THIRDS Beyond the Books Volume 2

by Charlie Cochet

  “I didn’t want to cause a scene.”

  “I appreciate that. It’s his opinion. Not worth seeing you get upset over.” Sloane squeezed Dex’s hand in return, thankful when Dex smiled, even if there was sadness behind his eyes. Sloane was a Therian and Dex was Human. Why should that matter? They loved each other. Sloane wasn’t about to curb his affection for Dex because of some jerk.

  Needing to do something about his sad partner, Sloane tapped the radio interface and scrolled through the songs until he found the one he was looking for. Journey’s “Faithfully” floated up from the speakers. He pulled Dex’s hand to his lips and kissed it.

  “I love you. That’s all that matters.”

  “I love you too. And you’re right.”

  Dex’s smile stole Sloane’s breath away. That smile was worth dealing with a thousand assholes like that shopper. Whatever came their way, Sloane would face it alongside the man he loved. Radioactive cereal and all.

  Prompt #32: How about Lou and Bradley’s first date? The one that had Lou so happy the next day?

  HE COULDN’T believe he was doing this again.

  After his breakup with Dex, Lou had sworn off dating and relationships. At least for a while. Breaking up with Dex and everything that led up to that horrible day had wrecked him. It had taken everything he had not to lose his nerve. Despite what some people believed, Lou had loved Dex wholeheartedly. Leaving Dex had been one of the hardest decisions he’d made in his life. On more than one occasion, Lou had seen himself spending the rest of his life with Dex. But he’d done what he had to for the both of them.

  No matter what hell was thrown at Dex, he’d find a way out, brush himself off, and keep smiling. He always bounced back. Lou wasn’t very good at bouncing back. His inability to be put through the ringer and come out intact would only hurt Dex in the long run. The months surrounding the trial had proved as much.

  A few weeks after the whole ordeal, while in the middle of unpacking his dinnerware, Lou sat on the floor in his yoga pants unwrapping his cutlery and found a Star Wars spoon in the box. It hit him hard. He’d missed Dex and had been tempted on more than one occasion to call him and tell him he’d made a mistake, but every time he felt like he might give in, he’d look at that spoon and remind himself Dex deserved someone who could weather any storm with him.

  “You okay?”

  Lou smiled up at Bradley, who was watching him, concern etched on his handsome face.

  “I’m sorry. I got lost for a second there.”

  “Well, I’m glad I found you.” Bradley smiled.

  Lou felt his cheeks grow warm. He cleared his throat and tried not to fidget in his chair. It was hard not to under Bradley’s intense amber eyes. Lou had no interest in Therians. Not before he’d met Bradley. In fact, he’d done a pretty good job of keeping relationships with Therians to strictly business. It was how he preferred things.

  “You look nervous.”

  “That’s because I am,” Lou admitted. He avoided Bradley’s gaze, taking in the décor of the trendy restaurant Bradley had brought him to. Lou knew it well. It had fabulous ambience with an excellent menu. From the corner of his eye, Lou caught Bradley studying him.

  “It’s not the date making you nervous. It’s me,” Bradley said quietly.

  “Not you….” This wasn’t going at all as he planned. “I’m sorry. I’m making a mess out of things.” Lou shook his head at himself. Why was he sabotaging this? Stupid question. He knew why. “I like you, Bradley. I really do. I’ve just never….” He worried his bottom lip with his teeth as Bradley waited patiently. “I’ve never dated a Therian before.”

  Their wine came, and Bradley thanked the waiter before turning his attention back to Lou. He gently took Lou’s hand in his. Lou left his hand in Bradley’s. He fortified himself with a sip of his chardonnay.

  “Talk to me, Lou.”

  It was hard to resist that puppy face. Could a Felid Therian have a puppy face? Apparently so. Lou really did like Bradley. He’d only known him a short time, but there was something about him that made him feel… safe. Remarkable considering….

  “I was attacked in college by a Therian.”

  Bradley stared at him, and Lou gulped down half his glass of wine, which was very unlike him. It was now or never.

  “What happened to me in college was reprehensible. The whole thing was covered up. I was desperate to put it behind me, so I left. I moved states, started over. I won’t go into detail because it’s still too painful. Bradley, I’m going to be honest with you. It’s hard for me, with Therians.” He met Bradley’s eyes and wished he knew what Bradley was thinking. “Things are a little better now, since spending some time with Dex’s brother, and then later his friends and teammates. Sloane is a great guy. I’m trying. I really am.”

  Surprisingly, Bradley didn’t pull away. “Are you scared of me?”

  Lou swallowed hard. “No, but then you’ve given me no reason to be. I can be a little irrational.”

  “Understandable. I’m sorry about what happened to you.” Bradley pressed his lips together and shook his head, his expression darkening. “Karma will take care of that asshole.”

  Lou couldn’t smile. “I hope so.”

  Bradley’s thumb stroked the back of Lou’s hand, sending a tingle up his arm. He liked how it felt. There was a lot he liked about Bradley. Lou had fantasized about Bradley more than once. The guy was sexy as sin, and his tattoos gave Lou the most delicious shivers. He was always cheerful, smiling, and ready with a kind word. And such a great listener. Like Lou, Bradley had worked hard for what he had, saving up enough to finally buy Dekatria. From what Bradley had told him, the place had been a run-down dive before he was hired and fixed it up, turning it from a barely surviving business to a lucrative one. Most importantly, Lou hadn’t felt this comfortable around someone since Dex.

  “Lou, I care about you, and I would love the opportunity to see where this goes, but only if it’s what you want. We can take things slow. You set the pace.”

  His smile was radiant, and Lou all but melted right there and then.

  “I’m an easy guy.”

  Lou gave him a wicked smile. “How easy?”

  Bradley laughed, the sound making Lou smile. He liked how Bradley’s smile reached his eyes. Their dinner appeared at that moment, and Lou felt the loss when Bradley pulled away. They chatted about everything over dinner, though Lou was aware it was Bradley doing as he said, letting Lou set the pace. Lou was riveted by anything and everything Bradley said. His voice was throaty, his large hands animated as he talked. He was so enthusiastic about his plans for Dekatria. He planned to get in more imported beers and a better wine list, install a new kitchen and get in a decent menu.

  Lou was surprised by how at ease he felt around Bradley. It was nice. Before he knew it, he was standing on his front steps with Bradley smiling warmly at him. He wished the night had been longer.

  “Thank you for tonight. I had a great time.”

  “Me too.”

  Lou leaned in and kissed Bradley’s cheek, his scent drawing Lou closer. He stood serenely still as Bradley slipped a hand around his waist. He was so much taller and stronger than Lou, yet he was approachable. He wasn’t intimidating like many Therians. Bradley smiled, bashful almost, and Lou threw caution to the wind. He kissed Bradley, the taste of him sending shivers up Lou’s spine and heat through his body. He placed his hands on Bradley’s chest, enjoying the sweetness that Bradley offered.

  Bradley slipped his hands around Lou and gently pulled him closer, deepening the kiss ever so slightly. Lou lost track of time, and what’s more he didn’t care. All he could feel was Bradley. Reluctantly, Lou pulled back, but he remained in Bradley’s arms.

  “I’d like to take you up on your offer to see where this goes.”

  Bradley tipped his chin up and brushed his lips over Lou’s, murmuring softly. “I’d like that very much.”

  With one last kiss, Bradley stepped away. He headed down t
he steps, stopped when he reached the sidewalk, and turned to give Lou a wink.

  “Text me when you get home,” Lou said, feeling like some teenager having his first crush. He waved Bradley off, his heart beating furiously in his chest. As soon as the lights of Bradley’s Jeep faded in the distance, Lou went inside, a wide smile coming onto his face. Tonight had gone better than expected. As he walked into his living room, he thought about how excited he was to be going on another date with Bradley. Promising. Very promising.

  Prompt #33: Can we get a territorial and jealous Dex?

  “ARE YOU sure you want to go out?” Dex asked, opening the passenger door of his Challenger for Sloane.

  “Sweetheart, you’ve asked me that like ten times. I’m fine,” Sloane promised, giving the tip of Dex’s nose a kiss for good measure. Dex took his crutch from him and helped him into the car. Yes, he’d asked about a billion times, but Sloane still had some recovery to do, and Dex didn’t want to do anything that might set him back. Once Sloane was settled in his seat, Dex placed his boyfriend’s crutch in the backseat before rounding the front of the car to get behind the wheel.

  “Besides, if I stay indoors any longer I’m going to end up like Jack from The Shining.”

  Dex crooked his finger, his voice croaky. “Redrum, redrum.”

  “That was really creepy.” Sloane fastened his seat belt, his expression deadpan. “Thanks for creeping me out.”

  Dex laughed, receiving a playful smack in the arm. He got them moving and headed for the quaint little Cuban place over in the East Village. It was Sloane’s choice. Dex had never been there before, but apparently Sloane knew it well.

  “It’s nothing fancy,” Sloane said, holding his hand out.

  Dex took hold of it without thought. Holding Sloane’s hand was instinct now, especially in the car.

  “The food’s really tasty, and they have a Therian menu. So, you know, you should get full.”

  Sloane batted his lashes, making Dex chuckle.

  “Very funny. When did you become such a smartass?”

  Sloane gave him a wicked smile. “I was always smart. The ass part—”

  “Hey!” Dex laughed. He stopped at a red light and took the opportunity to lean over and kiss Sloane, murmuring against his lips. “Them’s fightin’ words, Agent Brodie.”

  Sloane returned his kiss, mischief gleaming in his bright amber eyes. “Bring it on, rookie.”

  “Remember, you asked for it.”

  The light turned green, and Dex got them moving again, but not before hitting the radio button on the steering wheel. Retro Radio came to life, blasting Toni Basil’s “Mickey” through the speakers. Dex ignored Sloane’s groan, singing along loudly, but the best was yet to come. Dex swapped out Mickey’s name with Brodie.

  “Oh sweet Jesus, no.” Sloane clawed at the window before trying to unlock the door, but Dex just bounced cheerfully from his seat, having activated the child safety lock. He continued to sing about how pretty Brodie was, bobbing his head in cheerleader fashion while his boyfriend attempted to perform seppuku with his seat belt. Ah, his honorable samurai warrior wasn’t getting out of this one.

  “I almost died! Does this mean nothing to you?”

  Sloane let out a heavy sigh and resigned himself to his fate, listening to his name swapped out in an earworming ’80s tune. Dex sang all the way through until the song was done before switching off the radio. His smile stretched from ear to ear. Sloane’s pout was adorable.

  “What? You didn’t like my tribute?” Dex wriggled his eyebrows. “Because you are so fine.”

  “So help me I will crash us both.”

  Dex laughed as he pulled into a parking spot a couple of doors down from the restaurant. He turned off the engine and turned to his pouty-lipped boyfriend. “I’m sorry.” He really wasn’t sorry. He took Sloane’s hand and put it to his lips for a kiss. “I’ll make it up to you.”

  Sloane seemed to think about it. “Okay, but I decide how you’re going to make it up to me.”

  Ooh, playing with fire. Sounded like fun. “You got it.” With a wink, he got out of the car and grabbed Sloane’s crutch from the backseat. He helped Sloane out, holding back a smile at his huff.

  “And no more child locks.”

  Dex pressed his lips together to keep himself from laughing. He went for a silent nod instead.

  They headed into the restaurant, which was full but not packed. Salsa music floated through the place but not so loud where they couldn’t hear each other talk. The atmosphere was romantic, with candles lit on all the tables. The floors were a dark wood to match the tables and chairs. One wall had a painted mural of Havana with its palm trees and monuments.

  A handsome Human waiter with dark hair, dark eyes, and bright white teeth strolled over with a couple of menus. His smile grew wider when he spotted Sloane.

  “Mr. Brodie! It’s great to see you again.”

  He gasped when he saw Sloane’s crutch, and the guy must have had teleportation powers with how quickly he ended up at Sloane’s side. Dex frowned.

  “Oh my God, what happened?” The waiter placed his hand on Sloane’s shoulder.

  Oh, there was touching now? Who was this guy? And how did he know Sloane? Dex checked himself. He was not getting jealous over Mr. Smooth Moves over here. The guy was clearly concerned, and Sloane had mentioned he’d been here before. Dex didn’t do jealous. It just wasn’t his style.

  “It’s a long story, Mauricio. Work. But I’m doing much better.”

  “Please, let me get you to a table.” Mauricio hooked his arm through Sloane’s and started guiding him off, leaving Dex standing there like an idiot.

  “Um, I think you’re forgetting something?” Dex called out after them.

  Sloane blinked at him. “Oh, that’s right.”

  Oh? Dex pursed his lips, his eyes narrowed.

  “Come on, Dex.” Sloane motioned for him to follow, and Dex refrained from grinding his teeth. It’s cool, man. Not jealous, remember? Pfft. Me? Jealous? And just to show how not jealous he was, he smiled brightly at Mauricio as he took a seat at their table. He watched as Mauricio made a fuss, helping Sloane sit and making sure he was comfortable for the bajillionth time.

  “Really, I’m fine, Mauricio. Thank you,” Sloane said with a pleasant smile.

  Dex cleared his throat.

  “Oh, Mauricio, this is my boyfriend, Dex. Dex, Mauricio.”

  “Oh.” Mauricio’s hand flew to his chest, his wide eyes on Dex. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you there.”

  Dex arched an eyebrow at him but managed a smile anyway. “That’s okay. You were busy.” Draping yourself all over Sloane. Being a Felid would have come in handy about now. He would have totally hissed at the guy. And rubbed himself all over Sloane just in case. Possibly to mark his territory. Going to weird places now, Daley.

  Sloane conversed with Mauricio as if nothing were going on, asking him about the house specials and what he’d recommend. Mauricio was definitely flirting, and he used every opportunity to touch Sloane. Seriously? I’m right here, dude.

  Once Mauricio was done tittering at Sloane and everything he said, he asked Dex what he wanted. He’d been so busy trying to make Mauricio spontaneously combust with his nonexistent laser beam stare that he’d forgotten to look at the menu. Oh, my God, he forgot about food! This was bad, very bad. He had to get his act together.

  “I’ll have what he’s having,” Dex replied, earning him a startled expression. “What?”

  “Are you certain you want to order from the Therian menu?”

  “Don’t let his size fool you, Mauricio. He might be Human, but he eats like a Therian.”

  Sloane gave Dex a wink, his smile faltering when Dex gave a sniff. Mauricio went off to put in their order, and Sloane gently nudged Dex’s foot under the table.

  “What’s wrong?”

  This was stupid. He was being stupid. Sloane loved him. He wasn’t about to escape to Maui with the restaurant’s waiter.


  “Nothing, just wondering if I made the right choice for dinner,” Dex said, smiling brightly.

  “Just take home any leftovers. I think you’ll like it.”

  Dex nodded. He drank some of his Coke. After a few seconds, he couldn’t take it anymore. “So… Mauricio.”

  “What about him?” Sloane asked, taking a sip of his soda.

  “He’s very….” Dex made grabby motions with his hands.

  “Really? I hadn’t noticed,” Sloane said thoughtfully, then shrugged. “He’s a nice guy.”

  Nice guy? “He’s a floozy!” Dex clamped a hand over his mouth. He hadn’t meant to say that so loud.

  Sloane laughed. “What? Who even says that anymore?”

  “I do.”

  “He’s a really standup guy. He’s not a floozy.” Sloane eyed him, studying him, and Dex did his best not to fidget. “Wait. Are you… jealous?”

  “Moi? Jealous? Pfft.” Dex let out a snort. “I’m not susceptible to such nonsense. I’m a highly trained government agent. I don’t have time for—”

  “He told me to call him.”

  “That bastard!” Dex jumped to his feet and made to head toward the kitchen door when Sloane caught his arm.

  “I’m kidding!”

  Dex glared at him. “That’s not funny, man. I was going to bust his shit up.”

  “No you weren’t,” Sloane said, drawing Dex against him.

  “I wasn’t?”

  “No. You’re too nice a guy. You would have stormed in there, gotten in his face, and ended up ordering more food.”

  Okay, so maybe he wouldn’t have punched Mauricio in the face, but he wanted to. Sort of.

  “Hey.” Sloane dragged the empty chair next to him closer and told Dex to sit. “Aw, you really are jealous. Do you seriously believe I’d fall for anyone else? Because let me tell you, once a guy falls for that Daley charm, there’s no going back.”

  Dex let himself get pulled close, and Sloane nuzzled his temple before trailing feathery kisses down the side of his face. He felt kind of silly now for getting jealous.