The Haunting Crush (Mesa Boys #4)

Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

K ai, dressed in a red t-shirt and jeans, checked the clock on the stove top. Almost six. Conner should be home soon. He opened the oven and checked the pork chops in a broiler pan. They looked like they needed a few more minutes.

Bryce opened the door on the apartment, wearing a white t-shirt and jeans. “Hey.”

Kai glanced at him. “Hey, did you see anything?”

Bryce shook his head. “No, not a thing. I took a good look all around, too.” He walked into the kitchen and stood next to Kai. “What are you doing?”

Kai checked the broccoli, set up in a steamer on the stove top. “Cooking dinner.” He’d decided it was the proper thing to do, since they were staying in Conner’s place and he’d made them breakfast.

Bryce chuckled. “Damn, look at you, all domestic and shit.”

“Shut up.” He huffed.

“You made some for me, too, right?” Bryce walked to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottled water, screwed off the cap, then gulped it down.

“I did, but comments like that are going to make you go hungry.” Kai grinned and with a fork, checked the potatoes boiling in a pot on the stovetop.

Conner came in through the front door in a white, button-down shirt and black slacks, a computer bag slung over his shoulder, and stopped at the kitchen. A wide smile spread over his face. “Hi, honey, I’m home.” He stepped to Kai and kissed him on the cheek.

Bryce erupted in laughter.

“Very funny.” Bastards. Kai shook his head, then removed the pork chops from the oven and set them on an open area of the stovetop. “Go get your plates from the table.”

Conner set his computer bag against the wall of the entryway. “You set the table and everything?”

Kai drained the potatoes, then seasoned them and added butter, leaving them in the pot, and took the top off the steamer. “Yes, I did.”

Conner came into the kitchen with two plates and handed one to Kai. “You go first, since you cooked.”

Kai smiled at Conner. “Thanks.” He grabbed a pork chop with a pair of tongs, then spooned out potatoes and broccoli onto his plate. He stole a peek at Conner filling his plate with food, then grabbed a bottle of beer from the refrigerator and went to take a seat at the dinette.

Conner sat next to Kai with his plate of food and a beer, then Bryce sat across from him.

“So, what did you two do today?” Conner cut into his pork chop.

Bryce sipped his beer. “I went to the wash. Didn’t find anything weird.”

“And you?” Conner focused on Kai.

“I went for a run in the park.” It was a great way to clear his head. Especially after the conversation he’d had with Bryce at breakfast. He ate a bite of broccoli.

Conner focused on Bryce. “So, did you take a look at the game camera while you were at the house?” He gulped some beer.

“Hell no, I wasn’t going in there alone.” Bryce shook his head once and stuffed a bite of potato in his mouth.

Conner swallowed down some food. “So, let’s head over there after dinner and take a look at the game camera. If nothing’s on it, I think we should let it go again tonight ,and if it’s still clear, then I think we’re done.”

Kai peered at Conner. “And if not?”

Conner pressed his lips together. “If not, then we keep looking in the wash.”

“What if we never find anything and it keeps going on?” Bryce lifted his brows.

“Then I guess we call in a medium.” Conner cut more pork chop.

“A medium?” A shiver raced up Kai’s spine. Was he serious? This was getting weirder all the time. “Where are we going to find a medium?” He freed a puff of air. “Wait, don’t tell me. You work with one.” He snickered.

Conner shook his head and smirked. “No, Brent and Eric have a few they work with.”

“Great.” He couldn’t believe he was talking about things like this. But here he was. He gulped down some beer.

Kai followed Conner and Bryce into the carport door of the duplex, flicked on the kitchen lights, and stopped. Goosebumps shivered over his skin. He rubbed his arms. “Guess it’s not over.” This is so fucked. He pointed at the kitchen cabinets, all open to some degree.

“Were they all closed when you left last night?” Conner paced in front of the open cabinets.

“Yeah. At least there’s no open drawers this time or silverware on the floor.” Bryce narrowed his eyes. “Plus, it must have happened during the day or after we left last night. It was happening while we were at work before the investigation.”

Conner rubbed his chin. “So, it’s changed up a little, I guess.” He walked to the glass and rattan dinette and picked up the game camera, flipped the back open the pressed buttons by the screen. “Let’s see what we’ve got.”

Kai leaned in close behind Conner, peering at the small screen.

Conner hit the play button.

The video started. The cabinet door over the sink opened and shut, then the one next to it, then next to that, as if something invisible were walking down the counter and opening and closing them one by one. Finally, they all opened and slammed shut, then opened again.

“Fuck this.” Fear trembled through Kai. He gulped hard.

Conner wrapped an arm around Kai’s waist and kissed the side of his head. “I’m here.”

“S-so what do we do now?” Kai edged into Conner’s side. He was getting really used to having Conner close like this.

“I’ll ask Brent and Eric to schedule a medium to come out. In the meantime, let’s keep looking in the wash, and we’ll keep the game camera rolling.” Conner backed up the video and set the camera down on the glass table.

“Listen, I can’t stay at your place forever, Conner. I’m going to go stay at my mom’s place instead, until this thing is over.” Bryce glanced at Kai.

“Sure,” Conner said.

“Why would you do that?” Kai lifted his brows.

Bryce poked Kai in the side and jutted his chin at Conner. He whispered, “You’ll thank me later.” He winked.

Kai widened his eyes and heat rushed his face. As usual, Bryce was trying to be helpful. “Oh...” He stole a peek a Conner.

As Conner set up the game camera, a coy smile spread over his lips. “There. ”

Bryce slapped Kai’s arm, then slid a small black flashlight out of his front pocket. “Come on, let’s go check out the wash.”

Kai pulled a small, red flashlight from the front pocket of his jeans and followed Bryce. “Come on, Conner. You’re the one who insisted we had to do this together.” Though he if they found something, he’d be damn happy to have Conner with him.

“I’m coming.” Conner left the game camera to follow Kai and Bryce out the carport door, around the front of the duplex, then down the side and into the back yard.

Kai, standing twenty feet from the back of the duplex in the natural desert landscape of rocks, brush, and cacti, shined his flashlight at the wash. The sun was almost set, leaving everything in shadow. Scrubby palo verde mixed with mesquite and ironwood trees, all unkempt with boughs bending all the way to the ground. Underneath the trees lay large milkweeds interspersed with brittlebush. “How are we even supposed to get in there?”

“There’s a path over there.” Bryce pointed his flashlight to an opening in the bushes and weeds between two palo verde trees. He walked toward it.

Kai and Conner followed, pushing aside spiked branches, and kicking away errant tendrils. After a few feet, the wash opened up, exposing dry beds of dirt and rocks laid out in trails between shorter weeds and bushes.

Kai darted his flashlight over the area, hitting the trees on either side, then down around the dirt and weeds. There was so much underbrush, how would they ever find anything in the dark? “Where did you look today, Bryce?”

“More over there.” Bryce shined his flashlight at the trees behind their duplex.

“So, Kai, you come with me and we can walk down the wash to the road.” Conner grabbed his hand.

He smiled. “Sure. ”

“I’ll go to the other side.” Bryce hopped over a patch of weeds and walked up the trail bed on the other side of the wash.

Kai strolled beside Conner for a few feet, shining his light from side to side. Maybe this was pointless. It was hard to see anything at all.

Crackling sounded under the trees.

Kai’s heart skipped. “Shit.” What the hell could that be? The hair on the back of his neck stood up.

The crackling sounded again.

Conner hooked an arm around Kai’s waist and set his light in the direction of the noise. “Shh. It’s probably just an animal.”

Just outside the periphery of Conner’s light, a pair of yellowish-green eyes came into view, bounced, then stopped.

“What is that?” Kai deepened into Conner’s side. Thank God Conner’s here.

Conner moved his light.

A coyote stared at them, one back leg raised, sniffing at the air, fluffy tail straight out behind it.

“Fuck.” We should know better than to be in the wash at night. “Conner, this isn’t a good idea.”

The coyote sprinted off toward the road.

Conner drew a deep breath. “Maybe.”

“Maybe? If there are coyotes out here, then there are javelina. I don’t feel like getting attacked out here.”

“Yeah, you’re right. This might be too dangerous at night.” Conner moved his light to Bryce. “Hey, we just saw a coyote. Maybe we should head back.”

Bryce stopped in his tracks. “Yeah? Shit. Good idea.”

Yipping and howling rang out through the wash.

Kai startled and flung his arms around Conner, hiding his face in his shoulder. “Damn it.” He was looking like a pussy again. He frowned.

Conner clicked off his flashlight and held Kai close, nuzzling his neck. “Sometimes I kind of like it when you’re scared.” He found Kai’s mouth and placed a lingering kiss over his lips, then parted them with his tongue, pressing his swelling cock against Kai’s hip.

He lost himself in the insistent kiss, kneading the muscles of Conner’s back with his hands. Coyotes be damned. This was too good.

The howl of a lone coyote called out through the chill night air.

A shiver raced up his spine. Or maybe not. He broke the kiss, gazing into Conner’s intense eyes. “Let’s get out of here.” Tapping prodded his shoulder. He yelped and jumped.

“Jesus, Kai, settle down.” Bryce laughed.

A grin played over Conner’s generous lips.

He scoffed and turned in Conner’s hold. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“Everything scares the shit out of you.” Bryce grinned. “The trail is over here. Let’s go.” He walked off down the bed of dirt.

Kai glanced at Conner.

Conner watched him, his grin widening.

Kai pointed a finger at him. “Don’t say a word. I told you I hate this shit.” Could everything go back to normal now, so they didn’t have to do this anymore?

“I didn’t say anything.” Conner sniggered. “Let’s go home.”

Kai followed Conner into the kitchen. “Bourbon?” He grabbed two low-ball glasses from the cabinet, unscrewed the cap from the bourbon bottle and poured. What sort of surprises would tonight bring?

Conner stepped up behind Kai and wrapped his arms around his waist, resting his chin on his shoulder. “Looks like you already know the answer to that.”

“Think we’ll have to get a new bottle tomorrow.” He emptied the bottle into the glasses and looked them over. It was probably two full ounces, but who was counting? He handed a glass to Conner.

“Balcony?”

“Of course. It’s our thing now, isn’t it?” He snickered and followed Conner through the main room, out the sliding glass doors and to the waiting outdoor couch, then sat down.

Conner took a seat and flung the blanket over them.

He sighed and looked out over the park and the fountain, spraying high against the far-off stars. No moonlight tonight. No wonder the wash was had gotten so dark as soon as the sun set.

Conner rested his arm over Kai’s shoulders. “Come here.”

He snuggled into Conner’s side, then drew the blanket up and sipped his bourbon. The day’s events replayed in his mind, stopping at the conversation he’d had with Bryce over breakfast. He had to find out if Conner had been in an open relationship with Paige. “It was really nice to make breakfast for us before you went to work.”

Conner tugged him closer. “Glad you liked it.”

Kai studied the bourbon as he tilted his glass. “So, um, I was wondering.”

“What?” Conner kissed the side of his head.

Kai shut his eyes a moment, savoring the affection. “What are your views on open relationships?” Hopefully, he’d asked it the right way. He focused on him.

Conner widened his eyes. “Why are you asking me that?”

“I don’t know...” What should he say that wouldn’t put him off? He had to be careful. “Just curious, I guess.”

Conner’s gaze darted over his face and he frowned. “Kai, I don’t want you being with anybody else.” He huffed. “Why, are you seeing someone else besides me?”

“No, of course not.” Conner wants to be exclusive. Kai twisted his head away, hiding a grin. “Have you ever tried something like that?”

Conner’s mouth opened, then shut. He stared at the drink in his hand, resting in his lap. “I don’t know why you’re asking me this.”

Kai shifted on the couch and placed a hand on Conner’s cheek, then kissed his lips. Maybe that would ease his concerns. “I’m just trying to figure you out.”

Conner glared at him, knocking his hand away. “Do you want an open relationship?” He flared his nostrils. “I don’t want you being with anyone else.”

Kai blinked. “I don’t either.” He looks pissed.

“Okay, then it’s settled. We’re not having an open relationship.” Conner pursed his lips and drank some bourbon, then looked him over. “Right?”

That went nothing like I planned. “Yes, okay.” Kai furrowed his brows, glancing at the view. “By the way, I wasn’t asking to have an open relationship.”

“Good. Then we can stop talking about it.” Conner tugged him in close to his side and nuzzled his neck. “Hurry up with your drink, so we can go to bed.”

Kai lay nude on his back in Conner’s bed, the sheets and covers drawn down, watching Conner’s muscles as he climbed in next to him.

Conner lay on his side, propping his head up with an elbow, his breath coming in deep draws. The tip of his firm cock glistened with a bead of pre-cum in the ambient light from outside the window.

Kai licked his lips. He’s already so aroused. But then, so am I.

Conner touched the side of Kai’s hip.

His breath caught. Lust shivered over his spine. His hard cock jerked. He bit his lip and gulped.

Conner skimmed his hand up Kai’s side, circled it over his shoulder and came back down to settle over his cock, focusing on his face .

Kai shut his eyes. Every inch of skin tingled. All Conner had to do was touch him and he was on fire. He opened his eyes and drew a deep breath.

Conner slid his hand over Kai’s shaft, lazily caressing, then stroking with more pressure. “You want to touch me, Kai?”

He nodded and raked his teeth over his lower lip. Do I. He’d start there and then?—

Conner pumped Kai’s cock, over and over.

Pleasure pulsed through him. He freed sharp moans and rocked his hips. His cock dribbled pre-cum onto his stomach. In a breath, he said, “Oh, shit.” How many times was he going to make Conner come tonight? Three? He licked his lips and lifted the edge of his mouth.

Conner stopped his hand. “What are you thinking about?”

Kai rolled to his side and grasped Conner’s erection, then pumped it, hard and fast. “How many times I’m going to make you come tonight.”

Conner whimpered, then shuddered, his mouth falling open. “Fuck, Kai.” His cock jerked, then cum spurted up between them, landing on Kai’s chest and dripping over his fingers.

“God damn, Conner.” Kai devoured him in deep kisses, rolling over him, rocking his hard cock against his thigh. I need to fuck him, right now . Their tongues tangled in the wet heat of their mouths. He kneaded his hands up and down Conner’s side, his muscled chest and rubbed over a nipple, then pinched.

Conner groaned and thrust against him, wrapping his legs around Kai’s, increasing the pressure and friction.

Breathless, he said, “Can I fuck you, Conner? Please.” He kissed down Conner’s stubbled chin to his neck and nibbled at his earlobe, then gave it soft bites.

Conner arced his head back. “Yes.” He writhed under him, slapping his hands to his ass, bringing their thrusting hips closer still. “Fuck, yes.”

His cock twitched and a pulse of pleasure jolted through him. Did he hear that right? He was going to let him fuck him? He lifted his head, panting, and gazed deeply into his intense eyes. “You’ll let me do that? Tonight?”

Conner nodded.

A wave of desire shivered over Kai. His cock surged with intense sensation. “S-stop moving.”

Conner stopped all motion. “What’s the matter?” He lifted his brows.

“I almost came.” Kai offered him a wicked grin. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this.” He flinched. Damn, Kai, way to spill the beans.

Conner slowly rocked his hips. “Really.” He brushed his hand down Kai’s cheek. “How long?”

Kai placed a deep, sensual kiss over his lips. What the hell. The secret is out anyway. “A very, very long time.” He rocked against his thigh, kissing him with more intensity, then shifted to the side, bringing his hand down, the fingers still slicked with Conner’s cum. He snuck between Conner’s thighs to tease his entrance, circling, then slid a finger inside.

Conner gasped and his semi-firm cock hardened. He rocked into his fingers. “More.”

Kai slid a second finger inside and curled, then pumped.

Conner’s face tensed, his thighs quivered, and he moaned. “Fuck me now, Kai.” His head twisted to the side.

Holy fuck if this isn’t the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. He brushed his free hand over Conner’s forehead and claimed his mouth in deep, heated kisses, thrusting against his thigh, delicious pleasure humming through him, his fingers sliding in and out of his tight entrance.

Conner’s moans quickened and his body shuddered. In a choked voice, he said, “Kai, I swear to God if you don’t fuck me now, I’m going to come again, and you’ll miss your chance.”

Kai rounded his eyes and halted all motions. “Shit. We can’t have that.” He gave him a quick smirk and lifted onto his knees. “Uh, where’s the lube and stuff? ”

Conner pointed to the dark-gray nightstand with long, silver handles. “Top drawer.”

Kai slapped it open and fumbled through it for a condom and lube, then opened the condom and rolled it over his solid cock. After slicking his fingers with lube, he threw it in the drawer and laid next to Conner.

“I have a confession.” Conner gave him a sly grin.

“What, now?” Kai slicked his entrance with lube and slid two fingers inside, curled and pulled out.

Conner tensed his face, bit his lip, and groaned. “Damn it, Kai.” He lifted his knees up, then placed a hand on Kai’s cheek. “I’ve wanted to do this with you for a very, very long time, too.”

Kai gazed into his eyes. Was he serious? He looked serious. Now was not the time to think on that. Damn if I don’t love the shit out of him right now. He kissed him with all the emotion swelling his heart. He should slow down and make this first time last. With a deep breath, he lay over him and dropped his hips between Conner’s legs, then positioned his hard cock at his entrance. He pressed his mouth to Conner’s, parting his lips and kissing him fully, taking him all in, then slowly rocked his hips.

Conner wrinkled his brows and freed a sharp gasp, then found Kai’s ass with his hands and pressed, wrapping his legs around his hips, driving him deeper.

“Oh, God.” Tight heat enveloped Kai’s cock, the friction sweet and intense. He stayed on Conner’s mouth, penetrating him with his tongue, then wiped his hand in the sheets and brushed it over his cheek, breaking the kisses. He gazed into his hooded, intense eyes, then down to his parted, swollen lips, all the time pulling out and thrusting deeper into Conner. God, he was stunning. He dropped his head down to his neck and nibbled and sucked soft skin, his peak taunting him with each rock of his hips. Conner feels so good, so damn, good. It wasn’t sex. It wasn’t fucking. He was making love for the first time in his life. As his sac grew heavy with the need to release, he slipped a hand between them and pumped Conner’s firm cock .

Conner dug his fingers into Kai’s side and cried out, his body shuddering, cum spurting up between them.

Delicious release surged through Kai’s body, curling his toes, sending waves of sensation pulsing through his cock, gasping with each one. As it slowed, he laid his head on his shoulder, panting. He’d done it. He had finally had sex with Conner fucking Mitchell.

Conner embraced him and kissed his head. “That was fucking awesome.”

He nodded, holding Conner’s shoulders. There was no going back now. He was all the way in. I am completely, hopelessly, desperately in love. A prick of fear fluttered his heart. He was so fucked.

“Kai.” Conner attempted to move him.

He held still, biting his lip. “What?”

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” If he got up, would Conner see his true feelings? They had to be written all over his face.

Conner chuckled. “Come on, we need to clean up.”

Kai tightened his hold on Conner’s shoulders and took a deep breath, then lifted his head. He couldn’t look at Conner. If I do, he’ll see. He climbed off the bed and walked into the bathroom, discarded the condom, then grabbed a washcloth off a chrome towel rack and washed up. He rinsed the washcloth then brought it to Conner. “Here.”

Conner sat up in the bed and wiped off. “You sure you’re okay? You seem weird.”

He pursed his lips. He couldn’t talk. If he did, it might spill out of him. He nodded.

“Damn it.” Conner threw the washcloth to the floor and seized his hand, then tugged him down to the bed. “Come here.” He pushed him to his back and lay over him.

Kai stared at the wall, keeping his lips pinched together. Don’t say it. Don’t fucking say it.

Conner kissed his cheek and brushed his hand over Kai’s forehead. “Are you okay with what we did?”

Kai turned to him and he widened his eyes. “Yeah, I’m very okay with it. I loved it.” He flinched. Fuck, I need to keep my mouth shut.

Conner smiled. “I loved it, too.” He laid on the bed and flung the covers over them both. “I have to get up early.” He wrapped an arm and a leg around Kai from the side, then kissed his cheek. “Goodnight, baby.”

“Goodnight.” My love. He snuggled closer into Conner’s side and closed his eyes.