Unlikely Hero

by Sean Michael

  “Watch the road.”

  He grinned, eyes on the road. “Yes, Daddy.”

  “Good Bee.”

  He chuckled, turning the car into the garage. All told, it had been a good day.

  BROCK POURED the last of the wine into his and Eric’s glasses and lay back on the couch.

  It was amazing how much work one little girl could be. And that was when she was being good! Chuckling to himself, he took a sip and waited for Eric to be finished getting Josie to bed. He could hear Eric singing to her, his low voice rich and warm. He closed his eyes and just enjoyed the moment, the love and joy that filled his apartment.

  He heard Josie’s bedroom door close, then the sofa sank beside him. He smiled without opening his eyes, his hands reaching out to slide along Eric’s thigh.

  “Hey, love. Thank you.” He heard Eric sip, smelled the wine.

  Lazily turning his head, he finally opened his eyes. Oh, Eric looked good. Tired, but good. He offered over a smile. Eric smiled at him, fingers reaching up to trace his face.

  “Mmm.” He nuzzled into the touch.

  “I love you, huh?”

  Brock knew.

  “I know. It goes both ways.” He knew Eric knew, too.

  “I know.” Eric grinned.

  He chuckled and touched the side of Eric’s mouth. “You want to talk about it?”

  “She wanted to know why I was being so hard on Mother.”

  “Seriously?” That was insane. “She is aware your mother tried to sue you for custody more than once, right? Let alone that she’s responsible for this whole kidnapping mess?”

  “I assume so. Fuck, I don’t know, Brock.”

  “She has to be in denial, or she couldn’t possibly be siding with your mother. I mean, she’s a flake, she always has been, but she’s always been on your side in her own way.” She’d been a bitch to him on numerous occasions, but always because she thought she was protecting Eric.

  “No. And she’s never been evil. She loves Josie.”

  “What did you tell her?”

  “To leave us alone. Both of them. Permanently.”

  “I take it that’s what all the yelling was about?”

  Eric actually grinned. “Yeah.”

  “Good for you, standing up for you and Josie. I’m not sure that it’s going to work as far as your mother is concerned. We might have to try and get a restraining order on her. I guess it depends on what happens with the case.”

  “I…. How can I do that to my mom?”

  “How can she sue you for custody of your daughter? How can she arrange for this kidnapping? Does she really deserve your worry and care?” He was ready to write her off. Actually, he was ready to see her thrown in jail for a good long time.

  “I don’t know.” Eric pulled away, dropped his head in his hands.

  Brock put down his wineglass and shifted so he could rub Eric’s shoulders. “Do you think you just telling them to stay away will work?”

  “No. No, you know it won’t.”

  “Then if you’re serious about it, you’re going to have to consider bringing lawyers into it.” He kept rubbing Eric’s shoulders. He didn’t want to stress his lover, but he knew this wasn’t going to go away.

  Eric took a sobbing breath. “I did everything right, I thought.”

  “This isn’t your fault, baby. This is on them.” It made Brock want to growl and snap. Damn it, how dare she make Eric feel this way?

  “I know that in my head, huh?”

  “Yeah. Yeah, I hear you.” He kept massaging, kept touching; it let Eric know he was here, that he cared.

  “Your hands are good.”

  “I like touching you. Fucking love it.” He chuckled and leaned in to whisper, “Bad word.”

  Eric’s laughter joined his, low and husky.

  He nuzzled Eric’s ear, tongue coming out to lick the lobe.

  “Mmm. Would it be incredibly selfish to ask to just spend the evening in the bedroom, being grown-ups?”

  “It would be if you wanted to spend it in there on your own.”

  “Not a chance, Brock. I want to be with you.”

  “Then I don’t think that would be selfish at all.” He nipped at Eric’s ear, kissed the hurt away.

  Eric hummed, reaching for him. He slid his arms around his lover and kissed him slowly. Eric settled closer, leaned into Brock.

  “This isn’t getting us into the bedroom,” he noted. Still, he kept touching, holding. Kissing.

  “You noticed that.”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, I’m sharp like that.”

  “Josie’s daddy Bee is smart.”

  “And in love and horny.”

  “Oh. Me, too.” Eric crawled over onto his lap.

  Brock groaned. This was not conducive to getting up and going into the bedroom. His hands found Eric’s ass, squeezed.

  “Mmm. Again.”

  Kissing Eric, he squeezed again, feeling up his lover’s ass. Eric’s cheeks clenched, jerked under his hands.

  “You feel good, baby. I want you.” He wanted Eric to ride him. He wanted to fuck his lover into the mattress. Too bad they couldn’t do that just yet.

  “Yes. Bed. Just in case.”

  He nodded. “Hold on.” With that he stood up, bringing Eric with him.

  Eric laughed, legs around his waist. “Love that.”

  “What?” He headed for the bedroom.

  “How strong you are.”

  He beamed at Eric and kept moving.

  “I used to have these fantasies about you, when we were apart,” Eric noted.

  “Oh yeah? Like what?” He got them into the bedroom and pushed the door shut with his foot.

  “You have to swear you won’t laugh at me.”

  “I won’t laugh.”

  Eric hugged him. “When Jo was a baby and we were adjusting, I would fantasize about you sneaking into my bedroom, pouncing on me because you just couldn’t bear being without me anymore.”

  “Oh, baby.” He kissed Eric hard.

  Eric opened up to him, tongue pushing into his mouth. He sucked on it as he sat slowly on the bed. Eric’s legs stayed wrapped around his waist.

  He kept on kissing his lover, hands skimming up under Eric’s shirt to pull it off.

  “Are you seducing me, love?” Eric asked.

  “I’m doing my best to. Is it working?”

  “It is.”

  Brock loved Eric’s smile. He traced it with his tongue, his hands drawing patterns on Eric’s bare back.

  “I still want to take you out on a date. Maybe go dancing, when I’m better.”

  “I’d like that.” He traced the line of Eric’s spine, fingers lingering on the warm skin.

  “Me, too. I haven’t been dancing since the last time you took me.”

  “No? You were made for being taken out, shown off. I’d love to take you dancing, out for dinner.”

  “Cool.” Eric leaned in, tongue tracing the curve of his ear.

  “For now we can do our own private dancing.” He rolled his hips up, rubbing their crotches together.

  “Mmm. I like how you think….”

  “It’s not the way I think that you like,” he teased, bucking harder this time. He was still careful, though, not to jerk Eric around. It would be bad enough to have to bring Eric back to the hospital for surgery, but if it was because he’d caused it by being overenthusiastic in bed….

  “I like it all.” Eric bit his earlobe.

  He jerked at the bite and laughed, feeling breathless and horny and good.

  “Oh, that was fun.” Eric did it again.

  He smacked Eric’s ass. “That isn’t edible!”

  “Are you sure? Let me see….” Little tease.

  He couldn’t even tickle Eric in retaliation in case he hurt his lover. Eric bit again, tugging a little bit. He groaned, his hips jerking at the sharp touch. “Baby….”

  “Uh-huh.” Eric’s cock was hard against his belly.

  “Want you. So much
.” It was an addiction. It always had been.

  “Let me ride you? I won’t tell the doctors….”

  “Baby, we can’t risk it.” It wasn’t a matter of not telling the doctor, it was a matter of making sure Eric was safe, healthy.

  “No?” Eric shifted closer.

  “You’re playing dirty,” he pointed out.

  “I wouldn’t do that.”

  “You’re making me need.” Although, to be fair, Eric could do that just by sitting in his lap and breathing.

  “That’s good, isn’t it?” Eric licked at his lips.

  “Yeah, but we need to be careful. You were shot. You were in surgery.”

  “Uh-huh.” Eric reached for his cock. “No exertion.”

  He sucked his belly in so Eric could undo his zipper, the button above it. “No exertion, so no riding, but that—” He gasped as Eric’s hand circled his cock. “That works.”

  “Yeah?” That hand moved up and down, stroking him off.

  “Uh-huh.” He nodded, hands opening and closing on Eric’s ass. “You, too, baby.”

  “Huh?” Eric’s hand never stopped moving.

  “Your cock. With mine.” He squeezed Eric’s ass again. His hands were busy.

  “Oh. Right.” Eric blushed, grinned at him. “I was distracted.”

  “I’d do it myself, but I really don’t want to let go just now.” He squeezed Eric’s ass again, almost rolling his lover forward.

  Eric moaned, opening his slacks, that long cock pushing out.

  He groaned at the smell of them both. It smelled like sex and love. “Together now.”

  “Fuck. Fuck, yeah.”

  He shuddered as Eric’s hand wrapped around both their pricks. It felt amazing to have that hot, silky skin against his cock. The rougher skin of Eric’s hand was a fine counterpoint.

  “Missed you. Missed this. Need it.” Eric babbled for him, words pushing into his lips.

  “Yes. Baby.” He slid his tongue into Eric’s mouth, putting a stop to their words with long, sucking kisses.

  The motions of Eric’s hand smoothed as their cocks both leaked, dripped. The heat and friction were incredible. They made him moan as the pleasure settled in his balls. Eric started moving faster, jacking them hard. He kept holding Eric’s ass, little grunts and happy whimpers pushing into Eric’s mouth.

  Eric was close; he could feel it in every shudder and jerk.

  “Come on, baby. I love the way you smell.”

  “Oh, fuck. Yeah.” Eric’s eyes rolled, and he watched Eric moan and buck against him, heat suddenly pouring over his prick.

  God, that smell was amazing. Groaning, he licked his lips and grabbed Eric’s hand with his, kept it working. Eric’s mouth pressed against him, the kiss wild, heady. As Eric’s tongue pushed into him, he cried out and came. More heat spread between them.

  Fuck, this was good.

  Right.

  He let himself flop back down, bringing Eric carefully with him.

  “Damn.” Eric moaned the word.

  “Uh-huh. You’ve still got it, baby.”

  “You think so?” Eric kissed him, slow and sweet.

  “Uh-huh. You do.”

  “Yeah. It’s still good between us.”

  He grinned, hands still on Eric’s ass. “It’ll be even better when I can pound you through the mattress.”

  “You think?” Eric beamed at him. “We could start now.”

  He pressed their mouths together, giving Eric a hard kiss. “You know I want to, baby. And you know why we can’t.”

  “I know. My stomach’s not up to it. Hell, it’s tired just from the day. The tension, you know?”

  He rolled them, putting Eric on his side and reaching up to rub his lover’s shoulders. “No more run-ins with people who are going to make you tense.” Especially family.

  “That’s a plan.” Eric didn’t sound like he believed it.

  Brock decided distraction was in order and he began sliding little kisses over Eric’s face. Eric hummed, face following his lips. His lover always had been a sensual bastard. Brock added his tongue to some of the kisses, dancing it wetly over Eric’s skin.

  “Mmm. Let’s get cleaned up, continue this under the covers?”

  “Sounds like a plan, baby.”

  It sounded like a very good plan.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  BROCK STOOD by the door with his briefcase and his car keys. “Baby, come on. Josie’s going to be fine with Lacy, and we’re going to be late for our appointment.”

  They were going to see the lawyer today, see where they stood. He needed to know what Tim was being charged with, needed to see if Eric’s mother was going to be charged with anything. Hell, he needed to see where Max and Gordon stood. Everything.

  He was ready for this to not be hanging over their heads anymore. So ready.

  Eric looked as pale as a ghost, but he nodded, eyes back toward Josie’s room. “Jeff’s out there, right?”

  “We’ll pass him on our way out. You can tell him to take extra care of them.”

  “I will.” Eric smiled for him. “You’ll take me for coffee after, yeah? I called my dad, he’s doing okay.”

  “I’ll take you for whatever you like after.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

  It felt damned good to have Eric chuckle, nod, smile. He took his lover’s hand and they went out. Jeff nodded at them and he smiled, nudged Eric.

  “Take care of them, yeah?”

  Jeff nodded. “No one will hurt them, sir.”

  “If they go to the park, make sure you stay close.”

  Jeff nodded again and Brock smiled, going into the elevator and bringing Eric with him.

  “It’s hard, leaving her. Tell me that he’s in custody, and she’ll be fine.”

  “He’s in custody, and she’s going to be just fine.” He squeezed Eric’s hand. Much as it would have eased both their minds, they couldn’t be with her every moment of the day.

  “Okay.” Eric nodded, squeezing his fingers as the elevator headed down.

  “Remember. Stay calm. It’s better for you.” Once out of the elevator, they made their way to his car.

  “I’m trying to, huh? I just can’t believe we’re having to see a lawyer.”

  “We need to know where we stand on everything. And the best way to do that is to hire the best damn people money can buy.”

  “I know. It’s just not easy.”

  “I know. I can’t imagine how you felt when your mother sued you for custody. I’m glad you’re not going through this alone.” He stopped next to the car. “I’m glad you called me.”

  “I had to. I needed you.” Eric’s face was so serious. “And now I can’t imagine raising Jo alone.”

  “I can’t imagine letting either of you go. You’re my family.” He bent and kissed Eric’s mouth, taking it hard.

  Eric opened to him, tongue sliding against his, bold and brash.

  “You perverts! You don’t deserve a child!”

  Eric went stiff, then spun around, hands clenched into fists. “What are you doing here, Mother?”

  Brock held back his own snarls and put his hand on Eric’s shoulder. “Don’t give her the satisfaction,” he murmured quietly. “We’ll tell the lawyer. It’ll count against her.” If he did what he wanted to do, he was sure it would hurt their case against her. He wasn’t going to let that happen; she needed to be in jail, away from them.

  “I came to rescue my granddaughter from your filth, you pervert!”

  He tightened his hand on Eric’s shoulder. “Leave or we’ll call the police.”

  “Call them, Brock. Now. Our daughter is up there.” Eric’s voice was hard as diamonds.

  He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed 911.

  “Nine one one. What is your emergency, sir?”

  “This is Brock Vencenza. There’s a woman here threatening to kidnap my daughter, Josie Wilson. She’s already done it once. I need a patrol car sent over right away to take h
er away.”

  “Yes, sir. If you’ll stay on the line.”

  “I will. There should be a case file open for Josie Wilson.” He aimed a steady glare at Eric’s mother, his hand still on Eric’s shoulder.

  “I want you to leave her alone, you vindictive, crazy bitch.” Eric was revving himself up, snarling viciously.

  “The police are on their way.” He raised his voice to make sure she could hear him. “It’s going in the file.”

  “You can’t continue living this life, Eric! You’ll burn in hell!”

  “The only one going to hell is you.” God, she was an evil bitch.

  “Just go away. She doesn’t need you; I don’t need you.”

  Brock could hear sirens. “That’s the cops.”

  “I’m going to have you killed. I’m your mother. I will protect that little girl from your filth.”

  Eric went gray. “You’re not anything to me, and if you come near my daughter….”

  “That was a threat on his life, lady. You just made a big mistake.” She was building the case for them; he kept reminding himself of that.

  The sirens were louder, filling the underground parking garage with noise.

  “You bought and paid for him with your filthy money.” She nearly spat the words at him, barely making any sense. Then she pulled something out of her purse—a tiny handgun. Eric stepped in front of him, arms held wide, almost before his mind could focus.

  “Christ. Eric!” Brock didn’t want to set her off, but by God, she was not going to kill Eric. He pushed Eric to the side, trying to get his body in front of his lover.

  “No!” Eric stepped forward, face set in lines of pure rage. “You leave my family alone!” Eric’s voice rang through the garage.

  Then another voice sounded. “Ma’am. This is the police. Drop the weapon.”

  Brock made another grab for Eric, pulling Eric to the side, away from that gun. The cops moved quickly, one moving in, one pulling them around another car.

  Brock’s heart was racing like crazy. He was relieved, angry, pissed off at Eric’s mother and at Eric for putting himself in harm’s way like that. “Don’t you ever do that again,” he demanded.

  “What? Protect my family?”

  “Step out in front of a gun! She could have killed you!” His heart was still pounding and all he could see was Eric stepping in between him and that damned bitch with her gun. It replayed over and over again in his head.