Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 128702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
The man didn’t speak, seeming perfectly comfortable being stared at by eight sets of eyes. He had on jeans with permanent grime stains, which rode low on his hips, and a threadbare long john shirt under a rustic brown leather jacket. Tech really had to get himself under control when he looked down at the untied, dusty black combat boots. Steele stood there with both thumbs tucked into his jeans pockets, flicking around a toothpick nestled in the corner of his mouth like he was bored. But it was the eyes. Those icy gray eyes that seemed to see all and dismiss nothing.
God was the first to speak up, his voice startling Tech. “You smell like alcohol.”
“Because I been drinking,” Steele quipped right back. “I can see why you guys are detectives.”
Tech’s eyes widened. He hadn’t heard anyone mouth off to God in a very long time, not without seriously regretting it. But Steele’s voice made his breath catch in his throat. It was grainy and deep like he fantasized about in a man. Tech took a silent breath. He had to stop looking at the guy like that, he screamed straight. Which left him thinking the man probably wouldn’t be around long.
The captain turned his eyes to Steele. “We’re willing to overlook that today, and only today since you’re not officially on duty. Well, I’ll leave and let you guys get acquainted.”
The captain left fast like he knew of the storm that was brewing. God still stood there with his arms crossed, shooting furious green beams at their new member, clearly already not liking his attitude. And boy did he have one massive fucking chip on his shoulder.
“My name is Sydney. Corbin Sydney. I’m your sergeant.” Syn moved past God and Day, who were still staring, and extended his hand. Tech released a breath when Steele grasped Syn’s hand and shook it before tucking his thumbs back in. Syn being the diplomat of the group, Tech expected him to take over and try to cool the fire burning in his lieutenant’s eyes and smooth things over. “We’ve heard some amazing things about you. Let me introduce everyone.” Syn began pointing while Steele moved further inside the office. “Those are your lieutenants Godfrey and Day. God is first in command.”
Syn narrowed his midnight eyes at God, and after a couple seconds, God stuck his big hand out and shook the Marine’s hand, Day following right behind.
Syn nodded and kept moving. “Over here is Detective Austin Michaels. He’s our sniper.”
“You only have one?” Steele murmured, the toothpick barely moving when he spoke.
“They only need one,” Austin replied, shaking Steele’s hand.
Syn quickly diverted in the other direction. “These two men are Detectives Ruxsberg and Green. We call them the Enforcers. They are experts in hand-to-hand combat and do most of the shakedowns on the street, obtaining information and arrests. By whatever means necessary.” Ruxs and Green stood at exactly the same time and shook Steele’s hand.
“You two were the ones in the garbage truck?” Steele asked, his expression still dark and serious.
Ruxs gave a curt nod.
“Nice,” Steele gritted out and turned around to look dead at him.
Tech stood up, pushing his glasses up higher on the bridge of his nose. It was like Steele wasn’t paying attention to anyone else in the room, even Syn was now behind him as he made his way over to him. Stand up tall. The Marine stopped right in front of him and held his hand out towards him.
“And you are?”
Enraptured. Before him stood a man who possessed a goddamn Medal of Honor. This close, Tech could smell the soldier’s virility, the power, mixed with a hint of whiskey and sweet tobacco. Tech felt his cock harden and he had to breathe through his nose not to crumple to a useless heap of lust at the man’s boots. He blinked and tried to prepare his throat to produce sound while he fought to remember what the hell the question was. “Um….”
Syn cleared his throat and hid his grin behind his fist, and Tech wished the ground would open up right at that second and swallow him whole. They were all looking quite amused while his pale skin overheated and the tips of his ears burned with humiliation. “This is Detective Shawn Murphy, we call him Tech. He’s our technology expert and comms specialist. You and he will probably be working very closely together while he runs you through all your tests and simulations.”
“I don’t take tests,” Steele answered, his light eyes still on Tech while he stood there chewing off his bottom lip, wishing Steele’d direct those eyes anywhere else in the room.
Steele
The meeting had just gotten a little better. The detective they called Tech was the only highlight in the entire department. He looked so innocent standing there, waiting to be acknowledged. A sheep amongst wolves. Steele licked his lips and watched the sexy, light pink tinge work its way up the man’s long throat.