Ex's and O'S (28 page)

Adam knew Ewers was referring to Lukowski as well as the police officers Rollins had had in his pocket. He wasn’t sure why, but he looked at Ewers and apologised. “I’m sorry about Lukowski—”

Or tried to. Ewers slashed a hand through the air and snarled. “No. I hired the

traitorous bastard. I fucked up. If I had only seen what he was like none of this would have happened.” He looked at Les and guilt settled over his rough features. “It was my lack of judgement that put a good officer in the hospital and that almost got your friend Josh killed.

Almost got your mother…”

Adam’s eyes widened. Ewers’ voice had definitely gone soft when he’d mentioned

Charlene. Did that mean something? He narrowed his eyes and studied the Chief. No rings on at all, no tan line even around
that
finger. His gaze darted up to the man’s head. Several strands of white streaked his otherwise dark hair. There were a few deeply etched wrinkles around his eyes and mouth, but Adam didn’t think Ewers was much older than Charlene.

Maybe he was even younger?

Ewers looked at him and lowered his lashes. His cheeks darkened and he cleared his throat. Flustered was a good look on the man. Misplaced guilt, not so much.

Adam cocked his head to the side and tapped the bed rail. Ewers gave him a

questioning look. “My mom—Charlene—would definitely chew you a new one for thinking you’re God, you know.”

Ewers’ eyebrows snapped together until the nearly met above his nose. “What?”

“I mean, what kind of ego must you have, thinking you should know Lukowski’s

thoughts and motives just from looking at him. Yeesh, she will really set you straight on that.” Adam couldn’t help but chuckle thinking about it. “Guilt is good when you did something wrong, but unless you’re telepathic or, you know, God, you couldn’t have known Lukowski was a lying asshole. So, do you think you are—God, I mean? Or will we be seeing you on late night TV offering to give readings?” He didn’t know how far he could push Ewers, but the Chief seemed like a good man. Maybe not good enough for Charlene, but whoever would be?

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And if Ewers used the scowl he was giving Adam on the men under his command,

Adam had to wonder how they kept from quivering. The Chief looked
fierce!

“No, I don’t think I’m God, or any of the rest of that crap!” Ewers snapped. “But I should have known—”

“Chief.”

Adam’s breath hitched upon hearing Les’ raspy voice. The hand that had been so still in his squeezed lightly. Adam’s eyes darted up to meet Les’s swollen ones, and even in that pain-filled gaze, he saw a flicker of humour.

Ewers snapped his mouth shut then promptly opened it again. “Stanton—Les…I’m

sorry—”

Les groaned and closed his eyes. Adam would have glared at the Chief but he didn’t want to look away from his lover. Les cracked one eye open and focused on his boss. “Shut up, Ewers. Go find Charlene and take her for coffee and leave me alone with my partner.”

Adam looked at the Chief and bit back a snicker as the man blinked in what Adam

figured must be shock.
Bet that’s the first time one of his officers has told him to shut up!

Ewers seemed to pull himself together, his shoulders going back as his eyes narrowed.

He pointed one long finger at Les. “I’ll let that go since I don’t think you’re in your right mind at this moment.” He huffed and dropped his hand back to his side. “Maybe by the time I get back from having a cup of coffee, you’ll have come to your senses.” He gave a clipped nod, but Adam didn’t miss the silly smile on the man’s face as he turned then strode from the room.

“Make sure he thinks I’m asleep later,” Les grumbled. “I don’t think he’s going to let me off without an ass chewing.”

Before Adam could reply the door opened again and Ewers’ stuck his head in. His

eyes sought out Adam’s and a blush spread up to his forehead. Ewers stuttered for a second before clearing his throat and glaring at him. “Where would Ms Masterson be?”

Adam resisted the impulse to tease the man. Maybe he’d leave off lecturing Les in exchange. “She should be sitting with Chase Murphy about now, unless Josh has been released, then she might be with him.”

Ewers murmured something that might have been thanks then shut the door again.

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“I’m not sure how I feel about that,” he mumbled, still staring at the door. A tug on his hand had him turning back to Les, who gave him a pained smile.

“Chief’s a good guy,” Les said, his words beginning to slur as his eyes drooped shut.

“Love you.”

Adam stopped worrying about his mom and Ewers. Charlene would have the guy

whimpering in terror if he stepped out of line. Adam bent and pressed a soft kiss to Les’

chapped lips. “I love you too, but we are definitely going to have a talk about you running off to play the hero.” He grinned when Les groaned, then he kissed the man again. Les would find out soon enough there’d be more thank you to the talk than scolding—of which there’d be some, sure. Then Adam would spend the rest of his life showing Les just how much he was loved.

He was sick of sleeping, and sick of being hurt, and sick of being in the hospital—

again. But Les wasn’t stupid enough to be snarly about it. Adam wouldn’t have got mad at him, but Charlene, who was in the room almost as much as Adam, would have ripped his aching head off his neck and beaten him about the shoulders with it. Maybe he was exaggerating, but a ‘talking to’ from Charlene could be every bit as painful as being viciously beheaded, he was pretty sure.

Besides, he was getting out today, after three hellacious days spent in this awful room.

Les could hardly wait to see his colourful bedroom again, and to lay back and just hold Adam, feel that slender body pressed to his and reassure himself all over again the man was fine, safe finally from Rollins.
Rollins…

“You’re frowning awful hard,” Adam said, drawing Les out of his thoughts. He

looked into those blue eyes that had speared him the first time he’d seen them and his heart beat faster as warmth spread through him. Adam’s tender smile said he felt the same sweet feeling. “I’d have thought you’d be happier about going home,” he teased, knowing full well how excited Les was to go home. Les had wheedled and yes, begged even, for Adam to get him out of here.

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“I don’t think happy covers it,” Les said, tugging Adam up from the chair. Adam

scooted onto the narrow hospital bed and lay down on his side, his head resting on Les’

chest.

“So what was the frown for then?” Adam asked, his warm breath heating the skin

under Les’ shirt. He settled a hand on Les’ stomach and one knee over Les’ thighs. Les’ cock twitched and he willed his burgeoning erection away. Charlene would be back any minute.

And that realisation was enough to keep his dick from filling. Adam rubbed his stomach.

“Les? What was it?”

Les caught Adam’s hand in his, because even the threat of Charlene wasn’t going to keep his unruly part in check what with the way Adam was caressing him. “Rollins,” Les said, as much to distract himself as to answer Adam’s question.

Adam’s hand stilled and Les felt him tip his head back. Les glanced down, nearly

losing his train of thought as his gaze locked with Adam’s. The man just had such pretty eyes.

“Les?”

Les blinked and brought a hand up to stroke the backs of his fingers over Adam’s

cheek. “I just really wish Rollins had been arrested. Seems like he got off too easy—well, too fast, I guess, though being killed was harsh, so—”

“No, I know what you mean,” Adam said, resuming his strokes on Les’ stomach. “His punishment was over in an instant, whereas in prison he would have probably suffered, but…” he swallowed and something that looked like shame settled over him. “I…I was glad when Ewers told me Rollins was dead, at first. I’m not proud of it, but…”

Les wished to hell they were in his bed. He couldn’t hold Adam the way he longed to in the narrow little bed. Still, he did the best he could, wrapping Adam in his arms and rolling the smaller man on top of him. He cupped Adam’s cheek in one hand and waited until those blue eyes raised up to look at him. “It doesn’t make you a horrible person. Rollins was a hateful man. He hurt a lot of people, and he would have killed the five of us if you and Nick hadn’t stopped Lukowski. Do you think it’s wrong that I’d rather he have spent decades in prison, miserable and suffering as much as he possibly could have?”

“No,” Adam answered without hesitating. “Rollins deserved that, but death is so

final. It’s harsh to say you’re glad someone’s dead.”

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“He would have had us killed,” Les reiterated, “and your mom, and Nick and Josh.

Chase, too, I bet, and no one has been able to find that lawyer… I don’t think it’s harsh to be glad he won’t ever hurt anyone again, because he probably would have,” Les realised the truth even as he spoke it. “Sometimes all prison does is allow a criminal to orchestrate his crimes from a cell. No one can say Rollins wouldn’t have kept at it, wouldn’t have had someone working on the outside for him.”

Adam stared at him for several long seconds before letting out a shaky breath. “Well, I was going to say I regretted saying that, but now I’m not so sure.”

Les wasn’t sure he regretted Rollins not standing trial now either. Keeping Adam—

and Charlene, as well as their friends—safe, was what mattered most to him. And it wasn’t like he or Adam had pulled the trigger on Rollins, or ordered a hit on him, which is what Les told his lover.

Some of the tension eased from Adam and he nodded. “Right, we didn’t. I just… I’m relieved he can’t hurt any of us again.”

“Me too,” Les said. He puckered his lips and Adam laughed then bent and kissed him senseless. Les was too happy to even care that he was rocking a hard on when Josh and Charlene came in. Some things were worth a little embarrassment, and Adam kissing him like that was worth just about anything.

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“Remember, no hot monkey sex for at least a week,” Josh teased as he followed Adam and Les through the exit doors.

Adam peered over his shoulder at his new friend and scrunched his face up. “Why

would we want to have sex with monkeys? That’s just gross.”

Les snorted and Josh rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean—nothing that might

cause Les to reinjure his head.” Josh’s eyes glinted with intent as the three men waited for Charlene to pull the vehicle around. “No hard thrusting, no head tossing, no throwing it back to scream when—”

“Josh!” Les practically squealed. “Christ, we get it!”

Adam would have laughed except for the fact that Josh was right, which made the

situation not funny. Josh rambled on as if Les hadn’t even spoken.

“—you come. Now, y’all
can
do that nice, sweet, slow love-making stuff, which, I’d like to point out, can be totally incredible in its own way.” He sighed and his expression turned dreamy. “Mmm, being kissed and licked over every inch of skin, taking the time to discover each hidden spot that makes your lover moan, makes them squirm and beg—”

“Josh!” Adam and Les shouted.

Josh blinked and gave them an innocent look as he planted his hands on his lean hips.

“What? I just want to make sure y’all have a good understanding of the doctor’s advice.”

“More like you want to make sure we’re both about ready to cream our jeans,” Adam muttered, unable to stop himself from reaching down and trying to relieve some of the pressure against his erection. Two sets of eyes followed the movement, then Les squirmed in the wheelchair and Josh laughed.

“You guys are so easy!”

Adam tipped his nose into the air and tried to keep the smile off his face as he sniffed.

“The only reason you’re getting away with being such an ass is because you saved my Mom.” He was tempted to say a few smutty things himself and see how Josh liked walking EX’S AND O’S

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around work with a boner, but that certainly wouldn’t improve his or Les’ situation at all, either.

Josh batted his thick lashes, his bottom lip out in a pout as he pointed at his biceps.

“But I got shot!”

Adam’s stomach clenched but he glanced at the bandaged spot with all the interest he’d give a fly. “That little thing? Hardly even a scrape.” In truth, it’d taken over a dozen stitches to close the wound, and he’d be grateful to Josh for taking that shot for the rest of his life.

“Well,” Josh huffed, looking as if he was trying to decide whether to play the wound up and possibly sound like a whiner or agree and thump his chest in a Neanderthal-like display of manliness. He was saved from making a decision when Charlene pulled up to the kerb. Adam quickly stepped behind Les to hide his hard on.

“Thanks a lot,” Les muttered, folding his hands over the tent in his loose pants.

“Sorry,” Adam said, sounding sincere then ruining it with a chuckle.

“I’d glare at you but my head would probably blow right up.”

Adam felt like an ass for teasing Les. He bent and gently kissed the top of Les’ head. “I am sorry. I’ll be good.”

Les snorted at him then stood and only grumbled a little as Adam and Josh helped

him into the back seat. Adam waited until Josh stepped away from the door then he leaned in and whispered softly in Les’ ear. “I promise I’ll make it up to you as soon as we get home.” He hadn’t missed the fact that Les’ cock was still trying its best to make a hole in his pants.

“What are you two whispering about? Don’t you know that’s rude?” Charlene asked,

startling Adam. He smacked the back of his head on the door frame trying to backpedal out of the vehicle.