Morning My Angel

by Sue Brown

  He was on the edges of sleep when his phone rang. “Cooper.”

  “Hey.”

  Josh smiled sleepily at the sound of Cal’s voice. “Hey, I missed you this morning.”

  Cal huffed in his ear. “I’m sorry, Angel. Things went tits up on another case overnight.”

  “I thought you’d finished with them now.”

  “So did I.” Cal didn’t sound happy. “But Jesse asked for my help because I know the area where - the operative is in trouble.”

  Josh rolled onto his back and scratched his belly with his uninjured arm. He stared up at the ceiling, noting a small damp patch in one corner. “If you’re not careful they’re never gonna let you leave.”

  “I think you might be right,” Cal said. “Yeah, yeah, I’m coming. I’m sorry, Angel, I’ve got to go.”

  “Are you taking me to the airport?” Josh asked.

  “I promise I’ll be there.” Cal’s voice lowered. “I want to fuck you into the mattress before you go.”

  At the sound of Cal’s low growl, Josh’s hand slipped inside his briefs to enfold his stiffening dick. “You promise?” His voice came out in a gasp as he tugged at his cock.

  Cal groaned in his ear. “I know what you’re doing.”

  “I should hope so.” Josh let all his desire and need bleed into his voice. “It’s your fault. Just the thought of you fucking me and I wanna come.”

  “Do it,” Cal growled. “Like before. Let me hear you.”

  Eager to please, Josh gasped and moaned as he tugged harder. He knew Cal didn’t have much time, but then he didn’t need much time. Within a couple of minutes, he shouted and spilled over his fingers. As his breathing returned to normal, he heard Cal say, “Thank you, my angel. I needed that.”

  “I love you, Charlie,” Josh said.

  “I love you, too. I have to go before Jesse kills me.”

  Josh didn’t have a chance to say goodbye before Cal was gone and Josh was listening to empty space. He lay on the bed, his phone still tucked to his ear, his hand and belly spattered with come, still reveling in post orgasm.

  Life intruded soon enough and the end of a program on the forgotten TV reminded Josh the police were going to be here within half an hour. Josh cracked open the window to get rid of the smell of his jizz, and shuffled into the bathroom to clean up. He had to manage with a wash at the sink, rather than a shower, as he couldn’t protect his bandaged arm.

  Josh had just dressed and attempted to make his bed when there was a knock at the door. After the events of the previous week, he peered cautiously through the peephole. Two suited men stood at the door. “Who is it?”

  “Met Police. DI Masterson and DS Links. You’re expecting us?”

  “Can you hold up your IDs?”

  They did as Josh asked and he opened the door.

  The younger man with a vivid shock of red hair stepped forward. He was dressed in a sober suit and a vivid tie with flashes of cyan and indigo. The effect was kind of dazzling with his hair and bright smile. “Mr. Cooper? I’m DI Masterson and this is DS Links.”

  Links wore a similarly dark suit and a sneer that Josh instinctively distrusted. He was older than Masterson, possibly by twenty years. Josh wondered if the fact that Masterson was his superior caused tension between them.

  Josh led them into the room and pointed at the seats. “Would you like coffee? I’m ordering for me.”

  Masterson inclined his head. “Thank you.”

  Josh ordered room service and then sat back against the headboard. “DCI Walters said you were going to take my statement?”

  “You were unconscious or asleep when we visited the hospital.” Masterson sounded disapproving.

  “What are you investigating?” Josh asked.

  “Since you’ve been in London you’ve been involved in a number of incidents,” Links said. “I don’t have a single statement on record for any of them.”

  Josh gave them a thin smile. “Am I under suspicion?”

  Masterson’s smile was equally strained. “No. DCI Walters has provided an alibi for every occasion.”

  “So why do you need my statement?”

  “We don’t like it when people come over and shoot up our city.” Links had a sneer on his face that reminded Josh of Dirk Brenner.

  “I don’t have a gun and I wasn’t doing the shooting,” Josh pointed out.

  “But they were shooting at you,” Links said. “In fact, it was one of your own team who shot you in the arm.”

  “Yeah.”

  If room service hadn’t arrived with the coffee at that precise moment, Josh might have lost it at Links’ smirk, but the distraction gave him a chance to recover himself and Masterson took over the interview.

  “Tell us what happened from the first shooting.”

  “Didn’t Cal…Callum Ross tell you all this?” Josh demanded.

  Masterson nodded. “But we want to hear it from you.”

  Josh furrowed his brow. In truth his memory was hazy about the whole day. He started with buying the ice-cream and then realizing he and Cal were under fire. Links made notes as Masterson asked him questions. As Josh described the events that led up to Landry’s death, more of the day came back to him. He closed his eyes remembering the sound of Landry’s breathing as it slowed a couple of feet from him.

  “Mr. Cooper? Are you all right?”

  Josh opened his eyes and saw the concerned gaze of Masterson and the bored sneer from Links. He faked the brightest smile he could. “Sorry, did you ask a question?”

  “Why do you think Mr. Grover shot you in the arm rather than killing you?” Masterson asked.

  “I don’t know. He intended to kill me at some point. Maybe it was payback for all the times I pissed him off.”

  Links muttered something and Josh was fairly sure it wasn’t complimentary. Masterson glared at Links and then focused his attention on Josh. He had the palest blue eyes Josh had ever seen. “What are you going to do now, Mr. Cooper?”

  “Go home, recover, and then decide whether I want my job or my lover,” Josh said honestly.

  Masterson looked shocked and even Links was jogged out of his sneer.

  “You’re being fired?” Links asked.

  “My company has this stupid rule about inter-office relationships.” Josh was still fuming about this. “I keep my job and lose him, or keep him and find another job.”

  Masterson nodded. “What are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know,” Josh admitted.

  “What does your lover think?”

  Josh snorted loudly. “He’s the one who wrote the stupid rule in the first place.” He laughed at their expressions and then he winced as pain shot through his head. “I’m sorry, officers, but can we call it a day? My head hurts like hell.”

  Masterson nodded and got to his feet. “Your account matches with what we already know. Thank you for your time.”

  Once they’d gone Josh took more meds, collapsed back on the bed and closed his eyes. He had three more hours before he had to leave for the airport. If Cal was going to see him again, he’d be lucky to find Josh awake.

  By the time Josh was ready to leave, he’d heard nothing from Cal or Jesse, and Cal hadn’t replied to his text. Josh wasn’t surprised when Rick, rather than Cal, arrived to drive him to the airport, but it didn’t stop the bitter disappointment curling up inside his gut. It was part of the job, Josh knew that. But he couldn’t help feeling abandoned

  Rick had a cautious look on his face when Josh opened the door, as if he was expecting an outburst. Josh just huffed and turned to pick up his carry on.

  “I’ll take that,” Rick said.

  “Problems back at the office?”

  “Yeah. Cal’s got to fly out to Colombia.”

  “So much for coming back to CDR.”

  Rick’s mouth quirked, which Josh took as tacit agreement.

  Just over a week after he arrived in Heathrow, Josh was back again. This time CDR arranged for Josh to
fly first class which, in any other circumstances he would have reveled in, but he was too weary to care. Josh found a corner in the first class lounge to hide and ignored everything until it was time to board the plane.

  It was just his luck to meet the same perky flight attendant again, who gave Josh a broad smile, before his gaze widened as he took a better look at Josh’s sling and bruised face. He said nothing until a few minutes later when he reached Josh’s seat, ostensibly offering pre-flight drinks.

  “What the hell… what happened—sir?”

  Josh gave him a wan smile. “You know the guys that were with me?”

  “Hot and even hotter?” He nodded. “I remember them.”

  Josh didn’t bother asking which one was which. “One of them shot me.”

  “Fuck me. Really?” People looked over and he incurred a frown from one of his coworkers. Perky gave them an apologetic grin, and turned back to Josh. “Is there anything I can do for you?” His expression made it clear he wasn’t offering a gin and tonic.

  But Josh shook his head. His heart belonged to someone else, even more than it had a week ago. “Not this time.”

  Perky looked disappointed but he just patted Josh’s uninjured arm. “You sleep and I’ll being you a drink later.”

  Josh appreciated his concern, although he gave a wry grin when he noticed Perky flirting with a businessman up ahead not even five minutes later. He slept the whole flight, not even waking for the meals. When Josh did finally wake, his throat was dry and his head hurt. After they landed Perky—who was actually called Matt—insisted on escorting Josh as far as he could. At Josh’s thanks he winked.

  “You look like you’re about to pass out. Don’t want to be sued for not looking after a valued customer.”

  Josh did his best to leer at him, although from the look on Matt’s face it was a feeble effort. “I’ll remember.”

  To Josh’s surprise Matt hugged him briefly. “Take care, Josh.” Then he walked away without looking back.

  Josh shuffled wearily to where there was a car waiting to pick him up, thinking he should do the same thing. He should walk away from CDR and Cal, and never look back. He needed to keep his heart and soul intact.

  The driver, an employee of CDR, studied Josh as he approached the vehicle. “Christ, Cooper, you look like shit.”

  “Thanks, Arnie,” Josh said drily. “It’s been a long week.”

  “No seriously. You look like you’re burning up.” Arnie placed his hand on Josh’s forehead. “I’m taking you to the ER.”

  “I’m fine,” Josh grumbled. “Just take me home.”

  Arnie hummed and hustled Josh into the car. “ER first, then home.”

  “Home.” The last thing Josh wanted was to spend hours in the ER.

  He checked his phone. Nothing from Cal. Josh closed his eyes and allowed himself a quiet pity-party.

  Epilogue

  Jan 2017

  Josh returned to CDR after the New Year. He hadn’t intended to stay away that long but the visit to the ER turned into several days in hospital as he’d gotten an infection in the wound left by the bullet hole. He used up his sick days and then his vacation as he recovered. It was more than just his physical injuries that had taken their toll. It was the loss of his team and Landry’s betrayal that had affected Josh’s psyche. He knew if he went back to CDR he was starting all over again.

  And then there was the fact he’d heard nothing from Cal. Not even a good morning from Charlie. Josh missed Cal like crazy, and he hated him a little too for leaving him to recover alone. He thought back to the conversation he’d had with Dan in the hospital. Is this what he had to look forward to? Months of not knowing whether Cal was dead or alive?

  Bette grinned at Josh as he walked through CDR’s doors. “Welcome back, Josh.” She rushed around the desk to hug him, plastering cerise lip-sticked kisses all over his cheeks. “I missed you so much.”

  “I missed you too, babe.” With some difficulty, Josh disentangled himself, but she didn’t let go entirely.

  She placed her hand on his cheek. “How are you really?”

  “Good days and bad days, Bette.” Josh tried to shrug indifferently but it didn’t fool her.

  “We were all shocked. Landry was… he was one of us.” Her eyes were so wide it was almost comical. Josh couldn’t speak around the lump in his throat. He just wanted to run away from her, run away from everyone, but she patted his cheek. “Gil came back last month.”

  “How is he?” Josh felt guilty for not knowing. When he walked away from Cal, he’d walked away from everyone in the agency.

  “Like someone’s hit him with a Mack truck,” Bette said. “He won’t talk to anyone.”

  “Is he here?”

  Bette shook her head. “He’s away for two weeks. He and Mark, that’s his new partner, have got a job in Iran. I think Dominic wanted him out of the office.”

  Josh was relieved and guilty at the same time. He wasn’t ready to face Gil. Part of his recovery had been compulsory therapy, and Josh had to acknowledge his anger at Gil for not knowing Landry had been fucked up. It wasn’t fair, it wasn’t rational, but the anger was there.

  “About time, Josh. You were due in an hour ago.”

  Josh turned at the sour voice and plastered a smile on his face. “Dominic, I’ve really missed you yelling at me every day.”

  “Couldn’t take ten minutes to shave? Be in my office in fifteen minutes,” Dominic snarled and stalked off.

  Josh couldn’t be bothered to watch him go. He needed caffeine.

  He retreated to his desk before anyone else yelled at him and logged onto his computer.

  Morning, Angel.

  Angel. It had been so long since he’d been called that, Josh couldn’t help the warm and fuzzies before the anger set in. Before he remembered this was Callum David Ross, the big cheese, and he’d ignored Josh for weeks, and now Josh was back he was going to wave the rule that said no fucking fraternization right in his face. He probably wanted to fire Josh, then fuck him. Josh ignored the part of his body that was fully onboard with the fucking.

  Josh pretended the greeting in the window didn’t exist.

  “I missed you.”

  Josh missed Charlie. He missed talking to him every day. Even more Josh missed Cal, the feel of his hard body over him, in him, pinning him to the bed until he begged for mercy. They’d only fucked a few times, yet he dominated Josh’s dreams. Hell, he dominated every waking hour.

  “Talk to me!”

  “Fuck off, asshole,” Josh muttered.

  “Christ, you’re such a princess.”

  “I own that fucking tiara and don’t you forget it!”

  He was so angry it took him three attempts to write the sentence.

  “Morning, Angel ”

  Fuck, now Josh was going to have to talk to him.

  “Go away! I’ve got work to do.”

  “No you haven’t. You’ve got a meeting with Dominic in twelve minutes.”

  Josh clenched his fists. How could Cal be so fucking casual about this? Eventually, after a long, long, silence he typed again.

  “What do you want?”

  “To talk to you.”

  “So talk.”

  “Face to face.”

  “Pity you couldn’t have tried the face to face thing when I needed you.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ve only just got back.”

  “You forgot how to use a phone?”

  “Josh.”

  It took Josh a minute to realize someone had spoken to him. He looked at the screen but his name wasn’t there, blinking at him.

  “Josh?”

  Josh felt a hand on his shoulder. He didn’t need to look. He would have known Cal’s touch in a hurricane.

  “Look at me.”

  “No.” But Josh tilted his head and looked up into Cal’s dark green eyes.

  He was terrified Josh was going to walk out. Josh could see that at a glance. His big alpha dog was scared and only he could
reassure him, but he wasn’t sure he had it left in him.

  The room was quiet. Josh took a look around and everyone had vanished.

  “They’ve gone to the meeting,” Cal confirmed. “We’ve got a new case.”

  “Investigating me again?” Josh asked snippily.

  He gave a wry smile. “Touché.”

  “I’m supposed to be at the meeting,” Josh pointed out. “Great way for me to start. Dominic’s going to be real pleased.”

  “Are you staying?”

  Josh stared at Cal. “Staying? At the agency? Or staying with you? Because it’s still an ‘or’, isn’t it? Keep my job or lose you. What a great choice.”

  “You’ve had several weeks to think about it,” Cal pointed out. He dragged a chair over and sat down in front of Josh, turning Josh’s chair so that he was facing him. Josh missed the warmth of Cal’s hand on his shoulder, but then Cal’s hard thighs were pressed up against Josh’s and his hands scorched where they lay on Josh’s knees.

  Josh’s heart fluttered at Cal’s closeness. “Weeks in which I didn’t know if you were dead or alive. Weeks when I was hurting.” He couldn’t keep the bitterness from his tone.

  Cal pushed a curl of hair back off Josh’s face. “I’m sorry, Josh.”

  “Are you? Now I’m back and you’re offering me half a world.”

  Cal shook his head and a smile curved his full mouth, although there was sadness in his eyes. “It has to be your decision. You know we need you here, but if you choose me I’ll help you find another job.”

  “And you?” Josh asked. “What do you need, Callum David Ross?”

  Cal leaned forward and brushed his lips against Josh’s. “I need you to be happy.”

  Anger welled up inside of Josh and spewed out in a vehement, “How the fuck can you say that?”

  Cal blinked at him. “But—”