At least now he’d have something to look forward to. He just hoped he wouldn’t be attending to his lovers at dawn. He’d wanted to get a good night’s sleep before their wedding.
***
When Gray arrived at the warehouse, K-9 officers were working their way through the main floor as well as the loft. The latter was a tricky operation since they had to take one step at a time due to poor condition of the floorboards.
“Look at this,” one of them called.
“What is it?” Thornton asked.
“It looks like someone’s been sleeping up here. There are blankets, a pillow, a water bottle, and some clothes.”
“But no drugs?”
The man shook his head.
“Okay, keep looking.”
“If someone’s been staying here, they’ll likely have information on this operation,” Gray said.
“They’re not likely to be back.”
Thornton was probably right, but… “Maybe that’s who I saw the other night, after the cat jumped me.”
“Maybe.”
“So they haven’t found anything yet?”
Thornton shook his head. “No.”
“And no sign of Williams or anything to connect him?”
“Not yet, but we have one of the men who delivered the goods to the shelter.”
“What’s he saying?” Gray asked.
“That he had no idea what was inside the containers.”
Gray sighed. His instincts told him the man was telling the truth. “So we’ve got nothing.”
“We’ve got a case that needs solving yesterday.”
“Yes, we do have that. Have we questioned anyone else at the shelter?”
Thornton nodded. “The director, the night supervisor, and some of the other staff.”
“What about the people staying there?”
“Officers are working on it.”
“And Williams?”
“Apparently he tried out a new hotel and then went home to his wife at about four a.m.”
So much for Gray’s instinct on that. Apparently it was business as usual for Williams. He blew out a long breath and surveyed the area. A flash of movement caught his attention. A boy grabbed a cat as it was about to bound up a tree.
The boy looked up. When he realized Gray was watching him, he started to run.
“Wait. I just want to talk to you.” Gray took off after him. The boy was fast, but Gray managed to cut him off, blocking his exit from the fenced-in lot behind the warehouse.
“I just want to talk.”
“My mama said not to talk to cops.”
The boy looked about thirteen. Where was his mother? Was he the one who’d been living in the warehouse?
“What if talking could help people?”
“She said cops just make things worse.”
“Unfortunately, that does happen sometimes, but other times we save people. Do you know something about what’s been going on at the warehouse?”
“Why should I trust you?”
Gray wished he had a good answer for that, one the boy would believe. He kept his hands away from his weapon, his posture relaxed and as nonthreatening as a man his size could be. “Because I’m asking you to. I need your help.”
“The man that owns the warehouse will kill me if I talk,” the boy said.
Gray wanted to promise to protect the boy, but until he knew more, he couldn’t do that.
“What’s your name?” Gray asked.
The boy hesitated for several seconds, then said, “Jeremiah.”
“I’m Gray. Has the man who owns this place threatened you?”
“No, but I know what kind of man he is. He kills people.”
“I know it’s scary to talk—”
“I ain’t scared.”
Gray held up his hand. “I didn’t mean to imply that. It’s hard to decide when to tell what you know, but we could help everyone in the neighborhood if we cleared him out of here.”
“Someone else will just take his place.”
That was probably true. Some days this job really sucked.
“We don’t know that for sure. Maybe a legitimate business will buy the warehouse.”
He snorted. “Yeah, right. I’m gonna tell you what I know, but only because he tried to shoot my cat, and because you didn’t order me to.”
Gray looked down at the cat. It was the same one that had leaped at him earlier in the week. He’d try not to hold it against the animal.
“If I showed you some sketches, would you be able to tell me if one of them is the owner?”
Jeremiah nodded.
“You’ll wait here while I get them?”
He nodded again.
Gray prayed he wasn’t making a mistake as he jogged to his car, grabbed the folder he needed, and hurried back. Jeremiah and the cat were still there, both giving him wary looks.
Jeremiah shook his head when he saw the first picture, but when Gray showed him Williams, he nodded. “That’s him.”
“That’s the man who owns the warehouse?”
“He told me he owns it, said he bought it from Big H.”
“Who’s Big H?”
“The guy that used to own it,” Jeremiah said, giving Gray a wow-you’re-dumb look.
Gray decided not to push that any further.
“So as far as you know, this man owns the warehouse?”
“That’s right, and he uses it to stash drugs that he delivers to some homeless shelter where dealers pick them up.”
“How do you know about that?”
“Because I listen.”
Gray studied him for a moment. “Where do you live?”
Jeremiah waved his hand. “Around. Over there.”
“You seem to know an awful lot about this warehouse.”
“Not much else to do around here but watch what goes on.”
Gray could think of numerous things other boys in the neighborhood did, all less healthy than watching your neighbors. “Do you think your mom knows anything else about this man?”
Jeremiah shook his head.
“She doesn’t watch people like you do?”
“Nah, she—” His voice cracked. “No! Okay? She doesn’t.”
“Tell me where you live, Jeremiah.”
“I don’t have to tell you nothing,” he insisted.
“Can I talk to your mother?”
“No.” Jeremiah turned away so Gray couldn’t see his face. “Nobody can talk to her now.”
Shit. “Did she leave town?”
“She’s dead, okay?”
“Are you living in this warehouse?”
Jeremiah didn’t say anything.
“Would you like somewhere better to live?”
“I don’t need your fucking charity. I—”
He started to flee, but Gray grabbed him.
He beat at Gray with his fists. “I knew I shouldn’t trust you. I knew it, but… I thought… If Mama had just…”
Sobs wracked his body, and Gray wrapped him in his arms, holding him tight.
CHAPTER FOUR
Gray was physically and emotionally exhausted by the time he pulled into his driveway. The porch light was on, but he didn’t see any other lights in the house. Had Jack and Mason gone to sleep? He had every intention of waking them if they had. Tired as he was, he’d gotten hard on the drive home, thinking about watching them come after too many days of denial.
“Jack! Mason!” he called when he entered the house.
“We’re back here,” Jack yelled, his voice coming from the bedroom. He didn’t sound sleepy at all.
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
Gray slung his jacket over a kitchen chair, then removed his holster, checked his weapon, and locked it away. He began unbuttoning his shirt as he walked to the bedroom. He wanted to undress as fast as possible.
Jack and Mason were naked already, sitting on the end of the bed. They had turned on the lights at the sides of the bed, so Gray could see
clearly but without the glare of the overhead light.
He should thank them, compliment them on being ready for him, but he had no patience.
“Stand up. Right here.” He pointed to the floor in front of him.
They obeyed instantly.
He finished stripping, tossing his clothes away, unconcerned where anything landed.
Then he grabbed a container of lube from the nightstand drawer and squirted some in his hand. After rubbing his hands together to slick them both, he took Jack’s cock in one hand. Mason stepped closer so Gray could reach him too. He worked them both with quick, efficient strokes.
“Fuck, Gray.” The words burst out of Jack. “Feels so good.”
“You need this, don’t you?”
Jack groaned. “Yes, so bad.”
“Enjoy it.”
Mason thrust into Gray’s hand. “Need it too.”
“Keep still,” Gray scolded. “But otherwise don’t hold back. I want you both to come when you’re ready. Tonight is about getting off and then getting some sleep.”
Mason grinned, and Jack laughed out right. Gray squeezed their shafts tighter, then teased them, circling their heads and toying with their slits.
“Gray, please!” Mason begged.
Gray chuckled, loving the desperate sound in his voice. He wanted them off balance, unable to hold back.
Jack gripped Gray’s shoulder. “Dizzy.”
“Then hold on.”
Mason held on too as Gray gave them both tight, fast strokes.
“So good,” Mason muttered.
Jack whimpered. “Close. Need to come.”
“Do it.”
“Yes, Gray. Yes!” Jack rose on his toes as he thrust into Gray’s hand.
Gray loosened his grip on Jack’s cock. “I’m doing the work here. You stay still, or I might make you wait after all.”
“No, please,” Jack cried. “Please don’t.”
“Gray!” Mason shouted. “I… Oh, fuck!” He came, shooting over Gray’s hand.
Gray stopped working Jack as they both watched Mason. He clung to Gray as Gray kept working his now softening cock.
“Too much. Please,” he begged.
Gray stopped.
“Help me finish him.” He tilted his head toward Jack.
Jack’s mouth was hanging open as he drew in shallow breaths.
Mason wrapped his hand around Jack’s cock, and Gray put his hand on top of Mason’s. A few seconds later Jack cried out as his climax consumed him.
“Fuck, yes,” he said when he was finally spent. “I needed that.”
Gray chuckled. “I could tell. I don’t know if you’ve ever shot a load that big.”
Mason dropped to his knees in front of Gray. “May we suck you?”
Rather than answer in words, Gray took his cock in his hand and fed it to Mason.
Jack joined him, and they took turns sucking, licking, toying with Gray’s balls, fingering his ass. Their mouths felt so damn good. They were going to make him lose his mind.
“Can’t hold back. Can’t—”
“Give it to us, Gray,” Jack said, and both men held their mouths open to take his seed. By the time he was done, they were all a mess.
“Shower,” he said, not capable of any more words.
He forced them to focus on actually washing each other. Once they were clean, they tumbled into bed, a pile of limbs and contentment.
“Thank you,” Jack said.
Mason caressed Gray’s back. “I know you wanted to wait, but…”
“We all needed this. But you’re not getting any more until after the reception.”
“It’s really tomorrow, isn’t it?” Mason said.
“Today actually.” Jack pointed at the clock. It was now well past midnight.
“Are you nervous?” Gray asked, looking at Mason.
“A little.” He rolled to his stomach. Jack and Gray both hooked a leg over him and cuddled close.
Gray rubbed Mason’s back. “I was too. I still am, but not as much. Tonight I realized how lucky I am to have someone, two someones”—he looked at Jack—“who care.”
Mason lifted his head to look at Gray. “What happened tonight?”
“There was a boy, Jeremiah, at the warehouse. He was able to identify the man we’ve been after, because he’s been living there and watching what was going on.”
“Living there on his own?” Mason asked.
Gray nodded. “His mother’s dead. He never knew his father. He’s got to be around thirteen, and he’s been on his own for over a year.”
“Did you call Andy?” Jack asked.
“I did. He was going to pick Jeremiah up at the station once he finished giving his statement.”
Mason turned over. “Did you leave because of us? It would’ve been fine if you’d stayed with him.”
“Huck was one of the officers called to the scene. He stayed with Jeremiah.”
“Good,” Jack said. “He’ll take care of him.”
Mason nodded.
As a rookie, Huck had been briefly partnered with Jack. He also volunteered at the youth shelter now, and he was easy to like. He’d help Jeremiah feel safe until Andy arrived.
“I told Huck and Andy to call me if there were any problems, and I’ll check in with him tomorrow.”
Mason sat up enough to kiss Gray, a gentle brush of lips across his cheek that made Gray’s chest tighten.
“Sometimes I’m not sure I deserve someone as amazing as you.”
“I…” Words caught in Gray’s throat. He was the one who usually felt that way.
Jack nudged Mason with his foot. “What about me? I’m pretty terrific too.”
Jack’s grin said he was only teasing, and Gray was thankful for his attempt to lighten the moment.
Mason rolled over and pulled Jack into a far more intense kiss.
“You sure as fuck are,” Mason said when he pulled back. “But usually you’re more aware of it than Gray.”
Jack narrowed his eyes. “Are you saying I’m arrogant?”
Gray laughed. “You have your moments.”
“Only when I’m cooking.”
“You deserve to be arrogant about your cooking,” Mason said.
Gray nodded. “What are you making us for breakfast tomorrow?”
“Cereal, if you’re lucky.”
Gray slapped Jack’s ass. “I expect banana and pecan pancakes, three in a perfect stack with syrup on the side, served at precisely eight a.m.”
Jack glared at him. “Don’t push it with this domestic shit.”
“Would you do it if you’d get rewarded?”
Jack tilted his head as if he was considering it. “Fuck, yes.”
They all laughed.
“On another day, we’ll try it. Tomorrow, you’ll wait for your surprise.”
“I’m getting the feeling this surprise is going to be well worth it,” Mason said.
Gray gave them an evil grin. “Oh, it is.”
Jack groaned. “Is it tomorrow night yet?”
CHAPTER FIVE
Gray wished he could stop his hands from shaking. He’d faced down armed criminals and TV cameras with far less jitters than he had right now. He, Jack, and Mason stood in front of Bryce, who was acting as their officiant. Since marriages with three partners weren’t legal, and all the paperwork associated with their formal commitment—wills, power of attorney, etc.—had been handled at their lawyer’s office, anyone could perform this service for them. Bryce had become one of Gray’s closest friends and, as far as Gray was concerned, he’d been the obvious choice. Bryce’s partners, Toby and Matt, stood beside them, serving as their best men.
Their friends were seated behind them in rows of white folding chairs that nearly filled the renovated barn. He couldn’t believe how many people had turned up. Huck and others from the DPD, including Lieutenant Thornton.
Why had Gray invited him?
Because he’s a good guy who has never cared about you be
ing gay, or being with two men, or anything but that you’re a damn good cop.
Right. That was why.
The rest of the guests included firefighters, paramedics, Andy, Henry, Jenna—a girl Gray had rescued last winter—and others from the youth shelter, as well as Elizabeth, who owned the bar where Mason worked, and Jack’s brother and parents, the only members of their families who fully accepted their relationship. When Andy had arrived, he’d told Gray that Jeremiah was doing well, but he needed to stay at the shelter for his own protection.
All the people gathered in that barn accepted Gray, Jack, and Mason for who they were and supported what they were doing, which was making themselves as close to married as they could get. Looking out over all of them, Gray couldn’t help feeling overwhelmed. His eyes stung, and he squeezed them shut for a second. He would not cry. Not with so many people here.
“Are you ready to get started?” Bryce asked.
Gray, Jack, and Mason all nodded.
Mason was unusually pale, and his hand was sweaty as he clasped Gray’s. Jack stood on Gray’s other side. He looked more at ease than Mason, but he was bouncing on his feet, a sure sign he was nervous.
“Welcome, everyone,” Bryce said.
Slowly, the buzz of conversation faded. Gray glanced back at the audience. They were startlingly attentive. He’d been more comfortable when they were all conversing.
“As you know,” Bryce continued, “we are here today to celebrate the love of Jack, Gray, and Mason and be witnesses as they formally commit their lives to each other.”
Wow, that sounded really serious. Gray’s heart thumped against his ribs.
Bryce continued, giving a short speech about how commitment, marriage, and love come in many unique forms, but Gray didn’t hear much of it. The whooshing in his ears was too loud. Why had they decided to get all mushy in public like this?
It was your idea.
It… Shit, it was. What was I thinking?
“Jack,” Bryce said, turning to face him.
Oh, God. This was it, the part where they would say their vows. Would Gray remember anything he’d intended to say?
“I believe you have some words you’d like to say.” Bryce was still addressing Jack. At least it wasn’t Gray’s turn yet.
Getting Hitched (Fitting In Book 5) Page 4
