by Jamie Craig
There was absolutely nothing wrong with his memory, but Scott inclined his head, recognizing the wisdom of Duke’s suggestion. Before, they had both been in the middle of a highly stressful situation. On top of that, Duke had been teetering on a world that didn’t make sense, in the midst of a very real personal crisis. The chemistry possible in a situation like that might not be something they could recapture.
“Hector sends me the occasional email. He moved to Oregon last month and he’s already found some steady work. I don’t think I’ll hear from him often, though. I think he just wants to forget about all this.”
“I can’t blame him. But it’s good to hear he’s moved on.”
“And stayed out of trouble. I’m sure if Horan heard about that, he would be shocked,” Scott said dryly. “Or he’d accuse me of lying. So…have you seen what’s on the drive? Do you know what he was trying to hide?”
“You know I’m not supposed to reveal details of an ongoing investigation, James.” Disappointment flashed through Scott at the response, but Duke continued speaking. “He was playing silent partner to a lot of the shadier dealings out at Woodson. For a substantial cut of their profits and the occasional snitch, he made sure everything they did either flew under the radar, or got so bogged down in technicalities they got thrown out, or redirected department resources to prevent them getting caught. One of the men at Woodson got tired of Horan’s greed, recorded some private meetings as well as managed to steal some of his personal files, and handed the whole thing over to Tana, expecting her to go to the police.”
“But she didn’t take it to the police. She hid it at the ballet school. Was she trying to get money out of him? A larger donation to the company?” Even as he said the words, they didn’t make much sense to him. Why would Tana care about the size of his donation?
“Horan’s not talking, but according to the pieces we’ve been able to glean from some of the flunkies he hired, we think she was blackmailing him to pull strings and get her out of the Corps.”
“He had those kinds of strings? Fuck, why not just get her out of the Corps and call it good? Why let things go this far?” Scott shook his head. “I’m sure Horan had his own reasons, but it’s not like she wanted something completely beyond the pale.”
“The man is all about control. I think he honestly never expected it to go as far as it did.”
Their conversation had distracted him from noticing they were on Ocean Beach until Duke turned and started south, parallel to the Pacific. The sun had already set, but there was still enough of a glow reflecting off the ocean to bring a smile to Scott’s face.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Duke’s voice was as wistful as Scott’s sudden mood. “I absolutely love it out here.”
Scott directed his attention to Duke’s profile, remembering the first time he had met the detective. That seemed like a thousand years ago, and that man had been somebody completely different. He had such a hard exterior, and his eyes had been so impersonal, not even offering Scott a hint of what hid behind the mask. Now Scott had wondered how he could believe Duke was anything other than an open book.
“We should make it a point to come out here more often.”
“We might have to keep it simple and stick to the hiking trails most of the time.” He slowed down and pulled into the parking lot at the Cliff House, the light spilling out from its walls of glass windows. “Sutro’s doesn’t fit in my salary range on a regular basis.”
“Owen, I’ve made partner. I’ll take you out to dinner, anywhere you like, every night, for the rest of your life.”
Duke didn’t have a response to that, but smiled at him as he eased the car into park. When they exited the car, he came around the front of it fast enough to be there when Scott slammed it shut, and rested his hand in the small of Scott’s back to guide them to the front door.
One of the Cliff House’s best-selling features was the panoramic view it gave of the ocean. Sutro’s was lined with windows all the way around, and the restaurant was mostly full already when Duke spoke to the hostess. His hand never left Scott’s back as they followed her to a table on the far side, right against the glass with a perfect vantage on the Pacific. He even pulled the chair out for Scott before taking his own seat.
“The Balcony Lounge has jazz here on Friday nights, if you’re interested in sticking around for it,” Duke said.
“Can we make it a date for next week? Honestly, I kind of want to get you to myself tonight.”
He thought he caught a stain of pink in Duke’s cheeks before he disappeared behind a menu. “Sure. Next week it is, then.”
“I’m holding you to that, you know. And I expect you to hold me to it, too.”
“I didn’t let you get out of it tonight, did I?”
“Good point.”
Scott tried to study the menu, but while everything looked absolutely delectable, nothing looked quite as good as Duke did. Nothing seemed entirely appetizing, but Scott knew he couldn’t eat at a place like Sutro’s without full appreciation of the meal.
“Would you be willing to order for me?”
The quizzical look on Duke’s face was actually adorable. “Really? Why?”
Scott smiled. “Because I have a feeling you know this menu better than I do. And because being this close you has me so distracted I can’t even think straight.”
The stain spread into a full-blown flush, though Duke didn’t hide it this time. “All right. Do you have any allergies, or anything you particularly dislike?”
Scott wasn’t entirely sure why, but he loved the way Duke asked the question. So matter-of-fact. Of course it was information he needed to have—a shellfish allergy could kill him and that would absolutely ruin their date. Still, Scott found it completely endearing.
“No, no allergies. And I’m not in a picky mood.”
Duke nodded and turned back to the menu with what looked like renewed vigor. When the waitress came by to take their orders, Scott deferred automatically to Owen.
“To start, we’ll have the braised mussels with harissa, and the crab cakes. Then, I’ll have the maple leaf duck, and my dining partner will have the seared scallops with the saffron pearl pasta.”
“And to drink?”
Duke looked to Scott. “Viognier all right?” At Scott’s nod, Duke handed both menus to the waitress and smiled. “The Voss, please.”
Scott grinned once she was gone. “I was thinking of ordering the seared scallops, actually.”
“Oh, good. They’re excellent. And you can have whichever starter you want. Or we can share.”
“No, we’re definitely going to share.” He sipped his water and studied Duke over the glass. He wanted to apologize again. He shouldn’t have waited for Duke to come to him. He should have held up his end of the deal. He should have tried harder instead of wasting weeks and months. Especially since the gray cloud that had been ruining everything was suddenly gone. “Thank you.”
He almost expected Duke to question what the gratitude was for, but instead, Owen shook his head. “You don’t have to thank me. Just have a good time.”
“When I’m with you, that’s nearly a guarantee.”
Duke cocked a brow. “You realize that only makes both of us look like bigger fools for not finding a way to do this sooner, right?”
“Yes. And I’m not even going to try to defend myself against that charge. I was an idiot not to call you back. But a part of me thought that maybe…well, you had pretty good reason to be annoyed with me.”
“Because you skipped out of my bed without leaving me a note to go and confront the one person we needed to make sure didn’t figure out we were on to him because he had all the power in the world to make the evidence disappear, without actually having anything on him except your powers to bluff?” His mouth curved. “I wasn’t annoyed. I was terrified Horan would do exactly what he did. And then I was just relieved that the worst thing that happened was tearing open a few of my stitches.”
; Scott winced. “When you put it like that, it sounds really, really stupid.”
“It just proves neither one of us is perfect. As much as we both hate to admit it.”
“I guess until you nearly destroy everything and get yourself killed, I’ll just have to acknowledge that you’re slightly more perfect than me.”
Duke’s smile softened. “If that’s what it’ll take to get a second date, I can live with that. For the time being.”
“You already got your second date. Now you’re working on a promise for the third date.”
“Well, if dinner doesn’t do it, then I’ll just have to make sure the rest of the night does.”
Scott grinned. “Between you and me, I think dinner will seal the deal.”
Not that he wasn’t looking forward to the rest of the night. He hadn’t been with anybody, not even Ben, since the last time he spent the night with Duke. He kept telling himself it was because he was simply too busy, but now he suspected there was far more to it than that. Duke was the man he wanted, and Scott wasn’t going to forget it again.
Chapter 20
Dinner had been perfect. The food came out in a timely manner, their waitress had been cheerful and accommodating without being annoying, and Scott had seemed to enjoy everything Duke had chosen for him. The wine helped. It loosened Duke’s tongue enough to relax and realize it was finally happening, that James hadn’t uttered a single protest or exhibited an ounce of reluctance ever since he’d arrived at his office. He hadn’t been convinced it would actually work, even if he wouldn’t let Scott see that. A lot of time had passed. Scott was a man of position and growing power in the city, while Duke was still just a cop. Everything that had transpired between the two of them could have been unique to the circumstances at the time, and he had to be prepared that the night would turn out a total flop.
So far, flop was completely off the menu.
Once the check was paid, Duke took one look out the window at the black horizon and decided the view wasn’t worth sticking around any longer. “Normally, I’d suggest walking over to Camera Obscura, and then taking it onto the trails, but I think tonight warrants breaking my routine a little bit.” He casually folded the napkin on his lap and set it on the table. “Would you like coffee back at my place?”
Scott smiled. “How routine is your routine? Do you bring a lot of guys up here?”
The way Scott said it made him flush in embarrassment. “You would be number five in the last six years. Though I haven’t been out here for over a year.”
“That’s a bit of a shame. A place like this should be enjoyed more often than that.” Scott finished the last bit in his glass of wine. “I think right now, coffee sounds perfect.”
Duke rose, musing on how Scott could take something so innocent and turn it around into something else entirely. The one thing he’d missed most about James was how surprising life always was when he was around. In a good way. He kept Duke on his toes, because he never knew exactly what was going to come next, but never to the extent where misgivings could take root. No, Scott’s surprises were more like…different perspectives on the same situation. A new vantage that Duke couldn’t often deny was better.
His hand went automatically to the small of Scott’s back as they left the restaurant. He wanted to tangle their fingers instead, but the display was more intimate than he wanted to share with strangers yet. He needed Scott for himself for a while. He only hoped the small, possessive gesture might relay how he felt well enough for Scott not to take offense at the lack of other physical contact.
The wind had picked up in the time they’d been inside, the temperature far chillier. They hastened their pace to get to the car, but when they reached the passenger side door, Duke gripped Scott’s shoulder and prompted him to turn around.
“I need to do this,” he murmured. Without debating the appropriateness of his actions, he slid his hands up to cup Scott’s face and held him still while he bent for a kiss.
Duke had intended for the kiss to be brief—just something to hold him over until they reached his place. But his intentions were tossed aside when Scott gripped the back of his neck and pushed his tongue into Duke’s mouth. It seemed like forever since the last time they’d touched each other, but Scott’s mouth was so familiar, felt so perfect against his, that it seemed like there had been no break in their relationship at all.
He forgot the cold, forgot the biting wind, forgot everything but the man in front of him and the hunger in his kiss. Duke sank into the caress with an abandon that might have frightened him any other time, but this was what he’d wanted when he’d made the arrangements, this was what he’d needed ever since suggesting Scott wouldn’t need his car until the morning. Heat he associated only with James washed through him, leaving him hard and aching, his hands shaking with desire.
“You keep this up, and I’m not going to be able to wait until we get back to my place.” Duke had to swallow in an attempt to clear the raggedness of his voice, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to let Scott go. “I don’t think it would be a good idea for us to get arrested for public indecency right now.”
“You wouldn’t get arrested. You’re a cop. There’s still professional courtesy in this town, right?”
Duke snorted. “They’d arrest me, just because they’d think it was funny.” He leaned in for another nip at Scott’s lower lip, then let his hands drop to his side. “Though I almost think fucking you against the car would be worth it.”
“Don’t say things like that unless you plan to follow through with it.” Despite Scott’s warning, his hand went to Duke’s hip and he held him close. “Though if you’re not willing to fuck me against the car, in the backseat of the car would also be acceptable.”
He smiled. He loved this man’s eagerness. “Next week. It’ll give you something to look forward to.” He cocked a brow. “Unless this is your way of saying you don’t like my bed.”
“Your bed is great. But the backseat is much closer and…hell, I’ve missed you a lot.”
Scott was serious. Any other time, Duke would take him up on it. But…
“I need for this first time to be better than a quickie in my car, James. I know that sounds ridiculous, but…well, I just do.”
Scott kissed him once more, then released him and pushed away from the car. “It doesn’t sound ridiculous, but we better get moving. You’re driving me crazy.”
Duke unlocked the doors and let Scott open his own. If he didn’t, he’d forget his own good intentions and take Scott’s suggestion about the backseat. Images of James crouched against the leather, ass upturned while Duke ploughed into him, sent fresh shivers down his spine that had nothing to do with the external temperature.
He pealed out of the parking lot, eager to get home. Focusing on the road helped calm his libido a little bit, but when Scott reached across the distance between them and rested a hand on his thigh, Duke thought he was going to lose it and drive them onto the shoulder.
Neither spoke the duration of the short, tense ride to his townhouse, but the second he killed the engine, Duke bolted from the car. Scott met him at the hood, and this time, Duke didn’t hesitate to grab his hand.
Their fingers entwined, locked together as Duke led Scott to the door. He must have used that key on that door a million times in the past several years, but for a moment, he forgot just how to do it. Scott wasn’t being shy about touching or kissing Duke, and while each caress was light and almost fleeting, it drew his attention until he could barely focus on anything that wasn’t Scott’s skin or his mouth.
Finally, after what might have been an eternity, he pushed the door open and practically dragged Scott into the welcoming darkness. He didn’t have a chance to turn on the light before Scott slammed their mouths together in a hard, hungry kiss.
Blindly, his hands clawed at Scott’s jacket, pushing it off his shoulders and tossing it unseen toward the living room. Nails scratched through his shirt when Scott did the same, but the
y didn’t allow their desperation to feel skin on skin to break the seal of their mouths. Duke took everything Scott had to offer, tangling their tongues into a new duet, and then thrust it back at him, shuddering when Scott moaned in the back of his throat.
“Jesus, how did we wait this long?” Duke muttered against his mouth. He bit at the luscious lower lip, his hand coiling automatically around Scott’s tie to hold him even closer. “Not again, James. I’m not waiting this long again.”
“You won’t have to,” Scott promised on a rush of breath as he tore Duke’s buttons open. He pushed his hands beneath the cloth, smoothing his palms up Duke’s chest. Their feet kept moving. Duke didn’t know how they weren’t tripping all over themselves on the way to the bedroom. Especially since none of Duke’s attention was on where he was walking or what he might be backing into. “I’m not making that mistake ever again.”
He was glad Scott anticipated the stairs because he wasn’t sure how they would have made it up to the bedroom otherwise. Scott’s hands shoved at his shoulders, driving him up. The hold Duke had maintained on the tie forced Scott to follow, and he grinned in the darkness when he realized what it probably looked like.
“I’ve got you leashed,” Duke chuckled, and climbed a few more stairs, tugging the entire way. “I guess that’s one way of making sure you don’t disappear from my life for months at a time again.”
“True, but what’s going to stop you from disappearing from mine?”
He couldn’t see Scott’s face, but the teasing question still managed to burrow its way into his gut. “Whatever you want.” They reached the top of the stairs and he angled toward the bedroom, unwilling to turn away from Scott for a second.
“Whatever I want?” Between the door and the bed, they managed to lose most of their clothes. Duke was a little surprised they weren’t in completely tattered pieces. Except for Scott’s tie. It still hung loosely from his neck. “You could fuck me like you don’t intend to let me disappear again.”