Busted (10 page)

“Should I ask?”

“No. The divorce was final four months ago. We haven’t talked about her since.” The venom in her voice made Joe cringe back a bit.

“Don’t,” she said, fixing Joe with a glare, “dare say anything bad about her to that little boy.”

He couldn’t quite reconcile that. Not saying anything seemed the sensible thing to do, so he did it.

“Okay.”

“Mary,” Steve said, “be nice. Joe’s a guest.”

“Sorry, dear,” she said. She smiled at Joe. He decided right then that he didn’t want to be on her bad side. Ever.

“So Joe,” Steve said, “what do you do for fun?” Steve was fishing. Joe’s apartment hadn’t told him anything useful, and he wanted something he could use to get Joe and Chris connected.

“I dunno,” Joe said. He was surprised at the question and unprepared. “Outdoor stuff, I guess. Camping and hiking sometimes. Clubbing on the weekends. Maybe catch a show. Just… stuff.” He shrugged.

That wasn’t too helpful for Steve. “Sports?”

“I play soccer sometimes, and tennis.”

“Oh,” Steve said. “I was thinking watching.”

“Nah,” Joe said. “It’s kind of boring.”

“Huh.”

“Sounds like you’re stuck, Neanderthal,” Mike chipped in. “Someone who doesn’t go out scratching himself and shooting at the trees.”

“Have I ever mentioned how much I like having you around?” Steve asked. “Because if I did, I must’ve been… hey, there’s an idea,” he said, looking at Joe.

“Huh? What?”

“Have you ever fired a gun?”

“What? No, why should I be shooting things?”

“Because it’s a useful thing to know,” Steve said. He didn’t add ‘when you’re dating a cop,’ though he thought it.

“I guess. I dunno if—”

“I hit the range sometimes. Tuesday night, about eight, it’ll be good for you.”

“Okay,” Joe said. He wasn’t sure that Steve was right. On the other hand, there was a little thrill at the thought of shooting a gun.

“Great!”

“Listen,” Joe said, “I probably ought to be going, I’ve got some stuff I ought to do this evening.”

As he was saying that, Chris walked by with Toby trailing right behind.

“Be right back, he’s gotta have his floatie or the dinosaur will get him.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Joe said, frowning.

It was reflex, but Chris’s voice was full of contempt. “What would you know? You’re—”

The next word was going to be ‘gay’, and that made Joe furious, especially coming from Chris. He leapt up, grabbed the man, yanked his head down, and put all his rage into a kiss. It was angry and demanding, his tongue trying to force its way into Chris’ mouth. He wanted to prove Chris was as into guys as he was, trying to draw out the lie.

Joe’s head cleared as the kiss drained away his anger. He started to pull back, to get a look at Chris. He was surprised he’d leapt into the kiss and wanted to see how Chris was taking it.

Chris surprised him by grabbing him in and kissing back. Hard. Their arms wrapped around each other, bodies pulled tight, hands on shoulders and buttocks. Joe’s mouth opened into the kiss and was met by Chris’ probing tongue.

This second kiss was gentler. The anger was gone, but passion was rising. Chris’ scent filled Joe’s head, a combination of sun-warmed hair, salt, and chlorine. It was driving him insane, and it was only the Speedos he had on under his shorts that were keeping him from showing everyone.

A small part of Chris knew what he was doing was wrong. He was kissing another guy, one he’d done nothing but fought with. One he’d tried not to think about. Tried not to remember the dreams he’d had about. He didn’t want to be kissing Joe, but he couldn’t stop it. He was so hard it hurt, and it felt so good pressed between them that he wanted more. He could feel Joe wasn’t as aroused. Felt that he wasn’t aroused at
all
, and that just made him try to put all that much more into the kiss.

Steve, Mary, Linda, and Mark just watched from the side, with expressions ranging from shock to amusement. Steve was happy. He thought maybe he shouldn’t be, but Chris was very into Joe, in a way he’d never been with his ex-wife. He wanted this, which was good enough for Steve.

Joe shifted a little, and Chris’ dick jabbed him in the crotch. That quickly sobered him. He had a boyfriend. Someone he loved, someone he wanted. Someone who loved him. Someone who didn’t deserve this. His anger flared again, though this time at himself for coming so close. That didn’t stop him from taking it out on Chris.

Joe pushed Chris away. “Don’t ever,
ever
tell me I wouldn’t know because I’m gay,” he said, so softly that only Chris could hear. Then he fled.

“I was going to say ‘single’,” Chris said softly as he sank into a chair.

* * *

Saturday night Joe should have gone out to the club. He
knew
he ought to. He could dance. He could laugh. He could see Alex.

And that was why he didn't.

Guilt had gnawed at him ever since he'd left Steve Russell's house. Not because he'd kissed Chris Gagnon. That was a surprise to both of them, and he'd done it to prove a point. It was because Chris had kissed back. And Joe had liked it. Maybe better than when Alex did.

He hadn't stopped the kiss for any good reason. Not self-control, not fidelity, not anything. The only reason he hadn't thrown Chris down and fucked him stupid was the shame of knowing exactly how close he'd come to cheating on Alex.

That thought was enough to keep him home. Instead of dancing, he was on the couch. Alone.
 
In sweats. Wrapped in a blanket. With hot cocoa. It didn't help that he was near-insanely horny, though at least the guilt was keeping that under control.

Joe snorted as he contemplated the cup he was holding. It was July, and he was curled up with a comforter. He'd even turned the air conditioning up some just so it would be chilly. It was pathetic, but that didn't get him off the couch. Instead he held his cup a little tighter and sipped from it until it was empty.

He probably should have gone out, or at least gotten up. Instead he set the cup on the end table, pulled the blanket up, and went to sleep. It was 9:30. He hadn't been to bed that early in years. Maybe he was just getting old. He'd make it up to Alex later.

Joe was woken up by a soft caress on his cheek. He was having the most amazing dream. The details were vague, but there was something in it about whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and pineapples. And sex. Lots and lots of sex. He was even more aroused than when he'd fallen asleep.

"Hey," said someone softly.

Joe looked up, barely able to see. The face in front of his eyes blurred in and out a little as he tried to engage his brain. Strong nose. Good cheekbones. Tan. Black eyes. Longish hair.

"Alex?"

The face in front of him smiled. "Who else would it be?"

"Alex," Joe said, waking up.

"Right here," Alex said.

"Alex," Joe growled. He was fully awake. Fully aroused.

"You already said that," Alex said.

Joe grabbed Alex and kissed him hard with a rumbling at the back of his throat. He felt Alex start to respond, bringing his arms up. That wasn't what Joe wanted.

He grabbed onto Alex and launched himself off the couch. He landed flat out on top of Alex, in the middle of the living room carpet. Alex laughed softly. Joe didn't.

Joe leaned down, putting his nose in the crook of Alex's neck. He breathed in deeply, smelling Alex. He smelled clean and light, and faintly of cologne. It was enough. He lunged in, kissing wildly at the base of Alex's throat while his hands scrabbled at Alex's chest, trying to undo the buttons of his shirt. Three seconds were enough for frustration to hit. Joe grabbed the shirt and ripped it open. Buttons popped and flew everywhere.

"You're all worked… uh!" Alex was cut off abruptly as Joe shifted down and sucked hard on his left nipple. That always got a reaction from Alex, and this time was no exception. Alex's chest was smooth and hairless. That always drove Joe wild. It was also something he took advantage of. He opened his mouth wide, lips spread as much as he could and still maintain suction, running his tongue roughly over Alex's nipple and part of his chest.

While he was doing this he grabbed at Alex's pants button. He couldn't rip this open. He tried, though.

"Pants," he growled, letting loose of Alex's chest. The nipple was swollen and shiny from his spit. "Pants bad. Off!"