Page 33 of Asher's Answer
Once our guests were gone and he was big again, I showed him just how happy he made me. The additional orgasms late into the night -and the quick blowjobs we exchanged this morning- are worth how tired I am now. Thank God for caffeine.
“Life is good, Max,” I answer my partner as we walk away from our lockers and move to check in with the departing shift.
He chuckles and shakes his head. “And when am I gonna meet this boy of yours, then?”
I falter in my step because he saysboylike it’s more than just ‘boyfriend’. And, even though I don’t care if he knows about my kinks, I know Ash is still hoping to keep it in the family, so to speak. He doesn’t call me ‘Daddy’ when we’re on dates, and he doesn’t slip into his little headspace when we’re out, either. And that’s fine with me. It works for us.
Max claps me on the back. “I’m a cop, Charlie. And you’re not subtle.”
“Look, I don’t care if you know,” I tell him as I fall into step with him, “but Ash is…”
“Private.” He finishes for me, sweeping his blonde hair back off his forehead. “I get it.Trust me.”
I arch an eyebrow, but he doesn’t elaborate. I’ve never seen him at The Grove, but that doesn’t mean he’s not kinky. Besides, The Grove isn’t the only fetish club in the city, though it is the best for a number of reasons. It’s exclusive, there’s a vetting process for members, and all members sign NDAs for attending. It’s the safest space of its kind for people in the kink community. However, instead of pressing my partner for more information, I nod and go back to his original question, “He’d love to meet you, too.”
It’s not a lie. Ash has mentioned wanting to meet my ‘work husband’ a few times now. He’s proud of his nickname for Max, and I know there’s not even a hint of jealousy behind it.
“So is there a reason you’re keeping us apart? I mean, aside from the stuff I’m not supposed to know about?”
I roll my eyes at the teasing lilt to his voice. “I get it, subtlety is not my strong suit.” We bump into the guys we’re taking over from, exchange notes and pleasantries and then, as they walk away, I explain, “It’s just been a hectic few months. I promise you’ll get to meet him soon.”
“I’m sure I’m gonna love him,” Max replies as we slide into our seats in the patrol car. “How can I not when he’s the reason you’ve got that goofy ass grin on your face most days?”
“Shut up,” I laugh. “Maybe I’m just this happy ‘cos the Piranhas beat the Tigers?” I say, referencing our NHL teams who played a pre-season game against each other over the weekend.
“That was sheer luck and a bad call from the ref,” Max takes the bait and we launch into a lighthearted debate over the game.
* * *
Things start going south near the end of our shift. It’s early afternoon, and we’re called to check out a robbery in progress because we’re the closest unit to the scene. When we get to the jewelry store in question, there are three perps in masks and a handful of terrified store staff in what I can only call a hostage situation. The perps freak out the second they clock us in our uniforms.
There’s yelling and gunfire before we can fall back and call for backup. A searing pain in my chest is surpassed only by the matching pain in my right thigh.
Then the world goes black.
Chapter Fifteen – Asher
“Josh,” I smile, surprised as the man in question walks through to the admin team.
A couple of the women titter, and I hear Louise whisper ‘Hot damn’ under her breath. I can’t say I blame them. Like his older brother, Josh Walker is a very attractive man. He’s in his uniform, which isn’t a surprise because he and Charlie are on similar schedules despite working different beats.
Itisa surprise that he doesn’t smile back. I feel my face fall.
Josh cocks his head in the direction he’s just come from. “Can you join me in Ted’s office, Ash?”
There’s something off about his tone. He’s too calm. Too measured. I don’t like it at all.
I swallow and nod, ignoring the stares of my colleagues around me. He puts his hand on my back as we walk down the hall to Ted’s private office, a huge room with floor to ceiling windows that look out over the city towards the mountains.
When we get there, Ted’s leaning against the window looking pensive. His hair’s messed up, like he’s been running his hands through it. His face is tense. His strong jaw is clenched, and stress lines pull his forehead down. Josh shuts the door behind me, and I look between both men, getting the distinct impression that they’ve already spoken.
This is confirmed by the silent conversation they seem to have, before Ted pushes off from the window and moves around his desk, leaning against the side of the glass and chrome monstrosity which is home to his laptop and not much else. Without speaking, Josh guides me into the seat right in front of Ted and then crouches at my side.
Red flags abound. My chest tightens.
“What’s going on?” I ask, but my gut knows it’s not going to be good news.
Josh swallows, and I’m finally noticing just how pale and shaken he looks. “There’s been an…incident.”
