Beneath This Mask

by Victoria Sue

  “He did?” Jake relaxed, then covered his mouth to stifle a yawn.

  Gael smiled. “Close your eyes.” He couldn’t resist smoothing his fingers down the unhurt side of Jake’s jaw. Jake hummed a little as if he liked it. “It’s just, I think he would make a good contact. He already thinks I’m a cop and he wasn’t fazed. Maybe I should take a quick run down there and see if there was any sign of him?”

  “Not on your own.” Both of Jake’s eyes shot open and fixed on his.

  Gael hadn’t realized he’d spoken out loud. But instead of being offended at the order, he was touched. “I won’t go unless Vance can come.”

  Jake smiled faintly and sighed. His eyes were closing again. “Damn drugs,” he muttered,

  Gael leaned down and brushed the barest kiss over Jake’s lips. He went to lean back, but the groan and the chase of lips from Jake was too much to resist. A rush of heat raced through Gael’s body. He pulled away and dropped a kiss on Jake’s nose. Jake scowled and he chuckled.

  “If I go now, how about I come back, make us some dinner, and we enjoy a lazy evening in bed?”

  Jake murmured his agreement, but this time he didn’t even manage to open his eyes.

  Gael stood for a second and just stared. He didn’t believe in God, but just in case anyone was listening, he sent a quick hope heavenward for him not to screw this up. Jake was gorgeous and he wanted to keep him. He breathed out. He wanted Jake to want to keep him.

  “WHAT?” GAEL said defensively as Vance got in his truck and shot him a look.

  “Tell me again what we’re doing?”

  Gael grinned. “We’re going to see if we can find a twink with blue hair and freckles.”

  “And your boyfriend’s not gonna mind?”

  Gael opened his mouth to protest and then closed it. Boyfriend? Vance’s smile got wider when Gael didn’t answer. “Shut up,” Gael groused and headed for Ybor, which, even though he had had to collect Vance, didn’t seem to take long. He pulled up not too far from the center.

  Vance got out and looked at his watch. “Isn’t it a little early?”

  “I read online, this guy who was taking his nine-year-old to school got blocked in by another car. When he got out to ask him to move, there was a pro inside sucking some guy off. It was seven in the morning,” Gael added dryly.

  Vance grunted but didn’t sound surprised.

  Gael looked up at him. “The trouble is, I have no idea whether this guy normally hangs out around here or whether he was on his way somewhere.”

  Vance grunted again. “Well, why don’t you ask him?”

  Gael was about to shoot off a sarcastic retort when he realized Vance wasn’t looking at him. He whipped his head around to where Vance was staring, and nearly dropped in shock. Mr. Blue Hair was leaning up against the cigar shop’s front window right across the street.

  Before Gael could move or say anything, the twink noticed them and his face lit up. In a flash, he was jogging across the road to where they were both rooted to the spot. Gael looked up at Vance, wondering why the sarcastic comments weren’t coming, but Vance stood openmouthed, staring at the sparkly vision that came to a dramatic stop in front of them both.

  “Hi, guys,” he greeted breathlessly like he had just run a half marathon instead of twenty feet.

  Gael grinned. He couldn’t help it. “I was hoping to see you.”

  Blue Hair arched an eyebrow. “I don’t do BOGOs.”

  Vance spluttered, and Gael cracked up even more. “BOGO?”

  The dimples came out. “Blow one, get one.”

  Vance snorted rather loudly, and Blue Hair eyed him up and down, his voice suddenly becoming deep and sultry.

  “Although, maybe I could make an exception.” He shuddered. “Big guys really get me going.”

  Vance’s smile fell, and he went bright pink.

  The little guy ran a blue nail across Vance’s chest. “You big all over, huh?”

  Gael watched in complete fascination as the pink in Vance’s face turned to a deep red, and his gaze dropped as his feet shuffled.

  “But failing that….” He seemed to take pity on Vance and turned to Gael. “What can I do for you, hotshot?”

  Gael grinned. It was strange, but somehow he wasn’t at all nervous this time. Maybe it was the thought of having his own hotshot waiting back at home that settled him. He had a confidence that usually only came with the uniform.

  “I need to ask you a question,” Gael said solemnly.

  “What’s your name?” Vance asked before Gael got the chance to say any more.

  Gael glanced at Vance in surprise.

  His green eyes twinkling, he held out a hand to Vance. “Angel.”

  “Angel,” Vance repeated, taking his hand gingerly, seeming completely starstruck.

  Gael coughed loudly, and Vance dropped Angel’s hand as if it had burned him.

  Angel looked to the side, twirled around, and ducked into the gap where the trash cans were. After a second, Gael and Vance followed. “So, what do you want to know?” Angel asked.

  “You wanna see a badge?” Gael asked.

  “Don’t need to.” Angel smirked. “Just for God’s sake, don’t ever go undercover like they do on TV.” He eyed Vance. “That one’s got cop written all over him.”

  Vance puffed out his huge chest a little more, like Angel had given him a huge compliment, but Gael frowned. “Enhanced aren’t allowed to be cops.”

  Angel sighed and inspected a blue nail. “You got two minutes.”

  Gael quickly asked him if he’d seen any enhanced turning tricks and described Skin.

  “Where was his patch?” Angel asked, and Gael told him. Angel cocked his head on one side. “You’re talking about Simon, aren’t you?” Gael started to shrug. “Skin,” Angel added quietly.

  “Yes,” Vance said.

  “I’ve heard of him. I’ve never met him, but the Old Port was cleared out before I moved up here.” Angel bit his lip. “You got a card?”

  Vance beat Gael to the one in his pocket.

  Angel stared at the card Talon had made for them all, and smiled. “Give me a day, Agent,” he said, pocketing it. Gael had no idea how he even fit paper in those skintight jeans. He blew them both a kiss but winked at Vance, turned on a delicate heel, and was gone.

  “Wow,” Vance said in amazement.

  Gael eyed Vance, not knowing what to say. “You okay?”

  “I’m in love,” Vance pronounced in all seriousness.

  Gael laughed shortly, not 100 percent convinced Vance was joking. “Come on. I wanna go home.” He had to drag Vance, though.

  Chapter Fourteen

  JAKE NEVER stirred when Gael shucked off all his clothes, ready to slide under the covers. He was lying on his side with his bruised side faceup. Gael felt a pang of remorse and then took a breath. Enough. They’d both had enough of that.

  Gael padded around to the other side of the bed and slowly got in. He slid closer to Jake and spooned him.

  “I have a gun.”

  Gael sniggered. “On you?”

  Jake chuckled, rolled onto his back, and lifted an arm. “C’mere.”

  Gael obeyed instantly.

  “What time is it?” Jake squinted at his clock.

  “Nearly nine. I had to take Vance home.”

  “So what happened tonight?”

  “Well, Vance fell in love.” Gael grinned and told Jake all about Angel. “He’s gonna call us tomorrow.”

  “You think he will?”

  Gael paused, thinking about the way he’d been pleased to see them, how he hadn’t been a bit scared. “Yeah, I think so.”

  Gael kissed the patch of skin he was lying on. Jake had quite a few black chest hairs smattered around each nipple, and suddenly Gael’s mouth watered. Without stopping or questioning the impulse, he lifted his head and sucked a nipple right into his mouth.

  “Fuck,” Jake gasped and nearly lifted off the bed.

  Gael let go with a pop. “
Don’t like?”

  “You kidding me?” Jake returned weakly, so Gael bent his head again.

  This time Jake stayed where he was, but the accompanying moan was very good. Gael licked and laved the hard bud while his fingers strayed to the other to tease and scrape with his nail. He let go and started kissing and sucking down Jake’s chest and abdomen.

  Jake suddenly tightened his fingers in Gael’s hair, where he had been hanging on. “No, please,” he husked. Gael raised his eyes and stared into Jake’s. Dark midnight pools begged back at him. He dropped a kiss on Jake’s lips and turned over on his stomach.

  “How long?” Jake whispered, coming up on one elbow, trailing two fingers down Gael’s spine, and he shivered into the touch.

  Gael swallowed. “Years,” he admitted.

  Jake kissed the small of his back. “Then we’re gonna go real slow,” he promised. Gael tried to get comfy, but he was already semihard. Jake sat up and reached over to the nightstand. He fished around in the drawer and took out a small square packet and a tube. “Get up on your knees, baby. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Gael did, but he knew his cheeks were reddening a little.

  “Hush,” Jake comforted as if he knew. His hands smoothed over Gael’s ass, and he seemed in no hurry to reach for the lube. Jake shuffled until he was behind him, and he bent to trail kisses all the way down Gael’s spine.

  Gael swallowed. The kisses were gorgeous, but he was nervous. Despite him wanting this, the two times he had done this had hurt like hell. The second time he had bled and promised himself never again.

  “Hey, sweetheart,” Jake said in a low voice. “We can stop, do something different. You just say the word, okay?”

  Sweetheart. Gael was a sap, but the word made him melt, and he felt a little tension drain out of his shoulders.

  Jake ran his fingers up and down his spine and followed his fingers with his lips. Then he carefully parted Gael’s asscheeks and kissed the top of his crease.

  “Jake,” Gael whispered. Then his eyes widened as he felt the first swipe of Jake’s tongue. Jesus. “Incredible,” Gael sighed, completely unable to contain the word.

  Jake squeezed in response, and his tongue dipped lower. Gael moaned. The lower Jake’s tongue got, the more noises spilled from Gael’s lips, and when Jake skimmed his tongue around Gael’s hole, he thought he would die. Or explode. Or pass out from just how good it was.

  Jake grunted in response, and then Gael realized he’d been wrong. The moment Jake curled his tongue and pushed it inside was the moment he seriously doubted he would ever need oxygen again.

  “Baby,” Gael moaned as Jake took his mouth away. Gael heard the click of the tube open, and in another few seconds, Jake’s hands were back, slicking his hole with lube. He pushed against Jake’s hand, wanting more.

  Jake swirled his finger around Gael’s hole and dipped the tip in, teasing him; all the while Jake murmured encouraging noises. Jake slid one finger in past the knuckle, and Gael moaned deliriously, begging with his body, begging with his heart. He rocked back in a steady rhythm. Jake added another finger, stretching, rubbing, then more lube. Jake brought his hand around and rubbed his palm over Gael’s cock. He didn’t need any lube there, as his skin, slick with precum, slid right over. Gael shuddered. It was almost too much, and he bit his lip as a tide of need seemed to swell inside him.

  “Jake, please. I wanna feel you and I’m not gonna last.”

  “We have all night,” Jake soothed, but his voice cracked, betraying how close his own need was.

  “Please,” Gael whispered.

  Jake kissed Gael’s back and slid his fingers gently out. “I wanted to touch your gland, but I reckoned you’d shoot.”

  Gael moaned in reply.

  “Sweetheart? Promise me if this hurts….”

  “Jake!” Gael nearly bellowed in frustration, and he heard a low chuckle from behind him. The condom packet ripped, and seconds later Gael felt Jake’s firm fingers and more lube, then pressure as Jake pressed himself against Gael.

  “Push out, baby,” Jake gasped, and suddenly he was partway in. Jake held himself still, and Gael’s eyes smarted at the burn. He hadn’t thought it would actually hurt. He took a few choppy inhales, disappointment coursing through him. He had wanted this so much, had convinced himself it would be different. “Hey,” Jake said gently. “Breathe, baby.” Jake withdrew a little, and Gael relaxed slightly. He felt Jake’s cool fingers around the tightly stretched skin. More lube. Gael took another, deeper breath. Jake pushed back in again, and Gael’s eyes stung. He opened his mouth to say he couldn’t. He was useless. A failure.

  Then Jake changed his angle and slid inside some more. Fuuuck. He panted. Jake’s hand came around to fondle his dick, and it sprung up again, rock hard. Jake did it again, and sparks rushed through Gael and he moved. “Ohh,” he breathed out and clutched the sheet he was lying on.

  “That good, baby?” Jake panted the question as he slid in and out in time to the pounding in Gael’s ears. He couldn’t speak. Jake was everywhere at once, in his body, in his mind. He was whispering in his ear, his large hands pulling and smoothing his cock until it he could hardly bear it. Everything throbbed, his skin was alive, and with every thrust, he was pushed closer and closer to something so unbelievably good, he wanted to cry.

  Just one more. Just one more, and Jake twisted his wrist and Gael’s orgasm thundered through him so fast and so hard, he could hardly breathe. He knew he cried out something, and heard the echo behind him as his body seemed to splinter into a million tiny pieces. Then he felt the lips pressing to his back, putting every bit together again.

  He realized the noise was him trying to inhale what little oxygen there was left in the room, and he felt a tiny burn as Jake slid out, then emptiness. He was suddenly ridiculously glad for the large body that pulled him onto his side so he wasn’t lying in his own wet patch.

  “Stay there,” Jake rumbled behind him, and he got out of bed. In barely a minute, he was back with a warm cloth and tenderly cleaned Gael up.

  Gael blinked furiously and struggled to say anything, but when Jake slid back under the covers and pulled him close, it wasn’t really necessary.

  GAEL GROANED as he rolled over, barely awake. He heard the shower running and stared, bemused, as Jake walked back into the bedroom.

  He bent down to kiss Gael. “I’m sorry. I wish I could put you in the bath. A soak would do you good.” He swallowed and looked nervous as he waited for Gael to reply.

  Gael let his smile spread across his face, and Jake’s eyes glittered as he shared the humor, and the memory. Gael stretched cautiously, trying not to wince. “You may have to carry me to the shower.”

  Jake rolled his eyes. “Get your sore ass in there so I can change the sheets. We’re meeting everyone at Betty’s at eight.”

  Gael immediately brightened and he forced himself out of bed.

  TWO HOURS later, as Jake and Gael walked into the field office, Jake stared as Finn flew across the room and practically tackled the young enhanced man talking to Gregory.

  “Adam!” Finn shrieked, and Adam turned and caught him in a bear hug. They were both laughing, and the others all crowded around, slapping Adam’s back, shaking his hand.

  Gregory just stood back and looked very pleased with himself.

  As soon as Finn had shrieked Adam’s name, Jake remembered him from reading up on the reports when he had started. Adam had been Finn’s childhood best friend until he had transformed at eleven and his parents had moved the entire family away, unable to cope with the shame.

  He had been in and out of foster care, run away, lived on the streets, and eventually fallen in with a gang committing bank robberies. Adam could manipulate metal and locks, but his second ability involved electricity. As Jake understood it, though, he was currently in prison for his part in two bank robberies, and despite the fact he saved Finn’s life and helped the feds by giving evidence, Gael had no idea how Gregory had gotten him here.


  “Sit down, everyone,” Gregory said. He looked at Jake. “Adam is out on strict license. Assistant Director Manning has agreed to him helping our unit temporarily, as we have no one with the ability to manipulate electricity, and with the death of Maria Kelly, she has been able to successfully persuade the state’s attorney that he should be here rather than in a cell.”

  Finn glanced at Adam, worry stark on his face.

  “If I behave and make myself useful, the gig will be extended,” he assured Finn. “That’s what the boss lady said anyway.”

  “And properly addressing her as Assistant Director Manning or ma’am might be a good start,” Gregory said dryly.

  “Yes, sir,” Adam replied promptly, and everyone grinned. Adam grinned back, and then his gaze fell on Jake.

  “This is my partner, Jake Riley,” Vance introduced him, despite Jake sitting close to Gael and Vance being on the other side of the table.

  Jake held out his hand and smiled, trying not to wince. “Good to meet you. I don’t normally look this pretty,” he quipped.

  Adam chuckled, and Jake took him in. Big, like all enhanced, but slim like Eli. He must have had a good four inches in height on Eli, though. Blond hair, but much darker than Gael’s, and his eyes were a green-blue color. In fact, if a certain other person wasn’t getting all of his attention, Adam would have.

  “You can stay with us,” Finn pronounced.

  Adam shot a surprised look at Talon, and Talon smiled slowly, nodding his agreement. Adam tilted his head and shrugged. “I can’t.” He pushed himself away from the table and lifted his leg, pulling his jeans up. The thick ankle bracelet was very visible.

  All eyes shot to Gregory.

  “One of the conditions is that Adam lives at Benchmark House. It’s a halfway house for parolees, with strict rules. He has to report there daily, and curfew is ten. He can’t leave the state. Random drug testing, not entering any establishment that sells alcohol—”