A Mended Man (The Men of Halfway House Book 4)

by Jaime Reese

  Screw this shit.

  He grabbed his keys and wallet and stormed out of the office, ignoring the chuckles in his wake. He'd played right into Sunny's tease. Fuck them. He stalked through the hallway, down the stairs, and through the walkway leading to the training gun range connected with the precinct building. During his trek and through the pounding in his ears, he realized it wasn't anger thrumming through his body like a live wire. Or hate or jealousy.

  He stopped for a moment, just outside the range office entrance, closing his eyes and taking a few deep breaths.

  He was scared. Terrified was probably more accurate. Jessie wouldn't cheat. But Aidan was a difficult son of a bitch to take and there were a million other better alternatives out there in the world who made things much easier. He swung open the door, nipping that thought in the bud before it had a chance to take root. It was close to quitting time for most staff. As expected, only the one desk clerk was stationed in the otherwise vacant space.

  "Hi, Rafe," Aidan mumbled in greeting.

  "I didn't think I'd get anyone else this late," the attendant said. "Did you bring your own or do you need a loaner?"

  "I've got mine." He withdrew his firearm and removed the magazine, clearing the chamber of any rounds for Rafe's inspection. "Anyone else here?"

  "Yeah. I've got two guys in range B."

  Aidan nodded, grabbing his gun. He worked his way through the series of shooting lanes to reach the rooms. He'd walk in, no big deal. If the two guys weren't Wall and Jess, he'd shrug it off as his bad and take advantage of the range time and get a few shots in. He finally reached the room and held on to the doorknob for a few seconds, taking a deep breath, hoping to settle the storm brewing within. He rubbed his chest, trying to ease the sharp ache.

  He swung open the door and there were Wall and Jessie, leaning over a taken apart gun lying on a towel. In one split second, three things were pointed at him: two stares and the barrel of one gun.

  Wall immediately lowered his weapon and scowled, relaxing the arm he'd swung behind himself to shield Jessie with his body.

  "You're going to give me a heart attack," Jessie said, stepping out from behind Wall.

  "I heard you guys were here." He entered the room and shut the door.

  Jessie grabbed each piece of the gun and began assembling the parts together, completely enthralled in the task. Wall immediately stopped him if he reached for one of the incorrect pieces and pointed to the correct part. Aidan rubbed the easing tension from his chest, watching in rapt silence as Jessie swiftly assembled the gun.

  "So you're learning to take apart a gun?" Aidan asked.

  "Wall already taught me how to clean one and take it apart, so now I'm just putting it back together." Jessie continued piecing the parts without looking up, biting his lip and reaching at the end of the table for the next piece.

  Aidan smiled at Jessie's eagerness. And in all truth, Wall had a never-ending fountain of patience to teach people how to clean and take apart a weapon. Far better than he could. He was usually most concerned with clocking his completion and beating his record every time he took one apart.

  "And…just in case you're wondering," Jessie said, not shifting his focus from his metal puzzle. "No, Wall has not taught me to shoot because we both agree, that's your area." He inserted the magazine into the gun, extending the pistol to Wall for his inspection. He turned to Aidan, challenging him.

  Uh-oh.

  Wall gave Jessie a thumbs-up then put away the cleaning kit and rolled up the towel, stowing everything away in his bag. He stopped at the door before exiting the room, finally spinning on his heel to face Aidan. "Apologize for being a prick. If he dumps your sorry ass, we all suffer." Wall's brow furrowed and his jaw muscles twitched. He turned and exited the room, leaving Aidan in stunned silence.

  "Aidan?"

  Aidan looked to the ground, scuffing his boot on the concrete floor. "I liked it better when he didn't talk."

  "C'mere."

  Aidan looked up, the tension in his shoulders easing with the now softer expression on Jessie's face. He took the few steps needed to stand just outside of Jessie's personal zone. "I didn't think—"

  Jessie crossed his arms and stared at him.

  He lowered his head again and chewed his lip. "I'll admit I wasn't thrilled to hear you were here with him." He looked up, checking if he should quit before he said something really wrong. Jessie nodded, encouraging him to continue. "It's not because I questioned whether you were cheating or not. I know you wouldn't do that. It's more…" He shrugged, feeling like a horse's ass.

  "Guns are important to you and you wanted to be the one to share it with me."

  Aidan nodded. "When you say it like that, it makes me sound…I don't know." Sentimental? Childish? Temperamental?

  "How would you have said it then?"

  "Guns are personal and I didn't want you handling anyone else's weapon."

  Jessie stifled a laugh.

  Aidan rolled his eyes. Okay, his way sounded wrong. And a little perverted. And did make him sound jealous. Shit. All this talking and head sessions and crap had him over-analyzing everything.

  "Is there a camera in here?" Jessie asked.

  "Yeah. Video only. One is obvious and above at our right and there are two a bit more hidden at each corner of this side of the room," he responded without letting his focus stray from Jessie.

  "Okay, I wouldn't want to handle your weapon if anyone was watching," Jessie said, oozing with a not-so-subtle suggestion.

  Aidan laughed, shaking his head. He was never going to hear the end of this.

  "Okay, Mr. Hotshot. Teach me," Jessie said, sliding on his protective glasses and inserting the soft foam earplugs.

  He swallowed heavily. When Jessie was in teasing mode, he was a force to be reckoned with. And Aidan was a total weak son of a bitch at his mercy. He took his gun to the lane table and loaded the magazine, cocking the gun then pointing at the paper target to demonstrate how to hold the proper position. He motioned for Jessie to come over and directed him on his stance. He placed his hands on Jessie's hips, positioning his body in a side-to-side placement. He reached down, nudging the back of Jessie's knees so he'd bend them slightly. He damn sure wouldn't deny he ran his hand along the back of Jessie's thigh a hell of a lot longer than needed.

  "I'm planning on shooting the load in the gun, not me. So stop that."

  Aidan chuckled. He stood behind Jessie and lowered his arms slightly so Jessie's elbows weren't in a locked position. "Focus on the target," he whispered in Jessie's ear.

  "I can't focus much if you keep doing that."

  "You need to zone out any distractions when you shoot." Aidan lowered his hands to Jessie's waist, not caring if Rafe had pulled up a chair to take advantage of the little peep show. "The trick is balance and grip. You need to balance your weight to counteract the kick from the gun. So let's start with that."

  "What do I do now?"

  "Look through the sight, aim for the target, then squeeze the trigger slowly." He remained standing behind Jessie with his hands gently resting on his narrow hips.

  A shot rang through the air and Jessie lost his footing, held only by Aidan's grip on his waist. Jessie straightened and looked out to the target. "I didn't even come close. Why the hell not?"

  Aidan smiled at the frustrated pout on those plump lips. "Anticipation."

  "Don't tease me. I'm being serious."

  "Not everything has a double meaning. You anticipated the shot so you probably flinched and that forced the shot to go elsewhere."

  Jessie tilted his head and nodded slowly. "Okay. Let's do it again." He stood in the same stance, but Aidan shifted his leg and adjusted his knees—copping a feel in between—to a front-to-back position for his second attempt to see if the change granted him better balance. "You keep doing that and I'm not going to be able to do this."

  Aidan chuckled. "Maybe this position will help you keep your balance better. Aim and squeeze the trigger again
. Slowly. I'm not going to let you fall on your ass. So don't worry."

  Jessie blew out a few deep breaths then finally pulled the trigger, staying a little steadier on his feet this time around. He lowered the gun and looked at the silhouette target. "At least I hit the paper this time," he grumbled. He straightened his arms again, ready for another shot.

  Aidan reached up from behind, cupping his hands around Jessie's, letting him position the gun to aim but holding it steady in his hands. "Fire when you're ready."

  His third shot echoed in the room. Jessie set the gun down and flipped the switch on the lane divider, recalling the target through the electrical pulley system. He removed the sheet from the clips and inspected his work. The second shot had barely made the edge of the paper, but the last one had hit the black target fringe of the silhouette.

  "Aidan, I hate to break it to you, but I have a feeling you're going to be the gun twirling one in this relationship."

  His loud laugh resonated off the walls. "I don't expect you to be packing. But I would feel better knowing you're comfortable holding one in your hand and know how to use it."

  Jessie nodded. "I can deal with that. I can say I was scared to hold one until today." He held up the target, inspecting it again. He looked up abruptly, staring at Aidan as if a thought had just come to mind. "I've never seen you shoot. Show me."

  A chance to show his guy something he could do without effort? Hell yeah! He took another paper target and set it up on the clips, flipping the switch to set the target back out into the lane.

  "That's farther than where I had it." Jessie craned his neck, watching the paper get smaller as it flew farther away.

  Aidan didn't say a word until the target hit the end of the lane. "How many shots would you like me to take?" he asked, cocking his gun.

  Jessie looked at the target at the end of the lane then back to him. "Just one."

  Aidan peeked over his shoulder for a quick second to judge the distance, then returned his focus to Jessie. One glance. That was all he needed. He straightened his arm toward the target while keeping his focus on Jessie. "You sure you just want me to shoot one shot?"

  "Just one," Jessie said with a huge grin.

  Aidan looked over to the target, aimed, and instantly pressed the trigger. He placed the gun on the table and flipped the switch to return the target back to them.

  "You're really proud of yourself, aren't you?" Jessie teased. "You didn't even bother to aim."

  He waited for the target to stop in front of him, pulled the paper off the clips, and turned the paper toward Jessie, proudly displaying the perfectly centered, single target shot.

  Jessie held the paper target in his hand and looked up, unmistakable desire dilating his pupils.

  Aidan leaned in and whispered, "That turned you the fuck on…hard. And don't even bother denying it. You're aiming your weapon right at me."

  Jessie swallowed heavily, parting his lips on an exhale.

  Aidan smiled smugly. He might not know what to say at times or how best to say it, but he damn sure knew how to use a weapon and how to press Jessie's buttons. He holstered his gun and made his way to the door, turning to watch Jessie's still stunned expression and growing hard-on. "Now I'm really proud of myself."

  * * * *

  Jessie sat on the bed with his back resting against pillows lined along the headboard. Strong arms and the head resting on his lap held him in place. He stroked Aidan's thick, dark hair, sighing each time Aidan turned to kiss his stomach then tighten his arms to snuggle closer. He enjoyed the peaceful moments like these between them, where monsters and haunting memories didn't exist.

  He absently ran his fingers along Aidan's arm, smiling at the memory of them racing into the house, tearing away at each other's clothes. He couldn't deny Aidan's ability to handle a gun had made him rock-hard and kept him that way the entire drive home. His strength, his fearlessness, his confidence, his control, all combined with the secret, sweet side of his protectiveness to produce a strong aphrodisiac Jessie couldn't resist. Everything about him was attractive and beautiful. And the best part of it all, Aidan was completely oblivious to his allure when entering a room. Whether feared or admired, he never failed to captivate every person in his proximity and command attention.

  "Do you realize you strut?"

  "Huh?" Aidan said, lazily raising his head from Jessie's lap.

  "When you walk. You strut." He smiled, brushing away the hair covering Aidan's eyes. "It's like you're walking to music."

  "No, I don't." Aidan's eyes narrowed. "Do you…like that?"

  "Oh yeah." Jessie bit his lower lip. "It's sexy as hell. You've got some serious swagger going on."

  "Then yeah, I totally strut," he said, lowering his head again, rubbing his stubble against Jessie's stomach.

  Jessie laughed, squirming under Aidan's hold. "That tickles."

  "I know," he said, brushing his chin up and down Jessie's torso.

  Jessie wiggled his body, laughing and pushing Aidan's shoulder. Aidan tugged him lower, flat on the bed, then pinned him down with the weight of his body. He stilled when Aidan reached out and brushed his thumb along his cheek, leaning in to press their lips together in a slow and seductive kiss.

  Jessie's heart hammered against his chest, want and need rippled through his body. He arched into Aidan, enjoying the scrape of stubble and trail of kisses down his torso. "Aidan…"

  Aidan wrapped his mouth around Jessie's hardened shaft, engulfing him in wet warmth that stole his breath. He dug his fingers into Aidan's shoulders and gasped a breath with each strong pull, writhing beneath him as the fire ignited in his veins and spread throughout his body. He gripped the back of Aidan's head with both hands and bent his knees, pushing his hips into Aidan as the fire traveled up his spine and threatened to explode.

  "Aid—" He barely warned as Aidan hooked his arms around Jessie's thighs with a possessive growl, tugging him closer, taking him to the root and devouring every ounce of Jessie's release.

  He gasped each breath as Aidan peppered tender kisses along his body, starting at the surgical scar along Jessie's leg and working his way up Jessie's torso to his neck. Aidan cupped his face and nuzzled his ear, placing a kiss just below his earlobe. Jessie groaned, as he always did whenever Aidan touched that sensitive spot. He finally opened his eyes, reaching for Aidan, resting his palm against Aidan's cheek, rubbing his thumb along the prickly stubble he loved so much. Aidan closed his eyes and took a slow, deep breath, leaning into the caress.

  "I love it when you do that," Aidan said. He lazily opened his eyes and looked at Jessie with a steady gaze filled with heat and need. He kept eye contact while he turned his head and kissed Jessie's palm. He wrapped his fingers around Jessie's hand and pulled it to his mouth, peppering more tender kisses on the scar that marred Jessie's wrist.

  Jessie's throat tightened with emotion. No one had ever looked at him with so much desire or touched him with so much care. He closed his eyes, hoping to calm his rapid heartbeat.

  "What's wrong?" Aidan asked.

  He opened his eyes and turned his head to face Aidan. He smiled, loving how peaceful Aidan looked lying on his side with his arm tucked under the pillow. He rested his hand on Jessie's waist and tugged him closer, obviously impatient, waiting for Jessie's reply.

  "Nothing's wrong. Everything's perfect. You're perfect. We're perfect."

  "That's too much perfection," Aidan said with a lopsided grin. "You're making it too easy for me to screw something up."

  A quiet chuckle escaped him. "I don't think you could." Jessie turned on his side, tracing his fingertips along Aidan's inked torso. "It's your turn."

  "Not yet. I just want to stay like this with you for a bit."

  He gave him a watery smile. Aidan could deny it all he wanted, but Jessie knew he was a very sweet man.

  "Then you can have at me all you want so I can sleep the rest of the night."

  Jessie laughed. Aidan was sweet when he didn't try so hard.r />
  "That didn't score me any points, did it?"

  He laughed harder.

  "Damn," Aidan said with a mischievous grin. "Give me an extra credit question to make up for it."

  Jessie tucked his hand under the pillow, hopelessly staring at the playfulness in those hazel eyes. "It's going to require a multi-part question."

  "Shoot. Something tells me I need all the bonus points I can get."

  "Smartass." Jessie ran his fingers along Aidan's neck before tucking his hand back under the pillow. For some reason, he couldn't resist touching Aidan when he was so peaceful. "Did you know you wanted to be a detective when you left the service?"

  "No. It's a little…complicated."

  "Those are the best answers. Makes you talk more. You earn more points."

  The corner of Aidan's lips curled into a smile. "Okay. But you have to promise you won't get upset or sad with anything I say. Otherwise, I don't give a shit about the points."

  Yeah, Aidan was damn sweet when he wasn't trying. "I promise."

  Aidan looked away and quieted for a moment before returning his focus to Jessie. "You can blame Hunter for me being a detective. It's all his fucking fault."

  Jessie laughed, reaching out to touch his stubble again, then trailed his finger down to Aidan's chest, resting his palm over Aidan's beating heart. "You were good with that gun."

  Aidan remained quiet for a few moments but held an intensity in his eyes. "Guns, knives, and bow and arrows."

  "Did you leave the service because…of what happened?"

  The intensity lingered in Aidan's eyes, as if trying to gauge Jessie's reaction to his carefully selected words. "Yes. One of the things about the service—you learn to give up control, take orders, and do as you're told. After those six months, there was no way in hell I could give up control again." His jaw muscles twitched. "So I knew I couldn't re-enlist." He absently rubbed his thumb along Jessie's hip. "I shocked a lot of people. Everyone figured I'd serve my entire life."