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Part of the Reunion Series
Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the characters included herein, except Sykes and Burdett, neither of whom are still with us anyway, as my Chris muse promptly murdered them after reading this story. You don’t want to know his chosen method of death. Trust me.
Pairing: C/E
Rating: My usual. NC-17.
Acknowledgements: My list-sibs, who are unendingly encouraging. Thanks so much! To my loyal readers, and especially my loyal reviewers, who are not only helpful, but often good for my ego too! Oh, and the people at my university in England, who only make me go to class one day a week, so I have more time to write. YAY!
Author’s Notes: I tried a slightly different style with this one, and the ‘reunion’ is certainly different. Hope you like it, but if you have any positive criticism, or general comments, about the story, or the series as a whole, please feel free to email me at rebel_yell12@hotmail.com
Feedback to rebel_yell12@hotmail.comPart One
Buck watched, more than a little worried for both his friends. It was supposed to be one of their easiest cases, but somehow those always ended up being ‘famous last words’. Joseph Burdett was hardly a prime-time player in the gun trade. He was, however, an annoyance and so Team 7 had been assigned the task of bringing him in. Ezra had gone in as a buyer, and Chris and Buck had played the part of his assistants. Unfortunately, Burdett had a connection in the federal building, an old girlfriend who had talked about the infamous Team 7. Her evidently rather extensive physical description of a certain southerner had led to Burdett’s knowledge of Ezra’s true identity, as well the break-up of the relationship. Or so Burdett had informed them twenty minutes ago when he casually took them hostage.
“ He is a pretty one, don’t you think Sykes?”
“ Certainly, Mr. Burdett.” The goon agreed, leering suggestively at the young undercover agent. Ezra actively ignored the look, refusing to concentrate on anyone but Burdett himself.
“What do you think, Larabee?” Burdett glanced at the blonde leader, whom Buck silently congratulated on not foolishly trying to wipe that lascivious grin off the criminal’s face. “What, no response? Perhaps he needs a better view of the specimen, eh, Sykes? Why don’t we provide one?”
“ Yes, sir.” Sykes moved behind Ezra, quickly untying his hands and pressing a gun behind his ear. He turned the southern agent, so that he was facing Buck and Chris. “Take off the jacket.” Ezra hesitated, searching his lover’s eyes for…something. He wasn’t sure what, maybe permission to refuse, or permission to follow the gunman’s orders. An almost imperceptible nod told Ezra to do what he was told. He slipped the suit jacket from his shoulders, allowing it to drop to the floor of the warehouse. He tried not to cringe, thinking of the damage to the garment from the filth of its new location.
“And the tie.” Sykes prompted, earning a grin from his employer.
“ I must say, Larabee, he looks better already. Robbing the cradle, perhaps, but a tempting piece nonetheless. The shirt as well, Standish.”
Ezra nodded tightly, unbuttoning his shirt but keeping an eye on Burdett’s gun, as it pointed unwaveringly at Chris and Buck, who were still seated on the floor. This time, he couldn’t hide the cringe as he let his Parisian shirt hit the filthy floor. Perversely, he found himself glad it was the middle of May and not freezing cold in the warehouse. He convinced himself to ignore the lecherous looks he was receiving from Burdett, who waved for the few remaining bodyguards to move outside, probably to take stations at the doors. He pulled away sharply from the hand that brushed down his side.
“ I don’t think he liked that, Sykes.” Burdett chuckled. Ezra felt the gun press more forcefully into his skull, as Sykes’ other hand snaked from behind him to rub across his abs. The young agent forced himself to remain still, locking eyes with Chris. He could see rage boiling up, and feared for his lover. Chris, the wonderful beautiful man that he was, would only be able to hold onto his explosive temper so long in any situation, but watching someone else touch Ezra was only going to make the situation far worse.
“ Smooth as a woman.” Sykes chuckled, ghosting fingers across the skin of Ezra’s abdomen.
“ Now, Larabee, what say you? He’s a beautiful man, is he not? Still no answer? Holding out for an even better view? And here I thought you had been a married man, Larabee. For shame, for shame. Such thoughts about an employee.” There was a gap, Burdett waiting impatiently for Chris to break down and respond to the goading. Ezra was proud to note that Chris was holding his very volatile temper in check, for now.
“ Well, Sykes, I think Larabee agrees with me. We would prefer an even closer look at the merchandise.”
“ Burdett-” Chris cut himself off, knowing the man wanted to get a rise out of him.
“ Ah, but that’s precisely what he is, Larabee. You send him to men like me, to sell himself. Oh not like that…at least I don’t believe your bosses would approve of that brand of selling, but nonetheless, he sells himself. I’ve just found a new use for the same merchandise. Sykes.”
The henchman smiled, running his gun down Ezra’s neck, then along his spine, coming to a rest above the waist of his pants. His left hand passed over his abs once more, before moving downward, causing Ezra to jump unintentionally when the large palm halted over his zipper, rubbing his anatomy harshly. He forcefully stilled himself, but could not meet Chris’ eyes. Instead, his eyes followed Burdett, who walked towards him now, taking the gun off Buck and Chris. It was the closest thing to an opening they were going to get, and the southerner knew how to take advantage of it. He stared, as haughtily as he could, into Burdett’s eyes as the man stood before him, feeling Sykes’ hand leave only to be replaced by Burdett’s fingers tugging his zipper down. Ezra waited, as much as it pained him to allow this cretin to paw him, he waited for the moment he knew was coming, when the two criminals’ attention would be solely on what they were doing, not on what Ezra was doing. Knowing he would be re-visiting this in nightmares, Ezra felt Burdett’s hands push into his boxers, and watched the man’s eyes flutter shut as he slipped inside. It was now or never.
Part Two
Chris Larabee knew in his logical mind that Ezra had some sort of plan. He had seen it in those familiar emerald eyes, but his heart was screaming at him that this plan, whatever it was, sucked, as JD would say. He was about to follow his heart and ruin the plan by doing something, anything, when he saw Sykes’ grip on Ezra loosen, as Burdett blocked whatever he was doing from Chris’ view with his body. An instant later, Ezra took a tiny side-step, causing Sykes to bring his gun back up, but an instant too late. He fired as there was the sound of bone snapping, and Burdett screamed, falling backwards, to land practically in Buck’s lap. There was a wound in his side, probably a deep graze, Chris surmised unhappily. He briefly entertained finding a way to shoot him again, but he re-thought the idea when he realized the review board would frown on an injury in the place he WANTED to shoot.
Seeing Buck move to straddle the injured, and now pathetically whimpering Burdett, Chris managed to stand, only to watch as Ezra wrestled the gun from Sykes and cold-cocked him with it, sending the big man down. Instinctively, all three agents listened for Burdett’s other guards, but there was no sound from outside the room they currently occupied. Surely they’d heard that gunshot. Ezra moved silently behind Buck first, and freed his hands, which promptly wrapped themselves around Burdett’s throat.
“ Buck. Too much paperwork.” Chris’ voice earned a nod from his oldest friend, who rolled the criminal over and pulled his hands behind his back, ignoring the wound in his side and the obviously broken wrist on Burdett’s right arm. As soon as Ezra had managed to get Chris’ hands untied, the leader spun, wrapping his arms around his younger lover and pulling him into his body.
“ Are you okay?”
“ I’m fine, Chris. I’m all right.” Slight tremors ran through the southerner’s frame, betraying his true answer.
“ No, you’re not.” Chris replied with certainty and a little bit of annoyance at the predictable answer.
“ATF! FREEZE!” The two lovers broke apart, Ezra scrambling to repair his appearance as their colleagues poured into the building. They recognized their teammates leading the charge, followed by Teams 8 and 4.
“ Nathan, Burdett’s injured.” Buck called out, never leaving his position straddling the gun runner’s back.
“Oh, by the way, Joseph Burdett, you are under arrest for the illegal trafficking of weapons, resisting arrest, assaulting an officer of the law and just generally being a big asshole. You have the right to remain silent, and I highly suggest you use it. Anything you are dumb enough to say will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, should you be unable to afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you by the state of Colorado. You have the right to refuse to answer any questions until your attorney may be present, and if you choose to waive this right and answer questions without the presence of an attorney, you have the right to stop answering questions at any time until your attorney is present. Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you?”
“ Yes.”
“ Wonderful. Okay, Nate, he’s all yours.” Buck stood up, and turned Burdett so that Nathan could assess the wound.
“ Guess we wasn’t needed, huh Cowboy?” Vin asked, looking at Burdett and Sykes.
“ You guys got the ones outside?”
“ Yeah, six arrested, one dead. Dumbass tried to shoot me.”
“ They do that on occasion.”
“ Yep. ‘Cept I’m a helluva better shot.”
“ You better be, with the amount of money the agency reimburses to you for spending on guns.”
“ He’ll be fine.” Nathan announced, as the E.M.S. arrived. The team medic stood, allowing the paramedics to do their job, and get Burdett onto the stretcher and then to the hospital. “Just a deep graze, he’ll probably have a nice interesting scar. And I’d guess some permanent joint damage to that wrist, whoever broke it sure did a nice job.”
“ I believe I claim that privilege, Mr. Jackson. The cretin had decided to place the appendage on my person in a manner I disliked. So I proceeded to remove said unwanted extremity with all due haste.” Ezra spoke up, earning smiles from his friends, and a small scowl from his lover. The southerner still stood shirtless, although he had managed to remove any sign that Burdett had handled any other part of his anatomy. Chris couldn’t decide if he wanted to kill Ezra or kiss him right now, and with all the witnesses neither course of action was wise.
“ What happened to your shirt, Ez?” JD asked, picking up the garment from the floor.
“ Oh, I believe Mr. Burdett will greatly enjoy the company in prison, if you follow my intent.”
“ You mean he…uh, and you uh…and now his wrist is broke?”
“ Precisely, Mr. Dunne.”
“ And Chris ain’t killed him?” Vin sounded surprised, looking over at his boss and friend.
“ I’m tempted. Rather castrate the sonuvabitch, but-”
“ Chris. Not here.” Ezra said under his breath, noticing the looks from the other teams.
“ Perhaps we should return to our place of employment and reconvene the informational debriefing there?”
“ Yeah. You guys got this?” Chris asked, catching the eye of Team 4’s leader.
“ Yeah. Go on in. Let Travis know we’ll be in as soon as clean up is done.”
“ Will do. Let’s go boys.”
“ Mr. Sanchez, if you would be so kind as to retrieve my tie and jacket from the floor there near your feet, I would be most grateful.”
“ Here, son.”
“ Thank you, Mr. Sanchez.”
“ Ezra, you gonna get dressed or what?” Chris sounded impatient, and Ezra nearly smiled, knowing his lover was sorely tempted to pounce on him right now. It was amazing what simply exhibiting skin around the man could induce.
“ After the garments in question have been lying about this floor? Certainly not, they are noticeably dirty and wrinkled.”
“ Well, you ain’t goin’ in to see Travis like that.” Chris gestured at Ezra’ state of undress, trying not to look like he wanted to jump his subordinate’s bones in the middle of the warehouse, just to stake his claim once more on this man.
“ Then one of you will have to escort me to my domicile, that I may retrieve clothing that is both clean and appropriate.” Ezra grinned, unable to keep the mischievous look off his face as what he was saying registered in the minds of his teammates.
“ We can hold Travis for an hour or so.” Buck volunteered, chuckling. “Chris, why don’t you ‘escort’ Ezra so he gets back on time?”
“ Fine. Ezra and I will take his car to his place, and meet you back at the office in an hour. Buck, take the Ram.”
“ Yes, sir.” Buck mock saluted, earning a glare from his old friend.
“ Damn, I need a woman.” Vin muttered, earning laughter from his teammates.
Part Three
The Jaguar pulled into the garage of the townhouse, and the driver quickly stepped into the house, dropping his clothing in the small laundry room between the garage and kitchen. Chris followed closely, letting his lover get into the kitchen before wrapping arms around him tightly and pulling Ezra back into his chest.
“ I’m sorry, baby.”
“ For what? It was hardly your fault, beloved. In fact, it was rather mine, as it was my identity that was discovered.”
“ And we’ll be discussing that with Travis today. I just wish I could have stopped Sykes and Burdett from seeing you, touching you.”
“ So do I.” Ezra sighed, leaning into the strength behind him. “ But you couldn’t, and I can hardly hold you to account for it.”
“ Are you sure you’re okay? You’re not hurt?”
“ Not physically, Chris. I just…I feel like their hands left something behind, some sort of mark on me. I promised you once that no one else would ever touch me like that-”
“ Shhhhh, baby. It’s all right.”
“ Make me clean again, Chris. Please.”
“ You want to shower, something?” Chris looked at his watch, calculating how much time they had before they needed to leave for the federal building. “We’ve got time.”
“ No. I need you. Your hands to wipe away theirs. Please, Chris, make me forget anyone but you.” Ezra turned in his lover’s arms, staring into eyes a few shades lighter than his own. He brought his lips up gently to meet the older man’s, initiating a kiss that Chris quickly deepened. He lapped at Ezra’s lips, opening the mouth beneath his with ease before exploring the wonderfully familiar depths. His hands began sliding along the smooth back, soothing muscles still taut from being touched by less beloved hands. When they finally parted to breathe, Chris walked the southerner backwards until he was leaning against the counter, kissing and nipping his way to Ezra’s ear, finding that beautiful spot that made his lover’s knees nearly buckle. He stayed there for a few moments, feeling the younger man sag against the counter, moaning softly. Then the blonde moved slowly down the neck, worshipping the skin in front of him while pulling their bodies into alignment so he could feel Ezra’s rising arousal pressing into his thigh. His hands abandoned the perfect planes of his lover’s back, for the perfect planes of his lover’s chest, brushing across nipples to elicit sharper moans.
Ezra was beginning to wish they’d taken this to the bedroom, or at least the living room. His knees were giving way rapidly, and the only place to go was the chilly tile floor of his kitchen. As much as that didn’t really appeal, asking Chris to cease his current ministrations, even for a brief interlude, was less appealing. He moaned as Chris’ mouth latched onto the hollow of his throat, undoubtedly leaving a mark behind, a mark Ezra was inordinately proud to wear, even after all this time of being Chris’ lover. That unbelievable mouth moved on, down his chest to lave a nipple, and the southerner barely caught himself on the counter, or he would have fallen to the floor. Chris pulled away, ignoring the disappointed moan Ezra couldn’t suppress.
“ Bedroom?”
“ Please.” Ezra agreed, rapidly pulling his blonde lover into the master bedroom, before latching back onto his mouth and searching the depths like a drowning man looking for the surface. Chris slipped his hands down his firecracker’s back, settling them just beneath the cheeks of his ass, and lifting lightly to hint at what he wanted. Ezra responded immediately, wrapping his legs around his lovers waist, bringing their erections into glorious contact, even through their pants.
Chris thought he would collapse himself when Ezra began rubbing against him at an almost manic pace. The older man soon took control of the kiss, battling hotly with Ezra’s tongue. Finally acknowledging his body’s need to breath, Chris pulled himself from his lover’s mouth and allowed Ezra‘s feet to return to the floor, taking only a second to breathe before returning to the spot he’d been enjoying when he realized his firecracker was about to end up on the tile floor in the kitchen. He nipped at a brown nub, soothing any pain with a few hot licks before nipping at it once more. He continued the cycle until Ezra was squirming incredibly, and attempting with little success to remove the familiar black shirt from his person.
“ Chris…please…can’t…” Ezra managed a few words around the wall of pleasure that was blocking all thought and coordinated movement. His fingers seemed to have lost all fine motor skills, and his legs were barely holding him upright as the assault on his nipples continued. His lover seemed to ignore his mutterings, working all the harder on his chest. The southerner gave up on his attempts to unbutton Chris’ shirt, using all his concentration to remain standing.
Chris noticed Ezra’s hands returning to his sides, and pulled away from a beloved nipple for a glance up at the younger man. Emerald eyes were half-closed, head rolling back, and all but one particular part of Ezra’s anatomy seemed utterly limp. Deciding he liked this limp, almost quiet version of his lover, Chris went back to worshiping the body before him, licking from the erect nubs in a wandering and winding path to a sensitive navel. He tongue-fucked the small orifice, and then nipped sharply at the edges.
“ OH DIO!” The older man suddenly felt hands on his shoulders, leaning heavily against him as Ezra’ knees finally gave and he nearly fell to the floor. Chris pushed backwards, causing his lover to fall backwards onto the mattress, his feet still on the floor. The unfortunate side effect of the movement was that it forced the blonde man to abandon, even if only momentarily, his oral attentions to Ezra’s navel. He removed the Italian shoes, and socks, before kneeling up to deftly rid the younger man of his belt, before Ezra finally managed to make his muscles obey a command.
The southerner’s hands caught Chris’ armpits, pulling him up to bring their mouths together, while at the same time forcing his lover’s body to rest against his. He groaned his displeasure, as Ezra felt the cotton of his lover’s shirt against his chest, rather than the silken perfection of Chris’ chest. His mind and body were synchronized again, however, and he quickly set about undoing the buttons so that the unwanted barrier could be removed. Having successful accomplished that goal, Ezra slid his lover’s shirt from broad shoulders, and abandoned a beautiful mouth for the joys of a stunning chest.
Chris allowed the nips and licks across his chest and shoulders to distract him into stillness for only a moment, before his hands slipped between their bodies, coming to rest possessively over his lover’s erection, straining through the fabric of the pants. He could also easily feel his own arousal, pressing from the other direction against that same hand. He rubbed heavily against the zipper, before swiftly unzipping and buttoning so he could reach inside the silk boxers and grasp his target.
Ezra felt a heavy hand on his erection, and unwanted images flashed in his mind. Suddenly, it was Joseph Burdett’s hands that stroked him, had brought him to hardness, and it was Joseph Burdett who had reclaimed his mouth, his tongue filling Ezra’s mouth. Eyes clenched shut against images that made the undercover agent sick to his stomach, he pushed as hard as he was able against the body pinning him down, relieved when it gave and he was able to roll out from under the other man, panting harshly and trying not to lose his last meal.
Part Four
Chris stopped as soon as he felt Ezra stiffen beneath him, and then his lover’s hands pushed against his chest. He allowed himself to be pushed back enough, and watched his young firecracker try to control his reaction. Tanned and toned shoulders shook, as Ezra gasped for breath, looking as though he was about to burst into tears or puke, or both.
“Ezra?” He kept his voice soft, lightly placing his hand on a shaking shoulder.
“ I’m sorry, Chris. I thought…I didn’t think it’d feel like…” Ezra spun, all but throwing himself into his lover’s arms, still holding in the tears but the tremors continued unabated.
“ Shhhhh. It’s all right.” Chris held on, rubbing his lover’s back as softly as he spoke.
“ He touched me Chris. I let him touch me. God help me, I let him touch me.”
“ It’s all right.” Chris whispered the mantra into Ezra’s ear repeatedly. Inwardly, the older man chastised himself, for not knowing that Ezra did not need to be pushed. Despite the southerner’s own beliefs, he was not Superman. He could not just shrug off events like this morning’s. And, knowing his lover as he did, Chris knew Ezra would not accept that there was nothing the undercover could have done to avoid the situation with Burdett. Even if he did, it would not be a comfort to the control freak inside, who needed to feel in control of everything around him at all times. Oh, the man trusted Chris enough to allow him to take control, both in the office and more often than not in the bedroom, but to acknowledge that a case had gotten outside his realm of control would hardly alleviate Ezra’s distress. The tremors slowed, and Ezra’s breathing returned to normal, but the older man knew it was not the end of the repercussions of this morning. His little firecracker was merely trying to reassert his infamous control, in the only way he knew how at this moment. When all else went wrong, he could still control his physical reactions. After all, Maude had taught him well, and young. Chris nearly jumped when he felt a warm hand rest over his waning arousal.
“ Ezra-”
“ Shhhhh. Chris. Let me do this.”
“ Baby, I don’t want you to feel-”
“ I know. I want to do this. Please.” Chris sighed inwardly, and although he was a little uncomfortable with the situation, something in his mind wanted to give Ezra as much control over events as possible. Nodding, he laid back, and welcomed the warm familiar lips on his own. Deft hands brushed across his chest, hitting every sensitive spot they knew so well, while his tongue was invited into the other man’s mouth, where it was promptly seized and sucked with abandon. His arousal was quickly returning, as those same greedy hands disposed of his belt and were soon pushing his open pants as far as they could reach without actually breaking the kiss. Eventually, they had to breath, and Ezra slid down Chris’ body, taking boxers and pants with him until both slipped from the blonde’s feet.
Ezra kissed a path up his lover’s right leg, slowing as he approached his goal. He knew they were on a tight time schedule today, they needed to get back to the office, but he was not going to let his own problems dictate Chris’ relief. He had started this, and Ezra was not about to leave the love of his life wanting for anything, if he could help it. He was happy to note that Chris’ erection was once more standing proudly at attention, and as much as he wanted to be quick, the southerner couldn’t deny himself a chance to wring a few extra moans from his lover. Rather than proceeding directly to his love’s cock, he laved the balls resting beneath, sucking one into his mouth and knowingly put his hands on Chris’ hips. For all the grief his beloved gave him about squirming and bucking, the older man was hardly one to sit still during such attentions.
“ Ahhhh, damn. Ezra.” Chris moaned, and waited until he felt well-known strong hands on his hips before allowing himself to move very much. Ezra sucked on first one, and then the other testicle, before licking across the sack and up to the base of his cock. With knowing efforts, the younger man placed tiny little sucking kisses from base to tip, never varying from the straight line provided by the prominent vein. When he reached the head, he spent a few moments concentrating on the little ‘v’ found there, wringing far more unintelligible moans from the older man. Oh yes, Chris knew without out a doubt that his firebrand was purposefully utilizing every hot spot he’d learned over the last twenty months, but at this exact moment in time he was not going to complain. There were advantages after all to long-term relationships, not the least of which was familiarity with your lover’s body, and all the little spots that drove them crazy. Bucking upwards, Chris lost any train of logical thought as he was swallowed smoothly and suddenly. Threading his hands through the chestnut hair of his lover, he held on more than guided. It only took a few minutes before the blond man was rapidly approaching the edge, and he felt his lover’s fingers brushing across his perineum repeatedly, rushing him closer.
“ Ezra.” The southerner ignored Chris’ attempt at a warning, and increased his suction as he felt his beloved arch beneath him a second before he erupted in his mouth. Much practice allowed him to swallow easily, continuing his ministrations tenderly until Chris had softened completely. Sliding back up his love’s body, Ezra brought their mouths together again, sharing the taste with the older man. When they broke apart once more, he tucked his face into the familiar neck, and was more than content to enjoy strong arms wrapped around him tightly. As mind-blowing and wonderful as sex with Chris always was, Ezra still rejoiced the most in the post-sex cuddling. He’d had sex with others, but Chris was the first to really hold him afterwards, to love him in the stillness that followed as well as the passion of the moment.
Part Five
“ Ezra.” Chris held his beautiful lover for a few minutes, wondering at the lack of hardness in the southerner’s pants that was so unusual for his firecracker. Ezra loved to give and receive oral sex, and usually after such a blow-job, Chris would barely have to touch the younger man’s erection before he was coming as well. “You okay?”
“ I’m fine, beloved.” Ezra was glad that their position allowed him to keep his eyes hidden from Chris’ gaze without arousing suspicion, otherwise he’d never have been able to pull off the lie. He did better lying to Maude, than he did to Chris. And considering his mother had caught nearly every lie he’d ever told her, that was saying quite a bit.
“ We really should go to the office.”
“ Ezra, about this morning-”
“ Please, love, can we not talk about it right now?”
“ I think you need to.”
“ Please.” Ezra did meet his beloved’s eyes this time, putting all his efforts into making Chris see how much he truly did not wish to speak of it. “ Please, Chris. Please.”
“ Hell.” Chris muttered, unable to fight the force of those eyes. When he wanted to, Ezra could make his eyes more utterly undeniable than Vin and JD’s best puppy eyes, combined. And, as whipped as he was, Chris knew that under those emerald orbs, he was completely powerless. He’d tried fighting them once, only to feel like the world’s biggest bastard when Ezra’s whole posture took on the form of an animal that had just been deliberately kicked by the one person it trusted to never hurt it. He couldn’t bear to see his beautiful lover that way. So, he gave in. Absently, he wondered if Maude had ever seen those eyes, and if she’d managed to turn them down.
“ What are we going to tell Orrin?”
“ Everything up to the…when Burdett touched me.” Ezra replied, going to his closet, casually dropping the pants he was still wearing as well as the boxers. He was usually far more careful about his clothing, but Magali was due at the townhouse soon, and she would undoubtedly take care of them for him. He considered himself highly fortunate to have discovered the wonderfully discreet and circumspect Hispanic woman, who cleaned his townhouse. Since he hardly lived there anymore, she kept it looking to his standards, as well as taking care of any laundry or dry-cleaning he left on the premises. It kept him from having to carry laundry between here and the ranch. Reaching into the top drawer of his dresser, ignoring Chris’ movements as his lover re-dressed, he slipped on clean boxers and socks, undoubtedly laundered and carefully folded by Magali, considering that this was the first time he’d been to the townhouse since his belongings had been moved back in a week ago after the repairs were finished. As he easily picked out a new suit to wear into the office, he noticed that there were a few items in the closet that were Chris’. They should probably return those to the ranch sometime.
“ You just leaving those there?” Chris couldn’t help but ask, gesturing to the pants and boxers on the floor. Combined with his jacket, tie and shirt being in the kitchen, as well as the socks and shoes, abandoned for a different pair from the closet, at the foot of the rumpled bed, it was obvious to anyone with half a mind what had occurred here.
“ Magali will get them.”
“ You realize you pay her about three times the highest rate for cleaning houses?” Chris knew that, considering he had paid for three years for the ranch to be cleaned every other week. And that woman was hardly cheap, to be honest, but she did good work and had never once mentioned the number of bottles she removed. He’d hated to see her go, but her cleaning style and Ezra’s had not mixed well. Magali now did the ranch as well, every Tuesday while they were at work.
“ Excellent work should be appropriately rewarded.”
“ I understand that, baby, but after you get done paying her for both here and the ranch, the woman doesn’t need to clean another house for the entire week, and she still makes a good yearly salary.”
“ Magali does, however, clean other homes.”
“ Mm-hmmm. Places where your references got her on.” Chris smiled, wrapping his arms around his baby. Ezra would make a million excuses, but he cared about Magali, and had gone out of his way to make sure she did very well in her new country.
“ References she more than deserved. Not only does she clean after us, in both domiciles, but she worked wonders with this place, for being so soon after the fire.”
“ Magali?”
“ She and her sister, I believe. You didn’t think the repair men left this place this spotless and did my laundry to remove the smell of smoke, did you? If I believe she deserves extra compensation for her efforts on my behalf, it is MY money, Christopher. I will do with it what I please.”
“ Ezra, I never said otherwise.” Chris sighed, having accidentally tread on that issue with his lover more than a few times. To be honest, he had no idea how much money constituted Ezra’s private income, every time he asked he was told, in exceedingly polite words, to mind his own damn business. He knew about the partnership in Aspen, only because Ezra had told him when he purchased the gifts for Christmas. The leader was very sure he didn’t want to contemplate how much that gesture had cost his lover. It was well into thousands of dollars, considering how much two round-trip tickets had cost.
“ I know. My apologies, Chris. I know you wouldn‘t presume to tell me how to run my affairs.”
“ You ready, Giorgio?” Someday, he was going to push that issue, but not today. They had enough to worry about for now.
Part Six
Chris Larabee was far from a happy man. In fact, he was downright pissed off, and his team members were steering as clear of him as they could. For the last week and a half, everyone in the building had done everything possible to avoid aggravating Team 7’s leader, but his mood continued to become progressively worse. Judge Travis had finally pulled Buck aside, and told him that until Chris was back to his usual level of disgruntlement, Team 7 was unofficially inactive. He was not about to turn Larabee loose even on criminals like this. Buck had nodded, and filled in his teammates, and received the same response he had every other day when asked if anyone knew what was up Chris’ ass. Ezra wasn’t on a case, no one was sick or injured, the caseload was not too high, the Judge hadn’t given them any of the usual kinds of work that pissed Chris off (like random liquor store checks), since he considered them work for less ‘effective’ teams. It wasn’t anywhere near any anniversaries Buck could think of that would bring on this kind of mood. The tall man’s instincts told him it involved Ezra, but to everyone else, the undercover seemed exactly as he always had. It couldn’t be Ezra’s approaching birthday, they’d planned the small celebration for that over a month ago.
Buck was beginning to worry that Chris was pulling away from the southerner, or something was wrong in the relationship that they couldn’t see, and Ezra either couldn’t or wouldn’t see either. He’d watched Ezra bend over backwards for the last two weeks, really, to do whatever he could for Chris; from intercepting unpleasant visitors to Larabee’s office, to being the DD each Friday at the Saloon, and arranging for the blonde’s favorite lunch to be delivered on Monday. Now that he thought on it, that was suspicious in and of itself. Ezra was always an almost disgustingly considerate lover, he made most men look horrible in comparison by arranging little things like that lunch delivery with routine, but not every day for two weeks running. Usually it was maybe two days a week, not all day every day. But if Ezra was trying to make up for pissing off the leader in some way, why wasn’t it working? Buck knew for a fact that Chris struggled to stay upset with Ezra, just as he had with Sarah, for even a full day. The man just couldn’t help forgiving someone he loved that much, especially if they were sorry for whatever they did. Which meant that whatever was pissing him off, was happening continuously. Now, how did you go about finding out what was happening from two men who never said a word about their problems, Buck wondered. Never hurt to start by straight out asking.
“ Ezra?”
“ Yes, Buck?” Ezra had eventually given up calling them by their surnames at work as well, after JD had commented that it seemed weird that he called them all Mr., but Chris, who was actually his boss. So, rather than risk someone becoming suspicious of their relationship, Ezra had finally, after over two years on the team, begun calling them by their first names.
“ Can I talk to you in the break room?”
“ Of course. One moment, and I shall save my current assignment.”
Buck went into the break room, and poured himself some coffee. This was touchy work, he had to be careful how he approached the undercover. He didn’t have long to decide on his course of action, as Ezra followed him quickly.
“ Is something the matter?”
“ Yeah, and I reckon you know what.”
“ Chris.”
“ Yep.”
“ I’m not sure what to tell you, Buck.”
“ Can I ask a couple questions? I mean, I know you’re his lover, but I’ve known Chris a lotta years.”
“ Whatever you think will help. His mood is becoming…difficult to live with.” Buck suddenly stared at the bruise on Ezra’s jaw, a terrifying thought occurring to him. He grabbed the undercover, holding his chin to look at the mark more closely.
“ Chris do this?”
Part Seven
He was unprepared for the hard shove that propelled him back a few steps, until he caught himself on the counter.
“ You’re his friend, Buck. How could you even think that?”
“ Because he’s a mean sonuvabith when he’s pissed and drinking, and he’s doing both right now.”
“ I told you earlier, Chaucer got over-excited and caused a bit of an accident in the barn yesterday. Chris would NEVER hit me.”
“ Okay.” Buck sighed in relief. “ Look, I don’t mean to embarrass you but…”
“ Buck, just ask.”
“ Anyone call recently? His mom, sisters, anyone unusual?”
“ Maggie phoned last week, but it was just a reminder about the family reunion next month. Other than that, no. It’s been very quiet.”
“ What about Mary and Billy? How are they?”
“ I spoke to Mary last week. They are both doing well. I have no clue what could be causing his mood of late.”
“ Okay, Ezra. Look, oh, God, this was easier with Sarah believe it or not. With sex, you know, really, how is it?”
“ Does it always come down to sex?” Ezra shook his head in frustration.
“ Look, it ain’t work, it ain’t a bad anniversary, and if it ain’t his family, or Billy, that leaves you. You ain’t sick, you ain’t hurt, you ain’t undercover…I’m working with what I know here.” Buck’s fuse was nearly as short as his boss’s. Everyone was tired of just waiting for Chris to go off on whoever happened to be nearest.
“ I’m sorry, Buck. I provide for Chris’ sexual needs just as often as I always have. Does that satisfy you?” Ezra looked away, and that was his tell. Buck was learning how to read the undercover too, and while most would have written it off as embarrassment, Ezra was blushing, the ladies’ man could tell there was more to it than that. He was pretty sure he’d get farther talking to Chris, though, now that he knew what to ask and what kind of storm he was going to unleash. He was willing to try one more question though.
“ So, the sex is as good as always?”
“ I just said-”
“ Nope, you said it was as OFTEN as always.”
“ Well, then, allow me to clear up any confusion.” Ezra’s tone was short and hard, which surprised Buck. Even when uncomfortable, Ezra was never this rude to his friends. “I am more than capable of taking care of my lover, Buck. I would never leave Chris unsatisfied. Understood?”
“ Yeah. I get it. Thanks.”
“ I wish I could say it was a pleasure.” Ezra left quickly, and Buck sat at the table, considering his options. It was definitely sex. Ezra was way too defensive. And it explained Ezra’s consideration for Chris the last few weeks. Another frightening thought came to mind, and Buck wished he could just dismiss it. Chris was getting older…he wasn’t even forty-one yet, but he was damn close. And if Ezra was that snippy, maybe it was the southerner who wasn’t being satisfied. Buck fervently hoped he wasn’t about to find out that Chris was struggling with…impotence. Even thinking the word left a bad taste in the tall man’s mouth. The only way to know for sure, was to talk to Chris.
Part Eight
Chris looked up as Buck came into his office without knocking, and closed the door behind him. He was about to let his old friend have it, but Buck cut him off.
“ Chris, we gotta talk.”
“ Well, since I’m obviously not busy.”
“ You ain’t that busy, and if you keep this shit up you ain’t gonna have a job in another week. Travis is all set to kill you himself, I think.”
“ Shit. Have I been that bad?”
“ JD hasn’t spoken to you in three days, Chris. You noticed how many forms and shit is coming to you through Ezra, or another one of us? No one wants to deal with you anymore, and I’m ending it now. You got problems with Ezra, then you keep it at home. That’s the deal you two made when you started this up.”
“ I know. Damn it, I know. How’d you know it was Ezra?”
“ Know you. And, I talked to Ez.”
“ Yeah?”
“ Oh yeah. Since he’s been taking lessons in rudeness from you, I’m asking you. How’s the sex?”
“ Buck.”
“ Chris, now ain’t the time to get embarrassed on me. I’ve been here with you before…well maybe not the exact same problem, but I remember a patch with you and Sarah-”
“ Fine. You want to know the problem?” Chris stood up angrily, feeling his frustration and anger with the whole situation rising up again.
“ Yes, and you are going to SIT DOWN and tell me.”
“ BUCK-”
“ SIT DOWN! For once in your god-damned life, Chris, just do it! You don’t want to scream this particular conversation, do you?”
“ No.” Chris admitted, dropping back down into his chair.
“ So, what’s the problem?”
“ You tell anyone any of this, and I’ll cut your balls off with a wooden spoon, clear?”
“ You know I wouldn’t.”
“ Ezra…he hasn’t…we haven’t made love since the morning of the Burdett arrest.”
“ He told me the sex was as often as always.”
“ Really?”
“ Okay, his exact words were more like ‘I provide for Chris-’…Oh.”
“ Yeah. He provides for me. I think I’ve had more blowjobs in the last couple weeks than in my entire marriage.”
“ So, he’s not participating?” Chris ignored his friend’s blush, although he’d never thought to actually see Buck blush when talking about sex, Buck had wanted to know. Maybe his friend would have an idea to help.
“ Aside from providing a mouth and hands? No. Every night, Buck. Every damned night, he just goes down on me. He doesn’t even get hard most times anymore.”
“ You telling me EZRA’S not getting it up?”
“ You thought it was me?”
“ Well, you are getting old…”
“ Buck, I’m a year older than you.”
“ That’s why it scared the shit out of me, honestly.”
“ Shit, Buck, two weeks ago, he’d be hard if I kissed him for more than ten seconds. Now, nothing. Its like Burdett just…turned him off. Completely.”
“ You think maybe he’s having problems with the whole thing in the warehouse?”
“ I know it, but try getting him to talk about it! Damn stubborn son of a bitch. And I’d rather we both went without than this thing now. I might as well be hiring it done.”
Part Nine
“ Chris, you don’t mean that.”
“ Fuck I don’t!” Chris stood, standing by the window, “He’s so damn efficient about it. He used to really enjoy it, but now its like just a routine, get off work, drive home, dinner, read or watch the TV a bit, get my nightly blow and go to bed.”
“ He needs professional help, Chris. You can’t fix this.”
“ I know that. I’ve tried to tell him. More than once. I just can’t…damn it Buck, I can’t make him. I can’t. Every time I bring it up, he just gets this look. It’s like a puppy, you’ve been nothing but sweet to, this dog adores you, right?” Buck nodded, knowing his friend needed to talk through this. “ Dog’d do anything for you, and you know it. Imagine that dog one day, he can’t remember the trick you taught him, so he does the best he can, and looks for the treat.”
“ Yeah, I remember when Strider did that same thing when you first got him.” Strider, that mutt Chris had somehow adopted two weeks out of the Navy. It’d followed him home, literally, to his parents’ porch in Indiana, and that was it. He’d died with Sarah and Adam, investigators were pretty sure he’d been standing right outside Adam’s door when the car blew.
“ But, he did the wrong trick. So, you kick the shit out of it, instead of giving it the treat. That’s what he looks like. I can’t do that, Buck. I’m so pissed at him right now I could strangle him, but I love him too much to see him hurt like that.”
“ He tell you what the problem is, exactly?”
“ No. Just that first day, the day it happened. I got the impression that my touch…it felt like Burdett’s to him.”
“ Fuck, Chris. We have to make him talk to someone. He’s miserable, you’re miserable, and the whole damn building is suffering for it.”
“ Travis real pissed?”
“ Yes, but I think the bigger problem is that he’s wondering how much truth there was to the bitch’s accusations.” Buck watched Chris fall back into his chair.
“ Shit. Ezra won’t talk to a shrink, Buck. What about Josiah? Do you think he could help?”
“ Worth a shot. Look, I’ll talk to Josiah, and you talk to Ezra.”
“ You want to do this now?”
“ Sooner the better. I’m sure I can convince Travis to let us all have the half-day.”
“ Fine. You do that, and I’ll see if I can convince Ezra to talk to Josiah.”
Part Ten
“ You wanted to see me, Chris?”
“ Yeah. Mind shutting the door?” Ezra obediently closed the door, Chris watched as his lover perched on the edge of his desk. He didn’t miss the smile that lit the southerner’s face when he gestured for him to sit directly in front of him. Reaching up, Chris brushed his hand across his firecracker’s cheek, before brushing it lightly through chestnut hair.
“ I love you.”
“ I love you too, Chris.” Ezra leaned forward, and Chris welcomed the chaste kiss.
“ Ezra, I need you to do something for us.”
“ Us?”
“ Me and you.” Recognition dawned on a beautiful face, and Chris tried his best to harden his heart against those eyes. It was working, sort of, for now.
“ No, please. Please, Chris don’t do this. I’m sorry, I can-”
“ No. No more. You need to talk to someone. You won’t talk to me, and its obviously not getting better.”
“ Chris, please. If you love me-”
“ Ezra, I love you so much, I’m willing to tell you have to do this.”
“ You can’t make me.”
“ I was hoping you’d do this, for me.” Chris admitted, meeting watery emerald eyes.
“ But I take care of you-”
“ I hate that!” Chris actually felt better immediately, having confessed to that, “ I hate that you talk like that. Ezra, you are NOT a twenty dollar whore, and I refuse to treat you like one. I want to make love to you, which means that I can touch you without you cringing, or needing to puke, or cry your eyes out. I don’t want you to take care of just my physical needs. Please, Ezra.”
“ This…this is important to you, isn’t it? You really want me to see a psychologist?”
“ You are very important to me. The most important thing in my life. And yes, I think it’d be best if you spoke to a professional about Burdett.” Chris didn’t miss Ezra’s cringe at the man’s name. He’d woken more than once to an empty bed, knowing that his lover was having nightmares. That was what usually set off the earlier discussions of a psychologist.
“ I love you, Chris. I love you more than I ever thought it was possible to love another person. I’d do anything for you. I’d kill for you, and I’d die for you. I’d give up everything and move to Zimbabwe if you wished it.” Chris smiled against the kiss that was placed on his lips. “ I love you so much, that I’m willing to do the most distasteful thing imaginable.”
“ You’ll do it? Talk to someone about this?”
“ Yes. Because I can’t deny you anything, damn you.”
“ Good. I’d hate to be the only one.” Chris surrendered to the urge, and pulled his lover into his lap, before initiating a kiss that turned heavy quickly. Chris eventually pulled away, both men breathing heavily, but smiling genuinely for the first time in days.
“ Buck and I thought you might prefer to talk to Josiah, rather than one of the agency shrinks.”
“ I think…I think I might actually. As embarrassing as it will be to tell Josiah this, at least I know that no one else will ever know any of it.”
“ Well, and me.” Buck’s voice came from the door, and Chris tried to glare but was too damn happy to pull it off.
“ Don’t you ever knock anymore?”
“ When it suits me.”
“ I suppose Josiah is right behind you?” Ezra commented, sounding annoyed.
“ Correct, as usual, son.”
“ Shall we get this over with then?”
“ You know, sometimes these things take awhile. I can’t promise anything quickly.” Josiah said quickly, and Chris nodded, while Ezra merely shrugged.
“ Personally, I have nothing to lose.”
“ Ah, but we have everything to gain, baby.” Chris kissed the younger man’s nose, earning a very un-Ezra-like giggle. He’d have to remember that, thinking that for just an instant, he could see the little boy that Ezra had never been allowed to be. For a moment, he tried to imagine his lover as a child, what he’d looked like, what he’d sounded like.
“ Why don’t you two head out to the ranch, or the townhouse, or wherever you want to do this, and get started.” Chris shook himself from his thoughts to gently push his beautiful southerner towards Josiah and the door. He didn’t particularly care if it took months, as long as Ezra needed, but could anyone blame him if he might prefer to make love to his firecracker as soon as possible?
Part Eleven
“Chris.?
“Yeah, baby?” Chris never looked up from the book he was reading in the barely sufficient light from the porch light, enjoying the warm spring night in the hammock, with Ezra curled next to him, his nose in another book. At least, the southerner HAD been reading.
“ What time is it?”
“Don’t you have your watch on?”
“ Beloved, if I had my own watch on, I would not have asked you, now would I?”
Chris sighed, but obediently checked his watch. It was late, but they had tomorrow off, so he wasn’t worried. Besides, he would have been content to pass the night in the hammock, just being close to his lover. It had only been two weeks since Ezra had started spending almost every evening with Josiah, but Chris was missing the quality time with his lover.
“ About a minute ’til midnight.” He was about one word into the next paragraph of his book when Ezra’s hand gently tugged it from his hands, dropping the bookmark back inside and dropping it into the grass with his own, already abandoned novel. He was about to protest, when Ezra’s lips met his, and he forgot why he wanted to protest his lover’s very good idea. Chris felt an insistent tongue at his lips, and opened more than willingly, wrapping his own tongue around Ezra’s. While concentrating on the juncture of their mouths, Chris was hardly oblivious to the hands that were now wandering across his chest. When they were forced to part by the sometimes aggravating biological need for oxygen, Chris trailed kisses along a still smooth jaw, wondering once more at his lover’s inability to grow decent facial hair. Nuzzling behind Ezra’s ear, the older man knew exactly where to tease to earn those marvelous little moans that came from somewhere deep in the southerner’s being. His hands happily roamed down the muscular chest, brushing across nipples through the light-weight sweater, as he slowly moved back towards Ezra’s mouth with his own. The alarm on his watch signaled that it was indeed midnight, and Ezra pulled him in for a passionate kiss. Out of long habit, Chris rolled to accommodate the kiss more comfortably, pressing their bodies together. This was as far as most of their kissing had gotten recently. He felt Ezra insinuating a leg between his, and their bodies melted together even further, bringing his attention to the very definite bulge in his lover’s jeans.
“ Ezra-”
“ Let’s go inside, beloved.” Chris agreed wholeheartedly, and rolled from the hammock before helping his firecracker from it as well. Stepping back, Chris admired a firm ass as Ezra bent over to pick up their books, and led the way into the house. The books were dropped on the kitchen table, but Ezra continued straight to the master bedroom, before turning and burying his hands in Chris’ shirt so that he could pull him into his body once more. Their lips met in a frenzied kiss, and Chris tried to slow himself down, to make sure that Ezra was really ready for this. They hadn’t done more than kiss really in a month, and while he was more than ready to end that streak, he was not going to press for anything more than his baby was able to comfortably offer. As he began to pull back from the kiss, he felt Ezra’s hand wrap around his right wrist, and allowed his hand to be guided to where the southerner wished it to be. He nearly bit down on the tongue invading his mouth when his hand was unsubtly placed directly over that insistent bulge in the younger man’s jeans. Finally, he managed to untangle their tongues, and pulled back to stare at his lover, without removing his hand from where it still rested. Ezra pressed on his wrist, causing him to exert more pressure over the encased erection, and Chris held himself back from jumping the smaller form at the moan released from deep in his throat.
“ Ezra…are you sure?”
Part Twelve
“ Chris, does that feel unsure to you?”
“ Not exactly.” Chris grinned, rubbing his hand heavily over the denim, watching emerald eyes flutter wonderfully. It only lasted a moment though, as those same eyes flew open a moment later, looking at him steadily with a look he struggled for a moment to read.
“ Now that it’s officially the 28th, Christopher, I want my birthday present. Come here so I can unwrap it.”
“ Ezra.” Chris didn’t bother to even attempt to smother the moan as he felt strong, insistent hands remove his belt and unbutton his jeans. The zipper was tugged down quickly, and he groaned again as he felt his baby’s hands slip inside his boxers.
“ Have you forgotten how this works, Chris?” Ezra’s voice in his ear brought him back to earth, and he smiled tightly.
“ Not at all. Just giving the birthday boy a head start.”
“ Mmmm. And here, I thought you were supposed to be giving me a present, not me giving you one.”
“ Come here you.” Chris nearly laughed as he pulled his lover in for another long round of kissing. Steeling himself against his southerner’s moan of disappointment, he removed the hand from the younger man’s crotch, to put both hands to work pulling a sweater over a chestnut head and tossing it in the general direction of the laundry hamper. Plucking at nipples that were already hardening on his way south, he moved on to tug harshly at Ezra’s belt, tossing it after the sweater and immediately moving to unbutton the fly of the smaller man’s jeans. He stopped for a moment, allowing Ezra to pull his own shirt over his head, and assumed it would be found somewhere towards the closet in the morning. Then his hands went back to finish the fly, then ducked inside to brush against a silk covered erection. At that, Ezra broke the kiss, gasping for air, and throwing his head back as if Chris had just brushed against his prostate.
“ Okay, baby?”
“ Feels so good. Been too long.”
“ I know.” Chris quickly pushed the denim down far enough that it dropped the rest of the way on its own, and encouraged the compact southerner to lean on him so he could kick off his deck sandals and step from the jeans. Grabbing silk-covered cheeks, he pulled Ezra into his body, attacking that perfect neck with everything he felt at that moment. Luckily, he wasn’t so far gone that he wasn’t able to catch the smaller man when his knees buckled after a particularly hard nip.
“ Chris. Chris, I need you.”
“ I’m yours.” He replied easily, finishing the job Ezra had abandoned, pushing his jeans and boxers to the floor, before stepping out of the pile and moving them both back to the bed. Closely following a lithe body to the mattress, Chris lost his own concentration for a moment when their erections rubbed together beautifully through slightly damp silk. Ezra’s own hands pushed the silk boxers further down his body, wriggling as he managed to get them past his knees and then kicking them somewhere off the bed. Chris kissed across the smooth expanse of a chest, when strong legs wrapped around his waist tightly.
“ Just take me, Chris. Right now.”
“ I want to enjoy this, baby.”
“ My birthday present, and I say take me now.”
“ Demanding aren’t you?”
“ Hell yes. I’m only turning 29 once. I want to make sure I get the exact present I want.”
“ I think I can arrange it.” Chris reached into the bedside drawer, and was quickly lubing two fingers to press inside the tight hole Ezra was wantonly spreading to show him. The younger man squirmed, and for a moment Chris thought he was moving too quickly.
“ More. Damn it, Chris, get in me.”
“ Been awhile, baby. Gotta be careful.”
“ We’ve gone longer before, when I was on a case. Please, beloved.” Chris was helpless between his own need, and Ezra’s rather obvious desire. Slicking his cock hurriedly, he pushed inside that delicious cavern, and waited only a moment for the man beneath him to adjust before he began to thrust, deep and hard. A few moments later, his hand wrapped around Ezra’s heavily weeping cock, Chris flew over the edge and came hard inside the perfect body of his southern firecracker. Ezra followed an instant later, screaming incoherently.
Ezra felt a familiar and welcome weight on his chest, as Chris finally brought his breathing back under control. It had been too long since he felt so tired, so loved and so completely good all wrapped into one. As much as it chafed his pride, he was truly grateful that sometimes, the people who loved him knew what he needed better than he did. Josiah had been a wonderful help, and he was slowly beginning to accept the older man as something of a father figure. There were worse men to stand in Caleb Standish’s stead, and most of those who’d tried had indeed been far worse men than Josiah Sanchez. And somewhere in the last two weeks, he’d come to the conclusion that the man he remembered would have loved him enough to want him to have someone to go to when he needed a father. Despite what he’d often told people, he remembered his Daddy, and that man had adored his son with his entire being. Loving Chris, Ezra thought he was beginning to understand that kind of love. But for right now, he didn’t really want to think about his father or Josiah, as much as he knew he needed to deal with it eventually.
“ Chris.”
“ Yeah?” The voice was only half awake, but Ezra was confident that he could change that.
“ We have at least 8 hours before our teammates arrive. I can think of quite a few things to fill that time with, and sleep is not included.”
“ Really?”
“ Yes. I’ve missed you so much. I want you to give me everything. Love me all night long, and don’t hurry. Take it slow and easy, beloved. Just love me, Chris.”
“ How can I do anything but love you?”
The End
Continues in Unspoken