by K. Sterling
“I didn’t know!” He whispered breathlessly as his body flickered and pulsed with pleasure and his nerves coiled tighter and tighter.
“I couldn’t tell you. I tried to make you see that I’ve changed but I was scared it wouldn’t be enough or you wouldn’t want me back,” Wal huffed as his slick, sleek, lean body rolled into Marco’s in hot, heavy waves, crushing his heart and soul as he claimed everything.
“I never stopped wanting you. I couldn’t stop and it was killing me,” Marco said and Wal’s head popped up as his hips stopped pumping. “No! Not like that!” Marco whimpered as he wrapped his arms and legs around Wal and stretched toward his lips. “There were times I almost broke and begged you to fuck me in the shop or go upstairs with me,” he explained and Wal swore as his lips crashed into Marco’s.
“I would have done it and I never would have stopped,” he said and pulled Marco hard against him as he ground deep.
“Wal!” Marco screamed as his nerves exploded and light and fire swept through him. He arched as his head snapped back and he was blind as cum burst from his shaft.
“Oh, fuck! That’s… Marco!” Wal gasped. He thrust hard and bucked as his jaw stretched on a silent roar. Heat flooded Marco’s core and Wal shivered and jumped in his arms. “Marco…” Wal sighed as the tension left his frame and he melted over him. “Marco,” he whispered reverently as he kissed him and his hands splayed around his face. “I feel like I’m finally home,” he said very softly as he rested his forehead on Marco’s. “Please don’t make me leave again.” A tear landed on Marco’s cheek and he groaned as he rolled them and rose over Wal.
“I thought I could stop myself from falling in love with you if we weren’t dating. I thought we could just be friends but I still fell in love with you and it still hurt. I tried to throttle my feelings but I don’t want to do that anymore. I love you and I know you love me. We’ll figure the rest out because that’s all that matters,” he said and Wal’s eyes focused over his shoulder and they bounced and flickered as he considered.
“That is all that matters but our priority is figuring out who tried to kill you and why,” he said and Marco tilted his head in agreement.
“That’s our priority but between us, the only thing that matters is that we love each other and we’re done fucking around,” he stated and Wal’s eyes narrowed.
“I didn’t actually fuck around,” he replied and Marco cleared his throat.
“I didn’t mean it like that but we were just friends and I was supposed to be getting over you. And you could have told me to stop whenever you wanted. I didn’t think it bothered you,” he reminded him and Wal’s brows pulled together.
“It bothered the hell out of me, Marco. How could you think it wouldn’t bother me?” He asked and Marco’s cheeks puffed out.
“I don’t know… Because nothing ever bothers you and I figured you didn’t like dating me so you didn’t care who did,” he explained Wal looked thoughtful as his teeth scraped over his bottom lip.
“I can see why you’d think that and I’m trying to be more expressive,” he said and Marco hummed as he pecked at his lips.
“I’ve noticed and it’s amazing,” he murmured and Wal kissed him back tenderly before he pulled his lips free.
“I was really bothered when I talked to Geller,” he admitted cautiously and Marco gave him a wary look.
“What did you do?” He asked and Wal cleared his throat and became distracted as he traced the cleft of Marco’s chin.
“He wanted to hurry to the hospital to be by your side or take care of you or something,” he explained and Marco’s face twisted.
“That would have been so awkward,” he said and Wal raised his brows.
“That’s exactly what I told him. And that you weren’t interested and that I’d be taking care of you,” he added quickly and Marco swore as he fell back on the bed and pressed his hands against his face.
“That’s so not cool, Wal! Sending your ex to dump a guy is about as uncool as a thing can get,” he said and Wal sighed as he rolled onto his side and his hand settled tentatively on Marco’s chest.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking very clearly and I was in a hurry to talk to Bill and take care of a few more things before I had to be back at the hospital to pick you up,” he said and Marco sighed.
“I understand but I like being able to look people in the eye and I’m going to have to avoid Tad forever. Which is going to be difficult because we go to the same gym,” he replied as he set his hand on top of Wal’s. Marco felt it tremble before Wal lowered his shoulders and pressed a kiss to his chest.
“I’m sorry and I’ll apologize to him as many times as you want but can we leave it for tonight? I want to take a shower with you then try it again. I went too fast last time and I’ve missed the way you taste,” he whispered and goosebumps spread across Marco’s skin as he shivered.
“I…don’t think I can say no to that. A long, hot shower with you sounds like heaven but I’m really tired, I don’t know how long I’ll stay conscious,” he admitted and Wal rumbled in agreement as he pressed tender kisses to his skin.
“You don’t have to stay conscious. I’ll take care of everything and if you get too tired and want me to stop, I’ll stop,” he murmured and a drowsy smile tugged at Marco’s lips as he let Wal pull him up and out of bed.
“I’ll never tell you to stop,” he promised as he followed Wal into the bathroom and into the shower. Wal was gentle and reverent as his hands gripped and clung to Marco’s back, chest and limbs and their bodies slowly and lazily twisted and tangled under the hot water. Marco was boneless and euphoric by the time he was eased back on the bed. Which was amazing, considering the night prior. He drifted in and out of sensual bliss as Wal’s lips and tongue sucked, nibbled and licked while his fingers roamed and claimed. Wal spent hours gorging himself as Marco babbled and floated in dreamy delight. He couldn’t open his eyes but tears of joy spilled from them as Wal thrust slow and smooth into his body. He filled Marco with steady, driving heat as he gasped tiny confessions of love and hope. Marco shattered and his body and consciousness dissolved as Wal’s name floated from his lips and followed him into his dreams.
Chapter 13
I’ve seen that Yankees cap before… Wal told himself as his lips cruised over Marco’s chest. He was out cold but every now and then Wal would hear a soft hum and Marco would sigh his name. Medford Jones is still missing and may be dead. He’d be the second dead witness in the Cole case… He picked up Marco’s hand and gently rubbed the back of it against his lips as his mind became clearer and unraveled. Wavy T’s playing a really sloppy game but it’s working. He wants to stop me but he won’t touch me…
Wal wasn’t particularly worried about Wavy “touching” him. He often wished Wavy would, then Wal could touch him back. It took a hell of a lot of anger or fear to trigger Wal’s temper and push him to violence but he had a special reserve of rage and vengeance on standby, whenever Wavy or Junior were ready to go toe-to-toe. Despite his choice of profession, violence was anathema to Wal. He became a cop because he abhorred violence and aggression. As a child he learned to be wary and how to defend himself but he learned quickly that violence was a weapon that couldn’t be controlled. It was like a fire in dry brush and would catch and burn everything within miles, given just a little wind and room to spread.
No one would touch Marco again, Wal vowed as he watched him sleep. There was a violent, aggressive swell of protective possessiveness that made Wal a little anxious but he remembered how close he came to losing Marco and held on to it. He needed all the weapons he could get and he was prepared to burn everything down to protect Marco. He’d wanted him and needed him for so long, Wal wasn’t going to risk losing him again.
There were other men, before Marco. Wal thought they’d all be the same and the results would be reasonably similar, as far as sex with men was concerned. He assumed his cock would feel just as good in any mouth or ass as the next because they
were all just mouths and asses. Much in the same way one handshake was just as good as another. There might be variations in grip, duration and hand sweat but in the end, Wal was just feeling his own hand and he really didn’t care about it after it was over.
Everything was different with Marco. He knew he was in love the moment they first met because looking at Marco’s face felt different. Marco flashed Wal a smile and it was like opening a Christmas present. Or what Wal imagined that felt like. There was so much delight and wonder as Marco flirted and teased cockily, Wal was stunned and struggled to recall why he’d walked into the shop to begin with. But talking was different with Marco too and for the first time in his life, something sparked and glowed then grew brighter when Wal got closer to him.
“I promise, I’m the owner of this establishment. Do you have a car you want me to look at or something you’d like me to make?” Marco asked as he waited through a tragically long, awkward pause and Wal hated his luck. As hard as his brain worked, he could see no way to successfully navigate from “I’m investigating you for suspicion of running a chop shop and trafficking drugs.” to “Would you like to have dinner with me?” Wal accepted that he was screwed and nowhere near Marco’s league so he pressed on.
“We’ve received a call about your shop and there’s concern that several illegal activities are occurring here,” he babbled flatly and Marco’s eyes rolled before he let out a weary sigh.
“One of these days, the police department’s going to give me a punch card, for all these courteous raids,” he said as he stepped aside and waved Wal in.
“You get a lot of these?” Wal asked as he looked around the old fire station. From the outside, it looked like an old city station and just a little neglected. Inside, the floors were gleaming concrete and the stainless steel shelves and the long work table were lined with tools and auto parts. It was clean and modern and Motown was playing.
“You’re new,” Marco stated then offered Wal his hand. “I’m Marco Costa and this happens every other time I break up with a guy,” he said and Wal was stuck.
He is:
a. Gay
b. Single
c. So beautiful and I think I’m in love with him.
Which was terrifying because Wal never learned how to get past the impersonal handshake fuck. He blinked at Marco’s hand as he tried to figure out which part of his brain he was supposed to use and what kind of handshake was appropriate. Then, Marco reached in and touched Wal’s heart when he cleared his throat and swayed toward him.
“Your line is: Nice to meet you, Costa. My name’s…” He whispered loudly behind his hand and Wal’s lips twitched but he bit down on them as he offered his hand.
“Sorry. Jack Walden. I transferred here about a month ago,” he said then frowned. “Every other time?” He asked then flinched when Marco’s hand closed around his and a spark of heat rushed up his arm.
“Welcome to the neighborhood. Let me give you a tour,” Marco said as he gave Wal a gentle nudge with his elbow then jerked his head. “That’s my office,” he said as he pointed and Wal’s neck craned but it was just a small office with a desk that was buried beneath stacks of what looked like invoices and spreadsheets. “You’re welcome to look in my drawers,” Marco purred suggestively then winked at Wal when his face snapped toward him. Wal shook his head.
“I don’t need to look in there,” he said weakly then followed Marco and glanced briefly at the storage rooms. There was nothing but solvents, epoxies, paints and other chemicals in one and neatly arranges shelves of spare parts in the other.
“I keep all the hazardous waste stored in here because it stays cool until they’re picked up,” Marco said as he flipped on the light in the far back storage bay but there weren’t any containers large enough to concern Wal. No sign of drugs or drug making downstairs and Wal had a feeling the apartment upstairs would check out. Could be a chop shop… Wal didn’t get the sense that Marco was up to anything illegal but he had to do his due diligence and couldn’t let his judgment be clouded by a pretty face.
“And this is your shop?” Wal didn’t hide his dubiousness and Marco snorted.
“Is that your suit, Jack?” Marco countered as they crossed the shop.
“What? Just Wal is fine,” Wal said as he looked down at himself. There was always another Jack so everyone called him Wal.
“You look a little young for that suit,” Marco said as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against a car. It was under a tarp and resting on the lowered lift and Marco raised his brows at Wal expectantly. He didn’t know what to do with that. Was he supposed to defend his suit or ask for help?
“I guess you have a point,” Wal said. He had no fucking clue what it was but it was the easiest way over that hill. Marco grinned as he pushed off the car and grabbed the tarp.
“This is my shop because I can do this,” he declared as he swept off the tarp with a flourish and Wal’s brows pulled together and his lips twisted as he studied the car on the lift. It was…loud. The iridescent colors reminded Wal of a disco ball and the shape was very fluid. It was an older model muscle car but the body shape had been so altered, Wal couldn’t tell. His head slowly fell to the side as he tried to imagine who would drive a car like that when Marco cleared his throat loudly and expectantly.
“I see,” Wal said.
“You see?” Marco asked as if he’d been slapped. “That’s a ’71 ‘Cuda and it sounds like two grizzly bears fucking. And it looks like that!” He said as he stomped his foot and gestured at the car grandly.
“I see,” Wal said again then leaned toward Marco. “Really,” he added and Marco’s lips pulled tight.
“Clearly you have no taste and know nothing about cars,” he replied and Wal nodded.
“Clearly,” he agreed and Marco pulled a face.
“I’ll make about thirty grand on it,” he said and Wal’s brows rose.
“That’s really impressive,” he replied and Marco threw up his hands.
“And that’s how I pay my bills. I also do concept designs for other shops and some freelance artwork, on commission, when I have the time.” He offered Wal a sheepish smile as he ducked his head and stepped closer. “I’ve got a little side gig with the nudes but I promise that’s all legal and I get paid from the ads. I promised my mom I’d keep my underwear on and myself that I’d never show my hole on the internet. I don’t want to have to explain that to my kids when I’m fifty,” Marco confided and Wal didn’t know if he’d ever blink again. “Want to check those out too?” He said cheekily and Wal’s eyes became wide.
“Another time, maybe,” he said weakly and his head and gaze darted around as Marco’s eyes narrowed and he tried to read Wal.
“Here,” Marco said as he pulled out his wallet and removed a business card. He chewed on his lip for a moment as he gave Wal another once over then jogged to his work table. He flipped open his sketchbook and took the cap off the black Sharpie and scribbled on the back of the card before turning and holding it out to Wal. “I don’t do a lot of basic bodywork and repairs unless it’s for friends and regular customers but we’re neighbors now and I don’t mind helping hot cops, now and then,” he said as Wal took it then smiled wickedly. “I put my Instagram on the back, if you’d like to make sure I’m not breaking any laws with those nudes,” he added and that’s when Wal’s sexual fantasies and love of law enforcement collided. He wanted to arrest Marco, cuff him to a bed and be a really bad cop. Unfortunately:
“Thank you,” Wal said stiffly then turned on his heel and marched out of the shop like a wind-up soldier. He was mad at himself for weeks but he kept an eye and an ear on the shop and promised himself he’d do better next time. After a few months, Wal grew tired of waiting for another call to come in about Marco or the shop so he took a drive out to the scrapyard and backed into the front of a taxi. Marco cut Wal a deal and only charged him for parts if he helped with the labor and brought beer. Wal never worked up the nerve to ask Marco out on his
own. He didn’t know if Marco’s curiosity finally got the best of him or he was feeling a little desperate (or charitable) but he ordered Wal to ask him out and it felt like he’d won the fucking Golden Ticket.
The next six months were the only good six months of Wal’s life. He’d never been happy or had anything really good until they kissed.
“Are you ready?” Marco laughed as he pulled Wal with him as he leaned against a Mustang’s bumper. “On the count of three?” He asked as his hands slid up Wal’s chest. Marco licked his lips nervously and they were full and so red. Wal’s heart throbbed and thudded in his ears and he was so damn hard and scared but he nodded. “Ok. Three… Two…” Marco pulled in a shuddering breath and swallowed hard as Wal’s nerves wound tighter. “One,” he breathed and Wal’s hands closed around Marco’s face as he captured his lips and he kissed him the way he swore he would, if he ever had the chance. He leaned forward on his toes as he angled his head and kissed Marco like it was every kiss he’d ever imagined and hoped for, all rolled into one. And it was all of that and so much better than he ever dreamed. Which shouldn’t have surprised Wal. His dry, unimaginative, timid brain could never conjure anything like the heat, pure desire and bliss as he lapped and sucked hungrily. “Wow,” Marco huffed as he hung on to Wal’s shoulders. “Do that again but don’t stop this time,” he ordered. Wal didn’t stop. He kissed him until they were both mindless and urgent and Marco shoved a condom into his hand. Wal ripped Marco’s fly open then flipped him over. Wal tried to drown himself in Marco’s ass before he fucked him on the trunk of the Mustang. There was so much sex and it just got better each time. Every time they touched, Wal reveled in the connection and warmth. He’d never had anyone, he’d always been alone and no one understood him. Then he had Marco and it was like finding the sun. Bill cared but Wal couldn’t hold his hand or put his arms around him when he was scared or just about out of hope with humanity. Not that Wal would actually want to. Bill was twenty-two years older than him, looked a little like what Wal imagined Santa might without the beard and happily married to a wonderful woman who looked like just about every picture of Mrs. Claus. But it was miraculous, just feeling Marco’s hand in his and being allowed to kiss him just because or throw him on the bed and fuck him until the pain and frustration of the day was washed away.