by Sue Brown
Attempted murder of Josh the fabulous (Josh ignored Landry’s snort)
He paused there because Josh still didn’t have a clue why he’d been attacked. It was one more illogical thing in an ocean of illogical things.
“You’ve forgotten one other thing,” Gil said.
Josh frowned and stared at the board, working his way through the list. “What’s that?”
“Charlie.”
In a moment of weakness and a vat of Tequila, Josh had confessed his relationship with Charlie to Gil but he couldn’t see what that had to do with this.
“Who’s Charlie?” Landry snapped. “More fuckin’ secrets?”
“He’s Josh’s imaginary boyfriend,” Gil informed his twin.
“He’s not imaginary.” Josh huffed loudly and wished the coffee would hurry up.
“Have you met him?” Gil demanded.
“No.”
“Well then.” From Gil’s smirk he was about to question Josh’s sanity once more when there was a knock at the door. “Who is it?”
“Room service.”
Josh didn’t recognize the voice and caught Landry’s eye. Landry padded quietly over to the door, and cautiously peered through the spyhole. Then he nodded.
“Coming,” Josh threw a towel over the whiteboard just as a precaution. He didn’t need tales of kidnapping spreading through the staff.
Landry opened the door and a young man wheeled in a trolley with coffee and pastries. Unfortunately, Cal followed hard on his heels, too quick for Landry to close the door.
“Morning,” Cal said brightly.
Josh waited for the hotel employee to leave before he gave Cal a flat, unfriendly stare. “What are you doing here?”
“Jesse said you needed a day to recover. I thought I’d check and make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. We’re working.” Maybe Josh should have sounded friendlier to his alleged boss, but as far as Cal was concerned Josh still thought he was the annoying Brit with a great ass.
“I can see that. Anything I can help with?”
He went to twitch away the towel but Josh stood in front of the board. “We’re fine.”
Cal frowned at Josh. “Why do I get the feeling I’m not welcome here?”
“This is CDR business.”
Oh the irony. Josh could almost see Cal’s brain work as he decided how to answer this.
“We’re supposed to be working together.” Cal’s tone was almost gentle and for a minute, it was like they were the only people in the room. His focus was solely on Josh, who could have melted from the intensity of his emerald gaze—could. But Josh Cooper was made of sterner stuff than that.
“I’m resting, and we’re using the time to work. So if you don’t mind….”
“We can go,” Landry started, but he stopped under the force of Josh’s glare.
“Stay where you are,” Josh said. “Cal, thanks for coming over, but I need a day. We’ll be back in tomorrow.”
This was his chance to ‘fess up and Josh wondered if Cal realized they were all holding their breath, waiting for him to say “I am your boss,” in his best Darth Vader accent, but evidently he wasn’t ready for that, because Cal just nodded and took his leave.
It wasn’t until Landry shoved a cup of coffee under Josh’s nose that he realized he’d forgotten to resume breathing. “Drink this.”
“That was interesting.” Gil took a long, noisy slurp of his coffee.
Landry sat back down. “What the hell was that all about?”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was checking up on you, Josh,” Gil said.
Josh got the same impression but he made a token protest all the same. “He wants to make sure I’m not playing hooky.”
“He didn’t even look at us.”
“Well, I am the prettiest boy in the room.” Josh fluttered his eyelashes at Gil and Landry.
Gil snorted and then started choking as he was drinking at the time. By the time he’d stopped coughing and Landry had quit laughing at his brother’s plight, they’d forgotten what they’d said. Josh didn’t forget though, because Gil was right. Cal was checking on him. For what reason though?
The trauma of the previous day and working through the night caught up with Josh and he spent more time yawning than thinking. Gil and Landry decided to shift their attention to CDR. Josh warned them to be careful and pushed the twins out for some much needed sleep. As he dozed off he remembered Gil’s comment about Charlie. If he knew about Cal, perhaps he knew about the identity of Charlie. What else did Gil know?
Josh’s dreams were vivid and varied, and definitely not happy. He’d dreamt about the aunt who’d banned him from her house when he’d shyly introduced her to his first boyfriend. He’d thought she would understand as she was an out and out liberal. The last thing he remembered was her horrified expression as she pushed them both out of her house, and shouted after them that she would call Josh’s mom. Josh had been terrified to go home to his religious conservative mother, but she had opened the door to him, her face tear-stained, and held Josh in her arms as she told him how much she loved him. His mom had not spoken to her sister from that day, and Josh had learned never to take a person at face value.
Pounding on the door forced Josh awake. It was dark outside, but when he looked at the clock he’d only been asleep for a couple of hours. The knocking started again, louder this time.
Josh stayed where he was, too comfortable to get out of bed. “What the fuck do you want?”
“It’s me. Open the door!”
Josh’s dick stood to attention at the order. His head wanted to tell Cal to fuck off. His dick won. Josh flung open the door. “What do you want?”
Cal was still wearing the same clothes he’d worn earlier and he looked as exhausted as Josh felt, with smudges under his eyes and a burgeoning dark scruff in place of his smooth jaw line. He pushed Josh back, slamming the door behind him. Josh made a token attempt at a protest. “What the hell?”
Cal manhandled him to the bed he’d recently vacated, and paced around the room. He looked tired and mad and scared, and Josh’s stomach knotted as he considered what could have provoked such a response.
“Cal?” His restless pacing continued. “Cal, what’s the matter? Have they found Michaels?”
“What?” He looked surprised as if he’d almost forgotten Josh was there. “No, not yet.”
“What’s the matter then?” Josh heaved himself off the bed, still sluggish from lack of sleep.
Cal stared at Josh like he was drowning. “You could’ve died and I would’ve lost you.” He touched Josh’s cheek and Josh remembered the feel of his hand when he was still drugged.
“Would you miss me?” Josh quipped, but Cal didn’t laugh.
“Josh….”
“Yes?”
“I’m… I’m….”
Josh ran his hands down Cal’s sides, feeling the strength hidden by his suit. Some men derived their power from their clothes. Josh had the feeling Callum David Ross was powerful in all situations. Except perhaps now. Now he looked almost vulnerable. “I know.”
Cal stepped back, a puzzled look in his eyes. “You know?”
“Gil told me.”
“Gil knows?” Cal looked horrified. “You told him?”
“He told me. I just said that.”
“How did he know?”
“He saw a photo of you from college years ago, before he worked for you. You were with Jonathan Michaels. I knew you were friends but I didn’t realize you met at Oxford.”
Cal was so still, it was like time had frozen around him.
His stillness scared Josh, even as his large presence had an interesting effect on his dick. “Gil told us you were the big cheese this morning. He dropped his revelation just before you turned up.”
“You know I’m—?” Cal looked confused.
“My boss? Yes, I do.”
“I’m your boss?”
“Is that a question? Because I’
m more than happy for you to work for me, as long as I get a raise.” Cal didn’t laugh, or even crack a smile. Okay, Josh wasn’t a comedian but wasn’t it even worth a grin? “Cal? What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry.”
Josh wanted to ask what he was sorry for. Sorry for not telling Josh who he was? Sorry for keeping secrets? But Josh got the feeling he was sorry for something else. He should have asked him. He really should have asked, but then Cal did something unexpected. Cal stepped into Josh’s space and kissed him. Josh’s brain slammed to a halt. Any thought Josh had of questioning Cal further faded away like an old romance novel, although, judging from what was pressing into Josh’s hip he had high hopes this wasn’t going to fade to black. Cal slid one hand through Josh’s hair and the other cupped his ass. Josh felt as if he ought to make a token protest but it was feeble at best and Cal ignored it as he shoved Josh against the wall of the hotel room, towering over him. He raised Josh’s arms over his head, and pinned his wrists to the wall. Josh gave him a triumphant smile. Cal thought he had Josh but it was the other way around. He had Cal exactly where he wanted him.
Cal growled at Josh’s smile and shoved his knee between his legs. “I’ve been waiting for this for so long.”
“I just met you,” Josh protested because it had only been a couple of days since he first laid eyes on Cal.
He shook his head. “I wanted you from the minute you started working for the agency.”
“You knew where I was.” Josh growled right back because, from his perspective, Cal held all the cards in the relationship.
“I always know where you are.” Cal bit at the base of Josh’s throat who hissed, pressing into the pain to let it spread through his body down to his cock.
“Then why—?” Josh’s words trailed off as Cal bit again.
“Chapter nine, section twelve, subsection three.” Cal mouthed the words into Josh’s neck.
“What?” Cal had got his lips to Josh’s throat and he was quoting numbers at him?
“The office handbook.”
Josh struggled to think about the handbook. He’d read it at the start of his employment. He always read the fine print. Then Cal bit again and Josh struggled to think—period. His lips were warm over Josh’s throat. “Uh, severance pay?”
“Inter-office relationships are strictly forbidden.”
“Oh.”
Cal kissed a wet trail up to Josh’s ear. “Can’t be seen breaking the rules.”
“Did you… write the rules?” Josh paused as Cal’s canine dragged down his neck.
“Yeah,” Cal breathed.
“Stupid rule.”
Cal bit and nuzzled at Josh’s throat again. “You don’t know how many times over the last two years I’ve thought that myself.”
“So why didn’t you change it?”
“Because it’s a good rule.”
“You just said—”
“Shut up, Josh.” Cal gave him no choice as he captured Josh’s mouth in a bruising kiss, thrusting his tongue against his lips, demanding that he open up.
The man could kiss, fuck he could kiss. Cal still held Josh’s wrists above his head and, with his knee between Josh’s legs, Josh was trapped. All he could do was stay where he was, his mouth opening under Cal’s and let his tongue explore Josh’s mouth. One of them moaned, the noises captured by their kisses, but Josh was damned if he knew which one of them it was.
Finally, Josh wrenched his mouth away, his lungs burning and desperate for oxygen. He stared at Cal, wide-eyed. “Take me to bed.”
Cal’s mouth was as bruised as Josh’s felt, and his eyes glazed over. He took a moment to focus on Josh. “Strip.” He only managed one word but it was enough.
“You’ve got to let me go.”
They were still in the same position and Josh’s shoulders were aching like a bitch, but he wasn’t going to move until Cal gave him permission. Slowly, like moving fast would somehow destroy the connection between them, Cal released Josh’s wrists and stepped back. Josh made a show of lowering his arms. Flames shot through his shoulder joints, but he didn’t wince. Josh stripped off his T-shirt, watching Cal’s eyes darken as he exposed his smooth, tanned chest. Cal’s heated look was worth the sweat, blood and tears that the sadistic personal trainer extracted.
“Now your sweats,” Cal ordered.
Cal got a shimmy of Josh’s hips as he shoved down his sweats, and he reveled in Cal’s gasp as he realized Josh had been commando the whole time. Then he was naked, and Cal was slowly working his way down Josh’s body. By the time Cal’s gaze was south of his navel he couldn’t fail to notice Josh was more than happy to see him.
“Damn!” The exclamation was slow and hoarse, an unguarded show of appreciation as Cal wrapped his hand around Josh’s cock. A single drop of pre-come leaked over his finger. Josh thrust into his grasp but Cal held his shoulder to keep him still. “Stay! I’m not done yet.” If Cal talked to Josh in that raw, hungry tone, he would stay wherever Cal put him. “Get on the bed.”
Josh climbed onto the bed on his hands and knees, and looked over his shoulder. “You coming?”
“Yeah.” Cal was staring at him, and Josh tilted his ass, knowing Cal could see his cock and tight sac hanging low, and the shadow of the promised land. Josh dropped his head to hang between his shoulders and tipped his ass even higher. “You’re a fucking tease.”
“Get over here. I’ve waited long enough.” It was Josh’s turn to order and Cal obeyed, cracking his hand across one ass-cheek at Josh’s cocky, “Good boy.”
Josh looked over one shoulder. “Ya need a map or something?”
“You’re a cheeky git.”
Josh laughed at his scowl then his laughter faded as Cal unzipped his pants and hefted his cock. “Christ.” Josh’s mouth went dry at the sight of him, thick, heavy and uncut. Josh wanted it, in his ass, in his mouth. He didn’t care. He just needed it now. Cal jacked himself slowly, his turn to put on a show.
“I’ve got to taste.” Josh turned to allow Cal to feed his shaft into Josh’s greedy, willing mouth. Josh moaned and then it was Cal’s turn to groan as the muscles of Josh’s throat fluttered around the head. He pressed in, cutting off Josh’s breath, and yet Josh could feel the tension in Cal, the readiness to pull out if Josh gagged. It was a good thing Josh had no gag reflex. Josh took him until his nose was pressed to Cal’s soft pubes. Above him, Cal cursed loudly and pulled out. Josh looked up indignantly, but Cal dragged in a shaky breath, and ran his hands through his hair.
“One second more and it’ll be all over,” he confessed. “I want to come in your ass.”
For a second Josh imagined him bare, Cal’s come coating his insides, and his dick twitched at the thought. Then Josh caught Cal’s expression and knew he’d been thinking the same thing. Josh had never wanted that, not with any man, but Cal was different.
“You scare me,” Josh whispered. It was his turn to confess, to spread his inner thoughts in the panting silence of the hotel room.
Cal slid his fingers through Josh’s hair and held him there. “Now you know why I never told you who I was. You’re dangerous.”
Josh stayed where he was, both of them locked on each other’s gaze until Cal finally dragged Josh up for a kiss, his clothes rubbing against Josh’s bare skin. Suddenly he broke the kiss and pushed Josh back onto the bed, face down. Josh heard the crinkle of foil packets and hissed as cold slick was pressed against his hole. He didn’t take another breath until Cal was sliding into him, his body welcoming Cal like he was meant to be buried deep. Josh dropped his head between his shoulders as Cal rocked his hips, then Cal pulled back until Josh’s muscles flared around the head.
“Fuck. Me.”
The order barely left Josh’s lips and Cal drove into him, knocking the breath out of him. Balls deep, barely there, no rhythm that Josh could predict. Cal dragged back control until Josh was begging to be allowed to come and, when Josh’s hand strayed to his dick in desperation, he got a growled out, “Wait
.” Josh wanted to ignore him, his balls screaming for release but his climax was in Cal’s hands. He felt like Cal could keep him on the cusp of an orgasm all night.
Cal’s fingers dug into Josh’s thighs and his movements faltered. He thrust deep into Josh once more and collapsed over his back. Josh felt the hard spasms inside him, the warm gush frustrated by the condom. Before Josh had a chance to think that he still needed to climax, Cal held his cock and whispered “Come.” Like a switch had been flicked Josh obeyed, his whole body shuddering as ropes of jizz sprayed over Cal’s fingers and dripped onto the sheet.
They tumbled into an ungraceful heap on the wet patch. Josh grumbled loudly but Cal ignored him and he gave up, because Cal was wrapped around him and holding on like he was never going to let go. Josh didn’t want him to. He needed him where he was, his sweat mingling with Josh’s, his hot breath fanning across Josh’s neck.
“Stupid, fucking rule,” Josh said eventually.
Cal chuffed out a laugh. “You’ve always got to have the last word.”
“You know me.”
It was meant to be funny but Cal pressed a kiss to Josh’s shoulder-blade. “Not enough. Not nearly enough.”
The quiet words made Josh shiver with their intensity and he pushed back into Cal’s embrace. Josh would usually be shoving his hook up out the door by now, not cuddling up like newlyweds. Fuck, this was going too far, too fast. He’d only known the guy for two days, but Cal was on a different page. Josh did hook ups, not cuddles. So why was he content to stay where he was, in a soggy wreck of a bed, safe in Cal’s arms with no desire to ever move again?
Chapter 9
Saturday, 26th November
Cal left at some point during the night, but he didn’t remember it beyond a kiss on his forehead, a rasp of whiskers, and a murmured, “Stay safe, Josh.”
Josh had grumbled, muttered incoherent nonsense, and snuggled down again, with a smile on his face in the bed that smelled like them. He woke about four in the morning with morning wood and a big something niggling at the back of his mind. Something Cal said bothered him but Josh couldn’t remember what it was.
