by D. B. Watson
“Pat?”
Patrick turned to Adam, tired and sore. At first, Patrick smiled at him, then his expression collapsed to sobbing. Adam rushed to him, wrapping his arms around him. “Patrick, what happened?”
Patrick only shook his head as he cried against Adam’s chest.
“Was it your interview? It’s okay. You didn’t get it this time—”
“No,” Patrick said, pushing back on Adam who didn’t release him. “I got the job. Then I got fired.”
“Why?”
“I caused a fire.”
“What? Are you all right?” Adam moved Patrick to the bed and sat him down. The sweet scent of sugar rose from Patrick’s hair. Adam considered asking him about it but for some reason, knew the answer.
“Didn’t you hear me?” said Patrick. “I lost my job!”
“Yes, I heard you. But you also said there was a fire.”
“That I caused.”
“But you didn’t get hurt. And that’s all I care about. So, you lost the job; at least you tried.”
“You’re not—disappointed in me?”
“Patrick, I love you. I have no right to judge you. I want to support you.” Adam kissed his lips and Patrick stopped crying. Adam wiped his wet cheeks with his thumbs and stared at his glinting eyes. “No more tears, Pat.”
Patrick sniffed and allowed Adam to lay him back on the bed.
“You unpacked.”
“I wanted to do something right for once.”
“This deserves a reward.” Adam kissed the tip of his nose as he pulled him close.
“I’d like a shower first. Things exploded around me—and on me.”
“That’s why you smell so extra yummy.”
“Come join me.”
“As much as I’d like to see you naked and wet, I still have some work to do downstairs.”
“Okay, but first I have news.”
“What is it?”
Patrick took a deep breath before answering.
“My parents are having their anniversary party this weekend and my father said you’re welcome to come.”
“A party?”
“Will you go with me?”
“I’ll go anywhere with you.”
Patrick hugged him. “Thank you. You won’t regret it.”
Adam breathed in the heavenly aroma from Patrick’s hair. Sugar and cinnamon—two things he enjoyed in his coffee. “Okay. Let me get back to work. I’ll order dinner when I’m done.”
Patrick noticed the brown envelope in Adam’s back pocket.
“What’s in that envelope?”
Adam pulled it out and held it up.
“This? Nothing but work. Don’t worry yourself.”
“Then I’m going to take a shower and a nap.”
“I’ll wake you when the food arrives.”
Adam kissed Patrick one last time before climbing off the bed and returning to his office.
****
Adam sat at his desk and opened the envelope. He found a considerable amount of cash, a key card with a pin-number, and directions to Yuri’s penthouse. He was feeling sure that his reputation would excel once he completed this case.
A knock on his door caused him to glance up.
“Come in, Justin.”
Justin entered. “Boss, a deposit was made to the business account of five thousand dollars.”
“That was from Waldo Amherst, in return for holding that envelope. Did you lock it up?”
“As you requested. So, what’s the case with Yuri Jin?”
“Crazy stalker and bodyguarding.”
“Bodyguarding who?”
“Mr. Jin’s lover.”
“Crap, why do the hot ones always have boyfriends?”
Adam smiled, and didn’t bother to ask if he was one of the hot ones.
“I’m meeting him tomorrow morning. He paid cash, so if you don’t mind, can you put this in the safe and log the amount?”
“Sure.”
Adam tossed the envelope to Justin. Once he caught it, he saw several bills, nothing smaller than a hundred.
“Wow, is this your pay?”
“That’s for expenses. Once the job’s complete, we receive a windfall of ten thousand.”
“We?” Justin beamed.
“We’re a team, Justin. Go home, I’ll lock up. I’m going to order food.”
“Will do, boss.”
****
Yuri left Adam’s building holding his cell phone. He pressed the pound key, triggering his high-end sports car alarm to chirp and the driver door to unlock. Patrick barely spoke to Yuri at the restaurant. He seemed indifferent to him. Yuri typed out a message on his cell to Raoul Valdez, pressing send. He climbed behind the wheel and revved the motor, driving back to his penthouse.
Is he still angry with our breakup? he wondered. He so wanted to call him but knew Patrick wouldn’t answer. He’d have to wait to see him at the party.
He drove up to the front door of the hotel where he rented the penthouse. The valet opened his door and he climbed out, handing his car keys over to the valet who took control of the vehicle and drove off. He walked into the hotel as if he owned it. Staff welcomed him back as he walked to an elevator, which a female bellhop opened for him.
“Welcome back, Mr. Jin,” said the woman with a warm smile. Jin’s only acknowledgment was a head nod. Jin rode alone in the elevator as it took him to his second home, a bi-level, six-bedroom penthouse with a sunken hot tub, a library, a gourmet kitchen, separate living room, dining room, plus a sitting room. There was also a landing pad on the roof for Yuri’s private helicopter.
The door opened and he was greeted by an excited, barefoot Jamie Stewart wearing a tee-shirt and sweatpants. Yuri had to catch him as he leaped to embrace him.
“You’re back!” said Jamie. Yuri’s eighteen-year-old lover smiled as he kissed Yuri, who reciprocated the affection.
“I said I would be,” Yuri replied as they parted.
They stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hall to the sitting room where a young, elegant woman in her thirties with long, black locks moved about pouring three cups of tea. She wore a simple, black dress with long sleeves and a low neckline. White slippers were on her feet as she moved about.
“Penny and I made you tea and cookies.”
“You didn’t have to do that, Penny,” said Yuri, accepting the tea from her and noticing she placed two cookies on the saucer.
“Jamie wanted to, and I didn’t mind. Besides, you love my cookies.”
“That is true,” he smiled. “But I have told you to hire full-time staff to do these things. You are much too important for this.”
“This makes me happy, Yuri; taking care of you and Jamie.”
Jamie sat on the couch with a handful of cookies while Yuri and Penny sat beside him. Penny grabbed her cup of tea.
“So, did you find Jamie a bodyguard?” asked Penny.
“That and more.”
“What does that mean?” asked Jamie.
Yuri looked at him and saw his future staring back at him.
“Nothing,” answered Yuri, taking a sip of his tea. “Detective Potter will be here in the morning,” he added before biting into a cookie.
CHAPTER 6
DIshES
Patrick stood under the shower as the spray of water hit his neck and upper back. He had long ago cleaned his body and hair, wanting the heated water to ease his sore areas. He’d managed to put all his things away, which seemed to make Adam happy.
Or was he pacifying me? Patrick wondered. Men in my life tend to do that whenever I break down crying. As if they only want to see me smiling, like a doll. “Stop it!” he shouted. “This is exactly how it starts when things don’t go the way I like. I blame them.”
He turned off the shower and stepped out. He grabbed his towel, drying off, when he looked toward the bathroom window. The same one Adam vaulted from to rescue him from being raped by a masked killer dubbed the Harlequin. They found out it was Jay Marc
el, Patrick’s cosplay stalker who killed Patrick’s then-boyfriend, Gavin Martin.
Patrick tried his best to avoid looking out the window at the building next door, even though the window had been boarded up. It brought back too many dreadful memories. He’d tried to buy the building from Gavin’s mother, Yani Wes, but she refused. He never bothered her again.
He dried his hair with the towel and passed on using the hairdryer. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, but not at his face. His eyes fell on his chest that showed smooth, flawless skin, but to him, it wasn’t flawless. He touched the spot on his chest where the Harlequin thrust the knife in meant for Adam. Patrick had pushed Adam out of the way to save him. Plastic surgery hid the scar, but Patrick could still feel it. Sometimes he’d be touching the spot when the weather changed or when he was anxious.
Still tired and getting hungry, he hung up his towel and went to the bed. He grabbed his cell phone and lay down in Adam’s spot. He placed his phone on the nightstand. He hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before, Adam had another nightmare that Patrick helped soothe by holding his lover and whispering in his ear. He told his detective he wasn’t alone and that he was safe in his arms. Adam still hadn’t told Patrick about his dreams or what happened to him when he was young. Patrick thought losing sleep was the least he could do for the man who had saved his life countless times. His eyes grew heavy as he drifted off to sleep.
****
Adam paid for his delivery and locked up for the night. He headed back up to his apartment and placed the food on the kitchen counter. He went to the bedroom and saw Patrick lying on his stomach with his face turned away, sound asleep. Adam lifted the blanket and gazed upon his lover’s naked body. Adam’s desires grew more than his hunger as he lowered the blanket and disrobed, stripping to his bare skin.
He slid onto the bed and inched close to Patrick’s slumbering body. Adam smelled the sweet scent radiating from his lover’s skin and hair. He touched the soft, curly locks, which were still damp from his shower. He brushed his fingertips along his arm, moving to his luscious hips. Adam eased in closer, pressing his privates against the firm bottom he knew all too well.
Patrick shifted from the sudden contact. His body tingled as Adam kissed his cheek, neck, and shoulder. Patrick breathed in and released as he turned his head back and opened his eyes. When Adam came into focus, Patrick flashed a smile and pressed his back against Adam.
“Did I wake you?” teased Adam.
Patrick sighed, giving a small chuckle. “Wasn’t that the point?”
Adam smiled and leaned down, kissing Patrick’s inviting lips. When they parted, each had forgotten about their rocky day as Patrick turned and faced Adam.
“I want you, Pat,” said Adam, staring at him with lustful eyes.
“You never have to ask me, Adam. I will always yield to you.”
Adam pulled Patrick close, kissing him as his free hand stroked his lover’s body. Patrick mimicked Adam as he draped his leg over Adam’s hip and pulled up to straddle him as their kiss broke. Patrick could feel his lover inside him as he moved up and down, feeling the friction inside him. Adam fisted his lover that bobbed in front of him. He held Patrick’s bottom as he moved faster, jerking him off in time.
“Fuck yeah, baby. Ride that cock,” Adam said, knowing he didn’t have much longer for release. Patrick sat speechless as he floated in nirvana. His body hummed as his climax neared in Adam’s grasp.
“Adam. . .” was all Patrick could say as his climax spilled over Adam’s fist.
Adam watched Patrick continue to bounce as his body gripped Adam’s. Their moans mixed as Patrick’s body filled with his lover’s sex.
Adam grabbed Patrick before he fell back and pulled him down to lie beside him. Patrick, too weak to speak, stared back at Adam, who smiled and kissed his lips, cheek, and nose.
“That was so great,” said Adam. Patrick only nodded in agreement. “Are you thirsty?” Again, Patrick nodded. “I have food too. I’ll go make us a tray and bring it back, so we can eat in bed.” This time Patrick found his voice.
“I can help.”
“You already did.” They laughed and kissed again. “I want to do this for you.” Adam climbed off the bed. “Stay put, I’ll just be a moment.”
Adam walked out naked to the kitchen. Patrick gathered his pillow and eased himself up to rest back against it and the headboard. Adam grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the fridge and brought it back, handing it to Patrick.
“I’ll bring wine with the food,” he promised, leaving again.
Patrick drank down the cool liquid and sighed in relief. All his worries seemed to vanish as he waited for Adam to return. He gathered the sheets and fixed the bed the best he could when a face popped into his mind.
“Yuri Jin,” he said in a whisper. Patrick couldn’t believe Yuri was in town. And having coffee with his father. “Why?” he wondered. His father always liked Yuri. But then his father liked Gavin, proving to be catastrophic. He needed to find out why Yuri was in town. No, that’s what Yuri would want, he deemed. Besides, he broke up with me. So, I’m in control. Patrick wanted to convince himself. He looked up as Adam entered with a tray filled with food and wine. Patrick helped hold the tray as Adam got back into bed.
“Something on your mind?” asked Adam, taking the tray and placing it between them.
“What? No. Why do you ask?” Patrick waited as Adam poured him a glass of wine.
“You seemed lost in thought when I walked in.”
“Just thinking about my next job interview,” Patrick lied, swallowing half of the delightful grape.
“Don’t think about that. We’re okay money-wise. You can just focus on your cosplay.” Adam scooped up some food with his fingers, tasting their savory meal.
“What, are you serious?”
“Yeah, you’re good at it. Do what you love.”
“Adam, that's so sweet.” Patrick leaned over and kissed his detective, tasting the spices on his lips.
“I’ll take care of us,” Adam said, picking up another bite and feeding Patrick, who sucked his fingers clean.
They ate their meal and drank wine. Patrick had two glasses more than Adam, who didn’t seem to mind.
After their meal, Adam pulled on his underwear and gathered the tray and its contents.
Patrick rose to join him, grabbing a clean tee from the dresser. He tugged it on; it passed his hips, covering his privates. He discovered it was one of Adam’s old police tops. He started to remove it when Adam spoke up.
“Don’t change,” he said, causing Patrick to look toward him. “It looks good on you.”
Patrick reddened. He followed Adam to the kitchen, where Adam started cleaning the dishes.
“Want to tell me why you’re in such a good mood?” asked Patrick, watching Adam fill one of the double sinks with soapy water.
“I made love to you. That would put any man in a great mood.”
Patrick’s cheeks flushed again as he laughed, looking down. “Come on, Adam, seriously. Why are we okay with money?”
Adam sighed as he stared at Patrick. “I’m working on a new case.”
“Doing what?”
“Bodyguarding.” Adam grabbed the wine glasses and washed them in the soapy water.
“Bodyguarding who?”
“Someone very generous with my fee.”
“How generous?”
“Expenses paid, and a ten-thousand-dollar bonus after two weeks.”
“Who’s the client?”
“I can’t say right now It’s very—”
“Dangerous?”
“That’s not what I was going to say, Pat.”
“Bodyguarding means risking your life to protect another, right?”
Adam knew another argument was brewing and didn’t want to ruin this moment. He looked at the foamy water, then back at Patrick, smirking.
Patrick creased his eyebrows, wondering why Adam was grinning.
“Have you e
ver washed dishes before?”
“Wait—don’t change the subject,” Patrick said, looking at the dirty dishes.
“I’ll take that as a no.” Adam raised his wet hand and gestured with his index finger. “Come here.”
“Adam,” Patrick groaned, not wanting to approach.
