Adjusting to the Situation [Granite County 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove)

by Bellann Summer

  “Okay, go on,” Steve said.

  “Also the amount of damage done to his face alone tells me a man did this. I deducted the victim was raped because the individual who did this was obsessed with his nipples and groin area. Both were skinned completely,” Synn concluded. “I believe it turned this sick fuck on mutilating the victim.

  Beside him Craig shuddered. Synn was pretty sure Craig didn’t realize he had inched closer to Synn until their arms were touching.

  “Very good,” Steve said. Looking around, the sheriff ran a hand through his short hair. “The end of the day is almost here. Why don’t you two head back. Synn, by now Jane should have a set of keys for your office ready and all the forms for your employment to sign. After your finished going through them, give them back to Jane and head out. Tomorrow looks like it’s going to be a busy day.”

  Both men nodded at Steve and minutes later Craig had the SUV headed back to the office. The quiet inside the vehicle let Synn sift through everything he had seen at the crime site. Part of him wondered if there was any connection between the confidential file waiting for him in Steve’s deck and the victim they had just left.

  * * * *

  Craig gave the clock on the wall a dirty look. In five minutes there was more than a good chance two men were going to come over to his desk, expecting to have dinner with him. Troy had asked him first, but the connection between him and Synn was so deep he didn’t see how he would ever be able to say no to the man’s demands.

  Crap, now he had three minute to figure out what to do. Maybe he should take off early? Unfortunately he didn’t want to hurt Troy, and as bossy as Synn was, he would just track Craig down anyway.

  “Are you ready, Craig?” Troy slid into the chair next to Craig’s desk.

  “Um…” Craig started to say.

  A large hand landed on Craig’s shoulder. “I made a reservation at the restaurant at the hotel I’m staying at.”

  “Craig, what’s he talking about?” Troy asked. “I thought we had plans.”

  Synn had move around to the opposite side of the desk as Troy. Craig’s neck was getting a workout looking from one expectant face to the other.

  “Well, um…” Double crap. He hadn’t been in this kind of predicament since he’d had three dates on the same night in college. He’d ended up spending the night alone after the huge explosion of tempers that had caused.

  Synn smiled. Only his smile scared the living shit out of Craig.

  “Troy, did you and Craig have a dinner date?” Synn asked, his tone way too calm.

  Craig actually tensed, ready to take off for the door. He hated drama, especially when he was causing it.

  “Yes we did.” Troy straightened his spine. “We’re dating.”

  “What?” Craig screeched.

  “What?” Synn’s calm tone was replaced by anger. “Craig, you better explain why you were with me at the bar, if you are dating Troy.”

  “Troy Lambert, I have never gone on a date with you. What the hell are you talking about?” Craig demanded.

  “You know what, Craig? I am so sick of watching you string guys along. One crook of your finger and you have six guys fighting to warm your bed.” Troy jumped up out of his chair. “Well, I’m not going to be one of your harem before you throw me to the curb when you get sick of me. I’m out of here.”

  “But…” Craig called after Troy’s retreating figure. Just as his luck would have it, the bullpen was extra full right now with the shifts changing. Looking around, Craig could see curiosity and excitement filled everyone’s faces as they watched the drama enfold.

  Synn shifted his body between Craig and the room. Immediately everyone resumed what they were doing before Troy’s blowup.

  “Let’s go,” Synn ordered.

  Craig studied Synn’s face but couldn’t tell what thoughts were behind the blank mask the man was wearing. After a moment, Craig gave up trying to figure out what was going on with the men around him. Standing, Craig held his head high as he walked across the suddenly silent room to the door. Craig refused to give in to the urge to look around, but he was positive every eye was watching Synn follow him out. By the time he unlocked the door of his Jeep, Craig was furious.

  A large hand grabbed Craig’s arm and swung him around to face Synn. Craig kept his face natural, not letting on that Synn’s actions had caused pain to radiate through his chest. He had been in pain on and off all day, but in the last hour it had magnified.

  “Are you meeting me at the hotel?” Synn asked.

  “I think I’m going to go home. Maybe we can have dinner another night.” The full day of shocks and stresses were catching up to Craig, not to mention all the dancing of the night before. The deep ache in his chest told him he had been pushing himself too much and needed to rest for a while. The doctors had warned him it might take up to a year for his chest muscles and underlying tissues to fully heal from the damage the bullet caused.

  “What’s going on?” Synn asked. “You’re awfully pale.”

  The warmth of Synn’s hand cupping his cheek felt so good. Craig craved human contact. It soothed his soul.

  “I’m just tired,” Craig answered. He would not admit his rolling, burning stomach, though puking might be a good idea right about now. Synn’s lips came together in a straight line as he searched Craig’s face. The hand that had held Craig’s cheek so tenderly disappeared.

  “I want honesty,” Synn demanded.

  Craig gave in and admitted, “I was shot a few months ago while on duty and sometimes when I overdo it, I hurt.”

  Long seconds passed until finally Synn ordered, “Get in your Jeep and go right home. I’ll follow you.”

  “Synn, I think…”

  “Don’t think, baby,” Synn interrupted, his voice sharp as a whip. “We’ll discuss this at your house.”

  The pain’s grip worsened and Craig decided arguing was too much of a bother anymore. After Craig slid into the driver’s seat of the Jeep, Synn’s lips brushed against his in a gentle kiss before he shut the door. It only took a few minutes for Craig to reach and pull into his assigned parking space at his apartment building. Each step he climbed leading to his second floor apartment caused agony to radiate outward across his chest. His only goal was to make it to his bed, somehow. This wasn’t the first time he’d had overdone it, although lately the pain filled episodes were getting farther apart.

  Craig had made it halfway up the stairs when Synn caught up to him. Craig managed to climb two more steps before strong arms lifted him and carried him up the remaining steps.

  “You’re going to have to tell me which apartment is yours,” Synn said. Lips brushed the side of Craig’s face.

  “It’s the first one on the right.” Craig rested his head on Synn’s wide shoulder.

  All too soon, Synn set Craig onto his feet in front of his apartment door. Craig told himself that he shouldn’t be missing the security those arms gave him. He was an officer of the law. He didn’t need those types of feelings. Man, he was tired.

  Craig walked into his apartment and smiled when Pete and Lola greeted him with a chirp. They were a gift from his twin, Cooper, a couple of years ago. It had taken the turquoise-colored budgies seconds to steal his heart after Cooper set their carrier on the kitchen cupboard and told Craig they needed him. To this day Craig wasn’t sure if that was the case, or if it was him that needed to care for the fragile birds.

  “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a man who had parakeets,” Synn said, walking over and studying the two birds sitting close together on one of the perches in their cage.

  Ignoring Synn’s statement, Craig went to the large white cage sitting on a stand in the corner of the room. Pulling open a drawer of a cabinet next to the cage, he took out a plastic bag containing stalks of millet spray. Taking one long stalk out, he broke it in half before putting both inside the cage, giving his little pets a treat.

  Watching the birds pounce on the seeds, he tried to calm his sudden flare
of anger. He knew being overtired and hurting made him more sensitive. But he was who he was, and he couldn’t figure out why all of a sudden everyone was criticizing him.

  Warm arms that Craig found so comforting minutes ago pulled him back against a rock hard chest. This time Craig kept his body stiff. Maybe he didn’t like Synn so much after all.

  Lips briefly touched the side of Craig’s neck. There was a tug on his hair and blond strands flowed down around his face, suddenly free from the band he used to re-secure it with from the last time Synn had pulled it out.

  “Why the pout, baby?” Synn asked.

  Craig tried to pull away, but Synn wasn’t having any of that. He was just about to stamp his foot, when Craig realized he was indeed pouting. Again tiredness swamped him and he relaxed into Synn’s strong embrace.

  “Talk to me,” Synn ordered.

  “Synn, I’m tired and hungry. I’ve just had someone who I considered a friend, make wild accusations about me. I’m hurting, and now you’ve insulted my birds,” Craig complained.

  The chest behind his head vibrated and Craig realized Synn was laughing. That was the last straw. Now he was really going to let the gorgeous Native American feel the lash of his temper.

  Craig froze. In his mind he could see Cooper rolling his eyes and saying, “Drama much, Craig.” Which, in Cooper’s case, was the pot calling the kettle black when it came to creating drama.

  “I didn’t insult your birds. I think they are beautiful,” Synn consoled. “Now tell me where your pain medication is, and let’s get you to bed, so you can rest, while I call out for a pizza.”

  The burn in Craig’s stomach intensified at the thought of pizza. “If you want pizza, that’s fine. But I’ll pass. I have stuff in the kitchen and I can make myself a smoothie.”

  If you want a smoothie, I think I can manage that,” Synn said. “Show me where your bedroom is.”

  “I’m not really up for any play tonight. Maybe it would be best if you leave.” Craig knew he was giving off mixed signals, but confusion didn’t come close to what he was feeling right now.”

  Synn turned Craig around and stared down into his eyes. Craig didn’t know what the big man was looking for, but he must have found it.

  “Fine. Good night,” Synn said, and walked out the door.

  Chapter Five

  Synn stood outside Craig’s door working on calming his temper. It had been a long day for both of them, and Synn couldn’t blame Craig for being at loose ends. What troubled him the most was the obvious pain Craig was in.

  Standing there, Synn waited. Anger welled up and bubbled over. Turning toward the door, Synn twisted the knob to see if he was right. Synn ground his teeth together when the door opened right up.

  Stalking back into the apartment, Synn’s footsteps were muffled by the thick cream carpet as he crossed the living room to a short hall. Passing a bathroom and an empty small bedroom, Synn walked through the open door of a large bedroom. Craig lay curled up into a ball in the middle of a large sleigh bed, still wearing his uniform and shoes. “Synn is that you?” Craig asked, not moving.

  “You didn’t lock your door,” Synn accused.

  “I know,” Craig answered.

  Some of the anger rumbling around inside of Synn calmed. The little blond had as good as told him he wanted him here. That was all Synn needed to know.

  Crossing the room, Synn put a knee on the bed so he could be closer to Craig and help him. “Where do you keep your pain medication?” he asked. Reaching down, he untied and slipped off Craig’s black leather shoe. Letting it slip to the floor, he turned his attention to the other shoe.

  “I already took some before I got into bed,” Craig answered.

  Synn gently turned Craig over onto his back. As he opened Craig’s brown uniform pants, their eyes met. “Was that medication okay to take without food?” he asked, pulling the pants down and taking off Craig’s socks off. He purposely ignored Craig’s tiny pair of red boy-shorts. Now was not the time for thoughts about sex. He would visit and explore them in great depth another time.

  Craig’s light brown eyes never wavered as they looked at Synn. A small smile graced Craig’s handsome face. “I knew you would get me something.”

  Synn couldn’t help but chuckle. The smaller man had played him, and he loved it. “Come on, let’s get you into bed, and then I’ll get that smoothie for you.”

  Easing Craig into a sitting position had the poor guy gasping, and hugging his chest and stomach. Synn pulled the covers down as far as he could and lifted Craig into his arms.

  “I can stand,” Craig complained half-heartedly.

  Synn could only snort at that crock of bull.

  It took a little maneuvering, but Synn finally had Craig under the covers looking somewhat relaxed. He kept his face neutral, when he had removed Craig’s uniform shirt and white T-shirt underneath. The massive thick scar that bisected Craig’s chest and stomach took Synn’s breath away. It wasn’t even a straight stripe of a scar like Synn’s own knife wounds. This one had damaged tissue radiating outward almost like a huge starburst. No wonder the guy was in pain.

  “I’ll go get that smoothie and be right back,” Synn said, glad he would have a moment alone to compose himself.

  Synn had just left the bedroom, when behind him Craig called, “I have fresh cherries and bananas. They usually taste pretty good in a smoothie.”

  Shaking his head, Synn chuckled. He would go make Craig his cherry-banana smoothie. But then he was going to get some answers.

  A half hour later found Synn in his underwear, sitting on the bed, his back against the wooden headboard. Craig was between Synn’s bent legs, leaning against his chest, and enjoying his cherry-banana smoothie.

  Synn took a bite of his thick roast beef sandwich. He didn’t know where Craig had gotten the home-cooked roast beef, but Synn sure wasn’t complaining that he was eating it instead of pizza.

  “Tell me about the scar,” he said quietly. He knew about the shooting from his interview with Steve, and from Craig’s comments before, but he wanted details.

  For a long time the only sounds that could be heard were the tiny chirps coming from the birds in the living room.

  Finally Craig spoke, “The former Sheriff of Pine County was corrupt. He escaped custody and kidnapped Granite County’s Chief Deputy and Sheriff’s Steve’s brother. We located them in an old barn. While we were surrounding the barn, I was shot with a rifle loaded with armor-plated bullets.”

  “Shit, I’m surprised you’re still alive.” Synn was astonished, Craig should be dead.

  “It was touch and go for a while. They ended up putting me in a coma so my body could fight the infection I developed and heal. Recovering from that was one of the hardest and loneliest times of my life.”

  “Didn’t your family come and help?” Synn’s brothers would have moved in, had that happened to him. Hell, when they had found out about his capture on the last mission, by the time he had gotten back to Alaska, they had moved in.

  “My younger brother came for a few days, but then he had to get back to the farm. My other brother, well…” Craig lifted the empty glass over his shoulder for Synn to take. Then he reached down and pulled the covers up. “Look, I don’t want to talk about this. It’s late. Let’s get some sleep.”

  Synn put the empty glass and plate on the night stand by the bed. After turning off the light, he gathered Craig close and turned them both onto their sides.

  Synn’s voice broke through the quiet, “You know, you can’t keep putting me off. I won’t allow it.”

  “I know,” Craig responded.

  * * * *

  A warm slim body stretched tight against Synn as the exhale of a large yawn broke the morning silence

  “How are you feeling, baby?” Synn asked, his lips brushing Craig’s ear.

  Craig shifted his slim hips, the thin material of his boy-shorts rubbing against Synn.

  “A lot better. The pain is gone,” Craig answer
ed, arching his body and raising his arms above his head as he stretched one more time.”

  “Good,” Synn said. He flipped Craig onto his back and covered his body with his. Synn had a rock hard cock that needed attention.

  Craig looked up at Synn, his smile lazy in the morning light. Synn was in no way a virgin, but he had never been with a man that personified sex the way Craig did. The blond hair, tan skin and simmering light brown eyes captivated Synn like no other. When you added in the way Craig move his body so fluidly in every action, Synn was completely hooked.

  Leaning down, Synn ran his tongue over Craig’s lips. Craig tilted his head up, lips parting slightly. Synn covered Craig’s lips and used his tongue to tease the corner of Craig’s lips until Craig opened enough for Synn’s tongue to sweep inside.

  Tilting his head to the side, Synn deepened the kiss, loving the way Craig rubbed his tongue against Synn’s. Using one arm to hold his body up, Synn reached down and around Craig’s hip until he grabbed the back of those boy shorts. Easily he pulled them down Craig’s slim legs until they were pooled below his knees.

  Letting the sexy underwear go so Craig could deal with it, Synn cupped Craig’s balls and lightly squeezed them.

  “Holy crap, give a guy a warning.” Craig erupted into action legs kicking his underwear off and winding them around Synn’s waist.

  Synn pulled his lips away and latched onto the side of Craig’s neck. Sucking and applying small bites to the skin had Craig’s body writhing under him. Fingers burrowed under the waistband of Synn’s underwear and shoved them over his ass. With them caught in the crease where his thighs met his ass cheeks, Craig ran his hands over Synn’s glutes, squeezing them and bringing their groins together in the process.

  Abandoning Craig’s neck, Synn latched on to one of Craig’s light-brown nipples. Craig didn’t have any hair on his chest. Synn suspected Craig never had much hair there, and the gunshot took care of whatever he might have had.

  Enjoying the feel of that bit of skin against his tongue immensely Synn licked the nipple until it was wet. Then he gently blew on it until it pebbled so nicely. Synn bit down, causing Craig to arch up and cry out. Again, Synn licked the reddened nip and blew on it.