He was a thirty-eight-year-old man crushing on a kid. He regularly ignored the needling fact that Aaron wasn’t a child any more than Kreed was an old man. Aaron was twenty-nine, almost thirty.
Kreed thought about last night. God, he only wished he could be certain of what he’d heard coming from the master bedroom. With as fucked up as he’d been over the kid, trying to read all those mixed signals, he could have used the confirmation. But in the end, he hadn’t asked. That would have been a dick move at this point in the game, because if, for some wild reason, Aaron was experiencing all this overwhelming attraction, too, then Kreed would be obligated to pull himself from this case. Even now he saw how erratic his thought processes were over the kid—imagine if he knew for sure that Aaron shared the same feelings.
So, that little possible jack-off session that may or may not have ended with his name being said would have to be tucked away for later.
“Sinacola, they need you,” Aaron called out. He didn’t say anything, just went toward the room, wiping the smile from his face before he entered. He’d keep that revelation to himself. He didn’t need to consider that or the absurdity of this situation. He’d give them tonight, let Aaron have his job-well-done moment before Kreed explored what truly happened when he’d laid eyes on that pastor today.
Chapter 16
“We can only go over there for a few hours,” Kreed called from the bathroom in the hall. “We need to head back here early.”
“Is that because you’re getting old, Sinacola, and need to go to bed early?” Aaron asked, coming to stand in the open doorway while Kreed finished shaving in front of the mirror. By now, Aaron should have been prepared for the no-shirt policy. Though that always seemed to be the first thing to go where Kreed was concerned, it still threw him off balance when he walked in to see Kreed’s bare chest. He didn’t know if it was the broad shoulders, the beautiful ink, or that tight six-pack that robbed him of his thoughts each and every time he came across the unexpected treat, but whatever the case, he was left momentarily speechless.
“It’s because you’re the church kid. If anyone’s watching, they need to see you comin’ in early,” Kreed said, turning on the warm water. He let it run for several seconds while he grabbed a towel off the counter. The deputy marshal was too tempting to watch, so Aaron tried to avert his eyes, but the tightening in his jeans made him aware it was already too late. Kreed was tough to be around dressed from head to toe, but standing there without his shirt and those well-worn jeans riding way down low on his hips… Damn. Yeah, he was too fucking much.
Aaron shoved away from the door, leaving Kreed there to finish up, and went back to his room. For the first time in more years than he could count, he didn’t want to sit down at that computer. Actually, he’d barely accomplished more than unboxing his CPU and one monitor. He’d checked in with his team then turned the thing off. He never did things like that.
Not only that but he had been eager to go to Colt and Jace’s tonight. Even though they were twenty-four hours out from his first FBI sanctioned undercover adventure, he’d still been riding the high from yesterday, and Kreed had graciously let him. The guy stayed close by and attentive, listening to him turn into Connors as he analyzed everything that had gone down over and over again. Technically, that had been a turn-on too. When did anyone on the planet really give a shit about what he had to say?
Then this morning, it had all started again when he woke to find the bureau’s latest remarkable accomplishment. They’d gained access to Helps’s private email and were in the process of dissecting mounds of information.
More so, he wasn’t worried about or tired of his roommate. Funny, he’d spent all evening then all day with Kreed. They’d talked endlessly. Well, he’d talked as he watched Kreed absently flip a knife in his hand for hours at a time. Kreed’s tricks with that blade impressed the hell out of Aaron. The man didn’t even flinch when he misjudged a move and nicked himself.
The whole scene was hot as hell. The ease with which he took the pain when he missed on a flip mirrored the strength and determination in everything the man did. When he allowed Aaron to fuss over and take care of the wound when Kreed wouldn’t… Well, for the first time since they’d met in person, Aaron felt weirdly satisfied, as though their time together transcended everything.
“I thought you were ready?” Kreed asked from his doorway, tugging a long-sleeve knit shirt over his head. Like most things Kreed wore, it fit like a glove, which was another obstacle for his dick to overcome.
“I am.”
“So am I.”
“You riding in the back?” Aaron kept his eyes averted. He found that to be one of the only effective ways he could find to deal with the constant threat of an impending hard-on, and honestly, that didn’t seem to be helping that much anymore. Aaron grabbed his wallet, tucking it in the back pocket of his jeans before adding his phone to the other side. Kreed disappeared from the doorway, and Aaron followed, turning off the light as he went. Kreed met him in the hallway.
“Yeah. About that. It’s the part I hate the most,” Kreed said before skirting past him.
“Okay. Do you ride like that the whole way there?” Aaron asked, following Kreed, undecided on where to cast his gaze.
At his hot ass? Nope. How about the freakishly large, broad shoulders… Makes you want to grab on as you sink onto his dick and… Okay, bad idea too. Neither.
Instead, he stopped at the hall closet and grabbed his and Kreed’s coats in hopes of giving his mind time to control his libido. What the hell was wrong with him? They were in a dangerous situation. He needed to stay focused on their job then get out of Dodge before anyone caught on to his extracurricular activities.
“I’ll check for a tail then I’ll move up to the front,” he said, doing something in the kitchen.
“Should I lay the rear seats down? I’m not sure you’ll fit in the backseat.”
“Har, har. Very funny. Get in the vehicle. Wait, are you old enough to drive?”
Okay, well, he’d been serious and Kreed took his words as a joke. Aaron held out Kreed’s coat, and he took it as he walked past, flipping off the light switches before heading toward the garage door.
“Real funny, pops,” Aaron finally commented. He waited in the dark while Kreed stretched across the entire length of the backseat and, as expected, Kreed’s height and bulk didn’t fit. Aaron adjusted the rearview mirror and moved the seat up a little before he looked back and said, “I can still see you.”
The whole car moved as Kreed readjusted from his side to lying on his back. “Is that better?”
“Now your knees are bent. I told you we should lay the seats down. You’ll fit better.”
“No. How’s this?” Kreed completely ignored him and Aaron rolled his eyes.
He looked in the rearview mirror and didn’t see any stray body parts, so he looked over his shoulder. Kreed’s angle was all wrong. No way he wouldn’t get a cramp in either his neck or leg in that position.
“You can’t be comfortable,” Aaron finally said.
“I’m good. Get goin’.” Aaron sat forward, furrowing his brow. Kreed couldn’t be even a little bit comfortable. Damn, the deputy marshal was stubborn.
“All right. Suit yourself.” Aaron shrugged and pressed the garage door opener, then he started the SUV and began backing out.
“Shit,” Kreed called out, and Aaron slammed on the brakes right in the middle of the alleyway.
“What?” he snapped. With the sudden stop, he heard Kreed shift, but it was too dark to see a thing going on in the backseat.
“I can’t see if anyone’s tailing us.”
“I’ll watch for it, but seriously, stop yelling out like that. You freaked me out.” Aaron took a deep breath to settle his nerves and continued down the alley to get to the street. A few minutes later, he felt Kreed shift again. He was such a big guy that the vehicle couldn’t help but move with him.
“All right, I’m good. I can see a patch ou
t the back window reasonably well. You keep an eye on it too.”
“Which way? I can’t really remember the different turns. I see the CVS. We turn left, I think, right?” Aaron asked, getting in the left lane.
“Yeah, then right at that burger-slash-Mexican-food place.”
“Yeah, okay, and, for the record, the town doesn’t look any more inviting than it did when we arrived,” Aaron said. It was New Year’s Eve. There were more people on the road tonight, but still there was nothing really going on in this small town at all.
“I was reading that they were putting a new bar right next to the nursing home. I got a kick out of that. I bet Pastor Helps is dyin’ about that one. Hang on. GPS is tracking.” Kreed turned up the volume on his phone, guiding Aaron out to the highway.
Tired of being cramped up in the backseat, Kreed adjusted his body, trying for anything that bought comfort. Nothing did. Estimating based on time more than scenery, he figured they were about halfway to Colt’s place.
Kreed lifted his head again, looking out the back window. It was hard to tell, but surely between the both of them, even with the limited visual he had, they could have detected someone following, especially since the sexy Aaron Stuart in that black leather button-down and the perfectly styled fuck-boy haircut drove like a grandma. The thirty minute drive had already taken at least forty-five. Anyone who followed would have lost interest by now, easily believing this church boy was exactly who he claimed to be. No rebellious sinner would drive ten miles below the speed limit for the entire length of a trip.
Kreed rolled his neck as an unexpected charley horse chose that exact moment to attack his right calf muscle. He kicked his leg out, unintentionally banging his foot against the door, trying to alleviate the sudden agonizing constriction that had momentarily gripped his leg. It didn’t work. “Motherfucker!”
“What?” Aaron shouted almost as loud as he had. The car quickly jerked to the left, jostling him as his hands automatically went to the debilitating spasm in hopes of finding some relief. He was at such an angle that he fell backward against the seat when the car shifted, causing the pain to spike straight to level ten status. He grabbed his leg, trying to massage the knotting muscle. “Damn it! What the fuck are you doing?”
When he registered they’d pulled over, he bailed out the door, forcing himself to walk the cramp out while on the side of the road. He let the curse words fly as he shifted his body weight, and forced his heel to the pavement. That shit hurt like a son of a bitch. He could take anything—a punch, broken bones, a blade, a fucking bullet and even torture when necessary—but he couldn’t deal with a fucking charley horse for Christ sake. Even at BUD/S, his SEAL training course, he’d been baited about his inability to withstand a ‘little’ muscle cramp.
“Fuck that and fuck them!” he growled out into the universe. There was no little to it. The agony in his leg had just started to ease when he noticed Aaron.
“Why are you out of the car?” Kreed barked. He didn’t mean to take his discomfort out on the kid, but fuck, that pain had hit so unexpectedly. As the intensity ebbed, Kreed relaxed a little
“Why are you freaking out and blowing our cover?” Aaron yelled back, now all up in his face.
Could the kid not see the pain he’d endured? For the first time since dumping himself from the vehicle, Kreed registered the cars zooming past. They were on the Dallas North Tollway during a holiday party night, with heavy traffic and cars flying past them at high rates of speed. He was pretty certain even a tail would have had to pass them with how fast traffic was moving. On the tip of his tongue was a quick retort about the kid’s driving skill and the obvious fact they should have been there by now, whereby he wouldn’t have been cramped up in the back for so long, but a loud honk drowned out his answer.
“Get in the car,” Kreed finally commanded. They both headed toward the driver’s side. “Hell no, Romeo, I’m driving.” Kreed kept moving forward, ignoring Aaron’s glare as he rolled his neck and shoulders, not wanting a repeat cramp anywhere else. Kreed was behind the wheel, sealed in, before Aaron even rounded the trunk.
Based on the slamming of the door, Aaron was a little peeved. “What happened to you?”
“You drive like my grandma,” Kreed huffed, putting the car in gear.
“So you scream and throw a fit in the backseat?” Aaron asked incredulously.
“What? No! I fuckin’ had a cramp,” he said, turning on his blinker. He checked his mirror for a safe entry point and picked up speed as he eased into traffic.
“I told you to lower the damn seat.” Aaron sat back, tucking his arms over his chest. He was definitely an add-insult-to-injury kind of guy.
“Yeah, and I thought you were fucking with me,” he said, still irritated as hell. They were silent several long minutes, so long that Kreed was taking his exit before rational thought filtered back inside his brain. It took two more streetlights and a turn into Colt and Jace’s neighborhood before he finally said, “I’m sorry. I’m frustrated with me, not you. I didn’t mean to yell at you back there.”
“Whatever,” Aaron said, staring out the passenger side window.
Great. The cool, irritable prick was back. Damn. He’d liked the peace they’d finally created between them. After another turn of the vehicle, Kreed decided to try again. He had to make this better. He’d gained too much ground with the kid to lose it because a stupid, fucking cramp that hurt like a motherfucker.
“I shouldn’t’ve gone off like that and I should’ve listened to you. I was wrong,” Kreed admitted, taking a turn onto Colt’s street. Aaron stayed quiet, his head turned away, and he didn’t acknowledge Kreed in any way. The only thing Kreed got from church boy was a deep sigh. Damn it! He’d royally fucked up, but in his defense, he’d been in massive pain at the time. Still, that was no excuse. Right?
Kreed lifted his brow at his internal question. With the degree of agony he’d endured, surely Aaron could find it in his heart to forgive his little outburst.
The sheer volume of vehicles parked one behind the other all the way down the road drew Kreed’s attention. It looked like several parties were going on. They drove past Colt’s house, with an already-packed driveway, going several houses down before he found a place to park. Kreed pulled over, made sure he wasn’t blocking any driveways, and placed the gearshift in park.
“I’ll be more careful in the future,” he said into the quiet car. Aaron opened the door, got out, and slammed it in his wake. Kreed sighed loudly in the now-empty vehicle then reached for his door handle. Aaron was at least a car’s length away by the time Kreed stepped out, shut the door, and hit the lock button. He trailed behind, watching Aaron cut across a lawn toward Colt’s house. He could stop him, ask him what the hell he was doing walking away like that in the middle of an active investigation, but he didn’t. Instead he felt like a heel for how he’d so completely upset Aaron. He needed to log in his memory how easy it was to hurt the guy’s feelings.
Kreed took the steps up to the front porch and joined Aaron, who already stood close to the door. Kreed tucked his fingers in his pockets as Aaron reached for the doorbell. “Don’t let me ruin your night.”
“Dude, seriously, let it go,” Aaron said, but he wouldn’t look in Kreed’s direction. The front door swung open and Mitch stood there with a huge grin spreading across his face. “Do y’all buy your T-shirts at the same damn store?” Aaron quipped. Mitch was in his usual attire, blue jeans and a T-shirt, but this one read “Ass, The Other Vagina.”
“What? This is my special party all night shirt. Get in here, man!” Mitch moved back, barely allowing them inside before he stuck out his hand to Aaron then pulled him into a solid, brotherly hug. “You’re a badass, my man.”
Kreed watched the tension in Aaron’s face fade away as he settled into the hug and gave Mitch one back. Cody was close by, holding two beers, one a Coors Light and the other a Bud Light. Probably one for Mitch. He placed both on the entryway table and shook Aaron’
s hand as Mitch turned his attention to Kreed.
“You clean up pretty well for a thug,” Mitch said teasingly.
“Yeah, I figured I’d be pretty for you tonight,” he said jokingly. He’d actually done a little more than that. He’d taken time dressing for tonight’s party, styled his thick dark hair, and strapped on every bit of jewelry he owned, which consisted of a few leather straps and a necklace with his brother’s dog tags.
“Hey, Kreed,” Cody said, his voice slightly slurred. Kreed smiled as he realized Cody must have been drinking for a while now. He was usually very reserved and kept what he considered a respectable distance from his partner. Mitch was the one to always push Cody’s space boundaries, but not tonight. He’d sidled up next to Mitch, wrapping an arm around his waist, and worked his big body under Mitch’s arm. His partner didn’t seem to have much of a problem with Cody being right there next to him. Mitch liked it so much that he lifted Cody’s chin and gave him a kiss. Kreed stood near Aaron, both of them smiling while the kiss continued and turned into a full blown make-out session right at the front door.
“Do they do that all the time?” Aaron asked when Kreed just chuckled. He knew Mitch wasn’t drinking tonight, not really anyway. He was on high alert, convinced—at least in theory—that they were now the perfect target for the hate crimes. But clearly, since backup had arrived, a drunk Cody was worth exploring, and he wouldn’t be surprised if Mitch disappeared for the next hour or so. Lucky guy.
“Probably. It is Knox after all.” Kreed turned Aaron by the shoulders away from the potential porn show going on with his partner. There were probably fifteen to twenty people in the living room. If Kreed remembered correctly, the party was an annual event for the coaches and staff at Jace’s gym. A quick scan of the guests showed there was a pretty even mix of gay and straight, couples and non-couples. “Want a drink?”
Nice Guys Collection With Added Bonus Material Page 89
