Chapter One #2
What the hell? Carter was a pro at looking after his brother. And he was standing right there. “What could happen to him? I keep my streets safe.” And his brother safe. He was ignoring the fact that he’d just had the same thought and worry. That wasn’t the point. At all.
“I’m sure you do, officer,” Bas replied. “And I didn’t mean anything by it. You can blame my worry on not being here long. I know it’s not the same as the city streets that I’m used to. I can’t help but worry about my boyfriend.”
Carter gave him a sharp nod. They were basically in the same spot. Both new to the small-town life and wanting Hudson safe. Carter relaxed, letting his irritation go. Hudson wanted them to get along. Carter would try. At least until this guy gave him a reason to be suspicious. “I get it.”
Bastian smiled sweetly at Hudson. It was obvious that he cared for Carter’s brother. “You don’t have to go to the bakery. Aaron grabbed your donuts and the coffee.”
Watching the way Bastian stroked down Hudson’s back and held him close, Carter had to admit that he approved.
Hudson was a touchy-feely guy and not all his partners liked that.
Seeing Bastian already catering to Hudson’s needs and not hiding him even in public moved the guy up on Carter’s list of those who deserved respect.
Okay, this might not be so bad after all.
Hudson glanced at Carter with his cheeks a little pink, as if Hudson was embarrassed. Carter winked.
Hudson seemed shocked before happiness started to radiate from him.
Carter needed to remember that Hudson could make his own decisions and he liked this guy.
It was Carter’s job to support his brother.
Sometimes it was hard being an observer and not being able to take control of Hudson’s life.
Carter had to remind himself of that often.
He might have some control issues. So sue him!
“There’s Aaron now.” Bastian nodded behind Carter.
Carter turned, spotting an attractive man in fitted jeans and a button-down shirt heading in their direction.
He had shoulder-length blond hair and a neatly trimmed goatee.
It was the eyes that Carter mostly remembered.
A unique green that Carter had never seen on another person.
Carter had seen him, asked around, although he was new to the area as well. Not much was known about him yet.
“I didn’t do it, officer,” Aaron said cheerfully. “But if you need to break out the handcuffs, I totally understand.”
Hudson giggled as Carter rolled his eyes.
Handcuff jokes? Why did guys always go for handcuff jokes?
“Like I haven’t heard that one before,” Carter said.
Trying to show the attractive man that he wasn’t impressed.
That it took much more than corny jokes to impress him.
No matter how much Carter wanted to move closer to this guy who was apparently Aaron and bringing Bastian and Hudson donuts and coffee.
“You haven’t heard it from me,” Aaron pointed out.
That was true and Carter hadn’t found anyone in town, man or woman—he wasn’t picky—that had caught his attention. Until he had spotted this cute guy. More than cute. There was something about Aaron that caught his attention and made his protective instincts come to the surface.
“Could you stop hitting on Hudson’s brother, please,” Bastian grumped. “It’s kind of disturbing.”
“Brother?” Aaron’s face lit up. “A firefighter and a policeman in the same family?” He shoved the boxes and cup holder into Bastian’s hands.
Bastian scrambled to keep everything from toppling over as he growled. Not that it appeared to matter to Aaron. He was too busy eying Carter like he was on the menu.
This boy had trouble written all over him. Carter might be interested in Aaron’s kind of trouble if it came with that pretty smile.
Aaron wiped his hands on his dark pressed jeans. “Hello, brother! I’m Aaron. I’m an Aries who loves long walks, candlelight, and getting handcuffed.” He held out his hand. “And of course a man in uniform.”
Carter knew the moment he touched this guy that his world was going to be turned upside down. He just knew it. His gut was already telling him that Aaron was going to…be something. Good or bad only time would tell. He took Aaron’s hand into his bigger one.
An electric shock startled him, sending tingles up Carter’s arm as Aaron jerked like he’d been jolted by a taser. Aaron’s eyes rolled back in his head, showing only white. Fuck! Was he having a seizure?
“Fuck!” Bastian spat. “Catch him!”
Aaron started to go down but Carter was trained for situations like this. He stepped forward to allow Aaron’s body to fall against him. Aaron was quite a bit shorter than him and although he was solid, Carter had no problem slipping an arm under Aaron’s knees and lifting him up.
“What’s going on?” Hudson shouted as Aaron convulsed in Carter’s arms.
“Vision,” Bastian replied.
“Vision?” Carter barked. What the fuck? What foolishness was Bastian talking? Did they need to call a paramedic?
Bastian sighed as he tilted his head toward the office door. “Bring him inside. We have something to tell you.”
Now? They wanted to talk? What about the guy seizing in his arms? What was wrong with these people? This was a medical emergency. He glanced around, hoping to find someone else willing to help. Where had everyone gone? The streets were never this empty.
“Come on, baby.” Bastian nudged Hudson with a shoulder. “Can you get the door?”
Carter figured it was better to follow behind his brother and Bastian. He walked up the steps with Aaron in his arms, just wanting to get the guy someplace safe. He’d call the damn paramedic himself if he had to.
Hudson rushed up the steps and yanked the door open too hard and it rattled. A pretty young man came running from around the reception desk.
“Can you take these to the break room?” Bastian passed off his load to the young man. He turned toward Carter. “We can lay Aaron down on the couch in his office.”
Whatever. Carter headed in the direction that Bastian had indicated. Aaron had stopped convulsing but now he was mumbling. About rainbows. And flowers. And…puppies. What the actual fuck?
Carter placed Aaron carefully on a long black leather couch as Aaron started to mumble about mates and pretty men.
Was he dreaming? Did he have that thing where someone could fall asleep anywhere at any time.
Carter forgot what it was called but had seen a show about it once.
Except Aaron’s ramblings were…just strange.
This entire interaction left Carter cold as he tried to remain calm. Something wasn’t right. Every instinct inside him was screaming for him to protect Aaron at all costs.
Carter brushed the hair from Aaron’s forehead as Aaron continued to say things that made absolutely no sense to him. He glanced toward the door where Bastian and Hudson were hovering. And why was his brother giggling?
“Do we need an ambulance?” It came out as a question, but Carter was making more than just a simple suggestion. Why the hell were they just standing there?
“He’ll be fine in a few minutes. Just give him time,” Bastian replied.
Carter looked back down at the little guy. The color had returned to Aaron’s face and he was slowly blinking his green eyes. If this guy’s friend wasn’t worried, did that mean this happened often? That thought bothered Carter more than it should as he didn’t even know this guy.
Once again Carter’s gut instincts were screaming at him.
Instead of running away, Carter sat on the edge of the couch and picked up Aaron’s hand. He looked like an angel with the way his long hair fanned out round his face. Carter was starting to suspect that this guy was more of a fallen angel sent to disturb his perfectly controlled life.
* * * * *
Aaron
Ow! His head was pounding and it felt like his hand was trapped in a vise. He blinked open his eyes but the overheard light sent shards of pain into his head.
“Lights!” Aaron said with a whine.
Immediately the overhead lights were flicked off.
“Why are we not calling the paramedics?” Someone, voice deep and rough, demanded.
“He’ll be fine.”
That was Bastian. Good. He could at least trust that he wasn’t surrounded by strangers. Again.
Bas and Leo had been with Aaron through the visions he’d been dealing with since he was a child and knew what to do for him.
The first couple of times that Aaron had received a vision had been confusing and terrifying.
The visions were just so random and painful.
Worse than the dreams that still plagued him.
“He doesn’t look fine!” That voice again. He sounded worried and angry and fucking hot. Aaron needed to look even if he knew that was dumb.
Squinting his eyes open, Aaron found the stranger leaning over him.
“Is…fine,” Aaron slurred. The hottie didn’t look convinced as he frowned at Aaron.
While he’d love to stare into those dark eyes, Aaron couldn’t as tears collected in the corners of his own eyes.
He always felt off right after a vision.
Truthfully, Aaron was confused. He couldn’t even remember what had happened.
With temples pulsing, Aaron slammed his eyes closed.
He really didn’t want to throw up. Even if Aaron would much prefer to stare at the attractive man at his side.
“This is not fine! If you won’t call someone, I will!”
“Shh,” Aaron whined, waving his hand. His fingers hit a hard chest. Mmm, wide, muscular. He stroked over stiff material. Clothes sucked. Why was this hottie wearing clothes? If he was a nice guy, he would take off his shirt to let Aaron feel him up properly. Yes, that sounded like an awesome idea!
His hand was caught and directed away from muscles. Aww, that was sad. Still, Aaron did like having his hand caught in the tight grip. Warmth filled him from the heat of the other man. Episodes like this often left Aaron feeling cold and empty.