Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Dan knew he was being paranoid, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone in the precinct, right down to the janitor, knew exactly what he and Gary had been doing the previous day.
Officers and detectives filed past him after roll call had finished, and Dan was conscious of their scrutiny.
Maintaining a minimum safe distance from Gary would be torture, but it was for the best. Besides, he was there to do a job, and that meant keeping his focus.
Yeah, right. All he had to do was glance in Gary’s direction and heat swept through him in a rush as he was transported back to his bed, lost in his memories, Gary’s scent, his taste, the feel of his hands on Dan….
But where do we go from here? What happens when we catch the killer and I have to go home?
Questions he couldn’t answer.
Gary coughed, and Dan flushed. “Now that I have your attention… Lewis wants us in the case room.”
“There hasn’t been another one, has there?” Dan felt sick to his stomach at the idea that the killer had murdered again, only three days since the last victim had been discovered.
“No. I would’ve heard before now if there had been. But he needs to bring us up to speed on yesterday’s events.”
“I doubt he wants to bring us up to speed,” Dan murmured when they reached the door to the case room. Then he clammed up as they entered. Riley wasn’t there, but Lewis was fixing a photo to the board.
He turned to face them, his expression neutral as he glanced at Dan. “So do you want the good news or the bad news?”
“Good morning would be nice. So would coffee.” Gary closed the door.
“Coffee can wait. Travers was here before I left last night.”
Gary sighed. “I’m guessing we’re starting with the bad news. What did he say?” Dan walked over to the board to gaze at the photos.
“The chief tore him a new one yesterday. Will Freeman said the windows rattled, he was that loud. Seems the LGBTQ community is putting pressure on us now that the body count has reached seven. Did you see the headlines this morning?”
“Now why would I do that? Perfect way to ruin my day.”
Heat bloomed in Dan’s face, and he turned his head away. There had been no time to look at phones—they’d been engaged in far more engrossing activities.
“Same story there,” Lewis grumbled. “Attacking Boston PD for its lack of results. And now for the really bad news. If we don’t find this guy sooner rather than later, they’re calling in the FBI.
The only reason the feds aren’t already knocking on our door is because they can only do that if requested. ”
Gary sighed. “It’s not as if we didn’t know they’d be involved at some point. So what’s the good news?”
“Riley arrested Silver for assault.”
Dan jerked his head in Lewis’s direction. “What happened?”
Lewis folded his arms. “Mystery solved of why he didn’t want us around.
The day before we turned up to interview him, he’d beaten up his boyfriend.
Said BF finally got up the nerve to come in and tell us what happened.
Says he’ll be a witness. Seems it was one beating too many.
” He smiled. “And because I’m in such a good mood, I’ll go fetch us coffee. ” He strutted out of the room.
Gary met Dan’s gaze. “Alone at last,” he quipped.
“Stop that.” Dan touched his face. “I swear, I burn up when I so much as think about—”
“What?” Gary moved closer.
“Stay back.” Dan strove to make his voice menacing, but it was an epic fail. “You keep away from me.”
“Why? What do you think I’m going to do?” Gary teased. “Kiss you?”
“Riley could walk in at any second,” he remonstrated. To his relief, Gary laughed, and Dan sagged. “Christ, you really had me going there.” He sank into one of the chairs. “Actually, I’m glad I have you alone for a second. There’s something I need to ask you.”
“That sounds serious.” Gary cocked his head. “What’s on your mind?”
He took a deep breath. “Look, I know this is fast, but then again, not really when you factor in I’ve been dreaming about you for thirteen years, but—”
“You weren’t making that up?”
He blinked. “Why would I lie about it? That’s the only reason I’m still here. You already know why I avoid relationships, but when it comes to you….” Another inhalation. “I guess what I’m asking is if you want us to be together, once this case is closed.”
Gary walked over to him, taking slow measured steps. He stood over him. “What do your senses tell you?”
He swallowed. “That even if I hadn’t had that vision, we’re meant to be together.”
Gary expelled a breath. “Then it’s not just me.” He bit his lip. “If you only knew how badly I want to hold you right now.” His eyes sparkled. “Take my hand. You’ll know in a heartbeat.”
A lightness suffused him. “You can hold me tonight, okay? For as long as you want.”
“After we’ve been shopping,” Gary added. When Dan gave him an inquiring glance, a flush rose up to stain his cheeks. “Well, you only bought a packet of three condoms, and we used the last one this morning.”
Dan put his shoulders back. “About that. There is an alternative.”
“What do you mean?”
He raised his chin and looked Gary in the eye. “We get tested so we both know we’re in tiptop shape. Then we ditch the condoms.” His heart quaked. “Unless….”
“Unless what?”
There was no way around it. “Look, I’m a one-man guy, but you’re new to all this. For all I know, you might want to… explore your options.” But please don’t.
Gary said nothing for a moment; then he took Dan’s hands in his and helped him to his feet. “The only man I’ll be doing any exploring with is you.” He didn’t let go. “Now, am I telling the truth?”
A wave of emotion crashed over Dan, leaving him weak yet exhilarated. “Oh God.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Gary shivered.
“What have you done to me, Dan Porter? I’ve had relationships—not long-lasting ones, granted, but I put that down to not meeting the right girl.
” Hazel eyes met his. “Not one of those women made me feel the way you do.” He shuddered out a breath.
“I look at the length of time we’ve known each other, and I think, this can’t be happening. It can’t be real.”
Dan’s heart thumped. “I know, but—”
“So yes,” Gary interjected. “Let’s get tested.” Dan stilled, and Gary leaned in to kiss him chastely on the lips. “The only man I want is you,” he whispered.
If Gary hadn’t been holding his hands, Dan swore he’d float up to the ceiling, he felt so light. Then he pulled free. “I wouldn’t want Lewis to come back with the coffee and find us.”
“How do we go about getting tested?”
“Leave that part to me.” He swallowed. “And I’m glad it’s going to be just us. I was getting ready to tell you all about Truvada.” He peered at Gary. “Unless you already know what that is.”
“Cory mentioned it once or twice.”
Dan nodded. “It goes by other names too, but only because the full-length version is a mouthful. That’s why we keep it simple and call it PrEP.
” He locked gazes with Gary. “I’m not on it, by the way, but so many guys are these days.
One pill a day. God bless medical science.
” He let out a sigh of relief. “If we’re going to be monogamous, there’s no need for it. ”
Thank you, God. As soon as Gary had said Dan was all he wanted, Dan felt as if his heart was singing.
Gary froze, his eyes wide. He walked slowly over to the board.
“What is it?” Dan’s scalp prickled.
Gary stared at the photos of the victims. “PrEP… what’s the full-length version?”
“Pre-exposure Prophylaxis.” Then he followed Gary’s gaze to the paper where Riley had written the letters carved into the victims, and his blood ran cold. “Oh my God. That’s it.”