“I’m not a big talker, Vahin.” Marlon shrugged. “That doesn’t mean I don’t want what I’m saying.”
He smiled, at last. “So you came here to tell me you’d like to see where this could go. Whatever it is between us.”
“Yeah.” Hearing it spelled out like that made it sound so juvenile. Stupid, both to have made such a big deal and to even need to talk about.
The relief on Vahin’s face helped Marlon feel better. “Good. I’d like that too.”
“Really?”
Another smile. “Oh yeah.”
Marlon couldn’t wipe away the smile that he was certain was ridiculously wide. “Good.”
They both sat there, staring at each other. Finally, Vahin let out a small laugh. “I feel like we’re supposed to hug or something.”
That was all Marlon needed. Without another thought, he rose, closed the small distance between them, and pulled Vahin, who’d started to stand, into his arms and kissed him.
The kiss wasn’t overly heated. It wasn’t full of clashing teeth or accompanied by straining erections like their kisses before, but more tentative, more questioning. And yet it had a soothing aspect to it.
He pulled back, searching Vahin’s eyes, then kissed him a second time, then a third.
Still in his arms, Vahin let out another laugh. “I’m a little nervous or scared or something.”
“Me too.” Marlon grinned back at him. “I think maybe that’s a good thing. At least this is something more fun to be scared over than the prospect of walking back into work tomorrow.”
Vahin’s expression fell. “Oh.” He shook his head and pulled away slightly. “I forgot.” He laughed hollowly. “I can’t believe I forgot, even for a second.”
Marlon had too, forgotten that something had been wrong before he’d gotten here. He released Vahin, who sat back down on the sofa and patted the leather cushion beside him.
“Here, sit.”
Marlon did, a new sense of dread filling him, though he wasn’t sure why.
Vahin took a deep breath, then let it out. He looked exhausted again. “So your partner, Officer Morris, came to see me at Mary’s tonight.”
Marlon sat in dumbfounded silence as Vahin told him about nearly getting arrested by Andrew and Greg. Rage filled Marlon with every new detail.
Then the cop in him showed up and pushed aside every unhelpful emotion that threatened to overtake him. He asked Vahin to get him a pen and paper, then had him repeat the story again. Three more times, as Marlon jotted down every single detail.
By the time all the words had been spoken, there were only four hours until Marlon had to report to his shift. After giving Vahin a kiss good-bye, then a promise he’d see him that evening, Marlon went home, brewed coffee, pressed his uniform, and got ready for battle.
