BROCK STARTED the bath and added too much bubble bath, on purpose, while Eric wasn’t looking.
“No carrying her,” he called out.
“Huh?”
“Daddy Bee says no carrying the Josie!” Josie’s laugh rang out, and she came barreling in to see him.
“Hey, sweet girl.” He grabbed her and picked her up into a hug. “You’re all ready for your bath.”
“Uh-huh. Ooh! Bubbles!” She kissed him happily, then plop, went into the tub. The marble tile was covered in colored soap drawings, the ledge where decorative soaps and bottles belonged was now covered with soaking-wet Barbies, plastic boats, and rubber duckies.
It was never going to recover. It was good that the housekeeper had grandchildren and patience.
He laughed and added a few more bubbles for her, watching them rise up over the edge of the tub.
“Daddy Bee!” She clapped, hooting happily.
“You’re making a mess.” Eric smiled over from the doorway.
Brock grinned back at him. “It’ll clean up.”
“It will. Do you want any toys, Jo?”
She pointed imperiously. “Daddy Bee pick.”
“Me?” He grinned. “You know what I’m going to pick.” He reached over and got the little boat with the three Weeble people, or whatever they were called.
“Boats! Daddy! Boats!”
Eric nodded. “Your daddy Bee and me, we used to go on trips on a boat.”
Now there were some good memories. He hadn’t been out on a long cruise since they broke up. Funny, he’d been headed to the yacht before all this had started. “Have you ever been on a boat, honey?”
“No. I like to go in a boat.”
“Yeah, we’ll have to see when would be a good time for that.”
Eric chuckled. “I’d love that. I love how free it is.”
“We get that thing taken care of and we’ll go, okay? Just the three of us.”
“Okay.” Eric looked at him like… like he was the center of the world.
He held Eric’s gaze, smiled. He liked the way that look made him feel. Eric’s gaze warmed, the smile getting wider and wider. He found himself leaning toward Eric, holding his breath.
“Daddy Bee! Duck!” He looked over and a rubber duck was flying toward him.
It hit him on the cheek with an explosion of drops and bubbles, making him gasp. Eric blinked, then the heavy, hearty laughter started. Brock rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t keep from laughing, too, Josie’s little squeals of happiness joining in and echoing around the tiles.
Leaning into the tub, Brock dipped his fingers into the water and splashed, the water and bubbles sweeping toward Josie.
Josie screeched happily, wet little arms and legs flailing. “Daddy! Daddy, save me!”
Eric chuckled. “Oh, no. Bee’s got you.”
Brock splashed her a few more times, managing to become nearly as wet as she was between her flailing and his own playing.
He stopped and looked over at Eric, who was perfectly dry. Leaning in, he whispered in her ear. “We should get Daddy.”
Those huge dark eyes twinkled. “’Kay, Daddy Bee.”
“Okay, let’s do it!” He shifted and slipped his hand into the water again, this time scooping the water and bubbles in Eric’s general direction.
“Oh, no!” The words were playful and Eric ducked right into the mess, assuring they got him. That made Josie wild with joy.
Brock couldn’t help snorting with laughter and even fell into the tub fully dressed. Accidentally. Mostly.
“Oh lord.” Eric helped him up, his soaking-wet back pressing into Eric’s chest.
“No picking up Daddy Bee!”
That had Brock laughing even harder. “He isn’t, honey. He can’t.”
“Nope. Daddy Bee is gigantic.” Eric’s hands wrapped around his hips, solid and warm.
Brock laughed. “Was that a compliment or a criticism?”
Those warm lips were right by his ear. “A compliment, Bee. Always.”
Oh fuck. He bit back his groan, but couldn’t keep from leaning back into Eric a little. This could be yours, a little voice in the back of his head told him. He thought, maybe, Eric was getting hard against him. He thought, maybe, he didn’t want to move away. Except he was definitely starting to get hard and he didn’t want Josie to see.
Fortunately for him, his cell started ringing, so he didn’t have to worry about it.
“I should take this.” If his voice was a little huskier than usual, he certainly wasn’t going to point it out.
He grabbed the cell out of his pocket and slipped away. “Hello?”
“Boss, you in a place to talk?” That didn’t sound good.
“Just a second.” He got Eric’s attention. “I’m taking this in the other room.” He went to the formal dining room, his home office temporarily shunted in there until they could remake the guest room into something more permanent. “Okay. Talk to me.”
“Boss… I’ve got the cops in here. This place has been trashed. There is some serious fucking rage. What happened between those two?”
“Jesus. Eric says he didn’t treat Tim any different than anyone else—expected the kid to do the work, do his best, but he does that with all his kids.” Brock couldn’t believe Eric would have done anything to any of his kids to result in this. That just wasn’t how his lover worked. “Maybe blaming Eric is easier than blaming the person he’s really mad at.”
“Maybe. I don’t know, man, but you can’t let that little girl come over here. It’s… obscene.”
“I’m not letting anyone go over there.” He growled and started pacing, nudging boxes full of paperwork as he walked. “Is anything of hers okay? Just tell me if it’s not and we’ll go buy her a new fucking toy box.”
“Forensics is over here. Things that were put away look safe—there are boxes of old baby things, paperwork. The computer’s been smashed, everything in the kitchen. I don’t think any of Eric’s clothes are salvageable. They….” Gordon sighed. “They’re taking both mattresses for DNA.”
Brock felt his blood go cold. “He didn’t.”
“It’s foul, man. This kid’s one sick fuck. I’ll deal with the cops, the cleaning crew, but if he’s got some insurance, he’ll need to get them in. This place… I wouldn’t let anyone live here, not after what we’ve seen.”
“You let me know when the cops are finished with it, and I’ll get it sandblasted from top to bottom and put it on the market.” He wasn’t going to argue with Eric about this. “Should we expect the cops here later with questions?”
“Yeah. Max says we’ll come with his old partner, quiet and easy. I don’t want the little one to be all drama-drama.”
“We’re getting her ready for bed—do we need her at all for this or can we get her down first?” He didn’t want Josie anywhere near this.
“No. No, she won’t know anything about it.”
“Okay. I’ll make sure she’s down by eight. Come after that.”
He was pissed off. He wanted to punch someone. No, not someone, that little pissant who was taking his shit out on Eric and Josie.
“Okay, Boss. You’ll… you’ll warn him, huh? This is going to be hard.”
Yeah, not as hard as if they’d gone home themselves.
“Yeah, I’ll talk to him after we get Josie down.” He could hear them giggling and laughing.
“Okay. I’m going to make Jeff double security, just in case,” Gordon added.
“Are you sure doubling it is enough?” This guy was a freak.
“Yeah. You three aren’t going out on the town a lot. He’s not a hardened criminal, just a psycho.”
Well, yay.
“We’re good here.”
“Cool. What about the family? The sister from the hospital is outside.”
He shook his head. No. No, Eric had talked to his father, but hadn’t made a single move to speak with his twin. “Eric’s estranged from them.”
“Okay, that’s all I needed to know. See you around nine.”
“Thanks, Gordon. I’ll prepare Eric for you and the cops.”
He closed his cell phone and sighed. Shit. Fuck.
“Daddy Bee!” Josie came out of the bathroom in Eric’s arms, all wrapped in a towel.
“Put her down, Eric. No carrying.” He swatted Eric gently and found a smile for Josie. “Hey, honey.”
She reached for him, and Eric frowned. “Brock?”
He shook his head and grabbed her. “I’ve got you, honey. You all ready for your bedtime story?”
“Juice and cartoons?”
“You want cartoons or do you want Daddy and me to each read you a story?”
She stopped, chewed her bottom lip. “Two stories?”
Eric nodded. “That’s what Bee said.”
“’Kay. Two stories.”
He chuckled and put her on his shoulders, bending so they could get through the doorway. Eric followed soon after with a sippy cup of juice. They settled in together on her little bed and Brock read The Bunny Said Goodnight. Then Eric read Goodnight Moon, and by the end, Josie was beginning to nod off, little fingers wrapped around his ring finger.
Brock looked at that little hand next to his. She was so tiny and yet such a big presence.
He gently uncurled her fingers and put her hand on one of her stuffed animals. “Night, honey.”
Eric kissed her, lips barely brushing her skin. “Love you, Jo.”
Brock pulled the covers up, tucked her in, and kissed her forehead before heading out.
Eric let them get out of Josie’s room before trying to take his hand and asking, “Well? Who called?”
“Gordon. He’s coming after eight with Max’s old partner. The cops have questions.” He put his hand on Eric’s arm, led him to the living room. “It was bad at the house, baby.”
“Bad? Bad how? What happened? Do they need me over there?”
Brock was getting sick and tired of that panicky, sick look, was getting tired of being the one who put it there.
“No, they most certainly don’t. I think when the cops are done with it, I’m going to have them burn it down.” He sat on the sofa and pulled Eric down next to him. “Tim really did a number on the place.”
Eric stared at him, simply stared. “But. I, I should go. I have to. I can’t.”
“No, you should not go. Gordon is there. They’ve called in the cops. They’re going to deal with the house. The cops are coming here to ask their questions. Trust me, baby. You don’t want to see the place like it is.”
He watched as Eric stood and started pacing, avoiding the toys strewn over his living room floor, hands wrapped around his waist. “What the fuck is going on? What is wrong with this kid?”
“I don’t know, but he’s one sick fuck. I don’t want you or Josie anywhere near the place.”
“I have to…. There are things there. I have to try to salvage what I can.”
He shook his head. “Gordon will arrange all that.”
“No. No, I can’t just sit here!” Eric’s stomach clenched visibly, and then he groaned, curling in on himself a little.
Brock grabbed hold of Eric and tugged the man down into his lap. “You’re not just sitting here. You’re taking care of your little girl and you’re healing.”
“What is all this about?” Eric looked at him, eyes more hurt than anything.
“I don’t know, baby. Something’s seriously fucked-up with that kid, and somehow he’s put it all on you.”
“He just seemed like a kid—a little sullen, a little isolated, maybe, but he had friends.”
He wracked his brain, searching for reasons. “Did you ever single him out for anything?”
“No. Not once. I swear to you, Brock. I never fucked with my kids.”
“I never believed for a second you did, baby. The cops are going to ask you that, though. You have to be ready for that.” He stroked his hand up and down along Eric’s back, fingers counting the bumps on Eric’s spine. “I’ll be right here, love. In your corner.”
Eric leaned into him, breath hitching a little.
“You’re a good man, baby. A good teacher. This kid is fucked-up—not you.”
“I just. Damn it. I fought hard—to get my job, to adopt Jo, now this shit.”
Brock nodded. “It’s not fair. But look, as long as you and Josie are okay, everything else is replaceable.”
“I know, but I’m mad, Brock.”
“Good. You should be. This isn’t right.” Mad made sense, and he liked it better than Eric feeling guilty.
“I don’t know what to do next.”
“You need to get better, and you need to stay safe. That’s what you do next. Once they catch the asshole, then you can start thinking about what comes next.” He was not letting Eric do anything that involved leaving the penthouse on a regular basis until the kid had been caught.
“What about my life? I can’t just pretend like it wasn’t there.”
“You’re going to have to forget about it until this is all sorted out. Hopefully that won’t be long.” It didn’t matter how long it was; he had the growing suspicion that letting Eric and Josie go was going to be the hardest thing he’d ever done. And he was pretty sure he didn’t want to do it.
He wasn’t very good at doing things he didn’t want to do.
Eric’s eyes closed. “I don’t want you to hate me.”
His hand stuttered on Eric’s back, and then he resumed his gentle strokes. “Why would I hate you?”
“Because I left you, and now I’m back in your life and…. Shit, Brock. I don’t want you to ever think it’s because I needed your help.” Eric sighed. “I mean, I do need your help and I want you, but I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
“I don’t feel taken advantage of.”
“No? Because… I didn’t come to you because of the money. I came because you—you’re my hero.”
“I know. You came to me because you knew I’d help. And it worked out, so stop second-guessing yourself.”
“I came to you because you were the only person on earth that I could think of. I came to you because you’re still my one true thing.”
He drew Eric into his arms and held on. “It’s going to be all right, baby. Everything is going to work out.”
Eric let him hold on, let him touch. “I’m sorry, Brock. I wanted… I wanted to do this right.”
“So tell me. Tell me how you wanted to do it.”
“I was waiting for Josie to be a little older, then I was going to ask you to supper, see if you wanted to date. See if you still wanted someone who was dumb enough to walk away without trying to make things work.”
Brock shook his head at his ridiculous dreamer of a lover. The man had never been particularly practical. “For all you talked me up to her and put me in your will and shit, you should have moved your timetable up.”
Eric had the good graces to blush. “It was a fantasy, you know? That I wasn’t trying to do this alone.”
Brock shook his head. “You might not have been, if you’d called.” Though to be honest, he couldn’t see himself jumping into Eric’s new family with open arms even a year ago.
“I thought about it, but… you have this perfect, pristine life. Josie isn’t going to fit in it. I didn’t.”
He looked at the toys on the floor, the crayon mark on his glass coffee table, the sippy cup on the wet bar. Uh-huh. Pristine. “I’d agree with you except you’re both here in it, aren’t you?”
Eric nodded, actually smiled at him. “I want to stay in it. I know it’s selfish, but….”
He slid his hand along Eric’s cheek. “I’m willing to think about it.” Hell, he was willing to do a whole lot more.
Eric kissed his palm, sighed. “Are you sure I shouldn’t go over, try to do damage control?”
Brock snorted. “I’m very sure.” He glanced at his watch. “Max and the police should be here any minute.”
“Okay. I’m going to deal with the chaos in the bathroom. It looks like a hurricane hit it.”
“I’d offer to help, but I figure you’re looking for something to do.” He gave Eric a wink.
“Uh-huh. At least you didn’t tell me to let the housekeeper take care of it tomorrow.”
“If we had more time, I’d blow you.”
Eric stopped, stared at him like he’d grown another head. “What?”
“What?” Brock asked in return, doing his best to look innocent.
“I…. Did you say?” Jesus, that was cute.
“Go clean the bathroom, baby.” He bit his cheek to keep from chuckling.
“Uh-huh.” Eric gave him another, vaguely incredulous, look.
He started chuckling as Eric disappeared. Man, that was fun.
His phone rang, Gordon’s number popping up. “We’re downstairs, Boss, with Marty, Max’s old partner.”
“All right, come on up.”
He headed to the bathroom. “Leave it, baby. Gordon and the cops are here.”
“I’m almost done.”
He wanted to scream at the sick, pinched expression on Eric’s face.
“Leave it.” He grabbed Eric and pulled him in, kissing the man hard. Eric stiffened, then pushed up against him, meeting his kiss and offering him everything. He kissed Eric until they were both breathless, his tongue pressing in, tracing the line of teeth, remembering how it all felt. “Come on, baby. Gordon will be at the door any second.”
“Okay.” Eric was still just staring.
Feeling more than a little smug, he grabbed Eric’s arm and tugged him back out into the living room. He let Gordon and the others in, all of them settling in the living area. Gordon looked odd—almost gray—and Max was as tight-lipped as Brock had ever seen.
He kept tight hold of Eric’s hand, nodding when Max introduced Marty. “I remember you from the house when Josie was kidnapped. Thank you for your help.”
“It’s what I was there for.”
Shit, everyone was somber enough for a funeral. The house had to have been even worse than he was imagining. They all sat there, staring at each other, hands on their knees.
Finally, Eric just snapped. “So? Tell me what the fuck is going on.”
Brock nodded. “Just give it to us straight. I know it’s bad, we can take it.”
It was Marty who spoke. “Mr. Wilson, your home was vandalized. The good news is that the safe was not breached, nor were any of the boxes up in your attic.”
Which left everything else. Everything. Gordon had said as much, but it was still stunning.
“There’s no way he could have destroyed everything else.” Eric’s voice was tight.
Judging by what he’d already heard and the faces of the men in front of him, Brock thought odds were good that Eric was wrong. “Just tell us.”
“He’s been in there for a few days—there are dead animals, things broken, bodily fluids.”
Christ, it was even worse than he’d been led to believe. He held tight to Eric’s hand. “You need to get him. He needs to be in jail.”
“We’re expecting him to show up here or at your place of business, actually.”
Gordon sighed. “Max and I are taking your personal security full-time, Boss.”
“I want one of you here with Eric and Josie. They’re bigger targets than I am.”
“Should I go, take Jo somewhere?” Eric stood, started pacing. “Maybe if I wasn’t hiding in here, he’d have to come out.”
“You’re staying here.” Brock was very sure about that. He looked at Gordon, Max, and Marty as if daring any of them to challenge him on that point. No one argued. Well, except Eric.
“I’ve put you in danger.”
“Oh, shut up and come sit here so Marty can ask his questions.”
Eric’s eyes flashed. “I’m trying to make things better.”
Marty sighed. “Jesus, drop the martyr thing. This kid beat his grandfather so badly the old man’s in a coma. He’s a fucking psycho. You are safe here, huh?”
“Yes, he’s safe here. There’s only the one way in, and it’s well guarded.” He grabbed Eric’s hand and pulled him down. “I keep telling you this isn’t your fault.”
“But he didn’t seem like a….”
“Psycho? They usually don’t.”
Brock decided he quite liked Marty.
“You told me you didn’t do anything to him, right? So him going off and being an asshole isn’t your fault. It is, however, your problem—our problem.”
Eric nodded, but Brock could tell the man was a hundred miles away.
Marty sighed. “Eric, man, please. Is there anyone you know he’d go to? Friends we might not know about? Hangouts? Other teachers?”
Brock grabbed hold of Eric’s shoulder and squeezed. “Come on, baby. Stay with us.”
“I am. I am, damn it. I don’t know. Obviously I don’t know that kid like I thought I did.”
“Do you know anything about his home life?” Marty asked.
“I know his mother is a lawyer; I’ve never met the father. I got the impression he wasn’t at home.”
Marty nodded, and Brock guessed that Eric was right. “What else?”
“They were supposed to turn in a paper the day after they took Josie. Nothing serious. Nothing earth-shattering.”
“How was he doing in your class? Was he a troublemaker? Did he work hard?”
“He was… marginal. He did what he had to—only what he had to.”
“Did you threaten to flunk him if he didn’t shape up?” Marty was scribbling in his notebook as Eric answered his questions.
“I have never threatened any of my kids. Not one. They don’t fucking need it.”
“Eric’s a good guy.” Brock growled a little.
Marty raised his hands. “Hey, guys, I’m on your side here. I’m just covering all the bases, you know? Now is there anything—anything at all—that you can think of that might have made him focus on you? It’s not necessarily anything big or anything you’d really think of as a trigger.”
“The only thing I can think of was that his girlfriend worked at the day care. That’s how she got Jo.”
“Would they have any reason to believe that you had money?”
“Me? No. No, I’m a single parent, a teacher.”
Gordon tilted his head. “Did you talk to the students about Brock?”
“No. One, I never discuss my personal life; that’s inappropriate. Two, Brock and I weren’t in a relationship then. Now, yes, but then we were estranged.”
Marty’s pen paused for a moment. “Did they know you’re gay?”
“I never discussed it in class, but I’m not in the closet. It’s common knowledge.” Eric shrugged. “I always thought it was easier to be open from the start than have to constantly hide.”
“Did any of the kids involved ever express anything homophobic?” Marty’s questions kept coming, rapid-fire.
Eric chewed his bottom lip, frowned. “No more than the usual name-calling things.”
Marty shook his head. “There has to be something. What’s his relationship with the girl who worked at the day care?”
“They were going together. Dating. It was serious. I kept wondering if she was going to end up pregnant.”
“Well, that’s more than her parents were willing to admit. They’ve been stonewalling us from the get-go.”
“Well, they have a lot to lose, I guess.”
“We all do.” Brock couldn’t imagine Josie gone from his life now that he knew her.
Gordon nodded. “The fact is that he’s young, he’ll come back to what he knows. He doesn’t have money or skills and he’s focusing on you, Eric.”
“Why?” Brock actually growled. “Why Eric? It just doesn’t seem to make any sense.”
“We don’t know, Boss. That’s the missing puzzle piece.”
Brock threw up his hands in sheer frustration. “I don’t know what to suggest. I’m assuming you spoke to the girl about why Eric?”
“Her attorney’s advised her not to talk to the cops, not to admit anything. They’re claiming Tim forced her to help.”
Eric sighed and stood. “Would anyone like coffee?”
Everyone said yes and Brock figured Eric was looking for something to do, something other than sit here and fret and worry and get all twisted up inside over this.
He watched Eric go and then turned to Marty. “You have to catch this guy.”
“I’m fully aware of that, man. I’m trying. He’s going to try for Eric or Josie, which means he’s going to try here.”
“We’ll curtail all outings until you have him. In here they’re safe, but he can try. And get caught.”
“That can’t be easy for any of you, Boss.” Gordon sighed at his words but nodded.
“Josie gets a bit restless, but we’ll manage.” Or Eric would. He still had work to do.
Eric brought the coffee, lips pressed tight together.
“Thanks, baby.” He patted the couch next to him, hoping Eric would sit, relax a little bit.
“How about the day care, had you had any trouble from that direction?” Marty asked.
Eric shook his head. “They’re devastated. Honestly. The owner calls to check on Jo every few days.”
“It just seems so personal. Once we find what the connection is, we’ll have it figured out.” Marty made a few more notes in his book.
Eric sipped at his coffee, seeming a million miles away.
“You got any questions for the cops, baby?”
“What do I need to do next?”
“Hold tight. The kid is coming here, I’ll bet my badge on it. And if you think of anything that might help—no matter how small or insignificant it might seem—give me a call.”
“Okay. I will.” Eric stood, shook everyone’s hand. “I’m going to check on Jo. Night.”
Brock watched Eric going. He could see the tension in the man’s back.
“All right, guys. What else do you need to tell me?”
Gordon sighed. “What about the family situation? The grandmother and aunt?”
Brock shook his head. “Eric’s estranged from his mother. She fought him on the adoption and has sued for custody a couple of times. His sister is…. She’s a fruitcake. Harmless but annoying as heck and a fruitcake. Eric’s dad is in assisted living in Florida with his wife. Alzheimer’s.”
Marty’s eyebrows went up. “Wait. Back up the truck. The mom fought him? Is she a teacher?”
“His mother? No, she’s a homemaker. He says she sued him twice for custody. She hates that he’s gay, that he adopted a Chinese child, that he adopted at all.” It made him want to growl and beat her—mothers were supposed to care about their kids no matter what.
“Damn it. Is there something he’s not telling us, maybe? Something he’s ashamed of?”
He knew Marty had to ask, but damn.
Brock shook his head and tried not to be too upset over the question. “He’d have told me. He wants this solved as much as any of us.”
“I had to ask, man.”
“I know.” And he did. That didn’t stop him from growling about it, though.
Gordon looked at the closed bedroom door. “He’s going to bolt.”
“To where?” Brock shook his head. “Besides, he’s safe here. And more importantly, Josie is.”
“Still, I know that look.”
“I’ll talk to him.” Brock shot Marty a look. “You need anything else from us right now?”
“No. Although I don’t suppose you’d give up your cell phone.” Right, like that could happen.
“No, I don’t think so.” He loved his iPhone.
“Well, then, no. There’s nothing else.” Marty winked at him and Max chuckled.
“All right. I’m going to go see where Eric’s head is at. Gordon and Max can help you with anything else, I’m sure.” He leaned in and shook Marty’s hand. “Get this guy for us.”
“I’m leaving my partner with you.” Marty’s eyes met Max’s, and damn, there was something there.
“We’re all getting out of this in one piece. Though, I don’t promise the same about the kid.” If he got his hands on the little pissant before the cops did….
“Yeah.” Gordon nodded. “Come on, guys. Let’s go debrief Jeff.”
Brock made sure Gordon still had a copy of the apartment key and locked the door behind him. Then he headed for Josie’s room to find Eric.
Eric was sitting on the floor, head on Josie’s bed, eyes closed, cheeks streaked with tears.
Shit.
Brock got down on the floor and wrapped himself around Eric’s back. “Baby, don’t cry.”
“I’m not.” Stubborn ass.
He grunted and held tighter. “Come on. Let’s go to the bedroom so we can talk.”
Eric nodded, stood, and held on tight. He took Eric into the bedroom and left the door open a crack so they’d hear Josie if she cried out, but would still have their privacy if Gordon and Max came back in.
“Gordon thinks you’re going to bug out.”
“I….” Eric sighed. “Why would he say that?”
“I told him you wouldn’t, but he said you had the look of a guy ready to take off.” Brock shrugged. “I know you’re strong enough to handle it.”
“I don’t want to make a mistake. It was so fucking hard and….” Eric’s muscles went tense. “That little fuck touched Josie’s things, was in her room.”
“I know. Baby, I know. We’re going to buy her new things, okay? She’s not going to have anything that he touched. Never.”
Eric was beginning to shake, cheeks hot and dark red.
“Tell me what you need, baby.”
“I don’t know. I just need to get some sleep, I think. Can we go to bed?”
“Sure.” He tugged Eric over to the king-sized bed and they sat on the edge together. “Anything you need, baby.”
“Have you ever been so worried you’re going to fuck things up irreparably that you can’t move?”
“Honestly? No.”
Eric stared at him, then started laughing, soft, gentle chuckles that filled the air. He smiled, not quite sure why that was so funny, but happy Eric was laughing instead of crying. He tugged the man into a hug.
“God, I love you. I know you don’t want to hear it, but I do.”
“I’ve never said I don’t want to hear it. Never.”
“I missed you. I wanted to call.”
“I don’t know if it’s good that you didn’t, but maybe it was.” Would he have been ready for a call before now?
“I just… I don’t know what to do next. Let’s go to Rio.”
Brock laughed, and then sobered when he realized Eric might be serious. “I don’t know if running away would help, baby.”
“I don’t think it would. I don’t know, Brock.”
“Listen to me. The cops are going to get this kid. They’re going to arrest him and put him in jail. And then you and I can decide what we want to do with the rest of our lives, okay?”
“Okay.” Eric didn’t sound too sure about that, but Brock thought it was enough for now.
He surprised himself, and probably Eric, too, by kissing him on the mouth. Eric’s lips were as soft, as warm as he remembered from earlier, that body lean and angular where it pressed against him. Groaning, he deepened the kiss; his tongue slipped into Eric’s mouth. He felt Eric’s moan as well as heard it, Eric’s tongue sliding against his own.
Need surged through his body, sudden and unexpected. Brock groaned and slid his hand around Eric’s head, fingers tangling in the raw silk of that soft hair. Eric’s hand slipped up his arms, wrapped around his shoulders. It felt good. Really good.
He kept kissing Eric, not wanting to think, just feel and enjoy this moment. He could feel Eric’s cock, full, pressed against his thigh, a hot bulge in the soft slacks. He wasn’t sure if this was a good idea. Hell, he wasn’t sure Eric was even up for this.
He didn’t stop, though. He just let himself get lost in Eric’s mouth.
“Take me to bed. Touch me. Please.”
“Anything you want, baby.” He meant it, too. He’d do anything for Eric.
He leaned them back onto the bed, fingers searching for skin. Eric wrapped around him, the low hum filling his lips. He found the hem on Eric’s shirt and slowly pushed it up, his fingertips moving over skin.
Eric was soft, smooth, warm under his fingertips. So good. Then his fingers hit the scars. A surge of anger went through him, and his fingers curled into fists.
“Hey, they’re kinda hot, huh?” Eric pulled back, gave him a wan, worried smile.
He chuckled and leaned in to kiss Eric. “Once that kid is locked up, then they’ll be hot.”
“Promise?”
He sobered and met Eric’s eyes. “I do.”
“Okay.” Eric took his hand, pressed it flat against that taut belly.
“You want me to make love to you?” He would. He wanted to.
“Only if you want it, too. If you don’t, I’ll just rest close.”
“As long as I won’t hurt you, I want it, too.”
“Then love me, Brock. I… I haven’t.” Eric pushed close, lips pressing against his.
He deepened the kiss immediately, tongue sliding into Eric’s mouth, tasting salt. Eric moaned, fingers pushing into his hair and dragging him in closer. He was careful, not rolling Eric beneath him, but kissing with growing passion.
Eric wasn’t as careful; those fingers opened buttons and pushed to touch his skin, to touch him. He groaned, arching into the little strokes and pinches.
“I want you. All of you. God, you’re still so fine….” Eric’s voice trailed off.
“I don’t want to hurt you. Maybe we should just jack each other off.”
“Let me taste you.”
Oh fuck, he wasn’t going to say no to that; he wasn’t sure he could. “Okay.”
Eric slid down, lips soft and hot on his chest, on his belly. Around the tip of his cock.
“Baby. God.” His hands found Eric’s head again, fingers catching in Eric’s hair.
“You still smell so good.” Eric opened, tongue sliding over his skin. The things that came out of Eric’s mouth.
He spread his legs restlessly.
“Mmm-hmm.” Fingers dragged up along his inner thighs, pressing in deep.
“I forgot how good you are at this.” Only he hadn’t. Not really.
“I like it.”
He hadn’t forgotten that. “It’s good from this end, too.”
Eric groaned, cheek sliding against his cock, the stubble there barely rasping.
“Please.” He whimpered, hips jerking.
“Yeah….” Eric’s lips were perfect—hot and wet and tight and perfect. He looked down his body, watching in amazement and pleasure as Eric’s head bobbed. He’d thought he’d never see that sight again.
“Daddy! Daddy, I need you!” The scared scream had Eric up and running, leaving him hard and spread on the bed.
Brock gasped, staring up at the ceiling, trying to reconcile what had just been going on with the terrified sounds Josie was making.
“Jo! Jo, it’s a dream.” He heard Eric calming her, voice steady and sure.
He hated those scared little sounds she was making. He should help. Brock got up, nearly tripping over his pants as they bunched around his knees. He shook his head, chuckling under his breath. He got his pants back on and done up and then headed for Josie’s room.
At least his cock had gone down.
“Want Daddy Bee!” She was sobbing.
“Hey, Josie. I’m right here.” He went in and joined them on her bed.
“Daddy Bee. I don’t want to go away. I want to stay.”
He opened his arms and she curled up in his lap. “Who said anything about you going away?”
“The mans. I heared. I did. Daddy said go away.”
“No. No, honey. We were just discussing options, but you going away isn’t one, okay? You’re staying right here with me and Daddy.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Love you, Daddy Bee. Please. Me and Daddy love you.”
His heart thumped hard in his chest. “I know, honey. I love you, too.”
She settled close, tears slowly fading as she settled. Eric looked over at him, smiling a little. He smiled back and reached out, taking Eric’s hand in one of his.
They stayed like that—together, quiet—until Josie fell asleep again. Sighing, Brock laid her back down and let Eric cover her up.
“Come on, baby. Let’s go to bed.”
Eric nodded. “I’m sorry.” One of Eric’s arms slipped around his waist.
He shrugged. “It’s what happens when there’s a kid involved, right? No nookie midafternoon, interruptions in the evening.” He chuckled drily, no real humor in the sound. “It’s been quite the evening, huh?”
“It’s been… insane. Completely insane.” Eric tugged off his clothes, pulled on a soft pair of shorts. “I’m glad you’re here with me.”
“And I’m glad you’re here with me.” He tugged his own pants off. “I guess I ought to start wearing boxers as a regular thing, huh?” If Eric was going to share his bed as a usual thing now, that meant Josie was going to be in it a lot, too.
“If… if we’re sleeping together and the door’s not locked, yeah.” Eric met his eyes. “I’m not comfortable locking her out yet. Not with…. Not after.”
Brock shook his head and slipped his arms around Eric’s waist. “I wouldn’t ask you to. And yeah, we might as well give in to the inevitable and admit we’re both sleeping in here.”
Eric leaned in, rested one cheek against his chest. He stroked Eric’s hair, his dick responding, reactivating now that they were alone again.
“Bed?” Eric pressed closer to him, face lifted for a kiss.
“Uh-huh.” He closed the distance between their lips and breathed into Eric’s mouth. Eric’s arms wrapped around his neck, that lean body snuggled into his so he could feel every inch. He grabbed Eric’s ass. “You feel good.”
“I do.” He loved how that tight little ass pressed into his hands.
“You think we can try again?” He didn’t want to be greedy, but he had been left hanging.
“I think we might have to. Blue balls is a terrible way to die.”
That surprised a laugh out of him, and when he was done chuckling he took Eric’s mouth in a happy kiss. Eric fit against him perfectly, body rocking in long, slow motions, cock dragging and pushing against him. He pushed Eric’s shorts down off his hips so they could slide naked together. Groaning, he rocked harder, his hands squeezing tight around Eric’s asscheeks.
Eric moaned, tongue pressing between his lips, over and over. Brock began sucking on it, his hips picking up the rhythm and sliding against Eric. Eric groaned, his motions a little less smooth, but still there. He let go of one asscheek and brought his hand around to tweak one of Eric’s little nipples, the firm flesh peaked and taut for his fingers. Those pretty eyes went wide and he almost laughed at how familiar the look was. Some things never changed, for sure.
He pushed his tongue into Eric’s mouth, getting more aggressive as he became more turned on. Eric met his passion head-on, kissing him back, stealing his breath. He shifted his hold, sliding his fingers into Eric’s hair so he could tilt Eric’s head and deepen the kiss even more.
Eric’s fingers dragged along his chest, heading to his cock. Brock groaned as his whole body went tight, anticipating the touch. Those calluses had him up on tiptoe, his back arching.
“Eric. Damn.” He moaned and thrust, pushing his cock through Eric’s hand.
“Mmm-hmm. I feel you.”
“I sure hope so.”
Eric’s grin tasted good.
“You still want to suck me?” Not that this wasn’t good enough, wasn’t going to make him come, and soon. Because it was. But it wasn’t Eric’s mouth, now was it?
“Always. Can we move to the bed? It hurts a bit, getting up and down.”
He grunted and frowned and helped Eric to the bed. “No hurting. We don’t need to do this.”
“I want to suck you; I just want to lie on the bed while I do it.”
“Okay, okay. God knows that works for me—I won’t be falling over.”
“You suggesting I make your knees weak? Still?”
“That mouth on my cock sure as hell does.” He got Eric settled on the bed and climbed up, lay down on his back, his cock pointing straight up. He’d worry about covering up later.
“You’re still hot.”
“Yeah, you’re not so bad yourself, Eric.”
“Say that when the scars aren’t so bad and I’ll believe you.” Eric settled against him, cheek on his belly.
“Okay.”
Eric’s fingers wrapped around his balls, petting the sac carefully as the tip of his prick was laved and loved on. Oral bastard. Beautiful man. He spread his legs to give Eric more room. One hand behind his head so he could relax and look down at the same time, he wrapped the other one in Eric’s hair.
Oh yeah, this was where they’d been. Right here. Right here, with his aching prick and that heavenly fucking mouth and…. Yeah. Yeah.
Eric worked the tip for a little bit before moving down, taking more.
His toes curled and uncurled. “Fuck, that’s good, baby.”
Eric’s lips were around the base, the suction sweet, almost perfect.
“Damn. I’m negative.” He said it as soon as he realized he was about to shoot right down Eric’s mouth. He’d never done anything without a condom, though, aside from with Eric.
Eric never hesitated, just kept pulling and sucking, humming around his prick.
He would never hurt Eric, and Eric knew that, so he let loose, let himself sink deep into the blowjob. He pushed his hand into his mouth to keep from crying out loud as he came. Eric sucked and licked, tongue sliding over his prick.
“Damn. Damn, baby. That was. Yeah.”
Eric nodded, cheek resting on his belly.
“Come on up here, baby. I know you must be needing.”
“I don’t know. You gave me a lot of what I needed.”
“I mean right now. For your prick.”
Eric’s laugh made him smile, almost as much as that mostly full cock sliding up along his thigh.
He wrapped his hand around the silken, hot flesh and began to stroke. “You comfortable?”
“Mmm-hmm. I love your hands.”
“Yeah? You like this?” He started twisting slightly as he came up, his palm moving along the hard length. Eric offered him a sound that was very much a yes or a please or something positive.
Smiling, Brock pressed their lips together. He licked where Eric’s lips met and, as soon as they parted, slipped his tongue inside, tracing the bottom row of Eric’s teeth. Eric had one leg propped against his, spreading enough that those lean hips could rock.
He fucked Eric with his tongue, mimicking what he wanted to do with his cock and Eric’s ass. He kept tugging, pulling, working Eric’s hard prick.
“Brock. Brock.” Eric’s head fell back, throat working.
“Yeah, that’s it, baby. Let me see how good it is.”
“Oh fuck.”
He let himself admire the long lines of Eric’s body, of the need in every inch of all those lean muscles. He moved his hand faster, squeezed it tighter.
“Brock.” A dull flush climbed up Eric’s belly, heat spraying over his hand.
“Oh, fuck, that’s sexy.” He nuzzled into Eric’s neck, licking the salt off his lover’s skin.
“Oh….” Eric’s eyes were closed, lips parted.
He let his hand slowly slide away from Eric’s prick.
“Thank you. Thank you.”
Brock chuckled, wiping Eric’s come into his own belly. Eric leaned hard into him, moaning softly, pressing close. He grabbed the sheet and got it over both of them. He’d get up and put on a pair of underwear later.
Before he could reach the light switch, Eric was sound asleep, curled against him, snoring.
It felt good, having just come, having Eric curled up next to him.
Good. Right.
Between the man and his little girl, Brock figured he was pretty much a goner.