by Brandon Witt
He nodded. “Yeah. Completely.”
“Good enough for me.” The other officer started to protest, but he cut her off again. “It’s enough, and I’m good enough at my job that I can get him to confess. And get him to snitch on his other two slimeball buddies.”
She didn’t argue.
Zachary stared at the man, and the experience of watching it happen to someone else began to fade. The sensation of needing to run away rose up. “Marlon, I need to get out of here.”
“You got it, my man.”
After Zachary finished all the procedural stuff and assured Marlon that he was going to press charges, no matter if he had to face the asshole in court, Marlon walked him back outside. He refused to let Zachary drive himself home.
Teegan was waiting at Zachary’s car, leaning against the passenger door.
Tears finally started to burn when Zachary saw him, then fell for real when Teegan wrapped strong arms around him and pulled him close. His voice was warm and safe as he spoke by Zachary’s ear. “Thanks, Marlon. I’ll take it from here.”
Zachary ran his hand over Teegan’s smooth chest as he listened to his heartbeat. Lying in his bed had never felt so good. He hadn’t broken down. Some tears, sure, but he hadn’t broken. He was fairly certain that wouldn’t have been true a couple of months ago. This whole experience had made him tougher. Or harder. He wasn’t sure. He also wasn’t certain if that was a good thing or not.
Teegan was there, though, and that was most definitely a good thing. The best thing ever. A strange thought hit him, one that hadn’t occurred before. Without the events of that night, he wouldn’t have been in the hospital. He might never have met Dr. Chau. He didn’t want to picture that. Zachary couldn’t make himself feel thankful for what had been done to him. But for the results? Definitely.
He sighed as Teegan ran fingers through his hair, and let the questions and fears of what the man had done and what lay in store to get him behind bars fade away for the moment. He pressed a kiss to Teegan’s chest, then readjusted, fixing his head on Teegan’s shoulder. “You think your folks will come around?”
Teegan shrugged, causing Zachary to have to lift his head. “Oh, sorry.” He waited as Zachary curled back into him. “I don’t know. I think so. I know that no matter what Dad said about me only having a daughter, that they both love her. Adore, really. I think that will win out over nearly anything.”
“Even a man in a dress?” Zachary hated that he was the cause of the rift between Teegan and his parents. He didn’t feel guilty, though. Maybe the past few hours had already used up his emotional quota for the day and the guilt would arrive later.
“Maybe so. I’m betting so. Either way.” Teegan pulled Zachary closer into his side. “I hope they come around, but I’m glad I told them. I feel like I’m finally starting to live. That Kelly was right this whole time. That I’ve been living on pause because of their expectations. I won’t do that any longer.”
Zachary wasn’t sure what to say to that, so he said nothing. He just continued to run his fingertips over Teegan’s skin and allowed himself to feel happy and safe.
It was a few minutes before Teegan spoke again. “I know you need to get back to the shop, but I was thinking maybe we go grab lunch at the Indian buffet on 6th. I bet if we leave right now, we can make it before they stop serving.”
The words instantly caused Zachary’s stomach to scream that it hadn’t been fed all day. He kissed Teegan’s chest again and sat up. “That sounds perfect. I’m starving. The store can have a day off.” His body suddenly made another need perfectly clear. He leveled his gaze on Teegan’s. “And when we get back, I need you to fuck me.”
Teegan laughed, sat up, and kissed him quickly. “That sounds like the best plan I’ve ever heard, and exactly what I need.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Teegan Chau
Ariel Merman looked so much like the actual Ariel as she stood behind the prop rock with a mermaid tail over it, that Teegan couldn’t blame Megan for sucking in an awestruck gasp. She was beautiful.
To his adult eyes, the tail was obviously fixed on the rock and not actually attached to Ariel, but to a seven-year-old, he had no doubt his daughter was seeing her first, real live mermaid. And when the crowd in Mary’s was buzzed, like they would most often be, they would probably have a similar reaction.
The tail ManDonna had ordered for Ariel had come a few days before. She had decided they should test it on a lunch audience. It had been Zachary who’d taken it a step further to make a kid-friendly test performance a special moment for Megan, a way to introduce her to his drag alter ego.
No sooner had Ariel stopped her lip-synch to “Part of Your World,” than ManDonna exited the small dressing room to the left of the stage dressed in a slinky, shimmering black gown, with her face painted a pale purple and a bouffant white wig atop her head to steal Ariel’s voice.
At her appearance, Megan flinched and gripped Teegan’s hand tighter.
Mermaids had been the connection between Megan and Zachary the few times they’d met. Teegan wasn’t certain how much Megan really understood about his relationship with Zachary, but she hadn’t seemed upset by it. Even when she’d noticed the two of them holding hands. Maybe she didn’t understand, or maybe, being seven, she simply didn’t mind. Whatever the case, she was captivated by Zachary, his mermaid collection, and the kid area of his bookstore. Teegan was fairly certain she was more impressed by Zachary than himself. If she wasn’t before, he had no doubt that after this experience, Zachary would overshadow him for months.
Megan gasped again as Ariel spun the rock around and emerged in a ball gown. She flipped her long red hair over her shoulders to reveal the low-cut bodice that had been hidden beneath. Too low-cut for his seven-year-old, as far as Teegan was concerned, but considering ManDonna had actually made it this far without referencing penises or anal penetration, things were going better than he’d feared.
After the show was over, Ariel came and swept Megan away, telling Teegan to stay put. Half an hour later, they reemerged, with Megan’s face painted to match Ariel’s. As he took photos of her sitting on the chair behind the mermaid tail to send to Kelly, he wondered if he was going to get a lecture about letting her wear makeup. Knowing Kelly, probably not.
Once the photos were taken and Megan had stroked the mermaid tail to the point Teegan was fairly certain some of the green sequins were starting to come loose, Pat took her to show her around the restaurant. Teegan went over and knocked on the dressing room door.
ManDonna poked her Ursula-like head out. “Oh, Teegan.” She opened the door wider to allow him in. “Has your spawn left yet? Am I allowed to say fuck again?”
Teegan tried to smile at her, but he was fairly certain he failed. He liked the drag queen and loved how important she was to Zachary, but she completely intimidated him. “Uhm, no. Pat’s making her some lunch.”
Her green-lidded eyes narrowed. “Well, she’s adorable, but make it quick, love. I’ve got a whole other routine to try out that starts in thirty minutes. And unless you want her to know exactly what the sea witch does with her two eels, you might want to vacate.”
“Be nice, Momma.” Ariel looked over from where she’d been removing her makeup. Or Zachary looked over. Teegan hadn’t figured out how to think of her during midtransition.
“Nice? Darling, I was nice. And there’s no one else in the world I’d put on a show about mermaids for and not talk about merman genitalia. So make it snappy.” She smacked Teegan on the cheek, then planted a kiss he was sure left a lipstick mark. “Your kid’s cute. Like her daddy.”
He watched as she shut the door behind her, having no idea how to respond, then turned back to Zachary. “That was amazing. You know that surreal experience you talked about as you watched the movie in the park with your folks. I think you just gave that same thing to my daughter. I can’t thank you enough.”
“Here, let me get that off.” Zachary stood, pulled out a wet nap, and moved in front
of him. He took Teegan’s chin lightly in his fingers and rubbed at his cheek. “And you’re welcome. She is amazing, like her daddy. Though not as cute.”
Teegan started to lean in for a kiss, then paused. Zachary still wasn’t comfortable with Teegan being physical when he was still Ariel. “Can you hurry with the makeup-removal process? I really need to make out with the man who just made my daughter’s world. Preferably while she’s still distracted.”
With a smile, Zachary turned back to the mirror and used the same wet nap to finish wiping off the lipstick. Leaning close, he inspected. “Not perfect, but it will do for now. I can shower at home.” Then he was back, his arms sneaking around Teegan’s waist, pulling himself close. “I believe you said something about a make-out session?”
Teegan cupped either side of Zachary’s face and kissed him, rubbing his thumbs tenderly over Zachary’s cheeks. God, he loved his man. He felt Zachary’s body go slack against his and reveled in the weight of Zachary against his body.
They kissed several moments longer before he felt Zachary’s grip on him through his jeans. “This feels like you’re wanting more than a make-out session, Dr. Chau. I’ve always wanted to get fucked in here while a show is going on in the restaurant.”
Teegan couldn’t hold back a groan at the thought, halted. “Maybe another time, when my daughter isn’t one of the ones out there.”
Zachary straightened, grimacing. “Oh, gross. I forgot. Okay. Rain check. Definite rain check.”
“I’m going to hold you to that, though.” Teegan reached out and drew Zachary close again, intentionally rubbing his stubble against Zachary’s jaw as he whispered in his ear. “Megan is due back at Kelly’s by five. How about, after, you spend some time with an eel of your very own.”
Zachary sputtered out a laugh and pulled back. “Okay, more grossness. You are forbidden from referring to your cock as an eel ever again.”
“It was okay for ManDonna.”
Zachary placed his finger over Teegan’s lips before he could keep going. “I’m gonna stop you there, so you don’t unintentionally force images in my head that will pop up later tonight while you’re inside of me.” This time, Zachary leaned in, his whisper intentionally filled with gravel and sex. “Besides, Vahin has been telling me some stuff that he and Marlon do with handcuffs. He let me borrow a pair.”
Deeds & Confetti
CHAPTER ONE
Steven Conley
The cell phone screen showed the time and the date. No missed calls, no missed texts. Steven wasn’t sure whether he was relieved or not. No news was good news, but he’d rather just get it over with.
“Wow. I thought my powers of seduction were going to be impossible to resist. This fireman costume wasn’t cheap, and it’s for sure not worth it if I’m not as sexy as your phone.”
Steven glanced back up, partly embarrassed for being called out and a little annoyed. The annoyance flitted away at the sight of the rippling six-pack showing through the open fireman’s jacket. “Oh, it’s working. Believe me.” He met the man’s gaze. “You are definitely the sexiest police officer I’ve ever seen.”
The man’s brows furrowed.
“Shit. I mean firefighter. Plus, the sexiest cop would be Marlon. He’s rather….” Damn it. Now he couldn’t even flirt correctly? “Sorry. You are crazy, crazy hot, Ri—” Steven caught himself just in time. Not Richard. Reid? He replayed the last few minutes of conversation. “Rick.”
Though not fooled, Rick seemed satisfied that Steven had at least come up with the right name. “Thanks. And you own the place, right?”
Steven nodded and raised his voice to be heard over the music and rumble of the horde of people. “Yep. Sure do.” He glanced around his restaurant. Hamburger Mary’s was packed and looked even more like a gay bar than usual. Shirtless wasn’t typical attire here, but on Halloween, anything went.
“Great. So how about a drink on the house? It will up your chances.” Firefighter Rick gave a wink and flexed his left pectoral.
Steven balked. He also mentally said no. It wasn’t worth it. Not tonight. To try to remember names, to have to get a drink to get laid. He had work to do. So much work. And he had worries to stew over. So much worry. And a free drink to get laid? What the hell was that? If anything, he was used to the other side of that offer. He wasn’t a scrub, and he was so used to offers to be taken home that he was willing to bet he could walk away from the firefighter and find someone new in the next three minutes. But that sounded like way too much work. And Rick here was maybe twenty-two and maybe had 5 percent body fat. It made sense he would require a drink to go home with a man he probably looked at as a grandpa.
Possibly sensing he was losing Steven’s attention, Rick flipped the conversation. “You’re the only guy in here not dressed up. What’s that about?”
Nope, so not worth it. He’d gotten shit from all the employees, and now he was getting it from this whippersnapper. Oh, fuck, now he was thinking whippersnapper. Seriously? He pointed to the embossed Mary emblem on the breast of his shirt. “I’m dressed up. I’m a restaurant owner.”
Rick cocked a brow.
Steven did his best not to sigh out his frustration. He was going to need distraction tonight. The kind this Playgirl centerfold wannabe could definitely provide. “Let me get you that drink. Beer?”
Rick grimaced like he’d been offered a dirty diaper. “I’ll take a Rum Martinez.”
Oh, for fuck…. No. Definitely not worth it. “That drink requires wood chips and a smoke diffuser.”
Blank stare.
“I’ll get you a rum and Coke.” Steven turned, debating if he really was going to get the drink or if he’d rather just leave the guy standing there. Then a one-star review on Yelp flashed through his mind. And a long night without a warm, naked body to distract him. Rum and Coke it was.
Before he could make it behind the bar, the music faded and trumpets sounded over the speakers, blaring out “Hail to the Chief.” Steven’s heart sank, and he tried to force himself to not turn around, to not look. His head drag queen, ManDonna, had told him their show for the night was going to go down in the annals of history; of course, she’d said anals of history, in pure ManDonna fashion. Steven had expected something with Elvira or the Sanderson sisters. Something suited to Halloween. Not this. Dear God, not this—whatever was about to happen, it wasn’t going to be good.
Already regretting his lack of willpower, Steven turned toward the stage. For a moment, he wasn’t sure what he was seeing. A black man with a blond wig marched through the dressing room door and headed toward the stage. Definitely not a drag queen. Then it hit him. Hershel, ManDonna’s straitlaced, construction worker husband. Holy shit. The atrocious blond wig. “Hail to the Chief.”
He was going to lose the deed to Hamburger Mary’s. No doubt. This shit show was going to end up on YouTube. The government was going to sweep in, condemn his property, and he was going to be shipped off to another country. No matter that he’d been born here and was the whitest mutt of all white mutt ancestry.
The crowd was already screaming like a rabid mob at the sight of their alternative President, but it was nothing compared to when ManDonna and Ariel Merman exited the dressing room shortly after the blond Hershel. ManDonna was nearly unrecognizable in a long brunette wig, a silver bikini with leopard print, and ten-inch gold heels. In one hand, she waved a small American flag. In the other, a larger flag with white, blue, and red stripes and a red star in the middle. He wasn’t exactly sure what that represented. But it didn’t matter; it was all a death sentence. ManDonna was a stunning drag queen, but she was older than Steven and definitely not bikini-body ready, at least not as much as the First Lady would expect.
Ariel, on the other hand, could almost pass for the First Daughter. She might be even more beautiful. A blonde wig fell halfway down her back, and though she was more covered up than usual, the tight white gown clinched over her left shoulder left nothing of her amazing body to the imagination. Sh
e strutted in her silver heels like she’d been born in them and waved her four purses around as deftly as if she were a member of the color guard. The price tags on each, affixed with extra-long string, became little flags of their own.
Steven’s mind raced, trying to predict how badly this was going to go. When the music switched from presidential to pop, his heart sank. So much worse than he’d expected. As Brandy’s and Monica’s voices began to argue before the song began, ManDonna and Ariel lip-synced, twitching their fingers in each other’s faces and thrusting their hips side to side with every syncopated beat of “The Boy is Mine.”
Before long, the First Lady and the First Daughter were on either side of the orange-turned-black President, purses and heels used as weapons over Hershel’s head. Before the last lines of the song faded, the crowd was shouting their unadulterated pleasure and the blond wig had exited Hershel’s head and made its way through the restaurant, taking its turn as selfie after selfie was snapped.
This was either going to be the highlight of his restaurant’s existence or its deathblow.
Steven had checked his cell every few minutes the entire night—still blank. It wasn’t like he could miss a call. Not to mention he’d turned the volume back on once all the customers left. Even his friends, his staff, had finished cleaning and setting up for the next day and gone home. There was no distraction. No way he’d miss the chimes of a call or the chirp of a text.
He checked again.
Still nothing.
Steven did a double take at the phone’s display. Holy fuck—2:00 a.m. Everyone else had left over an hour ago. How had that happened?
Rick and his sexy fireman’s body flashed through his mind. Huh. Steven hadn’t noticed him after the drag show. And he for sure hadn’t remembered the rum and Coke. Fireman had probably gone home with the hot Thor who had won the costume competition. Steven couldn’t bring himself to care.
