by J. M. Dabney
“I’m on—”
“Our last Sheriff was dealing drugs and people, you having one drink won’t make no difference.”
“Wren, baby, I got a favor—”
He turned to find Linus on his phone.
“Cover for Pelter. He’s got an emergency to take care of…” Linus snorted. “Yeah, that kind of emergency. I’ll make it up to you tonight, I promise.”
Linus’ smile when he talked to his men, or the way he relaxed when they were around, was as far removed from the man he knew that it could get. Linus was hard and a bit cold, but for Hunter and Wren, the man was downright soft.
He nodded at Scary, and the man poured three doubles. He hadn't known what to expect when he came to Scary for advice, but part of him prepared for more snark and insults. He and his cousin were never close. He was closer to Linus even though he threatened to bust him and his crew hundreds of times over the years.
Everything had changed so much since he’d moved there and taken over the job as Sheriff. But he wouldn’t change it for the world. He finally found somewhere he belonged. He just needed to figure out how to make his two men happy.
Seven
They’re Going to Need Bail Money
“Pass it, pass it.” Lucky had his arm in the air, and it took several tries for Saint to pass the joint. Naked Stoner Saturday Night was in full swing. Sin was laying with his head on his stomach, and Twitch was sprawled sideways on top of Lucky’s midsection. Twitch had a massive crazy straw in a coffee milkshake. Eli was stoned as fuck, and he didn’t even want to know what that man was texting his men all night. He may have heard camera clicks a few times.
Priest was seated on the couch smiling indulgently at them all cuddle-piled on the floor of Lucky and Priest’s living room. Priest was always their designated munchies runner.
Normally most of the partners showed up to hang out while the big guys took care of the kids, but a cold took down most of the mini-humans. Lily and Damon had taken Matty for the night.
“I have a question.” Twitch flopped over on Lucky's stomach, and Lucky grunted. “Pelter, are we talking—” Twitch held his hands a few inches apart. “Or are we talking?” Twitch held his arms as wide as they would go.
“Now, Twitch—” Lucky stroked Twitch’s hair. “If he were—” Lucky mimicked Twitch. “That would be nothing but the tip and really what fun is just the fucking tip?”
Saint raised his hand to hide his face that he knew was on fire, then dropped his hand as Sin giggled.
“But, but, have you seen our man in his uniform pants, he’s definitely not…” Sin held his hand inches apart. “And we got lap time, man, lap time. His thighs are amazing.” Sin turned amazing into twenty syllables with an obscene moan.
“Lap time? Why are we just hearing? I love Crave lap time.”
“Twitch, baby, if you two wouldn’t get arrested, Crave would have you on his dick twenty-four-seven.” Lucky tugged gently on Twitch’s long dark hair and he grinned at his friends.
“It is nice when he—”
“Do I really need to be hearing this?” Elijah groaned.
“Oh, don’t even start. I’ve walked into the office to find your men in the same…oh my fake baby Jesus, Elijah, how do they fit? You must spend a ton on lube. How do you walk?”
He laughed at Twitch’s wide-eyed stare and then Twitch was sucking on his straw again.
The joint made two more rounds in silence. Then he felt like he couldn’t move. No cares in the world, just relaxed, and his usual anxiety was nowhere in sight.
“So, y’all gonna spill or what? We’re old married men, boring.” Lucky laid his arm to the side and played with his hair.
Lucky knew he found comfort in having his head rubbed.
Priest huffed from the couch. “You want boring? I’ll put your hippie ass on the couch.”
“Baby…” Lucky rolled dropping Twitch to the carpet with a grunt and Lucky crawled to Priest. He smiled at the two men. He waited for embarrassment, even though most of them didn’t have issues with being nude around each other. He’d found some comfort since hanging out with the partners. They were supportive and protective, and there wasn’t any doubt they all loved each other like family.
Priest’s book was removed, and then Lucky was between his husband’s spread legs. The kiss was almost obscene, but he was jealous too. The relationships all his friends had were envy-inducing.
“You know I love you, more today than the day I got my ring on your finger. You’re my everything.”
He stroked his fingers through Sin’s hair. He chuckled as Twitch let out a heavy sigh with his cute chin cupped in his palms. Lucky turned around and sat at Priest’s feet, Priest twisting Lucky’s locs up.
“Share with the fucking class. Y’all have been waiting for this shit.”
“He had us out for dinner.”
“And? I’m not pulling teeth to get answers.” Lucky leaned forward and tugged at his hair.
“Why aren’t you asking Sin?”
Elijah’s soft hair stroked along his cheek then the man’s head was rested on his shoulder, their cheeks pressed together.
“Because we know how Sin feels about it, but we know you’re not all in.”
“I am, Eli, I promise, I just…Camden can have anyone and Sin is—”
“Don't start that shit again. I'd felt like you'd slapped me when you told Camden if he preferred me. That hurt, Saint.”
“I'm sorry.”
“Don't be sorry, just fix your shit.”
“I want ice cream, munchies run!” Twitch jumped up and ran toward the bedroom.
“Why the fuck is he always the first one to get the munchies?”
“Because that boy has zero body fat.” Sin rolled to his feet. He giggled a bit when he stumbled as he straightened.
“You’re talking about someone having zero body fat.”
“Look at this!” Sin could barely get his fingers around the skin on his belly.
“Everyone get dressed. If we’re making a run, let’s do it now,” Priest ordered as he grabbed Lucky’s hands in his and pulled the man to his feet.
The look of joy on Lucky and Priest’s faces were enough to make a person sigh. The two men headed for their bedroom, and he nearly jumped when Sin’s arm went around his waist.
“I want that.”
“Big brother, we’ll have it. Camden is it for us, remember?”
“What if he doesn’t want to be ours?”
“He does, the kiss proved it to me. We just have to be patient, but now I want ice cream.”
He laughed as Sin dragged him off to the guest room where they found Twitch dragging on his skinny jeans and trying to stay on his feet.
“You hold him, and I’ll pull his pants up.”
“Yeah, we’re never going to get our ice cream if we don’t.”
Thirty minutes later after stuffing a giggling and wriggling Twitch into his clothes and driving to Granger Grocery, they sat outside with pints of ice cream and plastic spoons.
“Oh fake baby Jesus, this is soooo good.” Twitch’s moan was vulgar.
“You know what would make ice cream better?” Lucky asked.
“What?” they all asked.
“After sex ice cream or during, chest and pubes sticky, licking—”
The statement ended on muffled words as Priest slammed his hand over his husband’s mouth. They all giggled at Priest’s red-stained face.
“Crave likes licking ice cream off my—”
He muffled Twitch’s statement and earned himself a lick.
“That’s so gross. I know where your mouth has been.”
He scrubbed his wet, sticky palm on his jeans and went back to his ice cream. It was after seven, so the streets had cleared out a bit, but some people still littered the sidewalks, coming and going from the businesses that were off the main drag.
He still had that heavy, relaxed feeling from smoking earlier, but it was slowly ebbing away. He’d relived
the kiss Camden gave him so many times in the past week. He loved the gentleness of it and the way Camden made him feel like he was the center of his attention even when Camden turned to give Sin a kiss. Camden had still held him tight and stroked his back.
“Is there a reason y’all are loitering outside the grocery store?” Camden’s big, booming voice was deep with authority.
He jerked his head up to find Scary, Linus and Crave standing behind Camden.
“Baby, aren’t y’all supposed to be out at Lucky’s place?” Crave asked as he stepped forward and crouched in front of Twitch.
“Munchies,” Twitch said as if that explained everything then spooned ice cream passed Crave’s smile.
“Mocha Java ice cream, what is the rule?”
“But it’s so good.”
“Want to take that ice cream home?”
Twitch bounced. “Can we?”
“Yes, we can.”
He couldn’t help smiling as Crave scooped Twitch into his arms. “I’m going to have to skip dinner. I just got other plans.”
“Told you so,” Twitch sang as he was carried off toward Crave’s bike.
“Elijah, you’re awful quiet.” Scary’s voice was low as the big man mimicked Crave’s actions.
“We need to buy all the ice cream. All. Of. It.”
“Want to go home to our bed?”
“Is Tank home, because I really need—”
“You’ll get the pounding you crave, I promise.”
The normally chill Elijah was on his feet and headed for Scary’s bike.
“I guess my man is ready. Pelter, come out next weekend for a run, plan it or we’ll come get your ass.”
That was all Scary said before he also left.
“Okay, since everyone else is getting laid, I’m going home to my men.”
“We’re going home if everyone is okay,” Priest announced, but didn’t wait for an answer.
They were quickly left alone with Camden still in the same spot beside his SUV. He couldn’t read anything in Camden’s expression. Sin had linked his arm through his, and their ice cream was forgotten. He sensed his nervousness mirrored that of his twin.
“Are you two hungry?” The tilt of Camden’s full lips showed the big man knew it was a stupid question. “Come on. We’ll go to the diner, and then I’ll take you home.” Camden closed the distance between them and held out his hands.
He didn’t know why he felt the need to apologize, but he did. “Sorry, we ruined your man time.”
He and Sin threw away the almost empty cartons of melted ice cream in a trash can in front of the store.
“Ellison, it’s fine. I heard all the partners had a monthly sleepover thing.”
Camden separated them and took their hands, strolling down the street toward the diner. At that time of night, it typically wasn’t busy.
“Not as many as usual, most of the kids are down with colds. It was just the five of us tonight,” Sin spoke.
He resisted the urge to look around Camden to his twin. Then he realized Camden was walking hand in hand with both of them, just like Elijah did with Scary and Tank. He wondered if the man knew what he was doing. That wasn’t like keeping what he hoped was a relationship behind closed doors.
“Linus said Craig was sick and Hunter took the night off to stay home with him. Juvie is off taking care of Princess, Brody and Trouble took off for a week convention thing to represent Twirled.”
“The kids spend so much time together they usually all get sick.”
Camden released their hands and opened the diner door, instantly he and Sin reached for each other. He darted a look at Camden, but Camden acted like it was normal. He knew most people looked at them speculating and judging. It was what set their agent off the night the man attacked him.
“Ellison?” A rough palm stroked his cheek. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, sorry.”
“Let’s get some food in you two.”
Camden led them to a booth in the far-right corner. He watched Camden nudge Sin in and then when the big man slid in…he dragged him in beside Camden.
“Well, this is new.” Heidi owner and ever-present server stopped in front of the table. “Finally got your head out of your ass, Sheriff?”
“Why did I ever think moving to this town would be relaxing?”
“Because you’re an idiot.”
“I love you too, Heidi.”
“I’m sure you do, but I don’t have any of your favorite pie tonight.”
“Get my boys orders, while I decide what I want since you don’t have any pie. Ellison, Eric, order dinner.”
He shyly studied the menu that hadn’t changed in years and waited for Sin to order, and like always they’d decided on the same thing.
“I don’t even have to ask, Saint.”
He giggled as she jotted on her pad.
“Damn, Sheriff, I can feel my gray hairs multiplying waiting on you.”
“How the hell do you keep business with this stellar customer service of yours?”
“I make great pie.”
“Tease,” Camden grumbled and ordered the biggest burger Heidi had on the menu with a double order of fries and coffee.
“At your age, Sheriff, do you think you need coffee this late.”
Heidi lifted her perfectly waxed brow and looked at him and Sin, then back at Camden.
“Kiss my ass, Heidi.”
Heidi snorted and walked away from the table.
“Come here often?” Sin asked.
“Cooking for one sucks and it’s easier just to order something. Were y’all having fun tonight?”
“Do we need bail money or are you about to read us our Miranda rights?”
He tried to keep a straight face as Sin batted his lashes and attempted to look innocent. Camden groaned and scrubbed his hands over his face.
“Did I arrest any of you at King’s wedding? I saw nothing.”
“Kind of a weird attitude for a hard-assed Sheriff who’s been strictly by the book since he took over.”
“I don’t have enough room for all of you in lockup. Tangling with the Crews would just be a pain in my ass. I’m not inviting trouble. I’ve seen Peaches in action. I’d never win.”
Camden wrapped his big hand around his opposite knee and mirrored the same action with Saint. His anxiety eased away knowing Camden wasn’t hiding them or public displays of affection. Maybe it would all work out, and he and Sin could have want they’d wanted for almost two years. Camden was theirs. He laid his cheek on Camden’s thick bicep, and he instantly felt a kiss pressed to the top of his head.
All three of them sat there in silence until Heidi brought their food and they spoke very little over dinner, but it was a comfortable silence. One that he and Sin could exist in for hours because they knew each other so well. It was perfect, and he hoped it never ended.
Eight
This Wasn’t Home, at Least Not Theirs
Sin watched the darkened scenery fly by outside the back window of Camden’s big black SUV. When they’d left Heidi’s, Pelter walked them back to his vehicle, and they’d headed in the opposite direction of his and Saint’s place. He turned to study Camden, the man’s face was illuminated by the dashboard lights. The big man was someone who commanded the space he was in, and no one could deny the dominance and power that rolled off Camden in waves.
He scooted to the middle of the seat and leaned forward to peek at Saint. He smiled finding his twin asleep.
“Why don’t you have your seatbelt on?”
“And why are you not taking us home?”
“I said I was taking you home…I just didn’t specify whose home.”
“What changed your mind?” he whispered not wanting to wake Saint.
“My mother.”
“You told your mother about us?”
“No. She called and ordered me to come for Christmas because I spent the last one with Scary. Two years in a row wouldn’t be acceptable.”
> “And?”
“I asked if I could bring a date. She asked would the date be female. I came out decades ago a few days before I enlisted in the Marines. She knows damn well I wouldn’t bring a woman. She wouldn’t extend an invite if it wasn’t a she I was inviting instead of a he. I came here, took this job wanting a different life for myself.”
“Where you didn’t hide?” He couldn’t imagine hiding in a closet most of his life. His friends had shared the stories of the lack of acceptance from family and former friends. Their mama never mentioned their sexuality or who they chose to love at any point. She’d introduced her friends and colleagues’ partners without hesitation, as if the gender of said partner didn’t matter. So when they mentioned the boys they’d had crushes on, it was met with only a smile.
“That and with my previous job I couldn’t subject someone to a visit to say I wasn’t coming home. Not that this job has less danger, because even a town this quiet there’s potential, but for the most part everyone is accepting.”
“You know a lot of people in law enforcement and military have partners. You gotta think about it, is finding love and savoring the time you have better than not experiencing it at all?”
“Pretty wise.”
“I may be twenty-three, but Saint and me are pretty grown up. We had a lot of freedom growing up. Our mama’s job isn’t the safest one out there. It just takes one flaw in a carabiner or rope, and your adrenaline high ends with a deadly fall. Mama lost Dad that way, but she cherished the short time she had with him. To her, it was worth it. Don’t you think whoever you found would think you were worth it too?”
“I’m not the easiest man to get along with.”
“Did we forget that Scary got two men, or Lucky and Priest? What about Crave and Twitch, or Bull and Gregory, Psycho and—”
Camden chuckled. “I get it.”
He loved the lighter Camden. The one not being hard-assed all the time. He loved the Camden giving them a chance. He’d tried to stay positive for Saint, but he couldn’t deny a part of him felt they’d never get Camden’s agreement to be theirs.