Something in Common (Dreamspinner Press Bundles)

by Talia Carmichael

  “He’s glad to have someone who is into sports as much as he is.” Theron grinned. “He doesn’t get as physical, but still is vocal.”

  “Yeah.” Kira kissed Theron on the cheek. “You all know Aristotle and I are going to watch sports together again. I’m going to try Rhodes’s trick of putting stuff out of range.” Kira looked at Rhodes with a devilish expression on her face. “He’s a smart man. He’d be good for one of your brothers. Too bad he’s already taken by Taggart.”

  Taggart stiffened. Rhodes didn’t glance at him.

  “Troublemaker.” Rhodes wagged a finger at her.

  “What? You all haven’t said what’s going on between you.” Kira blinked innocently. “Maybe one of my boys has a chance, then.” Kira shifted her gaze to his side. “Then again, maybe not.”

  Taggart was silent. Rhodes titled his head to look at him. He couldn’t tell from Taggart’s current expression what look it was Kira had seen to change her statement.

  “The show is done, Mom. Let’s get going. We have a lot of grocery shopping to do for the Christmas meal. Two days to Christmas and I can’t believe you’re dragging me to the grocery store.”

  “It’s not my fault you lost the straw pick.” Kira sounded cheerful.

  Rhodes focused back on the pair. Theron was helping his mother up.

  “I don’t know how, but I think everyone in the family was in on it and cheated to make me go this time. I haven’t been in a number of years for any of the holidays we celebrate.” Theron sighed.

  “I don’t know if they did or not. They wouldn’t tell me since I implemented the straw picking to be fair on who gets the privilege of coming with me to shop for the family holiday get-togethers.” Kira, now on her feet, patted Theron on his stomach. “And it is a privilege. Right?”

  “Yes, Mom. It is an honor to be by your side as you tirelessly shop to feed your kids who you love.” Theron’s words sounded as if it was something he’d said before.

  “See? I trained you right. All of you know just what to say to warm a mama’s heart.”

  “Mom, you are so full of it.” Theron rolled his eyes.

  “Such sweet words.” Kira wiped her eye as if removing a tear.

  Kira faced Rhodes when he rose. They hugged and she pressed a kiss on his cheek. She moved to Taggart, who also got up, and she did the same with him. Kira stepped back and glanced between them before she focused on Rhodes.

  “I don’t know what plans you have for Christmas, but if you don’t have any you can come by my house.” Kira paused and looked slyly at Taggart, then back to Rhodes. “I know you already know some of my sons, but you can get to know them better. They’re employed and very ni—”

  “Come on, Mom.” Theron herded his mother toward the door.

  “Wait, Theron… I wasn’t done talking to Rhodes.” Kira laughed and called, “We’ll talk soon, Rhodes. Taggart, you better keep him, or I’ll have my eye on him for one of my boys.”

  They left the room. Rhodes stretched, then squatted to pick up the remote and his cell. He turned off the TV and rose again, facing Taggart, who still had the inscrutable look on his face.

  “She reminds me of my mom. She’s a lot of fun too.” Rhodes walked over to a side table and put down the remote before sliding his cell into the pocket of his sweatpants.

  He turned and didn’t let his surprise show that Taggart was right beside him. He hadn’t heard or sensed him coming. Rhodes stilled, realizing he was comfortable around him. Although they had only been dating a short time, he knew Taggart from when he had briefly dated Aristotle, and then the men had become good friends. Through all that, Taggart and Rhodes had only a passing acquaintance, at least until they both became part of Treble Duo. It was at that time Rhodes had gotten to know Taggart a little better. Yet it wasn’t until they started to exchange barbs that Rhodes really saw him. Now they were involved, and Rhodes couldn’t believe that in such a short time he was already comfortable enough with him to let down his usual guard. Rhodes put the thoughts aside to figure out why later.

  “My mom has a devilish sense of humor too.” Taggart’s tone was low.

  “Ye—”

  Taggart pulled him against him and kissed him. He pushed his tongue against the seam of Rhodes’s mouth. Rhodes opened, letting him in. Taggart kissed him fiercely, taking everything he wanted. Rhodes gripped him tight, reveling in the sensual demand of every stroke of Taggart’s tongue against his. Taggart moved his hands up and down his back, his touch possessive and claiming. Rhodes locked his knees as they went weak with the need to have him. Taggart slid his hands to cup his ass and yanked him harder against him. He rocked, grinding his cloth-covered erection against Rhodes. As suddenly as he’d grabbed him, Taggart released him and stepped back.

  “Now I’m ready to spar. I’ll meet you in the gym.” Taggart pivoted on his heel and headed for the door.

  Rhodes took a moment to breathe deep. He ran his fingers through his hair, blowing out a breath. Seemed like Taggart hadn’t liked hearing Kira trying to pair him up with one of her sons. His cell made a message-received sound and Rhodes pulled it out to read the text.

  You can thank me later. Taggart reminds me of my husband. Very set in their ways and they need shaking up once in a while or they get stodgy. It is such fun too. LOL. See you at our next sports-watching event. ~ Kira.

  Rhodes made a mental note to send her a gift. Not for messing with Taggart, but for the fun they had together. He put his cell away and went to find Taggart. Outside the media room, he went back down the hall and leaned against the wide doorway on the left. Taggart had stripped off his T-shirt, leaving his chest bare, and he’d also removed his shoes. He glanced toward Rhodes and the challenge on his face made Rhodes get even harder.

  “I usually tape it when I train so I can see where I can improve. Do you mind?” Rhodes asked.

  Taggart shook his head. Rhodes went to the camera and activated it. He rolled his shoulders, stripped off his own T-shirt, and placed it and his cell on the bench next to the one already there before he strode toward Taggart. He didn’t stop at the edge of the mat since he was already barefoot. Rhodes approached Taggart before stopping, leaving some space between them. Silent, they sized each other up; then as if by some mutual understanding, they moved simultaneously. Rhodes went low, moving into a crouch before sweeping out with his leg. Taggart jumped up and flipped over his head. Rhodes slid sideways, barely getting out of the way of his downward blow. He rolled to his feet.

  Taggart was already facing him and came at him with a flurry of blows. Rhodes blocked them but could feel them vibrate up his arms. He rolled his hands over Taggart’s, changing the momentum, and became the attacker instead of the defender. Taggart’s motions as he countered were smooth and precise. Rhodes appreciated his form as they fought. Moving his hands, Rhodes punched straight out to his midchest. Taggart caught it and slid his hands up Rhodes’s arm, after he jerked him close. Rhodes watched his steely blue eyes and in them saw the need.

  “First one whose back hits the mat gets to top.” Rhodes wasn’t surprised his voice was husky.

  Taggart’s nostrils flared and he retorted in an equally husky tone, “Who says that I ever bottom?”

  “The way your breathing increased when I mentioned playing with your ass gave me a clue.” Rhodes looked at his lips, wanting to taste him again.

  “I’m going to hold you to that promise.” Taggart licked his lips.

  Rhodes followed the movement with his gaze. Taggart chuckled, the sound another challenge.

  “I accept.” Taggart changed his hold and pulled him forward.

  Rhodes shifted, not moving. He raised an eyebrow, watching Taggart. The smile that curled Taggart’s lips was cold. Rhodes braced himself. Taggart made a rolling motion around his arm, gripped his bicep, and threw his body backward. Rhodes flowed with him, flipped them, and they both landed on their feet. Rhodes pushed out, disentangling from his hold. Taggart skidded back, slid sideways, and kicked h
igh. Rhodes blocked, kicking out with his foot. His foot hit the mat as he missed Taggart. They circled each other. Rhodes waited for an opportunity to take him off his feet. He didn’t see any as they continued to size each other up. Taggart ran to him, then turned his body into Rhodes’s chest. Rhodes caught him, surprised at the move. He hadn’t thought Taggart would do that since it was such an easy hold to break. Taggart hooked his leg through Rhodes’s and pulled them both off their feet. His moment of surprise cost Rhodes and he felt himself fall. He cursed as they hit the mat, teeth clacking. Rhodes lay there, not even winded, as he wondered how he would live it down that Taggart had won.

  “Christ, we both lost.” Taggart didn’t sound pleased.

  Rhodes looked toward him. Taggart was watching him and frowning.

  “I overestimated since I didn’t think I would surprise you with my move. If I had, I wouldn’t have used so much force to knock you off your feet. I would have hit after you. But I didn’t, so we both lost.” Taggart glared, but a moment later he grinned before he rolled over on top of him. “How are we going to decide who goes first?”

  “We’ll wrestle for it.” Rhodes kissed him briefly. “Or something.”

  Taggart chuckled, kissing him deeply. Rhodes moaned, accepting his tongue into his mouth. He rolled them, rocking against Taggart, who grunted as he moved along with him. Taggart gripped him and shifted them so he was on top again. Rhodes pulled back from their kiss, laughing in delight.

  “You pick a weird time to laugh.” Taggart kissed along the side of his jaw.

  Rhodes stilled as Taggart pressed kisses against the puckered flesh of his scar. Rhodes realized he hadn’t even thought about it when he took off his shirt. The matting of scars continued down his jaw and all the way down the right side of his body. He was usually more careful whom he took off his clothing with. It again reaffirmed his comfort level with Taggart. The man in question nuzzled against the side of his neck, dragging his teeth along the network of raised skin. Rhodes shuddered as pleasure filled him at the touch, and he clutched at Taggart, holding him hard against him.

  “Let up a little. I need to move lower,” Taggart soothed as he licked across his shoulder.

  Rhodes loosened his hold and made a rough sound in his throat. He’d had lovers since he’d been scarred, but many were more fascinated with his old injuries, and he felt like some sick plaything. Yet in his gut, he knew that was not the case with Taggart. He blew out a breath while Taggart continued his downward trek. Taggart slowly kissed, licked, and bit along the puckered skin. Rhodes sucked in a breath when he reached his stomach. Taggart continued his caress and touched his left side, which had a separate scar.

  “Knife wound. It must have been deep to leave this much scarring.” Taggart ran his fingers slowly along the skin. “The person who did this….”

  Although it hadn’t been a question, Rhodes responded. “Yes, it was. They tipped their blades in poison that’s like acid.” He paused before answering what he had left unspoken, “They didn’t live to see the results of their attack.”

  Taggart lifted his head. Rhodes watched his coolly composed face and saw someone who had done, and understood doing, what you had to when you needed to survive. In his old life, the rules of what were right or wrong had no place in your thought process.

  “That is the past,” Taggart said firmly.

  “Yes.” Rhodes ran his finger down the side of his face. “Memories best left buried in a deep dark hole.”

  Taggart turned his head and kissed his finger, sucking it into his mouth.

  Rhodes whimpered and cleared his throat. “I didn’t know you were so oral.”

  Taggart swirled his tongue over the pad of his finger before he released it. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

  “I’m looking forward to finding out.”

  “And I the same with you.” Taggart wet his lips. “But first, I want to learn all the tastes of your skin.” He lowered his head back to Rhodes’s stomach and placed a kiss there.

  Rhodes tightened his stomach muscles. Taggart nipped them, and Rhodes whooshed out a breath. Taggart kept their gazes locked. Rhodes tensed in anticipation as Taggart continued his previous caress of his scars. Taggart went lower and placed his hands into the waistband of Rhodes’s sweats. Rhodes heard bells and wondered if he was losing his mind. Suddenly Taggart rolled off him.

  “Sorry… shit… that’s my cell. It’s the ringtone for work.” Taggart rose and hurried over to where his shirt was on the bench.

  Rhodes plopped his head against the mat repeatedly. “Just the luck.”

  He heard Taggart murmuring but didn’t pay any attention to what he was saying. Rhodes put his hand behind his head and sighed. Taggart came into view over his head. He had on his T-shirt already. He crouched and touched the side of his face over Rhodes’s scar.

  “I have to go in. Walker needs my help on his hunt.”

  Rhodes recalled him mentioning they were looking for some lead for a case. Taggart hadn’t given him particulars, but Rhodes knew he wouldn’t leave unless it was necessary. Rhodes touched Taggart’s hand on his face and lifted it, kissed the palm, and then released him.

  “Come back if you can. No matter the time.”

  Taggart smiled and nodded. “Of course. Even if I have to break into your house. I’m quicker at it than Aristotle and his brothers.”

  “But not me. Who do you think taught them?” Rhodes grinned. “Although I made sure to leave a few types of places off the list so they couldn’t get into too much trouble.”

  “I sense there’s a story behind you teaching them to break into places. You’ll have to fill me in sometime. We can add that to the list of embarrassing stories you keep avoiding telling me.”

  “I’ll make you a deal. I share one, you share one.”

  “Deal.”

  “I already told you one, so it’s your turn.” Rhodes chuckled.

  “No fair.” Taggart rose. “But I will when I see you again. Stay here. I don’t want to be distracted from leaving.”

  Taggart turned and left. Rhodes listened to the sound of his footsteps until they faded and he couldn’t hear them anymore. He got up, went over to the video camera, and picked it up. He rewound the recording a little, then played it back. Rhodes watched as Taggart took him off his feet. When he saw their backs had indeed hit the mats together, he shook his head.

  “Damn man was right.” Rhodes heard the ding of his cell. He stopped the playback, then went to retrieve his phone.

  He placed the camera under his arm as he checked the message.

  When you check the tape, you’ll find I’m right. ~ TM

  How’d you know I would check? ~ RW, he texted back.

  The answer came right away. Because I would have done the same. I’m about to pull out so I’ll text you later when I’m coming by. We still need to decide who will be on top. LOL. ~ TM

  Rhodes put his cell in the pocket of his sweats, then lifted the camera again. He restarted the video and watched the rest. He hardened again when he saw Taggart on the camera touching him. When it was through, Rhodes took out the SD card and put it in his pocket. He’d have to show Taggart what they looked like together. He replaced the camera and left the gym. He’d be waiting for Taggart to return so they could finish what they started. Hell, he didn’t care who was on top, he just wanted him. Whistling, Rhodes headed down the hall.

  RHODES CHECKED the time again and saw it was only five minutes since he’d last checked. Suddenly he knew Taggart had arrived. Rhodes lifted his beer and turned, immediately meeting his gaze across the room. Taggart looked good. Rhodes hadn’t seen him since they had tested each other in the gym three days earlier. Taggart hadn’t been able to come back since he left to follow the lead he and Walker were working on. They had talked, but it had been brief. Taggart smiled, shifted his attention to Walker and a woman who had come in with him, and then to Aristotle, who joined them. He was saying something, but Rhodes was too far away to h
ear what it was. Even if he were close, with the amount of people and noise he wouldn’t have heard unless he was part of the conversation. When he’d planned to see Taggart again, it wasn’t in a room full of people on Christmas night. He’d promised Aristotle he would be here for at least one of the late holiday dinners he held, and since he’d missed Thanksgiving, he was here for Christmas.

  Taggart greeted the other men as he circled the room. Rhodes lifted his bottle to his lips to hide his smile. From his path, Taggart was heading for him. As he waited, Rhodes looked around the room at the men who usually came for second Sunday—it was the day for cooking, time together, and most importantly, Scrabble. It was a Berkus family tradition they’d continued when they moved here. Rhodes had been to Berkus Sundays many times when they had lived in Rhode Island. It was always a blast, and they were all cutthroat with the Scrabble playing, so it got rowdy—just like the ones they had here in Mapson.

  “I didn’t know you were going to be here.” Taggart stood beside him.

  “I texted you earlier I was going to be here. I didn’t get a reply so I figured you’d make your way here eventually.” Rhodes drank some more beer.

  “My cell’s battery died, and I left my car charger in my car. We were in Walker’s, so I had to do without it. I hate stakeouts.” Taggart took the bottle from him, draining the last of it.

  “You’re going to have to get me another beer.” Rhodes pushed at his shoulder briefly. “I assume you got the lead you were after since you”—he gestured to Ramirez, Hill, Gerry, Walker and Miguel—”are all here.”

  “Nope. After all those hours of round-the-clock stakeout, it was a bust.” Taggart rubbed his hand along the back of his head. “I hate this waiting. I need to find this man. He’s the last nail in Billy’s case.”

  “What? I thought this was a case for work.”

  “It is. The man is part of another case, but we found he has a link to Billy. One he can’t wheedle his way out of. His testimony will make it so no matter how much Billy tries to get away with his crap, he can’t.” Taggart looked furious. “I hate corrupt cops. They make us all look bad.” He rubbed the back of his neck again.