B4 Page 3

  Andy sighed and plopped into the chair next to him. It creaked.

  “I’m Sean Callahan and this is Andy Mantegna. We’re with the Haydon Cliff Police Department. Homicide division.

  “They got enough murders here for a whole division devoted to it?” an old man asked.

  “Of course they do,” the woman responded for them. “They killed all those poor people in the park.”

  Sean didn’t know who “they” were, as the killer had been one asshole. “Your name, ma’am?”

  “Am I under arrest, Officer?”

  “It’s Detective, I’m sure.” Another older woman appeared at their table and stuck out her hand at Sean. “Mavis Pillary. P-I-L-L-A-R-Y. That’s Norma Moore and her husband Eugene.”

  Sean shook her hand. “Ma’am.”

  She sat on the other side of Norma and Eugene.

  “No one’s under arrest,” Andy spoke up. “We just want to ask some questions related to the victims.”

  Mavis eyed him. “You’re a cutie. You married, son?”

  He cleared his throat. “It’s Detective, Mrs. Pillary. And no, I’m not.”

  “If we can focus on our reason for being here and finish up,” Sean interrupted, “everyone can get back to enjoying their evening. Rose O’Hearn played bingo here, didn’t she?”

  “Did she?” Eugene asked. “Which one was she, Norma?”

  “Old lady that sat at that table way over there,” Norma told him. “Yes, she did play here, though we didn’t know her too well. Just ran into her at the coffee table or the bathroom, that kind of thing.”

  “Was she the one that wore the beanie?” he asked.

  “No, no dear. The one next to her.”

  “How about you, Mrs. Pillary?” Andy asked.

  “She won a lot. That I know,” Mavis said with a sniff. “Quite unfair.”

  Sean raised his eyebrows. “Why is that?”

  “She already had money. It’s always the ones who don’t need it that win. Some of us could really use it.”

  “Do you think gambling is a good way to make money?” This from Andy. It earned him several hard stares.

  “How about Maria Castro?” Sean asked, drawing their attention back to him.

  Norma Moore frowned. “There are so many here, it’s hard to know them by name.”

  “Yes,” her husband agreed. “And some don’t come every week. Just sometimes.”

  Sean turned to Andy. “Got that picture of Maria Castro?”

  “On my phone. Tony sent it.” Andy took his cell phone out of his pocket, stabbed his finger at it, then passed around the digital picture Maria’s son had provided for them.

  Mavis looked at it first. She shrugged. “I think…maybe. Not every week. Maybe once a month? She came by herself. Didn’t talk to anyone, I think. At least that’s my recollection.”

  The phone was passed to the other two. Neither could remember for sure.

  As Sean and Andy got up to leave, Mavis checked her watch. “Wonder where Annabelle is. She’s usually here by now.”

  Sean exchanged a look with Andy. “What’s Annabelle’s last name?”

  “You know, I don’t think she ever said. But her daughter drops her off and picks her up. She wasn’t feeling well last week. That’s probably it. Under the weather.”

  Sean nodded. “Okay. Thanks for talking to us.”

  They questioned a few people at other tables, but they got similar results. Most remembered Rose, but only a few recalled Maria.

  “Dead end, huh?” Andy asked as they left the lodge. He winced at the word “dead,” but Sean ignored that. In their business, you couldn’t be sensitive about such things.

  “Tomorrow I’d like to re-interview Tony Castro, but for now, let’s call it a day, yeah?”

  “Sounds great to me.”

  “Want to grab some dinner?” Sean tried to make it casual-sounding. They hadn’t talked about the “almost thing” the night before. They’d kept the day, the work, strictly business. But now that it was time to end their shift, Sean was ready to see where things went.

  “Okay. What do you have in mind?”

  Sean liked casual, honestly. He was not a particularly fancy guy. He preferred unassuming restaurants, more rustic than hoity toity. But Andy, on the other hand, when off duty, dressed like he belonged on a men’s fashion magazine. Sean was pretty sure he liked fine dining.

  Either way, he wasn’t looking for a meal that would fill them up too much, because he was hoping to continue what they’d barely started.

  “How about we go back to the station, you get your car, and I grab us some burgers at Luke’s and we take them back to my apartment? It’s closer than your house.”

  And Sean knew there he’d have the necessary supplies if things progressed. Andy might, too, but it was an unknown factor. Sean preferred to be prepared.

  Andy nodded. “Yeah, that sound good. Get some fries, too.”

  Sean smirked. “Of course.”

  * * * *

  Andy was waiting for him when he pulled up to the carport directly in front of his apartment building. He parked under the awning in his assigned space and got out. He spotted Andy’s car in one of the guest spots.

  Sean reached into his backseat and took out the greasy paper bag that contained their burgers and fries. He also grabbed the six-pack of beer he’d picked up at the convenience store next to Luke’s.

  He grinned at Andy. “All set.”

  Sean lived on the second floor, in Apartment Two of this particular building, and he let Andy head up the stairs first, mostly so he could have a good view of his partner’s ass on the way up.

  Once at the door, Sean used his key to open it. “Make yourself at home there on the couch and I’ll get this set up. You want a glass with your beer?”

  “If you have a cold one, yeah.”

  “I do.”

  Sean went into his kitchen, flicking on the light as he did so. Yeah, he didn’t have Andy over much. He recalled a poker game and maybe one other time. This wasn’t Sean’s “forever” home or even, if he was honest, an apartment he intended to stay in long, and Andy’s house was all around better for gatherings.

  Still, he liked the sight of Andy on his couch. He liked the idea even more of Andy in his bed. And he wondered when he had begun to think that way. Pretty recently, sure, but he’d known since the beginning he was insanely attracted to Andy. But Sean supposed he had never really thought about acting on that.

  Until now.

  Sean plopped the wrapped burgers on a couple of paper plates, added fries, and grabbed two glasses and two beers, returning to the living room.

  “I haven’t had Luke’s since last Christmas,” Andy said. He unwrapped the burger. “Trying to stay away from too much fast food.”

  “Sorry. Should have thought of that.”

  “Nah, once in a while is okay. I was eating out almost every night. Gaining.”

  Sean grinned and shook his head. “I don’t think you need to worry.”

  “Really?” Andy poured his beer into his glass. “How’s that, Callahan?”

  “You’re still the hottest guy at the precinct.”

  Andy choked on the sip he had just taken. “Me?”

  “Yes, you. I’ve always thought so.”

  “You’ve never done anything about it.”

  Sean nodded and sat back on the leather sofa. “A few reasons. One, when we first met, I was seeing someone. Two, I wasn’t sure if you were straight. Three, despite the first two, getting involved with a co-worker is dicey.”

  “True. And there was already Lopez and O’Hara.”

  “I don’t give a rat’s ass about that. Them being together shouldn’t mean we can’t be.”

  “The gay thing.”

  Sean snorted. “What about it?”

  “Rivers.”

  “Eh, I don’t think he cares about that. I think it’s more about any partners being involved with each other. He wouldn’t dig, for instance, Suzanne wi
th Martin either.”

  “Hmm. I don’t know.”

  “You think that should stop us?”

  Andy moistened his lips with his tongue. “I didn’t say that. I mean, I get it. I knew you invited me over, because, well…”

  “Have you changed your mind, Andy? From last night? It’s cool if you have.”

  “Is it?”

  Sean sighed and ran a hand over the top of his head. “I’ll be disappointed, sure. But I’m not an ass. Both of us have to want it, to be into it. I wouldn’t force anything on you, Andy. Ever.”

  “I know,” Andy whispered. “And the answer is, ‘no.’ I haven’t changed my mind.”

  Chapter 5

  Sean stared at him for so long without a response that Andy began to feel nervous. Or anxious. Maybe both. The thing was, Andy wanted this. Wanted Sean. And maybe he was being too coy or casual about it. Andy didn’t want to screw this up. Screw them up.

  He didn’t do casual very well. If that’s what this was. But he was willing to try, if it meant sex with Sean.

  Right now, though, the burger and fries on the paper plate Sean had given him didn’t interest him at all. Whatever hunger he’d had was gone. For food, anyway. He set the plate on the coffee table and stood, holding out his hand for Sean.

  “We can reheat the burgers,” he said, trying to sound deep and hoarse, not really sure if he succeeded. But Sean’s pupils dilated, and he set his plate aside as well.

  Sean put his hand in Andy’s, but then it was he who tugged them down the short hallway to the apartment’s bedroom.

  It occurred to Andy that maybe he should have stopped for condoms and lube, but then figured Sean probably had whatever they needed. Why invite Andy over for sex if he didn’t? And yes, Andy knew that was the reason for the invitation.

  Sean was already pulling off his T-shirt as they entered the bedroom. His muscles rippled as he tossed the shirt to the carpet. His hands paused at the belt around his waist. “You, too.”

  Andy unbuttoned his long-sleeved burgundy shirt, slipping it from his shoulders and letting it fall at his feet. Then he yanked off his undershirt, letting it join the other shirt on the floor. “You want to top or bottom?”

  “Preference?”

  “I like both.”

  “Me, too.” Sean grinned. “But tonight, I want to fuck you.”

  Andy shivered, his mouth turning dry, and his whole body going on high alert. He was already half-hard.

  “Be right back.”

  “What?” Andy asked, dumbfounded.

  “Gotta get what we need. You finish stripping.”

  * * * *

  Sean went into the adjacent bathroom and opened the cabinet beneath the sink. He snagged the bottle of lube and tore off two condoms packets. Before returning to Andy, he stripped out of the rest of his clothes.

  He stopped before the mirror, giving himself a mini-pep talk. Because for him, for them, this was a big step. Going from being detective partners to lovers. It didn’t necessarily mean they were going to pick out curtains together, but well, maybe, someday, it might.

  “Sean?”

  Oops, he was taking too long, clearly. “Coming,” he called. Then muttered, “Well, not yet.” He went into the bedroom, holding the supplies. “Got them.”

  Andy smirked. “I see that.”

  Sean set them on the bed and blew out a breath. He raked his gaze over Andy’s nude body. No doubt about it, his partner was built and gorgeous. He had quite a bit of dark hair covering his chest and tapering over his abs to just above the goods.

  Sean cleared his throat. “So.”

  Andy laughed. “Nervous?”

  “Hell, yeah.” Sean grinned. “I just…this is you. Us. We just kissed for the first time last night and…”

  “Hey.” Andy put one hand on Sean’s shoulder and the other on his cheek. “We don’t have to. You know? We’re not on anyone’s agenda or timeline but our own.”

  “I want to. I just…don’t want to mess this up. Us up.”

  “You can’t.” Andy covered Sean’s lips with his own. He pulled back to swipe his tongue across Sean’s mouth. “Come on. Let’s fuck.”

  He pulled Sean toward the bed, tumbling them both onto the mattress. He rolled them so that Sean lay underneath him. Andy framed his partner’s head in his hand as he kissed him over and over again, tongue in his mouth, dancing together.

  Sean felt the press of Andy’s hard cock against him and his own cock jumped to full attention. “Fuck.”

  “Yeah.” Andy grinned. He moved his hand between their bodies and curled his fist around Sean’s dick.

  “Jesus, that feels good,” Sean groaned.

  Andy maneuvered himself so that his cock slid against Sean’s, the two of them rubbing against each other. “God, it does.” He moaned. “I could come just like this. Just feeling your cock sliding with mine.”

  “Yeah, me, too. And maybe next time that’ll be enough. But right now, I really want to fuck you.”

  “You sure?” He pressed Sean into the mattress. “Because I’m more than ready to be inside you.”

  Sean closed his eyes and swallowed. “Whatever. Yeah. Please just do something.”

  Andy reached for the lube and condoms.

  Sean snatched the condoms out of his hand. “Ride me.”

  “Huh?”

  “Ride. Me.” He arched up against Andy. “Put the condom on me and straddle me. Fuck yourself on me.”

  Andy laughed. “You’re determined. Okay. Let’s do this.” He ripped open the package and removed the rubber.

  Sean watched him, mesmerized, as Andy carefully rolled it over Sean’s aching, slicked erection. He swallowed. “Damn. Can’t wait.”

  “Going to have to. Hand me the lube.”

  Sean did so, nearly shaking from anticipation as Andy squirted a generous amount onto his fingers. First, he slicked up Sean’s cock, fingers and grip lingering over the shaft until Sean was practically a mewling mess.

  Andy oozed out more lube, and this time, lifted slightly to shove his fingers inside himself. Sean groaned.

  “Like watching?”

  “I like watching you,” Sean admitted.

  Andy moaned and half-closed his eyes. “Jesus.”

  “Apparently it feels as good as it looks.”

  Andy spread his legs wider as more fingers disappeared into his ass. Sean had never really seen anyone fuck themselves, not like this, and it was quite a turn-on.

  “I want a part of that,” he protested the more Andy seemed to be getting into it. Andy’s dick was weeping pre-cum all over both of them.

  “Okay, Okay. But make it quick.” He withdrew his fingers and straddled Sean right above his cock. He pushed down just as Sean pressed up and into Andy’s ass.

  “God damn.”

  Sean gripped Andy’s hipbones as he rose even more within the other man. Andy’s tight heat gripped him so hard, Sean saw stars. He’d never felt anything quite so intense.

  Just as he started thrusting into Andy, his partner pushed down on him, gripping him tighter still, then pulling up, riding him, up, down, up, down.

  With one hand pressed to Sean’s chest as he fucked himself on the dick, Andy used his other hand to grip his own shaft, jerking it rough and fast, the same way Sean thrust into him.

  Neither of them could last that long. It was too intense, maybe too long for each of them since anything like this, whatever it was, Sean could already feel his body, his spine tingling, his balls drawing close.

  Andy was going to have bruises, Sean thought, as his fingers dug into those hips. Once, twice, three more thrusts, and he couldn’t hold back, he was coming, emptying into the condom.

  He moved one hand off Andy’s hip to join his partner on stroking his dick, sliding their grips together over hard, hot steel. Andy whimpered and thrashed, his ass still speared by Sean’s softening cock.

  “Seannnn,” he groaned, white ribbons of cum jutting over both of them.

  Andy
collapsed onto Sean’s chest, an exhausted heavy weight. Sean felt the thundering beat of both their hearts.

  “Wow.” Andy laughed.

  “Yeah. Wow.” Sean grinned. “Mind officially blown.”

  “Give me a bit and I’ll blow something else.”

  Sean chuckled and closed his eyes. It was going to be a good night.

  * * * *

  “Tell me something.”

  Sean blinked open his eyes and stared at the ceiling. He’d fallen asleep. Or at least he thought he had, but wasn’t sure for how long.

  After their first fuck, about a half an hour or so later, Andy had made good on his promise—or threat, whatever it was—and had given Sean quite the blow job. He’d come so hard down Andy’s throat, he was pretty sure he’d lost brain cells.

  He’d returned the favor shortly after that. Then he’d zonked out. Until now.

  “What time is it?”

  Long pause. “Looks like one-fifteen.”

  “No wonder I’m hungry. We never ate those burgers.” He laughed as his stomach growled at the reminder.

  Andy snorted. “We can get up and reheat them. Tell me something.”

  “About what?” Sean sat up and turned on the bedside lamp.

  “I don’t know. Anything. Something about you, Sean. We’ve been partners for months. Now we’re, well, what we are. And I don’t know a lot about you.”

  “I’m bisexual.”

  “No kidding,” he said dryly.

  Sean thought about it. “What about you? Have you been with women and guys?”

  Andy shrugged. “Mostly guys.”

  “But there was a woman?”

  “Or two. Yeah. I went with a girl in high school and part of college. After we broke up, I got involved with a couple of guys.”

  “At the same time?”

  “Uh-huh.” Andy smiled. “What can I say? Experimenting and young. None of the three of us wanted any commitment. It was strictly a physical thing. That went on for a couple of years. Drinking and—”

  “Carousing.”

  Andy laughed. “Pretty much. I was going to the Police Academy then. I kept the physical stuff under wraps because none of the three of us were out and proud.”

  “Were they in the Academy, too?”

  Andy sat up, propping himself against the headboard. “Nah. Nothing like that. This is, um, well rather a cliché.”