by Gale Stanley
Levi finished his own drink and let out a low growl. “You know why I’m here. I’m looking for Noah.”
Although the apartment wasn’t bugged—Simon refused to live in a fishbowl—panic buttons were located in strategic spots in case he needed to call for help. He could have Levi picked up any time he wanted, but he was curious about the half-breed’s relationship with Noah. What makes one man so anxious to help another? Love? Simon had never known love in his life. Not the love of another man. Even his parents hadn’t loved him. To them he was just a status symbol. A man running for office needed to present a happy family unit to the voters.
Something else bothered Simon. Noah had brought out feelings in him that he hadn’t experienced before. Simon took pride in his work. But not this time. Never before had he felt guilt over an assignment. It ate at him and he wanted to put it to rest. He had to know he was on the right side.
* * * *
“Tell me about you and Noah, Levi. How did you first meet?”
“That’s not important.”
“It is to me.”
What is he playing at?
Stalling until the cavalry arrives, most likely. Levi wasn’t much for talking but he wanted a few answers, too. “First tell me why you want Noah?”
Simon explained why Noah had been bought. It was really Levi they were after. Levi’s heart twisted. Once again, he’d put Noah in danger. Overwhelmed with guilt, he vowed to do whatever he could to save his friend. If that meant cooperating with Simon, so be it.
“Your turn,” Simon urged, as he refilled their tumblers.
Levi took a long drink and began talking. Once he started, he couldn’t stop. He surprised himself. Maybe it was the liquor. He never spoke about his childhood, but it felt good to talk about Noah, the single most important person in his life. “He accepted me for who I am when I couldn’t even accept myself.”
Simon was a good listener, nodding and looking as if he really cared. “Man, you’ve had a tough life.” Simon put a hand on Levi’s shoulder.
“Save the concern for Noah.” Levi shrugged Simon off and clammed up. He didn’t want any pity. Long ago he’d made a pact with himself that he would not live his life indulging in self-pity, and he damn well wouldn’t accept it from anyone else.
Simon filled the empty silence with stories about his father. “He was a tough son of a bitch. Beat the shit out of me for anything and everything, but I had it pretty easy compared to you.”
Was Simon playing him to gain his cooperation, or did he really empathize with Levi? He had no idea and it didn’t really matter. This was Simon’s show. Levi was just along for the ride. “So, what happens now?” he asked Simon.
The other man regarded him with a strange unreadable expression. He shook his head. “Nothing.”
“So you’re going to let me walk out of here?”
“I can’t do that.”
Levi chuckled ruefully. “Why does that not surprise me?” He looked around the room. “You have agents waiting outside to take me down?”
“No. That’s not what I meant. You need to stay here for your own good.”
“Right. I’m supposed to believe you want to protect me?”
“Maybe I want to protect Noah.”
Levi let out a possessive growl. He hadn’t expected that answer.
“Noah’s done nothing wrong. Maybe I can work something out to get him released.”
Levi buried his jealousy. This wasn’t about him. If Simon could help Noah, he’d go along with it. “Trade me for him.”
“It’s a possibility, but I’m not sure my boss will let him go. I’ll find out when I get down there. Right now I need you to stay put. I’ve been given the task of finding you, but there could be other agents looking for you as well.”
He’d be a sitting duck but Levi had no comeback. He was willing to give up his life so Noah would have a chance to live his. “Okay, just promise me one thing.”
“What?”
“Don’t tell him about me and don’t bring him here. I don’t want him to see me. If he does, he’ll never agree to this plan.”
Simon nodded slowly and ran a hand through his hair. “I’m exhausted. Let’s get some sleep. You get the couch. It’s comfortable enough. I’ve slept on it more than once when I couldn’t make it to the bedroom.”
Levi agreed. He didn’t feel like talking anymore.
* * * *
Simon tossed and turned for hours. Never before had an assignment kept him awake like this. Everything about his conversation with Levi disturbed him, especially the contrast between their lives. Simon had been born to wealth and power, while Levi, son to a mixed species couple had been born with nothing. And yet, Levi worked hard and didn’t appear bitter about his lot in life. His only concern was for another man. A man he hadn’t seen in years. Simon wondered if Noah was still the person Levi believed him to be, or if all the humanity had been beaten out of him. Either way, Noah was an unfortunate victim in all this. Simon would never be able to live with himself if he didn’t at least try to help Noah.
And what about Levi?
The shifter was another story. He could turn into a savage beast. His race was a threat to society. Eventually, Simon would have to bring him in.
But he hasn’t done anything wrong. You’ve dealt with more than your share of human criminals. Do you believe that all men are evil?
Torn between what he was expected to do and what he knew was the right thing to do, Simon struggled but could not come to a decision.
When he finally drifted off to a fitful sleep, erotic dreams of the half-breed sleeping on his couch filled his head. They were so real that he woke with his own hand wrapped around his dick.
Fuck! While he was having wet dreams like some schoolboy, he’d left a stranger alone in his living room. The man had probably robbed him blind and taken off at the first opportunity. Simon rose from his bed and walked out to the living room to see for himself. The first rays of sunlight were filtering through the blinds and Simon could see the couch was empty. He cursed himself for being a fool. Just then Levi walked out of the second bath, one hand on his morning wood, the other rubbing sleep from his eyes. The sight of Levi stroking himself reminded Simon of their one encounter in the alley and his own cock responded with interest.
Levi finally realized he was being watched and he stood there blinking, dick in hand. “Checking up on me?”
It was exactly what he was doing, but Simon ignored the question. “I, uh, was about to take a shower and needed some soap.” He headed toward the bathroom that Levi had just vacated. When he came out with a bar of soap in his hand, Levi was sprawled across the couch, on his back. His dick pointed at the ceiling like a flagpole.
Simon decided a shower was exactly what he needed. He headed for the master bath in his bedroom, slid aside the shower door and adjusted the water. When clouds of white steam filled the enclosure, he stepped inside and let the hot spray pound on his shoulders. It chased away some of his stress, but not his insistent boner. That was going to take more than a little water.
Simon soaped his palms, creating a nice lather, and then let his slippery hands travel over his belly until he was gripping his cock. The slip and slide through his fist felt good and the throbbing vein that ran the length of his shaft pulsed with his heated blood. One hand cupped his balls, rolling and squeezing the lightly furred sac.
A visual of Levi appeared behind his closed eyelids. The half-breed was forced against a wall in the alley. Simon was gripping his hips and sliding his cock along the crease of Levi’s ass. Trying to suppress the vivid image was impossible. The shifter radiated an erotic appeal that Simon found irresistible.
Sparks rippled up his spine and Simon’s soap-slicked hand worked his cock roughly, just the way he liked. Heat traveled through his body, and he pumped harder.
Fuck, yes!
Simon’s whole body went tense as his cum shot against the tile wall. He leaned back and watched the evidence of h
is lust disappear down the drain.
What the fuck am I doing, jerking off like a teenager, when there’s a naked man lying on my couch? A naked man that I already fucked.
There was just one problem. Levi wasn’t a casual fuck anymore. He was a shifter and an assignment, and that meant he was off limits. Unfortunately, now that Levi had become forbidden fruit, it made him even more desirable. Simon had always been tempted by the forbidden. Letting the shifter stay in his apartment had been a stupid idea. The propinquity effect was bound to come into play. People thrown together in close physical or psychological proximity were bound to form some kind of relationship. That kind of relationship could put his life as well as his job in jeopardy. Simon was beginning to think he should push one of those panic buttons and have Levi picked up.
* * * *
Beyond confused, Levi’s thoughts went around in circles. What had made him confide in Simon? Part of it was Noah, but not all of it. He’d told Simon things that he’d never told anyone else. When Simon asked about his wolf tattoo, it had surprised him. He normally kept it covered and tried not to think about it. Simon already knew who and what he was, so he’d told him the truth. Members of the Were Resistance had marked him when he was captured years ago. It was supposed to be a constant reminder of his Lupine heritage. If that was the case they should have put it on his chest. Then he’d be forced to see it every time he looked in the mirror.
Levi finally got off the couch and headed back to the bathroom for a quick shower. He found another bar of soap in the cabinet under the sink and he put it to good use. If he was going to be arrested today, this might be his last shower for a while.
His clothes had torn when he shifted, so he wrapped one of the large bath towels around his hips. The smell of food drew him and he padded out to the kitchen. Standing at the arched entryway, he sniffed in appreciation.
Simon looked up and caught his eye. “Hungry?”
“Yeah.”
“Take a seat.” Simon waved him over to the small nook.
Levi watched Simon scramble eggs. Dressed in a pair of sweat pants and nothing else, he looked sexy as fuck. The sweats tented nicely below the waist telling Levi that Simon’s shower hadn’t put out any fires. Levi licked his lips. He was hungry for more than eggs. The man was his enemy but he could still admire his physique. Simon caught him staring and raised a brow. Levi turned away quickly and pretended he was checking out the kitchen. “Nice place you got here.”
“Yeah, I like it.” Simon set down a plate piled high with eggs, bacon and toast. He poured Levi a glass of orange juice and brought over the coffee pot. Then he sat down and started eating. Neither man talked as they wolfed down the food.
Levi studied Simon as he ate. He couldn’t get a handle on the man, couldn’t figure out what Simon was thinking. All the uncertainty made him nervous. He didn’t care so much about himself. If he just knew that Simon was really serious about helping Noah, that would be good enough, but Simon could be lying and he’d never know it.
The sexual tension between them didn’t help matters. They’d already fucked once before, and here they were, practically naked and from the looks of things both horny as hell.
Simon finished eating first. He jumped up and took his plate to the sink. Levi followed a minute later. They stood there looking at each other. Levi smelled arousal on Simon and the musky scent ramped up his own excitement. They definitely had chemistry between them. Levi couldn’t even blame his arousal on Lupine pheromones. Rolf had no love for Simon Black. Even now his inner wolf was telling him to cut this out and sit the hell down. He ignored the advice. Instead, he wondered if sex between them would make Simon more or less likely to help Noah.
“What do you want, Levi?” Simon sounded a little breathy.
“We just filled our bellies. I thought you might want to satisfy another hunger.”
“I told you before, I don’t do a man more than once. It tends to complicate things.”
“I bet you never had a man in your home before, either. I’d say this is a special situation and we might as well take advantage of it.” Levi let the towel drop and Simon’s eyes went straight to his hard, leaking cock. Simon drew in a harsh breath.
Reaching out, Levi pushed Simon’s sweatpants over his hips. Simon didn’t protest. Cupping Simon’s balls, Levi tested their weight in his palm, while his other hand tugged and pulled on Simon’s hard prick. Simon made a guttural sound in his throat and leaned back against the counter. Lost in sensation, he closed his eyes and his breath came in harsh pants.
Suddenly, Simon’s strong hands were on Levi’s shoulders, shoving him down to his knees on the tiled floor. The submissive position only made him hotter. He looked up as he swallowed Simon’s length and watched the man’s eyes darken with unconcealed lust.
Simon gasped and threaded his fingers in Levi’s hair, gently guiding his movements. Levi alternated, first licking and sucking the shaft, then deep throating the massive erection. Over and over, he brought Simon to the edge and then back. The tugs on Levi’s hair became harder and more frequent. Simon’s balls drew up tight and Levi knew he was close to the edge.
“Fuck, I’m—”
Levi sucked harder and Simon let out a groan as he filled Levi’s throat with a long, hard release. Levi sucked him dry before standing. His hands gripped the counter on either side of Simon. Simon leaned forward and licked traces of his own cum from Levi’s mouth. Shockwaves went through Levi’s body and he felt an aching need to kiss the other man. His lips parted and Simon’s tongue took possession. The pressure of lips and thrusting tongues grew harder and Simon took his mouth with savage intensity. When they broke for air, Levi was stunned. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d kissed anyone or been kissed. Simon appeared equally surprised. Speechless, their eyes locked and a questioning gaze passed between them. Simon turned away first and abruptly left the kitchen. Fifteen minutes later, Simon reappeared, dressed in a suit and tie.
“I have to go into the office. Stay put and keep the door locked.”
* * * *
Simon had to leave the apartment. He couldn’t focus with Levi there. If he stuck around they’d end up in bed and his thinking would be entirely skewed. He went to the DSA building and locked himself in his small cubbyhole of an office. Pulling out the file Graham had given him, he read it through five times, looking for evidence of any crimes perpetrated by Levi York. It seemed that Levi’s only crime was to be born a Were. Disgusted, Simon threw the paperwork down on his desk and started pacing. How the hell could he bring in an innocent man when he knew there would be no trial and no justice?
Simon’s private cell phone went off. He picked it up and Graham’s voice came through. The director’s business at the prison hadn’t taken as long as he’d first thought. He told Simon to meet him at JFK that night.
Perfect timing.
This would give him the reprieve he needed to get his head on straight. He’d go home, pack a bag, and convince Levi to stay put for a few days. Hopefully getting out of the city and talking to his boss face to face would give him the perspective he needed to complete the assignment in a way that would make everyone happy.
Chapter Seven
A plain black sedan drove through the gates of the airport and headed for a fixed base operator on the opposite side of the passenger terminals. The Feds placed a high priority on privacy. It had cost the government big bucks to set up an FBO that offered a designated runway, fuel, maintenance, and a lounge for passengers and crew. The car pulled up to a hangar and Simon Black got out.
No crowds, no security scans, and no ridiculously long lines to check baggage—just a private room with comfortable seating, drinks, and snacks. Nice! Briefcase in hand and overnight bag slung over his shoulder, he walked through the empty lounge area to the business center beyond.
Richard Graham sat at one of the desks, his laptop open in front of him. A six-foot-six-inch monster, with a mean-looking scar on his face, stood at Graham’
s side. Ah, the infamous Duke Baron.
Baron’s massive shoulders strained against the fabric of his jacket. The giant had hands that could snap a man’s neck like a twig. Instant dislike settled over Simon. Simon rarely met a man bigger than himself, but that wasn’t the reason. He didn’t fear the man. An electronically controlled shock collar insured that Graham’s bulldog wouldn’t cause trouble. Simon could find no apparent reason for his aversion, just something about the man’s character that couldn’t be detected on the surface, but Simon’s instincts were usually spot-on. He hadn’t had the same feeling of distrust when he met Levi, and his instincts about the half-breed had been right. Levi was a decent man. The thought of the wolf-shifter, holed up in his condo, bothered him. I hope he doesn’t decide to take a runner.
As long as Levi stayed put and didn’t let anyone in, he’d be fine until Simon returned home.
I hope.
Graham had gotten so paranoid lately, it wouldn’t surprise Simon if his own boss sent someone to search his condo. Wouldn’t that be hard to explain? “Sorry, boss, I didn’t tell you I had your half-breed because I wanted to surprise you.” Right.
Simon told Levi to use the safe room if anybody tried to break in. The safe room had once been a tiny den, but it had been fortified with sheets of steel and a passworded telephone connection so that Simon could contact DSA security if he needed to. The secured room had saved Simon’s life once. Armed burglars had broken in, but they never even suspected he was hiding in the locked den. Simon had called security from inside, and the intruders were apprehended and removed.
Levi promised to lock himself in if anything out of the ordinary happened. And Simon had promised to do what he could for Noah and call home if he could get a secure line. He could make no other promises, but he intended to find out for himself what Graham’s intentions were. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be gone too long.
Baron turned watery blue eyes on Simon, and Simon felt his distrust returned in kind. Fuck. He had no one to blame but himself for Baron’s presence here. This had been his idea. Now he would need to watch his back.
