by Andrew Grey
“Maybe they’re a little shy?”
“At two hundred a ticket? I don’t think so,” Mattias quipped, and James swallowed wrong, coughing slightly to try to cover.
“They were that much?” he asked.
Mattias waved it off. “Come on and dance with me,” he said, taking James’s hand and leading him toward the music. James was still surprised enough that his protest died on his lips. Before he knew it, Mattias had him on the floor with a number of other couples, holding him close enough that James could smell Mattias’s subtle cologne.
“I’m terrible at this,” James whispered, but Mattias simply pulled him closer.
“You’re doing just fine.” Mattias met James’s gaze. “Dancing is like making love, only standing up and with your clothes on. You’re damn good at that, so dancing should be a piece of cake.” Mattias slowly flowed with him around the floor.
James was afraid they would become a spectacle, but no one seemed to be paying them any adverse attention. He finally relaxed and let Mattias lead. Once he let go of his self-consciousness, what Mattias had said sank into his brain and he actually felt his cheeks flush.
“You’re a real silver-tongued devil. Is that how you got so good at your former profession?” James asked, and immediately felt Mattias tense and then misstep. James closed his eyes, wishing he’d learn to keep his damned big mouth shut.
When he opened his eyes again, Mattias’s expression was hard, and a hint of fire blazed in his eyes. James needed to figure out a way to get well and truly past the idea of what Mattias used to do for a living. After all, a man’s past was just that. James had one as well. Neither of them could change it, and yet Mattias’s stuck in James’s conscience and he wished to hell it would simply go away.
“Sometimes you can be a real ass,” Mattias finally said.
“No argument there. Everyone is good at something.” James wagged his eyebrows, and thankfully Mattias relaxed as the song came to an end. They parted, and the music changed to something with swing. James shifted to the side of the dance floor while Mattias began to move. One of the ladies approached him, and he took hold of her arms, the two of them easily getting into the upbeat rhythm.
James knew he should be watching the people watching Mattias and his stunning partner, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Mattias for a second. His jaw set, and James forced himself not to grind his teeth.
“I take it you don’t dance like that,” Gladys said from next to him, and James shook his head. “That’s a pity.”
James nodded his agreement, but could barely look away as Mattias deeply dipped the woman, her face splitting into a smile, her eyes as ravenous as James felt.
“He’s only taking her for a spin.”
“I know.” He hated the idea that he was jealous. It was a waste, and he had no damned right to be.
“Sweetheart, I don’t think she has anything he’s really interested in.” Gladys patted his shoulder, and James realized he needed to school his expression.
“I….”
“Don’t worry. He looks at you the same way you look at him.” She smiled, and finally James turned to her. “You boys, you think everything is such a big secret. I know love when I see it. Reginald and I have been at it for more than forty years.” She turned, giving her husband the same smile James had seen on Mattias’s face when he was picking on him. “Don’t you worry. A dance is sometimes just a dance.”
The music came to an end, and Mattias and the woman thanked each other.
Gladys nudged him in the side. “Go get him, tiger.” She laughed as James found himself propelled forward without thought or volition. He simply went, took Mattias in his arms, and it was his turn to lead where he wanted them to go. He might have been clumsy when it came to dancing, but Mattias didn’t seem to notice or care.
“I thought you didn’t dance,” Mattias said, delight dancing in his eyes.
“I don’t. You’re lucky I’m not stepping on your feet more than I am,” James retorted. “And you know we’re supposed to be watching people instead of having half the party watching us.” He tugged Mattias a little closer. “If I try to watch while we dance, I’ll get dizzy.”
“Then settle down and stop moving in a circle.” Mattias took back control of the dance. “That’s much better.” He seemed to settle into a slow rhythm, and James was more comfortable with his leading. “Are you watching people?”
James felt sheepish. “No,” he whispered, his attention focused on where Mattias’s hands touched him. Yes, he should be doing what he came here for, but he was way more interested in the rich scent that filled his nose and the way Mattias lightly brushed up against him as they moved.
“Me neither,” Mattias breathed. “It’s a little hard—okay, a lot hard, if you have to know the truth—to concentrate on anything other than you.” He laid his head on James’s shoulder, and James sighed softly, holding Mattias in return, just letting him and the music fill his attention.
James breathed easily, and for a few minutes, let go of the cop and the need for control. He could simply be himself and stay in the moment… at least for a small while. He spent so little time actually just enjoying things. He let the side of his head press to Mattias’s, his hands gently caressing his back as the music continued to play. The DJ seemed to understand that if he wanted people to remain dancing, all he needed to do was play slower music and the dance floor stayed full. He caught Gladys’s eye for a second as she and Reginald moved by. She flashed him a smile and then returned to her own dance-floor romance. Damn, she was a lucky lady to have someone look at her the way Reginald did, after more than forty years. That was special.
James tried to imagine if that could be possible for him. He was pretty sure that wasn’t going to happen if he didn’t take a chance of some sort. But playing with risks wasn’t in his nature. James like things he could see and touch. And love… that had always felt like something nebulous that he couldn’t quite put his finger on.
“Just relax and stop worrying about whatever has you preoccupied,” Mattias said without letting him go.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re getting broody, and that isn’t good at a party. Besides, we’re supposed to be having a good time.”
“I believe we were to be watching people.”
“Can’t we do both?” Mattias countered.
James had no argument to that. Sometimes it pissed him off that Mattias always managed to get the last word. Still, he relaxed and let go once again. Mattias was right. There was no harm in having a little fun.
The song ended and the music grew silent. James stepped back, and he and Mattias left the dance floor. James got a glass of water and stopped by the buffet, doing his best to watch the other guests. Mattias had been right behind him, but James found himself alone with the munchies and made the most of it. He was truly starving, and the small-bite sandwiches were good, so he made short work of six of them before anyone else came in the room.
“James,” Mattias said, taking his plate and setting it aside. “I have something you need to see.” He led the way down a short hall to where the coats had been hung. James paused outside the room as Mattias put a finger to his lips. He peered around the corner as a teenager went through the coats, placing things in his pocket.
“I don’t think you want to do that,” James said, grabbing the kid enough to unbalance him. He tried to pull away, but James had him on the ground in seconds. “I’m a police officer, and you’ve stuck your hands in some pretty deep trouble.” He turned to Mattias, who was already on the phone.
“Help is on the way,” Mattias said, then knelt down. “What do you think you were doing?” He tugged the kid’s hands out of his pockets, sets of keys falling on the floor. “I take it you intended to liberate a few of the cars.”
“I ain’t saying anything,” he snapped.
“You don’t have to. Stealing someone’s car keys is tantamount to stealing the car, so we can get you on a whole li
st of charges.”
“I just wanted to have a little fun,” the kid, who couldn’t have been more then eighteen or nineteen, told him, his bravado gone.
“Looks like the fun is over before it even got started,” Mattias said before lifting his gaze. “I’ll meet the officers so we don’t make a huge production that interrupts things too much.” Mattias left the room, and James held the kid until two deputies arrived to take him into custody.
James had a deputy stay in the cloakroom to help anyone who might be missing their keys get them back. It seemed as though the party was over for them. James gave Mattias his keys so he could get home, and left with one of the other officers. James had to go to work, but Mattias might as well stay and have fun, though James longed to be able to stay with him.
Chapter 9
MATTIAS HADN’T been sure if James would want him in his bed, but he took that chance and woke in the night with James pressed against him. Mattias remained still so he didn’t wake him, listening to James’s gentle breathing. God, this was contentment at its best. It was hard for him not to wish this could continue forever. He sighed at the ease with which he seemed to trust James. Maybe it was because of their shared past… of a sort, anyway. But he doubted it was that. James was a solid, good, funny guy who didn’t take offense at Mattias’s teasing and even gave it back. That meant a lot. He’d always had this sense of humor that had driven his foster families crazy. James seemed to get it, and judging from his smile, he might even like it.
“Why are you awake?” James mumbled. “The grinding of the rusty gears in your head is deafening.” His hand slipped slowly up and down Mattias’s belly. “It’s late, and we have to get up early.”
“I know. I can go to the other room if I’m keeping you awake.”
James growled and held him a little tighter. “You’re warm, and it’s chilly out there. Don’t leave me without my furnace.” He buried his face in Mattias’s neck, his throat rumbling as he kissed him.
“I wish I could turn off this brain of mine, but I keep running over everything in my head.” What really kept his mind churning was James. Mattias didn’t want to think about what would happen once these thieves had been caught and this case was over. Damn it all, he’d always kept his heart to himself. Things were so much easier that way. He’d learned that lesson pretty quickly after losing his grandparents and being shuffled from foster home to foster home. If he grew to care for his foster family, they just rejected him for something he did, and he ended up moving on, so he stopped caring. That made the inevitable rejections so much easier to take. If he didn’t care, then he couldn’t be hurt.
This… whatever it was with James was different. The man got under his skin, burrowing deep before Mattias even realized it. Hell, he’d known him for less than a week, and already he was worrying what would happen when things ended.
“I know a couple ways to stop you from thinking.” James pushed him forward.
“What are you doing?” Mattias asked as he stretched out, sliding his arms under the pillow while James slithered down his back, heated licks and kisses pulsing their way down him.
James mumbled, cupping his butt. “I was a little peckish and thought I’d eat out.”
Mattias gasped as James parted his cheeks and buried his face between them. His brain short-circuited, unable to process the wickedly naughty delight that raced through him. He clamped his eyes closed, holding the pillow, doing his best not to scream his passion and wake the entire damned neighborhood. Not that he cared, as his attention zeroed down to the places where James touched him.
Nerves fired as wet, molten heat raged through him. He moaned softly in the pillow, his body shaking, pressed back.
“Are you all set for me?”
Mattias whimpered as he nodded. He was so ready, he could barely see straight. His body shook with anticipation, and he was only just aware of James getting prepared. Then he slowly pressed inside, and Mattias thought his head was going to explode. He opened his mouth to cry out, but no sound came, stolen away by the sheer ecstasy of James.
“Am I hurting you?” James whispered, pausing.
Mattias couldn’t really talk but managed to reach around and tug James forward until he got the message to continue. “Don’t stop…,” he moaned softly as James slowly rocked back and forth. Mattias spread out, giving himself and his pleasure over to James. He wished he could see him, look into his eyes, but damn it all, that would mean stopping… and to hell with that. He turned his head to the side, and James leaned over him. Their kisses were sloppy, lips grappling between rocking thrusts.
“Have no intention of stopping until you’re worn out.” James rocked faster, holding Mattias around the chest, their bodies coming together as James stripped away the last of Mattias’s control. Not that he cared. His pleasure was in James’s hands, and he certainly seemed to know what to do with it. Mattias cried out, stilling as his release barreled into him, taking him over the edge with enough force that he saw stars twinkling behind his eyes like the night sky.
Mattias collapsed forward, with James resting on top of him, his lips caressing Mattias’s shoulder. He didn’t want to move for all the money in the world. This was bliss, pure and simple. James had shown him passion and a piece of himself Mattias never knew existed. Being taken out of his own head for a while had been a sublime experience that Mattias hoped would be repeated again and again.
His doubts niggled at the edges of his brain, trying to work their way back into his mind, but he held them at bay. They had no place there right now.
When James withdrew, Mattias slowly lifted himself up, reddening at the mess he’d made. He slipped out of bed and to the bathroom to wipe up, and when he returned, James pulled the fresh linens down. They got into clean, crisp sheets, James holding him just like he had when Mattias had just woken up.
“Now let that mind of yours settle on that for a while.”
“Umm-hmmm.” Mattias sighed, snuggling closer, and James held him a little tighter. Mattias finally closed his eyes as fatigue and contentment washed over him. The afterglow carried him into slumber’s blissful embrace. He could be content and happy without worrying about the rest, at least for now.
When he woke in the morning, James was no longer in bed, and Mattias wondered if he might have dreamt it, but his scent still on the sheets told him that James had indeed been there. Mattias got up and dressed comfortably, then followed the scent of coffee down the stairs to where James spoke on the phone rather urgently.
“No, I don’t think he’s part of this. Just some opportunist,” James was saying.
Mattias nodded blearily, poured a mug of wake-up juice, and settled into a chair. Last night’s event had not happened at all how he’d envisioned, and he was disappointed, but watching James pace in the light sleep pants that clung to his hips and the T-shirt that stretched over his shoulders and chest was nearly enough to make him forget all about it.
“Yes. We’ll be on it. The plan hasn’t changed, and we’re working multiple angles,” James said, then listened and eventually ended the call.
“The sheriff?” Mattias asked, and James nodded. “He’s getting nervous, isn’t he?”
“Yes. Things were active for a while, and now they’re quiet. He’s afraid that with all the publicity, they may have left town and we’ll never catch them. The latest polls show the race for sheriff tightening, and that’s got Solly even more nervous. He’s wanted this job for so long, and every time he gets close, something happens to yank it away.”
“Did you get anything out of the kid from last night?” Mattias sipped his coffee and let it do its job. He needed to be able to think straight.
“He’s some local kid who was stupid enough to think he could borrow someone’s car for a joyride.” James leaned against the counter. “It was nothing at all related to this.” He scratched his head lightly. “I just want to go back to bed for a few hours and try to sleep, but I have work to do.”
“Wha
t about the man in the hospital?” Mattias asked. “Is he okay?”
“Yes. I intended to see him last night.” James put his mug on the counter. “I need to see him this morning before we go to the home tour thing.” His shoulders slumped as he turned away. It was clear that James felt a little beaten down, and Mattias wondered what he could do to help.
“If it’s worth anything, I doubt they’ve left yet. They need a score, something to propel them to their next destination. Yes, they’ve stolen a number of things, but none of them are enough to let them move and set up shop, even if they sold them all, and I doubt they have or the market would be flooded and we could trace things back to them more easily.” He knew deep down that they were still out there. His instincts and what he already knew about them told him they were lying low for a bit, watching and looking.
“You really think so?” James asked.
“Yes. Relocating takes a lot of money, and if we’re right, quite a bit of upheaval, especially if they have kids.” He caught James’s gaze as he nodded. “I bet you moved a few times growing up.”
“Yeah, we did. It was a long time before I realized why.” James yawned. “I wouldn’t wish that on any kid.”
Mattias sighed. “That doesn’t mean they’re going to stay very much longer, though. As soon as they make that score, they’ll be gone, the kids pulled out of school, and wherever they’re living left empty with a landlord wondering where they went.” Mattias grew anxious himself. “All we need is a single break, and we can find these people.” He sighed as he continued thinking while James drank the last of his coffee and turned to leave the room.
“I’m going to change and then head to the hospital. I need to talk to our victim to see if he remembers anything else. I’ll be back in time for us to be at the home tour.” He hurried upstairs, and Mattias sat alone, drinking his coffee, before going upstairs to get dressed himself.
“Do you want me to go with you?” Mattias asked from outside the bedroom door.
