“It’s just funny. You’re so goody-goody.”
“I’m not goody-goody about everything.”
Josh’s expression was comical. He went from laughing to wide-eyed. Then in a blink, the predator took over. He smiled a big-bad-wolf-eat-you-up smile, and Drew’s breath caught in his throat. Dayum.
“Is that a fact?”
“Oh, yeah. A big, big fact.”
And then Josh was laughing again.
“You did not just say that! That was the worst—I mean, the absolute worst—line I’ve heard in a long time.” His breath came in gasps as he howled with laughter.
Drew joined in. “Hell yeah, I did. Points for the best high school come-on line, evah.”
“Dude!” They high-fived.
“I know, right? Tell me it’s not working.”
“Oh, it’s working, all right.”
“Yeah, it is.” Drew smirked.
The rest of the shift they spent cruising, stopping the occasional car that sped by, and talking. Well, Drew did most of the talking, if he was honest. But Josh was an amazing listener. He asked lots of questions and seemed interested in everything about Drew.
So Drew told Josh all kinds of goofy Greenbelt stories. It didn’t have HonFest, but it had the Green Man Festival where you could find more long hair, dangly earrings, and long colorful skirts in a one-block radius than the rest of Takoma Park combined. That was saying something. And those were just the men!
“So old Greenbelt is a cooperative?” Josh asked.
“Most of it. There are some houses not owned by the co-op. Our movie theater, grocery store, and the New Deal Café are co-ops too.”
“New Deal Café? Do I want to know?”
“It serves Lebanese food.”
“Of course it does.”
“Don’t knock it. It’s an awesome place to live.”
“You grew up there?”
“My whole family did. My sister defected down the road to Columbia and has never been forgiven, but my brother lives in the more chichi neighborhood on the lake, and my parents are still in the house we grew up in. I bought into the cooperative and have a two-bedroom place. It’s small, but with super great neighbors.”
“Your parents know you’re gay?”
“Ha! I think my shirt says it all. Yeah, they know. They aren’t exactly thrilled, but only because they see it as one more way I make my life difficult. Like I did it on purpose or something.”
“That’s… an unusual way to see it.”
“Yeah, well, I’m the baby of the family, and they still see me that way. They’re a little overprotective. Or a lot, really. But they mean well. What about you? You have siblings?”
“No. Only child. Though last I heard my parents are claiming to be childless.” Josh’s voice had gone soft.
“Oh, well… that’s just… wow. I’m sorry.” Shit. What did he say to that? Drew remembered Louie’s and Josh’s conversation—he didn’t want to blow anything up between them again, but he also wanted to comfort Josh. Only he didn’t know what to do. He reached his hand out, drew it back.
“No, I’m sorry,” Josh said. “I don’t know why I keep dropping all my baggage at your feet. I don’t normally do that. You’re very easy to talk to for some reason.”
Drew felt like he’d been stroked.
“Believe it or not, you’re easy to talk to too. Once you get past a suitcase or two.” He reached over and squeezed Josh’s bicep. Hard as a rock.
“Careful, I wouldn’t want you to compromise your safety by leaning out of your seat belt.”
“Smartass.”
“You know it.” Josh paused. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
“Yeah?”
“You said you didn’t care what people thought of you, but you cared… might care,” he amended, “what I thought of you. Why’s that?”
“Oh. Um. Well, I just meant that it’s different when I’m attracted to someone. It brings back old insecurities, that’s all.”
“You don’t seem like someone with a lot of insecurities.”
“Same as everyone else, I guess.” Drew shrugged, wanting to shut down this line of questioning. He didn’t like dwelling on past hurts. Josh seemed to sense the shift in his mood.
“So, you’re attracted to me.” Josh waggled his eyebrows.
“Well, not when you do that, perv.”
Josh chuckled. “Fair enough.”
Drew took a deep breath, gathering courage. “So, listen, is this… is this going somewhere or should I just take it at face value? The flirting, I mean.” Drew didn’t mind flirting, but he wasn’t going to waste his time panting after a guy who didn’t want him.
Josh snorted. “You don’t have a filter, do you? Mr. Direct. That’s you.”
“What’s wrong with that? Better to know where you stand than to guess.” Drew crossed his arms over his chest.
“I see what you mean. I dunno, Drew, do you want this to go somewhere?” He reached out and tugged one of Drew’s dreads.
Sure, turn it around on him. But Drew wasn’t a coward. He nodded.
“You sure?” Josh asked. “Even though I’m a litterbug homophobe?”
“I already apologized for that! And you did litter.”
Josh scrubbed a hand over his eyes. “So I did.”
“If you’re not interested, you can just say—”
“Who says I’m not interested?”
“Arrrg! Do you ever just answer a damn question? I’m asking whether you’d like to come back to my room after the shift and scrump like wild weasels in heat. Clear enough for you?”
Josh’s eyebrows almost disappeared into his hairline. He couldn’t look more shell-shocked if he tried. Drew would have laughed, but after his big pronouncement, he wanted to crawl under the seat and hide. Though truth be told, hiding wouldn’t be the first thing that came to mind if he crawled under the seat with Josh.
“You did not just say ‘scrump like wild weasels in heat.’ How do you ever get laid?”
“Forget it—”
“Yes. I’d like that.” The look Josh sent him made the hair on his nape stand up. Wow. “I expect to test out the claim on your shirt too. Just so you know.”
All righty, then.
Chapter FIVE
DREW EXITED the car after giving Josh his phone and room numbers. His smile when he did so sent heat straight to Josh’s cock. Josh couldn’t wait to taste him, feel him against him—his hands itched to get ahold of all that ginger. Drew went on ahead, so no one would suspect Josh would be following. When he locked up the cruiser, there were a couple squad cars still in the parking garage. The officers must have just come back with their ride alongs too. That meant they’d be in the bar.
Sneaking into hotel rooms reminded him of Eric. They’d had more than one afternoon tryst, though not in a hotel as nice as this one. He’d been so crazy about Eric, yet Eric hadn’t been a good person. Josh could see that now. The signs had been there. Over their time together, he’d become increasingly erratic, angry. Nothing too over the line, yet Josh had excused his behavior too many times. That guilt ate at him, left a bitter taste in his mouth.
And when Josh had had to sit on the stand and tell the world what Eric Dubois had done, it had hurt, no, ached right down to his soul, to watch his partner—his lover—look at him with such loathing. And now he was dead.
Josh closed his eyes, took a few slow breaths. He usually pushed thoughts of Eric away because the pain was still so raw, like a wound that never healed. Drew would be a welcome distraction, though it bothered him to think of Drew in those terms. He actually liked the guy. He was fun and cute and sweet. All the things Eric wasn’t. He was also sexy as hell, and Josh couldn’t wait to be inside him.
Pushing memories of Eric aside, Josh entered the hotel lobby and skirted the bar area. He found a bank of elevators as far from the bar as possible, then pushed the Up button.
When the doors slid open, he came face-to-face with Dr
ew’s little champion. Before he could say anything, he heard Martin’s distinctive voice coming their way. Shit.
Josh darted into the elevator and hit the fourth-floor button. The doors slid closed before Drew’s friend was able to get out.
“Sorry, ma’am. My fault,” Josh muttered, refusing to look her in the eye. Damn, he really didn’t need another lecture on manners today.
“I thought he was an ass too,” she said.
His gaze snapped to her face. “Excuse me?”
“That other officer.” She shook her head. “Don’t get me wrong, you were rude and all, but I knew it was because you were attracted to my friend. But that other guy… total douche canoe. Up the river without a paddle.”
“Uh….”
She tilted her head and her eyes narrowed. Uh-oh.
“What are you doing in the elevator anyway, Officer? Going to visit a friend?” She adjusted those ridiculously big frames on her nose, like she was trying to get a better look.
“Yep. A friend.” Josh leaned back like he hadn’t a care in the world, but he could see she wasn’t fooled. She’d be perfect to sweat someone in the box. She’d get the perps to talk in no time. Hell, Josh wanted to blurt out what he was doing just to get her to stop looking at him like that. Only his years as a cop prevented him from confessing all. Maybe she could be their new secret weapon. God knows they needed one in this crazy city.
It had to be the slowest elevator ride of all time. Josh cleared his throat. She kept him in her focus the whole ride, but didn’t say another word. She knew. He knew she knew. She knew he knew. Awkward. When the elevator dinged and the doors slid open, he almost sprinted.
“Have a good night, ma’am.” He waved.
“Tell Drew I expect details in the morning.” Her laughter filled the hallway until the doors closed.
Ah, crap. He’d turn around and leave, except he really, really wanted to have Drew spread out naked in as many different positions as possible in one night. He couldn’t remember wanting someone so much.
Josh approached Drew’s door and knocked. When Drew opened the door, Josh swallowed. Drew answered in a towel, his body still flushed from a shower. His hair was loose now and flowed down his shoulders, a thick mass Josh couldn’t wait to run his hands through.
Oh, his ginger was perfect, a light dusting of hair on his chest, pink nipples hardened from the cool air of the hotel room. Josh’s eyes locked on the fiery trail leading from his navel and continuing beneath the towel, and his mouth went dry.
Drew chuckled and grabbed his arm, dragging him inside the room. He slammed the door, and Josh found himself pushed against the wall, his hands full of eager redhead. Drew’s lips locked on his and Josh groaned, then wrapped his arms around Drew.
He’d wanted to taste Drew all day, and the reality was way better than he imagined. Drew’s lips were firm but soft, and when Josh ran his tongue along the seam and across the lip ring, Drew willingly parted them. Josh dove in, tasting his heat and exploring every crevice. He slid his hand into Drew’s dreads, holding him in place.
Drew’s arousal pressed against his thigh, and Josh widened his stance to accommodate Drew between his legs, moving a hand to Drew’s delectable ass. They both moaned when he pulled Drew snug to him.
Drew’s frame was slightly smaller than his own, but still nicely muscled. Josh wanted—no, needed—to feel Drew from head to toe against him. Using his greater bulk, he heaved them away from the door and walked Drew backward, never losing contact with his mouth, until Drew’s legs came up against the bed. Josh couldn’t resist. He shoved Drew backward and chuckled when he flailed and hit the mattress.
“You’re a jerk.” Drew laughed and shot him the bird.
“Guilty.” Josh removed his gun, walked to the TV stand, and put it in the drawer. His belt followed. He toed off his shoes and continued to undress until he was down to his boxer briefs, his uniform folded neatly and placed on a chair. He heard a groan behind him and turned toward the bed.
Drew’s hand had slipped under the towel, and he watched Josh with hungry, hooded eyes.
“You’re so gorgeous,” Drew said, all but panting.
“Me? I’m just like everyone else, but you, you’re something else.”
“Yeah? I never thought being a redhead was all that sexy.” Drew’s legs slid farther apart, making the towel pull tight across his hips and groin, his hand moving leisurely under the folds.
“You’re wrong. So very wrong. Ditch the towel. I wanna see you.”
Drew’s chest flushed as he peeled the towel back until he was exposed to Josh’s gaze.
Oh damn. Perfect, every inch of skin from his head to his feet. His legs were muscled, his abs nicely toned. His cock stood erect with a trimmed patch of red around it, his balls drawn tight.
Drew kept a slow stroke going, and it was the sexiest thing Josh had seen in a long time. Drew’s hair was spread across the pillows, his eyes at half-mast as he watched Josh watch him.
Josh’s dick strained against his underwear, the head poking out the waistband. That’s what Drew did to him. Sliding down his boxer briefs, he felt Drew’s approval like a caress. Other than a few quick hookups, he hadn’t been with anyone since Eric, and Drew’s reaction made him remember how much he liked taking his time with a partner.
“Come here.” Drew motioned.
Josh prowled toward the bed, sinking onto his knees between Drew’s legs. He batted away Drew’s hand, replacing it with his own. Drew’s skin was hot and tight, a drop of precome slicking his tip.
With his other hand, he urged Drew’s legs farther apart so he could get a better view. That gorgeous ass begged for some attention. But first Josh ran his hands from Drew’s ankles to his thighs, then back down again.
Drew took over jacking himself while Josh marveled at the muscles in Drew’s legs, the feel of skin under his greedy fingers, the small series of scars across one knee. He tugged Drew’s knee close and ran his tongue along the scars. Drew sucked in a breath.
Josh peered up at Drew. “How’d you get them?”
“Mountain bike accident.” Drew’s voice had gone breathless.
“Mmm.” Josh went back to stroking Drew’s knee, then switched to the other, letting his tongue slowly travel up Drew’s thigh. Drew spread his legs even farther apart, giving Josh a clear picture of where he’d like his tongue next. Josh was more than ready to oblige.
He moved so he was able to stroke Drew’s now very hard cock, while settling between Drew’s legs. He ran his tongue under Drew’s balls and across his taint. Drew gasped and shuddered. Nice. But not quite enough. Josh swiped his tongue over Drew’s rim. Drew keened. So sexy.
“Stop! I’m gonna come if you keep it up.”
Josh released Drew’s cock but continued to swirl his tongue, ignoring Drew’s pleas. He gripped Drew’s thighs and pushed until his ass was in the air and his body almost doubled over. Perfect height. He sucked one ball and then the other into his mouth, saliva running down between Drew’s asscheeks. He hummed around Drew’s sac and Drew jerked, then moaned.
“Josh, come on, I’m gonna lose it.”
“You won’t. Besides, you’re supposed to bottom me so hard, remember?” He rolled his tongue and licked around the rim until he’d loosened Drew enough to slip inside. Drew was panting now, and his hand trailed down to stroke his cock again.
“Nuh-uh. I’ll take care of that for you. Eventually.”
Drew groaned but slid his hand away from his dick and into Josh’s hair. He didn’t grip lightly, but it only fueled Josh’s need. Josh shifted so he could hold Drew’s legs back with one arm, then skimmed his fingers down to help stretch Drew. First, he slid a finger in his mouth to wet it, then slowly slipped it inside Drew’s ass. Heat engulfed his digit. And pressure. Drew was so tight. He slid in and out a few times before adding a second finger.
He heard Drew fumbling around with the bedside drawer with his other hand, and a second later a bottle of lube and a strip of
condoms landed next to him.
“You always tote lube and condoms around?” Josh looked up from between Drew’s legs.
“Yep, I’m a regular Boy Scout. You gonna keep me waiting?”
“You’re too much.” He pulled his fingers out and tore into a condom wrapper. After gloving up, he popped the cap on the bottle of lube. He poured a generous amount on his fingers and drizzled some over Drew’s hole.
Sliding two fingers back inside him, he gently stretched him, then felt around until he found his prostate. Curling his fingers, he gave it a nice hard rub, and Drew’s back arched off the bed and the sweetest sounds spilled from his mouth.
“I think you’re purring.” Josh gave it another rub.
“J-Josh!” Drew wiggled, but Josh had him trapped under the weight of his shoulder, continuing to torment Drew, adding a third finger and thrusting, fucking his ass with his fingers, making sure to hit that lovely bundle of nerves every couple strokes. Drew’s inner muscles clenched around his fingers.
“Like that?”
“Josh, please! Come on, man. Don’t tease me.”
“Maybe I like teasing you.”
Drew’s hand in his hair tightened until it was painful. He tugged.
“Get up here and fuck me.”
“You going to be okay on your back? We could always—”
“Shut up and put it in me.”
“Damn, baby, you’re a bossy little bottom, aren’t you?” Josh couldn’t keep the laugh from his voice.
“You know it.” Drew tugged again, and this time Josh allowed himself to be dragged over Drew’s body, skin to skin. Drew’s face and chest flushed with his arousal. Josh loved that Drew’s skin showed all his reactions.
Josh lined himself up and began to push in. Drew’s body resisted at first, and he gave a soft cry. Josh pushed steadily, and with a little effort, he slid his tip past the guardian muscles and eased into the tightest, hottest grip he’d ever felt. He’d died and gone to heaven. He inched back and forth in slow, gentle thrusts, each time going deeper, letting Drew adjust.
“That okay?”
“Just give me a minute. It’s been a while.” Drew’s voice was equal parts pleasure and pain.
Ride Along Page 5