Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Dan opened his eyes. Gary lay beside him, facing the door, his breathing regular. Sunlight poured through the thin curtains at the window, and he became aware of noise elsewhere in the house. He grabbed his phone and peered at the screen.
Seriously?
He gave Gary’s shoulder a shake. “Hey. Hey.”
“Mm?” Gary rolled over to face him. “Morning.” His tousled hair made Dan yearn to tease it straight with his fingers.
Dan chuckled. “But not for much longer.” When Gary frowned, Dan held the phone in front of his face. “It’s almost ten.”
It took a second or two for his words to sink in. Then Gary sat upright. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Wake you? I’ve only just opened my eyes.” He threw back the comforter. “We’d better get dressed and get down there before they wonder what on earth we’re doing.”
To his surprise, Gary grabbed him and pulled him into his arms. “I’m pretty sure they’ve got a good idea.”
Damn, Gary felt good. He smelled good too.
Then Dan remembered where they were. He stared at Gary. “If you think we’re going to get up to anything under your parents’ roof, then think again.”
Gary laughed quietly. “Relax. I’m not that bold. But I’m not moving until I get my morning cuddle.”
That was all it took to have Dan melting into his arms.
“You don’t need to do this,” Dan protested as Gary’s mom pressed a plastic container full of leftover mac and cheese into his hands.
“You said how much you liked it. I made plenty. And don’t worry about the box. You can bring it back next month when you come to Sunday lunch.” Her gaze met his, and he knew without a word what she was asking.
He smiled. “I’ll make sure to bring it.”
She beamed. “Oh, great.” Then his heart soared when she threw her arms around him. “I’m so glad we got to meet you,” she whispered against his cheek.
“Even if it was something of a surprise?”
She chuckled. “Yes, well, I won’t deny that.” She drew back. “And please, don’t feel my wish to see you again is simply because of your… gift.”
He squeezed her hand. “I knew that.” The previous evening, the four of them had talked long into the night.
In fact, Gary had shown extreme reluctance to go up to their room.
And when Dan had finally closed the bedroom door behind them, Gary had been in his arms in a heartbeat.
They’d lain with Gary curled up around him, talking quietly, until at last they’d both fallen asleep.
Brunch had been a cheerful meal, and Dan had helped in the preparation while Gary had gone out into the yard with his dad to discuss the recent changes he’d made. It had been Dan who’d suggested that they really did need to make a move, and Gary had finally agreed.
Gary emerged from the house, accompanied by his dad. He took one look at the box in Dan’s hands and laughed. “My cooking isn’t that bad, you know.”
After another round of hugs, they were in the car and on their way back to Boston.
Dan kept quiet. Gary had been in a contemplative mood all morning, and while Dan was loath to mention the idea that had come to him as they’d drunk coffee and chatted, he knew he’d have to bring it up sooner or later.
When they were about forty minutes from home, Dan summoned up his courage.
“Can we talk about Brad?”
“We did nothing but talk about Brad most of last night and this morning.” Gary glanced at him. “Something particular you want to discuss?”
“What if Brad’s killer didn’t stop at Brad?”
Gary stilled. “Go on.”
“What if there were more victims? What if Brad wasn’t his first?”
Silence fell for a moment. Gary sighed. “Those are good questions.”
“I’ve been thinking about where we could start looking. Brad’s a cold case, right? Okay, so he’s not one of ours, but he is a cold case.”
“Yes, I agree.”
“Well, if there were more victims, maybe they’re unexplained too.”
Gary pursed his lips. “This assumes Brad’s killer hasn’t already been incarcerated for another murder, like Frank Wyler.”
“That’s a possibility. What we need to do is investigate other violent deaths around the same time as Brad’s.” He peered at Gary. “Unless you’ve already done that?”
Gary shook his head.
In that moment, Dan saw the truth. “You haven’t investigated Brad’s death at all, have you?”
Gary gave a start, jerking his head in Dan’s direction. “Is this going to be a recurring part of our lives from now on? You see so much.”
“Too much?” The last thing Dan wanted was to make Gary feel awkward or uncomfortable.
Gary smiled. “No, it’s okay. And you’re right. I haven’t looked all that much into Brad’s death. Which is strange seeing as I joined the police to do just that.”
Dan laid his hand on Gary’s knee. “It’s not strange.
At least, not to me. You have a strict sense of duty.
” He tilted his head. “You felt torn, didn’t you?
Torn between spending time on Brad when you had cases of your own to investigate, and feeling as if you’d failed him if you didn’t find his killer.
And in that situation of being pulled in two directions, you didn’t move forward. You stayed stuck in the same place.”
Gary’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “And with each new year, I promised myself I’d find the person responsible. I’d do something.”
“And now you are,” Dan assured him. “And something else occurred to me. You know how we’re tracking down Cheryl’s friends from college?
Maybe we should do the same with Brad’s.
College, high school…. Maybe some of them know something.
” He squeezed Gary’s thigh. “But like I said, we’ll find a way to do it on our own time. ”
Gary covered Dan’s hand with his own. “Seeing how much you’ve already discovered, I have no doubt we will do it.”
What Dan noticed immediately was the change in Gary’s breathing, the way he relaxed into the driver’s seat.
I did the right thing, telling him.
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Gary reached across the bed, seeking Dan’s warm body, and encountered nothing but the smooth cotton sheet.
He snapped on the light and peered at his alarm clock.
Two in the morning. Gary sat up, threw back the sheet, and got out of bed.
He padded into the living room to find Dan sitting naked on the rug, boxes of Cheryl’s stuff around him.
He’d emptied a couple of them, and various objects were spread out in front of him.
Dan was lost in a world of his own.
Gary cleared his throat, and Dan jerked his head up. “Hey. Why aren’t you asleep?”
“I could ask you the same question.” He crouched beside him.
Dan gestured to the piles surrounding him. “The answers must be here. She handled all this.” He frowned. “I should be able to get a sense of her.” He picked up a scarf and held it to his face.
“What this situation requires is hot chocolate,” Gary said decisively. He stood and went into the kitchen. As he heated the milk, he glanced at his naked body.
He’s getting me into new and strange habits. Gary was used to wearing something around the place, but he had to admit, he liked the idea of letting it all hang out.
He carried the two cups into the living room and set them down on the coffee table. “You’re going to put all this back in the boxes, drink this, and then we’re both going back to bed.” He gestured to the scarf. “Anything?”
“I think this was a gift, and a romantic one at that.”
Gary arched his eyebrows. “Interesting. We must ask her father if she had a partner.”
Dan opened one of the folders. He removed a sheaf of photos and spread them out on the rug.
“She worked from these.” He pointed. “Look, there are smears of paint on them.” Dan leaned back on his hands.
“I’m getting a sense of her routine. And I think she developed all the photos herself.
” He held up a sheet of negatives. “See? The ones she didn’t intend using, she put a line through them. ” Then he stilled.
“What is it?”
Dan stared at the sheet. “The emotions linked to the negatives. The main one is curiosity. Intense curiosity.”
Gary frowned. “About photos she took? That doesn’t make sense.”
Dan nodded, his eyes wide. “I know! But this was important to her.” He put the sheet of negatives down and pulled another box toward him.
He peered into it. “So many books. Mainly biographies of artists, art in general.” He reached into the box and removed one with a smile.
“I don’t think this one was for reference, however. ”
Gary peered at the hard-backed book’s cover. “The Kama Sutra?”
Dan chuckled. “A well-thumbed copy of the Kama Sutra.”
Gary took it from him and flicked through it. “I’m not going to ask what you feel when you hold this.”
Dan’s eyes glittered. “Good. Because I’m a gentleman, and some things should remain secret.” His cock rose, diverting Gary’s attention.
“Pity there isn’t a gay version,” Gary remarked, unable to tear his gaze away from Dan’s crotch.
Then Dan coughed loudly, and Gary blinked. Dan grinned. “There is. And I have a copy. Actually, it’s in one of my boxes in your closet.”
Gary stood. “Bring the hot chocolate. This can wait.” He held out his hand to Dan.
Dan got to his feet. “We’re not going back to bed to sleep, are we?”
“Not even close.”
Gary let out a heartfelt groan. “Please.”
His wrists were pinned to the bed above his head, Dan lay on top of him, and Gary was going out of his mind.
“This is torture.”
Dan’s face hovered above his. “You said… you wanted to try something new.” He rocked faster, his cock sliding over Gary’s, the friction exquisite.
“You could’ve warned me.” His breathing hitched as Dan rolled his hips. “Fuck, why have we never done this before?”
“We’re doing it now,” Dan said breathlessly. Another slow roll, and then he picked up speed.
“Dan…” Gary breathed harder. “Fuck… I’m going to come.
How is that even possible?” Dan’s mouth on his shaft was usually all it took to bring him to the edge, and there hadn’t even been that.
Nothing but Dan’s cock rubbing against him, a tantalizing, delicious, sensual act that had brought him to the brink of orgasm.
Dan paused, his gaze locked on Gary’s. “Then let go.” He resumed that teasing rocking, and Gary gave up the fight, pulsing over his belly, his body jolted as if by electricity. Dan buried his face in Gary’s neck with a groan, and suddenly more warmth coated Gary’s stomach.
“Holy crap, you came too.”
Dan’s breath was warm. “Welcome to the wonderful world of frottage.” He released Gary’s wrists, rubbing the skin with his thumbs.
Gary swallowed. “That book is dynamite. What else is lurking in there?”
Dan grinned. “Wait until we get to rimming.” He grabbed a tissue from the nightstand and removed all traces of come.
He froze. “Am I going to like that?”
Dan’s laugh ticked him. “No. I think you’ll love it.”
A wave of fatigue rolled over him. “And I think you wore me out.” He held his arm wide, and Dan snuggled against him, his head resting against Gary’s shoulder.
“Go to sleep,” Dan whispered, reached over to turn out the light.
Gary lay there in the darkness, Dan’s body warm in his arms, his mind slipping into a deep, comfortable place, where he felt safe and loved.