Deep in Your Shadows

by Darien Cox

  “Yes. It’s all I want.”

  Myles’ fingers slid out. He took Christian’s leg and gently lifted. Keeping Christian’s leg hooked under one arm, Myles penetrated him, his cock sliding deep.

  Christian squeezed around the blissful intrusion, vision adjusting to the shadows so he could see Myles’ face. Myles filled him fully, resting there without moving, his expression so intense Christian lost his breath.

  Resting on his elbow, Myles’ thumb stroked Christian’s cheek as he glided out slowly, their gazes locked. Christian reached up and held Myles’ face, pulling him down and kissing him ravenously. As their tongues tangled together, Myles pushed in again, and Christian felt him grow stiffer inside.

  With a gasp Myles broke the kiss, the fingers gripping Christian’s raised leg tightening. He stilled, jaw tight.

  “Don’t hold back,” Christian said. “I want this.”

  “Not holding back for you,” Myles huffed. “You feel too damn good. Don’t want to come too fast again.”

  “I don’t mind,” Christian said. “Just show me how much you want it first.”

  Myles head fell forward and his hips banged against Christian’s ass. “Is this how you want it?”

  Christian groaned. “Yes. You said you wanted to fuck me, so fuck me. Take what you want.”

  Myles lifted his head and stared down at Christian, driving into him harder and faster. Pleasure surged deep inside and Christian gasped, lifting to meet each thrust. Myles’ brows pinched and he breathed hard, expression blissful as he kept his eyes on Christian.

  “You like fucking me?”

  A smile played at Myles’ lips as he kept the rhythm. “It’s all right,” he said, then gasped, eyelids fluttering as Christian clenched around him.

  “Just all right, huh?” Christian wriggled his leg free, took hold of Myles’ arms and flipped them over. Palms pressing Myles’ shoulders into the mattress, he slid down and began to ride him. “Just all right?”

  Myles thrust up, hands slapping onto Christian’s hips. “It’s better than all right,” he said. “It’s everything.”

  “Everything,” Christian whispered as he slammed down over and over.

  “Christian, Jesus.” Myles’ back arched.

  Christian’s cock leaked, begging for release, but he kept his focus on the rhythm, on fucking Myles so good he’d never forget it, never be able to think about going without it again, no matter what. But straddling Myles, riding that gorgeous body he’d wanted for so long, watching him come undone as his jaw went slack, it was too much, and Christian lost control, gushing onto Myles’ stomach, hands-free. “Fuck, I’m coming.”

  Myles couldn’t seem to speak, but his hands slid back and gripped Christian’s ass, gasping as his hips pumped. Christian felt Myles’ cock twitch inside him, then a gush of warmth as he came too.

  Christian continued to ride him until he felt Myles softening inside him, then fell onto his chest, hips still moving languidly as he pulled the last of Myles’ orgasm from him, his own fluids slickening their joined flesh.

  “Holy shit,” Myles said as his arms wrapped around Christian’s back. “Holy fucking shit. You’re gonna be the death of me, Boucher.”

  Christian chuckled against Myles’ neck. “I promise, I won’t be.”

  Myles hands slid down Christian’s sweaty back and palmed his ass. “A dangerous addiction, then.”

  Christian reached between them and carefully drew Myles’ softening cock out of him. He kissed him softly, then shifted over, resting his head on the pillow and running fingers over Myles’ chin. “Don’t want you to think I’m dangerous. But I’m okay with being an addiction.”

  Myles sighed heavily and grabbed Christian, pulling him into his arms and squeezing. “Let me ask you something. Do you always get what you want?”

  Christian inhaled deeply, burying his face in Myles’ neck. “No. I don’t always get what I want. Quite the opposite. Why would you say that?”

  Myles was quiet for a time, fingers making little circles on Christian’s shoulder. “Because you’ve gotten it this time. I don’t care if you’re dangerous. I don’t care what your secrets are. I want you anyway.” He chuckled. “Obviously.”

  “Nothing bad will happen,” Christian said. “And if it ever does, I can protect you.”

  Myles shifted onto his side and looked down at Christian. He snorted a laugh. “Give me a break. I know something about you, Boucher, and you’re no Batman. If something bad happens, I’d put a bet that I’ll be the one protecting you.”

  Christian smiled, running his fingers through Myles’ sweaty hair. “I’m sure you’re able. But I can take care of myself, Sheriff.”

  Chuckling, Myles nodded. “All tough again now that I made you come.”

  “I was tough the whole time. I was faking all that helpless ecstasy.”

  Myles’ eyes narrowed. “I hope not. I hope it was as honest as it felt.”

  “It was. Because I’m crazy about you. And when you touch me, I fall apart.”

  Myles’ grin slid away. “You being serious?”

  “Totally, I’ve been trying to tell you that. Did you not believe me?”

  “When you first started, um...”

  “Trying to get in your pants?” Christian smiled.

  “Yeah.” Myles laughed. “You were so straightforward and aggressive about it, I guess I didn’t take it seriously. Thought you were feeding me a line.”

  “It was honesty. Blunt, yeah. But maybe I’m making up for the things in my life I can’t be honest about. Plus I’ve wanted you for a long time. So when I spotted a chink in your armor, I pounced.”

  Myles’ expression softened. “I’m flattered. That you wanted me. You could have anyone.”

  “Right. Because you’re such a troglodyte. I’m sure you’ve been pursued before.”

  He chuckled. “I have. But...”

  “What?”

  “I’m...not as good at being honest about certain things. Especially when they take me by surprise. The way you have.”

  “I don’t expect you to reciprocate just because I can’t stop my words when I’m around you. You don’t have to say you feel the same. Just say you’ll give me a chance.”

  “I stopped you from walking out the door tonight, didn’t I? Even though I was livid at you. I dragged you to my bed. That must tell you something about the way I feel.”

  “That’s good enough,” Christian said. “For now.”

  “For now?” Myles rolled on top of him, his lips hovering over Christian’s. “Is it not enough?”

  Christian cupped his face with his hands, rubbing his beard stubble. “Let’s just say I’m hopeful.”

  “Hopeful for what?”

  “That someday I can have everything I want. And you’ll be a part of that package.”

  Myles sighed. “You’re gonna be the death of me,” he said, then kissed Christian.

  Christian lost himself in the kiss, in the press of warm, naked flesh on top of him. But even as he relished in it, Myles’ words unsettled him. Christian didn’t want to be the death of him. They were joking about things now, and that pleased him, but in reality the thought of any harm coming to Myles made his blood run cold. Even now, tangled in Myles’ arms, warm in his bed, there was a potential threat sitting in the boathouse down at his marina. And despite the sex and Myles’ shift to casual, as long as there were secrets, Myles would always be hesitant to give all of himself. Christian could see it in his eyes, even as he’d claimed it didn’t matter. Even as he made love to him.

  For now, Christian knew he’d continue to be selfish, and take whatever Myles was willing to give him, because he needed it. And he suspected Myles needed it just as badly. Tonight proved Myles had accepted that this thing between them was all-consuming. He’d accepted it and he wanted it.

  Even in the shadows.

  Chapter Eleven

  “He’s out of his damn mind, that’s what I think. Impulsive, reckless, disrespectful, pro
bably manic. Selfish, egomaniacal, violent, dismissive of all authority, and just plain weird.”

  Tim bit into his sandwich, and Myles frowned. He’d asked on a whim what Tim thought of Christian Boucher. Tim had lived in the village his entire life, and tended to be the town crier when it came to gossip. Myles had been hoping to ease into telling his old friend about his budding relationship with Christian, but the adjectives spewing forth from the forest ranger made him rethink this decision. “He hasn’t caused any trouble lately,” Myles said.

  Tim wiped his mouth with a napkin, then pointed it at Myles. “Yeah, he probably doesn’t know what to do with himself now that...” He paused, glancing around the pub. “JT’s not here right now, is he?”

  “I don’t think so. I haven’t seen him.”

  Tim leaned in, lowering his voice. “Boucher probably doesn’t know what to do with himself now that JT’s got that new boyfriend. The two of them used to be joined at the hip. Quite literally, if you know what I mean.”

  Myles perked up. “Christian and JT dated?”

  “Oh hell yeah. They were quite an item years back. Supposedly just friends now, but I don’t know how anyone could stay that close to an ex. Probably still fucking. They’re probably all fucking each other. That whole crew always struck me as odd.” He grinned. “Wouldn’t mind going a few rounds with that Nolan though.”

  JT and Christian? He thought about the tattoo on Christian’s ribcage. His response when Myles asked why he hadn’t removed or covered it up. “That tattoo’s not going anywhere.” “About JT,” Myles said. “Is his first name James?”

  “James? Hell if I know. I’ve only ever heard him called JT. Why?”

  “It’s nothing.”

  “Why you asking about Boucher again? Thought you were gonna let that go.”

  “This isn’t about Christian,” he lied. “Did you ever get any sense...” Myles hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Any sense that there’s something unusual going on in the village? Something we don’t know about?”

  Tim shrugged. “Like what?”

  “I don’t know. Some type of cover-up. Like when those goons were just here. The orbital debris crashing into the lake. It’s just all got me thinking.”

  Tim cocked one blond eyebrow. “Please tell me you’re not talking about the UFO thing.”

  Myles stared at him. “What UFO thing?”

  “Oh come on. You’ve been here two years. Someone must have said something. Especially you being the sheriff.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “It’s just conspiracy crap. It’s nothing. Gifford, the sheriff before you came, was always getting reports.” Tim waggled his fingers. “Lights in the sky, ooh! Just village drunks. Usually ends up being a helicopter or something.”

  Myles dismissed it, but something unsettling niggled at the edge of his senses. A military sect you’ve never heard of. He shook his head. He didn’t believe in such things. “Well, I’ve never gotten any reports like that. If UFOs were a craze in the village, it’s obviously phased out.”

  “Nah, people still report shit sometimes, but they usually call into the radio station.”

  Myles shifted on his stool and faced Tim. “Okay bear with me here. What if there was some sort of black site around here, secret military base or something. Could be flying craft over the village on occasion, stealth stuff, something people might call a UFO if they didn’t know what they were looking at.”

  “You think there’s a black site,” Tim said, his tone skeptical. “In Singing Bear Village.”

  “Nearby maybe. Could even be it was something they were working on that crashed into the lake. Makes sense, the way they turned up so fast to get control of it.”

  “I don’t know, Myles. I’m familiar with acres and acres of the land around here, intimately.”

  “I’m only saying it’s got me thinking. The lake incident. People seeing lights in the sky.”

  “And Christian Boucher’s file, right?”

  Myles tensed. “No. Like I said, this isn’t about Christian. He’s not...I mean, he’s actually an okay guy. I’ve talked to him a little lately, and he isn’t hiding anything.”

  “Why you talking to him at all? Shit, if Ashton told me to stay away from Christian Boucher, I’m gonna listen. And you should too.”

  “That might be a problem.”

  “Why?”

  Myles’ eyes shifted away from Tim. “I slept with him.”

  “No. You fucking didn’t.”

  Myles looked at him, wincing. “Twice now.”

  “Murph! What the fuck were you thinking?”

  “It just happened.”

  “What, he tripped and fell on your dick? What part of stay away from Christian Boucher did you not understand? And why is it a problem? He won’t leave you alone now?”

  “It’s not that. The problem is I don’t want him to leave me alone.”

  “Oh, Christ.” Tim stared at Myles, shaking his head. “You’re like a kid who sticks a butter knife in an electrical socket after his parents warn him he’ll get zapped. Are you bored? Attracted to danger? What? Ashton told us—”

  “I’m not afraid of Ashton. And I can stick my butter knife where I please. If I get zapped, I get zapped. It’s my decision.”

  “Whoa, okay.” Tim eased back.

  “I’m sorry, Tim. I don’t mean to snap at you. This just has my head spinning.”

  “Guess he’s good in bed,” Tim said, smirking as he took a sip of Coke. “Maybe that’s why JT kept him around so long.” Tim elbowed him. “I’m kidding. It’s just a surprise. You always hated Boucher.”

  “I didn’t hate him. He just drove me insane.” He looked at Tim. “How long has JT lived in the village?”

  “I don’t know. A decade, maybe?”

  “And Elliot Nicholson?”

  “Same. I think.”

  The wheels in Myles’ head were turning. But they weren’t going anywhere good. “Who’s this new boyfriend you said JT has?”

  “What am I under arrest? Being interrogated here?”

  “Give me a break, you love gossiping about the villagers.”

  “I do.” Tim grinned. “They’re good entertainment fodder.”

  “So JT’s boyfriend? Is he from the village?”

  “No. Rudy? That’s one I’ve heard about.”

  “Rudy Sansone?”

  “You met him?”

  “I pulled him over last month. Seems like a nice guy. Talked about his cat a little too much, but he’s friendly enough.”

  “Right, so get this.” Tim perked up, eyes twinkling as they always did when he had a nugget of gossip. “So this Rudy’s a journalist from Boston.”

  “He’s a journalist?”

  “Yeah. Word is he comes up from Boston a few months ago and starts asking around about JT. Christian stole his wallet.”

  “I didn’t hear anything about that.”

  “Well, no, it never got reported. Next thing you know, Rudy’s shacking up with JT. Just picked up and moved to the village.” He shrugged. “Guess JT’s good in bed too.”

  “Why was Rudy looking for JT?”

  “Don’t know.”

  “Does anyone?”

  “If they do, they haven’t said so to me. Murph, don’t get tangled up with that crew. They’re weird.”

  “Yet here you are, eating lunch in JT’s pub.”

  “I didn’t say I don’t like them. I just said they’re weird. Take JT for instance. Another eccentric. Guy I know slept with him a few years ago. Says JT has this giant telescope in his bedroom and huge glass skylights that retract so he can gaze up at the stars. He said the telescope was super high tech.”

  Myles’ eyebrow cocked. “Lots of people have telescopes. I wouldn’t call that eccentric. They seem okay to me.”

  Tim frowned. “But they’re weird. I don’t know. I had a disagreement with Elliot years back. Now I always feel like they’re talking behind my back. Sni
ckering when I see them.”

  “So you think they’re weird because you think they don’t like you.”

  Tim smirked. “Whatever, doesn’t matter. But as to your suspicions, I’ve been living here my whole life, if there was some underground military shit going on I would know about it.”

  “You’re probably right.” Myles didn’t share the things Christian had told him last night. But he couldn’t forget them. He wanted to ask Christian more questions. If Christian was working for some private organization, there had to be a reason he was stationed in the village. There had to be something nearby that brought him here, even if it wasn’t as ominous as a secret military base. But Christian had made clear he couldn’t talk about it. And Myles had more or less agreed to respect that when he’d thrown him down on his bed and fucked him.

  He wanted to push all of his doubts and questions and suspicions aside and only focus on what was happening between them, to give Christian a chance, as he’d asked. But the unanswered questions were still like a pebble in his shoe. He told himself he had to weigh these facts carefully before he got in any deeper with Christian. But that was assuming Myles was still in control. He’d not been in control of himself last night. Despite the bomb Christian dropped on him, Myles was simply unable to let him walk out the door, elated that he’d shown up in the first place. His need to touch and kiss Christian had overwhelmed everything else in that moment.

  “So where is Boucher now?” Tim asked.

  “He’s working.”

  “You gonna see him again?”

  “Probably. Yes.”

  “Okay.” Tim shrugged. “Then I support you. But I still think he’s—”

  “Weird. Yes, I know.”

  Tim stared at Myles. “You’re really gone on him, aren’t you? Boucher.”

  “He’s a good guy once you get to know him.”

  “Be careful, he’ll have you climbing mountains soon. I see him and his friends up on the trails all the time. Shit, what time is it? I have to go. See you later, Murph.”

  “Later, Tim.”

  Myles left shortly after, checking his messages in the car, but there was nothing of significance. He’d been called to a domestic disturbance earlier which turned out to be benign. An older gentlemen who lived in the condominium complex reported his neighbors, saying he heard shouting and things being violently tossed around next door. But when Myles knocked on the door, he’d been met with an apologetic, and clearly embarrassed couple who’d only been having rough sex. Recalling the incident brought his mind back to Christian again, who was now permanently linked to sex in Myles’ mind. But was it more than sex now? Could it ever be?