Staying Power Book 14 in the Action! Series (25 page)

"What are you doing for the holidays? I
assume you don't have time off. Or, when you're a captain, do
you?"

"I don't know. Alex got a big movie role
offer. He's going to Rome in a week."

"Wow. Good for him. I read about you guys all
the time in the tabloids. Last I saw you and Alex had some kind of
fight."

"Don't believe that shit. If you want to
know, call me." Billy heard his nephew ask, "Is that Uncle
Billy?"

Tammy said, "Yes."

"Can I say hi?"

"Do you want to say hi to Matthew?" Tammy
asked, sounding upset.

"Of course!" Billy tried not to grow furious
as he was kept away from the family.

"Hi, Uncle Billy!"

"Hey, Matty. How's school?"

"Excellent. I'm taking all my pre-college
courses now, and then I'm heading into the air force academy."

"The military?"

"Yeah. Like you and grandpa did. I'm
pumped."

"And your mom's okay with that? Even though
there're two wars on right now?"

Matthew laughed softly. "No. But it's my
decision."

Billy didn't know what to say.

"Can I come to your promotion ceremony?"

"Of course. I would love to have you
there."

"My Uncle Billy is a captain! Wow. I hope I
can make you as proud of me as I am of you."

"I miss you, Matt. I do."

"I miss you, too. I don't see why we can't go
out?"

Billy heard his sister say over the phone,
"Give me the phone, Matthew."

"Whatever. Bye, Uncle Billy. See you Friday
night."

"Bye, babe. I love you."

"You, too."

Tammy got back on the line. "So? Do we have
to dress up?"

"No. Not really. I mean, don't wear jeans,
but slacks are fine. And Matt doesn't need a tie." Billy heard
silence on the other end. "Should I try to get an invitation for
Kim?"

"I don't know. I think she said she and Todd
were busy. I'll tell her to call you."

Billy knew he'd never receive that call.

"Okay. Well…" Tammy sounded awkward.

"Look, Tam', you don't have to go."

"Matthew will kill me if I don't. No. I have
to go."

Have to? Billy tried not to get furious.
"Okay. See ya there."

"Bye."

He hung up and stared at the phone, sinking
emotionally.

"Billy?"

He looked up to see Alex standing at the open
bedroom door. Billy tossed the phone onto the nightstand.

"Everything okay?" Alex approached, leaning
his legs against Billy's bare knees.

Billy held onto Alex and fell back on the
bed, taking Alex with him to lie on top of him. "That was my sister
Tammy."

Alex nodded, caressing Billy's cheek.

"She received an invitation to my promotion
ceremony."

"Oh. Is that okay?"

"It's fine by me, but the only reason she's
going is for my nephew."

"Matthew, right?"

Billy blinked in surprise. "You remember his
name? You met him once when I moved my furniture out of Tammy's
garage after I left Angel."

"He friended me on Facebook."

"Do…do you communicate?" Billy was very happy
Matthew and Alex were connected.

"Yes. He 'pokes' me, and we exchange hellos.
He said he was thinking of going into the military, like you
did."

"Shit, you know more than I do. He is. He's
joining the air force."

Alex spread his legs on Billy's body,
straddling his hips. "Fucked up, huh. Families."

"I don't know why they have to be."

Alex flipped his wrist in exaggeration.
"Because we're so gay!"

Billy didn't smile. It was true, and not
funny.

"Billy?" Alex rubbed his nose on Billy's,
giving him an 'Eskimo kiss'. "You have my dad…Steve…Adam."

Billy turned his face away, not wanting to
discuss it. "It's okay. Let me up."

"Uh uh." Alex tried to pin Billy to the bed,
which was absurd since Billy was bigger, stronger, and a trained
soldier.

But Billy lay still, staring into Alex's
emerald eyes. "What do you want, trouble?"

"I….told…you," Alex said as he kissed his way
down Billy's neck. "Sex. Sex. Sex…until I leave."

Billy spread his legs.

"Damn, you're easy." Alex laughed and stood,
stripping.

Billy tossed off his briefs and even though
Alex's body always got him hot, the preoccupation of his sister's
phone call was gnawing at him.

I'm a fucking Captain! Really? My sisters
don't want to come to my promotion ceremony because I'm gay and
married to Alex? Fucking really?

Alex tossed the bottle of lubrication on the
bed and spread Billy's thighs apart. Alex began jerking himself to
get harder, staring at Billy's body.

Billy rubbed his face and eyes, trying to
adjust his attitude to be more involved in the sex. "Alex, I
haven't prepared myself." Billy blew out a breath of frustration.
"Let me…"

"Stop." Alex held up his hand, his expression
dropping. "I can see you don't want it."

"I do. I just like to be prepared for you."
Billy softened his tone and leaned up on his elbows, caressing
Alex's smooth cheek.

Alex's cock deflated and he stood beside the
bed, appearing completely let down.

"Can't I just get ready? Huh?" Billy pointed
to the bathroom.

"Nah. I have work to do anyway." Alex reached
for his shorts.

There was no way Billy was going to let his
man down, not this close to him leaving for Rome. He grabbed Alex,
tossing him on the bed. Alex braced himself and his chest began
heaving when Billy spread Alex's legs.

Billy burrowed between them, blocking out
intruding thoughts, thinking of sex with his gorgeous movie
star.

"Ohhh…" Alex's tense muscles relaxed and he
splayed out, pure submissive.

As Billy nuzzled Alex's balls, Alex's length
grew quickly. He held it, pulling on it to get Alex near the edge.
Wetting Alex's rim, Billy rubbed his thumb over it, then hard
friction between his legs, rough and quick, making Alex writhe.
Alex clenched the bedding and closed his eyes.

Billy sucked the head of Alex's cock and
worked his hand to his mouth in tandem, feeling Alex's cock pulsate
and tasting pre-cum. Billy grabbed the lube off the bed and used a
generous amount on Alex's cock. He positioned himself over Alex and
pointed Alex's cock at his own ass.

Alex blinked and licked his lips.

Billy wanted Alex to come, quickly. He
pinched the one nipple Alex hadn't pierced and sucked the one he
did, trying to get Alex inside him, part way.

Then he looked up at Alex and snarled. "Fuck
me, Richfield."

"Oh, God." Alex's cock went rock hard and he
shivered visibly.

Billy chewed on Alex's skin and only allowed
the head of Alex's cock to penetrate him. "Fuck me, you dirty boy.
Fuck your captain!"

"Ah! Ah!" Alex threw back his head and Billy
moved away, allowing Alex's cock to come outside of his body,
spraying and spattering Alex's pubic hair and low abdomen.

Billy backed off the bed to stare at him.
"Christ, that was quick. Nice to be twenty-four."

Alex caught his breath and opened his eyes.
"Oh, God…"

"Happy, baby?" Billy smiled.

"Fuck yeah."

"Good." Billy winked and headed to the
bathroom. He stared at his reflection and knew what it took to
survive, both in this relationship and on the street: being a
warrior, and having the power to never give up. On anything.

Alex appeared behind him in the mirror,
grinning like a satisfied cat. He threw Billy a kiss and washed
up.

Billy splashed his face at the sink and
climbed out of his 'tactical-get-Alex-to-come-mode', taking a deep
breath to de-stress.

"Let's eat." Alex kissed Billy's shoulder on
the way out of the bathroom.

Billy met his own steely gaze and shut off
the light.

Friday night Mark wore his best designer suit
and sat beside Alex and Steve in folding chairs in the front row of
the Civic Auditorium at the Police Administration Building. A small
staging space was left in front of the room. There were four
standing flag banners: the United States of America's red, white
and blue; the State of California's flag; the City of Los Angeles'
flag; and lastly, the LAPD's own blue and white flag. Since there
were quite a few members of the department getting promotions, Mark
held a small leaflet in his hand to see who was getting what, and
of course, William P. Sharpe, promoted from lieutenant to captain.
It brought tears to Mark's eyes; he was so proud.

Steve heard his sniffle and handed him a
tissue.

Mark took it and asked, "You have a
tissue?"

"Figured you'd blubber. Shh."

"Is it used?"

"No!" Steve gave him a look to communicate to
him to be quiet as the chief was giving a speech before the actual
badges were pinned on. Billy and several other officers were seated
near the front. Lt Sharpe, perfectly still, hands clasped on his
lap, watched the ceremony.

Mark dabbed his nose and tried to catch
Billy's eye, but he appeared very preoccupied and serious.

In the back of the room were at least a dozen
uniformed officers who had come to watch. The hoodlums, Mickey and
Jeff. Mark glanced over his shoulder to see a line of dark blue
standing at the back, like sentries. Mickey and Jeff also had very
stern expressions on their faces as did all the members of Billy's
old SWAT team. Mark wondered if everything that had to do with the
police had to be so painfully low key.

Finally, the actual promoting began. Alex
shifted nervously in his seat.

Mark smiled sweetly at him and gave his hand
a quick squeeze.

One by one the lower ranks were called first,
and held up their hands to swear an oath.

When Billy's name was called, the strikingly
masculine man stood and walked over to his chief, towering over
him. Alex cleared his throat and got to his feet, making his way
towards the front of the room.

Mark dabbed his nose while Steve held up a
camera taking photo after photo.

Several flashes went off and Mark had no idea
who else was here to support Billy, but assumed it was the two cops
in the back of the room.

Billy held up his right hand and repeated the
oath to the city he loved to serve and protect. Alex was handed a
badge and he pinned it on Billy's shirt. They didn't kiss, but gave
each other one hell of a sexy smile.

Mark could already see Billy's gold 'butter
bars' were replaced with two silver parallel bars, pinned to his
dark blue collar. A professional photographer was standing directly
in front of them, and took the shot of Billy shaking the police
chief's hand.

Billy saluted the chief and walked back to
stand with the other members of the group, whom had already been
sworn into their new rank, and Alex sat back down, proud as
punch.

Mark caressed his hair and held him
close.

Once the promotions had been made, they all
stood up and clapped, cheering the ceremony.

Mark waited as Billy shook the hands of the
men and women who were also being honored for their promotion and
then approached him and Alex. Steve hugged Billy first, patting his
back and saying, "I am so fucking proud of you."

Mark got misty-eyed again and dabbed his
eyes.

Billy stood before Mark, gazing at him.

"Billy. I mean, 'Captain Sharpe'." Mark
saluted him and tried to stand at attention.

Smiling shyly, Billy tugged on Mark's hair
playfully. "Always Billy to you, hot stuff."

Steve leaned in to say, "You're his ultimate
fantasy, Sharpe."

"Oy!" Mark elbowed Steve, not wanting that to
be actually said out loud.

"Great. Just as I'm leaving the country."
Alex moaned in exaggeration.

Billy picked Alex up into his arms boldly and
said, "No worries. Okay?"

"I'm gonna cream." Alex made a tiny whimper
sound.

Billy set him back on his feet and Jeff and
Mickey appeared, reaching for Billy.

"Ya did it, ya bastard," Mickey said, hugging
Billy.

"I don't know how." Billy released him and
hugged Jeff.

Jeff answered, "Staying power. It ain't only
for sex, believe me. It's this job." He patted Billy's back and
they stood in a close circle.

Mark noticed a young man make his way over to
their group.

"Uncle Billy!"

Mark blinked in surprised and backed up to
see a handsome young man in his late teens, go for an embrace.
"Uncle?" Mark asked as he looked at Alex.

Alex gestured with his head to a heavyset
older woman. "That's Billy's sister Tammy."

"I had no idea." Mark was going to greet the
woman but she appeared so pinched he didn't. Mark stood back as
Billy gave his nephew a wonderful smile.

"It's going to be your ceremony we'll be
going to next." Billy playfully punched his nephew on the shoulder.
"Matthew, this is Mark, Alex's dad, and his husband, Steve."

"Hi." Matthew shook Mark's hand
enthusiastically. "I'm a huge fan."

"Are you?" Mark glanced at Billy. Hmm…a gay
nephew?

"Yes. Of both you and Alex. Are you on
Facebook?"

Before Mark answered, Billy's sister
intervened. "We have to go, Billy." She touched Matthew's shoulder,
urging him 'away' as if they were infected and would taint her
son.

"Uncle Billy, I'll make sure we're in touch
when I go to the air force academy."

"Good. Anything you need. Just ask." Billy
cupped the young man's cheek.

"I will. Love you." Matthew hugged Billy
again.

Mark exchanged curious glances with Steve,
and then watched Billy's expression harden as his sister urged
Matthew out of the crowded room.

"What a bitch," Alex said, shaking his
head.

"She may have certain suspicions, Alex." Mark
tapped his own chin.

"Yeah? You think he's gay, Dad?"