Page 17 of The Keeper

“Remember how I rode your cock in that rickety-ass chair on the back deck of your cabin?” Rueben asked.

“Mmmmm.” Seth’s cock flexed at the memory, and he stilled his hand. He wasn’t ready to come yet. “You are stunning all the time, but nothing compares to you naked beneath a full moon. You are flawless, baby.” And more graceful than one person should be.

“I’m undulating my hips like that but lying on my back. The rocking motion—” A sharp gasp followed by a low groan replaced words, and Seth knew Rueben was close.

“Wait for me, baby.” Seth resumed jerking himself off but switched to firmer, shorter strokes. His precum dripped onto his fingers, and he used it to massage the sweet spot beneath his cockhead. “So close.”

“Me too. Fuck, I’m coming. Seth.”

His name was a plea on Rueben’s lips, and it pushed Seth over the edge. His balls tucked in tight, and his breath caught in his throat as the first spurt of cum splattered his chest. The air rushed from Seth’s lungs on the next jet, then escaped in choppy pants. Pleasure still curled his toes, and he was already jonesing for more. “Christ, Rue. I can’t get enough of you.”

“I know.” A hint of melancholy tinged his voice. “But I’d rather have this than nothing at all.”

But how long would Rueben be willing to settle for phone sex? If Seth were a better man, he’d encourage Rueben to find someone better suited for him. He was selfish, so instead of saying something to push Rue away, Seth uttered a truth guaranteed to pull him closer. “I’d rather have these stolen hours with you than unlimited time with anyone else.”

“You fucking charmer.” The grin in Rueben’s voice made the risk all worth it.

Seth leaned over and grabbed his discarded T-shirt from the night before, and cleaned off his chest and stomach. He heard a similar rustling from Ruben’s end and knew he was tidying up too. A glance at the clock revealed he didn’t need to hit the shower for another hour, which made him glad they’d been too horny to sleep. Seth tucked his free arm under his head and stared at the thin rectangles of pale blue light on his ceiling that hinted at encroaching daybreak on the other side of the curtains. “Scooby Doo or Inspector Gadget?”

Rueben sucked in a sharp breath. “Dude, that’s too tough to answer.”

“Hey, you made me choose between Justified and Animal Kingdom.”

Rueben huffed again. “Scooby, but only by a hair.”

“Cartoon or live-action film?” Seth asked.

“Definitely the cartoon, but I love Matthew Lillard as Shaggy Rogers.”

They continued talking about any random thing they could think of, laughing and needling one another as time stretched on. Seth watched the thin blue rectangles on the ceiling spread to meet in the middle and turn soft pink with dawn. “I need to hit the shower and head to the station.”

“I need to clean up and go to breakfast with the crew.”

That prompted another playful debate about the proper way to cook bacon. When they moved on to discussing waffles versus pancakes, Seth knew he was screwed in more ways than one. He was hungry, running late, and teetering precariously on the edge of love with Rueben.

The intercom on his desk phone buzzed, and Seth lifted the receiver without looking away from his computer. Kerry had forwarded an article Oliver Hawkins had written for the Denver Post about an upcoming podcast he was writing, producing, and starring in for the paper. The subject at the top of the email read: Did you know about this? Seth had not, which he found both curious and disturbing since it seemed like his ex-fiancé had decided to take up temporary residence in the small town he couldn’t put in his rearview mirror fast enough.

Seth hit the Reply arrow and typed nope, sticking to a one-word response, which was all the energy his ex and the project deserved. He gave his full attention to his assistant on the other end of the line. “Shouldn’t you be at lunch?” If he didn’t nag her about taking her break, she’d work until her blood sugar bottomed out, and that wasn’t good for anyone.

“I was just on my way out the door.” Her tone was the vocal equivalent of an eye roll.

“Mmhmm. You said that an hour ago. Seriously, Elayna. Go. To. Lunch.”

“Before or after I patch through a call from the assistant director from the CBI?”

Seth sat up straighter, even though there was no one to see him. Then, he scowled. What did the Colorado Bureau of Investigation want with him? And the assistant director, no less? Of course, Seth’s mind immediately went to his late-night and early morning interactions with Rueben, but he dismissed that outright. It was more likely the FBI would investigate alleged illegal or unethical practices in his office on behalf of the Department of Justice. That failed to make him feel better or clear up concern about the blinking light on his phone representing a caller on hold.

“I’ll take the call. You take your lunch,” Seth admonished. “Everyone wins.”

Elayna’s responding growl before she hung up hinted that she’d waited too long. The public could be in danger, but they’d have to fend for themselves.

Seth cleared his throat and stretched his neck to get the blood flowing before he picked up the phone and greeted the caller.

“Good afternoon, Sheriff Burke. My name is Amanda Hines, and I’m the assistant director for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.” Her Southern drawl made him think she wasn’t a native Coloradan. She sounded like sweet tea, magnolia blossoms, and cotillions. Very cultured and possibly high society.

“Good to meet you, ma’am. How can I help you today?”

“Please call me Amanda, and this call is about what I can do for you.”

---