Laurel Heights

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Laurel Heights Page 8

by Lisa Worrall


  "Don't worry, guys," David smiled, stroking a reassuring hand down Will's forearm, a hand that lingered a little longer than necessary in Scott's opinion. "We'll break you in nice and easy. We thought we'd just get together and see where the mood takes us. Brent and I are hosting this month, so we'll expect you both at seven sharp."

  "I think we all need to unwind after the last few weeks." Erik picked up his coffee and sipped at the steamy liquid.

  Putting down his knife and fork, Will picked up his own cup and leaned back in his chair. "It must have been hard for you all. Losing two of the residents like that. I mean, the community seems so close knit."

  "It was a terrible shock," Erik murmured, his eyes glistening as they filled with tears. "They were a lovely couple. I still can't quite believe that Cory would have—" He paused and downed the rest of his coffee, tipping the cup back and tilting his head. "But I guess you never really know what goes on behind closed doors."

  Scott's eyes narrowed slightly as he caught the glance Erik shot David, a mere flick of the eyes, but it was there, nonetheless. Something was definitely going on here. His gut instinct told him that Damon and Cal were right.

  Half an hour and another cup of coffee later, Scott closed the front door behind the two men and wandered into the living room to turn on his laptop. As he expected, there were three documents in his inbox. Each one a report on the three men he had told Grace about yesterday. He printed them and stretched out on the sofa, resting his head on one arm and his feet on the other while he read through the details Grace had sent him.

  "I'm going to set up the study in case one of our neighbors decides to have a poke about," Will said, sticking his head around the open door. "Did Gracie come up with anything interesting?"

  "Maybe," Scott replied, scanning the page again. "Brent has a record. He was arrested eight years ago for common assault, but the charges were dropped by his partner, David Taylor. He and David have been together for ten years and lived in Laurel Heights for five. The club does very well, and Brent pays his taxes on time. Apart from the assault, which was obviously a domestic, nothing leaps out at me and screams murderer."

  "What about Marcus and Todd?" Will put down the box of books he was holding on the arm of the sofa next to Scott's feet.

  "Even less interesting. Marcus discovered Todd singing in a bar three years ago. They've been together ever since, and Marcus has helped build Todd's career. Which doesn't seem to have done his own much harm either. They've been living here for two years, and neither of them have any priors beyond a couple of parking fines."

  "This whole set up is seriously nuts," Will said, raking his fingers through his blond hair. "Any one of these men could be a killer and I have absolutely no idea who. They all seem like Mr All-American. I can't imagine any one of them popping those two boys."

  "I guess we'll get to see a different side to them on Saturday," Scott said, his gaze lifting from the paper in his hands to lock with Will's. He tried not to smile at the flush that warmed the other man's cheeks at his words.

  "About that," Will said, clearing his throat and sitting down on the sofa opposite Scott's. "How are we going to get out of it?"

  "Unless we find and arrest the shooter before Saturday, I don't think we can." Scott shrugged, leaning forward and putting his elbows on his knees. "I assume you're really asking how far we go with this charade."

  "Well, yeah, to be honest." Will fiddled with his watch strap. "I mean, in the academy they said that one day every officer might have to take one for the team—but I always thought they were talking about bullets."

  Scott chuckled in response to Will's phrasing. "Well, if we're being honest, here. I don't have the answer, Will. I guess that's one of those play it by ear situations." He lifted the laptop onto his knees and opened a new message to send Grace the details they'd learned on David and Erik over breakfast. At Will's heavy sigh, he couldn't resist adding, "But when you consider where your hand was this morning, I think you'll be able to hold your own—if you'll pardon the pun."

  "Oh, come on, that's just... just…" Will stood and picked up the box of books, glaring down at Scott in indignation. "You suck," he ground out, slamming the living room door on Scott's laughter.

  He cried out as fingers grabbed at his hair, pulling him across the floor. "Please, don't, please. I won't do it again, I promise." He didn't know what he'd done, but he would promise anything, do anything, for the pain to stop.

  "Damn straight you won't," was the gruff response. "I know you went over there. Did you think I wouldn't find out—that you could hide it from me?"

  "I was with the others; I was just being neighborly." He whimpered, pain sparking through his kidney at the kick to his lower back, and he automatically curled in on himself.

  Covering his mouth with his arm, he bit into his sleeve to stop the cry falling from his lips, knowing that if he cried out, it would be so much worse.

  "Did he fuck you?" The words were punctuated with more kicks to his lower back, the muscle in his thigh, and a heavier one to his right buttock. "Couldn't you wait until tonight? Did you sink your teeth into those muscles? Let him open you up and fuck you right there in front of everyone like the whore you are? Did you think you could get away with it?"

  "I didn't. I swear. He never touched me, baby—please you must believe me. I'll do anything."

  It was the same mantra, repeated over and over for every sin He thought had been committed, for every wrong that He believed to have been done. There was one last vicious kick and then the sound of his heavy breathing as he brought himself under control. The storm was over—for now.

  The man on the floor tried not to flinch from the hand held out to him and he was pulled to his feet. Strong arms enfolded around him and warm hands soothed and rubbed small circles into his abused flesh, the voice in his ear soft and remorseful.

  "I'm sorry, baby. I love you so much; I just get a little crazy. Follow my lead tonight. I'm in the mood for a little three way." His hands moved down over rounded buttocks as he pressed his lips to a fluttering pulse.

  "Now." He pushed at the shoulders of the man in his arms, forcing him to his knees with a firm and warning grip. "How about you make it up to me?"

  "Hey, it's me."

  "Will? Are you okay?" Julie's voice was immediately concerned by the lackluster tone of her partner's voice.

  "Not really." He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. He was out in the garden, pacing up and down the patio, his cell pressed to his ear. Looking up, he saw Scott at the kitchen window waving a coffee cup and he nodded, flashing him a bright smile. A smile that disappeared the moment Scott turned away.

  They had settled into a sort of tolerable routine over the last few days. Both knowing that they had to keep up the pretense almost twenty-four/seven, in case one of their 'in your face every single minute of the day' neighbors came to call. They'd spent quite a bit of time with Damon and Cal, building a more detailed picture of the men who lived in the community. Also, they'd braved the daily drop-ins by one or more of their neighbors with ease and surprising grace on Scott's part, Will had to concede. He'd never really expected Scott to be as easy going as he appeared to be. It was a side to the man that he had never seen in their work environment.

  The sleeping arrangements had remained the same, except after that first night, when Will had insisted on putting pillows down the center of the bed. He did not want a repeat of their first morning. No matter how intriguing the idea, he admitted to himself grudgingly.

  "Okay, talk to me," Julie hissed. "I'm in the bedroom and no one will hear me. What's going on? You sound weird."

  "I'm sorry to call you on your day off. I know you don't get to spend much time with the kids as it is. Tell Chad I'll get him a beer when this is all over." Will sighed, slumping down into one of the chairs around the patio set and closing his eyes.

  "He'll expect a case and a round of Guitar Hero, you know that, Harrison. Now don't make me come down there, w
hat's going on in that moronic head of yours?"

  Will could hear the smile in her voice but couldn't summon up one of his own. "Today's Saturday," he mumbled into the handset. "I can't do this, Jules."

  "What do you mean? I thought everything was okay. Grace seemed to think you and Scott had called a truce."

  "Ha! Is that what he called it?" Will huffed out a joyless laugh. "Julie, I have no idea what's going to happen tonight. There've been hints at partner swapping and such, but I don't have a clue what they're expecting us to do. What if he has to kiss another guy in front of me?"

  "I'm confused. Don't you mean what if you have to kiss another guy in front of him?"

  "That's what I said," Will snapped heatedly. "Aren't you listening to me?"

  "Yes, I am listening, and no, that's not what you said," Julie drawled sarcastically. "I repeat: what the hell is going on with you?"

  "I don't fucking know, all right!" Will sighed and changed hands, pressing the handset to his other ear, his gaze following Scott as the other man filled the coffee pot at the window. God, how can the asshole be so calm? He's driving me fucking crazy! "Fucking Turner is an asshole, that's what's wrong with me. You should see him, Jules. He's been walking around the house, all dressed and everything. Just walking—can you believe it? The nerve of the guy!"

  Will's words tumbled over one another as he spoke, now that he had begun, unable to stop. "Oh, and don't get me started on the smell. The man has the audacity to wear this cologne that smells good and I mean really good. And don't think I don't know why he's walking around in the clothes and smelling the smell, because I do. I know exactly what he's trying to do."

  "Will, honey, you're not making any sense. I assume we're talking about Turner?"

  Will grunted in reply.

  "Let me get this straight. You think Scott is wearing clothes and smelling good because?"

  Will listened to her pause and grumbled beneath his breath, knowing that she expected him to finish the sentence. "Because he wants to drive me crazy. It's totally obvious. It's been his one goal ever since I joined the department. He wants to drive me completely fucking cuckoo!" Will slapped a hand to his forehead and gave a half-hearted chuckle. "I'm losing it, aren't I?"

  "Honestly? Yes, you've tripped over the line from insane to totally batshit crazy. I know you're nervous about tonight, baby, and you know what to do if anything gets out of hand. Tell 'em you've got crabs, or shoot the fucking lot of 'em, Turner included."

  Will's chuckle was more genuine this time at the teasing note in her voice.

  "Listen," she said, her voice softening. "You're both excellent cops, and whether you refuse to believe it or not, you work well together. Just follow each other's lead. We need to find out who killed those boys. I know you, Will. I know you can do this."

  "Jules, my career is everything to me. You know that, too." Will took a deep breath to steady himself and let it out slowly. "What if I get turned on? He'll know I'm gay and I'll lose it all."

  "Will, at the end of the day you're playing a part. You know how to play a part, hell, you've been playing one for years. And so what if you do get turned on? It's a physical response, nothing more. You don't have to explain anything beyond that. You can do this. He's probably just as worried about this as you are, with more cause, because at least you've kissed a guy before. Just work together."

  Julie's voice sounded so confident that he could pull this off that, for a split second, he thought he could too. For a split second. Sighing, he rubbed a hand over his face. "Thanks for letting me unload."

  "Hey, what else are partners for? Oh, and Will? About the clothes and the smelling?"

  Will cleared his throat; glad she couldn't see the flush in his cheeks. "Yeah?"

  "You need serious help, dude. Seriously."

  The line went dead as Julie hung up and he choked back a feeble laugh. He had a feeling she was right. Looking up as the back door opened and Scott approached him with a mug of coffee in each hand, Will tried to smile.

  "Here." Scott held out the cup in his left hand, his brow furrowing in concern. "You okay?"

  "Yeah, I'm good." Will tried to sound nonchalant as he took the cup from Scott's fingers and sipped at the desperately needed caffeine fix.

  "Sure you are." Scott's voice was heavy with sarcasm. "You're freaking out about tonight, aren't you?" Scott swallowed a mouthful of his own drink and rolled his eyes at the pained expression on Will's face in answer.

  "Okay," Scott put his mug of steaming coffee down on the table and plucked Will's out of his hand, standing it next to the other. "Look, man. We're two straight guys about to go to our first gay gang bang."

  Will's eyes widened in panic when Scott nudged his knees together and sat astride his thighs. "What are you doing?" His voice sounded like he'd been sucking on helium and he tried not to lean into Scott's fingers as they stroked his hair back from his forehead.

  "We're no closer to getting any information to break this case. It's obvious these gatherings have something to do with what happened to Jon and Cory. We ain't getting out of tonight, Harrison, so—" Scott continued to thread his fingers through his hair and Will tried to swallow past the lump in his throat. "We need to suck it up and get comfortable with the whole touching business, right now." Scott took a deep breath, picked up Will's hands and put them on his own hips. "Close your eyes," he said, his tone matter of fact as he cupped Will's cheek with the hand that wasn't buried in short, blond locks.

  "Scott—"

  "Close your fucking eyes, Will. I'm going to kiss you, and you're going to kiss me back, you got it?"

  "Why are you yelling at me?" Will huffed, momentarily forgetting he had one hundred and eighty pounds of Turner on his lap.

  "Because you're freaking out! One touch from someone tonight is going to have you running for the hills and you'll blow our cover wide open. I am not ending my career as a beat cop. I've worked long and hard and made sacrifices to get to where I am, and I'm not going to let you ruin it. Now fucking kiss me!" Scott hissed out through clenched teeth. In one swift move, Scott leaned down and captured Will's lips with his in a brief kiss. Pulling back, their mouths parting with a soft snick, he looked into Will's eyes. "Okay?" Will nodded, dumbfounded.

  The first thought that crossed Will's mind was how soft Scott's lips were. But then he didn't have much time to consider anything else, because Scott put more pressure behind the kiss. The tip of the other man's tongue tentatively requested entrance to his mouth, and his lips parted of their own volition. When Scott's tongue slid into his mouth and gently caressed his, all other thoughts fled from his mind other than: Feels. So. Good.

  Will's fingers curled into the denim of Scott's jeans when the man's fingers gripped tighter into his hair, making delicious heat unfurl in his belly. He couldn't stop himself from pulling Scott in closer, and felt, rather than heard, the other man's whimper as he ran his hands up the length of Scott's back. He loved the way the muscles rippled beneath his touch and any blood still left in his brain, rapidly headed south. The tongue sliding sensuously around his mouth tasted of coffee and he licked the bitter remnants away until all he could taste was Scott. He liked it. Wanted more of it. All of it.

  Will's hands searched beneath the hem of Scott's T-shirt of their own volition, desperately wanting to feel the warmth of bare flesh against his skin. Which was when Scott broke the kiss, quickly pushed himself off Will's lap and grabbed his coffee. Will stared up at him, his breath panting through his parted lips.

  "Okay," Scott cleared his throat and nodded at Will. "I think we can manage kissing." He motioned to the back door. "I'm gonna go see if Grace has come up with anything new."

  Will couldn't trust himself to speak, so he acknowledged Scott's intentions with a lift of his chin and picked up his coffee. He watched Scott walk back into the house from beneath lowered lashes, and when the man had disappeared into the house, he put the cup down and ran shaking fingers through his hair. When had this stopped being an
act? When had he developed the hots for Scott 'I'm so straight I sleep standing up' Turner? Will pushed at the hard length of his cock and groaned as the sense memory of Scott's ass on his thighs washed over him. Fuck—this is so not good!

  Scott closed the living room door behind him and leaned against the wood. "Fuck!" The expletive was hissed through clenched teeth and his trembling hand palmed his cock. What the fuck are you doing? He admonished himself internally. Hoping to God that Will hadn't felt him hardening in his pants during their kiss, he all but threw himself down onto the sofa in front of the laptop. He stabbed at the keys in his frustration. It had started out as a simple experiment to see if Will could get through an average kiss without screaming and running for the hills. But he hadn't counted on Will's lips being even sweeter than he had ever imagined them to be, or that all that thick, blond hair would feel so wonderful against his fingers. As for when Will's fingers had scrabbled at the hem of his tee, Jesus! He'd thought he was going to cream his pants like a teenager. Stupid fucking Will 'My thighs are so hard I can crack walnuts' Harrison. They were supposed to attend their first gathering at David and Brent's in two hours. How the fuck was he going to make it through now? How was he going to be able to see other men touching, or kissing Will, without drawing his gun and screaming, Mine! He groaned and scrubbed his hands over his face. This is so not good!

  "Well, I guess this is it," Scott muttered as they crossed the street to David and Brent's house. The night air was balmy, and they were both dressed to suit the weather, in casual button-down shirts and loose-fitting shorts. They could clearly see the others through the big bay window beside the front door as they approached; Jay and Erik lounging on one of the sofas, with Marcus and a smiling Todd settled on another.

  "I guess so," Will replied, his tone a lot calmer than Scott would have expected it to be.

 

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