Playing With Fire

by Dirk Greyson

  “I told you there wasn’t some kid involved,” Tag said to Robbins.

  “It was the standard pool blank,” Robbins said. “I didn’t have time to make up a special one. So what’s the real answer?”

  “I’m fine. Barty is just going back to his apartment,” Jim said from his desk, looking over his paperwork. “Don’t you all have work to do?”

  They turned and got busy while Jim finished up and was called to the scene of a break-in. It split up his day, and he was able to find the source and the culprit pretty quickly, and then returned to the station for still more paperwork. By the time he left for the day, he was exhausted. Jim stopped for dinner on his way home, then to the house and right up to his bed, which seemed way too big and definitely too empty for his liking. He sent Barty a good-night message and then turned out the light.

  Chapter 10

  BARTY SIGHED as he sat in his office, staring out the window at the quad in the center of campus. It had taken less than an hour after his return for the details of what he’d done to sail across the entire campus. His male students suddenly thought he was the cat’s meow, and his female students looked at him as though he’d hung the moon. Both situations made him nervous as hell.

  “Did you really do what they say you did?” a female voice asked, and Barty turned toward the doorway. “Did you really shoot that serial killer?”

  “Yes, I did. But it was out of necessity.” He groaned inwardly. He didn’t want to review the details of what had happened with his students. “I will have some great opportunities for research, though. I’ve got appointments already with his coworkers, as well as his family. So we’ll see if any new information comes of it. What can I help you with?”

  “Nothing really,” she said, hoisting her notebook a little higher up her chest.

  “Carry Ann, there is one other thing that came out of this whole episode,” Barty said.

  “What’s that?” she asked, her eyes widening as she pushed away from the doorframe.

  “I think I may have found a boyfriend.” He probably should have said nothing, and she deflated like a balloon. “It’s pretty awesome. But is there anything I can help you with? Your final papers are due next Friday, and I’m looking forward to reading them. So I hope you’ve started.” Barty figured his little announcement would probably make it around campus just as quickly as the news of his serial killer encounter, and that was fine. He didn’t mind what other people thought, and if it kept the girls from their interest, then it was a win. He figured he probably should have come out, as it were, a while ago. This whole thing with Willard stalking him could have been avoided completely.

  “Thanks. I’ve already started on my paper, and it’s going to be amazing. I decided to do some work on the UT shooter incident. This whole incident has me interested, and I have an appointment with one of the original researchers to talk with him tomorrow. So that should be awesome.” She hurried away, and Barty returned his attention to the flowers in the courtyard.

  The last two days had been… well… boring as hell. Even Penelope lazed around the apartment, and when he came home, she trotted past him looking for Jim, he was sure of it. They had talked and texted, but that was it. Jim was busy with his work, and it was nearing the end of the term, so Barty was going to be under a severe time crunch. Still, he was whiling away the time, just looking out the window instead of preparing his research materials. His mind kept going back to how he’d worried over Jim when he’d gone out to pick up Mason, and at the time, he’d wondered how he could deal with the not knowing. Now, just after a few days, he understood that the worrying over not knowing what was happening was better than being away from Jim, and going home to an empty apartment rather than a home with someone who really cared for him was a letdown. Maybe once this week was over…. Barty sighed for what seemed like the millionth time and pulled his attention back to his work.

  Of course, he made no progress, and what he did write was crap. He ended up deleting it all and shutting down his computer. This whole thing had him at loose ends. He hadn’t really wanted to go back to his apartment. Barty liked it at Jim’s. But Jim hadn’t invited him to stay, and they hadn’t known each other that long, so he couldn’t really expect to be asked to move in or anything. But being home alone sort of sucked. Other people had groups of friends, but Barty had never been able to figure out how to make friends, and yet somehow he’d managed to catch Jim’s eye and he’d liked him.

  “What are you looking at?” Jim asked from behind him. Barty would have known his voice anywhere.

  He smiled and turned away from the window to see a huge bouquet of flowers. “You’re here. I wasn’t expecting you.” His heart did this little excited flippy thing. “What are those for?”

  “You,” Jim said, handing the huge bundle to him, and Barty stared and then bent to smell them. “I missed you.”

  “Me too.” Barty wanted to set the flowers aside and jump into Jim’s arms, but that probably wasn’t the best thing to do at this moment. “My apartment seems so empty. Penelope has been pissed off and looking for you ever since we left.”

  “Is Penelope the only one who’s been looking for me?”

  “Of course not. I just knew you were busy and didn’t want to bother you. The apartment seems small and so empty after spending time at your house.”

  “And the house seems completely empty and cavernous without you and the princess. So look, I have room, lots of it, and I hate coming home to an empty house. But what I hate more is knowing you’re doing the exact same thing. I want you and Penelope to come live at the house. You can have your own room if it will make you feel more comfortable until things get settled between us. I know it’s fast, but I know what I want.”

  “Then why didn’t you say anything?” Barty asked.

  “Because I don’t want to pressure you.”

  “And I thought you’d want your life back the way it was. I mean, the case was over and… I guess I should have said what I wanted, but it was your house and I didn’t feel right asking to stay, and… then I didn’t want to go, but I had to… so I did… and it sucked….”

  “How about I ask you, then? Barty, I want you to come live with me at my house. Bring Penelope and whatever else you want. That house needs to be filled with life and love, and I want you to help me do that. The last two nights really sucked because you weren’t there. I love spending time with you, talking, playing games, watching movies, and just being with you.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. I love you, and I want to spend as much time with you as I can. I don’t want to pressure you, and if you aren’t ready to move, I’ll understand. But I wanted you to know what I want.”

  “Me too. I never thought I’d have anyone who’d want me in their life like that.”

  Jim turned and closed the office door. Then he stalked over to where Barty sat and kissed him hard, pushing the wheeled desk chair back until he bumped the desk. “Now you can’t go anywhere.” He kissed him again, and Barty wrapped his arms around Jim’s neck, holding him tightly. He wanted to do so much more than kiss, but he couldn’t allow that here in his office.

  “Jim…. We can’t here….” Barty’s resistance began to crumble, and he wanted more and more with each passing second. He could lock the door, empty his desk, and say to hell with it. “Jim….”

  “I know, honey,” Jim said, backing away, both of them breathing hard. “Are you ready to go home?”

  Barty’s lips tingled, and he blinked to try to get his balance once again, but he nodded and gathered his things in his bag, then picked up the flowers. Jim opened the office door, and Barty stepped out to find three of his colleagues watching him. Barty blushed about three shades of red; he could feel the heat in his cheeks and knew what he must look like.

  “Having a good time?” Miriam asked, and Barty had no idea what to say.

  “I’m going home for the day,” Barty finally explained.

  “Oh, I see.”
r />   “Ma’am, Detective James Crawford,” Jim said seriously, and Barty saw Miriam step back. “Barty had some questions that needed to be answered.”

  Barty kept from laughing until they were in the elevator. “That might have worked if I wasn’t carrying these flowers,” he said, unable to keep the grin off his face. “Was that one of your games?”

  “Sure. She was insinuating that we were in your office having sex. Now, it would have been one thing if that’s what we had been doing, but since we weren’t, she needed to pay a little.”

  “But what if she thinks we did anyway?”

  “Then she’ll think I got really lucky,” Jim said and kissed him, pulling away as the door slid open on the ground floor. “Did you drive to work?”

  “No. I was going to bike, but I had a flat tire, so I walked. It isn’t that far.”

  Jim took his hand. “Then come on. Let’s get some things and Penelope and go home.”

  Barty followed Jim to his car, and they went the short distance to his apartment. He hurried inside, and Penelope went a little nuts at seeing Jim. Apparently she was as taken with him as Barty was.

  “She needs to go in her carrier. She usually has a fit when I try to put her in.”

  “Like this?” Jim held up the carrier, including cat, and Barty shook his head. “I think she’s ready to go.”

  Barty packed a box of Penelope’s things, and Jim took it to the car while Barty packed enough clothes and what he’d need for a few days. He wasn’t ready to give up his apartment, in case things went bad or something, but he was ready to go to Jim’s.

  “What about my car?”

  “You can follow me. That way you’ll have it. Traffic is going to be heavy, but stay behind me and you’ll be just fine.” Jim kissed him, and Barty let go of the nervousness and stress that driving always caused him. “Let’s get what you want to take into the cars, and we can go. It will take a little while to get home, so be patient.”

  Jim helped him load what he needed and put Penelope on the floor of the front seat of Barty’s car. She cried as soon as Jim closed the door. Barty pulled out of his spot behind Jim and followed him into traffic. He’d always tried to avoid stressful situations, and he was never comfortable driving, but Barty kept an eye on Jim, followed him to the freeway, and stayed right behind him through bumper-to-bumper traffic.

  “I know, Penelope. You don’t like it in the car, but your crying constantly is not helping me get there any faster. So be quiet and lie down for a while. As soon as I get there, I’ll give you some catnip, and you can get as high as a kite if you want.” Anything to stop her from crying. Heck, he wished he had some of the dang kitty pot right then. Barty clenched the wheel and leaned forward, driving as carefully as he could until they exited the freeway into the community where Jim lived. The streets were much less congested, and it was much easier going after that. They arrived at Jim’s, and Barty pulled into the garage next to Jim’s car. He got out and grabbed Penelope’s carrier. “She hates me right now.”

  “It’ll be fine.” Jim unlocked the door and disabled the alarm, and Barty put the carrier inside and opened it. Penelope zoomed out, took a look at him, then turned away, tail in the air, and headed off into house. “She’s so pissed at you.”

  “Tell me about it.” Barty put the carrier in the laundry room and helped Jim bring in the rest of his things. Jim helped him get them upstairs, setting the cases on the floor of the guest room, and maneuvering Barty into his room.

  “I hope she’ll… oh….” Barty groaned as Jim opened his pants and shoved them down his legs.

  “I’ve missed you.”

  Barty laughed, and it felt good. “Is this more of your playing? Because if it is, I like it.” He wound his arms around Jim’s neck to steady himself as he tried to step out of his pants and failed to do so. It would help if he had taken off his shoes.

  Jim laughed as Barty nearly tumbled back onto the bed while trying to get out of his damn pants and finally managing it.

  “I know you don’t love me for my grace and elegance.”

  “No, honey, I didn’t fall in love with you for your grace. It was definitely something else.” Jim smiled, looking into his eyes, and Barty went to take off his glasses, but Jim stopped him. “I like your glasses.”

  “Is that your fetish or something?” Barty asked as Jim made short work of the buttons on his shirt.

  “Maybe. I’m not sure. I like tall, intelligent, sort of nerdy guys with glasses, so sue me.”

  Barty wanted to kiss him instead and did just that. This particular tall, smart, nerdy guy who wore glasses had never expected to find someone. He always thought he never understood other people well enough to catch anyone’s eye.

  “I guess that proves there’s someone for everyone.”

  “Nope, just that you’re the one for me.” Jim pressed him back with a kiss that left Barty weak in the knees. Thank goodness he just fell back on the bed, and Jim tugged off the last of his clothes. “Now there’s a sight.”

  “I want to look too, but you’re still dressed,” Barty said, happy as all get-out at the heat in Jim’s eyes. Every time he saw that look, he silently thanked his grandmother. Not that he wanted to be thinking about her when he was naked and Jim was taking off his shirt. Barty tugged at the material, trying to help, and as soon as Jim’s chest was exposed, he sat up, put his arms around Jim’s waist, and brought his lips to that amazing skin. “I love how strong you are. It makes me feel safe.”

  Jim stilled. “But….”

  “Nope. I always feel safe around you, and I had your back and you have mine.” Barty pushed away the image of Mason on the floor. He’d had enough of that. He couldn’t stop that from infiltrating his dreams, but it wouldn’t interfere with his time with Jim. “That’s what matters.” He lifted his gaze, gently tugging Jim down until their lips met. The last thing he wanted to talk about now was that bastard—even though he was the reason the two of them were together in the first place. “Nana always said that things happen for a reason, and I got you out of the deal.”

  “Then I came out a winner,” Jim whispered and pressed Barty back onto the bed.

  Barty loved the solidity of Jim’s weight on him. He’d always hated being held down—the kids had done that to him in school—but this was so different. Jim loved him, and Barty clung as tightly as possible. He didn’t want anything to come between them. Of course, Jim had to pull away, if only to get rid of the rest of his clothes.

  Jim stood naked at the side of the bed once he’d stripped, and he stared at him. Barty’s excitement clicked up a notch each and every second Jim watched him. He wondered what was going on inside his head, and to his surprise, he had no idea whatsoever and loved it. Jim was completely closed to him, and that only added to the anticipation.

  Jim pulled open the drawer next to the bed.

  “What’s that?” Barty asked.

  “Something we’re going to need a little later.” Jim kissed him then climbed on the bed, and Barty forgot about anything else. To say Jim was athletic and full of energy was an understatement. Barty’s entire body came alive, picking up on Jim’s energy and returning it to him. When Jim kissed him, his head felt like it would explode, and when Jim kissed down his chest and belly, Barty held his breath and clutched the bedding in anticipation. But when Jim straddled him and reached for the things on the nightstand, Barty was a little confused. Jim showed him the condom packet and opened it; then, to Barty’s shock, he rolled the condom down Barty’s cock, and Barty nearly lost it at the sensation. He still didn’t believe what was going to happen. Jim grabbed the lube and slicked him before reaching behind himself. Then, before Barty could really think about it, Jim positioned Barty’s cock, and Barty began to slide inside Jim’s body.

  The sensation was sublime, with heat and pressure building around him. Barty groaned loudly and bit his lower lip, trying not to come so soon because he wanted this to last.

  “Just breathe and take it easy,�
�� Jim said, continuing to sink down on him until Barty pressed up to meet Jim’s butt.

  “Jim, this is too much.”

  “No. It’s actually perfect.”

  “But I thought you….”

  “Nope.” Jim lifted his hips, and words flew from Barty’s head. He forgot about anything else. Jim stroked himself, leaned back, and brought his hips up and down.

  Barty wondered if he was ever going to get enough air into his lungs again. The feel of Jim gripping him, the view of Jim stroking his cock, belly clenched, eyes half-lidded—it was better than anything he’d ever seen in any of the movies he’d felt guilty watching. Jim was more beautiful and amazing than anything Barty could have ever imagined, and he wanted Barty just as much as Barty wanted him. That alone added to the excitement.

  “I’m….” Barty wasn’t sure how long he was going to be able to stay in control. He was over the moon, and Jim pushed all his buttons with the way he clenched around him. That made Barty’s eyes roll into the back of his head.

  “Almost there,” Jim said, stroking faster, belly muscles rolling. Damn, that was hot, and when he clenched, tugging hard at Barty’s cock, Barty completely lost it, flying over the precipice of desire with the force of a bullet, lights flashing, muscles tensing, completely out of control.

  Barty floated on clouds, and for the first time, knew without a doubt that angels existed, because Jim had moved next to him and held him tightly.

  “You’re just fine. Keep your eyes closed and relax.”