“We’re going to find this guy. He’s slipped up a few times, and we’re going to use that information to find him. We know he knew how to get in the mechanical room door, which means we need to figure out who would know that piece of information. We also know that our man is well over six feet. So we should be able to narrow down a number of possibilities. I have to get started on all that tomorrow. A lot of what we do in this job is legwork. You look at things, and when they don’t pan out, you look further. The old-timers all say that you don’t know what you’re going to find until you start looking. So that’s my job tomorrow, to look at everything again and see if something new springs up.”
“I suppose there’s an element of luck as well,” Marty said.
Grant nodded, then leaned closer and smiled.
“Yes. There’s definitely luck involved.” And Marty knew that he was the one about to get lucky.
Chapter 12
THUNDER ROLLEDin the distance as Grant turned over and checked the clock Marty kept by the side of the bed. It was a little after three, and he lay back down as lightning flashed from behind the window curtains. He rolled back over and tugged Marty a little closer. Marty sighed and shimmied a little against him without saying anything. The thunder rolled once more, this time louder, drawing closer.
“I used to hate storms,” Marty whispered as he stretched and slowly rolled over to face him. “They would scare me when I was a kid, especially after I sawThe Wizard of Oz,because I didn’t want a tornado to take me.” His voice was quiet, just loud enough to be heard over the wind as it picked up outside.
“I see,” Grant said softly. “Are you still scared of them?”
“Sometimes. When they’re really bad. But I suppose that’s every adult. You worry about possible damage and if everyone is safe. The source of the worry changes from the storm itself to what it could do. But this is just a summer rain with a little thunder. It’s not one of those big storms that can blow everything away.” Marty kissed him and then pushed back the covers. He got out of bed and pulled on a robe before leaving the room. When he returned a few minutes later, he shed his robe and crawled back under the covers.
“Is Cameron okay?” Grant knew where Marty had gone.
Marty chuckled as he drew close once more. “Yes. Dexter is with him. Apparently your well-trained dog is stretched out on Cameron’s bed, keeping watch. He lifted his head when I peeredin and then lowered it before closing his eyes. You know the real issue there?”
“What?”
“That Cameron is going to turn Dexter into a pet.” They had talked about this before.
“Yes and no. I always thought that Dexter needed a chance to be a dog. He and I work together, and Dexter is very good at his job. Every time I think he’s wrong, it turns out that I am.” Another clap of thunder sounded, followed by thetinkof rain drops on the windows. “But he also deserves a chance to be a dog, and Cameron is giving him that.” Grant held Marty in his arms, rolling him on the mattress until he closed the final gap between them and kissed him. “Do you think Cameron will stay asleep?” he asked as more thunder rolled, this time less ominous as the storm cell was already beginning to move away.
“Yes,” Marty whispered. “I think he’s going to stay where he is.” He vibrated with energy, which Grant loved and fed into his own desire. He adored how Marty responded to him. There was this connection, almost electricity between them, that pulled them together. It was nearly as electric as the storm outside.
“What do you want?” Grant whispered into Marty’s ear before sucking lightly on the lobe. Marty whimpered and wrapped his legs around Grant’s waist in a silent question. “Are you sure?” He hadn’t prepared him, but Marty reached to the bedside table and pressed a packet into his hand.
Grant groaned, because there was nothing better than being inside Marty. When the two of them joined, it was magic, like their hearts and souls touching for just a moment. He ripped open the packet and quickly rolled on the condom. Then, slowly, he sank into Marty, the heat and tension sending his mind into clouds of passion.
The room was dark, but Grant could see everything. He knew it wasn’t with his eyes, but with his body. He knew howMarty looked, so everywhere he touched him it was like seeing him and feeling him at the same time. Grant came alive in those moments, and Marty was right there along with him.
“Yes,” Marty whispered and held him tightly as their bodies fully connected. Then they stilled, just being together until Grant slowly began to move. Marty gasped, and Grant paused.
“Did I hurt you?” he asked.
“No. Don’t stop,” Marty whispered. “You always think I’m made of glass and that I’m going to break.”
“I don’t,” Grant told him softly. “I just want to be sure that when we’re together it’s not….” He tried to think of a word but failed.
“It never is,” Marty whispered. “So don’t you dare hold back. I want you… all of you… and everything you have to give.”
Grant pressed deep and held Marty tight as more thunder rumbled in the distance. Passion built between them as the new tempest grew closer. Marty moved with him, their minds and bodies becoming more and more attuned to each other. Something amazing happened in these moments, and Grant kissed Marty deeply, his tongue spearing his lips. The storm outside continued its path toward them, and the heat between them grew right along with it. Grant didn’t want this to end, but there was only so much that they could do to contain the energy that built between the two of them.
“Grant…,” Marty whispered as he held tighter, the turbulence outside and between them building to a greater intensity. The rain sheeted against the windows, driven by the wind, mimicking the energy between them, until Grant could hold back no longer, driving deeply into Marty. They trembled together as the weather outside began to lessen and the one between the two of them broke in a wave of heat.
He stilled, and Marty breathed deeply under him. Grant didn’t want to move. Everything was perfect just as it was, andmoving seemed like the quickest way to break the spell. But just as the storm outside passed away, so did their connection, and Grant shifted next to Marty. After a quick cleanup, he tugged him close as the thunder eased away into the distance.
“UNCLE MARTY,”Cameron called, waking Grant with a start.
“Hey, buddy,” Marty said, and Grant buried himself under the covers. “What’s up?” he asked as Cameron climbed onto the bed.
“Do I have to go to school today?” he asked in a whiny voice. “It’s track day, and Billy is going to be there, and he’s always mean.”
“Yes, you do,” Marty said gently. “But I’m going to take you to school, and I’ll be there when it’s time to go home. Officer Grant is going to go to work with Dexter, and I need to work too. But the track day isn’t until later, and I’ll be there to watch you run.”
