Criminal Pleasures (28 page)

She smiled. “I’ll see you soon.” She turned and made her way gingerly down the steps.

Brendan watched until she’d gotten in her car, then he turned and went back into the apartment. When he stepped into the living room, Marc was standing over the Chinese food, staring down. “This does kind of look like vomit.”

Brendan sat on the couch and let out a long sigh. “Holy shit. Is it too early to have a drink?”

Marc grinned and joined him on the couch. “Your mother’s hilarious. I like her.”

Brendan huffed. “Give it time. You may change your mind. I’m sorry that was so awkward.”

Marc dove on Brendan, kissing him. Brendan gasped, surprised, but melted into it when he felt Marc’s tongue glide against his. He fell back onto the couch, pulling Marc on top of him.

Marc sucked Brendan’s lower lip, then pulled back, looking down at him.

“Wow,” Brendan said. “What was that for?”

“That,” he said, “was for telling your mother you love me. Right to her face.”

Brendan grinned. “That surprised you?”

He nodded.

“Well I do.”

“I know. But I was still shocked.”

Brendan gently pushed him back and they sat up. “Why did you think I’d want to hide you when she got here? Why are you so surprised I told her I love you? I mean, I said it to
you
last night, that was a hell of a lot scarier than saying it to my Mom.”

Marc shrugged. “I’m still kind of shocked by that, too. That you said it. That you seem to...mean it.”

Brendan laughed. “See, this I don’t get. I’ve been thinking I was an open book all this time, that you
must
know I was hooked.”

Marc shrugged, then smiled. “Here’s where you get to hear some of
my
insecurities.”

Brendan rubbed his hands together. “Awesome! I can’t wait.”

Marc grabbed his hand. “Stop, I’m serious.”

Brendan’s grin faded. “Okay. Talk to me.”

Marc met his eyes, a small smile on his lips. “First I’ll confess that I
love
that fact that I’m the only man who’s ever been inside you.”

Brendan nodded. “Me, too.”

“
But
,” he said, “because of that, I’ve wondered since we first met if I was just an experiment for you, something you’d eventually get tired of. You said you’d been with women before. I guess I never expected you to be willing to take me seriously, to make me part of your life. I knew you were into me, but I never thought you’d
come out
for me.”

Brendan grinned, raising his eyebrows. “Is that what I did?”

Marc nodded. “Kind of, yeah. You just told your mother you love another man. If that’s not coming out, I don’t know what is.”

“Wow,” Brendan said. “I guess I did.”

“It was very brave,” Marc said.

“It didn’t feel brave,” he said. “It just felt...right.”

Marc squeezed his hand. “So you can handle it? When everyone else finds out? I’m not trying to freak you out, but I’ve been through all this, and it can get ugly. You seem to be taking it in stride, so I just want you to be prepared. Some people might not react the way you expect. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

Brendan scowled. “I don’t care if the whole world finds out. But am I required to actually
tell
people? I don’t think I like that part. I mean, I’m gay, I’m not an alcoholic. I don’t need a twelve step program.”

Marc laughed. “Well, maybe just tell your father.”

Brendan’s face scrunched. “He already knows I’ve been with a man. I don’t think I need to make some big gesture with him. Besides, my mother will tell him about you as soon as she gets home today. As for everyone else, well, they’ll find out when they do. Or they won’t. I don’t care.”

“Here’s an idea,” Marc said. “Maybe we can have a party at my house. People can show up or not. And they can accept us or not. That way you can come out to everyone at once.”

“A coming out party?” Brendan winced.

“No,” Marc said. “Christmas is around the corner, we can have a holiday party. Where you just happen to introduce your friends and family to your boyfriend. It’ll be nice. I’ll even invite my dad, not that he’ll come.”

“Why won’t your father come?”

Marc shrugged. “I’ve had parties before, he always makes some excuse. But it will be fun! I can make my famous rum punch and a bunch of different hors d'oeuvres. ”

Brendan smirked. “Okay, Martha Stewart. But what if no one shows up?”

“I’ll invite some cops, they always show up if there’s free booze.”

A phone rang somewhere in the apartment, and Marc stood. “That’s mine. Where the hell are my jeans?”

“In my room,” Brendan said. “Oh the chair.”

Marc darted off to Brendan’s bedroom, and Brendan began packing away the bagels and cleaning up. He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.

Boyfriend
.
I have a boyfriend
.

Introducing friends and family to Marc was the last thing on his mind, he honestly didn’t give a shit what other people thought. Okay, he was still worried about making peace with his father, his gut clenching at the thought. But that would work itself out somehow. He liked that Marc wanted people to know about their relationship. Marc was the toughest guy he’d ever known. So it was somehow incredibly cute that his badass cop boyfriend was all excited about throwing a party.

And that way, Brendan would get to show him off. He still couldn’t believe a man as desirable as Marc wanted to be with him. He wondered if he’d ever get used to him, grow accustomed to his presence. He couldn’t imagine it. Even now, he was scheming on how he could get Marc to stay another night.

He moved back into the living room and wiped down the table. He could hear Marc on the phone in the bedroom, snippets of a one sided conversation through the wall.

“He did what? No, no, that’s not a good idea. Yeah, I would do it differently. No. No, I’m fine. Yeah. Really good. I’m not home right now, but email me what you have. Okay. Yeah, seriously, I’m fine. I’ll look it over tomorrow and see you on Monday. Okay, later.”

Brendan scooted into the kitchen so Marc wouldn’t think he was eavesdropping—or rather so Marc wouldn’t
know
he was eavesdropping. Marc came up behind him, wrapping his arms around his waist and kissing his neck while Brendan rinsed the mugs.

Brendan turned around and faced him, his back leaned against the sink. “Hi.”

Marc kissed him. “Hi.”

“Important call?”

Marc smiled and shrugged. “Yeah. Kind of. Work wants me to come back from leave early.
Apparently
, the detective they’ve got slotted in to do my job isn’t quite cutting it. They’re tangled up in a case and they want my input.”

“Wow,” Brendan said. “You’re indispensable. That’s great news. But are you ready?”

“Yeah. I’m ready. I kind of can’t wait to get back, actually. But...” His eyebrows pinched. “My hours can be crazy sometimes if I’m on a case. But I want to see you as much as I can.”

Brendan shrugged. “I’ll see you when I see you. I mean, we’ve both got jobs, I understand that.”

“I just want to know,” Marc said. “When I get real busy, when I’m off doing my thing, that you’re still gonna be there.”

Brendan laughed. “Dude, seriously? Have you forgotten that I
tackled
you to keep you here last night? I figured that would prove to you you’re not getting rid of me.”

Marc grabbed Brendan’s hips and tugged him in. “You can prove it to me by letting me fuck you again.”

Brendan grinned. “Right now?”

He nodded. “We got woken up before I had a chance to jump on you this morning like I planned. And we don’t want that box of condoms to go to waste. So let’s go.”

Brendan followed Marc into his room. “So you really liked my Mom?”

Marc pushed Brendan down on the bed. “Don’t talk about your Mom when I’m about to fuck you.”

Brendan snickered, but soon his laughter trailed away as Marc sucked on his neck, pressing his groin against him, spreading his legs with his knees. Marc’s erection was huge and hard. “Holy shit,” Brendan said. “You really are ready for more.”

Marc pushed up onto his elbows, grabbing Brendan’s face. “Making up for lost time,” he said, and kissed him.

Brendan opened his mouth, breathing him in, excitement stiffening his cock with the smooth glide of Marc’s tongue. He groaned as Marc reached down and stroked him through his pajamas.

“I want you right now,” Marc said. “Right fucking now.”

Brendan nodded, catching his breath. “Yes.”

He stripped out of his clothes while Marc climbed off the bed.

Marc undressed just as quickly, tossing the clothes aside on the floor, then he ripped open a condom package and rolled it onto his swollen shaft. A squirt of lube, and he coated his cock, glancing at Brendan. “Are you sore from last night?”

Brendan’s mouth went dry at the sight of Marc, his incredible nude body, contoured muscle and golden skin, firm hand stroking his cock.

“I don’t care if I’m sore,” Brendan said. “Just get over here fuck me.”

Marc climbed onto the bed and fell on top of Brendan. His hand slid between Brendan’s legs, fingers finding his entrance. Pushing one slippery finger inside Brendan, Marc kissed him, his tongue tasting of coffee and that incredible, masculine flavor that was just
him
.

It hurt when Marc slid a second finger in and Brendan winced. But then Marc found that spot, swirling his fingers over it, and Brendan’s arousal skyrocketed, his cock throbbing. “Take me,” he mumbled against Marc’s lips. “I want you.”

“I’m about to, baby.”

“Do you want me to roll over?” Brendan asked.

“No, I want to kiss you while I fuck you.”

Marc’s words sent a rush of excitement through him.
No. I’m never going to get tired of
this
guy.
The affect the other man had on Brendan’s body was stronger than ever. Marc captured Brendan’s mouth, tongue driving in, then he abruptly pulled back, groaning. “I can’t...” Marc’s breathing was hard and heavy. “I can’t wait, baby.” As his fingers slipped out of Brendan’s ass, his knees spread Brendan’s legs with a quick jerk, and then he thrust his cock into him.

Brendan gasped, a lash of pain buzzing through his channel, but Marc’s desperate intensity excited him beyond words. He relaxed, welcoming the intrusion, his cock wedged between their warm bodies as he gripped Marc’s shoulders.

Marc breathed onto Brendan’s lips. “You okay?”

“Kiss me and fuck me,” Brendan said, and Marc’s mouth came down again, devouring his lips as he began to move.

Brendan rocked beneath him, lifting his hips to meet Marc’s thrusts. Moans keened from deep in his throat, muffled against Marc’s lips as pleasure built, the penetrating friction of the hard cock inside him sending him over the edge. He abruptly tore his mouth from Marc’s and looked into his eyes. “Tell me you love me,” he said.

“I...” Marc thrust into him, gasping. “I fucking love you, Brendan Burke.”

“God, I’m gonna come.”

“Then kiss me again,” he said, and his mouth pressed down on Brendan’s.

As the pressure of impending orgasm took over, Brendan opened himself; his mouth, his legs, lost in the feel of Marc’s strong, thrusting body, his frantic, probing tongue.

As his seed spilled out in a burst of bliss, Brendan clenched around Marc. He felt Marc’s body shudder, and knew they were coming together. Gripping the back of Marc’s head, he held him there, mouth to open mouth, and moved his hips in rhythm with Marc’s gyrations, prolonging the ecstasy.

Only when they were both spent did their mouths separate, each breathing a long sigh as they collapsed into the mattress. 

Marc rolled off of Brendan and fell onto his back, breathing heavy as he stared up at the ceiling. Brendan shifted onto his side and watched his face, smiling. “Did we come at the same time?”

Marc nodded, lips curling into a grin. “I could feel you start, and I lost it.”

Trailing a finger down Marc’s sweaty chest, Brendan rested his head on his shoulder. “We’re getting pretty good at this, huh?”

Laughing, Marc turned onto his side. “Yes. And I
still
love that I’m your first.”

 “You make it sound like I’m pure as the driven snow. I have had
some
experience, you know.”

“But
I
am the first man to fuck you,” Marc said, poking a finger into Brendan’s ribs.

Brendan smiled, then his lips tightened.

Marc’s eyebrows rose. “What?”

Chuckling, Brendan kissed him. “Nothing. I was just thinking something stupid. That I wish I was
your
first. And I know what a jealous pathetic little baby that makes me sound like. It’s not like we’re teenagers.”

Marc shrugged. “You’re the first man I’ve ever been in love with. Does that count for something?”

Brendan’s cheeks heated, a warm buzz churning pleasantly inside him. “Yes,” he said. “That more than makes up for it.”

Marc smiled widely, his brown eyes seeming to sparkle, those flecks of gold catching the light coming in from the window. Brendan took a moment to study him, then he shook his head.

“What?” Marc said.

“You’re just so gorgeous,” Brendan said.

“So are you.”

“But seriously,” Brendan said. “Do you get hit on like
all
the time? This isn’t a jealousy thing, I swear. I just can’t imagine I’m the only one who sees you this way.”

Marc smiled and rolled his eyes. “Well...”

Brendan gave his shoulder a little shove. “You
do
, don’t you?”

“Let’s just say,” Marc held his hands up, “that I have to talk to a lot of people sometimes to do my job. When I’m investigating a case, I do sometimes get hit on.”

“Because you’re like this really hot guy with a badge and handcuffs,” Brendan teased. “Wait, do you have handcuffs?”

Marc laughed. “I’ve been asked to use them on several occasions. But I don’t get involved with people I meet while I’m on a case.”

“Liar,” Brendan said.

“Aside from
you
,” he said. “That was different.”