by Tatum Throne
“I’ve already got RAT up my ass about breeched protocol. Next time, you wait for SWAT to show up and do their job.”
Their Risk Assessment Team reviewed and assessed all fucked-up situations. It seemed like they were mostly working TJ’s cases lately. “If I waited for SWAT to get their asses suited up, she’d be dead.”
“I don’t want any more media circuses. Next time, you wait for your team to arrive!” Anderson barked. “That’s what we have them for!”
Bruised ribs sucked balls. TJ ran a hand over his bandaged ribs, trying to figure out how long it would be before he could stand again without wanting to sit back down. The curtain drew back with Parker on the other side. His SWAT doc paced his way into the room, taking a front row seat to the action. TJ brushed eyes with Parker but looked away without making contact. Parker had changed out of his wet clothes and into a pair of green hospital scrubs. His hospital badge hung off his pocket.
“Yup. I get it,” TJ said.
“You’re a loose cannon, Detective. I’m tired of the fallout from your shifts ruining my weekends.”
“I get the job done.”
Chief Anderson ran a hand through his graying hair. “Well, you can’t seem to do your job without stirring up trouble and making the five o’clock news.”
TJ grinned. They both knew that his file was stuffed full of accommodations for bravery in the field too. “Think of it as free publicity for recruiting fresh blood.”
“One more screw up. One more.” Chief Anderson rounded on Parker. “I’m not sure he’s fit to return to duty right now, Doc. I’d think twice about making that call.”
Chief Anderson left them with a wake of bitter resentment. Yep, TJ knew all about the pressure the Risk Assessment Team was putting on everyone in the department. It didn’t help that they made recommendations that could put TJ out of a job. Parker was in front of the hospital’s computer, checking TJ’s chart. He glanced over at TJ.
“How are you feeling?” Parker asked.
“Not great.”
Parker’s gaze traveled over TJ’s chest. TJ swallowed the lump in his throat. This was the first time Parker was seeing TJ without his shirt. Thick, pale scars twisted down over his chest and disappeared beneath the bandage over his abdomen. Parker’s eyes were full of unasked questions and heat.
“How’d you get those scars?” Parker asked.
“Car accident when I was ten.”
Silence divided the air between them. There was so much they didn’t know about each other. They always seemed to steer clear from the personal. TJ wanted that to change.
“My father was driving drunk at the time.” He flinched after he said it out loud. Maybe there was something about sharing too much information. “I was the only one in the car with him.”
“Did he get help?”
“He did a stint in jail to dry out. The last I heard, he’s in prison again.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
Parker pushed away from the computer, logging out. He took his stethoscope from his shoulders and listened to TJ’s chest. He dropped it over his shoulders again.
“You’re rocking the boat,” Parker said.
“Yup.” TJ frowned. “It’s what I do best.”
“You shouldn’t have taken the chance on me,” Parker said.
“Fuck. Not you too. Why are you so upset? I’d do it again for you in a heartbeat.”
Parker shook his head, disgust getting overtime in this play. Parker paced back and forth at the end of the bed. His silken black hair would drape around his shoulders if he ever let it out of the braid that hung midway down his back. Native American blood ran strong through his veins. TJ remembered him saying that he was Cherokee. Those piercing blue eyes were a genetic gift from somewhere down the line.
He came in close, getting up into TJ’s face. TJ was trapped on the gurney. There was no place for him to go.
“I could’ve lost you, too,” Parker said.
Heat spiraled through TJ’s blood and landed solidly in his cock. His arousal was so fast and hard that it left TJ feeling suddenly off balance and breathless. TJ ran a hand through his hair. “You didn’t. I had the situation under control.”
“No more unnecessary risks.”
“We both take risks every time we go to work. That’s not going to change. You probably take more than me as an emergency room doctor and a SWAT doc.”
Parker paced in closer. “You don’t always have to play the hero. You’re too important.”
There was fear in Parker’s eyes. “I had it under control.” “Barely.”
“I work best on the edge. You know it.”
“I’m not going to change your mind about this, am I?” Parker asked.
TJ smiled. The risk was worth it at the end of the day. They were so not going to fight about this. “Nope.”
Parker cursed and turned away. “You’re free to go.”
“You’re not going to recommend bed rest?” TJ asked.
A nurse came in with his discharge papers and then left. “Actually, I am.”
There was something in Parker’s eyes that wasn’t there before the near miss on the bridge. It was more than just his anger about the chance TJ took. He looked as though he was frightened of TJ. Was it the kiss?
“Thank you,” Parker said.
TJ stared at Parker’s work shoes and slowly lifted his gaze up over his best friend. Emotion played over his strong face. TJ wanted to reach out and comfort him, but he couldn’t cross that line again. A shiver of desire shook his core. He was in love with Parker. Always had been, but that didn’t mean they would ever be together.
“You would’ve done the same for me.”
It was obvious that there was more Parker wanted to say but he was holding back. Parker opened his mouth but closed it quickly. Fuck. TJ shouldn’t have kissed him. It was a slip in judgment. Maybe he hadn’t even noticed?
Parker let out a harsh breath. “I’ve never been that close before.”
“Close?” TJ asked.
“Close to dying. All those standoffs we’ve been in together and walked away from. I always knew we would be okay. This time was different.”
“You’re the SWAT doc. You’re not meant to be so close to the front line,” TJ said.
It was true. They’d been through everything together over the last five years with the elite Cincinnati SWAT team they belonged to. Everyone wanted to be on District Four’s SWAT when they came out of the academy. Extensive training in homeland security, water rescue, and standoff negotiations made them the most skilled and prepared team in the state. TJ stood up, reaching out. Parker closed the distance, helping TJ stand. “Parker, I want you to know that I’m sorry about all this. I never meant for you to get hurt.”
A woman rushed through the curtain, grabbing Parker. “Oh, God. You’re okay. Tell me you’re okay.”
TJ eased his ass back onto the gurney, watching as the scene unfolded before him. He never knew Parker was in a relationship with anyone. The woman flung her arms around Parker’s broad shoulders, pushing her face into his neck. Parker held her tight, putting his hand into her blonde hair. TJ looked away as a pain stabbed through his heart.
Their eyes locked as the woman eased away. Tears were running down her beautiful face. Her honey-wheat blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders like something out of a fashion magazine. TJ could easily see why Parker was in love with her.
“Cora, this is TJ.”
The woman laughed, reaching out to hug TJ hard. “Thank you! Parker has told me so much about you! I heard what you did for him tonight, too. It’s all over the news.”
TJ patted the woman’s back as he looked at Parker. “He would’ve done the same for me.”
She laughed again. “I’m glad you were there for him.”
“Give us a minute,” Parker said.
Cora stepped out into the hallway just as her cell phone started to chime. Her voice carried through the hallway
as she told whoever was on the other end that Parker was okay. Tension vibrated between Parker and TJ. God, he shouldn’t have kissed him. How stupid could he be?
“Cora’s my—”
“It’s okay. You don’t need to explain. I know.”
“Good. I didn’t want you to think that about Cora and I.” “Whoa, really you don’t need to explain it to me,” TJ said.
He didn’t want to hear that Parker and Cora were an item and that they were going to start making beautiful babies together when they went home tonight. Near death did that to people. TJ shut his ears off as he eased from the gurney and slipped his drying dress shirt back on. He buttoned it halfway before slipping his gun and holster back on too. His suit coat was too wet.
“I’ll drive you home,” Parker said.
“What about Cora?”
“She brought her car.”
“You’re not on duty tonight?” TJ asked.
“For you, I was.”
They went outside, and Parker jogged to get his Jeep. He pulled up under the Emergency awning. The rain was easing up as TJ got into Parker’s Jeep.
Disappointment vibrated through TJ as they headed back to headquarters. Parker’s hand tightened down on the steering wheel of his Jeep. It was a sign that something was bothering him. TJ knew him so well. He thought he knew everything, like how he preferred apples to grapes, how he liked to shave every day, and how he loved tea over coffee. Now, TJ wasn’t sure what he knew about his friend. He never expected Cora. Parker pulled up along TJ’s car in the parking lot of the big building. TJ knew he should just say something about the kiss but he couldn’t.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” TJ said.
“You sure you’re okay to drive home?”
“I’m fine.”
“TJ…”
“There’s nothing to say. Tomorrow we’re back to business as usual. We can forget all about what happened tonight,” TJ said.
Parker swung his face close. “Even the fact that you kissed me after saving my life?”
Heat flashed through TJ’s body as he saw Parker’s lips quirk. TJ should’ve known that Parker wouldn’t let that one slip go. TJ chuckled. “You were lucky it was on the cheek.”
Laughter shot from Parker’s mouth. “I suppose I am the lucky one tonight.”
Parker’s eyes narrowed with something that TJ couldn’t define and right now he didn’t want to. He had enough of tonight to last him for a lifetime. TJ got out of the Jeep but leaned his head inside for a moment.
“We were both lucky tonight. See you tomorrow,” TJ said.
Parker frowned. “You shouldn’t train tomorrow. Not until you feel well enough. You need at least forty-eight hours of rest.”
TJ’s testing for his black belt was quickly approaching. He couldn’t afford to take a day off. “I’ll be fine.”
“Famous last words.”
TJ scoffed. “I love you, too, Parker.”
Chapter Three
“You don’t want me bad enough,” Parker said. The taunt was like a spank on the ass. They were alone in the station’s training center. Sweat dripped slowly off of TJ’s temples. His body screamed inwardly for relief that wouldn’t be coming anytime soon. TJ craved pain. He needed it. The ace bandage around his abdomen wasn’t enough to keep the pain away.
Sexual tension cut the undercurrent of annoyance thrumming through his body. Parker had taken off his shirt when they started to spar with wooden staffs, distracting the hell out of him. Warm lights reflected off the sweat-slicked muscles rippling on Parker’s chest. God, if he wasn’t living the life of a monk, he’d hit that. Hard.
TJ flipped the staff around. He knew he was taking Parker to his physical edge, but he didn’t care. It was right where TJ wanted to be. He knew he was punishing himself.
“I want you,” TJ said.
“If you did, you’d have me pinned to the mat by now.” The taunt struck a nerve harder than a weapon. “Maybe I don’t
want you there yet. Perhaps I like seeing you dance around me.” The corner of Parker’s mouth ticked upward. “Stop being a pussy and pin me.”
“I will when I’m ready.”
Parker looked as though he didn’t believe him and probably never would. They circled. “Prove it to me. Prove to me that you want it so bad that nothing… absolutely nothing will stand in your way to have it.”
TJ caught sight of himself in the mirrors. He was shorter than Parker’s height of six-three by a good five inches. Strands of TJ’s blond hair fell over his forehead. His green eyes were bright within the low lighting. His muscles were flexed hard.
Parker attacked, immediately putting TJ on the defense. TJ swung the staff around, moving back as he did. Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.
TJ jumped over the staff as Parker swung it around his legs. A second too late and he would’ve been flat on his back on the mat. Parker flipped around his staff, muscling TJ in against the wall. A shiver of heat seared through TJ’s body. TJ regretted not taking his shirt off too the moment they started this match. Parker’s dark skin seared through TJ’s T-shirt and sweats.
They were breathing hard. Want passed through TJ’s body, letting it run two red lights and a stop sign before he reluctantly put the brakes on the feelings. Parker’s blue eyes held his and surprise filtered through them before they hardened. It was then TJ knew he wasn’t gay.
TJ pushed him off roughly, sending Parker across the mat.
TJ came back hard, taking Parker by surprise. Thwack. Thwack. Thwack. He disarmed Parker, flipping him onto his back on the mat.
There was a grin on Parker’s lips as he looked up at the staff resting on his sternum.
Parker was everything in a man TJ wanted but couldn’t have. That alone was enough to put him in a bad mood every time they were together. Now that TJ knew he wasn’t gay, there was no reason for them to ever be together. With that thought in mind, TJ flipped the staff off of Parker and offered him his hand.
Something wicked passed through Parker’s eyes as he grasped his hand. Parker yanked TJ off his feet, flipping him over onto the mat. TJ was momentarily stunned from the sudden rush of going horizontal and landing wrong. Parker mounted him, pinning his legs over his hips. All that muscle working over TJ felt too good to think about for too long. Lust rushed through TJ’s body, landing solidly in his cock.
“Never underestimate your opponent. It will get you hurt,” Parker said.
Like a well-choreographed dance, Parker slid his legs over TJ’s chest and flipped himself onto his back, locking TJ’s arm between his legs. TJ cried out as pressure was put on his arm. TJ was trapped. Parker eased the pressure on his arm, giving TJ just enough leeway to flip on top of him. The position didn’t last long. Parker flipped him off, pinning him to the mat again.
They were chest to chest. TJ’s heart was racing for all the wrong reasons. He was not supposed to fall in love with the man that was training him in Krav Maga for black belt. Parker’s blue eyes were hard with the fight as TJ fought his hold. TJ dropped his gaze to the tough edge of Parker’s lips. They naturally formed an erotic sneer. Only a few inches separated them. The urge to kiss Parker was an overpowering chant that almost took control of TJ’s rational side. TJ broke his eyes away from Parker’s mouth before he did something even the devil would find stupid.
Parker came to his feet, offering TJ his hand. Their hands clasped. Heat sparked through TJ’s body, making him remember that he hadn’t had sex in a really long time. TJ came to his feet and dropped Parker’s hand fast.
TJ flipped the staff around, replacing it with the other weapons in the corner of the room. He could feel Parker’s gaze on him as he moved. The training center was on the basement level of headquarters where classes were taught for officers and the community. Parker came to a community class and worked with the training center a few months before he became a member of SWAT. It was one of those random decisions that brought Parker through the door and into TJ’s life. At the time, SWAT was looking fo
r doctors to ride along on calls. Had Parker not had that bad day in the emergency room, they may have never met.
“Is there something on your mind?” Parker asked.
“I have to go or I’m going to be late for work.”
“You’re shutting me out.”
He was. How could he have gotten it so wrong? TJ had been almost positive that Parker was gay before he realized Cora was in his life. TJ needed to lock down the feelings that were suddenly taking over his waking thoughts. He was in love with his best friend and SWAT team member. This path was clearly marked off-limits, but TJ couldn’t get his brain to fix his heart.
“TJ?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Are your ribs still giving you trouble?” Parker asked.
“They’re not as bad as last night. I’m good.”
“What is it?” Parker asked. “It’s not just about being physically ready to test. You need to be mentally ready, too.”
“I get that.”
“Do you?” Parker asked.
“I’m tight.”
Parker’s glower was like a paddle to his ass. TJ gritted his teeth as he thought about Parker taking control of his desire in the bedroom. A shiver fluttered through his body at the thought of Parker flogging him. God, he wanted and needed it bad. Of course, he wanted Parker to be the one doing the paddling and the topping. Wanting Parker, his best friend and coworker, was not a good idea. This was going to end badly if TJ couldn’t get a hold of the raw emotions running through his system. It didn’t help that TJ was practically a virgin when it came to his experiences with men. He had two short-term relationships before, both of which ended before they got around to the fucking. The one time a year ago was nothing more than a one-night stand that left him wanting Parker even more.
“You’ve spent the last three months training day and night. We’re not training tonight.”
Shock had TJ looking at Parker. He was serious. It was over. Was it because Parker suspected that he was gay?
“Be ready at seven. I’m picking you up tonight,” Parker said. Parker pointed at his temple. “Whatever is going on up here, we’re going to work it out tonight.”
