Adjusting to the Situation [Granite County 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove)

by Bellann Summer

  Synn frowned. He didn’t see Cade as someone who would waste his time. “Then why did you ask me here?”

  “I wanted to meet you in person and see if my hunch was right,” Cade said.

  “With all due respect. What the fuck are you talking about?” Synn asked. Now his temper was starting to rise. He may be able to keep it even most of the time. But when it blew, it blew hard and hot.

  “There’s a reason you and Shane were equals in rank for the government. That wouldn’t work for me. Shane is head of the field operations,” Cade explained. “I have no doubt you would try to follow his orders, but in the end there would be friction. And I’m not prepared to create another team at this time for you to run.”

  Synn sat up straight using a large tanned hand to push a long lank of shiny black hair over his shoulder. “Why am I here then?”

  “I have a good friend who needs a right-hand man to help him get rid of some powerful scumbags and assist him in keeping his county running smoothly,” Cade replied. “I think your skills and personality would be better suited with him.”

  Synn was intrigued. “Who is this friend?” he asked.

  “Sheriff Steve Titan,” Cade said.

  “Is this in an undercover capacity, or an official law enforcement job?” Synn asked. He had all the requirements to enter law enforcement, if he wanted to.

  “The job I’m thinking of is to be Steve’s Chief Deputy.”

  “Sorry, but I won’t cut my hair for anyone.” That was Synn’s hard limit. His hair was part of his Native American heritage that he was proud of. And he wasn’t cutting it.

  “Steve doesn’t have the above-the-collar hair policy. As long as you have your hair tied securely back, he doesn’t care how long it is,” Cade informed him.

  Synn sat back in his chair, thinking. “Why are you interviewing me instead of this Sheriff?”

  “Because Cade has great instincts concerning men, and he wanted to snatch you up first, if you fit in with his team.” A blond man, about the same height and body mass as Cade walked into the room. If his police uniform hadn’t given him away, his buzz cut short hair would have told Synn that he was the sheriff in question.

  “Synn Romeo, this is Granite County’s Sheriff, Steve Titan,” Cade said.

  Standing up, Synn turned toward the sheriff and held out his hand. “Nice to meet you,” he said. Synn liked that Steve’s grip was firm, but didn’t try to prove a point. He noted he was only about a half inch shorter than the handsome sheriff. And although he had solid muscles, Synn’s weren’t as bulky. Automatically he noticed the ring on Steve’s left hand.

  “Same here,” Steve replied.

  Both men sat down in the comfortable wooden chairs in front of Cade’s desk. Synn could feel the sheriff’s dark, almost black, eyes studying him. If the man had a problem with his heritage, now would be the time to find out. Synn would not work with a bigot. The last man who gave him shit found himself buried up to his neck in sand. It had taken the guy’s teammates over an hour to get him out of there. Synn never heard another peep out of the asshole.

  “Obviously you have skills if Cade asked you to come here. Has he offered you a position yet?” Steve asked.

  “No,” Synn answered.

  “Why not?” Steve asked, looking at Cade.

  “Because he reminded me of a man I interviewed years ago when I was just starting this company,” Cade said. “The guy had great skills, but was too much of a leader. Back then I was the leader, and now Shane is. I don’t have room for another one.”

  “Well, in the end it all worked out for both of us,” Steve said, smiling. Genuine friendship was reflected on both men’s faces.

  “I think Synn here would make a great Chief Deputy,” Cade said.

  Steve sat back in his chair and looked at him. “Is that something you’re interested in, Synn? Of course we would have to go back to the office and conduct a formal interview.”

  “I’m not sure,” he answered. “I would need to know what the job entailed. Cade mentioned you had some problem people in your county.”

  Steve laughed. “I guess that’s one way to put it. Last year we busted the Sheriff of Pine County for running drugs. Unfortunately that opened up a whole new can of worms. The more we dig into his activities, the more we find. Now a new kingpin has move into the area, and he makes the former sheriff look like a baby.”

  “What happened to your old Chief Deputy? Was he involved in running drugs, too?” Synn asked.

  “He left Granite County to become Pine County’s Chief Deputy,” Steve answered.

  Synn found that odd. “Why?” he asked.

  “My brother, Dean, is now the Sheriff for Pine County. Creed wanted to work for Dean,” Steve answered.

  “Come on, Steve. You might as well spit it all out. The man is going to find out anyway how things are here if he decides to stay,” Cade said. “Now is the time to see if there are any problems before we invest anymore time in him.”

  “Synn won’t have a problem with it,” Shane spoke up.

  “What won’t I have a problem with?” Synn asked.

  “My brother and Creed are partners, along with a doctor. The three of them are in a committed relationship, and all are men,” Steve stated.

  Synn felt his eyebrows rise. He had always thought life was a fascinating thing. He had found the only way to survive was to adjust to the situation. Right now it had taken an extraordinary turn, and a pleasant one at that. “So I take it, you don’t have a problem with it?” Synn asked the sheriff.

  “What exactly would I have a problem with?” Steve asked.

  Synn knew he was being tested. But he had a few tests of his own. “Your brother being gay,” he said frankly.

  “That would be hypocritical of me since I also am gay with a partner. As is my best friend, and his brother,” Steve answered.

  Synn studied Steve, before looking at Cade and Shane. “Mr. Shane, so you’ve finally managed to keep someone around for more than a day?” he asked, going back to the old nicknames to cover his surprise.

  “I have, Mr. Creole,” Shane answered. “And you better keep your hands to yourself. He’s gorgeous and all mine.”

  “You know I never poach,” Synn replied. “I’ll just have to see if there’s anyone else around to keep me warm.”

  “Around here, there’s a good chance of finding someone,” Shane said.

  “Well, it looks like that’s settled. Cade and I might have discussed your skills prior to him asking you here. Would you be interested in coming in to the department tomorrow for a formal interview,” Steve interrupted, dark eyes shining with humor.

  “I’ve already told Cade I won’t cut my hair,” Synn said. “It’s part of my heritage. Do you have a problem with that?”

  “I don’t have a problem with either your hair or your heritage. I take it you’re Native American. My former Chief Deputy, Creed, is Lakota,” Steve said. “Do you know what tribe you are from?”

  “My father is Cherokee and Creole. My mother is Cherokee,” Synn answered.

  “Creed has an adopted sister who is Cherokee. They are a beautiful people.” Steve stood up and held out his hand. “Do you have a place to stay in the area?”

  Synn shook hands with the sheriff and answered, “I found a room at the hotel in town.”

  “Good, can I expect you around nine tomorrow morning?” Steve smiled. “My department is connected to the courthouse.”

  “I’ll be there,” Synn answered.

  “If we are both satisfied with the way the interview goes, I’ll introduce you to your new assistant and have him show you around. If it doesn’t work, I have a few contacts I can introduce you to that are looking for good men with your skills,” the sheriff said.

  “Thanks,” Synn replied. Nodding to Cade and Shane, he left the house.

  * * * *

  Steve watched Synn get into a rental car and drive away. Turning to Cade, he said, “I think he’s perfect for the job.�
��

  Cade smiled, blue eyes sparkling, “That’s why I brought him here. After I made sure he wasn’t right for Rescue for Hire, I figured I could manipulate things for you so the whole issue of sexuality and ethnicity was out of the way. Now you can have your official interview and not get into hot water.”

  “I’ve managed to weed out the haters in the past,” Steve defended.

  “True,” Cade agreed. “Who’s the assistant?”

  Steve laughed. “Craig Collins.”

  Cade and Shane both broke out laughing.

  “Do you think Synn can handle that sex on a stick? When he walks into a room half the men and most of the women start drooling,” Shane asked.

  “Not only do I think Synn can handle him, but I get to watch the fireworks I have a feeling those two are going to make together.” Steve chuckled.

  “I predict Synn is strong enough to keep Craig in line. Now that I think about it, I believe they just might make it for the long haul,” Cade said.

  “Could be,” Steve said. “But either way, it sure is going to be fun watching them while they figure it out.”

  All three men broke out laughing again.

  Chapter Two

  Craig was restless. He wanted skin-on-skin contact. Not nurses with needles or therapists demanding that he rebuild the muscles of his chest and abdomen. He wanted his mouth or ass stretched tight around a hard dick, preferably with a hand tangled in his hair, demanding his submission. Man, he loved it when a man was strong enough to keep him in line. That didn’t happen often, and never for long.

  Wearing the tightest pair of black jeans he owned and a deep emerald green silk shirt, Craig entered K&L’s Bar on a mission. The dim interior was only cut by the strobe lights slicing over undulating bodies on the dance floor.

  Bypassing the bar, Craig made his way through the crowd. A few bold hands cupped his ass. Some slid over his package. A curly-haired woman, her heavy makeup looking grotesque in the flickering white light, stepped in front of him and ran her long-nailed hands up his chest.

  Craig grabbed her wrists. Leaning closer, his put his lips near her ear and yelled above the pounding bass, “Not tonight, darling.”

  Not tonight, not any night with a woman. In high school his older brother had made Craig and his twin a deal. They each had to take a girl on a date and attempt to be intimate with her. If it didn’t work out, he wouldn’t hassle them for being gay.

  Neither of them had liked the idea, but their older brother, Clark, was the only one who had any type of control over Craig or his twin, Cooper. At sixteen, they pretty much followed twenty-year-old Clark’s orders. Everyone else, they ignored.

  Keeping their end of the deal, Craig and Cooper asked a couple of girls out on a double date. They both even managed to have sex with them. And they both vowed never to do that again. Ever.

  Craig moved around the woman and stepped onto the dance floor. Within seconds he had a hard body behind him and tiny twink in front of him. The twink was rubbing their groins deliciously together. Craig decided the night was looking up.

  K&L’s was the kind of bar where you left your profession, status in society, and inhibitions at the door. It was dark, alcohol flowed like a river and sex was on everyone’s mind.

  Body swaying and hips thrusting to the beat, Craig let himself go. This was what he needed. Raising his arms above his head he closed his eyes and let the music take over.

  “Get lost.”

  The hard cock rubbing against Craig’s ass disappeared. The twink’s wandering hands dropped away and the dick sliding against his was gone. Craig forced his eyelids open and looked toward the deep voice ordering away his fun.

  Holy fuck. In front of him stood a tall, long-haired Adonis. Craig’s cock pushed hard against the zipper of his pants. He had a weakness for men with dark skin and hair. This Native American pushed every one of his buttons.

  In the flashing lights he saw penetrating dark eyes, slashes of eyebrows, high cheekbones, and a goatee encircling a firm chin and a pair of plump lips. A light sheen of sweat made the man’s dark skin shine.

  Stepping forward, the man ordered, “Put your arms around me, baby, and show me what you can do.”

  Immediately Craig slid his hands up over the wide chest, making sure his fingers traced over each pebbled nipple under the soft layer of thin black material. He didn’t stop until his body was stretched up against all of those hard muscles and his hands were locked behind the man’s thick neck. Craig estimated the guy must be around six-five, well above Craig’s own five-ten. So far Craig was in heaven.

  Hands covered Craig’s hips. One long finger on each side of his waist forced its way under the tight band of his jeans.

  Craig gave the man everything he ordered, dancing to the music and becoming totally alive in his obedience. Like a snake before the charmer, he found himself mesmerized by the big man’s movements. Craig’s body automatically following his lead.

  Hands roughly pulled him forward until there wasn’t a sliver of air between them. Their hips and entwined legs began a down and dirty dance, mimicking the act that Craig was craving.

  “What’s your name, lovely man?” The deep voice next to his ear sent a skin prickling spasm throughout Craig body.

  Lifting his head, Craig’s nose and mouth tangled in long silky tresses of hair. “Craig,” he answered. “What’s yours?”

  “Synn,” the big man responded, sending a fresh rush of shivers along Craig’s skin.

  “Yes you are,” Craig responded, leaning back in the big man’s arms. Looking him straight in the eyes, he said, “I know a place with a little privacy.”

  Straight white teeth were startling in the dim lighting when Synn smiled. “Sounds good. Lead the way.”

  Crossing the dance floor, Craig put an extra sway in his hips. He could feel many eyes on him, but his show was for Synn’s benefit only. Something about the man had Craig wanting to snare Synn’s complete attention.

  Craig turned down a hallway where the bar’s small kitchen was located. At almost midnight on a weekday, it was closed. Entering the kitchen, Craig wasn’t surprised to hear moans coming from the corners of the dark room. Ignoring them he turned down a short hall and pulled open the storage closet door. Flipping the light switch on, Craig entered. After Synn moved past him, Craig shoved a large round garbage can in front of the door. It may not stop anyone from entering the room, but it would at least give them a warning. That taken care of, he turned toward the handsome man hoping Synn would give Craig what his body desperately needed.

  A large hand buried itself in Craig’s long blond hair and tipped his head up. Warm soft lips covered his in a kiss that swept away all his thoughts. A tongue pressed for entrance, and Craig welcomed the flesh invading his mouth. It had been months since he had felt another human this way.

  Sliding his hands around the bigger man’s back, Craig traced the soft, silky strands of hair until they ended just above Synn’s waist. He took a few moments to enjoy the muscles rippling under his palms before cupping the hard cheeks of the man’s ass.

  Synn’s tongue explored every nook and cranny of his mouth while Craig’s fingers continued their travels and opened Synn’s pants. Discovering the man went commando almost had Craig coming right then. Course curling hair surrounded an enormous cock that sprang out of the opening into Craig’s hand. Warm, hard and magnificent, were words that came into Craig’s mind as he explored the thick-veined appendage.

  The wet kiss ended when Synn lifted his head. The hand in Craig’s hair tugged, encouraging him to his knees. No words had to be spoken, their minds were so in sync with what they both wanted.

  Craig’s knees met the hard floor just as both of his hands cupped the prize he could hardly wait to have stretching his mouth so good. There was no way he was going to be able to get the whole thing in his mouth, but Craig planned on deep throating as much as he could.

  A bead of pre-cum emerged from the slit in the end of the bulbous head as Cr
aig pumped Synn’s dick with long firm strokes. Continuing his exploration with one hand, Craig reached into his pocket and pulled out a condom. Efficient movements had the wrapper open and Synn gloved up. The smell of strawberries permeated the air.

  Craig played it safe concerning sex. Until he found someone that he wanted to make a commitment with, he wouldn’t take any chances. When his big brother Clark had died from complications of the AIDS virus, Craig almost lost his mind at the irony. Both he and Cooper vowed to use condoms from then on with a partner, until there were promises of exclusivity.

  That didn’t mean he had to put up with the nasty taste of latex. His pocket also contained cherry, banana, and kiwi-flavored condoms. Happily, he sucked the strawberry-flavored cock head into his mouth. The thin latex didn’t stop his tongue from investigating the slit in the end or around the edges of the beefy cap.

  Sucking harder, he pulled Synn’s cock deeper into his mouth until it touched the back of his throat, stretching the corners of his lips wide. Then he swallowed.

  “Holy mother of Mary, you are good, my lovely. But now you will submit to me,” Synn said, a hint of a Creole accent marking his words.

  Craig looked up along Synn’s body until he met the dark-haired Native American’s black eyes. While their eyes were locked together, Synn thrust his hips forward and buried his cock down Craig’s throat.

  Synn pulled back until only the head was in Craig’s mouth, giving him enough time to take a breath, before his lips were stretched wide again, and all air was cut off. Craig worked on relaxing his throat. He had never taken a dick this large before and the invasion was exquisite.

  The hand in his hair tightened, locking him in place and Synn began to fuck his mouth and throat. Craig loved it and reached down to open his own pants. Taking another condom from his pocket he covered his cock, not wanted to mess up the floor of the storage room.

  Synn continued to use his mouth, while Craig wrapped his hand around his own dick. Pumping it with quick, short strokes soon had the telltale tingle forming at the base of his spine.