Chance to Be King (14 page)

"Uh Sarah, I think I'd better call you back. The police are here again."

Normally his agent would throw a hissy fit at being interrupted but this time she deferred immediately saying she'd speak to him later. He ended the call and looked at the two law
enforcement officers.

"Morning, Ted. Mark," He nodded at them both. "Want me to get Thomas?"

"Please," Ted agreed. "Are you both here on your own?" At Eric's nod, he relaxed saying, "Is that coffee I smell?"

"Help yourself," Eric offered, sighing inwardly as he realized the 'extras' would have to wait for a while. He left the kitchen and knocked gently on the study door.

"I thought we said eleven. Still got fifteen minutes to go." Thomas opened the door, an amused grin playing about his lips.

It disappeared when Eric said, "Ted and Mark are here. They want to speak to us both."

"Right with you," Thomas shut the office door behind him and headed towards the kitchen, his hand tangling in Eric's briefly. The intimate touch seemed to reassure them both.

The two policemen were pouring milk into their mugs as they reentered the kitchen.

"Think you're going to need to make more coffee, 'Ric," Thomas said, as he poured the last of it into a mug.

Eric looked at him indignantly. "Why do I have to make it? This is your house."

 

Thomas smirked at him. "House rules. Youngest member of the family gets to make the coffee."

"Mighty strange rules," Eric grumbled as he took the coffeepot over to the machine. He refilled it and sat back down at the table, moving the laptop and cell out of the way of Ted's mug. The older policeman looked amused at the playful exchange while Mark just stared into his cup. Eric wondered if this was the first time he'd seen Thomas in a loving relationship. If so, it was long past due. Eric stared at Mark's left hand. He was wearing a wedding ring. So he'd stayed a 'good straight boy' after all.

"Why are you here?" Thomas asked as he sat down next to Eric.

"We heard Simon Wayward was seen in Grafton yesterday." Mark told him, "We came over to check he hadn't tried to make contact."

Eric heard a sharp gasp and saw Thomas had turned deathly pale beneath his freckles. Ted looked at them both seriously. Eric tangled their fingers together again on the table. Blow
discretion. The man needed comfort. Thomas twitched beneath his hand but left them where they were.

"We contacted Kevin. Over the past two months he and his family have been the target of a number of incidents, from their dog being poisoned to their car being burnt out. They knew someone was harassing them, just didn't know who. The incidents stopped about three weeks ago."

"When he came here." Thomas said.

Mark nodded. "He's stepped up his game here, though. This is the first time he's directly attacked people."

"Not necessarily," disagreed Thomas, "He may not have known the cottage was occupied. After all, it wasn't the day before he met us on the lake. It was Eric's first morning there."

Ted looked dubious. "True, but he could have been watching you for a few days. Let's not rule out the possibility he's becoming more dangerous."

"Is that why you walked straight in here?" Eric asked, staring at Mark as he did so. He was pleased to note a slight red stain along his cheekbones but other than that his expression remained the same.

It was Ted who answered. "Yeah, we weren't sure if he could be in the house already. Sorry about that."

"Nothing to be sorry for," Eric said, but looked at Mark as he did so.

The younger policeman visibly relaxed and gave him a small nod. Eric decided it was time he made an effort to get to know Mark a little better. It was obvious he still had feelings for Thomas and equally obvious those feelings weren't returned any more.

Getting up from the table, Eric walked over to the coffee machine. "Any more coffee?" As they all nodded he said, "After I've had mine of course."

The policemen went to leave after thirty minutes, with Thomas' agreement that they could scout around the property.

As they left Mark said, "Tom, Bob asked if he was going to see you down at the bar tonight. It's your turn, remember?"

Eric raised a quizzical eyebrow at Thomas, amused to see the look of embarrassment on his face.

"Uh… I guess so… um… yes." Thomas

 

stammered.

"Your turn to do what, Thomas?" Eric asked, amused to see Thomas going even redder. He was so red his freckles were almost glowing.

"Play the balls for the old ladies," laughed Ted. At Eric's look of incomprehension the policeman explained, "It's Bingo night at the bar."

"You play Bingo?" Eric's jaw dropped and Thomas glared at him, the fierce effect somewhat mitigated by the bright red color of his face.

Ted nodded enthusiastically. "He's been helping the old folks since he was a teenager. My Momma got him involved. He's a favorite of the blue rinse brigade."

Thomas groaned as he watched Eric break into a broad grin. "Ted, you've just destroyed what little street cred I had left."

"You do realize I'm never going to let you forget this, don't you?" Eric laughed openly at Thomas' mortified expression.

"Just for that, m'boy, you can come with me and help."

 

"I've always been a favorite of old ladies." Eric informed him.

 

"I'll bet," muttered Thomas.

 

"Sorry to break into your conversation, but we'd best get on with surveying the house and yard."

They both turned as Mark spoke somewhat sharply. Ted looked at his son but didn't call him on his tone, just nodded at Mark's words. "It's almost inevitable he will come back here. He hasn't finished what he started."

"Which is?" asked Eric.
"Hurting you," Mark said simply.

"Almost killing Eric wasn't enough?" Thomas asked in an incredulous tone.

"The guy is mentally unstable. He's done time for assault and other offenses. He's gone for easier options so far, but I…" Ted paused, "We…" he amended, looking at his son, "Think he's got a particular agenda for you, Thomas."

Thomas just stared. "But why me? I was just a passenger in the car." His hand came out, seeking and finding Eric's again. Eric shifted closer to him, lending body warmth as support.

"Our theory is that you're successful. You've made it big while he's been locked up. He's angry at you for being happy and successful while he's still stuck in the past, living out his sister's death."

Feeling Thomas' hand tremble under his, Eric squeezed it gently. "Let Ted and Mark look around, Tom. We need to talk about something."

All three men looked at him in surprise but the policemen just nodded and left the kitchen. "What do you want to discuss?" Thomas asked curiously.

"I want you to think about coming to LA with me," As Thomas opened his mouth he said quickly, "Just until Wayward is caught. You'll be safer away from here and I have some people who can look after you."

"Babysit you mean?" Thomas pointed out, his tone flat.

Eric winced but he nodded. Might as well be up front about it. He wasn't leaving Thomas here alone when he left Grafton. "It's a short-term thing, Tom. He's a dangerous man and you aren't safe on your own. Please," He wasn't above begging if it kept his lover safe and well.

Thomas looked as agitated as all hell. Eric felt nervous as Thomas pulled away from his touch. "I don't… I can't… LA isn't good for me. I can't write there. It stifles me."

Reaching out, Eric pulled Thomas back into his arms and wrapped him in as tight an embrace as he could manage. Thomas was rigid in his arms but Eric refused to let go. "It won't last for long. They'll find him and you can come back here, I promise."

"I was fine before I met you. I don't need protecting." Thomas' voice was still that flat, unemotional tone, his muscles locked against Eric's comfort.

"Course you don't, normally." Eric nodded. Thomas was not a man to give up control easily. He had to tread carefully. Tugging on Thomas to follow him, Eric walked over to the table and sat down, pulling him down onto his lap. "You're not weak or stupid. And you know I don't think that about you. You do know that, don't you?" He waited for Thomas' nod before continuing. "But this isn't normal times and that man could hurt you or kill you without thinking about it. I'm not letting the man I love get hurt when I could do something about it."

Thomas blinked, then his eyes opened wide and blazed such a glorious ocean blue Eric was lost in his gaze. "You love me?"

"Fuckin' idiot. Of course I love you. What do you need? A written declaration to believe me?" Eric murmured, his hand reaching out to stroke Thomas' face. Thomas leaned into the touch, nuzzling against his hand.

"I love you, too."

"Know that too, moron," laughed Eric as he reached up to capture Thomas' mouth in a quick, chaste kiss that got out of hand the minute their lips met. They were brought back to reality by a discreet cough and turned to see both policemen in the doorway.

"The house looks fine. We'll look around the yard and lake before we leave," Ted said.

Thomas nodded but didn't get off Eric's lap, much to the younger man's pleasure. "Okay. I'll see you at Bob's later on. We'll call if we see any sign of him before then."

"Likewise."

 

Then they were left on their own again, kissing each other with increasingly heated passion. Feeling his cock push against Thomas' thigh, Eric writhed a little to get some friction.

 

Chuckling against his lips, Thomas pushed down, the pressure making Eric gasp. "'Ric?" "Hmmm?"

 

"Is it time for elevenses?" Thomas made it very clear he wasn't talking about coffee and biscuits.

Eric stood up, spilling Thomas off his lap. "You're going to take me up those stairs and fuck me senseless. Then you can cook me lunch!" he ordered.

Thomas raised one shapely eyebrow. "Oh I am, am I? And why would I do that?"

"Because you get to top and then you get to live!" At Thomas' confused expression Eric explained, "If I cook you'll die of food poisoning."

"Good point. On with the fucking, then!"

Grinning, Eric followed Thomas up the stairs. It wasn't hard to get Thomas to do as he was told; he just needed the right incentive.

* * * *

By the end of the day, Eric had come to the conclusion that the little old ladies of Grafton were the horniest, grabbiest bunch of women he was ever likely to meet, old or young. Jesus H Christ on a kebab stick! His ass had been pinched so many times it was painful to sit down.

He was currently hiding in the bathroom in Bob's in the forlorn hope that one of the old dears wouldn't follow him in on some pretext —like her teeth falling out or the battery on her hearing aid needing replacing. He'd fiddled with more ears than a doctor and as for the first— ugh, just ugh! And Eric had discovered they were just excuses to get him within groping distance.

Thomas— he was fine, sitting up there on stage with the tumbler of balls, his butt firmly planted on his seat. The bastard had watched Eric's painful progress through the afternoon with increasing amusement. He'd even encouraged them with their inappropriate touching as he called out the numbers. And Jesus, fuck, lady, what was with the hand on the cock? He'd been hard put not to bark 'Hands off the merchandise!' Eric twisted his head over his shoulder, looking for the bruises on his backside.

"Dude, you can't see that far around unless you're that creepy movie chick."

He hadn't heard Thomas enter the bathroom. "Are you on your own?" Eric asked warily.

Thomas smirked at him. "Worried about your virtue, princess? All those sweet, little old ladies after a piece of your cherry pie?"

"Dude, I'm black and blue all over from the sweet old dears and you didn't help!" He pointed an accusing finger at Thomas.

"I thought I was very helpful, pointing out where the teeth had landed."

"Under the heater covered in fluff and shit and then I had to wash them!" Thomas ducked as Eric's hands flailed about in his distress.

"Poor baby," Thomas crooned as he took Eric into his arms, "Let me make it better?"

 

Eric eyed him suspiciously. "How do you plan to do that?"

 

"By taking you home and rubbing nice soothing lotion all over your boo-boos."

 

"Boo-boos? How old do you think I am?" He knew it was a mistake as soon as he looked at the wicked gleam in Thomas' eyes.

 

"Four, five years old at tops."

Huh! Eric turned in his arms and slid his hand down between them, cupping and squeezing the bulge in Thomas' jeans.

"You do this with a five year old, Mr. Clay?" It was his turn to smirk as Thomas gasped and his eyes rolled back.

"Fuck no, baby!"

 

"You do it with babies?" Eric asked as he felt Thomas harden under his hand.

 

"Only you, 'Ric, only you." Thomas was reduced to babbling as he pushed into the caress.

 

"You only want to play with me?"

 

Thomas nodded frantically. "Don't stop. God, don't stop!"

"You want to come in your jeans?" Eric squeezed harder, stroking up and down the hard length of his shaft.

"No! Suck me, you bastard!" Thomas pushed on his shoulders trying to force him to his knees.

Cupping the tent in Thomas' jeans, Eric appreciated the whimpering that erupted from Thomas' full lips. "You want me to suck your cock with all those upright citizens of Grafton out there expecting their next round of Bingo?"

"They can wait their turn."

Thomas pushed Eric down hard. Without finesse, Eric ripped open Thomas' jeans and pulled out the rock-hard dick. He sucked it down hard, not bothering to lick or tease, his throat closing around the head of Thomas' cock.

"Fuck!" Thomas howled as he started to come, his hips shuddering as he spurted wave after wave of come between Eric's willing and greedy lips.

Thomas continued to shudder through the aftershocks of his orgasm, his hands clutching Eric's thick hair, until he slipped out of Eric's mouth. Eric pressed his face against the softening cock, smelling the musky, woodsy sweat of his man.

"I think you're going to kill me," gasped Thomas.

"Death by fucking? Sounds a good way to go, babe," Eric placed a soft kiss to the head of Thomas' cock, feeling the man shiver under his lips. "How much longer do we need to be here?" he asked as he got to his feet.