The Baker (13 page)

While something deep inside Ian was really happy about Cameron being affected by what was growing between them as much as Ian, his rational side knew it was stupid and regretted not having tried to stop Cameron. Only Ian hadn’t been rational when he finally saw Cameron come toward him, so he was as much to blame for this mess.

Now what?

Cameron’s entire body tensed, and his grip on Ian tightened, but he remained silent.

“Is there something you want to tell me?” The officer’s voice didn’t sound threatening or disgusted. More—amused, maybe?

“I….” Cameron took a deep breath. “I’m not sure what to say.”

“No, I guess not. The evidence is pretty clear.” The officer chuckled. “You know, I had my suspicions all along….”

“You did?” Cameron relaxed a little and began to stroke Ian’s back as if trying to reassure him.

“Yep. I know you like donuts as much as the next cop, but
daily
visits to the Scottish Bakehouse? And the way you looked at the baker, by the way, was a pretty big hint as well.” The officer laughed. “In fact, I’m betting you’re the ‘donut donor’ leaving donuts and other baked goodies all over the station, aren’t you?”

“The ‘donut donor,’ indeed. I still want to know who the hell came up with that one.” Cameron sounded amused.

Ian turned his head far enough to find out who was talking to Cameron. It turned out to be Terry Winter. He’d come into the bakery with Cameron a few times, and Cameron had introduced him as his former partner from when he was a detective, before the promotion to Cameron’s current position of sergeant of investigations.

“I have no idea. But we have bets going about who’ll find out the identity of our benefactor.” Terry looked at Ian and winked. “Hi, Ian, glad to see you weren’t harmed in tonight’s scare.”

“H-hi.” Ian blushed furiously, both for being discovered peeking and for his part in making these guys interrupt their Friday evening. He pulled back his head for a quick glance at the uniformed cops. They must have successfully chased the dickheads away because all four of them had come a little closer and were now looking at Cameron and him. Two were very open about staring, the other two shifted from foot to foot, only looking up occasionally. “I’m sorry for panicking and dragging all of you out here.”

“No problem. Cameron called for backup, and we’ll always be there for him.” Terry looked away from Ian and over to Cameron. “You got that, boss?”

“Thank you.” Cameron nodded, and Ian felt his body relax completely. But he didn’t let Ian go, and that made him feel very, very safe.

“You got that, guys?” Terry had turned to the group of four cops and waited until they nodded. Two assented very quickly, the other two a little more hesitantly, but at least none of them were outright defiant.

“Thank you,” Cameron added. “We appreciate it.”

“Does that mean we get free donuts?” One of the cops glanced at Ian, eyes wide and pseudo-innocent.

“And some of those other cookies and things, like those apple-cinnamon muffins?” one of the more reluctant cops chimed in, apparently tempted to be more accepting if his sweet tooth was the winner.

“If I can figure out how and where to make them, sure.” Ian would give these guys free donuts for life; he was so grateful for their help.

“What do you mean if you can figure out where to make them?” Terry frowned and looked from him to Cameron, then back. “Did something happen at the Scottish Bakehouse that we need to know about?”

“My father disowned and fired me this afternoon, so I have no equipment to work with. It was the reason I started driving around like an idiot and didn’t watch where I was going.” Ian slumped in Cameron’s embrace, the whole disaster racing back to the forefront of his mind. How the hell was he going to make money without a job?

“He what?” Terry raised his eyebrows. “He find out about… the two of you or what?”

“Amongst other things, yeah.” Ian nodded and felt Cameron pull him closer.

“Okay, well, first of all, the Scottish Bakehouse is now off-limits for every cop in the city and anyone who calls themselves our friends.” Terry’s nostrils flared, and Ian was glad he was on the detective’s good side. Terry turned toward the other cops, who were already scowling. “Isn’t that right, men?”

Every single one of them nodded fiercely enough, Ian worried their peaked hats might fall off. Nobody in their right mind would oppose that sort of intensity. Satisfied with the response, Terry turned his attention back to Ian and Cameron.

“As for the rest of it, I’m sure you’ll find a job in no time, Ian. Just let us know where you end up, although Cameron will most likely tell us, and we’ll make sure that business will do well.” Terry grinned and slapped Ian on the shoulder in a gesture of camaraderie and support.

“It may take a while for me to find something….” Ian wasn’t going to tell them he barely had any qualifications and wasn’t sure how far his one ten-year-old certificate from a community college would get him in the application process.

“Actually….” Cameron spoke up, sounding thoughtful as his deep voice made Ian want to cuddle up against him and put his ear on Cameron’s chest so he could feel the rumble go right inside him.

“I know that face.” Terry’s eyes narrowed. “My former partner and current boss is about to put all the clues together and solve the case, um, situation. Whatever. Can’t wait to hear it. Spit it out, man.”

“I was just thinking…. The station has a kitchen, right? Where the guys on night shift cook their meals?” Cameron tilted his head.

“You’re a genius!” Terry slapped his forehead. “Of course.”

“Huh?” Ian felt like the slow kid in class. Was Cameron suggesting…?

“It may not have all the equipment you need, but I’ll help with that.” Cameron grinned. “And we’ll have to get the captain’s permission, of course, but I hope a few ‘samples’ may be able to convince him.”

“Oh, he’s quite the fan already.” Terry laughed. “He was usually the first to discover the stash our ‘donut donor’ left for us.”

“Is that so?” Cameron chuckled. “Well, then, the Casper police force may have just acquired their own in-house donut baker, at least temporarily, until Ian can find a ‘real bakery’ to work for. Is that okay with you, Ian?”

“Is that okay?” Ian could have kissed Cameron—again—if he hadn’t been a little self-conscious, despite how nice the officers had been. He settled for squeezing Cameron tightly and deciding to give him a proper thank-you once they were behind closed doors. “Of course it’s okay. It’s so okay I don’t even know what to say.”

“Just make us your amazing donuts, for which we’ll pay, of course, and we’ll call it even. Man, the thought of not even having to leave the station to get some of those….” Terry licked his lips.

“Thank you. And your donuts will be free.” Ian waited for Terry to nod, then he turned to the other officers. “Thank you for your support, and your donuts will also be free while I’m working at the station.”

The pure joy on the four men’s faces, not to mention the two fist pumps he got as a response, was an image Ian wouldn’t forget in quite a while.

“Time to go home?” Cameron needn’t have asked.

“Please.” Ian was going to make sure Cameron knew which home Ian wanted to go to, and it certainly wasn’t his apartment!

Half an hour later, they made it to Cameron’s house. Terry had shooed them away, telling them they’d deal with getting Ian’s tire fixed and would drop off the car at Cameron’s house and the keys in his mailbox when they were done. Cameron had held Ian’s hand the entire way to his car, had grabbed it again as soon as they were buckled in, and hadn’t let go on the entire way to his house.

Ian smiled at him before he got out and raced to the front door. Without Cameron’s touch he was cold. He’d fantasized about what he wanted to do with Cameron once they were safely inside to the point he was already half-hard and eager to get started.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Cameron pulled Ian’s duffel from the backseat. Ian had barely remembered to rescue it from the back of his car before they’d fled the scene.

“I don’t think I’ll need most of what’s in there.” Ian had no plans to wear anything at all to bed this time, and he could always use his fingers to brush his teeth.

“You don’t?” Cameron grinned as he locked the car and followed Ian to the house. “We’ll need to get you a set of keys so you won’t have to wait for me to let you in.”

“K-keys?” Ian wasn’t sure he’d heard right.

“Yeah.” Cameron ducked his head. “If you want?”

Ian’s jaw dropped. Then, as the reason for Cameron’s uncharacteristic embarrassment sank in, Ian began to grin like an idiot. Yes, it was soon, but what the fuck. Ian felt like they’d known each other for a lifetime, and tonight Cameron had not only come through for him, but had stood by him as they faced their unintentional outing together. And who the hell was going to tell them not to live together?

Ian took the keys from Cameron’s suddenly unresisting fingers, unlocked the door, pulled them both inside, and had the door closed and locked before taking his next breath. He crowded into Cameron’s space and pushed him up against the door. God, he wanted to kiss him. But he wanted clarity more.

“Does that mean what I think it means?” Ian smiled when Cameron peeked at him through his eyelashes. Since Cameron was about five inches taller than Ian and looking down at him, that was quite a feat. “Does your question mean what I hope it means?”

“You hope?” Cameron opened his eyes all the way and began to smile.

“Yes, I hope.” Ian smiled back. “And yes, I would like a set of keys.”

“Does that mean you’ll move in with me?” Cameron looked so hopeful, how could Ian say no? His apartment was nothing special, and he had no idea how to pay his rent anyway.

“Are you asking me because you feel sorry for me?” Ian had to know.

“What?” Cameron frowned.

“Because I lost my job. I’ll pay you rent as soon as I can, but I—”

“Shit no, it’s not because I feel sorry for you. Even though I do, sort of. Um.” Cameron shook his head and took a deep breath. “That came out the wrong way. Let’s try it again. I hate your father for doing what he did to you, and I feel sorry you have to go through this. I know from bitter experience what it’s like to lose your parents. It’s a long story, and I’ll tell you one of these days, if you want.”

Ian nodded. Cameron had never mentioned his parents, and Ian hadn’t wanted to pry, but he was curious. Sounded like a pretty sad tale though, and he wasn’t about to ruin the mood. Not for anything.

“But I know you’ll recover and probably be better off in the end. I mean, look at you. Within a few hours, you managed to charm my thoroughly uncharmable ex-partner into getting you the police station’s kitchen to work in while you look for another job. And we need to talk about that as well. I’ve got some ideas for you.” Cameron lifted his hand and cupped Ian’s cheek. “So no, me asking you to move in, permanently, by the way, has nothing to do with feeling sorry for you. It’s for purely selfish reasons and because I realized something tonight.”

“You did?” Was it the same thing Ian had grasped once the immediate fear was over?

“Yeah.” Cameron looked very serious. “I care for you. A lot. Hell, I think I’m falling in love with you.”

“Me too.” Ian smiled, so relieved he wasn’t the only one.

“Yeah?” Cameron searched his eyes; then his grin broke through. “I’ve never said that to anyone before. But it feels right with you.”

“It feels better than right.” Ian stepped even closer and embraced Cameron, coat and all. “Make love to me?”

“Sweetheart.” Cameron closed his eyes for a moment and tightened his embrace. Then he looked at Ian, brown eyes smoldering with lust. “I’d love to.”

Ian nodded and stepped back. He slowly took off his coat, hung it in the wardrobe, and toed off his shoes. “I’ll race you to the bedroom.”

And with that, he was off, Cameron’s laughter ringing in his ears as he took the stairs two at a time. He knew full well Cameron had to deal with his gun, and the security conscious detective in him would want to check all downstairs doors and windows before coming upstairs. That would give Ian time to get naked and ready so he could show Cameron exactly how serious he’d been about his offer.

Ian pulled down the covers and checked the nightstand for lube and condoms—nobody in their right mind would keep supplies anywhere else—and there they were. He threw a silver foil packet on the bed, the bottle of lube landed right next to it; then he ran to the bathroom to get a small towel for cleanup later. Back next to the bed, he aimed it at the headboard and tore off his clothes so fast it made him dizzy. He listened for a moment, but Cameron was downstairs. Ian gave his quickly hardening cock a few encouraging strokes, tempted to take it further but stopping himself with the promise to let Cameron take over, knowing that would feel a
lot
better.

Then he unceremoniously plopped himself down on the sheets, ass facing the door so Cameron couldn’t miss him, and he’d get to see Cameron’s face when he walked in. Ian grabbed the bottle, opened the cap, and gave a generous squeeze on his waiting fingers. He spread his legs as he bent and pulled up his knees, and reached between them, past his poor neglected cock that was uselessly begging for attention. He slid his middle finger toward his asshole, circling it a few times to heighten the anticipation, then slowly pushed it inside. He was so hot, so ready for it, there was hardly any pain despite the somewhat sudden intrusion.

Ian moved it back and forth a little before adding a second finger and beginning a slow stretch. A few minutes later, he added a third finger, and just as he moaned in anticipation of it being Cameron’s cock soon, there was an intense exclamation of “Fuck” from the direction of the bedroom door.

Ian looked up, right into a very naked, very erect Cameron’s eyes.
Aha, you’re as eager as I am!
Cameron stood, rooted to the floor right inside the bedroom door, and stared at Ian’s ass as if it were the center of Cameron’s universe right now. Ian grinned. It probably was. Well, he could hope.

“Oh fuck, that’s a great view.” Cameron blinked and looked up, visibly having a hard time directing his eyes to look elsewhere. “And you’re totally naked!”