Elijah chuckled and stole another kiss from Camden. “Good, because if I have to cuff you to the bed to make certain you stay near, I will.”
Camden eased away from Elijah, letting his heavy head fall gingerly against the pillow. “I didn’t know bondage was your kink, Lieutenant.”
Elijah winked an eye as a broad smile swept across his face. “That’s what happens when you don’t give a guy the chance to show you more than a night.”
Camden raised one hand in the air and placed the other over his heart. “I promise I will never make that mistake again. You’re stuck with me.”
“Good” was Elijah’s only response before he leaned in for another kiss. They were in a hospital room, making out like teenagers, and things had never aligned more perfectly in Camden’s life than in this mundane, yet probably inappropriate, moment.
He should probably care about things like the medical staff walking in and witnessing this sweet and playful moment between the two. But somehow, with Elijah’s lips touching his, Camden couldn’t find a give-a-damn to offer.
“What the hell is going on here?”
Camden swore under his breath. Whoever was interrupting this moment was risking life and limb, even if they didn’t know it.
Camden managed to mutter, “Come back later,” between the soft presses of his mouth against Elijah’s.
“Camden!”
The familiar rigidity in that voice forced a cold chill to travel down Camden’s back. He’d heard his name called like that countless times before. That specific mixture of disappointment, shock, and judgment could only be produced by one person.
Camden broke away from the inviting feeling of Elijah’s mouth on his and pressed his head against the pillow on the elevated back of the bed.
“Cam, you know this man?” Elijah’s voice, full of concern and a hint of protectiveness, warmed Camden’s heart as Elijah moved from his perch on the bed and stood up facing their uninvited guests.
“I should say he does. The question, young man, is who are you and why are you mauling my son in his hospital bed?”
SHIT!So, this was the famed Judge Warren. He was every bit the menacing picture everyone warned Elijah of. As tall as both Elijah and Camden, with broad shoulders and an otherwise lean frame. The small-rimmed glasses he wore gave the angles of his face a harsh, authoritative look that probably would’ve made Elijah piss himself if he hadn’t been raised to believe every man was his equal.
“Elijah Stephenson, this is my father, Judge Michael Warren, and my mother, Gertrude Warren.” Elijah blinked at the introduction of Camden’s mother. The judge sucked up so much attention in the room, Elijah had hardly noticed the small-framed, petite woman who stood next to her husband.
“Mother, Father, this is Lieutenant Elijah Stephenson.” Camden snaked his hand around Elijah’s and gave it a reassuring squeeze as he looked up at him. “I guess the phrase ‘my boyfriend’ sounds a little juvenile, considering our ages, but for lack of a better term, that’s what he is. He’s mine.”
The possessiveness that colored Camden’s voice made Elijah’s chest swell with pride. Hearing Camden claim him in front of the very people whose feared opinions had been the thing to drive him away from Elijah in the first place made any doubt Elijah had that they wouldn’t make it dissipate into thin air.
In that moment, Elijah realized he didn’t need to be Camden’s protector, because Camden was his.
“Obviously your head injury is more significant than the doctors diagnosed,” Mrs. Warren huffed, passing a dismissive, gloved hand in the air. “You can’t just claim strange men as your love interest, Camden.”
“He’s not a stranger, Mother. I’ve known him for five years.”
Elijah almost laughed out loud at the secret glances passing between both of Camden’s parents. Their unspoken displeasure was painted across their stiff faces in bold colors.
“Mr. Stephenson, is it?” Camden’s father’s tone was condescending at best, outright rude at its worst.
“Lieutenant Stephenson, NYPD,” Elijah corrected him. The badge hanging from his neck should’ve been enough to show his rank. But Elijah didn’t like people who tried to belittle others, just because they were too busy being impressed with their own titles. This man might have more money than Elijah ever would, but he wouldn’t disrespect his badge, even if he was a fancy-ass judge.
“Lieutenant, then. Would you mind leaving us alone to visit with our son?”
“Sir, no disrespect—”
Camden placed a firm hand on Elijah’s forearm, drawing his attention away from the judge. “It’s all right, Elijah. I need to talk to my parents.”
“You sure?” Elijah removed his arm from Camden’s grasp to run his fingers through Camden’s hair. “You don’t have to do this alone, Cam. Never again.” Elijah wasn’t certain what the deal was between Camden and the judge, but his protective instincts flared in front of the man.
“It’s fine, Elijah.”
There was pleading in his voice that made Elijah relent. As much as he wanted to protect Camden, especially from this man whose very presence seemed to suck the joy out of the room, Camden had to fight his own battles if he were ever to break free of his father’s hold.
