He hid a groan of desire while he got them each another beer. “How do I know what you’re telling me is true?”
“Why would I lie?” Koa’s expression hollowed out, as if it never occurred to him Theo might question his story.
“One reason I can think of is if your best buddy Freddie Ortiz is the one who fucked up Spider’s face.”
Koa didn’t move or speak, but Theo felt his reaction like a chill in the air.
“I saw Freddie at Ragno earlier, looking for Cake.” He paraphrased Freddie’s own first words about him. “He drag his knuckles over a highway that you know of?”
“You really think I’d cover up an assault on one of my friends?”
“First thing Calista warned me about the big-dog detectives is you’re bros before hos. Bros before anybody is how she put it.”
Koa shot his hand out and captured Theo’s chin. “You jealous?”
“Sure. Freddie’s hot.” Theo pulled away despite Koa’s suddenly vicious grip. So what if he was a lying McLiar. “I’d hit that.”
“You expect me to believe you’re hot for Freddie Ortiz?” Koa opened his second beer. He held out the opener for Theo. “Don’t try it, Te. He’ll kick your ass.”
“Like he did Spider’s?” Theo opened his own beer before tossing the cap on the coffee table and studying Koa’s key ring. “Is that why? Did Spider hit on the wrong guy?”
“No.” Koa palmed his eyes. “Jesus. You’re like a dog with a stolen sock, man. Give it a rest.”
Koa’s black leather and brass key ring, besides holding a bottle opener, had a white RFID pass, stamped with the ace of spades on it. Theo’d seen something like it before, but he doubted it was the same thing.
“What’s this for?” he asked, holding it up.
“I don’t recall, exactly.” Koa reddened. Apparently he felt like lying too.
Whatever it was, he didn’t seem interested in talking about it. “I don’t want to pry, but if it’s for a BDSM club—particularly if it’s clean and there are no wannabes lolling around waiting for elusive billionaire Mr. Grey—I hope you’ll share the details and vouch for me.”
“Like giving up control these days, do you?” Koa kept his face expressionless. Theo failed to do the same thing.
“Maybe I like tying guys up?” Theo liked that very much, actually. He leaned into Koa’s space. “What if I like whatever seems fun in the moment, and I don’t got a ego about it?”
A delightful flash of wary surprise crossed Koa’s features. “’Fraid I still don’t recall.”
“But if you did recall?” Theo prompted, moving even closer. He let his breath fan the skin of Koa’s neck.
Koa surprised him by asking, “Are you really a kinky fuck?”
“Who wants to know?” Air rushed from Theo’s lungs. He wasn’t new at this, sizing up a possible scene or fuck, far from it. But this was Koa, and he put Theo so far out on an emotional limb—there was no way it could hold the weight of his anxiety.
His pulse momentarily deafened him. Seconds of waiting turned into hours of anticipation, and then Koa’s lips touched his. Over in the briefest, blink of a second. Theo closed his eyes and tried to follow Koa’s lips into the darkness.
Koa moved away. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Definitely not.” Perversely, though, the kisses didn’t stop. Theo’s thinking, as far as he could make himself think anything at all, went a little like: If Koa wants to stop so badly, he can stop.
“This can’t happen now,” Koa’s lips told his. The low, urgent sound sent chills down Theo’s arms and curled his toes.
“No. It can. It really can.” Yeah. Mm-hmm. This could be easy. This could be over so fast neither one of us has time to think…. Theo’s body was already on fire. Everywhere Koa touched him heated and curled like paper in the flue. Theo bloomed and burst and winked out with each knowing stroke of Koa’s hand. Oh, God, he wanted more….
But he’s distracting you. Theo’s brain tried to sing a song of harsh reality over all the noise his body was making, but it wasn’t so bad being distracted. It wasn’t the worst thing ever. He was off duty. There were worse things than a hookup with someone he’d wanted for decades.
He’s distracting you from Spider.
Even then, he could see letting things go as far as Koa wanted to take them. They were both big boys. Taryn had been certain Ortiz had nothing to do with Spider’s injuries. Maybe he should listen to her?
He’s using your attraction to him against you.
Theo had no handy answer for that one. It chilled his blood. Made him stiff and unresponsive, even when he tried to fake it. He could practically hear Mackenzie Detweiler now: “Are we ready to find our most truthful, authentic selves?”
None of the plummeteers had answered, “Everywhere but in the bedroom, sir!”
He pushed Koa away, even as he licked his flavor off his lips—even as he savored the sweet cinnamon taste of him. “God.”
“I get that sometimes, but I keep telling people it’s just me.” Koa’s hot breath stroked over his neck. His modest laugh warmed Theo’s skin like hot fog.
“Don’t.” This was everything, and it was all wrong. Theo was prepared to regret going along with Koa’s seduction. But if he succumbed, and he regretted that…. He pushed Koa away again.
“What?” Koa combed fingers through his short hair. “We’ve been dancing around this thing between us since you got back.”
“I don’t remember you asking me to dance.” How prissy he must sound. Did he expect Koa to call and ask for a date? Take him to the movies and dinner and kiss him on the doorstep? Nobody did that shit anymore.
“Consider it done.” Koa wrapped both arms around Theo. They touched, shoulder to hip. Thigh to thigh. Koa smelled just glorious—and then his goddamn phone rang. Koa whipped it out of his pocket faster than Theo could process the motion. “Palapiti.”
Theo let out a shuddering breath. It was taking too long to get his bearings this time. He wanted Koa, but it was more than that. He could get his heart broken so badly here….
A few seconds passed before Koa spoke again. “Tell me.”
While Koa listened, he rose and threw his muscular, perfect leg over Theo’s thighs.
“What,” Theo mouthed while Koa straddled him, “are you doing…?”
Koa mouthed, “You were not saved by the bell.”
“Oh.” Theo let out a half sob, half cry of shock.
“What? No, nobody’s here.” Koa leaned over and kissed him gently. Deliberately, he traced Theo’s lips with his tongue.
Theo’s strength left him. Oh. Seriously? What the fuck? He choked the word, “Woodie.”
“No. Nothing.” Koa continued his phone call. “A puppy. Not mine.”
Theo let his eyes roll back and gave up. Koa grabbed a handful of his ass and pulled them snug against each other.
“No. Yeah, he’s housebroken, but I don’t know. He gets into stuff.”
“Shhhhhhit.” Two could play this torture game. Theo located a plump nipple beneath Koa’s button-down and closed his teeth around it—more in warning than in earnest. Koa stiffened and cupped his head, inviting—no, demanding—Theo go through with it.
Theo bit down hard. With a wretched gasp, Koa arched and shivered and his cock jutted hard against Theo’s hip. Mm. Again, again, again, again. Koa’s voice betrayed the faintest hint of whine. “Are you sure it can’t wait?”
Koa listened some more, and then he cleared his throat.
A single thick nudge against Theo’s belly stole his breath. “All right. I’m on it.”
He disconnected the call and moved away.
Theo caught his breath and asked, “Work?”
A flush had risen on Koa’s cheeks. Anger or arousal? “I have to go.”
Theo got up reluctantly. That meant no more kissing. “Something bad?”
Koa scraped fingers over his five-o’clock shadow. “You know I can’t talk about it.”
&
nbsp; He reminded Koa, “I’m not some civilian.”
“I can’t, Te.” What had Theo expected, an invitation to ride along? Koa stood, and Theo went through the motions of picking up bottles.
“Take care, Theo.” Koa’s distraction led to an awkward goodbye. He leaned over, and it looked like Koa was going to hug him, but he pulled back, eyes wary. As if now was the moment to ask for consent, and not when he’d sat on Theo and rubbed his dick all over him.
Theo didn’t know whether he should offer a handshake or a kiss. His body sent him conflicting messages whenever he was around Koa, but this… this was no good. He was too vulnerable here.
“See you around, Woodie.” He stepped back, even though he didn’t want to. Even though his heart tried to leap out of his chest and ride along on Woodie’s shoulder.
“Count on it, Te.” With a sour mock salute, Koa slipped out.
Theo closed his door and leaned his forehead against it. What was that about? Not the visit, because Koa owed him an explanation about Spider. Not that.
What was Koa doing coming on to him like that?
And could he keep his body from going along—despite how badly he wanted Koa—if it happened again?
Chapter Eleven
MONDAY BROUGHT heavy rains all morning. Traffic sucked in general, but on days when rain came down in sheets, the roads could be a special kind of hell. To top that off, the former First Family was making a visit to the island, which heightened tensions for the news media, politicians, and law-enforcement higher-ups.
The difference that kind of VIP presence made to all manner of protocols didn’t affect his job in the least, but as a Honolulu city cop, he was aware of them all the same. And he hated his uniform getting wet. That was the only real change to his life, but inside he felt… all out of balance. That had more to do with Kekoa Palapiti than rain or politics—fraught thought they were.
During the worst of the storm, people stayed indoors and got their drink on. In the gaps between clouds, rainbow seekers took the photographs of a lifetime. Even something as achingly beautiful as a rainbow could lead to disaster if people looking up at an astonishing sky didn’t pay enough attention to their surroundings. He and Calista had chased down two separate purse grabbers and called in three fender benders that morning already.
They’d also caught a guy using an elaborate camera setup to spy on the public bathrooms at a local gas station.
On their way back, they stopped to watch a firetruck speed by. It splashed water in a violent arc as it squealed around a corner, missing them by mere inches. Calista laughed at how quickly he leapt out of the way when it passed, as if he wasn’t already pretty much soaked to the bone. He was wet, yes, but he had no desire to walk around looking like a sloppy mess.
“We are for damn sure living the dream today,” he muttered.
“Where’s your aloha, honey? You’ve been bitching since noon.”
“Tough weekend.” He hadn’t gotten very much sleep.
“Because of Spider? I tried calling him, but he’s not answering his cell.”
“You know about that?” He’d been checking his phone, waiting for some word, but nothing had been forthcoming.
“Everybody knows Spider.” She gave him the side-eye. “Some more than others.”
“You know what happened to him?” He hadn’t said anything. He didn’t know how to broach the subject with her. Koa had been cagey and Freddie told him to keep his mouth shut.
“Not who did it.” She paused to let a kid on a skateboard blow past them.
He yelled, “Hey, slow down.”
The kid ignored him. Theo debated chasing, but he couldn’t think of a good enough reason. Better to hold the hill you have.
“What did Taryn tell you?” he asked.
“Somebody beat on Spider. She says it’s under control.”
“What does that mean?” Their offhand exclusion of him still bothered him.
“Freddie and Koa are Spider’s friends. It means they’re handling it.”
“You don’t see a problem with that?” he demanded.
“With Koa and Freddie? No. They’re the good guys.” Her patience with him was over. “What’s the matter with you lately? It’s like you’re obsessed with finding fault.”
“Spider’s hiding. He didn’t file a police report. And now you’re talking about Freddie and Koa like they’re planning some kind of vigilante—”
“I never said that. Don’t go putting words in my mouth. You—” Fortunately for him, a woman pushing a stroller rounded the corner and called them over, waving wildly.
“C’mon! Just around the corner. There’s a total creeper in the bathrooms.”
“Okay.” They ran toward the small green strip of land, between budget hotels, that featured a play area for children and a public bathroom, but by the time they got there, whoever had caused the problem had fled the scene.
A group of shaken mothers gave conflicting descriptions of what the “creepy guy” did and what he looked like, but they all agreed he was an entitled tourist asshole. They never found him, but their presence on scene reassured some people. Of course, others mistrusted cops on principle.
“You don’t think it’s weird?” he finally asked Calista. “Spider gets the hell beat out of him and Freddie turns up with busted knuckles the same day?”
“Freddie’s a fighter,” she scoffed. “I’ll be surprised when he turns up without busted knuckles.”
“I guess.” The rest of the day dragged uncomfortably, and after, he realized he’d crossed some unknown line. They hardly said a word when it was time to knock off, except the usual admonition to drive safely.
This was irrational. Theo didn’t like Freddie Ortiz, but that didn’t make him dirty. That didn’t make him a gay-basher, willing to hurt someone a lot of his friends wanted to protect. Ortiz and Koa were partners, and close friends, and by all accounts, Freddie went both ways. Theo had seen them out together. So what the actual fuck? It was all jealousy, and he needed to knock it the hell off.
Theo waited for word but heard nothing. That night, he ate at Ragno again. Unfortunately he got less talk and more free food from Cake each time he went back.
He was sitting at the bar, finishing off a vegetarian fritto misto with Spider’s unusual fusion sauce, when his mother called. If Cake hadn’t been studying his every move, he might have let his disappointment show. Koa isn’t going to call you. Get over that ridiculous hope.
He wiped his mouth and got up to take his call somewhere more private.
“Hello?”
“Hey, little fishy. I got that beer you like and we’re grilling, you wanna come?”
He hesitated. “I have to work this weekend, sorry.”
“Who’s asking for the weekend? I’m talking about tonight. It’s your day off tomorrow, right?” She used a gotcha voice. “I figured out your schedule. The whole family is coming. We’re starting at seven. Don’t be late.”
Before he could speak, she hung up.
“Bad news?” Cake pushed the plate his way a single inch, as if she knew all his questions and food was the answer.
He shook his head. “My mother invited me to dinner.”
She sighed. “In some circles, that’s not actually bad news.”
“I love my mother.” He dipped something and ate it. Mm. Sweet potato.
She smiled fondly. “Of course you—”
“I actually love my mother,” he repeated with a laugh. “Not… weirdly or anything.”
Saying the words made them real, like admitting you were powerless over alcohol and drugs. Love was intangible, but saying the words reminded him why he accepted tangible responsibilities, like going for supper with the family when he’d rather stay home and eat fried sweet potato. He returned his gaze to Cake’s. “You can finish these.”
“Aw, man. Hot uni is a mother’s angel.” She seemed impressed by whatever she’d seen. “Spider’s gonna be pissed he missed out on you, honey.”
<
br /> He dipped a piece of fried cauliflower. “Come on, Cake. What do you know?”
“I know nothing’s what it seems.”
He paused. “What do you mean by that?”
“Just a gut feeling. You guys are actively trying to find the guy who hurt Spider, right?”
“Of course.”
“Because half the time, this shit gets swept under the rug.”
“That’s not news,” he said gently.
“I guess what I mean is, lots of folks who come here are running away from something.” She smelled like rain and sugar. In an act that squeezed all her tattooed skin into an eye-level buffet for all the senses, she leaned over the bar. “Lot of folks are hiding something.”
“What about Spider?”
“Like they say in kindergarten—stop, look, and listen. Nobody’s who you think they are around here.”
“I’m not sure I learned that in my kindergarten.”
“You were probably in one of those hippy-dippy schools, huh. Find a buddy,” she said cryptically. “Isn’t that what they say?”
He finished off his beer. “You wanna be my buddy, Cake?”
“Not even a little, Theo.”
“A’ight.” He pulled one of his cards—they were so new they sort of stuck together—from his pocket. They weren’t printed or anything. He’d painstakingly written his name and number on the back of about twenty-five of them. He handed it to her. “Call me if you learn anything, even if you think it’s not related.”
“I’ll have Spider call when he gets back.” She took his card with both hands and read it suspiciously. “It’s him you want anyway.”
“If you hear from him, tell him to call me, please.” Before he turned to go, he said, “I really would be glad to know that he’s all right. Just a word, you understand? If he calls, it would put my mind at ease.”
“I—” Her eyes went to something behind him. He turned but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Frowning, he turned back. She let her gaze fall. “Likewise.”
He promised, “As soon as I know anything, I’ll tell you. Would you do the same?”
For a second he’d been certain she had more to say, but silence drew out uncomfortably between them. He left without figuring out how to ask what it was. “Thank you.”
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