There really wasn’t any doubt where they were going. Craig had checked out at the country hospital and, lacking any other information, Roy figured he must still be there. He hadn’t come back on the air, at least not by the time Roy and Sam went outdoors. There had hardly been a peep on the scanner to give him any idea about what was going on, but Craig was there. Roy began to think Sam somehow sensed his partner was in trouble and needed help. Sam wasn’t cleared to go back on duty yet, but he didn’t know that and would not care anyway. If Craig needed him, he wanted to be there. Not so odd because Roy felt the same way already.
The county hospital had once been on the edge of town, and once had been a tuberculosis sanitarium, or so Roy had heard. Now it was at the edge of the barrio district, not the best part of town, and it catered to folks without insurance, undocumented foreigners, those people who could not afford the medical care they urgently needed. There was often trouble at the location, but a hostage situation sounded pretty damn scary. And knowing how Craig felt about his police work, he’d be in the middle of whatever was going down, bad or not.
Roy drove fast but within the speed limits and with care. He got there in about ten minutes. Sam breathed down his neck the whole way from the back seat, as if he was keeping his eye on the speedometer. “You’re a police dog all right, aren’t you, Sam? Hey, I’m driving safe. Cut me some slack!”
He pulled in behind a couple of cruisers. They sat empty, but the lights revolved on the roofs in monotonous flashes of red and blue. Then he saw a couple of uniformed officers by the main entrance. When someone approached, they stopped the man. As all three gestured, he could hear raised voices, but couldn’t make out any words. It looked like the cops were not letting anyone inside.
Sam had his forelegs over the seat back now, since Roy’s car did not have the barrier installed to confine the dog to the rear like in Craig’s police SUV. The dog’s ears were up stiff and his nose twitched. His tongue slid out and dampened his dark muzzle, then retreated.
Roy started to get out, then hesitated. “If I get out, I’ll play hell keeping you in the car, won’t I, Sam? But we aren’t doing any good just sitting here. Oh, hell, we’ve come this far. We may as well really fuck up and see if we can find out what’s going on.” He grabbed the trailing leash and wrapped it around his hand before he opened the door. Sam did wait until Roy was out of the car before leaping out, but barely. The big dog started for the door at once, almost jerking Roy’s arm out of the socket.
“Hey, Sam, heel. Stop. Alto. Halt. Quit!” Of course he didn’t have the German command at the tip of his tongue like Craig did and nothing he said seemed to even begin to put on the brakes. Sam was a dog with a mission, and if Roy was going to be stubborn enough to hang on, too bad. He’d just have to go too. A man at the end of the leash was not going to stop one determined canine.
The two cops at the door looked up with surprise as Sam came barreling up to them.
“Hey, that’s Sam, isn’t it?” one said. “Officer Rommel’s dog. Who are you and what are you doing with Sam?”
“I—I’m a friend of Officer Rommel’s, the guy from the bar where he and Sam got shot. I was at his place when he got called. Sam started to go ballistic, and I figured maybe he sensed something was wrong. I guess maybe it was a dumb thing to do, but we’re here.”
Sam halted, sniffed both the officers. Roy could see he knew them. Then the dog sat down, staring fixedly at the closed double door. Roy shifted the leash to his other hand and flexed his shoulder. It was going to hurt tomorrow. He’d be willing to bet on it.
“Do you have any idea where Officer Rommel is? What he’s doing? Do you think he needs Sam? I know the dog isn’t released for duty yet, but he thought he should be here…convinced me of it, in fact.”
The shorter and younger of the two cops shrugged. “I’m not sure. There hasn’t been much communication the last half-hour or so. I heard some guy didn’t think his wife or kid was getting taken care of right and kind of went loco. He got a couple of nurses at gunpoint and barricaded him and them into a room, making demands. I think Rommel and some of the SWAT guys are trying to talk him out without anybody getting hurt. The sergeant just told us not to let anyone in since we really aren’t clear what’s behind all this. The guy may be trying to get drugs or something and just used the alleged family member as a pretext.”
Just then there was a sound inside the doors, muffled voices and noise like some kind of a scuffle. Then a wild-looking man with a red beard and long, scraggly hair burst out, waving a pistol. He had a small child slung over his shoulder and held a plastic bag in the hand holding the youngster, bulging with unknown contents.
“Everybody, stand clear. Don’t move until I get out of here or the kid dies.”
Sam crouched, gathering himself for the move. Before anyone could react, he charged, dragging the nylon leash sizzling through Roy’s hand. The dog slammed into the fleeing man’s back, and as he staggered, dropping the bag, Sam grabbed hold of the arm that held the gun.
Roy had heard that crunchy crack before. It wasn’t as close or as loud this time, but he knew what it meant. The pistol fell from the man’s nerveless fingers as he dropped to his knees. The child slid off his shoulder onto the lawn. As soon as the two officers who’d guarded the door lifted the man and snapped handcuffs on him, Sam backed off, turned around, and picked up the bag with great care. He carried it back to Roy and looked up with an expectant expression.
“Damn, I don’t have his toy,” Roy said. “I saw on TV where a K-9 drug sniffer did this. He’s giving me the loot as a trade, and I don’t have his reward.”
At that moment, a bunch of people burst out through the door all at once. Sam’s head came up as he turned his attention from Roy to the man who led the emerging group. The dog gave one fierce woof of joy, snatched up the bag, and headed for his partner. Craig did not have his reward toy either, but Sam didn’t seem to mind. When Craig dropped to his knees, Sam butted his head against Craig’s chest, wiggling like an excited puppy. Craig embraced him, scratched his ears, and praised him with words and pats.
“How did you get here, buddy? It looks like you saved the day, or am I reading this all wrong?”
One of the officers had led the red-bearded man away, and the other came back in time to hear Craig’s words. “No, you’ve got it right. This amazing dog of yours, without anyone telling him what to do, took that guy down. I never saw anything move so fast. He jerked clear of your friend there so fast I bet his hand is smoking.”
At that moment, Craig looked up and saw Roy. A sequence of expressions flashed across the policeman’s face, too quickly to give a real sense of what he was thinking. Roy approached, cradling his rope-burned hand. It was starting to hurt like all get-out, but the fear curdling in his gut was ten times worse. He’d done a damn fool thing and even if it had turned out well, that was no credit to him. Sam could have been injured because he’d been out of control, without a handler to direct him. Under the blue flame of Craig’s intense gaze, Roy felt like he was melting. He hung his head, not knowing what to say.
Keeping a hand on Sam’s collar, Craig got up. He shook his head, a frown and a grin fighting over his face. “I oughta whale your hide for going outside procedures and risking Sam this way, but I think you ought to get a medal too, both of you. I know Sam, and I expect he conned you into this, didn’t he? Let me think on it, and I’ll decide how to deal with you when we get home. Take Sam back, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Meekly, Roy picked up the leash in his uninjured hand. Craig spoke to the dog in a stern tone, but with a strong hint of affection. “Go, Sam. Go with Roy. Behave yourself this time and wait for me.”
As gentle as an aged lap dog, Sam fell in at Roy’s side and walked, on a slack leash, back to the little Ford.
* * * *
The sun was peeking over the jagged edge of the distant mountains to open a new day when Craig finally pulled into his parking place. Sitting at the kitchen table, Roy had dozed off, Sam at his side. He hadn’t quite been willing to put the dog back in his crate when they’d returned to Craig’s apartment, so they’d waited together. Sam heard the familiar vehicle and sprang to his feet, waking Roy in the process.
Sam seemed to have none of Roy’s misgivings about how Craig might act. Sam felt secure and was just glad to see his partner and master come home. But Roy was not nearly that settled yet. He chewed his lip, not sure whether to jump up and meet Craig at the door or take a more laid-back attitude and just wait and see.
What if he’s still angry or upset over what happened? Will he just glare at me and tell me to get the fuck out and not come back? I mean the good part was what Sam did, and the bad part was what I did to have him there in the first place. Oh, shit. I sure wasn’t doing what I had been told…he just said to wait here for him.
Sam met Craig in the doorway. Rearing, he put his front paws on his partner’s chest. Craig hugged the dog, scratched around his black-masked face, and then pushed him down. After that, he looked across the room at Roy. “Well? Are you glad to see me or just waiting for permission to get the hell out of here?”
He’d folded his arms across his wide chest trying to look grim, but the grin kept sneaking out. “Oh, shit, come here, guy.”
Roy didn’t need a second invitation. He damn near flew across the room. Craig enveloped him in a fierce hug, then held him at arm’s length, studying his face.
“Damn, man, you surprised the hell out of me. I’m not used to having anybody worry about me. It was a shock to see Sam there and then you…I didn’t know whether to kick your ass or kiss you, or maybe both.”
Roy returned the steady gaze, assurance seeping through him in welcoming warmth. “I know I was wrong to get Sam out of his crate, but he started fussing, and I thought maybe he had to go, so I took him out in the yard. Then he went straight to the gate and wouldn’t budge. He knew what he wanted to do, what I wanted to do too. Go find you and be sure you were okay.”
Craig shook his head. “Damn that crazy dog. I think he reads my mind sometimes. When he was shot, the city went ahead and got a second dog and asked for a volunteer to be his handler. Joe Lopez took it. He and Pancho are doing great, but they just haven’t had near enough time to build a partnership yet. Pancho wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do. I was real upset then, wishing Sam was there.
“Joe started to go into the room where the guy was, but he got worried, afraid the scumbag would kill the kid, even with the distraction of the dog. The perp said he would anyway. I think it’s his girlfriend’s, not his, so he might have. It seems like they’d concocted this wild plan to try and get drugs. She began to squeal as soon as he went down, probably looking for clemency or a plea bargain for cooperating.”
“I kind of figured you might be in trouble, or at least wishing Sam was there, and he picked it up. I know I didn’t have to let him do what he was asking, but it was what I felt like too. You can punish me however you see fit. It’s over and done, but I’d probably do it again if I had the chance.”
Craig frowned for all of ten seconds. Then a smile spread like sunshine over his face. “If you really feel a need for it, I can whale your butt, but I’d just as soon not. I can think of better things to do. We have about eight hours until we both have to get ready for work, so let’s make the most of them.”
For the second time in less than twelve hours, Roy followed Craig down the hall to his bedroom. He wasn’t sure what he expected, but it wasn’t what happened, for sure.
Craig took one of his hands and led him to the bed. With a gentle push, the taller man sat him down. “I could tell from our first encounter you seem to have a thing about getting it rough, and that’s okay. I can do that—and I will sometimes—but right now I want to show you another way.”
He reached for the hem of Roy’s T-shirt and peeled it up his torso and over his head. “I’m going to unwrap you like a present,” he said. “Because that’s how I think of you, a gift I never expected to get, a friend, a brother, and a lover all in one.” He stopped to press a firm but gentle kiss on Roy’s lips, half-open in amazement. Then he went on, for a moment gazing past Roy with a thousand-yard stare.
He’s got bad memories too. I knew it. Somehow, I just knew it.
“I was raised an only child by a father cast in the German officer paradigm, a martinet to end them all. Whatever I did was never good enough. I finally gave up trying. Telling him I was gay was my ultimate revenge. I thought he’d have a stroke. Of course he disowned me. It’s been a lonely road since then. Really it always was. I’ve had lovers, but they’ve never stayed around, never really touched me. Somehow, you’re different.”
Craig set warm hands on Roy’s shoulders, slid his palms down Roy’s arms to the wrists, and clasped his fingers around them for a moment. Roy sat transfixed, unable to move, to do anything but absorb the invading heat of Craig’s hands and the strange cherishing tenderness of his touch. Nothing had ever felt quite like that before. Maybe the nearest was that hug he’d shared with Frank and Kerry the day they busted Gary Steadman, the three of them working together. It felt like coming home—even though he’d never had a real home to return to until this moment.
Dropping to his knees in front of Roy, Craig shifted his clasp back to Roy’s shoulders and then trailed both hands down his body, shaping every muscle as if to memorize each hollow and hump, every small scar and strand of fine golden hair. Roy shivered. The touch tickled because it was so light, so gentle, and yet it spread fire through every nerve, a sparkle of dancing heat flickering over his skin.
At last Craig reached the top of Roy’s jeans. He unfastened the belt buckle, freed the top button on the waistband, then he hesitated for a long instant. Roy’s cock swelled, bucking against the restraint of denim and zipper, already anticipating the touch of those strong but careful fingers. With exquisite slowness, Craig lowered the zipper. It sounded very loud in the morning silence.
Roy leaned back, resting on his elbows on the bed, widening his knees to allow Craig to lean closer. He arched up to let the jeans slip out from under his butt and down his legs. The fly of his shorts gaped as his cock thrust out through it. The warmth of Craig’s breath whispered across the aroused flesh as he bent down to nuzzle around the base of Roy’s erection.
“I love the smell of you, the feel, and soon the taste. I want it all.”
“Yes. Please,” Roy whispered. “It’s yours. Everything I have is yours.”
In answer, Craig captured Roy’s prick in one hand and clasped his fingers around it. He slid the hand up to the head and back to the base in a long, slow stroke. Once. Twice. Three times. Roy’s balls tightened and twitched, aching with urgency.
Damn, I don’t want to come yet…
A few hours ago when Craig had fucked him, he’d been able to hold back, even when Craig had swatted him. This time he wasn’t sure he could. It was a new kind of excitement, different without the pain or the shadow of fear. Yet it was no less potent.
As if Craig sensed Roy’s wish to prolong it as long as possible, he quit jacking Roy off. After a few torturous seconds, his lips found the head of Roy’s dick, his tongue swiped across the slit and then swirled around the head. Roy bit back a groan. Moments later, Craig widened his mouth and almost swallowed Roy whole. He started sucking in a slow but steady rhythm that accelerated until Roy was humping, thrusting desperately into the engulfing heat of Craig’s mouth.
He came in an explosive burst, his body jerking with the force of it. His fingers clenched in Craig’s short-cropped hair, holding him down, wanting the waves of sensation to go on and on, yet unable to endure much more. With a final spurt, he subsided, falling back limp and spent onto the bed.
When he recovered enough to focus his eyes again, Roy discovered Craig was looking down at him with a smile that was almost smug. “Now what, buddy?”
“Fuck me in the ass again.”
“You sure? That’s what you really want?”
Roy nodded. “I’m asking…no, begging. Do it, please do it.” He flipped over onto his belly, his legs hanging off the bed.
Craig finished undressing in record time, grabbed the tube of lube he’d used earlier and swiped a generous amount along the crack of Roy’s ass with one finger, then worked it into Roy’s asshole. Moments later, his powerful cock penetrated, thrusting deep into Roy’s body, claiming, taking, branding with a fierce yet loving intensity.
Roy didn’t come again, but the feeling was just as intense as he felt the spurt of Craig’s climax, and they both whooped their ecstasy together.
After he recovered, Craig squinted at the clock. “It’s just nine,” he said. “We can grab a nap and then get up and get ready for work. If you want to go on home, I’ll understand, but I’d like to wake up with you here beside me, starting today and for a long time to come.”
Roy hesitated. “I’d like to move in with you as soon as we can work it out, but will there be a problem for you if I do? Will the other cops think less of you or the city council give you a ration of shit?”
“I’ve never made a secret of being gay. I don’t rub anybody’s nose in it, but if we’re cool in public I don’t think anyone will say a word. Just don’t make a habit of coming to my rescue whenever things get a little tense. That would ruin my rep.”
Roy looked down, unable to meet Craig’s bright blue gaze. “Yeah, in retrospect that was really a dumb-ass stunt. And I could’ve gotten Sam hurt. I’m sorry. I won’t do that again. Maybe if I had my own stuff to take care of…I was thinking maybe I could see about updating my certification and becoming an EMT, or even getting into search and rescue. Tending bar is okay for a temporary thing, but I don’t want to make a life career of it. I’m ready to look to the future now. If I went into SAR, do you think could we manage two dogs in one house?”
Craig laughed. “We’ll do whatever we have to do, partner. If you got a female dog, I think Sam wouldn’t mind a bit, and I’ve heard they often do real well in SAR. Come on, though. We need to grab some shut eye before we have to go fight crime and serve drinks. Get your ass in bed.”
Feeling a sense of contentment like he’d never known, Roy slid under the sheet and curled close to Craig’s back.
In less than twenty-four hours, my life’s taken an amazing new turn, and like the commercial says, I’m loving it.
THE END