When One Door Opens (29 page)

Logan exited the bedroom, eyes on his cell phone. “Dabb says to tell you they got approval to offer Foster a deal. What’s he talking about?” Putting the phone away, he approached a bit tentatively as if not sure of his reception.

Caleb barely resisted the urge to smack his forehead against the countertop. Sitting up, he summoned a smile. It must have looked hideous, given Logan’s expression.

Moving behind him, Logan placed his hands on the back of Caleb’s shoulders. His fingers began to rub and soothe the muscles of his neck, easing the tension Caleb hadn’t realized was there until it faded.

“When the police showed up at Karen’s house, they found her boyfriend shoving boxes into their SUV,” Caleb said. “They brought him down to the station and it only took ten minutes for him to call his lawyer and demand a plea deal in exchange for implicating Karen.” The detectives had been courteous when he gave his statement but somewhat jumpy. They kept shooting little glances at Dabb before they asked their questions, making Caleb think it had been a waste of time to come down to the station. He should have felt vindicated when John told him what they had discovered, but mostly he felt numb. “They’re holding her on the assault charge for hitting John for the time being. But John said she’ll probably accept a deal to avoid standing trial for larceny. Likely, she’ll serve six months in prison and be required to seek help for gambling and alcohol addiction.”

Logan slid his arms around Caleb and held him tight. “There’s a chance it’ll help her,” he said, the skepticism clear in his voice. “It’ll be her choice.”

Caleb broke the embrace and turned to look at him. “She doesn’t deserve it. You would’ve spent two more years in prison if she’d gotten your parole revoked.” Just saying the words made his heart lurch.

Logan’s mouth spread into a thin-lipped smile. “From what I’m told, the guy in the bar fight was an asshole who probably deserved to get hit for throwing the first punch. But he didn’t deserve what I done to him. Michael and those two other patrons didn’t deserve to be hurt. My second chance came at their expense.”

“Are you saying we should forgive Karen for everything she did?”

“I won’t forgive her for hurting you,” Logan said, shaking his head. “But for what she tried to do to me?” He shrugged. “She likely wouldn’t have targeted me if I didn’t have a record.”

Caleb cocked his head. “She didn’t factor in John. My uncle told him about the thefts and it was the reason John kept showing up at the warehouse even when he didn’t need to check on you.”

Logan frowned. “Why did your uncle tell Dabb about the thefts while talking about my parole conditions?”

Ducking his head, Caleb said, “They… uh… have apparently known each other for years. I think that’s why my uncle picked you to work for me, but John claims he didn’t know anything about it.”

“John claims, huh?” Logan mimicked, his jet-black eyes narrowing. “When the hell did you and
John
become best friends?”

“He asked me to call him John and he’s been a great help to both of us. He stayed with me when the detectives interviewed me and I don’t think I could’ve gotten through it without him. We talked for a while before he drove me home.”

“You know Dabb wants you, right?”

“God, don’t ever say that!”

Logan raised his eyebrows. “Not that I’m not thrilled by the reaction, but I am wondering why. You got something against May-December romances or Dabb in particular?”

“John and Uncle Harrison met twenty years ago and they were… friends with benefits for like ten years before John got married. They’ve kept in touch ever since.”

“Are you shitting me?”

Caleb shook his head. “John accidentally let it slip when I figured out they knew each other. He was pretty distressed when he realized I didn’t even know my uncle was gay.”

Logan snorted. “I coulda told you that. No straight man is gonna pick out guys he thinks his nephew will find attractive just to deliver the mail even if he’s trying to goad him into leaving the apartment.”

Caleb heard the whistle of the teapot, pushed to a standing position, and went to the stove. Turning off the burner he said, “I guess I should’ve known. Especially since I’ve never known him to date anyone, but I assumed he was too busy helping my mom and me.” He held up a mug. “Hot chocolate?”

When Logan gave his assent, Caleb filled the mugs with his special blend of spicy cocoa powder and added the boiling water. While blending the mixture he said, “When I came out to him my junior year of high school, he let me know he was okay with me being gay, but he didn’t want me to tell my mom.” He handed Logan a mug and then picked up his own. “Apparently, she knew about him, but he was afraid she would react badly to finding out about me.”

“Knowing about a brother and a son isn’t always the same,” Logan said softly. He took a sip of the hot chocolate, groaning at the first taste.

Caleb took a deep swallow from the rich drink, letting its warmth soothe him. “It doesn’t matter, not anymore. We both need to move forward and try to be better about supporting each other.” He wrinkled his nose. “I’m just having a little trouble processing my uncle being gay and having a former relationship with John.”

Logan laughed so hard he spilled hot chocolate all over the counter. “Who do you think topped? Or maybe they switched?”

Caleb threw a tea towel at him. “Stop! I don’t ever, ever want to think about that.”

Logan’s grin said that was fantastic news, and Caleb couldn’t help rolling his eyes. He set his mug in the sink. Still snickering, Logan brought him the other mug and the dirty towel.

Wrapping his arms around Logan’s neck, Caleb said, “I don’t want Dabb. Or Daniel.” He laughed. “Or the tranny on the second floor.” He kissed Logan. “Not even the very hot Carlos. You’re who I want. Let me have you.” They kissed again.

Pulling back Logan asked, “Who’s Carlos?”

Caleb snorted. “An ex-con I met today at the PO office who thought I was a hooker.”

“Hoped you were is more like it,” Logan grumbled, putting his hands on Caleb’s hips. “And it’s no wonder with these clothes.”

Caleb looked down at his sweats and long-sleeved Cubs T-shirt. “Okay, I get they’re a little tight, but they’re old and ratty not sexy.”

“They’re sexy on you. Trust me, baby. I whacked off the first day we met thinking of you in those sweats.”

“Really?”

“Oh, yeah,” Logan said, lifting him effortlessly and depositing him on the granite counter top. “Don’t go nowhere.”

Caleb felt a little ridiculous sitting here with his feet dangling, especially when Logan left the kitchen. It reminded him of sitting on an examination table, waiting for the doctor to show up and start poking him. All that was missing was thin white paper under his ass. “What are you doing?”

Retrieving a pair of scissors out of the desk drawer, Logan said, “We need to have a wardrobe intervention for your own good.”

Caleb nibbled at his bottom lip. “They’re comfortable.”

Logan shook his head. “You don’t wear them because they’re comfortable. You wear them because they comfort you.” He walked back into the kitchen and placed the scissors on the counter.

Covering Logan’s hand with his own, Caleb asked, “What if I promise not to wear them out?” He rubbed a thumb over Logan’s knuckles.

“We’ll get you some that fit instead of ones that cut into your skin and leave bruises.” Logan grabbed a chunk of Caleb’s Cubs T-shirt on his upper chest and snipped.

Looking down at the hole, Caleb said, “Were you lying about not being a Cardinal fan?”

Grinning, Logan pushed Caleb’s thighs apart and stood between them. “I’ll buy you a new one.” He blew on the exposed skin, his breath warm and sweet. Caleb’s nipple shot to attention, eager to please in spite of its owner’s objections.

Logan circled the skin around the puckered bud with his calloused fingers. “You don’t need them anymore.”

“I don’t want to do this right now. Let’s just go to bed.”

Logan watched him closely. “Tell me why.”

“It’s been a long day and I’m tired.”

“Try again,” Logan said, shaking his head.

Caleb felt his eyes well and he rubbed them, mortified to be near tears over a stupid T-shirt. “I know it’s ridiculous to want to keep them. I’m not ready to give them up, but I can put them away and start wearing the new stuff.”

“If you shove the clothes away in your closet….” Logan shook his head and grumbled something that sounded like “or the bathroom cabinet.” Looking sheepish, he continued, “Then they’ll always be there if things get too bad and you need them again.”

As he fingered the worn fabric of his gray sweats, Caleb’s thoughts unwillingly traveled back to the past several years. When he had first stopped going out, it had been easy to convince the package handlers his uncle hired just to knock and leave the items outside the door. Weeks would go by when he didn’t speak directly to anyone. Until his uncle got wind of it. Caleb suspected it was Mrs. Simon who ratted him out. Then his uncle hired Marco, the incorruptible. There was a reason Marco never ate Caleb’s cooking. All attempts to bribe, badger, or beg the stubborn man failed. Marco refused to make it easier for Caleb to hide. His kindness and friendship had started Caleb on the journey that Logan helped him complete. It would be wrong to let all that effort go to waste. Lifting his lashes, he met Logan’s piercing stare, giving a small nod.

Logan smile looked like it might split his face in half. He laid the scissors on the top of Caleb’s thigh.

Looking down, Caleb asked, “Do I have to actually be wearing the sweats when we cut them up?”

“No, but it’s better this way.”

“Why is it better to a have a sharp pointy object near my groin?”

Logan gave him another toothy grin. “Positive association is what I think your shrink called it. Whenever you think about getting rid of the rest of your old clothes, you’ll associate it with me sucking your cock.”

Caleb’s mouth dried. “That could work.”

“Hmm, time for some active participation.” Logan slid his fingers under the collar of the T-shirt and cut through the fabric. “Give it a yank, baby.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Caleb grabbed his collar with both hands and pulled, his cheeks warming as the shirt ripped to just below his collarbone. Tilting Caleb’s neck back, Logan rubbed his thumb over the red marks from the too-tight collar, making Caleb shiver. Leaning over, he used his tongue to trace down to the collarbone, and Caleb massaged the back of Logan’s neck, encouraging the contact. Logan continued to remove chunks of material—tasting and nibbling the exposed skin—until Caleb’s T-shirt resembled Swiss cheese.

“God, baby, you’re so beautiful.” Cupping Caleb’s face in his big hands, he leaned forward for a deep kiss. His tongue tasted sweet and spicy, like the hot chocolate.

Logan pinched the fabric on Caleb’s inner thigh and snipped it. Putting the shears aside, he took hold of the fabric and pulled, the material ripping in protest. He yanked on the sweats repeatedly until he had created a hole big enough to fit his hand inside. Massaging the sensitive skin of Caleb’s inner thigh, Logan kissed him. Caleb made an abortive moan as his tongue was sucked slowly and thoroughly.

Caleb canted his hips when Logan pressed his other hand against the tented fabric of his sweats. Breathing deeply, he smelled the odd combination of musk and kitchen cleaner. With great care, Logan made a hole in the straining fabric. Caleb’s cock poked through the opening.

Caleb groaned as his cock was swallowed down to the root. Using his thumb and forefinger to loop around Caleb’s length tightly, Logan slid his lips back up again, playing his tongue over the soft ridge of Caleb’s dick, tasting and teasing him before plunging forward again. Caleb’s fingers slid along the cool surface of the granite as he leaned back. Logan’s bristled chin and the slick heat of his tongue created a delicious contrast as he sucked hard.

Caleb shuddered and he cried out, “Close,” wanting to give Logan a chance to pull back.

Logan growled, the vibration sending a jolt through Caleb’s whole body. Caleb cried out wordlessly, thrusting his hips with abandon and shooting come on Logan’s tongue. Watching the rapid rise and fall of Logan’s chest, Caleb willed his sated body to move.

Caleb yanked at Logan’s T-shirt, the need to touch his skin still strong in the hazy afterglow of his orgasm. He unbuckled the fly and unzipped Logan’s jeans. “Do you want me to—”

“Use your hand,” Logan demanded, grabbing the sides of Caleb’s face. “I want your lips. They drive me insane,” he said, before attacking Caleb’s mouth. His tongue seemed to probe every inch of Caleb’s mouth, and Caleb tasted the saltiness of his own release and his lover’s growing desperation. Caleb moved his hands over the contours of Logan’s defined chest, the skin warm and damp under his fingers.

Groping blindly, Caleb found Logan’s cock and began pumping it. Logan’s knees knocked against the island, and he let out a frustrated grunt. The angle wasn’t right for someone over six and half feet tall. Caleb pushed on his chest to get enough room to kneel, wishing there was a towel to spare his knees. Logan had other plans. He snatched Caleb around the waist and hauled him up. One hand planted under Caleb’s ass and the other keeping his undone jeans from falling, he walked into the living room.

“Show off,” Caleb accused, wrapping his arms around Logan’s neck.

“Midget,” Logan countered, dropping Caleb from high enough to make the leather couch squeak when he landed. Caleb gave a momentary thanks that it was late enough that Mrs. Simon would be asleep with her hearing aid turned off.

Logan shucked his jeans and boxers in one fluid movement. Caleb wanted to follow suit and get out of what remained of his clothes, but Logan didn’t give him a chance before he pounced. His lips found Caleb’s again in a breath-stealing kiss.

Scrambling to his knees, Caleb took hold of Logan’s pulsing cock. Logan jerked his hips, pressing his stiff length into Caleb’s hand harder, faster. The strength of his movements shoved Caleb backward until his back nearly bowed over the top of the couch. The leather felt cool and slick on his skin. A wall of hard muscle pressing against him should have felt stifling, but instead it felt right. Even though there was no way he could get hard again so soon. His dick twitched as if accepting the challenge.