Fire and Onyx

by Andrew Grey

  Wes pulled back. “You always ask that.”

  “Because I can’t read your mind,” Evan said softly. “I want you to be happy, and I hope that over time I can learn just what will make your eyes roll to the back of your head. I look forward to finding those areas in this luscious body that I see images of all day long in my head, but that is going to take some time.” Evan gently cupped his buttcheeks. “I look forward to doing the research, believe me. But I want you to be happy now, and that means asking.”

  “Okay….”

  “You know there’s nothing wrong with talking while we’re in bed. In fact, I like it. I want to hear you and see you. I want to feel you as you tip over the edge of delicious oblivion, and I want to be the one to make that happen.” Evan kissed him hard, deepening the passion that had lessened a little.

  “But… what if we’re too loud?” Wes was worried about waking Greyson, and he had always had to be quiet. Not that he’d dared bring guys home to Mom and Dad’s, but due to circumstances, he had learned to be quiet during lovemaking.

  “You can never be too loud, and we’ll get a baby monitor so we can close Greyson’s door and I can make you moan until you can’t breathe anymore.” Evan rolled them on the mattress, looking deep into his eyes.

  “I want you…,” Wes said softly.

  “Oh, honey….” Evan grinned and slid his hands down Wes’s belly, going lower and lower, with Wes holding his breath in anticipation.

  God, he loved when Evan touched him, not hard, but not ghosting either. He seemed to know exactly what would send Wes over the moon. He sighed when Evan’s fingers closed around his shaft, sliding slowly back and forth. Wes had done that many times to himself, but with Evan, he didn’t have control, and that heightened the experience—made it even hotter and gave it magic. At least it seemed to for Wes, as Evan used his hands, lips, tongue, and even his legs to drive Wes out of his mind. Nothing was rushed, even though it was the middle of the night. Wes felt special because Evan took the time to look at him, talk to him, touch him, and give of himself. Wes gave right back, holding Evan as tightly as he could. He wanted more, and he wanted to give Evan everything until there was nothing left to give.

  “Just take me,” Wes groaned softly into Evan’s ear.

  Evan shook his head. “Not yet, honey,” he whispered, then sucked on his ear. “When I do that, it will be you and me and we will have all night long, I promise you that.” Evan pressed Wes closer, their hips sliding, and soon Wes could no longer think as waves of passion and warmth spread through him, building until he couldn’t contain it any longer.

  Wes stayed in Evan’s arms, not daring to move. These quiet moments with Evan were special. Their lives were work, action, and activity, and Greyson took priority, so these still times, even in the middle of the night—Wes wished he could hold them in his hand and let them last just a little longer.

  Fatigue finally seemed to be winning the battle with his mind. Evan settled him on the mattress and left the room, then returned with the things they needed for a quick cleanup. After he took them back, Evan climbed into bed with him, but got out once again almost immediately and put his robe on.

  “Stay here,” he said, reaching for the phone. He had already dialed and was talking to what sounded like the station before he even closed the door.

  The lights were on outside, and Wes got out of bed. He peered out the window and saw someone, more like the movement of a shadow, cross the yard, heading out toward the gate. Evan had said that he’d seen people in the yard before. Wes let the curtains fall back into place and got into bed, listening and ready to run to Greyson’s room in case something happened.

  A crash sounded downstairs, and Wes bounded out of bed. He pulled on some clothes and peered out of the room.

  “Okay, now sit.” Evan’s groan came up the stairs. Wes got the green checked robe Evan had loaned him and slipped into it, checked that Greyson was still asleep, and quietly descended the stairs.

  “What were you doing in my yard at this time of night?” Evan asked, his anger barely controlled. That both excited and worried Wes. “You’re going to tell me, or I’ll figure out a way to make you tell me.” The ting of something being placed on a burner and then the snick, snick, snick of the stove lighter followed. Wes wasn’t sure what he should do, so he stayed out of sight.

  There was no answer.

  “I think you’ll answer all my questions,” Evan growled darkly, “because there are consequences if you don’t. So I suggest you start telling me what I want to know.” A soft whistle sounded and grew louder.

  Wes stepped into the kitchen in time to see Evan glance at the stove and then back at the man sitting in one of the chairs, his hands behind him. He was dressed in dark clothes, but shabby, and his brown hair was half plastered to his scalp. The guy seemed like he hadn’t bathed in a while, and Wes wondered at the wildness in his narrowly placed eyes.

  “This your little…?” The man’s lips curled into a sneer, and Evan grabbed the medium-sized man by the shirt and yanked him forward, bringing the chair along with him.

  “You close your mouth and answer my questions.” Evan shoved the man back, then went to the stove and lifted the kettle off the burner.

  Wes was frozen on the spot.

  “Why were you in the yard?” Evan carried the kettle closer to the man, and Wes put his hand over his mouth.

  The guy’s legs shook and his eyes widened. “Okay… I don’t know much. I was just supposed to watch this place.” He lifted his gaze. “The town is our turf, and we’re getting muscled in on. You were cozy with those guys, and we wanted to know why. Then we saw him and the kid, and….”

  “You were going to hurt us?” Wes demanded, stepping forward.

  He shrugged. “There was always someone with you, so we could only watch. That man and his kid kept coming over, and so did another man. This place is busier than the bar downtown. We were supposed to get in and try to find out who you are and if we could lure you away from those country losers. They can have that part of the county, but they better stay away from the town. You tell them or there will be more trouble.” He set his chin, and Evan turned to Wes and then back at the man in the chair.

  “If you and your associates are so well informed, then you’ll know that I’m not part of either of your groups.” A scowl formed on Evan’s lips. “Now I need to figure out what I’m going to do with you.” He sighed, and Wes took a step back. This side of Evan, cold and maybe a little vicious, was something he didn’t want to see. “I could send you back into your little hellhole with a message, or I could just make you disappear.” Evan leaned forward, an expression of evil delight on his face.

  The man in the chair’s eyes widened as Evan drew closer, and then he slumped to the side and the chair toppled over. He lay on the floor in a heap.

  “What did you do to him?” Wes asked, scared half to death.

  “He fainted.” Evan shook his head. “And he wet himself. Amateurs.” He grinned. “He’ll come around in a few minutes.” Evan left him there and went out of the kitchen. Wes heard him on the phone, and then he returned as the man began to wake up. “Some friends of mine are going to be coming to pick you up, and I suggest you don’t give them any trouble.” Evan leaned over the man, and he began to shake.

  A few minutes later, Evan let in two men in plain clothes, and they got the man to his feet and out of the house.

  “What is going to happen?”

  “They’re going to arrest him and keep him under wraps for a few days. Our friend is going to spend some time in a nice cell, but I didn’t want anyone watching to think the police are involved. He might know where this meeting is going to take place, but somehow I doubt it. This is a real low-level player, and if I were any sort of leader, I wouldn’t trust anything important to him.” Evan put his arm around Wes’s shoulders. “For the record, I was never going to hurt him. I just needed him scared so I could try to figure out what he knew.”

  W
es took a deep breath. “Should we go back upstairs?”

  “Yes. I checked the doors, and I doubt anyone is going to try that again. His friends are going to know that he didn’t come back and are going to wonder what happened to him. That’s good—it will keep them off-balance.” Evan closed his arms around Wes’s chest, just holding him and slowly rocking back and forth. “I’m sorry that all this is happening, but I promise I will do whatever I have to in order to ensure that you and Greyson are safe.”

  Wes patted Evan’s hands. “And I’ll do the same for you.” He leaned against him.

  “No one has ever done that before. I mean, Pierre watches my back, but I’m always the one who watches out for people. I think it’s part of my DNA.”

  Wes turned in Evan’s arms. “You need someone to make sure you’re safe the same as everyone else. Do not try to cut me out or hold things from me. I can’t help with what I don’t know about.” He met Evan’s gaze and saw respect and care shining back at him.

  “Let’s go upstairs,” Evan told him. “I want to check things out, and I’ll be right up.”

  Wes felt Evan’s gaze on him as he climbed the stairs and couldn’t help smiling. It was hot that Evan found him attractive. Wes had always considered himself kind of geeky, and a stud like Evan looking at him with such heat and want was pretty heady. He smiled to himself as he checked that Greyson was still asleep, then went into the bedroom and slipped under the covers. Sleep was already claiming him by the time Evan got into bed a few minutes later, and Wes curled up against him, feeling safe even in this stressful situation.

  “WHERE ARE you going?” Wes asked as he rolled over, finding the bed empty and Evan dressed.

  “Just downstairs. I need to make some phone calls and see what they’ve heard, if anything.” He leaned over the bed and kissed Wes hard, then left the room.

  Wes got out of the bed, dressed quickly, and headed down after him. He was pretty sure that Evan the Protector was going to try to shield him from what was going on again, and Wes wasn’t going to have it. If this involved his brother, then he was going to know what was happening.

  “Nothing at all,” Evan said with disbelief as Wes padded barefoot into the kitchen and got out the juice. He was doing his best to pretend that he wasn’t listening, and for the most part, Evan was quiet. “Yes, sir. I’ll see what I can find out, but I’m not holding out much hope. Did our friend from last night know anything? … I see.” Evan became agitated. “I know we have to find out where.”

  “I know how,” Wes said.

  Evan turned to him, his mouth a straight line. “Yes, sir….” He set down his phone, placing it on speaker.

  “Who are you and what do you know about this?” an unfamiliar voice demanded.

  “Well, I’m Wes Douglas, and I’m Evan’s boyfriend. My brother, Trey, is in one of those groups you’re tracking. I’m assuming this is Sheriff Briggs?”

  “It is.”

  Wes pulled out a chair and sat down. “Look, I will try to help both of you. Evan told me that Trey is involved. He doesn’t know Evan is a police officer, but he knows I’m staying with Evan. Anyway, my thought is to call my brother and invite him over for dinner tonight, at about seven. Trey will of course decline because of a previous engagement, and I’m going to try to find out where he’ll be.”

  His idea was met with silence at first. “How do you plan to do that?”

  “I’ll play the sibling guilt card. Mom is worried about him. It’s possible that he could let slip some piece of information that will help you figure out where he’s going to be.” Wes caught Evan’s gaze. “He isn’t going to know that I’m giving it to you. He’s just going to think he’s telling his brother.”

  “Why are you doing this?” the sheriff asked.

  Wes sighed. “I had hoped that Trey wasn’t involved, but it seems he is, and I can’t stop him. No one can. But if innocent people get hurt and I could have done something to stop it, I would never be able to live with myself.” Wes cleared his throat and was so grateful when Evan took his hand. “I love my brother, sheriff, but he makes his own decisions and I can’t change them. As much as it hurts, I can’t let him hurt other people.” He lifted his gaze to Evan. Wes was so conflicted, he could barely breathe. He tried not to think of how he and Trey had played in the backyard as kids, had walked to school together. “I’ll try.” His throat ached, and he stood and left the room. Wes stood in the middle of Evan’s living room, his hand shaking, trying to come to grips with the fact that after this, things were never going to be the same.

  What if his family found out that he had been the one to stand against his own brother? And if this didn’t work… Wes didn’t know what else to do. This was the right thing, even if it was the painful thing to do. Conflicted, thy name is Wes.

  EVAN STAYED in the house, close to the phone. He talked on and off with the station and found out they were not getting any closer to an answer.

  Wes tried calling his brother after noon, when he thought he might have dragged his butt out of bed, but it was after one before he actually got in touch with him. Six hours before all hell might break loose.

  “What do you need?” Trey asked, sounding on edge. Not that Wes blamed him, but he needed to play it cool and as innocent as possible.

  “Mean much?” he retorted. “Geez, Trey. I was calling because I thought you might want to see your son. I thought you could come over for dinner and maybe play with him a little.” Not that Greyson even seemed to notice that Trey wasn’t there. But Wes needed to lay it on thick. “You could come over here and we could grill out. Evan has a really nice yard here, and it’s supposed to be a nice evening.” He knew he sounded a little excited and over the top. “Maybe about seven?”

  Trey didn’t answer right away. “Bro, that sounds like fun, but I can’t tonight.”

  “What are you doing that’s more important than your son?” Wes asked.

  Evan came into the kitchen with Greyson in his arms and sat down at the table, clearly listening to Wes’s side of the conversation.

  “You can go out with the guys any time. But after the fire and all….” He let it hang in the air.

  “I have things I have to do tonight, and I can’t change it.” Trey was getting a little testy, which Wes had expected.

  “Where are you going that’s so important?” Wes pressed. “Mom and Dad haven’t seen you much, and I was going to call them to see if they wanted to come over. We could have a nice family kind of dinner, and Greyson could spend some time with his daddy.”

  “Have Mom and Dad over. I have stuff I have to do, and part of it is for them.” The hard edge to Trey’s voice was impossible to miss.

  “Are you going to be in Carlisle with your friends? You could just stop by.” Wes was pushing it now, but Trey was either going to get really pissed off and hang up, or just answer the question.

  “I’m going to be a ways away in Newville. Like I said, I got things I have to do, so please don’t press it. Any other night and I can play family with you and the folks all you want, just not tonight.” Trey was becoming supremely aggravated, even as Wes mouthed that he had it to Evan.

  “Fine. I’ll see if we can do it some other time.” Wes sighed and acted disappointed, but inside he wanted to give himself a high five. “You aren’t going to a party and drive, are you?”

  “No, man. One of the guys is going to pick me up. I’m good there.” Trey seemed a little more relaxed. “I’ll talk to you later.” He hung up, and Wes slumped in one of the chairs.

  “Newville. They’re going to be in Newville. I don’t know where exactly, but he isn’t going to be in Carlisle.” He sighed. “No one can know where the police got their information. No way, no how. If Trey found out….” Wes didn’t want to think of what could happen.

  Greyson began to fuss, and Wes took him upstairs for a diaper change, leaving Evan to make his calls. Wes needed some time to himself, and Greyson fussed until his poopy diaper was changed, then grinne
d. As soon as Wes put him down, he toddled out of the room, and Wes had to race to grab him before he reached the stairs. “Come on, you scamp.” He swung Greyson into his arms as he laughed. At the bottom of the stairs, Wes put him down and watched Greyson closely as he made his way toward Evan’s voice.

  Evan was still on the phone, but Greyson didn’t seem to care and lifted his arms to be picked up. When Evan smiled and told him no, Greyson patted his legs to try to get his attention. Eventually Evan broke down and lifted him into his arms, managing to tuck the phone under his chin. “I understand.” He finally hung up. “They don’t want me to go on the raid.”

  “Why not?”

  Evan sighed. “I think it’s to preserve my cover.” He set Greyson down, and they wandered into the living room, where Greyson looked for his toys.

  Wes shook his head. “But I thought they were going to transfer you.”

  Evan shrugged. “Hopefully they will, but my cover still has value, so they will want to try to keep it if they can. There’s nothing I can do. The sheriff said that I… we did a great job, and he thanked you for your help. But he says that you are to keep out of any future investigations.” They both rolled their eyes at that.

  “I don’t intend to be involved if I can help it, but I’ll be here when you get stumped and need the answers.” Wes jumped back as Evan reached for his ribs, but he wasn’t fast enough. Evan tickled him, and Wes squirmed until he was surrounded by Evan’s arms. Wes was still laughing when Greyson whined, so they quit their horseplay. He brought over a truck for each of them, and apparently they were both supposed to get on the floor and play with him.

  Evan sat on the floor and Wes joined him, cross-legged, scooting one of the trucks back and forth between them and Greyson. He seemed to love it, and Wes smiled as Evan took his hand. For a little while, at any rate, Wes could pretend they were a family, and he let the contentment of simply spending time with Evan and Greyson settle into his soul. Once the case was over, he wasn’t sure how much longer this would last. Evan had been nice to him and Greyson, and they had had some really good times, but in some ways, Evan was difficult to read. And while his arms and lips told Wes one thing, Evan seemed to guard his heart, and once things started to return to normal… what would normal be?