Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 147789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
“Kreed.” Aaron gasped, calling out the handsome deputy’s name as his release painted his chest and chin with thick ropes of creamy warmth. He sucked in air, trying to level out his breathing. Completely spent, he relaxed against the bed, but his body still buzzed with endorphins.
Aaron opened his eyes as his body came back online and his heart quit pounding in his ears. It was so quiet in the house. He stayed frozen, not moving as the last few minutes came into focus. Had he called out Kreed’s name?
Fuck!
Embarrassment heated his already hot skin. He removed the fingers from his ass and rolled his body just enough that he could grab a dirty shirt from the floor to wipe the come off his chest and chin. Damn it!
He hadn’t considered the fact that the security wall mount could be used as a camera. How in the hell was he going to explain that one? Yeah, he could see that playing out right now. Kreed would never let him live it down.
That sated after-sex feeling took over, pushing the fear aside. Aaron snuggled deeper into the warmth of the covers, hugging the pillow that smelled like Kreed tightly against his chest. If anyone heard…well, there was nothing he could do about it now. What was done was done. He’d worry about that if anyone brought it up, which was technically his entire life’s motto. Aaron yawned and closed his eyes with Kreed right there in his mind as he fell asleep.
Chapter 13
“Something smells incredible,” Aaron said as he came around the corner toward the kitchen. He’d slept later than they had planned. It was already close to eight in the morning. That would mean Aaron had gone approximately twelve hours without eating. Based on the little knowledge he had on smart boy, Kreed didn’t figure that happened too many times. As if to validate that thought, Kreed heard Aaron’s stomach growl and grumble from across the kitchen. He’d bet the smell of sizzling bacon had Aaron finally rising when he did.
“They hooked us up,” Kreed said, reaching for a second coffee cup, refilling his before pouring one for Aaron.
“SpongeBob? I missed my opportunity to give you shit last night. I must’ve been really tired.”
Kreed looked down at his pants as he slid the cup to Aaron across the bar.
“Why? They’re comfortable. I bought several pair. I like these because whatever the fabric, they don’t shrink and SpongeBob’s fucking funny.” Kreed picked up his coffee mug and headed back to the stove.
“The ink’s impressive,” Aaron said as Kreed turned each piece of bacon. Kreed reached up and scratched his bare chest, looking down at the ram’s head tattooed there. There was no real story to that particular tattoo, unlike the ones on his arms. He’d started getting the tatts years ago, way before it was the cool, trendy thing to do. After all this time, they were as much a part of him as his extremities.
“Some’s fading, I should probably get ’em refreshed,” Kreed said, lifting the cup, taking a long drink.
“You have them all over?” Aaron asked as Kreed pulled the crispy pieces from the pan.
“Yeah. I wasn’t too smart in placing them strategically. I thought I’d be career military and where I was didn’t matter about the ink,” Kreed replied with as much detail as he was willing to share. He never, ever talked about his military days, and he refused to let his mind go back to those years. Showing the darkness during that time of his life exposed too much about himself and the lengths he’d go to protect what he loved. The past needed to remain where it belonged—better for everyone that way.
“Why’d you leave?” Aaron asked.
“Things change,” Kreed answered absently, breaking open an egg in the full pan of bacon grease. His mom would have a heart attack watching him cook these eggs in all that fat. “How many do you want?”
“Four, if that’s okay?” Aaron asked.
Kreed stifled a smirk; as he’d suspected, food had done the trick and changed the course of smart boy’s thoughts. That was a handy bit of knowledge about his new partner.
“Sure. Did you get enough sleep?” Kreed asked, adding another egg.
“Yeah, I guess.”
Kreed glanced back as Aaron tilted his mug to drain the rest of the coffee then walked over to pour himself another cup. The kid was dressed in his new clothes—a pair of khakis and a striped button-down. He wore a pair of nice dress shoes on his feet. His handsome face was clean shaven, but his hair was still wet from the shower he’d taken.
Kreed looked down at his bare chest and pajama pants hanging low. Well shit, too low. A plumber wouldn’t have much on him right now. He reached down and pulled up his pants, tying them at the waistband. Okay, Aaron wasn’t Mitch. He and Mitch were comfortable together. He and Aaron? Not so much. A hint of professionalism was probably in order for now. He turned the eggs, removing the ones that were done. He needed to go grab a T-shirt. “I won’t be so casual after this morning. I figured it was my last downtime for a while. I’m sorry about this.”
“Are you carrying your weapon now?” Aaron asked with a hint of sarcasm. Kreed looked over his shoulder to see Aaron buttering the toast, a teasing smirk on his face as he lifted his head and they made eye contact.
“It’s close by,” Kreed said, lifting the hand towel on the counter beside him, his pistol sitting underneath.
“I never doubted it.” They worked the rest of the meal together in silence. Kreed dished up the bacon and eggs while Aaron added the toast. Before he took his seat, he ran back to his room, grabbed the wife-beater he’d worn last night then decided to toss that one aside in favor of a blank T-shirt instead. “I Like Dick” wasn’t professional, no matter how much Mitch had insisted it was.
“OJ, too?” Aaron called out.