able to trust that that man wouldn’t hurt him.

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Les could do that, and he did, pulling Adam so tightly to him the smaller man’s breath whooshed from his lungs. He lifted, with one arm around Adam’s back and his other hand clutching Adam’s ass. Adam’s feet were off the ground now, their dicks lined up perfectly. Les had the thought that while he was the stronger of the two physically, in all other aspects, Adam was tops. Which then made him think about Adam topping him just as Adam’s hands settled on his butt. Les growled with a mixture of fear and pure arousal. He thrust hungrily against Adam, drawing a whimper from the man’s swollen lips. Les had to fuck him, now, before those hands kneading his ass massaged the fear of the unknown right out of him. Setting Adam back on his feet, Les steadied him with one hand while digging the keys out of his pocket with the other. “Get in, get in,” he ordered as he pressed the fob and pulled at the door handle. Adam fell into the vehicle then crawled over enough for Les to get in the driver’s seat. Les shut the door and shoved the keys in the ignition. Before he could buckle up Adam’s hands were on him, jerking his belt open. A flick of his wrist and Les’ Levi’s were open, then Adam dived down and mouthed the tip of Les’ leaking cock where it peeked out past the elastic of his boxers. “God, Adam, I can’t think,” Les gasped as hands and mouth, tongue and teeth tormented his cock in the most delicious way. “Good,” he heard Adam say, then the tip of that wet tongue delved into his slit. Fiery heat ripped through Les, spearing his hot points—balls, cock, ass and nipples— all of them throbbed with the need for more. He grabbed a handful of Adam’s silky hair and pulled, then did it harder when Adam only ignored the gentler attempt to dislodge him. “Stop!” Les barked out, desperate to keep from coming just yet. Adam gave his dick a last lick then sat up and grumbled, “We should have used the storage room. Your place is too far away.” “It is.” Les was painfully hard and Adam couldn’t feel much different, not with the way he moaned when he scrubbed his hand over his cock. An idea clicked in Les’ head and he shot Adam a sly grin. “We’re going somewhere closer.” It was a sign of Adam’s desperation that he didn’t question Les. The poor man nodded and whispered ‘please’. Les put the vehicle in reverse and backed up, then he shifted

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to drive and peeled out—only to pull off the road a few blocks away, in a shrubby area where he often sat in his cruiser, to catch speeders. He gave fleeting thought to the possibility of another cop seeking out the same spot, then jammed the gear in park and shut the truck off at the same time he killed the headlights. “Get out.” Adam did, right behind him, touching and groping between Les’ legs, squeezing his balls from behind. Les choked out a curse word then span around and hefted Adam back onto his shoulder. “You still have those rubbers?” “Yes,” Adam hissed, squirming, humping against Les’ shoulder. “Hurry up!” “Bossy tonight, aren’t you?” Les topped the question off with a smack on Adam’s ass. Adam groaned and retaliated with a sharp pinch to Les’ butt that made his knees go weak. Damn, the man was challenging Les to overcome his fears whether Adam realised it or not. Les reached for the tailgate handle and yanked it down. With no finesse at all, he put Adam down as well and turned him around. One hand pressed to his back, and Adam bent over, his chest resting on the hard metal. He cushioned his head with one arm and offered the condoms up in his other hand. Les plucked one of the packages up then clamped it between his teeth. He reached under Adam and unfastened his tight jeans. “Kick off your right shoe so I can—uhn…” Everything misfired in his brain when he peeled Adam’s jeans down. The sight of those plump globes, the creamy expanse of skin framed by dark straps, was just too much. Adam shifted and kicked Les in the shin while shedding his shoe, and that jarred Les’ out of his lusty stupor. He trailed a finger over the thin strips of material framing Adam’s ass, then further up. The thick waistband of the jockstrap was going to come in handy in a minute, he thought with a grin. He got Adam’s jeans down and off one leg, then Les hurriedly sheathed his cock, which he hadn’t bothered to tuck away after Adam had taken it out in the truck. Shows how much sense I have. Whether it was good or bad sense, he couldn’t say, but at least it shaved off a few seconds of time until he could bury his cock in Adam’s tight hole. “Hurry, Les, need you,” Adam moaned, spreading his cheeks wide. Dark or not, Les could have sworn he saw Adam’s little pucker flutter. He licked his finger, drenching it as best he could, then rubbed the tip over Adam’s quivering ring. “Les, just fuck me already!” Adam arched his back, offering his ass up, or, Les corrected, demanding Les comply, now.

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Les leant down and nipped at one of Adam’s stretched cheeks. Memories of licking and kissing that sweet flesh pressed at him, and Les dipped down a bit more. He inhaled deeply, drawing in the musky warm scent of man, then promptly had to fist the base of his cock before he blew his load. Adam’s snug little pucker was only inches away from his lips, and Les couldn’t look away from the wrinkly skin. How had he ever managed to fit his dick in that tiny thing? And why, why was he getting closer and closer— “L-les?” Adam squeaked, his whole backside quivering. His ass hole clenched, fluttered… Les squinted, trying not to think about what he was doing, then the tip of his tongue flicked over one of the folds of skin. Les jerked back about an inch as Adam whimpered. That meant Adam liked it, didn’t it? But did he like it? Well, Les reasoned, it wasn’t like he’d got a taste, not really. He shoved Adam’s shaking hands off the firm swells of his ass, and spread the man open even wider—then Les, with much less squinting or thought, bent down and laid a solid lick over Adam’s pucker. “Les! Ohmygod! You don’t h-have t-to—” Adam’s protest turned into a sob, which scared Les at first as he scraped his teeth over the man’s ass hole. He thought he’d hurt him, except Adam was grinding back against him, smooshing Les’ face into his crack. That wasn’t a sign of pain—that was a blatant plea for more. Les gave him more, licking then sucking the crinkled opening, which Adam seemed to love, judging by the way he bucked and writhed and drove his hips back so hard Les was nearly toppled on his butt. A tiny part of him was just a little freaked out over what he was doing, but the majority of him was on board and cheering with each whimper, whine and moan from Adam. When Les finally worked up the courage to stiffen his tongue and poke it into Adam’s ass, Adam wailed loud enough to wake the dead. Les wanted to hear that sound again and again, but if Adam kept it up it could land them both in jail. Les was too far gone, too wrapped in need to worry about it. He stood up and pressed his dick to Adam’s hole, watching the way the moonlight glinted off the spit slicked skin. “Ready?” he rasped, because he’d had to stretch Adam’s ass last night, had worked several fingers in that hot hole. Adam answered by shoving his hips back and sinking half of Les’ dick inside his warm silk tunnel. Les shook as spears of ecstasy shot to his balls. He gripped Adam’s ass

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harder and shoved his dick home, his hips slapping so hard against Adam’s cheeks he came off his toes and slid forward on the truck bed. Les let go of Adam’s butt cheeks and grabbed the thick elastic of his jock strap, then pounded into Adam relentlessly. Adam’s grunts matched his own as Les fucked his lover. Les used the band like reins, jerking Adam back into each thrust, grinding in small circles once he had his cock buried to the hilt. He rode Adam without rhythm, like a wild beast in rut, ploughing the tight velvety tunnel until his balls drew snug. “Adam, gotta come,” Les warned, his lids dropping shut as the tingling at the base of spine sounded the alarm of his impending climax. Adam shifted, squirmed. Les imagined he was fisting that big cock of his, then Adam stiffened and jerked, his inner muscles clamping down on Les’ dick. Adam keened through his release, milking Les with each rippling contraction of Adam’s ass. Les grunted and trembled, his butt clenched tight as he shoved his cock in deeper and deeper still. Each shot of cum sapped some of Les’ strength until his body seemed as empty as his balls. He dropped down on top of Adam, barely had the sense to catch himself on his elbows, then lay gasping for several minutes, his heart pounding against Adam’s back. “Fucking hell,” Adam groaned, “what you do to me, Les!” “Same goes,” Les managed to get out. “And I think you’re going to have to drive us home.”

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Chapter Eighteen

Adam grunted under the weight of grocery bags as he followed Charlene up the stairs to their apartment. His first paycheque from the Xxchange had been decent, better than he’d made at the restaurant, anyway. When he added in all the tips, he was actually doing pretty well. Not that he’d ever be rich, or even middle class, but he thought maybe finding a new apartment in a somewhat safer neighbourhood was a possibility. Even if safety weren’t a concern, there was still the matter of those orange walls. Ick. He’d probably still have to help Charlene with rent somewhere, though. She hadn’t been able to find a job yet. Granted, they’d only been here for a little less than a month, but since the lease was up on this craptastic apartment at the end of April, they needed to figure out what they were going to do. Adam kind of hoped his mom would find a job and get her own place. Not that he minded staying the night with Les, something he was doing with more and more frequency, but on the nights he didn’t, Adam slept on the futon. He always woke up feeling like someone had been jabbing at him with a sharp stick all night. And he’d love to be able to bring Les back to his place, just to put them on more equal footing. It seemed Les was always doing things for him—from coming to the Xxchange ‘just to see you’ Les claimed —though Adam was ninety nine per cent sure the man was also making sure no one messed with him—to fixing Adam’s POS car last week when the fan belt broke. While Adam appreciated everything Les did for him, even enjoyed it since he’d never had a man give a shit before, he was getting frustrated too. To him, there couldn’t be equality when one person in the relationship seemed to be doing all the giving. It wasn’t that Adam didn’t try to do stuff for Les, too, but he was rather limited, especially when the man refused to even come over for dinner. And he never stayed the night. But the dinner thing, that really bothered Adam. He hadn’t pushed the issue, because Les seemed to just…just close up whenever Adam asked him over, and Adam hadn’t wanted to pry, or nag, or do anything else that might cause a problem between them. At this point, he wasn’t sure if Les was avoiding going in the apartment, or if he was avoiding Charlene, or

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if he was avoiding the meal, or it could be some combination or all three or something totally different. “You’re thinking hard enough to hurt yourself,” Charlene observed as Adam set the bags on the table. Adam shrugged, carefully avoiding her eyes. That woman could peer straight into his brain at the most inconvenient times. “Just trying to figure out what we should do about the lease here.” Charlene snorted as she rustled through one of the bags, plucking out the things that needed to go into the freezer. “I bet that’s what you were thinking about.” She laced her words with enough sarcasm that Adam cringed. He was so not in the mood for a lecture. “I was, partly, and the rest, I don’t want to talk about.” Maybe she’d cut him a break. “Adam.” Damn it! I shouldn’t have looked up. He’d start blabbing everything if he wasn’t careful. That blue-eyed gaze was a powerful weapon, especially when it was lit with a heavy dose of love for him. “I know it’s hard right now, what with us in this place and you having to sleep on that contraption—when you’re here, even,” and at that her eyes twinkled as she grinned, “but it will get better. But, whatever it is that’s bothering you about your personal life, you need to talk to Les about, otherwise you’re going to drive yourself crazy. I’d offer to talk to him but that man acts like he’s terrified of me.” She snorted again and shook her head. “I don’t understand it! Most people love me after the double chocolate chip cookies! Contrary man!” Adam had to smile at that because yeah, Les would be different from everyone else. He kind of liked that the man seemed to be Charlene-proof, although, now that he considered it, he wondered if his mom was right. Was Les actually scared of her, like, physically? Did he think she was some kind of psycho? Or was it just Les’ inexperience that made him avoid the whole ‘boyfriend’s mother’ association? The man was, despite his age and bad ass demeanour, incredibly naïve at times. “Has he talked to you about his family any?” Adam shook his head. “No, and I didn’t want to pry. I figure he’ll tell me when he’s ready.” He wasn’t going to tell his mom that they’d done very little talking. Les had a libido that rivalled his own. When they did talk, it was usually about mundane things, safe things.

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But if they didn’t ever really talk, then all they’d have was incredible sex. Adam had already figured out that wasn’t going to be enough for him. He just wasn’t sure what to do about it. Charlene finished putting another bag of groceries away and looked at him, her hands propped on her hips. “Well, sometimes people need a little push. Sometimes they even want one. Maybe Les doesn’t think you care enough about him to want to know about his past, since you haven’t asked.” Adam groaned and shoved the canned vegetables he’d taken from a bag into a cabinet. “This relationship stuff is complicated.” “Yeah, it is, but nothing worthwhile ever comes easy,” Charlene pointed out, repeating a mantra Adam had heard hundreds of times. “I’m afraid of screwing it all up,” Adam admitted. “I really like Les a lot, and I just don’t know what to do. What if I start asking questions and he dumps me? What then?” “Then you have to decide if you’re willing to fight for him,” Charlene said as she stepped to his side. Adam’s ripple of unease was compounded by the intense look in her blue eyes. “Are you? Or is this just a fling?” Adam didn’t even have to think about it. “No, it’s not, not on my end, and I don’t think it is on Les’ end, either.” Charlene’s gaze sharpened, making Adam’s pulse ratchet up a notch. “And why do you think that, if you two haven’t ever talked about things?” An image of Les’ face appeared in his mind. His skin pebbled with memories of each tender caress. “Because he…he looks at me in this way that…it…it makes me all…” he took a breath and tried again. “When I’m working, or we’re just lying in bed, or driving to his place, I catch him looking at me, and his expression is so…so tender, so open, so…warm, even, I think”—and it made him tremble—“loving. It’s not all lust and sex all the time, and I know I look at him like some lovesick fool more often than not. And he touches me, all the time, not in a sexual way, just little touches, a finger to the back of my hand, or a brush of my cheek, or—” Adam was blushing so fiercely now that the soles of his feet felt hot. It might have been weird to have this conversation with his mom, but he really didn’t have anyone else to talk to, and he was confused and desperate enough to confide in her. Her hand cupping his cheek made Adam’s eyes burn with unexpected tears.

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“You love him,” Charlene said, her lips trembling as her own eyes glistened. “And it sounds like he feels the same.” “Maybe.” “Talk to him then. He won’t leave you. Despite him being weird about coming around here, Les is a good man.” Before Adam could agree there was a loud knock on the door. “I’ll get that,” Charlene said. “You might want to run into the bathroom and splash some water on your face.” Adam nodded and sprinted for the bathroom. He was almost in the tiny room when his mother opened the door and a man’s voice stopped Adam dead in his tracks.

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Chapter Nineteen

Turning around so fast he felt dizzy, Adam swiped at his eyes trying to clear his vision. The sight that greeted him sent alternating waves of fear and relief through him. He cleared his throat and nodded at the man his mother had just let into the apartment. “Chase.” God the man looked bad, dark circles under his eyes and so thin Adam bet Chase’s bones rattled when he walked. He took a few steps back into the living room, his eyes never leaving the other man’s. Since James Stratton seemed to have disappeared off the face of the Earth, Adam hadn’t had any way to find out if Chase had lived—but he guessed he had his answer now. Although from Chase’s appearance, Adam wasn’t sure the guy was going to stay in the land of the living long. Chase swayed on his feet and Adam’s moved instinctively. He ran, catching the man before he could crumple to the floor. Charlene helped. Despite how thin he was, Chase wasn’t exactly light. Together Adam and his mother shuffled Chase to the couch and settled him on the rickety thing. That was when Adam noticed the fresh bruises. A darkening one that encompassed Chase’s temple and cheek, and a band of them around his neck that looked… Adam’s stomach heaved as he swallowed back bile. Those darkening bruises around Chase’s neck definitely looked like fingers. “Call Les,” Adam snapped out, already working on the buttons to Chase’s shirt. The man was unconscious, his breathing slow and with a rattle that sent a spear of fear down Adam’s spine. “And Josh, see if he can come over here if he’s not working.” Maybe he should just have his mom call an ambulance. Except, there was only one reason Chase would be here, wasn’t there? And the fact that the man had obviously been beaten… Then again, Adam reasoned, they did live in a shit neighbourhood. Someone could have jumped Chase just because he was here. But that didn’t explain why Chase was here; the only reason had to have something to do with Rollins. Nothing else made sense. Adam’s fear ratcheted up to near-panic, but anger doused everything else. What does that fucker want

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from me? Isn’t it enough he ran me and my mom out of town? What’s next, I have to find a new continent? Adam stopped his barrage of angry thoughts as he spread Chase’s shirt open. He gasped as he looked at the battered flesh. Besides the bruising, there were scars, some jagged and old, thin silvery strips, and others that…weren’t. The newer ones were straighter, the flesh still pink and puffy. He could make out the holes from where staples had held torn flesh together but he didn’t know which might have been surgical scars and which ones… weren’t. Chase groaned softly and tried to curl up on his side. Adam pressed him down gently, easing him back. Then he wondered if Chase’s back looked worse than his front. “This is the private investigator, right?” Adam glanced over his shoulder at his mom, who was on the phone with hopefully Les or Josh. “Yeah. Chase Murphy, although I don’t know if that’s his real name.” It wasn’t like Adam had ever asked. In truth, he’d been attracted to Chase, but he’d been even more wary of the guy. Adam just wasn’t sure how stable he was, not that it mattered right now. Chase jerked, a head to toe shudder. His eyes opened and rolled back in his head and Adam shouted for his mom even as he started trying to roll Chase onto his side. The man was seizing, his body jerking, arms and legs jutting in small thrashes instead of dangerous swings. A viscous white froth began to seep from his mouth. Adam shouted for Charlene again, struggling not only to roll Chase to his side but to keep from toppling the man onto the floor or injuring him even more than he already was. “Here.” Adam’s heart did a cartwheel at the deep rumbling voice. He didn’t know if that single word was a declaration or an order and he didn’t care. All that mattered was that Les was here now. Les gave him a grim smile and helped him to manoeuvre Chase onto his side. “How long has this been going on?” a voice asked before Adam could even speak to Les. Then the owner of the voice was there, kneeling and pushing at Adam and Les. “How long?” Adam tried to calculate but really, he wasn’t sure. “A minute, maybe? I was kind of busy trying to keep him from choking to set a timer.” Josh snorted but didn’t otherwise acknowledge him.

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Chase’s seizure ended finally. Adam knew the whole thing probably hadn’t lasted more than a couple of minutes, but it’d been the longest minutes of his life. He answered Les’ questions about Chase as best he could while watching Josh examine the injured man. “Who beat the crap out of this guy?” Josh asked, his voice tight with anger. “He’s not even healed from what happened to him in Montana. He needs to be examined by a doctor, he needs x-rays and who knows what all else, and he needs it soon.”

**** Between the information Charlene had given him on the phone and Adam’s brief explanation, Les had enough info to make the spot between his shoulder blades itch and his palms sweat. It wouldn’t hold up in court, but Chase showing up here, beat to hell and back, that was proof enough for Les that Rollins was coming after Adam again. And maybe even Charlene. Les nodded to the woman who was drilling him with her shrewd gaze. He might not be experienced in relationships, but he instinctually knew that look. It was one that said he was accountable if he let Adam get hurt, and Les had no problem acknowledging that yes, he would be. Sirens wailed and Les stopped Charlene before she could step outside. He didn’t think about his fears when he cupped her shoulder and gently held her back. “Stay here. I don’t know where Chase was when he got jumped. Keep Adam in here, please.” He’d left Adam following orders from Josh. Les had seen his nurse friend in action before, but it never failed to impress him. Josh, laughing, jolly, optimistic Josh, became a snapping, snarling dictator when someone was hurt. Talk about Jekyll and Hyde… Les was halfway down the steps when the ambulance pulled up. He waved them over then pointed out the apartment they needed to go to—he couldn’t just say the one up there with the door open, because the blaring sirens had pretty much every resident standing gawking at their open door. Les made sure the EMTs entered the right place then he walked back to the ground floor and eyed the area. He had a feeling Chase had been watching Adam. Adam had told Les how he’d met Chase and what they’d done to ensure Mitch Rollins the third wouldn’t rape any other men. Had the PI been afraid for Adam and Charlene’s sake, or had he considered them bait? Or maybe he’d wanted to warn them?

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Until Chase was in a bit better shape, Les just wouldn’t know, just as he didn’t know where Chase’s assault—the latest one—had occurred. Not for sure, anyway, although he thought there were signs of a scuffle off by the dumpsters. Difficult to tell what with the way the garbage was piled up, the bags ripped open… Well, he needed to call this in, get more people out here looking, banging on doors. Les doubted it’d do any good. People around here weren’t eager to talk to the cops, not for any reason. No matter what someone might have seen, they’d claim ignorance. Then again, Chase could have been hurt somewhere else, then—what? Dumped here? Left as a warning? Les didn’t think so, it simply didn’t feel right. He called in and reported the assault then watched as the EMTs, followed by Josh, Charlene and Adam, brought Chase down the stairs on a stretcher. Les’ gaze locked with Adam’s, fear and anger bright in the man’s blue eyes. Les’ gut twisted with a mix of emotions. Adam and Charlene had been forced to flee their homes once, and he was afraid they were fixing to have to make another move, but Les wasn’t going to let them run this time. He’d keep them safe, even if Charlene scared the shit out of him, and he’d put an end to them being terrorised by a rich prick who was pissed that his son’s crimes had come to light. When Adam stepped up to his side, Charlene trailing a few feet behind him, Les looked Adam and his heart twisted painfully. He wasn’t sure if it was fear or anticipation or both that caused the tightness in his chest as he watched Adam, but Les was pretty sure he loved him. Then there was Charlene, who’d never been anything but kind to him. She still scared him spitless. Not that it stopped him from forcing the words out. “You two get packed. You’re coming home with me.”

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Chapter Twenty

Les kept one eye on the car following him and the other on the road as he drove to the hospital. Adam hadn’t objected outright to Les’ declaration, but he hadn’t missed the flare in those icy blue eyes just as he hadn’t missed the approval shining in Charlene’s. He wondered if Adam just didn’t want to stay with him, wasn’t interested in something more than a fling, or if his pride was pricked because he thought Les didn’t believe Adam could take care of himself and his mother. Under normal circumstances, Les wouldn’t doubt Adam’s ability to do so, but there was nothing normal about this. It was very likely a twisted, powerful man was out to make Adam pay for exposing his son’s crimes. Rollins had no honour, no moral compass, but Adam did, and while Les loved that about Adam—because he knew now he loved everything about Adam—he also knew that would make it easier for Rollins to hurt both Adam and Charlene. Maybe Rollins would come after him, but Les wasn’t worried about it too much. The only thing Les really cared about, the only things, he corrected with a trill of surprise, were in the car behind him. While he’d accepted Adam’s importance to him, he hadn’t realised he’d come to care for Charlene, too. Somehow she’d wormed her way past his fears and the walls he’d erected to keep himself safe. Must be genetic. She still scared Les, but mainly because he didn’t know how to have a relationship with someone who wanted to mother him. Certainly, she didn’t seem to want to be the kind of mother to him he’d had, and logically, Les knew the statistics were against that. Charlene seemed loving and wholesome where his own mother had been neither, although she put on a damned good show around other people. Sweat beaded his brow as he delved carefully into the dark place in his mind he’d avoided for more than half his life. His mother had been mentally ill, the courts ruled, but she’d still been convicted of murdering his brother and almost killing him as well. The things she’d done… Les shuddered and slammed the door on that dark place, unable to deal with it any more than he had in the past.

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As he turned into the hospital parking lot, a little voice in his head told him he’d have to open that door back up and stop ignoring his past. If he wanted Adam, really wanted him, they would have to talk. While Les was learning to accept Charlene, there were still things he couldn’t do, that he’d have to explain, especially since the three of them would be living together. They might think he was crazy if he didn’t work up the nerve to talk about why he was the way he was. They might think that anyway once he explained, Les realised as he steered into an empty spot. It chilled him to the bones to admit, but telling Adam about his past could very well bring their relationship to an end, and Les couldn’t blame the man if that was the case. It was another reason he needed to find a way to talk to Adam about his fucked up childhood and the effects it had on him even now, almost thirty years later. Adam had a right to know that Les was screwed up, maybe hopelessly so.

**** Les led Adam and Charlene to the waiting room for the ICU unit. “I need to go see if Chase is conscious. I have to interview him, then I’ll get y’all settled at the house before I go back to work. What time do you go in tonight?” “Ten,” Adam answered, frowning at him. “Why?” His blue eyes narrowed in warning. Les chose to ignore it. At least Charlene was beaming at him. “I’ll take you to work and bring you home—just until this thing is settled.” Adam started to argue but Charlene thumped him on the arm. “Hush. Les is doing what any loving partner would do. He just wants to keep you safe, and if he’s worrying about whether or not you’re safe, how’s he going to be able to concentrate on his own safety? You even think about that? Or you getting all huffy with that whole male ego thing?” Les’ entire body was burning with embarrassment on being so bluntly called out regarding his feelings for Adam, but that was kind of okay. Adam was looking at him, those plump lips parted in shock, and so much warmth and affection…maybe, even, if Les could wrap his mind around it, love shining in those blue depths. Les didn’t get a whole lot of time to process that look, because in the next breath he had a double armful of warm, sexy man. Les grunted as Adam plastered himself to him like a second skin. Les’ cock hardened, eager

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and well-trained to know this particular body, this scent, meant exquisite pleasure was soon to come. It was going to be sorely disappointed since his shift didn’t end for hours yet. That didn’t stop him from holding Adam, or from crushing his mouth to his lover’s. Even knowing Charlene was right there, watching, didn’t give Les a moment’s pause. She approved of him, wanted him for her son, so she shouldn’t have a problem with them showing affection. Although, this was more than affection, what with Adam’s stiff dick pressing against Les’ thigh and his arms locked around Les’ neck. Les was trying to keep enough sense not to grab Adam’s pert ass, but it was a near thing. He settled for holding onto a couple of belt loops while he plundered Adam’s mouth. Adam pulled back enough to whisper, “You love me.” It wasn’t a question, more like a wonder-filled statement, and one that Les couldn’t deny. He couldn’t get his voice to work past the lump in his throat, either, so he settled on nodding as he stared into Adam’s pretty eyes. “I love you, too,” Adam rasped, his eyes looking suspiciously moist before he closed them and gave Les a gentle kiss. The sound of someone other than Charlene clearing their throat had Les carefully easing Adam from his arms, although he couldn’t quite let the man go. He peered over Adam’s head and found Josh grinning like a loon. “Sorry,” Josh said without sounding the least bit so, “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, I just wanted to let you know Chase is awake now.” Les grunted but couldn’t find even a hint of embarrassment at Josh having overheard his conversation with Adam. After all, Charlene had been there too, and she was… Les grunted again as he saw her tear-streaked cheeks and bright smile. Well, she was happy for them, that was obvious. And he imagined Josh was glowing like he was because any worry he might have had about Adam and Nick had been proven unfounded. “I know you have questions for him, and I hate to break this up, I really do,” Josh nodded when Adam craned his head around to look at him. “But I don’t know how long Chase will be conscious, so you might want to get the interview over with.” “Okay.” Les couldn’t resist pulling Adam to him for one last hug and kiss, then he reluctantly stepped away. “I’ll be back as soon as I’m done. Maybe the doctor will let you see Chase then. After that, we’ll figure out how to get you and Charlene moved into my place.”

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Impossibly, Josh perked up more. “Y’all are moving in with Les?” He looked at Charlene then Adam. “Today?” Could the guy sound any happier? Les realised Josh must have been more worried than he’d thought. “Yeah, but my shift isn’t over until six, and I am going to need to stop working security here for a while.” “No problem,” Josh said with a bounce. “There’s always police officers looking to pick up some extra money. And I think I can help with getting Adam and Charlene moved.” Adam frowned at Josh. “What? We don’t have much—” “Maybe not, but I bet Les wants someone around to make sure no one messes with y’all.” Josh’s grin stretched even wider. “I bet I know a bunch of people who’ll be willing to see to that, too.” Josh plucked his phone from his pocket and fired off a text. Almost instantly his phone chimed with a response. Josh chuckled as he read it, ignoring Adam’s questions and Les’ stare. “Yep. Nick, Rory, Chance, Bo, and Max will be here shortly. Just leave Adam your key.” “What? Who are all those people?” Adam asked in a slightly panicked voice. Les knew, but he didn’t know why they were all so willing to help. Josh did, though. “Well, you know Nick, and the rest are our friends, and likely, soon, Charlene, yours and Les’, too.” Adam looked dumbstruck, which was pretty much how Les felt. “That’s good,” Charlene chimed in before Les could figure out what to say. “These two need more friends. And I’m guessing this means you finally realise my son isn’t after your man.” That last she added in a hard voice, her eyes narrowing at Josh. Josh blushed from his neck to the roots of his hair. “Uh, yes ma’am. I do. I didn’t think…well maybe I did, but not really, I just—” Les decided to rescue his friend before Josh stuttered out something stupid. “Come on,” he said as he caught Josh’s elbow, “stop while you’re ahead and lead me to Chase’s room before he passes out again.” “Right, right.” Josh turned but stopped in the door way, twisting around to look at Charlene and Adam. “I am sorry, I know I was wrong. I didn’t even really believe it before, I just…I love Nick, so much that I’m stupid with it sometimes.”

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Well, Les could certainly understand that, and judging by the way Charlene’s expression softened and Adam’s tentative smile stretched into one of genuine happiness, he wasn’t the only one. The moment sank into Les in the oddest way. These people had come to mean so much to him in such a short time. He’d gone from being alone and thinking he was happy, or at least not miserable, to having friends and a lover and understanding what true happiness really was. He’d never forget that, and he’d do everything he had to in order to keep these people in his life.

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Chapter Twenty-One

When Nick had introduced Adam to the group of men waiting in the hospital parking lot, the cloud he’d been floating on ever since he and Les had confessed their feelings had dissipated. Adam had been nervous, a little self-conscious, figuring all these people knew he’d once pined after Nick. But everyone had been so friendly, accepting him and his mom as if they were already a part of this little circle. There’d been some teasing from Nick about Adam hooking up with ‘a hard ass like Stanton’, but Adam couldn’t get irritated over it, not when Nick’s dark eyes glittered with delight and the other men started in on Nick about Les tossing him back in jail if he didn’t watch his mouth. And they all treated Charlene like a queen, with Bo and Rory charming her into promising to make them cookies. Even Chance, who seemed more reserved, and Max, who was the quietest of the bunch, soon joined in and Charlene was just glowing from all the attention. “I think your mom is going to be quite popular with the guys,” Nick said from where he stood beside Adam. “Homemade cookies and bread, and she even mentioned pies—she’ll have the pack of them damn near courting her for sweets.” Adam laughed as he watched Bo hook his arm through Charlene’s. It tickled him to see his mother so happy, but, “As long as she doesn’t forget to make enough for me and Les.” Nick snorted. “Right. That woman might put up with us, but you and Stanton—I mean, Les, are the centre of her world.” Adam knew that. It was just going to be a little weird, sharing his mom, but it’d make her happy, and maybe keep her busy enough that she didn’t poke her nose into his and Les’ relationship too much. “I can see you calculating the benefits of her having other people to dote on.” “Well yeah.” Adam huffed and looked at Nick. “I’m not stupid. I love her to death, but she does like to pry.” Although, it had worked out for the best, so maybe he shouldn’t

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discourage her. He doubted he and Les would have got to where they were now if Charlene had stayed out of it all. That didn’t stop him from groaning when Nick spoke again. “C’mon, let’s get this show on the road.” Nick nudged Adam’s elbow. “Y’all have a lot of stuff to haul?” He started towards the others and Adam followed. “No, we had it all in my car.” “Which car’s yours?” Chance asked, obviously having overheard at least part of his conversation with Nick. Adam pointed to his little POS, so out of place in this parking lot filled with big trucks. He told himself his cheeks were burning from the Texas heat. “That one.” Chance looked at the dented rusty vehicle and grimaced. “Ah. Shouldn’t take us long, then, and we can divide up and some of us help while the others keep an eye out for anyone suspicious looking.” His lips quirked up into a grin that made him look years younger. “This might be fun, especially if the asshole that beat up your friend shows up.” “Calm down, cowboy,” Rory teased as he slipped an arm around Chance’s waist. “I’d rather we not encounter ‘the asshole’ and have you put that energy to better use later.” Rory gave his lover such a heated look that Adam half expected them to slip off for a quickie. Chance kissed the tip of Rory’s nose then rubbed it with his own. “I will always have enough energy for you, don’t doubt that for a second.” “All right you two, cut it out,” Bo muttered, but his cheerful expression belied the gently scolding tone and words. “You’re embarrassing Maxie—” Adam peeked at Maxie just in time to see the poor man’s face turn nearly purple as he sputtered. Bo looked contrite as he hustled back to his partner’s side. “Sorry, sorry, it slipped out.” Max’s eyes promised retribution, which got him a sultry look from Bo. “All right, boys.” Charlene clapped her hands as she narrowed her eyes. “All this lovey dovey stuff is fine when y’all are alone, but the way some of you are going, you’re going to end up arrested for lewd behaviour—and I’m not bringing you cookies in jail!” After that, things moved quickly. Adam was mostly silent as he tried to work things out in his mind. He was struggling a bit with his independence, trying to convince himself he

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wasn’t less of a man for taking cover with his boyfriend, or for accepting help from other people. Then he realised, this is what friends do, it’s what lovers do, moving in and sharing their lives with each other, and the tight ball of pride that had clogged a few of his arteries dissipated until he was able to appreciate all of the good changes in his life. He immediately thought of Chase, bruised and broken-looking on the couch, and some of his happiness dimmed. Even if the guy did make him uncomfortable, he didn’t deserve to be beaten and… Adam could still see the injuries to Chase’s body. Some of them had been old, inflicted years ago, and those pricked at Adam’s conscience as much as the newer wounds did. Chase had either been abused severely at one time, or over a period of time, considering all the old marks, or else he’d been incredibly, incredibly clumsy. Somehow, Adam doubted that was the case. He wondered if Les had noticed then decided that he must have. Les was pretty damn sharp, and Adam wished he’d call and tell him something about what was going on with Chase’s condition. Adam wanted to call Les but he didn’t know if Les was still interviewing Chase, or doing other police business, and besides that, there were too many people around. Once he and his mother were somewhat settled into Les’ place, Adam thanked the men for helping them. After a promise of cookies tomorrow from Charlene, Adam found himself alone in the living room with Nick as Charlene drifted into another room. Adam would bet she was snooping, at least a little. Nick looked at the bare walls and the perfectly clean room. “This is kind of…dull. Why am I not surprised?” Adam’s spine stiffened as he glared at his friend. “Not every gay man has an interior decorator living inside him.” “No kidding,” Nick agreed with a snicker. “Josh’s decorating style involves lots of hot pink and penguins…everywhere. I’m more like Les, except not nearly as neat.” While Adam tried to wrap his mind around Nick living in a place decorated to Josh’s tastes, Nick proceeded to open drawers and poke around the shelves of the entertainment centre. “There’s no porn? Does he keep it stashed somewhere else?”

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“I have enough porn for us,” Adam sniped then immediately regretted it when Nick grinned at him. “It was in the big Rubbermaid tub, the green one.” “The duct taped one. Good idea, what with your mom around.” Adam was fairly certain his mom wouldn’t look in that container. She knew him well enough to suspect what was in there. “Is the whole place like this?” Nick’s gesture encompassed the whole room. “No, the master bedroom is definitely more…” Adam struggled to come up with a description, shrugged, “just more. Lots of colour and warmth, and no, you can’t see it.” Charlene’s delighted whoop reached them then. “I wouldn’t bet on that.” Nick darted off in the direction of the sound. Adam was hot on his heels. They found Charlene standing beside Les’ bed, patting the bright blanket on it. “Now, this room gives me hope,” she said, looking from one wall hanging to the other. “This is more like the Les I know. And,” she kicked at the waste basket beside the bed, “I’m glad y’all are being safe.” Adam didn’t know how he kept from melting with the heat of humiliation that washed over him. Probably because he was too busy trying to think of a way to get back at Nick when the man poked him in the ribs. Adam glared up at his friend, then scowled as Nick waggled his brows. “Aw, y’all are being safe! That’s good, and it makes your mama happy, too.” Adam was going to kick his ass, just as soon as Charlene and Nick quit laughing.

**** Chase didn’t manage to stay awake long. Les left his room and practically ran to the nearest rest room. He shoved into a stall and retched, bringing up what little bit of breakfast and coffee he’d had. It wasn’t anything even close to professional behaviour, and Les hadn’t reacted like this to any case since he’d been a rookie, but seeing all the scars on Chase’s body, the old scars, had sent Les’ mind plummeting back to his own childhood. Granted, the abuse he and his brother had suffered had been different, and deadly, but it still resonated, seeing proof that Chase had been abused as well.

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It wasn’t just suspicion. Chase had confirmed some of it. Les doubted the man would have done so had he not been loopy with pain meds. As for the latest assault, Chase hadn’t remembered much of it, and the assault in Montana was something Chase refused to speak of despite the drugs. That fact alone was enough to make Les queasy and angry in equal parts. He didn’t know what had been done to the younger man in Montana, but if it was worse than being abused as a child, well, Les didn’t want to know. But he needed to, had to do his job. Les swiped at his mouth then left the stall. He turned the faucet on and washed his hands thoroughly, then cupped them and brought some of the water to his mouth. After rinsing the foul taste away, he told himself to get his shit together. Back at the police department, Les sat at his desk and read the report on Chase Murphy. He was still waiting for more information on the man, but the papers in his hands confirmed his suspicions. No wonder Chase refused to talk about the attack in Montana. The man had been brutalised, tortured, left for dead. It was a miracle he’d survived—and a phone call confirmed he should never have left the hospital in the first place. The only reason he gave Les for that was that Rollins was looking for Adam again. Whether Chase knew that for a fact or just suspected, Les didn’t know, but as soon as the man was coherent, he intended to find out. Then he’d figure out what he needed to do to stop Rollins from ever hurting anyone else again.

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Chapter Twenty-Two

Les hung up the phone then dropped his head into his hands. He scrubbed at his forehead in a vain attempt to dull the throbbing pain in his skull. Today had been one frustration after another. Chase Murphy hadn’t been able to describe his assailants, having been attacked from behind. The reason he’d given for leaving the hospital in Montana without being released—his friend, an attorney who’d hired him to work the Rollins case— had gone missing. Sheer desperation to locate the man had sent Chase on a hunt for Adam. Les thought there might be more between Chase and the lawyer than mere friendship. Already Chase was strafing against being held in the hospital, the urge to find his missing ‘friend’ making him skittish and surly. Or surlier. Adam had said the PI was a bit…unstable. Les wondered if Chase had inadvertently led Rollins’ thugs to Adam, or if they had been watching him before Chase’s arrival. The thought sent an icy streak of fear down his spine, just as it had the first time Les had pondered the question. It was the reason he’d thought to call Xavier Talbot, Adam’s boss. It made a twisted sort of sense to Les that Rollins, having succeeded once in tearing Adam’s life away from him, would try the same manoeuvre again. Having Talbot confirm that he had received an offer on his business, out of the blue and unsolicited, only confirmed Les’ suspicions. Rollins was back to stalking Adam, determined to strip him of any sense of security. He’d bet the apartment manager had been contacted, too. For the right price, there’d probably be a short eviction notice on the door. That wouldn’t be a problem now, Les thought with a wave of relief that nearly made him giddy. He snorted. The way he was bouncing from worried to ecstatic was so unlike him. It was as if all the years of holding his emotions under such tight control had resulted in this, a breaking of the dam that had held them all back. Now they were swirling around like an F-4 tornado. He groaned at his melodramatic thoughts, also a new and not very enjoyable experience. It reminded him too much of his mother’s unstable behaviour. His past had been

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on his mind more and more lately. Being around Charlene was forcing him to examine his fears and the way they had affected his life. The way he’d let them affect his life. Adam and Charlene were a package deal, Les knew that, and, he guessed, accepted it. Having Adam in his life, living in his home, their home, was a culmination of a dream he’d not known he wanted. And it would all come crashing down if he didn’t alter the patterns he’d set. Adam and Charlene would quickly realise he was screwed up unless he found a way to move forward. That wouldn’t happen overnight, which meant… Les gulped so hard his throat hurt. Sweat slicked his back and armpits; his undershirt felt suddenly damp with it. Irritated with his reaction, Les snarled and shoved up from his seat at his desk. Officer Lukowski gave him a quizzical look. “Got a problem, Stanton?” “No, but I am going home. Have a good evening.” Les tacked the last bit on because Lukowski was a decent guy, always trying to be friendly to him even though Les consistently rebuffed his offers to hang together outside of work. It wasn’t anything personal, he just hadn’t been able to deal with letting anyone close before Adam. Although, maybe he’d let Josh in a little first; it was impossible to push that guy away. And it could just be that first bloom of friendship had made it possible for Les to reach for something more when the right man had come into his life. God, he was getting to be a philosophical, melodramatic, moody… The skin on the back of his neck prickled. Les didn’t stop walking towards his vehicle even though he was sure he was being watched. He didn’t want whoever it was to know he was aware of what was going on. As unobtrusively as possible, he glanced around the parking lot. He really didn’t expect anyone to mess with him but the spying, that he did expect. Les unlocked his vehicle and got in. Keeping his head tilted down, he glanced up through his lashes and looked in the rearview mirror. There was an alley across the street. He’d bet dollars to donuts that was where Rollins’ thug was. Les could see nothing but pitch black there, but anyone in the alley would have a good view of the well-lit parking lot. So, Rollins knew who he was, or at least had reason to suspect he was someone close to Adam. Which meant the asshole probably already knew where he lived, maybe even that Adam and Charlene were there. The air thickened with the weight of Les’ unease as he started the truck. He made two calls, the first to Lukowski, who he hoped really did want to

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be his friend. Once he was assured the man would check the alley, Les called Adam and cautioned him to be alert to any sign of a threat. He promised to explain more when he got home. Maybe, if he got up the nerve, he would explain a few other things as well.

**** “Pacing isn’t going to do anything more than wear the shine off the floor.” Adam was glad his back was to Charlene so she didn’t see him roll his eyes. “I can’t help it. I feel like all I did by coming here was put more people on Rollins’ radar. What if he hurts Les, or Nick or—” Tires crunching on gravel stopped his verbal spew. He raced to the door and peered out of the peephole, his heart stuttering when he saw Les’ truck. “I’m just going to go into the kitchen and get dinner started, let you two talk.” Adam grunted as Les got out of the vehicle. His mouth watered as he peered through the little hole. It dawned on him he could be seeing Les much better if he opened the door, so after unlocking the deadbolts and the knob, he pulled the door open and was rewarded with an up close and personal view of his man. Despite the lines of strain around Les’ eyes and lips, he was fine. Adam found himself hoping Les’ idea of talking involved his big bed and lots of lube. His cock perked up as Les opened the screen door and stepped inside. Adam didn’t even think, he simply launched himself at his lover, moaning as his dick pressed against one thickly muscled thigh. The strained expression on Les’ face fled, replaced with a heated look that shot sparks of arousal through Adam’s nervous system. Les cupped his hands under Adam’s butt and lifted him. Before Adam could so much as say ‘hi’ his mouth was taken, crushed under Les’ and devoured until Adam was quivering with need. “Mom’s cooking dinner,” Adam purred against Les’ lips, “we could slip off to the bedroom for a while since I don’t have to be at work until—what?” Adam’s stomach dipped as Les shook his head. “You’re off for a few days, per Mr Talbot. He’s still going to pay for your shift, though.”

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Adam frowned as he untangled himself from Les. “Why would he do that? And why do you know this instead of me knowing it?” Les sighed and took Adam’s hand then led him to the couch. “Because I started thinking, if Rollins was involved, he was probably going to try the same shit he did in Montana. So I called Talbot.” “God.” Adam groaned and let himself be pulled down beside Les. “Let me guess, he got an offer on the Xxchange?” “Yeah. Pissed him off, since he wasn’t interested in selling. Also made him suspicious.” Les chuckled as he looped an arm over Adam’s shoulders. “Then he went from suspicious to furious when I explained to him about Rollins and everything he’d done. I think Talbot’s hoping the man shows up at the club. I’ve heard rumours about Talbot’s…fondness for whips. Using them, anyway.” Adam didn’t know why that surprised him. Mr Talbot screamed Dom from the top of his dark head to the toes of his leather boots. Not that it mattered. “Rollins isn’t gay, so I don’t see how Mr Talbot would manage to do anything like that to him.” Les shrugged, jostling Adam a bit. “I don’t think he’d try to get Rollins’ consent. I’m not sure I’d try to stop Talbot, either.” Surely Les was joking. Adam looked at his lover. Maybe he wasn’t. He decided not to ask. “And how did that conversation result in me getting a little paid vacation?” “I guess Talbot’s not such a bad guy.” Les shrugged again. “He said you deserved a break, and he didn’t want to risk something happening to you while you were at work.” Adam wondered if Les had encouraged Talbot to make such a decision, but he discarded the notion as soon as he thought it. Mr Talbot wasn’t someone who could be intimidated. “Did you call and check on Chase?” “Yeah, but he was asleep,” Adam said. “Josh told me he’d let me know if there were any complications. He also said they were keeping a close eye on him to make sure Chase doesn’t pull a disappearing act again.” “He said a friend of his, a lawyer, was missing. That’s why he left the hospital in Montana.” Les gave him a questioning look. “He thought maybe this guy was hiding out here with you.”

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Adam heard what Les wasn’t asking. His stomach twisted into a fiery knot as he wondered where James was and if he was alive. “James Stratton was kind of a friend, that’s all. He used to represent Rollins Sr until Mitch tried to assault me. Then he put the whole plan in motion to bring Mitch down. I imagine Rollins hates him at least as much as he hates me.” Les’ gaze sharpened as he started asking questions about James. Adam answered as best he could, but he really didn’t have a clue where the man could be, and he was more than a little scared James might be dead. Rollins was a crazy fucker, intent on blaming everyone but his son for Mitch’s crimes. “Any idea on why Chase would be so intent on finding James?” Les asked. “No, I really don’t know either of them well at all.” He didn’t think anyone knew Chase well, for that matter. Charlene stepped into the room and gave them a warm smile. “Les, thank you for letting us stay here for a while. I have dinner ready and on the table.” Les went rigid beside him. Adam looked at him. The man was several shades paler. His gaze was locked on Charlene and his breaths were coming in short pants, almost as if he were beginning to have a panic attack. “Les? What’s wrong?” Adam felt on the verge of a panic attack himself, watching this strong man unravel. “I… I d-don’t—” Les shook his head as if to clear it then swallowed noisily. He took a long, shaky breath and seemed to gather his nerve as his glanced back and forth at Adam and Charlene. Charlene made a soothing sound and came further into the room. Les tensed even more, feeling like a cement statue at Adam’s side. In that second Adam understood that Les was not just uncomfortable around Charlene, he was terrified of her. Pieces of conversations from the past few weeks flitted through his head. He never heard Les speak of his own mother, he’d mentioned he’d had a brother who was dead… Jesus! “Les,” Adam whispered, smoothing his hands over his lover’s chest. He slid a hand up to Les’ cheek and, with not a little force, turned his head, encouraging Les to look at him. “I don’t know what your mother did, but my mom isn’t like her. You know that, don’t you?”

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Les took so long to answer, Adam didn’t think he was going to. Then Les shuddered, the springs in the couch squeaking under the force of it. “I know,” Les rasped, the words barely ripping free. “I know,” he repeated, louder, his eyes searching out Charlene’s. “I’m sorry, I’m kind of fucked up.” Les’ cheeks darkened, whether from the admission or cursing when he knew Charlene didn’t care for such language, Adam didn’t know. But he wanted to hug his mom when she merely shook her head and said, “No, you’re not,” then sat across from them in the big recliner. She watched Les with so much compassion in her eyes that Adam’s burned with tears. “Tell me what I can do to help you.” He had the best mother in the entire world.

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Chapter Twenty-Three

Les felt his past swelling up in him, forming into two tight balls of pressure behind his eyes. It grew, pushing down, demanding release, and Les was helpless to stop it. His throat ached as he started speaking, words held in so long they’d grown barbs that ripped at him. “I had a brother, Lenny—Leonard,” and Lenny had hated being called that. “He was…three and a half years younger than me, born with a hole in his heart that nearly killed him.” Adam’s hand slipped in his, giving him the strength to continue when the words clogged in a spiny ball in his chest. Les averted his gaze from Charlene’s. The sympathy he saw there was too much, threatening to send tears spilling down his cheeks. “When he was born, there was a news story done about him, about our family. Well, our mother and us. We never did know who our fathers were.” He doubted his mother knew, either. “There was a lot of attention, you know, the poor struggling single mom, how brave she was being, how strong…she was an instant celebrity in our town. Once Lenny’s heart was fixed, though, that kind of stuff stopped.” Les struggled to draw air in, his vision hazing over as memories he’d kept buried rose to the surface. “Lenny was such a happy kid, just so loving and…and all I wanted to do even when I was just five was keep him safe. We’d almost lost him, and I remember looking at him through the window of the NICU and promising him I’d keep him safe. I didn’t know how badly I’d fail.” “Les, no.” Adam stroked his cheek then rested his head on Les’ chest. “Whatever happened, you were just a kid. If your mother—” “She did,” Les said when Adam faltered. “Once the publicity stopped, once she was just a single mom with two boys, I guess she got to missing all the attention. Lenny was about a year and a half when he started getting sick. Doctors couldn’t explain it. Lenny would get out of the hospital, our mother would be praised for being such an attentive, concerned, loving parent. Then it’d start all over again once Lenny got home.”

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Les risked a glance at Charlene but quickly looked away when he saw the tears flowing freely. He took another steadying breath and forced the rest of his nightmarish past out through numb lips. “Eventually, over the course of a couple of years, Lenny grew sicker and sicker, until finally he passed away.” Even saying it after all these years made Les ache, his entire body throbbing with the pain of loss. “He was just three, still a baby, and in the end he was so tiny, nothing but—” The sob tore from him, leaving a searing path of agony from his chest through his throat. He remembered every detail of Lenny’s lifeless body, the unnatural thinness, the dark circles under his wide, unseeing eyes, the blue tint of his lips, his fingertips. Les clamped his mouth shut and bit his bottom lip so hard he tasted blood. He couldn’t lose it now, not when he was almost done, not when he might never have the strength to speak of it again. Adam’s quiet sobs and sniffles rent at Les’ heart. He pulled the man onto his lap and wrapped his arms around him, then, with his cheek pressed to the top of Adam’s silky head, he continued. “Our mother, she was just emotionless, until the authorities arrived, then she was the picture of the grieving mother. And she was once again showered with attention.” Wrong or not, Les hated her. He didn’t know that he could ever make any sort of peace with what had happened, but maybe, he could eventually quit letting it rule his life. “How long until she started on you?” Charlene’s question pulled Les out of his thoughts. He closed his eyes, unable to look at her as he answered. “Not long. Maybe even before Lenny’s funeral. I don’t remember when exactly I got ‘sick’.” He coated the word with enough disgust he wouldn’t have been surprised if it had hit the floor with a thud. “I went from being a healthy kid to nearly dying in under a year. Never having been to a doctor for more than an annual and shots to being hospitalised nearly constantly. It was always worse after I ate,” he pried his eyes open and glanced at Charlene, hoped she understood. “Didn’t matter what meal it was, but I was a kid, I had a sweet tooth, and suddenly, any time I ate dessert, I was puking, even, according to her, seizing.” Charlene raised a trembling hand to her mouth, pressing as if to hold back words. Les rushed on, afraid she would apologise for doing something so normal, so nice like making him cookies. “And I saw her, when she thought I was asleep, when I was hooked up to so

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many goddamned machines I felt more machine than human—I saw her. She had that same emotionless look on her face as she had when Lenny died. It scared me so bad I was afraid to let her know I was awake. That’s the only reason I saw her take a syringe from her purse, and a vial, and…” And that same crushing terror was clawing at him, setting his body temperature to fluctuating hot and cold as goose bumps rippled over his skin. “I didn’t think, I just screamed, sure she was going to kill me. Two nurses came running in, they saw the vial, she dropped it. She couldn’t explain it away, couldn’t explain any of the drugs the police found in her purse, in our home. In me, once they knew what to look for.” Les left off there. They didn’t need to hear about his brother’s body being exhumed or his mother’s claims that Les had been the one to murder Lenny—the authorities hadn’t bought that, but the fact his mother had even said such a thing had fucked with his head as severely as anything else. He didn’t want to explain that he couldn’t be placed in foster care since those were made up of two parents, and Les hadn’t been able to tolerate any sort of mother figure. The best the system could manage was a poorly funded home for troubled boys, run by several militant men. No, Les decided as warm tears leaked from his eyes, he didn’t want to tell Adam and Charlene that, not now. Later, when he wasn’t so raw his insides burned as if he’d swallowed battery acid, then maybe he would tell the rest of it. For now, he clung to Adam, softly weeping, soaking that silky hair with tears as Adam did the same, saturating Les’ uniform shirt. Eventually he calmed and became aware of another presence. He looked through blurry eyes to find Charlene standing in front of them, an expression so warm and, if he dared to believe it, loving, on her face. She reached as if to touch him then let her hand drop back to her side. “I know the psychiatrists and all those sorts have a name for what your mother did,” Charlene said with a trace of steel in her voice, “but I don’t think that’s an illness. I think some people are just bad, and society wants to put a name to that, make it a ‘syndrome’ because that’s less scary than accepting that there are those in this world who are just cruel, evil people. Maybe you don’t think the same way, but I don’t believe that woman should have an excuse for what she did.”

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Adam’s arms tightened around him, and Les felt his eyes begin to well again. Whether Charlene was right or not was open to debate. He would never understand why his mother had done what she did. But he did understand one thing, Charlene was as different from his mother as Heaven was from Hell. And that made it possible for him to raise his hand and clasp hers when she reached for him again.

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Chapter Twenty-Four

Adam expected Les to skip dinner—he wasn’t the only one. Even Charlene murmured something about saving it all for later and shooed him off when he tried to help. He expected Les to be exhausted, and the droop of those massive shoulders, the puffiness under his grey eyes bore testament to that fact. Adam didn’t, however, expect the longing he saw in Les’ bloodshot eyes. He’d thought Les might be distant, might feel the need to pull inside himself after so thoroughly breaking down. It was evident, as Les guided them to his—their—bedroom, that Adam had been very wrong. Questions Adam might have asked—Are you sure? Would you rather wait until Mom is asleep? Do you want to talk?—died on his tongue as Les quietly closed the door behind them. The air felt thick, dense and heated, weighted with the pressure of the importance of this moment. “Adam.” Adam swallowed, his throat clicking noisily, all the moisture that had lubed those muscles now long gone. He looked up at Les, felt his heart pound in his chest, then settle into a soft flutter of butterfly wings. Les’ eyes were heavy-lidded, his breathing altered to short stuttery pants. His big hands fisted at his sides, as if he was afraid to reach for what he wanted, needed. He shuddered, a great rolling wave that struck the length of his body. Adam heard his name again, saw those thin lips part, caught the myriad emotions buried in those two syllables. He reached for Les, palming his clenched hands, aware of the warm skin, the fine smattering of hair on tensed knuckles. With a soft groan, Les opened his hands and linked his fingers through Adam’s. His mouth, when it pressed against Adam’s, was gentle, the kiss achingly sweet. Adam shook to his toes as he opened for Les. Les’ tongue stilled, withdrew, but his mouth remained pressed to Adam’s. Adam got the message. Electric sparks shot down the top of his spine to his tailbone, charging every nerve ending in between.

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He released one of Les’ hands, standing on his toes to get a firm grip on the back of Les’ head. Les wanted him to take control, to guide and ease the pain from relieving his past. Adam could do that. He yearned to do that. He just hadn’t expected Les to trust him so completely, not yet. Maybe not ever. The fact that Les did trust him so much made Adam burn, a flash fire searing through his veins. His dick was impossibly hard, throbbing in the confines of his jeans. Judging by the long, hard length butting up against his stomach, Les was in the same shape. The way his big body trembled, the way his hands clenched fistfuls of Adam’s shirt, two contrary sensations, kept Adam from ripping the man’s clothes off. Les was scared but eager, needy, and Adam didn’t want to do anything to fuck this up. Licking Les’ kiss-swollen lips made them both moan. Adam’s lips tingled. The taste of his lover permeated his tongue, sunk into his senses. He put just enough distance between them to get his hands between them. Adam unbuttoned Les’ shirt, taking his time, dropping kisses over the exposed white T-shirt covering Les’ chest. Adam wanted to tell Les how much he loved him, how grateful he was for this moment, but words seemed out of place. The sound of their harsh breathing wasn’t. Adam slid his hands up Les’ chest, then over to his broad shoulders. He pushed the shirt down and off those hulking arms, watching as goose bumps rose on Les’ skin in the wake of Adam’s touch. Adam reached for Les’ T-shirt. He tugged it free of his pants then pushed it up, stopping only once he had it gathered under Les’ armpits. Adam took first one dark nipple in his mouth, then the other, working the pointy tips into hard little beads. Les’ breath hitched, a whimper left his lips. Adam was jostled when Les jerked his shirt off. His big hands burrowed in Adam’s hair, pressing his face against Les’ tit. Adam hummed around a mouthful of nipple. He swept his hands up and down Les’ sides as Les made more sweet noises. Adam ghosted his hands down, toying with the back of Les’ waistband, then he nearly choked on his own spit when Les pushed his ass out in a silent plea. Oh God! Adam closed his eyes as his eager fingers stroked over firm swells of flesh. Even through the material, he could feel Les’ ass cheeks flexing, quivering. Adam dropped to

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his knees, licking a trail down the furry path that led to Les’ groin. He smoothed his hands around to Les’ belt then fumbled to unlatch it with shaky fingers. Les was alternating between whimpers and grunts. His hands held Adam’s head firmly as his hips jutted, smashing Adam’s face into his groin. Adam inhaled deeply, drawing in the sweat and musk scent of man, the tang that was only this man’s. He got Les’ pants open, shoved down along with his briefs, then finally Les’ thick cock was right there, slapping Adam’s cheek. Adam looked up at Les and was scorched by the heat in his dilated eyes. He kept his gaze locked with Les’ as he reached back and cupped Les’ ass. Passion flared hotter, brighter, in those dark eyes, urging Adam on. Adam licked a wet path from Les’ balls to the tip of his dripping cock. Les gasped and stumbled back. His head hit the door, his butt pressed back, pinning Adam’s hands in place. Adam swooped down, engulfing Les’ length in one strong sucking move. He swirled his tongue over a throbbing vein and groaned when the tip of Les’ cock pressed into his throat. Les bucked, let loose a strangled, gargling sound that made every muscle in Adam’s body clench against coming. He kneaded Les’ ass as he bobbed up and down the length of his fat cock. Les writhed and pulled at Adam’s hair, hips jerking as he sought to plunge deeper into Adam’s mouth. Adam loosened his jaw and took more, working Les’ dick for all he was worth. His fingers crept into Les’ furry crack. The heat was more intense there, and it added more fuel to the fire raging in Adam. Pre-cum trickled from his dick to the floor, trickled from Les’, coating Adam’s tongue. His fingers brushed over Les’ tight ring and Adam discovered what it meant for Les to truly lose control. Les’ wide unblinking eyes were unfocused, his hands fisted in the hair on either side of Adam’s head as he began fucking Adam’s mouth. This wasn’t the courteous lover who held back, this was raw, naked need of a man stripped bare, a wild beast, one Adam had feared he’d never see set free. He moaned around the thick length plunging into his mouth, burrowing in his throat, over and over. Adam’s skin felt too tight, too hot, too sensitive as he greedily took what Les gave him. Every withdrawal of Les’ cock rocked his rounded ass back, pushing his hole harder

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and harder against Adam’s finger. Adam slurped and sucked, delivering mind blowing pressure to Les’ cockhead. Les howled and pumped faster. The tip of Adam’s index finger breached Les’ opening. Any concern that he’d been wrong, that Les would pull away, vanished when Les hissed, “Yessss!” and thrust back forcefully. Adam’s finger sank in to the third knuckle and Les’ cock pulsed, swelled, sprayed streams of hot cum over Adam’s tongue, flooded his mouth. Adam swallowed, gulping, yet some still ran down his chin. Les was grinding back, his hips spasming as if he couldn’t decide which pleasure to chase, the one to his dick or the one probing his ass. Adam suckled while he worked his finger deep. Desperate to keep Les hard, he curled his finger and found Les’ gland. Les’ cock, which had started to soften, began to plump back up. Adam sucked the whole length voraciously, delighted by the way Les’ body begged for more. He wanted to push another finger in, stretch that virginal opening so he could plunge inside. The only thing holding him back was the lack of lube. He didn’t want to hurt Les, not now, not ever. Adam pulled off Les’ dick with a pop. Les whimpered in protest when Adam carefully worked his finger free from his hole. Then Adam was tugged to his feet, his scalp stinging from Les’ hold. He didn’t have time to dwell on the pain, not when Les slammed his mouth down on Adam’s. Adam dragged his nails up Les’ butt then further up Les’ back. Their tongues duelled for control. Adam surged up and forward, knocking the breath from his lover. Les trembled, his hold eased. He ceded control of the kiss, giving himself over to Adam. Adam murmured his approval into the kiss, his lips latching tight around Les. He wanted to devour this man, to crawl so far inside him Les would never be free. Adam jerked Les closer, freeing his trapped hands. He slid his arms around then grabbed Les’ wrists, plucking his hands from Adam’s hair. “Bed,” Adam rasped, desperate to feel Les’ tight ass around his cock. Les nodded jerkily and stumbled as Adam led him to the bed. It only took a light push and Les toppled backwards, landing with an ‘oomph’ on the mattress. Adam didn’t give him time to think. He dropped to his knees once again and shoved Les’ knees apart. His thumbs sank into Les’ crack and pried his cheeks apart, then Adam leant forward and licked over Les’ hole.

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“Fuck!” Les screeched, his voice cracking on the word. Adam sealed his lips over the tiny pucker and sucked hard. Les’ curses increased as his legs dropped open even more. Adam stiffened his tongue and plunged through the clamping ring, saturating himself in Les’ taste. Dark and musky, salt and sweat, it was everything Adam loved about being with a man—with this man. Les squirmed and shoved his butt down, riding Adam’s tongue. Adam slicked that little opening, stretched it as much as he could with his tongue. He slipped two fingers in his mouth, wetting them thoroughly, then pressed them into Les’ hole alongside his tongue. Les hissed, froze, his inner muscles nearly pinching off Adam’s appendages. Breathe. Adam thought it, willed it, he couldn’t very well say it. He stroked Les’ hip, his belly, patient and gentle. Les gasped, taking in great lungfuls of air. His channel loosened, stopped strangling Adam’s fingers and tongue. Adam twirled his tongue once, then withdrew it, working his fingers in deeper instead. He could feel Les’ thighs shaking, smell his arousal, feel his own arousal making his entire body ache. His patience was stretched thin when he brushed over Les’ gland, thinner still when Les shouted and thrashed, fucking Adam’s fingers. The silky tight heat of Les’ channel taunted Adam’s dick with the promise of velvety, gripping ecstasy. Adam pumped his wrist, desperate to get inside Les, to feel those contracting muscles squeezing around his length. He withdrew his fingers and kissed Les’ gaping hole, felt it flutter against his lips. Les was ready, or near so. Adam soothed Les when he protested about being empty, promising to fill him, soon. He stood on shaky legs and looked down at his lover, decadently sprawled on the bed. Flushed from chest to cheeks, his mouth slack his eyes hot, Les was the epitome of desire. “Scoot back.” Adam scraped the words past his dry throat. He repeated it again when Les only looked at him dazedly. “Scoot back so I can make love to you properly.” Adam wanted to feel Les under him, feel his body quake and writhe. Les nodded and started moving. Adam turned to the nightstand and grabbed the lube. He opened the bottle and poured it on his cock, cupping his hand underneath to catch the excess. More than sufficiently lubed, he crawled onto the bed, settling between Les’ spread thighs.

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“Up,” Adam gritted out, glad that Les didn’t require more direction. Adam wasn’t sure he could speak much more. Les caught the back of his knees and pulled his legs up, spreading his ass wonderfully. Adam took in the already tight balls, the hard dripping cock, then reached down and smeared lube over Les’ needy hole. He looked up to see Les’ eyes drop shut, his chest heave as he panted. Adam crawled up Les’ body, settling his cock against Les’ pucker. “Open your eyes,” Adam said softly as he planted his hands beside Les’ head. A moment of clarity stopped him, shocking him when he realised what he’d forgotten. “Do you…should I put on a condom?” They knew they were both clean. Adam had had every test known to man in the hospital, and Les had never been with anyone. “No,” Les said in a voice that sounded shredded, rougher than sandpaper. Adam dropped to his elbows, delving his fingers into Les’ short hair when those grey eyes opened. Adam bent his head and kissed Les, letting his lover feel the force of his need. His cock nudged Les’ hole, Adam’s hips pumping of their own volition. He needed Les, now. The answering fire in Les’ eyes was all the encouragement Adam needed. “I love you,” he said, knowing he had to before his voice was gone. Les’ lips parted, then opened wide on a shout as Adam began pushing his cock into Les’ ass. Adam tried to go slow, but Les’ body opened for him eagerly, hungrily. His dick sank in deep, his balls mashed against Les’ ass as the most exquisite, delicious heat gripped Adam’s shaft. Tight, so tight Adam couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, could only feel the rippling muscles trying to rip his climax from him too soon. He’d never felt this before, the silky glide and press of inner muscles around his bare cock. He wasn’t sure he’d survive it. And he had to move, had to feel Les come apart under him. Adam hissed as he withdrew a few inches, unwilling to back out any further. He plunged back in and ground his hips against Les’ ass, seeking more, deeper. Les’ gaze was locked with his, needy little sounds slipped from his parted lips. Those lips formed a breathless word, ‘more’, and something short circuited inside Adam with an audible snap he heard in his head. He dropped down on top of Les, burying his face against the man’s sweaty neck. Adam licked and bit as he began pounding into Les’ ass, revelling in the glorious hot sheath.

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Les’ chest rose and fell, taking Adam along with it as he scraped his teeth over Les’ throbbing pulse. He tightened his hold on Les’ head as his hips beat a rapid tattoo of need against his lover. Les let go of his legs and wound them as well as his arms around Adam, crushing him close. Adam squeaked, his breath gone as he plunged into Les over and over again. Adam’s balls pulled up tight, his muscles burned with strains from his lower back to his thighs. His cock swelled, trying to fill every dark space in Les’ ass. Trying to burrow all the way up to his heart. Les shivered and undulated, his hips snapping up to match Adam’s rhythm. Adam lifted his head enough to find Les’ lips with his own, pleasure swelling and setting off a thousand tiny drummers pounding out a beat of ecstasy. Adam filled Les’ mouth with the same ferocity as he filled his ass, claiming all of the man. Les’ keening cry rocketed through Adam as wet warmth spread between them. Les’ ass clamped down harder, sending bright dancing lights to the back of Adam’s eyes. Pleasure flooded him, drowning him as he flooded Les’ ass, pouring his release into Les in painful jets of cum. When Adam came down from his climax, he was dizzy, sluggish, his tongue thick and still plunging into Les’ mouth. He drew a noisy breath through his nose, swamping his senses with Les’ essence. Adam pried his eyes open as he ended the kiss and found himself caught by the peaceful expression Les wore. There were so many things Adam wanted to say, promises he wanted to give Les, but that expression told him—Les knew. Adam smiled down at his lover, unashamed of the tears that burned his eyes. He laid his head down on Les’ shoulder, wrapped in the security of their love, and Adam slept.

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Chapter Twenty-Five

As much as Les would have liked to say he woke up feeling refreshed and unburned after telling Adam—and Charlene—about his childhood, in truth he woke up with a stuffy nose and a headache pounding so intensely he thought his eyeballs would pop right out of his head. That wasn’t the worst of it, though. Granted, he didn’t appreciate his body deciding to punish him for letting go last night. It sucked, but some aspirin and coffee would go a long way towards fixing that. No, what was worse was the realisation that he and Adam had definitely been very…loud. The second time they’d made love, Les had figured his roar as he filled Adam’s ass had rattled the windows. Adam’s had been even louder. There was absolutely no way he could face Charlene this morning, not when she’d know they’d been going at it like two…two…bulls came to mind, but that kind of made Les’ head pound even worse. Well, he’d never claimed to have the greatest imagination. What it came down to was, Charlene couldn’t not have heard them if she’d been anywhere on the block. Les groaned softly, even that little bit of noise making his stomach hitch as his headache ramped up. He kept his eyes closed and took slow, deep breaths. Okay. So Charlene heard. It wasn’t like she doesn’t know Adam and I have sex. All right, that wasn’t helping. Les peeled an eye open and looked at his watch. He had a few minutes before the alarm went off. Adam snuffled and flopped onto his back. One arms slapped Les in the gut hard enough to make him grunt. Les’ head pounded, then he discovered another ache, one deep inside and unfamiliar. His eyes popped open as he realised that burn was in his ass. And it wasn’t exactly unpleasant, either. Les wiggled his hips a little, clenched and released his butt. Oh. Did it make him kinky that he enjoyed the fact that his ass was sore from Adam’s cock? Les squeezed his butt cheeks again as he thought about the way it’d felt to have Adam

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take him like that. Amazing, as if he and Adam were joined all the way through to the marrow in their bones. Les wondered vaguely if anyone would be able to tell. As tender as his ass felt, he thought walking would be…not a challenge, exactly, but he wouldn’t be running any marathons. Then he wondered if this was how Adam felt after every time Les made love to him. The alarm let loose a shrill sound. Les slapped at it, bright spots dancing in front of his eyes as agony speared through his brain. Adam mumbled something that sounded a lot like ‘take the shoe refrigerator’ then rolled onto his side and snored softly. Les would have liked to have turned on the lamp and looked at Adam, watched him sleep for a while, but he didn’t want to wake him. Besides, Les had to get to work in a bit, which meant he had to haul his ass out of bed, now. Les got up in a series of jerky movements. His head swam when he finally stood, but he managed to make it into the bathroom and shut the door. A sliver of early morning light came through the tiny bathroom window, but not enough. He turned on the light while shielding his eyes with the other hand. His image in the mirror greeted him. Les grimaced. His stubble was thick and he had bags the size of Cleveland under his eyes. His lips were bright red and chapped. And how was it even possible for hair as short as his to be such a mess? It was standing up every which way, and it didn’t make him look adorably tussled. He just looked like a worn out, baggy chapped slob. Ain’t I a bundle of joy? Les snorted and pulled the medicine cabinet open. A few Excedrin, a handful of water from the sink, and he was making progress. He started the shower then brushed his teeth. His bladder was throbbing so he handled that issue as well. The bathroom was steaming nicely. Les stuck a foot in the shower and found the water hot. His head would blow off his shoulders if he stepped under that. Les adjusted the shower nozzle so it sprayed the wall then he sat on the side of the tub. He wedged one heel over the drain hole and soaked his feet in the hot water. That always helped dull the edge of his headache, although once the rest of him was under the water, the pain would come right back. Still, the temporary respite would give the Excedrin time to kick in, maybe.

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After the tub had filled a quarter of the way, Les stood and scooted under the fall of water. It wasn’t as painful as he’d thought it’d be. Either the medicine was working extra fast or he’d sat there longer than he’d meant to. Les scrubbed as quickly as he could, but his fingers lingered over his tender hole. The skin there felt as puffy as that under his eyes. Soap on it stung. He didn’t linger after that. Once he was clean and shaved, Les crept back into the bedroom and did his best to get dressed quietly. The room had lightened enough that he could see Adam better now, and there was nothing for it—sprawled on the bed, blond hair sticking up in clumps, his mouth open and a little bit of drool on his chin—Adam was adorable. Les just wanted to scoop him up and cuddle him. He couldn’t, of course, but he did tiptoe over to the bed and brush a light kiss over Adam’s cheek before slipping from the bedroom. Only to give a very undignified squeak when he practically ran into Charlene. Charlene yelped as well but slapped a hand over her mouth and gaped at him. Les tried not to die of embarrassment, his thoughts from earlier this morning reasserting themselves. Looking Charlene in the eyes had to be one of the hardest things he’d ever done. Charlene winked at him then plucked an ear bud from under her mass of blonde hair. She waved the thing at him as she whispered, “I can’t hear a thing with these in! Didn’t hear you coming out of your room. I didn’t hear anything but Rufus Wainwright and Henry Rollins all night long!” Les was too boggled by that combination to dwell on whether or not Charlene was bullshitting him. Who the hell would think to have those two on the same playlist? “I’d offer to make you some coffee but you look like you’re on the way out.” “Yeah,” Les agreed, “I am, but, uh, I wouldn’t mind taking a cup with me.” Charlene beamed at him and it didn’t even feel odd when Les beamed right back.

**** Adam slapped at the mattress, still more asleep than not. Something, or someone rather, was missing. He patted and scooted and flung out a leg, but Les wasn’t in the bed. Adam cracked open his eyes and glared at nothing in particular. He was going to have a talk with Les about sneaking off without waking Adam so he could give him a proper goodbye.

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When he stretched, yawning so big his jaw popped, Adam discovered he had several pleasantly sore spots on his body. Les had left a… Adam peeked at his chest, and his stomach, hips, inner thighs…an abundance sounded about right, for the amount of love marks Les had given him. He wished he could have seen how many he’d left on Les’ body before the man had run off to work. Adam showered and took care of the other necessities. He noticed he had a light coating of fuzz on his chin and patches of it on his jaw and cheeks. He decided to leave it for now—maybe he could grow a short beard if he was hairy enough. Dressed in comfy stained jeans that drove his mother nuts and a long sleeved T-shirt, Adam strolled barefoot into the kitchen, drawn by the irresistible scent of fresh coffee and cinnamon rolls. Thank God his mom loved him despite his ratty clothes! He shot his mom a grateful grin as he stepped into the kitchen, unsurprised to find her in there. “Morning, Son,” Charlene said cheerfully. “You owe me.” Adam frowned and made a beeline for the coffee. He poured a cup and took a sip. It was so hot his eyes watered—nirvana! Adam took another drink then topped off his cup before sitting and joining his mom at the table. “So why do I owe you?” Adam asked, trying to decide whether he should take the fattest cinnamon roll or the one with the most icing. Decisions, decisions. He’d just about decided on the smaller, gooier one when Charlene pushed the plate towards him. “Eat as many as you want. I already ate one big enough to make that one there look like it’s stunted.” Charlene’s eyes twinkled as she added, “and it had the most icing, too!” Adam chuckled and took the heavily iced one. “You’re entitled to first dibs since you made ‘em.” He took a bite and moaned at the cinnamon sweet taste. “Oh.” He savoured that first bite then scarfed down the rest of the roll. He picked up the big one, took a long sip of coffee, then raised his brows at his mom. “These are magnificent, and a bunch of other high-dollar words that mean they’re really, really good.” “You still owe me,” Charlene informed him. “I got about zip amount of sleep what with all the racket you two made!”

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Adam coughed and spat up the part of cinnamon roll that had wedged in his oesophagus. Charlene jumped up and slapped him on the back, something she always did even though Adam had tried to tell her that just made it worse. “Guess you didn’t think about how loud y’all were, but I knew Les would,” Charlene was saying as Adam gasped and tried to catch his breath. “That young man is too considerate not to think about such things.” The fact that Adam wasn’t apparently, earned him a pinch to his ear. “Hey! You raised me!” “Doesn’t mean you always do what I say or what I taught you, does it?” Charlene slapped his back one last time then returned to her seat. “So anyway, here’s what I want for saving Les from complete and utter humiliation.” She propped an elbow on the table and set her chin in her hand. “Since I knew Les would be very self-conscious about the racket y’all made, I waited for him in the hall outside y’all’s bedroom door. And let me tell you, I deserve and Oscar for shrieking and acting completely surprised when he came out. Then he looked about ready to curl up and die, so I pulled out this,” Charlene held up a blue earbud. “But those don’t work,” Adam said, frowning at the familiar bare wires poking out of the cord. “Does he know that?” Charlene asked then continued before Adam could answer. He was feeling bulldozed by his mother anyway. It happened often, but this time he was very grateful for it. She’d thought quickly and went out of her way to make sure Les didn’t feel uncomfortable in his own home. “No, he doesn’t. Les didn’t even realise the things weren’t plugged in to anything. Course I had the end stuffed in my pocket, but…anyway. I told him I spent the night listening to Rufus Wainwright and Henry Rollins. I need you to pick me up some of these ear buds that work and a cheap music player—and download me some of those twos’ music.” Adam nodded. His mom had eclectic taste and she liked to listen to the strangest music mixes. He stood up and gave her a sticky lipped kiss. “For you, anything since you love my man, too.” Charlene’s snort wasn’t anywhere in the ballpark of ladylike. “How could I not?” “Exactly.” He had the best mom ever, and, whether Les knew it or not, Les had her now, too.

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Chapter Twenty-Six

Les growled as he hung up the phone. Every legal avenue he had available was useless. There was nothing, nothing on Rollins! Les had been sure with the way the jerk had gone after Adam and Chase, there’d be something in Rollins’ background, but apparently money bought everything but happiness, including a clean record. And judging by the snotty attitude of the police officer he’d talked to in Billings PD, Rollins had several of the cops there in his pocket. Granted, Officer Pettigrass could have been full of shit, but he’d sounded so smug when he informed Les that none of the other officers would have any dirt on Rollins. Pettigrass said Rollins was one of the big donors, always happy to give to the Widows and Orphans fund, establishing scholarships in slain officer’s names, supplying the baseball uniforms, the hockey uniforms— Les snorted. Rollins probably paid someone to wipe the damn cop’s asses, too. What he needed to do was find someone who could check into the man in a less legal manner. Chase Murphy was the obvious option, but the guy was still in the hospital and far from healed. So, maybe not the obvious option. But Chase was familiar with Rollins’ methods—too familiar—and had to have a burning need to see the man put away. Or dead; after having interviewed Chase twice, Les had to agree with Adam. The PI wasn’t exactly stable, and even someone who was would probably relish the idea of getting their own back against someone who’d tried to kill them. It didn’t matter. Chase was too hot-headed and too vulnerable right now. If Rollins found out the man was digging around into his life… No, it was better to leave Chase out of this. He’d do this on his own—and he actually had an idea where to start.

****

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Adam paced the living room. It irritated him to no end that he couldn’t even go out by himself without worrying about being jumped. And he absolutely did not feel comfortable leaving his mom here alone despite the fancy security system. Taking Charlene with him wasn’t an option, either. He hadn’t been able to stop the thugs in Billings from beating his ass. Adam had no illusions that it’d be any different if Rollins’ thugs found him now. They wouldn’t care that Charlene was a woman, either. In fact… Adam’s blood iced in his veins. He wouldn’t put his mother at risk, ever. Which was why, in a fit of desperation, he’d called Josh. It had been awkward, and Adam would have rather called Nick but he didn’t want to send Josh back into suspicious mode. Adam hadn’t meant to explain exactly why Charlene needed the mp3, but he should have known Josh would figure it out, at least the basic reason for it. Josh had giggled and then laughed until Adam thought the guy was going to bust a gut. Nick had come on the line, apparently having taken the phone from Josh, and proceeded to ask Adam just why Charlene needed the stupid thing. “Why do you think?” Adam had snapped. “And don’t even suggest turning on the stereo. It’d have to be really loud!” That had sent Nick into a laughing fit as well. Adam had been tempted to hang up, and had even gone so far as to put his finger on the ‘end’ button when Nick had said he and Josh would be by this afternoon with an mp3 player so Charlene wouldn’t end up scarred for life. Now Adam was waiting, something he wasn’t particularly good at, and hoping Nick and Josh would show up before Les got home. He was also dreading them showing up, because he knew he was in for tag-team teasing. Adam stopped pacing, a smirk tipping his lips. Let ‘em tease. If they aren’t just as loud then someone’s not doing it right. Feeling a lot better, Adam headed to the kitchen where Charlene was taking another sheet of cookies from the oven. She’d been baking them all day just about, filling the whole house with wonderful scents. Adam eyed the cookies stacked neatly on plates and platters. “Is Les going to have any dishes left?”

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Charlene set the sheet on the stove top and waved a hand at him. “He has plenty, and the ones that I send out will be back by tomorrow, you wait and see. I’ll make sure Nick and Josh tell the rest there’ll be no more cookies if they aren’t returned tomorrow.” That reassured Adam more than anything else would have. He knew the power of his mom’s cookies. He edged over to the counter and plucked one off a plate, careful to pull from the top so as not to screw up the neat stack. Adam bit into the cookie and moaned, his eyelids fluttering shut. God, every time he had these cookies, that first bite was always a surprise to his taste buds. Sweet, gooey, with a hint of cinnamon and the stronger flavour of brown sugar, a tad of vanilla—Adam moaned again and swallowed the part he’d nipped off. “Good, huh?” He opened his eyes to find his mom standing in front of him holding a glass of milk. “Thanks,” he said, taking the glass and chugging half the liquid. “Maybe I should just hand you the whole milk carton,” Charlene teased before going back to remove the cookies from the baking sheet. “You always smacked the back of my head when you caught me drinking from the carton,” Adam reminded her. “And you made me clean up the spittage when it flew out my nose and mouth.” Charlene cocked her head to the side and looked at him from the corner of one eye. “Well, yeah. You were the one who made the mess, you were the one who cleaned it.” Adam knew better than to get into a discussion over the fact that he wouldn’t have showered the inside the fridge with milk if she hadn’t have smacked him. She’d just point out he wasn’t supposed to be drinking from the carton…apparently unless she handed him the carton for that sole purpose. “Hand me that bowl from the fridge,” Charlene said. Adam stuffed the rest of the cookie in his mouth then chased it with the milk as he walked over to the refrigerator. Inside he found a huge metal bowl covered in plastic wrap. He pulled it out and lifted the wrap off enough to steal a fingerful of cookie dough. Adam set the bowl down on the counter beside the stove then sucked the dough off his finger. “I can never decide which is better. Warm cookies or cold cookie dough.” Charlene nodded as she began spooning out dough. “Cookies are good in any form.” She had him there. “Right as always,” he said before pressing a kiss to her temple.

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Charlene laughed and pointed the spoon at him. “And you’d do well to remember that!” “Yes ma’am.” A knock on the door had him sprinting into the living room. He peeked through the peephole and blinked. His hand had been on the lowest deadbolt. Adam lowered his hand and pressed it to the door as he stared at the stranger outside. The man was wearing a uniform exactly like Les’, but Adam didn’t know him. This could be a trick, Rollins might have sent this guy to… Adam was certain that was a big gun on the guy’s belt. He wasn’t going to open the door, no way. But what if something had happened to Les? Fear unfurled in Adam’s belly and filled him until his skin felt tight with it. The man raised a fist and pounded hard enough to wake the dead. “You going to answer that?” Charlene called from the kitchen. The stranger outside tipped his head, frowned, and did his damndest to knock the door off its hinges. This time he shouted as well. “This is Officer Lukowski! Open this door!” Adam heard Charlene’s soft footsteps behind him. He craned his neck around and held his finger to his lips. Charlene nodded, a worried look pinching her face. The banging on the door started up again. Adam’s hand was vibrating with the force of the blows. He pulled his hand from the surface of the door. What should he do? “Ask to see his badge,” Charlene suggested. Adam was fairly sure the possibly-real cop knew they were in the house. “Open the damn door before I kick it open!” The guy sounded really pissed. Adam wasn’t eager to do as he said, but he was worried about Les. And the racket was getting on his last nerve. “Stop hitting the freaking door!” Adam snapped. “I am not opening it for some lunatic who’s making threats!” Adam’s brows arched at the growl he could hear through the door. The man’s face was twisted in fury. At him? Or was something wrong with Les? “Hold up your badge to the peephole.”

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Curses filtered through the door. The man on the other side held up a badge that looked a lot like Les’, as far as Adam could tell. He stepped away from the door and whispered to his mom, “Go lock yourself in the bedroom. If you hear anything that sounds…bad, go out the window. Take this.” Adam took his phone from his pocket and handed it to her. The sound of an engine rumbling up the drive had him racing back to the door. The man on the porch had turned to watch the new arrivals. Adam moved quietly to the window and moved the curtain just enough to see Nick’s truck pull to a stop. He rushed back to the door. “Those are my friends. You better leave them alone!” He should have had Charlene call Nick and Josh, warn them— Josh got out and waved at the guy. Nick waved as well. “Looks like they know him.” Adam glanced over to find Charlene looking out the window. “Mom! Get back from there!” Charlene waved him off. The phone in her hand rang. Charlene glanced at the screen and held it out to him. “It’s Nick.” Adam took the phone then pressed the call button. “Nick? Who is that guy?” He could hear the man’s voice as he angrily demanded to speak to Adam. “He works with Les.” Adam felt a wave of relief that was short lived as Nick added, “And he says Les is missing.” Adam had no memory of unlocking the deadbolts or even opening the door. Suddenly there were three more people in the house. “What happened?” he asked through numb lips. “You tell me,” the cop snapped, levelling a glare on Adam. “You’re the one who has some rich fucker trying to get him. Maybe you should have kept right on driving through—” Adam swayed and would have crumpled to the floor if Josh hadn’t caught him. There was a loud buzzing in his ears. He could see Nick’s, Josh’s and Charlene’s mouths moving, knew they were yelling at the cop. The man blanched when Charlene stepped up and slapped a hand to his chest, pushing him back several feet. Visions of his mom shot by a crazy police officer flitted before

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Adam’s eyes. He lunged forward, dragging Josh with him as he tried to get between Charlene and the guy who was still trying to keep from landing on his ass. Nick was faster, unburdened by Josh unlike Adam. He stepped in front of Charlene and nudged her back while pointing one thick finger in the cop’s face. Voices exploded in Adam’s ears. Nick was cussing, Josh was cussing, Charlene was threatening to use a spoon to remove a certain few parts of the cop’s anatomy. “Shut up!” Adam yelled, drowning all of them out. “Les is missing and you all are fighting about something stupid!” Everyone stopped shouting at once, making the silence seem louder than the noise ever had. Charlene finally muttered, “No one gets away with being a jerk to my son.” “I don’t care about that!” Adam slapped at Josh’s hands where they still gripped his shirt. “Let go!” He took a deep breath and tried to get himself under control. It wasn’t possible, not when his entire world had just been kicked out of orbit. Adam looked at the police officer. The guy could glare all he wanted, it wouldn’t hurt Adam any. “How long has Les been missing?” “I don’t know for sure,” the man admitted. He seemed to sag, shrink under the weight of his worry. Nick sighed and gestured at the couch. “Have a seat before you fall over, Bart. You too, Adam.” Adam stumbled and Josh grabbed him again. “Do not smack my hands again or I’ll dump you on your ass.” “Sorry,” Adam mumbled, unable to look into those green eyes. “I’m just trying to help you focus,” Josh said. “Stupid, since I know you are focused on Les.” Adam hurt, a physical pain from his stomach to his collar bone. His mind kept conjuring up scenarios of Les beaten, brutalised—it shied away from anything worse. He couldn’t think of Les being taken from him permanently. Adam didn’t think he could survive it. Nick and Josh stayed at his sides and sat on the couch, sandwiching him between them. Adam watched the cop drop into the chair across from them. The guy was big, about Nick’s size, smaller than Les. Younger, too, and bland—light brown hair, pale-ish

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complexion, plain brown eyes. He reminded Adam of oatmeal. Even his voice when he spoke was even, not low or high, not accented like a Texas native. It just…was. “He was in the office this morning. I left for about an hour, got back at nine-thirty, and Les wasn’t there. I was surprised because his patrol car and personal vehicle were in the lots.” The cop shrugged. “I thought maybe he was in the bathroom. I started working on reports. Forty-five minutes later I realised he still wasn’t there. I checked the bathrooms then.” Adam wanted to tell him to get to the part where he knew Les was gone. Maybe he was wrong, missed something—which was why Adam needed to listen. “He wasn’t anywhere in the building. I…I don’t know, something just felt wrong. It was like an itch on my back I couldn’t reach to scratch. Then I asked dispatch if Les had been sent out. I thought maybe he took someone else’s cruiser. But no calls from dispatch, and all the cruisers were accounted for.” “Did you ask the Chief if he knew where Les was?” Nick asked. “No. Chief’s out of the office the rest of the week, at some big conference in Dallas. And…” he looked at Adam. “I didn’t know if maybe he was with you. I didn’t want to get Les in trouble if he’d decided to take a few hours off.” Adam licked his dry lips and tried to think past his fear for Les. Obviously this cop had figured out there was something going on between Adam and Les. If he hadn’t thought so before, Adam’s behaviour minutes ago had to have been a neon-bright give away. “Well, obviously he isn’t here,” Charlene pointed out when Adam remained quiet. “I haven’t seen him since he left for work this morning.” She pursed her lips then shook her head. “Do you really believe Les is the kind of man who’d run off for a…a…” Charlene’s cheeks flamed pink as she trailed off. “No ma’am,” the police officer answered. Adam had the dawning thought that he didn’t have to remember the man’s name. It was on his shirt. Lukowski. Lukowski glanced at Adam and promptly turned a ruddy shade that at least broke up the bland colouring. “But I didn’t know he was gay, either, until I came here.” Adam didn’t bother asking if that was a problem. The man was friends with Nick and Josh. He scraped his voice past his desert dry throat as he locked gazes with Lukowski. “He

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wouldn’t be so irresponsible. Just because he kept his private life private doesn’t mean he’s a different person from the man you’ve known.” “But I didn’t know him, not really,” Lukowski said. “Or not on a personal level, but you’re right. His work ethic hadn’t changed at all. Still, he wouldn’t have been the first person to—” “But he didn’t,” Adam snapped, shoving up from the couch. “So where is he?” He was very much afraid he knew that answer, at least in general. Les was in the hands of Rollins’ thugs, or Rollins himself. Maybe Lukowski was right and he should never have come here. “Did he tell you about someone hanging around the alley across from the station?” Lukowski asked. “Yes.” And Adam knew then, with a certainty that left him as cold as the Arctic tundra. “He went to confront whoever was in the alley, or to wait for them.” Lukowski nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving Adam’s. “That’s what I was afraid of, what I think now. I checked the alley before I came here. Couldn’t tell if there’d been a scuffle there or not—there’s trash everywhere. But I didn’t find Les, which means either he’s hunting whoever that was down, or…” He didn’t need to say anything more. Les wouldn’t have taken off and left them all worrying after him. Adam knew Rollins had taken Les, and judging by the sympathetic and worried gazes of the others in the room, they knew it too.

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Chapter Twenty-Seven

Hours earlier… Les kicked a bag of trash out of his way, frustration making him careless with his strength. The bag burst and spewed rotten food and God only knew what else across the alley. There was nothing here, not the slightest hint that anyone had been using this place to watch him. Les had been so sure he’d find something, maybe even the man who’d been watching him. As he’d stepped outside, he’d felt eyes on him. Les hadn’t been able to spot his watcher, though, and he’d gone into the alley hoping if nothing else the guy would follow him here. That hadn’t happened, and now Les was as rank as the alley and at his wit’s end as to his next move. “What are you doing?” Les looked up at the familiar voice and grimaced. “Looking for a clue, a freaking map to Rollins and a signed confession, notarised by God, the President and the Pope.” He propped his hands on his hips and glared at Lukowski. “What does it look like I’m doing?” “Besides throwing a hissy fit and, as difficult as it is to do, making this alley even more disgusting?” Les snarled at the man and just barely resisted kicking another bag. “I can’t find anything on Rollins, legally, anyway. I thought, maybe…” he shrugged and looked away from Lukowski. “This needs to end. Adam and Charlene shouldn’t have to be afraid to live their lives.” “You mention them a lot,” Lukowski said in a neutral tone. “Well, a lot for you, anyway. Especially Adam. I have to wonder.” Les’ whipped his head around and narrowed his eyes at the other police officer. “You don’t have to wonder anything. It’s not your business.” His heart was pounding so hard his fingers tingled.

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Lukowski narrowed his eyes right back. Les sighed and started to scrub at his face then dropped his hands back to his sides. “Look, I don’t understand what exactly you’re implying or why you’re implying it, but just leave it alone, okay? I don’t have the time or the patience to deal with it right now.” In the blink of an eye, Lukowski’s expression shifted back to the friendly visage Les was used to seeing. “Okay, you’re right. I apologise. I guess I’m just a little jealous that you and Adam seem to be such good friends after only a few weeks when I’ve never even been able to get you to hang out, you know?” He waved his hand when Les, feeling like the shittiest human being ever, would have spoken. “No, don’t worry about it. It’s my problem.” Les didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t realised Lukowski really gave a damn whether he hung with the guy or not. He also wondered if Lukowski had been hoping for something more than friendship, but that was a question he’d never ask. “So,” Lukowski said brightly, “tell me what I can do to help.” “After I shower off in the locker room,” Les muttered. He always kept an extra uniform at work, just like the other officers did. “I can’t stand the smell of myself.” Lukowski muttered an agreement but put a hand on Les’ arm when he would have walked by. The man’s brown eyes were wide, nearly pleading, as he held onto Les. “Please, just tell me. You can shower after.” He wrinkled his nose and sniffed. “We both will. I think I’ve caught the alley funk odour too.” Les started to jerk his arm back and shove past Lukowski, but there was a spark of desperation in the man’s brown eyes that made him rethink the impulse. Finally he nodded and shared his plan to find Rollins, his belief there had to be something to bring the asshole down with. He just didn’t have the skills needed to attain such information. Lukowski sucked his bottom lip between his teeth before releasing it with a soft sound. He tugged Les back into the alley, as if afraid someone would hear them. Les wanted out of the stench, but allowed himself to be led several feet back into the nasty place. He still felt bad for blowing Lukowski off all those times. “So you need a hacker, someone who can access Rollins’ private information. Probably I can help you with that.” Les shook his head. “No, I don’t want you doing anything illegal. I’ll find a way to nail Rollins’ balls to the wall. Maybe Chase will know someone I can hire.”

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Lukowski frowned briefly as he went back to torturing his lip before speaking. “Chase is that guy in the hospital, right?” “Yeah. I didn’t want to ask him because I’m pretty sure he’ll find a way to escape from the hospital and hunt Rollins down and kill him, very slowly.” “Huh.” The other man glanced up at the strip of blue sky between the two buildings. He let go of Les and scratched at his chin before tucking his hands in his pockets. “Have I told you about my cousin?” “No,” Les practically snapped. What the fuck did Lukowski’s cousin have to do with anything? Then Lukowski began talking about ‘Beto’ and his amazing computer skills, pointing out that Beto was also a licensed PI. “Maybe I can take you over there now, if he’s available,” Lukowski offered. Les grimaced and looked down at his filthy uniform. “No, I need to shower before going over—” He didn’t see the blow coming until it was too late. Pain exploded in his temple and Les crumpled onto the rancid garbage beneath him. Les didn’t even come to when the cuffs snapped tight around his wrists, or when Lukowski left him long enough to get his SUV and pull it up to the alley. In fact, he only regained consciousness when Lukowski doused him with ice cold water. Les came to with a gasp, his temple radiating increasingly intense waves of pain. He pried open his eyes and tried to blink away the double vision. Anger, betrayal—hurt—Les’ head throbbed with those emotions as Lukowski looked down at him with that same fucking friendly expression. “Why?” Les slurred, or thought he did. He wasn’t sure he’d actually pushed the word out. Lukowski shrugged without looking the least bit repentant. “Why else? Money. Once your body is found and the furore dies down, I’ll quietly resign, unable to continue working as a police officer after my ‘friend’s’ death—except, you weren’t ever my friend, not really, were you Les? Too good to hang with someone like me.” Les was reeling, physically and emotionally. He fell onto his side and gasped as the pain in his head doubled. How had he been so blind to Lukowski’s duplicitous nature? “If it helps any, I would have sold you out even if you were my friend,” Lukowski said in a bland tone. “Rollins has a lot of money, and he’s very generous with it—or at least,

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he was to me.” He chuckled and slapped Les’ cheek hard enough to make Les’ eyes water. Still, he forced words passed the tight ball of fear in his throat. “I don’t understand why he’d want me dead.” Lukowski sat back on his heels and shrugged. “It doesn’t really matter, does it?” then he smiled. “Are you thinking this is the part where I explain everything?” His smile vanished and he stared at Les intently. “It’s not going to happen. And you know you aren’t the one Rollins really wants, but you’re in the way. Now.” Lukowski stood and brushed his hands against his pants. “I refused to kill you, so Rollins will be sending someone along to do that as soon as I let him know I have you. Shouldn’t be too long. I better get back to work for a while before going and nabbing your pretty little boyfriend.” Les hadn’t been terrified, truly, completely terrified, until that moment. He shouted, adrenalin surging through him as panic welled and, spurred by the thought of Adam in this crazy bastard’s hands, Les surged to his knees, intent on killing Lukowski. Lukowski clucked his tongue and danced away. “Now, that’s just stupid. Go back to sleep and make this whole dying shit easier on yourself.” Les lurched to the side but, hands cuffed and on his knees, couldn’t avoid the solid kick. Lukowski’s boot connected with Les’ already battered temple with a sickening sound. Les’ last thought was that he’d fucked up and Adam was going to die because of that fact.

**** “We can’t file a report yet,” Lukowski said when Nick tried to argue the matter. “Les hasn’t been missing for more than a few hours, we have no proof he didn’t just go off somewhere.” This was definitely getting more complicated by the minute. He hadn’t expected to run into Nick and Josh here, and now he was afraid there’d be more dead bodies than he’d counted on when he’d taken Rollins’ money. And, he kind of actually was friends with Nick and Josh. It sucked that they were going to have to die, but really, they shouldn’t have come over. He had been doing just fine with his whole panicking partner act. Eventually Adam would have opened the door. He’d have subdued the little guy and his bitch of a mom easily then handed them over and been done with all this mess. Now he was going to have to let

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Rollins know he’d need to find more spots to dump the extra bodies. Shit. Well, thank fuck none of them have a clue. I’ve always been able to fool anyone. Les did the stoic thing, but Bart could take friendly to a whole new level, one where no one suspected it was all just an act. He was simply that damned good. He tuned back into the conversation when he felt that bitch’s eyes on him. Bart kept his expression locked in place despite the urge to cringe. Maybe he’d kill Charlene himself. It would probably be worth risking the death penalty. “What exactly do you suggest we do?” Her icy blue eyes seemed to drive spikes into his brain, threatening the façade he’d never once let slip. “Form a search party?” Bart blinked and shook his head. “No, I think, if this Rollins guy has Les, y’all will be getting a phone call.” Fuck, could the bitch’s eyes get any narrower without closing completely? “What makes you say that?” she asked. Bart fought back the shiver that tried to shoot up his spine. He really hated this woman. “Because Rollins is after Adam, not Les. I’d imagine Les is bait, nothing more.” And he hadn’t phrased that right, because he had four sets of eyes glaring daggers at him, and Adam was making this rumbling noise—Bart rushed to cover up his mistake. “I meant to Rollins, of course. Les means a great deal to all of us.” Bart easily worked up a few tears, which he swiped off his cheeks. “I’m sorry, I’m upset too and not thinking before I speak. I—” Charlene’s snort startled Bart into silence. He wasn’t the only one gaping at her like she was insane, either, something that gave him a secret burst of joy. At least he wasn’t the only one to think she was off her rocker, and even though the other three men were, for all intents and purposes, dead men walking—well, sitting—he liked that second of camaraderie when they all stared at Charlene. Then she pointed one small thin finger at him, and, with one sentence, she turned the tide on him. “I don’t trust you.” Ah well. He’d tried to do it the easy way. Bart widened his eyes under four sets of suspicious ones. “I don’t know why you’d say that,” he said with enough hurt to make it sound sincere. Bart made as if to push up from his seat, which he did, but he also unholstered his gun and had it pointed at Charlene before he’d even straightened up all the

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way. He ignored the gasps and curses from the men, although when they started to rise he cut them a glance and shook his head. “I don’t like this bitch, so don’t think I won’t blow her head off. I’m actually looking forward to doing just that right after I make her watch me kill Adam.” Maybe Rollins would give him a substantial bonus for doing the dirty work after all.

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Chapter Twenty-Eight

Les had been betrayed by the fucking bastard holding a gun aimed at Charlene’s head—that smiling, friendly-looking, eerily bland fucking bastard! The need to pound the man’s head into the ground until there was nothing left but blood, tissue and tiny bone shards had Adam clenching every muscle to keep from lunging. He was going to take that fucker down, soon. “How could you do this?” Josh asked in a trembling voice. Adam watched Lukowski glance at Josh, imagined the anguish and betrayal the twisted fuck saw in Josh’s green eyes. Saw the moment Lukowski spotted it. The man smiled. “Les asked the same thing before I kicked him in the head and left him for Rollins’ men to finish off, if—” he glanced at Adam then back at Charlene. “If the kick didn’t kill him, that is. I should have thought of that before I hit the same temple I’d used my brass knuckles on earlier. Whoops.” Lukowski shrugged. “Either way, I called Rollins and he’ll be sending someone to finish Les off.” Another shrug. “Maybe he already has.” Adam stumbled, agony tearing through him as if someone had gripped both ends of his spine and torn it out through the front of his body. Everything hurt, although that was too mild a word to describe what he felt. He was dimly aware of hands grabbing him, arms sliding around him and pulling him against a big body he’d felt pressed close to his before, although only on a dance floor. “Les’ll be fine,” Nick murmured in his ear. “Help is on the way,” he added when Charlene began tearing into Lukowski with a startling ferocity. Something small and hard was pressed against the lower part of Adam’s back, tapped until Adam grunted as he recognised the object as Nick’s cell phone. “You pull that trigger and you’ll never get away with it!” Charlene went on. “You think the cops won’t figure it out when they show up here and there’s blood and stuff everywhere? You backstabbing fool—”

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Lukowski’s face was contorted into an angry scowl as he raised the gun to level it at Charlene’s forehead. “It’d be worth it to shut you the fuck up!” Two things happened simultaneously then. Nick shoved him down hard as he lunged forward, and Josh leapt, the man a pink panted blur as he threw himself on Charlene. Lukowski shouted and fired off a shot, the sound slamming against Adam’s ear drums as he hit the floor. He rolled and scrambled to his knees, a panicked gaze zeroing in on the still pile of bodies that were Josh and Charlene. His stomach jolted and Adam screamed, fear and fury vying for dominance. He surged up and started to go to them when Lukowski flung Nick off, knocking him into the entertainment centre. CD’s and DVD’s showered down on Nick’s head and shoulders as Lukowski began pushing himself up. Adam dived for the gun at the same time Lukowski did, knowing if he failed to reach it, they were all dead except for that bastard. He flung an elbow out, catching Lukowski under the chin with enough force the man’s head flew back. As tempting as it was to slam his hand into Lukowski’s wind pipe, Adam didn’t. Even panicked he knew they needed Lukowski alive if they wanted to find Les. But the man wasn’t giving in easily and Adam found himself blocking punch after punch as Lukowski came at him. He didn’t even have the chance to get another hit in, not with the way he was having to defend himself. Then he thought of Les, hurt and alone, Chase, beaten, broken, James, missing, and him and Charlene being stalked. His brain processed all of this in a split second and Adam roared as he drove his fist into Lukowski’s face. Blood spurted from the man’s nose as the impact of the hit shot up Adam’s aching hand all the way to his shoulder blade. Whether it was a red haze of anger or actual blood tinting his vision, he didn’t know or care as he followed Lukowski down and rained punches to the man’s head. Adam yelled in protest when strong hands gripped his shoulders and tore him from Lukowski. “Adam, enough!” Nick shouted, shaking Adam hard enough to rattle his teeth. “He’s out! Jesus, he might even be dead! Josh!”

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Adam quit trying to shake off Nick’s hands and fell back on his butt. He swiped at his eyes and blinked away the pinkish tint that was, much to his disgust, actually blood. He saw Josh, a trail of blood streaming down from his biceps, leaning over Lukowski. “He’s not dead, the stupid fucker,” Josh snarled. “Maybe you shouldn’t have pulled Adam off yet.” “No, my son isn’t a killer.” Adam looked over at his mother, sitting on the floor, pale and shaky but otherwise, she seemed fine. She gave him a wan smile and nodded at Josh. “I’m going to owe him a lot of cookies.” Adam didn’t care about cookies. His mom wasn’t shot, Josh was—well, he suspected the man’s arm was bleeding from a gunshot wound, but Josh didn’t seem particularly fazed, and Nick, who’d finally released him, hadn’t been killed either. Now he just needed Les to be safe, alive. Adam glared at the bloody mess of a man sprawled on the floor. He stood up and took the two steps necessary to reach the man then kicked Lukowski in the ribs. “Wake up!” Lukowski groaned and it looked like he tried to open one eye. Adam wasn’t sure. “Tell me where Les is or I’ll break every fucking one of your ribs,” he said, his voice colder than he’d ever thought possible. At first he thought the wailing sound came from the downed jerk, then he realised it was a siren—no, sirens. Relief spluttered and died in him. He wanted Lukowski arrested but as soon as the man was taken away, Adam’s chance to find out where Les was would be gone as well. “I suggest you answer Adam’s question,” Josh snapped from where he knelt over Lukowski. “In case you haven’t noticed, Nick has a gun pointed at you, and he’s pissed enough to pull the trigger.” Adam grunted in surprise as he twisted his neck around and saw that Nick did indeed have the gun aimed at Lukowski—his stomach, though, rather than his head. A painful and maybe not fatal shot. “And I will make you hurt,” Nick said, confirming Adam’s thought. “You shot Josh, you asshole! I might just shoot you anyway!” Nick tipped the weapon down slightly and

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pulled the trigger. Bits of wood exploded from beside Lukowski’s hip and the sharp bitter tang of urine mixed with the scent of gunpowder. And Lukowski started to speak.

**** Everything hurt, from the tips of his hair to his toenails. Les groaned and forced his eyes open. The slight movement made the pain worse, until his entire body felt like one throbbing, raw nerve. But he wasn’t dead, at least not yet. How much longer that would be the case, Les didn’t know but he suspected it wouldn’t be long, especially not if he continued to lie there like some helpless victim. Waves of red hot pain washed over him as he rolled to his side, and he wouldn’t have been surprised if every artery and blood vessel in his brain burst. His vision dimmed and he panted as he struggled to his knees. Les slumped against the wall of the small shed, utterly drained. Visions of Adam at Lukowski’s mercy—of which the traitorous bastard had none— had Les shoving up to his feet. Even with the wall at his back, he swayed, dizzy and so nauseous he almost wish he’d remained unconscious. But then he’d be an easy target for Rollins’ thug, or thugs. Les couldn’t do that, just lay there and wait to die. He’d go out fighting, if he had to go out at all. He’d prefer to hang around for another fifty years or more, though, so Les tried to quell the nausea and think past the pain. Several deep breaths later, he was still well past miserable, but the sound of a vehicle approaching told Les he was out of recovery time. Les shuffled towards the door, keeping pressed to the wall since he was about as weak as a lamb. His hands were still cuffed behind his back and he didn’t think he had a snowball’s chance in hell of taking out whoever opened the door, but he had to try. He’d just got to the other side of the door when the knob was twisted and the door opened. Les kicked out the second the man started to step inside. He managed a higher, harder kick than he’d thought he could. The toe of his boot sunk into a soft layer of fat and a pained

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grunt sounded before the man stumbled back. Les tried to charge out the door but his unsteady legs wouldn’t hold him and he ended up sprawled over the man’s legs, his chin slamming into the guy’s groin. “Fuuugh!” The man howled in agony and reached for his balls, his hands slapping at Les. Les used the only weapon he had, biting one hairy knuckle hard enough that blood coated his tongue. The man bucked and screamed and tried to jerk his hand free. When he couldn’t he delivered a stinging blow right to Les’s head—fortunately the non-injured side but it still made his ears ring. It wasn’t until the ringing grew louder and red and blue lights flashed in his vision that Les realised he just might live after all—but he still didn’t let go of the screaming man’s hands until two police officers practically pried his jaws open. Vision going grey, narrowing to a pinprick as Les rolled off his would-be attacker, Les only had one question. “Where’s Adam?” he tried to ask. He slipped into unconsciousness before he could even finish the first word.

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Chapter Twenty-Nine

It felt wrong, the way Les’ hand was so still in his. Adam blinked away tears as he rubbed his thumb over the back of Les’ hand. Even though he knew Les would recover, it hurt seeing the big man in the hospital bed, his normally tanned face almost as white as the pillow case his battered head rested on. When Adam had first seen Les after finally being allowed into the room, he’d been hard pressed to believe what the doctors had said. No cranial hemorrhaging, no fractures to his skull. Adam kept repeating those two things to himself, but it didn’t help much. Concussions were tricky. There could be long term damage or something not apparent until further down the road. Les’s brain could swell, start bleeding, any number of things and it terrified Adam with an intensity that left him gasping for breath if he thought on it too much. It doesn’t matter, just as long as he wakes up and comes back to me. I don’t care if there’s permanent damage or temporary damage, whatever, just let me keep him! Adam scrubbed at his cheeks with his forearm then sniffled a couple of times. Looking at the bruises darkening on Les’ skin would send him right back into a crying jag, and that just wouldn’t do. He wanted Les to wake up, and Adam didn’t want to man’s first sight of him then to be cause for concern—and Les would be concerned if he came to and Adam was sobbing and all blotchy and his eyes swollen. Les had been through so much Adam didn’t want to add any stress for him. As Adam glanced around the small grey-ish room, he thought of Les’ brightly decorated bedroom. The hospital room was depressing in its blandness. Even the floor was grey, although a darker shade, and the curtains—well, at least they had some pale blue lines running through them. Geez, this wouldn’t encourage anyone to wake up! Adam wondered if there was a particular reason the hospital kept the rooms so drab—maybe there was a study done that said it helped people feel calm? More likely it makes them want to get out a hella lot faster… The door squeaked softly as it was opened. Adam’s hand tightened on Les’, and he scooted a little closer, hovering over his lover even, until the Chief of Police, Howard Ewers,

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stepped into the room. Adam hadn’t been surprised when the Chief had been one of the first responders at the house. Lukowski had lied about everything else, so why wouldn’t he have lied about the Chief being at some convention? A few hours ago, Ewers’ had been the epitome of a commanding officer, his expression stern and anger glinting in his dark eyes. Now the man’s shoulders were slumped and the confidence he had exuded seemed to have vanished as he made his way towards Adam and Les. Adam didn’t know the man at all, but he didn’t think Ewers often looked so…defeated. Adam’s heart turned in his chest. “What’s wrong? Did Rollins—” “Rollins is dead,” Ewers said bluntly. A spark of anger flared in his black eyes as he scowled. “It seems the Billings police department sent out a couple of officers to arrest him and there was a scuffle,” he laced the word with enough scorn to make Adam frown. “And Rollins managed to get one of the officer’s guns and kill himself.” Adam’s frown deepened as he tried to figure out why that was a bad thing. Rollins had tried to have so many people killed. He might have even succeeded with James. Maybe Adam should have felt bad, but the truth was, he was glad the man was dead. His confusion must have been evident because Ewers sighed heavily and settled his angry glare on Adam. “I suspect, given that Rollins seemed to have that police department in his pocket, the officers were either sent out to make sure the man didn’t roll on them, or else they decided to make sure of it themselves. How many cops were on Rollins’ payroll, and how far up the chain of command did it go?” Ewers shrugged again as his mouth thinned. “There was no way they could get out of arresting Rollins, not with Lukowski and Jensen, the man who was sent to kill Les, spilling everything they knew. Jensen had worked for Rollins before, and he rolled on the bastard before he even had him cuffed.” “So the dirty cops are going to get away with everything?” That was shit as far as Adam was concerned. “Can’t you—or someone—call the FBI or…or Homeland Security or something?” Ewers’ lips twitched but he nodded. “Already done. I have some…friends in high places, you might say. The fact that the Billings PD shouldn’t have even had time to draw up a warrant when they went after Rollins won’t hurt, either. That whole department is in for a big shake-up.” Ewers’ amusement faded and he once again looked like he was bearing the

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weight of the world on his shoulders. He dragged one hand through his short hair and sighed. “There’s bad people in every field of work, but crooked cops—that’s just the worst.” Adam knew Ewers was referring to Lukowski as well as the police officers Rollins had had in his pocket. He wasn’t sure why, but he looked at Ewers and apologised. “I’m sorry about Lukowski—” Or tried to. Ewers slashed a hand through the air and snarled. “No. I hired the traitorous bastard. I fucked up. If I had only seen what he was like none of this would have happened.” He looked at Les and guilt settled over his rough features. “It was my lack of judgement that put a good officer in the hospital and that almost got your friend Josh killed. Almost got your mother…” Adam’s eyes widened. Ewers’ voice had definitely gone soft when he’d mentioned Charlene. Did that mean something? He narrowed his eyes and studied the Chief. No rings on at all, no tan line even around that finger. His gaze darted up to the man’s head. Several strands of white streaked his otherwise dark hair. There were a few deeply etched wrinkles around his eyes and mouth, but Adam didn’t think Ewers was much older than Charlene. Maybe he was even younger? Ewers looked at him and lowered his lashes. His cheeks darkened and he cleared his throat. Flustered was a good look on the man. Misplaced guilt, not so much. Adam cocked his head to the side and tapped the bed rail. Ewers gave him a questioning look. “My mom—Charlene—would definitely chew you a new one for thinking you’re God, you know.” Ewers’ eyebrows snapped together until the nearly met above his nose. “What?” “I mean, what kind of ego must you have, thinking you should know Lukowski’s thoughts and motives just from looking at him. Yeesh, she will really set you straight on that.” Adam couldn’t help but chuckle thinking about it. “Guilt is good when you did something wrong, but unless you’re telepathic or, you know, God, you couldn’t have known Lukowski was a lying asshole. So, do you think you are—God, I mean? Or will we be seeing you on late night TV offering to give readings?” He didn’t know how far he could push Ewers, but the Chief seemed like a good man. Maybe not good enough for Charlene, but whoever would be?

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And if Ewers used the scowl he was giving Adam on the men under his command, Adam had to wonder how they kept from quivering. The Chief looked fierce! “No, I don’t think I’m God, or any of the rest of that crap!” Ewers snapped. “But I should have known—” “Chief.” Adam’s breath hitched upon hearing Les’ raspy voice. The hand that had been so still in his squeezed lightly. Adam’s eyes darted up to meet Les’s swollen ones, and even in that pain-filled gaze, he saw a flicker of humour. Ewers snapped his mouth shut then promptly opened it again. “Stanton—Les…I’m sorry—” Les groaned and closed his eyes. Adam would have glared at the Chief but he didn’t want to look away from his lover. Les cracked one eye open and focused on his boss. “Shut up, Ewers. Go find Charlene and take her for coffee and leave me alone with my partner.” Adam looked at the Chief and bit back a snicker as the man blinked in what Adam figured must be shock. Bet that’s the first time one of his officers has told him to shut up! Ewers seemed to pull himself together, his shoulders going back as his eyes narrowed. He pointed one long finger at Les. “I’ll let that go since I don’t think you’re in your right mind at this moment.” He huffed and dropped his hand back to his side. “Maybe by the time I get back from having a cup of coffee, you’ll have come to your senses.” He gave a clipped nod, but Adam didn’t miss the silly smile on the man’s face as he turned then strode from the room. “Make sure he thinks I’m asleep later,” Les grumbled. “I don’t think he’s going to let me off without an ass chewing.” Before Adam could reply the door opened again and Ewers’ stuck his head in. His eyes sought out Adam’s and a blush spread up to his forehead. Ewers stuttered for a second before clearing his throat and glaring at him. “Where would Ms Masterson be?” Adam resisted the impulse to tease the man. Maybe he’d leave off lecturing Les in exchange. “She should be sitting with Chase Murphy about now, unless Josh has been released, then she might be with him.” Ewers murmured something that might have been thanks then shut the door again.

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“I’m not sure how I feel about that,” he mumbled, still staring at the door. A tug on his hand had him turning back to Les, who gave him a pained smile. “Chief’s a good guy,” Les said, his words beginning to slur as his eyes drooped shut. “Love you.” Adam stopped worrying about his mom and Ewers. Charlene would have the guy whimpering in terror if he stepped out of line. Adam bent and pressed a soft kiss to Les’ chapped lips. “I love you too, but we are definitely going to have a talk about you running off to play the hero.” He grinned when Les groaned, then he kissed the man again. Les would find out soon enough there’d be more thank you to the talk than scolding—of which there’d be some, sure. Then Adam would spend the rest of his life showing Les just how much he was loved.

**** He was sick of sleeping, and sick of being hurt, and sick of being in the hospital— again. But Les wasn’t stupid enough to be snarly about it. Adam wouldn’t have got mad at him, but Charlene, who was in the room almost as much as Adam, would have ripped his aching head off his neck and beaten him about the shoulders with it. Maybe he was exaggerating, but a ‘talking to’ from Charlene could be every bit as painful as being viciously beheaded, he was pretty sure. Besides, he was getting out today, after three hellacious days spent in this awful room. Les could hardly wait to see his colourful bedroom again, and to lay back and just hold Adam, feel that slender body pressed to his and reassure himself all over again the man was fine, safe finally from Rollins. Rollins… “You’re frowning awful hard,” Adam said, drawing Les out of his thoughts. He looked into those blue eyes that had speared him the first time he’d seen them and his heart beat faster as warmth spread through him. Adam’s tender smile said he felt the same sweet feeling. “I’d have thought you’d be happier about going home,” he teased, knowing full well how excited Les was to go home. Les had wheedled and yes, begged even, for Adam to get him out of here.

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“I don’t think happy covers it,” Les said, tugging Adam up from the chair. Adam scooted onto the narrow hospital bed and lay down on his side, his head resting on Les’ chest. “So what was the frown for then?” Adam asked, his warm breath heating the skin under Les’ shirt. He settled a hand on Les’ stomach and one knee over Les’ thighs. Les’ cock twitched and he willed his burgeoning erection away. Charlene would be back any minute. And that realisation was enough to keep his dick from filling. Adam rubbed his stomach. “Les? What was it?” Les caught Adam’s hand in his, because even the threat of Charlene wasn’t going to keep his unruly part in check what with the way Adam was caressing him. “Rollins,” Les said, as much to distract himself as to answer Adam’s question. Adam’s hand stilled and Les felt him tip his head back. Les glanced down, nearly losing his train of thought as his gaze locked with Adam’s. The man just had such pretty eyes. “Les?” Les blinked and brought a hand up to stroke the backs of his fingers over Adam’s cheek. “I just really wish Rollins had been arrested. Seems like he got off too easy—well, too fast, I guess, though being killed was harsh, so—” “No, I know what you mean,” Adam said, resuming his strokes on Les’ stomach. “His punishment was over in an instant, whereas in prison he would have probably suffered, but…” he swallowed and something that looked like shame settled over him. “I…I was glad when Ewers told me Rollins was dead, at first. I’m not proud of it, but…” Les wished to hell they were in his bed. He couldn’t hold Adam the way he longed to in the narrow little bed. Still, he did the best he could, wrapping Adam in his arms and rolling the smaller man on top of him. He cupped Adam’s cheek in one hand and waited until those blue eyes raised up to look at him. “It doesn’t make you a horrible person. Rollins was a hateful man. He hurt a lot of people, and he would have killed the five of us if you and Nick hadn’t stopped Lukowski. Do you think it’s wrong that I’d rather he have spent decades in prison, miserable and suffering as much as he possibly could have?” “No,” Adam answered without hesitating. “Rollins deserved that, but death is so final. It’s harsh to say you’re glad someone’s dead.”

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“He would have had us killed,” Les reiterated, “and your mom, and Nick and Josh. Chase, too, I bet, and no one has been able to find that lawyer… I don’t think it’s harsh to be glad he won’t ever hurt anyone again, because he probably would have,” Les realised the truth even as he spoke it. “Sometimes all prison does is allow a criminal to orchestrate his crimes from a cell. No one can say Rollins wouldn’t have kept at it, wouldn’t have had someone working on the outside for him.” Adam stared at him for several long seconds before letting out a shaky breath. “Well, I was going to say I regretted saying that, but now I’m not so sure.” Les wasn’t sure he regretted Rollins not standing trial now either. Keeping Adam— and Charlene, as well as their friends—safe, was what mattered most to him. And it wasn’t like he or Adam had pulled the trigger on Rollins, or ordered a hit on him, which is what Les told his lover. Some of the tension eased from Adam and he nodded. “Right, we didn’t. I just… I’m relieved he can’t hurt any of us again.” “Me too,” Les said. He puckered his lips and Adam laughed then bent and kissed him senseless. Les was too happy to even care that he was rocking a hard on when Josh and Charlene came in. Some things were worth a little embarrassment, and Adam kissing him like that was worth just about anything.

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Chapter Thirty

“Remember, no hot monkey sex for at least a week,” Josh teased as he followed Adam and Les through the exit doors. Adam peered over his shoulder at his new friend and scrunched his face up. “Why would we want to have sex with monkeys? That’s just gross.” Les snorted and Josh rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean—nothing that might cause Les to reinjure his head.” Josh’s eyes glinted with intent as the three men waited for Charlene to pull the vehicle around. “No hard thrusting, no head tossing, no throwing it back to scream when—” “Josh!” Les practically squealed. “Christ, we get it!” Adam would have laughed except for the fact that Josh was right, which made the situation not funny. Josh rambled on as if Les hadn’t even spoken. “—you come. Now, y’all can do that nice, sweet, slow love-making stuff, which, I’d like to point out, can be totally incredible in its own way.” He sighed and his expression turned dreamy. “Mmm, being kissed and licked over every inch of skin, taking the time to discover each hidden spot that makes your lover moan, makes them squirm and beg—” “Josh!” Adam and Les shouted. Josh blinked and gave them an innocent look as he planted his hands on his lean hips. “What? I just want to make sure y’all have a good understanding of the doctor’s advice.” “More like you want to make sure we’re both about ready to cream our jeans,” Adam muttered, unable to stop himself from reaching down and trying to relieve some of the pressure against his erection. Two sets of eyes followed the movement, then Les squirmed in the wheelchair and Josh laughed. “You guys are so easy!” Adam tipped his nose into the air and tried to keep the smile off his face as he sniffed. “The only reason you’re getting away with being such an ass is because you saved my Mom.” He was tempted to say a few smutty things himself and see how Josh liked walking

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around work with a boner, but that certainly wouldn’t improve his or Les’ situation at all, either. Josh batted his thick lashes, his bottom lip out in a pout as he pointed at his biceps. “But I got shot!” Adam’s stomach clenched but he glanced at the bandaged spot with all the interest he’d give a fly. “That little thing? Hardly even a scrape.” In truth, it’d taken over a dozen stitches to close the wound, and he’d be grateful to Josh for taking that shot for the rest of his life. “Well,” Josh huffed, looking as if he was trying to decide whether to play the wound up and possibly sound like a whiner or agree and thump his chest in a Neanderthal-like display of manliness. He was saved from making a decision when Charlene pulled up to the kerb. Adam quickly stepped behind Les to hide his hard on. “Thanks a lot,” Les muttered, folding his hands over the tent in his loose pants. “Sorry,” Adam said, sounding sincere then ruining it with a chuckle. “I’d glare at you but my head would probably blow right up.” Adam felt like an ass for teasing Les. He bent and gently kissed the top of Les’ head. “I am sorry. I’ll be good.” Les snorted at him then stood and only grumbled a little as Adam and Josh helped him into the back seat. Adam waited until Josh stepped away from the door then he leaned in and whispered softly in Les’ ear. “I promise I’ll make it up to you as soon as we get home.” He hadn’t missed the fact that Les’ cock was still trying its best to make a hole in his pants. “What are you two whispering about? Don’t you know that’s rude?” Charlene asked, startling Adam. He smacked the back of his head on the door frame trying to backpedal out of the vehicle. “Yes ma’am,” Adam said as he rubbed the tender spot. He ignored Josh’s laughter in favour of smiling back at Les. “Sorry, Mom.” Apparently he was going to be apologising to everyone today. “Just remember your manners,” Charlene scolded, “and hurry up. I have a date to get ready for!”

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Adam thought about that for a second and crinkled his nose. He wanted his mom to be happy but a date could lead to another date and so on until after thirty or forty of them, his mom could… Ew! “Get in before your brain bleeds out your ears,” Josh told him. “The Chief’s a nice guy, so stop thinking about…that.” Adam turned to Josh, who was a nice shade of red. As fun as it would be to tease him, that would lead into things that might well traumatise them both. He settled on reaching for the man and pulling him in for a hug. “Seriously, thank you.” Josh patted his back for a second then stepped back. “Your mom is the bomb, Adam. I couldn’t let anything happen to her. Now go home and take care of that.” Josh gestured towards Les. “Just be gentle with him.” Adam nodded. He’d be gentle, all right.

**** By the time Les got settled on the bed, his head was throbbing and his erection was long gone. He bit back a moan as he closed his eyes. Hopefully the pain meds would kick in soon. He kept envisioning his brain turned into mushy gelatinous goo inside his skull, although he couldn’t figure out how goo could hurt so damned much. A warm hand landed on his shin and coasted up to his hip. Les’ cock decided it wasn’t quite as ready to give up all hope. It twitched as that hot little hand started tracing patterns on his stomach. The bed dipped and Les cracked open one eye. His breath whooshed from his lungs at the sight of Adam, gloriously naked and stroking himself, kneeling on the mattress. Adam’s smile was more than a little hopeful as his thumb brushed over the tip of Les’ dick. “Think you can handle a little gentle loving?” “Yeah.” Les wondered when his voice had changed into that of a teen boy’s in the midst of puberty. He cleared his throat and tried again while Adam gave him a smug look. “Yeah, if that means you’re gonna suck me until I pass out, I’m up for it.”

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Adam laughed and pinched the tip of Les’ crown just hard enough to make him hiss. “I’d say you’re definitely ‘up’ for it.” Then he grabbed the sheet and jerked it off Les’ lower body. “Now aren’t you glad I didn’t let you keep your boxers on?” Les’ cock bobbed in gratitude, thumping his belly and leaving a dab of pre-cum on his skin. His balls were already aching with the need for release. For a man who used to go weeks without beating off, he sure didn’t have any kind of willpower now—thanks to Adam. Les would spend the rest of his life showing the man how much he loved him. But for now he fisted the base of his cock and waved it at Adam. “Suck it.” “Thought you’d never ask. Or order. I do love a bossy man in bed sometimes.” Les could do that, and was going to show Adam just how bossy he could be but the man was quick and agile and Les was gasping as wet heat enveloped his shaft all the way to his fist. The scrape of Adam’s teeth against his hand had Les releasing himself, his hand falling limply to his side, then his dick was buried deep, tight muscles convulsing around it as Adam’s nimble fingers rolled his balls, and Les was sure he was going to lose his damn mind as well as his load. Adam sucked back up his length, his tongue flicking every hot spot on Les’ rod, then his mouth tightened incredibly more, his lips sealing around the underside of Les’ cockhead. Les panted and groaned, trying not to roll his head from side to side as Adam tongued his slit. Adam hummed and delved his tongue in harder, almost painfully, at the same time tugging at the hair on Les’ balls. “Guhh!” Even the pounding in his head couldn’t detract from the exquisite pleasure spreading out from Les’ groin. Adam bobbed back down and sucked Les’ cock into his throat as he shifted and rolled Les’ balls. Nails scraped lightly below his sac, over his perineum then down to his hole and Les quivered from his toes to his chest. “Yes, Adam, please!” Adam raised his head and Les whimpered at the dragging suction on his dick. “Be still,” Adam mumbled around Les’ shaft. Les hadn’t realised he was moving, trying to fuck Adam’s mouth, his fingers. He needed the man so badly he ached with it, and nothing else mattered right then. Adam pulled off Les’ cock with a slurp. Les opened his mouth to protest, loudly, and found himself sucking on two of Adam’s fingers. “Get them good and wet,” Adam instructed as he pumped Les’ dick slowly. “Then get three of yours wet, ‘cause I’m gonna

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straddle you and you’re gonna put those fingers to good use. Shouldn’t jostle you like it would if I was fucking your mouth, I think.” “Oh God,” Les tried to say around the fingers in his mouth as the image of Adam kneeling over him, his thick length sliding in and out of Les’ mouth, nearly made Les come. He latched on to Adam’s fingers, sucking hard when the man tried to pull them free. Adam chuckled and gave him a heated look. “You gonna let me have those back so I can use them like we both want me to?” Les opened his mouth and replaced Adam’s fingers with three of his own. Adam nodded and carefully positioned himself so that his knees were on either side of Les’ head. Les tapped at one smooth inner thigh and Adam spread his legs wider. He bent down and his ass cheeks parted, giving Les a view that shorted out half of his brain cells. Adam’s heavy balls hung low between his thighs, and his cock leaked fluid on Les’ chest. His little pink hole fluttered and clenched, and Les hoped his fingers were wet enough because he had to feel that tight silky heat now. He wasn’t even aware of bending his own legs, opening himself for Adam’s prodding fingers. Les reached under Adam and palmed his balls while tracing the wrinkled pucker as Adam tapped at his. Then Les’ world exploded in blinding white-hot ecstasy as his cock was sucked back into Adam’s mouth. His hole burned as he was penetrated in one hard thrust. Les moaned and rocked his hips, unable to stop himself. Adam’s answering moan was accompanied by a wiggle of his butt and Les struggled to think past his own pleasure. He pressed his fingers against Adam’s hole, feeling the eager way it spasmed under the touch. Les pushed into Adam’s ass at the same time as he fisted the man’s cock, then Adam was driving them both out of their minds, rocking back, fucking Les’ fingers as if he couldn’t get enough. Les gasped and panted as he worked Adam’s tight little hole, stretching it quickly and shoving in a third finger. Adam shuddered and moaned around Les’ cock then began a hard, fast rhythm with his mouth and fingers, both sucking and fucking Les, occasionally brushing his knuckles over Les’ gland. Les was hard pressed to keep up, pleasure making him clumsy as he pumped his digits in and out of Adam’s pucker. He jacked Adam’s cock with jerky rough strokes and tried to rub over Adam’s prostate, but damned if he could even think with the way all his

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nerves were clamouring, screaming and vibrating under his skin with each hard suck of Adam’s mouth, each deep penetration of his fingers. The scrape of Adam’s teeth up his length along with the almost unbearable stretching of Les’ hole as another finger was shoved in demolished any hope Les had of breathing, moving, doing anything other than whimpering as every muscle in his body tightened, as his climax was wrenched from him. Les’ balls drew up tight, his inner muscles clamped down around Adam’s fingers, and cum raced up his cock to spew in thick, hard bursts into Adam’s throat. All Les could do was let the orgasm take him, shatter him and turn him inside out as pleasure blinded him. He slowly became aware of the fact that he still had his fingers buried in Adam’s ass, and the man was making desperate little noises, whines and moans as he gripped the hand Les still had loosely around Adam’s dick. Les tightened his hold under Adam’s and let the man guide their movements—Les’ arms felt like jelly. He found the strength to begin pumping his other wrist, gently at first, then harder, faster, ploughing Adam’s ass with three fingers. Adam grunted and slammed his butt back, his balls slapping Les’ wrist. Les’ mouth watered to taste the furry sacs, to scrape the wrinkled skin with his teeth, but he couldn’t lift his head to even try, not with the way Adam was fucking himself on Les’ fingers. He could almost feel Adam’s desperation to come. Les fisted Adam’s cock harder, and, when Adam bounced forward, Les folded his pinky in and hoped he was right about what Adam needed. He was. Adam howled, there was no other word for it, as four of Les’ fingers stretched his hole. His cock pulsed and swelled in Les’ tight grip, and Adam tried to sink those digits even deeper in his ass. Les rotated his wrist, adding more pressure to Adam’s pucker. With his other hand he knuckled the underside of Adam’s cockhead, then Adam was the one losing it, bucking and shuddering as strings of cum splattered Les’ hand and belly. Les kept his gaze locked on his fingers buried in Adam’s ass, marvelling at the way the man’s inner muscles held his digits so tight, the hot, soft walls rippling, and the tightly stretched ring quivering around his knuckles. It was enough to make him hard all over again. Maybe he could even convince Adam to ride him, so as not to hurt Les’ head. Les’ lips

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curved up as he carefully eased his fingers from Adam’s hole. There just might be an upside to being injured after all.

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Chapter Thirty-One

“Stop fussing, you look fine.” Adam scowled at Les’ reflection in the mirror. “I don’t want to look fine, I want to look like I’ll break Ewers’ balls if he hurts my mom.” The man was coming to dinner tonight. Ewers and Charlene had been dating for almost two weeks now, and by dating, Adam meant practically living with each other. A day hadn’t passed that the two of them hadn’t spent time together. And yeah, his mom came home every night… If you considered coming in at two or three in the morning coming home at night. Adam did when it applied to himself, but this was his mom, and even though he felt like a shit for the whole double-standard thing, he couldn’t seem to help it. Geez, she’s my mom! “Come on, you’re going to get wrinkles,” Les teased, which only made Adam scowl more. Les sighed and came up behind him. Adam tried to resist when Les grabbed his shoulder and turned him around, but he didn’t try too hard. He wasn’t fool enough to turn down any time in Les’ arms. “Isn’t this going to be weird for you, having your boss over for dinner, as my mom’s date?” Adam mumbled against Les’ chest. He felt the laughter rumbling up from his lover’s chest before he heard the sound of it spilling from Les’ lips. “Nah, I’m kind of looking forward to it.” Adam tipped his head up, intending to look into Les’ gorgeous grey eyes, but the broad smile on his normally stern face snagged Adam’s attention first. Damn, the man needed to smile like that more often! “Why would you be doing that?” Adam asked, barely able to think past the need to press his lips to those smiling ones. He linked his hands behind Les’ neck and began climbing up Les, one leg hooked around Les’ hip while Adam wiggled and pulled. Les grabbed a handful of Adam’s ass and lifted him up, but instead of the kiss Adam was expecting, he got a solid wet lick up the side of his neck, ending with a slick swirl around the shell of his ear and a nip to his lobe. Adam tightened his hold on Les, rocking his hips, taking what friction he could get while Les continued tormenting Adam’s ear. The big

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hands cupping his ass were kneading that flesh with what felt like barely restrained hunger and a thrill went through Adam that promptly came out as a startled squeak when someone smacked the bedroom door hard enough to rattle the hinges. “Howie will be here any minute! You two get out here!” Charlene’s amused voice cut through Adam’s lust, and apparently Les’ as well because Adam was released so quickly he ended up hanging on Les like a monkey while the man tried to get free. “Talk about a mood killer,” Adam muttered as he tried to get his feet on the ground. Les grunted and clutched at his shoulders, steadying him until Adam was reasonably sure he wasn’t going to fall over. “No shit,” Les grumbled before hollering, “We’ll be right there!” Charlene mumbled something that Adam couldn’t quite make out through the door, but the tone of his mother’s voice let him know she had a damned good idea of what they’d been up to. He sighed and tried to get his randy dick under control. Les cursed softly and took a step back, then another. He cocked a brow at Adam and smoothed down his white button up shirt with a trembling hand. “Later,” he said, the word just a whisper from those once again smiling lips. Adam nodded and tipped his head slightly as he stared at Les’ lips. That didn’t help cool his ardour at all, so he finally closed his eyes and started running drink recipes through his head. Considering the names of some of the drinks—Sex On My Face, The Blowjob, Knock Me Down and Fuck Me, Butt Sex, Suck Bang and Blow, and the classics, Sex On The Beach and Screaming Orgasm, it was a wasted effort. Adam’s dick wanted to play, and it wanted to play now. “Stop groaning, you sound like you’re having sex,” Les scolded. Adam opened his eyes. Les wasn’t smiling now. That helped, somewhat, although the way he scowled was so sexy— “Adam!” Les’ exasperation was clear in his voice, but his grey eyes sparkled even as his scowl deepened. “It’s not my fault,” Adam said, nudging his erection with the back of his hand. “If you weren’t so fuckin’ hot I wouldn’t have this problem!”

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Les snorted then shook his head, taking another wary step back as if he thought Adam might pounce. And he might. “Don’t even think about it,” Les warned, shaking a finger at him. “Our door isn’t locked and your mom could and would walk right in here if we don’t get out there.” Adam blinked. “Ew.” She would do it, too. “Let me just splash some water on my face.” It wouldn’t help much, but thinking about Charlene walking in on them? That was going to kill off his erection completely in a few more seconds. “So why are you looking forward to this? You never did say.” Adam turned the water on just enough to wet his hands so the noise wouldn’t blot out Les’ answer. “Let’s just say Howie didn’t appreciate me telling him to shut up when we were at the hospital. Prick can hold a grudge.” Adam swiped at his cheeks then scrubbed them dry with the hand towel before turning back to Les. “Is he giving you crap, seriously? Because I don’t work for the guy and I don’t have to be nice, you know.” Les shook his head. “Nah, not seriously—well, not now. The first day back wasn’t fun, though. I just know Howie got his rocks off over assigning me desk duty.” Adam frowned until the thought of wrinkles had him smoothing his brow. “But you were on desk duty, you weren’t supposed to be out—” “Yeah, but I think he got a kick out of making sure I didn’t get up from that damned desk for anything other than breaks and bathroom runs.” If that was all, then, Adam was going to thank the man. He had no doubt Les would have been ignoring the doctor’s orders and trying to save the world if he hadn’t been made to sit still. “Is that it? That’s the extent of his evilness?” “Yup,” Les said, a grin teasing at his lips. “Actually, I’m just happy ‘cause I’m going to get to see him act all mushy, so that’s ammo right there. And,” Les took Adam’s hand and headed towards the bedroom door. “I get to call him Howie.” “Hmm.” Adam didn’t think that was going to go over so well, but it should be fun to watch.

****

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Les tried, he really did, but he couldn’t stop from smirking at the way the chief’s voice went all soft and almost…breathy, when he greeted Charlene. And the man damn near melted in is shoes when she called him Howie and planted a not quite chaste—too much! Les closed his eyes for a few seconds until Adam nudged him—kiss on Ewers’ lips. Les peeked and saw the man looked stupid goofy with love, or at least lu—oh no, not going there— infatuation, then. That look changed to a warning glance when Ewers saw him. “Les.” Ewers offered his hand, and maybe, if he hadn’t been trying to silence Les with a look, well, Les probably wouldn’t have stopped himself then, either. He took his boss’ hand and knew he was wearing a shit eating grin when he said, “Howie.” Ewers’ narrowed his eyes and growled. “Cut it out, Howie,” Charlene scolded. She tapped his hand, still shaking Les’—as if he who let go first lost. “This caveman act doesn’t do a thing for me,” she proclaimed, but Les was pretty sure he detected something in her voice that proved otherwise. The chief, however, promptly dropped Les’ hand. Then he smiled slowly, in a way which had warning alarms clanging in Les’ head. His eyes rounded and he almost couldn’t stop from slapping a hand over Ewers’ mouth. “Lesley Eustace, isn’t it?” He would not blush. Would. Not. Not when Adam laughed and certainly not when Ewers was grinning fit to split his face. Les kept his stoic expression in place even when he peeked at Adam out of the corner of his eye. The man looked happier than a pig in shit but before Les could get offended—well, he hated his middle name, too—Charlene stepped in front of Ewers. Les didn’t know what her expression was, but considering the way the other man stilled except for the nervous bobbing of his Adam’s apple, Les had to assume it was pretty damned scary. “Is there something wrong with the name Eustace?” Charlene asked her date in a voice that made Les’ balls want to crawl inside his body. He glanced at Adam, who now looked downright gleeful as he tipped his chin towards his mother. Les looked at the back of her head for a second then watched Ewers sputter. “N-no, no its…well I…he—”

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Les decided having his hated middle name tossed out there was worth seeing his boss squirm. “Good,” Charlene said then she turned and patted Les’ cheek. The serious expression she wore turned into on that clearly said, got ya, and she winked at him. “Eustace was my daddy’s name. Would have been Adam’s, too, if Daddy hadn’t talked me out of it. He didn’t want his grandson teased like he was.” Les was fairly sure he heard Adam mumble “Thank God”, so he didn’t think Charlene was making the story up. And he didn’t blame Adam for being relieved, not at all, but he sure wasn’t going to say so when Charlene could hear. “Now, if you two are done poking at each other, I’ve got dinner ready.” Ewers looked duly chastised as he nodded at Les then followed Charlene into the kitchen. Les turned and raised a brow at Adam. “Your grandpa was seriously named Eustace?” Adam shrugged and hooked his arm through Les’. “I don’t know about seriously. I always thought it was a cruel joke.” His fingers dug into Les’ ribs as Les tried to disentangle their arms. “Nah, it’s not such a bad name, just old fashioned. I kind of like it, even.” Les quit struggling and gave his lover a disbelieving look. “That’s only because it isn’t your name.” “Well, yeah,” Adam said with a snort. “But you make it sexy, as long as I block out the whole grandpa thing.” Les could definitely help with that. He cupped Adam’s chin in his hand and tipped the man’s head back, intending to kiss away all his thoughts about names and family members. Adam’s lips parted eagerly and he slicked his tongue over the bottom one, leaving it glistening. Les lowered his head and let his lids droop shut as Adam’s warm breath gusted over his chin. “Boys, I said dinner’s ready,” Charlene called out, sounding entirely too close. Les opened his eyes and caught sight of her grinning at them from the kitchen doorway. He sighed and dropped a soft kiss on Adam’s lips—he couldn’t not kiss Adam, not when the man was still standing there looking up at him with so much affection it warmed Les through to the soles of his feet.

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The brief kiss wasn’t nearly enough, but Charlene cleared her throat and Les found some restraint. He straightened up and rubbed his thumb over Adam’s lip. This was going to be a long dinner.

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Epilogue

“So, what do you think?” Adam asked after his mom left with Howard. He still wasn’t sure how he felt about her telling him she’d be back Sunday night. Adam couldn’t pretend his mom was spending the weekend with Howard playing pinochle. Don’t think about it! Les locked the deadbolts then turned and pulled him into his arms. He pressed a line of kisses across Adam’s forehead. “I think they’re crazy about each other, and that’s a good thing.” Adam cocked his head back and looked up at Les. “Really? Even after Howard outed your middle name?” “To be fair, I started it. I’m lucky Charlene didn’t swat me or something.” Les’ breath wafted over the sensitive skin of Adam’s neck, sending goose bumps skittering down to his chest. “That’s true. She’ll probably make up for it sometime and flick your nose when you aren’t expecting it.” Les huffed and that sent more chill bumps over Adam, although this time they seemed to converge on his nipples, beading them up and making them ache. Adam caught Les’ hands and dragged them up to his chest, pressing against those big palms. Adam rubbed against the touch like a cat demanding affection, and he got it. Les walked him back to the couch, then around it, all the while kissing his neck and jaw and working at Adam’s nipples until they were so hard he expected they’d stab right through his shirt. He grunted when his butt bumped the back of the couch, then Les left off torturing his tits in favour of unbuttoning Adam’s shirt. “Lube,” Adam tried to say, because he knew this was going to be hard and fast—and damn, that made him quiver all the way to his bones. Les latched his mouth onto Adam’s throat, sucking on his Adam’s apple and stealing his breath. One hand smoothed down Adam’s chest, parting his shirt, exposing his bare skin to Les. The other hand went to Adam’s belt, tugging until it was loosened. Adam tried to get his hands between them to help, but the jumble of fingers only frustrated them both. Les

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growled and bit the base of Adam’s neck as he pushed Adam’s hands away. Adam arched his neck and dropped his hands to Les’ waist, then he tucked his fingers under the band of Les’ jeans and edged his hands around to Les’ ass. “Mmm.” The small sound from Les vibrated along Adam’s skin. The scrape of Les’ teeth down his neck at the same time as Les finally got to his cock caused Adam to tighten his grip on the man in order to remain standing. Adam’s knees didn’t just feel week, they felt like they’d been removed or turned to jelly, something, he couldn’t think, not with Les tugging on his dick and sucking his way down Adam’s chest. Adam shifted his grip to the back of the couch as Les bit at his nipple. He took turns nipping and suckling each one until Adam was light-headed from gasping. Les’ hands were busy as well, jacking him and squeezing his balls, driving Adam to the brink only to let up before starting the delicious drive towards climax over again. Fingers digging into the padded material, Adam thrust into each stroke of his cock, his gaze hazy as pleasure shot from his groin and nipples, converging in the pit of his stomach only to shatter and spread out to his extremities. He opened his mouth to shout, his orgasm welling, threatening to crash over him—only to whine piteously when Les’ hands let go, to tug his jeans and underwear down. Les licked a path down to Adam’s naval, his tongue delving in and his teeth catching at the pale strands of hair surrounding the divot. His hips were gripped firmly, Les’ fingers pressing hard against his flanks, bruising, marking him. Then wet heat surrounded the crown of his cock and Adam did shout, the sound torn from him as Les swallowed Adam’s length to the hilt. Adam gave up his grip on the couch for fistfuls of Les’ hair. His hips were pulled, pushed, until his sex-dazed mind got the message and he began moving, pumping his shaft into Les’ willing mouth, burrowing the crown deep in Les’ throat. “D-damn it,” Adam rasped, his body a confusion of pressing need for release and the desire to drag this out just a few minutes longer. Les did something, chuckled, hummed, Adam didn’t know, but it shot vibrations from his cock to his hole and his tenuous handle on his control snapped. He tightened his hands in Les’ hair and thrust harder, grunting, mindless with the pleasure that seared from his cock to his balls, back to his hole then shot up his spine. His back arched as he came, his hands loosening when Les pulled his head

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back. Adam flooded his mouth with cum as Les swallowed eagerly. When the last jet of spunk shot from his cock, Adam slumped over his kneeling lover, boneless, unable to even think whether or not Les had come. His world was spinning, tilting— Adam blinked away some of the post-orgasm haze and realised he was now bent over the back of the couch. That answered his question about whether or not Les had come, didn’t it? But before he could even draw a breath, his ass was gripped in two strong hands, the quivering cheeks parted. Something slick dampened the top of his crack. Les’ breath wafted over his wet skin. Adam’s cheeks were spread wider, then Les licked down Adam’s seam to his hole. Les’ tongue jabbed at his opening. Teeth scraped at the wrinkled skin. Adam moaned and pushed back, wanting to feel Les penetrate him like this. His cock twitched and tried to rise, a valiant but unsuccessful effort. Les licked and sucked Adam’s pucker, moaning as he did, thrilling Adam with the knowledge that his man was as into this as he was. The tip of Les’ tongue speared into him, stiff and slick and soon joined by a finger that unerringly found Adam’s gland. Adam whimpered and jerked his hips. “Please, please, Les, I need…” More, anything, everything! Les worked another finger in and Adam bucked and keened as the digits brushed over his prostate. “I know what you need,” Les said, his voice rough and deep, his lips branding Adam’s skin. Adam howled as pleasure-pain bloomed out from where Les sucked hard on his inner ass cheek, no doubt marking him there. There’d be a purple bruise right by his hole, on the delicate flesh Les was still nibbling on. It fed a need in Adam, one he hadn’t known existed, to be marked and claimed in such a way. Les left off with a loud pop, then he bit the place gently, making Adam squirm—then that wonderfully possessive mouth was gone, and Adam’s outer thighs were being pushed together. “Close them,” Les ordered in a tone Adam couldn’t have resisted had he wanted to. Adam pressed his thighs together; his heart thudded in his chest, rattling his ribs. “Push that ass out for me. I’m gonna take you just like this.” Adam closed his eyes and moaned softly. He’d be even tighter like this, and Les’ thick cock would feel like it was splitting him in two. Fuck, but he wanted to feel Les in him now!

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Adam was so steeped in anticipation he yelped when cool wet lube trickled down his crack. He hadn’t even heard Les open the stuff, didn’t know where Les had stashed it during dinner, and he didn’t give a damn. Adam started to part his legs, at least enough to make it easier for Les to get to his hole, but Les snarled and swatted his hip gently. “Don’t.” That was all, just the one word, but Adam froze, his legs still pressed together. He felt Les’ slick fingers trace the path the lube had taken. He clenched his ass unthinkingly, eager, no, desperate, to feel Les inside him. Les bent and lipped the back of his neck. “Relax, let me in.” Adam took a deep breath and silently told his over-excited body to behave if it wanted to get fucked. His cock was hard again, the head butting against the back of the couch. Les’ lips moved on his skin, then his butt cheeks were spread by Les’ hands. His fingers pressed into Adam’s flesh. His thumbs pushed at his hole. Nerve endings rippled and sent waves of heat to each other as those thumbs penetrated him, spreading his tight ring open. Then Les began thrusting them in counter rhythm, rotating his thumbs against Adam’s rim. Adam panted as he clutched at the cushion until his knuckles ached as Les worked his ass open. Les thrust those digits faster, harder, and Adam rutted against the couch as his balls drew tight. “Not yet.” Adam couldn’t make sense of the words any more than he could understand why those maddeningly talented thumbs left his ass. Then he felt the blunt fat crown of Les’ cock pressing against his stretched hole, and Adam’s brain finally got the memo. Les placed one hand on Adam’s hip and the other between his shoulder blades. He pushed down on Adam’s back, bending him over even more. The hand on Adam’s back moved up to grip his shoulder, and the one on his hip tightened, and that was all the warning he got before Les thrust and buried his cock fully inside Adam.

**** They stayed still, chests heaving, throats raw from voicing their pleasure at the penetration. Les’ thighs framed Adam’s, holding them still, closed, encasing Les in a tight

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velvety sheath that rippled around his cock. His balls were mashed against Adam’s, Les’ hips canted slightly, Adam’s feet between his calves since the force of his first stroke had lifted the smaller man right off the ground. Les’s hands opened and closed on Adam’s hip and shoulder as he struggled for a modicum of control. He wanted to rut, to take Adam without a hint of finesse, like a wild beast seeking only his own release. But, he wouldn’t, not when the man underneath him meant everything to him. Les wouldn’t treat Adam like a cheap fuck, not even when they both knew he wasn’t. Les leant over his smaller lover, bringing his chest to the narrow back. He slid his arms around Adam, locking one tight over Adam’s chest, the other around his hips to fist his cock. Adam’s heart slammed hard in his chest. Les could feel it against his arm. He bent his head and pressed a tender kiss to Adam’s neck, then slowly rotated his hips, burying his cock even deeper in the man. Adam moaned and brought one arm up to rest against Les’ across his chest. “Les, ahh…” Adam shuddered as Les’ cock brushed over his gland. “Oh fuck, please, just fuck me already!” Les grinned against Adam’s neck and began slowly pumping his hips, small movements that didn’t cause much withdrawal. He didn’t want to leave that heavenly channel any more than he had to. Adam’s inner walls contracted and clung to his dick, trying to hold him in as surely as he wanted to stay. He held Adam tighter and began working his cock, careful to keep that steely length from being scraped on the couch. At the same time, he began thrusting faster, harder, murmuring in Adam’s ear. “You don’t know…how fucking…” Les gasped as ecstasy began to boil in his balls. The way Adam’s ass was clenching around his dick, he wasn’t going to last long at all. He tried to focus, force out more words, anything to keep him from coming just yet. “So tight, hot, damn, the…the way your ass grips—” And maybe he shouldn’t talk, because that wasn’t helping him hold back at all. Adam’s cock was swelling in his hand. Grunts and whimpers were spilling from his lips, and Les needed more even as he felt his orgasm roaring up inside him. Les spread his legs. “Open, baby, I have to—” “Uhn,” Adam spread in a heartbeat, “huh, gonna come.”

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He wasn’t the only one. Les pulled Adam up and guided one knee up on the back of the couch, then he held on to his lover and began pounding into Adam’s sweet ass. Adam’s head thumped against his chest, then thrashed from side to side as he pleaded for more, harder, deeper. His hand joined Les’ on his cock, and together they jerked him while Les thrust into him forcefully, his hips slamming against Adam’s butt, his balls slapping against taut ones. Adam reached up and tangled his fingers in the back of Les’ hair. He pulled, hard, and Les came without warning as he rammed his cock deep. His climax had his balls pulling tight and shooting cum up through his shaft before Les could do anything other than close his eyes and shout. He felt as if he was being turned inside out, emptying everything of himself into this one man, giving Adam every bit of him. The strangling grip of Adam’s passage on his dick occurred an instant before cum coated their joined hands as they stripped Adam’s shaft. Les couldn’t tell who was coming, who was trembling and moaning, it was all jumbled in his head, one pleasure after another—his, Adam’s, theirs, it was all the same, all exquisite and more than he’d even known to hope for. He clung to Adam, shaking through the aftershocks of their climaxes, for several long minutes after they slid to the floor. His entire world had been changed by Adam. Whether it was Fate or just a coincidence that he’d pulled Adam over that night, Les didn’t know. He supposed it didn’t matter. All that did matter was that they’d found each other. As Les watched Adam open his sleepy blue eyes and smile sweetly, he knew they’d have a lifetime together to explore their love—maybe, if they were lucky, even longer than that.

About the Author

A native Texan, Bailey spends her days spinning stories around in her head, which has contributed to more than one incident of tripping over her own feet. Evenings are resounds for pounding away at the keyboard, as are the early morning hours. Sleep? Doesn’t happen much. Writing is too much fun, and there are too many characters bouncing about, tapping on Bailey’s brain, demanding to be let out. Caffeine and chocolate are permanent fixtures in Bailey’s office and are never far from hand at any given time. Removing either of those necessities from Bailey’s presence can result in what is known as A Very, Very Scary Bailey and is not advised under any circumstances. Email: [email protected] Bailey loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com.

Also by Bailey Bradford Southwestern Shifters: Rescued Southwestern Shifters: Relentless Southwestern Shifters: Reckless Southern Spirits: A Subtle Breeze Southern Spirits: When the Dead Speak Southern Spirits: All of the Voices Southern Spirits: Wait Until Dawn Southern Spirits: Aftermath Southern Spirits What Remains Love in Xxchange: Rory’s Last Chance Love in Xxchange: Miles To Go Love in Xxchange: Bend Love in Xxchange: What Matters Most

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