Round and Round (15 page)

“I’m fine,” Kevin said with a smile.

Angus didn’t sit down right away and excused himself.

“I really think he likes you,” Zach said.

“I know.”

“You could stay here with him and take advantage of his guest room. Maybe pretend to sleepwalk into his room?” Zach winked.

Kevin shook his head slightly. He was too tired at the moment even for those thoughts. “Don’t you think about anything but sex?” he asked.

“Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it. I see how you watch him and the way he looks at you.” Zach smiled. “Think about it: the guy stayed at the hospital all that time and has tried to help you find a place to live.”

“He’s just being nice.”

“I don’t think so.”

“He wants to catch the arsonist, and I’m the one who saw him.”

“I forgot to ask how it went with the police,” Zach said.

Kevin heard footsteps approach. “It was fine. Officer Grumpy said he was going to check on some video, but since he hasn’t said any more, I’m assuming he didn’t find anything useful.” Kevin took a bite of chicken salad and set down his fork. “I want this to be over. Maybe I should have gone to stay with my dad.” He shivered and pushed back his plate. “But then I keep thinking that if this guy shows up, he’ll do to Dad what he did to Mrs. V.” He hated feeling like a crybaby, but tears had been close for days. “I can’t believe she’s gone.”

Angus gently held him. “It’s okay to grieve.”

Kevin turned to Angus and paused. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“You and Mrs. V were drugged. That’s why you felt so sleepy. They found traces of a tranquilizer in her system.”

Kevin blinked as the implication of what Angus had just told him sank in. “So he truly meant to kill both of us. I kept hoping that it was some kind of accident, or that he just set the fire and left. But he was in my apartment.” Kevin shivered.

“Yes, and whatever he used the start the fire, he probably planted it when he came in to check the meter. Then he must have gone up to your apartment, probably while you were at Mrs. V’s.”

“But he couldn’t have known when I’d be back.”

“They found the remains of a timer or maybe something that he activated by phone once he had everything ready. This guy didn’t leave anything to chance.”

“And the only thing he didn’t count on was you,” Kevin said and closed his eyes. Angus held him, and Kevin felt Zach gently touch his arm.

“There are a lot of things he could have done, and none of it is your fault.”

“That’s easy to say. But it feels like it is. It’s my fault Mrs. V is dead.” Kevin let the tears come. “She was like a grandmother and always had nice things to say. We used to talk and watch silly shows together. She liked those stupid reality shows, but only because she could make fun of how dumb and overly dramatic they were sometimes. She didn’t have anyone else.”

“Shhh.” Angus rubbed his hand over Kevin’s hair. “It will be all right. They aren’t releasing her body yet, but when they do, I asked Antonio to have them contact you. At least we can make sure she’s properly taken care of.”

Kevin nodded and then sat back in his seat and pulled his plate closer once again. He didn’t have much of an appetite and ate only a few more bites. Then he sighed and slowly got up, returning to the sofa. He watched TV while Angus and Zach finished eating. He expected Zach to take him back with him, but instead he joined him on the sofa with one of the sketch pads he carried with him.

“So how do you see this game working? Do you want the flames to be cartoony or real looking?”

Leave it to Zach to try to take his mind off things. “They need to be as real looking as possible,” Kevin said. “We also need to work with Angus to come up with building types. We agreed to include the capitol, and I thought we should include my old apartment building. Angus was going to make a list.”

“I have it here,” Angus said and pushed back his chair. He got a pad and handed it to him. Kevin examined the list. “I included some basic interior layouts. And I was thinking you should definitely include traps like weak spots in the floors and things like that.” Angus sat on the other side from Zach, and Kevin found his attention wandering.

Angus and Zach talked back and forth. Kevin tried to keep his mind on what they were saying, but with his belly full, he leaned against Angus and closed his eyes. He’d been sleeping quite a bit, but getting to use Angus as a pillow was an added bonus.

“I should take Kevin home so he can rest,” Zach said. Kevin didn’t want to move. Angus was warm, and the way he had his arm around his shoulders was comforting.

“You can stay here if you want, cutie,” Angus whispered, and Kevin wrapped his arms around Angus’s waist and held on, not opening his eyes.

“I’ll come back in the morning,” Zach said. Kevin thought he might have mumbled a good-bye, but he was too tired to really make much of an effort. He felt Angus spread the blanket over him, and then Kevin was definitely asleep.

HE WOKE
with a start and blinked, shaking until he realized that the flames dancing around him like some demented Disney movie weren’t real. He gasped and then coughed, wondering where he was as he attempted to calm his out-of-control lungs.

“It’s all right,” Angus said as he hurried into the room.

“Where am I?” Kevin slowly calmed his breathing. His throat hurt from the coughing.

“In the guest room. I’m going to make you some tea to try to calm you. I’ll be right back.” Angus left the room, but Kevin followed him with his gaze, realizing Angus was only wearing a pair of boxer briefs. That lifted his temperature and made him cough once again. Of course he was only in his underwear too, which meant Angus had undressed him and put him into bed. Granted, they had seen each other naked, but this seemed different, even more intimate in some way. Kevin had been completely vulnerable, and Angus had taken care of him.

A soft beep sounded, and then Kevin heard Angus on the stairs.

“It’s hot, so be careful.” Angus handed him a mug with a tea bag tab hanging out of it. Kevin took the mug as Angus sat on the edge of the bed. “Just relax.”

Kevin leaned against the headboard, sipping from the mug, and Angus placed his hand on his belly, making slow, gentle circles. “Just close your eyes and take steady breaths.”

Kevin hummed softly at Angus’s gentle caresses. He knew that they couldn’t do anything. Sex would definitely overtax his lungs, but he closed his eyes and enjoyed the attention. He sipped the tea, then set the mug on the bedside table. He was trying not to get excited, but it wasn’t working. He closed his eyes and soaked in the soft caresses like a sponge. “I want you to touch me in other places. I know we can’t do anything, but I want it.”

Angus pushed the bedding away and carefully scooped Kevin up off the bed. Kevin rested his head against Angus’s chest as he carried Kevin across the hall to his room, then into his bed. Kevin curled under the covers, lying on his side, watching as Angus pushed down the briefs, standing naked and proud in front of him. “This is what you do to me. I’ve been like this all night, just from knowing you were right across the hall.” Angus slid his hands down Kevin’s chest, not stopping until he hooked his fingers under the waistband of his briefs and tugged them down his legs and off, dropping them onto the floor.

Then Angus got into bed and softly tugged Kevin to him, his cock nestling against Kevin’s butt. Kevin moaned softly and wriggled his hips. “We can’t….”

“As long as you stay calm,” Angus whispered and ran his hands down Kevin’s chest and belly, then closed his fingers around the base of his cock and balls. He squeezed a little, sending a jolt of pleasure through him that made him whine softly in the near darkness.

“What if I start coughing?”

“You won’t. I’m going to take things nice and slow.” He stroked up and down Kevin’s cock just fast enough that Kevin moaned and whimpered softly. “Does that feel good?”

“Uh-huh. So does your cock.” Kevin pressed back and plastered himself against Angus, who held him a little tighter.

“I love the way you feel against me.” Angus flexed his hips slightly, sliding his dick against Kevin’s cleft. The movement slipped Angus between his cheeks.

“God.”

“That’s it,” Angus purred. “Just close your eyes and listen to me. I’ve missed you so much. I sat beside your bed wishing I could hold you and caress your flat little belly and down your side. Do you remember when I parted your cheeks before, licking you until you screamed, and then slid my cock inside you?”

Kevin closed his eyes, letting Angus’s words take him on an erotic journey. “I want that too.”

“That might be too strenuous, but I can hold you and use my hands.” Angus gripped him tighter, stroking and twisting his hand, sending Kevin on a happy journey. His breathing rate increased, but Kevin kept the breaths as even as he could. He wanted this, and he didn’t want it to end in a coughing fit of epic proportions. That was certain to kill the mood in a huge way.

Angus moved away and gently rolled Kevin onto his back. Then Angus reached over and switched on a light. It was dim, just enough light for Kevin to see how dark and deep Angus’s eyes had become. “I want to watch you. When you come in my hands, I want to see you and gaze into your eyes and hear your breath hitch just a little.” Angus sliding along him slowly, only varying how hard he gripped him.

Kevin stretched out on the bed, Angus pressed to him. He was almost afraid at how intently Angus watched him, and yet he couldn’t look away. The attention was powerful. Every time his breath hitched and he thought he was going to cough, Angus backed off and let him catch his breath. Then he’d start again. “I don’t know…. It’s so hard.”

“I’ll stop as soon as you tell me to,” Angus said. “Just breathe slowly and think about how good you feel. You’re alive and feel so good in my hands. I don’t want you to hold your breath.” Angus didn’t stop, and Kevin concentrated on his breathing. As excitement built, Kevin ran a hand down Angus’s chest, and then his belly, following a trail in his mind until he wrapped his hand around Angus’s cock, holding him strongly.

“I love how you feel.”

“And I love it when you touch me. You make me excited just being here with you. Nobody has done that before.”

“Not even Officer Grumpy?” Kevin asked, and Angus gripped him firmly, pumping a little faster. Kevin felt himself slide closer to release, but Angus was taking the slow road to get there. Kevin stroked Angus at the same speed, and damn if the energy between them didn’t ramp up with each second.

“I’m not going to last,” Kevin said.

“I don’t want you to.” Angus sped up slightly, and Kevin’s entire body tingled. He refused to hold his breath.

“Don’t close your eyes,” Angus whispered, and the sensation became too much. “Stay with me. I need to see you.”

Kevin nodded, and Angus brought him to the precipice. He kept his mouth open, breathing as deeply as he dared before tumbling off the edge. He came in Angus’s hand, thrusting his hips slightly.

“God, you’re so beautiful,” Angus whispered. Kevin held Angus tightly and breathed through the pleasure. “Your eyes sparkle, and there are little beads of sweat all over you—you shine in the light.” Angus leaned over him, and they lightly kissed. Angus kept it short and then gently, as though he were made of glass, rested Kevin’s head back on the pillow. “Do you feel better?”

“Yeah. I’m a little warm.”

“You’ll cool off in a few minutes.” Angus lay next to him and turned out the light. “How is your breathing?” he asked as he placed his hand on Kevin’s. Kevin turned it over, and Angus wound their fingers together.

“It’s good.” The urge to cough that had been very strong a few seconds earlier was fading, and he could breathe easily now. Angus got out of bed and went to the bathroom. Kevin closed his eyes as fatigue and contentment rolled over him.

He started a little when Angus wiped his chest and belly with the warm cloth. Then he used a towel, and the water evaporating from his skin cooled him quickly. Kevin sighed and waited for Angus to come back to bed before settling into his embrace and letting it all go.

The next time he woke, it was because sunlight streamed through the bedroom windows. But he was alone in the bed. Kevin wondered if he’d done something wrong, and he was about to get out of the bed when Angus came in the room, still naked, with a tray in his hands. He set it down over Kevin’s legs and then got into bed next to him.

“It’s a simple breakfast, but one we can eat with our hands. A little fruit, some bacon, and english muffin bites.”

Kevin smiled. “What are english muffin bites?”

“I toasted the muffin and then cut it into triangles so each piece is a bite.” Angus picked up a piece and fed it to him. Kevin grinned and put one to Angus’s lips. He sucked it in along with Kevin’s fingers. He pulled his fingers away to let Angus eat and picked up a strawberry from the tray, taking a bite and then giving Angus the rest.

“I take it you like this,” Angus said.

“What’s not to like? A naked breakfast. It’s perfect. Food… naked… the perfect combination.” Angus fed him some bacon, and Kevin teased him, sucking on a finger, adding some of the saltiness from Angus’s skin to the smoke of the bacon.

“What do you have to do today?” Angus asked.

“First thing, I need to call the insurance company, and then I need to call about apartments.” It all seemed so daunting. Everything was gone. Even the quilt he’d always had on his bed because his mother had given it to him was gone. He could replace the things in his apartment, but none of the new things would have a history. Everything he’d had was wrapped in some sort of memory, even if it was only because he’d gone with the guys to the flea market to find the quirky lamps that had sat on either side of his bed. “I want to stay in bed and not get up for days. I mean, I have to rebuild my entire life, and I don’t know where to start.”

“Pick something and concentrate on that. You don’t have to try to do everything at once. I’ll call Janice and see what she has. If she has leads, we can look at them. Or you can call the insurance company, and then we can work on the fire simulator. Whatever you want.”