Swenson said, “You look good, Matt. It sucks you’re not on the force anymore. We always liked working with you.”
“Thanks, Collette. I appreciate that. Maybe it all worked out for the best though. I’m not sure I could ever have talked Jamie into going out with me if I were still a cop. I don’t think he would have liked the hours.”
They laughed like they were all old buddies, and I was suddenly furious. Furious at the FBI for disrupting my Sunday with Matt and bringing the trouble here. Furious at Matt for joking around with the intruders.
I flung open the door and stalked into the living room. I glared at them all and then focused on Nash. “What the hell are you doing here?” I pointed at him accusingly. “You couldn’t wait to call me tomorrow; you have to drag my boyfriend into this mess? And on a Sunday?”
Nash said mildly, “You do have a habit of ignoring our calls, and we needed to talk to you before tomorrow. And we certainly didn’t know that Matt was here.”
Matt had a big grin on his face. “You called me your boyfriend.”
I turned my glare on him, and the grin disappeared. “You know these guys? How the hell do you know them?”
“From when I was on the force,” he answered mildly. “I haven’t seen them in over a year. What I’d like to know is how you know them.”
I frowned, not liking the fact that my boyfriend had consorted with the enemy, even if it was a long time ago. But my annoyance quickly turned to something like dread. “It can’t be good news, you guys coming here.”
Nash looked at Matt. “I’m sorry about this. Jamie is involved in an investigation, and I don’t have to tell you that we can’t share details of an active case. Jamie knows not to talk about it either, right? Not to anyone?” He raised his eyebrows at me, and I just nodded. Matt did not look happy.
“Still, perhaps it is just as well you’re here for this. It’s nothing you won’t see in the papers tomorrow, anyway. You were right. It is bad news. Let’s sit down.”
Matt went to get me a T-shirt. I pulled it on and then curled up on the couch, leaning against him, while the FBI agents settled into the armchairs. Matt put an arm around me, seeming comfortable in front of the other two.
Nash said, “It’s about your boss, John Eckland.”
I don’t know what I had expected, but it wasn’t that. “What about him?”
“He was found dead early this morning by a neighbor. The evidence indicates he was murdered in his living room.”
“What?” I gaped at him in shock. Matt’s arm tightened around me.
“Who… Do you know who? Why?” I didn’t even know the right questions to ask.
“We don’t know either of those things. We can tell you he was shot execution-style in the back of the head, but only after being beaten.”
“Beaten,” I whispered. “Who would do that? He was an old man. He has grandkids.” I looked down at my shaking hands. “He was always kind to me, helped me out from the moment I started working there. I can’t believe this.”
Then I froze in sudden realization, my heart crashing in my chest. “Oh my God. It’s my fault.”
“What?” Matt sounded puzzled, but I wasn’t looking at him. I wasn’t looking at any of them.
“I wouldn’t let it go. I pushed him to investigate. I was the one who said it might be fraud.”
“No,” Nash said. “We don’t think that’s what happened at all—”
I wasn’t listening. I stood up and said—rather calmly, I thought—“Excuse me for a moment, will you? I just need to… to…” I didn’t know what I needed, except for a quiet minute alone to figure out how to deal with this sudden crushing guilt. I walked into the bedroom, ignoring the voices behind me.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, feeling a bit dizzy, I rested my head in my hands. It seemed like I couldn’t do anything right. I had pushed Eckland to investigate because I was afraid if we didn’t, it would come back and damage the firm. I had been reluctant to cooperate with the FBI for the same reason: fear that it would damage the firm and put everyone out of work. And now a good man had died. It seemed like everything was falling apart.
A gentle hand stroked my back. I didn’t look at Matt, but he urged me around, one hand on my face.
I said, “I’ve screwed everything up.”
“Adam and Colette don’t seem to think any of this is your fault.”
“How can it not be? I’ve been so afraid to help them, so reluctant to get involved. If I had just…”
He tried to put his arms around me, but I twisted away, shaking my head. “I’ve made such a mess of everything. How can you possibly think I’m worth all this trouble?”
He pulled back and looked at me incredulously. “Are you serious? How can you not know how I feel about you? How I’ve felt from the very first night we met?”
I turned to look at him with wide eyes, waiting for an explanation.
He sighed and closed his eyes, mumbling something about God and patience. Then he reached over and pulled me in, his lips on mine and his tongue darting in to take possession of my mouth as I melted into him.
Then he pulled back and whispered in my ear the exact words I had been so afraid to hear last night. “Love you, Jamie.”
My chest was tight, and I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath. “Matthew,” I whispered, “Matt…I…”
He pressed a thumb against my lips and then pulled me close again. “I’m not asking you for anything. I know my timing is lousy. You’ve got enough going on right now. I’m only telling you how I feel because I want you to know you’re not alone. Whatever is going on, I’ll be with you, as much as you want me to be.”
I clung to him for a moment, his warm, solid presence like an anchor in the storm swirling around me.
A knock came on the door. “Hey, kids, don’t get too carried away in there. Mom and Dad are still waiting to talk to little Jamie.” Swenson and her snarky sense of humor.
I sighed and pulled away from Matt reluctantly. Rubbing at my face, I went back out to the couch and took a seat, too embarrassed to look at them. But then I had to ask Nash, “What about Sanderson? He knew about the error in the account too. Will you make sure he’s okay?”
“Of course.” He looked at Collette, but she was already pulling out her phone and heading into the other room.
Nash added, “I’m sure he’s fine. As I was saying, we don’t think Eckland’s murder had anything to do with you. We don’t know exactly how it all fits together yet, but—and I know you don’t want to hear this—there is a possibility that he was involved in more than you realized.”
“I don’t believe that!” I said, anger quickly supplanting the grief.
“I can’t give you any details. We’re still investigating the murder in cooperation with NYPD. I’m only telling you this much because I don’t want you to think you’re responsible.”
Matt stood up and said, “Jamie hardly ate any breakfast, and we’re both hungry. I’m going to make some lunch.”
He left for the kitchen.
I said, “Adam, do you think he was beaten to get some kind of information out of him?”
“It seems likely. Nothing was stolen from the house. It was pretty blatant, obviously a mob killing.”
Swenson came back in. “I’ve asked a police car to drive by Sanderson’s house. They’ll call if they see anything off.”
“Thanks,” I said. “What about your accountants? Have they found anything yet?”
Nash shook his head. “They have some leads, but not enough yet for an arrest.”
I heard Matt moving around, pulling items out of the refrigerator, rattling silverware. The smell of bread being toasted. All very comforting sounds and smells; comforting, I realized, because Matt was the one making those sounds.
And that reminded me I was still a little irritated that they had showed up at my place on a Sunday with Matt here.
“I really wish you guys hadn’t come today. Now Matt is involved, and he
could be in danger. Am I wrong about that?”
Nash took his time answering. I could see he didn’t want to spook me, but he didn’t want to give the false impression that no threat existed either.
“You’re not wrong, and I am sorry about that. But we had no way of knowing he would be here. You don’t usually have company, from what we’ve seen. Anyway, Matt can handle himself, and he can help keep an eye on you too.”
I started to protest, but he leaned forward and said, “I know him. Now that he knows something is going on, it won’t be easy to get him to go home.”
“So why did he quit the police? He hasn’t told me much—just that he resigned, he wasn’t fired.” Hey, if Matt could grill my Grandma, I could certainly ask Nash about Matt’s past.
Nash answered readily. “The short version is that there were some bad cops involved in bribery and extortion. Matt worked with Internal Affairs to bring them in. One of them was his own partner. That’s how he was forced to get involved in the mess. He got a commendation, but after that, the other guys in his precinct basically shunned him. That’s what happens when you work with IA, and I think Matt expected the cold shoulders. But he didn’t expect that he wouldn’t even be able to do his job. You just can’t be effective without the cooperation of others on your team.”
“That sucks! That’s not fair. He was just trying to do the right thing.”
“It did suck, yes. I have to say, though, he looks good. He looks younger and happier than the last time I saw him, and that’s been a while. Maybe it wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened to him.”
Matt came back with sandwiches and iced tea. The tea tasted good. I hadn’t realized how thirsty I was after the long walk.
“So what about tomorrow?” I asked. “Will there be police at the office looking into Eckland’s death?”
“Yes. The best thing is for you just to go to work as usual. There will be some detectives there, waiting to interview you and all the other employees who worked with Eckland. Don’t say anything to them about the investigation.”
“I’m not going to lie to the police,” I said flatly. No way was I getting into the middle of that.
Matt pointed out, “He couldn’t if he wanted to, you know. He’s terrible at it.”
“Yes, that’s true,” Nash agreed. “The detective in charge is already aware of our investigation. He was involved in the investigation of your office break-in too. We’re just trying to keep it quiet, although that may not be possible after this. I’ll make sure he interviews you himself. That way you don’t have to worry about what you say. But you do still have to keep quiet around your coworkers. Can you do that?”
I started to nod, but Matt said, “Break-in! Jamie, you didn’t tell me about that. No wonder you’re so stressed out. What happened?”
“There was a burglary at the accounting firm,” Nash told him. “Some computers were stolen. Nothing conclusively linked to the case.”
Matt shook his head. “I don’t like this. You don’t know why his boss was killed, and now I find out there was a break-in? And what about his apartment burglary a couple of weeks ago? Are you going to try to tell me that might not have anything to do with this, either? I’m not sure he should be going to work at all.”
I frowned. “It’s Monday. I have to go to work.”
He looked exasperated. “For once, can we forget about the schedule? This could be dangerous for you!”
“I think I’ve been pretty damn flexible already.”
“Well, I didn’t realize it was such an imposition for you to spend the whole weekend with me.”
We sat glaring at each other while Nash and Swenson looked on as if they were watching a show. An amusing one, apparently.
I opened my mouth to snap back something along the lines of That’s not what I meant, you idiot, but Matt dived forward to cover my mouth with his. I let out a strangled “mmph” and tried to pull away, but his strong arms were around me, pulling me in. When he finally let go, we were both breathing hard.
“No fair, you cheater,” I said shakily.
Nash cleared his throat. “The fact is, we would like James to go to work. If he starts acting out of character, it could make these people suspicious that he really does know something, and that could put him in danger.”
“Not to mention blowing your case,” said Matt sarcastically. Then he turned to me. “You should be okay as long as you’re at work, surrounded by people. But I’m going to drive you to and from work and”—I started to protest, but he raised his voice over mine—“and I’m going to stay here until this, whatever it is, is resolved.”
“I don’t want you involved!”
“It’s too late for that.” He took my hands and said, “Come on, baby. You don’t mind too much, do you? I’ll try not to get in your way. I promise.”
I frowned at him, and then thought about having that warmth in my bed every night. Maybe there were some advantages. I started to smile. “Well, I guess it will be all right. For a little while.”
Swenson snorted. “Jeez, Matt, not temperamental, is he? How do you put up with it?”
Matt slipped his arms around me and pulled me in. “Oh, he’s got his good points,” he said, smiling into my eyes. I had to smile back.
“And on that note…obviously time for us to go.” The agents stood up. “Matt, you still have the same cell phone number?”
He nodded and showed them out. As soon as they had left, I pulled my legs up and rested my head on my knees.
“Hey,” Matt said, gently putting his arms around me. “Everything is going to be all right.”
I wrapped my arms around him and said, “I’m really glad you’re going to stay with me even if I didn’t act like it.”
He pushed in close and nuzzled my hair. I smiled. “You like my hair, don’t you?”
“I do, yes. It doesn’t bother you, does it? Me touching it all the time?”
“Of course not. Feels good.”
“Feels good to me too. Thick and silky.”
“Oh baby,” I murmured. “You say the sweetest things.”
He laughed and pulled me over onto his lap so that I straddled him, chest to chest. I kissed his shoulders, his neck, his earlobes, his mouth. I could never get enough of kissing him, of tasting him. We rocked together, our hard cocks grinding.
His hands ran up under my shirt and stroked my back. I shivered. I whispered to him, “Do you know how your hands feel to me?” He drew back to look at me, puzzled. I touched his face. “You’re so warm. Whenever you touch me, it makes the tension go away. It undoes all the knots in my stomach and just…just…thaws me out…”
That was the closest I could come to saying those words that he had said to me this morning, those words that represented such major change that they were just too overwhelming to think about yet.
But it seemed to be enough for him, for now. His eyes were shining, making them even darker, as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in so tight I could barely breathe.
“Love you, Jamie,” he whispered into my hair. “Love you.”
He pulled me off the couch and took me to the bedroom. We fell onto the bed together, pulling off clothes, hands stroking, kissing everywhere, skin sliding against skin. He rolled me under him, kissing and licking down my throat, my chest, stopping to bite my nipples lightly. That sensation went straight to my crotch like an electric shock, and my back arched.
He continued slowly down my stomach, tonguing my belly button, nuzzling the hollow between pelvis and navel, hands stroking my hips.
He took his time, his hands and mouth moving over what felt like every inch of my skin. “You taste cool and sweet,” he murmured, sucking and licking the tender area behind my knees. It was an exquisite feeling, the light touches and kisses everywhere. I tried to relax and just enjoy the sensations, but it didn’t take long before I started to squirm. Pushing my thighs apart, he leaned forward to tickle my balls with his tongue as he ran one finger up my
crease.
“Matt,” I panted. “Please…”
He sucked my balls in harder and then moved his tongue down to the sensitive area behind my balls. I closed my eyes, just feeling the slow, wet sensation and the need building. I felt his strong hands push my thighs apart further and then the wet, slick thrust of his tongue entering my hole. I jerked and cried out at the unexpectedness of it, then started moaning as he pushed his tongue in deeper, using his lips to work around the rim.
Setting up a steady rhythmic motion, he started thrusting his tongue in and out, and I thought I was going to die right then. It felt amazing, and I wanted it to go on forever, but my balls had already tightened in response. Almost incoherently, I panted, “Matt…Matt…please…need you in me now…”
He withdrew, and I almost cried at the loss of sensation, but he had his fingers lubed up and in me so quickly, I barely had time to register the absence. Two fingers, then three. It didn’t take long to make sure I opened for him, and to slip a condom on himself.
Then he hovered over me, cock brushing my opening. I thrust upward, begging him to enter, but he took his time, sliding in slowly. My legs hooked up around his back, and my arms went around him, pulling him in until he was in deep, as deep as he could get. I closed my eyes and buried my face in his neck, breathed him in, tasted him, felt him, wrapped myself all around him.
His breath came hot and fast against my neck, and I felt a sudden sharp pain as he bit down hard. I gasped, and my eyes flew open. His fingers tightened in my hair, and he turned my head to stare into my eyes. “Look at me,” he whispered. “Look at me.”
His ass flexed in a steady, hard rhythm as he slowly fucked me, eyes so close to mine I could see the pupils contracting and dilating, the little gold flecks in his dark brown irises. For one brief, disorienting moment as I stared into his eyes, I felt the oddest sensation—as if I didn’t know whether I was him or me.
He brought his mouth to mine and kissed me deeply, lips sliding and tongue plunging into my mouth in time with his steady thrusts. My cock lay trapped between us, the steady friction of his skin against me not hard, but enough to lead to a steady buildup of pressure. I held him tightly as the heat erupted out of me in wave after wave, and he joined me in crying out as his body stiffened and I was filled with the pulsing sensation, filled up with my Matthew, all my senses overwhelmed, and I knew then that it was too late; the change I feared had already slipped in and taken possession of my life.
Friday Night Jamie Page 13