Chapter 3
Elias
He was about to head back to the briefing room where the rest of Charlie shift was waiting for their assignments, when the sound of tennis shoes squeaking on the tile floor caught his attention.
It was Burke. Out of breath and panting.
Eli couldn’t help thinking this was exactly how the kid looked last night after he’d come his brains out.
“Officer Dixon. I’m here. Ran into someone I knew in the parking lot and…” Burke trailed off. “No excuses. I’m late. It’s my fault.” He straightened his posture, but was still gasping for air.
“Nice of you to join us, Dixon.” Salem Police Chief Cisco Jackson was shooting him the hairy eyeball. “This must be your ride-along partner. Sampson, is it?”
Elias motioned Burke into an empty seat in the front row. Everyone knew the front row was reserved for the fuck ups and late arrivals. Motherfucker… “Yes, sir. I’m sorry we’re late. Won’t happen again.”
“Since the two of you couldn’t bother to be here on time, holding up your fellow officers and keeping me from getting home to my fiancé, you’re on campus patrol.” Cisco wore a triumphant grin.
Elias groaned. The other officers in the room started jeering and clapping their hands, obviously relieved that they wouldn’t be stuck babysitting college kids who were too stupid to play their music at a normal volume and not get into drunken brawls.
Burke shot Elias a questioning look. He didn’t say a word. They were in enough trouble as it was. Stopping to explain what they’d be doing tonight would only make Cisco angrier. The last thing he needed was to be assigned something worse that what they’d gotten.
“Be safe out there tonight,” Cisco cautioned. “Dismissed. Dixon? A minute, please.”
Fucking great! Now what? Did Cisco want Eli to clean the fucking bathrooms with a toothbrush? He approached the podium, leaving Burke in his seat. “Yes, chief?”
“Don’t ‘yes, chief’ me, Eli.” Cisco grinned. “We know each other better than that.”
“Just trying to be professional in front of the kid, Cisco.” The chief was the first friend Eli had made when he moved to Salem. That bond had only gotten stronger as the years passed.
“All I was going to say was that he looked young.” One of Cisco’s dark eyebrows rose high up his forehead.
“He’s a senior at Salem State. Criminal Justice program. He’ll be starting the academy in a few weeks.” Christ, Eli could feel himself starting to sweat. He knew what point Cisco was driving toward.
“He also happens to be the young man you pulled over early this morning under the suspicion of DUI.” Cisco’s voice was soft.
Shit, nothing ever got past eagle-eyed Cisco. “Let’s just called this an exercise in being scared straight.”
Cisco looked past my shoulder to where Burke was sitting quietly. “Bullshit. You’re looking at someone who is engaged to a man nearly half his age. I know what’s going on here.”
“It’s not what you think, Cisco. I’m just trying to help this kid out.
He’d been drinking last night. I didn’t want a DUI arrest to ruin his future.
” That was absolutely the truth. The part about Cisco’s fiancé still rocked him a bit.
Cisco had met Luca during a reported break-in at the Salem State science building.
Eli could see the comparison he was obviously trying to draw.
There was no way lighting could strike twice, could it?
“So, you’re making him pay his debt to society by spending time riding along with you?” Cisco snorted. “I guess that would be enough to scare anyone straight.”
“I’m not that bad.” Elias had about enough shit from Cisco.
They’d forged a good friendship over the last two and a half years he’d been with the Salem Police Department.
It had been Cisco who’d let him know how gay-friendly Salem was, during the interview process.
Cisco’s welcome had been the reason he’d taken the job.
He’d never regretted it. Until now. As much as he tried to sidestep, Cisco knew exactly why Burke was riding along with him instead of being stuck in a jail cell.
“Be professional out there tonight. I don’t give a fuck what the two of you get up to when your shift ends. Hear me?” Cisco bit his lower lip in an obvious attempt not to laugh.
Eli nodded. “Loud and clear.” Turning from him, Eli’s eyes landed on Burke. “Let’s roll, kid.”
Burke opened his mouth looking like he had something to say. After getting a look at Eli, his mouth snapped shut. This could be promising after all.
“Enjoy campus patrol, guys.” Cisco’s laughter followed us out into the hall.
Jesus Christ, I’d forgotten about that fresh hell. College kids sucked on the best of days, never mind with the pressures of exams being off. “If you need to piss, now’s the time.” Eli pointed to the men’s room door.
“I’m good, sir.” Burke’s dark eyes darkened with desire. Eli couldn’t help wondering if it was over Burke calling him “sir.”
Eli shook his head. “Let’s go. I don’t want to hear you bitching later that you’re going to explode.”
“Oh, I’m going to explode all right, Officer Dixon,” Burke whispered loudly enough so only Eli would hear him.
Motherfucking fuck. This wasn’t good. Five minutes into their shift and Eli wanted to jump the kid.
The only cure for this was a busy night with lots of calls.
Elias pushed through the door leading out to the parking lot.
When they got to the cruiser, Eli shoved Burke against the passenger door.
“Listen and listen well. You’re here to make up for the bullshit you pulled last night and to learn something about law enforcement.
If all you’re here for is to flirt with me and try to get into my pants, you can leave now. ”
The light in Burke’s dark eyes dimmed. “I’m sorry, sir. It won’t happen again.” Gone from Burke was everything that made him absolutely irresistible last night. His swagger. That smile. His smart mouth begging to be kissed or fucked. Shit and double shit, what had he done?
Sighing, Elias hit the button to unlock the SUV.
He climbed in silently and saw Burke securing his seatbelt.
“Campus patrol is exactly what it sounds like. We’ll be around Salem State all night.
There are still kids on campus who are waiting for their parents to come get them this weekend or who are here for summer session.
What do you think you should do if we roll up on a scene involving someone you know? ”
“Keep my mouth shut, for a start.” There was no snark in Burke’s voice. No spark either.
“That’s a good answer. What else?” There was one thing in particular Eli was hoping Burke would figure out. What was worrying him more than the kid not getting the answer right was the way he seemed to be deflated.
“Watch what you’re doing so I can learn from you.” Burke shrugged. “That’s why I’m here.”
Eli couldn’t tell if that was a smartass answer or if the kid was just regurgitating the exact thing he’d just said. “That’s a good idea, but not the point I’m hoping you’ll grasp.” It wasn’t exactly a fair question, but Eli was trying to get Burke to look outside of himself.
Burke looked lost. Eli wasn’t a fan of that look combined with having the wind taken out of his sails.
“As a police officer, the most important thing we do is remain impartial. It might be your first instinct to take the side of a friend or acquaintance, but in doing that, you might not see both sides of a story.”
Burke was nodding thoughtfully. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Unit 21?” Kendall’s voice crackled over Eli’s mike.
“Twenty-one here.” Eli was thrilled they had a call. Maybe getting a glimpse of his future career would turn Burke’s frown upside down.
“Got a noise complaint at Atlantic Hall. Caller said the music keeps disturbing their private time.”
Private time? Jesus Christ, just fuck to the beat. “10-4, I’m en route.”
“Didn’t see you tonight, Dix.” Kendall sounded disappointed.
Eli rolled his eyes. Now that he’d lost interest in Kendall, his former crush seemed to be ramping up his interest. “I was making plans for my ride along.”
“Mmm, I saw that boy…” Kendall trailed off.
“He knows I can hear him, right?” Burke shook his head.
“Oh, yeah. He knows. That’s why he said it.
” Those words were Kendall’s push to get to Burke.
Over my dead fucking body, Eli thought. During the six months Kendall had been with the SPD, he’d had his cock in every gay man in a three-town radius.
Eli shook his head. What the hell had he ever seen in that man-whore in the first place?
“He’s got a nice voice, but I’m not interested.” Burke shrugged before turning to look out the window.
“Oh, no?” Eli was sure the kid would change his mind once he got a look at Kendall and his dreamy eyes.
“Got my hands full at the moment.” A hint of Burke’s earlier swagger was back.
Elias felt his cock jerk in his pants. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask what they were filled with, but they were pulling into the dorm parking lot. “Stay close.”
Eli got out of the SUV and instantly heard loud rap music. The beat was so heavy, it shook the ground. He started walking toward the front door.
“Hey!” Burke shouted as he ran after Elias. “Don’t I get a bulletproof vest?”
Shit! Elias sighed. Since they were just here to answer a noise complaint, it was likely Burke wasn’t going to need one, but the last thing he needed was for something to happen to the kid on his first ride along.
Eli knew he had a spare vest in the back of the SUV.
“Come here.” Eli opened the back hatch and quickly found what he was looking for.
He was a bigger man than Burke. He stood 6’3” making Eli about half a foot taller and probably thirty pounds heavier.
“Since the vest is meant for me, I’m going to have to strap you in tight. ”
Burke’s eyes darkened. “Be my guest. Strap it on.” He managed a small smirk before holding his arms out to the sides.
Lord save me… The last thing he needed was shit like that coming out of Burke’s mouth.
Eli lifted the Kevlar over Burke’s head.
He settled it over the younger man’s shoulders.
Taking a step forward, he reached for the first Velcro tab on the back, pulling it forward to secure it.
That step brought Eli up against Burke. His cock was hot and hard against Eli’s thigh.
Jesus Christ, was this kid aroused by the evening breeze or was there more to it than that?
Burke’s eyes slipped shut, his teeth digging into his lower lip.
“What’s the matter, Burke?” Eli pressed himself closer, as he reached for the top Velcro strap on the other side. “Usually you’re all talk and now you’re, what? All cock?” Eli hitched his matching erection against Burke.
The younger man whimpered. “Fuck, Eli,” Burke whispered. “I know you said I needed to be professional. I want to be that for you, God knows I do. But…”
“But, what?” Elias was hanging on the kid’s every word.
“When I’m close to you like this, all I want is to be yours.” Burke’s tongue licked across his bottom lip. His breath was coming in fast little puffs.
Eli’s dick twitched against Burke. He was shocked by the confession.
Shocked and so aroused he was within a hair’s breadth of saying, “fuck it” and taking Burke against the back of the SUV.
“God dammit, Burke. That’s all I want too.
” He crushed his lips against the young man’s.
Their tongues dueled in Burke’s mouth, while he reached out, digging his hands into Eli’s ass.
Moaning, Eli pulled back. He grabbed the bottom straps of the bulletproof vest and fastened them quickly.
“Pull yourself together and meet me at the dorm’s front door.
” Eli stalked away. Truth be told, he was the one who needed to pull himself together.
If he didn’t get this wildfire attraction under control, and soon, he’d be jacking himself off in public restrooms. Or worse, inviting Burke home with him.
Now that was a fate worse than death. A gorgeous younger man wanting to belong to him. How the hell did he say no to that?