Cover Up (30 page)

Authors: KC Burn

BOOK: Cover Up

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Parker chuckled and nodded, gaze hot as he scanned Ivan up and down.

Yes. Alicia was lucky he had enough restraint to get them upstairs, but that’s all that could be expected of a man who’d been half dead for the past month.

“
I
VAN
! And Parker? So glad you could come.” Davy gave them both a hug and ushered them into the house.

Kurt stood in the living room with several people, only a couple of whom Ivan knew. Parker would know even fewer, but that was okay. They hadn’t been back together even forty-eight hours. No way was Ivan letting his delectable boyfriend wander around a houseful of gay men. Well. Not everyone here was gay, but a good portion were. Not one of them would be under any illusions about who Parker was with.

“Do you know everyone?” Davy asked.

Ivan shook his head. “No, but that’s okay. We’ll manage.”

Parker tucked up close, and Ivan threaded their fingers together. Although Parker had never come out and said anything, Ivan suspected he was nervous in groups of people he didn’t know.

Kurt caught sight of them and excused himself from the group of men and women he’d been talking to. As he approached, his glance took in their entwined hands, and he smiled. “I take it things have worked out?”

Parker relaxed a bit. “He’s moving in.”

“Yeah? Well you already have some experience with that, don’t you? Ivan knows my partner, Simon, but I don’t think either of you have met his wife or my brothers.”

Kurt led them into the center of the room. Parker smiled as they were introduced to Simon, Kurt’s partner on the force, and his wife, Jen, as well as two of Kurt’s brothers.

Their easy acceptance of Parker’s presence at his side had Parker relaxing even more. For a few minutes, the conversation eddied around them, leaving them in their own oasis, just him and Parker. “You know, Kurt’s got six brothers and sisters.”

Parker’s eyes widened. “They aren’t all here, are they? This place will be packed.”

“I don’t know if they’re all showing up tonight or not. My understanding is that the family makes a point of all being available for birthdays, weddings, and births, but other events don’t have the whole crew.” Ivan smiled. “My family likes the Sunday dinner tradition.”

Parker paled. “Your family.”

Ivan smiled and squeezed Parker’s arm. “Don’t you worry. They’ll love you. If you’re up to it, I’ll take you to meet them tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Trust me. They know how miserable I’ve been without you. My sisters especially will adore you.”

Parker pressed his lips together and nodded.

“Ivan, I didn’t know you’d be here!”

Ivan broke away from Parker to greet the newcomer.

“Rick? How are you?” The lithe blond gave him a big hug and kept his arms draped around Ivan’s neck. Parker wasn’t pleased, but he didn’t say anything. Not yet. Ivan took a step away from Rick’s embrace but wasn’t able to evade it entirely.

“I guess you know Kurt, right?”

“Yes, I know Kurt. We’re going to be in the same department when I go back to work.” Rick knew he’d been off work and that he’d been in the Drug Squad. Fortunately, he hadn’t pressed for much in the way of an explanation about Ivan’s erratic and mysterious behavior when he’d moved in with Parker. “How do you know Kurt?”

“Davy’s one of my best friends.”

Shit, the world was a really small place.

“So, my big, strong cop, are you feeling better?” Rick’s words had Parker frowning.

Parker took a step closer. “He’s my big, strong cop.”

“Oh, ho, the boy has teeth.”

“Rick, enough.” He knew Rick well enough to know he wasn’t actually trying to make any sort of claim, but he was testing Parker. Sometimes, Rick did shit just to get a rise out of people, but he was a good friend, one of the few Ivan had; he didn’t want Rick and Parker at odds.

“I’m not a boy, and he’s mine.” Then again, Ivan could get used to a possessive Parker.

“Really, Rick? Aren’t you a little old to be getting into a catfight with a twink?”

They all turned toward the new voice.

“Ian?” Ivan coughed uncomfortably. He hadn’t expected to be surrounded by three men he’d slept with, although Ian had only been a one-night stand. More than an anonymous quickie at a club, but it hadn’t developed into the semi-regular encounters he’d had with Rick.

“Ivan?”

Rick’s grip around his neck tightened, and Parker glared at all three of them.

“Ivan.” Parker wasn’t stupid, and he was getting angry. “Have you slept with both these guys?”

Neither Rick nor Ian was happy about that revelation. Ivan finally shook Rick off and wrapped his arms around Parker. “I told you about that bad break up, remember?”

Parker nodded tightly, eyes shining. He had to fix this. “I went a little crazy afterward. Slept with a lot of guys. But Rick and I became friends.”

A huff of irritation came from behind, but right now, no one mattered more than Parker.

“But not since? Wait.” Parker closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I have no right to ask that. But never again, right?”

Ivan brushed his lips over Parker’s. “Not since I met you. I couldn’t.”

A blinding smile made Ivan wonder just how long they had to stick around to be polite. With his arm tucked around Parker’s waist, they turned back to Rick and Ian, who stood toe to toe, glaring at each other. Kurt joined them, seemingly oblivious of the antagonistic undercurrents.

“Hey, I see you met my other brother, Ian,” Kurt said.

“Ian’s your brother?” Parker’s voice was shocked.

Kurt raised a brow. “Oh. I see. Which of you were one of Ian’s club conquests?”

Parker poked a finger at Ivan, while his face heated. Perhaps Kurt wasn’t oblivious to the undercurrents so much as accustomed to them. Apparently, since Ivan’s encounter with Kurt’s brother the guy had come out of the closet. Good for him.

“And Ivan slept with Rick too.” Great. Parker didn’t need to spill all the secrets, did he?

Kurt nodded. “Well, that explains the glaring.”

“You… you’re not upset?” Ivan had never been in a position to be protective of siblings because of their lovers; his sisters had both found their significant others while Ivan was still in his mid-teens, but Kurt might feel differently.

“No. Why would I? I’ve always known he was a bit of slut, but I only recently found out it was guys he was banging.” Kurt turned, a teasing expression on his face, but somehow, Rick and Ian had both disappeared without anyone noticing.

Kurt shook his head. “Davy’ll kill them if they’ve left again without telling us.”

Again? Ian’s bitchy words about the catfight made a lot more sense.

“Hey, speaking of leaving, do you mind if we take off? Give Davy our best?”

Kurt laughed and cuffed Ivan on the shoulder. “Yeah, no problem.”

On their way out, they waved at a few people, but they didn’t pause. Out on the porch, Parker pulled him to stop.

“Really? No one while we were apart?”

“Really. No one since I met you. I….” It was still too soon to talk about the
L
word, wasn’t it? Parker was it for him, though.

Parker’s eyes softened, like he’d known what Ivan had been about to say.

“I know. Me neither. No one else ever again.”

“No one else. I promise. You’re all I want. Forever.”

Parker traced a finger over his lips. “Forever.”

About the Author

KC B
URN
has been writing for as long as she can remember and is a sucker for happy endings (of all kinds). After moving from Toronto to Florida for her husband to take a dream job, she discovered a love of gay romance and fulfilled a dream of her own—getting published. By day she edits web content, and at night she neglects her supportive, understanding hubby and needy cat to write stories about men loving men in the past, present and future. Writing is always fun and rewarding, but writing about her guys is the most fun she’s had in a long time, and she hopes you’ll enjoy them as much as she does.

Visit KC at her website: http://www.kcburn.com or on Twitter: http://twitter.com/authorkcburn.

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