by A J Sherwood
Snorting, he lifted his head, a grin taking over his face. He looked entirely too smug. “The way you just jumped me told me that, yeah. I should say…I didn’t plan for this. Honest. I had no intention of doing anything, I mean you’ve had enough of an emotional rollercoaster today, I just wanted you safe and with me.”
“I know,” I soothed, unable to stop touching him, smoothing my hands up and down his very nice chest. “And I’m not sure how much I’m up for today, honestly, but I do want to make something clear. Ever since I realized that you liked someone, I’ve been wrestling with some serious jealousy, and I decided I wasn’t going down without a fight. So understand that when I say this, I’m not just responding to you, I’ve been thinking about this a lot. I want to date you.”
He went luminous, brilliantly so, an incandescent flash of sheer joy that stung my still sensitive senses. “Okay.”
“Just ‘okay?’” I teased him.
“Really, really okay,” he whispered as he pressed back into me, taking my mouth in the sweetest, most all-encompassing kiss I’ve ever experienced.
I re-thought my decision to not drag him into bed, especially as my dick started to respond. Those big, warm hands on my naked skin sounded deliciously enticing. Maybe we could—
The front doorbell sounded. Dammit, Donovan’s mother was coming with food. I’d forgotten that completely.
Donovan pressed one more quick kiss to my mouth before pulling away to answer the door. He didn’t look that upset, but he also had to pause to readjust himself, so I took it that he was in the same situation as me.
I quickly ran through a mental list of anti-erection footage, calming enough for company, and then the obvious question screeched in. Did Donovan’s parents even know their son was bi? Would they be alright with him dating me? Hell, I hadn’t even thought to question that before now.
Before I could ask, Donovan opened the door and greeted, “Officer Keyes. Thanks, this is my mother.”
“Yes, sir, she said so, just making sure,” Keyes responded patiently. “You go ahead, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Officer,” Alani responded, her words overlapping with plastic rustling sounds.
Oh heavens, how much food had she brought? I hopped off the counter and went to greet her. “Alani.”
Shoving both plastic bags into Donovan’s hands, she reached for me. Worry swirled around her like a mantel, mixed with affection and anger. “Jon, you poor boy, you’ve had such an ordeal. Come here, let me look at you. Are you wearing Don’s clothes?”
“They wouldn’t let me take anything of mine out tonight,” I explained, letting her catch my head with both hands and look me over. I really had been adopted, hadn’t I? I hoped that would make the news of me dating her son go over better. “It’s fine. Thank you so much for the food, I didn’t want to trouble you this late at night.”
She shushed me with a flap of the hand. “I’d rather know what’s going on and make sure you have proper food in your stomach. You need a good meal after what happened. Don, heat that up.”
“Yes ma’am,” he responded, already heading for the kitchen.
“Come sit with me in the dining room,” she directed, already grabbing the back of my arm and towing me in the direction she wanted. “Don said they don’t know who did the shooting, or why.”
“Complete mystery at the moment,” I admitted, sinking into one of the wooden chairs. “Not that I expect it to stay that way for long. Captain Livingston isn’t going to like this situation one bit, and I have enough friends on the force that the shooter isn’t going to have much of a prayer to escape. They’ll hunt her down like a rabid dog.”
“Good,” Alani responded fiercely. “Putting you through that is bad enough, but when I think of all those other people she put in danger too—it just makes me so mad. Thank you for being smart and keeping safe.”
“My gun was out in the car,” I admitted, “otherwise I would have returned fire. Best I could do was call for my Green Lantern.”
Donovan snorted at this, grinning at me. “You really going to call me that?”
“It’s your favorite superhero, isn’t it?” I teased, waggling both eyebrows at him.
Shaking his head, he crossed the kitchen in two steps before catching the back of my head and planting a quick kiss against my forehead. “You’re silly.”
I froze under him, alarmed that he’d so casually done that in front of his mother. I cast a quick glance at Alani. She certainly looked startled, eyes wide and with a hand over her heart. But then she lit up. “Don! When did this happen?”
“Ten minutes ago,” he answered, lingering, his hand ruffling through the back of my hair. It felt really nice. “He asked me to date him.”
Obviously, Alani found no problem with this, as she sparked like a Christmas tree with happiness and satisfaction. I blew out a low breath of relief. An ugly scene was the last thing I needed on top of everything else tonight, and apparently I wouldn’t get one. Strangely, I still felt some irrational need to explain. “I, ah, didn’t realize at first that it was me he liked. I put it together just now.”
“I’m so glad,” she announced, pulling me in for a quick hug, her cheek pressed against mine. “My son was crushing on you so hard, and you so obviously adore him, I wanted you together. Your family won’t object, will they?”
“My family has been pushing me to ask him out since they met him,” I answered drolly. “So, no.”
That made Donovan happy. Ignoring the beep of the microwave, he queried, “Really? Is that why your step-dad was pushing you to make me your anchor?”
“Part of it, yeah,” I admitted.
Alani pointed an authoritative finger toward the microwave. Hands raised in surrender, Donovan went to fetch my food. I would have gotten it myself, but there were way too many electronics in that kitchen and it terrified me I’d bump into something. We shouldn’t have been making out in there to begin with, really. Although I had the feeling that even if I had killed an appliance, Donovan would have taken it as a win.
“Can you stay here until she’s caught?” Alani asked me anxiously.
“Of course he can,” Donovan assured her, placing a plate of food in front of me. I didn’t recognize any of it and didn’t care, immediately digging in. He took the chair near mine, a hand settling at the small of my back as I ate. “Fortunately the house isn’t very hi-tech, so as long as he avoids the kitchen, we should be fine.”
“I’ll call my family in the morning—” making a face, I amended, “or have Donovan call them in the morning and warn them not to go near my place for a while. As long as I have some clothes, I’ll be set.”
“If that changes, you let me know,” she told me. “I’ll clear out some of the house and you can stay with us.”
The offer touched me deeply and I caught her hand, giving it a squeeze. “Thank you.”
Donovan proved to be one of those well-raised southern gentlemen. He put me in his own bed and slept on a blow-up mattress. I wouldn’t have really minded sharing a bed with him, but there was no way two grown men could really fit on his double bed, to start with, and we were still new enough in the dating game that it felt awkward to share a bed at this stage. I knew he liked me, I could see it, but I was also terrified of screwing things up by pushing the physical part of our relationship too quickly.
We needed time. Donovan realized that too, I think; or maybe he really didn’t want to push anything considering what I’d gone through today. Either way, he didn’t make an issue of it, just made sure I was comfortable. Of course, sleeping in a bed where the sheets smelled like my sexy boyfriend didn’t exactly calm me down. Damn libido.
Sometime past midnight I finally fell asleep and woke up late. The sun shone strong over the bed, heating my legs to an almost uncomfortable degree, and the watch on my wrist declared it to be ten o’clock. Being shot at and acquiring a boyfriend all in one evening apparently exhausted me.
Dragging myself out of the bed, I shove
d sunglasses onto my face and wandered out into the hallway and heard Donovan on the phone.
“—yes sir, he’s fine. A little shook up, and who can blame him? But physically fine. I really, really don’t want him to go to the office this week, even with a police escort. Yes, sir.”
He must have been talking to Jim. Still feeling a little sleepy, I shuffled my way over to him and plastered up against his back, sliding both arms around his waist and snuggling in. He was just so warm and smelled so nice that I seriously contemplated going back to sleep right there.
A large hand tangled with one of mine as he continued the phone conversation. I felt a little dwarfed by him, as his hand was so much larger than mine, but it felt good to have that contact. I struggled to recall the last time I’d held hands with someone, and failed. When Skylar was eight, maybe? Donovan’s grip felt comforting, anchoring in a way I’d never experienced with anyone else.
It was decided. He needed to hold my hand from now on.
“He just woke up. Want me to put him on speaker? Alright, we’ll call in later, then. Bye.” Hanging up, Donovan carefully put the phone on the table before turning in my embrace, pulling me into a loose hug. A hand came up to ruffle through my bed hair, a warm smile on his face as he looked down at me. “Morning.”
“Morning.” I adored the man’s easy displays of physical affection. Every time he touched me like that, I felt completely cherished. It was an addictive feeling. “You let me sleep late.”
“You obviously needed it. I called and cancelled the interview we had scheduled for this morning, which everyone understood. I also think it would be a good idea if you just laid low for the rest of the week, didn’t make yourself any more of a target. Jim agreed with me, said it’s perfectly understandable if you didn’t come back in until Monday. We probably shouldn’t go back to my parents’ house Sunday like we’d planned, either. People are going crazy trying to figure out who did the shooting yesterday. Captain Livingston called earlier to report that Borrowman volunteered to take the case. She said the vehicle, unfortunately, is a dead end; it was reported stolen right before it turned up at your place. They found it abandoned a mile away.”
“Isn’t that just my luck.” I didn’t feel all that surprised to hear about the truck, but the news about Borrowman investigating made me happy. It was good to have friends. “Did you already call my family?”
“Texted Skylar, she said she’d spread the word for me. Captain Livingston said we’re cleared to go in and get some of your stuff as long as Borrowman supervises. I think he wants to go through what happened with you step by step anyway, she gave me that impression. You up for that?”
“Sure.” I didn’t say anything cheesy like ‘as long as you’re with me,’ even though I was thinking it. Loudly.
Maybe my face gave me away, as his expression softened, golden-brown eyes understanding. “Yeah, I’ve got you. I’ll call Borrowman, then. Not that you’re not cute in my stuff, but I assume you want to wear clothes that actually fit at some point today.”
“That would be good, yeah. Maybe swing by my mom’s office and assure her I’m in one piece, too. Otherwise she’ll hunt us down. Ah, Donovan. Before we brave the world, I want to make sure we’re on the same page.” I hated to ask but I really needed to know. I took a half step back so I could look up into his face without getting a crick in my neck. “What’s your, um, that is, what are you comfortable with in public?”
“Babe.” Donovan’s voice held a wealth of patience. “As long as you don’t strip me naked and go down on me, I’m good.”
I nearly choked. That was a visual I didn’t need at the moment. Wanted, certainly, but definitely didn’t need. “So, holding hands, hugs, kissing, all good?”
“All good,” he assured me, stroking a hand over my cheek in a gentle caress. I may have melted into a pile of goo. “Also, I really don’t care who knows we’re together. If they have a problem with it, that’s their problem. If they take that problem to you, I become theirs. Clear enough?”
“Crystal,” I assured him, unable to restrain a grin. I knew Donovan had courage, a lion’s share of it, but apparently that courage applied to every aspect of his life. An evil part of me hoped that Detective Dick made it an issue. I really wanted to see the beat-down that would follow. “You’re really amazing, you know that?”
A flush stained his cheeks and he couldn’t quite meet my eyes for a moment. “I’ve never had anyone look at me the way you do. I think I fell for you a little on that first day, although I was trying really hard not to. I knew you could see it, for one thing, and I wasn’t sure if you’d be interested. But you kept doing all of these really sweet things for me. You’re completely irresistible.”
“No one looks at me the way you do either,” I whispered, voice hoarse. I didn’t know how to explain it to him, the way people forced themselves to be patient when dealing with me, and how quickly that patience evaporated. My previous boyfriend had lasted three months, and that was when I was in college. The relationship was rocky from beginning to end but I’d tried so hard to make it work, desperate to prove that I could have someone in my life. Donovan never made me feel lacking. He compensated for my weaknesses naturally and didn’t make me feel like a burden because of them.
“Something’s worrying you.” Donovan brushed knuckles against my cheek, focusing on me. “Something to do with me, I think. What?”
“You sure you’re not the psychic?” I deflected, half-joking. Emotionally speaking, I was still a little raw, and not really in the mood to confess everything on my mind.
“Come on, babe, talk to me,” he encouraged, voice husky and sweet. “We’re barely a day into dating, we have to start the good communication skills now, or we’ll be screwed later.”
He had a point there. Okay, me, man up. I lifted my chin and looked him straight in the eye. “With us working together, and dating, we’re basically going to be joined at the hip. I’m worried it’ll be too much for you at some point. Promise me, if you need to take a break, just say so. I’d rather you take a long weekend than push yourself.”
Donovan didn’t blithely promise that it would all be fine. He studied me for a minute, his eyes searching mine, then gave a slow nod. “All couples need a break from each other now and again. It’s just how relationships work. You’re worried you might be too much for me. Jon, I might well be too much for you at some point. You think of that?”
I blinked at him. Actually, I hadn’t.
His smile went crooked, a little sad, the meridian line over his heart echoing old hurts. “I’m overbearing. I’m overprotective. I tend to smother people. I need to be needed by them, and sometimes I’m too demanding for their attention. I’ve had more relationships break because of that than anything else. So far, I haven’t hit a limit with you, and I’m really glad for that, but you’re pretty independent. I’m worried I might drive you crazy at some point.”
Honestly, I couldn’t imagine it. Not wanting him nearby. Five years of going it alone had created a huge void that Donovan filled nicely. Still, I saw his point. We were still new enough and in the honeymoon stage that this didn’t seem like an issue at the moment. But it might well be in the future, when we got comfortable with each other. I’d never had a relationship last long enough for that to happen, but I understood intellectually that it might. “Okay. You make a good point. How about we both promise if we need a break, we take a long weekend apart from each other. Or some vacation. I want you with me, Donovan, but I don’t want us to drive each other crazy.”
“Me neither. Just promise to be honest with me. I can’t read you as well as you read me.” Donovan kissed me softly, barely a brush of lips, before he whispered against my mouth, “I want us to last. Talk to me, alright? Tell me everything.”
I knew him to be completely sincere; the affection he held for me glowed in lines of greenish-gold along his heart line. Seeing that physical proof impacted me as strongly as the words he spoke. “I don’t know what
you’re saying, you read me just fine. But yes, I promise to communicate to the best of my ability.”
“Good. I’m holding you to that.”
The kiss this time was sweet and gentle, warm, with only a hum of passion. I leaned up and into him, standing on tiptoe, and nearly purred. I’d missed having intimate contact with another person over the years, but more than that, I’d missed having this. A partner emotionally invested in my well-being.
Donovan retreated an inch, chuckling. “Are you purring?”
“Maybe.” I kissed him quick then stepped back. “Come on. If we don’t move now, we’ll end up making out the rest of the day.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Still, he followed my lead, heading for the shower.
We both wanted to just spend the day with each other, but Donovan wouldn’t be able to truly rest until he figured out who had it in for me and got them in cuffs. I wouldn’t either.
We had a mystery to solve first.
14
Borrowman met us at my place, standing on the sidewalk with hands on hips. Donovan had to park a little down the street, as we couldn’t access my back parking lot through all the crime tape, so we walked together down the sidewalk with shoulders brushing. I kind of wanted to hold hands but was new enough to being with someone openly that I didn’t really know the right timing for that sort of thing.
It turned out to be a moot point. Borrowman flicked his sunglasses down to the edge of his nose, looking over them with a grin on his face. “So that finally happened, huh.”
He looked entirely too smug. Frowning, I asked him suspiciously, “What happened?”
“You two.” His smugness reached Cheshire Cat level as he waggled a finger between us.
We hadn’t been that obvious. Had we? My eyes perceived people so differently that sometimes I didn’t really get how the rest of the world observed the people around them. More curious than anything, I asked, “Really? You could tell he liked me?”