Sixteen – Jeremy
Journal Entry: I can’t believe how sexy Ollie is. So protective. I couldn’t believe it when he offered to let me stay at his place. Waiting for him to come pick me up feels like forever. Damn. What am I, twelve or something? A kid with a crush? I haven’t stopped thinking of him the entire time he was gone, and now that he’s on his way, I’m nervous. This is not me—at all. Am I off my path? Am I making good decisions? Doesn’t feel like it, but thinking about Ollie’s hot body next to mine, being wrapped up in his arms? Can’t seem to care much. Seems like my path is a horny one right now.
They picked up burgers on the way to Jeremy’s place. When had he started thinking of his aunt’s condo as his place? It wasn’t. Not really, but the big TV was still there, and they wanted to watch a movie. Ollie brought his laptop and connected it to the TV. He put Weekend on. Jeremy had already seen the movie, but he didn’t care. He’d watch it again if it meant sitting next to Ollie for a few hours.
“I like this movie,” Ollie said, pulling Jeremy closer. “I’ve seen it a few times. Have you seen it?”
Jeremy nodded. “Yeah, it’s good.” His throat was tight. “Before it starts...”
“Yeah?”
“Can you tell me about what happened in North Carolina? Anything else about my car?”
Ollie grabbed Jeremy’s hand. “Not much to tell. We have a better idea of who is doing this, but we still don’t know where they are. I think you’re safe, though.”
“Why?”
Ollie exhaled slowly. “You don’t have much of anything left for them to take. That’s their MO apparently. They’ve moved on. Probably to Georgia or South Carolina... They’ve been moving around. I doubt they’re in Florida anymore.”
“Based on your app?”
“Yes. From the data collected from the other cases that relate to this one. Yours is closed. Get the copy of the last report for your bank and you’re done.”
The movie came on. Jeremy settled in next to Ollie, pressing his back against Ollie’s side. He wrapped his arm around Jeremy’s shoulder and held his hand. Jeremy stretched out across the couch, while Ollie propped his feet up on the coffee table. Warm and cozy. What would it be like to be with Ollie for real, maybe living together or married? Would every night be like this one? Snuggled up, watching a movie?
Jeremy paid no attention to the movie, but he knew every breath Ollie took, where his hands were, when his stomach made that gurgling noise...When his free hand found its way into Jeremy’s hair and rubbed his head, Jeremy closed his eyes.
“Come here,” Ollie whispered, but Jeremy heard him clearly.
He sat up, and Ollie pushed him back onto the couch. He kissed Jeremy softly with lips that seemed to tremble. Then his tongue licked out, and Jeremy opened his mouth, letting him in, wanting him. He tasted fresh like spearmint.
Ollie touched Jeremy’s cheeks, rubbing his beard as they kissed. He liked that feeling, liked Ollie’s hands on him. Liked Ollie’s lips as they traveled over his face, under his chin, nipping along his neck, sending chills down his spine as they traveled. His nose brushed through Jeremy’s beard.
Jeremy’s hands rubbed Ollie’s back. He tucked a finger into the waistband of his jeans. The weight of Ollie pressing him into the couch made Jeremy feel secure, warm, loved, or at least cared for. He could take cared for...
“Fuck the movie. Jeremy. I want you.”
“Okay, yeah. Me too.” Jeremy led him to the master bedroom and the queen-size bed his aunt had owned. He didn’t want to think about Christy. She wouldn’t mind. If she did, she wouldn’t have left them the condo.
Clothes came off quickly and got dumped wherever they happened to land. Jeremy’s hands roamed Ollie’s body, searching his skin for untouched parts. Ollie blew into Jeremy’s ear and nibbled at his earlobe. “I didn’t bring anything, J.”
“I have lube. Maybe a condom...I don’t know.”
Ollie reached between them, grabbed Jeremy’s cock, and stroked it slowly. “We don’t have to fuck every time.”
“I’m negative. I tested recently.”
“Me too. But I’m still not going to do it without a condom. Hey...don’t pout. There are other things we can do.”
“Yeah? What?” Jeremy couldn’t think with Ollie’s warm grip around his cock.
Ollie smiled and with his dark hair and caramel eyes. The smirk made him look roguish. He chuckled in a very naughty way and slid down Jeremy’s body, but his hand didn’t stop moving, pulling, until it finally grasped his dick at the base and held it firmly. Then his lips slid over the swollen head, followed by wet tongue and mouth. The heat and the pressure forced an involuntary noise from somewhere deep in Jeremy’s throat that almost sounded like someone else.
Jeremy hadn’t had a good blow job in a long time. Hadn’t been with anyone in a long time. His life had been full of working at the bar, hanging out at the beach, and not much else. It was where he needed to be and how he needed to live. Peaceful. But with Ollie sucking his cock, rubbing his balls, that look back on his life seemed kind of lonely.
Pulling off, Ollie gave a little growl. “Stop thinking about other things. Think about this. How good it feels.”
With wide eyes, Jeremy nodded. “It does feel good. Don’t stop. Please.”
Ollie gave another evil chuckle and licked around the edges of the crown with the tip of his tongue. That strange noise came from Jeremy again, and this time, he let a low groan follow it. His hands threaded their way into Ollie’s dark hair, gripping and stroking affectionately.
The wet slide of Ollie’s mouth, the pressure as he bobbed up and down, the sounds of slurping, his fingers tickling Jeremy’s balls... He didn’t need any more than that.
Another moan broke the moment, but this time it was Ollie, and it worked like a key unlocking Pandora’s Box. Tingling through his spine and out to his cock had his hips thrusting, chasing that feeling that slid out of reach, and he needed it. Wanted it. Couldn’t wait. “Now...Ollie....” He came hard with Ollie still sucking him and swallowing every bit of it.
A long sigh escaped his lips as Jeremy’s body relaxed into the mattress. Ollie climbed up over him and fixated on his face, dark eyes questioning him. Was it good?
Jeremy smiled. “That was so good.”
“Good.” Ollie’s voice was low and gravelly and turned on.
“Your turn?”
Pink flushed over Ollie’s cheeks. “No. I came, too.”
“I would have taken care of you.”
“It’s okay. I like giving head. A lot. I like you. I couldn’t help it, and I’m not sorry.”
Jeremy wrapped his arms around Ollie’s waist, holding him tight. “Good.”
They stayed there snuggling for a long time and no time at all. Jeremy never wanted to move. He wanted to feel Ollie’s warmth against him all night. He closed his eyes and hummed softly.
“Hey. I can’t stay, J. I have to get up early tomorrow.”
“Oh. Okay.” Jeremy sat up, sliding out from under Ollie, not wanting to show his disappointment but his face would surely give it away.
Ollie sat up, too. “I want to. It’s—”
“No. It’s okay.”
“You can come over to my place.”
No. He couldn’t. “I have to get this place cleaned up. Bernie took tomorrow off to come help since we cancelled over the weekend.” Since Ollie had told them to stay away from the condo, they listened, but they still needed to finish.
Ollie slowly picked through the clothes on the floor, found his jeans and pulled them on commando. His t-shirt followed. He left his underwear on the floor, nestled up to Jeremy’s boxers. Jeremy stared at them. It probably meant that he intended to return, but Jeremy didn’t want him to leave in the first place. He didn’t have a right to ask it.
This was a summer fling—nothing more.
For both of them. Fun to fool around while they were there, and that would come to an end quickly. He needed to remember that.
; Jeremy pulled on his boxers, leaving Ollie’s briefs on the floor, and walked him to the door.
“Lock this behind me, and don’t answer it for anyone you don’t know.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m an adult, you know.”
“Oh, I know.” He pulled Jeremy to him and kissed him hard on the lips. “I can still worry about you, though.”
“I guess.”
“Hey...stop. You’re pouting again.”
Jeremy slid his fingers in Ollie’s belt loops and yanked him forward, pressing their bodies together. “I’m not pouting. I’m disappointed. I wanted you to stay.”
“I’m sorry.” He fingered Jeremy’s hair. “Oh, my laptop.”
“I’ll get it.” He let Ollie go and retrieved the computer. “Here. Next time leave the laptop and bring condoms.”
“Is that an order?” He tucked the computer under his arm.
“Yes. As a matter of fact, it is, Specialist Mendosa.”
Ollie chuckled a bit and then kissed Jeremy one more time. “Okay. Next time.”
Seventeen – Jeremy
Journal Entry: I laid in bed staring at the ceiling for a long time before I got up to write this. I like Ollie. Besides the sex, he’s fun. He’s smart. He takes me for who I am. But why not? I have to remind myself of the whole summer fling status. I’m thankful for every second we spend together, and I don’t want to pout about what I can’t have. He’s shown me that I’ve been walking through my life alone and even though I thought I was happy, maybe I wasn’t. There’s something to be said for enjoying where you are and taking it all in. The beach, the bar. It’s simple and clean. Yet, it’s another thing to be complacent and let things happen however they unfold. I’ve been standing still while a million things swirl around me. That’s Tao. Yet, the guy in the coffee shop said that we still need to make decisions. And maybe I’m tired of being lonely. Mysteries reveal themselves at the proper time. We merely wait. Maybe my time is coming.
Jeremy woke to some asshole banging on the door. He grabbed a t-shirt and cargo shorts. He pulled them on with a smug grin when he saw Ollie’s underwear still on the floor where he’d left them. By the time he made it to the front door, the banging had stopped. He looked out the peephole, but no one was there. It was very possible the banging could have been on his neighbor’s door. It sure wasn’t Scottie. He had a key and would let himself in. He thought it might be Ollie, or rather hoped.
Grabbing his phone, he dashed off a quick text: Were you just here?
No. I’m at the precinct.
Ok! Have a great day! I’m thinking ‘bout you.
shit—now I’m thinking about you—last night
Jeremy chuckled. He should text something back but couldn’t think of anything else to say. He wished it could be more, but he was going back to Clearwater, probably next week. He put his phone down and went to the kitchen to make some coffee. Searched through the pantry and found cereal. He munched on it right out of the box while the coffee brewed. His phone beeped. Another text.
He wanted it to be Ollie asking to come over, but that was stupid. He sighed and picked up the phone. Scottie. They were on their way over. Him and Aunt Bernie had taken the day off to help clean up. He texted an ok back, then munched on more cereal.
He considered his life in Clearwater. How simple it had been. Everything was yin and yang. If it rained today, tomorrow the sun would shine. He made a few bucks during the week and enough to pay a month’s rent on any given Saturday. In and out. Ebb and flow. Simple. Nothing seemed simple at all anymore.
He poured some coffee and waited, trying to be in the moment.
Eventually, the door opened. “Jeremy!” Scottie called out.
“Yeah. Hey. Thanks for coming.”
Bernie came in behind Scottie and shoved the poor guy out of the way getting to Jeremy. She hugged him tightly. “You doing okay?”
He nodded and then jerked his head to indicate the huge pile in the corner. “I’ll be better if we can clear that stuff up and get this place on the market.”
“On the market? I thought we were going to wait.” Scottie slouched across the couch. “Oh, hey. There was a note taped to the door.” He held up a piece of paper, folded in half.
Jeremy snagged the paper and opened it. He showed Scottie, who paled when he saw it.
“What the hell?” Bernie screeched and yanked it from Jeremy’s hand. “Watch your back? What does that mean? Is this a threat?”
“I think it is. Here. Let me get a picture.” Jeremy snapped a picture of the words written in black marker across the white paper—a bold threat. They were supposed to be in another state. He texted the pic to Ollie. His phone rang almost immediately.
“I’m coming over,” Ollie barked before Jeremy could even say hello.
“No. I’m fine. Scottie and Bernie are here. I’m betting they taped it to the door around the time I texted you earlier.”
“Why? What?”
“Someone banged on the door. I hoped it was you.”
“Oh. No. But, damn. I don’t like that they’re still threatening you. Hold on to that paper. I’ll be by later today to get it.”
“Okay.”
The rest of the day went by uneventfully. Bernie and Scottie helped go through the rest of Christy’s things. They worked together companionably, laughing, sharing memories, and singing songs together for several hours.
Then they stopped by the shop to pick up the pocket watch Jeremy had found before going for lunch. The watch cleaned up nicely. Shiny and working. Jeremy liked it. He wasn’t one for keepsakes, but this reminded him of family and better times before his childhood fell apart.
Eighteen – Ollie
For the millionth time that day, Ollie looked at the picture of the note that threatened Jeremy. He wanted to find these assholes. Wanted to protect Jeremy. His app turned up a lot of potential suspects and locations to sort through. Maybe they’d hit on something. Walker flipped through his notes while glancing repeatedly at his computer screen and mumbling under his breath about all the work he had to do.
Jeremy would be heading back to Clearwater soon. Part of him wanted Jeremy to go back there immediately. He’d be safer there. Out of harm’s way. Another part of him didn’t want Jeremy to go at all. He wanted Jeremy to stay with him, but that wasn’t happening. Jeremy had a life on the other side of the state, and Ollie would be left behind, again. He’d learned early in life that people never stuck around, everyone left. Even Ollie would leave. If Jeremy stayed longer, Ollie would go back to New York soon, so his heart didn’t matter in this. It didn’t feel any better being the one doing the leaving.
He’d been damned determined to be the one doing the leaving ever since Hayden. That experience had been the last straw in his shit life. He’d decided that he’d leave first, then he wouldn’t be hurt, but nothing changed. It still hurt. So he stopped letting people get close to him. Until Jeremy. They weren’t that close yet. They hadn’t had enough time for that. Still, he felt closer to Jeremy than anyone since Hayden, even closer than Corey. He couldn’t let this continue. Their affair needed to end before they both ended up hurt.
His phone buzzed. Another text from Jeremy, Come over for dinner?
He set his phone down, ignoring the text. He hated the thought of breaking Jeremy’s heart, of hurting him in any way, but that’s what he was doing. For once in his life, he didn’t feel like getting straight to the point. He pulled out his Lifesaver roll and unwrapped a piece of candy. He popped it in his mouth and got back to work. The sooner they caught these guys, the sooner he could go back to his life. In New York. Alone.
Nineteen – Jeremy
Journal Entry: I miss the beach. I think I need the water, the sun, the birds. They flow through my veins. The beach is a part of me, and I’m missing it. The Tao teaches that we must live in harmony with the earth. It’s hard to do when you don’t feel connected to the earth or nature or even the people around you. I need to stay on my path and not let the r
hetoric of others sway me. Only then can I find peace.
Scottie still hadn’t taken the big screen TV from the condo. Jeremy sat on the couch staring at it. Scottie had left it for him, hoping to convince him to stay. They wanted him to stay. His family.
Jeremy loved them and enjoyed Scottie’s company, but he missed Clearwater. Missed home. He needed to get back. Needed to work and pay his rent. Though, his landlord was as cool as his boss and would wait for it.
He sucked his bottom lip in between his teeth and worried it with his tongue. The hippie guy had made sense at the time with all his talk about making decisions and not letting life run him over, but Jeremy still didn’t know what to do. Had he made so few real decisions in his life that he didn’t know how to do it anymore? Since college, he pretty much didn’t do anything. He kept working at the bar, hanging out at the beach. That had been enough. It didn’t feel like enough anymore.
Ollie hadn’t returned any of his calls or texts. It’d been two days. He hadn’t even come to get that stupid note the idiots had taped to the door.
Jeremy called Scottie.
“Yo! What’s up cuz?”
“You’re such a flake, Scott.”
“You’re grumpy. Let’s go out! We’re overdue to get a little ripped.”
Jeremy slid down on the couch, his skin stuck to the leather and made fart noises as he moved. “That’s not why I called, dude.”
“Dude?”
“Listen. I know you want me to stay, but damn. Right now, I feel trapped. No car. No money—”
“I’ll give you a loan. You can get a job...plenty of bars in Jacksonville.”
“I know, but I think we should go ahead and sell the condo, and I want to go home. Clearwater. That’s home for me. That’s the way it is.”
“Home is where you have people that love you, Jere.”
For a few minutes, they sat in silence. What else could Jeremy say?
“Fine.” Scottie broke the tension. “I’ll help you get home. We’ll sell the condo. I guess I was being childish anyway. I know you have a life, your own life. We’ll still be cousins, friends.”
Time for Love Page 8
