Landon's Desire (Book Three of The Pulse Series 3)

by Rose, Jennifer

  “Tell me, Ace.”

  “Okay, if you get off me.”

  “Uh uh, you’ll take off.”

  “I promise I won’t, I could get you off of me if I really wanted to,” Landon arched his hips, grinding his arousal into Carl’s ass. “I can’t concentrate like this, you’re making me horny.”

  “Fine, I’ll meet you in the living room,” Carl said, climbing from the bed.

  Landon grasped his wrist. “Can we stay here, my head hurts?”

  “Talk to me then,” Carl sat on the edge of the bed.

  “This is the anniversary of my partner Steve’s death. He was shot, died almost instantly.”

  “Partner?”

  “Yeah, we were partners on and off the force…we were responding to a domestic, I wasn’t paying attention, turned around and Steve was shot point blank in the throat. The bullet hit his carotid artery. I blamed myself for years, you never leave your partners side.”

  Carl crawled under the sheet and cradled Landon in his arms.

  “Who sent the card?”

  “Don’t know.” Landon let out a sigh and cuddled closer.

  “The police know about the cards?”

  “Yep. Whoever it is doesn’t scare me, I figure if this person wanted me dead, I’d have been dead long ago. He or she’s intention is to keep me suffering.”

  “Drinking yourself into a comma doesn’t help, you know this right?” Carl scolded him.

  “Can we talk about something else?” Landon asked.

  “What do you want for dinner?” Carl asked.

  “Ugh…you have to be kidding.” Landon rolled out of Carl’s arms onto the mattress and pulled the covers over his head. “I feel like a piece of warmed over shit and you want food.”

  “No one told you to drink a gallon of booze for breakfast.”

  “You’re a bartender, what’s the cure for a hangover?”

  Carl laughed. “You don’t want to know, believe me.” He slapped Landon’s ass. “Sleep, I’ll be back.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “Down to the kitchen, I’m hungry.”

  “Ugh.”

  ***

  “Wake up, Ace,”

  The room was dark. The only light was supplied by the small bedside lamp as Landon’s eyes fluttered open. Carl stood at the bedside with a tray in his hands, in nothing but a pair of neon orange briefs, gazing down at Landon’s beautiful face.

  “You snore,” he told Landon.

  “Never said I didn’t.” Landon stretched his arms over his head, arching his back.

  “I brought you some food, sit up,” Carl ordered and waited while Landon got comfortable.

  “Don’t get too excited it’s nothing fancy, some scrambled eggs and toast. You didn’t eat today, feeling better?”

  “Feeling like an ass.”

  “You are an ass, eat,” Carl said, taking a forkful of eggs and holding them to his mouth.

  “You’re bossy as fuck,” Landon said, opening his mouth, and then chewing the delicious eggs. “Mmm, these are good.”

  “I just want to say, I’m sorry for your loss, Steve must have been really special.”

  “He was,” Landon detected a tinge of insecurity from Carl. “Steve’s a wonderful memory I hold dear in my heart, Babes, he’s part of my past. That chunk of history is locked away in the archives.”

  Landon patted the bed and watched as Carl climb over to him. “I have plans for a new future, one with someone new. He’s handsome, has this amazing smile, gorgeous hazel eyes and he’s sexy as fuck…he also wears sexy ass undies.”

  Landon winked.

  “Eat your eggs before they get cold and then go for a shower while I change the sheets.”

  “Fuck, you are bossy,” Landon laughed, as he took a bite of toast.

  Carl came back into the room and dropped cornflower blue sheets and pillowcases onto the end of the bed and took Landon’s tray.

  “Shower time.” Carl’s raised brow said try-me.

  Landon couldn’t wait to find out if this bossy, domineering side of Carl translated just as well in the bedroom. A thrill ran up his spine as he walked into the bathroom and left the door open on purpose.

  The sound of the water echoing off the ceramic tile in the shower stall caught Carl’s attention as he stripped the dirty sheets from the bed. With the door ajar, the temptation to take a small peek was killing him. Drawing his attention back to making the bed, he managed to get the fitted sheet on and started to shake out the top sheet when he heard Landon humming along to something playing on his phone. It was all he could do to finish making the bed.

  He stood outside the door listening, leaning his head on the doors frame as Landon sang along to Limp Bixkit’s Behind Blue Eyes, he was good and Carl was impressed.

  “Carl, are you spying on me?” Landon asked, with a titter in his voice.

  “No…yeah.”

  “Which one, yes or no?”

  “I was listening to you sing.”

  “Were you now, what’s the verdict, am I ready for America’s Most Talented?”

  Carl laughed. “You’re good, but not that good. Don’t quit your day job.”

  “You going to come in or talk through the door the entire time,” he asked, as the water stopped. “I could use a towel.”

  Of course he needed a towel, and the clean clothes Carl had retrieved from his place while he was sleeping off his inebriation. Sitting on the counter, Carl sat holding Landon’s clothes to his chest as he watched Landon towel dry, swish his mouth with mouthwash and run Carl’s comb through his hair. He had an amazing body, hairless except for a tiny trail from his belly button to the base of his penis that disappeared to smooth cleanly shaven balls and hairless legs. In other words smooth. Carl liked the idea of exploring every smooth inch of Landon and was hoping it would be soon. It was defiantly time to get down to business.

  “Hey, earth to Carl, where you at Babes?” Landon asked, standing in front of him with a towel hanging loose on his hips.

  “I got you a change of clothes.”

  Landon leaned on the counter with his hands on either side of Carl’s thighs and leaned forward into a long gentle kiss. Carl’s hands caressed up and down Landon’s powerful back, as he breathed in the clean smell of soap and Landon’s own musky scent. The man knew how to kiss. Carl was shocked at how good it felt to be kissed so passionately by another man, by Landon.

  “I’m going to get dressed,” Landon whispered.

  Frozen to the spot, Carl watched Landon slip into his underwear, sweats and a shirt and then turned with a grin when he got to the bathroom door.

  “Coming?” Landon held out his hand and waited for Carl to take it. They walked into the bedroom and Landon smiled, “Blue sheets, are you looking to get productive tonight?”

  “They’re the only clean sheets I had left, I need to do laundry.”

  “Why do you suddenly get shy when I say anything sexual?” Landon asked, releasing Carl’s hand and picking up a pillowcase and pillow. “I mean, I like shy Carl, but I like bossy Carl too.”

  “I don’t know…I’m…I’m just…”

  “You’re just not ready,” Landon finished his sentence and tossed the pillow on the bed.

  Saturday was two days away and all Landon could think about was how much he wanted to fuck Carl or vice versa, he’d wait and see how things progressed after the concert. To strip him naked and lick him all over was going to be a dream come true. How could he be so addicted to the man after just one taste?

  “Soon Babes, soon.”

  They finished making the bed and then got cozy on the couch while flicking through channels on the TV, Landon was starting to enjoy cuddling up with Carl, it felt right.

  “I need to apologize for subjecting you to my anniversary drama, and to thank you for taking care of me. I’m so stupid, it happens every year, you’d think I’d be prepared.”

  “No worries, I’m glad I was here for you,” Carl said. “Maybe y
ou should consider some kind of therapy to help deal.”

  “Believe me, I’ve had therapy out the ass, it’s mandatory on the force. You can’t go back to work until you spend so many hours with a shrink. I dealt with it all but that fucking card showing up each year kind of has a way of fucking me up…I don’t want to talk about it anymore okay?”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure, what?

  “Why do you keep telling me I’m not ready?”

  Landon held his lips to Carl’s temple as he spoke, “Because I don’t want to rush you and I don’t think you are.”

  “What if I told you, I think I am?”

  “Then I’d tell you to wait a few more days,” Landon smiled. “The anticipation will be well worth the wait.”

  Carl’s stomach did a flip-flop as he thought about the moment. Landon laid him back over his knees and stroked his chin. Carl closed his eyes as Landon peppered kisses along his jaw and kissed his lips tenderly.

  “I’m ready, Ace,” Carl whispered.

  “Open your eyes and look at me,” Landon demanded.

  The beautiful hazel eyes that looked up at him were darker and heavy with want. He didn’t see the frightened reservation from before and smiled into his face.

  “Saturday night,” Landon said, outlining Carl’s lips with his index finger. “I will make you mine.”

  Expecting to see apprehension cloud over Carl’s face, he grinned when Carl smiled and bit his bottom lip.

  FOURTEEN

  “Sorry to disturb you so early, but more parts were delivered this morning. The police are here now,” Danielle alerted Landon. “The new inspector caught them immediately.”

  It wasn’t bad enough that he faded in and out of sleep because his thoughts kept turning to Carl and the anticipation of Saturday night, but when he finally did fall into a deep sleep, he was woke up to more parts bullshit.

  “I suspect detective Johnson will be in touch?” Landon asked.

  “That’s what he said,” Danielle confirmed. “Is there anything new you would like me to pass along here?”

  “No, just keep up the great work.”

  “Have a nice day, Mr. Liberatore.”

  “Danielle,” Landon said. “Please call me Landon?”

  “Sorry, have a nice day…Landon.”

  “Better, you too,” he laughed and hung up.

  Just as he raised his coffee mug to his lips, his phone rang again and he knew who it would be.

  “Mr. Liberatore, this is detective Johnson.”

  “Good morning detective,” Landon said. “I go by Landon Kyle.”

  “Miss Maple did mention that, sorry.”

  Johnson relayed the same story Danielle had already made him aware of, while Landon finished his coffee and went into the club kitchen for a refill.

  “I wouldn’t be telling you this, but since you are a fellow officer, I can trust your confidentiality?”

  “You can,” Landon assured him and took a seat at a table in the empty club.

  “Your hunch regarding Briggs seems dead-on,” Johnson said. “But of course there’s not enough evidence to make an arrest. Unidentifiable parts were found in his warehouse…he of course is saying they came to him in an anonymous shipment, we can’t prove otherwise. My hands are tied, that’s where you come in,”

  Landon’s brows knit together. “Me?”

  “Yeah, you,” Johnson said. “You have been in his house, how difficult would it be to get back in?”

  “Extremely, cause I’m not stepping foot inside that fucking door,” Landon said blatantly.

  “Come on, all you have to do is get inside and get your hands on some of those invoices you saw so we can put this asshole out of business.”

  “If he finds out I had a hand in any of this, Briggs will happily put me out of business, permanently.”

  “Think about it,” Johnson asked. “It will take a few weeks to organize anyway.”

  “He has no idea I own Liberator Industries, I need to keep it that way. He could and probably would, try to destroy me.”

  “I understand, I do, but wouldn’t it be better to get this fucker before he steals from you and you lose a fortune?”

  Landon looked up as Carl came into the bar, he winked at Carl and laughed when he saw a blush brighten his gorgeous face.

  “I’ll think about it, let me get back to you.”

  “Don’t wait too long,” Johnson warned.

  “I’ll let you know by Monday at the latest,” Landon said.

  “Consider it seriously…until Monday,” Johnson said, and the line went dead.

  “I didn’t expect to see you up this early,” Carl said. “Can I get you more coffee?”

  “Yes please,” he followed Carl into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around his waist, pressing against his back. “I want sugar with mine.”

  “Since when do you take sugar in your coffee?”

  “Since right now,” Landon said, crossing his arm over Carl’s chest and grasping his chin and tilting his head back, kissing him ardently.

  “If that’s not the yummiest thing I’ve seen today,” Mikala laughed with a smirk on her face. “It’s nice to see you two getting along,”

  “We always get along,” Landon gave him a chaste kiss on the side of his neck. “Tell her, Babes,”

  “Always,” Carl complied.

  “How’s Sprout doing today?” Landon asked.

  Carl looked between them confused.

  “Great, want to see?” Mikala asked.

  “Whoa,” Landon put up his hand, hoping she wasn’t about to lift her shirt and give him a peek.

  “I have the sonogram photo you coward,” Mikala announced handing him the picture. “Look, it’s a 3-D image.

  “Incredible, Sprout’s got tiny little finger nails and everything,” Landon said, handing the picture to Carl. “Still don’t want to know the sex?”

  “No way, I want to be surprised.”

  “Well you already know what Sprout looks like,” Carl said. “We need to start a pool,”

  “We’ll leave that to you,” Landon laughed. “What brings you in so early in the morning, Princess?”

  “I’m meeting Eden for lunch but I need to get some work done first, because we all know I won’t be back after, I have major baby shopping to do.”

  Landon cringed, “You have fun with that.”

  “You don’t like babies, do you?” Mikala asked, with a pout on.

  “I like babies just fine…as long as I’m not left alone with them and I don’t have to change shitty diapers, then I’m fine.”

  “What if I needed a babysitter?”

  “I’d help you find one.” Landon said, as he walked out of the room.

  Carl laughed and followed. “Mik, would you seriously ask Lando to take care of your kid?”

  She frowned. “Why not? He’s the sweetest guy I know, Sprout would be in excellent hands with his or her Uncle Lando.”

  “Yeah, Carl, I’m fucking sweet, practically dripping with sweetness, I’m that fucking sweet.”

  Carl threw his head back and laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” Landon scowled.

  “I just got an image in my head of the incredible hulk holding the little green sprout.”

  “Oh you’re a fucking riot,” Landon shoved Carl’s shoulder. “Don’t you two have work to do?”

  “I have work to do,” Mikala laughed, slinging her purse over her shoulder. “You girls can finish this conversation without me.”

  “This conversation is over,” Landon snarled.

  “What are you doing today?” Carl asked.

  “I have some research to do, I’m considering helping with an investigation, can’t really say much more than that.”

  “Oh yeah? By the tone in your voice it sounds like you’re not one hundred percent convinced you want to do it.”

  “That’s because I’m not,” Landon confirmed. “There are risks involved, it’s a catch tw
enty-two thing, fucked if I do, and fucked if I don’t.”

  Carl’s brow narrowed. “Sounds ominous, should I be worried?”

  “Put it out of your head,” Landon said, as he crushed Carl to his chest. “I shouldn’t have said anything, pretend I never mentioned it.”

  “You are kidding right?” Carl asked. “How do I put you getting yourself messed in something dangerous out of my head?”

  “I never said the word dangerous,” Landon said, shaking his head. “All I want you thinking about is our date on Saturday, the concert and having a good time.”

  Because that was basically all Landon had been thinking about, the investigation was a nice way of taking his mind in another direction.

  Landon clamped his hands around both cheeks of Carl’s ass and lifted him off his feet. “Think about us like this,” he wiggled his brow and ground his hips against Carl’s hips.

  “I think I can handle that,” Carl held Landon’s face in his hands and gave him a long held kiss, “don’t do anything stupid.”

  “Yes mom,” Landon joked, lowering Carl to the floor.

  “Be serious, this thing’s not dangerous, right?” Carl asked, fisting Landon’s shirt.

  A horn sounded from the back ally, a delivery awaited. Landon was saved from answering Carl’s question or telling a lie he didn’t want to tell.

  “I’ll get that…while you get me a coffee?”

  “Get your own coffee, do I look like your servant?” Carl snarled.

  “Not yet, Babes, but come Saturday night you may just be.”

  Landon winked.

  ***

  Searches uncovered little to nothing. Briggs came off with a sparkling clean image, no priors, not so much as a speeding ticket and he contributed yearly to almost every charity known to man. Briggs came off as kind, caring and loving.

  Bullshit.

  He owned property all over the world, attended swanky dinner affairs where plates started at a thousand bucks, yet the exact business he conducted was described vaguely to say the least. Import, export could mean anything from Luxury liners to cotton balls. The lack of a proper description in the businesses header, add to that a single email address as the only contact available, and Landon was truly suspicious.