“This isn’t something you and I can solve stuck in a magical corridor with no exits,” said Benen, peeling himself off the wall and moving toward Gus, who eyed him.
“The magic does not actually care whether we solve the murder, it cares whether we get along. I, however, care if it means I’ll be locked up on exiting.”
“I can’t make promises,” said Benen.
“Of course you can.”
“You’re nobody at the moment. I don’t even have a family name I can wave at Thea. You need influence to get out of shit like what I caught you doing. Don’t—I like the way you scowl.”
Gus raised an eyebrow again and Benen grinned at him. Let Gus figure out if he was saying it to get Gus to stop making that face, or because he actually did find it attractive. Gus crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall, not objecting when Benen moved closer to him. If he hadn’t been closing off his posture so much, Benen would have considered taking his hand again.
“What kind of agreement do we have to reach?” asked Benen, then when Gus shrugged, “It’s not going to make us fuck, is it?”
Gus’s scowl quavered and then dropped. He chuckled.
“As entertaining as it sounds to drop a couple rival warriors in here and have them do battle in bed until their issues are resolved, that isn’t how this works. Coercive sex? No. I imagine the spell doesn’t care if that’s how people want to work it out, but physical intimacy isn’t a requirement. Learning to work together isn’t about that.”
“Relax then, Gus. Your ass is safe.”
Gus tsked and looked away, but he relaxed somewhat against the wall. Without stopping to consider, Benen leaned in next to Gus, put an arm up against the wall. Gus was facing away from him, but turned at the motion. He didn’t move, didn’t shuffle a few feet down the corridor, just met Benen’s gaze, as unafraid as he’d been when caught in the evidence storage room. A small, cocky smile pulled up the corner of Gus’s lips, just enough to make Benen wonder if he was being played.
Damn, there went his heart. Gus was someone he’d need to arrest, and he was just who Benen wanted. It was almost as though the fact that he wasn’t too honest drew Benen. Just the hint of his old life, a harmless lie or two, something he could never indulge in now. He represented law, and Gus represented…
“I’m willing to work together with you, willing to get along,” said Benen, and leaned in closer to Gus’s jaw. The man didn’t flinch.
“I can do the same. That ought to be enough for the damned spell.”
But it wasn’t. And Benen knew why. It was trust—to truly fix problems between two people, there had to be trust. Not everything had to be told, not all things bared, but enough had to be there for trust. Benen leaned in further, to Gus’s ear, to whisper.
“It needs more. Your name, Gus. I need to trust you to give it, you need to trust me with it.” He paused, considered saying please, but instead met Gus’s eye. Gus tilted his head up, eyes half-lidded, and Benen leaned in to kiss him before he completely registered he was doing it.
But Gus turned his head, let Benen’s motion pass him by, his lips settling against Gus’s neck. Gus was near Benen’s ear like this, and Benen heard him take in a small breath. He waited, frozen with his lips lingering on smooth skin, while Gus spoke.
“Evander,” he said, and that along with everything else was enough for him to click into place.
“Evander,” said Benen against his throat. “You’re…Evander Fergus?”
Evander nodded slightly and swallowed, but kept his throat exposed. Benen kissed it gently once, twice, then pulled back a few inches.
“Fuck. Your sister Marla’s in the government. You really fucked with her fiancé? The heir to the Fallswenne wakeleaf tea fortune? You’ve got balls, Ev.”
“Nobody calls me that.”
“That’s what you have to say?” asked Benen.
“Nobody calls me that, sir.”
“Ben. Just…until we get back.”
The smallest of smiles crossed Evander’s face. He lifted a hand, cupped the back of Benen’s head, and drew Benen in. Benen let him. He hadn’t kissed anyone in a while but it wasn’t the sort of thing a person forgot, and he found as his lips met Evander’s he’d been hungry for this for hours. He went slow at first, wanted to draw it out before they moved on, but Evander soon became demanding. He pulled Benen’s head to him harder, opened for Benen’s tongue. Heart pounding harder and harder, Benen gave him what he wanted.
His face ached, but it was easy to overlook. He placed his foot between both of Evander’s, moved forward as Evander leaned back against the wall. Benen reached up to trail a finger along Evander’s jaw, then dropped his hand to his hip. When Evander responded to the touch with a little forward motion, Benen slid his hand across to grab Evander.
Evander groaned into his mouth and closed his eyes. His cock pushed against his tight clothes, pressed between the side of his leg and Benen’s palm. Benen kneaded gently, ate up Evander’s next groan. He no longer needed Evander to rush him, not when he was so aroused himself. He pressed his own cock, hard at the feel of Evander, up against the man’s thigh. Evander sagged back against the wall as Benen stroked him through his clothes, and he clutched the wall behind him, fingernails digging into the ugly brick. Benen couldn’t resist how Evander was giving himself so readily; Benen lifted his free hand and took Evander under the chin with it, tilted Evander’s head to keep it where he wanted while he kissed Evander deeply.
Benen stroked him, kissed him, until Evander tensed beneath him and his lips froze. Warm wetness seeped through Evander’s pants and against Benen’s palm; he continued rubbing until Evander’s squirming pressed against his own cock. He was so close himself, the sensation brought him to his senses.
What the hell was he doing, fucking a thief up against the wall like this? If Thea knew…Benen released Evander so abruptly the man nearly fell. He clutched at the wall, gasping, and Benen turned away, trying to get his racing heart back under control. He could see to himself later, when all this was over, the murderer caught, Evander’s wealthy family come to pay for his release. Benen put his arm up against the opposite wall, leaned his head against it, and stared at his damp palm as he worked on his breathing.
“Shit,” he muttered, and wiped his hand on his pants.
“Damn,” said Evander, word half groan. “You…you’ve done this before.”
“Shut up,” said Benen. Evander obeyed, either because he was still recovering or he was less resistant to following Benen’s orders after everything, but the silence pressed down on Benen worse now. Not having gotten off himself was really pissing him off, and his cock was taking forever to give up on the possibility of satisfaction.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see a door had appeared. Benen gritted his teeth, not sure he wanted to go through. Anything could be through that door—maybe a bed, to force them to finish what he’d started. No, what Evander had started. Benen wasn’t sure when they’d crossed over from disagreement to kissing to sex, but the entire thing had been fast. He berated himself for getting caught up in it. Terrible move.
“Would you like—?” asked Evander, and trailed off. Benen let out a sharp laugh.
“Yeah, you’ve done enough,” he said. The only way this wouldn’t be a problem was if Evander decided to keep quiet about it. Of course, Benen could claim Evander was lying—he was a thief, after all, and Benen had little doubt Thea would believe him—but he didn’t think he could actually do that.
“Oh, because you were only doing this to placate me?”
“No,” said Benen, still unable to look at Evander.
“I wouldn’t believe that anyway. You were too hard. I wouldn’t soil your pants—I give good head, too, if I may boast.”
“No,” said Benen again, and closed his eyes. Shit, Evander talking like this was not helping him get flaccid again. If he thought too much about Evander’s mouth around his cock…“That…was a mistake. I wasn’t going to
take it that far.”
Evander snorted.
“But you did. I am not, in fact, objecting.”
“Of course not. Now you have something you can hold over me. I should’ve realized you’d be that clever.”
Benen was half expecting Evander to start griping at him again, but instead Benen heard the man crossing the few feet over to him, and then Evander’s hand was on Benen’s shoulder.
“I won’t,” he said, the words a mumble. Benen held back a laugh. “You are supposed to trust me. We’re stuck until you do.” When Benen said nothing, Evander added, “I gave you my name. I’m risking trouble, too. If my father finds out I thieve after everything…”
“I don’t think that’s trust. Having something over each other.”
“Very well,” said Evander, and withdrew his hand. “I won’t mention it, but if it does get out, and your position is terminated, you are welcome to stay with me. I have a little room near the docks.”
Benen didn’t want to look at him. Didn’t want to trust him.
“You have my tools. You’ll have to open the door,” said Evander.
Benen sighed, pulled away from the wall, nodded. As he pulled out the lockpick set, he decided it didn’t matter—the magic would know whether they truly trusted each other or if it was just fear that they could ruin each other’s lives. If it had to be genuine, and it wasn’t, there would be another room to go through after this, and then they’d be back in the maze. Benen didn’t want to think about anything more complicated than that.
He was still certain they’d wind up in a bedroom when he opened the door, that he’d have no choice but to do what he’d have to and get through it, but when the lock clicked and he pulled back the door, he was looking into a very familiar room.
Benen didn’t try to figure out how the magic worked. They stepped through the door of the maze and entered into the evidence storage room like they were coming in from the normal corridor. The lights were up full now, the orb sitting on the table in the middle of the room. Raldina stood, back to them, searching through a drawer. Her black hair was clean and pulled back off her brown face; Benen determined it had to be morning already. She and Thea must have taken a few hours to nap and wash.
Benen shut the door, closing off access to the maze. Raldina looked up, surprise flitting through her eyes before she frowned.
“Trelayne,” she said, and pushed the drawer shut. “Going to explain where the hell you’ve been? Who’s that asshole?”
“Asshole,” muttered Evander, and crossed his arms. Benen licked his lips, unsure what to say, where to begin, how to give her enough of an explanation without blaming Evander too much. He debated making it sound like an accident the orb was activated, then realized with a jolt he didn’t want to arrest Evander after all. He didn’t know when that had changed, but he didn’t think it had to do with the sex, which only confused him more.
“Trelayne,” said a voice from behind him, and he stood aside for Thea to enter. She didn’t sound happy with him, and Benen couldn’t blame her. What she and Raldina must have thought when they’d returned to find him gone…He couldn’t meet her eye. The expression on her dark brown face was smoothed, patient, but he knew she was irritated. “Explain.”
“We were sucked into the orb’s spell,” said Benen, the most accurate explanation he could give without making the entire situation sound bad. Thea’s eyes flicked to Evander.
“I take it this is the man responsible for the window George found when he got in this morning?” she asked, and Benen couldn’t say anything. There was no way he could keep what Evander had done from Thea. “I’m surprised you let him get this far, Trelayne.”
“Maybe he’s out of practice,” said Raldina. “I just had a person drop from my sparring group, Benen, if you’re interested.”
Benen opened his mouth, shut it. Thea indicated his cheek.
“You’re bruised,” she said.
“That was my fault, I’m afraid,” said Evander. Benen wanted to tell him to shut up, but doing that would only make everything worse. All eyes turned to Evander. “I got a few good kicks in when he tried to stop me. I had to have that orb, you see.”
“How did you know it was here?” asked Raldina.
Thea nodded to Benen to restrain Evander. He turned and did so, trying not to look as reluctant as he felt. Was it only hours ago he was twisting Evander’s arms so hard he could have really injured the man?
Evander shrugged.
“It would make sense he was the figure the cook saw in the garden,” said Raldina, turning to Thea, but the Lead Detective was examining Benen.
“What do you think, Trelayne?” she asked.
“I should have been paying more attention,” said Benen. He pulled Evander’s arms back as much as he dared, saw Evander flinch as though it hurt. “I never should have let anyone get in last night.”
“No, you shouldn’t. What does the orb do? Why would he want to murder Josen Nevgeradel for it?”
So Thea had come to the same conclusion Benen originally had. If Evander wanted the orb, if someone like him had been spotted at Nevgeradel’s home, it was likely Evander who’d murdered the man. Only Benen no longer believed that. He didn’t want Thea to, either—it would mean Evander could be executed.
“If I may interrupt,” said Evander, “I didn’t murder anyone. I am guilty of showing you a small weakness in your station windows—”
“Shut up,” said Thea. “And drop the act. You may not know this about me, but I detest thieves who pretend to be high-bred. As though we don’t see through that.”
“Asshole,” said Raldina again.
“Trelayne, lock him up and get back in here. You have some things to explain.”
“Lock me up? With the common criminals?” asked Evander.
Benen tried to tug Evander back to the door, wishing the man would shut up and let him figure out a way to get Evander cleared of the murder.
“You have no idea who I am, detective.”
“Quiet,” hissed Benen, as loud as he dared, but Evander ignored him.
“I’m Evander Fergus, and I think you’ll find there’s been what you’d call a misunderstanding.”
Thea arched an eyebrow at him.
“Guess it’s possible,” said Raldina. “From what I hear, the youngest Fergus child’s been cast out of the family. No word on the scandal, though. Old Alasdair Fergus’s keeping that hush, probably intends to let him back in at some point.” She inclined her head at Evander. “What’d you do? Threaten to kill someone?”
“As though my father would have asked me to leave for that.”
“You’re talking yourself into a corner,” growled Benen.
“Let him,” said Thea. “It makes our jobs easier.”
“I didn’t murder anyone,” said Evander again. “Talk to my father. He knows I couldn’t have done such a thing.”
“Because you’re such a scrawny little shit?” asked Raldina.
“I’m sure you can come to some sort of agreement about the window.”
Thea rolled her eyes and motioned to Benen, who couldn’t delay following orders any longer. Evander didn’t come easily; Benen had to haul him out the door and down the corridor.
“You are an asshole,” he said, and Evander tsked at him. Benen dragged him through the door to the cells and down past the nicest one; he didn’t want Thea thinking he was being too kind. Still, he couldn’t bring himself to lock Evander in the worst of the cells.
“What a miserable place,” said Evander, and Benen shoved him into a cell, closed the door on him. He glanced over his shoulder, then leaned forward.
“Why?” he asked, voice low. “I didn’t want to have to lock you up, Ev.”
Evander winced. He moved close enough to talk low but wouldn’t look at Benen.
“Don’t call me that. Not now. Not when we’re out of the maze and I never got to call you…” He trailed off, shook his head, and ran a hand through his hair. “We coul
dn’t have talked our way out of that one, you know. Best chance is from my father. However displeased he may be about what I’ve done, I very much doubt he wants to see me executed. He’ll have me out, and you’re free to go on and catch the real murderer.”
Benen stared at him. Something inside him squirmed unpleasantly. He didn’t like thinking about what the maze had done to him—no, what the magic had allowed him to indulge in. His attraction to someone like Evander. It gave him permission to put his trust in Evander, and now Benen didn’t know what to do.
“I won’t let you be executed for this,” said Benen, the words spilling out.
“If you couldn’t promise that before, you can’t promise it now,” said Evander. He turned away from the door. “Good luck.”
Benen stalked off back to evidence storage, only to find it empty, the orb missing. When he returned to the office he found Thea and Raldina sipping mugs of wakeleaf tea, the orb nestled on the table not far from the steaming pot. They turned from the completed wall—Raldina must have finished it—and stared at him.
He sank into a chair and poured himself a mug. The wakeleaf tea didn’t taste any different than normal, but it failed to make him feel any warmer, any better. Benen swallowed.
“Didn’t really get to sit in there,” he said, to explain his actions, but neither Thea nor Raldina said a word. Thea especially had a way of coaxing information out of a person simply by waiting. “It was a maze. A giant fucking maze. Took the station walls and replicated them again and again.”
“You were in there with that asshole the entire time?” asked Raldina. “How’d you manage not to punch his fucking face? More than twenty minutes of his voice and I think I’d want to kill him.”
Benen forced himself to smile like he was amused. He was so, so tired. He just wanted to have a nap, right here sitting up, even after the wakeleaf tea. He didn’t want to think about how this was going to work out, didn’t want to have to defend what he’d done, so he decided to avoid too detailed a description of what had gone on in the maze.
The Officer and the Thief Page 5