Sin City Uniform 01 - All Fired Up (6 page)

“Don’t worry about last night. It was just my stupid pride that was hurt.” He cleared his throat. “And I really appreciate what you did at the Bellagio. Truth be told, I was scared shitless. I actually thought I was a goner.”

He looked at Trent with as much sincerity as he could muster.

“Thank you for that. I mean it.”

Trent dipped his chin in acknowledgment. Lora approached the table with their food and they went about eating.

“Mmm. Thanks for the suggestion. This is really good.”

Shawn spied what he was sure was an actual smile on Trent’s face. It hadn’t occurred to him until that moment that he never saw Trent smile much. When he did, it wasn’t a big toothy one but more of an amused sideways smirk. It fit him.

Trent put the second half of his sandwich down then took a swallow of his tea sans straw. He set down his glass. “When’s your next day off?”

An unexpected swell of giddiness surged through Shawn. Trent would only be asking such a thing if he wanted them to get together.

“I have the next couple days off. Why?”

“Good. I have tomorrow off then don’t go back in until noon the following day. Have you been to Red Rock Canyon since you moved here?”

“Actually, I haven’t. I’ve wanted to check it out, though. I’d love to take some pictures there. It’s a bit of a hobby for me.”

Trent nodded at him. “I know.”

Shawn straightened. “You do?”

“I asked Vicki about you.”

He arched his eyebrows. “You’re kidding.”

“That bother you?”

He considered it. “When did you talk to her?”

“Before I saw you at the station.”

Shawn pressed his lips together, frowning. No wonder she’d been so pushy about him talking to Trent.

“I don’t know if I’m bothered as much as surprised.”

It’s actually kinda hot. And here I thought I was going to have to go after him.

“We gettin’ together then?”

“Sure. But is this someplace you want to go to also?”

Trent stared at him in the way that made Shawn feel very exposed.

“It’s one of my favorite places around here. She also said you enjoyed hiking. So do I.”

“Jesus. Did she write an essay or something?” He shifted in his seat when Trent didn’t say anything. “We’d have to get there pretty early to get any hiking in before it gets too hot.”

“I’ll pick you up at six in the morning. We can grab some breakfast then do some hiking. After that, we should go to the visitor center. There’re some interesting things you might like to photograph, rust colored striped rocks or Mojave Max, their desert tortoise.”

“Mojave Max, huh?”

Shawn exhaled slowly, relaxing in the booth. He had the oddest sensation of being completely at ease with Trent. Despite all the avoidance Trent had done and the weirdness of the previous couple of days, there was a marked connection between them. They melded together well. He supposed spending all day with only one another to talk to and going somewhere completely removed from their normal everyday lives would be a good test. If their spark was no more than a simple physical reaction, they would find out quick enough.

But he doubted that was the case. He was sure there was something more than simple lust occurring. However, if things went the way he was certain they would, he had a feeling there would be a lot more physical activity than hiking going on between them.

“Sounds great. Red Rock Canyon it is.”

* * * *

Dawn was breaking the horizon as Trent pulled up to Shawn’s apartment house. After he parked the truck, he paused for a moment, gripping the steering wheel. There was a tightening in his abdomen, a sensation he hadn’t felt for years. Elation. Desire. Warmth toward another human being.

I’m alive and Shawn’s right here.

Closing his eyes, he thought of his beautiful former lover—how Paul had filled his life with so much love.

“Thank you. I’ll always love and miss you, but it’s time to move on.”

He took a deep breath and exited the vehicle, nervousness worming its way in with his other emotions. Crossing the street, he noted that the newer building Shawn lived in had closed glass doors that could only be opened with a security code.
Good.
He found Shawn’s name on the digital screen and tapped the numbers. He was buzzed in right away, Shawn never verifying who it was. Frowning at the screen, he grabbed the door before the noise stopped. Shawn’s apartment was on the ground floor and he wound his way along a cement path that boasted stones embedded within. The whole property was meticulously kept with an interesting variety of cacti and succulents. The early hour meant that the surroundings were quiet, peaceful. When he reached Shawn’s place, he saw that the door was slightly ajar.

He knocked lightly and heard Shawn call out from somewhere within.

“Come in!”

He took another deep breath, his heart rate accelerating. There were crazy scenarios running through his mind of someone who had a vendetta against the cop following him to his home, Shawn buzzing him in without even verifying who it was, walking right through the open door…

“Good morning. Sorry, just getting the rest of my gear together.”

“How did you know it was me outside?”

Shawn lifted his head from an open backpack perched on a small kitchen table. He’d been in the process of stuffing a T-shirt and sunscreen inside.

“Who else would be buzzing me at the crack of dawn?”

Shawn had a grin on his face and Trent felt like a jerk. Again.

“I…I mean what if it hadn’t been? What if it was someone who…?” He knew he shouldn’t finish the sentence.

The grin Shawn had been sporting fell and was replaced by an irritated grimace.

“Trent. It’s six in the morning. The day has barely begun. Could we not start off like this?”

He winced. Shawn was right. If only he could get the pounding in his heart to subside—the insistent reminder that so many things could go wrong in an instant—he would be fine.

Enjoy the day. Don’t overthink, overreact.

“Of course. I apologize. Let me help you with that.”

He reached for Shawn’s pack.

“Thanks, but I got it. I have some extra bottled waters in the fridge, plus some protein bars. You want me to bring ’em?”

“Good. We can add them to what I packed up.”

Shawn turned to step into the small kitchen right off the sitting area where the table was. “Oh yeah? What’d you bring?”

“Made some sandwiches, threw in some fruit, some Gatorade.”

“Perfect. Can’t wait.”

Shawn reappeared, grin intact, his arms full. Trent lurched forward to grab a couple of bottles in danger of leaping from Shawn’s grasp. He got a hold of them, but not before their limbs and hands had collided.

Fuck. Hard already.

He quickly twisted away to avoid Shawn’s scrutiny—or his reaction.

“How about an omelet for breakfast? I know a place on the way out of town where they have a whole mess of options.”

Trent was careful to keep himself angled so that he didn’t completely face Shawn.

Shawn cleared his throat. “Lead the way.” He’d said it softly.

Trent chanced a look, allowed himself to lock eyes with Shawn. It was right there. A true connection, something more than just desire. As much as he’d been afraid of it from the very moment he’d met the sweetly sexy cop, he wanted to accept the gift that stood before him. The chance to start anew and have it be really good again.

Once they’d tossed everything into the space behind the front seat, they were on their way. There had been many, many hours he’d spent at Red Rock Canyon over the years. After he’d lost Paul, he’d gone there quite a bit to achieve a small portion of serenity. It had been healing for him. He hoped it could morph into something new through sharing it with

Shawn. He wanted to share everything with Shawn.

* * * *

The vistas were amazing, the rock formations striking. Shawn felt bad that he kept stopping every few minute to take pictures, but he couldn’t help it. He was ecstatic that Trent had brought him to such a spectacular place for their first outing together—and that he’d been continually treated to the sight of Trent’s rippling quads that were on display below his shorts. His ass bunching under his thin khaki shorts had been rather delightful as well. It was awesome letting Trent take the lead.

“If all my picture taking is annoying you, tell me to stop.” He laughed lightly. “I don’t wanna bore you.”

“I’m not bored.”

Trent had maintained his intense gaze on him all morning. It was a look Shawn doubted he could ever get enough of, the sort of look that made a man want to fall into a spontaneous orgasm. He covered the smile forming on his lips at the thought, the visual cracking him up on the inside. It appeared he hadn’t been entirely successful at hiding his mirth.

“What’s so funny?”

There wasn’t the slightest chance he was going to blurt out what he’d actually been thinking. He settled for an approximation of the truth. “I’m really enjoying myself. Thanks for bringing me here. It was a good call.”

There was a slight pull at the corners of Trent’s mouth. “It’s not much farther to the water basin. Can’t promise how full it’ll be this time of year. But it’d be a good place to rest, maybe have a bite.”

“Sounds good.”

They hiked along, picking their way over areas filled with large boulders all jumbled together, the ever-present reddish cast blending in with the soft beige tones. They headed up a gradual incline and once they’d cleared it, there was a big open area below the massive rock formation on which they stood. A natural ledge of sorts ran along the side of one of the weather smoothed cliffs that led to the banks of the rather depleted water hole.

“Let’s work our way down there. There’s a couple spots we can sit and catch a bit of shade.”

Shawn followed Trent, careful to walk slightly angled to the side to avoid having his feet slip out from under him. When they reached the bottom, he saw another couple relaxing farther over. The man and woman both nodded their way, and they returned the acknowledgment. It was barely nine in the morning and the few hikers who were willing to brave the desert in the summertime knew to get their excursions in either before or after the worst of the heat.

After taking off their packs, they leaned against the smooth rock face, stretching their legs before them. It was the closest he and Trent had sat to one another, only a few inches separating them from touching.

“If the water were any higher, we would’ve had to scooch up to keep our feet from getting wet.”

“Scooching, huh?” Shawn chuckled.

He watched as Trent tilted his head back to gaze up at the deep blue sky, squinting behind his sunglasses. He was leaning back on his elbows.

“You got something against scooching?”

“No, scooching’s good. Real good.”

Trent made a small grunting noise then lolled his head toward Shawn.

“I’m enjoying myself quite a bit too.”

There had been a thick growl to Trent’s tone and Shawn was desperate for a kiss. He knew he was really desperate for a lot more, but he could start with some lip-locking.

The couple that had been there when they arrived was gathering their things and looked to be about ready to leave.

If I’m really lucky, we’ll be alone for a little while.

The four of them acknowledged one another again, and the couple climbed up the face of the rock to the trail above. Right as Shawn was about to comment on them being alone, Trent cut him off.

“Finally.”

Trent’s cupped his strong hand on Shawn’s cheek, guiding him to his mouth. As soon as Trent’s lips captured his, he melted into the kiss, surprised at how it could be so commanding and so gentle at the same time. Trent kept the control, dropping his hand to brush Shawn’s arm, then slowly lowering it to rest on his waist. With minimal pressure he encouraged him closer, and Shawn rolled his body until their chests touched.

As the passion in the kiss grew, they struggled to get nearer, Shawn ignoring the unforgiving rock. It was apparent Trent was ignoring it as well. He reached around Shawn’s neck and shoulders and pulled him flush to the hard planes of his body, lowering his other hand more until he grasped Shawn’s ass.

Oh God.

Trent’s tongue was a wonder as he used it to explore the cavern of Shawn’s mouth.

Each time Trent pulled away then dipped in deeply, Shawn gave a little more of himself— gave himself over to Trent’s demands. It was the first time in a long while that he could remember making out the way they were doing. They both knew they wouldn’t—couldn’t— take it any further right then, and that was okay.

Right as they began to grind against one another, Trent pulled back, as breathless as Shawn was. He loosened his hold somewhat, petting Shawn’s face, brushing an errant strand of hair back from Shawn’s forehead. Trent continued to look him over as if he were examining him, seeing him for the first time. He ran a thumb across Shawn’s bottom lip then draped his hand softly over his waist, letting it rest there.

“Very nice.”

Trent had a completely contented expression as he’d said it. It was startling to Shawn how easy it was for them to gaze into one another’s eyes. He’d never realized before how intimate an action it was, how close it made him feel to Trent. He couldn’t honestly remember ever noticing such a thing about any other man he’d been with. Of course, Trent wasn’t any other man.

“Yes. Nice.”

Trent placed more light kisses across his face, ending with a peck on his nose.

“I’d like to continue this later at my house.”

Shawn nodded. “Whatever you want.”

These was a curl to one side of Trent’s mouth. “Oh,
I want
.”

Shawn wasn’t aware that he’d ever gulped before, but he was certain that was what he’d just done.

That fucking deep voice.

The sound alone made Shawn want to drop his pants and bend over.

A child’s loud screech above their heads alerted them that they were about to have company, so they reluctantly let each other go. They rolled back to their previous positions.