When the Dead Speak

by Bailey Bradford

  Laine pulled into his driveway and left the truck running, hoping the rumble of the engine would let Sev continue sleeping while Laine studied the man. With his head down and those thick, dark lashes resting against his cheek, Sev looked incredibly sexy and innocent. Laine had no problem acknowledging the first, but the second he’d have to be a fool to believe. Everything about Sev seemed to scream fun and sex, and Laine had a feeling Sev was a firm believer in both.

  This posed a problem for Laine, as he found himself inexplicably drawn to Sev, and Laine wasn’t exactly a sunshine and good time type of guy. He’d never indulged in one-night stands. In fact, what had happened between him and Sev this morning was, for Laine, out of character enough as to have him questioning his sanity all over again. And yet, he hadn’t hesitated to bring this tempting man home—

  Sev grunted and blinked his eyes open, giving a slight start when he saw Laine. Sitting up straight, Sev looked around, stiffening somewhat when he saw the house. “Where am I, Sheriff?”

  Laine tapped the steering wheel with his fingertips and hoped for the best, though he wasn’t sure if that would be Sev agreeing to stay or demanding to leave. “Brought you to my place.” He shrugged when Sev whipped his head around, mouth dropped open in shock. “Didn’t know what to do with you. I couldn’t take you back to the hotel, and leaving you with Brendon and Zeke is out, so…”

  Sev looked at him like he was crazy. “And you don’t think this”—he waved his hand at Laine’s house—“is a bad idea at all? Jesus, you gotta be worried about what people will say.”

  Laine bit down on his temper. Yes, he’d thought about what people would say, but when it came down to it, the fact was he wanted Sev here. He wasn’t going to examine the reasons why. “Are you planning on packing up and leaving?”

  “No, I…” Sev cleared his throat and looked away. “I have to be here. Conner—”

  “Then you’re staying here. The only people I would trust are Brendon and Zeke, and I won’t put them at risk of being frozen to death.” Laine’s heart clenched at the thought of Conner hurting anyone, but he’d seen it, hadn’t he? Had felt Sev’s icy skin. And he’d felt the awareness, the presence of Conner as surely as if the man had been standing there in the flesh. “Are you sure that was Conner? He wasn’t a cruel man, not at all. I don’t understand how dying would make him into something he wasn’t.”

  Sev reached for Laine’s hand where it gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white with the force of his hold. “It was Conner, and I’ll explain it, but… Laine, you could lose your job, maybe even worse, if I stay here, you know that, right?”

  Nodding, Laine couldn’t bring himself to look at Sev. He was too afraid Sev would see that Laine was more concerned with the immediate risk of losing his heart to a man who wouldn’t be sticking around.

  “Are you sure you want to take that risk? Why would you take that risk? I don’t understand it.” Sev’s confusion permeated his voice.

  “It’s my job to take care of everyone, keep them safe. I can’t see as how leaving you alone somewhere to be turned into a Popsicle is doing my job—” Laine’s explanation stuttered to a halt as Sev slid his hand up Laine’s arm and cupped Laine’s cheek. He tugged until Laine was forced to turn and look at him.

  “What else, Sheriff Laine Stenley?” Sev studied him with those eyes Laine found so fascinating. “I don’t think you’re being honest here, and it’s screwing with my image of the honorable small-town sheriff I’ve always fantasized about.”

  Laine took a deep, shaky breath, blew it out and did it again. He hadn’t counted on Sev calling his bluff, but then again, he didn’t really know the man, did he? Laine didn’t know how to play games, how to tease and flirt, whether harmlessly or intently, and he couldn’t see himself starting now—but he wanted Sev, with a pressing, aching need he hadn’t felt before, ever. He was trying to put it down to not being laid in years, but lying to himself wasn’t something he’d done much of and he was finding he wasn’t good at it, either. Best to just lay it out there, he figured.

  “I want you.” Shit. That came out belligerent and defensive and more than a little snarly.

  Sev’s laughter rang out in the truck cab, easily drowning out the noisy diesel engine and replacing it with a rich, musical sound. Laine felt his cheeks heat with embarrassment and tried to turn away but Sev’s hand tightened on his jaw.

  “Oh come on, now, Laine!” Sev snickered then let his humor drop away. “You sound so unhappy about it, it was either laugh or get pissed. Am I supposed to be flattered that wanting me seems so distasteful to you?”

  Laine could see the hurt in Sev’s eyes and closed his own on a wave of guilt. “I didn’t… That’s not it. I just, I’ve never… Damn!” Laine thumped the steering wheel and shook his head.

  Sev pulled his hand back and spoke so softly Laine had to strain to hear him. “You just what? I don’t get what you’re trying to tell me, here.”

  His sigh sounding like that of an old, tired man to his own ears, Laine opened his eyes and faced Sev. “I’ve never done casual sex, okay? I don’t know if I can, and you don’t seem to be—”

  Sev’s hurt look shut Laine up. Sev nodded and reached for the door handle.

  “Yeah, I get it, and maybe I would have agreed with you yesterday, or even before you knocked on my door this morning—probably right up until you hauled ass out of my room earlier.” Sev opened the door and stood on the ground. He paused with his hand resting on the handle, then turned to Laine. “I know I said no strings, but I thought… maybe there was something more here, you know? It scares me, sure, that this feels different, that I don’t want to pack up and run, and I kind of thought that was mutual. What do I know, though? Other than that I want you again, want you in ways I’d never thought about. But somehow, hearing you cast me as a good time slut…” Sev shrugged. “It just reminds me of why I’ve never tried, I guess.”

  Laine cringed. He hadn’t meant to do that, but he’d been sure that Sev wasn’t interested in an actual relationship.

  He shrugged again and clutched at the back of his gown as he turned away from Laine. “Can we get inside so I can maybe shower and put on some real clothes?”

  Feeling like the biggest asshole in the world, Laine shut the truck off and got out. He grabbed Sev’s bag as well as the man’s luggage he’d had one of his deputies get from Sev’s room. “Sure. Look, Sev—”

  “Forget it. I’m sure you were right.” Sev hurried to the front porch. “So I guess we can’t fuck since you don’t do casual and I don’t do anything but that, right? This should be fun.”

  Laine didn’t miss the bitterness in Sev’s words, even though the man tried to make the whole thing sound like a joke. He’d have to be an idiot to miss it, though right now, Laine figured being an idiot would be a step up from where he was. All he could do was try again. “Will you just let me explain?”

  “Nope, I don’t think my heart can take it.” Sev never even turned around, denying Laine the opportunity to judge the exact meaning of that statement. “Can you open the door or do you want to hand me the key?”

  * * * *

  Fresh from the shower, Laine was still trying to figure out how to make things right, or at the very least bearable, when Sev stepped out of the guest room, having taken advantage of the extra bathroom there. His dark hair wet and slicked back, and he was looking irresistible in a tight pair of faded jeans and a white tank top. Laine looked, not caring if it was rude, letting his gaze linger on the growing bulge he’d had his hands wrapped around earlier, then swept down the length of Sev’s legs and found himself growing achingly hard as he studied Sev’s narrow, elegant feet.

  You got it bad, he thought, getting turned on by the man’s bare feet. Better get your act together. He watched as Sev brought his fingers to the silver necklace, fidgeting with it as he did when he was nervous. It was endearing, seeing that bit of fragility exposed unconsciously.

  “Are you feeling better?” Laine forc
ed himself to walk to the kitchen and started rummaging through the cupboard.

  “I’m warm finally, if that’s what you mean.” The sound of a chair scraping against the floor told Laine that Sev was making himself comfortable at the table.

  “I guess that’s a start.” Laine pulled down a jar of sauce then placed a bag of pasta beside it. “You good with spaghetti? It’s quick and I’m starved.”

  “Yeah, that’s fine. Do you have any beer?”

  Shows how often I have company. I didn’t even offer the guy a drink. “Got some Shiner in the fridge. Hang on and I’ll get it.” Laine found the pans he was digging around for and set them on the stove. When he turned, he nearly ran into Sev, who had walked over to the refrigerator. Just being near the man had Laine’s dick swelling again, and when Sev opened the refrigerator door and bent over, Laine thought he was going to come on the spot. God, he wanted to touch Sev, lick his warm brown skin and just lose himself in that compact body.

  Sev looked over his shoulder, the grin he’d been wearing slipping. He stood slowly and clutched his bottle of beer to his chest. “We…we need to talk about earlier.”

  Laine nodded and took a step forward. “I think so.”

  Sev stepped sideways and shut the refrigerator, eyes locked with Laine’s.

  The bit of fear in those beautiful eyes made Laine’s chest ache. He took another step toward Sev, grimacing when Sev tried to sidestep again. “Where are you going, Sev? I didn’t mean to hurt you earlier. I just really suck with words, trying to explain something I don’t really understand myself.” Laine reached out and trailed a finger from the top of Sev’s shoulder, down and across his collarbone, up to the top of the other shoulder.

  “Laine.” Sev closed his eyes and groaned. “We have to talk about Conner.”

  If Sev hoped bringing up Conner’s name would kill off Laine’s desire, he was wrong. Laine’s fingers stroked a series of small circles on Sev’s shoulder, but he nodded. “Okay. But first we’re gonna—” Laine pulled Sev close, ignoring the cold beer between them, and slid his hands to Sev’s butt. Sev’s mouth opened, on a protest or on a plea, Laine didn’t wait to find out. He lifted Sev and spun around, pinning the man to the refrigerator, and thought, finally! Laine lowered his lips to Sev’s and took the kiss he’d needed.

  Chapter Five

  Sev’s squeak was swallowed by Laine’s mouth. More than just the sound, it seemed as if Laine was devouring Sev, each stroke of the man’s tongue, each shift of his lips pulling apart the walls Sev had kept up to protect himself. Sev swept his tongue across the roof of Laine’s mouth and shook when Laine moaned. Hard hands gripped and kneaded Sev’s butt, pulling him closer as Laine ground his cock against Sev’s. The beer bottle was making a dent in Sev’s chest, his hands clenching it, pinned between them. Sev nipped at Laine’s lip, then laved the small sting with the tip of his tongue. He squirmed and tried to work one of his hands free but Laine’s weight held Sev immobile.

  Frustration had Sev jerking his head to the side, but it was hard to speak when Laine moved his lips down Sev’s jaw then began a series of nibbling bites and licks down his neck. Sev’s shudder had nothing to do with cold and everything to do with the fiery explosion of heat that spread from his belly to his balls, disbursing to the rest of his body. Stunned by the force of the lust surging through him, Sev was reduced to gasping as he tried to speak. The feel of sharp teeth biting, of lips latching on and sucking, had Sev’s head snapping back against the refrigerator.

  “God… Laine!” Is he marking me? Sev was torn. It felt erotic, painfully good, but he’d never let any man put a mark on him before. The fact Laine was, hadn’t even asked, nearly sent Sev into a panic. The sharp tug of pressure against his skin as Laine sucked, hard, sent the panic skittering away as Sev’s balls drew up tight and his cock pulsed. It felt good, too good, and if he wasn’t so damned horny, he would have protested. As it was, he arched his neck, giving Laine more skin to torture. Another stinging, sucking kiss on the sensitive skin below his ear had Sev crying out, his body trying to arch into the pleasure. He felt Laine’s moist tongue lave the newest mark, then Laine lifted his head, his liquid silver eyes flaring with need.

  Carefully, Laine lowered Sev’s feet to the floor. He took the beer from Sev’s numb fingers and set it on the counter, then Laine was taking Sev’s hand and leading him into the bedroom.

  “You have what we need?” Laine’s voice was rough and deep, and sent another one of those pulsing aches to Sev’s balls.

  Sev nodded, his eyes on the firm, round, denim-covered ass in front of him.

  “Sev? Do you?”

  “Oh.” Sev had been so distracted by Laine’s ass that he hadn’t even thought about the fact that Laine couldn’t see him nod. “Yeah, in…in my suitcase.”

  Laine jerked Sev around and kissed him until Sev’s head spun, then he stepped back and gave Sev a nudge.

  “Go in my room and strip. I want you spread out on that bed by the time I get back.” Laine veered to the room on the left. Sev looked at that big, lean body, the rangy muscles that flexed and rolled with each step Laine took, and decided that feeling Laine inside him was worth any risk. Every cell in his body screamed out for the man’s touch, for the feel of Laine’s thick cock pressing into him. Sev turned and sprinted for the bed, jerking his clothes off and tossing them in whichever direction was convenient.

  He paused long enough to pull back the dark blue blanket and sheet, then crawled into the middle of the bed, determined to make Laine as crazy for him as possible. Sev spread his legs wide and cupped his balls, not bothering to bite back the moan as he did. With his other hand, he began slowly working the length of his cock, and when Laine stepped in the room and froze, gaze locked on to Sev’s dick, Sev knew he’d succeeded in stoking Laine’s need up as high as he could. The man stood stock still and barely breathed, his muscles trembling.

  “Fuck, Sev.” Laine got one trembling hand on the buttons of his jeans. “You… I can’t describe it. You’re fucking perfect.”

  Sev thought Laine did a pretty good job describing it, so he stroked his cock faster, letting his eyes close as his hips thrust up and another moan left his lips. There was a flurry of sounds that didn’t really register, then the bed dipped down and Sev’s eyes flew open as his arms were yanked up above his head.

  “That’s enough of a show.” Laine’s lips hovered above Sev’s, and he kept Sev’s hands pinned at the wrist.

  “Laine, let me touch you, please!” All that beautiful, lightly tanned skin, firm muscles still quivering underneath, and Sev couldn’t touch it. He bucked his hips and hissed as his shaft slid along Laine’s.

  “You touch me and this’ll be over before it gets much further. Been a long time, this morning aside.” Laine lowered his hips and rubbed his leaking dick on Sev’s stomach, letting him feel the intensity of his desire. “I need inside you.”

  Sev nodded and wiggled his hips. “Yes, God yes!”

  Laine kissed him, claiming his mouth all over again, then lifted his head. “Keep your hands up, or grab the sheets. I’ll let you touch all you want next time…or maybe the time after that.”

  This time, Sev’s moan had nothing to do with the hands that were stroking his chest. Laine’s words, more than words, a promise that there would be more of this, more than a one-night stand, sent a trickle of fear through Sev that was quickly blotted out by something warm and soft and right. For the first time, Sev wanted something more, wanted it badly enough to ignore his own fears and attempts at self-preservation.

  Sev opened his eyes enough to watch Laine tear open the condom package. He almost drooled as Laine slide it down his thick cock. Watching Laine coat his shaft with lube was sheer torture, because Sev wanted nothing more than to touch that steely length. Then Laine’s fingers found his hole, and Sev decided that he did want something more than to get his hands on Laine’s dick. A thick, slick finger pressed in and Sev ached with need. A whimper slipped from his lips as he trie
d to get more, then a second finger filled him, twisting and pumping, stretching Sev in an erotic way that left him gasping in a manner too close to a sob.

  “Laine, please!” Sev broke off as his prostate was massged. His hips bucked and he bit his lip to keep from screaming. Another deep thrust then he was empty, groaning in protest until he felt Laine push his legs up, feet braced against Laine’s chest, and that heavy cock he needed began sliding into him.

  Their moans mingled and filled the air as Laine pushed in until his balls pressed against Sev’s ass. The burning stretch of his inner muscles sent a chorus of pleasure-tinged pain from Sev’s channel to his balls, then Laine was moving, thrusting in deep and hard, filling Sev over and over. He felt Laine shift, then Sev screamed, back bowing hard as Laine’s cock zeroed in on Sev’s gland. Sev’s balls sucked up against his body and his dick throbbed as cum burst free onto his chest. Laine’s harsh breaths seemed to burrow in Sev’s ears as that hard cock pounded into him, rhythm gone, nothing but need and frenzied lust fueling the grinding fucking. Laine shoved in deep, his hips swiveling as though to bury his cock so far inside Sev that neither of them would ever be free. Sev watched in awe as Laine flung his head back and yelled, gripping Sev’s thighs bruisingly, muscles clenching and veins protruding as Laine pumped his release into the condom.

  Laine’s head dropped forward, chin on his chest, as he struggled to breathe. Sev felt as though something had been permanently altered inside himself, his world tipped and thrown off balance. Laine’s hands loosened and began rubbing Sev’s bruised flesh with a touch so gentle he found himself having to fight to stay awake.