Angel In Blue (3 page)

I’m not sure,” Mack walked to the bathroom. “Maybe they know and just haven’t said anything. Since I’m the only one left in my family, I don’t have any worries on that score.”

“The same here, I mean about the other cops,” Ike said, making his way behind Mack. “I don’t think they suspect anything. I sometimes have the feeling that my family wonders about me, but they’ve never asked questions.”

“What would you say to them if they did ask?” Mack glanced at Ike as they stepped inside the shower.

“I guess I’d tell the truth,” Ike said. “But it’s never come up in conversation.”

Ike reached down and turned on the shower ending their discussion while each man lathered their body with soap and stood rinsing off beneath the warm water. When they stepped from the shower, Mack threw Ike a towel.

As they headed to the kitchen, Mack’s phone rang. He lifted the receiver and listened to the muffled voice on the other end. The person’s voice sounded familiar, but Mack couldn’t place it. What they had to say came as a complete shock to Mack.

“What’s wrong?” Ike asked, seeing Mack’s strained features as he slammed the receiver down.

“Some fool on the other end let me know that you and I have a thing going,” he said with a sigh. “I’m sure whoever it is will have the word spread around town quickly.” He ran his hands through his still damp hair, “Shit!  I just wanted to warn you what you might have to face when you go back to work tomorrow.”

“I’m not going to worry about it, not now, not until I have more information,” Ike said, claiming a chair at the kitchen table. “Now, where’s that breakfast you promised me?. I want to see just how good a cook you really are.”

Four

When Mack checked in at the station the next day, he received a cool reception from some of his colleagues. He had a suspicion that they knew about what was going on between him and Ike. They didn’t say anything, but after the phone call, he suspected something was up.

At the end of the shift, Mack walked into the locker room to change and all conversation ceased. Now, he knew the other firemen must have been talking about him. Not one looked him in the face or offered a greeting.

I’m not going to kiss anyone’s ass here. If this is how they want it, this is how it will be.
It didn’t take Mack long to shower and dress. He left the room and heard laughter following him into the hallway. He’d always thought most of the men at the station were honest.
Boy, was I   wrong about that.

On the drive home, he tried to figure out who at the firehouse could have found out about his relationship with Ike. The only one that came to mind was Joe. Joe was the firehouse gossip and made sure he spread the word whether it was true or not.

When he got home, he saw Ike’s car. Mack walked in the house and smelled the aroma of food cooking.

“This is a surprise,” Mack said, coming up behind Ike and wrapping his arms around him. He kissed his neck with a feather light stroke.

Ike turned in his arms and faced Mack. Without saying a word, his mouth lowered and Ike took possession of Mack’s waiting lips. The kiss started gently, but soon changed to one filled with a passion that each man felt for the other. Ike pulled back and looked into Mack’s face.

“How’d your day go?”  Ike eyed Mack’s face.

“I didn’t get a warm reception, if that’s what you mean. When I walked into the locker room, everyone stopped talking, and when I left, I could hear laughter and snickers filling the room.”

“The same here, but I wouldn’t worry about it.” Ike shrugged his broad shoulders. “It’s none of those guys business what we do in our personal time.”

“You’re right,” Mack agreed.  “Let’s forget about them. What smells so good?”

“Have a seat and I’ll bring everything over to the table.”  Mack didn’t hesitate; he walked over to a chair and sat.

Mack couldn’t believe the amount of food Ike removed from the oven. He carried different side dishes from the refrigerator to add to the array already filling the table. “Let’s dig in, I’m starved,” Ike said, claiming a chair across from Mack.

The meal passed pleasantly, but each man knew what was in the back of the other’s mind: what was going to take place in the bedroom once they finished the meal? They both wanted to make a meal of each other.

After eating and cleaning up in the kitchen, Ike and Mack watched each other sending out silent messages. Mack tilted his head toward the bedroom and Ike nodded in agreement.

Once they reached the dimly lit room, Ike slowly began unbuttoning Mack’s shirt and unzipped Mack’s jeans.

Mack felt them fall to the floor and pushed them aside with his foot.

Ike hooked his thumbs into Mack’s briefs and slowly slid them down his hips, revealing Mack’s cock fully.

Mack began undressing Ike in the same manner. The sensual removal of their clothing by the other made both men feel the heat in their loins.

Mack joined Ike on the bed; fondling Ike’s erect cock with stimulating caresses.

Ike ran his hand down Mack’s muscular thigh reciprocating the tender strokes.

Mack slid down Ike’s body, reversing his position so he faced Ike’s hard rod that yearned for the warmth of his lips.

Ike also now found Mack’s cock close to his mouth and the temptation was too great; he hungrily attacked it.

It didn’t take Mack long to turn and give back to Ike the same treatment he was giving him. His tongue made soft swipes against the hard length making Ike’s legs quake with uncontrollable spasms. Mack felt the heat of Ike’s body reaching out to him and knew his must feel the same to Ike.

The more Ike sucked Mack’s cock, the more Mack returned the favor by exciting Ike into the need to release his hot seed.

“I can’t hold out any longer,” Ike moaned through the cock that filled his mouth. The hot come shot from him and his body shuddered with the explosion.

Mack felt the same, unloading his heated seed into Ike’s waiting mouth. The sensation spiraled through every part of his body; he never wanted the erotic experience to end.

Both men lay still without removing themselves from the other’s mouth. Soon, Ike found himself becoming hard again and anticipated more of the pleasure Mack had just given him before. Mack didn’t disappoint; never before had Ike experienced such a turn-on as tonight. The more Mack sucked him, the more excited he became. Again, he couldn’t stop, and didn’t want to, from shooting his load and filling Mack’s mouth.

After several minutes Mack sat up, “How about a beer?”  He stood in all his naked glory, tantalizing Ike with the sight. “Sure, I’ll take one,” Ike’s gaze remained on Mack’s muscular body.

“I’ll bring you one.”  Mack started toward the kitchen.

“Okay,” Ike leaned back on the bed.  “On second thought, I’ll join you.”

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.  “I wonder who that could be.” Mack frowned as he made his way to the bedroom to grab a robe. He heard the knock again, but when he finally opened the door, there was no one there. Someone had taped a note to the doorframe.

“Who is it?” Ike asked.

“Nobody, I guess, but they left a note.”

He opened the envelope and read the contents. 

We could do without you and your gay buddy

in our neighborhood. Get out or else.

Mack was shocked by the words; he couldn’t believe any of his neighbors would send him a note like this. It had to be someone from the firehouse trying to cause trouble. Again, his thoughts drifted to Joe; he’s the only one he could think of. 

“Let me have a look.” Ike reached for the paper and looked at the scrawled handwriting. “You can always check out the men at the firehouse; see if any of their handwriting matches what’s on the note.”

“That’s a good idea. Everyone has to fill out a roster sheet once a month. It shouldn’t be hard to compare the roster to this note “What’re you going to do if you find it’s one of the men you work with?”

“There’s only one thing I can do. I’ll have to confront him.”

“When you find out, let me know. There are laws against this type of harassment.”

The sound of the pager interrupted Mack and Ike’s conversation. When Mack looked down at the message, it read disregard. “It looks like someone is having a little fun at our expense.”

“I hate to leave, but I have to go on duty in a couple of hours,” Ike said, pulling on his jeans and shirt.  “I’m heading back to my apartment. If I find any notes there, I’ll call you.”

“Thanks,” Mack said; his thoughts elsewhere.

“Come on, cheer up, we’ll find out who’s doing this.” He reached across and brushed Mack’s lips with a light kiss. “I’ll try to get back tomorrow, but it all depends on my family. They’re having a big dinner and my mom insists I come. I’d rather be here with you, though.”

“Okay, I understand.”  Mack walked Ike to the door and stood outlined against the lighted living room watching as Ike’s car drove down the street. He looked up and down the street, but didn’t notice anyone about. 

Mack closed the door and trudged to the bathroom.  He stood under a warm spray reliving the night’s events. He’d never thought he was that obvious to others about his lifestyle, but apparently someone had noticed his preferences. He finished his shower and crawled into bed.

*****

Mack checked the roster sheet at the firehouse the next morning. Five men had signed in and none of the signatures looked like the one on his note. He’d have to wait until he could compare all the men in the company.

After a brush fire and one house fire, Mack had put in a hard twelve-hour shift. By the time he unlocked his door at home, he was ready for a shower and a little sack time. Today had been a strain on his nervous system catching some of his fellow workers secretly watching him. As soon as he looked their way, they dropped their gaze and pretended they hadn’t been watching him. He dismissed them from his thoughts and crawled naked beneath the covers.

Five

Mack and his company were preparing for lunch when the alarm sounded. It was a serious fire, and companies from around the city were responding. He heard the police and ambulance sirens and saw the news helicopters hovering overhead as they arrived at the scene. The lower floors of the apartment building were engulfed in flames, thick black smoke rolling into the sky. The flames leaped out and threatened similar buildings on either side. A ladder company was already preparing to pluck frantic people from windows.

Mack’s captain yelled orders into a radio and quickly turned to his men. “Mack, you, Joe and Hotchkiss go in through the back, there’s supposed to a stairwell. We’ve got reports of possible people on the fourth floor. Carter’s men are trying to contain the fire on two and three, but I don’t know how much time you’ve got.”

The three men grabbed their gear and made their way to the back. Flames were bursting through windows on the second and third floors of the building. The building was old, not up to code; it was obviously a race against time.

Mack and the others made their way up the stairwell, already beginning to fill with smoke. Frightened residents passed them on the stairs and Mack urged them to continue down and out, telling them someone at the bottom would show them where to go. When he asked if there were others, still inside, they told him there might be.

At the fourth floor, they checked the door and found it safe to enter. From the main hallway windows, they could see the flames from the lower floors, licking their way up. Smoke and heat were beginning to fill the hallway. They quickly started a search, banging on doors, kicking them in when they found them locked. The radio buzzed in Mack’s ear; it was Hotchkiss, two apartments behind him, ‘Mack, I’ve got a woman in a wheelchair, I’m gonna have to carry her out.”

Mack and Joe were nearly at the end of the hallway, the last apartments, “Go, get her out, Joe and I will finish up here.”

Joe opened the door to the last apartment and found a small girl huddled in the corner. “Mack, got a small girl, conscious, but scared.”

“Take her,” Mack said, “I don’t see anyone else, let’s go, we need to move.”

Joe grabbed the girl in his arms, “It’s OK, we’re gonna get you out of here; it’s alright.” They started down the hall.

“My puppy!” the girl screamed, “my puppy.”

“What?” Joe said.

“My puppy, he’s under the bed, he’s scared.”

Joe thrust the girl into Mack’s arms, turned around and ran back down the hallway.

“Shit!” Mack turned to see a yellow figure emerge through the smoke filled hall.

“The woman’s OK, paramedics got her,” Hotchkiss said. “Where’s Joe?”

Mack shoved the girl in Hotchkiss’ arms, “Puppy rescue, get her out, we’re right behind you.”
At least I hope we’re right behind you. If everybody goes home alive, it was a good day on the job.

As Mack got to the apartment, Joe came out the door. Mack couldn’t tell if he had a puppy, only that there was something furry bundled in his arms.

“We need to go – NOW,” Mack said.

Mack’s radio crackled and he heard his captain, “Mack, put a move on; the fire is spreading, don’t know how much longer that back stairwell will be safe.”

The men felt the growing heat from the inferno as they worked their way down to floor three - where they encountered hell.

“No good,” Joe said. The men retraced their steps back to the fourth floor. The smoke was getting thicker.

At the end of the hall, Mack found an old fire hose coiled into its alcove in the wall.

“That’s fuckin’ useless,” Joe said.

“For fighting fires, yea,” Mack nodded to the nearby window, “but for getting out?” He broke the window and threw out the hose nozzle, letting its weight uncoil the hose, stopping ten feet short of the ground.

Joe shook his head, “Sort of Errol Flynn, swashbuckling, ya think?”

“Not if it saves our ass. You and your dog go first. I’ll anchor the rope.”

A silent few seconds passed as the two men looked each other in the eye, the smoke and their grim visages distorted by their facemasks making it a surreal moment.