by Tatum Throne
“I’m good.”
They both were wearing bulletproof vests. “Give me the keys.”
The guard’s hand shook as he handed over the keys to the truck. “We’ll bring the truck and the money back. Wait for us by the marked vehicle over there.”
The guards headed away from the action. TJ met Evans’s eyes and took a steadying breath. “Ready to do this?”
“Yep.”
“We go in with the money. Give them everything they want and get the hostages out.”
“Sounds easy enough,” Evans said.
“I wish it were. I’m going to pull the truck up to the building. Follow my lead.”
They got into the truck with TJ getting behind the wheel. He started it up. Rain hit the windshield hard as they pulled up to the front of the bank. A man with a gun was waiting at the door. Through the glass, TJ saw Parker in the same spot on the floor. TJ’s hands tightened down on the steering wheel. “Let’s get the money and go inside.”
They went around to the back of the truck and opened the doors. They each carried two bags as they approached the front doors to the bank. The robber looked around before opening the door with the gun pointed at TJ’s head.
“Give him the money.”
Evans handed her two bags to TJ. This was not part of the plan but it would have to do. TJ had to get inside. The robber pushed Evans back with his palm, opening the door for TJ to come inside. TJ scanned the room, making eye contact with Parker. TJ wasn’t prepared to feel his heart skip a beat. The doors closed with a bang behind TJ and a chain was run through the door handles before being padlocked. He saw Evans heading back to the armored truck. She got inside but didn’t leave. Smart.
“Put the money on the table.”
TJ went to the conference room they indicated and dropped the bags on the table. What happened next came in a blur that TJ suspected wouldn’t end well. Glass shattered, raining down to the ground as Evans rammed the bank doors with the armored truck. Parker was up and moving before the glass hit the floor. TJ swept the stunned robber off his feet and disarmed him before he hit the floor. SWAT stormed the building.
Gunfire rang out. TJ ducked, looking around as he cuffed the guy on the floor. TJ looked through the conference window. Parker jerked back with his arms flying out into the air. He flew backward before he landed solidly onto the floor. He’d been shot. A SWAT officer took the shooter out with a single shot.
Blocked by debris on the floor, TJ couldn’t see where he’d been shot. Silent prayers flew upward to the fates as TJ prayed he wasn’t hit in the chest or head.
TJ couldn’t lose him. Ice-cold fear sliced through TJ’s heart. He couldn’t lose the man he loved, not this way.
TJ ran across the lobby. His shoes slipped through the broken glass, knocking him off balance. He got to Parker before anyone else. Parker’s gaze was filled with stunned surprise as he stared up at the ceiling. Blood seeped through his arm, but nowhere else on his body. TJ brushed his hands over Parker, searching for wounds. TJ lifted him up, pulling him onto his lap.
“Parker?”
He grinned and looked at his shoulder. “I hit my head. I’m okay.”
He was pale. “You’re not okay! You were shot!”
“Who the hell stormed the castle?” Parker asked.
“Evans.”
“RAT is not going to be happy.”
TJ laughed. “Tell me about it.” Parker tried to sit up and blood seeped from the wound. “Easy now.”
“I’m okay.”
All the robbers were being arrested while the hostages were being helped out of the building. TJ was pushed out of the way as medics came to his side and got to work assessing the damage. This would be an automatic trip to the hospital. TJ stepped out into the rain where Evans was getting the brunt of it from Chief Anderson.
“What the hell do you mean your foot slipped?” Anderson asked.
“It slipped. I didn’t mean to hit the gas,” Evans said.
Anderson eyed TJ as though he was the puppet master behind this scheme. “If I find out you had something to do with this, you’ll be on meter duty for the rest of your career.”
The chief’s voice was deadly calm. Yep, this was bad. “Understood.”
Chief Anderson looked back at Lt. Evans. “You’re a lot like Detective Raines in the field.”
“Thank you, chief,” Evans said.
“That wasn’t a complement.”
The chief headed toward the ambulance. Evans came to TJ’s side with a frown of uncertainty on her face. TJ gave her a pat on the shoulder. “Great job today. I would’ve done the same.”
She grinned. “Thanks.”
“Don’t worry about the chief. He’ll get over it.”
“What about RAT?” she asked.
TJ smiled. “You’ve made the list. You haven’t made it on SWAT unless you’ve made the list as one of RAT’s bastards. Everyone except SWAT doc Woods has made the list at some time in their career.”
“About SWAT?”
There was the heat of ambition in her eyes. She wanted a chance on the team. He knew what that feeling was like. It wasn’t enough to sit back protecting the perimeter as the team went to work. She wanted a hand in the action.
“I’ll see what I can do,” TJ said.
“Thanks.”
Parker was loaded into the back of an ambulance. There was a whole lot of hurry up in their step all of a sudden. By the looks on the medics’ faces, TJ could see that something was very wrong. TJ rushed to the ambulance but the doors slammed shut before he could get there. TJ rushed to his unmarked.
Chapter Thirteen
Parker’s shirt was off. TJ felt relieved at the sight of the man he loved, bandaged and in a sling, sitting up on the couch. After being stitched up at the hospital, Parker was given his walking papers. Of course, TJ made sure he got home safely. He couldn’t believe he almost lost Parker again. Had that bullet been a few inches to the left… No, he couldn’t think about that now. He should only focus on what happened and not about all the other possibilities that would keep him awake at night for the next few months.
“You don’t have to stay. I’m good,” Parker said. There was a hard edge to Parker’s voice that wasn’t there this morning. Could he blame him for the distance and his grouchiness? Nope. TJ was the one that asked for the distance and Parker was merely giving it to him as requested. They shouldn’t have argued before he left for work.
“I want to be here for you,” TJ said. “Well, I’m telling you that you don’t have to be here. I don’t need a nursemaid.”
Heat simmered beneath TJ’s skin. “Maybe I want to be your nursemaid.”
Slowly, Parker lifted his gaze to TJ’s. “Fine. Then help me up the stairs. I want to shower the blood off of me,” Parker said.
They went up the stairs together. TJ put his hand at the small of Parker’s back as he spotted him up the narrow stairs to his bedroom. TJ went to the bath where he started the shower on high. Parker sat onto the bed, taking his socks off.
“Let me help you.”
TJ eased Parker’s socks off and helped him to stand. He worked the leather of his belt out of the buckle and worked it from his jeans. TJ unbuttoned his pants and lowered the fly. TJ lifted his gaze up to Parker’s soft blue eyes. He lowered his pants and his boxers at the same time. Parker used his right hand to balance as he stepped out of them. There were dark bruises down the side of Parker’s leg where he had fallen. TJ slid his hand up his thigh in a sweet, intimate caress as he stood again.
“You’ll have to take your sling off,” TJ said.
The Velcro on the sling came off easily, slipping off Parker’s shoulder. The white bandage was tinted with red.
“There’s blood in your hair,” TJ said.
With gentle hands, TJ pulled his braid around and worked out the rubber band. TJ smoothed the tight braid out, loosening his silk hair around his shoulders.
Parker looked suddenly unsure. “Will you help me
wash?”
“Of course, babe.”
Tiny black tile was floor to ceiling in the walk-in shower. TJ could see that had been recently refurbished. TJ tested the water with his hand as Parker stepped inside.
“You’re going to get wet,” Parker said.
TJ yanked his shirt over his head and folded it aside. He undressed and joined Parker in the shower. His cock hung heavy between his legs. Parker eased back beneath the showerhead raining down from the ceiling. Water cascaded over his hair and down over his body. TJ let his gaze chase that water. He sucked in a harsh breath when he saw Parker’s cock flexed hard.
Vibrant blue eyes were watching him as he lifted them up to Parker’s face. “Wash me.”
TJ lifted the black bottle from the rack and squirted shampoo into his palm. TJ swallowed hard. “Turn around.”
The tip of TJ’s cockhead rubbed seductively against Parker’s ass. TJ worked the shampoo into Parker’s silken locks. Parker groaned as his fingers massaged the suds into his scalp and through his hair. He rinsed Parker’s hair. He picked up the body wash, squeezing it into a soft loofah. He worked it over Parker’s hard muscles. As he worked his way lower, he avoided Parker’s throbbing cock. He worked the loofah up under his sac. Parker moaned.
“TJ…”
TJ palmed his cock, stroking it base to head. Emotion welled up inside of TJ. He could’ve lost Parker without telling him how much he truly meant. Tonight, he was going to make sure he knew how he felt and how sorry he was for pushing him away.
“Yes?”
“Suck me.”
The command almost sounded like a plea if someone were eavesdropping on their encounter. TJ knew through the heat of passion that this was a Dom wanting his sub to go to work on him for a little while. He rinsed the loofah, rolling the rope down over Parker’s cock. The rope hung loose around Parker’s base. TJ cupped Parker’s balls, slipping them through the loop of the rope. TJ kneeled down in front of his lover. Parker murmured something dirty as TJ licked his tongue over his cockhead, tightening the rope that held him hostage. TJ sucked his cockhead into his mouth as he rubbed the soft loofah over his perineum. Parker thrust his hips forward, grabbing the back of TJ’s head with his hand. TJ moaned, sucking Parker deeper into his mouth.
A tightening of TJ’s hair and a short yank was the only command TJ needed to know that he was being relieved of his duty. TJ lifted his head, looking deeply into Parker’s dilated blue eyes.
There was uncertainty in Parker’s eyes. It was then that TJ found his weakness. Parker didn’t know how to hand control over to someone else. TJ stroked his fingers up and down Parker’s shaft. “Let me do this for you. You need to rest.”
“It was just a scratch. I’m fine.”
TJ shook his head no as he sucked the plump head of Parker’s cock back into his mouth. Parker eased his big frame back against the tile for support. TJ slid his hands up the back of Parker’s thighs, squeezing his ass tight. He moaned, sending vibrations down over Parker’s rock-hard cock. TJ flexed his tongue, licking and sucking. He reached around, grabbing Parker’s balls tight as TJ reached down to grab his own cock. TJ knew it was what Parker needed. TJ’s hand clamped down tight on his own cock as he stroked himself. He licked and sucked Parker hard.
Parker cried out. “I’m close.”
TJ swirled his tongue over the tip of Parker’s slit, sucking hard. TJ licked his way off of Parker’s cock, stroking him hard with his hand. Hot spunk erupted from Parker, shooting onto TJ.
TJ’s orgasm shot through his body, hardening his prick to steel. More spunk shot from Parker’s cock, sending four lashes against TJ’s chest. TJ shot thick squirts of cum across the tile. TJ slid his way back up Parker’s body, kissing him possessively. They rinsed off together.
They went to the bed where Parker sat on the edge with the wet towel around his waist.
TJ brushed the back of his fingers over Parker’s cheek. “How are you feeling?” TJ asked.
“I’m just tired,” Parker said.
“Well, you need to rest.”
“I’m not that tired.”
His deep voice purred through the room and dripped like honey with a sweet innuendo that TJ wanted to lap up. It was then that TJ knew that one day he’d make a man a good husband. Was that day now?
Parker had the remote to the television in his hand, but he wasn’t clicking through the channels. TJ could feel his gaze locked on his body as he nervously moved around the bedroom.
“Sit down.”
The command was one of a man used to having his way in the bedroom. TJ had the dirty desire to defy his order and take his punishment willingly. TJ sat on the chair nearest the bed. Their eyes locked.
“Are you in pain?” TJ asked.
“Just a little sore.”
“Anything I can do?” TJ asked.
The corner of Parker’s mouth hitched up. “I can think of a few more things.”
TJ’s heart raced. He wanted to be Parker’s everything. “Parker … we need to talk.”
Parker’s lips fell. His gaze hardened. TJ crossed the room, kneeling before his lover. “Babe, it’s not what you think.”
“No? What is it then?”
TJ could hear the irritation in his lover’s voice. “I love you. I want to wake up every day with you at my side.”
“Are you trying to ask me something?”
TJ curled his finger around a silky strand of his lover’s wet hair and gave it a possessive tug that drew their heads closer. “Maybe I am.”
Parker wrapped his hand behind the back of TJ’s neck and drew their mouths together. They kissed hard. TJ parted his lips, causing Parker’s tongue to flick out, taking control of his mouth. TJ groaned as their tongues flexed together. All he wanted to do was get closer to Parker. TJ eased up off his knees and pressed the long length of his body against Parker’s dark skin. They curled up together on the bed.
“I love you,” Parker whispered.
“I know.”
“You’re afraid to say it,” Parker said.
He was. “I’ve fallen hard for you, babe.”
Chapter Fourteen
Parker heard the rumble of a car coming down the driveway. He glanced out the kitchen window. TJ was home. A flutter of excitement raced through his heart. Parker braced his hands on the kitchen counter. He could get used to having him there every day. In fact, he wanted him there with him. Parker ran a hand through his long hair. He never thought about settling down before TJ made his feelings known. Now, it was the only thing on his mind.
All he could think about was going shopping with TJ and picking out color schemes for the new house. He wanted TJ to move in with him. He wanted to know what TJ’s favorite colors were and what his habits were. Did he prefer the left or right side of the bed? Did he like to shower or bathe? Parker liked long hot soaks after a hard workout.
TJ got out of the car looking tired and weary from a long day. His navy suit coat cut the hard corners of his body as though he’d just walked off a fashion runway. Emotionally, TJ looked as though he’d taken a beating. He must’ve met with RAT today. Parker’s gaze moved over TJ as he loosened his tie. Through the break in TJ’s coat, Parker could see his shiny badge clipped to his belt. Parker was sure he was carrying, too.
There was something really erotic about an armed and dangerous man. That thought sent a shiver of want flooding through Parker’s body before he could pull the emergency brake on this speeding train. The front door closed solidly behind TJ. Parker was off work and going stir crazy all day home alone.
He was back to work on Monday no matter how bad he felt. He was tired of sitting home for a sore shoulder.
“Hey, babe,” TJ said. “How’s the shoulder?”
“Good.” Parker gave TJ a brushing kiss. He was going to have TJ tied up in less than two minutes. “Undress.”
Surprise filtered through TJ’s eyes before the corners of his mouth lifted. He undressed slowly, teasing Parker by taking his bit
tersweet time. TJ’s heavy cock was the last thing to be revealed. Parker reached out, stroking his lover’s big cock.
“Where do you want me?” TJ asked.
“Arrogant sub, aren’t you?” Parker asked.
The hint of a smile left TJ’s face and was replaced by the heat of want as Parker tightened his hold on the thick prick in his palm. Parker led TJ by the cock through the living room but didn’t take him upstairs to the bedroom. He led him to the older part of the house where he hadn’t yet renovated and probably never would. The screened in porch was surrounded by a mile of old-growth trees. Nighttime air blew through the screen, fluttering Parker’s long hair around his shoulders. He’d fantasized all day about taking TJ here with nothing but fresh country air around them. Moonlight cascaded, illuminating just enough for them to see, but not be seen.
The rustic setting was made for lovers who trusted each other completely. Parker wanted to push TJ into confessing his love once and for all.
A table was displayed with butt plugs of four different sizes, whips, and a wooden paddle. Parker saw TJ’s eyes narrow on that table, and his cock swelled hard.
“Looks like you’ve been busy today,” TJ said.
“I’ve had all day to think about what I want to do with you.”
“Have you now?” TJ asked.
“Yes, I have.”
Cuffs and chains were linked over the wooden rafter. Parker used the leather bondage cuffs on both of TJ’s wrists and cranked his arms out wide. Parker gave TJ a stroke, rubbing his pre-cum over his shaft. He wanted to lean down and suck him but knew he couldn’t. There was something more important that needed to be done here. Parker needed to hear TJ say the words he felt before they could go any further. TJ had to tell him once and for all how he felt about their love or their relationship wouldn’t work. By the time Parker was finished with him, TJ was going to be weeping and confessing his love. Parker undressed and reached down to stroke his cock several times for TJ to see. As he watched TJ lick his lips, he snapped a blindfold from the table. Parker blindfolded TJ.
“Oh, fuck,” TJ said.
Parker went to the table and squeezed a generous amount of lube onto his fingers. “Spread your legs wide.”