Chapter 14 #2
“Have you gone inside yet?” Red asked.
“No. We found the mess, and I didn’t want to go inside.”
Harm was afraid of what they might find.
It was possible that if someone got inside, the house could be a disaster.
Derek handed Red the key to the house, and he unlocked the door.
Red pulled his gun and went inside with Carter behind him.
Harm stood with his arms around Derek to keep them warm and Derek calm.
As they waited, he tried to keep his imagination from going wild.
“Everything seems fine,” Red said as he stepped out. “I don’t think that anyone has actually been in the house.”
“Thank you.” Derek shook his hand and hurried inside.
“Sorry,” Harm signed.
Red smiled. “Any time. You did the right thing.” Derek returned, and they asked some additional questions before saying good night. Red and Carter wished them a good night and left the house.
Harm went inside, where Derek had turned on every light. The place blazed, and he wandered through the house. “I hate this. I hate being afraid to come home because I don’t know what I’m going to find,” he sputtered, and Harm figured that Derek needed to let off a little steam.
So in the meantime, he went out the back and adjusted the camera so it had a wider view of the backyard. By the time he returned, Derek was on the sofa under a blanket, his knees pulled to his chest. Harm sat down and messaged Derek about what he’d been doing.
“I thought you had left,” Derek said softly.
Harm shook his head and scooted closer. It was hard to explain that he was a man of action. Maybe leaving Derek alone wasn’t the best idea. “Sorry,” he signed.
“I know you were just trying to help.” Derek unwound himself, and Harm tugged him next to him.
He wanted to give words of comfort, but instead just sat with him.
There had to be a way to catch William… or whoever was doing this…
in the act. Harm was pretty sure that William was behind all this, because the guy was crazy enough to become this obsessed.
Though what he thought he was going to gain by acting this way was beyond all reason. Still….
He held Derek, and they both jumped at a knock on the door. Harm checked the time and motioned for Derek to stay where he was. Then he peered out and opened the door. “Can I help you?” he signed.
“Ummm… is Derek here?” the woman asked. It was pretty late, but Derek must have heard her.
“Mary?” he asked as he approached the door. “What’s going on?”
“I’m sorry for stopping so late. But I was heading home and saw all the lights on.
” She stepped inside, and Harm closed the door.
“The board received another email.” She pulled a printed copy from her purse.
“It’s from a different email account than the last one, but there are some definite similarities. ”
“I see. Come in and sit down if you like.” Derek really felt like he was being hit from all sides.
“If you don’t mind my asking, what was the smell outside?” Mary asked. Derek explained what they had found when he got home.
“The police were here, and they gathered nearly all the pieces as evidence, mostly to make sure that none of it was human. And the smell is part of it.” He read the note and shook his head.
“It’s another threat. Apparently, this is supposed to show what he’s capable of.
All of this is crazy. It doesn’t make a lot of sense. ”
“No. Which really helps throw light on the previous note. I’ve talked to the staff, and they agree that the last note is unfounded. This one is hard to understand.”
Derek sighed. “Well, thank you. But whatever is going on has got to be over soon. Everyone seems to think it’s escalating…
I mean, it started out with bringing flowers into the library, and now it’s come to writing crazy notes and throwing dead stuff over the fence.
He even showed up on Thanksgiving, expecting to join the family for dinner.
” Derek really thought that might have been what pushed William over the edge.
“Excuse me?” Mary asked. “Someone did what?”
“My stalker showed up Thanksgiving afternoon with a casserole dish in hand. He actually acted like he expected to be included in Thanksgiving. I didn’t give him a chance to ask and closed the door.
When my guests arrived, they had to step around a mess of glass, noodles, and chicken because he’d smashed the dish out front.
I just want this to end and him to leave me alone.
But I also don’t want my mess brought into the library.
So if the board has decided to hire someone else for the director position, so be it.
” He swallowed hard. “I think I’d be a great director, but I don’t want to bring my troubles to the library. ”
Mary didn’t commit to anything one way or another.
She wouldn’t. “Well, how about you let us figure out which direction the library needs to go, and you worry about yourself.” Harm joined them, his hands resting lightly on Derek’s shoulders.
Mary’s eyes widened as her gaze rose. “I see you have backup.”
“Yes. You remember Harm, and that he’s a member of our signing group because he lost his ability to speak.” Derek put his right hand on top of Harm’s. “He and I first met at the library.” Derek wasn’t going to cover up anything about his life.
Harm stayed where he was. “I see.” Mary went to the door. “I won’t keep the two of you any longer.” She left, and Derek leaned back against Harm, closing his eyes. William really was attacking his home and his work. God only knew what the crazy man was going to do next.
Harm leaned close, gently nuzzling his ear. “Okay. I get the hint,” Derek whispered and turned out the light. He and Harm headed upstairs, but Derek left on more lights than he normally would.
THE BEDROOM was quiet and dark as Harm joined him in bed.
Derek went right to him. Harm kissed him and enfolded Derek in his strong arms. Derek needed that strength and let himself get lost in it.
He was so tired of worrying about what was going to happen next, tired of wondering if William was going to be standing around the corner or across the street.
He shook with worry sometimes, but Harm took all that away.
His heat, the way he kissed him, so deeply and yet gently—it pulled him out of all the nervousness and into a place where it was just the two of them.
“Harm…,” Derek whispered as he pressed Derek into the mattress, his weight solid, pressing down on him. Harm paused, their gazes locking. “I’m fine.” He was always worried that he was going to crush him. “I’m not made of glass.”
Harm brushed the hair out of Derek’s eyes before sliding down his body, taking Derek’s cock between his lips in a single movement, sending Derek’s breath flying out of him.
He gasped and thrust his hips upward. Harm drove him wild, and Derek arched his back, groaning as Harm made him feel like he was on top of the world.
There was nothing that made him happier than Harm, at moments like this, when it was just them.
And when Harm slid a finger alongside his cock and then, once slicked, pressed to his opening.
Derek whined softly as Harm’s long, thick finger slid into him. He swore he was seeing double, even though the room was so dark that he could actually see almost nothing at all. Not that it mattered. Harm made him feel, and he loved that and hoped it never ended. “Don’t stop,” Derek whispered.
Harm hummed something and continued taking him deep, surrounding him with wet heat.
There was nothing more amazing, and Derek let himself get lost in the sensations.
That is, until Harm pulled away. Derek stilled, wondering if something was wrong, but then Harm kissed him hard enough to leave Derek shaking with sheer anticipation.
He wanted more, and Harm gave it to him.
A rip of a wrapper, a little fumbling, and then Harm slowly entered him.
Derek gasped and held still as his body opened to Harm.
He breathed deeply as Harm’s thick cock filled him.
“Harm…,” Derek breathed, and Harm stilled for a few seconds before sinking deeper.
They were joined, and Derek tugged Harm down into a sloppy kiss that intensified as Harm slowly rocked his hips.
The movement had Derek seeing stars, and he held on for an amazing ride.
Harm might not be able to speak, but he was a master at communicating how he felt and the care he had for Derek.
It easily came through in the way he made love: passionate, caring, loving, gentle, and yet energetic.
Perfection for Derek. Harm made him happy, and he could light a fire inside him with just a touch.
“I’m right there…,” Derek groaned as Harm followed him over the edge on a wave of desire that seemed to go on and on.
He lay still on the sheets, grinning and holding on to Harm, loving the warmth and his soft breathing. Derek smiled and held Harm’s hand. “Thank you….”
Harm rolled over, stroking his face. “Huh?” It was one of the few intelligible sounds he could make, and Derek understood.
“For being here and for staying with me. Most people would have run away from this kind of mess. I have someone writing poison pen letters and throwing awful stuff in my yard. They’d be gone in a flash and leave me to handle it on my own.”
Harm shook his head and tugged him closer.
Derek grew quiet. Sometimes it was comforting not having to say anything, and he snuggled next to Harm, who put an arm around him and held him close.
Derek had no idea what the hell was coming next, but he was determined to catch William in the act and get him out of their lives.
This was what he wanted all the time, with Harm, but there was no way in hell he could ask Harm to be part of his life with this nightmare hanging over him.