by Tatum Throne
The moment shattered when someone outside in the hallway tried the bathroom door but it didn’t open. James groaned, sucking harder, not letting Layton pull his cock from his throat. Layton started thrusting his prick in short hard thrusts that hit his cockhead against the inside of James’s cheek and throat. He groaned as the doorknob rattled again and then moaned when he felt the sweet heat of his Dom’s cum sliding across his tongue and throat. He didn’t stop sucking off his Dom until he was done.
When he was finished coming, Layton pulled him up from his knees, kissing him hard. He unlocked the cuffs but didn’t pull away. “How are we going to get out of this?”
“I have an idea,” Layton said.
They cleaned up quickly and waited, listening for any sound of the person who was trying the door. They didn’t hear anyone, so Layton unlocked the door. On the other side of the door, Reed was waiting for them. His arms were crossed and he looked royally pissed off. James glanced over his shoulder at Layton whose gaze was cool, calm, and completely unreadable.
“We can finish this conversation later,” Lay said.
“Oh, I plan on it.”
When Layton was out of sight, Reed came in close. “You should know that there’s some talk going around about the two of you. You guys might want to be careful.”
“You don’t have anything to worry about. Trust me.”
Reed shook his head as he walked away. James knew his son had his best interests at heart but they really didn’t need to have this conversation here and now. James was late for his meeting with Rask. He had to deal with this mess with IA and Layton now.
* * * *
Layton was having a shit day at work. It got a whole lot better when he saw James walking through the bullpen. His spirits had lifted as the man continued past the conference room. Layton hadn’t planned on tracking him down and having sex with him but things happened. As a Dom, he expected himself to have more control. But when it came to James he really didn’t have the control he needed to have as a Dom. He prided himself on his ability to control his submissives but this one had him doing things he never did—like sucking cock.
No, it hadn’t been the first time he drank spunk but it had been the first time as a Dom that he had. He really honestly just didn’t want a mess to clean up. Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Layton headed back to his office. For once, he wasn’t running to a meeting or out on a SWAT call. There were a few hours for him to catch up on paperwork that he so desperately needed to take care of.
After an hour of paperwork, Layton needed to stretch his legs. He left his office and headed down into the kitchen. When he entered the kitchen, all talk stopped. Two of the new guys on SWAT and Adam were now looking at him as though they didn’t know what to say or how to act around him.
“What?” Layton asked.
The two new guys headed out of the kitchen, only leaving Adam holding his cup of coffee and a look of regret on his face. Layton didn’t like repeating himself but he was about to.
“What’s going on?”
Adam set his coffee aside and ran his hand through his hair. Layton didn’t know much about the man other than he’d just gotten back from his honeymoon and was expecting a baby next summer through a surrogate. He was happily married.
“I heard a rumor from those two new guys,” Adam said.
“I’m listening.”
“IA is investigating you.”
A shiver of cold fear raced through Layton. “For what?”
“For the shit that went down in the tunnels. They think you’re involved with those drug dealers and it was shit went wrong that got you kidnapped.”
Layton knew he didn’t even need to ask but he did anyway. “Who’s investigating me?”
“James Anderson.”
A buzzing sound started in Layton’s ears and everything went dark in his peripheral. He heard Adam talking but he sounded really far away. Adam’s hand came down on his arm and he gave him a little shake. He saw his lips moving but couldn’t make out what he was saying. He took several deep breaths and the buzzing slowly faded within his ears. He did not want to pass out right here, right now.
“I’m okay. It’s all bullshit.”
“I know but you still need to fight the allegations.”
He did. But he really didn’t want to fight his submissive. How could James betray him this way? How could he ever trust his sub again? One of the things he needed was complete honesty within a relationship. Now that was all gone. Things had fallen apart and he didn’t know how to put them back together.
“You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. This shit will just ruin my reputation if I’m not careful.”
“I know. Just let me know if you need anything. We both know this is complete and utter bullshit.”
Adam left him alone in the kitchen. How was he going to handle this? Should he wait until James confessed or should he confront him? Either way, he couldn’t stay in the kitchen all afternoon. A pain vibrated through his heart as sadness gripped his soul. He thought he had something special with James. How could he be so wrong?
Anger worked its way through him as he went through the hallway toward the Training Center. He needed to beat the shit out of something to feel better. As he went through the hallway, he saw James stop to talk to Rask who was in the hallway. It was all a matter of time before things blew up between them. Layton wondered if either of them would survive the impact from this fall.
Chapter Seven
“You think he’s innocent of the allegations?” Rask asked.
“I do.”
Across the hall, Layton passed by. Their eyes locked and something hard that shouldn’t be there passed between them. He knows. How the hell had he found out?
“Let’s finish this conversation in my office,” Rask said.
They headed into Chief Rask’s office, shutting the door behind them. “I need to ask you a question about one of my men. Detective Leland Mathews.”
Mathews had been on the force for years. He was a good detective. It surprised James that Rask was asking about him. “What do you want to know?”
“I’ve received a formal request from the Newport Police Department to transfer one of their men onto our payroll. I heard that there was some bad blood between Wittfield Falken and Mathews.”
“Not that I’m aware of. I’ve never heard anything, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not there.”
Rask ran a hand through his hair. “That’s what I’m afraid of. It doesn’t look like there’s anything I can do to stop this transfer from happening.”
“Mathews is a professional guy. I don’t see you having any trouble with him,” James said.
“He’s not the one I’m worried about.” Rask sighed. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
“Finish up your investigation and let me know IA’s outcome.”
“Will do.”
James needed to talk to Layton but he had to give him some space. Something was up. He should probably just leave but James wanted to know what was going on with his Dom. Did he know that he was being investigated? If he did, James needed to smooth these rough waters before the storm got any worse. What if he lost Layton? The thought made his heart beat in a funny way. He was not ready to let go of his Dom. Not like this.
James didn’t know how to make things right with Layton. He had royally fucked things up. Now, he wasn’t anywhere to be found. That made him nervous. Where could he have gone? They needed to work things out—not run from the problem.
He went downstairs to the Training Center. Layton had changed and was working out by lifting weights. TJ was spotting him as he pumped the iron. It really wasn’t a good time to talk with the center so full but James couldn’t leave with things hanging over them this way. With his heart racing, James opened the door to the gym and headed toward the pair.
“Hey, chief,” TJ said.
Layton sat up, swinging his leg over the bench he’d been lying back on. He
worked out his arms. His gaze moved over James but it didn’t stick long. He definitely knew about the investigation.
“You still want to do ground fighting?” TJ asked.
“Yes,” Layton said.
Layton’s eyes tore through James as though he wanted to fight with him.
TJ glanced at James. “Want to change and get in on this?” TJ asked.
“Sounds like fun,” James said.
“You know where the extra tactical shirts are. Go change,” Layton said.
What was James doing? He shouldn’t push Layton now when he was obviously upset with him. James changed into sweats and a T-shirt and came back out into the gym. TJ and Layton were already on the mats, ground fighting. A zip of jealousy went through James as he saw the way TJ was grabbing his ass. He wanted to be the one grabbing his Dom’s ass. It was a little too much to watch. James paced around the gym, hoping he would get a chance at wrestling his Dom. A few minutes later, TJ tapped out of his hold when his long dark hair got caught.
“You won this round,” TJ said.
Layton helped him to his feet. “Want to go again?”
TJ shook his head no. “I have someplace to go. You’re going to have to take on James for a while.”
Layton let his gaze moved over James as though he didn’t want to take on the challenge. James was game. He was in the best shape of his life.
“Scared?” James asked.
Layton glowered. “I just don’t feel like it right now.”
It wasn’t good enough for James. He wasn’t about to let his Dom go now that he had him cornered. James reached behind his head, grabbing the back of the T-shirt and pulling it over his head. He purposely flexed his muscles as he did.
“How about now?” James asked.
“We’re not doing this here.”
“Maybe I want to.”
Silence slapped back and it made James flinch. “If you have something you want to say to me, say it.”
“Funny coming from you.”
He knew. He fucking knew about the IA investigation and he was pissed. He had every right to be pissed off. James would be, too, if he found out his lover was secretly investigating him. The betrayal would be almost insurmountable.
“What do you want to know?” James asked.
Layton’s shoulders stiffened beneath his tight shirt. “How long have you been investigating me?”
“I got the e-mail a week ago but didn’t check it until today. I went in to talk to Rask about the bullshit allegations.”
Hope flared within Layton’s gaze but he wasn’t sure what to believe. There was too much resentment brewing below the surface. Lay came in close.
“I’m supposed to believe you?”
“It’s true.”
“Not buying it. You should go, Jim.”
“Why? Because you’re afraid of someone loving you?”
“We’re really not doing this here.”
James reached out, stopping Layton from walking away from him. They had to settle this thing now. The thought of Lay walking away and breaking things off was way too much for him to bear. “Please. Just talk to me.”
“No.”
“Sir?”
Without warning, Layton swept him off his feet, pinning him to the mat. The move had nearly knocked him senseless but his training had him prepared to fall the right way. Layton pinned him, but James fought hard by twisting his legs around his hips. They rolled over and over until Layton had the upper hand again. As much as he tried, Layton always won. Layton’s hand grabbed at his ass with the tips of his fingers slipping between his ass cheeks to ram his rim. Completely pinned, James had no choice but to take what was happening to him. Their hot bodies pressing together was too much for James. Heat seared through his prick, making him rock hard and desperate for his Dom.
Betrayal slashed through Layton’s gaze. “I can’t believe you lied to me.”
“I just found out. I would never do anything to hurt you.”
“I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
James twisted his hands into Layton’s shirt, keeping him close. Fear raced through his heart when he thought about his Dom leaving him. “Don’t do this to us.”
“You fucked this thing up by lying to me,” Lay said.
To prove his point that things were truly over, Layton flipped him onto his stomach, causing his thick cock to press hard against the mat. Layton came in close from behind, rubbing the tips of his fingers over his rim. James groaned. He wanted him here and now, not caring if anyone caught them.
“Please take me, Sir.”
Layton groaned. He muscled his sweats down, exposing his ass. A moan of pleasure rocketed through James’s body when he felt the shocking heat of Layton’s tongue assault his ass He arched his ass wide, exposing his rim. Abruptly the heat was gone, making James groan from the loss. He saw Layton grab for his gym bag, finding a bottle of lube in the bottom. Within the mirrors, James saw Layton muscle his hard prick out from his sweats. He worked the lube down over his throbbing dick. He tossed the lube bottle back into his duffle and positioned himself back on the mat above James. He tipped his dick up against his rim, shoving deep inside. James groaned when his hips came up off the mat.
With his big hard body, Layton pinned him with his cock and flexed muscles. It felt so good to be taken by his Dom. He slammed him roughly with all the pent-up frustration both were feeling deep inside. As Layton took him, his Dom ran his hand up under his neck, arching James’s back up as his hips slammed against his ass cheeks. His prick was now free from the mat and smacked against his abdomen as his Dom took him.
Without warning, James felt Layton’s prick stiffen in his ass. He cried out as his Dom came, cranking his hand down over his shaft as he did. His orgasm stole his breath away as James’s spunk flew across the mat in three long lines of cum. Layton pinned him hard against the mat, moving his lips over his ear.
“I’m never going to fuck you in the ass again. Never. You are no longer my sub. It’s over.”
Tears misted James’s eyes as Layton suddenly pulled away and stormed out of the Training Center. Emotionally torn up, James was too distraught to see where Layton had gone or to even move. He never expected for Layton to walk away from him this way but he had. No man had ever destroyed him so thoroughly after sex. He didn’t know how to fix this thing or to make it right between them.
He had royally messed things up and it was over. The tears fell down his cheeks as he rolled over onto his back. The Training Center’s lights went out. They auto sensor had them turning off if there was lack of movement over a certain amount of time. James stared up into the darkness. He had fucked up the best thing that had ever happened to him. How was he supposed to get through this?
* * * *
Wind from the bridge blew through Layton’s hair across his forehead. He had left District Four to go for a walk and walked into a fucked-up situation. He’d been so twisted up from his fight with James that he didn’t realize he’d left his office without his radio or cell phone or weapon. A car came to a screaming stop on the bridge, blocking his pathway. Cars honked and went speeding by. They did not want to get involved either. He froze, not wanting to move, but he knew the next few moments of his life would decide if he lived or died. The two thugs who had kidnapped him were now standing in front of him holding a gun to his face.
“Well, here we go,” Lay said.
“Get in the car.”
“No fucking way.”
“Move or we just shoot you now.”
“Shoot me now. Because I really don’t give a fuck about you guys or what you want to do to me.” Thug number one didn’t look too comfortable with the thought of becoming a cop killer. “They give cop killers the chair in Ohio.”
The thug’s face paled but thug number two stepped forward. “Shut up and get in the car!”
“No.”
Despite his calm cool appearance, Layton felt his world spinning out. Cincinnati’s crime rate w
as on the rise and it had nothing to do with the inability of the CPD to do their job. More scum was moving in to sell their drugs and weapons. The sound of a motorcycle pealing over the bridge caught Layton’s attention. The thugs standing in the darkness didn’t move or care that another vehicle was going racing by. Layton was certain that this was his only chance. The motorcycle came flying to a stop, spinning its back tire out as the rider lost control of the bike.
James. The bike spun out as James went flying off but managed to hang on to control the bike’s spin. The Harley’s back tire nailed his attackers. The thugs were sent flying against the edge of the bridge, but not before several rounds were fired from one of their weapons. Layton dove, grabbing for James as he struggled to get out from under his bike. He had to protect his sub. Layton swung his sub around the back of their attacker’s car as the thug with the gun came after them, knocking Layton back against the bridge.
Everything went hazy as he rung his bell hard. Layton stumbled backward as James moved forward in a swirl of movement. James bent low around the bike, grabbing the thug’s weapon and firing off several rounds.
Layton tried to help him but he fell to the ground. Before he knew what hit him, the bridge was sideways and everyone was standing funny. Layton pushed his hand against the wet pavement but he couldn’t stand. James needed his help as he struggled with the thug who was now pushing him toward the side of the bridge. No!
Gunfire erupted and both men fell to the bridge. Layton tried to crawl over to James but he couldn’t. Everything around him went black.
Chapter Eight
James was worried that Layton wasn’t going to wake up. SWAT Doc Parker Woods didn’t seem too particularly concerned or he was hiding it well. Either way, James was inwardly shattered as he watched Layton for any sign of movement. The hospital room was quiet. Everyone was taking turns coming and going. Now, TJ and Parker were talking quietly near the door as TJ came in and Parker went out.
