Chapter Eight
Jet
It had been a long, boring, craptastic tour.
While I didn’t need the action, especially after the shooting, driving around with Krasinski, a rookie who never stopped talking about his girlfriend, was driving me out of my mind. Thank God Emerson had been cleared to return to duty and we could get our groove back.
But it wasn’t only my change in partners and a night of nothing that had me in a bad mood.
Those were excuses masking the truth. Harte wouldn’t be waiting for me at home.
No more morning kisses and shower sex. No more of him cuddling me while I fell asleep, and waking up with him spooning me, his feet tangled with mine.
For some reason, I’d thought he’d simply stay forever.
I hadn’t thought he’d want to leave, even though I knew he had a house of his own.
I’d dreaded the emptiness, so when Mom had called after my shift and said she wanted to have breakfast, I was happy to pick her up on the way and bring her home with me.
I hadn’t counted on Harte being there. Naked. In front of my mom.
He’d turned white as snow and run to the bedroom. My mother had retreated to wait on the porch and with my heart racing, I went to get her.
“Uh, you can come in now.”
I held the door for her, and she passed me and walked into the living room. She set her purse on the couch and faced me. “I see you’ve made a new friend.”
I burned with embarrassment. “Uh, well…I was going to talk to you after you’d been home a few days. This wasn’t how I planned for it to happen.”
“I would assume not. I guess we should sit down.”
My shaky legs made it to the couch, and I sat next to her. I didn’t hear a sound from the bedroom, and I could only imagine Harte’s mortification. Most likely he had the covers pulled over his head, wishing he’d never met me.
“Well, uh, not sure if there’s a right time to tell anyone this, and it shouldn’t be a big deal…but I’m bisexual. I’ve always been attracted to men as well as women. I met Harte about two weeks ago, and we’ve become very close.”
“I gathered,” she said dryly. “So all those women you dated, it was all a farce?”
“No. Not at all. I told you, I like women as well. That’s the thing about bisexuality. When I dated women, I wanted to be with them. It wasn’t a smokescreen for wanting to be with a man. But there are times when I want to be with a man more.”
“And this is one of those times?”
I was holding out hope that all her questions meant she understood and was trying to learn.
“Yes. See, you don’t know this because I never told you.
Harte and I were on the same football team in college.
The first time I saw him, I had…feelings.
It happened once before, in high school with someone else, but not to that extent.
From the first time I saw Harte in college, I couldn’t stop thinking about him, but he graduated and got married.
Of course I moved on and dated, but I never forgot him, and when he turned up here, it was like a second chance.
A do-over. An opportunity to let him know I was interested. ”
“And he feels the same? Even though he was married?”
Warmth settled in my chest. “Yeah. Seems like all these years he was filled with the same doubts and insecurities. I’m his first—he was married and then playing professionally, and he didn’t feel safe to come out.”
Her brow furrowed. “How do you know you’re not simply an experiment? You might be laying your heart on the line, while he’s playing the field.”
“No, no. Not a chance. I’ve spent every day with him. And in that time, I’ve felt closer to him than anyone I’ve ever been with.”
Mom clasped her hands. “Are you in love with him?”
My cheeks heated. “I don’t know. Maybe. I know that I love being here with him. We have so much in common. He’s kind and caring. We just mesh, Mom.”
“What about marriage? Don’t you want to have children, a family? You know I’ve always wanted that for you.”
“I know, Mom. But do you hear yourself? That’s what you want for me. Have you asked me what I want?”
She looked stricken. “B-but you never said no.”
“And I’m not saying no now. You do know there’s marriage equality now. Gays, lesbians, bisexuals…all of us can get married now and have families.”
She sniffled and wiped at her eyes. “What have you said at your job? Do they know? Sergeant Gleason’s not exactly the most liberal-minded man around.”
She didn’t have to tell me. I’d heard enough in the locker room over the years.
A bunch of us would try and get together to watch games if we had the same shifts off, and we’d always have the television on in the break room on Sundays for the games.
After Patrick Sloane had come out and the Kings lost the Super Bowl the following year, Gleason had made his feelings known loudly.
“Sloane needs to stop thinking about sticking his dick up some guy’s ass and concentrate on how to throw the goddamn football.”
Most of the deputies looked damn uncomfortable, but no one said anything to him. I knew I didn’t and was ashamed at my fear and cowardice.
“It’s none of his business who I date or sleep with.
And I told Em. He was cool with it, and since he’s the one I have to count on every day, aside from my family, that’s all that matters.
” I lifted my chin. “Mom, I love you, but I’ve got to live my life.
Harte makes me happy, and isn’t that what’s most important? ”
“Are you going to tell Laura and Shane?”
Her reaction continued to surprise me, and not in a good way. This wasn’t going as well as I’d hoped, and I swallowed hard. “Why wouldn’t I? Do you think I shouldn’t? You want me to keep hiding? I’m not ashamed.”
“N-no, but Connor’s so young.” She avoided meeting my eyes. “I’m not sure he’ll understand why his uncle Jet is holding hands with a man.”
Anger, hurt, and annoyance bubbled up inside me, and I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“Why wouldn’t he? I can’t believe you said that.
Connor’s six years old. Laura and Shane are raising him to love and respect all people.
They believe in human rights for everyone.
” I took a moment to breathe. “I thought you did as well.”
Mom reached for her purse. “Honey, I think I’m just tired. It’s probably best if I go home, get some sleep, and we can talk more tomorrow.”
Normally, I’d stop her and insist she stay, but I wasn’t in the mood. She hadn’t said she wanted to meet Harte or expressed even the slightest pleasure in my happiness. Still, she was my mother, and I’d give her respect and hopefully it was like she’d said. She was tired and needed more rest.
I called her a car and walked her to the door. When it drove away, I locked up and strode to the bedroom, where I found Harte in the bed, texting on his phone. Upon seeing me, he dropped it and turned bright red.
“Shit, Jet. I am so sorry. I had no idea your mother would be with you.”
My lips twitched. “Yeah. That was obvious.”
He covered his face with his hands. “God, I couldn’t believe it. I thought…well, actually, it was Dev’s idea.”
“Devlin Summers? You told him about us?” I was a little hurt Harte had talked about me to other people without asking first.
“No. I didn’t mention you specifically. But I did tell them I was bisexual, and it was incredibly freeing. They understood, of course.” He raised his head and met my gaze. “I said I was with someone. That I was head over heels for him. Dev told some stories about how to keep a relationship fresh…”
“Lemme guess. One of those stories was naked waiter?”
Harte snorted. “Sort of.” He twisted the end of the sheet in his hand. “With me going back home, I missed being with you and not getting a chance to see you in the morning to have breakfast, so I figured it would be a fun way to greet you.”
Well, damn. That was all kinds of sweet. I slipped out of my clothes and joined him in the bed.
“Head over heels, huh? That means you missed me?”
His cheeks pinked. “Yeah. I still like my place, but…” Harte shrugged.
“I understand. I asked my mother to have breakfast with me because I didn’t want to come home to an empty house. I got used to having you here with me.”
“Maybe we could switch off, you know? Me stay here some nights, and you stay at mine the others?”
I kissed him. “That could be arranged,” I whispered against his lips.
I slipped my leg in between his, pressing our full cocks together.
Harte wrapped his hand around them, and with our eyes locked, began to stroke, dragging his fingers up slowly, then increasing his speed.
We were both groaning, our hips rolling, caught up in a moment I didn’t ever want to end.
The bed squeaked, and I was caught up in the beauty of Harte’s flushed and sweating face.
“Jet…Jet,” he moaned and came, spilling between us.
Tiny jolts of electricity shot up from my balls to my brain, and I cried out as he tightened his grip on my throbbing dick. “Oh, God.”
I came in a rush of thundering heart and burning blood. My vision blurred, and I clutched him. My head rested on Harte’s shoulder, and he stroked my hair. We lay in a state of drowsy bliss until my stomach rumbled.
Harte laughed. “That’s my cue. Coffee and breakfast.”
“Mmm. Coffee.” I rubbed my cheek to his chest.
“I’ll make you a fresh cup, and you can tell me about the conversation with your mother.”
The good vibes vanished, and I sat up and sighed. “It didn’t go as well as I’d hoped.” Harte took my hand as I spoke. “She’s concerned about my job and how my sergeant will react, but more importantly, she’s worried about my nephew.” The words tasted bitter.
Harte shifted so he faced me. “How so? Like you’re going to be a negative influence on him?”
“She said she didn’t know how to explain to him two men holding hands. I went off on her because my sister and brother-in-law aren’t like that.”